Advertisement Authentic has staved off a late charge from favorite Tiz the Law to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby. The victory for legendary trainer Bob Baffert eliminates the possibility of a Triple Crown victory for Tiz the Law, who won the Belmont Stakes in a commanding performance in June. The Kentucky Derby, traditionally the first race in the Triple Crown, ran four months later than usual, and without paying spectators at Churchill Downs in Louisville, due to precautions taken in the coronavirus pandemic. Tiz the Law had been the heavy favorite at 3-5 odds, while Authentic was at 8 to 1. Authentic, with jockey John Velazquez up, broke slowly from the far outside but went to the lead by the first turn. The colt didn't let up despite pursuit from NY Traffic and Storm The Court, with Tiz the Law giving chase by the far turn. Jockey John Velazquez riding Authentic crosses the finish line to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby, beating out #17 Tiz the LAw who made a late charge in the homestretch Jockey John Velazquez, aboard Authentic, celebrates with trainer Bob Baffert (right) after winning the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday Jockey John Velazquez celebrates after winning the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby on Authentic Trainer Bob Baffert celebrates after Authentic won the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Authentic's win gives Bob Baffert his 6th career Kentucky Derby win, tying him with Ben Jones for most all-time among trainers Tiz the Law, breaking from the No. 17 post, stalked the pace before making his move to join the leader Authentic in the far turn, coming out of the turn into the homestretch nearly neck-and-neck. Coming down the homestretch, hard-charging Authentic refused to be beaten, pulling ahead to win by barely one length. It is Baffert's sixth Kentucky Derby win, tying him with Ben Jones for most all-time among trainers. Baffert previously won the Kentucky Derby with Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (2015) and Justify ( 2018) as well as Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002). Authentic covered 1 mile in 2:00.61 and paid $18.80 to win, $6 to place and $5 to show. Tiz the Law returned $3.40 to place and $3.20 to show, while Mr. Big News, a 50-1 longshot who came in third, paid $16.80 to show. The Derby was run even as armed Black Lives Matter militias marched around the gates surrounding Churchill Downs, chanting Breonna Taylor's name and demanding that the famed race be cancelled. Louisville Metro Police officers line the street as members and supporters of an all-black militia group called NFAC hold an armed rally outside Churchill Downs on the day of the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky Members of the NFAC, a black militia, march to Churchill Downs racetrack before the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby The protesters marched two miles from a city park and circled the track on the front and back sides. They chanted 'No Justice, No Derby!' and carried signs imploring people to say Taylor's name A banner that reads 'No Justice, No Derby' was hung on the Big Four Bridge by Waterfront Park before the race Protests have occurred for 101 days in Louisville, with calls for police to be charged in Taylor's shooting death during a botched narcotics raid on March 13. A recent demonstration near the historic track resulted in 64 arrests, and more protests were expected around the venue. The protesters marched two miles from a city park and circled the track on the front and back sides. They chanted 'No Justice, No Derby!' and carried signs imploring people to say Taylor's name. 'What are we celebrating?' one of the organizers, Brittany Wiley, told the crowd as it gathered. 'We dont want mint juleps. We want justice. We're not partying. We're protesting. No justice? No Derby.' Inside the gate, police in riot gear with clubs - some on horses and some with armored military vehicles - were following along with the protesters from the inside. Authentic #18 leads the field to the first turn during the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs The field rounds the first turn during the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday Authentic #18 ridden by jockey John Velazquez leads Tiz the Law #17, ridden by jockey Manny Franco, down the stretch on the way to winning the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs The grandstand remains empty during the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. This is the first year that paying spectators have been barred from attending the legendary race Authentic (right) ridden by jockey John Velazquez runs down the stretch to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, defeating a late charge from favorite Tiz the Law (left) Authentic gallops to the finish line to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday In a break with tradition, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was not in the winner's circle Saturday with the triumphant owners at Churchill Downs. Instead, the Democratic governor watched the race from home, just like all the race fans who were unable to pack the stands and the infield because of the coronavirus pandemic. 'I think its important, in every instance that I can, to make sure that I dont put myself as governor ahead of the people of Kentucky,' Beshear told reporters. 'So if we're asking the people of Kentucky to watch it at home, Im going to watch it at home, too.' It's another tradition falling by the wayside because of the pandemic. This year's race was moved from May to September because of the coronavirus, and this was the first time spectators were not allowed to attend. This would have been Beshear's first Derby trophy presentation as governor, though he watched his father, Steve Beshear, do the honors during two terms as Kentucky's governor. Andy Beshear was elected last year, ousting incumbent Republican Governor Matt Bevin. Earlier in the day, an armed group of about 200 pro-Trump and pro-police demonstrators called 'The Angry Vikings' assembled at Cox Park in Louisville, vowing to defend the city from BLM activists. Earlier in the day, members of a Trump-supporting militia rallied vowing to protect Louisville from left-wing protesters A man dressed in armed with a rifle and handgun is seen in a confrontation with a Black Lives Matter activist Black armed militias NFAC and Until Freedom had announced plans to demonstrate near the Churchill Downs Racetrack on Derby Day, one of the city's biggest events of the year, in response to officials' handling of the case. Taylor, 26, was shot dead during a botched police raid in her apartment in March. The three officers involved in her death have not been charged. Her death has fueled tense demonstrations for 100 consecutive days in the city. Footage shared on social media showed the armed Trump supporters toting American flags as they marched down the street chanting, 'USA, USA, USA!' Some of the counter-protesters, brandishing pistols and long guns, squared off with a group of BLM supporters and got into shoving matches. People on both sides screamed, faces inches apart. After about 45 minutes, police cleared the people from the park, but the protests outside Churchill Downs continued. Your browser does not support the audio element. Many poor men have risked their lives toiling at quarries dotting northern and north-central provinces in Vietnam for a self-sufficient living or for rock to build a small house for their families, but not all of them return. Over recent years, newly built houses have sprouted up atop the rocky areas in the northern provinces of Dien Bien, Hoa Binh, and Ha Nam and the north-central province of Thanh Hoa. However, work remains unfinished in many other abodes as their owners, including many from ethnic minority groups, never return following fatal accidents at quarries scattered across the areas. The deceased victims, along with others who survive the blasts with severe injuries and life-long disabilities, are workers at the quarries, trying to scrounge up a living or stones to build or fix their humble homes. As the breadwinners of their families, the mens deaths plunge their wives and young children into immense financial difficulty and a deep emotional void. Very few quarry workers can reach retirement even if they are fortunate enough not to be involved in accidents, as the occupational hazards they are constantly exposed to may take a toll on their health. Lurking perils The highly perilous job offers the quarry workers good pay yet exposes them to a situation in which health and safety are considered trade-offs. Still, they brave the harsh conditions and try to pull through for their wives and kids at home. Many have lost their fingers or feet to the accidents but several others are not that fortunate. One of the latest deadly incidents occurred in Dien Bien Province, around 450 kilometers to the west of Hanoi, on June 1. Three workers were preparing to detonate explosives when they went off without warning after being hit by a lightning strike. One was hurled afar, while another was buried under rocks. The trio died on the spot, but their bodies were not recovered until almost one week later. Among the deceased victims was Hang A So, a 28-year-old member of the Mong minority residing in Pu Long Hamlet, snuggled in Pu Nhi Commune, Dien Bien Dong District in Dien Bien Province. With the hamlet yet to connect to the national grid and few night activities available, most villagers generally go to bed as early as 8:00 pm. Under the cloak of darkness, the dwelling of Sos widow, Cu Thi Tung, gave out dim light. She recently got access to electricity by installing a makeshift wire that connects to the power grid to keep out the cold and fill the void left by her husbands death. My husband died in the accident on his tenth day at work. At first I didnt let him go, but he said he would pull through one month for some money to fix our house, Tung said, trying to hold back tears. With her husbands upper torso seriously deformed in the blast, the woman could only recognize him by his hands, the warmth of which she had been in love with. So and Tung share two children, aged ten and seven. So had worked hard for five years to fetch enough wood to build their current house, but his dream to renovate it would never be fulfilled. According to Hang A Dinh, the hamlet chief, grave occupational hazards have put villagers off the job despite handsome monthly salaries averaging more than VND10 million (US$430), a desirable income for many locals. Some villagers were killed on the job at quarries in Na U Commune, Dien Bien District last year, he revealed. More than three weeks after the accident that killed the three, including So, in Na U Commune, the quarrys developer, Hoang Anh Co., is yet to resume operations. Three other quarries nearby, by contrast, were bursting with commotion, rumbles from stone grinding machines and bulldozers, as well as deafening noises of explosions, shrouding the area in thick clouds of dust. Some workers were dangling themselves over treacherous cliffs to drill into the rock wall in seeming defiance of the hovering threats. In mid-June, two more men became victims after they fell off the cliffs while drilling at a height of 100 meters to their death in two separate incidents. Nineteen-year-old Tran Van Thanh, a local resident, was killed on June 17 at a rock mine operated by CP 99 Construction Materials JSC in the north-central province of Nghe An. One week later, on June 24, Nguyen Van Thuy, a 37-year-old worker from Hanoi, also perished while working at Minh Tien Quarry, snuggled in the northern province of Lang Son. The quarry is operated by An Son Construction and Commerce Co. It was not the first time that fatal accidents had happened at these two quarries. Most quarry laborers are well aware of the perils posed but try to shrug them off to earn a living. The quarry operated by Hoang Anh Co. in Dien Bien Province, Vietnam is where 28-year-old Hang A So and two of his colleagues got killed at work on June 1, 2020. Photo: Tam Le / Tuoi Tre Poor compliance of safety procedures Despite getting licensed to operate the quarries where fatal accidents occurred, most developers have failed to comply with safety procedures. In reality, however, cliffs typically tower treacherously instead of being carved into layers, with some even plagued by intense concavity. Trails to the mountain peaks are not properly built either, leaving quarry laborers making their way to the mountaintop by dangling themselves precariously against the cliffs with both of their hands full of tools. According to a veteran quarry driller in northern Hoa Binh Province, such trails, if built, are generally unusable, giving him and his colleagues no choice but to scale up the rock walls on ropes. These hazards are not to be taken for granted by quarry workers and miners who have flocked to the areas to eke out a living. Dozens of similar quarries that are currently in operation can be found on a section of Ho Chi Minh Trail that runs through Hoa Binh Province. At Kien Khe Quarry in northern Ha Nam Province and Yen Lam Quarry in Thanh Hoa, apart from ropes, iron staircases erected against the cliffs can be used by workers to make their way upward. Unlike their colleagues in other localities who build highly concave mines, workers at quarries across Thanh Hoa generally dig a sewer-like pit which penetrates ten meters into the rock walls. Workers will stumble into the pits to plant explosives. Causes of fatal quarry accidents are varied. Nguyen Ngoc Duong, a seasoned quarry foreman in Hoa Binh Province, puts the tragic incidents down to rockslides, triggered by loose rocks or rocks left over from previous rockslides. Rainwater gushing into new rock cracks might also result in rockslides, he added. Workers might slip on cliffs that are not cut into layers properly while scaling up the mountains or drilling into the rock walls. They might also end up buried alive by tumbling rocks while scooping them at the mountain foot. According to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspapers rough estimate, at least 17 fatal accidents have occurred at quarries in Luong Son District, Hoa Binh Province since 2017. Most of the victims are young men who leave behind families in dire straits. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. US, 06 Sep 2020 - As it is known that hobbies and interests play important role in human life because individuals can refocus their minds by performing different hobbies, as hobbies are the activities that every individual enjoys performing. Most of the individuals have physical hobbies such as fishing, noodling, biking, boating, scuba diving, snorkeling, paragliding, and many more. However, among these hobbies, water activities attract individuals the most. And several individuals look for the chance to perform several activities, travel on the water, and many more things. For performing the water activities, boats play the most important role. Numerous boats such as the sailing boats, the cruising boats, the high sea boats, the riverboats, the upstream boats, and many other boats are available these days. Not every individual can buy their own boats but the rich people and the successful businessmen prefer to buy their own yacht as they have a lot of money to spend. Several boat brands are available such as BERTRAM, BOSTON WHALER, Rinker 320, CHAPARRAL, GRADY WHITE, and many more. But among these brands, rinker boats are one of the best brands. The cost of the new Rinker 320 is much higher than the expectations, so even the rich person also prefers to buy the second-hand boats because if there would be any mechanical flaw or major design, it would have already been discovered by the dealer or the owner. And here is one of the best-used rinker boats for sale at the reliable price in accordance with the condition and the features of the boat. The main thing is that the rinker boats for sale have only been used in the freshwater and have less than 20 hours engines. Rinker 320 is the best vessel for an individual who is looking for the perfect water ready yacht. For more details regarding Rinker 320 yacht, you can visit 2020rinker320 website. The yacht is in good condition, as the yacht was purchased in June, and because of personal reasons, the individual wants to wend this yacht. Along with this, several other incredible features are there that will attract the other individual to purchase a rinker yacht that is, joystick controls, it is used to bring in and out the breeze from the tight slip, for navigating the routes it has an electronic monitoring system. Moreover, rinker boats have an incredible kitchen, two beds, and a bathroom in the available cabin. Many other features are also available in this yacht, and 5 years of Mercruiser and rinker warranty is available for the bells and the whistles of the yacht. The individuals who want to purchase this yacht, can visit this website, and they can also get to know more about the rinker 320 ex price on the official website. By visiting this website, you can get information about the Rinker 320. If necessary, enthusiasts can click here or on our official site for a complete insight Rinker 320 . You can also contact them by providing the information below. Website : https://www.2020rinker320.com/ Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh (R), seen here in 2019 with President Ashraf Ghani (L), says Kabul will push the Taliban to agree to a permanent ceasefire when peace talks resume Afghan government negotiators will push for a ceasefire when talks begin with the Taliban, a top official said Sunday, signalling that the two foes could parley for a long time. A date for the opening round of talks to be hosted in Doha has not been set, but both sides indicated that negotiations could begin soon after they wrapped up a controversial and months-long prisoner exchange last week. The Taliban's seriousness about peace will be evident from the outset, when Kabul's negotiating team pushes for a permanent ceasefire, Vice President Amrullah Saleh said. "The first test for the Taliban is (a) ceasefire," Saleh told Tolo News, the country's biggest private television network. "If they accept the ceasefire, they are committed to peace. If not, they are not." Saleh said the Afghan delegation would go to Doha after all logistical issues are sorted. "We will not go until everything is in place... like desks, our flag and what to call each other," he said. "It is a war of symbols now and we are not going to give up on it. We have to be assured that we are respected. We will not give in to any pressure." Saleh said the start of the talks were delayed over opposition to the release of some militants. "We had to reach an agreement with our allies about six blacklisted prisoners," he said, referring to France and Australia. Paris and Canberra objected because of their links to the murders of French and Australian civilians and troops in Afghanistan. Saleh said it was agreed that these prisoners "will be sent to Qatar for a specific period". Negotiations were initially supposed to begin in March as agreed in a deal between the Taliban and Washington in February. But repeated squabbles over an overall prisoner exchange delayed the negotiations. The US-Taliban deal stipulated that Kabul should release a total of 5,000 militants in return for the insurgents freeing 1,000 Afghan troops. Story continues The swap was completed last week, except the release of the militants opposed by France and Australia. Saleh said talks could drag on for a long time. "We will not restrict the talks to weeks or months and we will not accept any timetable," he said. emh-jds/sst A State Bank of India (SBI) cash officer was shot dead on National Highway-31 in Naugachhia late Saturday. The murder took place near a rail overbridge under the jurisdiction of the Bihpur police station, around 260 km northeast of Patna. Ajant Kumar Choudhary, the victim, was posted as a cash officer at the Barauni Refinery Campus branch of SBI. Police said Choudhary was on his way to Tilakmanjhi in Bhagalpur on his motorcycle when the suspects accosted him and opened fire. Police said that he was not robbed, adding that according to eyewitness accounts, three men on a motorcycle caught up to him and shot him dead. All of his belongings were found intact. Naugachhia SDPO Dilip Kumar said that prima facie, the murder seemed to be the fallout of personal enmity. He added, We want to question his family members, but they are not in a condition to talk right now. However, we have started our investigations and are hoping to crack the case. Choudhary is survived by his wife and children. A senior police officer at the state police headquarters, who requested anonymity, said, It was a pre-planned murder. Every angle will be examined and the culprits will be booked soon. The State Bank of India Officers Association (Patna Circle), one of the largest officers organisations in the region, denounced the killing. The general secretary of the confederation Ajit Kumar Mishra said, What is all the more deplorable is that the murder took place at a time when all bank employees and officers are under tremendous pressure to meet public demand, along with the pressure of the government and management of fulfilling targets. The association has demanded a prompt and proper investigation into the killing and steps to prevent recurrence of such crimes in the future. Naugachhia SP Swapna G Meshram said separate police teams have been formed to crack the case. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Avinash Kumar Avinash, a senior correspondent, reports on crime, railways, defence and social sector, with specialisation in police, home department and other investigation agencies. ...view detail Spring ISD parents wishing to send their children back to school will have the opportunity to do so soon according to plans outlined by the district Thursday. Special education and early childhood special education students, along with any students between prekindergarten and grade 2 will be able to return to school Sept. 14 under the plan. Back to school amid pandemic: Spring ISD kicks off new school year virtually Students between grades 3 and 7, and grades 9 and 10 will be able to return Sept. 21 under the plan, and students in grades 8, 11 and 12 who want to attend in-person can begin doing so Sept. 28. Were taking a very intentional approach with our phased timeline, Spring ISD Superintendent Rodney Watson said. We need to align with TEA requirements by giving parents an on-campus option, but we want to make sure were taking an approach that prioritizes health and safety. The plan outlines that elementary and middle school students will have a daily, on-campus schedule while high school students will have a hybrid, alternating day schedule. While we continue to monitor public health conditions and recognize that Harris County still remains in the red, we are encouraged that some recent data shows some positive trends for the Houston area, Watson said. This phased approach will allow us to ease back to on-campus routines with our new safety-first COVID-19 protocols in place. On HoustonChronicle.com: Thousands of students head back to Houston-area classrooms Tuesday for first time since March Watson said their goal is to bring back all students whose families want in-person instruction by Sept. 28, but only for parents who want it. Remote learning will continue to be provided to those who prefer learning virtually. Spring ISD makes their decisions on how much to reopen their schools by their operational decision meter. The meter is was set to orange as of Friday, meaning students can return to school but social distancing measures will still be in place like requiring masks. Our goal is to give our families as much flexibility as possible during these challenging times, Watson said. We know remote learning is not a great fit for every student, so we want to make it convenient for families to choose in-person if they prefer. The districts COVID-19 tracker on Friday showed three staff members had tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, and seven students and staff members had reported testing positive since Aug. 17. More information about the back-to-school timeline and COVID-19 cases in the district can be found at www.springisd.org/covidtracker. We want to be as transparent as possible with our families and communities about any confirmed cases in our schools and facilities, Watson said. We know this type of information is essential as families make decisions about how they want to learn. paul.wedding@hcnonline.com Reporters surround Barry McKenzie, 8, as he is reunited with his mother, Mrs Kathy Trimmer, and his brother Ivan, left, at Perth Airport on September 7, 1970. Credit:Staff photographer It was a highly emotional affair as the slim part-Aboriginal boy, Barry John McKenzie, folded himself in his mother's arms, bewildered and uncertain, while his young brother, Ivan, held his hand. PERTH, Monday. Tears streamed down the cheeks of Mrs Kathy Trimmer as she clung to the son she had not seen for six years, when they were reunited today at Perth airport. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on September 7 & 8, 1970 "I'm your mummy. I love you. This is your brother, Ivan," said Mrs Trimmer, as they embraced on the wet tarmac at Perth airport. "He hasn't changed at all, he's just like his photos. Doesn't he look like his brother?" she said. Barry was taken into custody in West Berlin by German authorities on Wednesday after urgent messages between the Australian and West German Governments, and left Frankfurt on the first available flight to Perth. BEWILDERED He was originally taken from a Perth children's home without his mother's permission in April 1964, when he was two years old. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Education Minister S Suresh Kumar on Saturday hit back at the Opposition Congress that has launched a campaign across the state accusing the government of not having a clear road-map to reopen schools, help students or teachers. Government schools cannot conduct online classes. It is not within our reach and now we are also not interested in it. In online education, students will not have a direct one-to-one interaction with students. That is the reason we have started Vidyagama and everyone except Congress leaders have understood the importance of the initiative, the minister said. In all districts, the number of students being enrolled in government schools has increased. That is the reality, the minister said responding to the Congress allegations that a number of students are discontinuing their education as they are not able to be part of the online education system. The minister, however, said teachers in private unaided schools have not received their salary in the last four months and are asking for a special package, which comes to around Rs 250 crore. Except the package, the government is trying to provide all possible help to teachers by involving members of teachers organizations, he said.We have a very clear roadmap and I am willing to explain it in detail to Congress leaders. Our teachers are also very clear about the road-map and they are working accordingly, he added. India logs over 3.17 lakh new Covid cases in last 24 hours; daily positivity rate up at 16.41 per cent Wait and watch, all eyes on Jaishankar, Wang Yi meeting India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 06: New Delhi will watch for the next steps taken by Beijing amidst the tense standoff. While Beijing says that the responsibility is entirely with Delhi, India maintains that China has violated all pacts and this has led to the face-off along the Line of Actual Control. Now all eyes would be on the meeting between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterparts, Wang Yi scheduled to be held this week. The Indian delegation strongly objected to the fresh attempt made by China to change the status quo in the southern bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh. The delegation insisted on the resolution through talks. China using Congress's shoulders to fire at India, alleges BJP The Indian side said that there should be restoration of status quo ante at all friction points in Eastern Ladakh. Hours before the talks, Singh, in his address at the SCO ministerial meet, said peace and security in the region demands a climate of trust, non-aggression, peaceful resolution of differences and respect for international rules. Singh's comments in the presence of the Chinese defence minister was seen as a veiled message to China over the border row in eastern Ladakh. In his address, Singh referred to the Second World War and said its memories teach the globe the "follies of aggression" of one state upon another that brings "destruction" to all. "Peaceful stable and secure region of SCO member states, which is home to over 40 per cent of the global population, demands a climate of trust and cooperation, non-aggression, respect for international rules and norms, sensitivity to each other's interest and peaceful resolution of differences," Singh said. China, Pak planning against us: DG BSF Singh also said that the two sides should avoid taking measures that may escalate or complicate the situation. He also insisted that differences should not turn into disputes and bilateral military relations should be brought back on the right track as soon as possible. China's news agency, Xinhua reported that Singh during the meeting hoped that the two sides would adopt a responsible attitude and fully disengage front line forces as soon as possible. The report also said that Wei had said that recently the relations between the two countries and the two militaries have been seriously affected by the border issue and that was important for the two defence ministers to have a face to face and candid exchange of views on relevant issues. The news report also said that the cause and truth of current tension on the China-India border are very clear and the responsibility lies with the Indian side. Not an inch of China's territory should be lost. The Chinese military has the resolve, capability and confidence to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Wei also said. He further said that both sides should earnestly implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both sides should stay committed to resolving the issue through dialogue and consultation. He also hoped that the Indian side would strictly abide by the series of agreements reached and effectively strengthen the control over front-line troops and refrain from provocations. The two sides should bear in mind the overall interests of China-India relations and regional peace and stability, make joint efforts to meet each other halfway, cool down the current situation as soon as possible and safeguard peace and tranquillity in the China-India border areas, Wei said at the meeting. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Indian Ambassador to Russia D B Venkatesh Varma were part of the Indian delegation at the talks that began at around 9:30 pm(IST) at a prominent hotel in Moscow following a request from Gen. Wei. "The meeting between Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh and Chinese Defence Minister, General Wei Fenghe in Moscow is over. The meeting lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes," Singh's office tweeted. We have the magic numbers, the average number of new cases over 14-day periods that we will need to see to take the first steps out of stage four restrictions in Melbourne, or for regional Victoria to step down from stage three. Why 14 days? No one has explained this, but it makes this an even more conservative approach. So lets look behind these numbers to see where they have come from, the modelling used to generate these thresholds and, even more importantly, the evidence behind the steps out. Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled the state's path out of stage four restrictions. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The government asked modellers to look at four different scenarios for average daily numbers to show what might happen after opening up: three, five, 10 and 25 cases a day. The simulations based on opening up with 25 cases still being notified on average per day suggest a six in 10 chance of a case resurgence before Christmas. Not good. Statistical modelling can be a valuable decision-making tool, allowing you to test various scenarios and navigate the road ahead with some degree of foresight. But how useful it is depends on the insight we have into epidemic dynamics, how these are incorporated into the model and the accuracy of the parameters that underpin the model. The model used here is based on international estimates for key parameters, including time to case reporting, infection periods, etc, and is reasonable enough. It builds in assumptions of compliance with mask wearing and how many people are essential workers, etc. The model then computes community transmission scenarios and spits out different forecasts depending on how the dice fall, say, whether that new case is an essential worker and still going to work or not. We then look at how the projected futures compare across simulation runs. You may not be familiar with Henry Adams, but he was a noted historian and intellectual, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for memoirs published after his death. Adams knew more about American politics than most people. He was born into a politically powerful, wealthy family. He was a descendant of two U.S. presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams Other family members included legislators, judges, and military generals. Although he died in 1918, its still prudent to take heed of what Henry Adams spoke or wrote about politics, especially in this era of Donald Trump. No reasonable person can deny that the president has not only ripped to shreds the fabric binding us together as one indivisible nation, but has implemented, in an attempt to maintain power, a strategy empowering vigilantes and organized hate groups against citizens who peacefully protest police brutality. Adams thoughts about this are applicable today. Hes been proven correct for saying, Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions, has always been the systemic organization of hatreds. With Adams words echoing in the background, many watched as physical assaults and lethal attacks played out across the country. This is where Trump has taken us. This past week our nation looked and sounded more like the former Soviet Union. Vindictiveness from Trumps Republican Party is unleashing a storm of racial hatred, as well as a disdain for white protesters not seen since they demanded an end to the Vietnam War. The impact seems greater on the young. We watched as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch, Illinois, traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, with an AR-15, peaceful protesters in his sights. Not yet old enough to openly carry his firearm legally, Rittenhouse allegedly shot and killed two people and wounded a third, calmly walking away through numerous law enforcement officers, even as witnesses screamed that hed shot innocent people. Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth said the chaotic, high-stress situation created tunnel vision among the officers on the scene. So-called militia members had been patrolling the streets for several days following some looting and property damage during protests against the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Video exists of police officers tossing bottled water from an armored vehicle to a group of militia, possibly including the shooter. An officer is heard on the video saying, We appreciate you being here. Then this kid goes out and allegedly kills two people. This raises the question of who the police officers were protecting, and whether they are complicit with these militia groups. Why would police officers overtly demonstrate their support for white militias ready and willing to kill fellow Americans? Politics, and its organization of hatreds. New Jersey has not been spared from insane rhetoric or organized vindictiveness by some officials. Emily Gil is an 18-year-old socially conscious woman from Englewood Cliffs, Bergen County. She took it upon herself to organize a small, peaceful Black Lives Matter rally, which also addressed the need for more affordable housing in her town. Gil was motivated partly because she believes the borough has dodged its affordable housing requirements by design. In case youre unfamiliar, Englewood Cliffs has fewer than 6,000 residents. Its 07632 ZIP Code is one of the wealthiest in the state and the nation. The median price of a home is well over $1 million, in a mostly white town with a significant Asian population. Gils July 25 rally was attended by no more than 40 people. Four days later, she received a bill for $2,499.26 from the mayor for the police overtime caused by your protest after learning from the police chief that extensive preparation and additional staffing were required. Mayor Mario M. Kranjacs initial position was that billing for security was appropriate because the rally was a privately sponsored event. This was a ridiculous determination. It didnt take long for Kranjac to listen to sound legal advice. The bill was rescinded. The mayor admitted that his personal attorney set him straight after he had received different advice from the borough administrator. By that time, state Senator Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon M. Johnson, all D-Bergen, had expressed outrage at the Republican mayors seemingly punitive action against this young woman. The Bergen County freeholder board called the bill an onerous charge. Why would the mayor of an affluent town bill a young woman exercising her rights that define us as a free nation? Even some borough council members believe it was an attempt to bully and scare Gil. It certainly seems that the mayor was sending Gil a strong message that he disapproved of her actions and criticism. He used his political power to punish her and her family. It seems like a lot of people with political power, as well as some with firepower, are willing to use it when they disagree with others. Its the Trump/FoxNews agenda. This is what we have become, an example of the political organization of hatreds we were warned about by Henry Adams. Now were seeing it directed at American citizens, in America. As a nation, we are on the edge of the abyss. The price we will have to pay is high, because the chickens finally have come home to roost. Milton W. Hinton Jr. is retired as director of equal opportunity for the Gloucester County government, and is past president of the Gloucester County Branch NAACP. Email: miltonw@imap.cc. Twitter: MiltonHintonJr@WritestheNation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Beijing, Sep 6 : Despite the US ban, Chinese behemoth Huawei will keep investing in its chip arm and help partners in chip manufacturing, production equipment and raw materials, Huawei's rotating CEO Guo Ping has said. The US has banned Huawei from building and selling chips to partners, especially in the US. Ping said the company will continue to invest in its chip arm Hisilicon, reports Global Times. The comment was made during Guo's meeting with Huawei's new employees, according to the report. The tougher US "sanction" on Huawei in May has created difficulties for the Chinese tech company. "Hisilicon will grow stronger several years later," Ping said. Amid the US moves that could cut Huawei from accessing Google's Android updates and security patches, Huawei launched its own HarmonyOS last year. "It's not an easy decision for us, as a smartphone company, to develop our own ecosystem Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). It's very difficult and very challenging. But we delivered a better-than-expected one-year transcript," he added. The temporary general license that allowed Google to work with Chinese giant Huawei on maintaining smartphones has expired in the US, threatening to kill Android updates for the current devices. Under the terms of the previous US trade ban, Google was barred from selling Android licenses to Huawei, meaning its phones could use the base open-source code, but would not have access to the all-important Play Store and Google apps. A temporary license was issued last year which allowed Google to support and update the Android OS running on existing Huawei devices. The trade ban also affected the development of future products. Huawei is working on its own operating system HarmonyOS but that is far from reality. "If Huawei could help Android in achieving success, is there any reason why our own system cannot be a success?" Ping was quoted as saying. Want to manufacture BrahMos so that no country has audacity to cast evil eye on us: Rajnath Singh IAF chopper crash: Rajnath Singh likely to be apprised of probe team's findings in next couple of days Rajnath Singh discusses bilateral ties, regional security with Iranian counterpart India oi-Madhuri Adnal Tehran, Sep 06: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a "very fruitful" meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and regional security issues, including Afghanistan. Singh arrived in Tehran from Moscow on Saturday after concluding his three-day visit to Russia where he attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers. Rajnath meets counterparts from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan He also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Russia, China and the Central Asian countries. "Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation," he said in a tweet. "Both the Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan," Singh's office said in a separate tweet. The meeting between the two ministers took place in a "cordial and warm atmosphere," it said, adding that the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran. What transpired at the Rajnath Singh-Wei Fenghe meeting at Moscow Last month, Iranian navy briefly seized control of a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in what the US said were international waters near the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States tries to strangle its economy. 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. The aim of the SCO is to maintain peace, stability and security of the region. Iran has observer status in the SCO, which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted as observers of the grouping in 2005. Both the countries were admitted as full members of the bloc in 2017. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday demanded that actress Kangana Ranaut apologise for her comments against Mumbai and Maharashtra. Ranaut in a tweet recently compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Asked if he would apologise for his remark against Ranaut while reacting to her tweet on a TV channel, Raut told reporters that anybody who lives and works here and speaks ill of Mumbai, Maharashtra and Marathi people, I would say apologise first". In a tweet, Ranaut recently asked, Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?". She had tagged a September 1 news report where Raut purportedly said she should not come back to Mumbai if she was afraid of the city police. Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai, after Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir? https://t.co/5V1VQLSxh1 Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 3, 2020 The Rajya Sabha member on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to take against people defaming the city police. He had also asked Ranaut to tour the PoK first to see the situation prevailing there. Ranaut, who is currently in her home state Himachal Pradesh, also tweeted that she will be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and dared anyone to stop her. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Update on Sept. 6 at 5:58 p.m.: The Travis County Sheriffs Office said Sunday that it received reports of five boats sinking at the Trump boat parade that took place on Lake Travis on Saturday. There were no reports of injuries and there is no evidence of foul play. The sheriffs office said the first distress call came in at 12:15 p.m., only 15 minutes after the event started. Overall, the sheriffs office responded to a total of 15 distress calls and received three reports of boats taking water from a towing company. Three of the five botas that sank during the parade were towed out and two remain underwater. Weather conditions on Lake Travis were calm, the sheriffs office said. When the large number of boats began moving together, the wakes generated large waves in areas where participating boats were dense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Original post: Several boats sank during a Trump Boat Parade held on Lake Travis in Texas on Saturday. The Travis County Sheriffs Office tweeted that officials responded to multiple calls involving boats in distress during the parade. Several boats did sink, the tweet said. Officials said at least four boats sank and the distress calls came from multiple points along the parade route. Firefighters pulled some people out of the water but no injuries were immediately reported. Swamped boat near Emerald Point as hundreds of boats parade for President Donald Trump, at least three craft swamped with no injuries reported #statesman @bobphoto pic.twitter.com/eY3yyAXvyp bobphoto (@bobphoto) September 5, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Rough waters on Lake Travis as hundreds of boats in Trump boat parade. Several swaamped. #Statesman @bobphoto pic.twitter.com/DPpKKhgljF bobphoto (@bobphoto) September 5, 2020 Advertisement Hundreds took part in the boat parade to express their support for President Donald Trumps reelection. Trumps supporters have seemingly taken a liking to this type of event to come out in support of the president and boat parades have been held in several states, including Florida, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New Jersey. The boats that needed rescue were largely smaller ones that had difficulty managing the choppy conditions when so many boats started traveling together on the lake. The lake west of Austin is known for being difficult to navigate at times, and large wakes could be seen during Saturdays boat parade, notes the Austin American-Statesman. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. They say that timing is everything. Most of us will agree with that. But Id also add that rarely has that well known phrase been more dramatically illustrated than during this years opening of Iowas 2020 teal season. Setting the stage: The migration calendar actually began on Aug. 18 when the first significant influx of blue-winged teal arrived in Northern Iowa. But although the buildup was impressive, most of those birds only lingered for a day or two before continuing their southward journey. A second, though much less impressive, teal migration occurred again on Aug. 27. And then it happened. On the night of Aug. 29, blue-winged teal staged an apparent mass exodus from all points north. A sudden change in weather clear skies, bright moon, falling temps and gusty northwest winds had created the perfect storm. The resulting flight can only be described as a migration Main Event. It was the kind of web-foot invasion that duck hunters dream of. By the time the sun climbed above the horizon on Aug. 30, the change had become obvious. Marshes that had harbored few (or no) blue-wings the day before were literally covered with newly arrived birds. On North Iowas most desirable wetland habitats, waterfowl counts surged into four-digit inventories. A sight to behold, the event did not go unnoticed by area duck hunters. With less than 24 hours remaining until the seasons opener, social media outlets were alive with "duck chatter." Anticipation escalated, and by as early as 8 p.m., wildlife area parking lots were beginning to fill. When the Sept. 1 teal opener finally arrived, it was everything waterfowlers had hoped for. For many hunters, the teal flew like gnats with some parties bagging their six-duck limits in as little as 5 to 10 minutes. Not everyone enjoyed that level of fast and furious action, of course. But according to DNR Conservation Officers, the vast majority of hunters did manage to take home birds; its just that some parties just had to stick with it for an extra hour or two. Officers noted that virtually without exception, hunters were pleased with the numbers of blue-winged teal they encountered, adding that this years season opener will go down as one the best ever. From a purely recreational standpoint, Iowas special teal seasons have been a major windfall the best single change in waterfowl regulations translates into more hunters of all ages seeing more ducks in more places than at any other time of the year. Offered as a free bonus, the 16-day seasons do not subtract from traditional hunting days. The message is clear. When it comes to Iowa duck seasons, timing is everything. Enjoy more outdoor tales online at Washburns Outdoor Journal at iawildlife.org/blog Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Only 19% citizens are willing to travel this festive season (October-December), and of those who travel, only 23% are willing to commute by a flight, car or taxi, reveals a survey by a social media and community platform. The survey of 25,000 people from 239 districts of India, also stated that most people do not want to make their bookings till they get closer to their travel date. The survey conducted by LocalCircles, (a community social media platform that enables citizens to escalate issues for policy and enforcement interventions) revealed that 66% of their respondents were men while 34% respondents were women. 61% respondents were from tier-1 cities, 28% from tier-2 and 11% respondents were from tier-3 and 4 cities and rural districts. With Durga Puja, Dussehra, Diwali and Chhath festival, all incidentally falling between October and November, people in many parts of India usually plan their travel back home or vacations during this time every year. However, this year seems to look drastically different due to Covid-19. When asked about the kind of travel they plan to undertake in the upcoming festive season, 69% respondents in the survey said that they will not be travelling this year and would stay at home, 3% said they will travel to a holiday destination, 13% said they will visit family and friends, while another 3% said they will do both. The remaining 12% said that they were unsure about what they would do and hence were yet to make a decision. Nishant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip said, This year travel booking will be completely different unlike last year for the festive season. Currently people are not booking tickets in advance due to flight ticket prices being capped and uncertainty for refunds. Airlines like Vistara and GoAir have not refunded money to customers for tickets that were booked during the nationwide lockdown and have asked them to reuse the same money for travel later. As flight business is picking up, we feel that during festival times flights will get good responses as consumers think that airfares wont increase due to cap on them. Though India opened domestic air travel on May 25, daily Covid-19 cases have continued to rise during this period. The Unlock 4.0 came into effect on September 1 with relaxation in quarantine restrictions by most states, however, airline officials say that people are being cautious and unwilling to travel. MakeMyTrip, however, said that they have seen an increase in the number of flight searches for flights between metro to non-metro and metro to metro routes. Its spokesperson said, As the festive season begins October onwards, people who could not travel back home in the earlier phases of the unlock are now looking forward to visiting the home to celebrate festivities with their loved ones. We are already noticing an increase in searches for flights between metro to non-metro and metro to metro routes. Some of these routes include BengaluruKolkata, MumbaiVaranasi and Bangalore-Patna among others. However, as caseloads continue to rise in the country, the majority of travellers are preferring to book closer to the date of travel depending on various factors such as quarantine guidelines, number of cases in a particular state etc. With the recommencement of flight operations, the demand for domestic routes is picking up. We are witnessing more bookings being made for near future i.e., next two weeks. Popular metro and non-metro routes in demand include Patna, Varanasi, Lucknow and Bangalore. We can expect booking enquires to have a double-digit growth during the festive season of October-December this year, said a spokesperson for Yatra company, a travel web portal. Extinction Rebellion protest at Newsprinters in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire - Paul Grover A bitter battle is raging for control of Extinction Rebellion, with claims that the organisation is being infiltrated by far-Left groups who want it to adopt a more overtly militant socialist agenda. Evidence is emerging that Marxist groups such as the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and the Young Communist League (YCL) have instructed members to join the ranks of XR with a view to exerting a strong influence on its strategy. The SWP has encouraged its members to attend Extinction Rebellion protests and blockades in order to recruit members to its own ranks and influence the organisation away from its original aim to tackle environmental threats towards a more Marxist direction. Matters came to a head last week when members of the YCL, the youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain, were photographed at an Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square holding a banner that read Socialism not Extinction alongside a hammer and sickle. An Extinction Rebellion protest in Parliament Square - Getty Images Europe But a decision by Extinction Rebellion to issue a statement rejecting attempts to adopt a more socialist ideology prompted a backlash, with several of its regional branches and the youth wing saying that they wanted a more inclusive attitude towards Left-wing groups. That has alarmed some of its original members, who fear the influence of the far-Left will alienate many who potentially support its fight against climate change and do not want XR to be tied to any one political viewpoint. Rupert Read, a long-standing XR activist, said: Any parasitical organisation that is trying to use XR is worrying, and Im sure there are groups trying to infiltrate us. Alan Story, a member of the Green Party, reported that in April last year several SWP members began attending its meetings in Sheffield. He reproduced an internal SWP memo that urged its members: Go to your local XR meeting - and get stuck in! XR report that around 30,000 people have joined them in the last few weeks. This means local XR meetings are likely to be big and full of new people. Story continues The memo urged SWP militants to recruit XR members while at the same time exerting a more socialist influence within the climate change movement, under the slogan System change not climate change. Writing in the London Left Green Blog page Mr Story warned: While new ideas are definitely required, what XR does NOT need is an outside organisation of experienced and disciplined political operators to enter it with the usual SWP objectives in mind: recruiting new members, manipulation, stirring up disputes and splits, capturing leadership roles and the like. XR was originally formed in late 2018 by activists involved in direct action groups including Occupy, Plane Stupid and Reclaim the Power. It advocated revolution, and redistribution of wealth, and was regarded by senior police officers as being an extremist anarchist group. An XR protest at the Docklands Light Railway last month - AFP Its tactics, which began with 6,000 protesters blocking London's five main bridges, have been to cause maximum disruption for short periods using non-violent direct action, with targets ranging from Shells headquarters, London Fashion Week, the Stock Exchange and even the Docklands Light Railway. Each target, the group claims, represented organisations that were contributing to the degradation of the environment. Such was its support that a number of celebrities, including Emma Thompson, openly featured in their campaigns. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is also one of several stars to have visited the protest sites during previous demonstrations, with others including model Daisy Lowe, comedian Ruby Wax and actors Juliet Stevenson and Mark Rylance. The actress Juliet Stevenson spoke at a protest in Tufton Street, Westminster - PA On Friday night, the group blockaded printing sites that prevented many national newspapers - including The Telegraph - from being delivered. Yesterday, Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP and former Defence Minister, told Times Radio that XR had "lost sight of how to campaign". He said: "The Government has done much itself but obviously could do more and we need to work with the people to get that message across so we all can be more aware of the carbon footprint that we create. "But what they're doing here is to alienate more people. I fear the organisation itself has been hijacked." A spokesman for XR told The Telegraph: We fully support the action, which was organised by XR members in the north west and the south east of England. It was nothing to do with far-left infiltration. Ohios Republican-run House and Senate returned to the Statehouse Tuesday and said, in so many words, they need more time to think about repealing the $60 million Ohio purchase House Bill 6. It requires Ohio electricity consumers to bail out two nuclear power plants. State legislators seem to think they know better than voters do whats good for Ohioans. Thats the same patronizing attitude that got HB 6 passed last year. When working Ohioans want something, the General Assemblys reply always seems to be, Whats the big rush? But when the Powers That Be want something, General Assemblys reply always seems to be, Yes, sir! The U.S. attorneys office for Southern Ohio has called HB 6 a racketeering conspiracy involving approximately $60 million to pass and uphold a billion-dollar nuclear plant bailout. That alleged conspiracy led a federal grand jury to indict Republican ex-House Speaker Larry Householder, of Perry Countys Glenford, and four other Ohio political figures. Householder and the others are presumed innocent unless convicted. HB 6 requires Ohio electricity consumers to bail out the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear power plants, once owned by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., plus two coal-fueled power plants owned by a group of utilities, including FirstEnergy and American Electric Power Co. New House Speaker Robert Cupp, a Lima Republican, sent proposed HB 6 repeals to a new House Select Committee on Energy Policy and Oversight. Otherwise, the repeal bills might have landed in one of two standing committees: Public Utilities (chaired by Rep. Jamie Callender, a Lake County Republican who co-sponsored HB 6; the Perry nuclear plant is in his district), or Energy and Natural Resources, chaired by Rep. Nino Vitale, an Urbana Republican with a zest for publicity. Northeast Ohio Republicans whom Cupp named to the special House HB 6 committee are Rep. Mark Romanchuck, of Mansfield, whos running for an open Senate seat that represents Medina and Ashland counties; and fellow GOP Reps. Dick Stein, of Norwalk, and Scott Wiggam, of Wooster. Romanchuck voted no on HB 6 last year; Stein and Wiggam voted yes. Northeast Ohio Democrats Cupp named to the HB 6 committee are Reps. Kent Smith, of Euclid, and Casey Weinstein, of Hudson. They both voted no on HB 6 last year. The state Senates HB 6 repeal bills were sent to the Senates Energy and Public Utilities Committee, chaired by Republican Sen. Steve Wilson, a Warren County banker. Wilson said in July that Householder had breached the trust of Ohioans but that HB 6 was good public policy for the future of energy in our state, [and] I was proud to work on it. Questions, ratepayers? Perhaps General Assembly Republicans who voted for HB 6 42 of the Houses 61 Republicans, 16 of the Senates 24 Republicans may bet the presidential campaign will distract anti-HB 6 voters. A presidential winner can bolster his or her party at the Statehouse. When President Donald Trump carried Ohio in 2016, Republicans captured 66 Ohio House seats, their post-1966 high-water mark. When President Barack Obama carried Ohio in 2008, Democrats for the only time in the last 25 years captured a narrow Ohio House majority, led by Beachwood Democrat Armond Budish, now Cuyahoga Countys executive. Maybe HB 6s Statehouse godparents are correct. Maybe Ohio ratepayers, distracted by the jugglers and clowns of presidential politicking, will forget about HB 6. Distractions worked like a charm in Washington. It could work just as well at the Statehouse; no shortage of clowns there. This Labor Day, the real Statehouse priorities Black Clevelander John Patterson Green (1845-1940) is the father of Labor Day. As a Republican member of Ohios House, Green won passage in 1890 of a bill establishing Labor Day as an Ohio holiday. (Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1892.) This Labor Day weekend, public officials will likely praise working Ohioans, praise thats been well-earned. Meanwhile, U.S. median household income in 2019, the Census Bureaus American Community Survey reports, was $61,937. In Ohio, it was 9% less $56,111. Still, the General Assembly gives businesses sweet tax breaks and subsidies (and HB 6 is one). Ohioans work harder than ever for less. At the Statehouse, whos working for them? Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474 Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com Victorians have been warned daily COVID-19 cases might not be low enough by mid-September to safely ease restrictions, raising the prospect of more months under lockdown. University of Melbourne modelling says based on current levels of social distancing, the 14-day case average is likely to be around 63 cases by the middle of the month. The modelling released by the state government overnight on Sept. 5 argues re-opening at this point would risk a resurgence, undoing all the gains achieved from lockdown. On Sept. 4, Victorias 14-day case average was 116. On Sept. 6, it recorded 63 new cases and five more deaths. This takes the states total fatalities to 666 and the national death toll to 753. Premier Daniel Andrews was on Sunday expected to outline a pathway out of stage four restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and stage three restrictions for regional Victoria. The restrictions, which were imposed for six weeks in August were due to end on Sept. 13. The government was holding meetings late into Saturday night to nail down how and when Melbourne and regional Victoria will come out of their lockdowns. The Victorian community and especially Melburnians, who have been subject to nightly curfews, workforce shutdowns, limits to local travel and bans on social visits, want relief. The government has already flagged that single people who live alone could be permitted to have a visitor as concerns grow about the mental health effects of prolonged social isolation. Andrews said on Sept. 5 the pathway out of the lockdown will give us a COVID normal, that we can lock in so that as we look to Christmas and to 2021 we have every confidence we can have a stable set of rules. Discontent in some quarters has grown throughout Melbournes lockdown, with some expressing opposition to the premiers approach. Police arrested 17 people and issued at least 160 fines on Sept. 5 for taking part in a rally against lockdown in central Melbourne. You are here: World Flash Pandemic deniers held a protest in the Italian capital on Saturday, drawing a few thousand people near the Circus Maximus in the historic center. Organizers included the far-right Forza Nuova (FN) party, the anti-vax movement, and virus-denying civic groups, which complained about all precautionary measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. None of the protesters at the demonstration was seen wearing a face mask. The rally sparked condemnation by authorities. "Today we have people gathering in Rome, who think the pandemic does not exist," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during an annual event in Rome broadcast live online. "We answered them with figures: more than 274,000 people infected, and over 35,000 dead. Period." Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Rome mayor Virginia Raggi were among the other political leaders condemning the protest. The event came amid concerns for a limited but constant rise in coronavirus infections registered in the last five weeks, as official data and the latest monitoring report by Italy's National Health Institute (ISS) showed. In the daily statistical update late on Saturday, the Health Ministry confirmed 276,338 coronavirus cases in the country overall, with an increase of 1,695 cases over the last 24 hours, and 35,534 fatalities. Meanwhile, doctors at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan said 83-year-old former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was admitted to the hospital late on Thursday after being tested positive for the coronavirus, was in stable condition. "His clinical conditions remain stable," Alberto Zangrillo, head of the general and cardiovascular intensive care unit, said in a bulletin. MUMBAI: Actor Rhea Chakraborty has once again been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday (September 7) to join the investigation in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The actress was grilled for almost six hours on Sunday by the NCB at its Mumbai office in connection with the drug abuse linked to Sushant death case. According to sources, Rhea was questioned by the agency about the drug dealing and if she was using Sushant's money to procure or sell drugs. The agency also reportedly questioned her about the WhatsApp chat in which she had reportedly spoken about drug requirement. We bring to you some of the questions that was out before Rhea by the NCB during today's interrogation: Did your brother Showik Chakraborty purchase drugs at your behest? Which all drugs and how many times were they purchased by Showik at your insistence? Did you also ask Samuel Miranda to purchase drugs on your behalf? Did you ask Dipesh Sawant to purchase drugs for you? Were you used to consume drugs? Who used to pay for these drugs and through what medium? Did Sushant Singh Rajput use to take drugs? Why did you not stop Sushant Singh Rajput if he was taking drugs? Meanwhile, in a build up that could spell further trouble for Rhea, sources told Zee News that Dipesh Sawant has agreed to become a government approver in the drug abuse case linked to Sushant Singh Rajput. Dipesh, who has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau sleuths, confessed of buying drugs at Rhea's behest. As per NCB, Dipesh has confessed that on March 17, 2020, on the instructions of Showik Chakraborty, Dipesh went to Miranda's house and received a delivery of 5 grams of ganja from Zaid in Bandra. Further, on April 17, Rhea and Showik ordered him to collect delivery of 10-gram charas from Kaizan. This delivery was received near Mount Blanc building which is Sushant's house. On May 1, Showik asked Dipesh to receive ganja from a person called Dwayne after which Dipesh received 50-gram charas from Dwayne the next day, according to NCB. The NCB further said that in the first week of June, Dipesh received 100-gram ganja from a delivery boy named Rishikesh Pawar. Earlier yesterday, a court had sent Dipesh Sawant to the Narcotics Control Bureau's custody till September 9. The NCB officials had taken Dipesh Sawant for medical examination before producing him before the court. Dipesh Sawant was arrested on September 5, based on statements and digital evidence. Actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik are being questioned by the NCB in connection with the procurement of drugs. [Reports by: Ankur Tyagi, Nityananda Sharma, Rajiv Ranjan] Advertisement More than 200 people were rescued by helicopters overnight into early Sunday after they got trapped by the raging Creek Fire near Mammoth Pool Reservoir northeast of Fresno, California. The people got trapped at the reservoir at the Sierra National Forest as the rapid-spreading wildfire cut off the only escape route and they were advised to shelter in place, and even jump into the water to avoid the flames. On Sunday Blackhawk helicopters and at least one Chinook flew to rescue the people surrounded by the blaze and took them to the National Guard base at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport. A total of 207 people were airlifted from the Mammoth Pool area to Fresno, Forest Service spokesman Daniel Tune said to KSEE. At least 20 people were injured in the blaze, some of them critically. Two people stayed behind, refusing to be evacuated. 'There were several critical patients. Some with broken bones. Some with burns. Many with lacerations and abrasions,' Fresno County EMS Director Dan Lynch said. The Creek fire has burned 45,500 acres and is zero percent contained, the U.S. Forest Service said on Sunday. More than 200 people were rescued by helicopters overnight into early Sunday after they got trapped by the raging Creek Fire near Mammoth Pool Reservoir northeast of Fresno, California. The rescue effort pictured above On Sunday Blackhawk helicopters and at least one Chinook flew to rescue the people surrounded by the blaze and took them to the National Gard base at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport where they were medically assessed At least 20 people were injured in the blaze, some of them critically. 'There were several critical patients. Some with broken bones. Some with burns. Many with lacerations and abrasions,' Fresno County EMS Director Dan Lynch said General Daniel Hokanson of the 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau praised the rescue effort as 'simply extraordinary' sharing a photo from inside one of the rescue helicopters on Sunday A total of 800 personnel along with 25 engines, five hand crews, three dozers, two helicopters and three air tankers have responded to the blaze. The National Guard along with the fire and law enforcement agencies from Fresno and Madera counties conducted the rescue operation. 'Simply extraordinary, lifesaving work by the @CalGuard airlifting more than 200 people to safety overnight from the imminent danger of the #CreekFire The National Guard stands Always Ready, Always There to support our communities and nation in times of need,' General Daniel Hokanson of the 29th Chief of the National Guard Bureau tweeted Sunday morning with a photo of people backed inside a helicopter. The fire sparked around 6.45pm PDT on Friday and forced evacuations in Fresno and Madera Counties. By Sunday the Creek Fire grew to more than 71 square miles. As of early Sunday the blaze is 0 percent contained and the cause is being investigated. Officials initially said Saturday that more than 150 people were cut off at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir in the Forest. Fire radio traffic indicated that multiple people had sustained burn injuries and others broken bones in the Creek Fire, and were being rescued by helicopter. The first National Guard Chinook to depart was loaded more than 50 people, with up to 20 of them requiring immediate medical transport, scanner traffic indicated. In a statement, the Sierra National Forrest said that 53 individuals were initially rescued from the Mammoth Pool boat launch area, and will be evaluated for injuries. Madera County officials said Sunday over 200 people were evacuated and 20 people were sent to hospitals. Two people refused evacuations CA Army National Guard Flight Facility shared these images showing CW5 Goding, CW2 Hernandez and WOC Xiong flying into the #creekfire to help rescue stranded personnel on Sunday General Daniel Hokanson shared this photo Saturday night from the cockpit of a California National Guard Chinook before rescuing people trapped by the Creek Fire The California National Guard shared video showing dozens of rescued people dismounting from a helicopter to safety in Fresno A National Guard Chinook arrives to rescue trapped campers in Sierra National Forrest on Saturday. The chopper loaded more than 50 people, with up to 20 of them requiring immediate medical transport, scanner traffic indicated The Creek fire has burned 45,500 acres and is zero percent contained, the U.S. Forest Service said on Sunday Smoke from both the #DolanFire in Big Sur and the much larger #CreekFire in the Sierra will continue to travel over our area today, which will only complicate air quality conditions. For more information on PM concentrations in the Bay Area, please refer to @AirDistrict #CaWx pic.twitter.com/3STz991Npe NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) September 6, 2020 Fresno officials shared this map Sunday of the Creek Fire's extent One Twitter user shared horrifying video driving in a car through the Sierra National Forest surrounded by flames on all sides on Saturday. She said a forest ranger led them down the road to safety. 'A backpacking trip cut short by unforeseen thunder, ash rain, and having to drive through literal fire to evacuate #SierraNationalForest in time,' she posted. Lindsey Abbott was camping with her family near Whisky Falls in Madera County when the fire forced them to flee and they got lost, surrounded by the inferno. 'It was so hot, you feel the flames going through the window,' she said. 'Seeing all the fire that had completely covered our main road, I thought, "Man, I don't know what we are going to do or where we were going to go or how this is going to end,"' she added. A stranger found them and guided them to safety. On Sunday the Fresno County Sheriffs Office ordered a mandatory evacuation for the Shaver Lake area from Shaver Lake to Littlefield Road. Earlier evacuations were ordered for all of Huntington Lake, Camp Sierra and Big Creek. In Madera County evacuations were ordered in Cascadel Woods, Kinsman Flat subdivision, Mammoth Pool, Whisky Falls, Clover Meadow, Arnold Meadows, Minarets, all campgrounds off Minarets Road, all campgrounds off Beasore Road north of Grizzley Road. Labor Day weekend campers were trapped near Mammoth Pool Reservoir in Sierra National Park on Saturday after the Creek Fire exploded and blocked off escape routes Smoke from the Creek Fire billows beyond a ridge as seen from Huntington Lake on Saturday The Creek Fire is threatening a range of mountain resources, including structures, communities and power lines. The wildfire burning near Shaver Lake exploded to 56 square miles, jumped a river and compromised the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman Dan Tune said. At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area about 290 miles north of Los Angeles, where temperatures in the city's San Fernando Valley reached 117 degrees. Tune said the campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews, aided by water-dropping aircraft, could gain access to the site. Tune said he didn't know how close the fire was burning to the campsite. 'All our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them,' he said. A sweltering heat wave in California is only compounding the natural crisis the state is seeing as record temperatures this summer and dry lightning sparked dozens of wildfires. Cal Fire said nearly 12,500 firefighters were battling 22 major fires in the state. People park their trucks as traffic comes to a stop at Highway CA-168 and Lodge Road on Saturday, the bottom of the 'four-lane,' as residents are evacuated near Shaver Lake Plumes of smoke rise into the sky as a wildfire burns on the hills near Shaver Lake Saturday. The fire jumped a ridge and has cut off the only evacuation route from Mammoth Pool And the heat wave will only continue with temperatures of 125F expected through Monday along with high winds in some areas, which could threaten greater fire danger. Pacific Gas & Electric, the states largest utility, warned customers it might cut power on Monday and Tuesday due to the extreme heat. PG&E said its potential power shut-offs may impact parts of 17 counties, which would include about 103,000 customers. The California Independent System Operator (ISO) declared a "Stage 2" power emergency late on Saturday, warning that rotating power outages were possible amid a record heat wave. A Stage 2 power emergency means the ISO has taken all mitigating actions but can no longer provide its expected energy requirements. California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday declared a state of emergency, a proclamation that allows power plants to operate beyond normal limits through the three-day holiday weekend. A tanker plane is seen fighting the Creek Fire in California on Saturday Smoke from a wildfire rises into the air near Shaver Lake, California on Saturday. The fires in the Sierra National Forest have prompted an evacuation orders Traffic comes to a stop at Highway CA-168 and Lodge Road as people are evacuated and roads closed because of a wildfire Saturday in Sierra National Forrest Smoke from the wildfires over California pictured above Sunday The state of California was enveloped in heavy smoke last night as the Creek Fire raged A wildfire that broke out near Shaver Lake in the Sierra National Forest has prompted evacuation orders as authorities urged people seeking relief from the Labor Day weekend heat wave to stay away from the popular lake The wildfire burning near Shaver Lake exploded to 56 square miles, jumped a river and compromised the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground State officials urged Californians to turn off unnecessary appliances and lights to help avoid blackouts from an overwhelmed power grid. Authorities also asked power generators to delay any maintenance until after the weekend to prevent blackouts like the two nights of rolling outages in mid-August as residents cranked up their air conditioning. California has seen 900 wildfires since August 15, many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightening strikes. The blazes have burned more than 1.5 million acres (2,343 square miles). There have been eight fire deaths and nearly 3,300 structures destroyed. Want to stop worrying so much about the future of California? Go and say a prayer at Howard Jarvis house. No historic plaques mark the five-bedroom home at 515 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., which sits between West Hollywood and Los Angeles Miracle Mile. But this is where the famed anti-tax activist Jarvis lived, held meetings with Gov. Jerry Brown and other California players and organized Proposition 13, 1978s tax-limiting ballot initiative that still dominates California politics. Another fall fight over Prop. 13 is under way. The November ballots Proposition 15 proposes to lift Prop. 13 caps on taxing commercial properties, thus creating depending on whom you ask either billions of dollars for education or new burdens for businesses. So, recently, I went over to check on the historic house and got an unexpected lesson about how California and its homes keep changing, even if its initiative politics never do. Jarvis undistinguished gray house is now Nechung Dharmapala, L.A.s Tibetan Buddhist Center. The home has been painted a distinctive shade of orange associated with Buddhism. Above the front windows, two deer flank a wheel representing the dharma and a small stupa a hemispheric structure representing the enlightened mind rests outside the front door. Inside, bedrooms are occupied by two monks, one an administrator, and the other the centers spiritual director. The large living room where Jarvis once conducted the angriest California politics of the 20th century has been turned into a 21st century sanctuary for lessons on the renunciation of ego, the development of compassion and the possibility of enlightenment for all beings. At first, the homes political past and religious present seemed discordant, but the more I contemplated the place, the more I began to see the continuities and connections. Indeed, 515 N. Crescent Heights Blvd. has become a double monument to both the perils of revolutions and the paradoxes of protection. Prop. 13 was a great victory of a conservative California revolution that promised protection against rising taxes, especially the property taxes that raise the cost of homes and thus displace people. The paradox is that the protector Prop. 13 hasnt protected us from Californias high taxes or extortionate housing prices. Protection is also Nechung Dharmapalas reason for being. This Buddhist center is associated with Tibets centuries-old Nechung Monastery, which is the headquarters of the state oracle of Tibet, who embodies the deity Pehar, also known as The Protector of Religion. Of course, the Protector Pehar couldnt stop Chinese communists from destroying Nechung Monastery and Tibets other religious sites after the 1949 revolution. But therein lies the paradox. The communists attacks on religion actually protected the faith. Tibetan Buddhists fled, spreading their teachings and establishing centers around the globe, eventually reaching Howard Jarvis front door. Jarvis Tudor-style house was built in 1925, according to county records. Jarvis, a Utah native and Jack Mormon (he drank cheap vodka he carried in his briefcase), bought it in 1941 for $8,000. He stayed there for the rest of his life, through at least one renovation and three marriages, the last to Estelle Garcia. During the 1970s and 1980s, Jarvis held court in a big comfortable chair, smoking a cigar and eating Estelles corn soup, while distinguished visitors sat on simple sofas. The house was filled with energy and the conviction that a handful of people, without holding office, could upend the world. There were some curses, but no prayers, recalls the Jarvis aide Joel Fox, who also served for a time as president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which remains a force, leading this falls campaign to fight Prop. 15, and thus protect Prop. 13. Prop. 13 governs modern California because it controls the money: specifically, it requires a two-thirds popular vote to raise local taxes, and a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise state taxes. But most Californians associate it with its property tax provisions, which cap overall taxes and allow for the reassessment of properties at market value only when they are sold. When Prop. 13 passed, Jarvis 3,000-square-foot home, on a 5,900-square-foot-lot in a desirable part of L.A.s Westside which hed bought nearly 40 years earlier was assessed at less than $60,000. Its annual tax bills, based on that low base, would stay below $1,000, even as neighboring homeowners paid 10 times that. In 2005, the home assessed value for tax purposes was $75,854; in 2006, after Estelle died (Jarvis himself had passed back in 1986), it was reassessed at $1.25 million. The Nechung Kuten, who is also the chief state oracle of Tibet, had visited Los Angeles in 2007 and 2009 and called for the establishment of a center where Tibetans, Mongolians and Westerners could study and practice Buddhism in a nonsectarian way. A donor stepped forward to fund a center, but finding the right place with both a big gathering room and small bedrooms quiet enough for monks was hard. Until a real estate agent took them to 515 N. Crescent Heights Blvd. They bought the house in 2013 for $1.38 million. It took more than a year to redecorate the home in a Tibetan style, construct the shrine and install the Buddha statues. In 2014, the center opened, and the space is often full. In Jarvis old living room, resident teacher Geshe Wangchuk now presides. He became a monk at age 12 (with ordination at the Nechung Monastery re-established in Dharamsala, India) and arrived at Nechung L.A. in 2016. Hes skilled not only in explaining Buddhist philosophy but also in the creation of sand mandalas and butter sculptures. The team at Nechung L.A. had no idea of the houses history, and knew nothing of Jarvis. In a conversation with Nechung L.A.s board secretary, Tenzin Thokme, I found myself starting to explain Prop. 13, and then why Prop 15 is in the news. But my explanations were mostly just questions. Might Prop. 15 pull a few billion more dollars out of commercial property and into the schools? Or might the initiatives many exemptions be exploited by wealthy property owners? Might this measure at the very least make a symbolic strike against Prop. 13 or will the whole exercise just reinforce Prop 13s power? But if I understood Geshe Wangchuk, the recognition that I have more questions than answers is OK. Because uncertainty about what comes next, for me or for a proposition or for a house, might be the most powerful answer we ever get. Je Tsongkhapa taught it best 600 years ago: If the entire object of grasping at certitude is dismantled, at that point your analysis of the view has culminated. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. Even as we go eyeball-to-eyeball with China in Ladakh, the official word in Washington is of regret over US indulgence of capitalism with Chinese characteristics. It has been acknowledged as Americas biggest error of foreign policy in four decades, now that Beijings hegemonic designs have been exposed, a conclusion that has bipartisan support in the US. This geopolitical context has opened an opportunity for India, one that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has displayed a strong will to capitalize on. Addressing the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum last week, he called upon American corporations to diversify their global supply chains and pitched India as an alternative to China. The pandemic has also shown the world that a decision on developing global supply chains should be based not only on cost," he said, [It] should also be based on trust." The message was not lost on anyone: If China was cheap, India was reliable. The red carpet rolled out thus was made of sterner stuff, he implied, a weave of mutual values rather than a flimsy patchwork of savings. If Republican Richard Nixons White House is remembered for forging the Sino-US ties that led Western capital into the Peoples Republic, the same partys Donald Trump administration may yet go down in history for curtailing them, if not snapping them off entirely. Even the Democrat contender for the US presidency, Joe Biden, is reportedly keen to do so. It could be argued that Chinas manufacturing supremacy is irreversible. It accounts for more than a quarter of the worlds factory output, a chunk of it done for US firms. But, after Trumps tariff war and the corona disruption, such enterprises must be aware of the risks of depending heavily on China as a source of supply. Many have begun to spread their input networks and production units around other parts of East Asia. India has made some gains, too, but needs to win a series of big-ticket investments for Make in India" to acquire a magnetic pull, emerge as a global manufacturing hub, and generate jobs. Our red carpet, however, would need reinforcement. Just offering tax incentives and plug-and-play" parcels of land with bundles of ready approvals, as proposed, is unlikely to prove enough. Indias advances on the Ease of Doing Business have lost some weight, as the survey itself has suffered a loss of credibility, lately. Unless a coherent set of reforms aimed at market efficiency are carried out, perceptions of India being a tough business environment might persist. The policy stability that Modi assured US investors, for example, must square with tariff fluctuations and trade curbs under the new thrust for self-reliance. Integration with global chains is best done by letting cheap inputs enter without barriers (or export obligations), but we still have high and even inverted duty structures in many sectors. This needs fixing. Also, we need to shake off Indias reputation for operational delays. This calls for robust infrastructure. It also requires us to slash thickets of regulatory red tape. A study suggests that employers have to contend with more than 1,500 laws that necessitate more than 69,000 compliances and over 6,600 filings every year, most of them at the state level. Above all, we need a domestic economy to expand at its full potential. To achieve this, we may need structural changes that could eventually let the bulk of our resources be allocated by free interactions of demand and supply, and not by any central authority. Theres plenty to be done. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The officer who was stabbed by a now deceased suspected shoplifter at a near Northwest Side H-E-B on Friday was identified Saturday afternoon. The injured officer is Corey Rogers, a four-year veteran. He has been released from the hospital, the San Antonio Police Department announced. Rogers responded to a call of a shoplifter at the H-E-B at 2118 Fredericksburg Road at 2:37 p.m. The identity of the suspected shoplifter, a 61-year-old man, has not been released, as officials are trying to notify his family. Rogers, H-E-B loss prevention officer Michael Rios and off-duty Floresville police officer Roland Casillas were escorting the man out of the store. Once in front of Rogers patrol car, the man started looking into his backpack and going through his pockets, officials said Saturday. Rogers told him to place the items he was removing from his pockets into his backpack, which the man did, and then the man moved to the side of the patrol car. When Rogers told him to come back to the front of the car, the man moved toward Rogers, saying he would not go to jail, officials said. He then lunged at Rogers very suddenly, very quickly, stabbing him in the face, Police Chief William McManus said Friday. The man then placed Rogers in a chokehold while attempting to slit his throat, officials said. It was quite a vicious attack, McManus said Friday after watching the footage from the police cruisers dash camera. He came back hard at the officer. It wasnt a sneak attack, or surprise attack. He rushed the officer and stabbed him in the face and then fought afterward. The suspect then stabbed Rogers in the torso, but the officer was wearing a protective vest. Rios and Casillas went to help Rogers, with the suspect using Rogers as a shield while dragging him backward, away from the men. When Rios and Casillas intervened, the suspect stabbed Rios in the head, officials said. Rogers then broke free. The suspect repeated that he was not going to jail and advanced toward the three men. Multiple shots then were fired by Rios and Casillas at the suspect, stopping him. The suspect died at the scene, officials said. Rogers was taken to San Antonio Military Medical Center, officials said Friday, passing out on the way there because of a loss of blood. Rios also was taken to the hospital Friday. The suspect is believed to have been wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault, officials said Saturday. 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 Gambling marshals patrolling poker machine venues across the state are being considered by the NSW government after a Sydney RSL club was forced to install them but no other club has followed suit. An appeal for the marshals called Why Just Dee Why is led by Joy Van Duinen, whose son, Gary, died from suicide following a poker machine binge at Dee Why RSL in 2018. Gambling constraint advocates (from left) Benjamin Hamilton, Joy Van Duinen and Troy Stoltz. Credit:Janie Barrett She is supported by ClubsNSW whistleblower Troy Stoltz, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie, and Benjamin Hamilton, a founder of the gambling reform group, Kickin' The Punt. Poker machine users should be protected in all venues, Ms Van Duinen said, and not just Dee Why RSL. Post World War I, the USSR allowed the Baltic people to establish independent states and on this day, i.e. September 6, back in 1991 Soviet Union officially recognised independence for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It was half a century after carving up the heart of Europe in secret with Nazi Germany that the USSR recognised the independence of the three unbowed Baltic states. The decision made by Soviet President Mikhail S Gorbachev was the first concrete episode in the breakup of the Soviet state that he was struggling mightily to prevent. ON THIS DAY On September 6, 1991, the #SovietUnion recognized the independence of the #Baltic States - forcibly incorporated into the Union in 1940. This was the first action by the Republic leaders recognizing the emerging disintegration of the Soviet Union. #OTD pic.twitter.com/x8LEjM7bZV Lossi 36 (@36_lossi) September 6, 2020 READ: Germany Launched Its First V-2 Missile At France On This Day In 1944; Read Unique Features The Baltic states were first occupied and annexed by Nazi Germany. However, after their annexation, the USSR reoccupied the Baltic territories in 1944 and maintained control there until the states regained their independence nearly 40 years later in the aftermath of the Soviet coup of 1991. Between 1940 and 1987, the Soviet Union carried out a process of 'Sovietization' which aimed to weaken the national identities of the Baltic people. From large-scale industrialisation to mass deportation, the Soviet Union directed attacks on culture, religion and freedom of expression. The Soviets made large capital investments for energy resources and the manufacture of industrial and agricultural products. Departure of Baltic republics inevitable Postwar socioeconomic policies transformed all three countries from predominantly rural societies into largely urbanized countries. However, by the 1970s the Baltic area had emerged as a hotbed of anti-Soviet dissent. On several occasions, riots and unsanctioned anti-regime demonstrations occurred. The attempts to reform the system during the second half of the 1980s under the guidance of Gorbachev created a new situation in the Baltic lands. READ: Google Was Founded On This Day In 1998; Know The Stanford University Students Behind It It was in 1988 that mass movements for change emerged in each of the Baltic republics: the Popular Front of Estonia, the Popular Front of Latvia and the Lithuanian Movement for Reconstruction. A year after, their elected representatives at the Congress of Peoples Deputies in Moscow formally raised the question of the illegality of the incorporation of the Baltic states into the USSR. Elections in 1990, then resulted in pro-independence majorities in all three baltic legislatures. (Image: @1111truth777/Twitter) In the wake of the campaign and elections, Gorbachevs government had privately concluded that the departure of the Baltic republics had become inevitable. The process also contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, setting a precedent for other Soviet republics to secede from the USSR. On September 6, 1991, USSR then finally recognised the independence of the three Baltic States, following which troops were withdrawn from the region. READ: NASAs Viking 2 Marked The Second US Landing On Mars On This Day In 1976: Read More READ: Vietnam Declared Its Independence From France On This Day In 1945: Read More THE CHEESEMONGER: Originally from Carlow, Mark Murphy went to Dingle for a day 17 years ago and has been there ever since. The Co Kerry gem has that effect on people. It's a magical place with a wonderful food scene, which Mark became heavily involved with, including the annual Dingle Food Festival, the weekly farmer's market, and the Dingle Cookery School, which he started six years ago with Muireann Nic Giolla Ruaidh. Three years ago, he also took over The Little Cheese Shop, which is a delight. "When Covid hit, the cookery school had to close. I was very nervous, I had no idea what was going to happen. I had bought quite a bit of stock for the shop, some of which was perishable," said Mark. "It came at the time of year when Dingle would have been getting ready to get into full swing, but instead it almost emptied, the streets were quiet." Mark decided to stay open as it was a food shop and was allowed to under the guidelines. He was behind the counter every hour it was open due to the fact that the cookery school was closed. "The local community were brilliant, they continued to support me and all local shops. I picked up several new customers and during the lockdown did deliveries every evening - cheese on wheels. Our season has been short since lockdown lifted but it has been very busy," he said. "Like everyone, I am very cautious of the next while. I am hopeful that if I can continue to keep making The Little Cheese Shop better, and can keep my doors open, I stand a good chance of surviving." dinglecheeseshop@gmail.com THE PRODUCER Expand Close Jane Russell: Jane Russell's Sausages, Kilcullen, Co Kildare. Photo: Philip Doyle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jane Russell: Jane Russell's Sausages, Kilcullen, Co Kildare. Photo: Philip Doyle Based in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, Jane Russell has been making her eponymous handmade breakfast and dinner sausages for the past 16 years. She told me how she's been coping through the pandemic. "We had a strong mix of retail and restaurant sales, but, literally overnight we lost all our restaurant sales - about 40pc of the business," she said. "We have a small team of three long-term employees and we make everything by hand in the traditional way to ensure the highest quality. "I remember these couple of weeks being quite stressful, but stopping even briefly wasn't an option as we couldn't risk losing our regular, loyal customers. So, with the help of our Local Enterprise Board we launched an online shop and by the middle of April were shipping cool-boxes full of sausages around the country. "It's a delight to pack a 'birthday' or 'thank you' gift. We also offer a click-and-collect option and participate in the Grangecon and Kildare NeighbourFood markets." Jane enjoys a good relationship with chefs, supplying a bespoke service making specific recipes for some, a certain size or shape for others, or maybe her fennel and chilli sausages for pasta sauces and ragu. Food service has been slow to recover, but Jane is hopeful. Retail sales have continued to be strong and it's good to hear that independent retailers have made sure small suppliers are being paid in advance to help with cash flow. "In such uncertain times, we are grateful our sausages continue to be put on our customers' weekly shopping lists." janerussells.ie THE RESTAURANT Expand Close Anna Cabrera and Vanessa Murphy: Las Tapas de Lola, Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anna Cabrera and Vanessa Murphy: Las Tapas de Lola, Dublin Dubliner Vanessa Murphy and her Spanish partner Anna Cabrera own one of Dublin's most popular restaurants, Las Tapas de Lola on vibrant Wexford Street. "We're an industry of optimists. We're always looking for the positives in the negatives - translating to, 'We're open, let's throw everything we can at it.' We've 45pc less people walking through the door, but it's great to be open again," said Vanessa. "We closed our doors in March and the first few weeks were spent scrambling to ensure our team was sorted, our suppliers and our landlord. It was a minefield navigating all the new government initiatives. In fairness, they responded quickly with paying out staff, but so much more needs to be done." Having created a safe environment in compliance with all regulations and staff training, they reopened on July 1, and say the support they've received has been amazing. "We were asked recently what forecasted loss we expected between now and December. We don't think anyone in this industry is forecasting beyond the end of the week," Vanessa said. "If we don't see a realistic stimulus package for our industry in the next few months - reduction in VAT, re-evaluation of the Wage Subsidy Scheme, to name two - we'll be seeing a lot of closures. "We're expected to be 30pc or more down to receive the subsidy on a monthly basis. Crazy in an industry where margins are already so tight that a swing of 10pc would close a business. We're told this will be reviewed in the October budget, but October is a long way away. But the optimist always comes through. In our hearts we think, 'We'll make it, if we fight it together.' In our heads, we ask: 'Are we mad?'" lastapasdelola.com THE HOTEL Expand Close Paul Diver: Sandhouse Hotel, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paul Diver: Sandhouse Hotel, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal Like every other hotelier in Donegal, and indeed the country, Paul Diver of the majestic Sandhouse Hotel, which stands proud over the beach at Rossnowlagh, said it was with a heavy heart that they closed their doors on March 17. "Little did we know that we would be closed for over four months. During that time we maintained our core staff and undertook a redecoration programme," he said. "The hardest part of being closed was the difficult phone calls to loyal customers cancelling their cherished business. During the lockdown, we worked very closely with the Irish Hotels Federation and Failte Ireland to develop a code of practice for reopening. "It became very clear that our business model was going to change drastically and we had to make some difficult decisions. We had spent the last 10 years building up local business for our bar and restaurant, which we would not be able to cater for. We had to make the decision to reopen solely for residents. "This meant closing the front door, which went against everything we had built up over the previous 10 years. Thankfully, this decision worked and we were able to re-employ all our staff." Paul said the feedback from residents was overwhelming. "Many were nervous travelling but felt secure and safe when they arrived, given that the hotel was exclusively for residents and all of the staff had completed the Failte Ireland Covid training charter. "The majority of July guests rebooked for September, and the majority of August guests either rebooked or extended their stay. This, together with Failte Ireland's autumn marketing campaign, has given us a lot of confidence going into the shoulder season. "We just hope the Government communicates through Failte Ireland and the IHF to avoid the confusion caused by recent announcements." sandhouse.ie Japan is keen to support Egypt in its green energy agenda, as well as digital transition, which is key to combatting the impacts and spread of coronavirus Egypts Ministry of International Cooperation, together with representatives of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese Embassy in Cairo, organised a virtual high-level policy dialogue to deepen levels of cooperation for 2021/2022, where development projects will be implemented across several sectors including health, agriculture, aviation, electricity, transportation, and the environment, alongside the promotion of knowledge exchange in science and technology. Several representatives of Japanese institutions as well as 41 representatives from a number of Egyptian ministries attended the event. During the meeting, Assistant Minister of International Cooperation for Planning and Strategic Studies Randa Hamzeh, on behalf of the Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, presented the ministrys principles on economic diplomacy that aim at strengthening "Global Partnerships for Effective Development. Head of the Asian Cooperation Sector at the Ministry of International Cooperation Mona Ahmed highlighted the support provided by the Japanese government to Egypt amid the Covid-19 pandemic in many development projects across several sectors, the most important of which are energy, transportation, health and education, adding that both countries are looking forward to strengthening cooperation during the coming period in line with efforts to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. For his part, Economic Adviser to the Japanese Embassy Miyamoto Sokago said that cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries are expected to experience a new phase, aiming to prioritise and accelerate a clean energy transition for Egypt, as well as contain the impacts of the Covid-19 virus. Head of the JICA office in Cairo Yoshifumi Omura reviewed success stories as a result of joint cooperation between the two countries, saying that all projects aim to focus on three pillars, People at the Core, Projects in Action and Purpose as the Driver, in order to ensure sustainable development. Japan has invested in 12 projects in Egypt worth $2 billion, including the Egyptian Japanese University of Science, the Abu Rish University Hospital project, the Japanese schools project, and the renewable energy project, which is the first independent power producer project in the country and that aims to contribute to the Egyptian governments strategy to supply 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2022. To support a post-Covid-19 recovery, Japans International Cooperation Agency aims to focus on expanding renewable energy, the maintenance and improvement of the transmission and distribution grid, promoting off-grid power supply, building a hydrogen energy-based society and improving facilities for existing thermal power plants. The agency further aims to push for Egypts digital transition through the support and investment of Japanese companies to increase automation and remote work, which is essential in helping to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In regards to health, over $18.5 million in grants were dedicated to support the export of Japanese medical equipment as well as technical assistance to boost Egypts health sector and its capacity to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Japan has been supporting Egypts development in various sectors since 1954, with $1.3 billion of aid overall, and $6.8 billion in loans for the energy, health, transport, tourism and education sectors. Search Keywords: Short link: Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. "Looks real to me!" Cohen responded, according to the book, prompting Trump to laugh as he demanded that the story be run on the tabloid's front page. "To say it would be a low blow would be an insult to low blows; can you think of another politician, ever, who would stoop this low?" Cohen writes. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany attacked Cohen's credibility in a statement on Saturday: "Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies." According to Cohen, Trump's sycophantic praise of the Russian leader during the 2016 campaign began as a way to suck up and ensure access to the oligarch's money after he lost the election. But he claims Trump came to understand that Putin's hatred of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, dating to her support for the 2011 protest movement in Russia, could also help Trump amass more power in the United States. "What appeared to be collusion was really a confluence of shared interests in harming Hillary Clinton in any way possible, up to and including interfering in the American election a subject that caused Trump precisely zero unease," Cohen writes. Cohen's book, however, does not reveal much in the way of new details surrounding the investigations by former special counsel Robert Mueller and others into Russian interference in the 2016 election. A senior White House official dismissed Cohen's commentary on Russia as baseless, arguing that numerous investigations found "no collusion" between the Trump campaign and Moscow. Cohen asserts that another reason that Trump consistently praised Putin was to fulfil his long-held desire to slap his name on a proposed Trump Tower project in Moscow. Cohen says the Trump Tower plans called for a 120-storey building in Red Square, including 30 floors devoted to a five-star hotel with an Ivanka Trump-branded spa and Trump restaurants, and 230 high-end condominiums for Russian oligarchs and leaders. The plan, Cohen adds, was to give the penthouse apartment to the Russian President for free, in part "as a way to suck up to Putin". "The whole idea of patriotism and treason became irrelevant in his mind," Cohen writes. "Trump was using the campaign to make money for himself: of course he was." Trump would later publicly insist that he had no business dealings with Russia. But Cohen writes extensively of his own efforts beginning in the fall of 2015 several months after Trump had declared his candidacy to make the Moscow project a reality. The project fell to Cohen, he writes, because Trump's children all disliked Felix Sater, the colourful Russian American developer who served as the Trump Organisation's liaison with Russians interested in the project. Nevertheless, Cohen says the whole family was aware of the project, even as candidate Trump publicly said he had no ties to Russia. Ivanka Trump, the President's daughter, who is now a senior White House adviser, even selected the proposed tower's high-end finishes, Cohen writes. Ivanka and her lawyers have previously described her involvement in the Russia project as minimal, noting that she never visited the prospective site. Cohen also describes in detail the partnership between Trump and David Pecker, the chief executive of National Enquirer parent company American Media and a longtime Trump friend, which included Pecker allegedly sharing the Cruz attack with Trump ahead of publication. While many of Trump's critics would obsess over the possibility of Russian interference, Cohen writes, it was a purposeful "disinformation campaign" run by American citizens such as Pecker that was "by far the more insidious and dangerous development of the last cycle and the most threatening for 2020". Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal have each said they had sex with Donald Trump before he was President, and Cohen alleges that both were paid off. Credit:AP, CNN/Youtube Cohen notes that the grocery-store tabloid targeted each of Trump's 2016 primary opponents in turn. He includes a document in the book, for instance, purporting to lay out the magazine's plan to take down Republican senator Marco Rubio. The National Enquirer came through for Trump again later in 2016, agreeing to pay former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal, who claimed she had an affair with Trump, for her life story and then never running the story. Trump agreed to repay Pecker for the $US150,000 fee but never did, Cohen writes. In the case of Daniels, Cohen writes that after Trump agreed to pay her $US130,000 for her silence, he strategised with Trump Organisation chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg on how she could be paid without attracting notice. Loading Weisselberg suggested finding a Trump friend to put up the money, in the guise of paying for a membership to a Trump golf course or the club Mar-a-Lago, according to the book. When Cohen countered that perhaps Weisselberg should lay out the money himself, "Weisselberg went white as a sheet like he'd seen a ghost". Ultimately, Cohen made the hush payment himself, taking out a personal home equity loan to come up with the cash, all the while assuming Trump would probably fail to repay him as agreed. "Stuck with the tab for Trump's sex romp in a hotel room in Utah a decade ago," Cohen writes. "This was the job I loved?" Ultimately, however, Trump did repay Cohen agreeing to reimburse him in $US35,000 monthly instalments after he had entered the White House as President, hiding the payments as fees for legal services and naming Cohen his personal attorney. Cohen asserts that Trump would get a tax break and legal services along with the money meaning he would actually come out financially ahead for paying off the adult-film star. Loading The Trump Organisation did not immediately respond for comment Saturday. In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the Trump Moscow project, as well as to violating campaign finance laws by paying Daniels to remain silent. Cohen told the court that he had been directed to make the payment to Daniels and later reimbursed for the money by Trump. He also pleaded guilty to tax evasion and lying to a financial institution, crimes that were unrelated to his work for Trump. He was sentenced to three years in prison, which he had been serving at a federal facility in Otisville, N.Y., until he was allowed to leave prison and serve his sentence at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Before he entered prison, he delivered dramatic public testimony to Congress, in which he apologised for his past lies and called Trump a "racist," "a con man" and "a cheat". Republicans mocked his self-professed turn to honesty, noting that he had previously defended Trump with similar gusto. Beyond Russia's role in the 2016 elections and the Daniels payment, Cohen seeds the rest of his book with snippets of gossip from his time in Trump's orbit some of it new, some of it well-known and much of it familiar. Loading He describes Trump insulting and dismissing some of his children, including Donald Trump jnr, his eldest son, and Tiffany, his youngest daughter. Cohen writes that during the 2016 campaign, Trump was dismissive of minorities, describing them as "not my people". "I will never get the Hispanic vote," Cohen recounts Trump claiming. "Like the blacks, they're too stupid to vote for Trump." Cohen describes Trump's obsessive hatred of Obama, including claiming that the only reason the former president got into Columbia University and Harvard Law School was because of "f---ing affirmative action". He also recounts Trump's "low opinion of all black folks" claiming that Trump once said while ranting about Obama: "Tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a s---hole. They are all complete f---ing toilets." After South African President Nelson Mandela died in 2013, Trump said he did not think Mandela "was a real leader not the kind he respected", Cohen writes. Instead, Cohen writes that Trump praised the country's apartheid-era White rule, saying: "Mandela f---ed the whole country up. Now it's a shithole. F--- Mandela. He was no leader." Cohen writes that before winning the presidency, Trump held a meeting at Trump Tower with prominent evangelical leaders, where they laid their hands on him in prayer. Afterward, Trump allegedly said: "Can you believe that bullshit? Can you believe people believe that bullshit?" "The cosmic joke was that Trump convinced a vast swathe of working-class white folks in the midwest that he cared about their well-being," Cohen writes. "The truth was that he couldn't care less." Cohen also depicts Trump as being crude toward women, including inadvertently commenting on Cohen's then-15-year-old daughter as she finished up a tennis lesson: "Look at that piece of ass," Trump said, according to Cohen. "I would love some of that." Vaping not only can weaken a person's lungs, but it can also lessen the immune system's ability to fight off infections, which is why it puts a person at high risk of getting COVID-19. Aside from making a person a high risk, their lungs are compromised when a person has been vaping. This worsens the effect of COVID-19 on them and will likely put them at the Intensive Care Unit. Experts have been sending out warnings since the COVID-19 pandemic started that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will most likely prey on smokers and vapers because their lungs are already scarred. Not only that, when a person's lungs are already scarred because of smoking and vaping, but they are also likely to experience the worst symptoms of COVID-19. Columbia University pediatric pulmonologist, Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, said in a report on The New York Times that she does not doubt that smoking and vaping can make COVID-19 in a person worse. She added that smoking and vaping are bad for the lungs, and the COVID-19's predominant respiratory symptoms. That means that a combination of either smoking or vaping, and COVID will result in something terrible. This claim was supported by a report on the University of California San Francisco Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education that stated smokers, and vapers can reduce their risk of serious lung disease caused by COVID-19 by quitting. Smoking and vaping also increase a person's exposure to the disease because these activities are rarely done on their own but most often with other people. Thus, there is reduced social distancing, not wearing face mask because they smoke, and more contact of hands to mouth, nose, and eyes. Another way that a smoker or a vaper can contribute to the widespread of COVID-19 is that when they may have the virus but do not show the symptoms, they are likely to spread the virus by coughing with fewer precautions. An infographic posted on the Massachusetts General Hospital website stated how smoking and vaping could weaken the body's natural defenses against diseases. Tobacco can increase the levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 in the body. And, the SARS-CoV-2 attached to the cells in the lungs with the help of the ACE2. Smoking and vaping also damage the cilia or those hairlike structures that line a person's lungs and help move the air throughout the lungs. Damaged cilia make it easier for the SARS-CoV-2 to enter the lungs and wreak havoc. Smokers and vapers make it also harder for their bodies to fight viral infections because their acts can damage neutrophils and macrophages, certain types of white blood cells that help fight infections. Besides that, tobacco flavorings such as menthol can also affect how well lung and airway cells can fight infections. Thus, it is safer to quit smoking and vaping amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Check these out: Moms Are Not Okay: Why COVID-19 Pandemic is Worse for Mental Health of Latino Mothers 3 Tips for Keeping Kids Social Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Facebook Unfriending Could Have Serious Real-Life Effects, Study Shows WATERLOO Wearing biohazard suits, activists gave an eerie performance at an animal-rights demonstration in Waterloo Town Square Sunday afternoon. Silently, they held signs up over their heads naming various pandemics past, in order to bring attention to a connection between industrial animal farming practices and pandemic outbreaks. Around them played the constant drone of air-raid sirens and a voice recording that repeatedly said: This is not a drill. This is a warning. COVID-19 is a message. played on repeat. The protest organizers, K-W Animal Save, said the same scene was also played out at the same time in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. A few passers-by stopped to take pictures. Patrons at nearby restaurant patio tables looked on. The activists believe the current COVID-19 and many other global pandemics are caused by the industrial farming of animals. Mo Markham, an organizer of the Waterloo protest, said this pandemic was predicted by global scientists and experts unless major changes were made. She points the finger at wet markets where live animals are sold, and increasing amounts of industrial animal agriculture that encroaches on wild animal habitat and increases interaction between virus-carrying wild animals and livestock and humans. The fact is that we are absolutely going to have more (pandemics) until we stop doing what were doing, she says. The group cites Bird Flu, H1N1 flu, SARS, Ebola, HIV, the Spanish flu and COVID-19 all as zoonotic diseases passed on to humans from animals. Labour has called on the government to expand Covid-19 testing at airports to reduce the amount of time that travellers have to spend in self-isolation on their return to the UK. The opposition party said the current quarantine measures, which have been enforced for holidaymakers returning from countries with a high prevalence of Covid-19 cases, were chaotic and harmful to the travel industry. Calling for a review into the guidelines, shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said a robust testing regime in airports could minimise the need to quarantine for two weeks. He also raised serious concerns that incoming travellers to the UK were not being properly monitored, claiming less than a third of passenger locator forms are checked. In a letter to home secretary Priti Patel, Mr Thomas-Symonds wrote: I write to call for a rapid review to fix chaotic quarantine arrangements that are losing public confidence and undermining our ability to keep people safe and save jobs. In order to rebuild this trust I am calling on government to undertake a review into quarantine policy, to report within a fortnight. It should include outlining options for a robust testing regime in airports, and related follow up tests, that could help to safely minimise the need for 14 day quarantine. It is clear that ramped up testing is an important part of trying to respond to the pandemic and safely reopen society. Given the huge challenges being faced by the travel sector and the scale of job losses, it makes sense to look at this area as part of a wider package of improvements to the testing regime. The UK government has been making weekly decisions in response to rising coronavirus rates in Europe and beyond, opting to reimpose travel restrictions where the risk of infection is escalating. Holidaymakers in France, Spain and the Netherlands have all been caught out by the changes in recent weeks as ministers have introduced, in some cases with only a few hours notice, regulations forcing those returning to self-isolate for 14 days. Inconsistencies in the quarantine policies adopted across the UK have also added to the sense of confusion and anger surrounding the industry. Earlier this week, Scotland and Wales reintroduced quarantine measures for those returning from Portugal but England and Northern Ireland did not. Scotland also applied self-isolation rules to Greece and Wales did the same for six Greek islands, including Zante and Crete, while Westminster and Stormont have so far resisted tightening the travel guidance for the Mediterranean country. Such changes to the quarantine regime show that the system is fragmenting, with transport secretary Grant Shapps conceding this week that the rules are confusing. I do realise it creates confusion for people not to have a single rule, but we do have this devolved approach throughout the United Kingdom and I can only be responsible for the English part of that, he told Sky News. The transport secretary said that while the main measure of new infections for Portugal was high, the positivity rate the proportion of tests showing coronavirus was declining. On BBC Radios Today programme, he accused the Scottish government of jumping the gun. It would be far better to coordinate. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is among the industry bodies to respond with fury. Gloria Guevara, president and chief executive, said: WTTC shares the bewilderment of British holidaymakers at the absurd spectacle of completely different quarantine rules in England, Scotland and Wales for those now returning back from Greece. This public policy lottery is creating chaos. It shows confusion, mistrust and further seriously undermines the governments credibility in the eyes of the public. We urgently need to restore the confidence to travel, not create more uncertainty. Airlines have also criticised the use of quarantine measures as they face large job cuts due to lockdowns around the globe reducing traveller numbers. Virgin Atlantic announced on Friday it plans to axe another 1,150 jobs after completing a 1.2 billion rescue deal. The further job losses come less than four months after the carrier ditched 3,150 roles and ended its operations at Gatwick Airport following a worldwide collapse in demand. Mr Thomas-Symonds pushed for state support for the travel industry to continue as a result of the hardships being faced. He told Ms Patel: Its also clear that the impact on the travel sector, as with other badly-hit parts of our economy, is so significant that your government must abandon its one-size-fits-all withdrawal of income support without delay. Additional reporting by PA Potentially powerful pipeline precedents By Craig Rucker Fracking (horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing) has unleashed bounties of US oil and natural gas, dramatically reduced energy prices from their historic 2008 peak, saved families and industries billions of dollars annually, helped create and sustain millions of American jobs, made the United States stronger militarily and turned it into a net energy exporter. Those fixated on alleged climate dangers from fossil fuels dont care. In fact, they are aghast and angry about this oil and gas renaissance. Unable to stop all production, they have focused on blocking pipelines. If companies cant get oil and gas to markets, they reason production will dwindle, companies will go bankrupt, and the case for supposedly renewable energy will grow stronger. Acceding to their demands, tunnel-visioned federal judges recently blocked the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, told operators to shut down and drain the fully operational Dakota Access Pipeline, and mandated still more studies for Keystone XL and 75 other pipelines. The judges issued these decisions in the name of preserving wetlands, preventing stream siltation, protecting endangered species, safeguarding scenic views, stopping greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting other environmental values. They effectively deemed it irrelevant that fossil fuels still provide over 80% of all the energy that powers American industries, homes and living standards, and that virtually invisible underground pipelines replace much more dangerous alternatives. The Dakota Access Pipeline alone replaces some 255,000 oil tanker railcars going through our towns and cities, or 730,000 semi-trailer tanker trucks on our highways, every year! The activists and judges said even short-term scenic, stream sedimentation and ecological impacts during pipeline construction are unacceptable. Even after a US Supreme Court decision reversed the ACP decision, the company sponsors cancelled the project anyway, due to threats of more costly lawsuits and delays ad infinitum. Even more extreme, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want no fossil fuels, and net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, by 2050. They claim this will lead the world in eliminating climate and environmental catastrophes. In reality, the impacts on US and global environments would be monumental. In 2018, coal and natural gas generated 2.6 billion megawatt-hours of Americas electricity. Natural gas also provided the equivalent of 2.7 billion MWh of fuel for factories, businesses and homes. Internal combustion vehicles used over 2.0 billion MWh equivalent of gasoline and diesel. Under the Biden-AOC Green New Deal, all those 7.3 billion megawatt-hours of electricity would come from clean, green, renewable, sustainable sources. Wind and sunshine certainly fit that description. However, harnessing this intermittent power definitely does not. That would require unimaginable numbers of wind turbines and solar panels, and warehouses of huge batteries to provide backup power for just week of windless, sunless days especially since the more wind and solar we demand, the more we must put turbines and panels in low quality locations. Without them, we would be hit by hundreds of rolling blackouts every year, like the ones that have been clobbering California. A recent analysis concludes that generating all that electricity would require some 17 billion sun-tracking solar panels; or 25 billion fixed thin-film panels; or 3.5 million 1.8-MW onshore wind turbines; or 260,000 monstrous 10-MW offshore turbines; or some combination of those facilities. Wed also need nearly 2 billion half-ton Tesla battery modules, and thousands of miles of new transmission lines across America. Building and installing these massive facilities would require tens of billions of tons of concrete, steel, copper, aluminum, cobalt, rare earth elements, fiberglass composites and dozens of other materials. Getting those raw materials would require mining, processing and smelting hundreds of billions of tons of ore, from all around the world, but mostly from companies owned or controlled by China almost all with fossil fuels; without regard for US pollution control, wildlife protection or workplace safety laws; and all too often using child and near-slave labor. The turbines and panels would sprawl across hundreds of millions of acres of crop, scenic and habitat lands. Construction would scar landscapes, remove mountaintops, rip through forests, destroy scenic vistas, obliterate wildlife habitats, fill streams with sediment during construction, and displace or kill endangered plants, animals and birds. Dominion Energy alone plans to construct solar panels in rural Virginia on lands totaling eight times Washington, DC, to serve a small fraction of the states electricity needs. Multiply that times 50 states and thousands of communities in a 100% electric economy, and you can begin to envision the ecological devastation from this clean, green, renewable, sustainable energy. The 600- to 850-foot-tall wind turbines would slaughter millions of raptors, other birds and bats annually, completely eradicating them in many areas. Residential, business, hospital and school electricity rates would skyrocket. Americas economy and job market would never recover from Covid. A few landowners and a lot of utility company officers and investors would get rich. But other people would suffer from infrasound and light flicker, watch their beautiful landscapes disappear forever, and get no compensation whatsoever. The turbines, panels and batteries have short life spans, and are generally non-recyclable. Most would end up in enormous landfills. Vast rural areas would be turned into energy and trash colonies for politically powerful urban centers. But on one positive note, years of pipeline lawsuits, human rights campaigns, and battles over mining and US and global air and water pollution have set powerful legal precedents. Landowners, citizen groups, human rights defenders and environmentalists not fixated on climate change will be able to use them to delay, block, bankrupt and scuttle many or most of these destructive pseudo-renewable energy projects. They will also demand that wind, solar, battery and electric vehicle metals, minerals and components be responsibly sourced in accordance with all US laws and ethics. Utilities think they hit a buzz saw over pipelines. Radical greens think they won this war. It could be a Pyrrhic victory if those laws, regulations, EIS rules and judicial decisions are applied to wind and solar. In fact, they are potentially powerful pipeline precedents. And if regulators, politicians and courts apply double standards one for fossil fuels and one for pseudo-renewables, akin to one for rioters and another for churchgoers the situation could become extremely troublesome, to say the least. It could turn into real resistance, rebellion and conflict. Its time for civilized debates, with no cancel-culture interference, on all these issues, before that happens. Craig Rucker is president of the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org), a public policy education organization devoted to both people and planet. Home Advertisement Cruise ships are coming back online after coronavirus outbreaks erupted on numerous vessels back in the spring, bringing the multi-billion dollar industry to a grinding halt. Switzerland-based MSC became the first major cruise company to welcome customers in several months when the Grandiosa set sail from the port of Genoa in northern Italy for a seven-day trip around the Mediterranean on August 16. MSC implemented a slew of safety precautions to prevent the ship, which was christened last year and can carry more than 8,000 passengers and crew members, from becoming a breeding ground for the virus. As other companies prepare to re-enter the high seas, new rules on the Grandiosa offer a look at what customers can expect for post-coronavirus cruises - including pre-boarding COVID-19 testing, face masks and social distancing in common areas and strict restrictions for port excursions. The ship managed to complete its journey without any reported coronavirus cases - providing hope that the cruise industry could safely return sooner than most people expected. Switzerland-based MSC became the first major cruise company to welcome customers in several months when the Grandiosa set sail from the port of Genoa in northern Italy for a seven-day trip around the Mediterranean on August 16 New rules on the Grandiosa offer a look at what customers can expect for post-coronavirus cruises - including pre-boarding COVID-19 testing, face masks and social distancing in common areas and strict restrictions for port excursions A family clad in face masks have their temperatures checked prior to boarding the MSC Grandiosa on August 16 A crew member uses a nasal swab to test a passenger prior to boarding the MSC Grandiosa. All 3,000 passengers were each tested for COVID-19 via a primary antigen test and a secondary molecular test before they were allowed on the vessel 'We've created sort of this bubble,' Ken Muskat, chief operating officer at MSC Cruises USA, told The Points Guy last month. On its first post-coronavirus voyage, the Grandiosa welcomed 3,000 passengers who were each tested for COVID-19 via a primary antigen test and a secondary molecular test prior to boarding. Anyone who tested positive, had a fever or exhibited other coronavirus symptoms on a mandatory health questionnaire was barred from the boat. One embarking passenger tested positive at both screening stages, according to MSC Cruises representative Luca Biondolillo. 'In accordance with the protocol, the passenger, as well as his traveling party, were denied boarding,' Biondolillo told CNN. 'Additionally, other passengers who had reached the ship with the same van were denied boarding as they were close contacts of the one passenger who tested positive.' Crew members were also tested prior to boarding and spent time in quarantine on the boat before passengers arrived. Passengers wearing protective face coverings gather their baggage before boarding the MSC Grandiosa Passengers looked thrilled about finally getting back on the high seas after months in coronavirus lockdowns MSC was the first major cruiseliner to resume operations with strict safety precautions to prevent coronavirus outbreaks Crew members performed temperature checks on passengers each time they boarded the boat MSC said one passenger was barred from boarding after he tested positive for coronavirus A technician is seen processing coronavirus swabs in a lab before the MSC Grandiosa set sail from Genoa Cleaning protocols on the ship were ramped up with the additions of hospital grade disinfectant and the use of UV-C light technology to detect the virus. All on-board activities were limited to smaller groups and passengers were required to wear masks in areas where social distancing isn't possible. Each guest and crew member was be given a wristband that 'facilitates contactless transactions around the ship as well as providing contact and proximity tracing', MSC said. The Grandiosa made stops at the Italian ports in Naples, Palermo and Sicily and at Malta's Valletta port - where passengers could disembark for the day, but were kept on a tight leash. Each off-board sojourn was pre-planned and no one was allowed to stray from the group. Biondolillo said one family that broke the rules during a day trip was not permitted to re-board. 'The health and safety protocols are put in place for the benefit of every single person,' the MSC spokesman said. 'There can be no breaking of the rules. These people risked jeopardizing everybody else's holidays and health.' Most passengers appeared to appreciate the precautions that made them feel safe throughout the journey. 'I think cruises could be the safest holiday right now,' Valeria Belardi, who was on the cruise and owns a travel company, told CNN. Cleaning protocols on the ship were ramped up with the additions of hospital grade disinfectant and the use of UV-C light technology to detect the virus All on-board activities were limited to smaller groups and passengers were required to wear masks in areas where social distancing isn't possible The Italian government gave cruise companies the green light to resume service last month, but limited capacity to 70 percent. Cruise ships and the business they bring to many Italian cities during port excursions make up an important segment of Italy's vital tourism industry. An estimated 12 million cruise ship passengers arrived or departed from Italian ports last year. MSC chose to limit its guests to the residents of Europe's 26-nation Schengen visa free travel zone. Meanwhile, American operators were placed on a no-sail order running at least through October 31 after coronavirus outbreaks were reported on at least 40 cruise ships around the world earlier this year. The giant vessels proved a perfect set for the virus to take hold, given their crowded enclosed environments and contact between travelers from many countries. More than 800 cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and ten deaths occurred during outbreaks on three cruise ship voyages from February to March, according to the CDC, and numerous other ships reported outbreaks as well. In several cases, passengers and crew members were left stranded for days or weeks on ships that were banned from docking at ports due to concerns that they could spread the virus on land. The Italian government gave cruise companies the green light to resume service last month, but limited capacity to 70 percent. The MSC Grandiosa is seen departing from the port of Genoa on August 16 A lone passenger stands on the deck of the MSC Grandiosa wearing a mask as it departed from Genoa Crew members clad in protective face masks pose with their thumbs up inside the MSC Grandiosa Cruise operators are now faced with the challenge of figuring out how to repair their reputations and convince people to return as the coronavirus threat remains. 'We know that for every one percent drop in cruising that occurs worldwide, up to 9,100 jobs can be lost,' Bari Golin-Blaugrund, a spokeswoman for industry body Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), told CNN. The $150billion cruise industry - which sustains 1.2 million jobs - has experienced a massive spike in demand in recent years, with 30 million passengers setting sail in 2019 as operators rolled out bigger and better vessels. Golin-Blaugrund said the CLIA is confident that the industry will recover as demand for 2021 cruise vacations is already high. Among those planning to return to the high seas is Christine Beehler, an American who tested positive for COVID-19 after a trip on the Coral Princess back in April. 'Even without a vaccine, I'm ready to try it,' Beehler told CNN in July. 'There are so many places that I still want to go, and I enjoy cruising.' But Golin-Blaugrund warned that it could be a while before the cruising industry recovers as many operations remain suspended, threatening up to 2,500 jobs per day. 'By the end of September, the worldwide impact will be $77billion, 518,000 jobs and $23billion in wages lost,' she said. In a harrowing sign of the future of cruising, outbreaks were reported on three vessels operated by smaller companies that resumed service last month - Norway's Hurtigruten, Germany's AIDA, and Paul Gauguin in the South Pacific. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy India's covid-19 death toll breached the 70,000 mark as 1065 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. The number of deaths due to the infection has reached 70,626. The country registered a hike of more than 90,000 cases for the first time in a single day as 90,633 new cases COVID-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, taking India's total coronavirus cases to 41,13,812 The total case tally stands 41,13,812 at including 8,62,320 active cases, 31,80,866 cured/discharged/migrate and 70,626 deaths. The active cases in Maharashtra have reached 2,21,012 followed by Andhra Pradesh at 1,00,880. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 10,92,654 samples were tested for the pathogen on September 5, and over 4.88 crore samples have been tested so far. India is set to pass Brazil on Monday as the second most affected country by total infections and will be behind only the United States, which has 6.4 million cases and nearly 193,000 deaths. India's covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on 7 August, 30 lakh on 23 August and it went past 40 lakh on 5 September. Meanwhile, the recovery rate of coronavirus in the country touched a record high of more than 70,000 patients being discharged in a single day, said Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. "The highest ever single-day recoveries of 73,642 were recorded on September 6 and currently, the recovery rate now is 77.23 per cent. This has also led to the declining Case Fatality Rate (CFR), which stands at a new low of 1.73 per cent," Ministry said in a statement. According to a graph of the Ministry, there were 68,584 recoveries on September 3, 65,081 on September 1 and 57,469 on August 24. "There has been a steep exponential rise in COVID19 recoveries- from 50,000 in May to over 30 lakh in September. The total number of recoveries have crossed 31 lakh and it stands at 31,07,223," the ministry stated. "Five States have contributed to 60 per cent of the total recoveries. Maharashtra has contributed the maximum recoveries amounting to almost 21 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu with 12.63 per cent, Andhra Pradesh with 11.91 per cent, Karnataka with 8.82 per cent and Uttar Pradesh with 6.14 per cent," it added. The Health Ministry further said that India has posted more than 22.6 lakh recoveries than the active cases which stand at 846,395. "The active cases currently comprise only 21.04 per cent of the total positive cases. More than 75 per cent of the total cases have recovered," it said. Brazil recorded 30,168 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, as well as 682 deaths from the disease, the Health Ministry said. Brazil has registered 4.1 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 126,203, according to ministry data. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee has approved an HRD ministry proposal appointing Directors to five new IITs of Tirupati, Palakkad, Bhilai-Durg, Goa and Dharwad. All the five Directors have been appointed for a period of five years. According to sources, Prof K N Satyanarayana had been appointed as the Director of IIT Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh while Prof P B Sunil Kumar has been appointed as the Director of IIT Palakkad, Kerala. Prof Rajat Moona has been appointed the Director of IIT Bhilai-Durg while Prof B K Mishra, the Director of IIT Goa. For IIT Dharwad in Karnataka the name of Prof Seshu Pasumarthy has been approved by the President, sources said. Earlier a Search Cum Selection Committee appointed by the Prakash Javadekar-led HRD ministry had recommended the names after holding interviews of several highly distinguished people with outstanding academic record and experience for posts of Directors to these new IITs. The Director of an IIT is the academic as well as the administrative head of the prestigious institution. Following the interviews, the ministry had forwarded the names to the President, who is the Visitor of these central institution of higher education, for his approval. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. When a producer asks Que Minh Luu about the types of programs Netflix might commission in Australia, she gives a simple answer: You tell me. Its not so much about the genre, said Ms Luu, who is in charge of local original content for the global streaming giant. We want people to tell us what theyre absolutely dying to say in a show that theyve not been able to say anywhere else. Were a creator-led company. Que Minh Luu is Netflix's first head of original Australian content. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Since joining Netflix in July, the former ABC executive producer has been inundated with pitches. My inbox is dead, said Ms Luu in an exclusive interview with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Im meeting as many people and trying to hear as many ideas as I can. Whether it's drama, comedy, unscripted, reality [or other genres], I am genuinely looking at all of it. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 04:40:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIYADH, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi-led coalition said on Sunday that it intercepted a bomb-laden drone in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The drone was launched by the Houthi rebels toward Saudi Arabia "targeting civilian sites and civilians," said Turki Al Maliki, the coalition spokesman. The coalition has announced frequent Houthi drone and missile attacks that mainly target Saudi border cities. The coalition foiled on Aug. 30 a drone attack targeting Abha International Airport. Yemen has been mired in civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem Comrade Duch: Former maths teacher who became the Khmer Rouges chief executioner and head of Tuol Sleng secret prison Kiang Guek Eav, better known as Comrade Duch, who has died aged 77, was a quietly spoken maths teacher who became the chief executioner of the ultra-Maoist Khmer Rouge regime that ruled Cambodia between 1975 and 1979 and killed about 1.7 million people - a fifth of the population. In 2007 Duch became the first Khmer Rouge figure to face justice when he was formally charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity and detained by Cambodia's UN-backed tribunal. When in 2010 he was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment, it was the first verdict involving a senior member of the "killing fields" regime that devastated a generation of Cambodians. The Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, seized control of Cambodia in April 1975 after a vicious civil war and began dismantling society in its drive to create a Maoist agrarian paradise cleansed of class enemies. Religion, schools and currency were abolished and millions of people were exiled to farms, where many died of starvation and overwork or were executed. Duch, the overseer of a series of jungle prisons during the civil war, was made head of Tuol Sleng, a former French secondary school in Phnom Penh, which became a secret political prison known as S-21 after the regime seized the capital in 1975. There, what began as "punishing" just a few dozen prisoners turned into a daily killing ritual as the regime sought to purge itself of its "enemies". Of the 16,000 to 20,000 or so people who entered the prison between 1975 and 1979, all were tortured and all but seven were killed. Ever-meticulous, Duch kept copious records of the routine at Tuol Sleng - including descriptions of torture, forced "confessions" and photographs of victims before and after. As Vietnamese troops advanced on Phnom Penh in 1979, Pol Pot's second-in command, Nuon Chea, wrote to Duch, ordering him to kill the final prisoners, burn the archives and flee. Duch complied with the first order, but there was no time to destroy the archives - a lapse that would cost both men dear when, after much pressure, the Cambodians finally brought them to justice. The records charted the fates of 12,380 people. A 1978 document showed that 17 children whose parents were suspected of treachery were brought to Tuol Sleng, where Duch signed the order to "Kill them all". Babies were dropped from balconies. The jail's function was to liquidate suspected traitors inside the ruling Communist Party. Duch extracted confessions of elaborate conspiracies involving CIA agents or Vietnamese spies to justify the purges, with long lists of names to purge in the future. When their confessions were complete, or when the prison had no space left, Duch wrote "smash" on a list of names. The victims were driven to the "killing fields", clubbed on the neck and had their throats cut. Some were crudely beaten to death with hoes. After the downfall of the regime in 1979, Duch vanished but was discovered in 1999 by Irish photojournalist Nic Dunlop. Duch was living under a false identity and working in a refugee camp. In an interview Duch admitted ordering the torture and execution of countless victims, and indicated he was willing to stand trial for his crimes. "I have done very bad things," he was quoted as saying. "Now it is time to bear the consequences of my actions." While he accepted responsibility for the killings at Tuol Sleng, he said the orders came from the central committee of the Khmer Rouge. At his trial Duch expressed remorse and begged for forgiveness. But victims asked if his remorse was genuine after Duch asked to be acquitted. The question of what drove him to commit evil on such a scale was never satisfactorily answered. A psychological examination released by the UN-backed court hinted the answer lay in a terrifyingly banal combination of bureaucratic love of order and a desire to please those above him. Duch was born Kiang Guek Eav on November 17, 1942 into a poor family in the province of Kompong Thom. Being the only son, he enjoyed the privilege of an education. Impressed by his love of mathematics, his teachers helped to finance his studies through an elite school in Phnom Penh and college, where he trained to be a teacher. One who helped him would years later arrive at Tuol Sleng where, on Duch's orders, he was killed. During his time at teachers' college, Duch joined the Communist Party of Kampuchea. After becoming a mathematics teacher in 1965, he soon led a communist cell. "I joined the revolution in order to transform society, to oppose the government, to oppose torture," he said during his trial. During the civil war of the early 1970s, he chose the revolutionary name Duch after a model student. He oversaw jungle prisons before being made head of Tuol Sleng. Following the Khmer Rouge's fall from power, he changed his name to Hang Pin and was said to have converted to Christianity. By the time he was discovered by Nic Dunlop, he was working for a Christian aid agency in western Cambodia. In the early 1970s Duch, who died last Wednesday, wed a Khmer Rouge comrade with whom he had four children. Telegraph Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Meghan Markle could go into politics and has every right to run for US President, a celebrity agent that knows the Duchess has claimed. Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Jonathan Shalit said he has 'never heard' the Duchess of Sussex, 39, discuss politics, but added it wasn't 'beyond the realm of possibility'. 'She's American-born, she has every right to run for president. Ronald Reagan was a B-list actor who ended up in the White House. Never say never,' he said. 'The perception of the couple in America is different to the UK. The UK has a love-hate relationship with the Sussexes, but it's different in the States. Meghan Markle, 39, could go into politics and has every right to run for US President, a celebrity agent that knows the Duchess has claimed. Meghan and Harry are pictured in London in March He continued: 'I think Meghan is very ambitious, but in this country that is sometimes considered an unpleasant character trait. Yet she's achieved a great deal already.' It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan signed a 112million Netflix deal that 'could include a documentary on Princess Diana'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who moved to Santa Barbara, California last month, signed a deal with the streaming service this week for their new yet-to-be-named production company to make documentaries, feature films, scripted shows and children's programming. An insider told The Mirror the documentary will focus on Diana's family history and heritage, but voiced fears over it widening the rift with brother William. Prince Harry and Meghan announced they have signed deal with Netflix. Pictured, in a video supplied on Monday July 6, 2020 by The Queen's Commonwealth Trust Speaking to the Telegraph, Shalit added that Meghan has a 'very magical, comforting way with people' and the 'part of the touch Diana had'. The agent also said he thinks the shows Meghan and Harry will make for the streaming service will be 'relevant' and 'authentic' and 'champion issues they have a genuine interest in'. In a statement announcing the Netflix deal last week, the Sussexes said: 'Our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope. As new parents, making inspirational family programming is also important to us.' They added that Netflix's 'unprecedented reach will help us share impactful content that unlocks action.' While Harry and Meghan may appear on camera in documentary programming, the former Suits actress has previously made it clear that she has no plans to return to acting. Rumours of Harry and Meghan seeking to gain a foothold in Hollywood have run rampant ever since the couple announced their plans to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America in January. Meghan's first post-Megxit job in showbiz was as a narrator of the Disney Plus docuseries Elephants, which came out in April. The Los Angeles native nabbed the job after Harry bragged about her voiceover skills to Disney chairman Bob Iger at the London premiere of The Lion King live action remake last summer. Her fee for the project went entirely to the Elephants Without Borders charity - an organisation dedicated to conserving wildlife and helps protect the animals from poaching. Harry followed in her footsteps by appearing in a new Netflix documentary about about the Paralympic Games called Rising Phoenix, which aired on August 26. Last year Harry announced that he was partnering with Oprah Winfrey on an Apple TV+ docuseries about mental health. It's unclear whether the couple pitched their secret project to Disney, Netflix or Apple TV+. "We must not tolerate this," the top diplomat stressed. Ukraine's relations with Belarus can no longer be the same as they used to be, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba opined. Speaking with Priamyi TV Channel, he said: "It's obvious that relations with Belarus can no longer be the way they were before. And that's not only because of the massive and systemic violations of human rights in Belarus, but also because of the decision on the Wagner PMC mercenaries, because it appears Ukraine is to blame for everything." The foreign minister says that while Russia is "starting to deploy their specialists there," it's Ukraine "that's being blamed." Read alsoKuleba: Russia exercising "fairly effective control" over Belarus events"This is an unfriendly policy, and we must not tolerate it. My policy in diplomacy is always very simple: if you are being hit, you must always hit back," said Kuleba. Protests in Belarus and accusations against Ukraine Hertfordshire Police have come under fire for failing to stop the Extinction Rebellion blockade of newspaper printing presses on Friday. The XR action saw protesters targeting Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking the day's newspapers from leaving the depots. The action began at around 10pm on Friday night with the protesters not being cleared until 10am the following day, leading to hundreds of Britons being unable to read their newspaper on Saturday morning. Now, the police response has been condemned with accusations that Hertfordshire Police 'facilitated' the attack. It comes after it emerged that XR's intention to target newspaper printworks was reported nine months ago, along with claims that police only sent six officers to the Broxbourne plant after the alarm was raised on Friday night. Hertfordshire Constabulary said in a statement: 'The rights to protest are well established in this country and we remain committed to facilitating peaceful protest and ensuring compliance with the law.' However, the stance was criticised by several high-profile figures. David Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, said: 'I think they're mixing up historic debate about [union] picketing with protests relating to political issues, which can be dealt with through the normal democratic process.' Richard Walton, former head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and now senior fellow at Policy Exchange, said Friday's protest showed how the group had shifted from mere protesters into organising 'planned criminality, and should be treated as such'. 'Their reticence to do so undermines our democracy and strengthens extremist groups like XR.' XR action saw protesters targeting Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking the day's newspapers from leaving the depots David Blunkett, the former Labour home secretary, has led criticism of the police's response to Extinction Rebellion action Ian Austin, a Labour MP, told the Telegraph: 'The police should uphold the law, enable people to go to work and read the papers they choose.' It comes after Donnachadh McCarthy, XR spokesman at the Broxbourne demonstration, said only six officers attended the protest at around 10.15pm, with reports that no warnings were given to police beforehand. A Hertfordshire police spokesman refused to confirm how many officers attended. Police also insisted that they had no warning of the protest before it went ahead, despite claims that it had been planned from last year. Today, Hertfordshire Police said 51 people have now been charged with obstruction of the highway following the protest outside Newsprinters Ltd print works in Waltham Cross. The statement said two people have been remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday while 49 were released on conditional bail. Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls of Hertfordshire Constabulary contradicted this stance and said the blockade was 'not lawful and not acceptable'. He added: 'People have a right to peaceful protest, however this was a carefully orchestrated blockade of a public road, designed to cause the maximum possible harm to local businesses. 'This was most certainly not lawful and not acceptable. In these circumstances, we will always seek to bring criminal charges against anyone who does this. 'The bail conditions forbid those charged from taking part in Merseyside Police announced this morning that it had charged 26 people, aged between 19 and 60, following the demonstration at the 'News International premises' in Knowsley on Friday night. Sources confirmed that Priti Patel, above, wants to take a 'fresh look' at how the climate change group is classified under law They are due to appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court and St Helens Magistrates' Court on January 8 and 13 next year. Police said all 26 have been granted bail under the condition they do not enter Merseyside or contact any News International employees. More than 100 demonstrators used vehicles and bamboo lock-ons to block roads outside the Newsprinters' works on Friday evening, with both protests continuing until Saturday afternoon. XR apologised to newsagents for the disruption but added it would not apologise to Mr Murdoch, calling on him to 'stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create'. XR plans to target the media began in October last year and it reportedly wanted maximum disruption to papers published by Rupert Murdoch, Telegraph Media Group and Daily Mail and General Trust. A document obtained by a Sunday newspaper last December showed organisers spotted how 'vulnerable' Broxbourne was because it had only one exit leading to a busy road. Government sources have confirmed that Home Secretary Priti Patel wants to take a 'fresh look' at how XR is classified under law after a stunt Boris Johnson deemed 'completely unacceptable'. The review could lead to XR being treated as an organised crime group, sources said, as part of a clampdown on its activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads and by disrupting public transport. Under additional proposals, Parliament, courts and the press could be given special status in regard to the key role they play in democracy, with the potential for police to be handed beefed-up powers to stop demonstrators entering designated areas outside such premises. 'It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press,' a Government source told PA. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he thought police already had the powers needed to deal with protests. Speaking to Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, he said: 'We always keep all of our laws under review but I think actually the laws are in place to take relevant enforcement action against criminal behaviour.' Extinction Rebellion protestors block access of a printing house in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, leaving some newsagents' shelves empty on Saturday morning The protesters have appeared to have avoided being slapped with the 10,000 fines handed out to those that breach coronavirus restrictions. Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers was handed the first 10,000 fine in London for an illegal gathering after he organised a march claiming coronavirus is a hoax last week. The 73-year-old meteorologist led more than 10,000 anti-lockdown protesters at the 'Unite for Freedom' rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. Mr Corbyn, the older brother of the former Labour leader, was seen being hauled off by officers after the event and his Twitter account has since confirmed he was slapped with the colossal fine and 'held for ten hours.' He was among eight other offenders who were fined across the rest of England under new lockdown measures imposed on Friday which are designed to stop gatherings of more than 30 people. The others that were fined had all been organising raves or house parties. Members of Extinction Rebellion appear to have avoided that punishment. Responding to criticism from Ms Patel that their actions were an 'attack on our free press', XR said: 'Our free press, society and democracy is under attack - from a failing government that lies to us consistently, is becoming increasingly authoritarian and is leading us towards four degrees of warming.' The protest has been criticised for being politically motivated. One XR statement said the action was about racism, as well 'immigration policy, the rights and treatment of minority groups and dozens of other issues'. How many of us would like those dollars going to places such as New York, California or Michigan instead of in your own backyard, all because you didnt take the 10 minutes to complete the 10-question census? Right now South Carolina is ranked 44th in census completion, so if we dont get counted, we will miss real dollars that we deserve. These real facts arent meant to scare you; they are meant to inform you. The federal government by law must distribute federal funds according to where people live. The census is how we get counted so the government knows which areas deserve the funds. The census data cannot be shared with other government agencies, and it is NOT used to find out who owes back taxes, who has outstanding warrants, whos here illegally, who owes child support, etc. The census simply is the way we get counted so we get our fair share of what we deserve per the Constitution of these great United States of America. If you love your community like we do, please go to 2020Census.gov and take the 10 minutes to complete the 10-question census. The Texas branch of the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to hundreds of school districts on Wednesday, including 11 in the Houston region, asking them to change their dress code policies to allow young men to wear their hair long. It comes on the heels of a Texas federal court decision striking down a dress code policy in Barbers Hill ISD that led to the in-school suspensions of two students who refused to cut their dreadlocks due to their familys cultural practices. The case drew national attention after cousins Kaden Bradford and DeAndre Arnold were punished for wearing their natural hair in the 6,200-student district just east of Baytown. Both Bradford and Arnold are Black, and Bradfords ACLU attorneys argued that young white men who attended their high school were allowed to wear their hair longer than the dress code permitted but were not punished. While school districts throughout the county have removed policies that were based on antiquated sex stereotypes, many school districts in Texas still have policies that treat students differently on the basis of their gender, such as requiring different hair and dress standards for male and female students, wrote Brian Klosterboer, an attorney for the ACLU of Texas. Recent court decisions, including from the U.S. Supreme Court, have found that this type of gender-based discrimination is unconstitutional. School districts need to conform to federal law and fix outdated policies that cause serious harm to students in Texas. The ACLU argues that districts with similar policies in Greater Houston and beyond could face lawsuits. Among the Houston-area districts that received the letter were Tomball, Waller, Huffman, Anahuac and Barbers Hill ISDs, along with several smaller districts in rural areas. Tomball and Waller ISD spokespeople did not return requests for comment. Arnold, who was a senior in 2019-2020, was told he could neither attend prom nor graduation unless he cut his hair, and both students were suspended. The two students wear the dread locks in honor of their familys West Indian heritage. In court hearings, Barbers Hill ISD officials argued that the dreadlocks would be allowed so long as they met the length requirements. Hans Graff, an attorney for the district, said in a hearing that the policy was not discriminatory because Black students were disciplined at the same rates as other students for hair violations. He also said the two cousins wanted to attend schools in the Mont Belvieu area because of their standards for academics and behavior. They want the standards without having to meet the standards. They want to be treated differently. Theyre saying, We want the academic excellence, we want the excellence of Barbers Hill. But we dont want to comply with what it takes to achieve that,' Graff said at a school board meeting. Shortly before a federal court ruled in favor of the students, the Board of Trustees in Barbers Hill ISD voted to reaffirm the dress code policy in late July. Bradford and Arnolds stories drew the support of Ellen Degeneres and Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, and Arnold was invited to attend the Oscars. Both students ultimately transferred out of Barbers Hill ISD. shelby.webb@chron.com The only way a mother can be present with her child in their school is through the lunch box. I would make different types of tiffins for my children and also leave small notes inside the tiffin to inspire them and tell them that I love them. This is the sentiment of every mother who wishes to connect with her child, and brighten their day while they are away at school. Uma Raghuraman, one such mother, went all out for her kids, and started preparing their lunchboxes with some extra #TLC. Raghuraman, a mother, blogger and author, later went on to compile these lunchbox recipes for her book titled My Genius Lunchbox, which aims to help parents jazz up their kids tiffins! I felt that every parent must be going through challenges of unfinished tiffins and so, I started sharing my recipes through my blog and eventually released a book, says Raghuraman. Featuring stunning photographs, this book is divided into six sections: one for each weekday and a bonus section that includes recipes for bite-sized snacks. Talking about how it all started, Raghuraman says, Me and my family moved to Delhi-NCR in early 2000s and that was the time I really started re-thinking on the lunch box dishes I was preparing, as I used to get unfinished lunch boxes after my kids came home from school. I quickly realised that children now prefer finger foods and fun dishes as part of their lunch boxes. After experimenting with interesting food recipes, Raghuraman soon started receiving finished lunch boxes! My children come home and tell me Amma, today lunch was yummy! My friends also enjoyed it and that is priceless to my ears. So, I would try everyday to make their lunch box experience better and better, she adds. Raghuramans children eventually gave her the title of Masterchefmom, a term she to used to start her food blog with. The biggest appreciation I got from my children for all the efforts I took during their schooling years was the title they gave me of Masterchefmom. It is my kids who asked me to name my blog the same, says Raghuraman. So which recipe in My Genius Lunchbox is the authors favourite? Each of the recipe in the book is a favourite, and that is the main reason that they are part of the book. Every dish has passed with distinction in the taste test conducted by my foodie family, answers Raghuraman, adding, When children eat food they enjoy, they tend to be cheerful and nothing makes a parent more happy than to see their child happy. As an added benefit, the children will minimise the intake of outside food! When asked what is the biggest take back for a reader, from her book, Raghuraman replies, Mothers love nourishes children through the food they eat, and this is the reason we think about our mothers recipes every single day of our lives. Imagine multiplying this love by 50 times through this book. When your little geniuses open their lunch boxes, their love for you will only go up multifold. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Thousands of Israelis protested have gathered outside the official residence of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pressing ahead with a months-long campaign demanding the embattled Israeli leader resign. The protest on Saturday came as Israel copes with record levels of coronavirus infections. Demonstrators have been protesting at Mr Netanyahu's handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has led to soaring unemployment, and they say he should step down while on trial for corruption charges. Demonstrators gather to stage a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding his resignation over corruption cases and his failure to combat the coronavirus pandemic in West Jerusalem on September 5 Israeli police arrest a protester during the Saturday protest. The protest on Saturday came as Israel copes with record levels of coronavirus infections Israeli police arrest a protester. Demonstrators have been protesting at Mr Netanyahu's handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has led to soaring unemployment, and they say he should step down while on trial for corruption charges Protesters held banners reading 'Revolution'and 'Get out of here' and held blue and white Israeli flags. A sign aimed at the prime minister was projected on a building reading in Hebrew: 'Enough with you.' Smaller crowds gathered on bridges and intersections across the country also calling for Mr Netanyahu to step down. The government moved quickly to contain the coronavirus last spring, but bungled the reopening of the economy and now finds itself dealing with a stronger outbreak. Israeli protester gather during the Saturday protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to his corruption charges, for the eleventh week, outside his residence in Jerusalem Demonstrators gather to stage a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli police arrest a demonstrator during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The death toll has surpassed 1,000 people, and the country is considering a new lockdown to stop the rapid spike in daily infections. Israel currently has more than 26,000 active Covid-19 patients. Although the demonstrations have largely been peaceful in recent weeks, protesters scuffled with police in several locations. At least 13 arrests were made, including a man that police said 'was dressed up as a woman in a provocative way'. Israeli police arrest a demonstrator during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu An Israeli protester holds a Banksy painting during the Saturday protest against Netanyahu At least 13 arrests were made, including a man that police said 'was dressed up as a woman in a provocative way' Police also said two officers were lightly injured when a crowd burst through a police blockade. Mr Netanyahu has dismissed the protesters as 'leftists' and 'anarchists'. But his tough talk, and even a series of foreign policy accomplishments, have done nothing to deter the crowds. Mr Netanyahu has vowed to remain in office despite being charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations. He has denied the allegations, calling them a 'witch hunt' and lashing out at the judiciary, law enforcement and media. President Donald Trumps November 2018 trip to France is again in the news because of his canceled trip to a cemetery for fallen Marines and allegations that he disparaged veterans. But Bloomberg reports on another aspect of the trip that raised more than a few eyebrows. After Trumps cemetery trip was canceled, the president suddenly had a few hours to kill inside the U.S. ambassadors historic residence in Paris and it seems that during that time he took a particular liking to a few pieces of art. The next day, he ordered a Benjamin Franklin bust, a Franklin portrait and a set of figurines of Greek mythical characters be loaded on Air Force One to go back to Washington with him, reports Bloomberg. Advertisement The ambassador was reportedly surprised by the move but didnt raise any objections with Trump joking the art could come back in six years, when his second term would be coming to an end. Not everyone was happy with the presidents decision as some in the State Department exchanged tersely worded emails with White House officials. But after all the hand-wringing it was decided that the move was legal because the art is government property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House confirmed the president took artwork from Paris. The President brought these beautiful, historical pieces, which belong to the American people, back to the United States to be prominently displayed in the Peoples House, White House spokesman Judd Deere said in response to questions from Bloomberg News. Advertisement The art was reportedly worth some $750,000 and the White House may have called them historical but the truth is that they were fakes and replicas. The figurines that now sit in the Oval Office are from the early 20th century by an artist who was trying to claim they were from the 16th or 17 centuries. The figurines have little value and are really 20th century fakes of wannabe 17th century sculptures, according to an art dealer. The Franklin bust and portrait were also copies of the originals. White House officials ended up borrowing the original portrait from the National Portrait Gallery and hanging it up in the Oval Office rather than the replica Trump brought back from France. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Democrat Nancy Pelosi entered a closed salon to have herself done, but she was not wearing a mask. According to the law, wearing masks is required in closed spaces, especially a salon. After the Salon Gate incident, Pelosi accused the owner of a setup. This is the current dilemma faced by Pelosi who has always been vocal and critical of all things Republican. She even criticized the President for not wearing a mask, but this time she's on the receiving end. On August 31, Pelosi visited a salon without wearing a mask. The owner, Erica Kious revealed the footage to the networks like FOX, which had a field day on the DEMs, reported Meaww. Kious, a single mom, is relying on the salon for her livelihood was forced to close. Threats came and outrage from misguided supports of the DEMs. But Amy Tarkanian of the Nevada State GOP had a fundraiser to help the fretting salon owner. In no time, Tarkanian's assist got Kious a big amount of $120, 000 that will be pot money for a new start. Pelosi's hostility to the Salon is considered by the Democrat as a set-up. It mentions that the Democrat was there on Monday for a wash and blowout. But most rules say salons must be closed during the pandemic. Also read: Joe Biden Thinks Pres.Trump Will Not Leave White House Willingly, May Be Escorted By Military Some rules were lenient to allow at least one customer at a time for salons. On Tuesday, as the official opening, some services were allowed. One note is that when it closes, the fundraising goes to the Salon owner to settle and start anew, noted Trending politics. When the news of the Kious fundraiser went viral, speculations abound, but some were on the negative side. They were on the side of the DEMs who support their brand of politics. Ones wrote that Kious was not random, and she knew what happens after releasing the footage. Social media can be cruel especially if the one on the dirty end is a democrat. One more comment on social media made more snide remarks about the Tarkanian that set up a fundraiser. But it mentioned dislike of Pelosi, so it was even-steven. Some did not go short on support for the owner and were glad for her guts to tell the real DEMOCRATIC truth. The comment targeted @SpeakerPelosi and other unsavory remarks about her. But many were proud of her act, defying Pelosi which could have cost her everything. As the video got viral, the speaker went on the attack, saying it was a setup by others and Kious (owner eSalon) was in on it. Even rambling on more saying only the salon owner can approve the appointment. But, Kious said the speaker called the stylish for the slot or assistant. Kious was innocent. Related article: Joe Biden's Family Record Show Drug Usage, Drunk Driving, and Other Charges But No One Was Jailed @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In Sudan, the intense flooding has killed over 100 people and damaged tens of thousands of houses over the past days The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources reassured citizens on Saturday about the potential impact of the Nile flood, after it said last month that the flood is expected to be higher than average this year, but noted that it is still too early to determine the extent of the flooding. In Sudan, the intense flooding has killed over 100 people and damaged tens of thousands of houses over the past days. Ministry spokesman Mohamed Al-Sebaie told Al-Hekaya program on MBC Masr that the excess water will be collected in the Lake Nasser reservoir in Upper Egypts Aswan, and that it will be utilised to meet the countrys water needs, especially in times of drought. The extent of the flooding, which has started in Egypt since August, can only be determined in late September, he added. The annual Nile flood, which takes place in August, September and October, is caused by heavy rain in the Ethiopian highlands. In an August meeting of the committee for regulating the flow of the Nile, Minister of Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Aty ordered officials to continue removing illegal structures along waterways, especially those on the Nile. He warned that such encroachments limit the ability of water networks to contain excess water in times of emergency and flooding. Ministry spokesman Al-Sebaie said that since the launch of the national campaign to save the Nile River in 2015, over 276,000 illegal structures along waterways, including the river, have been demolished. He added that this number includes more than 57,000 illegal structures on the Nile. Search Keywords: Short link: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a "very fruitful" discussion with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed regional security situation including Afghanistan and issues of bilateral cooperation. "Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet. "The meeting between the two Ministers took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both the leaders emphasized upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between India and Iran," the Defence Minister's office said in a tweet. The Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Singh had held bilateral meeting on September 5 with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latter's request, according to the office of the Defence Minister. Singh had arrived in Tehran on a transit halt to New Delhi from Moscow, after concluding a three day visit to Russia for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers that took place on Friday. On Saturday, Singh met his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and deliberated on ways to give greater thrust to defence cooperation between India and the Central Asian countries. On Friday, Singh had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe during which the two sides discussed military standoff along the Line of Actual Control. -ANI Also Read: Rahul Gandhi hits out at Modi government: Reason for historic decline in GDP is Gabbar Singh Tax BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Responding to media on the U.S. government's consideration to add company to a trade blacklist, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMI) said that it is in complete shock and perplexity to the news. It has no relationship with the Chinese military. The company said it is in discussion with the U.S. government agencies in hope of resolving potential misunderstandings. Any assumptions of the company's ties with the Chinese military are untrue statements and false accusations. The Trump administration was considering whether to add China's top chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing to a trade blacklist, Reuters reported Friday, citing a Defense Department official. The Trump administration's move is part of a continued effort to put pressure on China's technology firms and would mark a major escalation in the tech battle between the U.S. and China. Meanwhile, Semiconductor Manufacturing said that in and before 2016, it had been granted Validated End-User authorization by the Bureau of Industry and Security or BIS and the company hosted several visits from U.S. government officials. The company has been fully compliant with all rules and laws, since its inception. It has maintained long-term strategic partnerships with multiple U.S.-based semiconductor equipment suppliers. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. PHILIPSBURG:---Tessel, born in Zandvoort, The Netherlands became fascinated with art and its history at a very young age. She was inspired by Surrealism and the Arts and Crafts movement (art nouveau, Jugendstil) and artists such as Gustav Klimt and Mucha. It was always a dream of Tessel to become an artist and share her skills with others by becoming an art teacher. Tessel obtained a Foundation Art Diploma for Secondary Education in drawing in 1992 and continued studying for an additional 3 years gaining her Art degree in 1995. She taught art classes to students of various ages in Primary and Secondary schools in the Netherlands. Whilst teaching in Holland Tessel also created her own work, exhibited with a group of like-minded artists in Zandvoort aan Zee, on a regular basis, and privately sold her work. She mainly paints figurative compositions in oils and acrylics on canvas, pastels on paper, inks on paper, mosaics, and experiments with Tie-dye on canvas. She creates her own mystical, spiritual pieces, based on her own dreams and experiences, and is also an accomplished portrait artist of both humans and animals. She also creates and paints designs for murals, signs and furniture pieces for both indoors and outdoors. After 4 years Tessel left the Art Craft Cafe behind to start a new life. In September 2008 she started traveling with her two daughters, visiting Europe and Egypt to explore other inspiring artists and art movements and to spend all time with her two girls. After completing her travels Tessel moved to Sint Maarten where she currently resides. She began teaching art at primary schools however, after 3 years she decided to open her own art gallery where she displayed her artwork with locals and tourists and also taught art classes daily. Unfortunately, the Art Cafe Gallery was recently forced to shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has affected the entire world. Five beautiful paintings of this talented inspired artist and art teacher are prominently displayed in the lobby area, conference room and the library of the Parliament building. These paintings are Vitrail Glass paint on canvas. The five pieces being featured are titled: Hibiscus, Tree in Gold, Pelican Rock, Flamboyant Beauty and Bright in its Color. The Parliament of Sint Maarten exhibits the work of different local artists approximately every 6months. Previously the work of artists: Students of the Art Cafe Foundation, Ms. Beverly Mae Nisbeth, Ms. Leola Cotton, Lucinda "La Rich" Audain, Roberto Arrindell, and Sir Roland Richardson were displayed. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. In a shocking incident, a girl who tested positive for coronavirus was sexually molested by an ambulance driver in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. The 20 year old girl was abused while she was being taken to the first line COVID_19 care centre at Panthalam. The police arrested the 108 ambulance driver Noufal, aged 29, a native of Kayamkulam in connection with the incident happened during the wee hours of Sunday morning, according to reports by regional media. According to reports, there were two women patients in the ambulance and one of them was dropped at the Kozhencherry government district hospital, as per the instruction of health authorities. The driver took the second woman to the first line treatment centre and when the vehicle reached deserted area, the accused sexually molested her. The girl reported the incident after reaching the treatment centre and lodged complaint with the police. The police took the victim's statement and took the accused into custody. The girl has been lodged in a special room at the centre while Noufal is under quarantine in the police station. Medical examination of the victim will be conducted today. Noufal, is accused in a murder case and his criminal background is being investigated, reports regional media quoting police sources. Usually, health workers accompany COVID_19 patients while being taken to hospitals or first line treatment centres. But the two women were sent with the ambulance driver during night. Agra, Sep 6 : With 87 fresh Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the total number has now gone up to 3,291 in the Taj city. While 2,584 have recovered and there have been 109 deaths so far. The number of active cases in the district is 598. District Magistrate P.N. Singh said the total number of samples collected for testing is now 1,30,530. The recovery rate is 78.52 per cent, while the sample positivity rate is 2.52 per cent. Health department officials said 320 samples from 10 spots were collected on Saturday as part of the three-day Sero-survey in the district. Meanwhile, there are no plans to reopen schools and the historical monuments immediately. Only the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort are presently closed. The DRM office has indicated that scores of trains would resume operations from September 12, particularly south-bound. Health activists in the city, however, expressed concern over the increasing complacency displayed by the locals who have been flocking the markets without masks and violating social distancing norms. Oman's Ministry of Agricultural, Fisheries and Water Resources said steady progress was being made on the second fishermen's village, being built on a 4,537-sq-m area in the Masirah region of the sultanate. The ministry had allocated lands close to the coast for the establishment of integrated villages, facilities for fishermen, which achieve an appropriate and safe environment for the stability and to serve fishermen from the various governorates of the sultanate, reported Times of Oman. The first such village was set up in Al Wusta Governorate accommodating 500 fishermen, stated the report. The ministry is carrying out advisory studies for the establishment of another village in the Wilayat of Mahout, it added. Lockdown-like restrictions to return in Maharashtra? Here's what CM Uddhav Thackeray has to say Security beefed up at Thackeray's residence after 'Dawood's gang member' makes threat calls India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Sep 06: Security beefed up at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence Matoshree after an unidentified man claiming to be from underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's gang on Saturday. The caller rang up twice around 10.30 pm on Saturday, following which the police beefed up security at Thackeray's bungalow located in Kalanagar Colony, the official said. "Someone called up on ''Matoshree'' phone number two times on Saturday night and said Dawood Ibrahim wanted to talk CM Uddhav Thackeray. However, the telephone operator did not transfer the call to the CM," the official said. "The caller did not reveal his identity, but only said that he was calling from Dubai on behalf of Dawood Ibrahim. Both the calls were received around 10.30 pm," he added. The local police were later informed about the calls, following which extra security force was deployed outside the bungalow, the official said. According to him, no case was registered in this connection. Talking to PTI, a top police official said, "We are trying to verify whether the calls received were from Dubai or some other place. Investigation is on." Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution proclaims the inalienable right of every American to peaceably assemble in religious worship. For centuries, courts have used the First Amendment to establish a history of unassailable legal precedents protecting this sacred right to religious freedom. But 2020 has been full of unprecedented surprises. One of them is the unlawful actions of liberals in government to restrict, curtail, and penalize religious liberty. On August 28, the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works issued a notice to Grace Community Church informing Pastor John MacArthur that his churchs lease would be terminated, effective October 1. This extra-judicial attack on religious freedom comes amid an ongoing legal battle between Grace Community Church and Los Angeles county officials over the countys restrictive social distancing regulations. Pastor John MacArthur even faces the threat of arrest, should any in-person services continue. The message these unconstitutional actions send is clear: Obey the Democrats in power, no matter what, or get out. That Grace Community Church has held its lease for 45 years and never broken any actual law is irrelevant to Democrats. Liberal politics in 2020 take precedence over legal right and constitutional freedoms. But Grace Community Church is hardly an isolated incident. Across the country, Christian churches are under fire for defending their freedom to worship. Just this month, North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara was fined $10,000 for holding morning and evening services, and Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks was held to be in contempt of court for celebrating the Lord. In Florida, Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of Riverside Church in Tampa Bay was arrested and thrown in jail for hosting a Sunday service. The legal pretense used to justify these aggressive assaults on religious liberty is always the same: COVID-19 is just too dangerous to allow for social gatherings. But the freedoms that Dems take away from churches with one hand, they give to non-religious gatherings with another. In a glaring display of partisan political hypocrisy, Democrat governors and leaders unevenly and unequally enforce social distancing regulations wherever it benefits them to do so. Nevada is perhaps the most shocking example of this liberal hypocrisy. Nevadas Democrat Governor Steve Sisolak drafted social distancing regulations that prohibit in-person church gatherings of over 50 people but allow for socially distanced indoor casino gambling and restaurant dining at 50% of building capacity. But Gov. Sisolak didnt stop there. After liberals on the Supreme Court inexplicably struck down Calvary Chapel Dayton Valleys simple request for equal application of the rule of law, a group called Evangelicals for Trump decided to host a fully compliant, socially distanced religious service inside one of Nevadas many casinos. Governor Sisolak wasnt having it. He fined the casino $250 and took to Twitter to condemn the callous and dangerous behavior of these law-abiding Christians. But Governor Sisolaks behavior is only one snapshot from a disturbing trend of liberal hypocrisy. Rules for thee, but not for me, seems to be the unofficial motto of liberals today. How else should we explain the mysterious epidemiological behavior of the coronavirus as observed by the liberal media, with the virus spreading whenever conservatives protest but posing no real threat of infection at left-leaning protests? Why is it dangerous for salons to reopen in California, except when Nancy Pelosi is a customer? Why are casinos, movie theaters, and marijuana dispensaries considered essential, but churches are not? Liberal hypocrisy is more than just an affront to common decency; its a real threat to our freedoms and a danger to religion in America. By some estimates, approximately one-fifth of U.S. churches will be forced to close because of the effect restrictive lockdown orders are having on charitable donations and fundraising efforts. Its time we called out this liberal hypocrisy for what it is. Americans have a constitutional right to religious worship and peaceable assembly. No Democrat should ever get away with infringing on that right. There is likely to be widespread and heavy rainfall in peninsular India for the next three days, according to India Meteorological Departments (IMD) Sunday morning bulletin. The monsoon trough is lying north of its normal position --- from Rajasthans Ganganagar to the Bay of Bengal. A low-pressure area is lying over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea. It is likely to move slightly northwards during the next 48 hours and weaken thereafter. A cyclonic circulation is also lying over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea at the level of lower and middle troposphere and an east-west shear zone that determines a change in wind direction and velocity and runs across peninsular India. Also Read: Warmer Arabian Sea led to intense rain in August Under its influence, widespread and isolated heavy rainfall and thunderstorms is likely over peninsular India during the next twothree days. While widespread and isolated heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorms and lightning is also expected over Odisha and Chhattisgarh during the next three-four days. The monsoon rain since June 1 over the country is 8% excess. The rainfall has been 17% and 21% excess over central and peninsular India, respectively. There has been 0% excess and 9% deficient rainfall over east and north-east India; and northwest parts of the country, respectively . IMD in its two-week forecast that was issued on Friday had said below normal rains are likely in most parts of the country, except for over the north-eastern states, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala, between September 10 and 16. Monsoon is likely to start retreating from western Rajasthan during the same week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON "Heaven, My Home" by Attica Locke (Little, Brown, $16.99, available Aug. 25). Locke's Darren Mathews is one of my favorite crime-fiction heroes these days, in no small part because he's not always heroic. Mathews is Black and a Texas Ranger, and he has a complicated love/hate relationship with his home state. As she did in "Bluebird, Bluebird," the Edgar Award-winning first book in the series, Locke makes him both appealing and very real, and weaves a story about a missing child with connections to white supremacists thick with rich characterizations, elegant descriptions and complicated motivations. "Chances Are" by Richard Russo (Knopf, $16). A national bestseller, Russo's first novel in a decade (he's best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning 2001 novel, "Empire Falls") centers on three old friends in their 60s, on Martha's Vineyard for one last vacation together one in which they look back on a weekend 44 years ago that changed their lives. "One of the great pleasures of 'Chances Are ...' stems from how gracefully Russo moves the story along two time frames," wrote Washington Post reviewer Ron Charles, "creating that uncanny sense of memories that feel simultaneously near and remote." "The Revisioners" by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counterpoint, $16.95). Winner of the NCAAP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Sexton's acclaimed novel is told in alternating chapters by two Black women narrators, separated by a century: One is a contemporary single mother in New Orleans; the other is a former sharecropper now living on her own farm in 1924. New York Times reviewer Stephanie Powell Watts described Sexton's prose as "clear and uncluttered, the dialogue authentic, with all the cadences of real speech," and called the novel "stunning." It reminds us, she wrote, that "though you may share blood, there are connections deeper and more powerful than blood, connections that turn a collection of individuals into a community, and will forever be more significant than any bond that's merely skin deep." Cancer patients face a cliff edge decision of choosing between their health and finances as the shielding programme draws to a close, a charity has warned. Macmillan Cancer Support said that the shielding programme, whereby people classed as extremely vulnerable to the risks of coronavirus have been asked to take extra measures to protect themselves, has been a vital lifeline. However as the programme is paused from 1 August in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and 16 August in Wales, many people will be forced to return to work. Meanwhile, those without jobs also face losing support from the national shielding service which provided free food parcels, medicine deliveries and care throughout lockdown. Recommended Fifth of disabled people will not leave home until Covid vaccine found A survey conducted by Macmillan Cancer Support found that many cancer patients were fearful of returning to the work place, with 42 per cent saying they believe it is currently unsafe for them to work outside of their home. One in three (36 per cent) people with cancer in work also said that Covid-19 had affected their finances, with some saying they have been left struggling to pay their bills. Following the findings, Macmillan Cancer Support has called on the government to extend the furlough scheme to help people classed as clinically vulnerable and is also calling for greater clarity on workplace protections for people with cancer who are returning to work. The organisation is also asking employers to play their part by ensuring they make provisions for vulnerable staff and said there could be devastating consequences if people with cancer are forced to return to workplaces before it is safe. The poll of 2,000 British adults with a previous cancer diagnosis found that six per cent had already been asked to leave the safety of their homes and go back to their workplace. In addition, four per cent of cancer patients in the UK said that they had struggled to pay for basic essentials or bills, such as food or energy, during the coronavirus crisis when extrapolated, this means 110,000 people with cancer have struggled this way, the charity said. An estimated 60,000 people living with cancer (two per cent) have also been left with no income at all during the pandemic, it added. The measures put in place by governments during the coronavirus pandemic for those shielding has been a vital lifeline for many over the last four months, said Lynda Thomas, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support. It is critical that this safety net doesnt just disappear. We need clarity around how people with cancer will be supported and kept safe as the world starts to return to normal. She continued: Cancer must not become the forgotten C in this pandemic. As the UK Government encourages people in England to return to work, stronger protections must be put in place for people who have been shielding or are clinically vulnerable. Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Show all 6 1 /6 Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Face masks make you feel instantly better Getty / iStock Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Goat yoga, because everything is a thing Getty Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Have you ever heard of avocado on toast? Getty/iStock Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Sunsets do exist outside of Instagram too Getty Wellness, health and wellbeing tips A shirodhara head massage. No, us neither Getty Wellness, health and wellbeing tips Not a pestle and mortar, but a gong meditation session Getty / iStock It is critical that we allow them to step back from the cliff edge of having to choose between protecting their health or staying in work and paying their bills. The findings come as the union Unite raised concerns over a number of issues as shielding workers return to their workplaces. Issues could include mental health of employees and concerns about disciplinary procedures for those too worried to return to work. The union said employers should have organised health assessments to protect vulnerable workers. Gail Cartmail, assistant general secretary at Unite, said: The world of work has fundamentally changed since March and as we ease back into the workplace, we need to pay special attention to the concerns of those who have been shielding these last five months. There is an arbitrary ring to the 1 August date and we question whether ministers have thought through all the implications as thousands of shielding workers gingerly return to their place of employment. A government spokesperson said: We understand how challenging this pandemic has been for those with cancer and we must do everything we can to support them. Employers must ensure the safety of those with such conditions when considering working arrangements, including whether work can be completed remotely. For those that cannot safely return to work, employers can continue to access the Job Retention Scheme and we have put an additional 8bn into the welfare system to provide emergency support. Authorities call for Phuket confidence PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul led a meeting in Phuket yesterday (Sept 5) calling for local residents and business owners to be confident as the province aims to navigate and overcome the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthtourism By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 6 September 2020, 11:50AM MPs from the Bhumjaithai Party and other relevant officials joined the meeting with Phuket based private sector bodies and businesses at 9am at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Laguna where the message was for Phuket residents to be ready to support measures proposed to manage the situation. Mr Anutin explained the government is fully aware of and concerned as to the impact of COVID-19 nationwide and particularly how badly the tourism sector has been impacted in Phuket which in turn has caused great distress to many. He assured those in attendance who operate in the local tourism sector that the governments intention is to relax as many measures as is feasibly and safely possible to allow the industry to recover and flourish again as soon as possible. This would include promoting and building careers, encouraging travel to the province, suspending and/or preventing any seizures of properties and, on a broader scale, promoting Phuket as the medical centre of the Andaman coast and infrastructure developments to push a mass transit system connecting light rail, roads and tunnels to major tourist attractions. However, a common concern shared by those attending the meeting was a fear that officials cannot effectively manage the situation should a second wave emerge. The news of a fresh infection in Bangkok last week, the first in 100 days, has unnerved some and led to the assumption that Phuket reopening to tourists next month, serving as a national model, is likely to now be pushed back. Mr Anutin explained that the situation now is very different to when the virus first hit back in March and that access to medical supplies is much more plentiful now than back then. He also added that, while there is currently no cure or vaccine available, the widespread understanding of the disease and how to treat infected patients is much more comprehensive now which will aid any efforts required to contain it. I am confident in the Thai public health system being able to control and prevent any spread of COVID-19, he said. I can confirm that the government is doing everything it can to provide help and to make the situation as safe as possible so pilot schemes like the one proposed in Phuket can begin and help the tourism get back to where it was. We must all have hope that we can find a way, unite and move together, he added. An Irish healthcare worker who has contracted Covid-19 has issued a warning about the effectiveness of temperature-checking for the virus. Many shops and workplaces like factories are using temperature-checking systems upon entry to spot potential Covid-19 cases, while regular temperature checks are also carried out on patients and residents in hospitals and long-term care facilities for the same reason. A healthcare worker has called into question this regular method of monitoring. The worker who is from Offaly but works in a residential care facility in Meath said: "We are being told by the HSE to rely on taking temperatures as a sign of Covid-19. I get that every case is different but to be told if you don't have a temperature, you're unlikely to have Covid is completely false." "In my workplace, we have been following the guidelines to the letter and we are still overrun with it. We are a residential service and six or seven people we support are affected by this and nine staff, including myself. None of us were showing a temperature," the worker explained. "It just bugs me how restaurants and workplaces are so reliant upon a temperature check when it doesn't seem to be a safe method. A temperature check is seen as enough to warrant you as 'okay' when you could be silently suffering. "The HSE needs to readvise or inform people that temperature checking isn't 100%," they added. "In our workplace, we do not know how it was contracted, only that one person brought it in and everyone else is suffering the consequences, myself included." The HSE reiterates that the most common symptoms of Covid-19 a fever or high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above, a cough and shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. They also urge employers to follow the government's 'Return to Work Protocol,' which specifically urges them to implement Covid-19 prevention and control measures to minimise the risk to workers. These measures included a pre-return to work form to be filled in by employees, specific safety training, the displaying of Covid-19 symptoms and actions required if symptomatic, as well as the implementation of temperature testing in line with public health advice." Temperature checking is listed among a suite of measures to minimise and control the spread of the virus in the protocols, according to the HSE. The Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib on Thursday 3rd September 2020 cut sod for the construction of two (2) Astroturfs at Agona Swedru and Agona Nyarkrom in the Central Region of Ghana. The project is being funded through the one-million-dollar one constituency program through the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) under the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (MSDI). The CEO together with the Member of Parliament (MP) of Agona West and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Honourable Cynthia Mamle Morrison paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Agona Swerdu, Nana Kobina Asiadu Botwe II to seek his blessings before the sod-cutting ceremony. The Member of Parliament expressed her gratitude for their continuous support and stated that the astroturf which they requested for has finally been awarded for construction and the contractors are ready to commence works. She also informed them that all bridges that were requested for by the people of Agona West Constituency have been constructed under her tenure if there is any left unless those that have not been brought her attention. The CEO of CODA, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib said the President promised Ghanaians that when he is voted into office he will allocate one million dollar per constituency to help in socio-economic development in every constituency in the country. He said in fulfillment of that promises are the results they are witnessing. According to him, there are other ongoing projects like school buildings, CHPS compounds, drainages, and others under the one million dollar per constituency programme. He also introduced the contractors as MSH Astro Gh. Ltd. and assured that all artisans who would be engaged to work during the construction would be recruited from the constituency which will serve as employment for the youth. He further stated that the project would be completed by December 2020 for commissioning. The Paramount Chief of Agona Swedru thanked the President for the unprecedented development he has brought to the doorstep of the Constituents. He also acknowledged the hard work of the CEO and the MP and advised them to continue with the good works they are rendering for the citizenry. Present at the chiefs palace were Nana Kojo Acquah (Tufohene), Omanpanyi Kojo Addo, Ebusuapanyi (Okanta), Nana Kobina Antsey (Secretary), and other traditional leaders. Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Honourable Cynthia Mamle Morrison also paid a courtesy call at the palace of Nana Attah Yeboah VII, Dabihene of Otabilkrom, the exact town where the astroturf would be constructed. The Chief and Elders poured libation and prayed for Gods protection and the successful completion of the project. The Chief on behalf of the people thanked the CEO and MP for bringing the astroturf project to their town. He also thanked the MP for the various roads being constructed in the township and also appealed for a road behind the palace to be constructed for them. The next courtesy call was at the palace of Nana Okofo Katakyi Nyarko Eku X, the Paramount Chief of Agona Nyakrom. Honourable Cynthia Morrison explained that the astroturf project would commence immediately and prayed that the chief and people support the contractor in order to complete the project before the scheduled time. During the sod-cutting ceremony, the libation was poured and prayers were said for Gods protection and completion of the project. The CEO of CODA promised to award a contract for the construction of a drain that stretches alongside the park to enable free flow of water whenever it rains without causing damage to the astroturf. The Chiefs and people thanked the CEO and the MP for their continuous support and hard work. They also prayed for more developmental projects to be brought into their community. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi from Argentina, waits for the start of the IAEA board of governors meeting at the International Center in Vienna, Austria, on March 9, 2020. (Ronald Zak/AP Photo) IAEA: Irans Uranium Stockpile 10 Times Over Limit Set in 2015 Nuke Deal VIENNAIran continues to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium in violation of limitations set in a landmark deal with world powers, the U.N.s atomic watchdog agency said Friday after the country allowed the regulator access to sites where it was suspected of having stored or used undeclared nuclear material and possibly conducted nuclear-related activities. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported in a confidential document distributed to member countries and seen by The Associated Press that Iran as of Aug. 25 had stockpiled 2,105.4 kilograms (2.32 tons) of low-enriched uraniumup from 1,571.6 kilograms (1.73 tons) last reported on May 20. Iran signed the nuclear deal in 2015 with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China, and Russia. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, it allows Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8 kilograms (447 pounds). The IAEA reported that Iran has also been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5 percent, higher than the 3.67 percent allowed under the JCPOA. It said Irans stockpile of heavy waterwhich helps cool nuclear reactorshad decreased, however, and is now reportedly back within the JCPOA limits. There remain concerns that Iran may secretly launch a heavy water reactor for turning non-enriched uranium into plutonium. The nuclear deal promised Iran economic incentives in return for the curbs on its nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal unilaterally in 2018, saying it needed to be renegotiated for fairness and cover Irans ballistic missile program and financial support of terrorist groups and militias including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis in Yemen. Since then, Iran has slowly violated the restrictions to try and pressure the remaining nations to increase their incentives to offset Trumps sanctions. Those countries maintain that even though Iran has been violating many of the pacts restrictions, it is important to keep the deal alive to maintain the non-proliferation agreement and provide the IAEA access to inspect its nuclear facilities. The agency had been at a months-long impasse over two locations thought to be from the early 2000s, however, which Iran had argued inspectors had no right to visit because they dated to before the deal. But after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi personally visited Tehran in late August for meetings with top officials, he said Iran had agreed to provide inspectors access. In its report, the IAEA said inspectors had already visited one site and would visit the other this month. It didnt detail their findings. The ultimate goal of the JCPOA is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, which Iran insists it does not want to do. Still, Iran has stockpiled enough enriched uranium to produce a weapon. According to the Washington-based Arms Control Association, Iran would need roughly 1,050 kilograms (1.16 tons) of low-enriched uraniumunder 5 percent purityin gas form and would then need to enrich it further to weapons-grade, or more than 90 percent purity, to make a nuclear weapon. Before agreeing to the nuclear deal, however, Iran enriched its uranium up to 20 percent purity, which is just a short technical step away from the weapons-grade level of 90 perent. In 2013, Irans stockpile of enriched uranium was already more than 7,000 kilograms (7.72 tons) with higher enrichment. The report of the violation of the JCPOA comes almost two weeks after the United States requested a snapback of sanctions on Iran because it claimed the regime was in violation of the deal. The U.S. proposal had initially proposed through the U.N. Security Council to reinstate an arms embargo against Iran set to expire on Oct. 18, but the motion failed to pass. Epoch Times staff contributed to this article. A view of Nagasaki in the 1890s. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Nagasaki in the 19th century was Japan's version of the American "wild wild west." Merchant marines and sailors from all parts of the world gathered in this port to drink, purchase companionship and fight. Most of the time these fights were simple affairs one or two sailors fighting with a couple of sailors from an opposing navy but on occasion they became literal street battles. One such incident took place in August 1886, when four large Chinese warships sailed into the port from Korea. While the ships had been in Korea, the sailors had not been granted shore leave and were looking forward to going out and painting the town red. According to one "unprejudiced" witness, too many of the Chinese sailors were granted shore leave at the same time and descended on Nagasaki like a tsunami. They were "insolent and 'cheeky' to the [Japanese] shopkeepers," and everyone was expecting there to be trouble before they left. Those expectations were soon met. The Chinese cruiser Ting Yuen in Japan, circa 1896. Robert Neff Collection On August 13, a group of Chinese sailors patronized a brothel near the foreign settlement and on satisfying their baser needs informed the proprietor, Kakamura Shinzaburo, that they were going out to grab a bite and would return later. He agreed to keep their tables until they returned. Shortly after the first group left, a second group of Chinese sailors arrived and demanded to be given tables and companionship. The proprietor explained to the men that his establishment was already booked for the evening and that they would have to go elsewhere. The drunken sailors refused and began to destroy his business. A policeman named Kurokawa was summoned and he tried to calm the Chinese sailors but due to their intoxicated state and the language barrier had little success. Frustrated, he seized two of the most violent Chinese sailors and tried to arrest them but they broke free and fled into the streets. Convinced the Chinese sailors were gone for the night and that the matter was now settled, Kurokawa returned to his police box. His assumption was wrong. The brothel district of Maruyama in Nagasaki, circa 1900s. Robert Neff Collection A short time later, a group of Chinese sailors approached his police box and began taunting and yelling vile insults. He recognized one of the men who had escaped him earlier and rushed out to apprehend him. It was a brave but foolish move. The sailor drew a sword (he had recently purchased it in a Japanese curio shop as a souvenir) and struck the policeman on the head. Kurokawa was left dazed in the street as his attackers laughed as they fled the scene. Kurokawa, however, was not about to quit. As soon as he regained his senses, he gave chase. If we are to believe the accounts, Kurokawa single-handedly apprehended the entire group most likely he received some assistance from the Japanese shopkeepers and discovered the chief instigator was a Chinese naval officer. The naval officer was turned over to the Chinese consulate but the rest of the sailors were confined in the local jail. The incident was considered quite serious and the governor sent word to the Chinese naval commander to keep his sailors confined to their warships until the matter had been resolved. But the Chinese commander refused. Nagasaki pier, circa 1900s. Robert Neff Collection On August 17, nearly 400 Chinese sailors made their way into the port and quickly got drunk. They roamed the streets buying curios and souvenirs including swords, sword-canes and spears which alarmed the Japanese authorities. Many of the Japanese police armed themselves with sabers (usually they carried wooden clubs) in anticipation of the violent clashes that were to occur. The main clash took place near Kurokawa's police box about 8 p.m. Kurokawa was not on duty (he was still recovering from his injuries), so his replacement who was described as "being very quiet and inoffensive" became the target of the Chinese mob's rage. They goaded him with insults and hurled fruit at him, but the policeman (who was only armed with a club) refused to respond. He did, however, send word to the police headquarters for assistance. Unfortunately, for him, it came too late. Some of the Chinese sailors attacked him and tried to take his club from him but he fought back. For his efforts, the sailors beat and stabbed him to death. The sailors then swept through the streets with "flourished swords and snatched what they fancied out of shops without paying and made cowardly attacks [upon] inoffensive persons passing quietly through the streets." Mogi Hotel in Nagasaki, circa 1900s. Robert Neff Collection By PTI MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday demanded that actress Kangana Ranaut apologise for her comments against Mumbai and Maharashtra. Ranaut in a tweet recently compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Asked if he would apologise for his remark against Ranaut while reacting to her tweet on a TV channel, Raut told reporters that "anybody who lives and works here and speaks ill of Mumbai, Maharashtra and Marathi people, I would say apologise first". In a tweet, Ranaut recently asked, "Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?". She had tagged a September 1 news report where Raut purportedly said she should not come back to Mumbai if she was afraid of the city police. The Rajya Sabha member on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to take against people defaming the city police. He had also asked Ranaut to tour the PoK first to see the situation prevailing there. Ranaut, who is currently in her home state Himachal Pradesh, also tweeted that she will be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and dared anyone to stop her. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe With fewer than 60 days until the end of the November general election, millions of Americans are receiving a cascade of election mail, and though most of it is legitimate, much of it is not official. Third parties and outside groups, such as major political parties and voter engagement groups, are ramping up their efforts this year to get out the vote in a number of ways, including sending millions of Americans absentee ballot applications in the mail. This is perfectly legal, as long as the groups are complying with state guidelines, but it comes with the added cost of confusion to voters and frustration to local election officials who may receive more than one absentee ballot application from a single voter. With election officials already working around the clock to cope with the mass changes to election law this year -- mainly the expansion of absentee voting eligibility so Americans can vote from home safely during the pandemic -- it can be frustrating to have to process multiple applications from a single voter, who may have been confused about whether or not their other applications were processed. MORE: Barr gives false recounting of Texas voter fraud case in effort to cast doubt on mail-in voting "Part of the challenge here is that not only more people are sending out applications to voters, in order to make sure voters have an opportunity to vote by mail, but when voters do fill out multiple ones, because maybe they fill it out one day and then a week later because ... they haven't gotten the ballot," Tammy Patrick, the senior adviser of elections at Democracy Fund, told ABC News. "So voters might be more inclined to fill out multiples. And all of that just continues to snowball in local election offices," she said. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said that snowballing can become frustrating for election officials, who have to process multiple applications from one voter. "It can be frustrating to election administrators who are getting second, third and fourth absentee ballot applications from people who are sending it in with goodwill," Simon said. Story continues On top of that, there is no requirement that outside groups coordinate with officials in the state where they are mailing out election information. "One of the issues on outside groups sending absentee ballot applications is there's no requirement whatsoever that they talk to us, notify us or say anything. They can just order the voter file, which is a public document we sell for something like 46 bucks to campaigns all the time, nominal cost, and they can just mail them out," Simon added. PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, in Latrobe, Pa. (Evan Vucci/AP) The confusion isn't eased by President Donald Trump's frequent attacks on safety of absentee voting, which has undermined the confidence of voters despite it being a safe process. Just this week, the president told voters in North Carolina to still go to their polling place to vote even if they voted by mail, which is illegal, and set off a string of responses from national politicians and organizations urging voters not to do so. In what has been dubbed by both Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden as the "most important election of our lifetime," groups are working overtime to ensure voters are engaged, including the nonpartisan, nonprofit voter engagement group Center for Voter Information. MORE: Here's what to know about mail-in voting for November The group, which was established in 2004, previously focused primarily on election mail to register Americans to vote, or to help them update their voter registration so they were still eligible once they got to their polling place. Voting is an entirely different process in 2020 and the Center for Voter Information is adapting to reflect that. "With COVID-19 impacting elections, we have a responsibility to do all we can to safely increase voter turnout amid this uncertain time. We feel it is vital to keep voters safe and to bring democracy to eligible voters' doorsteps. Since we are non-partisan, we do not send mailers based on party affiliation. We care if you vote, but not how you vote," Tom Lopach, the president and CEO of the Center for Voter Information, said in a statement to ABC News. The Center for Voter Information is focusing primarily on demographic groups that are typically underrepresented when it comes to voting, including people of color, young adults and unmarried single women in primarily battleground states across the country. Their applications, in states where it is legal, even feature much of the voter's information already filled in for them, in an attempt to ease the burden of requesting a ballot. PHOTO: Voters line up outside of a polling location to cast their ballots after Democratic and Republican primaries were delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions in Atlanta, June 9, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Reuters, FILE) Already this cycle, CVI has mailed 34.3 million vote-by-mail applications to registered voters around the country. And with another push in September, an additional 37 million applications will get sent again. But the system isn't perfect. In Virginia, for example, CVI sent out a number of mailers to voters with improper return addresses. Their applications, which include prepaid postage, are meant to be returned to county election offices. The wave of mailings sent to Virginians had the wrong addresses and those applications couldn't be processed until they were mailed to the right offices, CVI clarified. A printer error resulted in the confusion, which has since been ironed out. Their tracking system allows them to see the return rate of voters who are using their applications specifically to request an absentee ballot by mail. And though it is slow to update, so far, over 3 million Americans have used CVI applications across the country. "We sometimes send several 'waves' of vote-by-mail ballot applications to voters, since people are busy and often need a reminder. We frequently check state databases and do our best to remove the names of any people who already have signed up to vote by mail," Lopach said. MORE: Election officials from dozens of states dispute President Trump's claim mail-in voting will result in rampant fraud Those waves are in addition to similar mailings that are often sent by political parties working to get out the vote. "Just as we do every cycle, the RNC is sending out absentee ballot applications in battleground states and our field teams will be aggressively chasing those ballots. Additionally, we are rolling out one of the largest and most aggressive 'get out the vote' programs focused on early voting and Election Day," Mandi Merritt, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, told ABC News in an email. The Democratic National Committee did not immediately respond to inquiries about their mailing operations this cycle. PHOTO: A poll worker casts a mail-in ballot for a voter at a drive-thru polling station during the primary election amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Miami, Aug. 18, 2020. (Marco Bello/Reuters, FILE) Receiving multiple ballot applications can take a toll on election workers, Simon said. Minnesota law requires the final application sent in to be the one processed and used to mail voters their ballots. "From the standpoint of election administrators, and the counties and cities, they tear their hair out because they have to process every one. The rule in Minnesota is an assumption if someone sends a second or third or fourth one in that you always process the one that came in last," Simon said. Gerry Cohen, a member of the Wake County, North Carolina, Elections Board, said a good portion of applications in his county come from third-party vendors reaching out to voters. "I've had several county election directors tell me that a huge amount of their requests start coming off these blank forms sent out by the third-party groups. So despite there being a lot of people making calls saying, 'What is this, can I use it?' and being generally panicked, in fact, they're heavily used by voters," he said. MORE: Early voting starts today: Here's what to expect North Carolina, the first state to send out official absentee ballots in the mail on Sept. 4, allowed voters to request an absentee ballot without an excuse this year. Compounded with other changes, the state has seen a 21-fold increase from the same time in 2016, according to election expert Michael McDonald. "I don't think anyone in past years has ever done this," Cohen said of the huge influx of third-party involvement in absentee ballot applications. "There's been very little of this, even though we've had people to apply for absentee votes without an excuse since 2002. But I don't recall ever having gotten an application [from other groups]." The applications sent by CVI are identical to the ones sent by the state, Lopach said. Otherwise, according to Cohen, the applications cannot be processed. CVI works with states before a mailing to ensure that they are legal and effectively differentiated from mailings that the state sends. "In 2020, we are working in tandem with county and state election officials around the country to make sure that eligible voters have a chance to safely participate in democracy. There's never been a more important time to register to vote, and to know the options for voting before and on Election Day," Lopach said. ABC News' Kendall Karson and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report. Millions of Americans are receiving absentee ballot applications from outside groups. Heres what you need to know. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has cut the sod for the construction of a new children's library at Bortianor in the Ga South Municipal Assembly. The 40-seater library, expected to be equipped with computers, is being funded by the Rebecca Foundation and would serve as a knowledge acquisition place for children around the Bortianor area. It would also help the children to gain the confidence to succeed in life, the First Lady said. "I hope this community will encourage children to make full use of this library when it is completed in November this year, and God willing I will be back to commission it," Mrs Akufo-Addo stated. She said since 2017, the Rebecca Foundation had supported and invested in the education of school children, especially girls. The Foundation has also provided mentoring, skills training and financial support to those who drop out of school and were unable to continue. "Very soon, this mentoring programme will be telecast on television to make it more accessible to girls across the nation," she said. Mrs Akufo-Addo said so far four libraries had been built in the Upper West, Bono, and the Western North Regions to provide access to books and computers for Ghanaian children. She said two more libraries were currently being constructed in the Oti and Ashanti Regions. Mr Henry Ayetse, the Municipal Director of Education, said available statistics showed that most children were unable to read after six years of primary education. Also, only a few schools have proper functional libraries, he said and lauded the First Lady for providing such facilities to augment the Ghana Education Service's work in ensuring childrens access to books. Mr Slyvester Tetteh, the NPP Parliamentary aspirant for Ga South, urged the chiefs and people to give the government and the party another chance in the December polls so they could continue to develop the country. 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 David Koch has gone head-to-head with Victoria's health minister over the government's decision not to reopen the state until new COVID-19 cases drop to just five a day - which is less than NSW. The Sunrise host grilled Jenny Mikakos on Monday morning, labelling Premier Daniel Andrews' roadmap to recovery 'unrealistic and naive'. The lockdown will only lift on October 26 if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are fewer than five unknown source cases. If New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian were to follow the same five-cases-per-day modelling, the state would have already been plunged back into a second lockdown. NSW recorded 10 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, five on Saturday and eight on Friday. Mr Andrews announced on Sunday Victoria would need a 14-day average of five cases provided a 97 per cent chance of avoiding having to go back into lockdown. Victoria's average daily number of cases during the previous 14 days was about 100. 'It looks as though you've gone rogue on this. This is out of step with the rest of the country. It looks like you've gone broke,' Koch told Ms Mikakos. Sunrise host David Koch grilled Jenny Mikakos on Monday morning, labelling Premier Daniel Andrews' roadmap to recovery 'unrealistic and naive' Premier Daniel Andrews will only lift lockdown on October 26 if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are fewer than five unknown source cases 'This target of getting under five cases a day for 14 days before you get back to any semblance of normal is way different to New South Wales who is managing at an economy relatively open.' Ms Mikakos said daily case numbers need to be brought down significantly before the government can 'safely reopen businesses and other economic activity'. 'If we just have a little patience we can get that,' she said. 'This is based on modelling that if we go too fast we risk having a third wave that we have seen many countries who are in the throes of a second wave and have had to put restrictions back in place.' But Koch again shut down the health minister's rationale, saying the majority of cases are from aged care and health care workers. 'You're not going to eliminate (the virus). NSW fluctuates between cases and they keep businesses open, they keep kids at school and they keep the economy going. 'You send these benchmarks of five (cases) a day which seems unrealistic. Are you being a bit naive? You're going way more hard-nosed on this.' 'Rather than using the sledgehammer of rage that you are using, the leading epidemiologists say to focus on those areas and allow the rest of the economy to have a bit more latitude to get people back at work.' Victoria recorded 41 new COVID-19 cases - the state's lowest daily count in since June 27 - and nine deaths on Monday. Under the Victorian Government's plan, Melbourne's stage four restrictions will remain in place for another two weeks, though from September 14 the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am. Under the Victorian Government's plan, Melbourne's stage four restrictions will remain in place for another two weeks, though from September 14 the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am The premier said the nominated 14-day average of five cases provided a 97 per cent chance of avoiding having to go back into lockdown People living alone will also be able to nominate a friend or family member who can visit them, while two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including 'social interactions' such as having a picnic at a local park or reading a book at the beach. The curfew won't be lifted until October 26, with people able to leave their homes for non-essential reasons. The lockdown will only lift on that date if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are fewer than five unknown source cases. Up to five visitors from a nominated household and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will also be allowed. 'We can't run out of lockdown. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown to find that COVID normal,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday. The curfew won't be lifted until October 26, with people able to leave their homes for non-essential reasons 'I want a Christmas that is as close to normal as possible and this is the only way, these steps are the only way that we will get to that point.' The premier said the nominated 14-day average of five cases provided a 97 per cent chance of avoiding having to go back into lockdown. Victoria's average daily number of cases during the previous 14 days was about 100. 'If you open up at that level you are not open for long,' he said. The last step will come into effect from November 23, if Victoria goes 14 days with no new cases, allowing public gatherings of up to 50 people and 20 home visitors at a time. All remaining restrictions will be removed when Victoria goes 28 days with no new cases, although masks will likely remain compulsory for some time. Advertisement They've been friends for years and were rumored to have dated nearly eight years ago. And Sofia Richie and her pal Jaden Smith reunited for a fun day at the beach in Los Angeles on Saturday. The model and the rapper, both 22, later ventured up to the swanky Japanese restaurant Nobu in Malibu for a double date with their friend Moises Arias and his girlfriend. Having a blast: Sofia Richie showed off her stunning figure in a pink bikini while frolicking on the beach in LA with her friend Jaden Smith. Later, the two had a double date at Nobu in Malibu Sofia grinned ear to ear while running through the cool water as Los Angeles experienced a heat wave. She wore a halter top triangle bikini in a hot pink design covered in lovely white flowers. The 5ft6in beauty paired the top with high-cut bottoms, and she also brought along a pair of stylish slim sunglasses to block out the oppressive sun. The blonde beauty wore what appeared to be a watch strapped around her ankle, and she had on multiple necklaces and bracelets. Jaden matched her in pink swim trunks with flower and rainbow designs on the front. Staying cool: Sofia grinned ear to ear while running through the cool water as Los Angeles experienced a heat wave Pretty in pink: She wore a halter top triangle bikini in a hot pink design covered in lovely white flowers Complementary: Jaden matched her in pink swim trunks with flower and rainbow designs on the front Sofia practiced coronavirus safety measures by arriving at the beach in a leopard print cloth mask, though Jaden didnt appear to be masked up as they found a spot on the sand. Later, the daughter of Lionel Richie removed her mask, but the two appeared to be maintaining plenty of distance from others. She arrived with a pair of frayed cut-off jeans, which she left unbuttoned. Sofia carried a black quilted handbag under one arm and carried her brown Fendi sandals in her other hand. Safety first: Sofia practiced coronavirus safety measures by arriving at the beach in a leopard print cloth mask. She arrived with a pair of frayed cut-off jeans, which she left unbuttoned Luxurious: Sofia carried a black quilted handbag under one arm and carried her brown Fendi sandals in her other hand The two spent 'all day and night,' together a source told E! on Sunday. 'They spent the afternoon playing on the beach together with friends.' Adding: 'But Sofia and Jaden only had eyes for each other. They swam in the water together and wrapped their arms around each other. They held hands as they went in and out of the water and then they pulled each other in for a hug.' The two also were said to have enjoyed 'cocktail' drinks together and a 'picnic,' during their day together before enjoying dinner with friends at Nobu in Malibu. Risky business: Though Sofia wore a mask, Jaden didnt appear to be masked up as they found a spot on the sand Accessories: The blonde beauty wore a gray monitor around her ankle, and she had on multiple necklaces and bracelets 'They were smiling at each other and very flirty the entire day. They seemed comfortable together,' the source added. Adding: 'They stayed for several hours and left together in a Sprinter van. Sofia was in a great mood and never stopped smiling.' 'She seems to be having a lot of fun and is very happy,' the source said. 'She and Jaden went back to a friend's house for the night.' Yum! Both Jaden and Sofia had tasty-looking orange cocktails resting on the sand by their blanket The two appeared to join friends on their blanket, and they had orange-colored cocktails resting by them on the sand. Sofia also put in some solo time with one of her female friends, who wore a pale orange bikini and went for a run through the water while holding hands with Sofia. Jaden and Sofia showed off their own PDA as they held hands while stepping into the ocean. Later, the son of Will Smith and Sofia embraced while sitting on the sand. Three's company: The two appeared to meet up with one of Sofia's female friends at the beach Colorful display: She wore a pale orange bikini that contrasted with Sofia's suit Working up a sweat: The cover model and her friend laughed as they went for a run through the knee-high water Getting close: Jaden and Sofia showed off their own PDA as they held hands while stepping into the ocean Affectionate display: Later, the son of Will Smith and Sofia embraced while sitting on the sand Sofia and Jaden share a romantic history going back to 2012. The two began dating in November of that year, when they were only 14, but the relationship fizzled out by early 2013. Following their breakup, the rapper reportedly dated Kylie Jenner, 23, and he even introduced her to her one-time best friend Jordyn Woods She was eventually cast out of the KardashianJenner circle after her sister Khloe Kardashian's partner Tristan Thompson kissed her at a party. Old flames: Sofia and Jaden share a romantic history going back to 2012 Youthful romance: The two began dating in November of that year, when they were only 14, but the relationship fizzled out by early 2013 Moving on: Following their breakup, the rapper reportedly dated Kylie Jenner, 23, though they never acknowledged the relationship at the time Making connections: Jaden was responsible for introducing the cosmetics near-billionaire to her future bff Jordyn Woods Split: The friendship later fizzled and she was cast out of the KardashianJenner circle after Khloe Kardashian's boyfriend Tristan Thompson kissed her at a party, though he was later forgiven Sofia recently ended her relationship with her boyfriend Scott Disick, 37. The couple had managed to tie their life together with Scott's need to spend time with his children and their mother Kourtney Kardashian, and they even went on family vacations together. But the relationship ended following the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star's short visit to a rehab facility in May. The two were rumored to have reunited in July, and they were seen spending Independence Day together, but they were reported to have split again by mid-August. Since then, Scott has been spending more time with Kourtney and the kids, though he's not trying to restart a relationship with his former partner. Splitsville: Sofia recently ended her relationship with her boyfriend Scott Disick, 37. Blended family: The couple had managed to tie their life together with Scott's need to spend time with his children and their mother Kourtney Kardashian, and they even went on family vacations together The end: They separated after Scott's short stint in rehab in May. After reuniting briefly in July, the were reported to have split again in mid-August Moving on: Since then, the KUWTK star has been spending more time with his ex Kourtney and their children Later in the evening, Sofia changed into a black outfit for a night out at the high-end Japanese restaurant Nobu in Malibu, which has become a popular spot for the KardashianJenner Clan. It was the model's second meal at the restaurant that week, after she was spotted going there on Thursday. She wore a modest black outfit with long sleeves that covered her legs, while Jaden appeared to have on a burgundy collared shirt. The blonde beauty had her locks tied back in an elegant bun, which she held together with a large hair clip. Their friend Moises is an actor who first gained widespread recognition for playing Rico on Disney's Hannah Montana seriesl More recently, he starred opposite Pete Davidson in the critically acclaimed comedy The King Of Staten Island, from director Judd Apatow. The film was released digitally in June, while many theaters throughout the world were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Double date: Later in the evening, Sofia was spotted out at the KardashianJenner hotspot Nobu Malibu with Jaden. The two were joined by their friend Moises Arias and his girlfriend Repeat customer: It was the model's second meal at the restaurant that week, after she was spotted going there on Thursday Simple style: She wore a modest black outfit with long sleeves that covered her legs, while Jaden appeared to have on a burgundy collared shirt Reserved: The blonde beauty had her locks tied back in an elegant bun, which she held together with a large hair clip When talking about the complexities of news, or how information is distributed in the 21st century, the word bully might seem out of place. But as Facebook threatens to cut off access to sharing news in response to a proposed Australian law, its hard not to think that bullying might be exactly what is going on. Heres the (slightly complicated) situation: in April of this year, after an 18-month inquiry into the role of digital platforms, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission was asked by the government there to develop a code to address the imbalance in power between digital platform businesses such as Facebook and news organizations. In July, the ACCC announced that its solution was to enforce a set of rules in which Facebook and Google would have to negotiate prices to have news pieces from vetted news organizations shared on their platforms. If they cannot, a panel will arbitrate a final, binding price. Finally, Facebook or Google would have to inform news companies of any changes to their algorithms that would negatively impact the news business. In response, Facebook threatened to simply ban the sharing of news links on its platform in the country. Hence the justified use of the term bully. There is legitimate debate over whether Australias approach is the right one. But the fact that Facebook can threaten to simply stop distributing news when a significant portion of the population gets its news from its platform highlights the problem: Facebook and Google simply have too much power over the distribution of news and need to be reined in. What Facebook and Google did to news is now a well-worn story. Because they became so dominant in the attention they command in our lives, digital platforms became the distribution centres for information online. In doing so, ad spending shifted billions of dollars from print and news organizations over to the more efficient, targeted ads that tech giants produce because they have so much data on users. That change, coupled with the decimation of classified ads by Craigslist and Kijiji et al, meant that news organizations share of revenue plummeted just at the time that millions more were reading things online. Thats not to say the news business is somehow free of blame. Not only was the broad reaction to the effects of the web and mobile devices excruciatingly slow, it was also full of misstarts and poorly thought out schemes. But if that story is familiar, what is sometimes less talked about is how Facebook in particular flattened discourse such that legitimate news organizations were often overtaken or overshadowed by those of a much lower quality. As the New York Times Kevin Roose points out almost daily, what is most shared on Facebook tends to be hard right, inflammatory posts that often distort truth if not outright lie. The economic framework of news thus has a real social impact. In acquiring such enormous economic power, digital platforms undercut news organizations ability to create profitable business models. In turn, not only is the existence of news organizations threatened, the vacuum left would be easily filled by charlatans and bad actors. The sheer power and size of the digital platforms has become a problem all its own. Australias lesson for Canadas news industry, however, may in fact be a study in what it means to tackle power. Regulation is a tricky beast; for example, if one were to legally insist on human content moderation, only companies the size of Google or Facebook might have the resources to have a chance of enacting such policy, thus entrenching their dominant positions by cutting off smaller companies. There is a risk, too, that Australias approach threatens to do something similar by simply doubling down on the privacy-invading data model of Facebook and Google and then asking for a slice of that poisonous pie. Canadas response to the inarguably excessive power of Facebook and Google has to thus be in prioritizing truth-seeking, fact-checked, vetted news, while also challenging the dominance of Facebook and Googles business models themselves. How that happens will likely be in finding a way to fund both local and national news organizations without directly tying that funding to either Facebook and Googles distribution, or the whims of changing government ideology. But that we are talking about government intervention at all outlines the stakes of the problem. Facebook, Google, and other digital platforms have become so powerful and rich that regulation is the only way to rein them in. How we go about that is something we will have to decide soon. But the thing with bullies is that they dont give up power on their own it has to be taken back, and sometimes, the only option is to use force. Navneet Alang is a Toronto-based freelance contributing technology columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @navalang Read more about: BERLIN Germany on Sunday increased the pressure on Russia over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, warning that a lack of support by Moscow in the investigation could force Germany to rethink the fate of a German-Russian gas pipeline project. I hope the Russians wont force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. Maas also said if there wont be an contributions from the Russian side regarding the investigation in the coming days, we will have to consult with our partners. He did not exclude possible sanctions against Russia, telling the newspaper that such measures should be pinpointed effectively. However, Maas also admitted that halting the building of the nearly completed gas pipeline would harm German and European companies as well as Russia. Whoever demands this has to be aware of the consequences, he said. More than 100 companies from 12 European countries are involved (in the construction), about half of them from Germany. The German government has come under growing pressure to use the joint German-Russian pipeline project as leverage in getting Russia to provide answers on Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea when completed, bypassing Ukraine. Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow on Aug. 20 and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital since he was flown to Germany for treatment on Aug. 22. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called Navalnys poisoning an attempted murder that aimed to silence one of Russian President Vladimir Putins fiercest critics and called for a full investigation. German authorities say tests showed that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities previously identified the nerve agent, developed during the Soviet era, as the poison used to target former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018. We have high expectations from the Russians to bring light into this severe crime, Maas said. If they have nothing to do with this attack, then its in their own interest to put the facts on the table. France also added pressure on Sunday, suggesting the possibility of sanctions if Moscow fails to quickly respond to European demands for answers about Navalnys poisoning. Its a serious situation. Its serious firstly because its the poisoning of another opposition figure. And its serious because the substance that was used, Novichok, is banned, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking on France Inter radio. (The Russians) must now tell us the truth so that we can act accordingly When we say quickly, its quickly, thats to say a week, now. Its a traumatizing event for everyone, he said. Putins spokesman has brushed off allegations that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning Navalny and said last week that Germany hadnt provided Moscow with any evidence about the politicians condition. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscows claim Sunday that Germany hadnt provided any evidence since Russia requested it in late August. Dear Mr. Maas, if the government of the Federal Republic of Germany is sincere in its statements, then it should itself be interested in preparing a response to the request of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Russia as soon as possible, Zakharova wrote in a Facebook posting. Maas rejected that accusation later Sunday, saying Germany had long agreed to Russias request and had told the countrys ambassador to Berlin so last week. There is no reason why we shouldnt agree to this request and therefore this is another one of their smoke grenades we have seen several of those during the last days and Im afraid there will be more in coming days, Maas told ARD public Television. Merkel personally offered the countrys assistance in treating Navalny. Hes now in stable condition at Berlins Charite hospital, but doctors expect a long recovery and havent ruled out that the 44-year-old could face long-term effects to his health from the poisoning. Merkel has previously rejected the idea that the Navalny case be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The U.S. has long opposed the project, which has been increasingly a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. In August, three Republican senators threatened sanctions against an operator of a Baltic Sea port located in Merkels parliamentary constituency over its part in Nord Stream 2. The Mukran port is a key staging post for ships involved in its construction. The U.S. argues the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas. Its also opposed by Ukraine and Poland, which will be bypassed by the pipeline under the Baltic, as well as some other European nations. In addition to the security concerns, the U.S. also wants to sell more of its own liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Europe. ___ John Leicester contributed reporting from Paris, Jim Heintz from Moscow. Former Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammed Sanusi, yesterday ruled himself out of involvement in politics, including running for political office in 2023. The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said he would be heading for the Oxford University in the United Kingdom next month as a visiting fellow at the institutions African Studies Department. People have been talking to me about politics when I was in the CBN. I have never had an interest in partisan politics, he said in an Arise TV interview. He added: The nature of my family is that we consider ourselves the leaders of the poorer people and you know politics can be very divisive. All I can say is that this not an objective for me. For him, service to the nation does not have to be through only politics and recalled how he started off as an academic and after just two years, I completed my masters and went into banking for some reasons. I have been a banker, a regulator, an emir. I cant see the future, so I will take life as it goes. I am in no hurry. I see my life as a life of service but I just dont think that public service is limited to elected office, and any opportunity I have to serve, I will take as long as it is a role I think I am capable of delivering. But I have no immediate plans to go into politics. While at Oxford, Sanusi plans to write three books, one of which will be Sharia Society and Identity. The second of the planned series will focus on the Central Banks response to global financial crisis and the third on the impact of certain interpretations of Muslim family law and cultural practices on the underdevelopment of Northern Nigeria. North Korea test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile from waters off its eastern coast town of Wonsan, Oct. 2, 2019. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo Speculation is growing that North Korea may stage a military provocation to mark its ruling party's foundation day next month, according to diplomatic experts, Sunday. In addition, its current economic woes from coronavirus and natural disasters and the upcoming U.S. presidential election are also raising the possibility over a "much-heralded October surprise," they added. The totalitarian state is scheduled to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Workers' Party, Oct. 10, and to this end, seems to have already begun rehearsals, with thousands of troops and hundreds of vehicles practicing for a military parade in Pyongyang, according to 38 North, a U.S.-based website specializing in the secretive regime. The latest report on a possible North Korean military provocation came from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) saying the North was apparently preparing to fire a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the Sinpo South Shipyard on the east coast. "A satellite image of the Sinpo South Shipyard acquired on Sept. 4, 2020 shows some activity suggestive of preparations for an upcoming test of a Pukguksong-3 submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the submersible test stand barge based here," the CSIS said. The analysis came amid speculation that the Kim Jong-un regime has boosted its missile capabilities despite its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and ballistic missile testing since April 2018. Rob Soofer, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense policy, said last week that the North was still trying to expand its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) reach, including SLBMs. Harry Kazianis, a U.S. expert on the North, also said Pyongyang could unveil a new type of ICBM during the celebratory event. "It is a feasible scenario for the North to test an SLBM on Oct. 10," said Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University. The professor said an SLBM is an optimized weapon that does not cross U.S. President Donald Trump's "red line," or nuclear and ICBM tests that can pose a threat to the U.S. mainland. "Trump did not take issue with a North Korean SLBM test in October last year although it can also reach the U.S. mainland and in that sense, a missile launch from a submarine, along with a display of an ICBM, can be carried out on the anniversary day," he said. Starting this year, the North has made efforts to hold a celebration on a large scale, but fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by damages from recent floods and typhoons, has given little room for its leader to tout the occasion of the anniversary. Traditionally, the North has celebrated the anniversary in a larger manner in years ending with a five or zero. In that respect, Kim may opt to demonstrate the North's military capabilities to ease public displeasure with the economic challenges they face. Last month, the North Korean leader admitted the country's current economic strategy had failed, planning to unveil a new five-year economic development plan in January. The U.S. presidential election, scheduled for Nov. 3, is also bolstering speculation over a military provocation to renew attention to stalled denuclearization talks. "As the North hopes that Trump will win reelection, an intolerable provocation may hurt his chances of staying in office for four more years the U.S. president touts his relationship with the North Korean leader as one of his administration's diplomatic achievements but absent any military action, the country may lose its bargaining power in future nuclear negotiations with the United States, regardless of who wins the election," Park said. "In that respect, the North is trying to strike a balance with an SLBM test." 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 BEIRUT: Lebanons top Christian cleric said on Sunday a new government must deliver urgent economic and other reforms in the national interest, rather than returning to past corrupt ways that have plunged the Middle Eastern nation into an economic crisis. Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai, leader of the Maronite church, has an influential role as religious leader of the biggest Christian community in Lebanon, where political power is divided between its main Christian, Muslim and Druze sects. Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib, a Sunni Muslim, is in talks to swiftly form a cabinet by mid September, under pressure from French President Emmanuel Macron. Picking ministers in the past has taken months of haggling. Macron has led international efforts to fix the country of about six million people that has been crushed by debt and which is reeling from a huge Aug. 4 port blast that shattered Beirut, exacerbating Lebanons deepest crisis since its 1975-1990 civil war. The patriarch called for an emergency government that was small, qualified and strong" in his Sunday sermon, saying the new cabinet should not return to past ways of clientelism, corruption and bias". Fateful times require a government in which there is no monopoly of portfolios, no sharing out of benefits, no dominance by one group, and no landmines that disrupt its work and decisions," he said, adding it must negotiate responsibly" with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His comments were carried by an-Nahar newspaper website and other Lebanese media. Talks with the IMF were started this year by the outgoing government, but quickly stalled amid a row between ministers, politicians and banks about the scale of losses in the banking system that has been brought to its knees, sending the currency into tailspin and driving many people into poverty. 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 Zambia woman got fed up with her husband's unwillingness to kill a rat in their house. Unknown to the husband, his refusal will end in disastrous circumstances. She decided to bite off his private part as they fought over the rodent problem. Rodent are unwanted pests in the household, but for this unlucky husband, his refusal to kill one will result in the lost of his manhood. Drunk wife couldn't sleep due to rats A couple living in Kitwe, Zambia, made international news after their heated argument turned into a bloody mess. On September 3, married couple Abraham Musonda, 52, and his wife Juliet Mukupa, 40, argued about rats in their home that need to be removed. But Musonda did not do what his wife said, despite her relentless pleas to him. According to The Mirror, the wife was finally fed up with her husband's laziness. Reports say that when Mukupa went home from a night out with pals, she saw a rat that was near the bed inside her bedroom. Sources remark that the presence of rodents kept her from sleeping well, which made her furious. She woke up her husband and was forcing him to get rid of the pest in their home. But he was not in a mood to comply and refused her request. Things immediately escalated, which prompted the wife to bite her husband's privates in the middle of their argument. More reports from The U.S. Sun revealed the savage bite has caused severe injuries to the husband. In Kitwe Teaching Hospital, treatment was given for a tear in his male part to fix the injuries. Daily Star reported that the wife must have been intoxicated to bit her husband savagely. Also read: Boxer Woman Kills Two Men: Rapes One With Shovel Handle , Kicks Another to Death The Deputy Police Commissioner for Copperbelt Province, Bothwell Namusa, told the Zambia Observer that the couple are currently having marital problems. They live in the same house but have their own bedrooms. Seems that an argument is a result of the conjugal situation, and the fight did not bode too well for Musonda too. After the painful event that might be troublesome for the estranged husband, nothing is mentioned if the woman got charges for this savage attack on her husband. Until now, there are no updates regarding the recovery of the husband as well. Pestering problem in the community The rat problem is not only isolated to this couple. Even other parts of their community are coping with rodent problems. The present Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya said the hospital were the injured man was staying also has rats, which is not acceptable at all for a medical institution. He added that the government gives funds to the hospital after videos were posted of the rodent dilemma. Similar incidences of other men getting gnawed on out of spite by women are commonplace. In Coconut Creek in Florida, Mohammad Mahmoud Shaar, 26-years old, beat up his girlfriend's son, but he was cut in his male parts by his fingernails. Another incident occurred in Nigeria, where a quarelling couple bit one another. The woman bit her boyfriend's privates, and the man got even and bit her chest savagely. Related article: Derange Teens Stab Man With Samurai Sword About 100 Times, Attempt to Decapitate Head While Rapping With Glee @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Novan Iman Santosa (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, September 7 2020 After staying mum for two months, Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner broke her silence on Indonesia's proposal to buy jet fighters from the European country. On a letter dated Sept. 4, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post, Tanner said she wanted to enter into specific sales negotiations with her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung reported on Sunday. She also thanked Prabowo for his interest in buying a fleet of 15 Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighters. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has slammed the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama for labelling some Akufo-Addo appointees responsible for the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal as Akyem mafias and sakawa boys. According to the leader of the policy think-thank, John Dramani Mahama went to the extreme with the name-calling of his opponents. Taking to his social media page, Facebook to register his displeasure, Franklin Cudjoe advised that Ghanaians be ethnically tolerant to allow peace prevail in the country especially in these times that tensions are high as the general election nears. He said We all joke sometimes with tribal memes. But some are very expensive. Describing an ethnic group as "sakawa" is not cool in this tensed political moment. JM went too far. But I don't think Umaru worries when I call him ' 'Fulani Chinese' or better when I am called ' lolobi terminator'. Let us be ethnically tolerant. Mr Mahama shared a statement issued by Minority MP Isaac Adongo, in which the lawmaker described the President and some of his appointees as Akyem Mafia and Sakawa Boys. On Friday, September 4, 2020, President Akufo-Addo responded to the Akyem mafia tag when he met with the Ghana Catholic Bishops' at the Jubilee House. He stressed "The comments made by my opponent [John Mahama] 'Ayem Sakawa' people I have not heard any public figure in this country comment on it. it is completely unacceptable. If I wake up to make such a comment about Northerners or Gonjas you can imagine the uproar that will be in the country. A former President of Ghana you can call a group of Ghanaians 'Sakawa' people and it involves the group of a sitting President," he added. The NDC flagbearer, on the other hand, has hit back at President Akufo-Addo stating that he did worse when he was in opposition, therefore, does not have any right to complain about the ongoing saga. Read below Franklin Cudjoe's Facebook post. We all joke sometimes with tribal memes. But some are very expensive. Describing an ethnic group as "sakawa" is not cool... Posted by Franklin Cudjoe on Saturday, September 5, 2020 Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As the trade tensions between the United States and China refuse to slow down, Vietnam-based plywood exporters are under pressure of investigation for alleged issues with the sources of their input materials. Until the beginning of June, Vietnams exports of kitchen furniture and parts rose by 58 and 17 per cent, respectively Junma Phu Tho Co., Ltd., a fully Chinese-owned business in Vietnam, is under investigation for tax avoidance, dumping, and countervailing duties by the US Department of Commerce (DoC). The investigation started in earlier in April as the US Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood asked the DOC to investigate whether the company would evade anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties applied to Chinese products, which caused some Chinese manufacturers to ship parts of their products to Vietnam for assembly before exporting them to the US. In a statement to VIR, Junmas representative Cu Duc Hoang Tai said that his company is currently completing all necessary documents to prove that we source our input materials from Vietnam, adding that if the company manages to explain everything well, the investigation would not affect Junma much. Nevertheless, the company considers hiring a lawyer to support its defence as explaining the origin of plywood from Vietnam is challenging. Failure to provide a simple explanation has already cost Junma an additional anti-dumping tax of 10.55 per cent until the end of September in another case with the South Korean Ministry of Economy and Finance. Junma currently holds about 30 per cent market share for Vietnamese plywood exports into the US. In addition to the current investigation, Tai also worries about further import restrictions by the US if the pandemic continues to develop more severely. Its impact has already narrowed Junmas exports from the previous 450 containers per month to a mere 200. US President Donald Trumps trade policies aim to reduce the nations trade deficit and protect domestic producers, which directly impacts the Chinese wood industry to a level that creates a large surplus of goods. In addition, Trumps policies spurred a wave of investment into Vietnams wood industry, leading to new fundings, the increase of capital to expand the countrys production, and capital contributions through share purchases. In 2018, US Customs and Border Protection initiated an investigation of Fine Wood Vietnam, another Chinese-owned company operating in Vietnam that imports plywood from China. The company allegedly changed the origin and address labels to Vietnam before exporting its goods to the US. Tran Le Huy, vice chairman of the Forest Product Association of Binh Dinh said, It is not easy to know which Vietnamese plywood materials are in fact sourced here, while some signs point towards commercial wrongdoing. One just needs to connect the sudden increase of Chinese investment into this sector with the rapid expansion of plywood supplies from this country to come up with such an idea. According to Huy, the volume of Chinese plywood imports into Vietnam has increased sharply since 2018 and reached up to 500,000 cubic metres per year, equivalent to nearly $200 million and roughly 90 per cent of Vietnams total plywood imports. Meanwhile, Chinese capital flows into Vietnams wood sector surged, reaching 29 projects from 2015 to late June, which accounted for 69 per cent of total Chinese projects into Vietnam. However, most of these projects are small in size and only reach an investment of about $1-3 million per project. Recently, the US government has been paying more attention towards plywood products imported into the country, since the DoCs officially imposed anti-dumping taxes on Chinese kitchen cabinets. Meanwhile, Vietnamese exports of products classified as kitchen furniture or parts thereof surged dramatically. Data from a report of non-profit organisation Forest Trends and several local timber associations showed that in 2019, the exports of these two items increased by 34 per cent on-year. The US imported nearly $220 million worth of kitchen furniture and parts, accounting for 59 per cent of all Vietnamese exports in these two segments. In the same year, the US imported a total of $635 million of wood products from Vietnam, covering 81 per cent of the countrys total export turnover. In the first five months of this year, Vietnamese exports of kitchen furniture and parts to the US increased by 124 and 22 per cent respectively, while these two export segments overall rose 58 and 17 per cent respectively. Exports of products such as bedroom and office furniture saw a huge drop due to the impact of the pandemic. While Vietnams export turnover of kitchen furniture and parts climbed to the US, imports of these products into Vietnam also increased. According to analysts, this may be a response of exporting manufacturers to the increasing US demand and Chinas oversupply due to these countries trade tensions. Another possibility is that Chinese enterprises aim towards evading tax duties by using Vietnam as a channel for exports to the US. Moreover, policy gaps may have a negative impact on local businesses competitiveness in both the domestic and US markets. Nguyen Liem, general director of wood exporter Lam Viet JSC, argued that Chinese enterprises are using these gaps to their advantage and raising their presence in Vietnam to not only produce here but also label their products as if they were entirely from this country. Meanwhile, the issuance of certificates of origin for wood products of foreign-invested enterprises seems to lack oversight. For instance, as a rule, enterprises can acquire these certificates for products with at least 30 per cent added value. However, how the level of added value is classified remains difficult to control. On the bright side, imports of wood products into Vietnam are strictly classified by local customs. The overall import value of such products also increased sharply in 2019, reaching nearly $125 million, up 136 per cent compared to 2018. Meanwhile, import values for furniture parts from 2018 to 2019 even increased by 312 per cent, and in the first five months of 2020 showed an up of 187 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. As there are currently risks for Vietnamese plywood exports to the US and other markets like South Korea and Turkey, analysts recommend that regulators should find and implement mechanisms to reduce risks for companies involved either directly in the plywood supply chain or in products chains that use plywood as an input material. VIR Van Nguyen Chinese found counterfeiting Vietnamese origin for woodwork exports Many Chinese wooden furniture manufacturers have been found setting up foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) in Vietnam to fabricate Vietnamese origin for their exports to the US. A Brisbane man has been charged with the stabbing of an 18-year-old man who is fighting for life in hospital. Police believe a dispute between the victim and a 19-year-old man led to the alleged attack about 4pm on Sunday at a residence on Scotts Road in the Brisbane suburb of Darra. Police have charged a man after a stabbing in Brisbane. Credit:Queensland Police Service The 18-year-old was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition after suffering wounds to his neck and torso. The 19-year-old Darra man was questioned after he was taken into custody at the scene. We all have inherent bias. All of us. And those biases can affect the charges that we file against a defendant, whether we seek to have that defendant held or released and whether we seek an alternative to jail if there is one, one of the Black prosecutors said, noting that he was including colleagues of every race. We are just saying now is the time to examine those biases, admit they exist and work to ensure those biases are not impeding our efforts of securing justice not just for the victim and the community, but even in some cases, for the defendant as well. East Newarks superintendent announced plans to request a state investigation into his school district, citing inappropriate actions targeting this board and its operations. At a special Board of Education meeting Wednesday night, Superintendent Richard Corbett said he would formally ask the state Department of Educations investigatory arm to launch a probe into the East Newark school district. I am dismayed to report to the members of this Board of Education that outside political influences are attempting to dictate to this board (to) influence the appointment of personnel, which is in the sole discretion of the board, Corbett said. Corbett declined to comment further on the influences he was referring to. This is not about me, he said Friday. This is about doing whats in the best interests of our school district and our students. Tensions in Hudson Countys least populous municipality have been rising for months. Under the recently elected Mayor Dina Grilo, the relationship between the borough government and the school district has been strained. The superintendent and the mayor have been at odds over the towns recreation center. The school district has used the center for pre-K classes and extracurricular activities for years, but the mayor plans to renovate the building with a county grant have left school officials searching for a new location. Sources said that earlier this year, the mayors attempt to appoint a school treasurer also drew controversy and allegations of impropriety. Grilo could not immediately be reached for comment. The Department of Educations Office of Fiscal Accountability and Compliance, or OFAC, is responsible for all investigative and numerous auditing functions of the state agency, according to its website. The agency can refer findings of alleged misconduct to the state Attorney Generals Office. Corbett and the OFAC have crossed paths before. During his time as the superintendent of Roselles school district, the office investigated allegations of improper purchases and forgeries by district employees. Corbett himself was not accused of any misconduct. At Wednesdays meeting, East Newark school board members approved an ordinance recommending a switch to a Type II school board, meaning members would be elected by town residents instead of being appointed by the mayor. The ordinance calls for a referendum at the Nov. 3 general election, but its unclear if there is enough time to get on the ballot. At the meeting, Corbett said the switch to an elected board would ensure future board independence from outside political influence. Sushant Singh Rajput case: Rhea Chakraborty appears before NCB for questioning in drugs case India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Sep 06: Actress Rhea Chakraborty on Sunday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here for questioning in the drugs case linked to the death of her live-in partner and actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The 28-year-old arrived at the agency's office in the Ballard Estate area at 12 noon. She was escorted by police personnel. The agency has said it wants to question Rhea, the main accused in the death case, to take the probe forward in the case. A team of the agency had early morning visited her home to serve summons to her for joining the probe, officials said. A team led by NCB joint director Sameer Wankhede had visited Rhea's house located in Santa Cruz (west) area accompanied by local police and some women personnel. The team left after visiting her flat. The agency has said it also wants to confront Rhea with Showik, Miranda and Sawant in order to ascertain their individual roles in this alleged drug racket after it obtained mobile phone chat records and other electronic data that suggested some banned drugs were allegedly being procured by these people. In the chat records handed over to the NCB by the Enforcement Directorate, she was seen talking about banned narcotics. Showik had also reportedly confessed to the NCB that Rhea was indeed involved in procuring the drugs for Sushant. Whether she too will be taken into custody remains to be seen. Mumbai: NCB team & Police leave from residence of #RheaChakraborty. Joint Director of NCB, Sameer Wankhede says, "Summon has been given to Rhea. She was at her home." NCB issued summon to Rhea asking her to join the investigation, and come either on her own or with the team. pic.twitter.com/895GlLV0LB ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2020 It may be recalled that Showik and Samuel were arrested on Friday night under several sections of the NDPS Act, including 20(b), 28, 29, 27(A) after the raids at their respective residences in Mumbai. Bengaluru drug racket: Actress Ragini Dwivedi, 11 others booked under NDPS Act Rhea, in interviews given to multiple TV news channels, has said that she has never consumed drugs herself. She had, however, claimed that the late actor used to consume marijuana. The NCB, over the last two days, has arrested her younger brother Showik Chakraborty (24), Rajput's house manager Samuel Miranda (33) and Dipesh Sawant, a member of the actor's personal staff, in this case. It is claimed that Miranda told NCB investigators that he used to procure bud or curated marijuana for the late actor's household. Sawant was arrested on Saturday and he is expected to be produced by the agency before a local court on Sunday for seeking his custody. A total of 8 people have been arrested till now by the NCB with six being directly linked to this probe while two were arrested by it when the probe was launched under criminal sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. When the probe in the case began, the agency had arrested two men, Abbas Lakhani and Karan Arora, for alleged drug peddling and officials have claimed that through them they reached Zaid Vilatra and Abdel Basit Parihar who are allegedly linked to this drugs case as they were in touch with Miranda. Miranda, they had said, used to allegedly procure drugs from them on the purported instructions of Showik, agency officials said. Both Lakhani and Arora have been granted bail. The NCB had said it recovered 59 grams of cannabis from them. Showik Chakraborty to be confronted with sister Rhea: NCB The NCB, while seeking remand of one of the accused in this case few days back, had told a local court that it was looking into "the drug citadel in Mumbai, and especially Bollywood" in this probe. This case has given the NCB an "inkling" into the narcotics network and its penetration in Bollywood or Hindi movie industry, NCB Deputy Director General Mutha Ashok Jain told reporters on Saturday. Various angles surrounding the death of the 34-year-old actor are being probed by three federal agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The NCB initiated a drug angle probe in this case after the ED shared with it a report following the cloning of two mobile phones of Rhea. Rajput was found dead at his flat in suburban Bandra area on June 14. Mahesh M Goudar By Express News Service BAGALKOT: Bagalkot district, which had one of the worst fatality rates in the state in July at 4.2 per cent, has now changed the scenario by recording a death rate of less than 1 per cent. The efforts of the district health authorities have paid off, and the numbers have come down considerably. The district reported two Covid deaths and 144 positive cases on Saturday, taking the tally to 6,881 positives, 1,007 active cases and 5,794 recoveries. Over 50 per cent of the positive cases are from villages in the district. The rural areas in Badami, Mudhol and Hungund are the worst-affected. Speaking to TNIE, District Health Officer Dr Ananth Desai said that bringing down the fatality rate in rural areas was the biggest challenge. In June and July, cases were at their peak in rural areas, as most patients were migrants returning to their hometowns from Maharashtra and Goa. People were afraid to get tested and would come to the hospital only after failing to recover from taking self-prescribed medicines. As we received critical Covid patients late, it was difficult to save their lives. This was one of the main reasons for the high fatality rate in the initial days. However, health officers succeeded in convincing the villagers to get tested early. By creating awareness and educating them about the virus, we could persuade them to get tested. This helped us detect cases early and provide timely treatment, Dr Desai added. According to the war room report, fatalities in the district were being reported at a rate of 0.6 per cent for the past one week. Meanwhile, Haveri has the worst fatality rate at 3.6 per cent. Meanwhile, Bagalkot is among the top five districts to have the highest recovery rate in the state. LJP meet on Monday to decide whether to contest against JD(U) in Bihar elections India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 03: The Lok Janshakti Party is holding a crucial meeting of its Bihar leaders on Monday to decide whether to fight against the JD(U) in the upcoming state assembly polls amid worsening ties between the two members of the ruling NDA. The LJP and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-headed JD(U) have been sniping at each other for months. Kumar's decision to join hands with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Dalit leader like the Paswans with a history of targeting the LJP, has further soured their ties. While aiming at Kumar, Chirag Paswan has refrained from attacking the BJP and has even been lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One of the options that Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's party, now headed by his son Chirag Paswan, may consider is to remain a part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre but to fight outside its fold in the state, while not contesting against the saffron party, sources said. It may be noted that the LJP had in February 2005 fought against the RJD in the Bihar assembly polls, even though both regional parties were part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. The LJP put up candidates against the RJD while maintaining its ties with the Congress. This had led to the formation of a hung assembly in the state, ending Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD's 15-year rule, and another assembly poll held a few months later saw the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and BJP alliance storming to power with their maiden majority. While BJP leaders, including its national president J P Nadda, have been insisting that all three NDA parties will fight the upcoming polls together, sources said a sense of unease has crept in, with Kumar working to strengthen his position by actively wooing leaders from the RJD and tying up with Manjhi. The JD(U) has also made it clear that it will not hold any seat-sharing talks with the LJP, as its ties have been traditionally with the BJP. The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the Bihar polls sometime this month. Polls to the 243-seat assembly are likely to be held in October-November. Typhoon Haishen drew closer to Japan's southern mainland on Sunday (September 6), bringing potentially record rainfall, wind and high tides. Authorities urged early evacuation for more than 100,000 households in the southern island. But local media reported that some shelters have stopped accepting evacuees as a precaution against coronavirus. In a meeting with cabinet ministers, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe asked citizens to stay alert and follow information from local authorities. The typhoon has cut power to more than 300,000 homes. At least two injuries have been reported. Airlines have cancelled more than 500 flights departing from Okinawa and southern Japan. Bullet train services are also suspended in parts of the country. The typhoon was forecast to approach the Goto Islands, to the west of Nagasaki, in the early hours Monday local time. According to Japan's meteorological agency, it will then move to the Korean peninsula, which was hit by another typhoon on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and thousands temporarily without power. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_b6f.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_b6f .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_b6f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_b6f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_b6f.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement Other things being equal, the sorry narrative of Nigerian Television Authority(NTA) Channel 6, Aba will be rewritten very soon.Courtesy of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who has given assurance to rescue the station from its dilapidated state. The intervention followed a distress call from the stations management to the governor outlining the level of the decay in its infrastructure. The station which was the centre of attraction earlier before now is a shadow of itself. The studio equipment are now obsolete. The buildings are now dilapidated with roofs collapsed. The fences have caved in. The state of the infrastructure at once the darling station is better seen than said. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_5f6.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_5f6 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_5f6.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_5f6.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_5f6.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } In a pathetic explanation of the sorry state of the General Manager of the station, Nwadi Elobuikethe back fence of the station had fallen opening a way for criminals to have unfettered access to the premises. But who can deliver the station from this unhealthy situation if not Gov. Ikpeazu. May be that is why the management of the station deemed it necessary to sue for the intervention of Gov Ikpeazu. And their decision has paid off. The governor has assured that help will come in seven days time. Security first. The premises, according to the governor will be secured through a perimeter fencing. The governor also demanded the survey plan to necessitate immediate action. Go. Ikpeazu has also assured some intervention in the area of renovating the studio and major offices. In few weeks ahead, God willing, staff of the will enjoy a conducive working environment. However, like the governor raised concern, such nationall institutions, like NTA should be allowed to suffer this level of negligence. Appropriate quarters, such NTA headquarters, should make prompt interventions in such sensitive issues. Also, NTA Aba, like the governor acknowledged, is a key part of Aba, and its reach in viewership remains an issue to reckon with. Like the governor appealed, all hands of well- meaning Nigerians must be on deck to save the station from collapse. Gov. Ikpeazus swift intervention should provide a wake up call to rejig NTA. It will be recalled that the General Ibrahim Babangidas administration, under its Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) partially commercialised NTA. NTA under this arrangement was required to commercialise some of its time slots. This attempt was aimed at making the institution relocate from public broadcasting to partially commercial broadcasting network. This trend attracted sponsored and brokered religious programmes and live transmission of weddings and funeral services on the network. The fortunes of the institution began to decline when its monopoly was tampered, and it began to face competitions from some rivals such ad African Independent Television (AIT). It is worthy to note here that NTA is funded partially through subvention from the federal government. But the major criticism trailing NTA is that the content it covers is influenced by government and politicians. This has also affected its fortunes negatively. The has also been roundly criticised for still antiquated technology in its operations in the 21st century. Though this is largely blamed on funding. The time to rejig this dying network is now. And Gov. Ikpeazu, in his usual manner has blazed the trail. Once again, thank you Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for this swift intervention. It can only come from a listening governor. Must apologise: Dia Mirza on Kangana Ranauts spat with Shiv Sena leader Amid the continuing face-off between actor Kangana Ranaut and leaders of the ruling parties in Maharashtra, actor Dia Mirza intervened. The latter asked Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut to apologise for using an expletive for Kangana over her comments likening Mumbai to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. She said she feared for her safety after claiming to expose an alleged drug mafia in Bollywood. She added that she was more scared of the Mumbai Police than 'movie mafia goons'. After Raut reacted to her comments, Dia said that he can express displeasure on her remarks but must apologise for the language used. She added that there has been an increase in personal abuses in the last few months, and this must stop. ...read more New Delhi: In the emerging security paradigm, India's security would be maintained not on International Border, Line of Control or the Line of Actual Control alone but in the strategic space of the "extended neighbourhood" and the "strategic frontier", Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday. Addressing a symposium on `Emerging defence exports', General Rawat said that India values its emerging relationship with the United States and "cherishes" its traditional relationship with Russia. "With both these powers, we share a mature and robust defence and security framework," he said. "In the emerging security paradigm, India's security would be maintained not, as hitherto, on the International Border, Line of Control or the Line of Actual Control alone, but in the strategic space of the "extended neighbourhood" and the 'strategic frontier'," he added. Gen Rawat said that the armed forces should be structured in a manner that they provide the operational flexibility to pursue wider strategic objectives. Talking about proposed reforms in the military structure, General Rawat said the Chief of Defence Staff and the theatre commanders would "conjointly" provide unity of command while the service headquarters and the "component commanders" could provide unity of effort. "The Indian defence sector is today at an inflexion point poised to take off. The Government and the Indian armed forces have clearly demonstrated their resolve and commitment to the Make in India Defence initiative. We are fully committed to winning India's wars with Indian solutions," the CDS said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Hannibal, N.Y. -- New York State Police are asking for the publics help finding a missing 16-year-old from the town of Hannibal. Emane M. Bouffard was last seen on Aug. 22 at her house in Hannibal, state police said. Bouffard is 4-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, police said. She wears a black wig with yellow highlights, police said. She was last seen wearing white and black pants, a gray shirt, a black jacket and either sandals or white Adidas shoes, police said. State police ask that anyone with information about Bouffards whereabouts contact state police at 315-366-6000. 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. Policemen attached to the Bwari Police Division in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command have arrested a man for stealing a vehicle that belongs to the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) Headquarters at Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. A statement by the FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, indicated that the suspect, Hamisu Tukur, a 25-year old, was arrested during a stop and search operation following a distress call by the FRSC. In a prompt response to a distress call received by the FCT Police Commands control room, the Command on 5th September 2020 arrested one Hamisu Tukur m 25years at the outskirt of Bwari, for stealing a vehicle belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) Headquarters stationed at SkyMemorial, Wuse Zone 5. The fleeing suspect was arrested by the eagle-eyed Police Operatives from Bwari Division during a stop and search operation, following call received from the FRSC Headquarters by the Commands control room. The exhibits recovered from the suspect are one (1) white Toyota Hilux-HQ-26RS and a single key. While reassuring residents of its resolve to protect lives and property, the Command enjoin residents to promptly report or call these emergency numbers in case of distress: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883. The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigation, the statement read. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Kimberly Bryant, the founder of the nonprofit group Black Girls Code, recalls the spontaneous encounters with other people of color around the office that gave her a sense of belonging as she forged a career as an engineer. The wave in the cafeteria, the smile in the elevator, the nod in the hallway for Ms. Bryant, all would lead to connections that were instrumental in terms of my success. Those serendipitous occasions are just a memory, a casualty of the pandemic and the shift of tens of millions of employees from office settings to working from home. Its also one way in which the rise of the virtual office places special burdens on people of color, according to diversity and inclusion officers as well as many employees. With fewer connections and less extensive networks than white colleagues to begin with, Black and Hispanic workers can find themselves more isolated than ever in a world of Zoom calls and virtual forums. Assignments end up flowing to people who look more like top managers a longstanding issue while workers of color hesitate to raise their voices during online meetings, said Sara Prince, a partner at the consulting firm McKinsey. Its a critical issue, and there is a real risk facing diversity and inclusion in the current environment, said Ms. Prince, who like Ms. Bryant is African-American. When the leader is looking for someone to take up the mantle, most of them go to the comfort zone of people who remind them of themselves. This is exacerbated by the virtual office. Bernie Sanders is sounding the alarm. The Vermont senator is warning Americans they have to get ready for the possibility that President Donald Trump will refuse to step down if he loses the election in November. In an interview with Politico and later an email to supporters, which he also summarized in a series of tweets, Sanders says theres real reason for concern. This is not just idle speculation, Sanders told Politico. Trump was saying the only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election. Now he is making that statement at a time when virtually every national poll has him behind. Sanders also pointed to a comment Trump made during a July interview in which he refused to outright say he would accept the results of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Sanders is taking on the issue and plans to speak about it over the next few weeks to raise awareness of what he has characterized as a real possibility. What we have got to do in the next two months is to alert the American people about what that nightmarish scenario might look like in order to prepare them for that possibility and talk about what we do if that happens, he said. We must do everything we can to ensure @JoeBiden wins by the largest possible margin. We also must consider what happens if Trump loses but refuses to abide by the results and does everything he can to hold onto power. Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 4, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement In his email to supporters, Sanders said Trump is using his lies and misinformation to sow confusion and chaos in the election process and undermine American democracy. Sanders goes on to say that Trump does not intend to accept the results of the election if he loses. This is not just a constitutional crisis. This is a threat to everything this country stands for, Sanders writes. The senator says there are several steps that need to be taken to get ready, including making it clear to people that it could take days or weeks to get the results of the election. In order to avoid long delays, state legislatures need to allow counting of mail-in ballots before Election Day. And Sanders is also calling for congressional hearings about how local officials plan to handle the vote-counting process. Sanders has received support from key Democrats for his initiative, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.* Im standing side-by-side with @SenSanders to make sure we have a plan if President Trump refuses to leave office, Schumer tweeted. In a sharpest one-day spike of Covid-19 cases, the Maharashtra police force recorded 511 fresh cases among its personnel in the past 24 hours. This is the first time that the fresh cases of infection in state police force in one day breached the 500-mark. Earlier, the highest number of Covid cases among police personnel was on September 2 with 424 cases. Seven policemen also succumbed to the infection over the past couple of days, taking the state polices toll to 173. State police officers said Covid-19 fatalities were reported in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur city, Nagpur Rural, Kolhapur and Satara district police. According to the statement issued by Vinayak Deshmukh, assistant inspector general of police (law and order), the number of infected state police personnel has reached 16,912. Of the infected cops, 13,719 have recovered and many of them have joined duty. In Nagpur city police, a sub-inspector died of Covid-19 infection on Friday. 52-year-old Suresh Madhavi attached to Ganeshpeth police station was undergoing treatment at Indira Gandhi Hospital in Nagpur. Another policeman from Nagpur city, a naik, succumbed to the infection on Saturday. Pravin Shurkar, 43, attached to Sakkardara police station, had been undergoing treatment at Care East Hospital. Nagpur rural police also recorded a Covid fatality after a 57-year-old assistant sub-inspector died of the infection. Sunil Shelukar was given duty at police control room due to his age. After testing positive, he was admitted to Radhikabai Meghe Hospital on Friday where he succumbed on Saturday. Kolhapur city police also recorded a fatality as 53-year-old head constable Sarjerao Babu Khot attached to the police control room died of the infection on Saturday. Khot tested positive for Covid last month and was undergoing treatment at Siddhivinayak Hospital since August 25. In another fatality, a 56-year-old head constable from Sataras Dhebhiwadi police station also died on Friday. Kuber Maruti Chavan was undergoing treatment since August 14 at Krishna Hospital in Karad. In the sixth death, a 39-year-old naik from Navi Mumbai died at Dr DY Patil Hospital on Friday. Sandesh Gaikwad of Panvel city traffic police was detected as Covid positive in the third week of August and was admitted in hospital since. In the seventh casualty, a 57-year-old assistant sub-inspector of Mumbai Police died. Maruti Achare, attached to the special branch of the intelligence wing. Despite getting exemption from the duty due to his age, Achare contracted the virus in the second week of August. He was admitted to Vedanta Hospital in Thane on August 16 and succumbed on Friday. In Mumbai, so far 70 Covid warriors in khaki lost lives due to Covid-19 infection. Mumbai Police spokesperson, deputy commissioner of police N Ambika, has confirmed that the Mumbai Polices total number of Covid infection has crossed the 5,000 mark on Sunday with a total of 5,060 cases. She has also said that of these cases, 4,489 personnel have already recovered. A standard understanding of love one is likely to find in trying to define the depth of this feeling will either be written between ivory pages, spelled out in black ink or be found in the warmth of an embrace that says it all. The bottomline is, there is no set definition of love. Each one of us have known it differently, in myriad forms and with very different kinds of people. But that is not to say that any of those forms of love are not worth celebrating, especially on the account of being different. Reuters This is exactly what had happened on this day, two years ago, when the Supreme Court decriminalised homosexuality by scrapping a century-old law, infamously known as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Abrogation of Section 377 meant that the LGBTQ+ community could lead a free life, guided by the same fundamental rights every other citizen of India enjoyed in the country. Cut to 2020, and India looks like a much different place for our LGBTQ+ brethren. Today, India is making great strides towards acknowledging the LGBTQ+ communitys realities and enabling them to open up about their experiences and expectations, in the same way we discuss our weekend plans. What had seemed like a far-fetched dream for so many until 2018, is very much real today. Parmesh Shahani We got talking with Godrej Vice President and prominent LGBTQ+ torchbearer Parmesh Shahani, who is proudly gay and happily celebrating the advances our society has made in the last two years, in terms of being free of the criminal label, finding greater acceptance and avenues to reach out and bridge the gaps. The society has changed in multiple ways, from the kind of media thats coming out, to the coverage and range of representation that is now available to the community. So many progessive schools and colleges have come up which are LGBTQ inclusive, so many states now have inclusive policies, transgender welfare boards...progress is happening in so many ways and dimensions, Parmesh told MensXP. And though Parmesh is highly optimistic and brimming with excitement about what the future holds, he is quick to add that now is too soon to pop the champagne and call it day, cause the journey has just begun. Reuters There is a lot that needs to be changed on the ground. Lets begin with the law, its no longer a crime to be a LGBTQ person but we still dont have an anti-discrimination law in our country. The NALSA judgement of 2014 which was very progressive for the transgender community, has been almost rendered inconsequential by the Transgender Act 2019. It needs to be modified and worked upon to become better. Other laws must be put in place to promote equal rights related to marriage, inheritance, adoption and the likes. We need a lot more commitment and action on the ground. Just because we got a judgement doesnt mean everything is okay, because its not. Were moving somewhere but a lot more needs to be done still. Parmesh, who is also currently keeping rather busy with the launch of his latest book Queeristan: LGBTQ Inclusion In Corporate India, has pinned a lot of his hope on progressive organisations which can help foster an environment of acceptance and normalization for the community. Parmesh Shahani Right from practising very basic things like asking people their pronouns, to practising basic forms of respect and inclusion as straight co-workers, Parmesh put emphasis on treating each other equally. Calling our attention to how organisations can have welcoming infrastructure in place, Parmesh said, Having inclusive policies and benefits, offering support for gender affirmative surgeries to trans employees, widening the scope of POSH for all genders and encouraging an attitude change through sensitisation training are a few basic things every organisation can strive for amongst other things. Explaining how these efforts help and benefit the company in the long run, Parmesh shared that by empowering LGBTQ employees, giving them the same opportunities and telling them that they are valued and welcome, LGBTQ employees will become motivated to do their best and give their best. Once they realise that the company cares for them, it can really do wonders. But unfortunately most people are busy hiding themselves because they dont know if the company will accept them. If all this time being put into hiding could be used to get good work done, imagine all that we would achieve. Parmesh Shahani That is where he believes the allies of the LGBTQ community can make a world of difference - by simply being there. By being a good listener and asking questions, a lot can be learnt and understood. And once you do, youll realise that most queer people are happy to talk. Also, be sure to speak up and show up. Speak up when you see others bullying queer people, being disrespectful towards them or making a joke at their expense. Showing up (for Pride Walk for instance) is another great way for allies to extend their support. You can also read, watch and learn as much as you can about the queer community, help dispel the misconceptions other people may have towards the community and create opportunities for them wherever you can. Parmesh Shahani Talking about how people can turn to Indian pop-culture to learn as well as help change peoples attitude, Parmesh suggested checking out works like Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh, Aligarh, Super Deluxe, U For Usha, The Other Love Story, 4 More Shots Please 2, Made In Heaven and more such work readily available in the public domain. He says, What makes most of these stories special is that they are highly personal and showcase reality for the most part, thus serving as a great starting point for someone whod like to know more. While Parmesh believes all of the aforementioned efforts are doing a great deal to make the future brighter and safer for the LGBTQ community, he reiterates the fact that the ultimate goal must be to achieve a more widespread societal inclusion. We have to now uphold the spirit of the 2018 verdict and put it to practise. The Transgender act needs to be made better, anti-discriminatory law needs to be introduced, marriage and other kind of equality must be extended to the community. All these changes now need to come into effect, simultaneously. Parmesh Shahani Having made such great progress over the last two years, we think it wouldnt be wrong to say that a greater revolution is underway, and in the time to come, all of us can come together to help the LGBTQ community lead a life full of opportunities, packed with dignity and acceptance that they truly deserve. York Region Public Health has traced back 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to wedding events in Toronto, Markham and the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The four separate events, involving the same wedding, took place on Aug. 28 at a private residence in Stouffville, at the Rexdale Singh Sabha Religious Centre in Toronto, as well as Lakshmi Narayamandir Temple in Toronto and on Aug. 29 at a home in Markham. Of the 23 people who tested positive for the virus, four are residents of Durham Region and one is a resident of Peel Region, while the rest live in York Region. York Region Public Health has followed up with known close contacts of the identified cases and directed them to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested. Public health is working with the families to notify attendees about the potential exposures. Public health officials are advising anyone who attended these or other events related to the wedding to monitor themselves for symptoms until Saturday, Sept. 12, as they may have been exposed to the virus. Guests are also asked to visit an assessment centre if they are concerned. Indoor religious services, rites and ceremonies are allowed to operate at a maximum of 30 per cent capacity with physical distancing in Toronto. In York Region, religious services can have up to 50 people indoors or 30 per cent of the buildings capacity, whichever number is greater when physical distancing is maintained. South of the border, a COVID-19 outbreak linked to a wedding reception in Maine sickened more than 140 people and killed three. This is the second time York Region health officials have warned the public about COVID-19 exposures that were traced back to a large event. On Friday, health officials said 15 other individuals have been linked to an outbreak traced back to church events in North York and Vaughan. York Region also reported on Friday that an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19 rode a VIVA bus between noon and 2 p.m., heading north on Yonge Street from Finch Station while wearing a mask. The daily number of COVID-19 cases reported in Ontario have seen a recent increase, with the province reporting 158 new cases on Sunday, along with two more deaths linked to the coronavirus. The total number of cases in Ontario now stands at 43,161, which includes 2,813 deaths and 38,958 resolved cases. Health Minister Christine Elliott said Toronto reported 49 new cases on Sunday, Peel Region reported 44 and Ottawa 21. She said 29 of the provinces 34 public health units reported five or fewer new cases, and 20 are reporting none. Editors note Sept. 8, 2020: This story was edited to the clarify the gathering limits for religious services in Toronto and York Region. With files from The Canadian Press Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi The proportion of freeze-all cycles doubled in five years from 13 per cent to 26.7 per cent in 2018. Professor Rombauts said the main driver of the freeze-all trend was the rise in pre-implantation genetic testing, in which embryos are screened for chromosomal abnormalities in the hope of selecting only the healthy embryos to transfer. "For women over 35 in particular genetic screening can be beneficial, when there is a higher risk of abnormalities," he said. "Genetic testing can reduce the time, money, energy and trauma it takes to have a healthy live birth because you're potentially not transferring embryos that are doomed to fail." However, growing evidence suggests there could be a small risk that pre-implantation genetic testing could lead to viable embryos being discarded by incorrectly flagging them as abnormal. Loading "For women under 35 I would certainly not recommend it it's an extra manipulation on the embryos and an extra cost," Professor Rombauts said. "But for older women, it can be an important test and I would raise it as an option because there is potential benefit." Laura Smith, 34, from Forest Lodge is the proud mother of 4-month-old Hunter after undergoing IVF at Genea. "For me, he's perfection and everything I ever wanted," she said. Ms Smith, who has polycystic ovarian syndrome, and her husband Ben spent a couple of years trying to conceive naturally then about a year trying other fertility treatment before turning to IVF. Her eggs were harvested in one cycle and the embryo that became Hunter implanted a month later, while the others are frozen for future use. The couple intend to try for a second child fairly quickly. It's an absolutely fantastic thing that we've been given this technology ... who knows if I would have had a baby by now if I didn't have IVF? Laura Smith "I was very lucky I fell pregnant the very first round of IVF and I had no complications or issues," Ms Smith said. "It's an absolutely fantastic thing that we've been given this technology and the ability to be able to have babies in this way who knows if I would have had a baby by now if I didn't have IVF?" She opted to use a frozen embryo because of medical advice it would improve her odds to harvest and implant on different cycles and to enable genetic testing. IVF clinics are reporting dramatic differences in their success rates. One clinic had a live birth rate of roughly 7 per cent of initiated cycles, compared to 31.5 per cent at the clinic with the highest success rate. The clinics were not identified in the report and should be interpreted with caution. For instance, some clinics may specialise in second referrals for complex patients, older women, or younger, uncomplicated cases. Loading A new federal-government-funded website will soon give would-be parents access to individual clinic success rates and their own chances of taking home a baby after undergoing IVF based on their individual characteristics. The 'My IVF Success' website is expected to be ready to launch before the end of the year in response to growing calls for greater transparency in the sector. Age is still a powerful determiner of IVF success, with younger women having better chances. For women under 30 years, live birth rate per fresh embryo transfer was 40.4 per cent compared to 9.5 per cent for women aged 40 to 44. For frozen embryo transfers, the live birth rate was 34.9 per cent in women under 30, and 20.1 per cent for women aged 40 to 44. Professor Georgina Chambers, the report's lead author and Director of UNSW's National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit said the higher live birth rate for older women via frozen cycles was mostly because the embryo was created in an earlier fresh cycle when she was younger. "It's also because we're increasingly using pre-implantation genetic testing to select the healthy embryos for transfer rather than putting back embryos that aren't viable," Professor Chambers said. In 2018, the average age of women using their own eggs was 35.8 years about five years older than the median age at which women, in general, gave birth in Australia (30.7 years). The average age of women using donor eggs or embryos was 40 and the average age of male partners of women undergoing IVF was 38.1 years old. The beauty of Fuengirola was lauded by poet Salvador Rueda a century ago when he dedicated a sonnet to the town, which he defined as "God's mirror". At that time wealthy families who lived inland would spend the summers there; but they were few in number and their presence could not really be considered tourism in a village whose economy was based on agriculture and fishing. Even in the mid-1960s writers who described Fuengirola said the Villa Blanca (White Town), as it was known, was a model of town planning with no tall buildings. Diego Vazquez Otero wrote: "One could say that the numerous farms hidden in the valleys or on the tops of the 100 hills that surround Fuengirola have served as a model for the modern buildings which still retain a traditional character, being low-level and whitewashed." Apartments and residential estates Vitasa was one of the first developers to operate in Fuengirola, building Urbanizacion Sevilla in Torreblanca and the Yola and Los Caracoles buildings in the town centre in the 1960s. By 1970 there were numerous apartment complexes: Los Olimpos, El Palacio del Mediterraneo, La Perla, El Mar, Los Geraneos, Opera, Estrella de Torreblanca, Pauli, Sierramar, Torrealta, Apartamentos Fuengirola The first three belonged to Sofico, a company well-known thanks to major advertising campaigns, whose bankruptcy in 1974 was one of the most spectacular during the Franco regime. Although some villas were built in Carvajal in the 1950s, it wasnt until the early 1960s that the first real residential developments appeared, such as Playa del Castillo, in Santa Amalia, and Torreblanca del Sol, one of the biggest on the Costa. Others were San Jose, Solvillas, La Ponderosa and Los Pacos, designed for Finns. Among the Andalusian village style complexes were Pueblo Lopez, Puebla Blanca and Puebla Lucia. Tourist guides usually referred to Fuengirola as a white town nestling between the Sierra de Mijas and the Mediterranean. One, published by Ediciones La Garza in 1960, even told its readers what was grown in this small municipality: sugar cane, olives, vines, wheat, barley, vegetables. Fuengirolas seafront promenade. It also, however, successfully predicted its future: "Above all, overwhelmed by an influx of tourists, Fuengirola aims to become a comfortable place for all the Spanish and foreign visitors who come to enjoy its beauty and its climate." The care taken in keeping the town clean and well-maintained merited Fuengirola a top prize among the towns and villages of the province, and its beaches were reputedly the best on the Malaga coast, or even the whole of southern Spain, according to a sign placed beside the main road. The arrival of tourism radically changed the local economy which, like the rest of the coast, advanced towards a different focus. The tourism boom resulted in numerous apartment blocks being constructed and a proliferation of businesses specifically aimed at the floating population. Right from the start, apartments became the preferred residential format for long stays by middle-class visitors. When it came to hotels, Fuengirola was much slower to build up this sector compared with other pioneering resorts such as Torremolinos and Marbella. There were no hotels at all until the mid-1950s. Before then, there were a few inns such as Donoso, El Centro and El Rondeno, and 'pensiones', which were mentioned by local historian Cristobal Vega: Sedeno, Italia, Coca, La Morera and Rodymar, in Los Boliches. This is where the few people who used to come to Fuengirola in the summers of the 1940s and early 1950s used to stay. The Hotel Florida, the first of certain pretensions, opened in 1957. In the following years it was joined by La Concha in Los Boliches, the Somio, the Mare Nostrum, the Sarasol, the Caballo Blanco, the Enriqueta, El Cid and the Cendrillon. In general these were very small, with the exception of the Mare Nostrum, which had 242 rooms. Town and harbour. The inauguration of the 12-storey Stella Polaris in 1969, built by the Danish tour operator Tjaereborg, marked the start of a frenzy in the opening of large hotels, some in complexes with blocks of apartments. Seven opened in Fuengirola between 1970 and 1974. The first was Las Piramides, a four-star with 320 rooms which boasted the first automatic door on the Costa del Sol. It was followed by Las Palmeras and El Puerto, Mas Playa, Torreblanca del Sol, Angela and Stella Maris. By 1974, when international tourism began to feel the effects of the oil crisis, Fuengirola could boast an extensive range of hotels for middle-class tourists (three and four-star establishments) from Spain, Britain and Scandinavia. A guide from those years described Fuengirola as "a tourism centre with an ultra-modern urban landscape". The model of the Villa Blanca had been left behind. KYIV: Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine on Sunday violated a ceasefire with government forces, wounding one soldier, the Ukrainian military said. The rebel forces opened fire with a grenade launcher on troops in the Krasnohorivka area, the military said in a statement. Rebel officials were unavailable for immediate comments. The Ukrainian military said the attack indicated the pro-Russian forces wanted to disrupt an agreement reached by the two sides and OSCE negotiators for a full ceasefire from July 27. The simmering conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed rebels has killed more than 13,000 people since 2014. Major combat ended with a truce agreed in the Belarus capital Minsk in 2015, but sporadic clashes still regularly kill civilians, Ukrainian soldiers and separatists. 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 Turkey's hunt for gas and oil reserves in waters claimed by Greece has put huge strain on the relationship between the two NATO members Turkey's armed forces on Sunday began annual exercises in the breakaway republic of northern Cyprus -- an entity recognised only by Ankara -- as tensions brewed with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey's hunt for gas and oil reserves in waters claimed by Greece has put huge strain on the relationship between the two NATO members. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday raised the stakes and warned Greece: "They will either understand the language of politics and diplomacy, or on the field through bitter experiences." NATO said earlier technical talks would start to avoid incidents between the two countries' navies, but Athens said it had not agreed to the talks and Ankara accused Greece of shunning dialogue. As the tension ran high, the Turkish military began its exercises called "Mediterranean Storm" with the Turkish Cypriot Security Command, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter. "The security priorities of our country and the TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) are indispensable," Oktay said. The Turkish defence ministry also tweeted that the exercises, which are due to last until Thursday, continued "successfully". Cyprus is divided between the Greek Cypriot-run south -- an EU member state -- and the Turkish Cypriot north. Turkey has stationed tens of thousands of troops in the north of the island since its 1974 invasion, which followed a coup engineered by military rulers in Athens. Search Keywords: Short link: In the rapid development of e-commerce, online stores and factories are one of the solutions with which enterprises can cope with the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic while laying a foundation for digitalized business Nguyen Van Sang, director of VietProducts which owns the Furnist brand, says that strengthening e-commerce has recently helped the company offset the slumping sales at traditional stores. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Furnist has seen its revenue surge by 40%-50% from e-commerce platforms, such as Lazada, Tiki, Shopee and Sen Do. For the export segment, although traditional importers in the United States and Europe have repeatedly cut or halted their orders in the past four months, online firms in the two markets have raised their imports by 70%-100%. As the pandemic may linger, e-commerce will further support Furnists operations, according to the director. To expand the export market, VietProducts has launched a retail store on Amazon. Unlike the wholesale business offered via Alibaba, VietProducts has met with difficulties in the retail channel, such as preparation and arrangement of logistic activities in the supply chain to ship products to the United States and other countries at reasonable transport time and costs. However, once consumers find us, the chance for market expansion and brand recognition is sizeable, says Sang. E-commerce is not only a solution in the epidemic but also a business trend for the future, which needs much more investment from us. In recent times, many other handicraft and woodworking firms have been gearing their business towards the online channel. Some members of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCMC (HAWA) have piloted the combination of e-commerce with virtual reality and 3D technology to introduce their products to customers. Nguyen Quoc Khanh, chairman of HAWA, says Covid-19 has changed both consumption behaviors and working modes, causing pressure and challenges to enterprises and prompting them to improve design, production and commerce, in which digital transformation is an important key. According to Tran Viet Tien, a member of the Standing Committee of HAWA, e-commerce has allowed foreign customers to explore production capability of partners via an independent audit unit although they have yet to visit Vietnam. This is an evitable and long-term tendency for not only the woodworking sector but also other industries, given the risky outlook for the foreseeable future, Tien says. Nguyen Ngoc Dung, vice president of the Vietnam E-commerce Association (Vecom), also provides an exciting insight on woodworking firms. They have invested heavily in technology, digital transformation, and other marketing solutions, such as design, content and client service, Dung says. However, he also remarks that the number of domestic enterprises making such improvements remains modest. As the biggest challenge of the industry involves bulky and full-package shipments, the online retail business requires producers to shift to simple designs so that customers can assemble by themselves. In addition, they should offer affordable prices to reach more low- or medium-income customers since most local firms have yet to find out solutions to speed up the sales of their complicated products. Fairs and exhibitions go online Earlier, fairs and exhibitions might give numerous business opportunities to woodworking firms. However, the ongoing virus crisis has ceased almost all trade fairs on a national and global scale. Many companies say they were ready to launch new designs and products and present new ideas to partners and customers, but they all failed in these efforts, due to the unexpected problem. According to HAWA, many large customers in Japan, Europe and the United States take an interest in supplies outside China, and Vietnam is one of the most promising candidates. To seize this opportunity, the association intends to launch the HAWA Online Platform for Exhibition (HOPE) the first of its kind in Vietnam. Nguyen Chanh Phuong, HAWA general secretary and vice chairman, says Vietnamese producers and exporters will be able to display their products, stores and factories online, visually and lively. Clients can inspect products inside out via all mobile devices, such as cell-phones, laptops and tablets, Phuong argues. Though it has yet to be launched officially, HOPE has attracted around 50 manufacturers and exporters so far. Dinh Thi Huong Nga, director of Huong Nga Fine Arts, says her salespersons had to work very hard to maintain current customers and seek new ones during the first wave of the Covid-19 outbreak in the country. However, within less than a month since the introduction of the HOPE platform, the enterprise won two contracts from Germany and Britain. The foreign clients previously found Huong Nga Fine Arts products via its email and website. Furthermore, HOPE with improved images and content encouraged customers to place orders, Nga says. Along with social apps, HOPE enables guests to interact and exchange directly with exhibitors around the clock. Companies will also reach statistics and analysis to experience and learn about customer needs, collect potential client data, study and figure out consumer trends. HAWA can turn HOPE into an effective trade promotion channel given its expertise in international fair and exhibition organization, its wide customer data, and partner and media agency network, Phuong argues. Tran Viet Huan, vice chairman of CIO Vietnam, expects HOPE to become a platform for timely connection and trading needs given adverse impacts of Covid-19, and a solution to changes in marketing and business strategies in the digital economy, which helps enterprises make use of technology to seek new clients and grow up in the global market. SGT Vietnams woodworks prepare for FLEGT licensing Striving to become a woodwork manufacturing center of the world, Vietnam is endeavoring to localize regulations to be able to grant FLEGT licenses, paving the way for woodworks to penetrate the EU and other markets. Iran's Minister of Education, Mohsen Haji Mirzaei, told the state-run Channel 2 TV on Thursday, September 3 that his department would be overseeing kindergartens and children nurseries across Iran. In the past, the country's State Welfare Organization controlled preschool institutions' administration in the clergy-dominated country. "We discussed the issue in the cabinet and decided that the Ministry of Education should supervise all educational activities in all kindergartens, and 'Behzisti' (Iran's State Welfare Organization) agreed to hand over the responsibility," Haji Mirzaei said. The decision was made after the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed concern over local daycare centers and their curriculum. In a virtual meeting with education officials on September 3, Khamenei lamented that kindergartens in Iran have been "abandoned" and left "unbridled," with conditions in the schools "not good at all, according to reports received." Khamenei's extremist allies have long criticized the practices of Iranian kindergartens and children nurseries, with clerics including the Friday Prayer Imams in the cities of Shiraz, Qom, and Bojnourd previously lambasting Iran's kindergarten curriculums for allowing dancing and swimming lessons without respecting gender segregation. Following Khamenei's critical remarks, the head of State Welfare Organization of Iran, Vahid Qobadi (Ghobadi) Dana, praised the Supreme Leader's comments as "instructive," and a "breakthrough" and called for the assignment of a governmental body to control the Mahd-e Koodaks, as the children nurseries are called in Persian. Qobadi Dana admitted that a "traditional disagreement" existed between the State Welfare Organization and the Ministry of Education over the performance of the country's kindergartens. According to the Islamic Republic Constitution, education up to the university level must be completely free. Nevertheless, in many public schools, large sums of money are collected from parents under various headings. Meanwhile, at least 85% of kindergartens in Iran have been privatized and made unaffordable for many female workers. While Iran's minimum wage is currently fixed at about $215 per month, tuition at private kindergartens can run anywhere from 150 million rials (about $3,600) to 300 million rials per year. On April 19, the state-run Iran Labor News Agency (ILNA) referred to a sharp drop in public kindergartens, quoting Habibollah Masoudi Farid, the Deputy for Social Affairs of the State Welfare Organization, as saying, "Since the necessary funding for public kindergartens is not provided, the coverage percentage has also decreased." Currently, 661,000 children in Iran attend kindergarten, amounting to just 7% of children under six years old. Following the recent amendment of school and university textbooks, Iranian authorities are also set to change kindergarten textbooks' content. "Kindergartens are the best place to set up manners because manners formed at preschool age cannot change easily," Haji Mirzaei said. Draft guidelines on reopening wet pubs in Ireland are so restrictive many may question whether they will have to stay closed, one industry body has warned. The bleak assessment from the Licensed Vintners Association came after the proposals were circulated to the sector on Sunday. Read More The measures are broadly in line with the guidance that accompanied the reopening of bars that served food at the end of June. Non-food pubs are still awaiting the green light to reopen, but the Government has signalled a desire to set a date in the coming weeks. Further details are set to be included in a new national plan for dealing with the virus, which is due to be published on September 14. Measures outlined in the 25-page guidance document drawn up by the Government, in conjunction with tourism body Failte Ireland, include bans on counter service and people sitting at bars. It was circulated to publicans on a weekend that saw health official voice concerns about rising cases of Covid-19 in Dublin. Under the draft guidance, which has been seen by the PA news agency, table service will be mandatory in all licensed premises and alcohol can only be served to 11.30pm. The guidelines encourage a reduction of seating within premises and two metre social distancing between tables. This can be reduced to one metre if additional infection control steps are introduced. However, customers will be limited to a 105 minute stay in premises where the one metre measure is in operation. Only six people can be at any one table and they must not come from more than three households. Face coverings must be worn by staff who engage with customers, unless protective screens are in place. Strict queuing systems for the toilets must be introduced and pubs are urged to discourage the use of cash for transactions. Staff must record and retain the details of one person in each group of customers for 28 days for Covid-19 contact tracing purposes. Donall OKeeffe, chief executive of the LVA, an organisation that represents publicans in Dublin, said: These new guidelines will place a huge restriction on the normal way of doing business for pubs. Not being able to use the bar counter with table service only is very significant and will really limit the non-food pubs. Expand Close Donall OKeeffe, chief executive of the LVA said: Where is the scientific justification for this decision?" Picture: Andres Poveda / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donall OKeeffe, chief executive of the LVA said: Where is the scientific justification for this decision?" Picture: Andres Poveda There is also a real emphasis on social distancing throughout the guidelines. There will be questions over whether or not many of the pubs still closed will be able to open with these guidelines. They are far from ideal, but given that these pubs have been closed for six months we guess this is the price we will have to pay. The Vintners Federation of Ireland, which represents 4,000 publicans across the country, also raised concerns. However, VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben said publicans would find ways to make the rules work. The guidelines as presented will be onerous for our members to implement but at this stage publicans are desperate to open so will find a way to make them work, he said. Expand Close Padraig Cribben / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Padraig Cribben Weve seen restaurants and pubs serving food successfully trade over the past eight weeks so the pathway is there for the remainder of pubs to follow. Huge challenges remain for the trade, not least making socially distanced pubs a success. Right now, we need clarity and certainty on when our members will be allowed open. The guidelines are only useful when we get that opening date. Ireland is the last country in Europe where pubs remain shut. Covid cases do occur in pubs, just like other sectors of society, but they are dealt with by closing the bar for a period of time. Its clear from European countries that sector-wide lockdowns are not required. We need to learn to live alongside the virus. Opening pubs is part of that process. There were 138 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 reported in Ireland on Sunday. On Saturday, the number was 231. Of the weekend cases, 201 were in the Dublin area. The rise in cases in the capital prompted a warning from acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn for people in the city to minimise their social contacts. In response to the increase in infections, the HSE opened two new pop-up testing facilities in the city, at Croke Park and at Castleknock Health Centre. There were no further deaths linked to the virus reported over the weekend, with Irelands death toll remaining at 1,777. A team of Australian scientists has conducted lab work using honeybee venom with encouraging results; the venom, they discovered, has the capacity to halt the growth of aggressive breast cancer cells. Dr. Ciara Duffy, study leader and PhD researcher at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research in Western Australia, told the BBC that the 312 venom extracts collected were extremely potent. One sample destroyed its target cancer cells within just 60 minutes. The study, published on Sept. 1 in peer-reviewed journal NPJ Precision Oncology, targeted two strains of hard-to-treat, aggressive breast cancers: triple-negative and HER2-enriched. Typically, these cancers are treated via surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. I began with collecting Perth honeybee venom, Duffy explained to Medical Xpress. Perth bees are some of the healthiest in the world. The bees were put to sleep with carbon dioxide and kept on ice, she continued, before the venom barb was pulled out from the abdomen of the bee and the venom extracted by careful dissection. While venom from European honeybees in Australia, Ireland, and England effected almost identical cancer cell disruption, bumblebee venom was unable to induce cell death, even when utilized in high concentrations. The honeybee venoms active melittin compoundthe major pain-producing substance in bee venomwas also effective in disrupting cancer cell growth when used in isolation, without harming the surrounding cells. Duffys team found that the labs synthetically produced melittin was able to replicate the majority of the potent anti-cancer effects of honeybee venom, too. The research team expressed their collective excitement but clarified that further testing is needed to find out whether the compound can be produced as a drug for human patients. On Sept. 2, Western Australias chief scientist, Prof. Peter Klinken, hailed the research teams findings as incredibly exciting. Significantly, this study demonstrates how melittin interferes with signalling pathways within breast cancer cells to reduce cell replication, he explained to the British news outlet. It provides another wonderful example of where compounds in nature can be used to treat human diseases. Associate Prof. Alex Swarbrick, from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, echoed Klinkens excitement while sharing some reservation about the prospects for the development of a human drug. Many compounds can kill a breast cancer cell in a dish or in a mouse, he commented. But theres a long way to go from those discoveries to something that can change clinical practice. Honeybee venom has been used in medicine for thousands of years and has even been used in previous cancer studies; melittin is already known to have the capacity to shrink tumors in melanoma, glioblastoma, and leukemia, as well as ovarian, cervical, and pancreatic cancers. Aggressive breast cancers remain relatively uncharted territory. Beside skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, according to Breastcancer.org. Roughly 1 in 8 women, or 12 percent of the female population, will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Duffy remains optimistic about the scope of possibility for using bee venom in the battle against breast cancer and agrees that further research is paramount. Understanding the molecular basis and specificity of bee venom against cancer cells is key for developing and optimizing novel effective therapeutics, she wrote in the studys findings. The beauty of bee venom, Duffy explained, is that its widely available as a natural product and cost-effective to produce in many communities around the world. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom welcomed their daughter Daisy Dove Bloom into the world on Aug. 26. She joined Blooms son, Flynn Christopher Bloom, whom he had with ex-wife, Miranda Kerr. The role of dad is one the star doesnt take lightly especially after surviving a terrifying accident years earlier. Orlando Blooms terrifying accident Orlando Bloom | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic RELATED: Pirates of the Caribbean: Why Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp Hid Their On-Screen Kiss From Orlando Bloom You wouldnt know by watching any of his films, but Blooms body has been through a lot. Long before the actor ever played Legolas in The Lord of the Rings films, or Will Turner in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, a near-fatal accident occurred. The NHS saved my life when I was 20 after I fell from a 3rd floor window and broke my back. Having lived in the US for nearly 20 years now its one of the public services from home Ill always respect the most, Bloom posted to Instagram. The National Health Serviced (NHS) is the publically-funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom and they helped ensure Bloom could recover so that, eventually, he could become a father to his two children. He laid, immobilized from the fall in a London hospital, fearing hed never walk again. Before the operation, I needed four nurses to help me move, he told Chicago Tribune. Ten days later, I walked out of the hospital. I had a miraculous recovery. Its more than a miraculous recovery. Bloom experienced more injuries while working on the set of different films. Bloom had another accident while filming LOTR RELATED: Why Lord of the Rings Star Orlando Bloom Says Filming the Trilogy Was Like Making a Giant Student Movie Just after Blooms recovery from that 3rd story fall, director Peter Jackson discovered him in a play and cast him for the role of Legolas in LOTR. He went on to play the character of the Elvin prince for the original trilogy, then again for two iterations of The Hobbit. With all the action sequences, and filming on location, Bloom sustained multiple different injuries during the LOTR schedule. In the DVD extras, co-star Dominic Monaghan explained. In all seriousness, everyone got hurt in this movie, he said. Everyone was scarred. Everyone went through a little bit of physical kind of pain. Orlando fell off his horse and the scale double of Gimli fell on top of Orlando and broke his rib. I had scored an injury, Orlando Bloom added. I was the first one to score an injury and I think there was a little bit of jealousy that the hobbits didnt get the opportunity. They didnt get the opportunity to fall off a horse and break a rib. Blooms reasons for not participating in LOTR series goes beyond injuries RELATED: Katy Perry Shares How Orlando Bloom Helped Her in Her Struggles With Depression Getting hurt is sometimes an unintentional part of the job. When actors like Bloom take action roles, they know what theyre in for. Still, its not the only reason the star wouldnt consider returning to the LOTR universe. The I feel like Ive done everything [I can.] I like to think of myself as ageless but I dont know where Id fit, Bloom told Television Critics Association press tour when asked about reprising his LOTR role. He alluded to being too old for the part adding they should recast probably a 19-year-old kid. The pair agreed on the significance of resuming flights between the two countries, which were halted in the wake of the coronavirus Related Air Malta resumes direct flights to Cairo after 12-year hiatus Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Maltese counterpart Evarist Bartolo discussed a number of bilateral and regional issues at a meeting held in Cairo on Sunday. The ministers affirmed the importance of expanding the fields of cooperation between the two countries, particularly in business and investment, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry said. They also agreed on the significance of resuming flights between the two countries and on enhancing cooperation in the field of tourism, especially with the "strict" preventative measures Egypt has adopted at touristic destinations. Air Malta resumed direct flights to Cairo in September last year after a 12-year hiatus, but halted them again this year in the wake of the pandemic. Ahmed Hafez, the ministry spokesperson, said the meeting covered the issue of illegal immigration; the pair stressed the necessity of addressing the radical reasons behind illegal migration from a comprehensive perspective, and that of reaching solutions at the regional and international level. They reiterated the importance of the principle of burden-sharing between southern and northern Mediterranean states as well as European Union members. Bartolo heaped praise on Egypt's efforts regarding the issue, which has led to a halt in illegal immigration from its coasts since September 2016. He also expressed his appreciation to Cairo for hosting refugees, which he described as "a huge challenge" Egypt shoulders. Discussing Libya, Shoukry urged the stabilisation of the ceasefire situation in the conflict-torn country and stoppage of the flow of weapons, terrorists and foreign fighters into Libya, with the aim of reaching the desired political solution. Egypt announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, earlier this summer which mandates a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the countrys conflict, drawing on earlier international efforts, including the Berlin conference. On peace in the region, Shoukry reiterated Egypt's supportive stance for any efforts to enhance stability and peace in accordance with international legitimacy and the principle of the two-state solution. Search Keywords: Short link: By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 09/06/2020 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoilers Warning: This report contains spoilers that reveal if Karine and Paul are still together and the latest about : Happily Ever After? couple.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So did Karine break up with Paul and fly back to Brazil or did she stay in the United States? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So did Karine and Paul's relationship improve, and are they still together now? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Karine's specific and jaw-dropping allegations against Paul revealed ADVERTISEMENT Paul denied Karine's shocking allegations in August ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Paul Staehle is afraid Karine Martins is going to leave him and return to Brazil with their son Pierre on Season 5 of : Happily Ever After?, so did Karine follow through with the plan and dump Paul or is the couple still together and married?Paul, a 35-year-old from Louisville, KY, and Karine, a 23-year-old from Tonantins, Brazil, appeared on Seasons 1 and 2 of : Before the 90 Days as well as Season 1 of : The Other Way.The pair met on a dating app and talked for over a year before Paul traveled to Brazil to get to know Karine better.Paul and Karine fell for each other quickly and got married in 2017, and then Karine announced she was pregnant with her first child in October 2018 after suffering several miscarriages. That same month, the couple revealed they had a baby boy on the way.But shortly before baby Pierre was born on March 22, 2019, Karine threatened to file for divorce from Paul because she was tired of fighting with him over his apparent trust and jealousy issues.Karine didn't feel supported or loved, but Paul insisted he was doing everything he could for his wife.: The Other Way's first season featured Karine and her mother leaving Paul behind in Tonantins and traveling to Manaus via boat to file for divorce shortly before Pierre was born.However, Karine decided to give Paul another chance because at the root of their relationship was love -- and she also thought Paul really stepped it up in the delivery room and stuck by her side.Paul and Karine had been married for two years by the time Season 5 of : Happily Ever After? filmed. The couple had been in Brazil for over a year but Paul said they were "barely getting by."Paul and Karine therefore planned to move to the United States so Paul could get a job and make more money. He also wanted to give Pierre a better life."It took a lot, but I was able to sponsor Karine on a CR-1 visa, which is a spousal visa and allows Karine to apply and get a two-year Green Card before she even enters America," Paul told the cameras."She already has her Green Card approved; she is a complete permanent resident."Karine, however, wasn't looking forward to leaving Brazil and being so far away from her family. Her spirit was also deflated when she found out Paul's mother Mary wasn't going to help them out or give them money.Since Karine refused to live in a trailer, Paul found a tiny home for them in the same lot as the trailer park that Karine actually liked. The one-bedroom "studio," which appeared to be a renovated shed, had a little front porch and Paul cleaned it for his wife."Paul is really trying to make me happy. This house is the first step for me to feel comfortable here in the U.S. And right now, it makes me happy," Karine noted.But Karine's happiness quickly faded since Paul couldn't find a job thanks to having an arson felony on his record."I wouldn't want to be with somebody who is kind of like a deadbeat," Mary admitted to her son.After one month of being in America, Karine called the adjustment very difficult, but Paul begged her to be patient with him and give it some time."I'll give you two months to find a job. Otherwise, I'll pick up Pierre and we'll leave for Brazil," Karine told her husband.Paul told Karine that he loved her and wanted to stay together as a family and so he would do his "very best." Paul said Karine's threat broke his heart and he therefore determined, "Failure is not an option for me -- whatsoever."Not long after Karine made her threat, Paul said his wife was having "a lot of mood swings lately" and tended to lock herself into a room for like five or six hours at a time."I don't want my wife to feel like this... I just want to find out what I can do to make things better," Paul explained. "I am emotionally exhausted. It's one thing after the next, and it's really difficult."Paul acknowledged this was "the worst" he had ever seen Karine and he worried she'd just hop on a plane back to Brazil without him.Karine then met with an immigration attorney by herself because she said she wasn't adapting in the United States and had been arguing with Paul a lot.Karine wanted to find out her options and rights in terms of traveling to Brazil alone with her son."I have to choose between my husband and my family," Karine said. "So I don't know what I'm going to do... But I need somebody to help me. I am desperate."The lawyer, Rania Attum, had a Portuguese translator, so Karine was glad she wouldn't need Paul to translate for her.Karine explained she and her husband weren't doing well and had been fighting a lot. Karine shared she had set a deadline for Paul finding a job or else she'd go back to Brazil.Rania admitted Karine's situation was complicated but Karine had every right to take her baby and go to Brazil. Rania, however, couldn't promise there wouldn't be any consequences or resistance if Paul didn't agree with her decision to leave America.Karine learned Paul could try to stop her at the airport or put her through court proceedings. Rania therefore asked Karine to really think this one through in order to not make a big mistake."I will never stop Paul from seeing Pierre. But it's a delicate issue. I see that too many fights is not good for me. It's not good for Paul and it's definitely not good for Pierre. I just want the best for Pierre, and if that means going back to Brazil, that's what I'm going to do," Karine explained.Paul said he had applied for numerous jobs but hadn't heard anything back yet, and then Paul freaked out when Karine came clean with him about having met with an immigration lawyer.Paul was very upset Karine was threatening to leave, saying he had provided everything for her -- a car, food and cell phone. Paul angrily asked, "You're going to jump ship?!"But Karine said she just needed time with her son and family and Brazil, which Paul called "messed up."Paul was afraid to be left alone and lose his family, and Paul reminded Karine that he has "50 percent rights to the child." Paul said he would talk to his lawyer in Brazil and fight this, and Karine replied, "F-ck you!"Karine attempted to end the conversation before it got worse, but Paul said, "I will prosecute. In Brazil and America, you can't keep the child from me."Karine told Paul that she'd never keep Pierre away from his father and be that type of mother, and then she broke down into tears.Paul gave her a hug and asked her to calm down. Karine cried, saying Paul didn't know when to stop and Pierre was her whole life.Paul said he "took things way too far." He had been hoping living in the United States would make their relationship stronger, but it was actually the opposite."I know if I don't go back to Brazil, Karine is going to leave me. But I know our lives would be so much better here in America because there are a lot more opportunities here... I am stuck between a rock and a hard place," Paul explained in a confessional.According to Paul, Karine threatened him with divorce both in early September 2019 and again only weeks later.Paul claimed Karine was angry with his mother for spoiling their son in early September and then told Paul later that month she didn't want him in her life anymore."Karine asked me to remove our photos. And let everyone know that she doesn't want me in her life," Paul wrote in a since-deleted Facebook posting from September 27, according to screenshots captured by his followers.Paul then also wrote a subsequent posting in a mix of Portuguese and English. When translated, the text states, "Karine's divorce lawyer called me. Guess I need a lawyer."Shortly afterward, Paul deleted the second posting as well and then removed most photos of Karine from his page.The couple appeared to be at peace for another month or so, and they celebrated their second wedding anniversary in early November 2019.But later that month, the pair openly discussed filing for divorce, once again.Paul claimed Karine had "started divorce proceedings in Manaus," and Karine told Us Weekly on November 12 that she was "looking for a lawyer.""Over the course of our Christmas dinner Paul and Karine broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together, broke up and this just in -- are back together. Stay tuned for more on this developing story," Instagrammer John Yates posted on December 25.In December 2019, Paul alleged Karine had taken off with their baby and was with a new man named Blake. He also said Karine was demanding a divorce again at the time.But fast-forward to 2020, Paul posted an Instagram video on May 19 of a bike he had purchased and was putting together for Karine.That same month, Paul also took to Instagram to happily announce Karine's pregnancy with Baby No. 2. It appeared Karine was already several months along into her pregnancy at the time.In late June, Karine posted a photo of Paul playing with Pierre in late June and captioned it, "Happy Father's Day." She also added a blue heart to her post.Paul and Karine's relationship took a dramatic turn in July 2020, when Paul lashed out at Karine on Instagram for allegedly calling Paul a "horrible father and husband" and threatening to move their son Pierre back to Brazil.Paul took to Instagram on July 15 with the angry message to Karine and quickly deleted it afterward, but Yates captured a screenshot of the rant and posted it on his own account.Paul blasted Karine in saying, "Yelling at me in public calling me horrible father and husband. We spend every penny we have on bills and designer [clothes] and video games for you. I did not buy anything for myself.""I made sure you and Pierre had everything you all could possibly want and I bought nothing for myself. I try to show my family USA History and I get shunned. Because only your country and culture matter," Paul continued."I take you to the hospital and stay by your side, make sure [you're] at all your doctors appointments and let you spend all your money only on what you want -- but I am a Bad Father and Husband you yell in public... I also never ever cheated on you.""But I understand you want to take Pierre to Tonantins and live because I am such a horrible person," he concluded.The pair appeared to briefly reconcile for about two weeks, but then things changed and Paul and Karine went on to have what appeared to be the worst fight of their relationship On July 30, Paul posted a lengthy Instagram Live video in which he and Karine had a huge fight. They both made assault allegations against each other and Karine called the police.Paul said he wanted to file for full custody of their son Pierre after Karine allegedly cheated on Paul and violated a Child Protective Services case against her.During the Instagram Live video, an apparent friend of Karine's also told the police Karine wanted to be taken to a "shelter" where someone could "help her."The woman said Karine depended on Paul -- who seemed to be holding Karine's passport and other documents -- for everything, including money, and so Karine basically didn't have a way out.Later that night, at around 4AM on Friday, Paul posted another video on his Instagram Stories and seemed to claim the police were called again."I apologize to you guys for earlier. It's been crazy here. I did not get arrested. The cops did come back," Paul said."We had a storm and Karine got on her cell phone and called the police because the WIFI disconnected. She said I was halting her communications... which didn't make any sense to me because she had her phone the whole time and the WIFI just randomly went out.""Sometimes Internet goes out in our houses -- it happens right?! But you're going to call the cops? For that? The cops weren't too happy about it."Paul added it's "been stressful" for the couple and they "need prayers.""I don't want Pierre in dangerous situations," he said. "Pierre has been in a very dangerous situation before and that's why things happened."Paul subsequently made additional Instagram postings, reportedly, in which he claimed Karine had gone "missing" with Pierre while he was in the hospital being treated for a STD. He seemed to blame the alleged STD on Karine for allegedly cheating on him after she arrived in Kentucky."I've never cheated on Karine, ever, but apparently I've tested positive for an STD and they are giving me treatment for me," Paul said in one video.A couple of hours later, Paul then reportedly claimed Karine had filed a "full restraining order" against him and posted photos showing a copy of the order Karine had filed against him."I'm not allowed to be around her or my son, within 500 feet of them at all," he said.Paul subsequently made surprising claims about his estranged wife in his own protective order he had filed against Karine on July 30."I previously found glass in my food," Paul alleged in court documents obtained by Us. "I found similar glass shards from an item she broke."Paul also alleged that Karine's friends were calling him with death threats."[They are] threatening to come to my home and kill me. They requested I pay them $10,000 or I would never see my son again," Paul reportedly claimed, adding that Karine allowed Pierre to "run in the street [and] get into the chemical cabinets.""I fear for my wife's safety and mental well-being. I fear for my son's safety," Paul concluded.A judge therefore reportedly ordered Karine to stop all communication with Paul and stay 500 feet away from him at all times.Karine publicly confirmed in early August that she had left Paul and obtained an emergency protective order against him.Karine said she wasn't "missing" but needed to be "rescued from an environment" that was no longer healthy for her and her child, adding on Instagram, "Relationships are hard and sometimes it just can't be fixed anymore."Karine's protective order included an array of shocking claims -- including that Paul had physically assaulted her, sexually assaulted her, and prevented her doctor from prescribing contraception to her.In the emergency protection order application Paul had shared on social media, Karine claimed Paul "forcefully rapes me," "hold[s] my Green Card and all my documents," monitors her phone, uses cameras to monitor her on his phone when he is not home, has forced her to drink beer while pregnant, and has forbidden Karine's doctor from prescribing birth control to her."On multiples occasions in the past 3 weeks the respondent pushed me, grab my breast squ[ee]zing and twisting, hurting me, pushing me to the floor, covering my mouth. He force his penis into my mouth and forcefully rapes me. If I refuse he throws things, he yells, or he threat[ens] to call police," Karine wrote in the handwritten two-page application."He currently hold[s] my Green Card and all my documents. I am not allowed to leave the house, he monitor[s] my phone, he [has] cameras around the house and he can see through his phone who arrives and who leaves. He threat[ens] take out son Pierre away if I ever leave. He forced me to drink alcohol by threat[ing] me so I drunk some so he calm down."Karine continued, with the help of a language translator, "He is constantly on social media making videos of me against my will saying I am crazy, saying I have mental illness. Recently he called [Child Protective Services] and told [them] I was always drunk, aggressive, and abusive to him.""He post on social media [that] I have [cheated with] several [men] even knowing that he [has] cameras around the house and I can't leave. I have no access to money for my son or myself.""I went to the doctor to try [and] get contraceptive," she wrote. "In the doctor's office he said 'no' because I would be doing an abortion. The doctor explained the contraceptive was only for preventing [pregnancy] and I would not get pregnant [but] Paul said 'no' and took me home."According to her application, Paul also refused to let her return home to Brazil but she feared she still wouldn't even be safe in her native country."I came to U.S. to visit my in-laws and now he [does] not let me go back. We got married in Brazil, not in U.S.," she wrote. "When I ask to go back to me family he threat[ens] [to] take my son away.""I am terrified he will hurt me or hurt my son because I runned away from him and I am even afraid to go back to Brazil now because He Can go to Brazil and hurt us."Karine ended her application by stating she was also afraid of Paul's mother Mary and wanted no contact with any of his family or friends."I have my family in Brazil but I don't feel that law enforcement will protect me from him there," she wrote. "I am afraid of him and his mother because his mother knows and sees what he does and she refused [to] report her son. I have witnessed him threat[en] and being violent with his own mother.""I do not want any contact with or his mother, his friends or family. I do not want them close, I am afraid of them hurt[ing] my son for revenge.Paul took to his Instagram Stories on August 10 to shoot down the claims Karine had made in her protective order filing."It truley [sic] breaks my heart it has come to this. I have bent over backwards. I found work. Got a new home. A new car. Let her buy anything she wanted. I did the cooking, cleaning, laundry and took care of Pierre," Paul wrote in his Instagram Stories."I have never in my life physically or sexually assaulted anyone."Paul has claimed for quite some time that Karine has mental health issues, and so he addressed his beliefs in the message to his followers."I have made motions to the court for Karine to get mental help. I have had to double up on my therapy to cope with this madness," Paul wrote."Her motion against me with false allegations is for a 3 year restraining order against me and both my children. Alimony and child support. But I can not see her or my children at all."One day later, Paul vented about how social media has basically ruined his life."I will be deactivating all my social media accounts soon. My social media addiction has caused me nothing but pain. It is time people put their phones and social media down and focus on your loved ones," Paul wrote."Do not allow social media to destroy your relationships and family. I never knew my heart could feel such pain. I always took for granted my son would be around me every day... I never want to date or remarry [or] to ever feel this pain again. To not be a part of your childrens life born and unborn is beyond painful."Paul continued in his Instagram Stories posting, "I regret oversharing private matters on social media and to other people. I regret taking for granted my family would be together for ever and live happily ever after," Paul lamented.Paul advised other men to treat their wives and children well and to "listen, forgive" and "not hold grudges" in relationships."But most of all, keep your marital problems private," Paul concluded."This is a pain no one should have to endure. Not knowing if my children [are] ok. If and when I might see them again. I forgive all those in my life who have ever made false accusations against me."As of early September, the bio in Paul's Instagram account reads, "God please grant me a miracle," but the sentence is written in Portuguese.Following a three-week break from social media, Paul took to his Instagram Stories to reveal he was in Brazil and Karine was in Indiana."For everyone thinking I am chasing karine in Brazil. Karine is in Indiana, USA. I came here alone to clean and organize our brazil home. It needs to be sanitary and baby safe," Paul wrote."I have been keeping busy since she left. I finished cleaning and organizing USA house so now I am doing the same thing in Brazil. All my work is on the internet so as long as I have internet I can be anywhere. Even court is on the internet these days."Paul then switched topics from his current location to the fact he's been missing his family."My life revolved around them. I have not seen my son since July. Next court date is now in December. I will not see my sons for a very long time," Paul continued."So I am keeping busy and constructive. Karine is not in Brazil. I knew that when I traveled here. Now my mother is having a mental breakdown because she is also forbidden to see Pierre. I have lost my sons."Paul clearly confirmed Karine is pregnant with another boy because he wrote "sons" multiple times.Paul went on to suggest he's doing everything possible to keep his mind off being alone."I just want to stay busy and be productive. I have to accept the fact I will probably never see my wife and son again . Or see the birth or ever see my unborn child," Paul wrote."That being said, I think I am mentally doing what is best -- staying constructive and busy."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the central government, alleging that it is using the media to divert the focus on leading issues such as the India-China border clash, economic crisis, unemployment, etc. by using the coverage on actor Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. In a tweet, Sisodia mentions national-level concerns and promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which seems to have been met by the Central government-media" who are working 24 hours." China has left our land, the economy has been 5tr, crores of jobs have come, farmer traders have made all the profits, Swachh Bharat, Digital-Skill India have been successful. There is only one problem left in the country - Riyas entire family is not arrested. Central government-media are working 24 hours," he tweeted. The tweet comes amidst growing concerns about the case dominating national headlines becoming a media trial since the actor died on June 14. Chakrabortys lawyer, in a statement issued, said the actress is ready for arrest". Rhea Chakraborty is ready for arrest as this is a Witch Hunt and if loving someone is a crime she will face the consequences of her love," Satish Maneshinde said. The actresss father, Indrajit Chakraborty a retired army doctor on Friday congratulated India for effectively demolished a middle class family" after the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested his son Showik Chakraborty in relation to a drug case. In a statement, the 60-year-old wrote, congratulations India, you have arrested my son, Im sure next on the line is my daughter and I dont know who is next thereafter. You have effectively demolished a middle class family. But off course, for the sake of justice everything is justified. Jai hind." The AAP government has also slammed the BJP-led government for making contentious policy decisions, including the recent row over conducting the JEE-NEET exams amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Sisodia had urged the government to stop playing with students lives" and called towards making alternate, safe arrangements. A piece of music that lasts for 639 years has just had its first chord change in seven years. Music fans assembled at a church in Germany to hear the change that was played on a specially built organ specially designed to play the composition. The piece, which began being played 19 years ago, was composed by John Cage. American composer Cage, who died in 1992, wrote the piece in the 1980s. It is titled As Slow as Possible. The composition started in 2001 and is expected to end in 2640. Its next chord change will take place on 5 February 2022. Those hoping to hear the music can do so at the Saint Burchardi Church in the city of Halberstadt. The piece was originally commissioned for a piano competition by The Friends of the Maryland Summer Institute for the Creative and Performing Arts. Cages composition lasts for eight pages SRINAGAR, India - As a monthslong military standoff between India and China along their disputed mountain border protracts, experts warn that the nuclear-armed countries which already have engaged in their bloodiest clash in decades could unintentionally slide into war. For 45 years, a series of agreements, written and unwritten, maintained an uneasy truce along the border on the eastern edge of the Himalayan region of Kashmir. But moves and clashes over the past few months have made the situation unpredictable, raising the risk that a miscalculation from either side could have serious consequences that resonate beyond the cold-desert region. The situation is very dangerous on the ground and can spiral out of control, said Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, who was head of the Indian militarys Northern Command from 2014 to 2016. A lot will depend on whether the two sides are able to control the volatile situation and make sure it doesnt spread to other areas. The two Asian giants have held several rounds of talks, mainly involving military commanders, without success. In a sign that the talks are now shifting to the political level, their defence ministers met in the Russian capital on Friday to try end the impasse. It was the first high-level direct contact between the sides since the standoff erupted in the Ladakh region four months ago. Last week, the worlds two most populous nations, which share thousands of kilometres (miles) of disputed border, accused each another of fresh provocations, including allegations of soldiers crossing into each others territory. India said its soldiers thwarted provocative movements by Chinas military twice last week. In turn, Chinas Defence Ministry accused Indian troops of crossing established lines of control and creating provocations along the border. Tensions first erupted in early May with a brawl between soldiers from the two sides. The situation escalated dramatically in June when they fought with clubs, stones and fists, leaving 20 Indian soldiers dead and dozens wounded. China did not report any casualties. The standoff is over disputed portions of a pristine landscape in a region that boasts the worlds highest landing strip and a glacier that feeds one of the largest irrigation systems in the world. Hooda said that while he doesnt think either side is looking for full-scale war, the real calamity is the breakdown of existing agreements and protocols. Wang Lian, a professor of international relations at Peking University in Beijing, said the possibility of open warfare is unlikely because both sides have shown restraint in recent encounters. But he also said that New Delhi is under pressure from domestic anti-China sentiment and has been emboldened by tougher U.S. measures against Beijing. I dont think (India) would go so far as to escalate military conflict of a larger scale, but I believe both sides are making some preparations, Wang said. India and China share a disputed and undemarcated 3,500-kilometre (2,175-mile) border, known as the Line of Actual Control, that stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim. The two nations fought a border war in 1962 that also spilled into Ladakh and ended in a fragile truce. Since then, troops from both sides have patrolled and guarded the undefined border area, according to protocols worked out by the two countries that included not using firearms against each other. But defence analyst Rahul Bedi said that India changed the rules of engagement along the border following the deadly June clash. He said local commanders have been given freedom to initiate adequate and proportionate responses to any hostile acts by Chinese troops. Members of Indias strategic community, including defence analysts and retired generals, say Chinas army is opening new fronts, deepening mistrust and delaying immediate disengagement before winter, when temperatures in the region can fall to minus 50 degrees Celsius (minus 58 Fahrenheit). They argue that the cost of deployments through the winter would be punishing for an Indian economy already decimated by the coronavirus pandemic. Another area of concern for Indias military is the countrys decades-old territorial dispute over Kashmir with archrival Pakistan, a key ally of China. Indian military policymakers say that if a full-scale conflict erupts between India and China, Islamabad could throw its support behind Beijing, creating an even more dangerous situation for New Delhi. Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan. Its eastern edge, the cold, high-altitude desert region of Ladakh, borders China on one side and Pakistan on the other, and is home to the worlds only three-way nuclear-armed junction. Most Kashmiri Muslims on the Indian side support an armed movement that demands the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. Gen. Bipin Rawat, Indias chief of Defence Staff, warned Pakistan last week not to exploit the crisis with China. Pakistan could take advantage of any threat developing along northern borders (from China) and create trouble for us, Rawat said, warning that Islamabad may suffer heavy losses should they attempt any misadventure. India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory and separated it from Kashmir in August 2019, ending its semi-autonomous status and straining the already prickly relationship between New Delhi and Beijing. China was among the countries to strongly condemn the move, raising it at international forums including the U.N. Security Council. According to some Indian and Chinese strategic experts, Indias move exacerbated existing tensions with China, leading to the June border clash. We are entering into a very difficult phase, said Pravin Sawhney, a defence analyst and China expert. Disengagement is a criticality to avoid war, which the two nations dont want. But if any war breaks out, Pakistan will pitch in, and so would Kashmiris. It will be a three-front conflict. ___ Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in New Delhi contributed to this report. ___ Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at twitter.com/hussain_aijaz Read more about: mfanukhona@times.co.sz MBABANE The Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) shall be under the directorship of two foreigners an American and a South African citizen. Concerns have been raised that since the RSTP handles sensitive data for the country and clients, putting it under the control of professionals paying allegiance to foreign States could possibly compromise the confidentiality of information. However, acting Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Manqoba Khumalo clarified that Professor Theodore Davis is an American who, at some point, worked for the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) as a lecturer. Davis is currently in the USA, and hasnt yet returned to the country because of travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated States to effect lockdowns, explained the minister. The minister said Dr Phindile Masangane, the Chairperson of the RSTP Board, is a bona fide liSwati who holds a PhD in Chemistry, an MBA from Wits Business School and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Eswatini. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the upstream oil and gas regulatory authority, Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA). He said Dr Masanganes parental home is Ndzingeni in the northern part of Eswatini. Khumalo mentioned that she studied and lectured at UNESWA, working closely with the then Vice Chancellor Professor Lydia Makhubu. The minister said the two Board members would not be handling operational issues but were appointed for governance (administration) of the public enterprise. He said the chairperson completed his higher secondary education in Eswatini. He explained that government touched base with its South African counterpart regarding her appointment to serve in the country. He said the South African government expected that Dr Masangane would only be reimbursed her travelling allowance as she was not permitted to be paid a salary over and above the remuneration to which she was entitled in that country. Can you see how committed she is to the country? A very smart woman, knowledgeable and hard working, we needed her because she understands technical and administrative aspects of the RSTP, Minister Khumalo explained. The minister explained that everything pertaining to her appointment and that of Professor Davis was done above board, such as liaising with the Public Enterprise Unit and police for vetting purposes. no law barring foreigners There is no specific law that bars foreigners from becoming Board members, but they would have to apply for work permits through the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry issues the permits in consultation with the Training and Localisation Unit. Before then, Dr Masangane was an executive at the South African state-owned energy company, CEF (SOC) Ltd, which is the holding company of PASA. In this role, she was responsible for clean, renewable and alternative energy projects. In partnership with private companies she led the development of energy projects, including the deal structuring, project economic modelling and financing on behalf of the CEF Group of Companies. Her responsibilities also include supporting the national government in developing an energy policy and regulations for diversifying the countrys energy mix. In 2019, she was Head of Strategy for the CEF Group of Companies where she led the development of the Groups long term strategic plan, Vision 2040+ as well as the Groups gas strategy. Between 2010 and 2013, Dr Masangane was a partner and director at KPMG, responsible for the Energy Advisory Division. In this role she successfully led the capital raising of E34.3 billion (US$2 billion) for the Zimbabwe power utility (ZESA/ZPC)s hydro and coal power plants expansion programmes. On the other hand, Professor Davis is a Fulbright Scholar from the United States. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Eswatini, Faculty of Commerce, as well as the Interim Director of the Entrepreneurship and Business Development Centre. Furthermore, he was an Assistant Professor at State University of New York College at Buffalo and did some work for Harvard University. Currently, he is the Vice President, Chief Administration Officer at J.B. and Associates, a small advisory firm that specialises in the areas of management, and public relations by furnishing assistance to the management of private, nonprofit, and public small to medium size organisations. Prof. Davis has over 20 years success building, aligning, and restructuring organisations to achieve operational excellence and sustainable financial gains. It is said that his wide-ranging experience spans startups, turnarounds, hybrid/multi-operational businesses, non-profits, joint ventures. Prof. Davis received a PhD from Southern Illinois University, an MBA from University of Pittsburgh, and a BA from Chicago State University. Prof. Davis received several awards for outstanding teaching qualities, classroom creativity, leadership and innovation and continued dedication to students. He is a member of several community and professional service organisations, including the Academy of Management, and the Black Chamber of Commerce. Moreover, he is a member of the Board of Directors of several nonprofit organisations. He teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses, specialising in Human Resource Management and Strategic Management. In addition, he has published several articles in the fields of Strategic Management, Human Resource Management, and Entrepreneurialism. Prof. Davis lives in Glencoe, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago with his children. tough task ahead In an interview, Dr Masangane said she had acquired a South African citizenship, adding that the Board Charter allowed them to hold six meetings per year, and would attend all those meetings. For the committee meetings which I am invitee I will connect remotely, she said. She said two Board members were outside the country one in the USA and the other in South Africa. The other one who is in South Africa is Phiwa Nkambule, who has been reappointed into the Board. The chairperson mentioned that these two members would join via virtual meeting platforms. Asked how she was going to sign documents, she responded: signing documents is not a problem at all. I can do that from my smart laptop. Dr Masangane said she was more concerned that there was a big task in front of them, wished they had established a strong team spirit before using virtual meetings. That is why it was very important for me to attend the first meeting in person with the CEO and management. I am glad I did that. It was a fruitful two days in which I got to meet the capable RSTP management team, said the newly-appointed chairperson. She is concerned that the countrys economy is facing serious constraints some of which were there before COVID-19 pandemic. She said the COVID-19 pandemic had been the most disruptive challenge that had thrust the world into a full digital world. As you know the RSTP mandate is to support the country on the use of IT to grow and diversify the economy. So RSTP will play a strategic role in the countrys economic recovery, she said. Dr Masangane said the country was awarded the right to host the AE Trade of the African Union and such requires ICT infrastructure. It would be opportune that the RSTP plays a critical role in this in a mutually beneficial manner, said the chairperson. She pointed to the fact that the recovery of the economy required efficient government services, and the integration of government databases was a cornerstone of this process. She advised that the digitalisation and integration of government services must be done in a cost-effective manner, and RSTP was posed to play that role. The new Board will steer the RSTPs drive to generate an income of E174 billion. 06.09.2020 LISTEN The Former President, John Dramani Mahama continues to receive backslashes from diverse individuals and groups for using his Facebook wall to promote ethnocentric comments in an apparent bid to win political power come December 2020. The lastest group to strip off the skin of Mr Mahama is the Diaspora Patriots in Ghana Foundation (DPG) which has strongly condemned the ethnocentric comments being promoted by the Flagbearer of the Opposition NDC. The group in a statement issued in Accra and signed by its Chairman, Mr Prince Owusu Sefah vehemently called on the former first gentleman of Ghana to immediately render an unqualified apology to the good people of Ghana. The NDC Flagbearer following his strong disagreement with the ruling Government over the Agyapa Royalties deal recently reposted a divisive and ethnocentric comment of an NDC member of parliament calling the sitting President and some government officials as "Akyem Mafia" and "Sakawa Boys". According to the Diaspora Patriots in Ghana Foundation it seemed that the real problem Mr Mahama had with the Agyapa deal was that fact that some people with Akyem ethnicity were involved in its setup. "The Agyapa Royalties deal is a better version of a previously failed deal by the NDC around 2010. It is created by entities owned by the Nation and not individuals like Mr Mahama attempted to do with our bauxite for his brother, Ibrahim Mahama. And, it is expected to significantly increase revenue for the State". The Foundation insisted that it had observed a pattern of such ethnocentric behaviour by Mr Mahama over the years. They cited some instances where Mr Mahama in 1996 taunted Hon. Kwame Prempeh on the Floor of Parliament, for interchanging R & L pronunciation and, ascribing his supposed bad command of the English language, to his ethnicity. He is also on record for referring to Ashantis as ungrateful people, who will not show him appreciation even if he tarred all their streets with gold. Mr Mahama is also known for telling people in various parts of the North of Ghana to vote for him simply because he is one of them. "Now, it seems Akyems are his next target, perhaps because some key people in his way, as he tries to regain the power he lost overwhelmingly for poor governance, in 2016, happen to be Akyems". The Diaspora Patriots in Ghana Foundation observed that Ghanaians were now more united in the pursuit of democracy, justice, freedom and development and would not allow Mr Mahama or any politician to divide them and sway their focus from the substantive issues of policy and performance, which really matter to national progress. "We have peacefully coexisted in spite of our religious, ethnic and cultural differences. We must not take lightly the denigration of any tribe of Ghana, especially by someone aspiring to become President. DPG, therefore, called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to ask Mr Mahama to render an unqualified apology to all those he had been denigrating, and rather try to offer serious policy ideas and demonstrate credibility. "We should all ask Mr Mahama to stop his ethnocentric tendencies, which he often resorts to, in his confessed willingness to do anything for more votes". There must be times in Australias history when people look at the nations economic experts and wonder if they have any idea what theyre doing. Today, the boots on the other foot: people who care about our economic future are wondering what game the nations defence and foreign affairs experts think theyre playing. The concern of many business people and others has been most eloquently expressed by Dr John Edwards, former Reserve Bank board member, in a paper for the Lowy Institute. Hes in complete agreement with Scott Morrisons assertion last year that even during an era of great-power competition, Australia does not have to choose between the United States and China. Wang Xining, deputy head of mission at the Chinese embassy in Australia, has criticised Australia for failing to consult China before calling for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Edwards says Australia made its choices long ago, and is now locked into them. It chose its region, including its largest member, China, as the economic community to which it inescapably belongs. It also long ago chose the US as a defence ally to support Australias territorial independence and freedom of action. There is a good deal of tension between these two choices, but no possibility that either will change, he says. Like many other enduring foreign policy problems, it cannot be resolved. It must instead be managed. The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is not only struggling to bring down the number of Covid-19 cases from the past few days, but the twin cities are facing a new hurdle the increasing fatality rate, which reached 2.15% on Sunday, from 1.09% recorded in June. While in June, 91 deaths were reported, it rose to 361 between August 1 and September 6. KDMC has been recording an average of 400-500 Covid-19 cases every day in the past few days. On Sunday however, the cases surged to 655 the highest daily count in the past two months taking the total number of Covid-19 cases to 34,959, even as the total deaths reached 680. The civic body, however, claims that of the 680 deaths recorded by the state government until Saturday, 50% were from outside KDMCs jurisdiction. As of Sunday, the recovery rate is 86.09%. Pratibha Panpatil, epidemic officer, KDMC, said, The deaths have increased this month, even as we are dealing with the increase in Covid-19 cases. But 50% of the deaths recorded took place outside the KDMC jurisdiction, though the patients who died were Kalyan-Dombivli residents. One of the major causes for the rising deaths is that people go to their family doctor and take medicines and refuse to get tested for the virus, or they fail to get to Covid-19 hospitals on time. She added, Last month, we had issued a notice to general practitioners, asking them to send all their patients ailing from fever, for antigen tests or face action if they failed to do so. We have also set up our testing camps near the clinics of renowned general practitioners in the city to keep a track of fever patients. To control the death rate, the civic body is focusing on increasing beds, early detection and strict hospitalisation of senior citizens and comorbid patients who test positive for Covid-19. There are 3,474 beds at Covid care centres, 674 beds at dedicated Covid-19 health care centres and 1,005 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals. We have already improved the facilities with more ventilators and oxygen beds, added Patil. Kalyan doctors army, spokesperson Prashant Patil said, There are three major reasons for the rise in the fatality rate in the city. The first is that people dont accept the fact that Covid-19 testing is necessary if they have any symptom. They visit their family doctor and then take some medicines, which delays the actual treatment. Sometimes, even if the doctor asks them to undergo Covid-19 tests, patients tend to visit some other doctor and delay getting the right treatment. The second reason is that the general physicians also delay the Covid-19 treatment by asking them to get themselves tested and prescribing medicines for other illnesses. The third reason which we have noticed is that people choose wrong hospitals and do not get proper treatment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lokendra Bahadur Dhami, who had been working in India for the past 5 years had gone back to his hometown in after the outbreak of the Covid pandemic now wants to return to India. He is among the numerous Nepali workers who have queued up at Kailali's Trinagar Customs waiting to return to India for work. Lokendra used to work at a shopping Complex in New Delhi as a security guard for the last five years and had returned four months ago. Others like him too had to leave their jobs in India to return to their hometowns. " have opened in India. I got to join my duty. It has been four months since I reached to skip the pandemic but I have got nothing to do here. At least I have a job in India with which I am able to meet the expenses of my family. I am therefore thinking about returning to India for the work which is there for me. My employer has been for week asking me to return, so I am off to New Delhi," Lokendra said. More than a thousand workers from have been crossing the Customs at Kailali District of Southern Plain of Nepal to rejoin their jobs in India. Although exact number of Nepali are not recorded by any of government institutions, thousands of Nepali are working in India. People of various age groups go to India on annual basis mainly from Far-Western Nepal which has become a means of living for them. As it does not require visa or permit to work in India, various cities there have been job centres for Nepali workers. Likewise, thousands of Indian workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also crossed the border to work in various sectors in Nepal. As per the record of June 24, a total of 1300 Nepali went to India from Trinagar Customs. As per the record kept by Armed Police Force, a total of 7,500 Nepali went to India in between June 24 to July 24 via Trinagar Customs. With rise in COVID-19 cases in India during the month of March and the imposition of lockdown in India, more than two hundred thousand Nepali had returned back to Nepal. Now with business falling back to track in India despite rising number of cases in India, Nepali workers despite knowing the risk are flocking to India for jobs. Hundreds of Nepali migrant workers had returned home after the induced lockdown was imposed in India. India registered the highest single-day spike of 90,633 new cases on Sunday, taking the caseload past 41-lakh mark, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With 1,065 more deaths in the last 24 hours, the cumulative toll reached 70,626. The total case tally stands at 41,13,812 including 8,62,320 active cases, 31,80,866 cured/discharged/migrated. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI AHMEDABAD: The BJP on Sunday accused Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut of "defaming" Gujarat by calling Ahmedabad a "mini Pakistan" and demanded that he apologize to the people of Gujarat and Ahmedabad. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai earlier in the day, Raut asked whether actress Kangana Ranaut had the courage to compare Ahmedabad to 'mini Pakistan' the way she equated Mumbai with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Raut and Ranaut have been locked in a bitter war of words since the actress termed Mumbai unsafe after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. "If that girl apologizes to Mumbai and Maharashtra for calling Mumbai a 'mini Pakistan', then I will think about it. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad?" the Sena MP had asked. Taking umbrage at Raut's remarks, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the Sena leader insulted the state by calling Ahmedabad a mini Pakistan. "He should apologise to Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Amdavadis," he stated. Pandya said the Sena should stop using any opportunity to defame Gujarat, Gujaratis and leaders from Gujarat "by targeting them out of jealousy, hatred and malice". "This is the Gujarat of Gandhiji and Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel has strengthened the unity and integrity of India by uniting 562 kingdoms. Junagadh and Hyderabad were prevented from going to Pakistan and made to stay in India due to his guts and strength," he said. Pandya added that Patel's dream of making Kashmir an integral part of India by revoking Article 370 has been fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who are from Gujarat. "Therefore, Gujarat's contribution to India's unity and integrity in the past and present should be remembered," he said. TEHRAN : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a "very fruitful" meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed ways to bolster bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including the situation in Afghanistan . Singh reached Tehran from Moscow on Saturday on a transit halt after concluding his three-day visit to Russia where he attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers. He also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Russia, China and the Central Asian countries. "Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation," he said in a tweet. "Both the Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan," Singh's office said in a separate tweet on the meeting held on Saturday at the request of the Iranian defence minister. The meeting between the two ministers took place in a "cordial and warm atmosphere," it said, adding that the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran. Singh's visit to Iran is considered to be significant as it came a day after he voiced India's deep concern about the situation in the Persian Gulf and called upon the countries in the region to resolve their differences through dialogue based on mutual respect. A series of incidents in the Persian Gulf involving Iran, the US and the UAE in recent weeks have flared up tension in the region. "We are deeply concerned about the situation in the Persian Gulf," Singh said in his address at a meeting of the SCO in Moscow on Friday. "We call upon countries in the region - all of which are dear and friendly to India, to resolve differences by dialogue based on mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of each other," he said in his address at the combined meeting of defence ministers of the SCO, Collective Security Treaty Organisation and Commonwealth of Independent States member states. Last month, Iranian navy briefly seized control of a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in what the US said were international waters near the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the US, which has already imposed crippling sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, tries to strangle its economy. India-Iran commercial ties were traditionally dominated by Indian import of Iranian crude oil. In 2018-19 India imported USD 12.11 billion worth of crude oil from Iran. However, following the end of the Significant Reduction Exemption (SRE) period on May 2, 2019, India has suspended importing crude from Iran, according to the Indian Embassy here. The US had asked countries, including India, to cut oil imports from Iran down to "zero" by November 6, 2019 or face sanctions. The bilateral trade during 2019-20 was USD 4.77 billion, a decrease of 71.99% as compared to the trade of USD 17.03 billion 2018-19. What is significant is that Indian exports to Iran between 2011-12 and 2019-20 have grown by 45.60%, according to the website of the mission. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Jamshedpur, Sep 6 : Jamshedpur FC continued its string of signings and announcements under Owen Coyle with the addition of 32-year-old defender Peter Harley. The Englishman put pen to paper and signed with the club for the Indian Super League 2020-21. The robust defender comes at the back of a highly successful season with Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership. He captained the team to 3rd place in the league, only behind Scottish legacy teams - Celtic and Rangers, thus qualifying Motherwell for the UEFA Europa League 2020-21. Hartley has played 418 matches in his stellar career since his senior team debut in 2007, keeping 122 clean sheets and scoring 37 goals. Delighted at joining Jamshedpur, Hartley said, "I'm honored to be given an opportunity to sign for Jamshedpur, a club with ambition to win. I certainly didn't have to think twice about playing for Owen Coyle, a manager held in high regard. I promise to give 110 per cent every single day in order to bring success and silverware to the Jamshedpur supporters. At every club that I have played for, my goal has always been to add glory to my jersey number till the day I depart." Hartley is a Sunderland AFC academy product. The left footed center back was scouted into the Sunderland AFC youth system as a 12-year-old in 2000 and rose-up the ranks with his impressive performances. He played and trained with the former English Premier League side's senior team too and made his debut in 2007 versus Leicester City under Roy Keane's tutelage. He went on a loan spell to Chesterfield FC and then switched to Hartlepool United in 2009, being the most capped player for Hartlepool during his four-year stint as well as the captain for two seasons. Later, the Englishman had stints with Stevenage, Plymouth Argyle, Bristol Rovers and Blackpool before joining Motherwell FC. Pictured: Ashleigh Simrajh on her wedding day on Saturday A terminally-ill young woman who was diagnosed with cancer more than a year after she was told the lump on her leg was probably a wart has married the love of her life in an emotional ceremony at Sea World Resort. Ashleigh Simrajh, 23, and Jason Hale said 'I do' in front of 50 of their closest family and friends on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Her father Tony said the nuptials were both the saddest and happiest day of his life, after the family's world was flipped upside down by Ashleigh's illness. 'We got told in late August that she had one to three days to live and her strength to still be here 12 days later to get married just showed how important it was for her,' Mr Simrajh told Daily Mail Australia. Ashleigh, a 'fanatical' Essendon fan, has been using every ounce of her energy throughout her cancer battle to encourage others to go for regular skin checks and question a doctor's diagnosis if something doesn't feel right. Ashleigh was 20 years old when spotted a lump on her leg and took herself to the doctor to get it checked. But the family claims the doctor thought it was nothing more than a wart and sent her to a surgeon, without taking a biopsy Ashleigh Simrajh and Jason Hale said 'I do' in front of 50 of their closest family and friends on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Ashleigh was 20 years old when spotted a lump on her leg and took herself to the doctor to get it checked. But the family claims the doctor thought it was nothing more than a wart and sent her to a surgeon, without taking a biopsy. 'She first saw a GP in 2018 who told her it was a wart and referred her to a specialist,' Mr Simrajh said. 'Ash thought it was a skin specialist but we now know he was a general surgeon who again told her it was cosmetic and would cost $2,500 to get removed. 'Neither of them did a biopsy on it and Ashleigh left reassured that it wasn't anything to worry about.' But overtime, Ashleigh's bump became painful when she knocked it and she knew something wasn't right. Ashleigh is pictured with her bridesmaid and sister Chelsea on Saturdays Ashleigh, a 'fanatical' Essendon fan, has been using every ounce of her energy throughout her cancer battle to encourage others to go for regular skin checks and question a doctor's diagnosis if something doesn't feel right 'When it started to bleed she went to another doctor who immediately did a biopsy and told her two days later it was melanoma,' Mr Simrajh said. 'She now has lung cancer, liver cancer, cancer in her chest and only days to live.' Mr Simrajh said the whole family is 'devastated'. 'Let down is not how I would describe it. I would describe it as we have been betrayed as she trusted the medical professionals,' he said. 'She believed them and continued her life as if nothing was wrong. 'If it had been diagnosed when she first went to see them she wouldn't be where she is now. Mr Simrajh said the family's life has been put on hold for 12 months and they all live in dread about what is going to happen to Ashleigh. 'Ash weighs 34 kilograms now and is skin and bones. She is under palliative care and struggles for every single breath,' he said. Tony Simrajh said the family's life has been put on hold for 12 months and they all live in dread about what is going to happen to Ashleigh Ashleigh and her family have launched legal action against two practitioners. 'Anyway how do you replace a life? How do you fix the pain and suffering that Ashleigh has had and the impact on our family? How do you replace never seeing her again or having grandchildren?' Mr Simrajh said. 'I would do anything or give anything to have Ashleigh in my life forever she is not only my daughter but she is my best friend. 'I will never be able to fill that void our family will never be whole again and we will never be the same.' Mr Simrajh said the legal case is not about money but is instead about the doctors 'owning up to their errors and taking responsibility'. He hopes to spread his daughter's message: Get your skin checked and trust your instinct. 'If you don't feel like the doctors are doing the basic things like a biopsy get someone else to check it as well,' he said. Overtime, Ashleigh's bump became painful when she knocked it and she knew something wasn't right Ashleigh was sent a letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanking her for her efforts in reminding Australians about the dangers of skin cancer. She also received a phone call from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ahead of her nuptials on Saturday. 'The PM heard about it and wrote her that awesome letter that gave her the strength to go on that was such a kind thing to do and meant so much to her,' Mr Simrajh said. 'Annastacia called her personally and sent flowers on her wedding day. She even gave Ashleigh her mobile number so Ash could send her wedding pictures and to reach out to her if she needed anything. 'Ash has had so many messages of support and also people who have had their skin rechecked to find out that they have melanoma as well Ashleigh has saved lives she really has.' The wedding was both the happiest and saddest day of Mr Simrajh's life. Ashleigh was sent a letter from Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanking her for her efforts in reminding Australians about the dangers of skin cancer 'To see her so fragile on what should have been her happiest day was heartbreaking but yet seeing the love that was in the room for her was very inspirational,' he said. Ashleigh was 'depleted' after the ceremony and she watched the reception from her bed. Unable to dance because of COVID-19 restrictions, Ashleigh and her father listened to Count On Me by Bruno Mars as their father/daughter dance. 'The guests really belted it out while I tried in between crying while her mother Tracey and sister sat holding her hand. It brought a smile to her face,' he said. The family have a GoFundMe page to share Ashleigh's story and spread her message. 'Ashleigh is 23 years of age and has terminal cancer due to a GP and specialist not conducting basic tests like a biopsy,' the page reads. 'She is on a mission to get her story out there for young people to get checked but also to get another doctor to have a look at it if you are still not sure. That would have saved her life if she did.' Actors Taapsee Pannu, Huma Qureshi and Swara Bhasker have criticized the media for mobbing Rhea Chakraborty on Sunday, calling it lowest of the low behaviour. Rhea was answering the summons of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) when she was mobbed by a horde of mediapersons. The videos have since gone viral, leading to disapproval by many. In the name of Justice these people have lynched a human being off her right to live even before proven guilty. I sincerely pray Karma finds the address of each n every human being part of this lowest low of mankind we are witness to, Taapsee wrote while sharing a video where Rhea is seen struggling to make her way through the crowd. In the name of Justice these people have lynched a human being off her right to live even before proven guilty. I sincerely pray Karma finds the address of each n every human being part of this lowest low of mankind we are witness to. https://t.co/Qkkhnfup53 taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 6, 2020 India... witness our lowest! Shameful witch hunt! Disgusting.. https://t.co/P8jIZjhKrR Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 6, 2020 Media vultures. The press is behaving barbaric. Is there no one in authority that can stop this, wrote Rheas friend, Shibani Dandekar. Swara also shared the video and wrote, India... witness our lowest! Shameful witch hunt! Disgusting.. What is wrong with us ?? We cannot behave like this. Sure the truth must come out but this girl deserves her space as a woman , basic respect and her right to social distancing norms https://t.co/Gu38XKGcl6 Huma S Qureshi (@humasqureshi) September 6, 2020 How dare they ???? Who are these cameramen ??? Jaahil absolutely jaahil ! Ab ladki ki maan , izzat , sammaan ka kuch nahi ???? https://t.co/fpnxqd7IM7 Gauahar Khan (@GAUAHAR_KHAN) September 6, 2020 Huma said Rhea deserved her space as a woman. What is wrong with us ?? We cannot behave like this. Sure the truth must come out but this girl deserves her space as a woman , basic respect and her right to social distancing norms, she wrote. The actor was summoned by the NCB on Sunday, she will be appearing before the agency on Monday too. Her brother Showik has been arrested by the NCB. NCB has said that it wants to confront Rhea with Showik, and Sushant Singh Rajputs staffers Samuel Miranda and Dipesh Sawant in order to ascertain their individual roles in this alleged drug racket. The questioning is based on mobile phone chat records and other electronic data that suggested some banned drugs were allegedly being procured by these people. Rhea, in interviews given to multiple TV news channels, has said that she has never consumed drugs herself. She had, however, claimed that the late actor used to consume marijuana. It is claimed that Miranda told NCB investigators that he used to procure bud or curated marijuana for the late actors household. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris suggested the Biden administration would not enforce a national mask mandate as promised by Joe Biden. Biden said last month that, if elected, his administration would enforce a nationwide mask mandate. "It would be a standard," Harris said in an interview with CNN when asked to clarify. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) arrive to deliver remarks at the Alexis Dupont High School on August 12, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Drew Angerer/Getty Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, walked back Joe Biden's promise for a nationwide mandate to wear a mask, saying the Biden administration will instead enforce a standard of mask-wearing. Last month, Biden vowed that, if elected, his administration would institute and push for a mask mandate. Related: How Kamala Harris compares with Joe Biden "We'll have a national mandate to wear a mask not as a burden, but to protect each other," Biden said during the final night of the Democratic National Convention. "It's a patriotic duty." As Business Insider's Aria Bendix reported, Biden's strategy would include deploying rapid diagnostic tests, ramping up the domestic production of medical supplies and protective equipment, and instituting a national mandate to wear masks. Harris, speaking in an interview with CNN that aired Sunday, switched the gears, saying that a national mask mandate would not be federally enforced. "The Biden-Harris position on this is that leaders must lead. And one of the ways leaders lead is they set standards," Harris said. She continued: "And so what Joe has been very clear about in his personal behavior, much less in what he is admonishing and respecting of the American people, is that we all make the sacrifice to wear a mask in the interest of love of our neighbor, in the interest of defeating or at least reducing the health risks or the number of deaths in America. So it's about a national standard." When pressed to elaborate further on whether this would be a federal mandate, Harris replied: "It would be a standard." Story continues "This is not about punishment. It's not about Big Brother. It is simply about saying what a leader says in times of crisis," Harris added. CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 6, 2020 Biden has indicated multiple times during his campaign that he would seek to enforce a national mask mandate. Late last month, Biden appeared to scale back his comments, saying instead that he would pressure local officials to enforce mask-wearing. "What I would be doing is putting as much pressure as I could on every governor, every senator I mean, excuse me, every mayor, every county executive, every local official, and everyone in business, putting pressure on them to say, 'What you're doing is irresponsible. Make sure you wear a mask and maintain social distancing,'" Biden said. The Biden campaign declined to comment. The coronavirus has infected more than 6.2 million people in the United States, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. Of that figure, more than 188,000 people have died. Read the original article on Insider With bypolls for two Assembly seats in Kerala scheduled to be held along with Bihar elections in November, hectic parleys have begun in ruling LDF, opposition UDF and BJP about selection of candidates and poll strategy. Coming as it is, ahead of the crucial Assembly elections slated for early next year, the by-elections are seen by many as a referendum on the CPM led governments four and half year performance. The Chavara and Kuttanad seats fell vacant following the death of sitting MLAs N Vijayan Pillai of CMP and Thomas Chandy of NCP respectively. Both belonged to the ruling LDF. The LDF has all along maintained that it would seek people's mandate for the development activities undertaken during its regime. As the by-elections are taking close on the heels of the gold smuggling case, alleged corruption in construction of houses under Life Mission, the Congress led UDF is keen to go to the people on these issues besides raising the alleged failures of the government. In 2016 Assembly polls Mr Chandy won the Kuttanad seat by margin of 4819 votes. While the LDF has decided to field Mr Chandys brother Thomas K Thomas, the UDF is yet to take a call regarding its candidate. The vertical split in Kerala Congress (M) which contested the seat in 2016, is also a major cause of worry for the UDF. The BDJS, an ally of the BJP, had secured 33,040 votes in the last elections. However, political observers say the BJDS formidable performance was because of its candidate Subhash K Vasu who has now been ousted from the party. Therefore the BDJS may not pose any major threat, they say. As far as Chavara is concerned, it will be a direct fight between the LDF and UDF. In 2016 Mr Pillai had wrested the Chavara seat from Mr Shibu Baby John of the RSP by a margin of 6189 votes. While the UDF has decided to retain Mr Shibu Baby John for the bypoll, the LDF is planning to field a new face. The BJP is not a significant force in the constituency. With Kerala Chief Electoral Officer Mr Teeka Ram Meena announcing that the poll schedule for the two constituencies will be out within a week, the principal political parties have geared up their electoral machinery. Though the campaigning may be low profile and less noisy this time due to Covid 19 protocol, there will no dearth of excitement considering the interest that people of Kerala take in politics. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Bahrains Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA) has announced the resuming of on-arrival visa for nationals of 68 countries at the kingdoms ports. Residents of the Gulf countries could also get the on-arrival visas, except the citizens and residents of Qatar and they have to get their visas before coming to the Kingdom, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA). LEWISBURG A female Bucknell University student reports two men attempted to force her into a vehicle in Lewisburg near campus early Saturday morning. The universitys Department of Public Safety says it was told two males in a dark-colored SUV approached the student near South 6th and St. Catherine streets. The passenger attempted to place her into the SUV, but she told authorities she was able to get away and the vehicle drove off. The passenger was described as a middle-aged male who was bald, but no description was available for the SUV driver, the university said. The student did not report the incident until 3 a.m. Public safety said the investigation has determined it occurred at 1:11 a.m. Attempts to learn from Buffalo Valley Regional Police, which has jurisdiction in the borough, or Bucknell how the precise time of the attempted abduction was determined was unsuccessful. An alert was issued Saturday by Bucknell public safety to the university community that stated in part: Until the investigation has been concluded it can be assumed that conditions continue to exist that may pose a threat to members and guests of the community. It is the duty of this institution to warn of possible dangerous conditions on its property; an affirmative duty exists to warn of possible danger at the hands of some third party. Female students have been reminded to try to avoid walking alone at night. Anyone with information on the attempted abduction is asked contact Bucknells public safety at 570-577-3333 or the Buffalo Valley police at 570-524-4302. Authorities refine virus strategy THAILAND: The Department of Disease Control (DDC) has insisted the countrys health care system is well equipped to deal with a possible second wave of COVID-19 outbreak. CoronavirusCOVID-19health By Bangkok Post Sunday 6 September 2020, 10:09AM Safety first: Pedestrians wearing face masks walk along a road near the Victory Monument in Phaya Thai district. Health officials stress that wearing face masks should be the norm for people going outdoors. The assurance came along with a suggestion made by Thiravat Hemachudha, head of the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre, that a cheaper COVID-19 finger-prick test should be adopted to expand screening for the virus, particularly in provinces sharing a border with neighbouring Myanmar which has been hit by a fresh outbreak. Should Thailand encounter a second outbreak, medical workers are ready to deliver an effective response as testing equipment and test kits are currently in stock and ready to be used, said DDC deputy director-general Dr Tanarak Plipat. These medical supplies could be produced locally to keep up with a surge in demand in the event of a significant number of new local transmissions, he said. We dont really know when the virus will strike again, so it is important to have protection, he said. The doctor, however, said more COVID-19 tests than needed were being conducted of late, as opposed to testing that focused on specific groups of people in the earlier outbreak. However, Dr Thiravat suggested that public health authorities scale-up tests on people, particularly in areas near the Thai-Myanmar border using the cheaper finger-prick test. While a rapid finger-prick test for COVID-19 antibodies costs about B200, a nasal swab for COVID-19 costs between B2,000 and B7,000, he said, adding the swab test should instead be used to confirm positive results of the finger-prick tests. Since it is nearly impossible to prevent illegal migrants from sneaking into Thailand, testing people living near the border would be a more practical approach to ensuring early detection of new infections in the country, he said. From observing second waves in other countries, Dr Tanarak said a resurgence of infections in Thailand may, in the beginning, cause a high number of infections among medical and health care workers. He also noted that COVID-19 screening measures had become lax after a long period of no new local infections. Hospitals have been asked to maintain a high level of COVID-19 vigilance as they did during the height of the outbreak, he said. Schools are also being advised to take strict precautions, he said. Please bear in mind that we need to be well prepared to act fast to deal with [new infections] when an outbreak happens again, he said, adding the preparedness would help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy. The chance of coronavirus mutation was low, Dr Tanarak said. However, he said a mutation would, if it occurred, complicate treatments and undermine the efficiency of vaccines currently being developed. Dr Thiravat said changes in the virus genetic code showed the virus can now not only attack cells in the lungs but also infect the blood. In the beginning, children appeared to be less affected, but the virus has also now been found to cause significant damage to the brain of an infant whose mother was infected with the virus. This demonstrates the virus ability to cause more serious symptoms, he said. Meanwhile, Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, said global communities are now worried about the mutated G614 strain of the virus, which was found in a laboratory test, and is capable of spreading more widely than other strains. However, there still is no valid evidence that the mutated G614 strain will cause more severe symptoms. What warrants serious concern is the decline in compliance with the Public Health Ministrys COVID-19 prevention recommendations over the past three months while the country recorded no new cases of local transmission. Both Dr Tanarak and Dr Thiravat agreed that many people have been too complacent about the COVID-19 situation and lowered their guard, thinking the danger had passed. Dr Thiravat estimated that only about 60% of people still are aware of the remaining risk. Dr Tanarak noted people in the provinces were less aware of the need to practice health safety measures than those in Bangkok. The latest discovery of a COVID-19 infection in an inmate should be a wake-up call to the reality that the virus may well still be out there, especially in crowded areas, Dr Tanarak said. Dr Yong, of Chulalongkorn University, said it usually takes at least two years to test a new vaccine and it needs to be done on more than 10,000 volunteers before its efficacy is assured. This will make it difficult for Thailand to develop and produce its own vaccine given the low number of cases in the country. And even if there were sufficient cases in the country for a new vaccine trial, the country still lacks the necessary standard of facilities for vaccine production, he said. That explains why a COVID-19 vaccine development project in Thailand requires higher investment to cover the costs of hiring a foreign company to produce shots of the developed vaccine for testing abroad, he said. WATERLOOJob-seekers who choose CPM Roskamp Champion tend to stick with the decision. The tenure of our employees averages 11.4 years, explains Kyle Roed CPM Holdings Human Resources director. One reason for this is that we invest in people. We look for talent and provide whats necessary to build the skills, as opposed to trying to find someone with perfect skills. CPMs 130-year history provides and vast diversity of business lines and products provides stability and security, says Ezequiel Villar. This has been especially true during this years public health crisis and civil unrest. Im really proud of our companys resilience, collaboration and dedication, he says. Pre-pandemic, CPM prided itself on use of technology and safety standards, says Roed. The crisis presented challenges to the company in terms of maintaining staffing levels to produce goods and services for a number of industries. Many of the products CPM produces are essential things like medical masks and gowns, a lot of our agricultural tools, machinery and products and so on, says Roed. Every day, CPM employees are doing something thats helping the world. The significance isnt lost on employees. CPM is a company that truly cares about the success and life outside of work for each of its employees, says Ethan Steiger. They have taken a stand on social justice issues and sided on the correct side of history. CPM has come to rely on the manufacturing experience and skills and strong work ethic of the metro areas workforce, says Roed. This is a company that places a high value on innovation and creativity, he says. For someone who enjoys that, CPM can be very fulfilling. CPM offers employees competitive compensation and benefits, generous paid time off, tuition assistance and both 401k and pension, Roed explains. Employees also can explore a variety of professional development opportunities. We have a really great mentoring program thats especially helpful to people who come to us from non-manufacturing fields, he notes. Once employees get into the program, we pair them with mentors who are the pre-eminent experts in their fields. Through these mentoring relationships, those employees gain experiences that can help them become high-demand professionals. Employees also say they appreciate the opportunities CPM offers to work for a global manufacturing leader. The companys creates products and tools and services equipment for everything from agricultural enterprises to the fuel, food and bioenergy industries and much more. CPMs origins lie in northern California. In 1883, a predecessor, San Francisco-based company manufactured grape presses, crushers and stemmers for emerging Napa Valley wineries. By 1931, the company had branched out into pellet milling, instigating a new business name: California Pellet Mill, which was eventually shortened to CPM. Mergers and acquisitions broadened product lines in ensuing decades, and new locations were added in the United States, Amsterdam and Singapore. The Waterloo site was added in 1987, when CPM acquired Roskamp Manufacturing. This was followed by additional U.S. sites as well as those in South America, China and Europe. Today, CPM Holdings Inc. is a global company, with 26 locations in 11 countries and 3,000-plus customers. Longevity, success and a global reputation combine to attract a talented workforce, says Roed. To find new staff, CPM relies on regional recruiters, referrals from current employees and colleges and universities networking. Hes quick to tell prospective employees not to stereotype the company because its a global employer. This is not a rigid workplace with a conservative culture and lots of mandatory meetings, Roed explains. In terms of corporate oversight, were pretty decentralized. Sites are fairly self-sufficient, and we use technology to stay connected at a high level. We definitely dont sit in meetings all day. Ted Waitman, retired president and CEO, made Waterloo CPMs companys corporate headquarters. The location houses CPMs product test lab. Customers travel here to view products and processes in action, says Roed. Roskamp and Champion grain flakers are built at the site, too, as well as material grinding and preparation equipment for oilseed; animal feed; ethanol; conditioners and coolants; biomass; chemicals; waste recovery; and more. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Scientists discover 30 new marine species in the Galapagos by Tiffany Duong September 06,2020 | Source: EcoWatch International marine scientists have discovered 30 new species in the deep waters off the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, highlighting how unique the ecosystems of the islands are as well as how little we know about the deep sea. After Charles Darwin first visited in 1835, the Galapagos became famous for their biodiversity and for their endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Darwin, then 26, spent five weeks surveying the archipelago, reported Smithsonian Magazine. "The natural history of these islands is eminently curious, and well deserves attention," Darwin later said, reported Smithsonian Magazine. "Most of the organic productions are aboriginal creations, found nowhere else." At the same time, the plants and animals he studied still showed a "marked relationship" to those on the mainland, leading Darwin to form the seeds of his groundbreaking Theory of Evolution, Smithsonian Magazine said. After publishing "On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" in 1859, Darwin's theories cemented the Galapagos Islands as "hallowed scientific ground," a reputation that continues today, Smithsonian Magazine reported. The magic is in the isolation. The removed geography of the islands from the rest of the world allowed for and forced species to adapt and evolve over time to survive their unique habitats on each island, according to WWF and Discovering Galapagos. Even today, as conditions change, animals and plants continue to develop into new hybrids and species, adding to the islands' rich history. In 2017, a population of finches on the islands were discovered in the process of becoming a new species, reported BBC. In 2019, scientists found a species of giant tortoise on a remote Galapagos island that they hadn't seen alive for 110 years and that they'd feared extinct, reported AP News. As recently as February of this year, conservationists studied 30 giant tortoises partially descended from two extinct species, AP News reported. "Evolution, in general, can happen very quickly," said Roger Butlin, a speciation expert talking about the finches, reported the BBC. In the latest discovery, scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), the Galapagos National Park Directorate, the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) and an international team of deep-sea experts identified 30 new deep-sea invertebrate species within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. They published their results in the journal Scientific Reports and called their discoveries "the world that Darwin never saw" in a CDF press release. The species were found on seamounts, underwater mountains that do not break the ocean's surface, the release said. Until recently, these extinct volcanoes and the flourishing communities of organisms that live on them were largely unexplored. "The deep-sea remains as earth's last frontier, and this study provides a sneak-peak into the least known communities of the Galapagos Islands," marine scientist and study leader Pelayo Salinas de Leon said, reported Yahoo! Expedition crews used state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to explore up to depths of 3400 meters, the CDF release said. According to the release and Science Times, the new species of marine life include: -- 10 new species of bamboo corals and four new octocorals, including the first giant solitary soft coral in the Tropical Eastern Pacific; -- 1 new species of brittle star; -- 11 new sponge species; and -- 4 new species of squat lobsters. "The many discoveries made on this expedition showcase the importance of deep-sea exploration to developing an understanding of our oceans" OET Chief Scientist Nicole Raineault said, the CDF release stated. According to Science Times and National Geographic, the Galapagos Marine Reserve protects these seamounts from fishing activity and deep-sea mining. The discovery came after Ecuador raised concerns about a massive Chinese fishing fleet operating on the edge of the Galapagos' protected waters, reported Al Jazeera. Ecuador's former minister of the environment Yolanda Kakabadse told Public Radio International that the Galapagos should be "the last place on Earth to be affected by irresponsible actions of any sort," the news report said. Salinas de Leon added, "These pristine seamounts are within the Galapagos Marine Reserve and are protected from destructive human practices such as fishing with bottom trawls or deep-sea mining that are known to have catastrophic impacts upon fragile communities. Now it is our responsibility to make sure they remain pristine for the generations to come," the CDF release said. Theme(s): Fisheries Resources. Hager was born into a political dynasty but has never shown any indication of wanting to join the family business. Instead she has become a force in publishing, where she now finds herself in a position of influence on par with Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey. In a phone interview that was briefly interrupted by former President George W. Bush attempting to FaceTime (He keeps calling! This is the third time!), Hager said she reads around 10 books per month and is currently looking at ones that are coming out in February and March. The little nerd in me that couldnt wait to get the next installment in the Baby-Sitters Club series loves that I get to read everything early, she said. Going to places in these novels that Ive never gone to, witnessing characters struggles and triumphs, having relationships with writers who are so unbelievably talented honestly, and Im not just saying this, some of these books have changed my life. Image Everything Beautiful in Its Time is out Sept. 8. The appreciation is mutual: Authors feel as if theyve won the golden ticket when their book is chosen. Its like Ed McMahon showing up at your door with a check, but instead of money its a future and an audience for your writing, said R. Eric Thomas, whose debut essay collection, Here for It, was a Read With Jenna pick in August. Until Thomas received Hagers endorsement, he thought the pinnacle of his books success was its inclusion on his high schools summer reading list. Friends of mine reached out and said, Did you know that your book was on the Today show? he said. Yes, I was aware. Its such a gift. As we celebrate Labor Day and hard-working Americans, lets also think of Bread and Roses. For back in 1912, thats what inspired laborers in the textile mills of Lawrence, Mass., to go on a history-making strike. They stood up for the rights of workers and the poor ideals we must carry on today. Many immigrant women and children worked long, grueling hours at the American Woolen Companys mills in Lawrence. Producing fabric for clothing was dangerous work. One 14-year-old, Carmela Teoli, caught her hair in the machines and was so badly wounded that she had to be hospitalized for months. A small victory appeared to happen for these laborers in January 1912, when Massachusetts passed a law lowering the working week for women and children from 56 hours to 54. How did management respond? They cut each workers wages by 32 cents to make up for the lost hours. Thirty-two cents might not seem like a lot of money today, but back in 1912, that made the difference in being able to afford food. The workers in the textile mills lived in poor, cramped conditions and were struggling to get by. When the workers learned of the pay cut, it made them furious. Telecom regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has given Vodafone Idea Ltd time till September 8 to reply to its show-cause notice on its priority plan, REDX. The telco had sought more time to respond to the notice after TRAI observed the tariff plan "lacked transparency" and was "misleading". Vodafone Idea had launched a post-paid plan, REDX, in November 2019, promising up to 50 per cent faster data speeds, besides other VIP benefits and privileges. Earlier, TRAI gave Voda Idea time till August 31 but the telco sought at least 15 more days to respond to the 17-page show-cause notice, following which the regulator granted it time till September 8, PTI reported citing sources. The show-cause notice, issued on July 11, had asked Vodafone Idea to "withhold, with immediate effect and until further orders" its REDX plan. Raising questions over the plan that promised faster speeds to certain users, TRAI asked if priority services under the plan came at the cost of service deterioration for other subscribers. It also asked the operators how they were protecting the interest of other general subscribers. "...why appropriate action should not be initiated against it for violating the extant regulatory framework by its REDX tariff plan..." the TRAI order said. Also read: Vodafone Idea moves telecom tribunal against TRAI's order on RedX premium offer Vodafone Idea had also moved the Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) in July as it was reportedly not happy with the Trai order, which it said was passed in a hasty manner without giving the company a chance to respond. As per Vodafone Idea officials, the REDX plan was filed with TRAI in November 2019 and further modifications to the plan were, once again, duly filed in May. The plan has been in the market for over nine months. The pay-more-for-priority treatment mobile plan was offering bundled international roaming services, unlimited data with superior data speeds (compared to its regular plans), premium customer service, access to airport lounges, exclusive deals on handsets, hotel bookings and other benefits. The company also said its customers would be able to avail international calls to the US and Canada at 50 paise per minute. Besides, TRAI had also raised objections over a similar plan by Airtel, called Platinum. The company was asked if its platinum plan led to deterioration of services to other general customers. The telco later modified it voluntarily, following which TRAI didn't issue the show-cause notice against Airtel. Edited by Manoj Sharma with PTI inputs Also Read: TRAI asks Vodafone Idea, Airtel to suspend premium plans over service quality concerns Mr Thomas Yaw Adjei Baffoe, the Deputy Central Regional Minister, has admonished New Patriotic Partys Election 2020 Campaign Committees to end internal wranglings and to work as a team to retain the party in power. He urged the committee members to embark on a house to house campaign to sell the good policies and programmes of President Akufo-Addo-led government to the people to vote for the party in the December 7, polls. Mr Adjei Baffoe was speaking during the inauguration of a 29-Member election 2020 Campaign Committee for the Gomoa Central Constituency at Gomoa Aboso. He said the campaign committee members have good stories to tell the people in the Region about the quality of governance in President Akufo-Addos three and half years. He said the 2020 campaign approach would be different from that of 2016 because it is going to be issue-based. The Deputy Minister said the committees needed to go the extra mile in the constituencies and the region to retain the 19 Parliamentary seats won in 2016 and to also win the presidential vote. According to the Deputy Minister, the Central Region NPP had set a target of 60 per cent votes in the December 7, Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He charged the campaign Committee members to double their efforts to win more seats for the party. Mr Adjei Baffoe commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gomoa Central, Mrs Naana Eyiah Quansah for her determination in bringing infrastructural development into the Constituency. He said Ghanaians had witnessed development in the areas of free Senior High School policy, NABCO, free water and electricity bills to mitigate them against the economic effects of COVID-19 pandemic, planting for food and jobs and many others to improve socio-economic advancement of Ghanaians. Mrs Quansah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, urged the Campaign Committee Members to work hard to achieve the Partys prime objective. She called on the party supporters and Campaign Committee Members to eschew hatred, disunity, pull-him-down attitude, selfish interest and avoid issues that could breed disaffection for the party in the upcoming elections. The MP said the Campaign Committee Members must strive hard to break the record of one term MP in the Gomoa Central Constituency. Mr Benjamin Kojo Otoo, the District Chief Executive for Gomoa Central, said the NPP and President AKufo-Addo had done enough for the constituency and it was important to vote for the party to continue the good work. He said the Campaign Committees main agenda was to focus on victory for the party, adding that without hard work it would be difficult to win the December 7, polls. Alhaji Omar Adams, the Gomoa Central Constituency Chairman and chairman of the Campaign Committee, said the members would ensure the Party win the election. He said the committee would increase the votes of 2020 election to 70 per cent to defeat the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Monmouth County woman who had been on the run for months after allegedly killing four German Shepherd puppies was finally arrested Friday, authorities said. Police arrested Tricia Jaccoma, 24, of Howell, on Friday after being charged with four counts of animal cruelty for the deaths of the puppies, who were found on a property in Howell, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a statement. Jaccoma had been on the run since May, when the puppies were found, according to the statement. In June, Jaccoma and Daniel McDonald, 25, were charged with animal cruelty and receiving stolen property after the puppies they allegedly stole from a Somerset County farm died while under their care from neglect and the duo buried or burned their bodies, the prosecutors office previously said. While McDonald has been detained at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since June 10, Jaccoma was a fugitive, according to the statement. On May 18, police found two dead German Shepherd puppies in a fire pit on the Howell property, the prosecutors office said. After investigating, Howell police and the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found two more dead puppies that had been buried on the same property, authorities said. Jaccoma is scheduled to appear in court Sunday, the statement said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Resumption of 6 international flight routes does not apply to tourism Vietnam is to open its international flights with countries and territories with good record of COVID-19 control similarly to Vietnams as from September 15. Deputy Transport Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong responds to reporters' questions. (Photo: VNA) Deputy Transport Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong told the press on Friday, As from Sep 15, international flights with South Korea, Japan, China and as from Sep 22, flights with Chinese Taiwan, Laos and Cambodia are scheduled to reopen. Passengers proposed by the Ministry of Transport to the government include diplomats, civil servants, Vietnamese citizens working and living there with needs to return as well as foreign experts working in projects in Vietnam. Given Vietnams quarantine capacity, Vietnam expects to welcome some 5,000 immigrants this month. Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong talks about quarantine procedures for those passengers, "We review scenarios carefully to ensure safety. The military will play an important role in quarantine arrangement. The Ministry of Health has issued guidance on quarantine and distancing practices at home, at work, schools and public places. We believe that the resumption of international flights will be safe for public health and contribute to economic growth." Security at Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays residence Matoshree in Mumbais Bandra was scaled up after an unidentified man called him up, saying that he was calling from Dubai on behalf of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Security has been tightened at Maharashtra CMs residence as a precautionary measure after two calls were received on the landline at Matoshree wherein the caller said that he was calling on behalf of Dawood, a police official said. The phone at CM Thackerays residence rang twice around 10.30pm on Saturday. The caller wanted to speak to the CM. Were trying to locate the caller, the official added. The local police were also informed about the calls later, following which additional security force was deployed outside the bungalow, the official said. According to him, no case was registered in this connection. We are trying to verify whether the calls received were from Dubai or some other place. Investigation is on, a senior police official told news agency PTI. (with inputs from PTI) When Jill Biden introduced herself to millions of Americans during last months Democratic National Convention, she did so from a high school where she once taught English near her Delaware home. Since then, shes visited a classroom that would otherwise be filled with elementary school children, participated in a health briefing on how to safely resume in-person learning and met with teachers in a Wisconsin backyard. The emphasis on education is a natural fit for someone who was a public school teacher for more than 20 years, earned two masters degrees and then a doctorate in education and continued teaching at a community college when her husband, Joe Biden, was vice president. But in an election year where reopening schools shuttered by the coronavirus is emerging as a flashpoint, Jill Biden is increasingly drawing on her classroom experience to empathize with parents struggling to cope with the shift to virtual learning. Shes taking a mostly virtual 10-city tour of schools disrupted by the pandemic and is trying to make the case that President Donald Trump doesnt deserve re-election because of his handling of the coronavirus. I feel if Joe had been president at this time we would not be in the midst of this chaos, Jill Biden told a mother and two teachers during a discussion that lasted more than half an hour on the patio of a private home last week in Wauwatosa, outside Milwaukee. Trump has also tried to seize on schools as an election-year issue, pressuring state and local leaders to resume classroom instruction and threatening to withhold federal dollars for those who dont. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent mixed signals, saying students should return to the classroom but also noting that virtual classes present the lowest risk of Covid-19 spread. The public appears more skeptical of reopening than the White House. Only about 1 in 10 Americans thinks day care centers, preschools or K-12 schools should open this fall without restrictions, according to a poll released in late July from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs. Roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldnt happen at all. If Biden wins the election, his wife has pledged that his administration will make listening to teachers concerns a priority. She also could play a role in shaping school reopenings. Both Bidens listened and took notes during a virtual briefing last week with public health and education experts about how to approach a reopening without exacerbating the pandemic. How many times have we had someone whos wanted to be the education president and is very good on rhetoric but has very little or no idea how to translate that rhetoric into reality, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which has endorsed Biden. She sends a message throughout America, not only of the importance of education, but also the importance of sweating the small stuff. Sometimes her message is the contrast between Trump and a Biden administration. On the same day that the president traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week to blame protests that sometimes turned violent on domestic terror, Jill Biden was touring Evan G. Shortlidge Academy, a kindergarten through second grade school in Wilmington, Delaware, where she and her husband live. When Joe Biden made his own visit to Kenosha two days after Trump, both Bidens also made time for the Wauwatosa meeting a short time later. Joe can talk about his education plan. I probably know it better than he does, Jill Biden said with a laugh. As part of her multi-city tour, Jill Biden held a virtual North Carolina back-to-school roundtable and has upcoming online events in Florida and Nevada. She will also travel to Minnesota for an in-person meeting with parents and teachers. At Shortlidge, the school year will begin Tuesday, but in the short term, all instruction will be online, which some parents worry is not as effective as traditional instruction. More than 330 of the schools 369 students are Black or Latino, and 77% receive federally subsidized lunches. After walking through several empty classrooms and across freshly polished floors stenciled with paw prints in honor of the schools Wild Cats mascot, Jill Biden spoke to a small, socially distanced and masked group of teachers and administrators outside near a playground closed during the pandemic and roped off with yellow caution tape. The thrill of back-to-school has turned from excitement into anxiety and the playgrounds are still. Some classrooms are dark as the bright young faces that used to fill them; now we just see them on screens, Jill Biden said, noting that parents and teachers are losing sleep over whats in store for youngsters this fall. Americans of all walks of life are putting their shoulders back, and theyre fighting for each other. We havent given up, she said. We just need leadership worthy of our nation, and worthy of all of you. Lissie Harper, 29, was married to PC Harper for just four weeks when he died and revealed she keeps his ashes in a box in her bedroom PC Andrew Harper's grieving widow Lissie Harper has revealed she still sleeps with his ashes in a wooden box in her bedroom and doesn't know if she will ever be able to love anyone else again. Lissie, now 29, had been married to Andrew, 28, a Thames Valley police officer, for just four weeks when he was killed by a gang of three teenage thieves in August last year. One year on, she says that she has dreams where her husband is still alive and has written him 'loads of letters' which helps her deal with the grief. Teenage sweethearts, the couple had been together for twelve years when they married in Oxfordshire in the summer of 2019. Just four weeks later Lissie was woken up by a knock on her front door to the news that her husband was dead. The brave police officer had been killed by a gang of three teenagers in a speeding getaway car, who dragged him for more than a mile on country roads. PC Andrew Harper, a 28-year-old newlywed who was a traffic officer for Thames Valley Police, was killed horrifically on August 15 last year Pictured here on their wedding day in Oxfordshire in July 2019, the couple were just weeks into their marriage when Andrew was killed In an emotional interview with the Sunday Mirror, Lissie said the hardest moment was collecting Andrew's ashes, which made her realise that her sweetheart was really dead. But even after a year she hasn't yet been able to bring herself to scatter his ashes. 'I've kept his ashes and they're in a wooden box in my bedroom where I can see them,' she said. The pain of her loss is still incredibly raw and Lissie said she still talks to Andrew and can hear him 'reassuring' her and telling her not to worry. Lissie said she hasn't been able to watch their wedding video back yet and said that 'everything reminds me of him' Teenage sweethearts the couple had been together for twelve years and hoped to try for a baby after their honeymoon 'I still have dreams where Andrew is there and I've written loads of letters to him, which is something quite healing for me,' she said. 'On days like anniversaries, I still speak to him like I tell him things like 'missing you'. 'I can hear him reassuring me and telling me not to worry, just like he always would.' However, Lissie said she hasn't been able to watch their wedding video back yet and said that 'everything reminds me of him'. 'I don't know if I'll ever be able to love anyone else again,' she said. 'It's not something I can consider or think about because Andrew was one of a kind. He's a huge part of me and always will be.' She told The Daily Mail last month that the young couple had been planning to try for a baby after their honeymoon to the Maldives in September - which Lissie had to cancel after Andrew's death. 'Andrew would have been a great dad and having a family with him is one of the many things his killers have taken from me,' she said. 'I miss everything about him the hugs, the kisses, him coming in and scooping me up, giving me love. It's crippling.' Pictured left to right, Henry Long, 19, received 16 years while Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were handed 13-year prison sentences after they were convicted of manslaughter PC Harper's killers Henry Long, 19, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, both 18, were jailed after being convicted of manslaughter at the Old Bailey. Long was jailed for 16 years for manslaughter, while Cole and Bowers, who were minors at the time, received 13 years for the same offence. The three killers, who showed no remorse after dragging PC Harper to his death, will be eligible for parole in a few years. Lissie Harper is challenging their sentences in a sentencing review hearing at the end of October as she wants to see the sentences increased. This week, Lissie met with Secretary of State Priti Patel on September 2 after launching her Harper's Law campaign. The campaign would ensure a minimum life sentence for criminals convicted of killing an emergency services worker. Lissie Harper met with Secretary of State Priti Patel on September 2 after launching her Harper's Law campaign - which would ensure a minimum life sentence for criminals convicted of killing an emergency services worker Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? local The issue of legacy arrears keeps on becoming milkier day after day with the teachers at one hand claiming not to have received their arrears whilst the government on the other end claim to have paid the arrears in full. Meanwhile, the affected teachers who happen to be the beneficiaries of the legacy arrears have on Saturday the 5th of September, 2020 issued a press statement to discredit the position of the Ghana Education Service in a statement issued by the Director-General of Ghana Education Service in support of the government's claims of having cleared all arrears. According to the aggrieved teachers, the claims made by the Director-General (Prof Kwesi Opoku-Amankwa) that they have cleared all salary arrears is a mere fallacy and hence the general public should disregard it outrightly. "But we as affected teachers want to state categorically clear that the statements published by the Ghana Education Service are blatantly misleading and the public should disregard it with the contempt it deserves.", they vehemently opposed. They also indicated that they are not happy with the way the government is handling the payment of the legacy arrears and therefore expressed their disappointment in GES for siding with the government to dupe them. The teachers however clarified that none of them have received their arrears and hence GES should not rely on data to mislead or deceive the public. "The only thing that can be used as evidence of payment of salary arrears is the bank account and not data from Audit service or Controller And Accountant's General or even Ghana Education Service. Our bank accounts indicates that the arrears have not been paid." , the aggrieved teachers expressed their views in dissatisfaction. In the press statement, the teachers explained that aside the fact that some people from 2013, 2014, and 2016 have received some of their salary arrears, not even a single person from the 2015 year group has received the arrears of which they have documents to prove their stand. They leverage on the opportunity thereby calling on the National Peace Council, National House of Chiefs, Catholics Bishops Conference, Opposition political parties, Conference of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, and other Civil Society Organizations to come to their aid whilst stressing on the September ending ultimatum given to the government. "Until then, we are still going by the September 2020 ultimatum, how the government is going to team up with the responsible offices to ensure the payment reaches our accounts by the end of the month is our back case.", they strongly advised. In conclusion, they as well called the media and the public to once again disregard the claims by the Ghana Education Service since there is no iota of truth in their claims. READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW ASSOCIATION OF AGGRIEVED TEACHERS- LEGACY ARREARS (2012-2016) 5th September, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE (To all media stations FM, TV, Print, Online) Director General of GES claims are inaccurate; We are disappointed in GES for claiming to have paid all legacy arrears We have read with shock and disbelief, a statement issued on the 2nd of September, 2020 by the Director General of the Ghana Education Service ( Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa) claiming to have paid our salary arrears. We are not so much surprised for a government appointee to demonstrate this absolute sign of unflicting support for the government. But we as affected teachers want to state categorically clear that the statements published by the Ghana Education Service are blatantly misleading and the public should disregard it with the contempt it deserves. As we speak, this issue of salary arrears which dates back to 2013 has created so much discomfort for us as affected teachers. And we want to make it emphatically clear that we are not happy with the way government is handling it. We are so much disappointed in our employer, the Ghana Education Service (GES) for making such false claims. The cheating, lies and frustration surrounding the payment of this money has become too much. We are by this press release sounding a strong word of caution to the GES that they should not be under the orders of their political masters by whose Command we believe they are acting else the end results will be unpleasant for both of them, GES and the government. The only thing that can be used as evidence of payment of salary arrears is the bank account and not data from Audit service or Controller And Accountant's General or even Ghana Education Service. Our bank accounts indicates that the arrears have not been paid. we can authoritatively state that, aside the fact that some people from 2013, 2014, and 2016 have received some of the salary arrears, not even a single person from the 2015 year group has received the arrears and we have documents to prove this claim. We are therefore calling on the National Peace Council, National House of Chiefs, Catholics Bishops Conference, Opposition political parties, Conference of Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches, and other Civil Society Organizations to intervene on our behalf. Until then, we are still going by the September 2020 ultimatum, how government is going to team up with the responsible offices to ensure the payment reaches our accounts by the end of the month is our back case. The media and the public should once again disregard the claims by the Ghana Education Service since there is no iota of truth in their claims. ALUTA CONTINUA....!!! Nana Opoku Foster National President 0541405425 Effah Kweku Tabiri F National PRO 0242227930 Abraham Acheampong National Organizer 0248475565 Stephen Ankamah 0543121705 National Secretary The attack took place in the coastal resort town of Sousse, where a gunman killed 38 people in 2015. Tunisian forces shot dead three assailants who rammed their vehicle into security officers and attacked them with knives, killing one officer and injuring another in the coastal resort town of Sousse. Sousse was the site of Tunisias deadliest attack in 2015 when a gunman killed 38 people, most of them British tourists. A patrol of two National Guard officers was targeted in the knife attack on Sunday in Sousse, 140km (87 miles) south of the capital Tunis, said National Guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli. One died as a martyr and the other was wounded and is hospitalised, he said, adding this was a terrorist attack. The attackers first rammed the gendarmes with a vehicle at about 6:40am (05:40 GMT). After the knife attack, security forces pursued the assailants who took the officers guns and vehicle through the Akouda district of the citys tourist area of El-Kantaoui, said Jebabli. In a firefight, three terrorists were killed, he said, adding security forces managed to recover the car and two pistols the assailants had stolen. The North African nations prime minister, Hicham Mechichi, appeared to suggest the assailants planning might have been faulty. Speaking in Sousse at the site of the attack, he announced the arrest of a fourth suspect who had been on board the vehicle that rammed the National Guard officers. These terrorist groups wanted to signal their presence, he said. But they got the wrong address this time. The clearest proof of that is that the authors of this attack were eliminated in a few minutes. Tunisian President Kais Saied, on a visit hours later to the sealed-off scene of the knife attack, said police were investigating whether it was planned by individuals or an organisation. Struggling to rebound The previous attack in Sousse on June 26, 2015, dealt a heavy blow to Tunisias tourism sector, a pillar of its economy. The ISIL (ISIS) armed group had claimed responsibility for that attack. Aymen Rezgui, a Tunisian student who trained with Libyan fighters, walked onto the beach of the Imperial Hotel and used an assault rifle to shoot at tourists in lounge chairs. He then continued onto the hotel pool before throwing a grenade into the hotel. He was later killed by police. The year 2015 was a particularly bloody one with three deadly attacks claimed by ISIL. An assault at the capitals Bardo National Museum in March 2015 had killed 21 foreign tourists and a security guard. In November that year, a bus bombing in central Tunis had killed 12 presidential guards. While the situation has significantly improved since then, Tunisia has maintained a state of emergency. Assaults on security forces have persisted, mainly in remote areas along the border with Algeria. Last week, Tunisias parliament approved a new technocratic government led by Mechichi, which faces the task of tackling deep social and economic woes in the North African country. The 46-year-old premier pledged to revitalise the economy, including the crucial tourism sector, which had rebounded after the attacks but has been hit hard this year by the coronavirus pandemic. ALBANY Hospitalizations for coronavirus in New York hit a new low Saturday, as percent of people testing positive also remained under 1 percent. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said Sunday that hospitalizations dropped to 410a new low since March 16 when the virus started being tracked. "Our infection rate has been below 1 percent for 30 days, and New Yorkers can help us keep that streak going by wearing masks, socially distancing and washing their hands," Cuomo said in a statement. "Our actions today determine the rate of infection tomorrow, so as the Labor Day weekend continues, I urge everyone to be smart so we don't see a spike in the weeks ahead." Of the 85,630 test results reported to New York Saturday, 729 - or 0.85 percent - were positive. The Capital Region's percent positive also remained below 1 percent Saturday, at 0.9 percent. The highest number in New York was in Western New York, where 2 percent of all tests came back positive Saturday. The state reported that a resident of Schenectady County died after contracting coronavirus. However there was no further information; Schenectady County's COVID-19 page had not been updated since Friday. The Schenectady County death was one of nine reported statewide Saturday. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The governor's office also discussed the outbreak at SUNY Oneonta, as the state sent rapid testing to that city and conducted 1,965 tests during the past week. A total of 91 positive cases were identified, for a positivity rate of 4.6 percent. The results showed that the cases continue to be connected to ongoing spread among college students as 85 of the 91 positives cases were among individuals ages 18 to 24. New Delhi, Sep 6 : As the healthcare personnel -- especially sample collectors -- who are getting infected increasingly and putting their life at risk, experts on Sunday have stressed that along with using PPE kits, gloves and mask, the safety of these workers also depends on the quality of the virus handling materials especially the viral transport medium. According to the experts, workers and equipment involved in the collection and transportation of Covid-19 samples could act as a source of infection. Hence, the proper use of PPE by workers involved in sampling and transportation of Covid-19 samples are essential. 'As sample collection centres are increasing in the country, proper disposal of waste generated at sample collection centre is also critical to prevent the spread of Covid-19," Harshal R. Salve, Associate Professor at All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, told IANS. "The most crucial element which comes is when you are handling the virus which starts with the sample being collected and transported in a 'Viral Transport Medium'," Salve added. The viral transport medium of the right quality and especially using tubes which are completely leak-proof and contamination-free as leakage of tubes can cause a huge impact on the spread of the virus to the healthcare individuals performing the test. Recently, the Indian Medical Association had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and informed about the situation of healthcare workers in the county. In a letter to PM Modi, The IMA cited government data and said 87,000 healthcare workers had been infected and 573 of them had lost their lives due to Covid-19. On Saturday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed testing on-demand for Covid-19 even as it has allowed states to adapt to the recommendation as per their requirements Anil Hota, CEO of SAR Cellulabs Pvt. Ltd., a Gurugram-based company, which deals in providing consumables for Covid testing -- said that, for healthcare workers, it is essential to use 'Viral Transport Medium' manufactured in line with USFDA and ICMR standards and using tubes which are completely leak-proof proven with their historical records. "Substandard quality products put healthcare workers at risk, so it becomes very important for us to protect our healthcare workers at the moment by using quality products for sample collection along with stringent parameters," Hota added. S.P. Byotra, Chairman, Department of International Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi, told IANS: "Handling coronavirus samples should also be given equal importance in order to reduce infection among healthcare workers." "The safety of healthcare workers is dependent on their exposure to the virus which directly transcribes from the quality of the virus handling materials," Byotra said. "Especially the viral transport medium which carries the virus, as in case of any leakage in the sample post collection, it becomes dangerous because of having loads of live virus in it," he warned. On Sunday morning, India reported a record daily jump of 90,632 Covid-19 virus infections in 24 hours, taking its tally past the 41 lakh-mark. According to the data revealed by the Union Health Ministry, the total case tally stands at 41,13,812 including 8,62,320 active cases, 31,80,866 cured/discharged and 70,626 deaths. (Bharat Upadhyay can be reached at bharat.u@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Hong Kong church pastor says China monitored webinar on state-church relations, booted him from meeting Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Authorities with the Chinese Communist Party are suspected to have hacked a Hong Kong church webinar, monitoring Christians discussing the countrys church-state relations and eventually booting the pastor from the session. International Christian Concern reports that on Aug. 30, the Church of Christ in China Tuen Mun Church was hosting a webinar titled The Historic Changes of the Cross Under the Red Flag when three unknown users identifying themselves with the Chinese government requested to join. Three users identified as National Security Bureau in China- Hong Kong Branch, National Security Bureau in China," and Shenzhen government demanded access at the beginning of the session. All three were denied by the administrator, as the webinar was only opened to registered church members. When Pastor Chan Minyi mentioned this incident toward the end of the webinar, he was repeatedly removed by an unknown party from the session. He was booted from the session at least 10 times, followed by other coworkers from the church, forcing the church to end the webinar prematurely. Confident his coworkers were not the ones who had removed him, Chan said he suspected there were other people tapping in the webinar. Though the church met through Google Meet, not Zoom, for security reasons, they were still put under surveillance. I believe the webinar is speaking the truth and is not in violation of any law, the pastor said, adding that reporting the incident to police is futile, as the police and the national security personnel are essentially the same entity. Similar reports have emerged out of China, where authorities routinely use technology to suppress religion and religious minorities. In April, several members of Chinas heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested by communist authorities for participating in an online Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity. In July, two Chinese cyber thieves sanctioned by the U.S. for targeting firms involved in coronavirus research were also accused of hacking the private emails of a Christian house pastor and sharing them with communist officials, leading to his arrest. Recently, Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, detailed how China is employing its most aggressive technology to oppress Uighur Muslims, including sophisticated cameras, facial-recognition technology, and collecting DNA samples. Brownback predicted that China's methods represent the future of religious oppression, adding that eventually, religious minorities are going to be oppressed by a system where they can't live and work in the society if they choose to practice their faith. Its the future of the world if we dont stop this. You can look at this [and] say, That's a long way away, it's not my religion, and it's going to be fine. But this stuff is coming if we don't get on and stop it early, he said. China is ranked on Open Doors USAs World Watch List as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. China has also been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. (Natural News) The surface of the moon may hold clues about the existence of extraterrestrial life. According to one scientist, the moon may be acting as a fishing net and mailbox for evidence of alien life. The idea is to consider the moons surface as a fishing net for interstellar objects collected over time and potentially deliver building blocks of life from the habitable environments around other stars, says Abraham Loeb, a theoretical physicist at Harvard University, in an op-ed piece for Scientific American. What makes this a likely possibility, Loeb said, is the moons lack of an atmosphere. This guarantees that any interstellar objects or artifacts that hit the moon would reach its surface without burning up. Also, he explained that because the moon is generally inactive from a geological perspective, any possible interstellar artifacts or clues brought by asteroids and other astrophysical sources would likely remain on its surface, instead of getting buried underneath it. Alien artifacts on the moon According to Loeb, while most of the potential artifacts on the lunar surface are likely to be objects from within our solar system, the recent emergence of interstellar interlopers, such as the missile-shaped Oumuamua and the comet 2l/Borisov, offer the possibility that at least a portion of the potential artifacts could come from areas located outside of our galaxy. (Related: Oumuamua asteroid may really be alien technology; it accelerates under its own power.) Not only that, but the detection of the said interstellar interlopers has also made it possible to calibrate the flux of interstellar objects to calculate the amount of interstellar material on the lunar surface. Loeb, in his op-ed, noted that there is a distinct possibility that amino acids, which serve as the basic foundational materials of all known life in the universe, could be present on the lunar surface albeit in scant amounts. In addition to artifacts, Loeb noted that it would also be possible to look for biosignatures such as microfossils of extinct extraterrestrial life. This could be similar in form to the terrestrial ones discovered in the Strelley Pool Formation in Western Australia. The Australian microfossils, according to experts, are at least 3.4 billion years old. The thought of such a discovery, Loeb said, is tantalizing. However, he concedes that a far more exciting discovery would be the finding of overt signs of extraterrestrial life, such as the remains of alien technology. Even more exciting would be to find traces of technological equipment that crashed on the lunar surface a billion years ago, Loeb said, adding that such a discovery would be similar to finding a letter from an alien civilization that says they exist. Lunar exploration needed The possibility of finding evidence of extraterrestrial life on the moon highlights the need to conduct lunar exploration, said Loeb. He noted that the present situation is comparable to not checking ones mailbox for letters and messages. If we never checked that mail, we would never know that we received the message. The message that [extraterrestrial life] exists, Loeb said in an interview with the Boston University News Service. In the interview, he noted that a moon base could allow researchers to effectively extract and analyze biomarkers from the lunar surface and identify whether or not a substance originated from our solar system or from an interstellar location. Identifying biomarkers from [the] debris of material that originated in the habitable zone around other stars would inform us about the nature of extraterrestrial life, Loeb said. In addition, Loeb said, the moon is a relatively easier place to access when it comes to searching for traces of extraterrestrial life especially when compared to deep space. We have to remind ourselves that actually going places, going to another star takes a long time. If you use the current rockets that we have and you want to reach the nearest star, it will take 100,000 years, Loeb stated. Loeb, in his op-ed, stressed that the opportunity to discover signs of extraterrestrial life provides a new scientific incentive for a sustainable base on the lunar surface. The moon is well known for its romantic appeal, but astrobiology offers a twist on this notion, he said. Heres hoping that the moon will inform our civilization that we are not alone and that someone else is waiting for us out there. For more stories about discoveries concerning the cosmos, visit Space.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Blogs.ScientificAmerican.com Reuters.com DailyGalaxy.com ScienceMag.com BUNewsService.com Chief minister Nitish Kumar who is also the Janata Dal (United) national president is set to launch the partys poll campaign for the Bihar assembly election with a much-hyped virtual rally on Monday to connect with lakhs of people through its dedicated digital platform JDUlive.com. The rally, which will begin at 11.30 am, was originally planned for September 6, but it was postponed by a day due to a week-long national mourning following the death of former President Pranab Mukherjee. Ahead of the virtual rally, posters and banners have dotted the main roads in Patna and various towns to create the poll buzz, which was hitherto missing. Named Nischal Samvad, it sends the message across that Nitish Kumar is the man for Bihar. Nyay ke saath tarakki, Nitish ki baat pakki (Development with justice, that is what makes Nitishs words assuring), says the slogan. The JD(U)s allies in the NDA are also waiting for the speech particularly after Nitish Kumar has given the green light to induct sitting MLAs from other parties in the run up to election to strengthen the partys position and the ongoing tug of war with LJP chief Chirag Paswan. NDA leaders insist that the alliance is united, but their respective posturings have been quite different. JD(U) leaders are upbeat that the virtual rally would set the tone for the forthcoming assembly elections when Kumar will contest for a seventh term as CM. A senior party leader, who did not want to be quoted, said that around 1.10 lakh party cadres will link up for the rally, while over 20-lakh people have been sent messages to join it. All preparations have been made at the Karpoori Sabhagar in the partys office. The virtually rally will set a new benchmark, as elections are taking place in difficult times due to twin scourge of floods and Covid-19, just as Kumars three terms have set a new benchmark for Bihar with his concept of development with justice to ensure that the fruits of progress reached all sections in equal measure. He is the man Bihar needs, because he is the man Bihar has reposed trust in election after election, said the JD-U leader. The digital platform, which the party insiders claim is one of its kind for any political outfit in the country, has been developed by a group of IITians from Bihar keeping in mind the limited scope for campaigning on the ground and detailed Covid-9 guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. The platform can easily evolve as a dedicated communication channel to engage not just with party cadres but also the general public. In this context, a Live.tv menu on the portal is to enable any person to share any positive video or news item which, upon approval by the portals administrator, can get posted online. This is the need of the hour to think differently, said water resources minister Sanjay Jha, who has been involved with the technological makeover of the party. Another JD-U leader said that the entry to the party office will be limited, though some senior leaders and party cadres will be there. Other senior leaders, including MPs, ministers, MLAs and MLCs, will be on two-way communication from their respective locations. It has been a massive exercise to train party leaders and cadres down the line to the booth level for the virtual rally. Tomorrow is a big day. After that it will be a regular feature, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The former owner of fashion chain Jaeger has escalated his bitter legal battle against Lloyds Bank and one of Britain's best known financiers. Harold Tillman, the veteran retail entrepreneur, told The Mail on Sunday he had 'strengthened' his claim against Lloyds and Better Capital the private equity firm set up by City titan Jon Moulton over the collapse of Jaeger. The tycoon, who is also the former owner of Aquascutum, said he has hired new lawyers who have amended his case with new evidence. Harold Tillman (pictured with wife Stephanie) has accused Lloyds of driving Jaeger to the wall Tillman has accused Lloyds of driving Jaeger to the wall after it sold the firm's 16million of debt to Better Capital when he was away on holiday. He alleges the deal was sprung on his business without warning and that he was not offered the chance to finance the debt himself. Lloyds and Better Capital maintain there had been a 'very clear risk' that Jaeger would fail. Jaeger was put into administration shortly after the debt sale to Better Capital. It was then restructured under its new ownership, allowing the fashion brand to continue trading. Tillman had bought Aquascutum in 2009 and that was also put into administration as Jaeger's new owners called in debts owed to the brand. His attack is likely to intensify the long-running row over the demise of his fashion empire in 2012. According to the legal papers filed by Harcus Parker, Tillman's lawyers, the main defendants are Lloyds Bank, Better Capital and Jon Moulton himself. However, when contacted by The Mail on Sunday, Moulton said: 'I am not a defendant.' Tillman is one of Britain's best known self-made retail businessmen. He started his career on Savile Row in West London working for luxury tailor Lincroft Kilgour. Eventually he became the company's managing director and he then floated the business on the London Stock Exchange, making him a multi-millionaire by the age of 30. Since then, he has been involved in running several well-known retailers and department store groups, including Allders. Tillman was also chair of the British Fashion Council which runs the London Fashion Week for five years. Jaeger was put into administration shortly after the debt sale to Better Capital. It was then restructured under its new ownership, allowing the fashion brand to continue trading. He said after his experience of dealing with Lloyds he has been campaigning for legal aid for small business owners that have to deal with banks. Tillman said this was especially important as many entrepreneurs and business owners have recently been forced to take out loans to help their companies survive the Covid-19 crisis. He added: 'I think legal aid for small companies should be reintroduced. It would give anybody who suffers to have the funding for lawyers if they lose their livelihood. I want it to be fair for everybody who becomes the victim of the banks' misbehaviour.' A spokesman for Lloyds said: 'While we understand that the failure of the businesses was distressing for Mr Tillman, there is no merit to the allegations he makes against Lloyds Banking Group. 'It was Jaeger Group which introduced Better Capital to Lloyds Banking Group in early 2012 as a potential investor in the business. 'At this point the company was under clear financial pressure, having defaulted and also having told the bank that it would not be able to make its upcoming quarterly rental payments. 'With an associated company receiving a winding-up petition, there was a very clear risk that the business would imminently fail with hundreds of jobs possibly lost as a result.' China India Photo: GT Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Moscow on Friday. This was the highest-level military meeting between the two countries since tensions flared along the border in recent months. The two armies are currently confronting each other on the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake and Reqin mountain pass. The situation on the ground is quite tense. The fact that the two defense ministers are sitting face-to-face is in itself a positive signal and provides the necessary atmosphere for the two countries to manage their border disputes and cool down the situation on the ground. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also plan to meet on September 10. The meeting between Wei and Singh laid an important foundation for the meeting between the two foreign ministers. The complex border issue between China and India cannot be resolved in one meeting, but the role of the two defense ministers will be crucial in cooling border frictions. China and India are both big powers that have the capacity to mobilize national forces to support a military conflict in the border areas, but at this moment both sides need to calm down and clarify two major issues. First, China and India have not yet demarcated their borders and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) shouldn't be subject to constant change and different interpretations. The LAC of November 7, 1959 should be the base for both sides. If both sides want to create a new LAC on their own, and the will of the two major powers were to collide, the result would be disastrous. If both countries use their national power to support this collision indefinitely, it will lead to war, and the scale of the war may not be controlled near the LAC, resulting in a tragic loss of both countries' power, including the lives of their soldiers. And given the size of both countries' national power and the current international climate, it is almost impossible to change the status quo on their borders to a large degree. In the end, the two countries will have to return to the general state of the existing LAC. So what are the two sides fighting for? Territory is important, but only if China or India "beats" the other (these are two nuclear states), otherwise the status quo will be maintained. It is surely better for both countries and their people to maintain the status quo by peaceful means than to return to it after a brutal fight. Second, both China and India are emerging economies committed to economic and social development and have their own arduous tasks at home. Whether the two countries are partners or enemies has a completely different impact on their respective development ambitions. Although the boundary issue is difficult, it should not be the theme of China-India relations. It should be the common wisdom of the two major countries. The China-India boundary issue, which had been dormant for decades, has become "an active volcano" again in recent years, and it should not be. Before delimiting the border, it should be a common goal for both countries to manage the border issue by letting the disputes become "dormant" between the two sides again. The problem now is that India has drawn an aggressive line on the border issue, misinterpreting China's desire to maintain peace and stability on the border as a weakness that can be exploited by threatening to wage a border war "at any cost." Some in New Delhi also believe that the US' suppression of China and support for India has increased India's strategic strength and provided it with additional capital for risky adventure along the China-India border. This miscalculation has led it to a series arrogant and reckless moves on the China-India border issue. We must remind the Indian side that China's national strength, including its military strength, is much stronger than India's. Although China and India are both great powers, when it comes to the ultimate competition of combat capability, the Indian side will lose. If a border war starts, India will have no chance of winning. We hope that the defense ministers' meeting will be a turning point for the two countries to come back to the consensus of the leaders' meeting. Each side will make its due effort to reduce tensions on the border. Indian public opinion is too deeply and widely involved in border issues. The Indian troop has been obviously kidnapped by domestic nationalism. Therefore, in addition to the joint control of the border dispute between China and India, India should also manage public opinion and nationalism, and make the best choice for its country and its people. President Trump is on the hunt for foreign policy wins he can showcase ahead of November's election even if that means getting creative. Why it matters: Trump's aides are working to recast him as "a true peacemaker," as national security adviser Robert O'Brien put it on Friday. Its happened in the Balkans, its happened in the Middle East, and we have more to come. Be smart: The grand bargains Trump has sought with North Korea, Iran and China remain far out of reach. More events like Friday's Oval Office ceremony could be in store between now and Nov. 3. Setting the scene: Trump was flanked by the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to sign what he heralded as a truly historic commitment to "economic normalization." In a surprise twist, Serbia also said it would move its embassy to Jerusalem, while Kosovo agreed to recognize Israel (Trump described that as a "great day for peace with Middle East," though Kosovo is in Europe and has never fought with Israel). The Serbia-Kosovo deal addressed some sticking points in relations, but a long-sought breakthrough proved elusive after Serbia made clear it would not recognize Kosovo's independence. Between the lines: There is substance in this agreement, but it didnt deserve an Oval Office signing with President Trump, emails Ryan Scherba, editor of Balkan Insider. Even after reading through it multiple times, it really seems all over the place. Whats next: Its time for the president to start harvesting some of the accomplishments that he spent years building the foundation in order to achieve, Jared Kushner said on Friday. Leaders from Israel and the UAE are expected to gather at the White House the week of Sept. 13 to sign another normalization deal, Axios Barak Ravid reports. Kushner and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo both recently visited several Arab capitals and hope to be able to announce another deal on recognition of Israel soon, perhaps with Bahrain or Sudan. It's unclear if those efforts will bear fruit before the ceremony, but in any case, the White House plans to invite Arab ambassadors to attend as a signal of support, Barak reports. Israel-UAE talks are ongoing, and the rush is on to get as much agreed to as possible before heading to the White House. What we're watching: Nuclear proliferation is "the most important thing facing the world, Trump declared on Friday. Mr Ishmael Kofi Turkson, a legal practitioner, has declared his intention to contest the December 7, elections as an Independent Parliamentary Candidate for Agona West. According to Mr Turkson, he was the long-awaited Messiah for the Agona West Constituency to redeem the people from stagnation and lack of infrastructural development projects. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Swedru, Mr Turkson said he was determined to rescue the people of Agona West from political bondage. He said after months of keeping his supporters in suspense, all was now set to begin the battle to unseat political party candidates who were unable to do much for the Constituency. Mr Turkson said, He has now laced his boots for the battle to lead the Agona West Constituency to Parliament on the slogan Perseverance Brings Success and high determination, better life. Mr Turkson said he would launch his campaign soon to outline his vision for Agona West Constituency, especially in the area of development projects. He said his campaign would hinge on inspiration from the Legendary West Indices politician W.E.B Dubios who believed in a self-emancipation now. Mr Turkson said his rise from the Zongo to become a lawyer would inspire the youth. He said with the appropriate technology the youth would become team players than to rely on empty promises. According to Mr Turkson, he had the pedigree to lead the constituency with his experience as former Assemblyman for Dwenho Electoral Area and former Central Regional Chairman of a political party which chalked unprecedented success. The Swedru based legal Practitioner said the constituents should expect a listening, generous, sympathetic, and down to earth team leader. Mr Turkson said he was likely to cause a stir in the 2020 Parliamentary election. He assured the Chief and the people of a comprehensive vision to ensure youth employment and emancipation. 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 Published on 2020/09/06 | Source Korean-German violinist Clara-Jumi Kang is in Seoul for a duo recital with pianist Son Yeol-eum on Friday. Advertisement The recital will be livestreamed on the concert agency Credia's YouTube channel at 7:50 p.m. due to the recent imposition of tougher social distancing restrictions amid a resurgence of COVID-19. Close friends, Son and Kang attended the Korea National University of Arts together, Son being two years Kang's senior. They made their debut as a duo in 2012 at New York's prestigious Carnegie Hall. Kang, who recently arrived in Korea from Berlin, said, "In my 15-year career, [the recent lockdown period in Germany] was the first time I put my violin down, as all concerts have been canceled since March. I was locked up in my home in Berlin because of the lockdown, so I thought to myself this is my chance to rest. Until then, I never had an opportunity to focus on myself as an ordinary girl, because I always had to think about how to play better and where I should perform next. It doesn't help that I have no hobbies!" She tried to take the best possible care of herself, cooking herself three meals a day and making her home absolutely quiet for rest. One of her dreams is to live in a Buddhist temple deep in the mountains, so she tried to create such an environment at home, with not so much as the ticking of a clock being heard. Then, she realized that her body, weary from the duress of constant traveling and performing, had been neglected. "I would suffer from all kinds of small illnesses and headaches, as I had to travel to so many cities around the world, across different time zones. But for the past five months, staying put and sleeping in the same bed, my body felt so good thanks to the regular daily routine", Kang said. But now, having recharged, the musician is ready to move on. "Now, I almost feel I won't need a regular routine for the next 10 years at least. I've had enough of staying at home. I hope things return to normal soon so that I can continue to perform and meet audiences", she said. Our country is full of incredibly beautiful places. And these images shared by Indian Railways showcase that perfectly. These pictures show trains crossing through amazingly beautiful places around India. Shared just a day ago on August 5, this image is a birds eyes view of an Express train winding its way along the Chilika Lake in Odisha. To say that this image is stunning is an understatement. Stunning spectacle! A birds eye view of an Express train winding its way beautifully along the Chilika Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world, the image is shared with this caption. Stunning spectacle! A bird's eye view of an Express train winding its way beautifully along the Chilka Lake, the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest brackish water lagoon in the world. pic.twitter.com/g7xvvGHAme Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 5, 2020 Then there is this image of another express train passing through Aryankavu, Kerala. An Express train meanders through the exuberant greenery near Aryankavu, a beautiful hill station located amid Western Ghats in Kollam District of Kerala - In the picturesque Sengottai - Punalur section of Southern Railway, wrote the department while sharing the image. An Express train meanders through the exuberant greenery near Aryankavu, a beautiful hill station located amid Western Ghats in Kollam District of Kerala - In the picturesque Sengottai - Punalur section of Southern Railway. pic.twitter.com/eKFhLOQ31M Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) September 5, 2020 Not of a train passing through but these images shared back in August capture the beauty of Mayakonda station located in Karnataka. Shared with the caption, Beautiful view of train at Mayakonda station between Chikjajur and Davangere of Mysuru Division of SWR, the images are spectacular. Beautiful view of train at Mayakonda station between Chikjajur and Davangere of Mysuru Division of SWR. pic.twitter.com/mYLCz2SHFt Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) August 27, 2020 Here is an image which gives a magnificent view of a beautiful landscape near Khirai, Kharagpur Division in West Bengal. Visually appealing! Glimpse at the sprawling marigold blossoms and Speeding train - Beautiful landscape near Khirai, Kharagpur Division, the department wrote and shared this image. On most of the pictures, people wrote wow or amazing to express their reactions. There were also some who shared heart emojis. What do you think of the images? Which picture do you like the best? The General Overseer, Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry, Prophet Emmanuel Omale, has sued First City Monument Bank Plc for N5bn. Omale, who claims to be the spiritual guide of the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, said FCMB falsely reported to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit that N570m was paid into his church account, thereby, leading to accusations that the money was used in purchasing a house in Dubai for Magu. The suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2020, was instituted by Omale; his wife, Deborah Omale; and the church, the Incorporated Trustees of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry. The claimant stated that in 2016, the FCMB falsely reported to the NFIU that N570m was paid into the churchs bank account marked 1486743019 which caused security agents to put the account under surveillance for four years. The statement of claim read in part, Sometime on or about the 6th day of July 2020 the former acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was arrested and summoned to the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to appear before the Presidential Investigation Committee on the Alleged Mismanagement of the EFCC, Federal Government Recovered Assets and Finances From May 2015 to May 2020. That one of the key allegations levelled at the Presidential Investigation Committee against Mr. Ibrahim Magu, was that the 2nd Claimant (Prophet Omale) fraudulently and corruptly purchased a real estate property for Mr. Ibrahim Magu in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates with the said sum of N573, 228, 04 allegedly credited as an inflow into the 1st Claimants (churchs) Corporate Current Account No: 1486743019 in the year 2016. The claimant stated that due to the investigation and negative media reports, they were exposed to public hatred and contempt and injured in their religious calling. The cleric said he and his wife were summoned to appear on August 10, 2020, before a Presidential Investigation Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Omale and his wife, accompanied by their lead Senior Counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), and a team of four senior lawyers appeared before the panel on August 10, 11, and 12 and were grilled for hours on their alleged roles in respect of the sum of N573m used in fraudulently and corruptly purchasing a real estate property for Magu in Dubai. The cleric said they paid Uche (SAN) & Co., the sum of N15m to appear and represent them for three days before the said Presidential Investigation Committee and attached a copy of the receipt to the statement of claim. He said they all denied the allegations of fraud, adding that he never bought any property for Magu when grilled by the panel. Omale said the Salami panel in the course of its hearing also invited the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FCMB, Adam Nuru, who appeared before the committee and testified. That Mr. Adam Nuru in his testimony informed the Presidential Investigation Committee that the said N573M was credited to the bank account of the 1st claimant (church) in error and that the error was not discovered by the defendant for over four years, the cleric said. Omale said they paid the law firm of Gordy Uche (SAN) & Co., the sum of N75m to institute the suit against FCMB and attached a copy of the receipt for the said professional fees to the statement of claim. He said in all, he had lost N180.5m due to payment of legal fees and personal losses. Omale, therefore, sought a declaration of the court that the FCMB negligently breached the fiduciary duty of care it owes the claimants by its false automated report to the NFIU of a suspicious credit inflow of N573m into the church account. The statement of claim further read, The sum of N5,000,000, 000.00 (Five Billion Naira) being exemplary, aggravated, special and general damages against the defendant for the negligent breach of its fiduciary duty of care to the claimants by its false automated report to the NFIU of a suspicious credit inflow of N573, 228, 040. 41 into the 1st claimants corporate current account number1486743019 with the defendant, which has occasioned grave damages to the claimants. " " Artist's rendition of what a bigfoot might look like, based on descriptions from eyewitnesses In March of 1999, a man reported a strange occurrence in northern California. He was driving up Interstate 5 to visit friends in Oregon, and around 10:00 p.m., he took an exit off the highway to see if he could find a place to get some dinner. When he couldn't find a restaurant, he decided to pull onto the side of the road and make do with some snacks he had in the car. After he ate, he dozed off, and was soon awakened by a loud thump. When he got out to investigate, he found a good-sized rock on the hood of his car. He got back behind the wheel, started the car up and turned on the headlights. In the beams, he saw an 8-foot-tall creature covered in thick, dark hair. The creature watched him for a minute, turned in the road and walked slowly off into the woods. People have been telling stories like this one for hundreds of years -- this creature was part of Native American folklore long before Europeans arrived on the continent. In the past 50 years alone, there have been thousands of reported bigfoot sightings in the United States and Canada, and many people claim to have seen a similar creature in the Himalayas. But in all this time, with all of these alleged encounters, nobody has unearthed bones or other conclusive proof of the giant primate. This has led many zoologists to dismiss the stories as hoaxes, hallucinations and misidentifications. Advertisement In this article, we'll examine the reports of bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, and its Asian cousin the yeti, to find out what these creatures might be and where they might come from. We'll also look at the compelling evidence for and against their existence and find out why so many people believe in them. Anatomy of a Bigfoot People describe bigfoots, yetis and similar creatures as large primates, something like a cross between a gorilla and a human. Tales of these animals go back hundreds of years in many different cultures. In various Native American tribes, they were called "windego," "yeahoh," "omah," "rugaru" and "boqs." In Asia, the yeti, or abominable snowman, is said to inhabit the snowy Himalayan mountains. For simplicity's sake, in this article we'll call this sort of creature by its most famous name, sasquatch. This name, derived from se'sxac, literally "wild men" in the Native American Salish language, is specifically used to describe a creature found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States and in southern Canada. " " According to numerous accounts of sasquatches and yetis, the creatures tower over humans and apes. Typically, they are said to be 9 to 11 feet (around 3 m) tall. Reported sightings of these sorts of creatures vary a good deal, but there are several details that pop up over and over again. In most cases, the eyewitnesses describe a very tall primate (ranging from 7 to 15 ft / 2 to 4.5 m) that walks on two legs. It stands upright like a human being but has a unique, loping gait. The creature is generally covered in long, reddish-brown fur and has a face that is a cross between a gorilla and a human being. Many eyewitnesses report a strong, unpleasant odor, but others say that the creature has no smell. In some accounts, the animal makes strange grunting, gurgling or howling noises. Many believers say they have never seen the creature, but have heard bizarre noises in the woods that were nothing like the sounds made by any known animal. Believers have even recorded these noises in the northwestern United States and the Himalayan mountains. In the Himalayas, many more people report hearing the creature than seeing it. According to some eyewitnesses, sasquatches are wary of human beings but highly curious about our activities. Many eyewitnesses report that they were not at all afraid of the creature, which is surprising when you imagine the spectacle of a 10-foot ape. These people say they were sure that the sasquatch meant them no harm, that it was a shy, benign animal. In the folklore of many Native American tribes, as well as the indigenous people of the Himalayas, the animal is said to be a peaceful, supernatural creature with intelligence and spiritual powers. In many reports of sasquatches, the eyewitnesses say the creature observed them from a distance. Others heard noises and had the strange sensation that they were being watched. Most eyewitnesses say they don't have a clear impression of the creature's intelligence, but a few folks say they've seen multiple sasquatches communicating with each other. Most stories, however, describe a single sasquatch traveling through the woods alone. These characteristics, which show up again and again in eyewitness reports, give us a basic idea of sasquatch physiology and behavior. Using this data, theorists have developed several ideas about where the creature might have come from. In the next section, we'll look at the most likely explanation of what this animal is if it does exist. Hong Kong: Detainee tests positive for COVID-19 The Immigration Department (ImmD) and the Correctional Services Department (CSD) today said that a 22-year-old Thai man transferred from Pik Uk Prison to Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) for detention has tested positive for COVID-19. Both departments were notified of the test result by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) yesterday. The man was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment on July 31 and put under isolation at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. Throughout the isolation he was asymptomatic and his body temperature was normal when screened. He was transferred to Pik Uk Prison to serve his remaining sentence on August 22 and assigned to handle and wash soiled linen at the prison's Laundry Workshop Complex, which provides laundry services to hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA), including washing of soiled patient clothing, sheet draws and blankets. The CSD said it would regularly invite HA staff to conduct site inspections and adopt the professional advice given by them to update the work instructions as well as the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to inmates. Upon completion of prison terms, the detainee was transferred to the CIC on September 4 pending repatriation. As all people newly admitted to the CIC need to undergo COVID-19 testing due to the latest epidemic development, the detainee had taken a virus test and was confirmed to be infected on September 5. He was then admitted to hospital immediately for treatment. Inmates who had close contact with him at Pik Uk Prison are asymptomatic so far. The CSD has liaised with the CHP and the HA to arrange COVID-19 testing for officers and inmates who had close contact with the patient. The Laundry Workshop Complex will be shut down for thorough cleaning and disinfection. The ImmD will also arrange COVID-19 testing for all staff members and detainees at the CIC, where all visits have been suspended until further notice and thorough cleaning and disinfection have been arranged. This story has been published on: 2020-09-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A group of people pushed a man into a gray minivan on a dark street. The man yelled, Help! Help! No! and pushed against the van. Passersby shouted, Let him go! and tried to stop the van. The man was finally stuffed inside and the van left. This blurry video, apparently filmed by an unidentified witness Wednesday night in Kyiv, Ukraine, and circulated by local news publications Thursday morning, might mark a new chapter in the story of Bitsonar, a crypto investment firm that raised millions of dollars from investors in the U.S. and Europe, which they are now unable to access. The Ukrainian media wrote that the man driven away in the minivan was ex-Bitsonar employee Yaroslav Shtadchenko. Shtadchenkos wife Julia confirmed to CoinDesk her husband appeared in the video and had gone missing last night around 11 p.m. local time as he was coming home from work. She also said she found her husbands personal belongings on the street after her neighbors told her he was kidnapped. Related: YouTube's Whac-a-Mole Approach to Crypto Scam Ads Remains a Problem The harrowing incident highlights the proliferation of risky investment schemes and dubious operators in the crypto industry, but also blockchain technologys potential to help track missing funds. Complaint to FBI in the works According to Julia Shtadchenko, before going missing, Yaroslav Shtadchenko called Bistonars CEO, Marius Ziubka, and told him he was going to file complaints about Bitsonar to law enforcement in different countries, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. Then, on Wednesday, the lawyer of Bitsonars founder called Shtadchenko and suggested settling the conflict peacefully, his wife said. After that, Yaroslav Shtadchenko was kidnapped on his way home. Julia Shtadchenko said she filed a police report Wednesday night but hadnt heard any updates on her husbands whereabouts. Story continues In July, Yaroslav Shtadchenko gave an interview to the Russian crypto news publication Forklog under the pseudonym Jan Novak, saying that Bitsonar was founded by former Ukrainian government clerk Alexander Tovstenko, and Shtadchenko worked for the company as a project manager. Both Forklog and Shtadchenkos wife confirmed Shtadchenko used that pseudonym. Related: South Korean Crypto Exchange Coinbit Seized Over Allegations of Massive Wash Trading In the interview, Shtadchenko claimed that Tovstenko stopped withdrawals from the platform in the beginning of 2020 and then got away with the money of investors. Shtadchenko told CoinDesk in July that Bitsonar received about $2.5 million from investors across the globe. On Aug. 6, the website went down and users lost access to their accounts. Read more: A Former Beauty Queen Raised $12M to Revolutionize Cannabis. The Courts Cant Find Her CoinDesk was contacted by 11 people saying they havent been able to withdraw their money from Bitsonar since February, and one investor who couldnt get his crypto out since May. According to them, Bitsonar would explain withdrawals were paused because of an audit, but the withdrawals were never resumed. According to the analysis of Bitsonars bitcoin wallets by CoinDesk, Bitsonars treasury is now empty. The users who spoke to CoinDesk are from the U.S., Canada, U.K., Denmark, Norway, Netherland, Finland and other countries. Some of them said they would like to pursue legal action but didnt know where to start. According to Julia Shtadchenko, her husband was ready to file complaints himself, and had the drafts ready. She shared the draft of the complaint to the FBI with CoinDesk. Legitimate-looking business Bitsonar looked credible, at least in the beginning. The project advertised itself as a startup that used trading bots to earn high profits on investors crypto. Pavel Lerner, a well-known crypto adviser with Ukrainian origins, worked with Bitsonar, which gave the enterprise additional credibility. Popular YouTube channels dedicated to crypto trading advertised Bitsonar, including MMCrypto, CryptoTV, CryptoJoker, and Ivan On Tech (he later reportedly deleted the videos). Read more: YouTubes Whac-a-Mole Approach to Crypto Scam Ads Remains a Problem Lerner himself told CoinDesk he was introduced to the Bitsonar team by his friends and was hired in May 2019 to set up trading bots. We launched bots for trading on Huobi and Bitfinex, he said. Lerner said he was fired from Bitsonar in November. Im not sure what was on their minds and how they raised money. They fired me because they were not satisfied with the bots profitability, Lerner added. Bitsonar OU was registered in Estonia and had obtained a local crypto business license, according to the document published by Forklog. I trusted Estonia (good startup scene) and licenses too much, one of Bitsonars investors from Finland, who asked not to be named, told CoinDesk. According to Shtadchenkos July interview in Forklog, the company had been working normally throughout the summer and fall of 2019. But in December 2019, the team was told by Tovstenko to prevent clients from withdrawing funds by any means, Shtadchenko said. Then Tovstenko refused to pay annual bonuses to the Bitsonar employees and flew to Dubai to celebrate the New Year, Shtadchenko told Forklog. Later, Tovstenko posted a YouTube video of himself partying, he added. There was no mention of Tovstenko on the Bitsonar website, but apparently he took an active role in the operations. One of Bitsonars investors, Ukrainian entrepreneur Vladimir Chaika, told CoinDesk he personally met Tovstenko and gave him $100,000 in cash in exchange for the paper IOU and a promise of up to 11% monthly profits. He never got his money back, he said. Lerner said he met Tovstenko several times and thought he was either an investor or the founder of Bitsonar. Yaroslav Shtadchenko said he used his access to Bitsonars website to publish information about Tovstenko, who he claimed ran away with the investors money. He also published Tovstenkos contact information, including email address, Telegram handles, Facebook and Instagram profiles, and mobile phones. CoinDesk tried all of the above but got no response. Two of the Telegram handles listed by Shtadchenko, @alexsky888 and @SkyAlex88, received the message but did not respond. One of the phone numbers belongs to a man who said his family name is not Tovstenko but Kovalenko. Mom and pop investor story How did investors from across the world get involved with a company set up by an unknown founder in Kyiv? One telling example is Eli Taylor, a 42-years old United Parcel Service (UPS) worker from Portland, Ore., in the Pacific Northwest. One evening in January, Eli was sitting in his condo watching YouTube videos. He became an avid viewer of videos by crypto influencers talking about making money from bitcoin. They were analyzing charts, talking about price movements, showing how to use different platforms and, of course, advertising their sponsors. They looked professional and smart, and Eli liked them. At that time, some of those channels were also promoting Bitsonar. Until the end of January, Bitsonar offered a Christmas special, with extra perks for larger investors. Eli decided to give it a try. The first thing you learn about crypto is, if its not your keys, its not your crypto. Never give out your crypto, unless youre paying for something or youre trading. And I broke that rule with Bitsonal, but it was because they were so seductive, Eli told CoinDesk via a WhatsApp call. He invested 5 BTC and 114 ETH, worth about $100,000 in todays prices, in Bitsonar, he said, which was most of the crypto he had. Now, that money is probably gone forever. Eli Taylor is still not out of the woods. Working at UPS allowed him to accrue some savings and make some investments. He started with stocks and invested via an online brokerage, then got into crypto in 2018 via the Robinhood app, which had just added crypto at the time. He seized the moment to buy bitcoin during the price lows of summer 2018, when one bitcoin cost around $3,000, Eli said, but then sold a lot of it and bought altcoins, which then performed very badly. If I just would have HODLed I would do well, he said. I was doing pretty well until the end of last year, we were having a little bull market, Eli said. But then there was a decline, and I just started just to play around and do my own thing and watch videos. He added: I was watching a lot of videos on YouTube, and you can learn more on YouTube than anywhere else, if you have your wits about it and you are careful, and you can use other peoples advice to do your own strategy. Read also: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Sues YouTube Over Bitcoin Giveaway Scams People analyzing price charts looked smart and qualified and a bunch of them were advertising Bitsonar. Some even showed how they deposited some crypto with Bitsonar. Plus, there was this Christmas special offer. Eli decided to jump in. At first, it went pretty smoothly, he said. The customer service was very helpful and proactive, and I was able to even close one of my investments and cash out on my profits. Very professional emails, detailed, they looked very honest. Very detailed, vivid explanation, and it was convincing. Withdrawals worked for Eli until late May unlike most users, who couldnt take their money out of Bitsonar since February. Eli was able to pull out about $5,000 worth of crypto out of Bitsonar before May, he said. Shtadchenko told CoinDesk that Eli was the largest investor in Bitsonar. Following the coins Bitsonar users provided CoinDesk with multiple bitcoin addresses that they used to send bitcoin to Bitsonar, along with the addresses Bitsonar sent funds from when users withdrew. All those addresses are now empty. According to CoinDesk analysis using Crystal blockchain-sleuthing software, there have been 564 bitcoin addresses associated with Bitsonar. All of them are now empty. The entire cluster of addresses received nearly 115.5 bitcoin, which is more than $1.3 million at the current price. According to Shtadchenko, Bitsonar accumulated up to $2.5 million in crypto, and more than half of it, up to $1.5 million, came from the retail investors who saw the promotion of Bitsonar by bloggers. About $650 million came from large investors who handed over physical cash. Read more: Data Shows Millions Leaving Crypto Wallets Tied to Long-Troubled Exchange To be sure, blockchain analytics tools like Crystal are never 100% precise and its hard to say if Bitsonar actually has anything left in its wallets. Its also impossible to definitively confirm that all the addresses associated with Bitsonar in Crystal really belonged to Bitsonar, or that its a full list. Given the pseudo-anonymous essence of most cryptocurrencies, blockchain analytics techniques (especially address clustering algorithms) have been mostly of a heuristic nature, meaning the results are obtained from probabilistic methods, says Kyrylo Chykhradze of Crystal Blockchain. Gaining 100% confidence in attributing bitcoin addresses to certain entities can only be done with off-chain insights, which means knowing exactly who is the owner of a particular address in the real world, Chykhradze added. As of Thursday night, the fate on Bitsonar investors money, as well as Yaroslav Shtadchenkos whereabouts, remain unknown. CoinDesk will monitor the situation. Related Stories There's good news for Dundalk's classical teens as the Top Security Frank Maher Classical Music Awards for sixth years is going ahead this year, with a 5,000 prize for the winner. Dundalk schools have had a strong track record at the high calibre competition to date, producing four finalists from several schools in the town and surrounding area since it went nationwide in 2012. The Awards were created in 2001 by Emmet O'Rafferty, chairman of the Top Security Group to honour the memory of his late teacher, Fr Frank Maher, a pioneer in the nurturing of musical talent in secondary schools. Past winners have received national and international recognition for their achievements and used their prize money as a springboard towards a professional career by funding their studies at some of the world's most renowned music colleges and institutions, including the Juilliard School, the Royal College of Music. 'Life must go on and we believe it is important to keep supporting young musical talent, now more than ever,' says Emmet. 'From feedback we've received, the Frank Maher Awards are not only a vital financial boost to the winner, but also securing a place in the finals itself is an important achievement to have when applying to music colleges and institutions. It's for these reasons that we decided to go ahead in 2020. There will be changes to the competition night format to comply with all prevailing Covid-19 protocols and ensure a safe environment for our finalists. The Awards are open to sixth year secondary school students of string, woodwind, brass and piano. The 5,000 top prize will be used by the winner to attend a recognised place of tuition, a course of study in Ireland or abroad or on a purchase necessary for the development of their talent. The finalists will each receive a 300 bursary. The closing date for this year's entries is Friday 11th September 2020. A maximum of seven finalists will be selected by an independent board of adjudicators. The role of the Border Security Force has become more important as "our neighbouring countries" are planning against India, BSF Director General Rakesh Asthana said on Sunday, in an apparent reference to Sino-India border situation in Ladakh and frequent ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Asthana, who arrived in Jammu on Friday, concluded his three-day tour with a visit to Forward Defence Locations (FDLs) along the Line of Control (LoC) in the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch where he took stock of the prevailing situation, a BSF release said tonight. Without naming China and Pakistan, the BSF chief in his address to 'Sainik Sammellan' at the force's Paloura camp here said, "This is a very crucial time for all, as both our neighbouring countries are planning against us." "Our role has become more important now as we are the first line of Indian defence," Asthana added. On the third day of his maiden tour, the release said, the DG was briefed by Deputy Inspector General, sector headquarters, Rajouri, ID Singh and field commanders on the LoC regarding the operational preparedness and the present situation. He was accompanied by Additional Director General (WC) S S Panwar and Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, N S Jamwal. Appreciative of the measures adopted by the troops while maintaining domination along the LoC, Asthana emphasised on meeting the security challenges more effectively. He lauded the excellent synergy amongst all the security forces and exhorted all ranks to maintain a high standard of discipline and professionalism. He was very appreciative of the vigilant BSF jawans who guard the nation's border round the clock defying all hostile conditions, the release said. Asthana, who took over as the chief of the border-guarding force recently, visited forward areas along the International Border including Samba where the BSF detected an underground tunnel last month and frustrated Pakistan's design to facilitate infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of narcotics. The market fell sharply after consolidating on September 3, with the Nifty falling nearly 200 points, tracking correction in global peers on September 4. Uncertainty over loan recovery after the latest Supreme Court directions also dented sentiment. As a result, banking and financial stocks were caught in a bear trap. In the week gone by, bulls took a breather, with the Nifty losing 2.7 percent after rising 4.2 percent in the previous two weeks. On September 4, the Sensex declined 633.76 points, or 1.63 percent, to 38,357.18, while the Nifty corrected 193.60 points, or 1.68 percent, to close at 11,333.90. It formed a small bearish candle, which resembles a Doji kind of pattern on the daily charts, and witnessed a Bearish Engulfing formation on the weekly charts. The formation of a reversal pattern like Bearish Engulfing is an important pattern on the weekly chart and is a negative indication. "The crucial multiple lower supports of around 11,350-11,380 (previous swing low, minor uptrend line and 20 day EMA) has been broken on September 4 and the Nifty closed just below that area towards the end. Hence, a decisive decline below this area could open more weakness in the near term," Nagaraj Shetti, Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities, told Moneycontrol. Nirali Shah, Senior Research Analyst at Samco Securities, advises traders to lighten their long positions in the market and maintain a negative outlook with a sell on rally strategy. "Once the immediate support of 11,100 is broken on the downside, the Nifty might test the lower end of the channel, which is placed at 10,700 levels. Immediate resistance is now placed at 11,600," she said. On the broader markets front, the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices ended 1.67 percent and 1.16 percent lower on September 4, respectively. They ended the week 2.55 percent and 3.21 percent, respectively. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Note: The open interest (OI) and volume data of stocks given in this story are the aggregates of three-month data and not of the current month only. According to pivot charts, the key support levels for the Nifty is placed at 11,274.33, followed by 11,214.87. If the index moves up, the key resistance levels to watch out for are 11,422.63 and 11,511.47.The Bank Nifty underperformed Nifty again, declining 519.30 points, or 2.21 percent, to 23,011.50 on September 4. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 22,794, followed by 22,576.5. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 23,311.9 and 23,612.3.Maximum Call OI of 20.71 lakh contracts was seen at 11,500 strike, which will act as crucial resistance in the September series. This is followed by 12,000, which holds 18.24 lakh contracts, and 11,800 strikes, which has accumulated 14.51 lakh contracts. Call writing was seen at 11,500, which added 3.23 lakh contracts, followed by 11,400, which added 2.14 lakh contracts, and 11,600 strikes, which added 1.68 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was seen at 12,000, which shed 1.39 lakh contracts, followed by 11,900 strikes, which shed 50,025 contracts. Maximum Put OI of 27.94 lakh contracts was seen at 11,000 strike, which will act as crucial support in the September series. This is followed by 11,300, which holds 17.4 lakh contracts, and 11,500 strikes, which has accumulated 16.52 lakh contracts. Put writing was seen at 11,300, which added 2.04 lakh contracts, followed by 10,800 strikes, which added 84,675 contracts. Put unwinding was witnessed at 11,500, which shed 2.63 lakh contracts, followed by 11,400 strikes, which shed 87,825 contracts. A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks. Based on the OI future percentage, here are those four stocks in which long build-up was seen. Based on the OI future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen. An increase in OI, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on the open interest future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen. A decrease in OI, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates short-covering. Based on OI future percentage, short-covering was seen in one stock. : Rahul Gupta acquired 3,00,200 shares in the company at Rs 2,375 per share. However, Kitara PIIN 1001 sold 5,94,049 shares at Rs 2,375.14 per share on the NSE. Globus Spirits: Perpetuity Health to Wealth Fund sold 1.5 lakh shares in the company at Rs 204.14 per share on the NSE. Shilpa Medicare: Nippon India Mutual Fund acquired 11.25 lakh shares in the company at Rs 514.94 per share on the NSE and 10 lakh shares at Rs 515 per share on the BSE. Baring India Private Equity Fund III sold 23.20 lakh shares in the company at Rs 512.97 per share on the NSE and 36.80 lakh shares on the BSE at Rs 509.04 per share. Barclays Merchant Bank Singapore also sold 4.5 lakh shares at Rs 513.36 per share and Tano Mauritius India FVCI II offloaded 8.5 lakh shares at Rs 514.29 per share. Tata Motors DVR 'A' Ordinary: Promoter Tata Sons acquired 53,02,681 shares in the company at Rs 56.02 per share on the NSE. (For more bulk deals, click here) CG Power and Industrial Solutions, Future Lifestyle Fashions, Future Market Networks, General Insurance Corporation of India, Aurionpro Solutions, Hindustan Oil Exploration, McNally Bharat Engineering, Info Edge India, Orchid Pharma, RPP Infra Projects, Tera Software, among 50 companies which will declare their June quarter earnings on September 7.: Subsidiary received a 10 MW solar power project order in Rajasthan. National Aluminium Company: Q1 profit at Rs 16.7 crore versus Rs 98 crore, revenue at Rs 1,380.6 crore versus Rs 2,084.1 crore YoY. IDFC First Bank: Rajiv Lall resigned as non-executive chairman of the bank. PSU banks: Moody's cuts deposit ratings of Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India to Ba1 and revised PNB's rating outlook to 'Negative' from 'Stable'. Endurance Technologies: Based on an eligibility certificate from the Maharashtra government, the company is entitled to a cumulative incentive of Rs 466.39 crore under the package scheme of incentives. Of the eligible incentive, the company already accounted for Rs 128.93 crore until the June 30. Jubilant Industries approved sale of land and building of manufacturing unit at Nimbut, Pune for Rs 12.35 crore, and plant and machinery for Rs 0.95 crore to Jubilant Life Sciences. Repco Home Finance: Q1 profit at Rs 69.50 crore versus Rs 67.44 crore, revenue at Rs 337.71 crore versus Rs 328.15 crore YoY. Fund flow Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) net sold shares worth Rs 1,888.78 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 456.88 crore in the Indian equity market on September 4, as per provisional data available on the NSE.Six stocks -- Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), Canara Bank, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Vodafone Idea, Jindal Steel & Power and Punjab National Bank -- are under the F&O ban for September 7. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. Japan's stock market, much overlooked by UK investors in recent years, has come under the spotlight again. This follows President Shinzo Abe stepping down to receive treatment for a long-term illness and also confirmation of Warren Buffett's multi-billion dollar investment in five of the country's biggest companies. Both announcements, say investment experts, will have implications for Japanese equities. Bet: Warren Buffett has made a multi-billion dollar investment in five of the Japan's biggest companies Although President Abe will not go until his successor is appointed, the stock market was not initially impressed by his impending departure, falling sharply in response. Yet it has since recovered most of these losses, helped in part by subsequent news of Buffett's confidence-boosting $6billion investment in conglomerates Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo and Marubeni so- called 'sogo sosha' or 'trading houses'. Buffett, 90, is the world's most renowned investor and his investment company Berkshire Hathaway has big stakes in some of the globe's strongest corporate brands such as Apple and Coca-Cola. As a result of his shrewd investments, shares in Berkshire Hathaway have delivered shareholders long-term average annual returns of 20 per cent. Most investment commentators contacted by Wealth on Friday believe the overall impact of these two announcements will be positive for the Japanese stock market. Over the past year, the Nikkei 225 Index, a barometer of the share price performance of Japan's leading companies, has risen by 11 per cent, but fund managers believe the stock market remains under-valued compared to other world markets. Joe Bauernfreund is manager of two investment funds that have exposure to Japan the 645million AVI Global Trust and the 108million AVI Japan Opportunity Trust. He describes Buffett's investment as an 'interesting move'. He adds: 'I have long argued that the Japanese stock market is cheap and Buffett seems to be agreeing with me. 'The companies he is backing are sprawling conglomerates and I imagine Buffett is hoping they will make him money as the Japanese economy and the wider world economy emerges from lockdown and COVID-19.' Bauernfreund does not hold any of these companies in his trusts' portfolios. The fund manager also believes Buffett's move may encourage other foreign investors to look upon Japanese equities in a more favourable light. He adds: 'In recent years, foreign institutions have been net sellers of the market. Maybe Buffett will now trigger a change in international sentiment and make some foreign investors realise that many Japanese companies will play a big part in any recovery in the global economy.' President Abe has been instrumental in overseeing corporate governance reform of Japanese-listed companies, aimed at getting business owners to focus more on the financial interests of shareholders. Bye: Shinzo Abe has been instrumental in overseeing corporate governance reform of Japanese-listed companies The result has been higher dividend payments and more companies striving to make profits moves that have been driving forces behind a stronger stock market. Sophia Li, joint manager of investment fund First State Japan Focus, says there are concerns that this emphasis on good corporate governance could wane once Abe stands aside. But she believes otherwise, arguing it has become an 'irreversible trend'. She adds: 'Japanese companies are focusing on shareholder return and corporate governance. It's become a consensus.' Bauernfreund agrees. He says: 'Improved corporate governance has been slow in coming, but the changes are now entrenched in the psyche of many listed companies. Abe's resignation will not change this. The emphasis will remain on shareholder return.' Matthews Asia, an investment house that specialises in Far East equities, believes that a continuation of the economic policies pursued by Abe dubbed 'Abenomics' should 'provide a strong foundation for continued growth opportunities among Japanese equities'. Investment fund scrutineer FundCalibre identifies ten 'elite' Japanese investment vehicles. They include stock market identification codes in parenthesis investment funds Axa Framlington Japan (B7FSWP6), Baillie Gifford Japanese (0601113) and T. Rowe Price Japanese Equity (BD446L1). Highly rated stock market listed investment trusts are Baillie Gifford Japan (0048583) and Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon (BFXYH24). Get out your sun screen, drink plenty of water and avoid campfires this holiday weekend, as increasing temperatures and winds raise the specter of sun exposure and wildfires in Cowlitz County and across Washington and Oregon. The prospects of rising temperatures, dry conditions and gusty east winds prompted the National Weather Service on Friday to issue a Fire Weather Watch across most of Western Washington and Oregon beginning Labor Day morning and extending at least through Wednesday evening. As hot, dry weather conditions continue and wildfire danger remains critical, its more important than ever to stay aware of local and statewide burn and campfire bans, the Washington Department of Natural Resources said in a statement. A rapidly growing wildfire near Yakima grew to nearly 75,000 acres Saturday, destroying six homes and forcing the evacuation of 900 others. More than 950 firefighters battling the the Evans Canyon Fire reported it was just 20 percent contained as windy conditions and temperatures approaching 100 degrees hampered firefighting efforts. Closer to home, the U.S. Forest Service said it was keeping an eye on a small wildfire near Trapper Creek, located near Carson in Skamania County about 10 miles south of the Swift Reservoir. That fire has stayed smaller than an acre and has not threatened any people or property. In Longview, Saturdays high temperature of 79 degrees was projected to steadily climb into the high 90s by mid-week, 20 degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service. The high temperatures were predicted to be 84 on Sunday, 88 on Labor Day and a toasty 92 degrees Tuesday. The week will peak with a high near 96 on Wednesday and cool to about 93 degrees Thursday. Going into Labor Day, conditions are going to be warm, windy and dry, Portland weather service meteorologist Rebecca Muessle said. The biggest piece is making sure people are tuning into their emergency management (agencies), checking local burn bans, and if they do see a fire, contacting 911, which is the fastest route for us start to tackling it. Forecasters tentatively expect those temperatures to hover around the upper 80s and low 90s later next week, Muessle said. However, that will depend partially on whether a high pressure system moving through the region breaks apart or continues to fuel warm, sunny days. The overall pattern does look to be shifting slightly, trending cooler, but that could change at any point in time, Muessle said. Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency in August due to multiple wildfires burning across Central and Eastern Washington and dry, hot weather statewide. It will last through the end of September. Cowlitz County remains under a burn ban through the end of September. The State Department of Natural Resources has also temporarily banned all shooting, other than for lawful hunting, on DNR-managed lands, given the risk of fires from firearm discharge. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has instituted a similar ban on target shooting (but also not on lawful hunting) on all WDFW lands. September is not an uncommon time of year for wildfires, Muessle said. Thats when our fuels (like) trees and debris are reaching their maximum dryness before the fall rain. In the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, a three-quarters acre fire was reported Wednesday just east of Trapper Creek Wilderness, according to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Fire crews believe it was caused by a lightning strike. Forest Service spokesperson Gala Miller said Friday that as of the last update she received, the fire was still only 0.8 acres. Crews are managing and have contained the flames, she said, and out of caution the Forest Service temporarily closed the nearby Dry Creek Trail. Because the fire is small and not yet threatening life or property, firefighters have so far not attempted to extinguish it. In moderation, natural wildfires serve an important part of maintaining forest ecosystems. In the Evans Canyon Fire, about 165 miles northeast of Longview, more than 950 firefighters and 21 aircraft have been summoned to fight the fire, according to reporting by the Yakima Herald. At least six homes were destroyed, and more than 900 homes were evacuated. As of Saturday morning, no lives had yet been lost. State Highway 821 will remain closed at least through the Labor Day holiday. Fire danger levels remain high in the Gifford Pinchot, but so far weve been very fortunate to have not had a large fire break out, Miller said. Those enjoying the outdoors over Labor Day weekend have a part to play in maintaining that luck. Campfires are still permitted in the Gifford Pinchot. They should never be left unattended and should be cold to the touch before leaving a campsite, Miller said. This summer, we have (seen) increased use and more people who may first time recreationalists on public land, Miller said. Weve had quite a few campfires that people have left unattended or not put out. To make sure a fire is out completely: Spread out the coals and ashes and drown them with water or smother them with dirt. Stir up the coal and ashes, and extinguish any embers or burning wood that remain. Then make sure the fire and surrounding area is cool to the touch. A single spark or hot spot can reignite a fire. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 11:01:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PYONGYANG, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent an open letter on Saturday to all members of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) in Pyongyang, calling on them to help the typhoon-stricken areas recover from damage, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday. The KCNA said Kim in the letter asked party members in the capital to join the post-disaster relief effort in the country's eastern and northeastern regions, including Kangwon Province and South and North Hamgyong Provinces, so as to ensure a successful celebration for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the WPK on Oct. 10, as well as the holding of the 8th Party Congress in January. The three coastal provinces were hit hard on Thursday by Typhoon Maysak with strong winds and heavy rain, with thousands of houses and public buildings destroyed or damaged. Typhoon Haishen, or Typhoon No. 10, is expected to arrive at the Korean Peninsula late Monday. Kim said the WPK's Central Committee decided to dispatch 12,000 elite party members to South and North Hamgyong Provinces. "The Party Central Committee appeals to the party members in the capital to sincerely console the people in the disaster-stricken areas and to earnestly aid them with the tender care of the Party and with warm feelings of the capital city of Pyongyang, so that they would get rid of aftermath as early as possible," the KCNA quoted the letter as saying. Kim convened a meeting on Saturday to organize the campaign for recovery from natural disasters in typhoon-hit areas. After the meeting, Kim went to South Hamgyong Province to inspect the situation and received a detailed report on the typhoon damage, according to the KCNA. Enditem "There's a natural pull, even in these times, not to figure out how to operate in this new world but how to replicate the old world in the new conditions. The longer this goes on, my optimism increases because I think people are being forced to figure out innovative ways." --Leslie Perlow, professor of leadership, Harvard Business School. "The ability to connect with people, the ability for teams to work together in an ad hoc fashion--you can do it virtually, but it isn't as spontaneous. We are looking forward to returning to the office." --Ardine Williams, vice president of workforce development at Amazon "As we've moved to virtual work, we haven't just coped, we've actually thrived. We are more focused on the things that have the greatest impact for our customers, associates and the business. We are making quicker decisions and acting. Meetings are now more inclusive of people regardless of location, level or other differences. We have great momentum and need to figure out how to carry it forward." --Suresh Kumar, Walmart's global chief technology officer "Twitter was one of the first companies to go to a work from home model in the face of COVID-19, but we don't anticipate being one of the first to return to offices." --Jennifer Christie, vice president, People, at Twitter "We've been desperately looking for trends to identify ways in which the future would be different from the past, and frankly we haven't come up with any. ... We'll be watching this closely. Obviously, it will be very interesting for us to see if people aren't going to commute as much as they did in the past. My belief, however, is that if they move from a big city to smaller city, well, we're going to expand into the smaller cities." -- Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber "We'll be keeping our offices closed for the remainder of 2020, redesigning our spaces for a new future and reducing our office footprint. This means that most of our employees will work remotely on a permanent basis and leverage our office spaces when it makes sense. This also represents an opportunity for Shopify to open up and further diversify our talent pool unconstrained by physical location." -- Amy Shapero, CFO, Shopify "[H]ere in the United States the majority of our population will continue to work from home until the end of the year, and then we'll see. I mean, we've taken an approach that we try to understand how the virus is evolving over time. We've taken a very cautious approach of both with our corporate facilities and with our retail stores." --Luca Maestri, CFO of Apple "[W]hat we're looking at is really how to reimagine what the workplace will look like. We continue to be very much focused on the fact that place and space are important. We believe in collaboration. Serendipity is key to innovation. So we do view space in office as important and are very focused on what does that mean over the long term." --Ruth Porat, CFO at Google and Alphabet "During the Second World War--at what, in retrospect, was the dawn of electronic telework--American and British military commanders regularly exchanged telegraph messages and held secure phone conversations. Even so, with surprising frequency, high-level officials undertook risky transatlantic crossings to meet in person. Military planners realized that being physically together mattered." -- Cal Newport, The New Yorker "Hopefully we can go back to business customers after this. But the good news--if we can learn the hard lessons and become better and stronger and we can win users back, in one or two or three years, it may have been worth it.... But the journey is so painful." --Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom "We have long had a policy of not allowing employees to use unapproved apps for work that are outside of our corporate network." --Jose Castanda, spokesman for Google, explaining the company's decision to ban Zoom from company devices "If you're a consumer looking to buy [a house] in this market, you may have the most freedom you've ever had to look. Perhaps because your employer has said you can work remotely or maybe you can come in a bit less frequently." -- Ryan Gorman, CEO, Coldwell Banker "Working from home, our connection to the office weakens, and our connection to the world outside the office expands. At the kitchen counter, hunched over your computer, you are as close to the people and communities on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram as you are to the Slack messages and chats of your bosses and colleagues." -- Derek Thompson, The Atlantic "At a time when every retailer is facing increased uncertainty and unforeseen challenges, we have chosen to continue investing in our business, and particularly in our team, pouring hundreds of millions of dollars in team investments in the first quarter. In June, we announced that beginning July 5th, we would permanently raise our starting wage for U.S. team members to $15 per hour."--Brian Cornell, CEO and Chairman of Target "Over the next 5-10 years, I think we could have 50% of our people working remotely, but we're going to get there in a measured way. I think Facebook will be the most forward-leaning company on remote work at our scale, and we've been working on a thoughtful and responsible plan to do this." -- Mark Zuckerberg "Even if remote work turns out to be less productive on some metrics than others, reducing carbon-based emissions or the improving work-life balance could make up for it. Or not. It's possible that what works for Twitter and Facebook won't work for you, at least initially. Your struggles with it may point the way towards deeper changes that you have to make." --Mark W. Johnson and Josh Suskewicz, Harvard Business Review Virgo 24 AUG-23 SEPT Things will work out as you want this week. So why the nagging feeling you could have done more that youve fallen short of your own standards? Whatever the reason (and there may be none) dont let it get to you. It will still be a marvellous week. CALL 0904 470 1166* Libra 24 SEPT-23 OCT Youre not one for taking silly risks so its unlikely youll be tempted to take a chance on something you know little about. But thats a shame as the planets suggest a gamble could pay off. The trouble is that little word could. Can you afford to ignore it? CALL 0904 470 1167* Scorpio 24 OCT-22 NOV Dont worry if your next move is unpopular with some what matters is that it takes you a step closer to your goal. Luckily, youre not the kind to take too much notice of what others say in fact, all news is good news for you just now. Youll love the attention. CALL 0904 470 1168* Sagittarius 23 NOV-21 DEC No matter what occurs this week, be it good, bad or indifferent, you must remain cheerful and accept what fate brings your way. You can worry too much but sometimes you do the opposite and dont give a damn. Thats the approach to aim for this week. CALL 0904 470 1169* Capricorn 22 DEC-20 JAN The world seems brighter and friendlier this week. More likely your attitude has changed. A Sun-Jupiter link will fill you with joy which will show on your face and in the way you deal with others. Proof that if you smile, the world will smile with you. CALL 0904 470 1170* Aquarius 21 JAN-19 FEB If your sixth sense warns youve overlooked something youd be wise to check as it could be important. Youll kick yourself in a few days if, looking back, you find you missed out on a golden opportunity just because you werent paying sufficient attention. CALL 0904 470 1171* Pisces 20 FEB-20 MARCH A stunning Sun-Jupiter aspect indicates great things for those who take life by the neck and shake it into submission. Maybe you dont have to be that rough but you must get your act together. Theres a world waiting to be conquered. CALL 0904 470 1172* Aries 21 MARCH-20 APRIL No point in planning what youre going to say and do youll do better to let it come naturally. This is an especially good week for business and work relationships. Employers and colleagues want you to do well so meet them halfway by making an effort. CALL 0904 470 1161* Taurus 21 APRIL-21 MAY Good news of one kind or another will enable you to build up the momentum to turn a promising week into a perfect one. Actually, all news is good news if you view it the right way. Also, the more you expect good news the more it will seek you out. CALL 0904 470 1162* Gemini 22 MAY-21 JUNE Why cant you believe that what youre being offered is on the level? Whatever the reason, Jupiter, planet of good fortune, indicates that you can get whatever you want this week. Lady Luck is more likely to find you if you listen to your loved ones advice. CALL 0904 470 1163* Cancer 22 JUNE-23 JULY It is a sin to be bored especially for someone as full of life as you and with so many options open to them. If you start feeling sorry for yourself this week spare a thought for all those millions, more likely billions, who would happily swap places with you. CALL 0904 470 1164* Leo 24 JULY-23 AUG The Sun aspects excess planet Jupiter this week so youre liable to go over the top in some way. You must take full responsibility for your actions as, if it all goes wrong, youll have no one to blame but yourself. That said, the omens indicate its much more likely to go right. CALL 0904 470 1165* To discover more about yourself, visit sallybrompton.com *For a fuller forecast, call the number next to your star sign above. Calls cost 65p per minute plus your telephone companys network access charge and will last no longer than 6 minutes. SP: DMG Mobile & TV. Helpline: 0330 100 0601 Britain will not blink first in Brexit trade negotiations with the European Union and is not scared of a no-deal exit, the country`s top Brexit negotiator warned the bloc on Sunday. Britain left the EU on January 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal with the bloc by the time a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December. "We came in after a government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our word seriously," negotiator David Frost told the Mail on Sunday. "So a lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realise that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously," he was quoted as saying. Talks are due to resume in London on Tuesday but they have stalled over Britain`s insistence that it have full autonomy over state aid and its demands over fishing. Britain says the EU is dragging its feet in talks and has failed to fully accept that it is now an independent country. "We are not going to be a client state. We are not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control over our own laws," Frost told the Mail. "We are not going to accept level playing field provisions that lock us in to the way the EU do things." "That`s what being an independent country is about, that`s what the British people voted for and that`s what will happen at the end of the year, come what may," Frost said. He said a lot of preparation had been done for a possible exit without a trade deal. "I don`t think that we are scared of this at all," Frost said. "If we can reach an agreement that regulates trade like Canada`s, great. If we can`t, it will be an Australian-like trading agreement and we are fully ready for that." New Delhi, Sep 6 : As part of the fourth phase of 'Unlock' of the restrictions imposed in the wake of Covid-19, bars in the national capital, which were closed for over past six months, are about to reopen next week - but in a new format. Bars might be opening from September 9 but this time, everything would be different as a lot of changes will take place in order to ensure safety and health of both the customers and the staff. Drinking perched on stools at the bar counter might be a trend in the pre-Covid times, but this will not continue when they reopen next week as it might lead to close contact between the bartenders and the customer and might raise the risk of contamination. This time when the bars reopen, Saturday nights might not be the same again as the gatherings would be limited to the availability of the tables and the crowd would reduce by almost 50 per cent. Speaking to IANS, Harshad, the Food and Beverages (F&B) Manager at Delhi's iconic Taj Palace Hotel said: "Our iconic 'The Blue Bar' was shut for more than six months and we are really happy that time has come for us to serve our guests again. We are eagerly waiting to serve them again while keeping their safety and health as our utmost priority." "The bar culture would be witnessing a complete change as there would no more large gatherings and you won't see 300 people standing and enjoying on a Saturday night. The service procedures would be changing completely. Most of the items including the coasters, and napkins would become one time use and technology would become an integral part of the new procedures and protocol," he said. With increasing shift towards technology, the bars would no longer have paper menu cards and everything would get digitalised. "Before entering the bar, the guest would sanitise himself followed by a thermal scan. After entering the bar, the customer would have a QR Code in front of him which he would scan to place his order. The payment too would be through digital mode only," the F&B manager said. Bar snacks commonly called 'Chakna' would be in sealed bottles so that the customers have satisfaction that they are safe. The bars would have mandatory non-invasive thermal screening, disinfection of bags, touchless hand sanitisation and presence of hygiene kits for use by the customers. These will also have a physical distancing enabled layout with bar stools completely removed. Augmented disinfection of all surfaces including high touch points such as tables, sofas, bar counter and adherence to physical distancing protocols by server/bartender and customers would be mandatory. Use of personal protective equipment by servers and bartenders will also be a must in order to ensure complete safety. Going in line with the Unlock 4 guidelines of the Central government, the Delhi government on Thursday allowed the bars to reopen in the national capital from September 9 on a trial basis till month-end. Lt Governor Anil Baijal has approved the Arvind Kejriwal government's proposal to reopen bars in the national capital from the coming week. As per the latest guidelines, hotels, restaurants and clubs in the national capital will be allowed to serve liquor from next week. DARLINGTON Brandon Jones played it out in his mind over and over as he drove behind leaders Denny Hamlin and Ross Chastain. When the moment arrived, Jones was ready to pounce. Jones swept past leaders Chastain and Hamlin two laps from the end to win the Xfinity Series event at Darlington Raceway on Saturday. Jones was ready when Hamlin passed Chastain in turn four on the next-to-last lap, both leaders losing momentum as they tried to handle Darlington's tricky curve. "I knew it was going to come and I was ready," said Jones, who stayed out in front for his third win this season and fourth of his career. For Jones, it was a lot like his win in Kansas when he sat seventh on the second overtime restart and passed Austin Cindric for the victory. Jones knew Hamlin and Chastain would struggle to regain their speed after Chastain bumped the NASCAR Cup Series racer. He told himself to drive low, find the clear air and stay focused on the finish line. It happened just the way he thought. "You saw them really racing hard and I knew I was catching them," Jones said. It sure didn't look that way as Hamlin kept charging from behind in seeking his sixth career Xfinity win at Darlington. Hamlin quickly moved behind Chastain after a final restart with 21 laps left. The NASCAR Cup Series driver stalked Chastain much of the way, several times pulling alongside before falling back to second. Hamlin finally grabbed the lead with two laps left. Chastain wasn't done, bumping Hamlin from behind to cause both to lose momentum enough for Jones to push on past for the victory. Jones said he only thought about getting a better exit out of the turn than his competitors. "I did it at Kansas when I won, and that's what came to mind," Jones said. "I knew I need to back the entry up whenever they were racing really hard, and that was my only option, to try to get a better exit than them." Chastain held on for second, Ryan Sieg was third, Riley Herbst fourth and Hamlin fifth. It was the second straight year Hamlin had a hard-luck Xfinity finish at Darlington. He was disqualified in 2019 after crossing the line first when his car was found to be out of regulation. This time, Hamlin said he had no choice but to make a move with laps running out. "I saw an opportunity there to clear, but once I did I carried a little too much speed into three," he said. "The 19 (Jones) was able to catch up with both of us battling like that. It was fun, it just didn't work out." Hamlin has bigger goals ahead as he starts second on the Cup Series playoff grid at the Southern 500 on Sunday night. Chastain was disappointed he came up short of the win. He took hope in racing tight with an accomplished competitor like Hamlin, who won the race's first two stages. "Yeah, it's another heartbreak, but we finished second with a torn-up race car," he said. Chastain's finish locked him into the Xfinity playoffs. The series has three races remaining two next weekend at Richmond before its postseason starts. Chase Briscoe led the most laps (55) and was in front when he slid on some liquid on the track to create the final restart. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The wreckage of two express trains that collided at Serviceton, Victoria, in 1951. Credit:The Age First published in The Age on September 8, 1951 Six hundred passengers had amazing escapes from death or serious injury when two expresses crashed head-on at Serviceton Station just before 3 a.m. yesterday. The locomotive crews leaped from their cabins, but one of the firemen, Keith Hosking, 21, single, of Dimboola, was crushed to death as his engine was hurled to its side beside the line. Passengers in the express from Adelaide told dramatic stories of the accident when they arrived in Melbourne last night. The Melbourne bound express, which was 80 minutes late, was standing at Serviceton Station when the Adelaide bound express ran into it. Serviceton is a changeover station for engines on the interstate route. Tiahleigh Palmer's foster father and killer has been found unresponsive in his jail cell. Rick Thorburn was sentenced to life behind bars two years ago for murdering the 12-year-old and dumping her body into a river on the Gold Coast in 2015. Thorburn was reportedly found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Prison, Brisbane, on Saturday morning following a suspected overdose. The convicted child killer was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. Rick Thorburn (pictured in 2016) was reportedly found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Prison, Brisbane, on Saturday morning Rick Thorburn was sentenced to life behind bars for murdering Tiahleigh Palmer (pictured) and dumping her body into a river on the Gold Coast in 2015 A woman carries a 'Justice 4 Tiahleigh'' poster outside the Supreme Court in Brisbane as Thorburn was sentenced to life in prison in May 2018 There have been previous concerns with authorities that Thorburn could self-harm. 'Queensland Corrective Services can confirm that a prisoner was transported by QAS to the Princess Alexandra Hospital after being found unresponsive in their single occupancy cell at Wolston Correctional Centre at unlock yesterday morning,' a QCS spokeswoman said. 'The prisoner remains in hospital at this time.' Thorburn is only two years into his 20-year sentence over Tiahleigh's murder. He is not eligible for parole until September 2036. Thorburn killed the schoolgirl between 8pm and 10pm October 29, 2015, hours after his son Trent, who was 18 at the time, confessed to having had sex with her - telling his parents he feared she was pregnant. Pictured: Tiahleigh Palmer The 12-year-old was reported missing on October 30, 2015 and the Thorburn family told police she had not returned from school. Tiahleigh's mother Cindy Palmer told 60 Minutes she 'fell to the ground crying' when she was told her daughter was dead. 'Obviously it was my daughter and she was found washed up in a river. What kind of animal leaves a girl in a river?' Ms Palmer said Tialeigh was better off without her when she applied for her to be taken into foster care. She had initial misgivings about her daughter living with the Thorburns. 'The first ever time that I met Rick, the first words were [about] when he was younger, how he was in a gang and with prostitutes and he was running guns, and he was proud of this,' she said. Ms Palmer spoke of how Trent emotionally embraced her at Tiahleigh's funeral, while keeping the family's secret. 'He danced, hugged me and wept,' Ms Palmer said. Tiahleigh was first placed into care in 2010, aged seven, and in January 2015, the Thorburn family became her full-time carers. Tiahleigh's mother Cindy Palmer (pictured in 2018) told 60 Minutes she 'fell to the ground crying' when she was told her daughter was dead Thorburn is escorted from the Logan Central Police Station in September 2016 Thorburn killed the schoolgirl between 8pm and 10pm October 29, 2015, hours after his son Trent (pictured), who was 18 at the time, confessed to having had sex with her - telling his parents he feared she was pregnant Detectives immediately suspected the Thorburns were involved in Tiahleigh's murder, but with the family sticking to a lie, the investigation moved slowly. Tiahleigh's killer acted as a grieving pallbearer when she was laid to rest. As he carried her coffin, police were installing listening devices in the Thorburn home. Days later, Thorburn was overheard telling his family to 'stick to the plan' before his wife told her son the murder was something they all 'have to live with'. 'Dad made the decision to go down that path and unfortunately we are going to have to live with it,' Julene Thorburn was heard telling her Joshua. 'No, but don't you tell anyone ever, no matter what - that's when things will f*** up,' Rick Thorburn replied. TIAHLEIGH PALMER'S MURDER CASE: A SNAPSHOT WHO Rick Thorburn CHARGES Murder, interfering with a corpse, attempting to pervert justice, two counts of perjury Thorburn murdered his 12-year-old foster daughter, Tiahleigh Palmer, on October 29, 2015 after his son, Trent, confessed to having sex with her and was concerned she was pregnant. Thorburn was worried it could cause Trent to go to jail. Her body was found on the banks of the Pimpama River a week later. ARREST Thorburn wasn't arrested until September 2016 after police bugged his family home and listened to their conversations. Thorburn told his family they had to protect Trent and keep to the story that Tiahleigh had disappeared after leaving their home to go to school. PROPOSED TRIAL In February 2018, Thorburn sought a judge-only trial but a month later the court was told he would plead guilty to all charges. Sentenced on May 25, 2018 at Brisbane Supreme Court on all charges JUDGEMENT Justice David Boddice told Thorburn 'your offending involves a truly appalling conduct'. 'The reasons for that murder and your conduct subsequently can only be described as cold, calculating and callous. 'You murdered this defenceless child who relied on you for her protection ... and you did so to save one of your own children from the consequences of his actions.' SENTENCE Life in jail, with a non-parole period of 20 years. First eligible for release in September 2036. HOSPITALISATION Thorburn was reportedly found unconscious in his cell at Wolston Prison, Brisbane, on Saturday September 5 following a suspected overdose. He was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition. Advertisement Tiahleigh's killer acted as a grieving pallbearer when she was laid to rest The discussions heard by police, combined with the motive of keeping Tiahleigh quiet about Trent having sex with her - led to the family's arrest. Almost 11 months to the day after Tiahleigh was murdered police swooped - arresting and charging the four Thorburns for their various roles in the crime. Trent was jailed in September 2017 for a maximum of four years after he pleaded guilty to four charges including incest. He was released on parole in January 2018 after serving 16 months. Joshua and Julene spent three and six months behind bars for their parts in the subsequent cover-up. Tiahleigh was last seen outside Marsden State High School, Brisbane on the morning of October 30 Cindy Palmer (centre), Tiahleigh's mother, and her supporters are seen leaving the Supreme Court in Brisbane on May 25, 2018 In a letter penned by Mr Thorburn, obtained by the ABC in 2018, the convicted killer claimed he still loved Tiahleigh. 'There is not a day go by that I am not haunted by what I have done, the torment I live with is unbearable,' he wrote. 'It did not matter about her occasional naughtiness, you could not help love her and I still do.' In November last year, Thorburn admitted to a string of child sex offences at Beenleigh District Court. He pleaded guilty to charges including rape and attempted rape of two girls under 12, as well as 10 counts of indecent treatment of a child. Thorburn had assaulted the girls in 2015 and 2016 at the family home in Brisbane, where his wife also ran a daycare centre. The hearing which was delayed due to coronavirus pandemic will resume on Monday and is due to run until early October. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to fight for his freedom in a British court after about 10 years of legal drama, as he challenges an attempt by the American authorities to extradite him on spying charges over the sites publication of secret US military documents. Lawyers for Assange and the US government are scheduled to face-off in London on Monday at an extradition hearing that was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. US prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges adding up to a maximum sentence of 175 years. His lawyers say the prosecution is a politically motivated abuse of power that will stifle press freedom and put journalists at risk. Assanges lawyer Jennifer Robinson said the case is fundamentally about basic human rights and freedom of speech. Journalists and whistle-blowers who reveal illegal activity by companies or governments and war crimes such as the publications Julian has been charged for should be protected from prosecution, she said. Allegations US prosecutors say Assange is a criminal, not a free-speech hero. They allege that Assange conspired with US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also say he conspired with members of hacking organisations and sought to recruit hackers to provide WikiLeaks with classified information. By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form, he likely put people human rights activists, journalists, advocates, religious leaders, dissidents and their families at risk of serious harm, torture or even death, James Lewis, a British lawyer acting for the US government, told a hearing in February. Assange argues he is a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed US military wrongdoing. Among the files released by WikiLeaks was a video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by US forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. His lawyers argue the prosecution is an abuse of process by a Trump administration that wants to make an example of Assange. They say he would be held in inhuman conditions and would not get a fair trial in the US. Target of a negative public campaign Journalism organisations and human rights groups have called on the UK to refuse the extradition request. Amnesty International said Assange was the target of a negative public campaign by US officials at the highest levels. If Julian Assange is prosecuted it could have a chilling effect on media freedom, leading publishers and journalists to self-censor in fear of retaliation, said Amnestys Europe director, Nils Muiznieks. The four-week extradition hearing is part of a twisting saga rife with competing claims of hacking, spying and subterfuge. Assanges lawyers claim the US intelligence services directed a private security firm to spy on him while he was living in Ecuadors London embassy a case currently being heard in a Spanish court. Assange also alleges he was offered a pardon by the Trump administration if he agreed to say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic National Committee emails that were published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 US election campaign. The White House denies that claim. Refuge Assanges legal troubles began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. He refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the US or the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2012, Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian embassy, where he was beyond the reach of British and Swedish authorities but also effectively a prisoner, unable to leave the tiny diplomatic mission in Londons Knightsbridge area. The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured, and he was evicted from the embassy in April 2019. The British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012. Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because so much time had elapsed, but Assange remains in Londons high-security Belmarsh Prison as he awaits the extradition decision. Supporters say the ordeal has harmed Assanges physical and mental health, leaving him with depression, dental problems and a serious shoulder ailment. Assanges partner Stella Moris, who had two sons with him while he lived in the embassy, said he looked thinner and was in a lot of pain when she visited him in prison in late August for the first time since March. The extradition hearing opened in February but was put on hold when the UK went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. It is resuming with social distancing measures in court and video feeds so that journalists and observers can watch remotely. Assange is expected to be brought by prison van from Belmarsh to the Old Bailey criminal court for the hearing, which is due to run until early October. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is likely to take weeks or even months to consider her verdict, with the losing side likely to appeal. Help continued to pour into Southeast Texas, as continued power outages and sweltering temperatures compound the difficult task of recovering and rebuilding after Hurricane Laura. On Monday, two trucks with more than 80,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meals, snacks and juices were transferred from the South Texas Food Bank in Laredo to the Southeast Texas Food Bank, where they were distributed to individuals in need across the region. This year has been very tough on all food banks due to the pandemic, Executive Director of The South Texas Food Bank Alma Boubel said in a statement. And a natural disaster of this magnitude only made things worse for the food banks like the Southeast Texas Food Bank, whose service area was directly impacted. Dan Maher, the CEO and President of the SETX Food Bank said disasters like Laura highlight the importance of collaborations, like Feeding Texas, a network of food banks across the state. It was a fine gesture on their part as part of the Feeding Texas network to demonstrate their concern for our community, and their willingness to build extra capacity for us to distribute, Maher said. Related: NBA star puts muscle into Port Arthur grocery giveaway Feeding Texas has 21 food banks in its network, Maher said, all working together in times of need. Feeding Texas is a very strong statewide organization that helps coordinate the efforts of those food banks in a time of disaster, he said. It really shows how vital the coordinating body is to make sure food banks are working together. While areas of Southeast Texas were grazed by the catastrophic winds of Hurricane Laura, just east of the border Louisiana faces devastation. Maher said some donations the local food bank is receiving, including some of a truckload of bread from H-E-B, have been forwarded on to the hardest hit areas in Louisiana. We were really the only food bank that suffered any consequential damage in its territory, Maher said. Because Feeding Texas is helping us, there is excess capacity through them to help Louisiana since they only have to help us in the state. In Southeast Texas, food distribution is focused in Orange County, where the majority of the damage in the region occured. Other affected counties will also receive some benefit from this, Maher said, including South Jefferson County, Newton, Sabine County and areas in Jasper as well as parts of Hardin. To see distribution times and locations, you can visit setxfoodbank.org. Volunteers who want to help put together boxes for distribution, or donate money to support the efforts during recovery can also find information to do that on the food banks website. Volunteers are a very big need right now, Maher said. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox As recovery continues, Maher said food distribution in impacted areas will continue into as late as mid-October. Through this donation, we are not only helping the Southeast Texas Food Bank to continue to provide hunger relief, but also continue to give hope to those affected by this hurricane, Boubel said in a statement. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Chilean and Lebanese rescuers search in the rubble of a building that was collapsed in last month's massive explosion, after getting signals there may be a survivor under the rubble, in Beirut, Lebanon. Hopes were raised after the dog of a Chilean search and rescue team touring Gemmayzeh street, one of the hardest-hit in Beirut, ran toward the collapsed building. (AP) Beirut: Rescue workers digging through the rubble of a Beirut building for the third day on Saturday said there was no longer hope of finding someone alive more than a month after a massive port explosion shattered Lebanons capital. About 50 rescue workers and volunteers, including a specialist team from Chile, had worked for three days to locate anyone after sensors on Thursday detected signs of breathing and heat. Technically speaking, there are no signs of life, Francisco Lermanda, the head of volunteer rescue group Topos Chile, said in a news conference on Saturday evening, adding that rescuers had combed 95% of the building. The signs of life detected in the past two days, Lermanda said, were breaths of fellow rescuers already inside the building picked up by their sensitive equipment. He said efforts would now focus on clearing the rubble and finding remains. We never stop with even one percent of hope, Lermanda said, of finding a body. We never stop until the job is done. The Aug. 4 blast killed about 190 people, injured 6,000 more, and devastated whole neighborhoods. The authorities held ceremonies on Friday to mark a month since the explosion tore into a city already reeling from a crippling economic crisis. Rescue efforts dominated local and social media, as the Lebanese were transfixed, desperate for a miracle. None came. The ruined building where the search was continuing lies between the residential districts of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael, among the hardest hit areas by the blast and home to many old buildings that crumbled as the shockwave ripped through. Work was slow, rescue workers said earlier in the day, as the badly damaged building was at risk of complete collapse. The building is really crumbling, its scary and theres a lot of danger to the team, said George Abou Moussa, head of Lebanons civil defense. Workers used shovels and their hands to dig, while mechanical diggers and a crane lifted heavy debris. Scanning equipment was also used to create 3D images of the wrecked building. On September 6, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence -- Matoshree -- received threats of being blown up. Security has been stepped up outside Matoshree after four threat calls were made to the CM's residence, media reports suggest. According to reports, the calls said they were calling on behalf of Dawood Ibrahim and wanted to talk to the CM. State agencies have also been put on high alert, following the calls, in addition to beefing up of security. These calls have reportedly originated from Dubai, and the Mumbai Police are currently looking for the caller. The reason behind these calls, if there is a particular cause or incident for these threats has not yet been ascertained. According to the Chief Minister's office, the issue of threat to CM's residence was discussed in today's Cabinet meeting. Everyone was of the view that it's a serious issue & Centre should also look into it. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told the State Cabinet that police has started the investigation, ANI reported. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Rain showers in the morning becoming a steady light rain in the afternoon. High 42F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy with freezing rain expected. Low 29F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 90%. MOSCOW Protesters on Sunday again flooded into the capital of Belarus and towns across the country, signaling the depth of popular anger at President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, an iron-fisted leader who, fortified by strong support from Russia, has shown no sign of bending. The Belarus protests have mobilized large numbers of people for nearly a month, since a disputed presidential election, and have been dominated by calls for Mr. Lukashenko to resign. They have struggled, though, to bend the will of an authoritarian leader who has rejected all compromise and scorned his critics as rats, tricksters and traitors. The crowd on Sunday in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, appeared to be as large as those on three previous Sundays, when more than 100,000 people gathered to protest what they believe was a blatantly rigged presidential election on Aug. 9 and to demand that the declared victor, Mr. Lukashenko, cede power. Defying government warnings, protesters in Minsk paraded up to lines of riot police officers blocking major avenues, shouting, Shame! and Go away. They waved red and white flags, which served as the national flag until Mr. Lukashenko replaced it 25 years ago a year after he took office with a more Soviet-looking standard. Virtually every Irish school leaver knows something about one of the great heroes of Irish history, Daniel O'Connell. Most would probably know that he wanted Ireland to become independent of England by peaceful means; he achieved Catholic emancipation in 1829 (among other things, this meant an elected member of parliament no longer had to swear allegiance to the English monarch) and he was known as The Liberator. Some people would be aware that he was fiercely anti-slavery, and pro women's rights. Most would know too that he was from Co Kerry, but what they might not know is that he was also something of a bon viveur, a wonderful host, and that he loved his whiskey. However, his great-great-great-grand-nephew, successful businessman Sir Maurice O'Connell, has, with his wife, Francesca, a former investment banker, just embarked on an interesting project that will bring that aspect of Daniel to a wider audience. Maurice and Francesca, who own the magnificent Lakeview House on Lough Leane in Killarney, launched their Wayward Irish Spirits company just before lockdown; the whiskey is called The Liberator, and there is a subtle silhouette of the Great Dan himself on the label. Expand Close The golden oak table in the dining room is part of a set of furniture specially made for the house. When it is extended with its leaves, it can seat 25. The mantelpiece is original to the house. The various portraits feature ancestors of Maurice / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The golden oak table in the dining room is part of a set of furniture specially made for the house. When it is extended with its leaves, it can seat 25. The mantelpiece is original to the house. The various portraits feature ancestors of Maurice "We'd been talking about the whiskey project for 20 years, then the stars aligned in several ways. We refurbished the 300-year-old outbuildings and these provide the perfect conditions for whiskey-making, including the correct temperature," Maurice says, while Francesca adds: "We wanted to pay homage to Daniel, in a very gentle way. And he liked his whiskey, actually; we came across a piece referring to an article in the English Times back in the day, accusing Daniel O'Connell of trying to kill English people with kindness by giving them hot toddies." Sir Maurice's family have been in Kerry for hundreds of years, and indeed from 1450 to 1820, they were involved in the spirits business. However, during his childhood, his parents were primarily farmers, working the land around their magnificent home. It's an idyllic setting: it's just a few steps from the house to the lake itself, with views from its many windows of the ever-changing waters, historic Innisfallen Island and the brooding MacGillycuddy Reeks. There are constant glimpses of the wildlife around them - deer and red squirrels dart across their gaze, while swans glide gracefully across the lake. According to Maurice, it's the land of the Fianna of Irish legend and Tir na nOg is reputed to be there, all details he's very proud of now, but of course as a child, the eldest boy in a family of six children, he took it all for granted. "I didn't admire the landscape when I was young. We'd all be huddled around the fire not taking any notice of the view. My father used to say to us, 'People would pay thousands of pounds to see what you're seeing now', but I didn't take any notice," Maurice says, adding with a laugh, "I find myself saying the same thing to our son, Morgan, and he ignores me too." He does, however, recall a carefree childhood. "We were left to our own devices. We were let out in the morning and came back when we were hungry," Maurice says. "We had horses. I remember my brother and I got into trouble when we found some old swords and we charged each other with the swords on horseback, but it was alright, we had corks at the end of the swords." Maurice was sent to the local village school for his primary education and then away to boarding school, first in Scotland, then to the top Catholic public school in England, Ampleforth, which was run by the Benedictines. He didn't bother with university. "I just wanted to get on with it, I wanted to be an entrepreneur," he explains, adding with a laugh, "at Ampleforth I'd been suspended for running a taxi service for the boys to take them to the local pub." After Ampleforth, he took himself to London where he launched himself by buying a property; it was a flat above a pie shop, which he bought with his first credit card. He then did it up and sold it on. And he proceeded to do similar projects for many years and became very successful. "He was very good at identifying good locations before they became fashionable," Francesca volunteers. Expand Close Maurice and Francesca OConnell in their beautifully renovated kitchen with its high ceilings and windows on three sides, affording wonderful views of the exterior. The carving on the corners of the units reflects some of the columns in other rooms of the house / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Maurice and Francesca OConnell in their beautifully renovated kitchen with its high ceilings and windows on three sides, affording wonderful views of the exterior. The carving on the corners of the units reflects some of the columns in other rooms of the house The couple met through mutual friends. Francesca, a former investment banker, was brought up in South East Asia - her father's job in trading brought the family to Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong at various stages throughout her childhood, then she settled in London. They met in 1990. "It took me a while to wear her down, but I eventually succeeded," says Maurice. They married in 1993 and have one son, Morgan (16). Maurice inherited the house and the title in 1993 but they didn't start to renovate the property until 2000. "Actually, I didn't come home for a long time. I knew I'd be back and it would be hard work, and I thought I might as well enjoy myself in the meantime. Also, you need a fair amount of money to run these houses," Maurice notes. When he did start coming back in 2000, it became an all-consuming project. He returned to Kerry from London practically every second weekend. During these weekends, he oversaw the renovation of the house."My father had kept the roof on, but we had to replumb and rewire. You'd put the kettle on and all the lights would go out. We did it in stages," he says. According to Maurice, there's a lot of O'Connell history as well as that of the McCarthys - his mother's family - surrounding the house and the lands. "The house only dates from 1870 but the O'Connells were here in 1820. Prior to that, the McCarthys had land here for 700 years, so my family have been here for 900 years in total," he says proudly. Though a baronet - his title is inherited from his father - Maurice is an Irish Catholic, while Francesca is a British Protestant, so she was rather taken aback by a certain type of picture in one of the rooms when she arrived. "There were rather a lot of religious pictures," she notes, while Maurice adds with a laugh, "They were all in what was then the drawing room, ready for when the Pope would come. He never did." Expand Close The wrought-iron gates on the edge of the lake are an architectural device. "The view is so massive it's hard to take it in, but the gates give it a focal point," says Maurice / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The wrought-iron gates on the edge of the lake are an architectural device. "The view is so massive it's hard to take it in, but the gates give it a focal point," says Maurice Spreading the religious paintings around the house was a tiny job; there were many mammoth tasks. The upstairs had a lot of bedrooms, some huge, some small, so they cut down the number of bedrooms by turning the smaller rooms into en suites. They now have nine bedrooms in total, most of which are en suite. They kept some aspects of the house intact - there's a lovely library; a dining room and a drawing room; the magnificent hallway has four distinct areas and all they had to do in those spaces was decorate and furnish them, but they changed the usage of other rooms completely. For example, what was the morning room is now the kitchen. It's an untypical room in which to place a kitchen; it has a big period fireplace, high ceilings and intricate cornicing and it's absolutely stunning; it also affords wonderful views of the lake as it has windows on three sides. The colour palette in this room is very subtle; the walls and floor are painted cream, the units are blue/green. The subtlety of the colour scheme is deliberate. "Every window is like a painting, the view is blue and green. It changes all the time, we can have the four seasons in one hour, and if you're looking at all this, you don't want what's inside the room to fight with it," says Maurice. The kitchen has an island that faces the lake, but the sink is facing the wall. "When the units and island were being put in, the sink was in the island facing outward. At the time of construction, an elderly male friend was visiting and he remarked how considerate my husband was to give me a nice place to do the washing up," says Francesca, adding tartly, "we decided the sink would face the wall and my husband would do the washing up." Heating was another issue, according to Maurice. "There used to be six radiators, only three of which were used. When my mother moved out, she moved to a house one-sixth of the size of this and it had 22 radiators," he says. Clearly, a lot more needed to be fitted at Lakeview. Work also had to be done to the windows and, over time, to the roof. "There are 26 roofs and we've done them all at this stage," says Maurice. "The trouble is, you're never finished in a house like this. If you sit back, it'll come and kick you." However, they have got to the stage that they now have time to concentrate on their pet project - the whiskey. It's an ideal project in that the barley is grown on their own land, Francesca's family have contacts in the spirits world in Portugal and they sourced their barrels there, while the renovated outbuildings can be maintained at the perfect temperature necessary. Maurice is very excited about its reception by spirits lovers and sees it as a long-term project."I wanted a reason to be here, for one thing," he says. "Whiskey is a nicer world than the property world. I want to leave my mark; I'm building the business as my legacy." Somehow one feels The Liberator would approve. The latest release of The Liberator Whiskey is now available in specialist retailers. See waywardirish.com Edited by Mary O'Sullivan Photography by Tony Gavin German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas addresses a press statement with the German Defense Minister (unseen) at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on September 2, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Germany on Sunday increased pressure on Russia over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, warning that a lack of support by Moscow in the investigation could "force" Germany to rethink the fate of a German-Russian gas pipeline project. "I hope the Russians won't force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2" pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told weekly Bild am Sonntag. Maas also said that "if there won't be any contributions from the Russian side regarding the investigation in the coming days, we will have to consult with our partners." He did not exclude possible sanctions against Russia, telling the newspaper that such measures should be "pinpointed effectively." However, Maas also admitted that halting the building of the nearly completed gas pipeline would harm German and European companies. "Whoever demands this has to be aware of the consequences," he said. "More than 100 companies from 12 European countries are involved (in the construction), about half of them from Germany." The German government has come under growing pressure to use the joint German-Russian pipeline project as leverage in getting Russia to provide answers on Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea when completed, bypassing Ukraine. Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow last month and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital since he was flown to Germany for treatment on August 22. German authorities have said that tests showed that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities previously identified the nerve agent, developed during the Soviet era, as the poison used to target former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018. "We have high expectations from the Russians to bring light into this severe crime," Maas said. "If they have nothing to do with this attack then it's in their own interest to put the facts on the table." The Hogyats Monastery, which is one of the many Armenian monasteries in Van Province of Turkey, still works miracles for the local Kurds. In addition to treasure hunters, the residents of the surrounding villages who cannot have children also visit this monastery, according to the Armenian weekly Agos of Istanbul. Every Sunday, these Kurdish couples who want to have a child go on a pilgrimage to the Hogyats Monastery, sacrifice a rooster, and promise that if they have a boy, they will name him Isa (the Muslim name of Jesus), and if a girl is born, they will name her Meryem (the Muslim name of the Virgin Mary). And icon with the image of the Mother of Godand engraved by Andrew and John the Apostlesis buried under the main tabernacle of this monastery. My workstation is in the bedroom. I get up from bed and if Im being honest, sometimes dont even bother showering and then literally move to the chair, and I sit there for most of the day, said Ryan Taylor, a New York-based software engineer, who now has pain behind his shoulder. The body needs movement, said Heidi Henson, an Oregon-based chiropractor, who, like the other chiropractors interviewed, said that pandemic-fueled inactivity has caused injuries and pain. Even if you have perfect, perfect ergonomics, if youre in the same position for too long, your body is not going to respond well. Increased screen-time on our phones such as doom-scrolling Twitter only inflames the inactivity. Cellphones are a huge deal, said Dr. Erickson, explaining that we tend to bend our necks to look down at our phones. She instead recommends holding your phone up to eye level, resting your elbow on your body for support. Scott Bautch, the president of the American Chiropractic Associations Council on Occupational Health, says that as screen time has exploded, were more at risk of Text Neck and Selfie Elbow. College students, teenagers and even younger kids are also at risk. Teenagers are already prone to being on their screens a lot, Dr. Henson said. And then weve taken away everything that is good for them in terms of movement sports are gone, gyms are gone. She calls teens and college students an overlooked population from a health perspective. Dr. Erickson agrees, adding that college students are absolutely at risk, particularly for neck tension, shoulder pain and headaches. Most middle school to college-age students, said Dr. Erickson, are doing their work in bed, sitting rounded over like the Peanuts character Schroeder on the piano leaning over their laptop or phone for hours. Thanks to increased screen time and inactivity, young children are also reporting more headaches and discomfort. Its not normal for an 8-year-old to have neck pain, said Dr. Erickson, but now shes seeing that in her practice. There is some good news: The solutions can be simple and cheap. For laptop users, the one purchase that the experts resoundingly recommend is an external keyboard and mouse; you can get basic ones for about $20, and then place your laptop on a stack of books, raising the monitor to eye level. If your chair is too high for your feet to comfortably rest on the floor, use a footstool; if its too low, make it higher with pillows. Two other important fixes are free: More breaks and more movement. Dr. Bautch suggests setting a timer for every 15 to 30 minutes to remind yourself to move, and recommends three different types of breaks: frequent microbreaks of just five seconds, in which you change your posture in the opposite direction of where it had been (so if you were looking down at the screen, for example, look up at the ceiling for five seconds); then periodic macro breaks of three to five minutes, such as deep breathing or stretching your shoulders; and finally the big workout of at least 30 minutes of exercise (ideally in one session), whether its riding a bike or the elliptical. William F. Rhodes 12-05-24--8-31-20 A great truth has been expressed in simple words: "There are no strangers, only friends waiting to be met." Bill Rhodes has left all who knew him the richer for his life of testimony to that ideal. He has now rejoined his beloved Annie, and many of those friends. Bill's childhood and early youth were spent in the Midwest during the Great Depression. He could speak of hardships unimaginable to most Americans living today. Certainly, his belief in the value of independence and productive labor came from that grim experience. At the age of nine, he began to contribute to the family income by taking his first job. He herded a neighbor's cattle-with a horse to ride! A country boy's dream come true. In his late teens he joined up with the Marines to fight in the Pacific during World War 2. From the terrible reality of combat, so different from the appeal of recruiting posters, he drew a life-long abhorrence for the folly of glamorizing war. After his discharge, he attended college on the G. I. Bill, prudently taking advantage of a splendid opportunity. After graduation, he worked for several years in the private sector, then settled into a long career in government service. He retired from the Environmental Protection Agency, where he worked as an aerial photograph interpreter, in 1982, and the second half of his life began. The freedom which Bill and Ann enjoyed to travel where and when they chose, was always balanced with commitment to responsibility when they were at home. Their yardful of flowers graced the neighborhood, they planted trees and adopted homeless animals. Their interest in local politics led them to campaign energetically for favored candidates, and they were always helpful to anyone who needed support. Their friendships were for life. During their camping trips they sought out the works of Nature, rather than those of man. The Smokies, the Rockies, Yosemite and countless other wondrous places, they saw, and cherished, and were grateful. From long before the era of smart phones, Bill's slides and Ann's photos are a family treasure. When Ann's final illness precluded further journeys, Bill's remaining decades were spent devotedly caring for her and for the old home place in Garrisonville, which he dearly loved. Bill is survived by three children, their spouses, a stepson, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He will be missed as much as his memory is honored. Fare on Bill and Annie- Happy Trails! TUNIS, Tunisia - Tunisian forces shot dead three suspected Islamic militants who rammed their vehicle into security officers and attacked them with knives, killing one and injuring another in the coastal resort town of Sousse, authorities said Sunday. Sousse was the site of Tunisias deadliest extremist attack in 2015, when a massacre killed 38 people, most of them British tourists. An Interior Ministry statement said Sunday that the assailants took refuge in a school after the attack and died in a shootout with security forces. The North African nations prime minister, Hicham Mechichi, appeared to suggest that the assailants planning may have been faulty. Speaking in Sousse, at the site of the attack, he announced the arrest of a fourth suspect who had been aboard the vehicle that rammed the National Guard officers. These terrorist groups wanted to signal their presence, he said. But they got the wrong address this time. The clearest proof of that is that the authors of this attack were eliminated in a few minutes. He added that these microbes must fear the Tunisians because lions are protecting the country. Hatem Zargouni, director of security for Sousse, said the assailants stabbed the officers and then fled with their weapons. The injured officer was hospitalized. The previous attack in Sousse on June 26, 2015, dealt a heavy blow to Tunisias tourism sector, a pillar of its economy. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack. Aymen Rezgui, a Tunisian student who trained with Libyan militants, walked onto the beach of the Imperial Hotel and used an assault rifle to shoot at tourists in lounge chairs. He then continued onto the hotel pool before throwing a grenade into the hotel. He was later killed by police. Oregon Rejects GOP Voter Statement, Says It Was 29 Seconds Late The Oregon Republican Partys statement for the state voters pamphlet wont appear in the guide mailed to voters because it missed the deadline by 29 seconds, according to the office of Secretary of State Bev Clarno. Anyone wishing to submit information to the Voters Pamphlet has several weeks to do so and we recommend avoiding waiting until the last minute for this reason, Laura Fosmire, a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Bev Clarno, said in a statement. Oregon state GOP communications director Kevin Hoar insists that the Republicans filed the statement at 4:59 p.m. on Aug. 25, before the deadline, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. The Republicans filed a lawsuit in Marion County demanding that the statement be included before the voters guide goes to print later this month, he said. We cant quite explain the interpretation and decision here, Hoar said. State Republican Chairman Bill Currier said the move to bar the statement reeks of partisan discrimination. If a bureaucrat in some decision-making role simply didnt like what our statement said, this doesnt give them the right to silence us, Currier said. Clarno is the only Republican holding a statewide office in Oregon. She served as House speaker in Oregon before she was appointed secretary of state by Democratic Gov. Kate Brown to serve the remainder of the term of Dennis Richardson, who died in 2019. The statement submitted by the Republican Party was headlined Had enough? Vote Republican! It denounced Democratic leadership in Oregon on issues ranging from unrestrained rioting in Portland to mismanagement of the pandemic resulting in catastrophic small business losses. Hoar also said that Currier was locked out of the online filing system for several hours, delaying the partys ability to file its statement. Fosmire said there were no problems or glitches with the online reporting system. We simply received the statement after the filing deadline, she said. The Democratic Party of Oregon and six other political parties are included in the voters pamphlet for the Nov. 3 election. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Washington, 06 September 2020 (SPS) - Amnesty International on Friday demanded that the Moroccan occupation authorities drop the immediately charges, which it described as "fabricated," against young Sahrawi journalist, Brahim Imrikli. Brahim Imrikli, 23, is a video journalist affiliated with the Activists Foundation and will be tried next Monday in the occupied city of El-Aaiun for reasons related to his journalistic work, the international organization said on its Twitter page. The organization indicated that Brahim Imrikli was arrested on May 15th by four police officers as he wandered the streets of El-Aaiun, where they violently forced him into a police car on the grounds of violating the state of emergency imposed on the outbreak of the Coved 19 virus. The organization added that the Sahrawi journalist was arrested even though he had a permit to move and was detained for two days, where he was ill-treated while in police custody. Indeed, he was transferred as soon as he was arrested to the so-called security mandate in the occupied city of El-Aaiun, where he was subjected to violence and interrogation associated with insults and verbal abuse, fabricating a false statement against him and submitting it after spending 48 hours in pre-trial custody before the occupation judiciary in a remote electronic trial, deciding to present him in the court of first instance on Monday (September 7th) on charges of "violating the state of emergency and insulting a public officer". (SPS) 062/SPS/T Himachal Pradesh witnessed the biggest single-day spike with 397 fresh Covid-19 infections that took the state tally to 7,415. The active cases have mounted to 2,176 and 5,021 people have recovered so far. Of the new cases, 68 were reported in Kullu, 60 in Kangra, 57 in Solan, 52 in Chamba, 40 in Mandi, 31 each in Shimla and Bilaspur, 22 in Sirmaur, 20 and 16 in Una. The death toll due to Covid-19 in Himachal reached 53 after a 75-year-old succumbed to the contagion in Amb sub-division of Una. Solan has recorded maximum 14 deaths due to Covid-19 so far, followed by 10 deaths in Kangra. Eight people have died in Mandi, five in Hamirpur, four each in Shimla, Una and Chamba and three in Sirmaur. Chamba chief medical officer Dr Rajesh Guleri said 20 workers of a hydropower project have tested positive in Holi area of Bharmaur sub-division. They are primary contacts of some labourers who had earlier tested positive. Eight people tested positive in Bangotu locality of Chamba town, three in Hardaspura and four in Julahkari localities. Most of them are primary contacts. With this, Chamba districts tally has reached 536 of which 157 are active cases, he said. Of the 19 cases reported in Shimla, twelve are migrant labourers in Rohru. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, they were primary contacts of labourers who had tested positive earlier and were in institutional quarantined. In Bilaspur, two police personnel and a child were among the new cases. Two army jawans are among four people infected in Kullus Nirmand area. They were institutionally quarantined at the armys Averi camp in Nirmand. Details of other cases were reported. With 1,696 cases, Solan remains the worst-hit district followed by Kangra where 1,091 cases have been reported till date. Sirmaur has 1,046 cases, Hamirpur 660, Una 587, Chamba 536, Mandi 487, Shimla 420, Bilaspur 412, Kullu 359 and 103 cases in Kinnaur district. Lahaul-Spiti remains the least affected district in the state as it has only reported eight Covid-19 cases till date. Democrats openly say that, if Trump is reelected, they are going to redouble their four years of madness, with special emphasis on the last three months of open violence. Indeed, theyre already planning to destabilize the election and to contest it if Trump wins, in hopes of a violent coup. The latest leftist to say this is Bernie Sanders, who just opined that Trump would not accept defeat. It appears that the Democrats plans dont account for is the fact that, if Trump wins the Electoral College, he holds all the cards -- although, their awareness of that fact could explain the recent attempt, via the defamatory The Atlantic article, to smear Trump with the military. Since November 9, weve witnessed the Resistance, both on the streets and in the fetid bowels of the Deep State. Each effort (the Russia hoax, the Ukraine hoax, the Impeachment, etc.) was meant to end his presidency prematurely. Trump beat back all those attacks. Thats why, in 2020, Democrats and their fellow travelers (in the media, in politics, and on the streets) have concentrated their efforts, not on removing Trump before his term ends, but on preventing his reelection. Democrats took advantage of the Wuhan virus to tank the economy. And yes, for a political party that wants to deconstruct Americas constitutional republic, destroying the economy was a price worth paying. It helped that the tech titans (openly hostile to Trump), as well as major retailers such as Amazon and Walmart (both ostensibly friendly to normal Americans, but even more friendly to Democrats with their political donations), made out like bandits thanks to the lockdown. Although the virus wasnt the scourge Democrats seem to have wanted, theyve worked hard to blame Trump for any deaths. Too many people have already forgotten what the media was forced to concede, which is that 40% of all Wuhan virus deaths occurred in nursing homes at a time when at most 1.5 million people, or a half percent, of the population lived in those homes. These deaths might not have happened if Democrat governors hadnt forced nursing homes to accept infected people, a policy that effectively turned nursing homes into slaughterhouses. Thankfully, the Department of Justice is investigating the governors policies, so the Wuhan virus might not be quite the anti-Trump cudgel Democrats want. Democrats have also encouraged violence on Americas streets. Thats why Biden avoided speaking about the riots until a week ago, no one mentioned them at the Democrats convention, and Kamala encouraged the riots to keep going. The Democrats thought they could frame the riots as a response to Trumps racism (hence the constant references to the fine people hoax). The message was that the riots were an organic response to Trumps alleged white supremacy and his alleged encouragement of police brutality. Democrats had to walk back from this position, though, when the polls showed, not only that Americans disliked the riots, but that they also associated them (correctly) with the Democrats. Were now in what may be the last initiative to defeat Trump. Biden articulated the new approach when he spoke in Pittsburg: The riots arent a response to Trump. They are, instead, Trumps riots, which hes fomented and that right-wingers are carrying out. Having blamed the current riots on Republicans, Democrats have started openly threatening increased violence from angry voters after the election if Trump is reelected. They make this claim based upon their fantasy that Trump will not concede (even as they insist that Biden must not concede). Most recently, on Saturday, Bernie Sanders threatened that America must be prepared when Trump refuses to leave office. David Brooks helpfully summed up the Democrats imagined scenarios in that case, all of which involve street warfare. Democrats forget that, when it comes to riots, Trump has the advantage after the election. So far, hes been holding his fire on ending the riots for three reasons: (1) Democrat governors rejected his help; (2) Democrats are just dying to have proof that Trump is actually a Nazi and they imagine that using the National Guard will provide that proof; and (3) the logistics of sending troops into a hostile state are challenging. After the properly cast votes are counted (as opposed to those that conveniently turn up in the mail long after election day), if Trump wins the Electoral College, there is nothing to stop him from invoking the Insurrection Act, federalizing the National Guard, and cleaning up the rioters. Vanderleun reminds us how effective the military is when its allowed to operate freely to stop rioting. Indeed, concern about military effectiveness may be one of the factors behind the Democrats most recent hoax, the one claiming the Trump, the most pro-military president in recent history, disrespected the troops. Democrats arent just worried about the military vote favoring Trump. Theyre also trying to ensure that, if Trump wins, and if the left escalates its violence, the military will not respond to Trumps use of the Insurrection Act. These are scary times. Using tactics that succeeded in the past -- 1917 in Russia, 1933 in Germany, 1949 in China, 1953 in Cuba -- leftists are working to destabilize America as a prelude to a full revolution. Current trends favor Trump, but lets hope, too, that Trump and his advisors have war-gamed the more violent post-election possibilities. Image: National Guard patrolling street after the D.C. riot. April 68 (cropped), by Warren K. Leffler at the Library of Congress; No known restrictions on publication. At least four boats sank during a Trump Boat Parade in Texas as hundreds of MAGA supporters around the country took to the open waters to show support for the president. Officials said that during the parade on Lake Travis, outside of Austin, wakes formed due to the number of boats on the water. The rough conditions caused some boats to sink and others to crash into rocks. That was truly an exceptional number of boats, Kristen Dark, public information officer for the Travis County Sheriffs Office, whose deputies patrol the lake, told Reuters. Several of the boats did sink. Ms Dark said more deputies were deployed due to the expected increase in boating activity but that they still received a large number of distress calls. When they all started moving at once it generated wakes, she said. A Facebook page for the event showed that more than 2,000 people were scheduled to attend the parade. An additional 5,000 people said they were interested. Trump supporters are rescued during a boating parade for the president on Saturday (Reuters) The event encouraged boat owners to bring boats of all shapes and sizes to participate in the parade. Trump memorabilia, such as Make America Great Again flags and Trump/Pence signs, as well as American flags were pictured on many boats in attendance. This was not the only boat parade taking place over the Labour Day holiday weekend. Choctawhatchee Bay in the Emerald Coast region of Florida was also packed with hundreds of boats filled with Trump supporters eager to show their love for the president on Saturday. These boats also were decorated with Trump signs and American flags. Entitled the Emerald Coast Florida Trump Flotilla, the group of boats went towards Navare to join another boat parade in an effort to break the Guinness Book of World Records Worlds Largest Boat Parade. A pro-Trump boat parade at Toms River on the Jersey Shore also launched on Saturday morning in an effort to break the world record. Currently, a 2014 celebration in Malaysia holds the Guinness world record for the largest boat parade in history after 1,180 boats gathered. Guinness was reviewing a potential record-setter from Augusts gathering in Clearwater, Florida, according to The Tampa Bay Times. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Lewis Hamilton says he does not regret never racing for Ferrari. "No," said the six-time world champion, who is poised to match Michael Schumacher's all-time records for race wins and titles this year. However, the Mercedes driver says he owns Ferrari road cars and loves the brand. "It was never a secret - I've always been a huge Ferrari fan and have some in my garage," Hamilton told Sky Italia. "I really hope I can fight with them again before my career ends." Former Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, who was ousted in 2014, revealed he had some talks with Hamilton about the Briton switching to Maranello. "There were not the conditions to take him to Ferrari," he told Il Resto del Carlino newspaper. "We talked in general but our paths did not align. Looking back, it is a source of pride for me to have been with Raikkonen in 2007 when we beat Hamilton by one point." Hamilton, 35, is yet to agree a new deal with Mercedes for 2021, with some believing his decision will be tied to Wolff's own future at the team. "My future is not linked to Toto's," Hamilton insists. "We work well together, but a few years ago my engineer went to Ferrari, so there have always been changes within the team. You always have to do what you think is best for you." He said he hopes a deal is done soon. "It's too early to say, but I'd love to," the six-time world champion said. "I really like being at Mercedes, I work well with the team and with Toto - there is no limit to what we can do together." (GMM) Kamala Harris on Saturday (local time) said that she would not trust Donald Trump alone on a coronavirus vaccine adding that it would have to be a "credible source" that talks about "the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about". Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Saturday (local time) said that she would not trust Donald Trump alone on a coronavirus vaccine adding that it would have to be a credible source that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever hes talking about. In an interview with CNN, Harris said that it was going to be an issue for all of us to get a vaccine that was approved and distributed before the presidential elections. Quoting Harris, CNN reported I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever hes talking about. I would not take his word. The California Senator further said that public health experts would be suppressed, sidelined with regard to getting the last word on the efficacy of the vaccine. Also read: Rajnath Singh leaves for Tehran after 4-day Russia visit Also read: Will not cede an inch of Indian territory: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to China If past is the prologue that they will not, theyll be muzzled, theyll be suppressed, they will be sidelined because hes looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days and hes grasping to get whatever he can to pretend he has been a leader on this issue when he is not. As per the latest update, the US has a total of 6,232,889 COVID-19 cases and 188,252 deaths due to the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University. The Presidential elections are scheduled to be held on November 3. Also read: Amid India-China border tension, Rajnath Singh meets Chinese counterpart in Moscow Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 09:48:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAMAKO, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Malian president ousted by a military coup in August, left Saturday evening for Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to seek medical treatment, a local security source confirmed to Xinhua. On condition of anonymity, the officer said Keita departed Bamako on a chartered flight sent by the UAE, and that he would probably receive treatment for 10-15 days in Abu Dhabi. According to local media, Keita was accompanied by his wife and doctors. The 75-year-old former Malian president was hospitalized earlier this week in a private clinic here for a stroke. The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), the country's current governing body, announced on Aug. 27 that it had released ousted Keita, who had been "secured" in a military camp. The release of Keita was agreed upon by the CNSP and the mediation delegation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which stayed in the country during Aug. 22-24. According to the agreements, Keita will also be free to seek treatment in the country of his choice, and ECOWAS has vouched for his return to the country if necessary. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 10:35:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (L) meets with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Athens, Greece, on Sept. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xiaopeng) Key consensuses reached during Yang's visit to Asian, European countries: - Consolidate political mutual trust - Deepen mutually-beneficial trust - Push forward anti-epidemic cooperation - Promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges - Jointly preserve peace and development BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi said on Friday that his visit to Myanmar, Spain and Greece has deepened mutual trust, expanded cooperation, and produced multiple important consensus. Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in a written interview with Xinhua as he wrapped up the visit to the three countries. Firstly, the trip has consolidated political mutual trust, said Yang, adding that China and Myanmar have agreed to maintain close high-level contact, implement the agreement reached during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country in January, as well as study and formulate an action plan to build the China-Myanmar community with a shared future. China and Spain agree to further step up political dialogue and the synergy of policies so as to upgrade the level of strategic cooperation, he said, adding that the Greek side pledges to continue to prioritize its cooperation with China. Yang also said that the three countries hailed the progress China has made in containing the COVID-19 outbreak and in resuming work and production, view China as an opportunity for development, and are ready to maintain high-level exchanges in various ways to constantly consolidate strategic mutual trust. Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi (R) meets with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, on Sept. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang) Secondly, the visit has deepened mutually-beneficial trust, Yang said, adding that China and Myanmar have decided to actively push forward the construction of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor so as to take bilateral economic and trade cooperation up to a new level. He also said that China and Spain agree to future align their strategies for economic recovery, and deepen cooperation in exports of agricultural products, renewable energy, smart cities, electric cars, e-commerce and digital communications, adding that China and Greece agree to further push forward the Piraeus port cooperation project. Yang said that the third consensus during his visit this time is to push forward anti-epidemic cooperation, adding that the Chinese side and the three countries have exchanged their views on their respective epidemic situation, and their measures to contain the outbreak, and that the three countries agree that China has stood with them in their battle against the epidemic. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (R) meets with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 3, 2020. (Xinhua) He also noted that China and the three countries have agreed to step up their cooperation in the fight against the virus, the development of vaccines and drugs, as well as the production and sales of anti-epidemic materials, and to jointly support the leading role of the World Health Organization in the world's fight to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Fourthly, the visit has promoted their people-to-people and cultural exchanges, said Yang. He said that all sides agree to take an objective and inclusive attitude towards the differences regarding their cultures and social systems, step up dialogues and exchanges, and boost harmonious development in a bid to push for new progress and civilizational advancement of the human race. Yang said the fifth consensus is to jointly preserve peace and development, adding that China and the three countries conducted deep exchanges related to major regional and global affairs of common concern, and agree that the international community should uphold multilateralism, safeguard the development rights of peoples in all countries, and jointly cope with global challenges. KAMPALA Uganda says it is fast-tracking efforts to eliminate malaria, which continues to take lives and bleed the countrys economy more than any other disease. The disease is responsible for 30 to 40 percent of outpatient hospital visits, 15 to 20 percent of admissions and 10 percent of inpatient deaths, mostly pregnant mothers and children, according to the health ministry figures. The mosquito-transmitted disease remains a serious health problem that continues to stagnate economic growth and social development as man-hours are lost because of absenteeism and the meagre household incomes spent on treatment. To reverse this trend, the east African country is fighting at different fronts against the disease. The country on September 2 launched the board of directors of the Malaria Free Uganda Fund as part of its continued investment to eliminate the disease by 2030, as per the global target. Malaria Free Uganda Fund is a non-profit public-private partnership established to mainstream responsibility for malaria across all sectors and help remove financial and operational bottlenecks in fighting the disease. The National Malaria Control Program currently faces a three-year 206 U.S. million dollars budget gap, or 33 percent of the total, according to the ministry of health. External donors, according to the ministry, fund over 95 percent of the fight against the disease in the country. The country is now looking at domestic resourcing in view of the global uncertainties like the COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting foreign financing. The talent and experience we have mobilized to this board from the private and civil society will help the government achieve a significant reduction of malaria cases and deaths in Uganda, said Ruth Aceng, minister of health while launching the board here. The ministry late last month launched the use of larvicides in the fight against malaria. Larvicides, according to the ministry are microbial or chemical insecticides put in water bodies or water containers that breed mosquitoes. The exercise helps reduce the adult population of mosquitoes by killing the aquatic immature forms, so that fewer will develop into adults, said Alfred Mubanginzi, assistant commissioner in charge of Vector Control division. This should reduce the number of mosquitoes that bite and infect humans with malaria, he said at the launch on August 27 in the northern Ugandan district of Lira. In June, the country launched the distribution of 27 million long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets to districts across the country, under the third universal coverage campaign. The countrywide campaign that was meant to kick off in April was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the east African country. Under the free mosquito net distribution, the ministry targets to have all citizens sleep under a mosquito net every night to prevent malaria. The ministry believes that these strategies among others including use of indoor residual spraying will yield good results. These combined interventions will go a long way in fighting and eventually eliminating malaria from our country, said Aceng. Indeed, the country is making notable progress in the fight against the disease. According to the 2018/19 Malaria Indicator Survey, the disease prevalence rate dropped to 9 percent from 19 percent. The progress is attributed to the continuous distribution of mosquito nets, case management, and indoor residual spraying. Related The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. A powerful typhoon that officials warned could bring record rains and gusts strong enough to flip cars slammed into southern Japan on Sunday, prompting authorities to urge millions to seek shelter. Typhoon Haishen has weakened somewhat as it neared Japan's mainland, and shifted further west out to sea, but it remained a 'large' and 'extremely strong' storm. After lashing a string of exposed, remote southern islands, it neared Japan's Kyushu region on Sunday evening, with authorities issuing evacuation advisories for more than seven million residents. High waves hit the coast in Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Sunday A woman walks in heavy rain as Typhoon Haishen approaches in Kagoshima, Kagoshima prefecture on September 6 Local residents wearing protective face mask take refuge at a site acting as an evacuation center as Typhoon Haishen is approaching to southwestern Japan A handout photo made available by Japan's Meteorological Agency shows the typhoon moving northward southwest of Kyushu Island on Sunday The weather agency urged people to exercise 'most serious caution' for possible record rain, violent winds, high waves and surging tides. 'Record-level rainfall is expected. It may cause landslides or it could cause even large rivers to flood,' said Yoshihisa Nakamoto, director of the forecast division at the Japan Meteorological Agency, during a televised briefing. He added that surging tides could cause widespread flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths. As the storm passed over several remote islands earlier Sunday, strong winds bent palm trees and sheets of rain lashed the area. Pedestrians struggle with umbrellas against strong wind caused by typhoon Haishen in Kagoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan A woman walks in heavy rain as Typhoon Haishen approaches in Kagoshima, Kagoshima prefecture on September 6 A woman covers a window of a dry cleaner shop on September 5, as Typhoon Haishen approaches the country At an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that flooding and landslides were a possibility. 'Maximum caution is needed as record rain, violent winds, high waves and high tides are possible,' he said. 'I ask the Japanese people, including those who live in high-risk areas for flooding rivers or high tides, to stay informed and take action immediately to ensure their safety.' At 10 pm (1300 GMT), Haishen was located about 90 kilometres (56 miles) west of Makurazaki city, packing gusts up to 216 kmh (135 miles) - strong enough to overturn vehicles and snap wooden power poles. The storm was forecast to move north and travel off the western coast of Kyushu before reaching the Korean peninsula Monday morning, according to the weather agency. Cancelled flights are seen on a screen at Fukuoka Airport as Typhoon Haishen approaches on September 6 People undergo a temperature check before boarding a bus as an evacuation advice is issued due to the approach of typhoon Haishen in Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto Prefecture on September 6 It comes as North Korea reels from severe damage left by a recent typhoon. Leader Kim Jong Un appeared in state media over the weekend to inspect the damage and ordered 12,000 elite members of his ruling party to help with recovery efforts. Japanese authorities issued evacuation orders for 1.8 million people in the affected area, with 5.6 million people issued lower-level advisories, national broadcaster NHK said. Evacuation orders in Japan are not compulsory, though authorities strongly urge people to follow them. Local officials asked individuals to avoid crowded shelters where possible, to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, and some centres were forced to turn people away in order to have enough space to maintain social distancing. A man barricades a movie theater ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Haishen on September 5 A man barricades a clothing store in preparation for the storm. Japanese authorities issued evacuation orders for 1.8 million people in the affected area Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) speaks next to chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga (right) during a special cabinet meeting on Typhoon Haishen at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo on September 6 In some places, residents were checking into nearby hotels to comply with evacuations advisories. Hotel Polaris in Shibushi city, Kagoshima, said all 73 of its rooms were sold out for the weekend. 'This is a large building for our area. I think our guests have chosen to stay with us to feel safe,' front desk employee Takayuki Shinmura told AFP, adding that it was unusual for all of the hotel's rooms to be occupied during typhoons. Those who sought hotel rooms said the pandemic and discomfort of public shelters were weighing on them. 'I am worried about coronavirus infections. We're with small children too, so we did not want other people to see us as big trouble,' an elderly man in Shibushi city told NHK after checking in at a local hotel with seven relatives. The storm has forced the cancellation of nearly 550 flights and disrupted train services, NHK said. People cover a doorway to a cafe on September 5 in Fukuoka, Japan. Typhoon Haishen, one of the strongest ever for Japan, approaches the country and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of record-breaking winds, high waves, storm surges, and unprecedented heavy rain elsewhere in Kyushu island Many factories also suspended operations, including three plants operated by Toyota. More than 220,000 homes in the Kyushu region lost power Sunday evening as the storm swept just west of the region. Haishen forced the Japanese coast guard to suspend its search for dozens of missing sailors from the Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship that sank in an earlier storm. Two survivors and the body of a third crew member were found before the search was suspended, and the coast guard said it will resume the operation when Haishen clears the region. It's not just me. It was never just me. For 65 weeks, I have written in this column. Each week I posed a question about whether I was alone in whatever particular predicament, situation, preference or oddity was the topic of the week. You might roll your eyes at how long it has taken for me to learn the lesson, but it's come as an epiphany. Granted, it not a revelation on the scale of Archimedes when he discovered how to measure volume - he's the guy who shouted 'Eureka!'. I've had thousands of people reach out to me on Twitter and Instagram over those 65 weeks. They've connected with me on every topic from housemate losses to DIY disasters. Some have also confused contact-tracing requests for someone asking them on a date. Others have had songs stuck in their heads and appreciated the chewing gum tips. Many people were also clearing out the homes of loved ones who had passed and expressed condolences and solidarity with the savageness of the task. I was surprised how many people find those Sudocrem bears on the TV commercial as soothing as I do. No matter the randomness of the column, someone always related. Over and over, the message 'you are not alone' came at me like a scratched Michael Jackson CD. In the end, it was a conversation with a gifted three year-old that laminated the idea in my mind. She had just seen Toy Story for the first time. We talked about the scary boy who hurts Woody and then, trying to distract her from reliving the fear, I asked when she knew the toys were going to be safe. She told me it was when Buzz Lightyear 'saw the other Buzzes in the telly' and realised he wasn't the only space ranger. It's a sad scene - Buzz Lightyear is forced to reconcile that he is not unique. He is not solely responsible for protecting the universe from Evil Emperor Zurg. Initially, he is devastated, but the home truth that he is just a toy, and one of many, is what saves him. It's only after this moment that Buzz is truly able to connect and make friends with the other toys. Then the song You've Got A Friend In Me plays and we all know his life is going to be better now. Shameful Writing the article every week and repeatedly asking whether I was alone means that I now know I'm never alone. No matter how odd, bizarre, shameful, sad or peculiar my predicament is, there is always someone who relates to it completely. At first, like Buzz, my ego took a hit. All those teenage desires to be unique and individual; to be seen as your own person rather than just one of a generation come bubbling up. But for me, that ego bruise quickly gives way to a deep sense of "I belong here". Just like Buzz realising that the weight of the salvation of the universe is no longer on his shoulders, there's a freedom to learning you're just a small cog in a big wheel. I spent years on a mission to have the highest number of friends possible. For some reason, I thought quantity was more important than quality. We're certain that we'll be cooler, happier and more popular based on a higher number, and that only got exacerbated when social media got involved. "How many Facebook friends do you have?" was a question I used to ask to measure my popularity against that of someone I was meeting for the first time. I would omit the fact that a third of my Facebook friends were people that I met once on a holiday, or some I knew for a few weeks in Irish college. As I got older, and certainly in the last few months, I have learned the importance of having a few friends who are authentic - people who love me, respect me and support me. Studies show that most people are actually happier with a small inner circle who they can depend on, as opposed to a wide social net of acquaintances who don't mean as much. I've connected with people who feel safe to share their beautiful vulnerabilities with me because something I've written has consciously or subconsciously resonated with them. In this fraught, fractured and polarised world, finding a community seems as crucial as finding water in a desert. It certainly provides support, stress relief and a place to experience joy but, more importantly, I think when we have a tribe, a sense of belonging, that basic need is met, and that can position us perfectly to be able to focus on how we can be helpful to other people. Like their mythical counterparts, tech unicorns can be elusive, yet the hunt for the next billion-dollar startup continues and Saudi Arabia intends to grow its own. Looking to the success of Middle Eastern startups like UAE-based Careem, the ride-hailing app acquired by Uber for US$3.1 billion, the quest to nurture tech unicorns in Saudi Arabia is driven by a number of trends that have potential benefits for IT professionals and the countrys business climate as a whole. Initiatives to develop highly successful startups take place in context of a general effort in the Kingdom to grow the tech sector, develop tech talent, build IT infrastructure, and cut bureaucratic red tape all with the goal of helping private enterprise and public services to flourish. The Saudi Arabian government has been investing heavily in digital transformation efforts outlined in its Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy from oil, and venture capital money is further fueling the development of IT resources and talent. The Saudi Arabian startup ecosystem is not as large as that of its neighbors but it is the fastest-growing in the Gulf region due to reforms implemented under Vision 2030. STV, Saudi Arabias US$500 million venture capital fund, predicts that VC investments in the Kingdom will continue to grow rapidly and that annual investment capital has the potential to expand tenfold, from $50 million in 2018 to $500 million in 2025. Saudi Arabia becomes more startup-friendly Although Saudi Arabia is a relatively large Middle East market, small startups and multinational companies alike would typically start their operations in Dubai and then later expand into the Kingdom. This has been changing, according to Ivan Jakovljevic, who took the job of chief development officer at STV in March. Jakovljevic, who has been in the region for 12 years, says that he now sees more entrepreneurs starting out in Saudi Arabia rather than in neighbouring countries, though he adds that the trend is still relatively nascent. The appointment of Jakovljevic, the former regional head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for Google, to a major role at STV has been seen as a significant move in Saudi Arabias tech unicorn aspirations, signaling a shift in STVs focus from pre-investment to post-investment growth. Jakovljevic cites the purely reputational aspect of growing a prominent tech unicorn such as Careem, which, he says, has been an inflection point for all of MENA, helping to drive tech ecosystem growth. Its basically provided a North Star, if you will, for all the aspiring entrepreneurs in the region, [showing] that there is a way of succeeding here. You do not have to pack a box and move to Silicon Valley. Even those who have been in Saudi Arabia for a comparatively short period of time, like Kevin Cullen vice president for KAUST Innovation and Econonic Development, who came in 2018 have seen changes. The country that I moved to in 2018 was still very early in the journey towards Vision 2030, with the contribution of SMEs and the ability to create startups still very limited. I have seen this revolutionize in the past few years; were now experiencing a very different Saudi Arabia, he says. KAUST Innovation and Econonic Development operates under the aegis of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, with the mission to foster the universitys contribution to the economic diversification of the Kingdomand as part of that it runs tech startup accelerator programmes. Regulations change for IT sector growth Much of the change in the IT sector is due to the governments commitment to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and improve the regulatory environment, Cullen says. Previously, it was not unusual for it to take two years for a startup to be incorporated by expats in the Kingdom this was significantly different to my experience in the U.S., U.K. and Australia where approval can be done in a matter of days, he says. But, since joining KAUST, he has seen the timescale for this process reduced to around four weeks for some of its startups. The government recognised the issue and took decisive action to fix it in an incredibly effective way. Earlier this year, for example, the government introduced a new instant work visa plan designed to help local enterprises recruit international staff, including technology professionals, with the skills they need to grow. Tech sector growth has an impact on the economy, such as creating jobs, Jakovljevic notes, pointing out that the COVID pandemic has provided some good examples of this, where companies have used IT to enable some of the basic services to go on. Nana is one example. A company in STVs portfolio that offers e-commerce and delivery from supermarkets, it has provided a significant number of consumers in Saudi Arabia with literally daily sustenance during the time of curfew. Its important to have the national champions who are committed to the region, committed to the consumer, and who provide those services in the time of need, Jakovljevic says. And despite job losses during the pandemic, professionals involved in cloud infrastructure and data analytics in Saudi Arabia are in particular demand. Tahany Jemal, a Saudi entrepreneur who recently started her own company, Jazel, to help startups position themselves in the market, believes that the pandemic has had a positive impact on Saudi e-commerce. She says there has been a rise of about 400 percent more online orders to the point that delivery had to stop for certain companies, because there were not enough drivers. She thinks that this will be a catalyst for a significant growth in online commerce, but talent is an issue. Talent gap remains a hurdle for tech Jemal believes the government needs to do more to foster the needed talent base in the country. The talent gap is a problem for countries throughout the Middle East, but Jemal notes that there is a tendency for Saudi Arabia to rely on nearby countries like the Emirates for talent. KAUSTs Cullen agrees that perhaps the most significant limitation for IT sector growth is lack of expertise and maturity of tech companies in the Kingdom. Developing this is simply a function of time and is not something that can be improved by policy alone. Building the reservoir of know-how, experience, and expertise takes time, he says. As KAUST is still only 10 years old, we dont have the mature/deep alumni base that typically leads tech startup success in other regions. We do though have strategies to accelerate the maturation process and short-circuit some of the processes, tapping into international expertise. Nurturing tech talent requires efforts on multiple fronts, STVs Jakovljevic says. Its about identifying and acquiring the right talent, but then also equipping that talent for high-performing teams, having the right set of KPIs and so forth, he says. For Jakovljevic, the second big challenge is business development and sales, because many startups find it difficult to penetrate the network large conglomerates or state-owned enterprises. While efforts to develop a thriving startup ecosystem are generally hailed as an important factor in Saudis Arabias growth, not everyone is equally enamoured of efforts that focus on tech unicorns specifically. I dont think that growing tech unicorns should be the priority for Saudi Arabia. Cullen says. Instead, I believe that cultivating an ecosystem of talented, passionate entrepreneurs who want to change the world is the top priority. Its only when this ecosystem is flourishing that tech unicorn companies can follow. There is still work to be done before Saudi Arabia achieves its tech unicorn dreams, but the foundation has been set in an ecosystem that is rapidly growing, a government that is committed to cutting red tape and simplifying the process of doing business in the Kingdom, and a growing VC landscape eager to invest. Talent remains the key barrier and, in the long-term, the growth of the talent base seems set to determine whether or not Saudi becomes a hotbed for the next generation of unicorns in the Middle East. Telephone calls and yard signs will have to take the place of the traditional door-to-door campaigning during this election season. Representatives of both Martinsville-Henry County Democratic Committee and the Henry County-Martinsville Republican Committee say that the pandemic restrictions have put limits on how they are promoting their candidates this fall. Officers of the Democratic Party are Makunda Abdul-Mbacke and Suzanne Fuhrmeister, vice-chairs; Ellen Jessee, Treasurer; Thomas Salyer, secretary; and Lois Hairston, assistant secretary. The Martinsville Republican Committee and Henry County Republican Committees had been run separately but were merged during a meeting Tuesday at the Dutch Inn, according to chair Eric Phillips. Carol Stermer is the vice chair, Brenda Campbell is the treasurer and Rebecca Phillips is the secretary. Following pandemic precautions, the Democratic Committee did not rent any gathering space this year, Mbacke said, but members are at the Daily Grind to talk with people about issues and concerns each Tuesday afternoon until 5 p.m. The local Republican committee has a headquarters in the Holiday Shopping Center in Collinsville, Phillips said. A grand opening will be held there from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Hopefully we will be able to do a lot of stuff outside, Phillips said. Were trying to get some vendors in. Also, Jim McKelvey of Franklin County will bring his bus, which is covered in a Trump-Pence wrap to support the president's re-election effort. The headliner of their campaigning is of course the presidential race between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden. And the Libertarian Party candidate, Jo Jorgensen, has qualified for the ballot in Virginia, too. The 5th Congressional District, which serves an eastern sliver of Henry County and currently is a seat held by Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Charlottesville), is race between Republican Bob Good and Democrat Cameron Webb. The 9th Congressional District incumbent, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem), who represents Martinsville and western Henry County and Patrick County, is unopposed. At the GOP headquarters, we have as many as 30 people come in and out of there on any given day, Phillips said. Obviously, theyre not all in there at any given time, and those people are wearing masks. We register voters that way, give out campaign literature that way, distribute signage, he said. Some residents have given the Republicans space to put up 8-by-4-foot and 4-by-4 signs in high traffic areas, he said. Henry County is covered by the 9th and 5th Congressional Districts, he said, and in addition to the center in Collinsville, calls to fifth-district voters are made out of a victory center in Danville. The Democrats have been making a lot of phone calls, which include making sure people are registered, Mbacke said. Their call list comes from the phone numbers for registered voters, she said. We are used to going door-to-door, and we cannot do that because of fear of spreading the virus, so we as a Democratic Committee have been having our meetings online, Mbacke said. Area Democrats have been holding their meetings virtually since March, she said. Additionally, the MHC Democratic Party is active in encouraging people to vote, Mbacke said. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. Oct. 13, Mbacke said, and people who are at least 18 years old by Nov. 3 are eligible. She encouraged people to visit www.elections.virginia.gov to confirm their registration, make changes to their addresses or, in the case of felons, apply for the voting-rights restoration, which is a two-step process. The biggest thing were stressing is doing absentee ballot, and you can also vote early in person in Virginia I dont think a lot people understand that. Early voting begins Sept. 18, she said. Times and locations will be announced. Not having to vote with the crowds on Nov. 3 might help with peoples fears involving coronavirus, she said. Campaigns also have lost the public events such as Oktoberfest, where they normally would have taken opportunities to reach people, Phillips said. Both parties have Facebook pages: Henry County Republican Committee and Martinsville-Henry County Democratic Committee. Donald Trumps campaign website, DonaldJTrump.com, lists appearances Trump will make on the campaign trail. The closest Trump is scheduled to come to Martinsville is Winston-Salem, N.C., on Tuesday, according to the website. The website mobilize.us lists campaign events for Joe Biden. It lists phone banks and virtual events in cities across the country each day. That includes a virtual phone bank training held at 7 tonight, hosted by Virginia Victory. This is truly an election of a lifetime, Mbacke said. I cant think of any time when voting was more important. And on Saturday the Liberterians were starting their effort, too, with supporters of Jorgensen from Martinsville campaigning on the sidewalk -- socially distanced, of course, and masked -- around 240 Commonwealth Blvd. in Martinsville. Let the season begin. Holly Kozelsky is a writer for the Martinsville Bulletin; contact her at 276-638-8801 ext. 243. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, left, and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Nak-yon smile after their meeting at Chung's office in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap South Korea is planning for "tailored" support for some of the country's households and self-employed hit especially hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, top government and ruling party officials said Sunday. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made public the scheme in his opening remarks during a meeting with the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and senior Cheong Wa Dae officials. The session was intended for discussions on detailed plans for a second round of cash handouts, called disaster relief money. The government will provide "tailored support with no blind spots" with a focus on the vulnerable, who include the unemployed, youth, freelancers, low-income people and merchants and the self-employed, Chung said. "The government will mobilize every policy means to overcome the pending economic crisis," he added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) Four more employees of the House of Representatives have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing to 69 the total cases in the legislative chamber. Secretary General Jose Luis Montales said on Sunday one employee from the House's Finance department tested positive for the virus, after attending to a son whom they reported earlier as a confirmed case. The employee last reported for work on September 1. The second employee is from the Committee on Legislative Franchises who last reported for work on August 10. Meanwhile, the 68th reported case is Sorsogon 2nd District Rep. Ditas Ramos, who was confirmed to have caught the coronavirus after developing symptoms, according to Montales. The fourth employee is a Congressional staff member, who last went to the House of Representatives on September 2. The secretary general said the employee experienced chills, body pain, and fever after doing some work outside HRep (House of Representatives) on September 3. Montales said contact tracing is ongoing. There are currently 18 active cases among the House staff and employees. On Saturday, 1-PACMAN Partylist Rep. Eric Pineda bared that he had tested positive, making him the 65th case, and the seventh congressman who had caught the virus. In a message, Pineda asked those who have had direct contact with him in the last five days to take the necessary minimum health protocols. A poster of "The Eight Hundred" [Photo courtesy of Huayi Brothers Media] Guan Hu's "The Eight Hundred" has become a phenomenal war epic and the biggest film of the 2020 summer season, but it is a success that has been hard earned. By Saturday night, the film had grossed 2.32 billion yuan in the Chinese mainland, a remarkable triumph considering it was released amid the pandemic, and every cinema has only been able to have half of seats available under social distancing requirements. Even so, it is the highest grossing-film of the summer and so far for this year. However, for actress Liang Jing, who is also producer and wife of the film's director Guan Hu, the stunning box-office performance is "just a figure" as she witnessed every twist and turn along the way from preparation to debut and triumph. "For its creators, the important thing is that the film has finally come out to be seen by many people," she said. Liang recalled Guan had an idea to make this film even before 2010, and the film's first script draft was written in 2011, and got approval for production in 2013; however, it only started shooting in 2017 - a film in the making for nearly a decade. There were more setbacks, twists and turns than they imagined, such as how film set construction was suspended due to heavy rain, and how the film was delayed for release since last year, then encountered the COVID-19 pandemic. Even Huayi Brothers Media, the major investor and producer, was once hesitant about the project, as war genre films were considered unprofitable in China. But the company was attracted by the script's perspective and uniqueness, and the producers were persuaded by Guan Hu to come on board after becoming moved by his strong desire to present humanity and the national spirit behind conflict. A film still from "The Eight Hundred." Set during last phase of the Battle of Shanghai in 1937, the film recounts the story of the more than 400 Chinese soldiers defending the Sihang Warehouse against the invading Japanese army. [Photo courtesy of Huayi Brothers Media] After receiving a copy of the script, another producer Cheng Wu, vice-president of Tencent Group and CEO of Tencent Pictures, was fascinated by the story. In his view, "The Eight Hundred" has reached new heights in terms of narrative and technology in addition to its expression of the national spirit. At the peak, there were more than 1,500 people in the film's crew, and more than 5,000 extras were hired. In the large-scale scenes, they had to direct more than 1,000 people to act, which was very hard. With the high demands in regard to details, the budget quickly increased, and they even rented the advanced IMAX camera to shoot the film in its entirety. Liang tried to help Guan prevent it from spinning out of control. At the height of the fight against the pandemic, when everyone was waiting for cinemas to reopen, Guan Hu wrote five other scripts at home and, edited details of "The Eight Hundred" time after time in the cutting room. Producers, distributors and promoters of the film were continuously preparing for the day when the film would see the light of day. Huayi Brothers was also in its own downward spiral into a dire situation. It lost 143 million yuan in the first quarter in 2020, according to its earnings report published in April. It had released no decent blockbusters for a whole year in 2019 and suffered a stunning loss of almost four billion yuan on the stock market. If this year turns out unprofitable, the company risks a delisting from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. "The Eight Hundred" was obviously their last hope. When the film finally reached the screens, everyone was deeply relieved and cried at the premiere, feeling it the "greatest honor" to have ever participated and involved in the project. The film debuted and immediately got full support from everyone in the Chinese film industry and the audience. Cheng Wu was overwhelmed by the support. "Thank you to so many fellow industry partners and more than 40 million audiences for helping us complete this journey." Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 16:30:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Peter Mertz, Huang Heng DENVER, the United States, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- An unprecedented and unrelenting heatwave is expected to hit America's West Coast over Labor Day weekend. "Hundreds of heat records are likely to be broken," said CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri Saturday, adding "some of these records stand no chance." The heatwave will affect about 100 million people, including residents from nearly all California and most places stretching from Arizona to Oregon, according to reports. "The heat out West this summer, its intensity and longevity, has been nothing short of amazing," Javaheri added. California declared a state of emergency Friday as there were warnings that the Golden State faced historic heat and possible power outages. The National Weather Service office in Los Angeles warned Friday of "rare, dangerous very possible deadly" heat across the region with "highs around Los Angeles" possibly hitting 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) on Saturday and Sunday." All predictions turned out to be ture. In Woodland Hills, the mercury climbed to 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) by 3 p.m. Saturday (2200 GMT), making it the hottest day ever recorded there in September, breaking the record of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius) set in 1979. The mercury soared even higher to the east, with Palm Springs hitting 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) and Indio 121 degrees Fahrenheit (49.4 degrees Celsius). Officials said at least three areas tied or topped all-time record highs: Alpine, El Cajon and Idyllwild. The temperatures were expected to climb even higher in some places on Sunday, reaching 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48.3 degrees Celsius) in Woodland Hills, and 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.5 degrees Celsius) in Pasadena, said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Even Northern California will be sweltering. Redding, a city 900 km north of Los Angeles, experienced temperatures in the triple digits, reaching 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, and the figure could rise higher on Sunday. Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona state, hit 114 degrees Fahrenheit (45.5 degrees Celsius) Friday, breaking the previous record of 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) set in 1945 and 2019. The meteorologists said a dangerous heatwave would continue across much of the state as strong high pressure remains across the region and an excessive heat warning would run through Monday. Moreover, by Tuesday, a strong trough and associated cold front will dive southbound from Canada into the northern Rockies. This will produce early snow for the northern part of America's West, such as Wyoming and Colorado. The National Weather Service's Boulder office in Colorado tweeted Saturday afternoon that Denver's temperature had ticked up to 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius), breaking the record for September, at 98 degrees Fahrenheit (36.7 degrees Celsius) set just last year. The weather service said at the same time snow is in the forecast for Tuesday as temperatures fall of a cliff into the 30s. Tuesday's overnight low could be 28 degrees Fahrenheit (-2.2 degrees Celsius), 73 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 degrees Celsius) colder than Saturday afternoon. The first U.S. media outlet to sound the alarm about the extreme, summer-ending hot conditions was the Washington Post, reporting Aug. 17 that "over 56 million Americans are under some sort of heat alert ... record heat, fires and severe storms plague California." That "plague" has not abated, but increased, as forest fires have devastated the region. This summer, record-large wildfires have swept America's West, with Colorado and California getting hit the worst. The largest wildfire in Colorado state history was still smoldering Saturday. It has burned more than 140,000 acres of wilderness and is 85 percent contained, said Inciweb. With California experiencing another devastating wildfire season, Governor Gavin Newsom's emergency declaration on extreme heat wave also asked residents "to conserve power between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., when demand is highest." Enditem The Border Security Force (BSF) recovered over 1,200 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, a banned drug, from near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Malda district and apprehended a smuggler in this connection, an official said on Saturday. During patrolling in the India-Bangladesh Border Road (IBBR) area, the BSF personnel nabbed the person while he was trying to smuggle cough syrup bottles into the neighbouring country. "In Malda district, troops of the Nawada border outpost apprehended an Indian smuggler with 100 bottles of Phensedyl and a mobile phone," an official said. Additional 1,181 bottles of cough syrup were also recovered from the area during a search operation, he said. "The market price of seized Phensedyl bottles is more than Rs two lakh," he added. Singer Ian Brown is facing a backlash after one of his tweets appeared to suggest he was against coronavirus vaccines, lockdowns and face masks. The former Stone Roses frontman, 57, sparked outrage when he posted: "NO LOCKDOWN NO TESTS NO TRACKS NO MASKS NO VAX #researchanddestroy." Fellow musicians and other Twitter users said they were "gutted" Brown was apparently supporting "anti-vaxxer" (anti-vaccine) views. He has not yet elaborated on the post, which received thousands of comments, likes and shares. The Reverend and The Makers Twitter account posted: "I love Ian Brown so much. Bit gutted he's tweeted that tbh". One of his fans wrote: "Love your music Ian but I am seriously hoping you've been hacked." Another one commented: "I wish my teen music heroes would stop turning into t***s." Brown's ex-bandmate John Squire appeared to counterbalance the Ian Brown tweet with a safety warning. He posted: "Wear a mask. stay safe. Look after yourself and others #morecambeandwise." But there were a number of people who tweeted their support of Brown. One of them said: "The amount of sheeple in this thread is unreal, the bloke is speaking the truth. 99% of people didn't wear a mask at its 'peak' now everyone is on the bandwagon, you are all about government compliance, get a grip man." Others posted "Amen" and "Amazing. God Bless". However, he continued to be criticised by many for using his platform irresponsibly. One person wrote: "Yeah let's all die from preventable diseases like it's the year 1348 [when the Black Death hit]." DJ Dave Haslam pointed out that fellow musician Toots Hibbert, of the band Toots And The Maytals, was recently placed in intensive care in Jamaica as a result of coronavirus. Last Saturday, hundreds of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square in central London carrying anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown placards. Piers Corbyn, the elder brother of former Labour leader Jeremy, was among 11 people told they could be fined 10,000 for organising the march and breaking coronavirus regulations. A recent poll revealed that only 53% of Britons would be certain or very likely to get a COVID-19 vaccine. King's College London and Ipsos Mori researchers, who polled 2,237 people between 16 and 75, blamed "damaging misperceptions" on the low uptake. Three teenagers have been charged after an off-duty police officer was stabbed in Sydney's inner-west in the early hours of Sunday morning. The female sergeant stopped to assist a distressed teenage girl on Alice Street in Newtown about 1am before she was confronted by a group of teenagers. She was then allegedly stabbed in the torso and taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition. After an investigation by the Inner West Police Area Command, three teenagers allegedly involved in the incident were arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station. A 14-year-old girl from Marrickville has been charged with common assault. She has been refused bail and will appear in a childrens court on Monday. The flag at Hamilton City Hall is flying at half-mast in memory of former Ward 2 councillor and award-winning author Vince Agro, who died on Friday. Agro was 83. Mayor Fred Eisenberger remembered Agro as a community champion who was instrumental in the construction of Hamilton Place, the downtown performance venue that has attracted top-tier performers to Hamilton and is the permanent home of the citys philharmonic orchestra. Eisenberger noted Agro himself was a gifted pianist and lover of opera who would often entertain council colleagues with music during breaks in council meetings. I had the pleasure of not only serving with Vince on city and regional council, but he also was my English teacher during his brief stint in education. Vince was a good friend and adviser to me, and I will miss him dearly, Eisenberger said. Hamilton has lost a passionate advocate for our community and our people. My sincere condolences to Vinces family, friends and loved ones on his passing. Described by his family as a modern-day Renaissance man, Agro was a presence on the political scene for parts of three decades, representing Ward 2 from 1970 to 1976 and again from 1978 to 1997. After Mayor Vic Copps suffered a heart attack in 1976, Agro took over as acting mayor, later falling short to Jack MacDonald in his bid for the job. Outside of politics, Agro taught high school English and founded Agro Insurance Inc., one of the provinces leading insurance and employee benefits consulting companies. Agro was born and raised in Hamiltons North End, the area he would later represent on council. Ward 2 was a centre of Italian immigration to the city that became the setting of Agros first novel, The Good Doctor, a finalist for the 2012 Giller Prize Readers Choice contest and winner of the 2012 F.G. Bressani Literary Prize for Fiction, which honours Canadian writers of Italian descent. The acclaimed novel told the story of a doctor who battled fascist stirrings in Second World War-era Hamilton, set against the backdrop of prejudice faced by the citys Italian population. As a councillor, Agro led the effort to make Hamilton a twin city of Racalmuto, Sicily, where his parents, Grace and Sam Agro, were born and from where many Hamiltonians emigrated. His 2014 memoir, In Graces Kitchen, blended stories of his upbringing in Hamilton with his mothers Italian recipes. Agro remained connected to the political scene in retirement, penning columns and letters in the Spectator in support of expanding the citys rapid transit through the LRT. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Angeline Gravino, and their son Anthony, along with three grandchildren and son-in-law Charlie Lopresti. Daughter Jennine Agro-Lopresti died in 2009. Former councillor Terry Cooke, now the CEO of the Hamilton Community Foundation, took to Twitter to offer his condolences to the Agro family and remember his council colleague. Vince Agro was a tireless champion for Hamilton. He was also an author and a lover of the arts, literature and most of all, his family, Cooke said. I was so lucky to serve on council with Vince and call him both a mentor and a friend. We wont see his likes again. NEW MILFORD A beloved member of the New Milford clergy has retired as a priest, but parishioners will still be able to see him on the small screen. The Rev. Jack Gilpin, who has been rector at St. Johns Episcopal Church since 2012, will be a series regular on the upcoming HBO series The Gilded Age, scheduled to premiere in 2021. Gilpin was tapped to play Church, a butler, in the new drama series from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. The show takes place in 1882, against the backdrop of the American Gilded Age, a period of immense economic change when huge fortunes were made and lost, according to the HBO website. Gilpin has pursued an acting career since the 1980s, and is credited with roles in Law & Order, 21, Adventureland, The Night Of, and The Equalizer, and even voiced a character in the 1998 Disney film Mulan. Last Sunday, Gilpin stood behind the pulpit and shared his last sermon with the New Milford congregation. The Roxbury resident, who began as priest-in-charge and later became rector, said he has been thinking about retirement for a while and the timing is right. I think what I will miss most about Jack is, he has a deep spiritual connection, longtime parishioner Flora Quammie said. You just feel connected with him. She added, He took very good care of our congregation ... our spiritual needs and he was a friend. Jim Rains, clerk of the vestry, the churchs governing body, said Gilpins compassion was always in evidence and cited his insightful and thoughtful sermons and the importance of nurturing our relationship with God. Parishioners also emphasized Gilpins drive to be an active participant at the church, where he changed lightbulbs, washed the walls in classrooms and painted whatever needed to painted. Gilpin said he and his wife, Ann McDonough, will focus more on his acting career and family, especially since they will welcome their first grandchild in December. We are excitedly looking forward to that, he said. The first interaction many parishioners and community members had with Gilpin was at Paul Tall Paul Rakes funeral. Rake was homeless and was loved in town and at the church. This was Jacks first time delivering the funeral mass, and the solemnity and power that he brought to the service for a homeless man he hadnt yet had time to meet was startling and unforgettable, Rains said. As so often happened around Jack, one felt the unmistakable presence of the Spirit, he said. A few weeks later, and a few days after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Gilpin was ordained at St. Johns. No one would have thought it unusual if he had postponed for a few weeks, but as Jack put it at the time, This is what I signed up for, Rains said. Gilpin said although he is stepping away from parish life, he will remain supportive and active in the community life of the Episcopal Diocese. He said hell will miss the relationships with parishioners and his involvement with many community activities, including his seat as chair of the Loaves and Fishes Hospitality House board for the past four years. Leaving the congregation will be difficult, he said, especially since the Episcopal Diocese requires a priest to create distance between himself or herself and the parish, its parishioners and community life for a year provide an adjustment for the parish to bond with the new priest. The process to install a new priest is underway, Gilpin said. The reward is in the relationships you form and the way the people invite you into their lives, Gilpin said. Youre part of their highest highs and their lowest lows, and that is a blessing and privilege that is indescribable. Gilpin said when he came aboard at St. Johns, he saw the church as being a place where the front door was open, where things are happening and it is a part of the larger community. I have always said life isnt about church, but the church is about life, and thats what I wanted it to be, he said, to be open and breathing and connected to the community. To that end, Gilpin became involved with Loaves and Fishes, was present for many town activities and supported the local homeless population. Quammie acknowledged Gilpins activism. He was also very involved in the community that was a passion of his, that wasnt just the church, that was him, Quammie said. He was very community minded. The Rev. Alex da Silva Souto, pastor of the New Milford United Methodist Church, described Gilpin as a model of community engagement. Every project that benefit the community he was somehow involved, de Silva Souto said. He was always willing immediately to respond to any other need or project that came up. He was the first one to say, Ill jump on board. His faithfulness, commitment to social justice and his love for community is really admirable and hes going to be missed, sorely missed, da Silva Souto said. I wish him the best in his new chapter in life. Meteorologists' confidence is increasing hot, desiccating winds will pick up in the greater Bay Area Monday night at the tail end of a heat wave that's sending inland temperatures into the 100s. The offshore wind event could significantly increase the risk of wildfires. PG&E has a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) watch in effect beginning Sept. 7, indicating a period of adverse weather combined with dry fuels on the ground is being monitored. "To be clear, a Public Safety Power Shutoff event has NOT been called," PG&E spokesperson Evelyn Escalera said in a statement. "No specific areas have been pinpointed and no customers have been notified at this time. On our 7-Day PSPS Potential Forecast, publicly available on a webpage (www.pge.com/weather), we have raised the potential status to 'Elevated.'" California's largest utility company has said power shutoffs in 2020 will impact fewer customers and be shorter in duration compared to last year's events when some customers were in the dark for days. "In 2020, we are aiming to cut restoration times in half over 2019 performance, so that we restore power to a majority of customers within 12 daylight hours after severe weather has passed," PG&E said in a statement on its website. Blustery conditions are forecast to develop Monday night and continue into Wednesday morning with winds of 25-45 mph in the North Bay and East Bay hills and Santa Cruz Mountains likely. "It's a moderate offshore wind event, but the problem is that it's coming right after a strong heat event," said Will Pi, a forecaster with the National Weather Service. "This combination will cause the problems for fire risk. The heat could generate new fires and then the winds could help spread flames." The National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch for the East Bay hills, North Bay mountains and the Santa Cruz Mountains 10 p.m. Monday through 8 a.m. Wednesday. Some of the most destructive blazes in the state in recent years were started by PG&E power lines. Winds can knock down live wires and power poles or drive trees and other vegetation into contact with them. To receive outage alerts via email or text, visit the PG&E website. Amy Graff is the news editor for SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Coronavirus Update: India registered the highest single-day spike of 90,633 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the national caseload past 41-lakh mark. India registered the highest single-day spike of 90,633 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the national caseload past 41-lakh mark, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. With 1,065 more deaths in the last 24 hours, the cumulative toll reached 70,626. The total case tally stands at 41,13,812 including 8,62,320 active cases, 31,80,866 cured/discharged/migrated. The active cases in Maharashtra have reached 2,21,012 followed by Andhra Pradesh at 1,00,880. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 10,92,654 samples were tested for the pathogen on September 5, and over 4.88 crore samples have been tested so far. On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry said that Indias Case Fatality Rate has touched 1.73 per cent following a gradient of steady and sustained decline. Also read: Need to work with both josh and patience: Army Chief to jawans at LAC Also read: Apart from borders, Indias security to be maintained in extended neighbourhood: Gen Rawat According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 10,59,346 samples were tested for the pathogen on September 4, and over 4.77 crore samples have been tested so far. On Friday, the Union Health Ministry said that Indias Case Fatality Rate has touched 1.74 per cent following a gradient of steady and sustained decline. Karnataka has reported 9,746 new COVID-19 cases and 128 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking active cases to 99,617. There have been 2,83,298 recoveries and 6,298 deaths, according to the State Health Department. Jammu and Kashmir has reported 1,251 new COVID-19 cases today; 739 from Jammu division and 512 from Kashmir division. Total number of cases os now at 42241 including 9,547 active cases, 31,924 recoveries and 770 deaths, said Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Tamil Nadu has reported 5,870 new COVID-19 cases, 5,859 discharges and 61 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking active cases to 51,583, discharges to 3,98,366 and death toll to 7,748, said State Health Department. As many as 3,543 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Odisha in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of positive cases in the state to 1,20,221, the health department informed on Saturday. The total figure includes 90,331 people who have recovered and 29,299 active cases. So far, 538 lives have been claimed by the infectious virus. As many as 718 new coronavirus cases were reported in Rajasthan till 10:30 am on Saturday, taking the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state to 88,515, said the State Health Department. A total of 2,511 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths were reported in Telangana on September 4, taking the total number of cases to 1,38,395 in the state. As many as 1,515 new COVID-19 positive cases and 69 deaths have been reported in Punjab today. Total number of cases is now at 61527 and death toll at 1808, said the Punjab Government. As many as 234 new COVID-19 positive cases and one death has been reported in Chandigarh today. Total number of cases is now at 5,502 including 2,140 active cases and 69 deaths, said Health Department, Chandigarh. A total of 258 more Maharashtra police personnel have tested COVID-19 positive while 2 died in the last 24 hours. Total number of positive cases in the police force rose to 16,401 including 2,789 active cases, 13,446 recoveries and 166 deaths till date, said Maharashtra Police. As many as 950 new COVID-19 positive cases have been reported in Uttarakhand today, taking the total number of cases to 23,961, said State Control Room COVID-19. Andhra Pradesh has reported 10,825 new COVID-19 cases and 71 deaths in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases now is 4,87,331 including 1,00,880 active cases, 3,82,104 recoveries and 4347 deaths, according to the State Health Department. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Rhea Chakraborty summoned by NCB, asked to join investigation today Organized by United Vapers Alliance, advocates peacefully protested to show the world that "We Vape, We Vote" is a movement that has the influence to disrupt the upcoming election with millions of potential votes up for grabs. The vaping advocates vowed to continue to push elected officials to reject prohibitionist policies that threaten access to life-saving vapor products. "If President Trump does not deliver on real reform at FDA, he is not only risking the destruction of an American industry, but he will be also be creating a situation where millions of adult ex-smokers could return to deadly combustible cigarettes," said Dimitris Agrafiotis, who serves as executive director of the Tennessee Smoke-Free Association. "HHS Secretary Alex Azar has pledged PMTA reform, but he failed to deliver. Now, it is up to President Trump to stop the FDA from destroying 99% of the industry and leaving 160,000 Americans unemployed in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic." Despite fearmongering by special interest groups, vapor products manufacturers are not Big Tobacco and their technology products should not be subject to the same regulations. Studies have repeatedly shown that vapor products expose users to a tiny fraction of the harmful chemicals that cigarettes contain. Millions of adults throughout the United Sates have successfully quit smoking cigarettes because of vaping products. Over 20 vaping consumer advocates shared life-changing stories during the rally on their journey to vaping and how it has positively impacted their friends and family since switching to a tobacco-free lifestyle. They were also joined by featured speakers and leaders in the industry Dimitris Agrafiotis, executive director of the Tennessee Smoke-Free Association; Amanda Wheeler, president of Rocky Mountain Smoke-Free Alliance; and Gregory Conley, president of American Vaping Association. This is UVA's second annual Save the Vape rally and they continue to ask vaping advocates from across the nation to call the White House Switchboard and say, "We Vape, We Vote". About United Vapors Alliance United Vapers Alliance (UVA) educates the public and politicians regarding the benefits of harm reduction via vapor products, and strongly conveys that changes must be made, within the FDA, to provide an economically feasible pathway to market. Currently, the FDA pathway to market is not obtainable for small and medium size manufacturers. The only entities that can afford the FDA pathway to market is Big Tobacco, while more than 11,000 family owned vapor businesses will shut their doors. Left unchallenged, 99% of the vapor products, will exit the market in September 2020. UVA does this via social media, public events and grassroots activism. For more information about UVA, please visit unitedvapersalliance.org and @AllianceVapers on Twitter and @UnitedAllianceVapers on Facebook. Media Contact: Abigal Anello, [email protected] SOURCE United Vapers Alliance Related Links https://unitedvapersalliance.org LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. 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 EnerSys (NYSE:ENS) is about to go ex-dividend in just 3 days. If you purchase the stock on or after the 10th of September, you won't be eligible to receive this dividend, when it is paid on the 25th of September. EnerSys's next dividend payment will be US$0.17 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$0.70 to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, EnerSys has a trailing yield of 1.0% on the current stock price of $70. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! So we need to investigate whether EnerSys can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. Check out our latest analysis for EnerSys 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. EnerSys paid out just 24% of its profit last year, which we think is conservatively low and leaves plenty of margin for unexpected circumstances. Yet cash flow is typically more important than profit for assessing dividend sustainability, so we should always check if the company generated enough cash to afford its dividend. The good news is it paid out just 13% of its free cash flow in the last year. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Businesses with shrinking earnings are tricky from a dividend perspective. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're discomforted by EnerSys's 6.0% per annum decline in earnings in the past five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks. Story continues Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Since the start of our data, seven years ago, EnerSys has lifted its dividend by approximately 4.9% a year on average. Final Takeaway Is EnerSys an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? Earnings per share are down meaningfully, although at least the company is paying out a low and conservative percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. It's definitely not great to see earnings falling, but at least there may be some buffer before the dividend needs to be cut. In summary, while it has some positive characteristics, we're not inclined to race out and buy EnerSys today. With that in mind, a critical part of thorough stock research is being aware of any risks that stock currently faces. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for EnerSys you should be aware of. We wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see, though. Here's a list of interesting 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. Eugene McCabe was the greatest writer of my generation and when I heard of his recent death I recalled something my late friend, Patricia Redlich, told me at the height of the Provisional IRA campaign. Patricia, a woman so wise she would have been burned as a witch in the Middle Ages, said that of the two kinds of sins, commission and omission, the sin of omission was the worst. She meant that while committing an IRA murder was bad, omitting to condemn the murders for the sake of social comfort was worse because it created a climate of moral evil. Let me start with my own minor sin of omission: postponing a tribute to Eugene McCabe I had planned to do in June but which I kept putting on the back burner to deal with matters more trivial. Back in June, reading his Heaven Lies About Us, it struck me he was nearly 90, and I suddenly wanted to tell him how much I admired him, not merely as a writer, but as a man. There is no need to dwell on his genius as a writer. No one who read Christ in the Fields - filmed as the Victims trilogy on RTE in 1977 - or who saw Garry Hynes's Druid production of King of the Castle in 2017, could doubt McCabe ranked with John McGahern and Patrick Kavanagh. All I need do to prove his power as a writer is to quote the first sentence of Death and Nightingales: "A lack of bird-call, a sense of encroaching light and then far away the awful dawn bawling of a beast in great pain." But my main purpose here is to praise Eugene McCabe as a writer who stood sentinel on the bloodiest part of the Border as the sectarian murder campaign in south Fermanagh etched deep lines into his face. In doing so, I run the risk of sniffing from the literary coteries who retreat from the real world repeating the mantra: "Well, it's only his writing that matters." Luckily, I can cite McCabe's own belief that writers must not hide from history, as quoted in an insightful interview with Adrienne Leavy in The Irish Times in 2017: "In recent times, since the outbreak of the Troubles in the North, I am very conscious that I am a writer living on the Border. There is no way a writer can turn his back on what is happening around him. All other themes seem trivial to what is happening around us." Henry Patterson, in his classic Ireland's Violent Frontier, has shown how - contrary to what we are told - it was the Protestant small farmers who were in a minority, subjected to what Sir Kenneth Bloomfield described as ethnic cleansing. McCabe lived his literary life with almost daily murders a few miles away. He understood both communities' bigotry, but never excused the IRA, who used bigotry to shed blood. Pity the literary fence-sitters would not do the same. Many of them, along with our historians and journalists, seem to see the peace process as a permission to retrospectively sit on the fence about the morality of the IRA campaign with a bit of Brit-bashing on the side. The process of sanitising the IRA, past and present, is usually done by omission. Thus, paying tribute to John McGahern, a score of critics omitted (censored) his consistent contempt for sectarian IRA murders. But facing the big moral issue of your time, be it the Nazis or the IRA campaign, is what finally decides whether a writer is just a good writer or a great writer. A great novel is like a cross. The thick, vertical beam deals with the personal; the horizontal crossbeam deals with the public. The horizontal crossbeam must not dominate - the most minimal evocation of history will do - but no great writer omits it. Jane Austen never shirks the social condition of women faced by marriage or poverty; Dickens tackles the industrial revolution; Mark Twain does not shirk the race issue. Writers living in a time when moral choices have to be made - whether about slavery in the 19th Century, Germany in the 1930s, or the IRA campaign - turn their heads away at their peril. In bad times, merely good writers will take refuge in the purely personal in a kind of political lockdown. But great writers like Thomas Mann in Germany or Eugene McCabe face up to evil so as to protect the personal. McCabe had a sure grasp of the realities of history and politics. He knew that for all the waffle about peacemakers, the USA was the driver of the process. "The mass emigration of a million impoverished Irish during the Famine backfired into a strong Irish-American lobby which brought about the Good Friday Agreement. It was pressure on London from this lobby that ended the violence." Asked by Adrienne Leavy about Brexit, he was both pragmatic and positive. "It's too early to guess what the reaction will be, but I imagine the remnants of the IRA will creep out of the woodwork and try to revive the murder and mayhem. I doubt if they'll get any public support." But whether the Recurring IRA gets public support depends on our broadcasters not giving the Provisional IRA a retrospective absolution. The RTE of the 1970s was a pluralist station which could make a pluralist masterpiece like Victims. The RTE of the 2020s is a nationalist station which makes documentaries that dodge dealing with the dark downsides of Martin McGuinness. The film failed the first test of any fair biography of McGuinness - it did not deal fully with two of the three murders that would have ruined his reputation. True, it did deal with the almost ritually sadistic murder of Patsy Gillespie. This was the murder that moved another Northern writer, Benedict Kiely, to write his best novel, Proxopera. But it did not even briefly mention the cruel slaying of census taker Joanne Mathers (29), a married woman who left a small child and a broken-hearted husband behind. Lowry Mathers should have been asked by RTE to repeat what he said on the record about McGuinness. "When I see people on television, even unionists, saying how great he is I just get up and turn off the television." Lowry was most likely referring to Ian Paisley Jr, who paid tribute to McGuinness, saying his "remarkable journey not only saved lives, but made the lives of countless people better". Like me, Lowry Mathers has no time for fashionable forgiveness, so much easier if the victim is not a member of your own family. But the most striking sin of omission was RTE's failure to insist the documentary dealt with the murder of informer Frank Hegarty who was lured back to Derry, and death, after McGuinness had promised Hegarty's mother Rose that he would be safe. The Hegarty case could have been covered briefly in two minutes by simply citing a report in the national archives by a Department of Foreign Affairs official who had met Bishop Daly of Derry to ask about the murder. Bishop Daly said McGuinness normally "didn't get his hands dirty" but had run out of "henchmen" in Derry. The bishop added that these actions would make McGuinness "vulnerable if he were to come under media scrutiny". Luckily for St Martin's reputation, RTE came to the same conclusion. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: Criticising the Narendra Modi led NDA government, Shiv Sena said blaming god for their own failure and mismanagement of handling the Indian economy is an insult to Hindutva. Why god has been blamed to cover up the failure of the BJP led government? Is this the Hindutva of BJP to blame the god for their own failure? If god is responsible, then in which court, the trial will be conducted, said Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut. Raut pointed out that Modi has been talking on many issues in his Man Ki Bat Program but evading the topic of a crumbling economy and its side effect. The notebadi and GST finished our vibrant economy. But the finance minister rather than blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she blamed god for economic failure. We live in the 21st century and follow the reformist ideology of Dr BR Ambedkar, Phule and Prabodhakar, so there is no question of believing in BJPs blaming to god Hindutva for covering up own failure, said Raut. Raut said that the "Act of god" term is generally used for legal argument in court. He said, An act of god is a natural catastrophe, which no one can prevent such as an earthquake, a tidal wave, a volcanic eruption, a hurricane and tornado. Acts of god has legal significance because Act of god is a legal excuse for delay or failure to fulfil an obligation or to complete the construction project, said Raut. He said that the government is not elected to teach patriotism but to take care of citizens. If the government lifts its hand, then where people will go to get the justice and fulfil its demand, asks Sena leader. With a record spike in new cases in the country, which on Sunday became the world's second most COVID-affected country, the Union rushed teams to and Union Territory of Chandigarh, which has seen a surge in cases and fatalities. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) decided to rush central teams to assist the assist the State/UT in strengthening public health measures for containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of COVID-19 patients with the aim to reduce mortality and save lives. They shall also guide the State/UT in effectively addressing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up. "The two-member teams will comprise of a Community Medicine expert from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, and an epidemiologist from the National for Disease Control (NCDC). The team will be stationed for ten days to provide extended guidance in managing COVID-19," the minister said in a statement. has reported a total of 60,013 cases, whereas it has 15,731 active Cases, on date. It has registered 1739 deaths. The Testing Per Million (TPM) figure for the State is 37,546 (India's average figure is 34,593.1 at present). With 4.97 per cent, it hovers at the lower spectrum of cumulative positivity. The Union Territory of is reporting 2,095 active cases whereas its cumulative cases stand at 5,268. Testing Per Million and cumulative positivity stand at 38,054 and 11.99 per cent, respectively. The is actively supporting the States/UTs that are seeing a sudden surge in the number of COVID cases and those that are reporting high mortality by deputing multi-sectoral Central teams. On August 31, rushed central teams to Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The teams interact with the field authorities to get a first-hand understanding of the challenges and issues being faced by them. (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.) CONTRECOEUR, QUE.Police in Quebecs Monteregie region are asking for help identifying a cyclist who was involved in a serious collision Saturday night. The Richelieu-Saint-Laurent police force says the young man was hit by a car just before 10 p.m. Saturday on a poorly lit road in Contrecoeur, Que., about 40 kilometres northeast of Montreal. They say the man did not have any identification on him when the incident occurred, and was knocked unconscious. Police spokesman Sylvain Lachapelle says the cyclist is Black and believed to be between the ages of 15 and 22. Lachapelle says the young man was wearing a black hoodie, dark blue jeans and Nike running shoes, and was riding a grey and metallic green Peugeot bicycle. He was taken to hospital in critical condition, then transferred to Montreals Sacre-Coeur Hospital. Police are asking anyone with information about the cyclists identity to call 450-536-3333. Read more about: Everything you need to know about skiing the Northeast this winter Whether you want to stay close to home or head north, here's everything you need to know about skiing or snowboarding in the Northeast and New York this season. A female police officer was allegedly stabbed by three teenagers in a midnight inner city attack. The off-duty sergeant was allegedly confronted by two 15-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl on Alice Street in Newtown in Sydney at about 1am on Sunday. She was tending to a distressed teenage girl on the street when the group approached, leaving the policewoman with a stab wound to her torso. The police officer was treated by NSW ambulance paramedics at the scene before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a serious but stable condition. An off-duty policewoman was allegedly stabbed by three teenagers on Alice Street (pictured) in Newtown overnight She is attached to a specialist command from NSW Police. Detectives launched an investigation into the incident before they arrested three teenagers and took them to Newtown Police Station. A 15-year-old Randwick boy from was charged with reckless wounding, possess prohibited drug, and enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse. He was refused bail and will appear in a children's court on Monday. A 14-year-old girl from Marrickville was charged with common assault. She was also refused bail and will appear in a children's court on Monday. A 15-year-old boy from Punchbowl was also charged with enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse. He was granted bail to appear in a children's court on September 21. Editor: After reading an article in this newspaper (July 26 Observer, Governor should allow kids to go back to school in person by N.M. Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho) and the same article in the Albuquerque Journal by a New Mexico senator from the Rio Rancho area, I had to consider responding to what was said and to what was not said. The senator was a proponent of get our students back to school in person. Many of us agree, but remember we are dealing with a pandemic virus. Parents, teachers, school staff, school bus transportation, say yes, it would be nice, but let us not forget that COVID-19 has already killed over 145,000 in the U.S. and over 650,000 around the world. As we go forward in the coming school year, this subject has been addressed by many people since we had to close the schools as of March 13. The governor, the Department of Public Education, the teachers unions and all the school districts throughout New Mexico started working diligently to find the best way to educate our students safely during this deadly pandemic. Surveys were sent out to parents for their very important input about the education of their children during this pandemic virus. We received information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. We received information from other states of the nation and other countries around the world on how to go forward educating our students safely during a pandemic. You as parents will always have the last say as to what is the best educational option for your children. What I found missing in the article by the senator is the safety element for not only students but also all others in the community, especially all of the educators of our children. Yes, it was pointed out that the American Academy of Pediatrics has a report recommending guidelines for schools to reopen. Remember the words recommending guidelines. I believe that all the school districts in New Mexico are reviewing any and all guidelines from many sources on how to do this in the safest way possible. Parents do have options available as to how they want to move forward in knowing that each and every school district will make school safety their No. 1 priority. I would like all parents to fully understand that your decision belongs to you. Take on the responsibility to educate yourself about this pandemic and how to protect yourself, your children, along with friends and relatives. Once you determine what is right for your family on this important subject, consider getting involved and expressing your own thoughts and ideas. Parent, please do not allow any person in politics, or other person or organization, to push you in a position that you believe is not correct for you and your family. Get as much information as you can, because this virus will continue for some time until an effective vaccine is available. Do not let your children, yourself and family become victims of this deadly virus. Thomas E. Carter Rio Rancho It goes without saying that the Covid-19 induced lockdown brought things to a standstill instantly across the board. But among a very few, who continued to work throughout, in some way or the other, is Nikkhil Advani. Not just the filmmaker himself, his team as well as his Andheri [Mumbai] office has been functioning for weeks now. And Advani is happy that he didnt let the lockdown completely dampen his spirits. We have been continuously working, for weeks now. And Im happy that we continued to function throughout, as it kept me as well as my team in great spirits. As I always maintained, for how long anyone could have locked themselves at home? In fact, my office, too, has been continuously open, with my team constantly working from there, says Advani, who has a number of projects films as well as web shows in pre or post production stages. While Kaashvie Nair-directed Arjun Kapoor-Rakul Preet Singh starrer went back on floors last week, the edit work on Kiara Advani-starrer Indoo Ki Jawani is believed to be over. Milap [Milan Zaveri; director of Satyameva Jayate series] recently went to Lucknow for recce of Satyameva Jayate 2 [starring John Abraham], so that will start soon. Then, we have a show with Naseeruddin Shah [directed by Gauravv K Chawla] and then, the other series on Mughals is slated to start soon with Shabanaji [Azmi], says Advani, who is also working on his next directorial, Gorkha starring Abraham. Advani, whose co-production Bell Bottom [starring Akshay Kumar] is currently on floors in the UK, feels great that from next onwards, a number of other filmmakers are also readying to start work. With all the social distancing measures etc. in place, we all have to start functioning at some point. Peoples work has already suffered a lot, he concludes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russia's capital has confirmed 13 new deaths of patients infected with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the total tally of deaths to 4,891 on Saturday, September 6. As per reports, Moscow's COVID-19 response center said, "Another 13 patients, who were diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus infection, died in Moscow". READ: Tsikhanouskaya Warns Russia Against Interfering Rising death toll According to the John Hopkins coronavirus tally, Russia has 1,011,987 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with the death tally soaring up to 17,598. Russia's COVID-19 cases tally surpassed one million mark on September 1 after schools, colleges and other educational institutes were reopened. According to John Hopkins University data, Russia stands fourth after the United States, Brazil, and India in terms of COVID-19 caseload. The country has also lifted most lockdown restrictions in the majority of the regions. READ: Russian Embassy In US Proposes Face To Face Discussions On Arms Control Meanwhile, preliminary results from two early-phase non-randomised trials of the Russian vaccine candidate 'Sputnik V' showed no major side effects over 42 days and induce antibody responses within 21 days, said the study published in The Lancet. The leading peer-reviewed medical journal said that the doctors conducted trials for the two-part vaccine which contains a recombinant adenovirus type 26 (rAd26) vector and a recombinant adenovirus type 5 (rAd5) vector. The worlds first clinically approved vaccine against the novel coronavirus has been manufactured by the Gamaleya Research Institute in collaboration with the Russian Health Ministry. Last month, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko told the meeting that it is one of the first registered vaccines in the world to prove its effectiveness and safety. The United States has been sceptical over the Russian vaccine and US Health Secretary Alex Azar told a news conference that it is more essential to have a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine than acing the race. Murashko said that foreign colleagues are sensing the specific competitive advantages of the Russian drug and are trying to express groundless doubts. READ: Russian COVID-19 Vaccine 'Sputnik V' Trial Results Show Strong Immune Response: Study READ: Russian COVID-19 Vaccine Safe, Induces Antibody Response In Small Trials: Study With ANI inputs Raising a plastic cup, Alain Cocq gestured towards the camera and said, Well, my friends, Ill drink to your health one last time. In a video livestreamed to Facebook just after midnight on September 5, the 57-year-old Frenchman announced to his followers his plan to die. Cocq has an extremely rare, painful and incurable medical condition that causes the walls of his arteries to stick together. He says that hes been in the terminal stage of his illness for the last 34 years. After unsuccessfully petitioning French President Emmanuel Macron to allow him to die in dignity through medical assistance, Cocq announced that he would stop eating and drinking, starting on Friday night, and that he would livestream the process on Facebook. But the social media platform quickly moved to ban Cocq from posting videos. Cocq told his more than 22,000 followers and 4,000 Facebook friends that the site had blocked him until September 8. He has previously said that he expects to die within two to five days. Undeterred, Cocq said that he would find another solution within the day. But he also called on his followers to protest against Facebooks unjust methods of discrimination and obstruction of freedom of expression. Facebook considers his death a suicide, depictions of which are banned on the social network. A spokesperson from Facebook France told French newspaper Le Monde that while the company respects his decision to want to draw attention to this complex issue, its regulations meant it was obliged to block his video because our rules do not allow the showing of suicide attempts. Why livestream your death? Alain Cocq has long campaigned for the right to a medically assisted death. Hes travelled in his wheelchair from his home in Dijon in eastern France to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, to the European institutions in Brussels and to the United Nations in Geneva to meet with lawmakers and advocate for the right to active euthanasia. Story continues Cocq explained to French media that he wanted to show his final moments of agony to an online audience of thousands of people so that people know what the end of life is like in France. He is clear, however, that he doesnt want the video to be too upsetting for viewers. He plans to broadcast it without sound and the camera will stop filming as soon as he dies. For me, its out of the question to show disturbing images, he said. The moment I pass away will be a deliverance. The fight will go on after me. The law in France Cocqs deteriorating condition has confined him to his bed at home, where he says he is crippled by unbearable pain. He wrote a letter to the French president imploring him to let him pass away peacefully. In the response Cocq received on September 3, Emmanuel Macron wrote that he was moved by Cocqs plea, but said that because I am not above the law, I cannot grant you your request. Euthanasia is illegal in France. The Claeys-Leonetti law, which was modified in 2016, grants the right to terminally ill patients to be heavily sedated until death, but only under specific circumstances for instance, if death is imminent. This is not the case for Cocq. The delegate general of the Association pour le droit a mourir dans la dignite [Association for the Right to Die in Dignity] Philippe Loheac told FRANCE 24 in exasperation that the sole loophole in the Claeys-Leonetti law for those who are at the end of their life is the possibility to die of hunger and thirst. Thats the Leonetti law, he added. Today, its Alain Cocq. Tomorrow, it will be someone else. According to a survey carried out by the charitable organisation in 2019, 96 percent of French people are in favour of euthanasia when a patient is experiencing serious and incurable suffering. France is a lot more rigid on the issue than other European countries. In Europe there are five countries Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Luxembourg where physician-assisted euthanasia is legal. France has had other high-profile cases similar to Cocq's. Vincent Lambert was left quadriplegic and in a vegetative state after a motorcycle accident in 2008. He remained like that for 11 years while his family tussled over whether he should live or die. After a long legal battle, doctors removed life support and he died in July last year. In February this year, Frances then-health minister Agnes Buzyn said that the government would again look into the issue of end-of-life and palliative care a plan that was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Sameer Ali Sayyed alias Diggy, 45, the accused arrested for killing five people in a road accident near Crawford market on August 31, was recently subjected to testing at Sir JJ Hospital, for his psychological profile. Police aim to ascertain if Sayyed has any psychological disorder or had an attack at the time of the accident. Documents pertaining to the investigation, of which HT has a copy, state that a series of psychological tests on Sayyed had already been conducted on September 2 and 3. The medical officer at the hospital has again called him on September 7 for a follow-up. The investigating officer in the case, police inspector Kalim Shaikh on Friday informed a local court that the police are also probing if the accused had knowingly caused the accident and killed people. For this, it is important to know what was his psychological condition was at the time of the crash. Police are also checking if there was any terror angle to the incident. However, nothing concrete has surfaced so far. On August 31, Sayyed was heading towards Carnac Bunder when he lost control of his car and ended up ramming into people on the street and footpath, opposite Cafe Janata restaurant, near Crawford market. Five people were killed, and three others were injured as a result. One of the survivors is still critical and is also undergoing treatment for Covid-19. Prior to the accident, Sayyed was involved in another accident in the jurisdiction of Sir JJ Marg police station on May 12. In that accident, his car had rammed into another vehicle, and a woman had sustained minor injuries. Police had then booked him and seized his vehicle. He later bought a second-hand car. In his statement to police, Sayyed said that he had an epileptic attack ahead of the August 31 accident. However, he reportedly concealed details about his health complications from doctors at the time of his medical check-up following his arrest after the May 12 accident. City traffic police has already decided to revoke the accuseds driving license, as they believe he is not physically and mentally fit to drive safely. Police believe if Sayyeds driving license is not revoked, he may drive dangerously in the future and may put the lives of citizens at risk. Sayyed, a scrap dealer by profession, was not drunk at the time of the accident. Police are awaiting a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Kalina to ascertain if he was under the influence of any drug. He has been booked under sections 304(B)(2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt to any person by doing any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or the personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 ( mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 183 (speeding) and 184 (driving dangerously) of Motor Vehicle Act. On Friday Sayyed was remanded in police custody till September 9. BOLIVIA, N.C. Thom Tillis has struggled to mollify conservatives in North Carolina since joining the Senate six years ago. But standing onstage and addressing volunteers in a county Republican headquarters here this week, he had a message for any base voters still wary of him: You may not love me, but I guarantee you'd hate Chuck Schumer running the Senate. Set aside your differences on any minor issue, Tillis said to the crowd of nearly four-dozen Republicans. Is there anyone in this room who thinks there's any good scenario where Chuck Schumer gets the gavel? Any? Is there any scenario where it makes sense for President Trump not to get reelected? None. So what we have to do is come together. Tillis had just returned from an official event with Trump in nearby Wilmington, where hundreds of Trump supporters braved scorching heat and no shade to see Air Force One touch down at the local airport and hear briefly from the president before he went to a battleship to dedicate the city as an American World War II Heritage City. The first-term senator made his in-person appeal hours later to a crowd seated in folding chairs set up a few feet apart inside the local headquarters, with most but not all attendees wearing masks including Tillis, who took his off before speaking. The pitch came at an urgent moment in the race: Voting is underway after more than 533,000 absentee ballots were sent to voters on Friday with Democrats holding an enormous edge in the number of requests so far and the first debate between the candidates a week from Monday. North Carolina is shaping up as the most expensive Senate race on the map this November and a critical battleground for the majority. Democratic nominee Cal Cunningham has doubled Tillis fundraising this year and consistently led in polling since late spring, though the most recent public survey showed the incumbent only a couple of points behind. Tillis numbers are weaker than Trumps, but both parties expect a tight race in one of the most polarized states in the nation come November. Story continues FILE - In this March 3, 2020 file photo, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cal Cunningham speaks to supporters during a primary election night party in Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis was outraised nearly 3-to-1 by his Democratic challenger in the last quarter, according to campaign reports that signal a more precarious reelection bid for the Republican in the presidential battleground state. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File) Its probably going to be however Trump goes, Tillis goes, said GOP consultant Charles Hellwig, who briefly worked for Tillis would-be primary challenger before the candidate dropped out. If Trump wins the state, I dont see Tillis not winning as well. But if Trump loses, itll be hard to get over the top. That sentiment was on display at the Wilmington airport, where a half-dozen voters who spoke to POLITICO said they were enthusiastic about Trump, but tepid about Tillis. Still, almost all said theyd vote for him. "He's okay. He's flip-flopped a little bit on some issues, said Joe Quarino, who works at the sheriffs office in Brunswick County, in the southeast corner of the state. I'm going to support him obviously because he's a Republican, but he might need to step up his game a little bit. Asked about those half-hearted endorsements, Tillis grinned and argued its impossible for a Republican senator to be known as well as Trump, even by the party faithful. It's like a saying they have in the mountains: When they learn us, they like us Tillis said in an interview, seated in folding chairs on a concrete patio outside the party headquarters. I'm glad they said they're going to vote for me. I hope to get to know them better in my next six years. But they do know what's at stake." Cunningham, an Army veteran and former one-term state senator, switched from the lieutenant governors race last year and quickly earned consolidated support in the party, routing a liberal primary opponent despite GOP meddling to derail his candidacy. But much has changed since the March 3, Super Tuesday primary, held just a week before the coronavirus shutdowns began. In an interview on Zoom from his home in Raleigh, Cunningham this week downplayed efforts to nationalize the race and said hes confident not just in Democratic enthusiasm, but that he can pick off conservative-leaning independents and even some Republicans. I'm hearing from voters who feel left behind, left out, not respected by Thom Tillis and his service, he said. We're fighting for every one of those votes." Asked where he could work with Trump, Cunningham cited infrastructure, which hasnt been pursued seriously in the past four years, and also said he agreed with the presidents concerns about trade, though he criticized how Trump has handled the issue. Tillis declined to cite any issues where he agreed with Joe Biden, except if hes talking about reasonable regulatory policy, maybe. He said not only was Bidens agenda radical, but as president he would be driven by a radical left leadership in the Congress." Tillis has closely aligned with Trump since the primary scare last year. In the interview, Tillis said Trump was 100 percent treating coronavirus like a serious crisis and praised the administrations work with the Senate on the federal response though he stressed Republicans needed to find agreement within their party on the next round of legislation when the Senate returns to Washington next week to advance further negotiations. He also dismissed a question about Trumps rhetoric downplaying the severity of the virus. Sen. Thom Tillis speaks during a campaign rally for President Donald Trump in Charlotte, N.C., in March 2020. The president of the United States is the person who can try to provide people with optimism that this isn't the new normal, Tillis said. We've got some people who want to settle for that. Cunningham, when asked about where he diverged from Biden, cited voices within our party who have pushed for defunding police departments, pointing out he has called for increased investment in law enforcement. He also cited his support for a public option and opposition to Medicare for All and eliminating private health insurance. When it was pointed out that those were issues where he and Biden agreed, Cunningham said his focus was on Tillis and North Carolinans, but that he was confident there will be some places where Joe Biden and I diverge, and I'll evaluate those as they come." The race may be one of, if not the most expensive in Senate history. Theres already been $80 million spent on TV 60 percent of it by Democrats. Cunningham and outside allies have nearly $50 million booked between Labor Day and Election Day; Tillis and Republicans have nearly $40 million reserved, according to data from Advertising Analytics. Democratic outside groups have hit Tillis on campaign donations from the pharmaceutical industry, as well as Obamacare repeal and pre-existing conditions. Cunninghams most recent ad criticized Tillis for not speaking out against Trump over reports of Russian bounties on U.S. service members, which followed an ad from VoteVets that contrasted Tillis with Cunninghams service. Republicans have run ads slamming Cunningham as a elitist liberal, running multiple ads attacking him for using a tax credit for home renovation, and for a 2001 vote in the state Senate for a budget that hiked taxes by $1 billion; Cunningham has defended that vote as in best interest of the state facing fiscal challenges. In his most recent ad, Tillis says the Democrat is being sneaky about supporting tax increases. Tillis has also used the filibuster as a wedge in the race, arguing Democrats would undo the 60-vote threshold and bring on a wave of liberal legislation if they take control of the presidency and both chambers of Congress. Republicans have pointed to a 2010 email from his campaign at the time in which he called to "end the filibuster in its current form" and "revisit and reform" it. Cunningham told POLITICO he wants to reform the filibuster and force the minority party to hold debate on the floor rather than just stifling legislation without debating it. He said he would not support undoing the 60-vote threshold entirely. What I've called for is reforming the filibuster, not abolishing it, Cunningham said. If it's a straight up-or-down about abolishing it, I wouldn't support abolishing the filibuster. Both candidates last week urged absentee voting. Cunningham said in a virtual town hall with College Democrats the massive increase in ballot requests from his party "reflects enthusiasm" the majority of voters who have applied for absentee ballots have been registered Democrats. Tillis also implored his supporters to vote absentee he cautioned about the risk a voter or family member could become infected and make voting on Election Day impossible. He also pointed out that Democrats would have to turn out fewer voters than Republicans on Election Day because they can track returned ballots. "They'll outwork us, if we let them," he said. As the fall campaign gets underway, campaigning itself has become an issue. Tillis held in-person events over the August recess, many of them visits to small businesses aided by the Paycheck Protection Program including this week when he met with three leaders at a local business that benefited from the loans who praised the response as essential for their company. Cunningham has held more than 70 virtual events, including four town halls in two days last week, but has not restarted in-person campaigning. Tillis said he thinks Cunningham is staying virtual to avoid scrutiny that would come with more in-person events and less structured interactions. He also defended his own events as safe, pointing out that he was distanced from voters, almost all of whom wore masks though a couple people did not have them on, and Tillis removed his mask to speak. He apologized last month for not wearing a mask at the White House for Trump's acceptance speech, saying he fell short of his own standards. Cunningham said hes trying to be incredibly mindful about the risks that a candidate poses to the public by being out and about, particularly with a virus where there's such a high incidence of asymptomatic carrying. Nationally, some Democrats have begun to return to the trail, including Joe Biden for the first time this week. Cunningham said his campaign is evaluating as it goes on returning to in-person events. He acknowledged that hes missing the interactions with voters, but he's covering ground across the state virtually including holding area-specific events to reach more voters. Republicans argue he could find a safe way to return to the campaign trail if he wanted. I dont care how many TV ads you run people want to see you. They want to talk to you. They want to know you care about the state, state GOP chairman Michael Whatley said. The fact that President Trump has been on the ground more than Cal Cunningham says a lot to me." It says a lot to Democrats, too. The more Thom Tillis pokes his finger in the eye of public health and public safety, said Wayne Goodwin, the Democratic Party chair, it underscores how desperate he is. Guwahati/Kohima, Sep 6 : Industry body FICCI on Sunday said the recent rise in smuggling in the northeastern region can be attributed to economic distress insinuated by Covid-19 pandemic. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) said loss of jobs and lack of income due to recurrent lockdowns have left citizens without a means of livelihood. "Reports suggest that smugglers and insurgents are using people from the local tribal areas to transport smuggled goods by taking advantage of their financial vulnerability caused due to Covid-19," a FICCI report said. The FICCI's Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE) highly appreciated the efforts of central para-military force Assam Rifles and praised its Director General along with other officers for their anti-smuggling operations. The FICCI report said : "The Assam Rifles during its recent successful interception, seized illicit cigarettes, smuggled from neighbouring country, worth Rs 14 crore. Enforcement agencies impounded illicit cartons of cigarettes in 26 operations along the Indo-Myanmar border during months of July and August alone." "Various battalions of the forces intercepted smugglers transporting the illicit consignments using bikes, cars and trucks while hiding them inside rice sacks, jungle tracks, vegetation and others."FICCI CASCADE Chairman Anil Rajput said that illicit cigarette smuggling is a formidable challenge before our nation that has been draining our government exchequer by creating opportunities from tax arbitrage. "It also threatens local industries and their capacity to create livelihoods. Assam Rifles' proactive vigilance in intercepting the movement of smuggled goods is a definitive step towards putting fear in the hearts of those who deal in such trading. Their commendable effort sets forth an example to be keenly studied and followed by other enforcement agencies of the country," Rajput said in its report. FICCI has also requested the Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to intervene into the vital issue and to sensitize other paramilitary forces on the gravity of the issue and amplify the need for a greater focus on combating smuggling and smuggling-related crimes at the borders.In order to create large-scale awareness of this menace, FICCI CASCADE has been conducting interactions with government and enforcement agencies across several states in India on the ways to mitigate this challenge. FICCI also appealed to the central government to declare smuggling as a national threat and that should be addressed with stricter vigilance and reforms.Meanwhile, security forces in Nagaland arrested four people for smuggling opium seeds worth Rs 1.44 crore on Saturday. Officials in Kohima said that acting on secret information, Assam Rifles troopers impounded two trucks carrying 120 bags of Vietnamese Poppy near Piphema on National Highway-29. The arrested persons and the seized contraband were handed over to custom preventive division officials. Four Indian northeastern states --Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar and the India-Myanmar border turned into the vital corridor for smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition and other contraband. When Scott Mitchell woke up from a near-fatal opioid overdose he was handcuffed to the hospital bed. He had violated his drug abstinence condition and his parole had been suspended. With him in the hospital were two correctional officers, but none of his family could visit it was March 25, so COVID-19 rules were in effect. Two days later, despite a respiratory infection and a prison system bracing for the pandemic, he was sent back to jail. I didnt even get to see him or hug him before they took him away, said his mother Kathy Mitchell, who had twice injected Scott with life-saving naloxone in the two weeks since his latest release. Scott would spend the next three months in prison after being rejected from two halfway houses because his mental health needs were deemed too complex. Days before Scott was due to be released again in June, Scotts mother Kathy Mitchell wrote to the Star. We need help as my son is losing hope and I fear Im going to lose him, she said. At the time, a reporter replied with links to reintegration support services. Five weeks later her worst fears came true. Scott overdosed again. This time he died. He was five days from the end of his two-year-and-eight-month sentence for drug trafficking. He was 26 years old. He didnt deserve to die, his mother Kathy said. He deserved help. I would like to know why he didnt get it. Prison records, parole documents and interviews with Scotts mother and sister reveal a system that punishes drug users, places them at risk of harm and overdoses and prevents them from seeking help; woefully inadequate resources for mental health and drug use in prisons and upon release; and a lack of data on how common overdose deaths are for parolees amid of a national opioid crisis. The evening in July before Scott died, he and his mother argued. Shed found drugs in the house and she pleaded with him to stop. Shed arranged counselling for him through a local addictions clinic, once they were ready to resume in-person sessions in a few weeks. Were trying to help, you have to help yourself, she told him. She reminded him he had a parole condition not to use, and he begged her not to report him because he didnt want to go back to jail again. I just was in the system for three years and they did nothing for me, he told his mother and sister. They have done nothing but make it worse for me. Im not trying again. Kathy couldnt argue with him. Her son had gone to prison just after he turned 24 as a skinny, sociable young man who loved to play with his nephews. He came out empty. He rarely left his room. Once before, Kathy reported Scott to his parole officer for using drugs, a desperate act of tough love she hoped would help him get help. Instead, he was immediately sent back to prison. She deeply regrets that call. She didnt know hed go back, that hed spend nine months inside and come out worse than before. That he would overdose twice after his release only to be sent back to prison again. That he would never get the treatment the parole board and his parole officer said he needed. Hed never reoffended, or been charged with a new crime. This time, his sentence was nearly up. They didnt help him all the times they had him. What were they going to do? Take him for five days and throw him back in jail? she said. But then I think, maybe I should have because he would have been around for five more days. Its well known that people leaving prisons and jails are at high risk for death, particularly for overdoses and suicides. Between 2006 and 2013 in Ontario, one in 10 drug overdose deaths in adults, most involving opioids, occurred within one year of release from provincial incarceration. So far this year in Ontario, at least 43 people have died of opioid overdoses within four weeks of being released, according to Chief Coroner Dirk Huyer, who has been sounding the alarm on a significant spike in overdose deaths amid the COVID-19 pandemic. That is six per cent of all 730 completed opioid-related death investigations this year. For recent ex-inmates, the heightened risk is often attributed to leaving custody with a lower tolerance for drugs, and an illicit drug supply that is dangerous and unpredictable. The mental toll of reintegration, including challenges finding work and housing with a criminal record, can also lead people to drug use. Its a very dangerous time, said former federal correctional investigator Howard Sapers. But it is unclear exactly how many people are dying from overdoses while on parole, as Scott did, nor how many people die on parole from any cause. In an email, a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) spokesperson said that data is not readily available, and that only deaths in custody are systematically tracked. The fact the data is not tracked, really confounds trying to understand how dangerous that time-frame is immediately following release, Sapers said. And unlike with deaths in prison, there are no automatic investigations of deaths on parole. While Canadas commissioner of corrections can order an investigation into the death of a parolee, it is extremely uncommon, Sapers said. The mandate of the Office of the Correctional Investigator which serves as an ombudsperson for federal prisoners does not include parole and the parole board, Sapers noted, and there is no equivalent independent oversight of that part of the system. According to CSC, the agency has investigated or conducted file reviews on 22 deaths in the community since 2015. Scotts death will not be investigated. The Correctional Service of Canada takes the death of an offender very seriously, said spokesperson Marie Pier Lecuyer. The loss of life is always a tragedy. CSC is aware of the death of this offender while on statutory release. We reviewed the circumstances and determined that an investigation will not be carried out. Even with the specific consent of his family, the Parole Board of Canada said it would not respond to specific questions about Scotts case, citing privacy reasons. Scott Mitchell was the second-youngest of five siblings. He was always smart and kind, with a knack for numbers, his younger sister Rebecka said in an interview. His arm was seriously injured when he was five and he had to spend a month in the hospital, but he never let it hold him back, she remembered. He was a generous and caring brother. When she didnt want to sign up for bowling alone, he did it with her and made it fun. And he loved dogs. Seven years ago, he answered an ad about a French mastiff dog the owners wanted to get rid of, his mother Kathy recalled. He said it was like love at first sight. The dog, Tessa, would ride in the front seat of his car, head out the window. If you wanted a ride youd have to get in the back seat because Tessa wasnt moving, his mom said. By his early 20s, Scott was working as a supervisor at a factory and had bought his own home he seemed like he had his life together, his sister said but he was also dealing and using drugs. Scott was caught in a Niagara police investigation dubbed Project Iceberg. He pleaded guilty in November 2017 to trafficking cocaine, crystal meth and heroin, and to possession of a gun. At his sentencing, Justice Tory Colvin said that Scott was young 23 years old and had the support of his family and good prospects for rehabilitation and reintegration. When Scott left for prison, Tessa waited by the door for weeks. In his intake assessment, Scott was designated minimum-risk, at low-risk to reoffend and a good candidate for early release on day parole to a halfway house. According to his assessment report, he denied being suicidal and the assessment concluded there was no evidence he was suffering from an acute mental disorder. He did not meet the criteria for a psychological assessment, despite the fact the judge recommended one. A computerized mental health intake screening system also screened him out of mental health support. The judge had also recommended he be screened for drug addiction, based on the facts of his plea, and his mothers disclosure that Scott had overdosed once before. But Scott denied having a drug addiction and denied that his offences were committed to support a drug habit. The computerized assessment of substance abuse identified a low-level problem with drugs. Low-intensity intervention was suggested, but he was designated no immediate need. In the end, he was not recommended for drug-related programming, or any rehabilitative program at all. He left for Collins Bay minimum security prison and was granted day parole six months later in May 2018. He was sent to the Salvation Army Booth Centre, a halfway house in St. Catharines, where he had counselling sessions until he was deemed to no longer need them. In January 2019, he was granted full parole, living with his mother. Scotts mother and sister said he was different when he got out. That hed been deeply traumatized by the violence hed seen in prison. He was quiet. He wasnt sociable. He was just so different. Before, hed come and eat with us, watch TV, work out. He just sat in that room, Kathy said. In February, Kathy became worried Scott was using drugs. He lost his job and couldnt get employment insurance. He went to an addictions treatment centre in Welland for a while, but soon stopped. He told her he couldnt afford it, but also that he worried hed run into someone hed sold drugs to, something he felt deeply ashamed of. He cycled between saying he wanted help and saying he was fine even as Kathy would find evidence of drug use in her car. I would call clinics and they would tell me, you know, until he wants to stop there is nothing that you can do, she said. On June 25, 2019, she found him nodding off after using heroin. It scared the s--- out of me, she said. The next morning, she called his parole officer and told her Scott was using and his family had been trying unsuccessfully to get him treatment. At first, Kathy said, the parole officer said they couldnt do anything because he didnt have a drug prohibition. Kathy was incensed. He is going to kill himself. So there is something you better do, she remembers screaming. Later that day, Scott met his parole officer for a routine check-in, and she suspended his parole. He was sent back to Collins Bay prison, this time to medium-security. Kathy remembers his parole officer promised she would try to get him into a rehab facility. At a hearing in September 2019, the Parole Board of Canada revoked Scotts parole, ordering him to instead remain in prison for the next six months until his statutory release date at the two-thirds mark of his sentence. By buying and using illicit drugs, the board found, Scott posed an undue risk to society. At the hearing, Scott denied that he was addicted to drugs but disclosed overdosing several times because he was suicidal. He told the board he was willing to go to a drug treatment facility anyway, and that he hoped to obtain a certificate to allow him to work in asbestos removal. The board decision states his release plan was to go to one of two halfway houses, although its unclear if hed been accepted by them. The board concluded Scott did not have a structured, supervised plan for release that addressed his risk of reoffending. It also admonished both Scott and his mother for not seeking help from his parole officer sooner. During your hearing, you told the Board that you were not fully open with (your former counsellor) nor did you trust the corrections personnel who attempted to support your reintegration, the parole board decision said. Despite your emotional distress, repeated drug use, and suicide attempts, neither you nor mother reached out for help. This is alarming to the Board as both you and your mother placed your life in jeopardy by not seeking assistance for your safe reintegration. You were using illicit drugs so you had clearly returned to your offence cycle by abusing substances, and associating with drug dealers. According to the decision, Scott was getting mental health counselling in prison, but Kathy said he told her it was infrequent and that he didnt trust the institutional staff because he worried everything he said would end up in his file. Mostly, he sat in his cell and watched TV. Scott hit his statutory release date on March 12, 2020 by law, all prisoners must be released at two-thirds of their sentence to allow time for supervised community reintegration. This time, in addition to requiring him to seek psychological counselling, the parole board also imposed a condition prohibiting him from using drugs. He overdosed two weeks later. I didnt even have any signs he was using, Kathy said. He was cooking bacon and we go to his room and find him on the bed. Blue. She injected him with naloxone, an overdose-reversal drug, and called an ambulance. But when Scott woke up, he refused to go to the hospital. She watched him all night. The next day, she said she was going out for a moment to pay a bill. He asked her to pick up an Iced Capp from Tim Hortons. She asked him what flavour and he said: Surprise me. She came back and found him on the bedroom floor. He looked dead. He was taken to the hospital this time, the time he woke up handcuffed. Kathy said Scott pleaded with his parole officer not to send him back to jail. She told him that the hospital would do a psychiatric evaluation, which he and his family had asked for. No, they wont, he told her. To Kathys knowledge, the hospital did not do a psychiatric evaluation in the two days before Scott was sent to a jail in Thorold, Ont., where, according to correctional records, he was not placed on suicide watch or on mental health monitoring. Courts have increasingly recognized abstinence conditions as harmful to drug users, setting them up to fail and leading to more charges for breaching bail and probation conditions. In recognition of the opioid overdose public health emergency, the federal government in 2019 told prosecutors to minimize or eliminate the use of drug-related bail conditions that ban possession of drugs and drug-use paraphernalia. Amid mounting calls for decriminalizing drug possession and increasing the use of harm-reduction measures, such as safe-injection sites, the guidance was recently extended to avoid prosecuting simple drug-possession cases. However, abstinence conditions remain in regular use by the Parole Board of Canada, often at the recommendation of Correctional Service of Canada staff. Relapse is a very common and accepted part of the process to sobriety, said Sapers, the former correctional investigator. The worst way to manage relapse is to throw someone back in prison, he said. If it wasnt therapeutic to begin with, what makes you think more of it is going to be therapeutic? The conditions can also stop drug users from speaking to their parole officer about treatment options in fear theyll be sent back to prison, Sapers said. In Scotts case, Kathy said he refused to consider treatment outside the St. Catharines region because he feared the consequences of explaining his need to his parole officer. Its not irrational that someone suffering from drug addiction might hide it from their parole officers, Sapers said. They know whats going to happen. They are going to end up back in jail. The parole boards focus is almost exclusively about managing the risk of offending, said Simon Borys, a lawyer focusing exclusively on prison and parole law. The more forgotten part of the process, he said, is about facilitating gradual reintegration into society. Rather than abstinence conditions, he said, the board could have put in conditions requiring an offender to seek treatment. A spokesperson for the Parole Board of Canada said board members can impose drug abstinence conditions where they are reasonable and necessary to protect society but can also impose conditions that support a harm-reduction approach such as requiring a treatment plan. Abstinence conditions can also include exceptions for harm-reduction programs, she said. In April Scott was transferred from the Thorold jail back to prison. When he was assessed upon arrival he was deemed to be in a vulnerable state. According to a report his parole officer prepared for his next parole board hearing over whether his statutory release should be revoked, she and the police agreed Scott needed mental health interventions after what she described as an overdose due to self-medication, unaddressed mental health issues. In April, his parole officer asked for Scott to be reviewed for placement at two halfway houses, one in Barrie and one in London, for in-house mental health interventions on his next release. (Only one specifically offered mental health treatment.) In both cases, the halfway houses rejected Scott because his mental health needs were too much to handle. Without a halfway house that could offer the needed mental health support, Scotts parole officer recommended he stay in prison until his next release date. His drug use could lead him back into criminal activity, her report said. She noted Scott had never before been deemed eligible for rehabilitative programming, and she asked that this be reviewed but because Scott was due to be released again in two months, the prison said he wasnt eligible. The board agreed to revoke Scotts statutory release until June, and it too recommended he be given access to rehabilitative programs but the decision was issued just two days before his next release date. To your credit you have now reached out for help, the board decision said. Neither the parole assessment nor the board decision mentions the fact prison programs, including volunteer-run support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous, had been suspended anyway over to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Prisons are currently planning for the safe resumption of these meetings, according to a CSC spokesperson.) They shouldnt have taken him back, especially knowing they werent going to help him, Kathy said. Most halfway houses are not operated by the Correctional Service of Canada but by charities, non-profits and for-profit companies contracted by the government. Parole officers are in charge of requesting that offender be placed at a halfway house and inmates often have their options limited to one or two places, at the discretion of their the parole officer, said lawyer Simon Borys. There is also no requirement for a halfway house to accept an offender a community assessment team including representatives from the local police force, local parole office, community and the halfway house weigh in on whether the house should accept a parolee based on factors like the offenders history, their needs and the availability of community support. Spaces at halfway houses are also limited an issue exacerbated by the pandemic, Borys said. There are 43 facilities in Ontario and only a small fraction offer intensive addictions or mental health treatment. According to the Correctional Service of Canada, five Ontario halfway houses specialize in mental health, with 81 beds, including 76 for men and 5 for women. Even if a person does get accepted, there can be long waiting periods in custody before they can go, Borys said. CSC said it could not provide the current wait times for halfway houses specializing in mental health and addictions, and how often inmates in need are rejected. A new central data collection system will be rolled out across the country by this fall, a spokesperson said. This will improve access to information about bed utilization rates, occupancy rates, offender profiles, refusals and waiting lists, she said. Scott died around midnight on July 16, 34 days after he was last released from prison. His sister Rebecka dropped him off to a friends place that evening and he didnt come home. After a frantic search, his family found him dead the next day by a picnic table behind a building near home. His family feels betrayed and angry by a system they say is broken. How could the parole board and his parole officers repeatedly agree he needed intensive treatment, but never provide any? Why would he instead spend another year in prison? He never even got a chance to try rehab, said Rebecka. They threw him away like garbage, Kathy said. He didnt come out better, he came out dead. Scott hated to see anyone else suffer he wouldnt want anyone else to go through what he did, his older sister Brooke said. Thats why its so important to tell his story. No one should ever ask for help in his position and be denied. Kathy worries that people will see Scott as a criminal and drug user whose life didnt matter not as a young man with his whole life ahead of him. Ill never know what he will grow up to be, she said. He was only 23 when he went in there ... what is going to happen to someone elses son? SACRAMENTO After years of failed attempts and vociferous opposition, California lawmakers on Monday adopted a measure to grant nurse practitioners the ability to practice without doctor supervision but only after making big concessions to the powerful doctors lobby, which nonetheless remains opposed. The bill now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for consideration, fenced in by amendments that would stringently limit how much independence nurse practitioners nurses with advanced training and degrees can have to practice medicine. Lawmakers credit these compromises, like them or not, for finally allowing them to push the issue over the finish line, capping years of political scrapping and perhaps one day altering the delivery of health care in California. This is not an intrusion on a hallowed profession, its a relief, said state Sen. John Moorlach, R-Costa Mesa (Orange County), one of four Republican senators who voted for the bill. Moorlach said the measure would get more practitioners into underserved areas that dont have enough doctors. Its like the cavalry coming up over the hill to provide reinforcements to a tired army of wonderful and overworked doctors, he said. California is behind most other states in empowering nurse practitioners. If the bill becomes law, the state would join nearly 40 others to grant some level of independence to nurse practitioners; 22 grant full independence, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. California would have among the most restrictive policies on nurse practitioner independence in the country. Im not going to say I regret any of these changes, said Assembly member Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa), who chairs the Assembly Health Committee and authored the bill, AB-890. Wood opposed previous attempts to remove supervision requirements. I wish it could be a little less strict, quite frankly, he said, adding that this was a reasonable compromise informed by his experiences as a dentist and what he learned from other providers. Today, nurse practitioners must enter into a written agreement with a physician to oversee their work with patients. In exchange, physicians bill them between $5,000 and $15,000 per year, according to a report by the California Health Care Foundation and UC San Francisco. (California Healthline is an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.) Where we are with the pandemic and the craziness of the world today, it highlights why theres a need for this, said Andrew Acosta, a spokesperson for the California Association for Nurse Practitioners. The doctor shortage isnt going away anytime soon. Under Woods measure, nurse practitioners would be able to see patients in their own practice, but only after working under physician supervision for at least three years. The bill also contains many other restrictions. Nurse practitioners argue that the measure, even with its limitations, would ease primary care shortages, especially in rural areas a problem the pandemic has made more stark. Opponents, primarily the powerful California Medical Association, which is the doctors lobbying group, counter that stripping nurse practitioners of physician oversight would lead to a lower standard of care, and that nurse practitioners wouldnt necessarily flock to rural areas once theyre free of physician supervision. These arguments arent new in Sacramento, but lawmakers and lobbyists say this version of the bill succeeded because there are new leaders at the helm of influential legislative committees who were willing to make changes, and because the pandemic has changed health care. I think the legislature is starting to realize decades of evidence that nurse practitioners are safe, productive providers, said Ed Hernandez, a former legislator who was termed out in 2018 and authored the last two failed bills. I think the policy is finally overshadowing the politics of the California Medical Association. Still, the biggest difference this year is the bill itself. Hernandezs bills, introduced in 2013 and 2015, were clean bills that granted independence to nurse practitioners without many requirements. Theres nothing clean about Woods bill, which was heavily amended in the state Senate. Instead of simply lifting the supervision requirements on nurse practitioners, the measure imposes several hoops for nurse practitioners to jump through. Before they could practice independently, nurse practitioners would have to be certified by preapproved national nursing boards, and possibly complete additional California-specific testing if accredited out of state. Once certified, they would have to practice under physician supervision for at least three years up to six in some cases before they could strike out on their own. And they would have to disclose to patients that they arent doctors. The bill even prescribes a Spanish phrase for nurse practitioner: enfermera especializada. (Technically, this refers to a female nurse. The bill doesnt provide the equivalent phrase for a male nurse.) Thats not even all the amendments and the measure wouldnt take effect until 2023. The requirements were inserted in response to criticism from the California Medical Association that nurse practitioners are not qualified to provide patient care without physician oversight, and that patients wouldnt understand that theyre seeing someone with less training than a doctor, lawmakers said. Despite the numerous amendments, the association remains opposed, saying the changes dont address their fundamental concerns. Weve increased the training required for physicians over the last couple years and now all of a sudden were allowing unsupervised providers to treat patients who have even less training, said association spokesperson Anthony York. Rounds of negotiations, major concessions and hours-long Zoom calls still could not get the doctors group on board, Wood said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He said it was like chasing goalposts that continue to move. Its very disappointing when you work with opposition and nothing is ever good enough, Wood said. CMA will never support this bill. Theyll never go neutral on it. York said that characterization is not accurate. He pointed to a different bill SB-1237 that would allow certified nurse midwives to attend to low-risk pregnancies without physician supervision. The association was initially opposed, but after negotiations and amendments to the bill, it changed its position to neutral. That bill is also headed to Newsom. You dont have to look too far to find a case where we were willing to engage on a scope-of-practice issue, York said. David McCuan, a political science professor at Sonoma State University, called the associations inability to kill Woods bill a political watershed moment for the group. Their M.O. for 70 years has been about blocking, stunting and preventing change, McCuan said. The deference toward the medical profession has changed. In that sense, it would be a momentous event if this is signed. Though the California Association for Nurse Practitioners is celebrating legislative passage of the measure, even in its amended form, its a different story at the national level. Sophia Thomas, president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, said in a statement that the bill is choked by too much red tape to provide any meaningful change. Californias so-called solution, the flawed AB-890, would establish a cascading set of new restrictions on NP practice that would maintain Californias position among the most heavily regulated and restrictive in the nation, Thomas said. State Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), a pediatrician who chairs the Senate Health Committee, said he also opposed the bill, but not simply because he is a doctor or a member of the California Medical Association. Yet many of his objections reflect those of the association, such as concerns about training and access to care in rural areas. He also believes independence for nurse practitioners could exacerbate inequalities in the health care system, as people with less means see providers with less training. People with more resources are going to go with the person they think is more qualified. Thats just the way it tends to happen, Pan said. California Healthlines Angela Hart contributed to this report. Rachel Bluth is a writer for Kaiser Health News, which is independent of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Email: rbluth@kff.org Twitter: @RachelHBluth Why did Joe Biden actually have to go out in public and say, Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Because to most Americans, thats exactly what he is when he excuses the rioters and calls them peaceful protesters and blames law enforcement for inciting the violence, Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. Voters in all communities can see that President Trump has stood for law and order, while Joe Biden is too weak to stand up to the radical, anti-police wing of his party. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 22:34:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi health ministry on Sunday reported 3,651 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 260,370. It also reported 90 deaths during the day, raising the death toll to 7,512, while 3,301 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 198,560. The new cases were recorded after 22,772 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,740,929 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement. Meanwhile, Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said in a press release that Iraq will be one of the first countries to import the vaccine if approved by the World Health Organization. Iraq has been taking a series of measures to contain the pandemic since February when the first coronavirus 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 Calif. church appeals governor's ban on Bible studies, in-person worship: 'Church more essential than ever' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Pasadena-based Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry have appealed their case regarding Gov. Gavin Newsoms ban on all in-person worship, including home Bible studies and fellowship with anyone who does not live in the home. On behalf of Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministries, which is a nonprofit corporation with 162 member churches statewide and over 65,000 affiliates worldwide, the religious rights law group Liberty Counsel has filed a lawsuit in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The lawsuit challenges both the total ban on in-person worship (including in private homes) in the counties on the County Monitoring List, and the ban on singing and chanting in the remaining counties, Liberty Counsel said in a statement. Harvest Rock Church also has many Life Groups, which are home Bible studies and fellowship groups. These too are prohibited under Gov. Newsoms July 6 (no singing and chanting) and July 13 (no worship) orders. While he discriminates against churches, home Bible studies and fellowship meetings, the governor continues to encourage thousands of protestors to gather throughout the state," Liberty Counsel argued. "Like Gov. Newsom, Pasadena has allowed hundreds and thousands of protestors. Neither the Pasadena Public Health Department nor the Pasadena Prosecutor has attempted to stop the protests in which people are crowded together, many of them not wearing masks. On Aug. 12, Judge Jesus G. Bernal denied the churchs request for a preliminary injunction. The following day, the Pasadena prosecutor sent the church and its pastor, Che Ahn, a letter demanding that all in-person worship services cease. The letter threatened daily criminal charges and fines to the pastor, the church, staff and parishioners, saying each criminal charge would be punishable by up to one year in prison. The Supreme Court has clearly stated that under the First Amendment, the state cannot prohibit people from attending church against their will, Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver said. Yet, that is what Gov. Newsom has done. The church has been essential for 2,000 years, and the First Amendment recognizes that the free exercise of religion is essential. The church is now more essential than ever because there are so many hurting people, especially in California, where the governor has decimated the economy and hurt many people by his draconian restrictions. Pastor Ahn recently posted a video on Instagram with a message to the congregation: If you do show up and get a ticket, Harvest Rock Church is going to underwrite that ticket; well pay for your citation. Were really doing a prophetic act here in obedience to what we believe the Holy Spirit is directing us. Ive said this a number of times, Im willing to go to jail for what I believe is my constitutional right and what I believe the Holy Spirit is asking me to do as your pastor. Harvest Rock Church asks that attendees abide by the churchs guidelines for safe attendance during the pandemic. The church asks those who are high risk and those who live with people who are high risk to stay home and watch online. Meanwhile, the church also encourages families with children and those who experience symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat and difficulty breathing to watch online. Attendees are asked to wear a mask when entering and exiting the auditorium and practice social distancing while entering, exiting and while on-site. Googles Magenta project is offering a music studio powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that will help people to play with their music creations. The project called Lo-Fi player is designed by Vibert Thio, a technologist and artist who did the Summer 2020 Magenta intern with the team. It is a 2D pixelated virtual room that allows users to mix low-fi, hip-hop music tracks to create a customized music room in their browser, even if they dont have a lot of prior knowledge on the subject. For those unaware, Magenta, powered by Googles open-source TensorFlow system, is a research project exploring the role of machine learning in the process of creating art and music. It primarily focuses on developing new deep learning and reinforcement learning algorithms for generating songs, images, drawings, and other materials. It also builds smart tools and interfaces that allow artists and musicians to extend (not replace!) their processes using these models. How To Use Lo-Fi Player To Mix Music You can open Lo-Fi Player by visiting https://magenta.github.io/lofi-player/ on your web browser. You will see different objects such as a clock, a cat, a piano, a desk, a chair, and more, which when clicked on adjusts different tracks, like the bass line and the melody. Further, if you want to stop the music, all you need to do is click on the green lamp on the ceiling to stop it. Lo-Fi Player is a virtual room in your browser that lets you play with the BEAT! Try tinkering around with the objects in the room to change the music in real-time. For example, the view outside the window relates to the background sound in the track, and you can change both the visual and the music by clicking on the window, Thio wrote in a blog post. He further wrote that the team chose Lo-Fi Hip Hop format to create something more like a music generating room rather than a musical instrument or composition tool because its a popular genre with relatively simple music structure. The experience is powered by machine learning models from magenta.js, the open-source JavaScript API for using Magenta in-browser. Lo-Fi Player also includes an interactive YouTube livestream where users can type commands into the Live Chat to change the color of the room, change the melody, switch the instruments, and so on. Every time the beat loops, the system will randomly select comments from the live chat to modify the music. Those comments that were randomly selected will be highlighted with a conversation bubble. Even those users who dont interact with the room can hear how it evolves as it is modified by chat commands. What a tiny, small thing to bring us together during covid, says Doug Eck, a research scientist who supervised the project. The source code for Lo-Fi Player can be found on GitHub. It also has a tutorial called Play, Magenta! where you can edit the sounds and canvas with the editor live in your browser. The design goal is not to replace existing Lo-Fi Hip Hop producers or streams. Think of it more as a prototype for an interactive music piece or an interactive introduction to the genre to help people appreciate the art even more, Thio concludes. GOVERNMENT is working on reducing to two days the turnaround period for people, especially foreigners on transit, kept in quarantine centres while waiting for Covid-19 results. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results take between three and 14 days to come meaning people stay in quarantine centres longer. Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima who visited Encore Budget Lodge quarantine centre in Victoria Falls on Friday said there was no point in keeping people longer as long as they are proven to be Covid-19 free. He was speaking with reference to a family of eight Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) nationals which entered the country via Beitbridge from South Africa and arrived in Victoria Falls last Sunday. The eight are quarantined at Encore Budget alongside six locals returning from various countries. The Congolese nationals are on their way to their motherland to bury their father and are waiting for results following PCR tests done a day after their arrival. We are coming from South Africa. We hired a vehicle to go to DRC to bury our father and already we have missed a church service, said one of them. The Immigration Department is reportedly waiting for test results for the eight before it can clear them to proceed. Minister Mavima who was accompanied by a Victoria Falls Taskforce on Covid-19 team and Matabeleland North Provincial Social Welfare Officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said plans were underway to reduce turnaround period. These are the things we are working on. There is also a Zimbabwean who returned from Namibia and is going to Murambinda to bury his father. We want to push for a maximum of two days but one day will be better so that people travel to their areas, said Minister Mavima. A local tourism operator, Mrs Gail van Jaarsveldt said Victoria Falls has two GeneXpert machines with no cartridges. As a result, PCR samples from Victoria Falls are sent to Bulawayo and sometimes to St Lukes Hospital in Lupane, which delays release of results. The machines turnaround period is 45 minutes and one can get results. This would be ideal even for use at the border, she said. The GeneXpert machine would also be handy for testing tourists on arrival at ports of entry especially in the tourism areas like Victoria Falls. NEW DELHI: In a surprise move, the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government is expediting efforts to float Indias largest solar tender for setting up 10 gigawatt (GW) capacity, said three people aware of the development. Interestingly, the mega tender accounting for 14% of Indias green energy capacity to supply electricity to the farmers is in the works, even as 5.2 GW of solar and wind energy projects are hanging fire, due to the state governments decision to reopen renewable energy contracts inked under the previous N Chandrababu Naidu government. State energy secretary N. Srikanth confirmed the mega solar tender development and said that Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation Ltd (APGECL) is the nodal agency for the same. Under flak from the Union government and global investors such as Goldman Sachs, Brookfield, SoftBank, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, JERA Co. Inc., GIC Holdings Pte Ltd, Global Infrastructure Partners, CDC Group Plc, EverSource Capital and World Banks International Finance Corp., the government has mandated state-owned APGECL to call for this mega solar bid that will entail a 35,000 crore investment. These marquee firms had invested in Indian companies, including ReNew Power, Greenko, Adani Power, PTC India Ltd, SB Energy, Mytrah and Hero Future Energies that have set up projects in Andhra Pradesh. The state government's controversial decision not only drew criticism from the Centre, but also from the governments of France, Canada and Japan since the investments had invested in Indian companies made by their firms in the states clean energy space. We will call bids based on land getting ready," said a senior state government official cited above requesting anonymity. This proposed mega contract also comes at a time, when India solar power tariffs have touched a record low of 2.36 per unit at an auction conducted by state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. Falling clean power tariffs putting an already awarded 16.8 GW solar and wind energy capacity in limbo, as fund starved state electricity distribution companies (discoms) are unwilling to sign contracts for these previously awarded projects at a comparatively higher tariff, Mint reported earlier. Also, the Punjab government is seeking to renegotiate clean energy contracts for operational projects. The RFP (request for proposal) for 10,000 MW will be floated shortly," said a second person aware of the development cited above who also didnt want to be named. Andhra Pradesh has around 7.7 GW of solar and wind projects and is home to Indias second-largest installed capacity of clean energy, accounting for around 10% of the countrys green energy capacity, with investments of 60,000 crore. The state has 4,092 MW of installed wind power projects awarded through feed-in tariffs. Also, the resource-rich state has 3,230 MW of solar power projects awarded through competitive bidding. The state government is trying to resolve the problems associated with the earlier clean energy PPAs," said the second person. The state discoms reduced the contractually approved tariff under the power purchase agreement (PPA) to 2.44 per unit for solar projects and 2.43 per unit for wind projects since July 2019; and informed the developers that in the event of them not agreeing to the revised tariffs, the PPAs would be terminated. This tariff renegotiation by the AP government was challenged by the developers and the dispute is currently before the Andhra Pradesh high court. While setting aside the state governments order, the high court directed the discom to make payment at the reduced interim tariff of 2.44 per unit for wind projects and Rs. 2.43 per unit for solar projects respectively, until the issue is resolved by the Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The state governments move led to the Centre pitching to set up an Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority to ensure that conditions in PPAs are followed, through the draft amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003. The Centre has been trying to find a solution to the issue. These include state-run NTPC Ltd offering to buy 300 MW of green power from Andhra Pradesh to broker a truce, as reported by Mint on 2 January. The mega tender also comes at a time when the Centre plans to take strict action against green energy firms and their promoters feigning the covid-19 as an excuse to exit projects that they were awarded. This comes in the backdrop of some wind-energy developers seeking low-cost exit options i.e. termination of their PPAs without encashment of bank guarantees, for unviable projects. The government plans to not only blacklist such companies, but also censure their promoters, preventing them from taking part in future projects. Clean energy projects comprise more than a fifth of Indias installed power generation capacity. India has 34.6 GW of solar power and seeks to produce 100 GW from solar projects by March 2022. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor SPRINGFIELD Coordinated terrorist attacks killed 2,996 people at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington and in Pennsylvania 19 years ago. Now, with another anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, arriving Friday, local communities are preparing ceremonies to remember all those killed especially those with local ties. But this year, fire departments and civic groups are changing plans or curtailing them due to the coronavirus pandemic. A sampling of local events: Springfield: 10-11 a.m. at Riverfront Park, hosted by Spirit of Springfield. There will be remembrances offered by Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi, Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood, emergency services, the 104th Fighter Wing and Mayor Domenic Sarno, according to a news release. Springfield dedicated its 9/11 memorial in 2019 after years of planning and construction. It features metal salvaged from the World Trade Center site. Agawam: 9:30 a.m. on public access cable channel 15 or online at AgawamMedia.tv. Chicopee: 9:55 a.m. in front of the Public Safety Complex, 15 Court St. The Rev. William Tourigny of St. Rose de Lima Parish will lead a prayer. Ludlow: 10 a.m. at the towns 9/11 Memorial at the Public Safety Complex at Center and Chapin streets. Northampton: 9:55 a.m. at Fire Rescue Headquarters, 26 Carlon Drive. West Springfield: 8:46 a.m., the time of the first attacks, at the eternal flame memorial on Park Square Green. West Springfield native Melissa Harrington-Hughes was killed in the 101st floor of the North Tower at the World Trade Center. Westfield: 9:45 a.m. at the Westfield Fire Department, Broad Street. The Fire Department will hold its annual ceremony of reflection and remembrance in honor of fallen first responders. All in attendance are asked to stand on the west side of Broad Street, opposite the fire station. At 11 a.m., Mayor Donald Humason will be joined by families of Westfield natives who fell victim to the attacks with a wreath laying at the 9/11 Monument across from the Westwood Building at 94 North Elm St. The park is dedicated to Westfield natives Tara Shea-Creamer, Brian Murphy and Daniel Trant, who died in the attacks. Shea-Creamer was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first of two planes to crash into the twin towers. Murphy and Trant were at work and killed in the World Trade Center. All in attendance are asked to wear masks and socially distance. There is no ceremony this year at the Sons of Erin. Spanish teacher Leo Nicaragua, from Rockledge, Florida, has inspired his fellow staff and people online for his honesty. Nicaragua found a backpack on the street containing a large amount of money in cash. Rather than pocket some or all of the money, the teacher did the right thing and set out in search for the bags rightful owner. His rationale was inspiringly simple: This is called honesty and people have to be honest, he said. Nicaragua found the red Ferrari backpack in the middle of a crosswalk used by students and fellow teachers from John F. Kennedy Middle School, News 6 reported. School had just been dismissed for the day on Aug. 27, and Nicaragua assumed it wouldnt be long before someone came searching for the missing bag. However, nobody picked it up. The crosswalk outside John F. Kennedy Middle School in Rockledge, Fla. (Screenshot/Google Maps) The Spanish teacher decided to investigate. He retrieved the backpack and opened it to reveal a huge surprise: $6,000 in cash inside. Rockledge police later discovered an additional $15,000 in the form of a check inside the bag, plus three vehicle deeds, two boxesone containing medical masks and the other latex glovesand Lysol disinfectant wipes. I see a big pile of money and Im like, No, this is not a students bag, the teacher recalled of his surprising find. So I got all scared and put the money back. Nicaragua took the bag to the school resource officer, who promptly called the authorities. Coincidentally, on the very same day, the Spanish teachers bank had sent him an email explaining that his balance had hit zero. But the state of his personal finances didnt cloud Nicaraguas judgment for a second. [T]here was not one instant that I thought I need this money for me, he said. The minute I saw the money, I thought, Someone lost this money and someone needs to get their money back. The backpacks rightful owner, who remains anonymous, was located after a brief search. The bags surprising contents were explained by the fact that the man was a business owner who was about to reimburse his employees. The sum of hard cash amounted to one months pay for his several employees, he said, and the bag went missing in the street after he placed it on top of his car at the local gas station. He forgot to bring the bag back inside the car before driving away. John F. Kennedy Middle School in Rockledge, Fla. (Screenshot/Google Maps) The backpack was returned with its full contents accounted for. Nicaragua didnt take a penny. People dont need to be rewarded or anything for things they should do, the teacher protested, admitting that some of his friends have hailed him as a hero. All the same, the Spanish teacher may yet receive a reward from the backpacks grateful owner, who stated his intention to call Nicaragua and offer him something as a gesture of gratitude. John F. Kennedy Middle School faculty showed their support for their Spanish teacher on Facebook after news of his honest deed began to circulate, posting Panther Pride! beside a photo of the headline-worthy backpack on Sept. 1. One parent online responded to the post: I was just talking to my teen today about the meaning of taking the high road, which is directly related to doing the right thing, which is exactly what Mr. Nicaragua did! I told my kid that the benefits are two-fold, #1 People will respect you. #2 (and most importantly) You will feel good about yourself & theres no better feeling than that! Replying to the notion that Nicaraguas efforts were heroic in any way, however, the teacher remains modest. No, he said, this is what people have to do. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackerays bungalow Matoshree received a phone call from an unidentified man claiming to be from underworld don Dawood Ibrahims gang on Saturday, state cabinet minister Anil Parab said. He added, The caller requested to speak to CM Thackeray and did not issue any threats." Someone called up on Matoshree phone number two times on Saturday night and said Dawood Ibrahim wanted to talk CM Uddhav Thackeray. However, the telephone operator did not transfer the call to the CM," a police official told PTI. According to him, no case was registered in this connection. Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh has been apprised of the incident and the police is investigating, Parab said. Security has since been beefed up outside Matoshree in Mumbais Bandra. Reacting to the incident, Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar said, Shiv sainiks will protect Matoshree and nothing can deter Uddhav Thackeray." The Maharashtra cabinet condemned the threat to Thackeray and expressed concern over it. The state cabinet also appealed to the Centre to take note of the incident. State home minister Anil Deshmukh also told the cabinet that the crime branch has started probing the matter. Earlier, minister Anil Parab had said that the caller had not threatened the CM on the phone call. A casagrande machine which will be used for piling has reached Ayodhya on Saturday. The heavy machine will be used to fill concrete in pillars which could be higher than 100 metres. Larsen and Toubro, the company overseeing the construction of the holy Ram Mandir, ordered the casagrande for laying the foundation of the temple. A report on Hindustan said that this 88-wheeler machine was brought from Jaipur to Kanpur. After the Ramjanmabhumi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai gave his approval the 88-wheeler machine was brought to Ayodhya from Kanpur. Following the layout, the machine will be used to break and level the main gate of the Ram Janmabhoomi Complex. Central Building Research Institute and IIT Chennai have given their reports based on which the construction and design of the Ram Temple will begin. Meanwhile the process of breaking down the dilapidated structures around the temple grounds is ongoing. Larsen and Toubro has been asked to hire people from different agencies for the construction as well as clearing of the dilapidated structures. Aide from the birthplace of Lord Ram, Sita Rasoi, Bahraich Temple and Sakshi Gopal temple have been demolished. Anand Bhawan, Manas Bhawan, Kohbar Bhawan and Ramkhajana will also be demolished. Paul Buckowski The COVID-19 pandemic nearly brought American education to a standstill. The projected loss of student learning in reading and math is huge and understandable. While virtual attempts at teaching and learning are to be lauded, it is difficult to predict the impact. Helping students become proficient in reading and math is a teacher's goal, preparing them for state tests is not. Yet, learning cannot be decoupled from assessments; assessments provide critical gauges of a student's learning. When these results are based on a common measure across a grade, they are the basis for discerning growth and needed interventions. https://www.aish.com/tp/i/sacks/How-to-Renew-a-Nation.html The Talmud gives an ingenious reading to the line, Moses commanded us a Torah, as a heritage of the congregation of Israel. Noting that there are 613 commands, and that the numerical value of the word Torah is 611, it says that in fact Moses gave us 611 commands, while the other two I am the Lord your God, and, You shall have no other gods beside Me, (the first 2 of the 10 commandments) the Israelites received not from Moses but directly from God Himself.1 There is a different distinction the Sages might have made. Moses gave us 611 commands, and at the very end, in Vayelech, he gave us two meta-commands, commands about the commands. They are Hakhel, the command to assemble the people once every seven years for a public reading of (key parts of) the Torah, and Now write for yourselves this song (Deut. 31:19), interpreted by tradition as the command to write, or take part in writing, our own Sefer Torah. These two commands are set apart from all the others. They were given after all the recapitulation of the Torah in the book of Devarim, the blessings and curses and the covenant renewal ceremony. They are embedded in the narrative in which Moses hands on leadership to his successor Joshua. The connection is that both the laws and the narrative are about continuity. The laws are intended to ensure that the Torah will never grow old, will be written afresh in every generation, will never be forgotten by the people and will never cease to be its active constitution as a nation. The nation will never abandon its founding principles, its history and identity, its guardianship of the past and its responsibility to the future. Note the beautiful complementarity of the two commands. Hakhel, the national assembly, is directed at the people as a totality. Writing a Sefer Torah is directed at individuals. This is the essence of covenantal politics. We have individual responsibility and we have collective responsibility. In Hillels words, If I am not for myself, who will be, but if I am only for myself, what am I? In Judaism, the state is not all, as it is in authoritarian regimes. Nor is the individual all, as it is in the radically individualist liberal democracies of today. A covenantal society is made by each accepting responsibility for all, by individuals committing themselves to the common good. Hence the Sefer Torah our written constitution as a nation must be renewed in the life of the individual (command 613) and of the nation (command 612). This is how the Torah describes the mitzvah of Hakhel: At the end of every seven years, in the year for cancelling debts, during the Festival of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place He will choose, you shall read this Torah before them in their hearing. Assemble the people men, women and children, and the strangers in your towns so they can listen and learn to revere the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this Torah. Their children, who do not know, shall hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. (Deut 31:10-13). Note the inclusivity of the event. It would be anachronistic to say that the Torah was egalitarian in the contemporary sense. After all, in 1776, the framers of the American Declaration of Independence could say, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, while slavery still existed, and no woman had a vote. Yet the Torah regarded it as essential that women, children and strangers should be included in the ceremony of citizenship in the republic of faith. Who performed the reading? The Torah does not specify, but tradition ascribed the role to the King. That was extremely important. To be sure, the Torah separates religion and politics. The King was not High Priest, and the High Priest was not King.2 This was revolutionary. In almost every other ancient society, the head of state was the head of the religion; this was not accidental but essential to the pagan vision of religion as power. But the King was bound by the Torah. He was commanded to have a special Torah scroll written for him; he was to keep it with him when he sat on the throne and read it all the days of his life (Deut. 17:18-20). Here too, by reading the Torah to the assembled people every seven years, he was showing that the nation as a political entity existed under the sacred canopy of the Divine word. We are a people, the King was implicitly saying, formed by covenant. If we keep it, we will flourish; if not, we will fail. This is how Maimonides describes the actual ceremony: Trumpets were blown throughout Jerusalem to assemble the people; and a high platform, made of wood, was brought and set up in the centre of the Court of Women. The King went up and sat there so that his reading might be heard The chazzan of the synagogue would take a Sefer Torah and hand it to the head of the synagogue, and the head of the synagogue would hand it to the deputy high priest, and the deputy high priest to the High Priest, and the High Priest to the King, to honour him by the service of many persons The King would read the sections we have mentioned until he would come to the end. Then he would roll up the Sefer Torah and recite a blessing after the reading, the way it is recited in the synagogue Proselytes who did not know Hebrew were required to direct their hearts and listen with utmost awe and reverence, as on the day the Torah was given at Sinai. Even great scholars who knew the entire Torah were required to listen with utmost attention Each had to regard himself as if he had been charged with the Torah now for the first time, and as though he had heard it from the mouth of God, for the King was an ambassador proclaiming the words of God.3 Apart from giving us a sense of the grandeur of the occasion, Maimonides is making a radical suggestion: that Hakhel is a re-enactment of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai as on the day the Torah was given, as though he had heard it from the mouth of God and thus a covenant renewal ceremony. How did he arrive at such an idea? Almost certainly it was because of Moses description of the Giving of the Torah in Vaetchanan: The day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, Assemble [hakhel] the people to Me that I may let them hear My words, in order that they may learn to revere Me as long as they live on earth, and may so teach their children. (Deut. 4:10). The italicised words are all echoed in the Hakhel command, especially the word Hakhel itself, which only appears in one other place in the Torah. Thus was Sinai recreated in the Temple in Jerusalem every seven years, and thus was the nation, men, women, children and strangers, renewed in its commitment to its founding principles. Tanach gives us vivid descriptions of actual covenant renewal ceremonies, in the days of Joshua (Josh. 24), Josiah (2 Kings 23), Asa (2 Chron. 15) and Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh. 8-10). These were historic moments when the nation consciously rededicated itself after a long period of religious relapse. Because of Hakhel and covenant renewal, Israel was eternally capable of becoming young again, recovering what Jeremiah called the devotion of your youth (Jer. 2:2). What happened to Hakhel during the almost 2000 years in which Israel had no king, no country, no Temple and no Jerusalem? Some scholars have made the intriguing suggestion that the minhag Eretz Yisrael, the custom of Jews in and from Israel, which lasted until about the thirteenth century, of reading the Torah not once every year but every three or three-and-a-half years, was intended to create a seven year cycle, so that the second reading would end at the same time as Hakhel, namely on the Succot following a sabbatical year (a kind of septennial Simchat Torah).4 I would suggest a quite different answer. The institution of the reading of the Torah on Shabbat morning, which goes back to antiquity, acquitted new significance at times of exile and dispersion. There are customs that remind us of Hakhel. The Torah is read, as it was by the King on Hakhel and Ezra at his assembly, standing on a bimah, a raised wooden platform. The Torah reader never stands alone: there are usually three people on the bimah, the segan, the reader and the person called to the Torah, representing respectively God, Moses, and the Israelites.5 According to most halachists, the reading of the Torah is hovat tzibbur, an obligation of the community, as opposed to the study of Torah which is hovat yahid, an obligation of the individual.6 So, I believe, keriat ha-Torah should be translated not as the Reading of the Torah but as the Proclaiming of Torah. It is our equivalent of Hakhel, transposed from the seventh year to the seventh day. It is hard for individuals, let alone nations, to stay perennially young. We drift, lose our way, become distracted, lose our sense of purpose and with it our energy and drive. I believe the best way to stay young is never to forget the devotion of our youth, the defining experiences that made us who we are, the dreams we had long ago of how we might change the world to make it a better, fairer, more spiritually beautiful place. Hakhel was Moses parting gift to us, showing us how it might be done. Shabbat Shalom NOTES Makkot 23b-24a. This rule was broken by some of the Hasmonean Kings, with disastrous long-term consequences. Mishneh Torah Haggigah 3:4-6. See R. Elhanan Samet, Iyyunim be-Parshot ha-Shevua, 2nd series, 2009, vol. 2, 442-461. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Hayim 141:4, and commentary of Levush ad loc. This is the view, regarded by most as normative, of Ramban. See e.g. Yalkut Yosef, Hilchot Keriat ha-Torah. CONNECT WITH THE CHIEF RABBI Download the Chief Rabbis new iPhone and iPad app via www.chiefrabbi.org for mobile access to his video study sessions as well as his articles and speeches. Alternatively, search for Chief Rabbi in the App Store on your iPhone. SUBSCRIBE TO COVENANT & CONVERSATION To receive Covenant & Conversation and other news from the Office of the Chief Rabbi direct to your inbox each week, please subscribe at www.chiefrabbi.org. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 23:00:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - TEHRAN -- The number of the novel coronavirus cases officially confirmed in Iran rose on Sunday to 386,658, after an overnight registration of 1,992 patients. Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing 139 people died in Iran from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. - - - - YANGON -- The total number of COVID-19 cases in Myanmar has surged to 1,419, with more than 160 confirmed cases reported on Sunday, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health and Sports. On Sunday alone, Myanmar reported 166 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country, registering the highest surge in a single day since the infectious disease was first detected in the country in March. - - - - BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi health ministry on Sunday reported 3,651 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 260,370. It also reported 90 deaths during the day, raising the death toll to 7,512, while 3,301 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 198,560. - - - - ANKARA -- Turkey has imposed new restrictive measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 as the country witnessed an alarming surge in new cases, deaths and seriously ill patients. The country's capital Ankara has become the virus epicenter, followed by other cities such as Istanbul, the country's biggest metropolis with over 16 million population, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca recently said, adding that Turkey is going through "the second peak" of the first wave of the outbreak. - - - - ADDIS ABABA -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday that the death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic climbed to 31,056 across the African continent as the number of positive cases rose to 1,291,724. The African Union Commission's specialized healthcare agency said the number of COVID-19 recoveries in the continent reached 1,031,453. - - - - BEIJING -- China's National Center for the Performing Arts will host an online international forum on Sept. 9 and 10 to discuss opportunities and challenges faced by opera houses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 100 representatives of performing arts institutions from 26 countries and regions will virtually join the "Beijing Forum for Performing Arts 2020" via video link to explore new operation modes during the pandemic. Enditem Twitter/Calvary Baptist Church Maines biggest COVID-19 outbreak is linked to a wedding officiated by the pastor of a distancing-defying church who says masks are part of a socialistic platform. Now more than 144 COVID-19 patients have been linked to the event, and three people are dead. Todd Bell is pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford, Maine. Famous for flying between ministries in multiple states on his private plane (God burdened his heart to do airplane ministry, he says), Bell flew in to officiate a rural Maine wedding on August 7. That wedding is the nexus of 144 COVID-19 cases, including three that resulted in deaths, Maine officials said Friday. One of the deceased, an 83-year-old woman, did not even attend the wedding, but contracted the virus from a guest. None of this appears to be stopping Bell from doing business as usual in his church, calling on worshippers to trust God, not government as the pandemic progresses. The Fall of Floridas Biggest Sham Church Peddling Bleach as a Sacrament The August 7 wedding in Millinocket, Maine was a super-spreader event. Sixty-five guests attended the event at the Big Moose Inn, a violation of the states limit on large gatherings. Officiated by Bell, the celebration went on to sicken guests, some of whom in turn passed it on to people in particularly vulnerable communities. COVID-19 outbreaks at a local rehabilitation center, a senior living facility, a county jail, and a school have all been traced back to the wedding. The number of cases linked to the event has doubled in the past week. One of the victims, 83-year-old Theresa Dentremont, did not attend the wedding, but caught COVID-19 from someone who had. A mother of six, Dentremont was described in an obituary as the anchor of her family and someone who was unwaveringly positive and...always found the good in every person and every situation. Six Calvary Baptist families also attended the wedding, Bell confirmed in a sermon last Sunday, reported by the Penobscot Bay Pilot. But despite a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that Calvary Baptist-goers should voluntarily quarantine, the church was still in full unmasked operation last week. Story continues In his sermon, Bell told worshippers to stay home if they were sick, but launched into a conspiratorial sermon denouncing vaccines and repudiating anti-coronavirus measures. He also spent part of the sermon lashing out at people who had criticized him on social media, including a person who, after observing one of his posts about flying his private plane, speculated that Bell was going to spread the disease at a casino elsewhere in Maine. Bell quipped that a casino would be a good place to deliberately spread COVID-19. Gambling has killed more people and ruined more homes and destroyed more things in our society almost than liquor or pot or pornography, Bell said, according to the Boston Globe. Gambling is wicked. Although in his sermon Bell said he hoped the media was listening, the church has since removed all its live streamed sermons from YouTube and pulled its website. The churchs phone number, when called, returns a message saying the number is not currently accepting calls. On Twitter, the church retweeted a person who claimed Bell was unfairly under attack. Please pray for Pastor Todd Bell, his family and his church. The media and many others have been relentlessly attacking him for having church amidst the rise of COVID cases in Maine, the tweet reads. Pastors are being made out to be enemies of the people by media. We must stand together. That claimthat pastors are being portrayed as enemiesmight be harsh toward the rest of the states religious leaders, most of whom have reportedly not had COVID-19 outbreaks in their congregations. Maines WGME reported that the overwhelming majority of Maine religious congregations have taken steps to prevent the diseases spread, with some of them moving outdoors, implementing distancing for indoor services, or offering online sermons. Some groups affiliated with Calvary Baptist have distanced themselves from the church. A nonprofit shelter that used the church to distribute food to low-income locals relocated to an outdoor site this week. Beneficiaries of the food program are especially susceptible to COVID-19, the programs director told WGME, noting that 85 percent of the shelters clients had health complications that could exacerbate COVID-19s worst effects. Another local told WGME that Calvary Baptist missionaries had actively proselytized after the wedding, even trying to enter her home without masks. They came in without masks and asked to come in even further, the woman told the news station. They asked twice if I was sure they couldnt come into my living room. When I refused they forced a pamphlet at me. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Delhi Police on Sunday claimed to have arrested the man who allegedly shot dead Rahul Solanki (27), one of the first victims of the riots that erupted in the north-eastern parts of the national capital in February. Over 50 people died in the communal violence. The arrested accused, identified as Mustaqeem alias Sameer Saifi, a carpenter, was carrying a cash reward of 1 lakh on his head. Police said they have recovered the country-made pistol used in Solankis murder from Saifi, a class 10 dropout. Solanki had stepped out of his house to buy milk when he was shot dead on February 24. The murder had occurred near Rajdhani Public School at Mahalaxmi Enclave in Mustafabad. Solankis family members took him to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, where he was declared dead. The murder probe was transferred from the district police to the special investigation team of Delhi Polices crime branch. Anit Mittal, additional spokesperson, Delhi Police, said: While analysing the video footage of the violence, a man was spotted shooting Solanki dead. Soon, police teams were deployed at Mahalaxmi Enclave in Mustafabad to gather more information about the murderer. Informers were also activated in the neighbourhood to keep an eye on the suspects and collect information about the criminal, he said. On September 3, we received information that Saifi has been spotted, Mittal said. Acting on the tip-off, a team raided the identified premises and Saifi was nabbed from Bhajanpura. His description matched with the shooter seen in the video footage. Saifi revealed his name as Mustaqeem during the interrogation. Initially, he had denied his involvement in the murder but later when confronted with evidence, he confessed to having opened fire at Solanki. A country-made pistol was seized that he had used during the riots, Mittal said. Police have seized the clothes --- a pair of jeans and shoes and the helmet that Saifi was wearing at the time of his alleged crime and his mobile phone from him. He also revealed that he had participated in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019 and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) near Farukia Masjid. The accused has been sent to judicial custody, he added. The BJP has claimed that the actor's death is not a political issue, but an emotional one. The party's culture wing has also said that it has been running online and offline campaigns since his death With Bihar heading for Assembly elections, the culture wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released posters demanding 'justice' for Sushant Singh Rajput, inviting criticism from the Opposition. According to reports, the art and culture wing of the BJP has distributed posters, stickers and masks with photos of the actor who was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on 14 June. The posters also carry the message Na bhoole hain, na bhoolne denge (neither have we forgotten, nor will we let anyone forget)." As per a report in The Print, over 30,000 posters and stickers, and 30,000 masks bearing the photo and the message have been printed so far. The Bihar Assembly elections are likely to be held in October-November. The BJP has, however, claimed that the actor's death is not a political issue but an emotional issue. The culture wing has also said that it has been running online and offline campaigns since his death. Speaking to The Print, Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal dubbed Rajput as the "son of Bihar", while claiming that there was no question of politics. "There is no question of politics over Sushant Singh Rajput. He was the son of Bihar and the truth should come out. His family should get justice. What is wrong in it? Jaiswal reportedly said. Apart from distributing masks and posters, the art and culture wing had also held group meetings in Patna in the first week of July, the wing's convenor Varun Kumar Singh told The Indian Express. "It is just a coincidence that some people noticed the stickers and are attributing political motives to it, Singh said. Singh also said that they have produced a two-part series on the actor's life, which will soon be made available on social media. "We have been part of the Justice for Sushant campaign since the beginning and had been instrumental in getting top BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sushil Kumar Modi and Ram Kripal Yadav to meet Sushants father in July," he said. According to a report in The Times of India, the BJP has also written a letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanding that Rajiv Nagar Chowk in Patna be named after Rajput. In the letter, the film city located in Nalanda's Rajgir has also been asked to be named after the actor. The RJD slammed the saffron party for politicising the issue. "Kisi ki lash par rajneeti nahi honi chahiye. (Nobody should play politics over someone's dead body)," the Times of India quotes RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari as saying. Tiwari also claimed that RJD leader Tejasvi Yadav was the first to demand a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the actor's death. Some political parties in Bihar, including the RJD and the LJP, had reportedly backed the demand for the CBI probe. "We all have unitedly and unequivocally demanded CBI probe into Sushants death and now it is being carried out. In such situation, BJP must not have politicised it for narrow political gain. Let Sushant get justice, not a politicisation," RJD leader Chitaranjan Gagan told the New Indian Express. The Times of India report also quotes an unnamed Congress leader alleging that political parties had raised the demand for a probe by the agency as the actor belongs to the Rajput caste, considered to be influential in the state. Rajput was found hanging in his apartment in Mumbai's Bandra on 14 June. The actor hails from Purnia in Bihar. Debates over his "outsider status" and nepotism in Bollywood followed soon after. Later, a tussle ensued between the political leaders, police of Maharashtra and Bihar over the investigation into his death. The Bihar Police had registered an FIR under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including abetment to suicide, against Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her family and others on the basis of the allegations made by Rajputs father KK Singh. Following this, the Bihar government had recommended a CBI probe into the case. Singh also alleged financial irregularities. In his complaint, Singh alleged that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Rajput's bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late actor. Maharashtra had said that it was probing the matter as the actor had died in Mumbai and objected to the registration of an FIR in Patna. The Supreme Court later handed over the case to the CBI. Various angles surrounding the death of the 34-year-old actor are now being probed by three federal agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Chakraborty was summoned by the NCB on Sunday, while her brother Showik has been arrested in connection with the drugs probe linked to Rajputs death. With inputs from agencies But what about Congresss lawful responsibility to protect classified information? Pelosi and Schiff had less to say about that. Insiders arent surprised. Its pretty clear that [the DNI] had evidence of Schiff and the Democrats leaking, said one Hill source. Its been a constant problem. The last time was just the final straw. Thats a reference to late July, when top Democrats, worried about a possible Senate investigation into Joe Biden, Hunter Biden and business ties to Ukraine, asked for a full congressional briefing before the August recess. They said they were gravely concerned, in particular, that Congress appears to be the target of a concerted foreign interference campaign. When they got the briefing, the leaks quickly began, so much so that the intelligence community released a public statement to clarify what had been told to Congress -- that China, Russia and Iran are all seeking to influence the results of the 2020 U.S. election. (China and Iran were said to prefer a Biden victory, while Russia prefers Trump.) That was just one episode. House Intelligence Committee Democrats pulled basically the same thing in February, setting off a series of leaks about alleged Russian intentions that caught administration officials unawares. Plans are underway to construct a multi-purpose edifice to boost event tourism, creative arts and economic growth in Kumasi, Ghanas second-largest city. The project dubbed Kumasi International Theatre/Conference Centre is expected to add to the architectural and cultural skyline of the countrys oldest city, and also bring new energies into the growing heritage tourism and movie industry. Upon completion, the theatre would have 2,000 seats in the main auditorium, with a hall for 600 seats to meet specially-tailored meetings. According to a conceptual design presented by the consultants, Messrs. China Bengbu International Technical and Economic Cooperation (CBITEC) Limited, the eco-friendly facility is meant for large conferences, exhibitions, drama, music performance and modern dance. Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), addressing the media in Kumasi, after a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MoU) had been signed between Ghana and CBITEC, described the centre as a landmark project. The Minister, who signed for Ghana, was assisted by the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Osei Assibey-Antwi, representing the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD). The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was also represented at the programme. Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi cited the commercial, economic and social energies to be drawn from the many events that the state-of-the-art facility would host to the advantage of the local economy and beyond. Touching on the socio-economic strides Ghana made on the Kumasi movie industry, Kumawood, the Minister lauded the key players in the industry for the innovative and revolutionary concept. The local movie industry, she said, deserved commendation for fusing the Ghanaian culture with digital technology and further emphasizing the importance of arts and culture in the promotion and development of the country. Using low budgets, record-breaking production time and consistency, Kumawood has drawn a lot of attention from the global and regional film industries and has promoted Ghana well enough. Government recognizes the extraordinary achievements of the Kumasi movie industry, and sees it as a major cultural and economic tool that can be harnessed to revolutionize the creative arts and cultural industry, Mrs. Oteng-Gyasi said. She affirmed the governments commitment to explore possible avenues for investment in the creative arts and cultural industry in order to generate job opportunities for the people. Mr Assibey-Antwi, the Kumasi MCE, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the programme, said the city was noted for its wealth in culture, tradition and commerce and there was the need to expand the infrastructural base of the local economy to attract investors. He lauded the Asantehene, for providing the required land for the landmark project, saying the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), working in partnership with the MoTAC and MLGRD, would play significant roles in the realization of the long-cherished dream. The construction of this edifice is a timely solution to the challenge of providing suitable infrastructure to market Kumasi as the capital of the Ashanti Region and the second-largest city in Ghana for local and international programmes, the MCE told the GNA. 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 When the COVID-19 surge hit Texas in early summer, ICU registered nurses Jeannie Carr and Rhonda Williams were licensed and working in Louisiana, and they knew from their experience there that Texas ICUs were about to be overwhelmed. As travel nurses with AMN Healthcare, Carr with 23 years experience and Williams with 35 years, all as ICU nurses, decided to go to Texas to help hospitals treat COVID-19 patients but they faced a roadblock at the state line. Working as a nurse across state lines requires an entirely separate license that could take weeks or months of complicated paperwork, almost entirely duplicating their Louisiana license applications, yet mandated step-by-step nonetheless. Facing a health care workforce crisis as well as a COVID-19 crisis, Texas and some other states have passed emergency rules that allow nurses and other health care professionals to temporarily practice across state lines. Carr and Williams are now working at an ICU in the Houston area under emergency licenses, employing their critical skills and vast experience to save Texans lives at a regional hospital facing an unprecedented patient-care situation. When we saw what was happening not far away in Texas, we knew we could help, but now were worried that these emergency licenses could end at any time, Carr said. It shouldnt be so difficult, not when we are willing to make the move and accept the risk. Helping people across state lines needs to become a lot easier. Coronavirus does not stop at the border between states, neither does any other disease. Health care professionals should not be stopped at the state line, either. A growing realization has emerged during the pandemic that needless regulatory roadblocks to professional practice jeopardize diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, which led many states to issue executive emergency orders that loosened up state-by-state licensing for nurses and doctors, restrictions on telehealth, limitations on nurse practitioners and other strictures. This progress is vital to the quality of health care in crises and normal times. When the pandemic is over, we cannot go back to old rules that sidetrack advances in patient-centered care and prevent nurses like Carr and Williams from quickly going where they are needed most. We must continue progress by making emergency rules permanent and then further improving them. Our current state system for licensing health care professionals is a tedious, convoluted process that forces health care practitioners to reapply using their same information, from criminal background checks to professional licenses and much more, every time they need to practice across state lines. These state-by-state applications take months, sometimes even years, and theres no evidence they improve patient-care quality compared to national licensure. The first step is the establishment of a single national license for each health care profession. An emerging multistate Nurse Licensure Compact allows nurses to practice across state lines, though some of the largest states have not joined, and there are still home-state requirements that take too long to navigate in the best of circumstances, and far too long during a pandemic. For physicians, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact establishes standard eligibility requirements for compact states, but physicians must still apply in each state. The Physical Therapy Compact provides only a streamlined approach to applying for licenses in some states. At the onset of the pandemic, some states temporarily unraveled regulations on telemedicine and nurse practitioner independence, too. If removing barriers to practice makes sense during a pandemic, it makes sense all the time. Our national population is aging rapidly, causing severe shortages of practitioners because older people require more health services and greater complexity of care, while a wave of retirements among Baby Boomer clinicians worsens the supply and demand imbalance. We had a crisis in practitioner shortages before the pandemic, and we will still have it when the pandemic is over. Early evidence suggests the pandemic may hasten the clinician retirement wave. Many health care leaders are determined that we must hold the recent gains weve made during the pandemic toward national licensure, independence for nurse practitioners and full utilization of telemedicine. We also need progress toward developing national standard competencies for professional practice, reducing documentation burdens, and establishing the roles of students and new graduates in the health care workforce. In the pandemic, we have witnessed unprecedented examples of cooperation and collaboration in health care clinical professionals working together under extraordinarily difficult circumstances; health care organizations that once competed pulling together to save lives; and government agencies joining with health care organizations to secure protective equipment and manage disease hot spots. When the pandemic is over in the not-too-distant future, we can heal our wounds, celebrate our impact and move forward toward a progressive remaking of health care practice in America. We cant go back. Edmonson is chief experience and clinical officer at AMN Healthcare. Some members of the Coalition of Certified Community Teachers (CCCT), in the Northern region, have appealed to government through the Ghana Education Service (GES), to absorb them. They said they had obtained their Untrained Diploma in Basic Education Certificates between 2014 and 2017, with registered numbers as trained teachers and had since passed their licensure examinations, but had not yet been engaged by the GES. They made the appeal in a statement issued by the Coalition in collaboration with the Northern Regional Youth Network and signed by Mr Iddrisu Yussif, the President of the CCCT, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Tamale. The statement said we started our journey to become qualified trained teachers by volunteering to teach in wing schools from 2007 to date. These are schools located in deprived and hard to reach communities in the Gushegu, Karaga and Saboba Districts of the Northern region, and the East Gonja District of the Savannah region, and between 2007 and 2018, we provided opportunity to over 17, 000 pupils to realise their right to quality education, it noted. The statement further explained that though the district education authorities attempted to fulfil their promises by getting us recruited as professional teachers, they have succeeded in recruiting only 30 of us as at March 2017 and since then, no one from our group has been recruited, even though we have met all the requirements. It expressed worry that they had served in deprived communities without salaries, adding, We have made several efforts at securing full time employment with the Ghana Education Service, but our efforts have been in vain. They, therefore, called on the government and GES to formally employ them to continue to render their services to contribute to the development of children in these areas. 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 Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard havent starred in Counting On in three years, and since their departure, the two have been raising their family differently than the way Duggar was raised. Now, fans are calling for Duggar to re-evaluate her life once she starts sending her younger child to school. Jill Duggar | Jill Duggar via Instagram Jill Duggar has separated herself from her parents When Duggar and Dillard left Counting On back in 2017, they also left the constraints of Duggars family. Growing up, Duggar and her siblings had a strict set of rules to follow, including having to dress a certain way and always keep their hair long. Plus, Michelle homeschooled all of her children so the kids could only interact with others who shared their same beliefs. Now, Duggar has been branching out from her parents ways. She recently started wearing pants (and even shorts) and cut off most of her hair late last year. RELATED: Jill Duggar Defied Her Family Even More With the Outfit She Chose for Israels Back-to-School Photos Duggar enrolled her older son in public school Duggar took a massive step when she and Dillard chose to enroll their older son, Israel in public school earlier this year. The Duggar kids were raised to be chaperoned any time they hung out with people who didnt share their exact beliefs; it was their parents way of keeping them sheltered. When Duggar made the move to send Israel to public school, it was her way of saying that she no longer wanted to remain sheltered to differing values and beliefs. She sent her son off, unchaperoned, to interact with different points of view in a setting she was never able to experience. RELATED: Jill Duggar Told a Follower She Doesnt Have Advice About Homeschooling: Not Sure I Have Much to Offer Fans are calling for Duggar to go back to college once Samuel enrolls in kindergarten Now that Duggars husband and older son are in school, shes home all day with Sam. But viewers of the show, who have rooted for Duggars separation from her family, are now calling for Duggar to consider going back to school once she enrolls both kids in the public school system. I hope [Jill Duggar] goes to college and eventually becomes a qualified midwife as thats what she always expressed a interest in, one user wrote on Reddit. Assuming Derek is making enough money, I strongly suspect hes going to encourage her to get at least an associates degree, another person commented. Others suggested that she might volunteer at school near her children or become a teachers aide. Will the Duggar children allow any of their kids to go to college? Its hard to say whether any of the Duggar kids will enroll their own children in college someday. They seem to be doing perfectly fine without degrees, though its possible their kids might express interest in continuing their education, which could prompt some of those Duggar grandchildren to attend college. Fans seem to think that Duggar and Dillards kids could potentially attend college if they choose, as well as Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolos children. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a major donor to President Trump and fund-raiser for the Republican Party, cultivated an environment at his former company that left employees feeling pressured to make donations to Republican candidates, and rewarded them with bonuses for doing so, according to former employees. The arrangement was described by three former employees at New Breed Logistics, Mr. DeJoys former company, who said that workers would receive bonuses if they donated to candidates he supported, and that it was expected that managers would participate. A fourth employee confirmed that managers at the company were routinely solicited to make donations. The four former employees spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional retaliation. The former employees did not say how explicit Mr. DeJoy was about linking the campaign contributions he was encouraging to the extra compensation, but three of them said it was widely believed that the bonuses were meant to reimburse the political donations, an allegation first reported by The Washington Post. Federal campaign finance law bars straw-donor schemes, in which an individual reimburses someone else to donate to a political campaign in order to skirt contribution limits. But it is legal to encourage employees to make donations, as Mr. DeJoy routinely did. A review of campaign finance records shows that over a dozen management-level employees at New Breed would routinely donate to the same candidate on the same day, often writing checks for an identical amount of money. One day in October 2014, for example, 20 midlevel and senior officials at the company donated a total of $37,600 to the campaign of Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, who was running to unseat a Democratic incumbent. Each official wrote a check for either $2,600, the maximum allowable donation, or $1,000. They're locked in a bitter custody battle over their daughter. And on Saturday, Melanie Brown's ex Stephen Belafonte, 45, doted on their daughter Madison as he held a girly mocktail party for her 9th birthday at the Sugar Factory in LA, California. The youngster - who spent lockdown with her father - celebrated with her friends, who joined together to dunk Stephen's face in a huge bowl of ice cream. Happy birthday! On Saturday, Melanie Brown's ex Stephen Belafonte, 45, held a girly mocktail party for their daughter Madison's 9th birthday at the Sugar Factory in LA, California Mel B's daughter looked delighted as she shared a table of colourful treats with her pals, and looked amazed as the waitress made her drink smoke, while Stephen recorded the magic on his phone. Wearing a mint green floral dress and a pink 'Birthday Girl' sash, Maddie looked adorable for her special day and was surprised when a huge bowl of ice cream was brought to the table. Maddie kissed her dad as a sign of gratitude, before removing her gem-encrusted tiara so he and her friends could dunk her face in the bowl. She happily returned the favour, covering Stephen's face in the sticky dessert as she and her pals pushed his face into the dish. Cute! Maddie kissed her dad as a sign of gratitude after a huge bowl of ice cream was brought to the table with celebratory sparklers Fun times! The youngster - who spent lockdown with her father - celebrated with her friends, who joined together to dunk Stephen's face in a huge bowl of ice cream Birthday babe: Maddie was in fits of laughter after having her face dunked in ice cream Fun with friends: Stephen filmed Maddie's reaction to the surprised which he'd organised Magic! Mel B's daughter looked amazed as the waitress made her drink smoke The producer shares custody of little Maddie with Spice Girl ex-wife Mel B who has now quit Los Angeles and relocated to her childhood home of Leeds. It's thought that Mel, 44, hasn't seen Madison since her daughter visited her in Yorkshire in December, before they were separated by the pandemic. Taking to Instagram in April, Stephen shared a snap of him cuddling his daughter, captioning the post: 'I know that this coronavirus has brought a lot of unneeded emotional, financial, and physical stress into all of our lives... 'But I think the thing to do with these trying times is really focus on the things that can be a blessing in disguise like me getting to be able to quarantine with the love of my life, my little Maddie! Getting stuck in: The birthday girl closed her eyes as she attempted to inhale some of the smoke, while wearing her gem-encrusted tiara Surprise! Maddie was surprised when a huge bowl of ice cream was brought to the table Dunkin' daddy! Maddie and a friend pushed her father's face into the ice cream Making memories: Stephen flashed a wide smile after having his face pushed into the ice cream by his daughter Delighted: Mel B's daughter looked delighted as she shared a table of treats with her pals 'What blessings have come out of this horrible event for you? #quarantine #stayfocused #stayhealthy #timetorecharge #priorities.' Mel is now living in the UK after being reunited with her mother Andrea following her split from husband Stephen in 2017, ten years after they exchanged vows. In December she wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram. Fun-filled fay: The father and daughter roared with laughter And another one: Maddie watched with anticipation as another mocktail was poured for her Getting involved: Maddie removed her tiara so her dad and her friends could dunk her face in the bowl of ice cream Getting it on camera: Stephen was sure to capture the special moments on his mobile phone The message, written in red crayon, said her mum was 'loving', 'funny' and 'beautiful' and she misses her when they are apart. Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart. She wrote: 'This time last week I walked around winter wonderland with my 3 kids having the best Xmas fun ever, my youngest Madison with me for 7 amazing days,she wrote me this on the plane going back to LA,as I read this over and over again the pain I feel is unbearable. 'I don't no when me or her sisters are gonna see her again, my abuser STILL manages to abuse me threw the courts and on a daily basis threw a 'court appointed' email that allows him access to me for him to say whenever whatever he wants. 'I share this because I no other mothers are going threw exactly the same thing right now, just no your not alone I feel your pain,and I won't stop talking and fighting to get justice for us all and our kids. '#stopabuse #yournotalone #talktosomeonetoday @womens_aid please be kind to people like me in these situation as you have no idea what me/they are going threw.' [sic] The upload came after Mel said she's been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder her marriage broke down in 2016. Heart-wrenching: In December Mel wrote about the pain of sending her daughter back to Los Angeles after she visited her new home in Leeds for a week, and shared an image of a handwritten letter from Madison on Instagram Devastated: Alongside the image of the note, Mel reflected on the December week with her daughter and how her 'abusive ex' is keeping them apart Angel Mel's 13-year old daughter with Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy also shared a snap of Mel cuddling sister Madison on a train Instagram and wrote: 'No child should be separated from their mother. No child should be separated from their sisters. 'No child should be torn away from family. No child should lie about how they feel. No child should be denied communication to their family consistently.' Mel and Stephen divorced the following year and spent months battling it out in a nasty court fight before finally reaching a settlement. The estranged former couple currently share joint custody of Madison following their acrimonious divorce in late 2017. Happy days: Mel with Madison (L) and Angel (R) during Madison's trip to the United Kingdom in November 2019 Apart: The Spice Girl is living in her native Britain after leaving her job as a judge on America's Got Talent last year. Madison is living in LA with her father However, in early February, TMZ reported that Belafonte filed for full custody of the the youngster claiming her mother had 'all but abandoned' her after returning to her native UK to live. The former Scary Spice is also reported to be wanting to obtain full custody of Madison as she plans to remain in Britain. In addition to Madison, Mel B is mom to daughters Phoenix, 21, whose father is her first husband Jimmy Gulzar, and Angel, 13, whose father is Hollywood star Eddie Murphy. Meanwhile, Stephen also shares 14-year-old daughter Giselle with real estate professional Nicole Contreras. The Chiefs and people of Welembelle in the Sissala East Constituency of the Upper West Region have expressed appreciation to former President Mahama for his development efforts in the area during his tenure in office. Through the community water project you gave to us in 2015, water is now running constantly through our taps and the water problem is now a thing of the past, they said. Mr Luri Amadu, the Assembly Member for Welembelle Electoral Area, expressed the appreciation in a speech read on behalf of the Chiefs and people of the traditional area during former President Mahamas visit to the community during his four-day campaign tour of the Upper West Region. They were equally appreciative of the ICT Centre in the community, stressing that it is helping the youth to stay in touch with events and opportunities around the world. Among the former Presidents development efforts was the Community Day Senior High School (SHS) started in 2015 and which according to Mr Amadu was halted despite follow-ups by the communities. Many of our children who could not get placement after the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) due to limited space at the SHS are sitting at home hoping to one day have their dreams realized, he said. Mr Amadu, therefore, appealed to the leader of the NDC for the 2020 Elections to endeavour to complete the school when he wins the elections. The Assembly Member said the absence of a surgical doctor at the health centre in the community was resulting in high maternal and infant deaths. He, therefore, appealed for an upgrade of the health centre to a hospital for it to better serve the health needs of the people in the area. Mr Amadu called for the creation of a District and a Constituency out of the current Municipality to facilitate the speedy development of the area. He, therefore, pledged the commitment of the people in the area to support the NDC to win the December 7, 2020 elections. Former President Mahama promised to change the accreditation of their health centre to a polyclinic to provide better health care services to the people. If there is an emergency here, the nearest hospital is Tumu which is about 47 miles away, he said and stressed that a quality health care facility for the area was a must in the NDCs next administration. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 09:18:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The global wearables market saw Chinese brands increase their presence in the second quarter (Q2) of the year as shipments of Chinese-made wearable devices posted rapid growth, an industrial report showed. U.S. tech firm Apple, Chinese tech firm Huawei and Xiaomi led the global wearable devices market in Q2, according to a report from the global market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). Wearables shipments of Huawei logged the highest year-on-year growth among other brands, surging 58 percent to 10.9 million, while that of Xiaomi expanded 13.5 percent to 10.1 million. Wearable products mainly include earwear, wristbands and smartwatches. Earwear accounted for 60 percent of the total wearables market. The IDC, founded in 1964, is a global provider of market intelligence, advisory services and events in information technology, telecommunications and consumer technology markets. Enditem Registered nurse Heather Leets, left, administers a COVID-19 test to Ursinus student Kayla Ruiz at Ursinus College, where the fall semester has started in. Read more A few students stood in a socially distanced line inside the Ursinus College field house, waiting to get their weekly coronavirus test as required by the small liberal arts school in Montgomery County. I thought getting tested every week was going to be a hassle, but its actually not as bad as I thought, Kayla Ruiz said Tuesday, after getting her throat swabbed by a worker in gown, mask, and shield. It takes less than five minutes and the results are really worth it so that we all know just how safe everything is on campus. It was the third test Ruiz, 20, a junior from Bristol, had taken since arriving for the fall semester. Students also were required to get tested before they arrived. Ursinus has adopted one of the most aggressive testing policies of area colleges as it tries to keep the virus off its campus, nestled in the 5,500-resident borough of Collegeville. All 1,180 students living on campus will be tested weekly through the semester, and faculty and staff on campus for at least four hours a week are getting tested every other week. READ MORE: How Philly-area colleges are planning to test students and staff for coronavirus Its costing the 1,500-student college, which runs on a $65 million budget, nearly a million dollars, said Mark Schneider, dean of the college. We cant guarantee that things will always stay under control, Schneider said. But what we can guarantee is, with our weekly testing, we will always know the health situation on the campus. We will not be taken by surprise. Testing varies widely among universities. Some, such as Villanova, required students and staff to be tested before they arrived and they are beginning surveillance testing this week. Some schools, such as Swarthmore, will test students several times after they arrive and more if case counts warrant. Pennsylvania State University required students and staff coming from hot spots to be tested before returning and is testing about 1% of the systems population weekly. Some schools arent testing unless students have symptoms. We understand the fear factor, and we just want to be able to allay some of those concerns, said president Brock Blomberg, who donned a sequined face mask, a gift from the spouse of a faculty member. Having just finished its third week with more than 400 freshmen on campus, Ursinus has had two positive tests, both in the first week. In the second week, it had none. (Results for week three are pending.) With some colleges reporting hundreds of cases, students and staff found it cheer-worthy. We got an email, no new cases, and everyone was like yeah! said Elliot Cetinski, 18, a freshman from Chappaqua, N.Y. Students are scheduled for tests by appointment to avoid crowds; results come within 24 to 36 hours, Blomberg said. This weekend, sophomores, juniors, and seniors will arrive, giving the campus another hurdle to clear in reopening. The testing is one measure that Ursinus, which for years has thrived on close faculty-student interaction and classroom community-building, has taken to allow for as normal a semester as possible, one where most students are on campus and most instruction is face-to-face. Or mask-to-mask. READ MORE: How Haverford, Swarthmore, and other small college campuses hope to fend off the coronavirus The school has erected eight tents, with plastic on two sides and mounted fans, for professors who want to teach outside. They identified large spaces, including the wrestling room and art museum, where classes could be held with proper social distance. They loaded the campus with protective gear and cleaning supplies and established a student and faculty health corps that is taking temperatures at building entrances and reminding people of safety rules. I just wanted to find a way that I could help, said Ruiz, a health corps member. To afford the additional safety measures, top administrators have taken pay cuts, and the college is holding off on retirement contributions this year, Blomberg said. The travel budget also has been reduced. Inside professor Meghan Brodies class one morning, held at the campus performing arts theater, masked students sat in a circle on a large stage with high ceilings, their seats spaced apart. Every single student has brought a mask every day and wears them, and they have all been incredibly respectful of each other, their safety, and their well being, Brodie said. For the first 2 weeks of the semester, all freshmen take the same course, called the Common Intellectual Experience. There are 30 sections with 16 students, only three of them being conducted online. The course usually runs all semester. But because of the pandemic, Ursinus packed the learning into a few weeks. Classes meet three hours a day and explore Darwin and Plato and discuss their understanding of the world and how they should live in it. The intensive, condensed course schedule has worked so well that Ursinus may do it again, said Stephanie Mackler, professor of education and assistant dean of academic affairs. This might have been a happy accident, she said. The pandemic may have given us a new way of thinking about what we do that might last. Ben Little, 19, of Quakertown, was happy to be in a classroom again. All his classes this semester will be in person. I missed having that teacher interaction, said Little, who wore a black face mask with a bear, the Ursinus mascot. Cetinski said deep discussions like those taking place in Brodies class are better held in person. The fact that we get to see each other when were responding to sensitive topics makes such a big difference, Cetinski said, because the amount of empathy that is shown in person is much greater than if you were just between the screens. Underneath a classroom tent, Carlita Favero, a professor of biology and neuroscience, was wiping her desk with a Chlorox wipe and writing topics on her whiteboard. About 17% of classes are meeting outdoors, including hers. I prefer if Im going to be face-to-face to be outside, she said. Residence halls will be at 80% capacity, with students living in single and double rooms. The school has made clear that serious violations of safety protocols will not be tolerated. About a dozen freshmen were sent home to study remotely for the rest of the semester after they had a dorm party. We dont want this to be a coercive disciplinary measure, Blomberg said as he sat inside the Schellhase Commons, a $10 million campus hub with bookstore, coffee shop, and admissions operations that opened this summer. We just want to keep the campus safe. The college is asking students to limit travel and stay on campus as much as possible, Blomberg said. And the community is being asked to stay off. We totally understand that, said Catherine Kernen, Collegeville borough council president and head of the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation. She and Aidsand Wright-Riggins, borough mayor, said Ursinus transparency, communication with the community, and testing plan have been a comfort. The college over the years has built a strong relationship with the community, inviting residents in for movie nights, art shows, concerts, and other events, they said. We feel fortunate that the college is actually in our community, Kernen said. That relationship is a big part of the trust thats happening here. News Washington, DC - Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump spoke with Mrs. Akie Abe of Japan. Mrs. Trump thanked Mrs. Abe for the tremendous work she and her husband, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, have done to strengthen the alliance between the United States and Japan. Mrs. Trump congratulated Mrs. Abe for her familys remarkable success, noting that Prime Minister Abe is the longest continuously serving Prime Minister in Japans history. The First Lady also wished Prime Minister Abe a quick recovery and return to good health. Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Abe look forward to continuing the close friendship they have developed for years to come. John Kovach / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Two people were killed in an early morning crash Sunday on Middletown Avenue, police said. A 21-year-old New Haven woman and 23-year-old New Haven man were killed in the crash, New Haven Police Capt. Anthony Duff said shortly before 9 a.m. Sunday. The names of the two people killed in the crash have not yet been released. A new study has found that safety equipment could prevent more than 40 percent of crashes in which tractor-trailers rear-end other vehicles. The survey also found that when the rear-end crashes happened, safety systems were able to cut speeds by over 50 percent, resulting in fewer injuries and less damage. The survey was a project of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a research group supported by companies that insure owners of motor vehicles. The institutes Eric Teoh did the study. He examined crash records from 62 trucking companies that operate tractor-trailers or other large trucks. He found about 2,000 crashes. Those accidents involved vehicles that traveled more than 3.2 billion kilometers from 2017 to 2019. The safety systems use cameras, radar and other sensors to watch the roadway. Some are designed to warn drivers of dangers, while more complex systems will stop the truck. Trucks with crash warning systems reduced rear crashes by 44 percent, while automatic emergency braking systems cut rear crashes by 41 percent, the study found. The institute called on the federal government to require such systems on new large trucks. It noted that many truck operators are already adding emergency braking on their own. Rear-end crashes with trucks and other vehicles happen a lot, often with horrible consequences, said Teoh. This is an important countermeasure to that. The study found that trucks equipped with a crash warning system had 22 percent fewer crashes than those without the technology. Trucks with emergency braking systems had 12 percent fewer crashes. Teoh said the findings could be valuable for trucking companies and drivers who are considering whether to get safety devices on their next vehicles. The institute says U.S. crashes involving large trucks rose by nearly one-third since hitting a record low in 2009. A total of 4,136 people died in such crashes in 2018, with 119 deaths resulting from large trucks rear-ending other vehicles. Two U.S. federal agencies make rules for heavy trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. They both said they are examining the new study. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement it is nearly finished with its own study on driver assist technology on heavy vehicles. It has been urging the voluntary use of systems such as emergency braking. In the United States, there are currently no requirements for either system. In Europe, automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning has been required by the European Union on most new large trucks since late 2013, the institute said. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story rear-end v. to hit the back of one car with another in an accident insurance n. in agreement in which you pay a company money and they pay you costs if you have an accident injury, etc. automatic adj. something controlled using machines and not people brake n. a device that makes a vehicle go slower or stop consequence n. a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient countermeasure n. an action taken against an unwanted action or situation Advertisement New York City police are readying to step in and arrest people for violating COVID-19 social distancing rules, as the United States prepares for a hot and sunny Labor Day holiday weekend. With temperatures in New York expected to be around 80 degrees all weekend, and with bright sunshine forecast, the NYPD are bracing themselves for large gatherings - which they will break up. Extra officers have been drafted to police stations in Brooklyn hotspots in anticipation of an increased demand for processing detainees, a source told the New York Post. 'If there's violence, we're going to make arrests,' said Terence Monahan, chief of department for the NYPD. New York Police Department has warned against large gatherings over the Labor Day weekend People roller skate during a pop-up roller skating session hosted by the Butter Roll skating club on Saturday in Brooklyn Police in New York City are concerned that the holiday weekend may see large groups of people try to congregate 'Obviously, if there's groups out there, we're going to try to break it up. 'We're not looking to arrest people. They're out to celebrate. 'But we can't have the violence.' The city is also suffering from a surge in violence, with gunfights frequently breaking out at large cookouts in Brooklyn and the Bronx. Since June 1, there's been 708 shootings with 899 victims as compared to 277 shootings with 338 victims during the same period last year, said Monahan. 'These house parties are so large it's almost impossible for us not to see them,' he said. 'They're very large, speakers blaring. We will be out in force and we will have enough cops to go in these parties and break them up.' Monahan said he expects Brooklyn residents to celebrate. 'But we're asking that they celebrate small, celebrate with their families, celebrate on their block,' he said, warning people from other parts of the city not to travel across the boroughs. 'People who do not live in Brooklyn, there's absolutely no reason to come into Brooklyn from Jersey, from the Bronx,' said Monahan. 'There are no events to come see.' Many of New York's usual holiday events have been canceled due to COVID-19, and people are being asked to avoid groups The traditional West Indian Day parade, which takes place on Labor Day, and the J'Ouvert festival which directly precedes have both been canceled this year due to the pandemic, and will take place online instead. Police are still bracing for revelers to take to the streets of Crown Heights in Brooklyn, where the party is normally celebrated. 'What we can't have is large gatherings,' said Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York. 'If there's a gathering it has to be kept under 50 people and it has to be kept smart. 'You can celebrate from your home socially distant.' New York officials were not the only ones concerned about the pandemic and the possibility of a surge in infections if people congregate over the holiday. The forecasted heat wave is adding to fears, as people flock to the beaches to stay cool. Around 43 million Americans along the West Coast are under an excessive heat watch and have been told to stay indoors, as record-high temperatures are expected to hit for Labor Day weekend. Forecasters warned that a dangerous heat wave is headed for much of California, southern Nevada and western Arizona over the next three days, with temperatures soaring to up to 120 degrees. Santa Monica beach in Los Angeles was packed with people on Saturday amid sweltering temperatures Surfers and swimmers were out in force along Santa Monica beach on Saturday, as the weather service warned of the heat A couple is pictured on the pier in Santa Monica looking at the crowds below on Saturday Los Angeles' Venice Beach drew crowds of children and adults alike to cool off amid intense heat Hermosa Beach on Saturday was crowded with people, and few if any appeared to be following rules on face masks Hermosa Beach, south of Los Angeles, drew crowds of sun worshipers and people seeking respite from the hot sun The city of Hermosa Beach orders that people on their sandy shores wear face masks, but few were complying Saturday Huntington Beach in southern California was crowded on Saturday, with many seeking refuge from the sun with parasols California is bracing for what could be one of its hottest days in history, at a time when the Golden State is already under the grip of dozens of mammoth wildfires which have so far destroyed more than 1.5 million acres. Records for temperatures were broken across the state, with Paso Robles having the hottest day in the city's history, as the mercury hit 112 degrees on Saturday. The Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles also had its hottest day ever, with temperatures reaching 117 degrees. The wildfire warning for the Santa Barbara area was upgraded to a red flag. On Saturday night the National Weather Service warned southern Californians that the conditions were likely to continue. 'Expect a similar hot day tomorrow, with inland temperatures peaking between 110-120 degrees, hottest likely in the valleys,' they tweeted. 'There will be some cooling on Monday, but still well above normal for inland areas. Best cooling across the coast. Stay hydrated and cool!' The National Weather Service warned on Saturday night of a 'deadly heat wave' in southern California Paso Robles, north of Los Angeles, recorded its hottest ever temperature on Saturday in the midst of the heatwave Around 43 million Americans are under an excessive heat watch and have been told to stay indoors In Georgia, politicians were warning against people flocking to the beaches amid the heat and continuing pandemic threat. In Atlanta, LGBTQ Black Pride is being held virtually, in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the hard-hit state. Keisha Lance Bottoms, the mayor of Atlanta, who herself tested positive for coronavirus in early July, issued a statement saying it was entirely possible to enjoy Labor Day weekend, and respect local and state guidelines. 'The City celebrates the spirit of Labor Day and Black LGBTQ Pride, and urges all residents and visitors to adhere to CDC guidelines and Orders set forth by the City and State,' said spokesperson Michael Smith. He emphasized that COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting black and brown communities. 'If we are to curb the spread of this deadly disease, residents, visitors and organizers must take personal responsibility, wear masks, socially distance and use some common sense,' he said. Terrance Stewart, chair of Atlanta Black Pride, told 11Alive he was concerned about some of the parties being held in recent days, and advertised for the weekend. 'There's no way you can tell me that you guys are social distancing,' he said. 'The venues are packed. There was not a mask in sight. 'I know it's difficult, they know it's going to be difficult. You can hand over an individual a mask at the door. They'll put it on when they walk past you. Ten minutes later, it's going to be off.' Some party planners, he said, are using the name of Atlanta Black Pride to promote unlicensed, large-scale events which put the whole community at risk. 'They don't even live here,' he said. 'So, you come in, get a spot, you represent yourself as Atlanta Black Pride, you throw a party, something goes haywire, you leave town, we're stuck with cleaning up your mess.' According to EventBrite, there are at least three dozen other parties scheduled this weekend in Atlanta that are not affiliated with Atlanta Black Pride. One event scheduled, which lasts until 3am on Sunday, is promoted as 'The Biggest Labor Day Weekend Party in the City of Atlanta.' South Carolina's Myrtle Beach saw crowds of people take to the sea to cool off in the late August heat Myrtle Beach in South Carolina was quieter than usual, after COVID-19 hampered the summer tourist season In South Carolina, Myrtle Beach saw a fairly large number of people on Saturday taking to the waves, although numbers appeared to be down compared to previous years. The state usually attracts large numbers of tourists from all over the country, looking to take advantage of the golden coastline. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the state hard, and tourist numbers are down. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control officials say the Myrtle Beach area has seen a total of 9,443 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started in mid-March. In June the area was dubbed a regional epicenter of the pandemic, according to Myrtle Beach online, but restaurants and shops are now cautiously reopening, and business owners are hoping to avoid a second wave. In Florida, the most famous beach in Miami was also noticeably quieter. South Beach still attracted people, but the numbers were significantly down compared to usual Labor Day holidays. Miami's South Beach - usually packed with people - was quieter than normal as pandemic precautions limited the crowds And in Tennessee, hundreds of Trump supporters took to the waters to show their support for the president as part of a 'Trumpilla' of boats. Flying the flags and displaying inflatables of the president, they cruised in their boats through the lakes and waterways. One man was spotted in a Trump face mask, while others chose to show their support with t-shirts. The court order throws another wrench into a census that already was the most ill-starred and politically freighted tally since at least 1920, when a Republican-dominated Congress refused outright to accept a population count that would have shifted political power to Democratic cities. As the coronavirus swept the nation this spring, the bureau had to postpone key parts of its population count until August. The Trump administration said at the time that it would extend the deadline for completing the count to Oct. 31 to make up for that delay, and move the date for delivering population totals to the White House to April 2021, from its current Dec. 31 deadline. But as census outreach prepared to resume last month, the administration reversed course, ordering the count wrapped up by Sept. 30, and delivery of totals by Dec. 31. The apparent reason was that the administration wants to exclude noncitizens from the population totals that will be sent to Congress early next year for reallocating seats in the House of Representatives and drawing political boundaries nationwide. But the Census Bureau can only deliver population totals to the White House by Dec. 31 if it shortens the time spent counting residents. And with an uphill battle to win a second term in the election in November, Mr. Trump can be assured of control over population totals only if they are delivered to the White House by that deadline. Critics have called that a baldly political attempt to create a whiter, more Republican-leaning population total for use in reapportionment and redistricting. The lawsuit opposing the shortened deadline said as much, saying the schedule suggested it was devised to facilitate another illegal act: suppressing the political power of communities of color by excluding undocumented people from the final apportionment count. Mumbai: Digital wallets, followed by online cabs, were the top performing categories for cashless transactions post demonetisation, a study said. Food ordering platforms and grocery were also popular for cashless transactions following governments demonetisation of high-value currency notes, which caused a cash shortage in November and December, according to the study by cashback platform CouponDunia. Paytm, Freecharge, Mobikwik, Dominos Pizza and Yatra were the top performing brands, it added. Interestingly, traffic on e-commerce sites dropped in the past two months.According to data provided by CouponDunia, Amazons traffic fell by 22 per cent, while Flipkarts and Snapdeals traffic fell by over 50 per cent. Tier II towns were significantly more affected by the cash crunch compared to the top metro cities, it said. Among the tier I cities, Mumbai was the most affected with 37 per cent less traffic online post-demonetisation, followed by Kolkata at 26 per cent lower traffic. Delhi saw a 7 per cent decline, while Chennai saw 16 per cent drop in online traffic. The search term McDonalds online order increased by 90 per cent during this time, and online ordering platform FoodPanda saw over 11,000 new user orders within 10 days of demonetisation. Other interesting findings include 400 domestic flight bookings on Yatra since demonetisation, and over 3,500 Uber rides taken within a week of November 8, when the move was announced, CouponDunia said. The study also noted that over 8,000 pizzas were ordered within three weeks of the announcement. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin -- (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, September 7 2020 A joint team of prosecutors arrested on Friday the former president director of city-owned transportation company PT Transjakarta, Donny Andy Sarmedi Saragih, who has been at large since 2019 after he was convicted of fraud. The team from the Attorney Generals Office, the Jakarta Prosecutors Office and the Central Jakarta Prosecutors Office arrested him at his apartment in North Jakarta at 11:30 p.m. on Friday to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Mumbai: Maharashtra reported the fastest growth is coronavirus infection in August, registering over 3.70 lakh cases, a senior state health official said. According to data of the Maharashtra health department, the state reported 3,76,587 COVID-19 cases last month, 2,41,820 cases in July and 1,04,748 cases in June. On August 1, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the state was 4,31,719, which jumped to 8,08,306 on September 1. This is probably the fastest growth of cases in the state since January, the health official said. One of the reasons for the growth in number of positive cases is the increased number of tests, he said,adding that last month, the state carried out 20,16,809 tests. Maharashtra on Saturday had reported its highest-ever single-day spike of 20,489 cases taking the total count of infections to 8,83,862. This is the fourth consecutive day that Maharashtra reported a record number of fresh cases. The number of tests conducted till August 1 was 21,94,943, which rose to 42,11,752 on September 1. The state is aggressively testing which is helping in detection of the infected people, the official said. The official informed that the number COVID-19 cases and deaths is continuously going up in the state. Over 165 police personnel in Maharashtra have died of coronavirus so far, Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister of the state informed on Saturday. The reputation of the Maharashtra Police reached its all-time high during the pandemic," he added. Between August 1 and 5, the number of COVID-19 cases rose by 36,546, and between September 1 and 5, the number went up by 75,556, the official said. Besides, the state reported 15,316 deaths due to the disease till August 1 and the number went up to 24,903 on September 1, as per the data. Between August 1 and 5, 1,160 people died due to COVID-19 and between September 1 and 5, 1,373 people died,the official said. Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis has said the state needs to conduct more tests. Out of the daily tests, a sizable number is of the antigen tests which are not completely reliable. The RT-PCR tests, which are more reliable, should be done on a large scale, which will be able to tell the ground reality about the coronavirus, he said. However, the health official said the antigen tests are comparatively cheaper than the RT-PCR tests and hence,conducted more as a precautionary measure. CM Uddhav Thackeray said that the spike shows the state administration will face the challenge of containing the outbreak more vigorously in the next two to three months. The morning of Tropical Storm Isaias, the sky turned witchy gray-green over Deer Pond Farm. The way it looked in The Wizard of Oz, said Jim Arigoni, conservation biologist at Deer Pond Farm, the nature sanctuary in Sherman owned by the Connecticut Audubon Society. Both Arigoni and Cathy Hagadorn, the sanctuarys executive director, were out in the woods when the storm began to gather. I said We better get out of Dodge City, Hagadorn said. They retreated, pronto. But the next day, when they tried to return, they couldnt. Isaias had left its mark. The main access road to the sanctuary Wakeman Hill Road was completely blocked by downed tree after downed tree. Hagadorn parked her car at a southern access point and hiked about a mile-and-a-half along Deer Pond Farms trails to its headquarters. She had to skirt the same gauntlet of uprooted trees and fallen limbs to walk to work. Getting up here was quite a challenge, she said. Isaias, which struck on Aug. 4, closed the sanctuary for nearly all of August. There were at least 150 trees barring the way along sanctuarys 15 miles of trails. If a tree falls in the woods, what do you do? Hagadorn said. First, tree crews moved in with chain saws, excavators and bucket trucks to clear the trails. Then, Deer Pond Farms volunteers took over, clearing the smaller limbs and left-over brush. The job we did was with small debris, said Michelle Sikorski of Danbury, who is a volunteer trail monitor at the sanctuary. Theyd cleared the loop I do, said Gary Kraft of Brewster New York, another volunteer. My job was the small stuff. The end result of this intensive clean-up is this: After being closed for most of August, Deer Pond Farm its 835 acres straddling the Connecticut-New York line is open again. There is carnage aplenty to see tree trunks twisted and shattered, black locusts and wild cherry and oaks scattered and laid low. But theres also woods and wetlands and meadows and cleared trails for rambling. Sikorski said thats important as coronavirus constraints home working, home schooling, and social distancing stay in effect. People need nature, she said. But sanctuary visitors will have to readjust themselves. Isaias will change the look of Deer Pond Farm for long into the future. Hagadorn said this shouldnt be seen as something unnatural. Wild winds and downed trees have been a part of Connecticut ever since forest sprouted across the states landscape. Ecologists can see Isaias, in some ways, as a regenerative force. When trees fall, theres no longer a canopy of leaves blocking the sun. The new clearings can sprout and start new growth. A host of creatures insects, amphibians, birds and mammals need that open, brushy space to thrive. Connecticuts woods, in general, are a mature forest in need of selective renewal. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is now a partner in the Young Forest Habitat Initiative, which hopes to encourage creating such forest openings. Hagadorn, Deer Pond Farms director, said the snags are a boon to some resident species at the preserve. They present opportunities for woodpeckers and squirrels, she said. The storm also took down older trees, trees with some unseen rot, or trees that had rooted in shallow soils with ledge underneath trees with suspect futures. More than half the trees Isaias damaged at Deer Pond Farm were black locusts, which grow tall and spindly. Theyre native to the Appalachian woodlands and are officially listed as an invasive species in Connecticut. (Another train of thought is they may be just part of a changing forest and part of the Northeast Highlands ecosystem that runs from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts, smack through Sherman.) The trick in the future will be to watch the new clearings. Invasive species barberry, bittersweet, porcelain berry, autumn olive, garlic mustard and winged euonymus like openings in disturbed ground. Were going to have to carefully monitor these places, Hagadorn said. Also, Deer Pond Farm is not exactly a wild place. Kathy and Walter Wriston, who owned the property and donated it to Connecticut Audubon Society, had managed the woods carefully. The Wristons left brush piles behind. Those raggedy heaps arent collection depots. They have a purpose, providing refuge and shelter for birds and animals throughout the year. Isaias has created ample opportunity for more, plus another lesson. Leave a little mess, Hagadorn said. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com A transgender person was shot dead in Delhis GTB Enclave on Saturday evening by unknown assailants. Police said theyre trying to identify and arrest the suspects. The reason behind the murder is not known yet, senior police officers said. According to the police, the incident took place around 9pm when the transgender person, locally known as Joshi, got off a car and was entering his house in GTB Enclave. Locals and witnesses told police that some unknown men approached Joshi and opened fire. He was shot thrice and left for dead. A police team that reached the spot rushed him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination is being done and a case of murder has been registered, said a police officer who did not wish to be named. Deputy commissioner of police, Shahadra, Amit Sharma said CCTV camera footage has been checked and his teams are close to nabbing the suspects. Were raiding the hideouts of the suspects and all possible angles are being probed, Sharma said. His family members are being questioned to know more, he said. [Heres what we know about the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.] KENOSHA, Wis. The Rev. Lawrence L. Kirby has listened to a determined refrain from fellow Kenosha residents who have endured the tumult of the past two weeks. We need to rebuild our burned businesses, they tell him. We need to get back to normal. Thats where he interjects. Lets not get back to anything, he said. Kenosha erupted in outrage and division over days of tragedy, violence and destruction. Since Aug. 23, the city has been the scene of a police shooting that left a Black man, Jacob Blake, paralyzed; emotional demonstrations and several nights of looting and fires; and the killing of two protesters in the street. Last week it became a hotly contested presidential battleground, as President Trump visited, followed by Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic candidate. As a nightly curfew in Kenosha has been lifted and protests have quieted, the question of what comes next for this city has revealed an even wider chasm between residents. - Emirates Steel awards contract to Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) following a bidding procurement process - Emirates Steel can also leverage insurer's ECI credit insurance policy to obtain loans from banks to help increase its funding capacity DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Emirates Steel, a leading integrated steel plant in the UAE, named Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE's Federal Export Credit Company, as its credit insurance partner to provide export credit protection to its global exports. Emirates Steel has signed with ECI for a comprehensive trade credit insurance package, which will protect Emirates Steel against commercial risks of its customers such as insolvency, payment default, and political risks. Under the agreement, Emirates Steel can also leverage its credit insurance policy to obtain loans from banks, to further increase its funding capacity. Highlighting the federal export credit company's commitment to the UAE's diversified companies, Massimo Falcioni, CEO of ECI, said: "We are honored to win this contract from Emirates Steel, and are resolved to providing an outstanding level of service in line with Etihad Credit Insurance's highest standards. ECI's support to Emirates Steel is a testament to our unwavering mission to boost the competitiveness of the UAE's trade and export businesses as they compete in international markets. In increasing their volume of exports, we are also accelerating and sustaining national economic diversification." "ECI believes that as borders reopen following the COVID-19 closure, there are significant opportunities that businesses like Emirates Steel can explore in this new world. We are here to provide the relevant protection so that they can fully and seamlessly resume their operations and maintain their sales target," added Falcioni. Speaking about the agreement, Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of Emirates Steel, said: "We are delighted to have signed this agreement between Emirates Steel and Etihad Credit Insurance, which reflects the commitment of the home-grown organisations to work together and build strategic partnerships that contribute to supporting the economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general." "Emirates Steel exports its manufactured products to more than 40 countries across the world, helping the UAE to position itself as a regional and global pioneer in producing high-quality steel products. This collaboration with ECI will significantly protect our exports against commercial risks," added Eng. Al Remeithi. Through its extensive network and information database of more than 360 million corporates worldwide, ECI can assist in advising Emirates Steel on available options and connect the company to alternative suppliers to sustain its trade operations in the international markets, in case of any disruption. About Etihad Credit Insurance Etihad Credit Insurance (PJSC) was established by UAE Federal Government and its founders, the governments of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Ajman. The company started its operations in February 2018. ECI plays a catalyst role in supporting the UAE's non-oil exports, trade, investments and strategic sectors development, in line with UAE Vision 2021 agenda. It is tasked to accelerate and sustain national economic diversification as well as support the export and re-export of UAE goods, works, services, and the foreign investments of the UAE businesses as well as support the exporters in the domestic trade through a range of export credit, financing and investment insurance products. To provide UAE businesses with solutions that meet their growth objectives locally and internationally, ECI builds a comprehensive platform of strategic partnerships across government, insurers, re-insurers, brokers, banks and lenders, regional and international Export Credit Agencies, governments and trade promotion agencies in addition to world organisations for economic development. ECI has also been assigned Insurance Financial Strength (IFS) Rating and an Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of AA- (Very Strong) with Stable Outlook from Fitch Ratings. About Emirates Steel Emirates Steel is a leading integrated steel manufacturer in the Middle East region, based in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. Through Senaat, Emirates Steel is part of ADQ, one of the region's largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi's diversified economy. Established in 1998, Emirates Steel boasts leverages cutting-edge rolling mill technology, and supplies the domestic and international markets with high quality finished products including wire rods, rebars, heavy sections and sheet piles. Emirates Steel is the first steelmaker in the world to capture its CO2 emissions, except for some North American manufacturers. The company plays an enabling role in building the UAE's future and contributes to achieving the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071 through its delivery of market-leading products to local industries and provision of career opportunities for talented UAE nationals. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1249356/Etihad_Credit_Insurance_Emirates_Steel.jpg The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. A Thousand Years of Jihad By Thomas J. Fleming and Frank Brownlow Fleming Foundation, 120 pp., US$20.00 The ongoing war By Piers Shepherd Since the events of 11 September 2001, numerous books have been written on Islam chronicling that religions long record of violence, conquest and persecution of non-believers. What makes this book different is that it is not simply a list of Islams crimes but a series of reflective historical essays that illustrate aspects of Islams interaction with the west, each of which teach an important lesson from which modern commentators, cultural critics and policy makers can learn. The books authors are the classicist Thomas Fleming, former editor of Chronicles magazine, and Frank Brownlow, a former professor of English Literature. They have produced a fascinating series of essays each of which can be read and understood on its own without necessarily having to read the whole book. Several themes run through the book including Islams continuous acts of aggression against the west, its apparent inability to live at peace with its neighbours and in many cases the inability of the west to effectively resist it due to rivalry among western leaders with certain leaders siding with Islam against their fellow Christians. Examples of this have included the French king Francis Is alliance with the Turks against the Holy Roman Empire, British Prime minister Benjamin Disraelis support for the Ottoman Empire as a barrier against Russian power and the support given by NATO and the Clinton administration to Islamic insurgencies in the Balkans. The books introduction gives us the gruesome facts about Islam which should be well-known but due to modern politically-correct sensitivities are not much publicised. The authors estimate that there have been around 270 million non-Muslim victims of Islamic aggression, roughly 93,000 per year. Mohammeds massacres and oppression of Jews and Christians is briefly described as is Islams exploitation of divisions within the Christian community as part of a divide and conquer strategy. The rest of the book examines Islams conflict with the west through a series of relevant historical episodes. A chapter by Brownlow titled Byron among the Turks recounts the travels of Lord Byron in Ottoman-ruled Greece between 1809 and 1811. Though Byron would later fight with the Greeks in their struggle for independence, at this earlier stage in his life he had a strong sympathy for Islam. Byrons exotic attraction to the other can be seen as the beginning of what has become known as orientalism, a fascination of the western elite class with all things associated with the east. While this may have been fairly harmless to begin with it took on a more sinister note with the western-educated Palestinian Edward Saids 1978 book Orientalism. Said, explains Brownlow, redefined the meaning of the word orientalism: Instead of using it to mean every kind of western interest (linguistic, historical, cultural) in the Muslim countries, it now meant the forms that ineradicable white racism and imperialism have taken in the encounter with the Islamic other. The influence of Saids book can be seen today in academia and government circles where the west is blamed for all of Islams problems. A fascinating chapter by Fleming titled Cowboys and Muslims tells the story of Captain John Smith. Smith is best known as the founder of the Virginia colony and for being rescued from death by Pocahontas. But it is little known that Smith had an earlier and even more dramatic career. Having been a mercenary in wars in France and the Netherlands, Smith subsequently served with the Hungarians fighting the Turks. He killed and decapitated several Turks in single combat and was awarded a coat of arms consisting of three Turks heads by Prince Sigismund of Transylvania. Smith was subsequently captured and enslaved by the Turks but escaped after killing his master. Such was the background of the man who created the first English colony in America. Fleming ends his chapter on Smith with a controversial statement that will undoubtedly bring howls of rage from the liberal and neo-conservative establishments: Simple-minded conservative politicos are forever inspiring their simpler-minded followers with dreams of restoring American greatness or of Bringing America Back Home. We shall know that this homecoming has begun when John Smith replaces Dr. King as our national hero and his coat of arms-three Turks heads-replaces the anti-Christian Masonic symbol on the Great Seal. Brownlow contributes two detailed chapters on the Barbary corsairs. Those raised on anti-western propaganda will probably never have heard of the Barbary pirates and the terror they inflicted on much of Europe for a few hundred years. The Barbary States of North Africa had economies based on piracy and slavery. In 1582 raids on the coasts of Spain and Italy kidnapped 1,730 people to be sold as slaves in Algiers: ...at any one time between 1580 and 1680 there were about 35,000 Christian slaves in the Barbary states and that since the attrition rate from death, ransom, apostasy and escape was about 25 per cent, it required an annual intake of 8,500 to keep numbers up. Sicily was attacked on an almost daily basis. While initially the Barbary pirates operated solely within the Mediterranean they eventually extended their area of operations into Northern Europe. The coasts of south-west England became a regular target. In 1645 240 people were seized in raids on the coast of Cornwall. Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel was occupied for a time. In 1631 over 100 people were taken from the village of Baltimore in Ireland. The pirates even ranged as far north as Iceland, were in one raid over 300 Icelanders were taken into slavery. As so often in European history the Christian nations did not unite to deal with this menace but frequently allied with the pirates against one another. Elizabeth I and the Moroccan emperor, Ahmad al-Mansur attempted to form an alliance against Spain, while Francis I, as part of his war against the Habsburgs, allowed the dreaded pirate Barbarossa to use the port of Toulon as a base for raiding the coasts of Spain and Italy. It is usually forgotten that the first war engaged in by the United States was against the Barbary pirates who began attacking American shipping as early as 1784. Two wars were fought by the United States against the Barbary States, the first from1801-1805 and the second in 1815. Various treaties were signed between western nations and Barbary States but, as Brownlow says, Barbary treaties only lasted as long as the Christians warships were in sight. Ultimately, the only way of ending the Barbary raids and Christian slavery was for western nations to occupy North Africa a process which began under the French who occupied Algiers in 1830. Those who today decry colonialism often forget its origins. The books last two chapters deal with the unsuccessful Islamic attempts to conquer France and Italy. Brownlow gives a commentary on The Song of Roland, a literary work that has become the something like the French equivalent of the Arthurian legend. Flemings chapter on Italy deals with how the different Italian states dealt with the Islamic onslaught including the roles of Rome, Sicily, Venice and Pisa. Fleming concludes: The Italian resistance to Islam teaches several useful lessons. Disunity and discord are fatal to any plan of defence, and Muslim states have always been successful in fomenting and exploiting rivalries between Christian states as well as rebellions and civil wars within them. There is something depressingly similar about the invasions of Sicily, Spain, the Byzantine Empire and the Balkans. In each case, local Christian rulers thought they could use Muslims in their conflict with rivals and enemies, though in the end it was they who were used by the Muslims. Modern western leaders should take note. Fleming and Brownlow have produced a scholarly, fascinating and brilliant series of essays that should be read by anyone who wants a better understanding of Islam and its relations with the west. Piers Shepherd is a freelance writer based in England who has been published in Chronicles, Crisis magazine, Catholic World Report and the Wanderer among others. This is his first contribution to Enter Stage Right. 2020 Piers Shepherd. Home Up to 1800 people will have access to alternative pathways to work through a Government investment of $12.2 million in regional education and skills training, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a blow to New Zealands economy, with the effects being felt hard in the regions. Our recovery will be driven, in large part, by the regions so it is imperative businesses have a well-trained work force and Kiwis have more ways to learn and upskill, says Jones. This funding of $12.2m, from the Te Ara Mahi allocation of the Provincial Growth Fund, will support a range of education, skills training, pre-employment and job pathway projects in Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Tairawhiti, Hawkes Bay, Northland and Manawatu-Whanganui. These projects will increase the number of people enrolled in PGF-funded skills and employment programmes from the 11,090 I announced last month to around 13,150. Investing in skills and education for our people not only supports them, their family and whanau and their communities, it supports regional businesses. Te Ara Mahi is just one of the many ways this Government is supporting the regions, from direct investment from the Provincial Growth Fund and through the $3 billion for shovel-ready infrastructure projects to funding for regional apprenticeships and worker redeployment, says Jones. The projects being funded through the announcement are: Bay of Plenty Four projects in the Bay of Plenty region will receive a combined total of $3.7 million to help close to 600 people. Te Runanga o Ngati Awa will receive $2.573 million to support its Technical Training Centre project which will help at least 40 people. will receive $2.573 million to support its Technical Training Centre project which will help at least 40 people. Whakaari Logistics Limited will receive $371,000 to put 15 people though the East Coast Practical Driver Training Pilot Programme. will receive $371,000 to put 15 people though the East Coast Practical Driver Training Pilot Programme. Waiariki Film Studios GP Limited will receive $75,000 to support up to 20 rangatahi to complete an 18-week film and television training and employment programme. will receive $75,000 to support up to 20 rangatahi to complete an 18-week film and television training and employment programme. Miro Trading Partnership will receive $717,000 which will support up to 400 people to learn more about growing Eureka blueberries. The funding will create 195 new fulltime jobs across 12 orchards. Tairawhiti Two Tairawhiti providers will receive a combined total of $2.25 million to support 335 people. Coxco Farming and Horticulture Ltd will receive $1.45 million to establish a training and employment programme to help 100 unemployed Tairawhiti locals into employment either with Coxco or elsewhere in the local industry. will receive $1.45 million to establish a training and employment programme to help 100 unemployed Tairawhiti locals into employment either with Coxco or elsewhere in the local industry. Tairawhiti CARE will receive $800,000 to help local Tairawhiti employers build effective employment practices to help an estimated 235 local people into sustainable employment. Northland Three Northland projects will be able to help up to 75 people with combined funding of $2.2 million. The KiwiRail prison programme will receive $640,000 for a programme to train and integrate around 20 prisoners back into the community through support, training, mentoring and manaaki tangata, plus support from their whanau, hapu and iwi. prison programme will receive $640,000 for a programme to train and integrate around 20 prisoners back into the community through support, training, mentoring and manaaki tangata, plus support from their whanau, hapu and iwi. Taimahi Trust will receive a grant of $970,000 over two years for its Can-do Catering programme which will support 30 people aged 18-25 with intellectual disabilities and/or high social needs into employment in horticulture, hospitality and social care. will receive a grant of $970,000 over two years for its Can-do Catering programme which will support 30 people aged 18-25 with intellectual disabilities and/or high social needs into employment in horticulture, hospitality and social care. Up to 25 people will receive collision repair training through an investment of $590,240 to Smart Trade Solutions Ltd, an industry training provider. Waikato A combined total of $1.14 million to support up to 65 people will go to two projects in Waikato. Mahi Tika Equity in employment, managed by the Disabled Persons' Assembly NZ will work to break down barriers to employment for the disabled community and place up to 25 people into suitable employment. will work to break down barriers to employment for the disabled community and place up to 25 people into suitable employment. Te Wananga o Aotearoa will receive $894,044 to set up and run a work-readiness programme for around 40 people in South Waikato who have been displaced as a result of COVID-19 or who are not in employment, education or training. The programme will help them take up work opportunities in the construction or primary industries. Hawkes Bay Two projects in Hawkes Bay will receive a combined total of $450,000 to help up to 92 people. Driver CPC Ltd will receive $188,750 for its Whiti project to provide forklift training by virtual reality to up to 80 people who have been displaced by Covid-19 or who are unemployed. will receive $188,750 for its Whiti project to provide forklift training by virtual reality to up to 80 people who have been displaced by Covid-19 or who are unemployed. Te Wai Mauri will receive $260,693 to employ 12 unemployed people to complete riparian planting and other water conservation projects. Te Wai Mauri plans to train a contracting team able to compete commercially for projects. Manawatu-Whanganui Three projects in the Manawatu-Whanganui region will receive a combined total of $2.5 million to help up to 680 people. The Puhoro STEM Academy will receive $975,000 for its programme which supports Maori to enter study and careers in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors. Funding over two years will provide 250 participants with training and help place 50 rangatahi into internships, apprenticeships or cadetships. will receive $975,000 for its programme which supports Maori to enter study and careers in the science, technology, engineering and maths sectors. Funding over two years will provide 250 participants with training and help place 50 rangatahi into internships, apprenticeships or cadetships. The Wai Ora Christian Community Trust will receive $800,000 for its E Tu Tangata programme which provides employment and trade training. It will work with around 30 people and focus on those who face multiple barriers to employment. will receive $800,000 for its E Tu Tangata programme which provides employment and trade training. It will work with around 30 people and focus on those who face multiple barriers to employment. Te Awa Nui a Rua will receive $752,990 over three years for its Taumarunui Primary Education and Employment Campus programme, which offers practical industry training and pathways to employment. It will reach more than 400 people. A busy September of stakes action at Woodbine Mohawk Park kicks off tonight and COSA TV has it covered with live broadcasts scheduled for each Saturday during the month. The Canadian Pacing Derby and Maple Leaf Trot will highlight this weekends show while later in the month viewers can tune in to watch the Canadian Trotting Classic, Wellwood Memorial Trot, Metro Pace, first ever Mohawk Million and much more. Coming off a record handle of $5.6 million on Pepsi North America Cup night, Mohawk Park is expected to see more high handles throughout the next four weeks. COSA TV wants horseplayers to help do their part with a goal of reaching a combined $12 million in wagering over the four Saturday programs during the month. It has launched a hashtag challenge across their Twitter, Instagram and Facebook platforms where fans can use the hashtag "#SeptemberToRemember_cosatv" to be automatically entered for one of three $100 COSA gift cards following the Mohawk Million broadcast on September 26. COSA TV will also feature a four-week guest handicappers challenge. Each week the guest capper will receive a $100 voucher to wager on the designated feature race of the night. The combined winnings after the four weeks of the challenge will be donated to the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS) and COSA TV will guarantee a $500 donation to the organization. This Saturday nights broadcast will get underway at 8:45 p.m. (EDT) and will include five races (5-9) Maple Leaf Trot, Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Three-Year-Old Colt Pace, Simcoe Stakes, Canadian Pacing Derby Consolation and Canadian Pacing Derby. Each of the broadcasts will be available on the COSA TV social media platforms as well as the Standardbred Canada website. Upcoming shows on COSA TV appear below: Canadian Pacing Derby/Maple Leaf Trot Mohawk (Sept. 5) Wellwood Memorial Final Mohawk (Sept. 12) Canadian Trotting Classic Mohawk (Sept. 19) Mohawk Million/Metro Pace Mohawk (Sept. 26) OSS 3YC Pace Western Fair (Oct. 9) OSS Grassroots Finals Mohawk (Oct. 10) OSS Super Finals Mohawk (Oct. 17) SBOA Finals Mohawk (Nov. 14) (COSA TV) New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday dismissed the bail plea of controversial lawyer Rohit Tandon, who was arrested in connection with a money laundering case post demonetisation. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested him after a raid in connection with a black money probe which led to the alleged seizure of Rs 13.6 crore from his law firm. Tandons bail plea was rejected by Additional Sessions Judge R K Tripathi. ED strongly oppossed his contention on the ground that the investigation is at a crucial stage. He was arrested on December 29 last year and after initial interrogation, he was sent to judicial custody for 14 days on January 2. While seeking bail for Tandon, his counsel and senior advocate Vikas Pahwa said there was no evidence against him and no proceeds of the alleged crime had been identified by ED yet. He argued that ED has no right to arrest the accused as the source of funds involved in the alleged transactions was yet to be ascertained. Rebutting the arguments of the accused, Special Public Prosecutor Vikas Garg, appearing for ED, said it was the source of funds and not just funds which had to be ascertained, an aspect on which the probe is going on, adding that the investigation is at a crucial stage. During the hearing, the counsel for the accused said that the alleged offences were not violative of the governments November 8, 2016 notification and ED was making the arrests for media attention to highlight demonetisation, a claim rejected by the agencys counsel. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Leaving the European Union without a trade deal would still be a good outcome for the UK, the British Prime Minister has said. Boris Johnson, in comments due to be made on Monday, will tell Brussels that if no agreement can be reached by the October European Council, then both sides should be prepared to accept that and move on. It comes as the Financial Times reported that the British government is planning new legislation this week that would override key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, which sealed Britains exit from the EU, a move that could risk collapsing the trade negotiations. Read More The development and Mr Johnsons pronouncement on a no-deal Brexit are the latest in a series of statements from senior overnment figures outlining a hardening stance towards the bloc. The UKs negotiator Lord David Frost and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab both used interviews at the weekend to vow not to back down on the remaining sticking points. Mr Raab told Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that the negotiations had been boiled down to two outstanding bones of contention control of UK fishing waters and the level of taxpayer support the Government will be able to provide businesses and argued neither principle could not be haggled away. Lord Frost is due to hold another round of key negotiations in London with the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, this week, as they look to find a solution to the remaining issues in order to have a deal readied for when the transition period comes to an end on December 31. But the prime minister will make clear on Monday that time is running out if the two sides are to ratify an agreement in time for 2021. We are now entering the final phase of our negotiations with the EU, Mr Johnson is expected to say. The EU have been very clear about the timetable. I am too. There needs to be an agreement with our European friends by the time of the European Council on October 15 if its going to be in force by the end of the year. If we cant agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free trade agreement between us, and we should both accept that and move on. Mr Raab said on Sunday that he would prefer to leave with a deal and that there would be damaging impacts felt on both sides of the channel if no deal was reached. Mr Johnson, however, will argue that collapsing the trade talks next month would still represent a good outcome for the UK and that his administration was preparing for such an eventuality. The Mail on Sunday (MoS) reported that Downing Street has created a transition hub, with handpicked officials across government departments working to ensure the UK is ready to trade without a deal when the transition period ceases. The Prime Minister is planning to say that no-deal means the country would have a trading arrangement with the EU like Australias, meaning it would fall back on trade protocols as set by the World Trade Organisation when doing business with its largest trading partner. Read More I want to be absolutely clear that, as we have said right from the start, that would be a good outcome for the UK, the Conservative Party leader will argue. As a government we are preparing, at our borders and at our ports, to be ready for it. We will have full control over our laws, our rules, and our fishing waters. We will have the freedom to do trade deals with every country in the world. And we will prosper mightily as a result. We will of course always be ready to talk to our EU friends even in these circumstances. We will be ready to find sensible accommodations on practical issues such as flights, lorry transport, or scientific co-operation, if the EU wants to do that. Our door will never be closed and we will trade as friends and partners but without a free trade agreement. But Mr Johnson, in an apparent bid to focus minds as another set of talks gets under way on Tuesday, will say that there is still an agreement to be had, one that is based on deals Brussels has previously struck with Canada and so many others. According to Downing Street, the Prime Minister will add: Even at this late stage, if the EU are ready to rethink their current positions and agree this I will be delighted. But we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it. The briefed words from the Prime Minister arrived as the FT reported that sections of the Internal Market Bill, due to be published this Wednesday, are expected to eliminate the legal force of the Withdrawal Agreement in areas including state aid and Northern Ireland customs. As part of the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the region is expected to continue to follow some EU rules after Brexit to ensure there is no hard border, a resolution some Brexiteers took umbrage with. The government spokeswoman said it was working to protect Northern Irelands place in our United Kingdom. She said: We are working hard to resolve outstanding issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol through the Joint Committee and will continue to approach these discussions in good faith. As a responsible government, we are considering fall back options in the event this is not achieved to ensure the communities of Northern Ireland are protected. Labour shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Louise Haigh said: Just 10 months after signing a treaty promising to implement the Northern Ireland protocol, Boris Johnsons Government is already threatening to renege on the UKs legal obligations. This would be an act of immense bad faith: one that would be viewed dimly by future trading partners and allies around the world and make it more difficult for us to hold other governments to account. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin arrive for a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. Getty/Brendan Smialowski Meeting notes leaked to the British newspaper The Telegraph paint a fascinating picture of the relationship between the UK and America during the Trump era and also shed new light on Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin. The leaked documents are contemporaneous notes taken by U.S. officials "during seven meetings and calls involving either the leader or top foreign minister of Britain or America." "Trump pushed back hard on Theresa May's pleas to expel Russian diplomats after the Skripal poisoning," the newspaper reported. "I would rather follow than lead," the leader of the free world reported said. The comment has new importance after yet another poisoning has been attributed to Putin. On Friday, Trump was asked about the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. However, Trump refused to condemn the attack. The meeting notes had a number of additional revelations. "Boris Johnson privately told US diplomats that Donald Trump was 'making America great again,' according to a cache of official notes taken during high-level UK-US meetings whose details have leaked to The Telegraph," the newspaper reported. "Mr. Johnson's praise for Mr. Trump in private goes much further than he usually does in public, and is eye-catching given polls consistently show a majority of the British people disapprove of the US president. Its disclosure could see the Prime Minister get dragged into the US election campaign, with the president eager to tout overseas support and Democratic nominee Joe Biden already on-record once calling Mr. Johnson a Trump 'clone.'" "The US president wondered why there was so much "hatred" in Northern Ireland and asked Mrs. May during a lunch why Mr. Johnson was not prime minister," the newspaper reported. "Mr. Johnson built close working relationships with Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, and adviser Stephen Miller, while forging ties with the Trump inner circle." Related Articles Supreme Court on Sunday was informed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that tickets booked by passengers in domestic and international carriers for air travel between March 25 to May 3, 2020, which was the first two phases of lockdown, will be "fully refunded." "Non-refund of air tickets booked during lockdown and creation of involuntary credit shell by airlines is a violation of Civil Aviation Requirements and provisions of the Aircraft Rules of 1937," DGCA told SC, according to reports. The Centre has granted the passenger time till 31 March, 2021 to use the credit shell on any route of his choice. However, it said that in all cases the refund by the airlines have to be initiated within 15 days. Earlier, SC had issued a notice to Centre and DGCA on a plea seeking full refund of tickets for flights cancelled due to coronavirus-induced lockdown in the country. On 12 June according to a Mint report, SC bench had asked the Centre and airlines to file a reply on the issue within three weeks. The bench had also proposed that airlines provide a credit shell with a two-year validity against flight bookings that were cancelled during the lockdown. The top court had directed the civil aviation ministry to schedule a meeting with airlines and devise modalities to make refunds to passengers. Moreover, in April, Centre had asked airlines to refund full fares, without imposing cancellation charges, to those who booked tickets during the first lockdown from 25 March to 14 April for travel between 25 March and 3 May. The ministry has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to ensure airlines comply with its directive. Airlines had since the first week of April resumed bookings for travel after 14 April anticipating that the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of covid-19 would be lifted. Once the lockdown was extended, airlines deferred the resumption of flights. Meanwhile, the Central government on 31 August extended the ban on international commercial passenger flights to and from India till September 30, barring exceptions mentioned by the government. Scheduled international passenger flights have been suspended in India since 25 March in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Domestic flight operations were allowed to resume from 25 May, albeit with a limited capacity, after a gap of two months. With inputs from agencies Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As summer slowly comes to a close, New York City students are preparing for whats sure to be a school year unlike any other. Due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, students will participate in either remote learning, which will allow them to complete all their work from home without ever entering a school building, or blended learning, which will see students alternate between in-class and remote instruction. Students were initially expected to return to school buildings for in-person blended learning on Thursday, Sept. 10, though that timeline has since been delayed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to allow additional time for educators to get ready for the new school year. The mayor explained that the delay was made following concerns from labor unions like the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Council of Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) that teachers and principals did not have enough time to prepare for the health, safety and instructional challenges for the unprecedented school year. What weve agreed to is to make sure that the health measures are in place, to make sure there is time for the appropriate preparation for our educators, to make sure that we can have the smoothest beginning of the school year even under extraordinarily challenging conditions, de Blasio said. Now that the delayed schedule is in place, heres a look at the key dates for New York Citys public schools reopening. September 8 On Tuesday, Sept. 8, all school staff will return to their buildings, with professional development and any additional necessary training running through Tuesday, Sept. 15. Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza said teachers who usually get two days of professional development prior to the start of the school year will now get nine days. September 16 From Wednesday, Sept. 16, through Friday, Sept. 18, there will be three days of a remote instructional orientation period for all students. It will allow students to reconnect to their school community, learn the health and safety procedures, check technical connectivity and have wellness checks with their teachers and guidance staff. It will also allow the city Department of Education (DOE) to make sure students are ready to return to school, depending on the learning model they chose. September 21 The school year will begin on Monday, Sept. 21, for all blended learning and full-time remote learners. School buildings will open on Sept. 21 for students who chose blended learning -- allowing for limited in-person instruction in classrooms. Related stories: Parents, teachers welcome delayed start to 2020-2021 school year in NYC NYC schools reopening: Are parents getting the critical information they need? NYC opened schools during 1918 pandemic. Heres how it worked Sending your kids back to school? Tips from experts on how to keep them safe. Coronavirus: Reopening plans for Staten Island charter schools NYC teachers push for schools to stay closed come fall 2020-2021 school year in NYC: Guidelines on gym, music and more Coronavirus: How NYC plans to safely reopen schools in fall 2020-2021 academic year: Reopening plans for schools across Staten Island NYC schools reopening: State guidelines for special education The Catholic elementary school reopening plan: Face masks, temperature checks and more NYC schools reopening: Transportation plan for students remains unclear 2020-2021 academic year: Reopening plans for schools across Staten Island Returning to school: NYC to improve air circulation in classrooms With or without air conditioning, face masks will be required in Staten Island classrooms Last year, the Venice film festival's top prize for a short film was won by a Pakistani production inspired by Bollywood. This year, the honour could go to an Indian film that lays bare the unsettling archetypes of patriarchy in the Indian-American community. Anita, directed by Sushma Khadepaun, is the first Gujarati movie ever to be screened in Venice, the world's oldest film festival. Khadepaun's is a rare appearance of an Indian female director in Venice official selection after Mira Nair won the Golden Lion for Monsoon Wedding nearly two decades ago. Khadepaun, an Indian-American born in Surat, explores gender bias and domestic abuse in the 18-minute film, which will have its world premiere in Venice next Thursday. Shot in Valsad town of Gujarat, Anita tells the story of an Indian-American couple visiting their native state to attend a family wedding. "We filmmakers need a boost at a time film festivals are getting cancelled across the world," says the New York-based Khadepaun, an MFA in screenwriting and direction from Columbia University. "Premiering in a theatre is crucial. You have put in so much effort to create each frame and to think that people will watch it directly on their mobile phone dampens your morale," she adds. The 77th edition of Venice film festival, which kicked off on Wednesday, is the first major international art event to organise a physical edition since the lockdown. Three Indian films have made the Venice official selection this year. Award-winning director Chaitanya Tamhane's The Disciple becomes the first Indian movie to vie for the prestigious Golden Lion after Monsoon Wedding won in 2001. Another Indian director, software developer-turned-filmmaker Ivan Ayr, features in the official selection with his second feature film, Meel Patthar (Milestone). Short format While Tamhane and Ayr share the enviable record of premiering both their first (Court and Soni) and second features in Venice, Anita is among the 12 short films from around the world competing in the official Orizzonti section in Venice. Pakistani film Darling by Salim Sadiq, Khadepaun's junior at Columbia University's film studies programme, had won the Best Short Film award in Venice last year. Anita's selection in Venice also marks the arrival of the Indian short format. Indian short films have competed regularly in major international festivals in the past few years. In 2017, Afternoon Clouds by Payal Kapadia, was the only Indian entry across formats in the Cannes official selection. Kapadia's diploma film was the first short film from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, in the Cannes selection for film schools across the world. Bombay Rose, which opened the Venice sidebar Critics Week last year, was developed from her animated short True Love Story by its director Gitanjali Rao. "I think a lot of (Indian) filmmakers are making remarkable short films, but they hardly get shown here and get mostly an international festival run," says Kapadia, whose 2018 short film And What Was The Summer Saying had its world premiere in Berlin and received a Special Jury Prize at the International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam, and Pramod Pati Best Experimental Film Prize at the Mumbai International Film Festival. At the 2018 Toronto festival, London-based Sandhya Suri's The Field set in India, won the Best International Short Film prize, a coveted honour. Exploring archetypes In the middle of the pandemic, the selection of an Indian short film in Venice is certain to provide the much-needed confidence to aspiring filmmakers in the country who often use the medium to launch careers. Anita also stands out for its exploration of gender bias and prejudices in the Indian-American community, considered back home as highly educated and modern. The film, the first Indian short in Venice after Subhashish Bhutiani's Kush (2013) -- set in the backdrop of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots -- follows the story of Anita, a young, independent Indian-American, confident of following her dreams. She and Vikram will be tying the knot after the wedding of her sister they are attending in their native town. Soon Anita faces backlash from their families after she reveals her desire to continue working after marriage. Different family members react in separate ways, all eager to see her as an obedient wife to a hardworking husband. "The story very much comes out of my personal experience of growing up in a small town and moving to America and also the people around me," says Khadepaun, who grew up in Surat. "Your leaving the country doesn't mean you are leaving patriarchy. That is what I explore in the film," says the director, who migrated to the United States to study cinema. The director chooses two young Indian-Americans, a woman and man, to question whether people from conservative traditions could leave their prejudices back home while living abroad in a different culture. The character study exposes the fault lines within the Indian community abroad. The consequences are alarming. "For many women, the idea that to live an independent life you should move away from home is true. It is to move away from everything that is comforting and familiar," explains Khadepaun, a former undergraduate student at SNDT Women's University, Mumbai. "But once you move, does it still mean you have moved away from what you are running from?" she asks. "For me, this is what I am exploring with Vikram's character. That means because you live now in a certain society that opened up your thinking, your perspectives must have changed," says the director. "Sadly, when challenged we go back to the familiar even when the familiar is toxic." Foreign land Khadepaun's previous short film, Foren, which premiered at the Palm Springs festival in 2017, told the story of a little girl and her grandmother enquiring about a world outside their Gujarati home. The film was shot in Surat. "The idea of a foreign land and escaping to one is a preoccupation of mine," she says. Anita began as a feature film project three years ago. "I wanted to explore more characters and their relationships," says Khadepaun. A year later, the director decided to make the short film first. "I love the short format. It gives you a lot of creative freedom, not just a means to get to the feature film. It allows me as a filmmaker to ask questions and let the audience mull over it or think of possible answers," says the filmmaker, who was influenced as a film student by Satyajit Ray's 1964 short film Two, the story of two boys, one rich and the other poor. "Short films can do a wonderful job by presenting a microcosm of larger concerns," says Khadepaun. In Anita, the filmmaker questions the casualness of domestic abuse with a probing camera. "We are speaking of a community which is warm and loving. There is always laughter. It is in the same community that people get raped. And because of the casualness with which abuse exists in our society, the victims often question whether or not they were abused." Popular Gujarati actor Mitra Ghadavi plays the role of Vikram. Aditi Vasudev, a Delhi-based actor, learned Gujarati for her role as Anita. "I don't think the film was possible without the help of the local community in Valsad," says Khadepaun, who teaches screenwriting for Sundance Collab. The film was mostly shot in the empty home of a family friend of the director while neighbours supplied furniture and food for the crew during the four-day shooting. Anita is the first Gujarati film ever to be screened at the Venice festival The film tells the story of an Indian-American couple visiting home for a family wedding Anita explores patriarchy and the casualness of domestic abuse in Indian society Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has said that he hoped exhibitors attending the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services would actively explore China's market and share business opportunities. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when he inspected the exhibition hall and talked with exhibitors before the Global Trade in Services Summit of 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services kicked off on Friday. China owns a super-large domestic market consisting of its 1.4 billion population, Han said. A new development pattern featuring dual circulation, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows domestic and foreign markets boost each other, is forming in China, he noted. In this regard, Han hoped exhibitors would seize opportunities in China's new development stage to achieve growth as well as contribute more to the stable and sound development of China's economy. The ongoing services trade fair, held in Beijing from Sept. 4 to 9, was themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity." With a total of 18,000 enterprises and institutions from 148 countries and regions registering to attend, the fair presented an opportunity to strengthen open cooperation in the service sector and invigorate global economic recovery. WHILE some members of the public were hasty to say farewell to Gas Networks Ireland in Limerick city, two people by the names of Ellen and Francis were adamant that they stay. The Gas Networks workers were doing the final touches of soil stabilisation at the Dock Road and OCurry Street site, and we were due to wrap up within the last few days. It had been part of the schedule for months. But that all changed utterly when storms Ellen and Francis hit Limerick over the past two weeks, delaying progress for up to six days. Gas Networks Ireland has come under fire from some members of the public, including business people, over the emission of odours. The company has maintained that the emissions were not toxic. As part of the multi-million euro project, 80,000 litres of coal tar is to be taken off-site in tanks and will be shipped to Finland via the Limerick Docks, a spokesperson for Gas Networks Ireland confirmed. This contaminated material is a common by-product of historical gas making, which had occurred at this site from the 1850s until the 1970s. There were 135 truck movements of the material. A spokesperson said that the company provided an update, by way of letter drop, to 600 homes and businesses. She said that once stabilisation works are completed, a final surface layer will be installed by September 11, and then the contractor will begin demobilising from site. A spokesperson said it apologises for any inconvenience caused. Project manager John Collins said while they have made good progress and have crossed a major hurdle with the removal of this material from the site, we are disappointed that the weather has slowed us in recent weeks. For more Limerick news click here In a scathing attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, the BJP on Saturday (September 5) cited a report published in Chinese newspaper Global Times, claiming that India's enemies were using Congress' shoulders to harm the national interest. This is a classic definition of "anti-India stand", BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference, asserting that the Gandhi family has got "endorsement" from China. Earlier, Chinese daily Global Times had tweeted, "PM Narendra Modi and the BJP face huge pressure amid border tensions with China, as the Indian National Congress is waiting for a chance to shake the BJP's rule by heavily criticizing failed domestic governance and risky foreign policy: expert." The BJP spokesperson noted that the report published in Global Times, which is controlled by the Chinese state, sends a clear message that Beijing is frustrated by the steps taken by Indian Army to thwartits attempts to violate the Line of Actual Control and the Congress is seen as a party by China to put forward its anti-India agenda. "The love between China and the Congress is out in open," Patra noted. "Be it Pakistan, terrorists or China; why is this that all of them like the Congress," he asked, mentioning that Rahul Gandhi's comments were highlighted by Pakistan in its dossier against India in the United Nations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre had revoked Article 370 on August 5, 2019. Slamming Rahul Gandhi, Patra said, "Congratulations to Rahul Gandhi. You were earlier a hero of Pakistan. Now, you are a hero of China too. But you are a big zero for India. You are a hero for our enemies. China is in a disadvantageous position and is using the Congress's shoulders to fire at India... This is a classic definition of anti-India stand." Patra also talked about the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Chinese envoy during the Doklam crisi and said, "The name Xi Jinping now sounds a lot like Sonia Xin and Rahul Ping." System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486af5670)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04873999f8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486af5670)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04873999f8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04869d6f78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04873999f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04873999f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04861ec3a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04873c2cb0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04873c2cb0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Slovenians took the laurels on the Tour de France on Sunday as rookie Tadej Pogacar won a Pyrenean mountain slog and hs compatriot Primoz Roglic took over the overall lead. Overnight leader Adam Yates of Britain made a valiant effort to keep hold of the yellow jersey but fell gradually away on the final climb as the gradient hit 12 percent. Pre-Tour favourite Roglic has been the form man this season and after Sunday's second place leads defending champion Ineos leader Egan Bernal of Colombia by 21 seconds. Pogacar said at the winning line that he remembered little of the frantic sprint that gave him a first Tour de France win as he pipped Roglic on the line. "I wanted to gain as much time as possible," said Pogacar, who twice lost time earlier in the week, but is now within 41 seconds of the lead. "Ten seconds bonus for the stage win in the sprint is great but I don't know what happened in it," he said breathlessly. The 21-year-old Pogacar had a message of consolation for his 30-year-old countryman Roglic. "He's won before and he'll win again. He and I can achieve great things for Slovenia," Pogacar said. French pair Guillaume Martin and Romain Bardet are third and fourth overall with Colombian duo Nairo Quintana and Rigoberto Uran within touching distance. The 153km ninth stage set off from Basque town Pau, and there were many berets being worn along the route, and took in five climbs including two category 1 mountains. The Slovenians narrowly avoided disaster as they crossed the final summit, Col de Marie Blanque, together. Pogacar looked round to see where Bernal was, swerved and clipped Roglic. Both did well to stay in the saddle. Bernal's Ineos defence is going to plan according to team principal Dave Brailsford. "So far so good," he told AFP ahead of the stage. "It'll be a race of attrition with people going out ahead and falling off the back." Monday is the first rest day but a nervous wait for results of Covid-19 swab tests await the riders with a ban on teams with two positive cases. dmc/pb Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked about the well being of two officials of the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) who were hit by gold smugglers car when they tried to stop it outside the Karipur airport near here on Sunday, officials said. Nirmala Sitharaman praised the officials commitment and directed that complete medical care be extended to them. Appreciate the dedication with which the team is working in these challenging times. Have directed Secretary, DoR to ensure complete medical care is extended. Kudos for the commitment shown, Sitharaman tweeted. The injured officials have been admitted to a hospital here, DRI officials said. One smuggler has been taken into custody while two managed to flee after their car lost control and hit a tree, the officials added. Four kilograms of gold has been recovered from the car. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It is the president who is at fault for the deaths in the nursing homes. The president ignored his intelligence briefing book that clearly and repeatedly cited the virus threat over a dozen times in January and February. In conclusion, no one in the administration was prepared for what happened next because of the presidents lack of leadership. Its all going to go away! Donald Trump has said this over 31 times since the start of the pandemic. From the very start, Trump has continually misled us as to the severity of the virus and its debilitating aftereffects. Many, many more Americans will be affected by the virus aftereffects of kidney failure, heart failure, lung failure, and loss of brain functionality. These aftereffects will affect many Americans for many years after they overcome the virus. Finally, as stated in the final nursing home report, the infections were attributed to the caregivers who worked in the nursing homes, and not the patients who were transferred back into the nursing homes from the hospitals to free up ICU space. In conclusion, to say that the governors actions were wrong is false, and the initial premise was erroneous. (Pete Buchta is a Princes Bay resident.) England laboured in Reykjavik but sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Iceland in the Nations League thanks to Raheem Sterling's late penalty. Gareth Southgate's side were reduced to 10 men in the second half as Kyle Walker was dismissed for a second bookable offence, and Sverrir Ignason was also given his marching orders after handling the ball as referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded a penalty. Sterling held his nerve from the spot but England conceded a stoppage time penalty when Joe Gomez hauled down his opponent, only for former Aston Villa man Birkir Bjarnason to blaze his spot kick over the bar. Raheem Sterling showed composure to score a late penalty in England's win over Iceland PLAYER RATINGS ICELAND (4-1-2-2-1) Halldorsson 7; Hermannsson 6, Arnason 7, Ingason 6 Magnusson 6; Palsson 7; Traustason 6 (Hallfredsson 76), Bjarnason 6; Bodvarsson 7 (Fridjonsson 90), Thorsteinsson 5 (Sigurdsson 66, 6); Gudmundsson 7. Booked: Ingason, Sent off: Ingason ENGLAND (4-3-3) Gareth Southgate 6 No waistcoat and mixed tactics, team lacked attacking edge. Gareth Southgate should have moved much quicker to change a team lacking in invention Jordan Pickford 6 Not a lot to do, even with the penalty, but did nothing wrong considering pressure to keep place. Kyle Walker 5 Had to perform with Trent Alexander-Arnold on bench. Red card a nightmare for him. Kyle Walker heads down the tunnel after being sent off for a second bookable offence Joe Gomez 5 Impressive passing at times, made a telling block to stop possible early home goal. Eric Dier 6 Strong in air, but hardly involved until he carelessly gave the ball away to spark Iceland attack. Kieran Trippier 6 Not everyones first choice for left-back and did not help himself with some wayward passing. Joe Gomez spoiled an accomplished performance by conceding a stoppage-time penalty James Ward-Prowse 6 Not the biggest name in this England line-up but did not look out of place on his senior debut. Declan Rice 7 Recovered from a shaky start to play well, but missed a great opportunity to score in first half. Declan Rice recovered from a shaky start to play well, and he could even add goals to his game Phil Foden 6 Nothing spectacular, but surely the start of a long England career. Linked up well with Sterling. Raheem Sterling 8 Started well and a regular threat cutting in from the left, then nets the winning penalty. Harry Kane 6 Led by example and could have had two early goals including one incorrectly disallowed for offside. Harry Kane showed signs of fatigue after having one goal unfairly disallowed for offside Jadon Sancho 6 Started well on full debut, moved ball quickly but did not make the most of his possession. SUBS: Danny Ings replaced Foden after 68 minutes. Trent Alexander-Arnold replaced Jadon Sancho on 73 minutes as Southgate changed tactics following Walker's red card. Mason Greenwood replaced Harry Kane for final 12 minutes. REFEREE: Srdjan Jovanovic 5 - too many random decisions. Billy Greer, 57, a police officer at the University of the District of Columbia, first met Love in 1987 when a friend took him for a haircut. He became a regular, enthralled by the ensemble cast the shop attracted: the barber known as Hook and Crook, who would slip out to buy $200 in lottery tickets and come back with winners; the customer nicknamed Ritz for eating only Ritz crackers as he waited his turn; and Grady the Gambler, who, even on the far side of middle age, would show up after playing cards all night and fall asleep until Love summoned him. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 23:39:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MUSCAT, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Omani health ministry on Sunday announced 692 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the sultanate to 87,072, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. Meanwhile, 579 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall number of recoveries to 82,406, while 23 new deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 728, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA. The ministry urged everyone to adhere to social distancing instructions issued by the Supreme Committee and the ministry of health, as well as staying home and avoiding unnecessary going out. Enditem (Newser) Northeastern University has dismissed 11 freshman students for the fall semester for violating campus social distancing guidelines after they were discovered in the same hotel room, per the AP. And it gets worse for them: The school says the students are not eligible to get a refund of the estimated $36,000 they paid for the semester, reports BuzzFeed. The students were given 24 hours to leave the Boston campus and were ordered to undergo COVID-19 tests, the university said in a statement. It said any who test positive would be moved into isolated wellness housing rather than sent home, to contain the spread of the coronavirus. story continues below Northeastern said the 11 people, whose names were not released, were part of an international experience for first-year students. It said they were among more than 800 students housed in two-person rooms at the Westin Hotel not far from the main campus. The university said students in the program had been formally notified multiple times over the past week that they needed to practice physical distancing, avoid crowds, and wear masks when around others. Staff members discovered the 11 jammed into the hotel room Wednesday night, officials said. The students are entitled to appeal the penalties. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) HOLYOKE An ugly scene erupted between Massachusetts State Police and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration during a predawn raid of a converted firehouse on Aug. 22, briefly imperiling drug task forces across the commonwealth. Investigators had uncovered a bounty of marijuana, illegal guns, exotic cars and millions of dollars at 452 Main St., where alleged marijuana trafficker Cory A. Taylor lived. State, local and federal law enforcement agents have for decades partnered harmoniously to crack down on the illicit drug trade throughout the region. On that morning, though, investigators clashed, sources familiar with the investigation say. The fallout threatened the breakdown of joint drug task forces across the state amid an opioid epidemic, and during a time when illicit marijuana sales still trigger violence despite the controlled legalization of the drug. The search that tripped the controversy occurred one day after a traffic stop in Hampshire County when troopers found 138 bales of weed in an Econoline van driven by Taylor, 41. Both troopers and DEA agents had been separately investigating Taylor, according to court records. Taylor posted $2,000 bail and walked away from the Hampshire County jail just before midnight on Aug. 21. He did not appear for his Eastern Hampshire District Court arraignment in Belchertown three days later, police records say, and remains a fugitive. Meanwhile, a search ensued at Taylors luxury dwelling in Holyoke. The fallout from that raid extended far beyond an alleged drug trafficker who went on the run, according to multiple law enforcement sources. The rear of 452 Main St. in Holyoke, Aug. 27, 2020.Greg Saulmon / The Republican The raid at the former firehouse reportedly involved a crew made up of feds, members of an established Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team, partners in the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force composed solely of state and local police, and troopers connected to the Hampden district attorneys office. In the early morning hours about 20 investigators mostly state troopers began to inventory the spoils and haul it away. Members of the DEA began taking the cash to be counted, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation. But state troopers balked, arguing it was their case and some blocked federal agents cars in with their cruisers, sources say. There was a lot of yelling. Bosses were called in the middle of the night, officials said. Many local, state and federal law enforcement officials have remained tight-lipped about the rift. But sources with knowledge of the incident told The Republican that drug task forces could have fallen apart if it werent for negotiations involving top state administrators, the state police, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, the DEA and Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association. The DEA floated its intentions to eject state troopers from statewide partnerships, sources said, and the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association threatened to urge local officers to withdraw from anti-drug alliances across the commonwealth. The DEA blinked, apparently recognizing the federal agency could not succeed without locals on the ground. Zoom video meetings reportedly drew in the highest levels of state law enforcement, including Massachusetts State Police Col. Christopher Mason and Secretary of Public Safety Thomas Turco. Hampden Police Chief Jeffrey Farnsworth, president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, confirmed he participated in negotiations to mend the rift. It was a brief situation. I think it was just a series of miscommunications. ... Anytime you get a bunch of Type As together ... things can happen, Farnsworth said. Everybody wants to do to the same job and thats to get as many drugs off our streets as we can. Once everyone refocused on that it wasnt an issue. The Hampden chief added that he wasnt invited to mediate, he just did it. Spokesmen for the DEA, state police, municipal police chiefs and other agencies declined to comment on the dispute. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security supports the ongoing partnership among local, state and federal law enforcement on behalf of Massachusetts communities, said Jake Wark, a spokesman for that state office that oversees the state police, among other agencies. The dispute illustrated the relative fragility of law enforcement partnerships, which began cropping up during the war on drugs in the 1980s. Retired West Springfield Police Chief Ron Campurciani now chief of police in Moorseville, North Carolina recalls his days as a young member of one of the first joint task forces in Western Massachusetts in 1988. He said strife has occurred between cooperating law enforcement agencies, to some extent, for decades and typically ebbs and flows. The alliance included local police officers, state troopers, and federal agents from the IRS, DEA, U.S. Postal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and immigration agents who came later, he recalled. It was the first of its kind locally, born of the Reagan-era Say no to Drugs culture. The task force opened a discreet office at the corner of Bridge and Main streets in Springfield with a phony placard about a production company on the door, Campurciani said. They were called the Western Massachusetts Narcotics task force and investigated only high-level dealers and organized crime, to an extent. It was a new concept ... brand new. I dont want to get corny here. ... Cops are for the most part A-type personalities so everyone thinks theyre great, Campurciani said with a chuckle. On some level we all thought we were the Serpicos of Western Massachusetts. But the task force made big drug busts, including one involving a Jordanian national trafficking heroin from the Middle East, according to Campurciani. The team arrested the man at the former Springfield bus station on Main Street with 4.5 pounds of pure heroin, which had a street value of about $10 million at the time, he said. The members worked hard together and played hard together, he said. There was little to no risk of bumping into competing task forces because it was the only one whereas today, task forces investigating drug-, gang- and gun-related violence abound. But eventually members left for promotions or other jobs and the partnerships began to fracture slightly. Campurciani left the task force when he was promoted to sergeant in the West Springfield Police Department in 1995. We began to hear things. The state police broke off and created their own task force. ... West Springfield stayed with the DEA and Holyoke went with the state police. I cant speak to what happened because I wasnt there anymore, he said. But something caused them to split and go in different directions. Taylor, the suspect in the Holyoke case, is still at large, according to his attorney, Springfields Vincent Bongiorni. On September 6, Chinese media reported that an experimental reusable spacecraft, launched into orbit two days ago by China, has successfully returned to its designated landing site on September 6. So far, the Chinese media has not yet updated any footage of the craft's return. The returning of the craft could mark a breakthrough, leading to cheaper round trips into space. On October 31, Chen Hogbo, a researcher associated with China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which is responsible for the development of the reusable craft, told Xinhua that unlike traditional one-off spacecraft, the new spacecraft will fly into the sky like an aircraft. "After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to its scheduled landing site in China. It will test reusable technologies during its flight, providing technological support for peaceful space uses," Xinhua agency, China's official news agency, said in the report. This Chinese spacecraft was deployed into orbit on September 4 by Long March 2F, a family of rockets that have transported Shenzhou spacecraft into orbit on both crewed and uncrewed missions over the years. Those who are involved with the subject, including commentators have compared the aircraft to US Air Force's X-37B, an autonomous space plane built by Boeing that can remain in orbit for long periods of time before flying back to Earth on its own, the Telegraph reported. According to a report by Space, several other private companies based in the USA are also trying to launch similar rockets. This includes Virgin Galactic. Its suborbital SpaceShipTwo has flown into space during test missions (at least, by the definition of the US military). Virgin Galactic also plans to fly customers and cargo aboard SpaceShipTwo in the coming years. America based Sierra Nevada Corporation also has plans to fly NASA cargo to the International Space Station, as well as cargo and astronauts for other customers, on its Dream Chaser spacecraft. According to earlier reports issued by Xinhua, the launch of this reusable spacecraft is in line with the nation's aim to have a space station up and running in earth's orbit by the early 2020s. China wants to land people on the moon by mid-2030s. "Currently, China is developing its own reusable earth-to-orbit space vehicles that can take off and land horizontally," Liu Shiquan, Vice Director of the state-owned China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (a different entity than the CASC), told People's Daily. Fireboats battling to extinguish a fire on the Panamanian-registered crude oil tanker New Diamond off Sri Lanka's eastern coast A massive fire on a stricken oil tanker off Sri Lanka's coast has been extinguished, the island nation's navy said Sunday, as international salvage experts began to assess the damage over fears of an environmental disaster if there is a leak. The Panamanian-registered New Diamond, carrying over 270,000 tonnes of crude and diesel, was en-route from Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip when it issued a distress call Thursday after an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crew member. Sri Lanka's navy chief Nishantha Ulugetenna said the fire on the tanker, which the navy chief and the Indian coastguard got under control on Fridayhad finally been put out. "The fire has been completely doused," the vice admiral told reporters in Colombo. "The tanker's (steel) plates are still very hot so there is a risk of reigniting new fires." The Indian coastguard tweeted that "no flame & smoke" was visible from the vessel. The announcement came as Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Centre said foreign salvage experts and insurance assessors had started examining the ship some 75 kilometres (46 miles) from the coast. Ten British and Netherlands professionals with expertise in rescue operations, disaster evaluation and legal consultation arrived earlier Sunday, the navy said. Dutch firm Smit Salvage had commissioned the experts and was also sending two tug boats from Singapore and Mauritius, the navy added. The Indian coastguard, which deployed six ships, an aircraft and a helicopter, added on Sunday that its pollution control vessel had arrived at the site in the Indian Ocean. The rescue vessels are still dousing the tanker with water to prevent fresh fires being ignited in heavy winds lashing the hot steel plates near the burnt engine room. The tanker had suffered a crack of its hull some 10 metres (33 feet) above the waterline as a result of intense heat from the fire, officials said. Authorities said there has been no oil slick and the crack was not considered a catastrophic structural failure. Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Agency has said that legal action could be taken against the owners, Liberian-registered Porto Emporios Shipping Inc, "should the worst happen and the ship breaks up". The vessel is larger than the Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which crashed into a reef in Mauritius in July leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of oil into the island nation's pristine waters. Explore further Race to assess damage to stricken oil tanker off Sri Lanka 2020 AFP The US president came under fire after The Atlantic reported he called marines killed in action losers and suckers. US President Donald Trump has demanded the Fox News network fire its national security correspondent after she confirmed claims he had disparaged the military a bombshell that has dogged him for two days. Trump came under fire after The Atlantic magazine reported he had called marines killed in action in the World War I losers and suckers in connection with a November 2018 visit to France in which he skipped a visit to a United States military cemetery. Fox News correspondent Jennifer Griffin on Saturday said two former administration officials had confirmed to her the president did not want to drive to honour American war dead at the Aisne-Marne cemetery outside Paris, implying weather was not a factor. One official also told her Trump had used the word suckers to denigrate the military, but in a different context related to the Vietnam War. When the president spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker, she quoted the unnamed official as saying. It was a character flaw of the president. He could not understand why someone would die for their country, not worth it, the source said. Slimeball reporter Trump has furiously defended himself in the wake of the story in The Atlantic, tweeting and retweeting stories condemning it as fake news. You work so hard for the military, from completely rebuilding a depleted mess that was left by OBiden, to fixing a broken V.A. and fighting for large scale military pay raises, and then a slimeball reporter, maybe working with disgruntled people, makes up such a horrible charge, a furious Trump tweeted on Saturday. A day earlier, the US president had tweeted: Jennifer Griffin should be fired for this kind of reporting. Never even called us for comment. @FoxNews is gone! You work so hard for the military, from completely rebuilding a depleted mess that was left by OBiden, to fixing a broken V.A. and fighting for large scale military pay raises, and then a slimeball reporter, maybe working with disgruntled people, makes up such a horrible charge.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2020 According to The Atlantic, in a conversation with senior staff members, on the morning of the visit, Trump said: Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. The official explanation for that missed visit was bad weather. The habitually Trump-friendly Fox News has been criticised for seemingly sidelining Griffins reporting in its coverage of the story. A story on its website on Saturday was headlined: Sources dispute claim Trump nixed visit to military cemetery over disdain for slain veterans. Several of Griffins colleagues at Fox have publicly defended her on Twitter, along with Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who called her fair and unafraid. I can tell you that my sources are unimpeachable, Griffin said on-air on her network on Saturday. My sources are not anonymous to me and I doubt they are anonymous to the president. Jennifer Griffin once helped to secure the release of her colleagues who were kidnapped in Gaza. She reported from war zones for years and is now one of the most well connected journalists in DC. She embodies what the industry is built upon. Truth and accountability. https://t.co/kcFF5BZhNJ Trey Yingst (@TreyYingst) September 5, 2020 There are few journalists as brilliant, as honest, as well-sourced as @JenGriffinFNC she is one of the finest in the business and a truly amazing human being. I am proud to call her a colleague and friend. https://t.co/9909dBP0RS Jonathan Hunt (@JonathanHunt007) September 5, 2020 Jennifer Griffin is the kind of reporter we all strive to be like. Shes courageous, smart, ethical, fair and a class act. Shes earned the trust of viewers throughout a distinguished career and is credibile. https://t.co/yVkXMFqXPx Bryan Llenas (@BryanLlenas) September 5, 2020 Just before The Atlantic published its story, a poll by the Military Times and the Syracuse University Institute for Veterans and Military Families found that just 37.4 percent of active-duty personnel support Trumps re-election bid, while 43.1 percent back Joe Biden. Reaction Democratic and Republican opponents alike have seized on the reports to attack Trumps record on the military on news shows and in political ads. It breaks your heart, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the reported comments in an interview on MSNBC on Sunday. Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, a Republican, told ABCs This Week that the remarks, if true, were despicable. Hagel said the reports were credible because they were consistent with previous public remarks Trump had made denigrating military personnel, including former US Defense Secretary James Mattis as well as the late US Senator John McCain. Trump on Sunday said the Atlantic report was disinformation. They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks, he tweeted, referring to the media and the Democratic Party, whose nominee Joe Biden is vying for the presidency in November. The Atlantic has stood by its report, which cited four unnamed people with firsthand knowledge of the matter and which was later confirmed by several other media outlets. Bloomberg on Sunday reported that Trump spent the extra free time in Paris selecting artwork to ship from the US ambassadors residence to the White House. The White House did not immediately on the Bloomberg report. Gerald Shur, a lawyer who realized that witnesses would be more likely to testify against organized crime figures if they werent afraid of being assassinated, and who used that insight to create the federal witness protection program, died on Aug. 25 at his home in Warminster, Pa., He was 86. His son, Ronald, said the cause was complications of lung cancer. In 1961 Mr. Shur became an early recruit in the crusade by Robert F. Kennedy, then the attorney general, to break the grip of organized crime in the United States. Joining the Justice Department that year as a lawyer assigned to New York, he was tasked with investigating the mob. In the course of that, he told The Associated Press in 2007, I began to hear people say, I cant testify, Ill be murdered before or after I testify. Largely at his instigation, the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970 created the Witness Security Program (sometimes known as WITSEC) under the United States Marshals Service. One part of the program protected criminals in prison who were providing evidence against other criminals; these informants would, for instance, be isolated in secure cells away from inmates who might carry out a hit. The better-known part of the program fashioned new identities for vulnerable witnesses and those close to them, allowing them to start new lives. A First Nation community 20 kilometres north of Williams Lake, B.C., is the latest to give its support to the Cow Moose Sign Project. Visible by motorists travelling Highway 97, the sign was installed at Soda Creek Indian Bands (SCIB) Deep Creek (Cmetem) Reserve on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Kukpi7 (Chief) Sheri Sellars said they are proud to support the project. Xatsull-Cmetem strongly oppose the recent increases in moose hunting, especially the antlerless moose hunt, Sellars said in a news release. Declining moose populations affect our traditional rights. Revitalizing moose populations is crucial for current and future generations. This years increase of moose tags by the B.C. Government, especially antlerless, is opposed by the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council and Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (NStQ) which SCIB is a part of. The Cow Moose Sign Project was started in 2014 by Williams Lake resident Dan Simmons to stop the harvesting of antlerless moose in B.C. Since then more than 30 First Nations communities have joined the campaign, including the Tsilhqotin National Government who sounded the alarm in 2015 over too much access created by logging as well as poaching and selling the meat. Sellars hopes the increased signage and pressure from First Nations will lead to better moose management. Some of our communities have made the difficult decision to restrict our own citizens rights to hunt by placing bans on the cow moose hunt and any additions to the antlerless moose limited entry hunt will put us in conflict and make it more difficult to uphold our own policies, she said. SCIB donated the billboard structure and the costs to rent it. This reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Read more about: In this article GOOGL Rendering of Maude Park, Middlefield Park Source: Google When Google announced plans for its new Mountain View tech campus this week, it didn't look like the Silicon Valley campuses that preceded it. It's an even starker contrast from Apple's high-profile "spaceship" campus just several miles away, whose completed design garnered worldwide attention just two years prior. Google's renderings for its new town-like tech campus in Mountain View, Calif., would convert 40 acres of Mountain View land into a new mixed-use campus and with a mix of office space, housing, retail and public event space. This came several months after the company released plans for an even larger mixed-use campus 10 miles down the road in downtown San Jose to house 25,000 employees. Some experts said the project could end up equating to a $5 billion cost like Apple's campus, however it's too early to tell an exact cost. Facebook recently re-worked its big Menlo Park campus plans for a similar model that would include affordable housing, a full-service grocery, and pharmacy among other amenities. Other companies have keyed in on pockets such as Santa Clara's Santana Row, where Splunk and other companies have signed leases, and downtown San Jose, where Adobe's headquarters are located. The departure from corporate campuses in the region reflect a change in the tastes of employees company is hoping to recruit, as well as an effort to change society's views of Silicon Valley tech giants as rich kings looking down from their ivory towers on everyone else, experts told CNBC. Following millennials One impetus for companies to begin including retailers, hotels and transit is to follow the talent, who are predominately from the millennial generation, experts said. Today, they often prefer to live 40 miles up the freeway in more-exciting San Francisco and potentially take hours-long company shuttle rides to work than live in a suburban town with little going on. "That generation of worker prefers to work and live in a dynamic and urban environment," said Erik Shoennauer, a Silicon Valley commercial real estate consultant, whose clients have included Sand Hill Property and Google. "The other desire is to not have soul-crushing commutes." That means companies are fighting for Silicon Valley cities to recreate the city's urban atmosphere. Shorter commutes are also better for the environment, which companies are increasingly touting as a competitive edge as they appeal to a generation more concerned with sustainability, according to Kelly Snyder, a real estate development and land use consultant who has worked in Silicon Valley for the last 25 years. "People who were decision-makers in the '60s and '70s didn't have the information we have now and didn't know forcing people to drive 25 miles on interstate 280 or 120 miles from Manteca was going to have all these downstream, terrible effects like creating a pollutant atmosphere for asthma in east Oakland," she said. Indeed, Google's San Jose project also includes a major multi-modal transit center, which is being dubbed as "The Grand Central Station of the West." It will also have "flexible" roadways and public bike trails that run throughout the entire development. Millennials are also growing up and starting families, and may find additional attractions in the public recreation fields and family parks drawn in Google's San Jose and Mountain View plans. "They're satisfying their business, recruitment and retention needs but it has the side benefit of giving back to the communities," Shoennauer said. "It creates spaces where surrounding community can latch on to the new park or the new childcare center." Societal pressures However, most experts who spoke with CNBC cited growing concerns over a lack of affordable housing as a driver behind the new plans. "I think tech companies are acknowledging that they're part of creating this housing demand that's not being met," said Bob Staedler principal and founder of land use firm Silicon Valley Synergy. "You can't just ignore these cries of displacement." Google heard those cries when it first announced plans to take over a large portion of downtown San Jose for its sprawling future campus. Within one week of the news breaking, home prices in a three-mile radius of the site jumped 7%, CNBC reported. Protesters made scenes outside of Google's events, often carrying large printed signs that read things like "Welcome to Googleville." Two of the protesters that showed up to Alphabet's annual shareholder meeting in 2018. Source: Jeff Barrera / Silicon Valley Rising Since then, Google amended their plans to include open, public spaces and have attempted to hold semi-regular feedback sessions with residents. It also pledged to invest $1 billion in affordable housing around the region. Google also got to learn from Facebook, which in the last couple of years faced pushback from neighbors. Early on, the company began ramping up their engagement locally, hiring local representatives and creating dedicated spaces for local students and workshops. The conflict over space reflects a growing alienation toward tech companies across the country. "What we've learned is, when we created these walled-off campuses look where we are now, society-wise 40 years later the one thing that's keeping our economy going right now, is essentially reviled by most of the country and it's very much a 'us versus them' attitude," said Kelly Snyder. "You're either on the inside because you're a gifted and lucky programmer or your outside getting crumbs." Snyder and others said that while an open campus isn't the key to larger product issues being solved right away, it could indeed help. They also pointed to a growing activism from within the walls of the companies, where employees voice things like a greater need for diversity and inclusion at the predominately-white and male work places. "I and many professionals, planners, architects and designers see that one of the main reasons for that is because the people creating such products are separated from reality in their daily lives," Snyder said. "Creating these porous campuses where an employee is sitting in a community coffee shop with two people who live across the street in affordable housing and not a campus where you have to flash your badge to get in, is going to help." "There's a lot of feeling of injustices toward bigger companies and the wealth it's created in them and the lack of bringing the small community along with it," said Cale Miller, a senior Vice President at commercial real estate firm Hughes Marino. "There's an outside pressure that's happening to a lot of companies because of the pubic nature of people's capabilities of raising issue of social media and otherwise to get traction for an idea. Because of that pressure, companies want to try and figure out a way to not only embrace the community because it's the right thing to do but also because it's the way their employees want to live." WATCH: Tech companies are consolidating offices amid the rise of remote work Bengaluru, Sep 6 : In what could be the first case of a coronavirus re-infection in Karnataka, a 27-year-old woman has again been found positive for the disease after her treatment and discharge, a private hospital in Bengaluru said on Sunday. "Fortis Hospital, Banneghatta Road, has reported the first case of Covid re-infection," said a hospital spokesperson. However, the government did not yet confirm if this was the first case of re-infection in the state. Om Prakash Patil, Director, Health and Family Welfare Services, told IANS that they will seek information from the districts. "So far, nobody has reported," he said. The woman, who does not have any comorbidities, fell victim to the virus for the first time in July with mild symptoms of cough and fever. Following treatment, she recovered and was discharged. "However, in a span of one month, she has developed mild symptoms and has been confirmed to have a Covid infection again," said the official. According to Pratik Patil, consultant for infectious diseases in the hospital, Covid immunoglobulin G antibodies test positive after two to three weeks of infection in normal cases. "However, in this patient, the antibody tested negative which means she did not develop immunity after infection. Other possibility is that the IgG antibodies disappeared in nearly one month leaving her susceptible for reinfection," he said. According to the doctor, some reinfection cases may not produce antibodies and even if they develop, they may not last longer, allowing the virus to renter the body for a newer infection. Karnataka has been consistently registering daily Covid infections in the range of 7,000 to 9,000 plus cases. On Saturday, the state registered 9,746 more Covid cases, raising its tally to 3.89 lakh. Majority of the cases in the southern state are concentrated in Bengaluru Urban district, which has 1.44 lakh cases, out of which 41,479 are active. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The books in this list run the genre gamut absurd satires, family dramas, murderous thrillers but in a way they all feel a little sci-fi. Who are these carefree characters eating at restaurants, meeting strangers, hugging loved ones, leaving the house without an N95 and a gallon of hand sanitizer? We really used to live that way, and hopefully we will again sometime soon. In the meantime, weve got a lot of good books to pass the time. Available now Vesper Flights, Helen Macdonald. This collection of essays is Macdonalds first book since H is for Hawk became a flyaway best seller in 2014. The British author once again points out the smaller wonders of the natural world while touching on grander themes of grief, change, and catastrophe. And once again birds are everywhere, from mute swans on the Thames to common swifts (who sometimes go a year without landing), as are nests, eggs, bones, birders, falconers, etc. Macdonald is a deeply personal and slyly political writer, and every essay is at least part memoir, but dont expect purple or preachy prose. A naturalist to the core, she takes care to describe these often romanticized creatures without quite romanticizing them herself. Luster, Raven Leilani. OK, so theres this 20-something Brooklynite who works for a publishing company and looks for love in all the wrong places Yeah, I yawned at that, too, but I was wrong. With its electric prose and lightning pace, Luster could be the most exciting and memorable novel you read this year. Its a wild ride, sharing head space with young Black narrator Edie a queen at quipping and overthinking at every opportunity especially once she moves to the Jersey suburbs to live with her older white lover, his wife, and their adopted daughter. Just about every page crackles with humor and modern neuroses about sex, race, class, gender, age, you name it. The Great Offshore Grounds, Vanessa Veselka. The talented Veselka is such a crafty, confident writer you dont immediately grasp the absurdity of the journeys her characters are on. This was true in 2011s bleakly satirical Zazen. And its true in Veselkas marvelous new novel, in which two sisters hit the road in search of the woman who gave birth to one of them. In other words, either Livy or Cheyenne is adopted and they dont know which. Things only get stranger with each turn of the page, but its cool because youre in good hands. The Lying Life of Adults, Elena Ferrante. If you skipped the Neapolitan Quartet because, like, three of the four books were already out by the time you even heard of it, well, heres your chance to get on board with the Next Big Literary Thing from the get-go. Because its a safe bet that the mysterious Ferrantes new stand-alone novel, about a teenage girl scouring Naples in search of the estranged aunt with whom she allegedly bears a resemblance, will be one of the most book-clubbed books of the year. (And then theres the audiobook narrated by Marisa Tomei, the forthcoming Netflix series, collectible action figures, probably) Transcendent Kingdom, Yaa Gyasi. In 2016, Gyasi burst onto the scene with Homegoing, an ambitious multigenerational, multi-perspective saga that won near-universal acclaim, a long run on the best-seller list, and a bunch of awards. Following up that kind of rookie success is no easy task, but heres Gyasi with Transcendent Kingdom, a novel smaller in scope but still taut, emotional, and concerned with the larger forces that influence human lives. Our protagonist Gifty (like Gyasi, a young woman born in Ghana and raised in the American South) has escaped her Pentecostal upbringing to study neuroscience at Stanford, but finds her new life clashing with the old when her depressed, deeply religious mother moves in. READ MORE: Hold on tight for a wild, unpredictable ride in movie releases this fall Coming Soon These Violent Delights, Micah Nemerever (Sept. 15). Were immediately rooting for the two college freshmen who start dating on the down-low at the start of Nemerevers page-turning debut novel. Its the 70s and these kids are queer, lonely, and misunderstood by their families; it feels like a miracle they even found each other. But as their relationship gets more intense, we start to realize that under all Pauls shyness and loyalty lies obsession and rage, and that Julians not just a silver-tongued charmer but also a sociopathic manipulator. Its only a matter of time before things start to explode in this enthralling, unpredictable thriller. The Constant Rabbit, Jasper Fforde (Sept. 29). Lots of different animals took on humanlike qualities in the Spontaneous Anthropomorphizing Event of 1965, but its mostly the rabbits that people are having trouble coexisting with. Its partly an issue of numbers. In the beginning there were only 18 of them in the U.K., but its 55 years later and, since theyre rabbits, there are now more than a million of these walking, talking, adorable abominations moving in next door, looking for jobs, etc. For all its parallels to real-world issues (race, immigration, vegan fundamentalism), The Constant Rabbit feels a bit more Bojack Horseman than Planet of the Apes, and its nowhere near as heavy-hoofed as Animal Farm. Its a dystopia, but a cute one. Philadelphia Fire, John Edgar Wideman (Oct. 6). This daring and award-winning 1990 novel about a writer obsessively searching for a survivor of the MOVE bombing is one of two works by Wideman being reissued by Scribner in October, along with his 1984 memoir Brothers and Keepers. The author, now 79 and mostly based in New York, was a Penn professor when the City of Philadelphia firebombed homes on Osage Avenue in 1985, and you can feel that heat, that closeness as the story unfolds. Widemans quasi-cubist approach to storytelling full of angular sentence shards and deft rule-breaking explores multiple facets of the tragedy and sometimes drags the reader and the author himself onto the page. The Cold Millions, Jess Walter (Oct. 6). Hard to believe its been eight years since Walter released Beautiful Ruins, aka the Book People Wont Stop Recommending to Me. And everybody is right its a charming satire/Hollywood love story that keeps you hooked the whole way through. Finally, Walter is cashing in on all that 2012 momentum with a follow-up thats short on glamour but no less cinematic. Set in Spokane, Wash., in 1909, The Cold Millions is a Scorsese-esque period piece, populated by cops, drunks, variety girls, temperance ladies, job sharks, Pinkertons, Wobblies, etc. A great book to get lost in. READ MORE: Fall 2020 TV is happening. But it wont be the same. Heres what you can expect. The Arrest, Jonathan Lethem (Nov. 10). Maybe what the world needs now is a light, almost escapist apocalypse to take our minds off the dumb, scary one were currently mired in. Lethems new novel more or less fits the bill, concerning as it does a couple of old pals who run into each other while toiling in a primitive, post-electronics heckscape. Well, most people are toiling. One dudes joyriding around in a nuclear-powered super car. By Express News Service COIMBATORE: In an attempt to crack down on poachers, two teams of Coimbatore forest division on Saturday conducted raids in various villages falling under its ambit. In Karadimadai in Boluvampatti, a team led by Assistant Conservator of Forest M Senthil Kumar seized a country bomb (Avuttukai) from the house of a daily wager with the help of police. The team seized horns of two-spotted deer, an air rifle, four snares, a net, and a knife from the house. The same team conducted raids in Devarayapuram and seized explosive materials and horns of seven spotted deer from the houses of M Selvam (75) and N Duraisamy (45). Both were arrested. Snares and nets used for poaching were also seized, sources said. In the house of N Chinnasamy (45), the team seized explosives and snares. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) The Philippines has flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases, a group of researchers said, but warned the public against complacency amid the pandemic fight. Speaking to CNN Philippines on Sunday, University of the Philippines professor and OCTA Research Team fellow Guido David said the countrys coronavirus reproductive rate a statistic used to measure the rate of virus transmission has decreased to a value less than one. Actually na-flatten na siya, David said in an interview with Newsroom Weekend, noting that the COVID-19 reproductive number has lowered to around 0.94 from 0.99 last week. So nagde-decrease pa siya and that is very good news. Ibig sabihin, nasu-sustain natin yung flattening of the curve. [Translation: Actually it has already flattened and that is very good news. It means we are sustaining the flattening of the curve.] The reproductive number is an epidemiologic metric used to describe the contagiousness or transmission potential of infectious agents, according to the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information. This represents the number of people who may be infected by a confirmed case. Ideally, this should be one or less, as anything higher means there is still significant community transmission, according to medical experts. David, however, urged Filipinos not to be overly excited as he warned that the COVID-19 trends are subject to change and can be reversed at any time. We would like to remind people not to be overly excited dito sa flattening of the curve. Yes, we're seeing it pero (but) the trends are not irreversible Ibig sabihin (meaning), we could have another surge, David said. The virus is still here, we're still getting around 3,000 cases per day and so we have to sustain yung (the) momentum, to sustain the gain. So we have to keep doing the right things and to not falter, he added. Aside from the virus reproductive figure, David said the positivity rate one of the main data being studied and monitored by medical experts is likewise going down. From averages of over 4,000 daily cases in mid-August, the country in the past few days has been reporting lower average number of infections at 3,000, he explained. For the healthcare capacity aspect, the professor also noted that the COVID-19 bed occupancy rate in Metro Manila has also been decreasing. Should NCR ease restrictions? Despite the development, David urged the government to carefully evaluate any plan of easing restrictions in the capital region, which remains under general community quarantine until the end of September. If we ever relax to MGCQ (modified general community quarantine), we should evaluate this carefully, we should think about it carefully, he stressed. Coronavirus infections in the Philippines have spiked to over 230,000, with the Health Department listing 2,529 new cases on Saturday. Recoveries meanwhile increased to 161,668, while the virus death toll stood at 3,790. MIDDLETOWN A group of residents are looking to Middletown Township for answers ever since a once-quiet stream started a rampage through its neighborhood on a regular basis. As development has occurred in the community, residents around Glen Riddle feel stormwater management measures put in place have been insufficient to protect those downstream. They say development at the former Granite Run Mall along with Riddle Hospital construction and work on SEPTAs Elwyn-Middletown rail line are among the projects that have inundated their community with flood waters. They are circulating a petition to call on the township to help. Its so violent. Were to the point now where its not something that we can mitigate ourselves, said JoAnn Allen, who has pushed the township to step in to assist. No amount of work on our part can fix this. We need the township to step in and make changes. A raging river is how Margaret Brittingham described the normally sedate Chrome Run that runs behind her Glen Riddle Road home following Tropical Storm Isaias. It left debris on the lawn, but the cleanup was manageable, said Brittingham, who has been in her Glen Riddle home for 43 years. Three days later, it happened again. However, this time it came within 2 to 3 feet of my house, left enormous swaths of silt and sand, and worst of all, it picked up my 8 x 12 wooden shed and deposited it about 110 feet onto my neighbors lawn. The water became so high, it flooded Glen Riddle Road, leaving one car stranded in flood waters and state troopers were called to rescue the motorist. A number of the residents have built retaining walls to try control the floods, but they are running out of options as the water has washed away sections of wall and nearly topped others. Multiple property owners have had fencing wash away and large trees left in their yards. Neighbors call Craig Wanamaker the tree man because he has fished out so many fallen trees that have floated into his backyard. Its really sad watching it. I think it started getting bad about five to seven years ago when they were putting in the extension to the hospital, said Wanamaker, who has been in his home for 20 years. To protect his yard, he built a wall, as have a number of his neighbors, to try to control the water. Its so violent now, it took that whole top off [of the wall] and usually it will do a little damage but not that much. Whole trees come down and sit on my lawn. They experienced an extraordinary event, agreed Middletown Council Chairman Mark Kirchgasser. We had 6.5 inches of rain that was the ruminants of the tropical storm on a Tuesday. Our engineers measured that cumulatively as a 50-year flood event. That Friday, we had another 3.5 inches in one hour and with the saturation rate, water had nowhere to go. That had the effect of a 100-year flood. Kirshwasser said the township is working to assist residents but believes its hands are tied by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations. Anything that touches a body of water or wetlands is DEP-regulated. This limits Middletowns ability to take action, he said. Officials believe when Septa rebuilt the rail line from Middletown Station, it replaced 80-year-old culverts that were partially collapsed and restricted the flow of the creek with new culverts that allow the full flow of water to pass through. Before the new culverts were installed, the rail line was acting as a retention basin for storm water. With the new culvert in place, storm water flows through freely. The DEP regulations require you to go to the DEP and abide by the rules of Chapter 105, said Kirchgasser. The one criterion we are watching is, once you reconstruct, you are not supposed to increase the downstream flow, and that has clearly happened here, because you have new pipe which is as clean as a whistle. They had silt or logs jamming these culverts, in degraded condition, so the effect was there was ponding or pooling on these culverts to the SEPTA rail line to act like a retention basin. SEPTA rebuilt all of that. SEPTA, for its part, disputes that claim. SEPTA was contacted by township officials today (Friday), and we will be meeting with them to better understand and review their concerns. All work for this project has been reviewed by the required agencies, and all appropriate permits have been issued, read a statement from the transit agency. The DEP did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. The agency is, however, aware of flooding along Chrome Run. Glen Riddle resident Pam Barry reported to the agency that a manhole cover from the sanitary sewer that runs under Chrome Run came off in the storm. The department is aware that Middletown Townships experienced excessive erosion along Chrome Run resulting in the relocation of the stream channel such that at least one of the manholes is now in the middle of the stream channel, wrote Robert D. Bauer, environmental group manager at the DEP, in a letter. The township is now beginning the planning necessary to proceed with the relocation of the impacted sanitary sewer collection system located along Chrome Run. While residents are happy the township is approaching SEPTA, they believe excessive stormwater run-off is still part of the problem. The community faced the same issues last August when storm water flooded the tiny creek. Over the past three years, Stanley Kemp, a professor at the University of Baltimore, collaborating with Andrea Welker from Villanova University, have been working on a project at Chrome Run to see the effect of stormwater controls on a site being re-developed. They have been studying the creek as the former Granite Run Mall was undergoing changes. The floods theyve experienced are pretty amazing. Clearly whatever stormwater controls in place are not sufficient, said Kemp. When you see video of the shed floating by, then crashing into trees, its jaw dropping. Kemp has had monitors he uses in his research destroyed in the floods. He believes the flooding is related to outdated storm water regulations. Kemp said that stormwater runoff regulations were developed in the late 70s into the 80s and, with climate change, they are now outdated. He said storm control measures that went in at Granite Run were up to requirements at the time, but they include a grandfather clause that allows redevelopment of a site to adhere to old regulations, not the same standards as if you built a brand new building in terms of stormwater control. Granite Run Mall isnt the only issue. There is the hospital, anywhere you have that impervious surface, parking lots, roads, you just get tremendous amounts of runoff and it goes right into Chrome Run, said Kemp. Thats whats causing these massive flooding events, all this water running off coming in all at once. He added that the mall was built on an old quarry which makes it very hard and expensive to deal with stormwater measures. Kemp said he also worries about the bridge at Glen Riddle Road flooding. The amount of water that is coming off in addition you are getting a jam up at Glen Riddle Road it acts like a dam and the water goes over the road, said Kemp. That is an existential threat to human life. People driving through these flood waters, getting swept downstream. When you get that much water, it can carry away a car or a truck, and this is happening in other places. Kemp said the culvert at the Septa site could be a contributing factor but more is involved. Its not just right there, said Kemp. I wouldnt pinpoint the problem solely on Septa. The way the watershed is set up, the amount of control measures that are present its not enough to control what they are getting on a fairy regular basis. The residents of Glen Riddle just want some solutions. They have talked with officials at the Williamson Colleges of Trade about using a portion of their property as a retention basin. The township, however, has not signed off on that In their petition they call for improvements to the current stormwater management codes, reprioritize the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and to increase the existing retention requirements for all new business construction in the Chrome Run watershed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 20:59:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed men opened fire on Turkish soldiers in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday, wounding two soldiers, a war monitor reported. One of the wounded soldiers is in critical condition by the shooting that occurred in the vicinity of Ariha city in the southern countryside of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It is the latest attack to target Turkish soldiers in northern Syria. An armed group called Khattab al-Shishani Brigades claimed responsibility for previous attacks, said the observatory, adding that details about the group are still murky with no information on its alliances with any other rebel groups in northern Syria. Enditem Switzerland, on Friday, celebrated the completion of the construction of the Ceneri tunnel, as part of a major European railway project. The 15.4-kilometre-long tunnel is a central element of the most important railway corridor between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Together with the existing Swiss Gotthard and Loetschberg tunnels, Ceneri allows trains to pass under the Alps without ascents. The three tunnels are part of a plan to connect the ports of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Antwerp in Belgium with the port of Genoa. In culture pushing Gospel without God, Sunday School isn't enough for Christian kids, Tim Keller says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Modern secular culture is on a march to evangelize Christians and Sunday School, church services and youth groups are no longer enough to inoculate Christian children from its new gospel without God, warns founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, Tim Keller. In a Q Session discussion with moderator and Q Ideas founder Gabe Lyons Wednesday, Keller warned that secular culture in America is now at a point where the only sin is to tell people that they sin, and traditional Protestant catechism needs to better prepare Christian children to thrive in a world where they are constantly bombarded with the new secular gospel on social media. Roughly speaking, every other culture always taught that the truth is something outside me, it could be family, God, dying for my country; and to be a person of honor and worth, authenticity, you had to find that truth and align your feelings with the truth. Now the understanding is, truth is inside you. You go inside to find the great depths and then you come out and you tell everybody else that you have to now accommodate me, said Keller. What that means is were the first culture not only that does not believe theres a truth out here, its all subjective. Also, its the first culture that doesnt just think Christians are wrong but they are the problem, he explained. Modern secular culture, said Keller, is now at the point where people believe that they need to be saved from the idea that they need salvation from God. And for that to happen and to realize their brand of salvation, Christians must be evangelized. Post-Christian culture is based on liberation from Christianity. If you go to China or Africa and youre talking to animists or Confucianists or people like that, they may think youre wrong. They may even want to kill you because they feel like youre imperialistic. But modern secular people are actually saying the thing we need to be saved from is the idea we need to be saved. The thing we need redemption from is the idea we need redemption, Keller told Lyons. The only sin is to tell people that they sin, which means the only way to be free is actually to liberate yourself from Christianity which means our modern secular culture is not just post-Christian. In some ways, its actually very Christian because it has all the same Christian values. But it wants them without God [and] it needs to change Christians, Keller continued. It has to target us. We really cant be there because were the problem, and so basically its evangelizing us. Maybe I shouldnt say this: they are trying to convert us into being secularists and its extremely important that we convert. While much of the teachings of modern secularists are incoherent, Keller said, their many subjective narratives are being pushed heavily on Christian youth who need more innovative protections beyond traditional Protestant catechism to respond. Charles Taylor, great philosopher Charles Taylor, says that secularism moves forward not with argument but with saying things that are axiomatically taken as just truth. So for example, he would say, he calls them closed world structures but I call them narratives the identity narrative is, you gotta be true to yourself. You have to look inside, see who you are, and be true to yourself. The happiness narrative is, you should never sacrifice your happiness for anybody else. In the end, you cant sacrifice your happiness for other people. The freedom narrative is that as long as Im not harming somebody, I should be actually free to live my life the way I choose, he said. The truth narrative is that all truth claims are socially constructed and yet science is our salvation. The morality claim is that all morality is socially constructed and yet we need to work for justice. Charles Taylor says these claims are not arguments. In fact, theyre kind of incoherent but they are put out there as religious faith assumptions and because of the social media, they are put on you as a given and only evil people disagree with them. And in that sense, they are very religious. They are based on faith, there is no real rational argument for them. They have to be taken on faith. To some degree theyre incoherent. And yet, if you deny them youre vilified, he continued. We dont have as much control over what our kids hear now. ... And social media takes those catechisms, what does it mean to be a self? What does it mean to be free? To be happy? And it goes after your kids. So basically, they are getting catechized. So if you just take them to church and to Sunday school or youth group, thats nothing compared to what theyre getting, the Redeemer Church founder explained. Keller framed the approaches to forming Christian children as outdated. All of our catechisms now are biblical doctrine, youre just putting stuff out there. Youre saying God is triune, Jesus is the son of God, but youre not actually connecting it to these narratives I just mentioned so youre not inoculating your kids to it, he said. When Jesus says you have to lose yourself to find yourself, you have to take up your cross and follow me, that directly goes against the identity narrative. That should be at the very heart of the way we do our doctrine but its not. We are actually not teaching our kids in a way that we are helping them analyze the culture. Were giving them these abstract kinds of doctrine that was formulated 300 or 400 years ago, he explained. I wouldnt change the doctrine, the Bible is the Bible. Its all the same doctrine, but how you present it has got to change otherwise we are not really inoculating our kids to the culture. Were not forming them as Christians. During that same session, founder of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California, Francis Chan, noted that while some Christian parents were worried about not being able to take their children to church during the pandemic, they needed to become more hands on with the spiritual development of their children. I hear in a lot of churches theyve got to meet together again because of our kids. And Im going, 'Man, God should wake you up right there. Parents are supposed to be teaching their kids.' Its a great opportunity for you, dads, to step up and believe the Spirit of the living God is inside of your body and you can lead that family. And if theyre not equipped, then figure it out and man up. Parents, youre supposed to lead your kids, Chan said. A study from the Pew Research Center published in October 2019 noted that only 65% of Americans now identify as Christian while those who identify as religiously unaffiliated a group which includes atheists, agnostics and people who dont identify with any religion swelled to 26% of the population. The drop in the number of Americans identifying as Christian reflected a 12% decline when compared to the general population 10 years ago. The decline was visible across multiple demographics, but particularly among young adults. Research by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2016 on why Americans are leaving religion also pointed to the increasing share of American adults who have been joining the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated, and said it's being fed by an exodus of those who grew up with a religious identity. Younger Americans today are also more likely than seniors to be raised without a religious identity. TEL AVIV: Israeli carrier Israir said on Sunday it had reserved slots for commercial flights from Tel Aviv to the United Arab Emirates, preparing for potential tourism as the two countries move to normalise relations. An Israir spokeswoman said that they applied for permission from civil aviation authorities for the flights, and booked departure and arrival slots at Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport while they await approval. The carrier booked eight round-trip flights from Tel Aviv to Dubai International Airport throughout October, according to a flight timetable on the Israel Aviation Authoritys webiste. While Israels flag carrier El Al Airlines has announced it will operate cargo flights to the UAE, it has not yet applied for permits for commercial flights, a spokesman said. Last week, El Al made history by operating the first official flight by a Israeli commercial carrier to the UAE, where officials held U.S.-brokered talks to finalise a pact to open relations. Planes flying between the two countries will be able to fly over Saudi Arabia, significantly cutting down travel time, after the kingdom last week announced all services to and from the UAE can cross its airspace. 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| 2020-09-07 05:44:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Sept. 6, 2020 shows part of a 2,500-year-old coffin discoverd in Giza, Egypt. Egypt announced on Sunday the discovery of a collection of more than 13 intact sealed coffins dating back to 2,500 years ago. (Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/Handout via Xinhua) CAIRO, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Egypt announced on Sunday the discovery of a collection of more than 13 intact sealed coffins dating back to 2,500 years ago. The coffins were found at an archeological site in Saqqara necropolis in Giza, said the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a statement. The coffins, along with three sealed niches, were unearthed inside an 11-meter-deep shaft, according to the statement. Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anany and Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), visited the site on Sunday and inspected the excavation work in the shaft. "The discovery marks the largest number of coffins found in one burial place since the discovery of the Asasif Cachette," the minister said, referring to the discovery of 30 ancient coffins in October 2019 at Asasif cemetery in Upper Egypt's Luxor Province. "The discovery in Saqqara includes a wonderful collection of colored wooden coffins whose colors and inscriptions are still in a good condition despite the passage of 2,500 years," Waziri, who leads the Egyptian archeological mission in Saqqara, told Xinhua. Waziri said the exact number of the unearthed coffins as well as the identity and titles of their owners have not yet been determined, but they will be found out in the coming few days as the excavation work still continues. "The mission continues excavation work on the site and it is expected to result in many other new discoveries of shafts, colored wooden coffins and statues," the SCA chief added. Initial studies revealed that the coffins are completely sealed and have not been opened since they were buried inside the shaft, according to the ministry. Ghana and Nigeria have agreed to establish reciprocal legislation known as friendship act to find a lasting solution to trade hostilities between nationals of the two countries spanning more than a decade. The deal was reached between the Speakers of Ghanas Parliament and the House of Representatives of Nigeria on Thursday following a two-day bilateral discussion between the most powerful nations within the West African sub-region. A joint communique issued after the discussions stated, a joint committee will be established to compose of members of both legislations to explore the possible passage of reciprocal legislation which could potentially be called the Ghana-Nigeria Friendship Act, which shall propose the Ghana-Nigeria Business Council to provide a legal framework to sustain the friendship and benefits of the two nations. Nigerias chairman of the media and publicity committee of the house of representatives Benjamin Kalu announced the trade and industry committees of the respective houses have been tasked to work out the modalities of the process. The feud between Ghanaian traders and their Nigerian counterparts in Accra began in 2007. Then, the Ghanaian traders accused Nigerian traders of taking over retail trade reserved only for locals. The Ghanaian traders insist their West African counterparts had breached the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) Act and want the Ghanaian government to enforce the legislation. They call us thugs. What we are saying is that what they seek to portray to Ghanaians is that our actions are unlawful. What we are also saying is that whatever thing we are doing is legal, President of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA) Joseph Obeng said. The non-enforcement of the GIPC Act by the relevant authorities compelled the Ghanaian traders to arrogate the law unto themselves by locking up shops belonging to Nigerians in the cities of Accra and Kumasi. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates In 1790, the United States endeavored to complete a monumental task counting every person living within its borders about 3.9 million people. In 2020, we expect to count well over 330 million people. The census this year is just as important as the first count taken in 1790 was, especially for Texans. Our founders enshrined in the Constitution the practice of taking a census, by mandating that every person in the United States be counted every 10 years. Taking an accurate and timely census is not only our constitutional duty, it is a responsibility that will shape our communities and state for the next decade. Population data gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau determines how many seats in the House of Representatives are allocated to each state, as well as the number of electoral college votes for presidential elections. It informs how legislative lines are drawn and determines how federal funding is allocated. The count even factors into decisions made by businesses and nonprofit organizations. Since 2010, our state has grown exponentially, making it imperative for every Texan to respond to the 2020 census and ensure that their households are accurately accounted for. Not only does Texas stand to gain up to three new congressional seats after the 2020 census, a report on the impact of the census by George Washington University estimates that an undercount of only 1 percent in Texas could result in the loss of at least $300 million a year in federal funding for our state over the next decade. Hundreds of federal programs depend on a population-driven formula that is informed by the census in fact, over the 2016 fiscal year, the 10 largest census-guided programs distributed nearly $44 billion to Texas, and that number is likely to increase in the coming years. This affects Medicare, Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), National School Lunch Program, highway planning and construction, school funding and more. As we continue to tackle the challenges associated with COVID-19, its more critical than ever that our hospitals and schools have access to all potential resources at their disposal. Texas is home to a diverse population of communities of all sizes, with approximately 25 percent of our states population, including those in our rural communities, currently residing in hard-to-count areas, which puts our state at an increased risk of being undercounted. In fact, a census bureau study estimated that Texas undercounted its total population by 0.97 percent in the 2010 census. We cannot afford to undercount again in the 2020 census. The good news is that the census bureau has been working diligently over the last 10 years to ensure that the 2020 census is the easiest, most user-friendly census yet. In fact, this is the first year that individuals can fill out and respond to their census questionnaire online. You can respond to the census request easily and securely by visiting www.2020census.gov, calling 844-330-2020, or mailing back the paper questionnaire that was sent to your home. At last count, only 52.8 percent of the 11th District of Texas had self-responded to the census. We must get this number to 100 percent. The deadline to respond is Sept. 30. Please help our communities and Texas be accurately represented and respond to the 2020 census today. Mike Conaway represents Texas 11th Congressional District In the years before NXIVM became the focus of a federal racketeering case in Brooklyn and a documentary series on HBO, Keith Ranieres cult-like organization carried a well-earned reputation as a relentless litigation machine. Attorneys for the Colonie-based self-improvement company and its members brought legal cases against perceived enemies and even pushed prosecutors to bring charges against some foes. Even now, as Seagrams fortune heiress Clare Bronfman is scheduled to be sentenced for her NXIVM-related crimes on Sept. 30, two lawyers involved in Bronfman's past litigation efforts are firmly in her corner and in one case, still slamming NXIVM's perceived enemies. William F. Savino, a lawyer with the Buffalo firm of Woods Oviatt Gilman, and Robert D. Crockett, an attorney with the firm of Crockett and Associates in Valencia, Calif., sang Bronfman's praises in letters they sent in late August to Senior U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis. The judge, who presided over the nearly two-month trial last year of Raniere, 60, is well-versed in all things NXIVM and the devotees of Raniere, the man known as "Vanguard." He accepted the guilty pleas of Bronfman and four other NXIVM defendants. But apparently, Savino and Crockett believe they can provide a view about their client that might sway the judge. My heart was deeply saddened to hear of the publicity surrounding Clares legal problems in your courtroom, Crockett told the judge in an Aug. 25 letter. Clare is one of the sweetest and most compassionate persons I have ever met. Crockett told Garaufis he has "never known Clare to consider or discuss unlawful behavior." Crockett said he also has never heard of Bronfman expressing a desire to be vengeful or vindictive. Garaufis accepted Bronfman's guilty plea and in doing so, he heard Bronfman discuss and admit to unlawful behavior. The judge also may remember that Crockett's second point is inconsistent with the testimony of Stephen Herbits, a longtime confidante for late Seagram's liquor tycoon Edgar Bronfman who testified against Raniere. Herbits said that in 2008, Clare and her older sister, Sara Bronfman-Igtet, pressured him to ask Albany County District Attorney David Soares, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and the attorney general of New Jersey to bring criminal charges against several enemies of NXIVM. Herbits said he refused to comply and, in turn, feared he would end up on an NXIVM enemies list. According to testimony of a federal agent, thats exactly what happened. Savino told the judge Clare Bronfman"was always insistent that our position be ethical, that we were entitled to the relief being sought, and that the remedy is not being pursued via improper means. Savino portrayed her as a victim. In his Aug. 28 letter,Savino told the judge: The primary reason I have been repeatedly called on to represent Clare is the history of those around her taking advantage of her wealth. Savino described for Garaufis how he previously represented Bronfman against two people, an attorney and a financial planner, whom Savino claimed victimized Bronfman. While he identified neither person, it appeared to be clear references to Albany lawyer Joseph OHara, a one-time NXIVM legal advisor, and former NXIVM executive Barbara Bouchey, a financial planner who defected from the organization in 2009. Left unmentioned by Savino was that NXIVM had placed OHara and Bouchey on the company's so-called enemies list, which was kept in files in the basement of NXIVM president Nancy Salzmans home on Oregon Trail in Halfmoon. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In 2011, the Times Union reported that Bouchey said she was losing her life savings defending herself against NXIVM-related legal action. During one court appearance, Bouchey told acting Supreme Court Justice Roger McDonough: "The mere word of Bronfman out of my mouth in any form or shape will have me slammed in (court). Bronfmans new defense attorney, Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., has downplayed his client's reputation as the financial muscle behind NXIVM and its litigious ways. Sullivan said Bronfman loaned money to cover NXIVM legal fees, including patents and patent retention, and litigation to protect the companys intellectual property, which he said was at least $32 million. Sullivan acknowledged in court documents that a pre-sentencing investigation report said Clare Bronfman, on behalf of NXIVM, hired private investigation firms to investigate perceived enemies of NXIVM and Raniere. He downplayed his client's role. Sullivan also portrayed Bronfman as a victim. Sullivan noted the ongoing civil lawsuit filed against Raniere and 14 associates, including Clare Bronfman, by more than 80 victims. The suit alleged that the Bronfmans money help fund meritless lawsuits and try to build criminal cases to silence critics of NXIVM. Sullivan asked the judge to consider the lawsuit when evaluating statements of victims at Bronfmans sentencing. Clare Bronfman is the deep pocket from whom civil plaintiffs undoubtedly hope to recover for their harms, Sullivan said. The 41-year-old Bronfman, who has homes in Clifton Park and Manhattan, faces 21 to 27 months in prison based on her guilty pleas last year to conspiracy to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for financial gain, and fraudulent use of identification. She can face more time if the judge goes above federal sentencing guidelines, which he is considering. Prosecutors are expected to file their own sentencing memo. Raniere, convicted of sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy and racketeering charges, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 27. The Lok Janshakti Party will hold a crucial meeting of its Bihar leaders on Monday to decide whether to fight against the JD(U) in the upcoming state assembly polls amid worsening ties between the two members of the ruling NDA. On the eve of the meeting, LJP president Chirag Paswan fired yet another salvo at JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, saying his decision to provide government jobs to kin of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes community members who were killed is nothing but an election-related announcement". In a letter to the Bihar chief minister, he accused Kumar of not fulfilling earlier promises made to SCs and STs, including giving them three dismil of land. The LJP president said that if the Nitish Kumar government was sincere", it should give jobs to a family member of all those from the communities who were killed during its 15-year rule. The LJP, whose main face is Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, and the JD(U) have been sniping at each other for months. Kumars decision to join hands with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, a Dalit leader like the Paswans with a history of targeting the LJP, has further soured their ties. While aiming at Kumar, Chirag Paswan has refrained from attacking the BJP and has even been lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. One of the options that Union minister Ram Vilas Paswans party, now headed by his son Chirag Paswan, may consider is to remain a part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre but to fight outside the coalitions fold in the state, while not contesting against the saffron party, sources said. It may be noted that the LJP had in February 2005 fought against the RJD in the Bihar assembly polls, even though both regional parties were part of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. The LJP put up candidates against the RJD while maintaining its ties with the Congress. This had led to the formation of a hung assembly in the state, ending Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJDs 15-year rule, and another assembly poll held a few months later saw the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) and BJP alliance storming to power with their maiden majority. While BJP leaders, including its national president J P Nadda, have been insisting that all three NDA parties will fight the upcoming polls together, sources said a sense of unease has crept in, with Kumar working to strengthen his position by actively wooing leaders from the RJD and tying up with Manjhi. The JD(U) has also made it clear that it will not hold any seat-sharing talks with the LJP, as its ties have been traditionally with the BJP. The Election Commission is likely to announce the schedule for the Bihar polls sometime this month. Polls to the 243-seat assembly are likely to be held in October-November. Nitish Kumar will address a virtual rally of the party on Monday to connect with people ahead of the state assembly polls due in October-November, a party leader said. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, giant screens will be installed in public places across the state, where people will be able to watch the chief ministers address, senior JD(U) leader and minister Ashok Choudhary said on Sunday. The race to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues on a war footing across the globe. Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union are amongst the frontrunners who are trying to release a shot against the viral disease. Clinical trials for the coronavirus vaccines being developed by Moderna Inc, Pfizer, Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Russian Direct Investment Fund-sponsored Sputnik V and Cansino Biologics have all conducted the phase 1 and phase 2 trials. The coronavirus disease has killed 878,237 people and more than 26 million cases have been recorded across the globe with the United States, Brazil and India contributing the most. Here are the latest updates on the Covid-19 vaccines: Several countries are participating in the late-stage trials of China National Biotec Group and Sinovac Biotech Ltds Covid-19 vaccine. Serbia and Pakistan have come to an agreement to participate in the phase 3 trials of CNBGs vaccine candidate. Turkey and Bangladesh will be Sinovacs testing grounds for its vaccine candidate. Olivier Bogillot, Sanofis chief in France, has said the vaccine being developed by Sanofi and the United Kingdoms GlaxoSmithKline Plc is likely to be priced below 10 euros. Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline are developing a protein-based vaccine and will start their final stage trials in December. Vaccine makers will only send their vaccines for Covid-19 to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) only after extensively reviewing safety and accuracy data in a bid to thwart the political pressure exerted on the FDA to roll out a vaccine as soon as possible. Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi and other vaccine manufacturers are likely to take the pledge. Moncef Slaoui, the chief scientific adviser to Operation Warp Speed - Trump administrations vaccine programme - told NPR that it is highly unlikely that data on a vaccines safety and efficacy will be available before October. He was speaking in reference to US health officials telling states to be ready to distribute vaccine shots. The problems Americans rely on the Postal Service to receive medications, to pay bills, to do business and to send gifts, among other things. But some Buffalo-area residents wonder if they can rely on the Postal Service anymore. James Kelly of the Town of Tonawanda has long gotten his prescription blood-thinner through the mail from Wegmans. There was never a problem until this summer, when the package he was waiting for just wouldn't come. Kelly, 71, said he was so worried about running short that he called Wegmans, prompting the company to immediately re-send the prescription via Federal Express. "And then, lo and behold, about three weeks later, the original prescription finally came in the mail," he said. Joan Dugan of Niagara Falls, who is also 71, said she always pays her Visa bill via the mail way ahead of time so she was shocked to see a $39 late fee and $11 interest charge on her credit card statement this summer. Brie Larson thought she was too anxious to take on the titular role (Image by Marvel Studios) Brie Larson was so anxious about being cast as Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that she turned down the part twice. During her latest YouTube video, Larson recalled her initial reaction to Marvels interest. She even told the studio, Oh, I cant do that. I have too much anxiety. Thats too much for me. I dont think I can handle that. Read More: Captain Marvel 2: Candymans Nia DaCosta To Direct Sequel Fortunately for comic-book fans, Marvel werent put off by this denial. So a couple of months later they called up Larson and her representatives again. I was like, Yeah, Im too much of an introvert. Thats way too big of a thing for me. It was beyond my comprehension. Then they called a third time and were like, Are you sure? Cast member Brie Larson poses with fans on the red carpet at the world premiere of the film "The Avengers: Endgame" in Los Angeles, California, April 22, 2019. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY This is where Larson revealed that her team hadnt actually been saying no to Marvel when shed been telling them to. I think they were like, She would be great at this. So Larson decided to get on the phone with Marvel. Even at this point, though, Larson didnt think that the studio would be able to charm her. She was wrong. Instead, she was very moved by what they were trying to achieve, with what they were talking about. It felt very progressive. Read More: Brie Larson reveals she auditioned for 'Hunger Games', 'Star Wars' and 'Terminator' movies "I was very surprised by the way that they were talking about feminism and the way they were handling it. They were like all female writers. Female director. Going to have as many female voices in this as possible. Larson has since gone on to play Captain Marvel in her own solo film, as well as Avengers: Endgame, both of which have grossed a combined total of just under $4 billion (3 billion) at the box office. Hareesh Kumar AS By Express News Service ARANMULA/ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On a day Kerala registered its highest single-day Covid case count, public outrage rang loud across the state after it came to light that a 108 ambulance driver raped a 19-year-old Covid patient at Aranmula in the early hours of Sunday. While the driver was arrested within hours of the incident, the State Human Rights Commission ordered a probe after registering a case suo motu and the Opposition tore into the health department and the government over the lapse in protocol. Noufal The commission has sought a report from State Police Chief Loknath Behera and the health secretary within 15 days on the action taken against the driver. The rape occurred in a 108 ambulance and it is mandatory that healthcare workers should be present along with Covid-19 patients while taking them to hospitals or Covid First-Line Treatment Centres. However, only the patient and the driver were present in the ambulance in this case and it is a serious lapse, the commission pointed out. The police said the accused, Noufal, 29, of Panakkachirayil, Kayamkulam south, raped the girl after he was tasked with transporting two female patients who tested positive on Saturday from the Adoor general hospital. While the 19-year-old was to be taken to a CFLTC in Pandalam, a 42-year-old was directed to the district hospital in Kozhenchery. After the older woman was admitted to the Kozhenchery district hospital around 1am, the driver parked the ambulance at an isolated place near Nalkkalikkal bridge on the way to the site for the abandoned airport project in Aranmula. The girl was raped after opening the back door of ambulance. Later he dropped her at Pandalam and drove off to the general hospital in Adoor, a police officer said. While the accused Noufal threatened the girl and asked her not to reveal the abuse, she reported the incident to healthcare workers at the CFLTC and with their help lodged a complaint with the Adoor police. Noufal, who was in a PPE kit while driving, was arrested in the morning from the general hospital premises. The two women had arrived at the Adoor hospital on Saturday evening. Unfortunately, no bed was vacant there for Covid patients. Sources in the health department said the driver took a longer route to ensure that the older woman was dropped off first. As the incident took place in Aranmula, the case will be handed over to the Aranmula police. The accused is married and has a child.Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala demanded to know how a murder suspect became an ambulance driver. He said the incident has brought shame to the state. Why was the girl not accompanied by a health worker? The LDF government and the health department owe an explanation, he said. BJP president K Surendran also expressed similar sentiments while KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran termed the incident beastly and barbaric. Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha workers staged protests at the District Medical Office in Pathanamthitta. Meanwhile. Health Minister K K Shailaja said the victim would be provided with the necessary treatment and protection. The police have been asked to complete the inquiry fast. A directive has also been given to GVK EMRI to ensure that those employed in the 108 service had their police clearance certificates, she said. It may be recalled that State Human Rights Commission chairman Justice Antony Dominic had earlier ordered the police chief to verify the backgrounds of ambulance drivers. The order was based on complaints against ambulance drivers at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Will ensure strict action, says health minister Terming the incident extremely disheartening and unfortunate, Minister K K Shailaja said the health department will conduct an inquiry and ensure strict action to prevent similar incidents in the future. President Donald Trump said his former chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, was "eaten alive" and "unable to handle the pressure of this job" at a Friday press briefing. The president's comments follow a Thursday report from The Atlantic that Trump skipped a visit to a World War I veteran cemetery in 2018, telling senior staff: "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers." The report also said Trump made uncomfortable remarks to Kelly during a 2017 visit to Arlington National Cemetery. As the two stood beside Kelly's son's grave, Trump reportedly turned to Kelly and said: "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Donald Trump with his former chief of staff, John Kelly. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images President Donald Trump's 2018 decision not to visit a World War I veteran cemetery in Paris has reignited tension with his former chief of staff John Kelly. At a Friday press briefing, Trump reiterated old claims that Kelly was ill-equipped for his post. "He was with me, didn't do a good job, had no temperament, and ultimately he was petered out," Trump said. "He got eaten alive. He was unable to handle the pressure of this job." The president's comments follow a Thursday report from The Atlantic that Trump didn't find it important to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery two years ago, telling senior staff at the time: "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers." Kelly, a retired four-star Marine Corps general and Trump's longest-serving chief of staff, attended the event along with other world leaders. When Trump received public backlash for his absence, he privately blamed Kelly for telling him he could defer the invitation due to inclement weather, Washington Post reporters Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig wrote in their book, "A Very Stable Genius." "I could've f------ gone!" Trump reportedly told aides. "I was willing to go! They're killing me for it!" Trump also made insensitive remarks to Kelly during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2017, the Atlantic reported Thursday. Story continues On the trip, the two stopped at the grave of Kelly's son, 1st Lt. Robert Kelly, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. While they were standing there, Trump reportedly turned to Kelly and said: "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" President Donald Trump speaks with retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images Sources close to Kelly told The Atlantic he initially thought the president was commenting on the selflessness of America's service members. Later, they added, the retired general came to believe that Trump didn't understand the idea of personal sacrifice. Kelly has stayed mum on the incidents at both cemeteries after declining to comment to The Atlantic. The White House called the reports "just another anonymously sourced story meant to tear down a Commander-in-Chief." But there have been prior reports of tension between Trump and the retired general. Kelly previously compared having to refuse Trump's requests to "French kissing a chainsaw," according to New York Times correspondent Michael Schmidt's book, "Donald Trump v. The United States: Inside the Struggle to Stop a President." "Kelly has told others that Trump wanted to behave like an authoritarian and repeatedly had to be restrained and told what he could and could not legally do," Schmidt wrote. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported that Kelly used to mute the phone line during Trump's calls with world leaders to tell him to stop discussing sensitive information. Then in February, Kelly defended a key witness in Trump's impeachment inquiry, retired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Shortly after, Trump blasted Kelly on Twitter. "When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn't do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head. Being Chief of Staff just wasn't for him," Trump wrote. "He came in with a bang, went out with a whimper, but like so many X's, he misses the action [and] just can't keep his mouth shut." Read the original article on Business Insider A Bangladeshi smuggler has been shot dead by Border Security Force (BSF) troops along the India-Bangladesh international border in West Bengal, officials said on Sunday. The man was killed by a BSF party near the Gopalpur post of the border force in Malda district of the state on Saturday evening, they said. He was trying to smuggle Phensedyl bottles. At least 75 bottles of the cough syrup have been seized from his possession, the officials said. Phensedyl is a codeine-based cough syrup and abused as an intoxicant in the neighbouring country that follows liquor prohibition. It is abused by youngsters and is "consumed in large quantity against the recommended small dose to get a kick", according to a recent BSF report. Image credits: PTI CARBONDALE -- A person needs a giving spirit to travel across the country to fight for property that's not even theirs -- several such individuals from Southern Illinois did just that last month as they traveled to fight wildfires in Colorado. Tom Gargrave, of Oswego, served as crew boss for a team of trained firefighters who were sent to serve on the Pine Gulch Fire in western Colorado beginning Aug. 9. Gargrave, regional forester for Illinois Department of Natural Resources, led a crew that included five Southern Illinoisans to what started as a 13,000-acre fire on the western border of Colorado. By the time the crew left two weeks later, the fire had spread to 130,000 acres. The Pine Gulch Fire was designated the largest wildfire in Colorado history. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources annually assembles teams of volunteers from a variety of state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service, Shawnee Resource and Conservation District, and The Nature Conservancy. Gargrave said his team spent 14 days working long hours on the fire and were amazed by the sights of 300-foot flames, glowing hillsides at night, and huge plumes of smoke. But, what was most impactful, he said, was meeting people who needed help. He wasn't alone in this feeling. "I had a really good experience ... because we got to talk to a lot of homeowners and prep their houses," Hannah Hagarty, 24, of Carbondale, said of her first trip fighting wildfires. There is an adrenaline rush to the job, too. Hagarty, who works for the U.S. Forest Service on the Shawnee National Forest, described the work at its most frantic as controlled chaos -- she would look to her fellow firefighters to learn when to be concerned. The work was brutally hard, too -- Hagarty said by Day 11, the fatigue hit her. But, she said, leaving was bittersweet. "On the ride home, I wanted to go back," she said. Nathan Speagle, of Carbondale, is no novice to these summer trips to fight fires, but he, too, said it was moving to help protect people's property. "In this case it was especially rewarding because we were able to work with those landowners and homeowners," Speagle, who works for the Southern Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, said. Much of the team's work with homeowners was finding ways to buffer their homes and properties from the flames. Speagle and Gargrave said sometimes this meant removing potential fuel for the fire -- things like dried vegetation -- while other times, it was boarding up windows and safeguarding a home's eaves from the fire. Speagle said there was no loss of property in the areas his team worked, save an old hay barn. Gargrave said it takes a special person to be willing to travel and risk life and limb for others. Yes, the pay is OK, but money isn't what compels his crew, Gargrave said. In a time when the country is divided, Gargrave said politics didn't even enter into the conversation when his team met with residents. "All they really cared about was you were there to help them and they were grateful," he said. "The point is they are servants," he said of his crew. He said they all became invested in the land and its owners, he said. "I had to hold them back in some cases," he said of keeping his crew from putting themselves in too much danger while helping property owners. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Supporters of the hardline Islamist party Tehreek-e-Labbaik in Pakistan carry placards and shout slogans during a protest against the reprinting of a cartoon of the prophet Mohammad by French magazine Charlie Hebdo, in Rawalpindi, Sept. 4, 2020. AFP-Yonhap French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, the target of a jihadist attack in 2015, said Friday that its latest edition reprinting controversial caricatures of the prophet Mohammed had sold out in just one day. Wednesday's issue featured a dozen cartoons mocking the prophet of Islam, including images that sparked huge protests when first published, to mark the start of the trial this week of alleged accomplices of terrorists who massacred the paper's staff. Charlie Hebdo distributed three times its normal print run Wednesday, but eager readers pounced on the paper and many intending to grab a copy later in the day were left frustrated. A new batch of 200,000 copies is currently being printed and will hit French newsstands Saturday. "It shows that we are supported, that freedom of expression, secularism and the right to blasphemy are not obsolete values, and that they are supported by the French public who chose to buy the issue," a Charlie Hebdo cartoonist who goes by the pen name "Juin" told AFP. Twelve people, including some of France's most celebrated cartoonists, were killed Jan. 7, 2015, when brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi went on a gun rampage at the paper's offices in Paris. "We will never lie down. We will never give up," director Laurent "Riss" Sourisseau wrote in an accompanying editorial to Wednesday's issue, which was headlined: "All of this, just for that." The decision to reprint the cartoons sparked angry condemnations from Pakistan, Iran and Turkey as well as Egypt's highest Muslim authority Al-Azhar. On Friday, thousands rallied in anti-France demonstrations across Pakistan, with protestors calling for boycotts and the French ambassador's expulsion. But Charlie Hebdo defended its decision in the editorial, arguing that republishing the cartoons was "essential." "We worked on the principle that some people don't know the cartoons, some weren't even born when they were published by Charlie in 2006, and they need to understand why the attacks happened," Juin said. "The right to blasphemy and freedom of speech exist if we use it. For us, it was justifiable to reprint the cartoons because it shows that these rights still exist and allows us to defend them," he added. (AFP) Vice Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Relations Nguyen Manh Tien at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi The Vietnamese National Assembly will hold the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-41) themed Parliamentary diplomacy for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community via a video conference from September 8-10, said the organising board at a press conference on September 4. Vice Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Relations and head of the AIPA 41 information sub-committee Nguyen Manh Tien said it will be the third time the Vietnamese legislature assumes the role of AIPA Chair and holds the assembly. Tien described the AIPA-41 as an important highlight in external activities of the 14th NA, contributing to highlighting Vietnam's State and parliamentary diplomacy achievements. About the meetings agenda, he said participants are expected to approve several documents electronically, including the AIPA-41s activities and agenda, the list of guests, host of AIPA 42, time and venue. As AIPA Chair 2020 and Chair of the AIPA-41, Vietnamese NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will chair and deliver opening and closing speeches, and present AIPA chairmanship 2021 and AIPA-41 General Assembly Chairmanship to the next host. In particular, the General Assembly will adopt draft resolutions of committees, establish the conference of AIPA young parliamentarians, admit AIPAs new observers, present awards of dedication to AIPA, and sign a joint statement via the form of announcement. Chairman of the NAs Committee for External Relations and deputy head of the organising committee's standing board Nguyen Van Giau said the conference of AIPA young parliamentarians will take the theme AIPA young parliamentarians build ASEAN Community. About the admission of AIPAs new observers, Giau said the organising committee has received four dossiers from Norway, Morocco, Pakistan and Georgia and will hold an admission ceremony at the second plenary session and the closing ceremony. As regards the conference of AIPA female parliamentarians, Giau said Chairwoman of the NAs Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh will chair the event, which will discuss female parliamentarians role in ensuring jobs and income for female workers. Members of the organising committee also answered reporters questions about the significance and contributions of AIPA to Vietnams socio-economic development, the region and the world, advantages and disadvantages in holding AIPA-41 online, among others. Christians stop believing the coronavirus con By Michael R. Shannon Pastors are belatedly coming to the conclusion that letting Caesar decide when and where they can worship was a bad idea from the beginning. The fact the vast majority of churches meekly shut down and surrendered Easter demonstrated how deeply secular culture has penetrated the pastorate. These collaborationists forgot the one time Jesus lost his temper was when secular concerns were interfering with the worship of God inside the Temple. Pastors evidently confused meek with weak and that faulty thinking dominated their Flu Manchu decisionmaking. The rush to surrender to secular authorities and be good little church people was positively French in its intensity. These socalled shepherds surrendered a constitutional right to worship like it was an expired handicapped parking tag. Instead of outsourcing outreach to St. Facebook, pastors should have kept their churches open. Urging the frail elderly and those with underlying conditions to stay home and watch, while the healthy gathered together as Christians are instructed to do. During the week, the staff couldve visited elderly parishioners in person and prayed through the storm door. That would have been much more work than the virus vacation the clergy opted to take. More important, it would have been biblical. Now a few pastors are beginning to understand that if Costco can remain open, so can church. It took him until July, but in California Dr. John MacArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church, finally announced, We will obey God rather than men. Were going to be faithful to our Lord. Were going to leave the results to him. At a later service, MacArthur welcomed members to the Grace Community Church Peaceful Protest. We stand firm to continue fulfilling our biblical mandate from Christ to proclaim the Gospel and assemble together, and I earnestly hope that our stance will encourage other pastors, churches, and the general public across America and the world to also stand firm for biblical Truth, MacArthur said in a statement. Church is essential. The big problem with that announcement is timing. MacArthur is six months late. Prominent pastors and denominations should have met in March and announced that Christians would continue to worship, as is their right guaranteed by the Constitution, and each church would make Kung Flu mitigation efforts on its own. The Flustapo specializes in making life miserable for individuals and the disorganized. You didnt notice health officials requiring masks on mostly peaceful looters. A massive pushback from believers would have saved Easter and established that Christians will suffer no infringement on their duty to God. Also in California, Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel didnt surrender Easter, but he mistakenly thought a little going along would mean getting along. When BLM riots were deemed essential and church wasnt, that was enough. McCoy told Just The News, Who would ever have thought you're standing on the front lines because you're going to church on a Sunday? McCoy defied a temporary restraining order from the local Caesar forbidding indoor worship. I'm not being disobedient to anybody, I'm being obedient to God. No government gets in the way of worshipping the one who created us. We're living on His dirt, breathing His air, drinking His water, eating His food, we're going to live by His rules. McCoy isnt alone on the front line. A vindictive county government is seeing to that. A lawsuit against the church also includes 1,000 criminals to be named later who will also be charged with McCoy and fined up to $1,000/day. My favorite response to Flustapo minions took place in little Holly Springs, MS. Cops who worshiped Mammon and not God broke up a Sunday Service at the First Pentecostal Church. Pastor Jerry Waldrop then took his 45 members to the local Walmart, which has never been closed, and held services there. Now Franklin Graham has decided to enter the belly of the lockdown beast. Hes announced he will lead the 2020 Prayer March in Washington, DC on September 26th. Graham and his supporters are hoping thousands of believers will show up and march from the Lincoln Memorial to the steps of the Capitol, stopping along the way for prayer for our nation. Mayor Muriel Caesar isnt going to like that. As this is written, travelers to DC from 29(!) states are ordered to selfquarantine for two weeks after they arrive. Mass gatherings of more than 50 people are forbidden. Face burkas (aka masks) are required indoors and out. A camel will pass through the eye of a needle before DC will issue a parade permit for Grahams march. Its time for a showdown with secular antiChristian authorities and DC is the perfect location. I hope Graham stands firm and thousands march with him regardless of consequences. Its time for the USA to remember what prohibiting the free exercise really means. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home Mumbai, Sep 6 (UNI) Director Nitin Chandra, who directed the first ever mainstream Maithili film Mithila Makhaan and received the prestigious National Award is going to be released on October 2. In a statement issued here, he said the idea of the film came in his mind during his visit to flood affected areas of Bihar during 2008-2009. "I had made a documentary to understand this problem. While talking about flood, I realised and understood one reason for heavy exodus from Bihar. That was no livelihood at grass-root level. Floods were a havoc in the North Bihar. The idea came to me that how about economically abled individuals create jobs in their own village. This was the germ of the story which later developed and 5 - 6 years later I could make this film with help of an investor from Singapore. I wrote the story in 2013 and started searching for money but unfortunately could not find in my state. But I was fortunate that Producer Samir Kumar came along and with some other resources, I could make the film. Two persons have died in a shooting incident at Abossey Okai, Accra during the Ga Homowo celebration on Saturday. A third person,who sustained an arm injury had been treated and discharged. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit (PAU), Accra Regional Police Command, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview. She said on Saturday, August 29, 2020 at about 1640 hours, the Kaneshie Police received information that the Chief and people of Abossey Okai had organised their Homowo festival without notifying the Police. She said whilst some customary rites were being performed, gun shots were heard outside which resulted in the injury of some persons who were sent to the hospital. Police proceeded to the scene and after confirming the incident went to Sukura Community Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where victims were sent, she said. DSP Tenge said the Hospital's authorities confirmed that three persons were rushed in with gun shot wounds but two passed on whilst receiving treatment. "The third victim sustained injury on his right arm. He had been treated and discharged.Investigations were ongoing," she said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Todd E. Vachon and Debra Coyle McFadden Child labor laws have been passed, a minimum wage has been set, overtime laws are in place, and there is a federal agency dedicated to occupational safety and health, OSHA. So, what do we need unions for? This is a common refrain uttered by opponents of unions as well as many workers who have never belonged to a union. Welcome to the pandemic terrordome. Since the arrival of COVID-19 earlier this year, the need for unions has become more apparent than ever. From the very start, essential workers in retail, warehouses, assembly lines, nursing homes, and hospitals were some of the most vulnerable, typically working with woefully inadequate safety protections and often at wages that do not begin to reflect the value their work adds to society each day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been missing in action, refusing to issue an emergency infectious disease standard for healthcare workers. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued inadequate guidance, which employers could choose to follow but could also ignore since it is not enforceable. The voluntary nature of this guidance has created an uneven playing field, pitting good employers who do the right thing against bad actors who ignore the guidance because it is more profitable and they can do so with impunity. In the face of federal government inaction and an inadequate response by many employers, workers and unions across the U.S. and here in New Jersey began taking action themselves, demanding better COVID-19 safety and health protections. From nurses to fast food workers, and warehouse workers to librarians, workers have fought for and won personal protective equipment (PPE), clean workplaces, hazard pay and, where possible, the ability to telecommute. They joined with worker centers and other allies to support better conditions for non-union workers, including immigrant workers. They fought for furlough plans to keep fellow workers in their jobs rather than getting laid off. To win these protections, they signed letters, organized sick outs, filed grievances, engaged in bargaining and, in many cases, engaged in work stoppages. These actions contributed to Gov. Phil Murphys issuance of executive orders to protect workers, such as Executive Order #122, which required essential employers to have infectious control practices, social distancing measures, facemask requirements and to notify workers of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite. These are good steps, but more needs to be done to protect all workers as the economy reopens. Through their organizations, workers have also come together to learn from and help each other. Since the pandemic reached our state in March, the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), the Rutgers Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN), and Jersey Renews have hosted a weekly web-based conversation titled: COVID-19 Update: Saving Lives, Protecting Workers. The program, which has had more than 20 episodes to date, features public health experts, government officials, medical personnel, and legal experts, discussing issues ranging from whistleblower protections and the right to refuse unsafe work to childcare and mental health resources. But the most impassioned presentations were made by frontline workers and worker representatives, telling their personal stories and sharing their collective struggles to ensure the safety of themselves, their coworkers and the public. The webinar has not only been a source of information for and about New Jersey workers during the ongoing pandemic but it has also become a source of community across multiple sectors and organizations. It is a venue where ideas are shared, assistance is asked for and assistance is given. So as we watched many other states devolve into chaos and disarray over the summer months, putting politics and profits over public health, we could not help but to think how things might have been different if workers had a greater voice in those other places, as they do here in New Jersey where the unionization rate stands at 17%. A recent study by economists from Columbia University partially confirms our hunch. Using data from a national survey of essential workers, the authors find that union members report better COVID-19 workplace practices and outcomes than nonmembers. Even adjusting for demographic and workplace factors, union members are more likely to report using PPE regularly at work, to receive PPE and other disinfecting or sanitizing resources from their employers, to receive paid sick leave, and to report being tested for COVID-19. A report by the Economic Policy Institute also cites how unionized workers have been able to secure enhanced safety measures, additional premium pay, paid sick time and a say in the terms of furloughs or work-share arrangements to save jobs during the pandemic. The fruits of union efforts often benefit more than just their members. Recent research published in the journal Social Forces finds that unions have played a pivotal role in the passage of leave time legislation in many states a key protection for workers during the pandemic. Looking at state-level variation in social policy and union institutional strength from 1983 to 2016, the author finds that union strength is positively associated with the timing of leave policy adoption. Taken together, these successful efforts by unions to help protect workers during the pandemic suggest that: Yes, we do indeed still need unions today perhaps more than ever. So, this Labor Day the one day dedicated to the contributions made to our country by American workers take a moment to reflect on all of the common good work that organized workers do the other 364 days of the year, standing up for the rights of not just their own members, but all workers. As COVID-19 has made clear, worker health and safety means community health and safety, and when workers and communities are empowered and given a voice, they can help to create better outcomes for all of us. Todd E. Vachon, Ph.D., is the faculty coordinator of the Labor Education Action Research Network (LEARN) in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Debra Coyle McFadden is executive director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), a coalition of 70 labor, community, and environmental organizations working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Tenn. school district clarifies policy telling parents not to monitor online classes Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A school district in Tennessee has issued a clarification after it faced criticism for asking parents to sign a waiver promising not to listen to or monitor their childrens virtual learning sessions taking place during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, concern grew among parents after Rutherford County Schools in central Tennessee asked them to sign a waiver that strongly discourages non student observations of online meetings due to the potential of confidential information about a student being revealed. Violation of the waiver agreement could result in a child being removed from the virtual meeting. The waiver, which was intended to protect the academic privacy" of students, comes as many students nationwide are receiving remote instruction during the pandemic and have connected with their teachers through virtual platforms like Zoom. Critics, including Pastor Dale Walker of the Tennessee Pastors Network, fear that that waiver is indicative of a desire to prevent parents from discovering the liberal indoctrination taking place in the classrooms. Rutherford County Schools Communications Director James Evans clarified in a statement to News 4 last week that the district issued new guidance to principals telling them that parents can assist their children during virtual group lessons with permission of the instructor." The guidance stipulated that parents should "refrain from sharing or recording any information about other students in the classroom. Rutherford County Schools also denied having an ulterior motive for the waiver. In a statement given to media outlets, the school district proclaimed that parent involvement is key to successful schools and students. The intent was never to prevent parents from being involved with their children during distance learning, but it was intended to protect the academic privacy of other students in the classroom who are visible during certain virtual class sessions, the school district's statement explains. We are also not attempting to hide what is being taught in the classroom. Our schools use the academic standards adopted by the Tennessee Department of Education, and the curriculum materials our teachers use are readily available and shared with parents. Walker elaborated on his concerns about the waiver in an interview with The Christian Post. In Tennessee, the curriculum has long been an issue, he explained. Walker contended that he has been told of schools teaching students Marxism and socialism. Were told in Tennessee that theres no more Common Core, Walker maintained. Its just been rebranded. Walker claims that the entire American education system needs to be totally revamped. This is going to take a complete overhaul. Put the power back in the hands of the local people, he said. The taxpayers, unfortunately, dont have the control in the school systems that we think we do. The pastor called on the state to give Tennesseans the ability to elect their school superintendents and state director of education. Currently, the director of education is appointed by the governor. We need a conservative director of education in our state, he asserted. I dont think we have a conservative director of education For Heavens sake, shes not even from Tennessee. Throughout the interview, Walker reiterated the importance of local control of education. Schools are the biggest line-item in most counties, Walker added. The taxpayers dont have a say of who is going to run that ship. We dont want Marxism. We dont want socialism, he continued. We should be able to choose a curriculum in America. Walker called on concerned parents to get involved in their childrens education and demand their elected officials take action immediately. The more we allow this to go on, the more this type of activity is going to be the norm, Walker stressed. Rae Bareli : , Sep 6 (IANS) The Chief Medical Officer of Rae Bareli has filed a complaint against the District Magistrate for using inappropriate language against him, a charge that the DM has denied. In a written complaint to the state's director general of health and family welfare, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sanjay Kumar Sharma alleged that DM Vaibhav Srivastava called him 'gadha' (donkey) and threatened to bury him in the ground and skin him, during a meeting. The DM was apparently upset over the absence of another doctor, Manoj Shukla, at a Covid-19 review meeting convened by him. Sharma said the official had asked for leave as his wife had been diagnosed with a pre-cancerous condition. "The officer had given me this information over the phone and asked for permission to take his wife to Lucknow, which I gave him in view of the circumstances," the complainant wrote in his letter. The letter starts by saying, "The District Magistrate of Rae Bareli, Vaibhav Srivastava, has broken all records of misbehaviour. The disrespect shown to me caused me distress and I left the meeting". Copies of the complaint have also been marked to the state and district chairpersons of the provincial medical services (PMS). The complaint alleges, "The District Magistrate often uses abusive language with the medical officers. Under these circumstances, it is almost impossible for us 'corona warriors' to work." It ends with a plea to take appropriate action to ensure that the respect and dignity of doctors is maintained. The meeting of nodal officers in-charge of the Covid-19 situation was held on Friday evening. Meanwhile, Srivastava has denied these charges as 'completely false and baseless'. "There have been serious lacunae on the part of the CMO and I have given him numerous warnings. It is my duty to control the Covid-19 situation and if an official is not performing his duty, I have the right to ask for an explanation. However, I never used any foul language and the minutes of the meeting can be checked for the same," he said. He said the CMO's lapses included the inability to even present accurate numbers of Covid-19 deaths despite repeated questioning. The District Magistrate has also denied Sharma's contention that the absent doctor had taken his wife for any kind of medical emergency. "The meeting was in the evening and there could not have been a doctor's appointment for diagnostic screening in the night. The doctor himself told me that he had an appointment for Saturday. However, when I asked Dr Sharma, he was clueless and said that Dr Shukla might be in Lucknow or in Rae Bareli. His call records can be checked to see that he made the call while the meeting was ongoing," Srivastava said. He added that Shukla's presence at the meeting was important as he is in-charge of food supply at the L1 and L2 Covid-19 hospitals and there had been some complaints about the same. Meanwhile, the district's PMS association issued a letter saying its office bearers met the District Magistrate and had a discussion with him after which they concluded that the language used by him could not be placed in the category of abuse. Sharma and Shukla were also present at the said meeting. The MV Funing departed Tauranga on the weekend, bound for Singapore. The bulker is under tow by the Skandi Emerald, and left Tauranga at 10am on Sunday morning. On July 6, the 40,000 DWT bulk carrier was departing New Zealand bound for China with a load of timber when it lost engine power at approximately 12.30am while in the main shipping channel. There was a pilot aboard at the time but Maritime New Zealand reported that the weather conditions were considered poor with a 30 knot wind and significant swell. After losing power the Funing was unable to steer and began drifting due to the high winds and tides in the area. The vessel snagged the chains holding one of the buoys marking the shipping channel. The tides and currents then pushed the Funing across the channel before the ship was able to anchor and hold position. For a time it threatened navigation to New Zealands largest port. At the time of the incident, there were 20 crew members aboard. None of the crew was injured and Maritime New Zealand said that there were no reports of oil or other pollution from the vessel. Two Port of Tauranga tugs were dispatched to the vessels assistance and they were later able to tow the Funing to deeper water and a safe anchorage. An inspection of the propeller and rudder was conducted by divers because it was believed that the vessel had made contact with a marker buoy at the harbour entrance. After having remained at anchorage for the following week, the offshore tug Pacific Runner arrived in Tauranga to assist the Funing. They completed a towage trial on July 14 and later in the day towed the vessel to the dock in Tauranga. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission appointed a team of three investigators to gather evidence relating to factors such as what people involved with thinking and doing; the ship itself, including its maintenance and design; the ship operators policies and procedures; and what was going on with the weather and sea conditions. Maritime New Zealand said the investigation could take up to 14 days. Once repairs and investigations were completed the Funing would be able to continue its voyage to China. FUNING (IMO: 9690913) is a Bulk Carrier that was built in 2015 and is sailing under the flag of Singapore. Its carrying capacity is 39784 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 6.7 meters. Her length overall is 179.99 meters and her width is 30 meters. Funing leaving port on Sunday. Photo: Port of Tauranga web cam. During the investigation and repairs all 20 crew remained on board. Maritime NZ has filed one charge each against the master and chief engineer of the log carrier Funing. Maritime NZ alleged breaches of section 65 of the Maritime Transport Act, which prohibits dangerous activity involving ships or maritime products. Maritime NZs investigation is continuing and no decision has yet been made about further charges or other action against other parties, says a Maritime NZ spokesperson. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is also investigating the grounding. The accused made their first appearance in Tauranga Court on Thursday, August 27. The tow vessel Skandi Emerald arrived in port and the MV Funing departed Tauranga at 10am on Sunday, under tow by the Skandi Emerald, and bound for Singapore. The case is due back in court on September 10 at 10am for pleas to be entered, however, these times/dates may change. Maritime NZ has no further comment while the matter is before the court. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)'s spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday that the elements behind the July 2 blast at the Natanz nuclear facility have been identified, Xinhua reported citing official news agency IRNA. In an interview with the state TV, Kamalvandi said the Iranian security services "have discovered those responsible and they know the reasons, the method employed and how it was done." The official refused to reveal further details since the issue is still being investigated. Kamalvandi stressed that Iran's uranium enrichment activity was not disturbed, and the AEOI is expanding the fuel plant's primary facilities with a new hall to transfer the enrichment process there from a pilot building. On July 2, the AEOI announced an "incident" had occurred at an industrial shed under construction in Natanz, without causing casualties or disrupting ongoing activity in the facilities. On August 24, Kamalvandi announced the explosion in the Natanz complex was an act of "sabotage." The Paramount Chief of the Tatale Traditional Area, Obore Gariba Yonkosor II, has hailed governments flagship programme, Free Senior High School (SHS). According to him, the programme has offered a number of young people of school going age the opportunity which hitherto wasnt there as well as easing the financial burden on parents and guardians. I wish to thank you for your laudable flagship policies and programmes your government has initiated since taking over power for which the district has received its fair share. Some of which include Free SHS which has relieved parents of burden of school fees, he disclosed. He made this known when the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia visited his palace today as part of his working visit to the Northern region. Speaking about his traditional area at a durbar, the Chief acknowledged that although the government has done more, there is the need for more to be done in order to develop the area. Obore Gariba Yonkosor II, pleaded for work to expedite on the deplorable nature of the road which has graduated manholes and human holes and poses serious risks on the life of the people in the area citing the deplorable state of the Yendi-Tatale road that links Ghana to Togo. He said apart from loss of life government needs to prioritize the road to alleviate the suffering of the people and also open other opportunities for the area. Our major issue here as a district is bad road network across the length and breadth of the district and the deplorable nature of the Yendi to Tatale highway. About 90% of our people engage in farming and it is sad to note that during rainy season most of the roads linking the communities are cut off making it difficult for farmers to transport their farm produce to market centres for sale. The Yendi to Tatale highway which is an international road linking Ghana and Togo is also in such a bad state especially during the rainy season to the extent that travelers who hitherto used this route divert to alternative route to the Republic of Togo. This has negatively impacted on economic development of the area. We wish to appeal to your Excellency to prioritize the road and construct it to alleviate the suffering our people go through by travelling by road. Obore Gariba Yonkosor II noted that the Akufo-Addo led administration has done more and therefore needed to be given four more years to do more for the people of Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi: Aurobindo Pharma on Saturday said it has inked a pact to acquire Portugals Generis Farmaceutica SA from Magnum Capital Partners for a consideration of 135 million euros (around Rs 969 crore). The company has inked a binding agreement through its wholly-owned subsidiary Agile Pharma BV Netherlands to acquire Generis Farmaceutica for a total consideration of 135 million euros, Aurobindo Pharma said in a statement. Generis produces and sells pharma products in Portugal. The acquisition of Generis, by leveraging its strong portfolio and unrivalled brand recognition will allow us to establish ourselves as the top generics player in the Portuguese market, Aurobindo SVP European Operations V Muralidharan said. The combined entity will benefit from a robust pipeline covering all major molecules coming off patent in the next five years, he added. This acquisition coupled with our past acquisition activity underlines our commitment to focus on growth initiatives in European markets and will be a a key driver of growth for the future, Muralidharan said. Closing of the transaction, however, is conditional on obtaining necessary approvals from the Portuguese authorities. The acquisition deal includes the Generiss manufacturing facility in Amadora, Portugal which has a capacity to produce 1.2 billion tablets/capsules/sachets annually. Generis CEO Paulo Lilaia said the company would benefit immensely from Aurobindos vertical integration and strong product pipeline. Our large portfolio along with our unmatched commercial presence in Portugal will allow Aurobindo to consolidate its market position in Portugal, he added. With the latest acquisition, Aurobindo will now have a portfolio of 271 products in the European nation. The Hyderabad-based firm has been steadily expanding its European footprint since 2006. In 2014 it has acquired Actaviss commercial operations in seven Western European countries. BROADCAST AND DIGITAL RESTRICTIONS~** Broadcasters: NONE Digital: NONE~** For three days, dozens of rescue workers and volunteers hoped for a miracle, combing through the rubble of a Beirut building . after sensors detected signs of breathing and heat Thursday more than one month after a massive explosion rocked the port and shattered Lebanons capital. But on Saturday, the head of a volunteer rescue group from Chile, Francisco Lermanta, speaking through an interpreter, delivered a grim assessment. Technically speaking, today we can say there are no signs of life inside of the building. The signs that were detected turned out to be the breaths of fellow rescuers who were already inside the building. As of Saturday evening, rescuers had nearly finished their search. The operations will now shift from rescue to recovery. Nearly 200 people and 6,000 were injured in the August 4 blast that devastated entire neighborhoods. NASH COUNTY, N.C.: A suspect is in custody after a high-speed police chase began Saturday in North Carolina and ended in Virginia, leaving two people and a deputy injured. The Nash County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina said officers responded around 7 p.m. to a call that reported someone firing gunshots at random cars on Interstate 95. Officers began pursuing the suspected shooter in southern Nash County and continued through Halifax County before heading across the North Carolina-Virginia state line. The pursuit ended in the Emporia, Virginia, area. Shots were fired during the chase, officials said. Two people were injured, including a 70-year-old woman who was shot in the shoulder. Another woman, a passenger in a vehicle that was shot at, suffered injuries from shattered glass that punctured her. Both victims were taken to hospitals in North Carolina. A Nash County deputy suffered injuries that werent life threatening during the chase and was treated at a hospital in Emporia, Virginia. The suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken in custody and brought to a hospital in Richmond, Virginia. Information on his condition wasnt released Saturday. 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 Chinas presence and machinations in Tajikistan have popped into headlines several times in the last few years and the Pentagon is, apparently, paying attention. In an annual report delivered to the U.S. Congress, the Department of Defense included Tajikistan in a list of countries where the Chinese military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), is very likely already considering and planning for additional overseas military logistics facilities to support naval, air, and ground forces. The report lists a dozen such countries: Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, the Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan. As The Diplomat repors, while Tajikistan made a handful of appearances in past China Military Power Reports (the official name of the annual report is less cool: Military and Security Developments Involving the Peoples Republic of China), the 2020 edition highlights the Central Asian state more than ever before. Tajikistan is by no means a major part of the report, but the parts of the report in which Tajikistan features are critical for understanding the evolution of Chinese activities in the region. In the past several years, typical discussions about China in Central Asia, more broadly, have centered on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Its overland component was launched in a 2013 speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Nazarbayev University in the capital of Kazakhstan, then known as Astana. The BRI nestled well into a pre-existing narrative about the nature of Chinese engagement in Central Asia, especially vis-a-vis Russia, in which Beijing was making huge economic moves while Moscow remained supreme in the security realm, not to mention its weight in the political and social arenas. But that apparent division of labor, while rhetorically useful, never quite reflected reality. During his 2013 tour of Central Asia, Xi visited Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, too. In Kyrgyzstan, he attended the 13th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). In Bishkek, he met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, among other members of the grouping, which had its roots in the Shanghai Five (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan). The Shanghai Five was formed in 1996, itself a formalization of a process that had been underway since the collapse of the Soviet Union to demarcate and demilitarize the borders between China and the new three bordering Central Asian republics. Uzbekistan joined the group in 2001 and it transformed further under the clouds of the Global War on Terror, broadening its aims but keeping security and economic cooperation at its core. Its within the discussion of terrorism and counterterrorism, in particular, that Beijing has made security-based inroads in Central Asia. Tajikistan is prime example. While counterterrorism was mentioned in the readout of Rahmons 2013 meeting with Xi, 2016 was the real turning point. In August 2016, China Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan formed a Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism (QCCM). The group met for a second leaders meeting in 2017 but does not appear to have met since, in that format, per a 2019 Xinhua report which only mentions two meetings. In September 2016, Reuters reported that Tajikistan had signed an agreement with China that would provide for the construction of 11 outposts of different sizes and a training center for border guards. The following month, October 2016, China and Tajikistan held their first bilateral military exercises. Since that time, the presence of some Chinese troops in eastern Tajikistan became a routine rumor and military exercises between the two have broadened. In February 2019, the Washington Posts Gerry Shih reported the clearest evidence to date of a sustained Chinese military presence in eastern Tajikistan. All of that background underscores the Pentagons recent inclusion of Tajikistan in its annual China Military Power report. In a small cutout, titled China-Tajikistan Counterterrorism Cooperation, the report notes that since 2016, Peoples Armed Police (PAP) forces have likely operated in Tajikistan, patrolling the tri-border region connecting Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and China. The report links these likely patrols to the QCCM and states that the PAP forces operating in Tajikistan are from Xinjiang province, likely also exporting its more suppressive approach to the three evils. The three evils terrorism, separatism, and extremism are central to Chinese security discussions with Central Asia, as elsewhere. The Pentagon report goes on to note that while the patrols were initially authorized as combined Tajik and Chinese troops together, for example, on the Afghan border China now appears to be conducting unilateral patrols in the tri-border region. The report links growing Chinese concerns about the border region to the 2014 withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan (a process that has started and stalled and started again in the years since). It also, somewhat erroneously, cites Chinese concerns about terrorists moving from Afghanistan into Xinjiang. Chinese authorities certainly espouse such fears, but evidence is thin that anything of the sort is happening, as Sean R. Roberts argues in his new book about Chinese policies in Xinjiang. Roberts book smartly takes into account how Chinese formulation of security policies, particularly in Xinjiang, tapped into the wider War on Terrorism narrative since 2001. The Pentagon report also cites Chinas 2015 passing of a counterterrorism law, which authorized overseas military counterterrorism operations. Taken together, the clear concern is that China has built the basic infrastructure to move forces into Tajikistan in a meaningful way. From the U.S. perspective, the concern in Afghanistan is the security of U.S. forces and interests there. From a Central Asian perspective, there are different concerns. Its unlikely that China is making such moves on Tajik territory without at least the acquiescence of the government in Dushanbe, and more likely its strong support. This doesnt necessarily engender public support, as concerns about sovereignty and Chinese land grabs are topics for headed discussion across the region and feed persistent public Sinophobia. But public distaste for the Chinese is balanced by Sinophilia among those, particularly but not exclusively the elite, who credit Beijing for its economic and development investments in the region. Its all part and parcel of Chinese policies in Central Asia. (Natural News) If you listen long enough, Democrats will always reveal their diabolical plans, but they always disguise them as things that Republicans are planning to do. Like steal the 2020 presidential election. No, really. Theyre planning on stealing it because they know there is no way anyone they nominated was going to beat President Donald Trump. And whats more, Democrats have told us how theyre going to steal the election: Think vote fraud as a result of mail-in ballots. According to Breitbart News: An analytics firm bankrolled by billionaire Michael Bloomberg is predicting that while President Trump will appear to win on November 3, Democrat Joe Biden will actually win the election days later due to mail-in voting. Josh Mendelsohn, the CEO of Hawkfish funded by Bloomberg and currently working for various pro-Biden super PACs told Axios that his firm predicts a red mirage where Trump wins on election day but Biden wins the election days later when mail-in votes are counted. The reason we talk about a red mirage is in fact because we believe that on election night, we are going to see Donald Trump in a stronger position than the reality actually is, Mendelsohn said. We are sounding the alarm and saying that this is a very real possibility, that the data is going to show on election night an incredible victory for Donald Trump. That is likely to be what we see, he added. In short, the Biden people and the Left-wing Democrat deep state knows full well that Trump is going to blow his challenger out of the water, but rather than concede they are then going to have operatives flood fake ballots into the system so that the landslide will be reversed when all the votes are counted. When every legitimate vote is tallied and we get to that final day, which will be Sunday after election day, it will in fact show that what happened on election night was exactly that, a mirage. It looked like Donald Trump was in the lead and he fundamentally was not when every ballot gets counted, Mendelsohn continued. Remember just a few short weeks ago, Hillary Clinton, two-time presidential loser, advised Biden to never concede (remember when she blasted then-GOP nominee Donald Trump for saying he would not necessarily concede on Election Night as a threat to our democracy?). She doesnt want Biden to concede because she knows whats about to happen. Whats more, mail-in vote fraud is very real and its been happening for years. A former Democrat operative talked about it just recently. According to VoteFraud.news: We keep hearing Democrats and their propagandists in the mainstream media claim there is no such thing as widespread voter fraud, but as is always the case, the truth is always just the opposite of what the Donkey Party and its allies claim. While instances of voter fraud have been widely reported, even if not by the major corporate media, a former Democratic vote fraud operative recently explained just how pervasive it is and even how its done. Now, just think about this for a moment. If Mendelsohns model is right, Trump would appear to win a landslide election with 408 electoral votes to Bidens 130. But, with 40 percent of the electorate planning on voting by mail this year, hes saying that the final tally will wind up being 334 for Biden and 204 for the president (270 is needed to win the presidency). How in the world are Democrats going to convince Americans an electoral victory that big was just a mirage? Wont that lead to massive violence in the streets by Trump supporters? Most likely. And that appears to be what the Democrats want: More chaos. If they cant govern, then they just want to burn it all down. Were inching toward a new civil war, folks. Its as plain as day what Democrats are trying to pull off here. Sources include: Breitbart.com VoteFraud.news Axios.com By PTI NEW DELHI: The rapid spread of COVID-19 in communities across the globe and the resurgence (second wave) suggest the possible role of asymptomatic persons in its transmission, while the uncertainty over long-term immune response has potential implications for the efficacy of vaccines, experts have said. The role of reduced use of non-pharmaceutical interventions in facilitating a second wave of COVID-19 as community engagement wanes requires further investigation, they said. If strong supportive evidence becomes available about the possible role of asymptomatic persons in the transmission of coronavirus infection, continued use of masks and the use of other public health measures may be advocated, according to an editorial in the ICMR's Indian Journal of Medical Research. The editorial titled 'The enigmatic COVID-19 pandemic' has been penned by Rajesh Bhatia, former director of Communicable Diseases for WHO's South-East Asia Regional Office, and Priya Abraham, director of ICMR-National Institute of Virology. It mentioned that during the early phase of the pandemic, COVID-19 was presumed to be a non-relapsing disease. "New studies suggest the possibility of repeated virologically confirmed infections. Confirmation of reactivation or reinfection and their epidemiological importance are awaited," it said. Serosurveillance is generally a sensitive tool to determine the extent of infection and immunity in the general population. Only a few field-based studies have generated serosurveillance data but with inconclusive inferences. The editorial mentioned a recent seroprevalence study which showed that most of the population of Geneva, Switzerland, remained uninfected during this wave of the pandemic, despite the high prevalence of COVID-19 in the region. "Such studies raise red flags on continuous susceptibility of the population to COVID-19 and inability of the virus to produce widespread immunity. It may contribute to a 'second wave' of cases." "The role of reduced use of non-pharmaceutical interventions in facilitating a second wave as community engagement wanes, requires further investigation," the experts said. The uncertainty of long-term immune response has potential implications for the efficacy of vaccines. The real impact of vaccines on this pandemic will become evident only once it has been widely in use for a few months in different populations, they said. As of now, vaccine is being considered as the ultimate intervention to contain the pandemic. The global race to make it available to the world has been accelerated. Currently, there are about 165 different candidate vaccines for COVID-19 being developed around the world and several of these are in different phases of clinical trials. Three vaccine candidates (inactivated, DNA based recombinant and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine consisting of the replication-deficient simian adenovirus vector ChAdOx) are currently in early phases of human trials in India, the editorial said. "Commercial production of COVID-19 vaccine and possible imports are likely to commence by the end of 2020," it said. Global procurement and distribution of vaccine to ensure its universal access has been planned by the WHO, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations (GAVI) and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations. India has developed a blueprint for efficient deployment of the vaccine, supported by IT-based vaccine tracker. "Immunizing the entire population, prioritizing high risk segments, assuring quality in logistics and undertaking post-vaccination surveillance for adverse effects and impact on disease burden shall be huge challenges for any health system," it highlighted. In the absence of specific antiviral drugs or vaccines, non-pharmaceutical interventions undertaken by the communities assumed critical importance in curtailing viral transmission. "Community engagement, especially of poor and illiterate, is always difficult to ensure", it said. The COVID-19 pandemic has attracted the entire focus and efforts of the health system. Usual health services to communities have become restricted because health facilities are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, it said. People are also apprehensive about visiting health institutions for fear of contracting COVID-19. Important components of health services that have suffered most include health needs of children, women, elderly with noncommunicable diseases and management of other therapies (e.g. cancers, tuberculosis and HIV) and health emergencies. The pandemic has pushed back progress made under the Millennium Development Goals and is hampering achievement of ambitious UN Sustainable Development Goals. "It is still not clear as to how the global community will make up for the pandemic-induced setback to its critical operations of major disease elimination programmes such as for tuberculosis," the editorial said. Implementation of efficient public health actions is possible on the foundations of sound scientific knowledge of the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2. "Despite extensive research on all aspects of COVID-19 pandemic, the world is still struggling with the origin of the virus, public health implications of the mutations in the viral genome, availability of a diagnostic test with better sensitivity and specificity, understanding the immune response to the virus, its pathobiology and clinical spectrum, and availability of safe and efficacious specific antiviral drugs and a vaccine. "These unknowns have made it an enigmatic pandemic till now," the editorial said. The ongoing war of words between Kangana Ranaut and politician Sanjay Raut heated up on Sunday after the actor hit back at the Shiv Sena leader saying he doesnt represent the entire Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut ji, if I criticise Mumbai Police or if I criticise you, then you cant say I am insulting Maharashtra. You arent Maharashtra, Ranaut said in a video message. ALSO WATCH | If that girl...: Kangana Ranaut under fresh fire from Sanjay Raut on PoK row Mr Sanjay Raut, you called me haramkhor ladki. You know how many girls are raped every day in the country, how many of them are tortured and killed - sometimes by their own husbands. And you know who is responsible for all this? It is this mindset which you very shamelessly displayed in front of the entire country. The daughters of this country will never forgive you, Ranaut said in the video. The actor also replied to Rauts warning that she will be face consequences for her remarks is she returns to Mumbai. Your people are threatening me, still Ill come to Mumbai on September 9, she added. The genesis of this verbal duel lies in a tweet from Ranaut on Thursday in which the actor said Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir? Reacting to Sushant Singh Rajputs death, she said in another tweet, After a major star has been killed I spoke about drug and movie mafia racket, I dont trust Mumbai Police because they ignored SSRs complaints. He told everyone they will kill him yet he was killed. If I feel unsafe, does that mean I hate the industry and Mumbai? In an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Raut hit back and asked Ranaut not to return to Mumbai for criticising Mumbai Police. On Friday, he had urged the Maharashtra government to take against people defaming the city police. Also Read: Ranvir Shorey supports Kangana Ranaut against Sanjay Rauts comments On Sunday, Raut said that he will apologise to Ranaut only if she apologises for her remarks. If that girl (Kangana) apologises to Maharashtra then I will think about apologising. She has called Mumbai mini Pakistan. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad? he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Ranaut, who is currently in her home state Himachal Pradesh, had tweeted that she will be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and dared anyone to stop her. Mumbai, Sep 6 : Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty, who was steeling herself for possible arrest by the NCB on Sunday, was allowed to leave the anti-narcotics agency's office here after a gruelling six-hour-long session of questioning. She is likely to be summoned again on Monday as the National Control Bureau (NCB), which has arrested her brother Showik on Friday, continues its investigations in the drugs angle emerging in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. As per preliminary information, Rhea was mostly questioned by the NCB sleuths on the narcotics angle now shrouding Sushant's death. Rhea, who did not appear to be flustered as she stepped out, underwent interrogation by several teams of NCB sleuths at the agency's Zonal Office on the third floor of the Exchange Building in Ballard Estate, before they finally permitted her to go home after 6 p.m. in her own vehicle. Earlier on Sunday, a NCB team including Sameer Wankhede, who is heading the investigation, and a woman official had gone to pick up Rhea at her home in PrimRose Apartments in Santacruz but she opted to go in her own car along with a Mumbai Police escort, amid speculation that she would be arrested. The 28-year old actress, who has already been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, reached the NCB office for questioning, a day after her brother was sent to NCB custody till September 9. Besides Showik, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda, domestic help Dipesh Sawant, and drug peddlers Abdel Basit Parihar and Zaid Vilatra are also in NCB cuctody. In a statement, released through her lawyer Satish Maneshinde, Rhea said she was "innocent" and would fully cooperate with the investigations. "Rhea Chakraborty is ready for arrest as this is a witch-hunt and if loving someone is a crime, she will face the consequences of her love," Maneshinde said. He added that being innocent, she has not approached any court seeking anticipatory bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar Police, now with the CBI, the ED and the NCB. In a statement late on Saturday, Rhea and Showik's father, Lt Col Indrajit Chakraborty (retd) condemned his son's arrest by the NCB. "Congratulations India, you have arrested my son, I'm sure next on the line is my daughter (Rhea) and I don't know who is next thereafter," he said. "You have effectively demolished a middle-class family. But of course, for the sake of justice, everything is justified. Jai Hind," said the retired army doctor. In its remand plea for Showik on Saturday, the NCB had hinted that Rhea would be summoned to join the probe as the agency hopes to "uproot the drugs citadel of Bollywood and Mumbai". Though Rhea had earlier denied consuming drugs, she had reportedly admitted that Sushant used to take marijuana and despite her efforts, she could not control him. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. GST means economic apocalypse: Rahul Gandhis latest jibe at govt over economy in new video Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday cornered the government over the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and blamed it for hurting the countrys economic growth. Read more. IMD predicts heavy rain in south India for next three days There is likely to be widespread and heavy rainfall in peninsular India for the next three days, according to India Meteorological Departments (IMD) Sunday morning bulletin. The monsoon trough is lying north of its normal position --- from Rajasthans Ganganagar to the Bay of Bengal. A low-pressure area is lying over south-east and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea. Read more. India calls Chinas bluff in Chushul | Analysis After the Indian Army called the bluff of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) on the Rezang La ridgeline on August 29-30, India is prepared for a long haul in Ladakh with clear cut directions to the front-line troops not to yield to any Chinese intimidation. Read more. Sushant Singh Rajput case: Rhea Chakraborty joins NCB probe, to come face-to-face with brother Showik Actor Rhea Chakraborty reached the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday hours after the agency served summons to her to join the investigation into the drug-related angle in Sushant Singh Rajputs death. Read more. Record one-day jump of over 90,000 Covid-19 cases takes Indias tally past 4.11 million India reported a record rise of more than 90,000 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), also the highest single day-spike in the world, pushing the countrys tally past 4.11 million, the Union health ministry data showed on Sunday. Read more. Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer: She is ready for arrest as it is a witch-hunt Actor Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer Satish Maneshinde has called the Sushant Singh Rajput case a witch hunt. He added that the actor is innocent and has not applied for anticipatory bail either. RheaChakraborty is ready for arrest as its witch-hunt. If loving someone is a crime shell face consequences of her love. Being innocent she hasnt approached any court for anticipatory bail in all cases foisted by Bihar Police with CBI, ED & NCB, he said. Read more. CSKs next captain is already at the back of Dhonis mind: Dwayne Bravo Just like MS Dhoni groomed Virat Kohli as the next India captain, he wants to prepare his successor in IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings. West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has been a part of the CSK set-up for quite some time now, said grooming the next captain is already in the back of Dhonis mind. Read more. Stunning spectacle: Pictures tweeted by Indian Railways capture the countrys beauty perfectly Our country is full of incredibly beautiful places. And these images shared by Indian Railways showcase that perfectly. These pictures show trains crossing through amazingly beautiful places around India. Read more. The Government is facing calls to reinstate marketing guru John Concannon in the wake of a series of Covid communications mishaps. Mr Concannon helped coordinate the last government's initial public information campaign around the coronavirus crisis in the spring when the country went into lockdown. However, the Galway native has stepped back in recent months and despite providing some advice on the recent July Stimulus measures, he is no longer centrally involved in the communications strategy or a visible presence in Government Buildings. The call for his return comes at a time when the new Coalition has been heavily criticised for poorly communicating changes to Covid-19 guidelines in recent weeks. This includes information about the Green List for foreign travel, the numbers allowed in cultural venues and, last week, new regulations requiring pubs and restaurants to keep records of customer orders for up to 28 days - a move that sparked outrage among vintners. Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte told the Sunday Independent that the Government would benefit from bringing Mr Concannon, who is vice-president of National University of Ireland Galway, back into the fold. "He is a brilliant communicator, he knows how to bring people with him," she said. "They need to have him there." The National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has contributed to the Bahrain Historical & Archaeological Society and the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture & Research both of which aim to preserve the Bahraini heritage for future generations. Commenting on the contribution, Shafi AlMannai, Head of Compensation and Benefits, said: As the nations bank, we recognise the importance of providing the necessary resources to ensure that the kingdoms rich and deep-rooted history is preserved. Both beneficiaries have demonstrated their commitment towards ensuring that the history of Bahrain is safeguarded and celebrated, and have played an important role in highlighting the kingdoms legacy, as well as its national identity. The Bahrain Historical and Archaeological Society has long played a part in the preservation of the kingdoms history. In light of this, the Society has continuously invited prominent historians from across the GCC to conduct site visits to the kingdoms historical sites. However, given the current situation, it was arranged that these visits would take place through YouTube, Zoom and other virtual applications from September onwards. Whereas the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture & Research has been utilising its various social media channels and platforms in order to continue sharing its weekly lectures and evenings that took place in its lecture hall, as well as the houses restored by the Centre despite the pandemic. The centre also continued the publication of its newsletters as usual, in order to keep the public updated, and in addition to the exhibitions that continued to be held online, the centre also continued its European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) programme, which is considered the largest centre to study particle physics globally , whose goal is to develop science in the and the Arab region, whereby research is conducted on the basic building block of the universe and the fundamental forces that act on it. The continuation of this cultural and scientific work is a result of the support received from organisations such as NBB, which supports the Centre with its vision to create partnerships that contribute towards the preservation of the kingdoms heritage benefitting the local community. Recognising the growing need for the conservation of Bahraini heritage, NBBs investment has enabled both historic institutions to execute their programmes and activities, allowing them to achieve their goals, objectives and preservation efforts. -- Tradearabia News Service PORT-AU-PRINCE: Rene Max Auguste says demand for solar panels at his store in the Haitian capital, Port au Prince, has soared over the past two years. The reason? The state power utilitys inability to guarantee electricity, he says. In a country where most survive on less than $3 per day, customers in Augustes shop typically opt for small systems that enable them to charge their phone and perhaps a lamp. The situation is a failure of the state: a failure of the elite for the past 30 years," says Auguste. The situation is going to stay as it is. Or its going to get worse." President Jovenel Moise took office three years ago promising to bring around-the-clock power to the poorest nation in the Americas. Instead, amid political turmoil and unrest, he has presided over the worst power outages in more than a decade. Generation at Haitis hydroelectric and diesel and heavy fuel oil-powered thermal plants was down to 94 MW in August, less than half its installed capacity, according to state electricity utility EDH, and less than one-fortieth of the capacity of neighboring Dominican Republic, which has roughly the same population of 11 million. Only around one-third of Haitian households are connected to the grid, most of them in towns, according to analyst estimates. Those who are suffer frequent blackouts, living with power for just a few hours per day. Moise blames the blackouts largely on sabotage by unnamed vested interests, whom he accuses of also fomenting anti-government protests last year to prevent reform. Critics say he is scapegoating others for the governments mismanagement of the already dysfunctional sector. The situation was exacerbated in July, after Moise appointed Michel Presume, who is known for his privatization of various Haitian industries, to overhaul EDH. That prompted a damaging strike at the state utility. Employees besieged its headquarters and refused to maintain or fix broken machinery, leaving areas of Port-au-Prince without lights for weeks on end. There are some signs of change. Haitis National Regulatory Authority for Energy, ANARSE, has issued tenders for private operators to take over regional grids and develop microgrids for rural communities, with a focus on gas-powered and solar projects. Moise has also negotiated a $150 million deal with Taiwan for an overhaul of the national grid, due to start this week, Minister of Public Works Nader Joiseus told Reuters. Two multimillion dollar deals to install 55.5MW of gas electricity with General Electric and 130MW of solar electricity with Turkey are also in the works, he said. But the key challenge remains EDH, which until recently monopolized generation and distribution. The company consumes around $200 million a year in subsidies, equivalent to 10% of government expenditure. It loses an estimated 70% of power due to technical losses, clients who do not pay, and people who connect illegally, according to a study by Limestone Analytics. This company is practically bankrupt and cannot see to its own basic needs, like the maintenance of its power stations," Presume told Reuters. He said he aims to raise revenues by installing prepaid systems and increasing the number of clients. It needs to act like a commercial company and actually turn a profit," he said. CHARCOAL IRONS, CLOSED FACTORIES With Haiti struggling to recover from the effects of a devastating 2010 earthquake, the lack of power depresses living standards and is one of the main obstacles to economic development, Haitian economist Etzer Emile said. Haiti needs to increase its generation eight-fold to meet the needs of its population, ANARSE estimates. We use candles and a little kerosene lamp," said Midrenne Lubin, 50, a cleaner who uses a charcoal iron to press her clothes and waits until after dawn to leave for work. Bandits attack in the darkness." Businesses, hospitals and wealthier households have installed generators to become self-reliant. More than 70% of power consumed in Haiti is produced by small-scale diesel-fueled generators, according to an April IMF report. But diesel can also be scarce. Two textile-exporting factories were forced to shut down for around a week last month due to diesel shortages, an industry source said. Woodburning and charcoal remain Haitis primary source of energy, the IMF wrote. That contributes to deforestation, aggravating Haitis vulnerability to the Caribbeans annual hurricane season by heightening the chance of mudslides and flooding. At least 31 people were killed in Haiti by Tropical Storm Laura last month. STATE TAKEOVER EDH says the current decline in power supply is partly due to the use of bad quality heavy fuel, which it says was imported in April via the state agency Bureau de Monetisation des Programmes dAide au Developpement, or BMPAD, that damaged multiple power plants. BMPAD did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Joiseus said an investigation was ongoing but the plants should be able to treat the fuel. A series of blackouts also occurred in April last year after a dispute between U.S. energy trader Novum and the BMPAD over overdue payments led to a shortage of fuel. Then in November they occurred again after the state took over power plants previously run by private power provider Societe Generale dEnergie SA (Sogener). Authorities said the takeover was due to Sogener overbilling and other issues. Stanley Gaston, a Sogener lawyer, said Moise singled out the company because its management is linked to the opposition. The state takeover did not allow for an orderly handover of skills, he said. These altercations have likely dampened appetite for future much-needed private investment, analysts say. ANARSE did not reply to request for comment on whether it had receive any acceptable bids for auctions that had an end-2019 deadline. The temptation for the government will be to simply add more generation capacity on credit to resolve the short-term problem, with an eye on elections, warned Rene Jean-Jumeau, a former Minister Delegate for Energy. But if EDH does not truly reform, then those new plants will also require extra subsidies and fall into disrepair, said Jumeau, now director of the Haitian Energy Institute. Im waiting to see if Presume can give the results no-one else has been able to," he said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Newspaper: Scenario devised after war to be implemented in Artsakh EU Special Representative for South Caucasus arrives in Armenia Armenian Noah hosts representatives of Spanish Celta Quake hits Armenia: 28 km northwest of Jermuk Crete island lighthouse illuminated with colors of Armenian tricolor Aurora Humanitarian Initiative to allocate $500,000 to projects in Artsakh Sajid Javid: Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever Erdogan suggests Putin and Zelensky meet face to face EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus meets Aliyev Mariam Mkrtchyan becomes chess champion of Armenia 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 Juventus ready to sell De Ligt for 65 million euros WHO advises countries to lift or ease international travel restrictions Bed scene with Lady Gaga and Salma Hayek was cut from House of Gucci 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 How to get rid of sugar addiction? Al Nassr want to buy Aubameyang Norwegian prosecutors refuse release Anders Breivik, 2011 mass murderer Netflix shows first shots from new season of Bridgertons 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 Manchester United to buy Aston Villa midfielder 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 Technical supplier of VAR system in Armenia to be Hawk eye company 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 Memory problems even after mild COVID-19 experience Cavusoglu: Steps to increase mutual trust will be discussed at next meeting with Armenia John Malkovich not allowed hotel because of invalid COVID-19 certificate 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 Gaspard Ulliel dies in skiing accident for not wearing helmet 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 Czech Rep. singer dies after intentionally catching Covid Biden says invasion of Ukraine will be disaster for Russia Newspaper: Armenia PM Pashinyan plans to hold Presidents office What foods reduce the risk of heart attack? Newspaper: Opposition Armenia bloc, led by ex-President Kocharyan, starting new processes Coppa Italia: Inter advance to quarterfinals Copa del Rey: Atletico Madrid are out DFB-Pokal: Hoffenheim lose, Armenias Adamyan does not play Taliban PM calls on Muslim countries to be first to formally recognize their government Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria, Egypt reach Round of 16 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 Gareth Bale returns Real Madrid squad list 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 How to stay in shape after losing weight? PM Pashinyan assumes accountability for Armenia special representative for negotiations with Turkey Turkey Central banks and UAE sign agreement worth almost $5 billion Djokovic buys 80% stake of COVID-19 treatment researching company 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 Gautam Chintamani By Express News Service Woody Allen's autobiography Apropos of Nothing came under the spotlight long before it hit the stands. Its original publisher, Hachette, cancelled it a month before publication following the threat from Allens son, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Ronan Farrow, to cut ties with the company if it went ahead with the memoir. The widely reported event attracted attention from authors and writers across the spectrum, many of them supported Allens right to be published even though they did not agree with him. Irrespective, the autobiography of one of the most influential filmmakers of all times reads like three different books that capture Allen in his childhood, his success and failures as a storyteller and his personal life, which the filmmaker never discussed up until now. Allen speaks a lot about his early childhood, he has a fantastic memory or a really fertile imagination. He gives an insight into the early days where he emerged as a well-known comic who managed to get a fair amount of freedom to transform into a film writer. Although he rarely shies from speaking on the controversial issues, he never really clarifies much. One of the things that describe Woody Allen, the filmmaker, is his propensity to not only play the same character over and over again but also get other actors across different generations to play him. Allen is one of the most prolific filmmakers. He has directed over 60 films in the last five decades. Lately, the 84-year-old filmmaker had to pick younger male stars as the lead. But when it comes to his autobiography, Allen gets a chance to get the best actor to play the Woody Allen character in himself. This is the reason why you find the writing razor-sharp with the one-liners never missing a beat, because its Allen, the actor, put on display by Allen, the writer. Reading Apropos of Nothing, in many ways, is like watching a great Woody Allen film. You can see it play in front of your eyes and this is what makes a significant part of the book a fantastic experience. Yet its all tainted too due to the bizarreness of Allens reality. You know this isnt a film and events such as Allens attraction to much-younger women, his use of undignified endearments while talking about women in his life, his falling in love and later marrying his then partners adoptive daughter and the sexual-abuse allegations, refuse to leave your mind. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Woody Allens career came to a grinding halt. Although the allegations and insinuations were there since the 1990s, Allen went on to direct over 30 films, some of them fetched their actors Oscars as well. In early 2019, things changed, perhaps forever, when Amazon refused to honour its deal with Allen, and also cancelled the release of his last film, A Rainy Day in New York. There is little doubt that Allen might never make a film that would enjoy wide release ever again and Allen, too, suggests that he is aware. This is why he writes towards the end that he doesnt believe in "a hereafter" and "cant see any practical difference if people remember me as a film director or a pedophile or at all". Yet Allen cares. He penned a tome where he presents his case. In the end, Apropos of Nothing is like a much-seen Woody Allen film. It's funny at times, reminiscent of something that was once unique, even great, replete with one-liners"All that I ask is my ashes be scattered close to a pharmacy"that can be used in different scenarios to great effect. Its also the kind of film that you tend to forget even though you have seen it hundreds of times. Hearst Connecticut Media / NEW HAVEN City officials advised residents to make a plan in case of emergencies earlier this week, as New Haven marks National Preparedness Month in conjunction with the federal government. To create such an emergency plan, according to instructions at Ready.gov, residents should consider what they would do if required to evacuate their homes, seek emergency shelter, or communicate with family members in the midst of a disaster. President Kovind leaves for Bangladesh, to be Chief Guest at 50th Dhaka Victory Day celebrations Let's resolve to build society based on values of justice, liberty: President Kovind on Christmas eve President, PM to address Governors conference India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Sep 06: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of the Governors' Conference on the National Education Policy on Monday through video conference, the Prime Minister's Office said. The conference titled 'Role of NEP-2020 in Transforming Higher Education' is being organised by the Ministry of Education. The Governors' Conference is also being attended by education ministers of all states, vice-chancellors of state universities and other senior officials. The statement noted that the NEP-2020 is the first education policy of the twenty-first century which was announced after 34 years of the previous National Policy on Education in 1986. COVID-19 recoveries cross 31 lakh in India The NEP-2020 is directed towards major reforms in both school and higher education level. "The new National Education Policy strives for making India into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society. It envisions an India-centred education system that contributes directly to transforming India into a global superpower," it said. It added that the comprehensive transformation the NEP aims will bring about a paradigm shift in the country's education system and create an enabling and reinvigorated educational ecosystem for a new 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' as envisaged by the prime minister. Various webinars, virtual conferences, and conclaves on a number of aspects of the National Education Policy 2020 are being organised across the country. The Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission had earlier organised a 'Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy-2020', which was addressed by Modi. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, September 6, 2020, 9:24 [IST] Annual spending on social care is hundreds of millions of pounds lower than a decade ago, research has suggested. The TUC found that in 112 of the 150 responsible local authorities in England, social care spending per head of the population was still lower than 2010. It is 8 per cent below the level in 2010 for England overall, while regional reductions range from 18 per cent in London to 5 per cent in the South-East, East Midlands and east of England, the report said. The TUC found that in 112 of the 150 responsible local authorities in England, social care spending per head of the population was still lower than 2010 (stock image used) The union organisation said this year's spending review must fully offset the cuts of the previous decade and establish future rises which will allow local authorities to meet increasing demand and improve pay and conditions for staff. The TUC also called for funding to fill social care vacancies. Frances O'Grady, TUC general secretary, said: 'When the country needed them, social care workers stepped up. 'Care workers looked after older and disabled people in the midst of a pandemic, often without the right PPE, and often for low wages and no sick pay. 'Now it's time to fix the broken system. 'Social care is badly underfunded. Pay and conditions for care workers are dreadful, and families can't be sure of high-quality, affordable care when a family member needs it. 'As we face mass unemployment, ministers should act to unlock the 120,000 existing social care vacancies right now, and they should put investment in social care at the heart of our national recovery plan. 'Social care jobs should be decent jobs on fair pay, at the heart of every community. Ministers can't spend another decade hiding from the social care crisis.' Christina McAnea, Unison assistant general secretary, said: 'Chronic underfunding of the care sector has been a huge problem for many years. 'It shouldn't have taken a devastating pandemic for politicians to realise this. 'This TUC analysis shows clearly how spending cuts are having a severe effect in many parts of the UK. 'That means lower quality services for the vulnerable and poverty wages for hard-working care workers. 'After repeated failure by successive governments to get a grip of reforming the sector, we can't wait any longer.' Frances O'Grady (pictured), TUC general secretary, said that social care workers 'stepped up' when the country needed them A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We recognise the challenges facing the social care sector and we are doing everything we can to support it. 'We are providing councils with access to an additional 1.5billion for adult and children's social care this year on top of maintaining 2.5billion of existing social care grants, and we will support local authorities to meet rising demand and continue to stabilise the social care system. 'In addition we have made 3.7billion available to councils in England so they can address pressures on local services caused by the pandemic, including in adult social care. 'We know there is a need for a long-term solution for social care and are looking at a range of proposals as part of our commitment to bringing forward a plan that puts the sector on a sustainable footing for the future.' New Delhi, Sep 6 : IIT Delhi has cancelled the current recruitment process for a "Dog Handler" after an error in which minimum qualification mentioned B Tech and got copied from another advertisement but not before it went viral. In a press statement issued on Sunday, IIT Delhi said, "In reference to a job advertisement dated 26-08-2020 for a post titled "Dog Handler" (on purely contract basis), IIT Delhi would like to clarify that the minimum qualification as mentioned in the advertisement got inadvertently copied from another job advertisement. The qualification intended in the advertisement was 'Bachelor of Veterinary Science'." The minimum qualification put out in the ad was B.Tech, BA and B.Sc or any equivalent undergraduate degree. "The institute has cancelled the current recruitment process after this mistake was brought to the notice of higher authorities", IIT Delhi said. A fresh process in due course will be initiated to hire a Consultant(on purely contract basis) with suitable minimum qualification required for the job profile that involves proper care of a large number of stray dogs on the campus (providing them medical aid like vaccination, medicine, IV drip etc. and food), handling of issues and challenges relating to stray dogs, liaison with campus community- students, employees, construction workers etc., local government bodies and NGOs, IIT Delhi said in the statement. IIT Delhi took the action after the recruitment notice Delhi for the position of a dog handler had created a buzz on social media. The notice for the Dog Handler, a contractual job for security office at the campus, got attention for the degrees and qualification mentioned. According to the advertisement, the job is open for people between 21 and 35 years old, male or female, and the salary can go up to Rs 45,000 per month. The salary seems to be much higher than comparative positions elsewhere. While Dog Handler positions usually have a minimum qualification is of 10+2, the notice by IIT-Delhi states "B.A/B.Sc/B.Com/B.Tech or any equivalent undergraduate degree" as the eligibility criteria. The applicant also needed to have a four-wheeler to be able to drive the dog to a veterinarian if needed. A photo of the advertisement was widely shared on social media before the retraction by IIT Delhi. A netizen posted on twitter, "What an IRONY: The foremost institute (#IITDelhi ) that awards B-Tech Degrees itself believes.... 'Minimum Qualification For a '.......' should be B-Tech" I am sure millions of unemployed engineers will be interested being a '........'." Another posted: "This teacher's day, life teaches you that no degree goes to waste." Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The Mace, ancient symbol of the authority of the Speaker and the House of Representatives, lies next to a symbol of a much newer and less ornate challenge to authority: a container of hand sanitiser. The Serjeant-at-Arms, by long tradition a forbidding figure in a black tailcoat, waistcoat, starched white shirt, bow tie and white gloves, wears a surgical face mask as he hoists to his shoulder the silver-and-gilt mace, the descendant of a fearsome weapon used to club enemies. Here are the pictures of Australias parliament, heir to the British Westminster system formed in medieval times, learning to soldier through a 21st-century assault by an invisible threat: a virus. The newest MP, Labors Kristy McBain, fresh from winning the seat of Eden-Monaro in a byelection, stands in the green chamber to give her first speech. The newest MP, Kristy McBain of Eden-Monaro, has to settle for a new kind of congratulations for her maiden speech. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Such an event - among the most special moments of any politician's career - is traditionally celebrated with a flurry of hugs from colleagues. When McBain finishes her address there is applause, but no one dares physically approach. Elbows are self-consciously thrust in the air: todays pale alternative to a handshake and an embrace. At the other end of a parliamentary life, former Greens leader Senator Richard Di Natale launches into his valedictory speech. He is not in the Senate chamber at all, but speaking via video from his home in distant southern Victoria. In the midst of this unique parliamentary farewell, the video link fails momentarily and his image fractures into a weird cyber-confusion. China's leading maker of semiconductors has denied it has any links to the military following reports Washington is considering stepping up its feud with Beijing over technology and security by imposing export controls that could disrupt manufacturing for a national industrial champion. US regulators are considering adding Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to a list of foreign buyers that need government permission to acquire technology or components, according to The Wall Street Journal and other outlets. They said officials are looking at whether SMIC plays a role in Chinese military development. We have no relationship with the Chinese military, the company said in a statement. It said SMIC products are solely for civilian and commercial end-users and end-uses. The company said it is open to sincere and transparent communication with Washington to resolve potential misunderstandings. SMIC is a leader in a semiconductor industry built up by the ruling Communist Party in an effort to reduce China's reliance on foreign technology. The Trump administration is trying block Chinese access to US technology it worries might be used to make weapons or develop competitors to American industry. The US-Chinese tariff war that erupted in 2018 was sparked in part by Washington's complaints about Beijing's technology ambitions. The United States and other governments complain Chinese development plans are based on stealing or pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. Washington also worries about China's development of long-range missiles, supercomputers that can be used in nuclear warhead development and other high-tech weapons. That comes amid tension over control of the South China Sea and other territorial disputes. Washington has imposed similar curbs on access to US process chips and other components for China's first global tech competitor, Huawei Technologies Ltd., one of the biggest makers of smartphones and network equipment. That threatens to cripple Huawei's business. Chinese companies including Huawei are developing their own processor chips and other technology. But factories that produce them require American manufacturing technology for which there are few alternatives. SMIC said it previously was granted validated end-user status by the agency that would impose the export controls. Such status allows a Chinese company to export US technology without applying for a license for each shipment. L eaving the European Union without a trade deal would still be a "good outcome" for the UK, Boris Johnson has said. In comments due to be made on Monday, the Prime Minister will tell Brussels that if no agreement can be reached by the European Council in October, then both sides should be prepared to "accept that and move on". The remarks are the latest in a series of statements from senior Government figures outlining a hardening stance towards the bloc. The UKs negotiator Lord David Frost and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab both used interviews at the weekend to vow not to back down on the remaining sticking points. Lord Frost is due to hold another round of key negotiations in London with the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, this week, as they look to find a solution to the remaining issues in order to have a deal readied for when the transition period comes to an end on December 31. The Prime Minister will make clear on Monday that time is running out if the two sides are to ratify an agreement in time for 2021. Boris Johnson / PA "We are now entering the final phase of our negotiations with the EU, Mr Johnson is expected to say. "The EU have been very clear about the timetable. I am too. There needs to be an agreement with our European friends by the time of the European Council on October 15 if its going to be in force by the end of the year. "So there is no sense in thinking about timelines that go beyond that point. "If we cant agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free trade agreement between us, and we should both accept that and move on." Mr Johnson will argue that collapsing the trade talks next month would still represent "a good outcome for the UK" and that his administration was preparing for such an eventuality. The Prime Minister is planning to say that no-deal means the country would have a "trading arrangement with the EU like Australias", meaning it would fall back on trade protocols as set by the World Trade Organisation when doing business with its largest trading partner. "I want to be absolutely clear that, as we have said right from the start, that would be a good outcome for the UK," the Conservative Party leader will argue. "As a Government we are preparing, at our borders and at our ports, to be ready for it. We will have full control over our laws, our rules, and our fishing waters. "We will have the freedom to do trade deals with every country in the world. And we will prosper mightily as a result. Dominic Raab said he would prefer to leave with a deal / PA "We will of course always be ready to talk to our EU friends even in these circumstances. "We will be ready to find sensible accommodations on practical issues such as flights, lorry transport, or scientific co-operation, if the EU wants to do that. "Our door will never be closed and we will trade as friends and partners but without a free trade agreement." But Mr Johnson, in an apparent bid to focus minds as another set of talks gets under way on Tuesday, will say that there is "still an agreement to be had", one that is based on deals Brussels has previously struck with Canada and so many others. According to Downing Street, the Prime Minister will add: "Even at this late stage, if the EU are ready to rethink their current positions and agree this I will be delighted. European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier / PA "But we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it." Mr Raab told Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme that the negotiations had been boiled down to two outstanding bones of contention control of UK fishing waters and the level of taxpayer support the Government will be able to provide businesses and argued neither principle could not be haggled away. But Mr Raab said that he would prefer to leave with a deal and that there would be damaging impacts felt on both sides of the Channel if no deal was reached. Loading.... The Mail on Sunday reported that Downing Street has created a transition hub, with handpicked officials across Government departments working to ensure the UK is ready to trade without a deal when the transition period ceases. Residents in Melbourne's inner west are being hospitalised for pollution-related illnesses at higher rates than those in other city suburbs as locals lobby for urgent action. A taskforce set up by the Andrews government to investigate air quality concerns across Brimbank, Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong warns that 70 per cent of the 300 samples of air quality that have breached the state's standards over the past decade were taken in the inner west. A 2018 industrial fire in West Footscray sent a toxic plume over the city. Credit:MFB "Air pollution is a widespread and alarming problem in the inner west," the Inner West Air Quality Community Reference Group's report warned, citing Environment Protection Authority data. "Compliance action is not meeting community expectations. It appears that the onus for reporting and proving instances of pollution is often placed on the community or councils rather than the EPA or industry." During 2019, the Victorian standards for particulate matter (PM) were regularly exceeded at the majority of monitoring stations in Melborne's inner west. The average annual particulate matter with 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) concentrations exceeded the governments standards at five of the seven inner-western monitoring stations. Patna/Delhi: In the first statewide election to be held after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, with strict social distancing guidelines in place, Bihars political parties suddenly have a new, unusual worry the states low teledensity, low internet penetration, and low mass media exposure. All three pose a challenge in reaching out to prospective voters in a campaign that will rely on indirect communication and digital tools. This is a far cry from the pre-Covid-19 era when, in the run-up to elections, political parties mostly had to worry about the size of their rallies, the scale of their advertising campaigns, the logistics of door-to-door campaigning, and the selection of candidates. The pandemic is changing the rules of the electoral game, with Bihar as a test case. Teledensity the number of telephone connections per hundred people in a given area is the lowest in Bihar , at 59 by the end of 2019, according to data compiled by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The national average is 89. Internet penetration in Bihar is 32 subscribers per 100 people by the end of 2019, according to TRAI data, compared to the national average of 54. This is the lowest among the 22 telecom service areas in India. In Bihars rural areas, home to 89% of the states population, there were only 22 internet subscribers per 100 people. Mass media exposure, too, is poor. According to the fourth National Family Health Survey, conducted in 2015-16, 61% women and 36% men in Bihar had no access to mass media. Among all states and union territories, Bihar has the highest share of women with no access to mass media while it is behind only Jharkhand in terms of the share of men with no access to mass media. This is already causing challenges for political parties across the spectrum. BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand said the elections were taking place under a new normal, where social distancing was a must. However, party has its chain of digitally enabled workers, who in turn arrange the digital output system through local cooperation to reach out to maximum people through virtual rallies, said Anand. Anand said party workers attached with over 20,000 Mandal office and Shakti Kendra across the state act in tandem to take messages to the people Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, a spokesperson for the BJPs ally, the Janata Dal (United), said that the state was grappling with low teledensity for long. There is limitations of each type of technology. But the pandemic will lead to higher number of mobile users in the state. The lead opposition party in Bihar, RJD, which already opposed holding the elections during the pandemic, said it was reliant on its tried and tested mode of campaigning --direct contact with its electors-- to overcome technological limitations. We had pointed out the issue to the Election commission of India and urged it to allow a level playing ground to all parties. Our party is not that resourceful and neither are its voters. RJD leaders have already started holding meetings in small groups at panchayat levels to interact with the people, said RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari. State Congress chief Madan Mohan Jha said that the partys digital drive to enrol fresh members could have been faster had the state been blessed with better telecom accessibility. There is perceptible dearth of phone users in rural areas. Network problem is another factor that is affecting the membership drive, said Jha. Former Patna University professor, Nawal Kishore Chaudhary, said low teledensity, which is more pronounced among the poor, might not lead to an authentic mandate. The resource-rich parties may have an upper hand to motivate their electorate for voting. For a proper mandate, the election should be put off till the pandemic is contained, said Chaudhary. Dominic Raab today issued a fresh plea for Britons to get back to the office - despite the civil service still advertising jobs working from home. The Foreign Secretary warned that remote working is 'damaging to the economy' as he insisted a 'controlled' return would help the country 'bounce back'. But MPs have accused Whitehall bosses of making a 'mockery' of the government's push by advertising 'work from home only' jobs. The Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health, Public Health England and the Food Standards Agency are among those advertising work from home only jobs. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Raab pointed to good news about the strength of the recovery, with Amazon investing in new jobs and the Bank of England hopeful of a sharp uptick in GDP. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show (pictured) that remote working is 'damaging to the economy' as he insisted a 'controlled' return would help the country 'bounce back' MPs have accused Whitehall bosses of making a 'mockery' of the government's push by advertising 'work from home only' jobs. Pictured, Whitehall last week But Mr Raab said of remote working: 'It's damaging to the economy. We've seen in lockdown a massive shrinking of the economy. We are trying to bounce back as strongly as possible... 'The important thing is, yes, of course we're going to all do a bit more remote working in the future, but it does make a difference. 'The economy needs to have people back at work, unless and this is really important unless there's a good health reason why it shouldn't happen, or unless the employer can't put in place the covid-secure workplace that we all need. 'But employers are doing that and I think it is important to send the message that we need to get Britain back up and running, the economy motoring on all cylinders.' However, the message was at risk of being muddled after adverts uncovered by the Mail on Sunday showed Whitehall departments are putting up recruitment adverts saying office work will not resume any time soon. MPs said it 'deliberately undermined' Government efforts to get Whitehall working. One advert read: 'Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, you will initially be required to work from home with no travel required.' Applications for the jobs close in mid or late September, suggesting Whitehall has plans to continue working from home for months. Steve Baker, the Conservative MP, said: 'What an extraordinary situation. Public service extends to leading the country in the right direction at all levels. And that should mean Civil Service hiring managers planning to bring people into their offices. 'How anyone could be pulling in the wrong direction like this, at this time, I really cannot imagine. 'It makes a mockery of Ministers and backbenchers trying to encourage our constituents back to work. Michael Gove [Cabinet Office Minister] and Dominic Cummings [the Prime Minister's senior aide] need to get a grip and persuade the Civil Service to set an example.' Last week the Cabinet Secretary wrote to all Whitehall ministries setting a target to get 80 per cent of staff to attend their usual workplace each week by the end of September. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 17:05:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least three militants were killed and 12 others injured as military aircraft pounded a Taliban hideout in Almar district of northern Faryab province on Saturday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Sunday. The sorties targeted Taliban militants in Bushqara village of the troubled Almar district on Saturday afternoon, killing three on the spot and wounding 12 others, the official added. Rezai also said that the militants were gathered in their hideout in the area to storm security checkpoints but their plan has been thwarted after suffering casualties. No civilian and security personnel had been harmed during the sorties, the official further said. Taliban militants have yet to make comment. In similar sorties, military planes have killed 10 more militants elsewhere in Faryab and the relatively troubled Balkh province since Friday, officials said. Enditem Beirut: A search operation of a building that collapsed during last months deadly blast in Beirut stopped on Sunday after rescue workers said they did not find any survivors. The operation in the historic Mar Mikhail district had gripped Lebanon since Thursday, sparking hope that a survivor might be found under the rubble a month after the blast on August 4 that killed 191 people and wounded nearly 6500. Seven people remain missing. A Chilean rescuer, right, holds a sniffer dog as they search in the rubble of a collapsed building in Beirut after detecting a sign of life one month after the massive port blast. Credit:AP The devastating explosion of nearly 3000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the port of Beirut caused widespread damage to several neighbourhoods. The Lebanese capital is still reeling from the blast, with a quarter of a million people made homeless by the impact of the explosion on apartment buildings. By Express News Service KASARAGOD: Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru, the pontiff of Edneer Mutt in Kasaragod, died in the early hours of Sunday. He was 79. Kesavananda Bharati's writ petition challenging the constitutionality of the Kerala government's Land Reforms Act in the Supreme Court led to the adoption of the landmark law syllabus 'Basic Structure Doctrine'. In other words, the apex court ruled that Parliament cannot alter the fundamental structure of the Constitution. The case was heard for 68 days -- the longest in the history of the apex court -- before a 13-judge bench at a time when there were only 13 judges in the Supreme Court. No case was heard by a 13-judge bench before or after that. In 1970, Keshavananda Bharati -- when he was all of 21 years -- directly moved the Supreme Court against Kerala's land acquisition law, which exempted temple and mutt property but put restrictions over private individual property. He also challenged the 24th, 26th, and 29th constitutional amendments introduced by the Indira Gandhi government as those amendments stood in the way of his original petition. The 24th amendment diluted the fundamental rights; 26th abolished privy purses and recognition granted to the rulers of Indian states; and the 29th amendment included the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969, and the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1971 in the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution to protect the laws under Article 31B. The hearing in the case started on October 31, 1972, and ended on March 23, 1973. The Supreme Court in a 7-6 majority judgment ruled that the basic fundamental structure cannot be altered. The basic structure of the Constitution is interpreted to include secularism, independence of the judiciary, federalism, and conducting free and fair elections, among others. The seer, however, lost his case. The court upheld the constitutionality of the land reforms Act. In 1968, at the age of 19 years, Sri Keshavananda Bharati Sripadangalavaru succeeded Sri Ishwarananda Bharati Swami as the head of the Edneer Mutt. The family-run mutt belongs to the lineage of Sri Thotakacharya, one of the first four disciples of Adi Shankaracharya. After the judgment, the family lost large tracts of land. In an interview to Bar and Bench in 2012, Keshavanada Bharat said although Kerala was run by a 'Communist government', the law exempted temple and mutt-owned properties from government acquisition, because of which "we have at least some property left with us now". He said after losing land, the mutt did not generate enough revenue and was running on donations. "I will eventually hand it over to the successor," he had said. In 2018, Kesavananda Bharati was conferred with the Justice VR Krishna Iyer Award by the then governor former CJI P Sathasivam. When you think of the AARP, the American Association of Retired Persons, you probably conjure up thoughts of senior discounts, health insurance and retirement. So it might surprise you to learn that theyre also actively engaged in driver safety and promoting access to mass transit. The statistics on these issues they shared with me are quite interesting. By 2025, a quarter of all drivers in the U.S. will be over age 65. While they are involved in more accidents per capita than younger adults, they are far safer than teens. But over age 70, traffic fatalities increase with age by age 85, drivers have probably outlived their ability to drive safely. Contributed photo / Every year some 600,000 adults stop driving. But because seniors make 90 percent of their trips in private cars, either driving or as passengers, what happens next? When seniors stop driving it impacts more than their mobility: It can also affect their health. Seniors who stop driving make 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor. They cant get out to shop as much. They isolate socially, which can lead to depression and a downward spiral in health. Even before their kids take away their car keys, seniors self-regulate their time behind the wheel. Maybe they avoid highway driving or traveling at rush hour. And who likes driving at night? Living in the suburbs, 80 percent of seniors have their homes in car-dependent neighborhoods. Some 53 percent of those areas dont have sidewalks and 60 percent are not within a 10-minute walk of a transit stop, assuming they can still walk that distance. Thats why AARP is making senior mobility a national issue. The firms Associate State Director for Connecticut, Anna Doroghazi, is becoming a frequent speaker and lobbyist in Hartford. We are all going to have to be more involved in transportation issues, she said. Her groups support for pedestrian safety legislation is just the start. We want everyone to think about building livable communities where people dont need a car but can walk or catch a free ride to their nearby services. And if thats good for (your mobility) at age 80, itll also be good for you at age 8, she said. Remember, its not just seniors who can be carless. Think of those with special needs who cant drive or low income residents who cant afford to. Not to mention millennials who are said to have no interest in car ownership. How do they get around? The carless in Connecticut are probably familiar with catching Metro-North to go into New York City, but do they have access to or know anything about local bus service? Or ParaTransit? Or MicroTransit, on-demand services? Local social service agencies are doing a better job of giving their clients mobility options, and the amazing folks at The Kennedy Center have a great Travel Training program to help the disabled, both physically and emotionally, build confidence about riding the bus. Its not the cost of bus fare that dissuades seniors from riding. Its not knowing where the bus stops are, when they run, the lack of a shelter and, yes, probably a fear for their safety. Plus, not all buses kneel, making front door access a challenge. But kudos to the AARP for embracing this issue. Their advocacy for seniors should bring benefits to us all. Los Angeles, California, Sept. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Book by Vijay Jojo Chokal-Ingam - Coronavirus COVID-19 A new book titled Coronavirus COVID-19 Originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology provides evidence and analytical research to support US Secretary of State Mike Pompeos and Senator Tom Cottons claims that the pandemic is related to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). There are 1.4 billion people in mainland China, and only one human-focused BSL4 lab for virus research: the WIV. It is statistically highly unlikely that COVID-19 would emerge in such close proximity to the lab by natural causes aloneespecially given that initial suspicion about COVID-19 originating from a Wuhanese wet market was disproved by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, says author Vijay Jojo Chokal-Ingam. According to geneticists and virologists, COVID-19 is closely related to coronaviruses common in horseshoe bats, a species of bat that lives one thousand miles away from Wuhan in the Yunnan Province of China. This is extremely suspicious because Yunnan is where the WIV obtained many of its bat coronavirus specimens, says the author. The book analyzes the origin of COVID-19 as it relates to Chinas geography, demographics, ecology, legal system, and culture. The book also investigates a very concerning chain of events that occurred before the outbreak. The book delves into weaknesses in safety standards prevalent in some medical research universities, such as the WIV. Laboratory accidents that result in the release of a coronavirus pathogen are not unprecedented, explains the author. There are at least three documented instances of coronavirus SARS escaping from a research laboratory. For more information on the book, visit CoronavirusExplanation.com. Coronavirus COVID-19 Originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology is available on Amazon, Kindle, and Apple Books. About the Author Vijay Jojo Chokal-Ingam is an expert in medical education who has appeared on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, and China Central Television. Jo wrote his masters thesis at UCLA on the healthcare policies of the Chinese government. He also previously worked at the Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine (SLUSOM). In 2017, Jo filed a complaint against SLUSOM with the oversight body for American medical schools, which subsequently placed the school on probation for eighteen months. He has been called a health education expert by the Peoples Republic of China. Email: rachel@coronavirusexplanation.com Phone: (424) 354-5198 Attachment The coffins are 2,500 years old and still retain some original colours Related Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus of high priest opened live on Discovery channel Egypt's first antiquities discovery of 2019: Mummy-filled burial chambers in Minya A collection of more than 13 intact and sealed coffins has been unearthed in Saqqara, the first step towards a huge discovery to be announced soon on site, a statement by the tourism and antiquities ministry said. They were unearthed inside an 11-metre deep shaft, where three sealed niches were also found. The coffins are 2,500 years old and still retain some original colours, the statement added. Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled El-Enany and Mustafa Waziri, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inspected the excavation work carried out in the shaft on Sunday and found that the coffins were stacked on top of each other. Initial studies indicate that the coffins are completely sealed and have not been opened since they were buried inside the shaft, and that more are likely to be found in the same location. Waziri said that the exact number of the coffins as well as the identity and titles of their owners have not yet been determined, but these questions will be answered during the next few days as the excavation work continues. El-Enany thanked the workers on site for working in difficult conditions while adhering to coronavirus health and safety measures. This discovery includes the largest number of coffins in one burial since the discovery of the Al-Asasif cachette, he said. Search Keywords: Short link: (Photo : Ways to Start Preparing for Your Career While Still in College) In today's ultra-competitive job market, it's more important than ever for college students to make themselves marketable. What does this mean? It's about selling your skills and value to potential employers while you're still in school. This applies to both undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those who immediately transfer into a master's program and have yet to start actively working in their field. Your future career may look different than you think; you might even wind up working in an industry completely unrelated from your major. That's okay. Life is full of surprises and adventure, and you shouldn't put yourself in a box that leaves little room for growth or change in the future. You may be in your early 20s, or you could be in college hoping for a career change. Whatever the case, this article will help you start making yourself a desirable job candidate before you graduate. Use Summers Wisely Everyone enjoys a few months free of responsibility, but the summer is prime time to land an internship and get work experience. If you do well enough, your internship could even turn into your first career after graduation. Start looking for summer internships early in the year. Most companies have secured their summer interns by spring. If you already have a job, interning isn't entirely out of the question. Remote internships for college students are more flexible, so you can do them while working your regular job or raising a family. They provide just as much relevant experience and great references. Aim to complete at least two internships before you graduate; this could give you four to six months of industry experience that will look great on your resume. You'll also get the chance to network with real professionals in the field, many of whom may help connect you with potential opportunities in the future. Start Developing Skills School Doesn't Teach You In this day and age, it's not practical to expect college to teach you everything. There are so many rapidly evolving skills in the tech sphere that degree curriculums frankly can't keep up with. This is why you often see colleges teaching students' programs that are two or three years outdated. There's nothing wrong with using slightly older software to learn basic principles, but you'll likely struggle in the workplace if your knowledge is nearing the half-decade mark. Stay current on best practices and relevant technology in your desired field. What software and programs are professionals using the most? How can you get ahead of the curve? Maybe a certification is valuable, or perhaps you can learn some skills that will be beneficial to your future employer. Software that can convert video to text or even French audio to text, is an asset you can use as a marketer, journalist, researcher and so much more. It is fast, efficient and saves both time and money. Companies appreciate employees whose productivity hacks benefit them just as much. Network Now Find a mentor on LinkedIn, or reach out to someone from your school's alumni community. Establishing professional relationships while you're still a student will provide greater opportunity and insight later. You'll be able to reach out to your connections when you're looking for a job, and you just may wind up being recommended for a position before it's even been posted online. Having an inside connection also gives you a higher chance of getting hired; companies that value their employees will take their recommendations into strong consideration while reviewing candidates. The partner of Julian Assange has spoken of the heart-breaking impact on their young family if he is extradited to the United States. As the WikiLeaks founder prepares to take his fight to the Old Bailey on Monday, Stella Moris said there were also huge repercussions for freedom of expression. The mother-of-two said: Julian will be taken from his cell in Belmarsh tomorrow to the Old Bailey in a prison van that is like a ventilated coffin. Expand Close Julian Assange (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Julian Assange (Dominic Lipinski/PA) He has been confined to his cell for up to 24 hours a day, deprived of intellectual stimulation, and has had no access to his lawyers for the last six months. Two weeks ago, I was able to see him for the first time since lockdown. He looked a lot thinner than on my last visit. He was in a lot of pain and his health is not good. During the visit with sons Gabriel and Max, they were not allowed to touch him and had to wear masks and visors, she said. Ms Moris said: To the boys, Julian has become a voice on the telephone, not their father, whom they can see and hug. It is heart-breaking to think that if Julian is extradited and put in a US super-max prison the boys will never get to know their father and he will never see them grow up. That is what is at stake for us as a family. But there are also much bigger issues that we are fighting for. Expand Close Stella Moris and sons, Gabriel and Max (Aaron Chown/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stella Moris and sons, Gabriel and Max (Aaron Chown/PA) Julians case has huge repercussions for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. This is an attack on journalism. If he is extradited to the US for publishing inconvenient truths about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, then it will set a precedent, and any British journalist or publisher could also be extradited in the future. She said there were fundamental reasons the extradition should be blocked. Assange, 49, who has been held in custody at high-security Belmarsh Prison for 16 months, is wanted in the United States over what it has called one of the largest compromises of classified information in its history. He faces 18 charges, including plotting to hack computers and conspiring to obtain and disclose national defence information. Allegations include that Assange conspired with army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password to a classified US defence department computer. This is the press freedom case of the 21st century John Rees, Dont Extradite Assange Campaign If convicted, he faces a maximum possible penalty of 175 years in jail. But Assanges supporters have accused the Donald Trump administration of targeting the Australian national for political reasons. Last month, Ms Moris launched a CrowdJustice campaign to help fund his defence, which has now topped 100,000. The extradition case, which was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is being heard by District Judge Vanessa Baraitser at the Old Bailey. It is expected that dozens of witnesses will be called to give evidence over four weeks. Assanges legal team is being spearheaded by Edward Fitzgerald QC, with James Lewis QC acting for the US authorities. Speaking ahead of the hearing, John Rees, of the Dont Extradite Assange Campaign, said: This is the press freedom case of the 21st century. Anyone who cares about freedom of speech, about the ability of journalists to tell the public what the powerful would prefer to remain hidden, should make their way to the Old Bailey and let their voice be heard. KEY FACTS 10:49 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 158 new cases of COVID-19 today, with two more deaths due to the coronavirus. 10:07 a.m.: York Region Public Health has traced back 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to wedding events in Toronto, Markham and Whitchurch-Stouffville. 7:45 a.m.: The Public Health Agency of Canada expects higher demand for influenza vaccines amid a possible double whammy of COVID-19 and flu infections. The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Sunday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available. 7:15 p.m.: A student group at the University of Kansas is calling for a strike as reported coronavirus cases on campus number nearly 550. Jayhawker Liberation Front, a student-run club, is calling on students to stay home from their classes on Monday, which is Labour Day, to demand the campus move to remote learning. Our institutions have failed us, the club leaders tweeted. (The University of Kansas) has put profits over the people. Enough is enough. As of Thursday, the university reported 546 cases after testing 22,563 people, which included all students, faculty and staff, ahead of the start of the semester. This makes for a positive test rate of 2.42 per cent at the onset of the semester. University officials have said they plan to continue with more targeted testing of smaller groups as the semester continues. KU Chancellor Doug Girod has said it is unlikely campus will close in the future. Jayhawker Liberation Front leaders posted on Twitter: Students have asked for more protection. Faculty/staff have voiced fears. Local publications have been vocal against the re-opening. Despite overwhelming concerns, campus re-opened. 6:30 p.m.: York Region Public Health has now traced back 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to wedding events in Toronto, Markham and the town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The four separate events, involving the same wedding, took place on Aug. 28 at a private residence in Stouffville, at the Rexdale Singh Sabha Religious Centre in Toronto, as well as Lakshmi Narayamandir Temple in Toronto and on Aug. 29 at a home in Markham. Of the 23 people who tested positive for the virus, four are residents of Durham Region and one is a resident of Peel Region, while the rest live in York Region. York Region Public Health has followed up with known close contacts of the identified cases and directed them to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested. Public health is working with the families to notify attendees about the potential exposures. Public health officials are advising anyone who attended these or other events related to the wedding to monitor themselves for symptoms until Saturday, Sept. 12, as they may have been exposed to the virus. Guests are also asked to visit an assessment centre if they are concerned. Indoor wedding and funeral venues are allowed to operate at a maximum of 30 per cent capacity in Toronto and York Region. 2:51 p.m.: The latest numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 2:41 p.m. Sunday: There are 131,886 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 63,497 confirmed (including 5,769 deaths, 55,871 resolved) Ontario: 43,161 confirmed (including 2,813 deaths, 38,958 resolved) (The Stars count is slightly different.) Alberta: 14,474 confirmed (including 242 deaths, 12,799 resolved) British Columbia: 6,162 confirmed (including 211 deaths, 4,706 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,643 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,579 resolved) Manitoba: 1,323 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 898 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,085 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,015 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved) New Brunswick: 192 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 186 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 47 confirmed (including 44 resolved) 2:03 p.m.: Italy reported 1,297 new coronavirus cases Sunday. This is the smallest increase in five days amid lower than usual testing at the end of the week. Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri said in an interview earlier Sunday that the countrys economic rebound in the third quarter will be stronger than initially expected. 12:50 p.m.: The Royal Canadian Air Forces attempts to capitalize on the layoffs that have ravaged Canadas commercial airline industry during the COVID-19 pandemic have had some early albeit extremely limited success. The air force has been struggling with a shortage of experienced pilots for the past few years as the number leaving for civilian jobs has outpaced the rate at which the military can replace them. Air force commanders were already working to recruit experienced aviators back into the military before COVID-19, but they redoubled those efforts in March as commercial airlines slashed flights and workforces due to the pandemic. The result: Four former military pilots have re-enrolled in the air force on a full-time basis since March, while five others have agreed to join as part-time reservists. While those additions are no doubt welcome, air force spokesperson Lt. Nora Amrane says the military needs about 150 more pilots to get up to full strength. 12:45 p.m.: Quebec is reporting 205 new cases of COVID-19 today. Authorities say there have been no additional deaths attributed to the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The province has now recorded 63,497 total cases and 5,769 deaths since the pandemic began. Public health officials say hospitalizations went up by eight cases in the last 24 hours, for a total of 102. Of those, 18 people are in intensive care, an increase of one from the previous day. Quebec says it conducted 17,479 COVID-19 tests on Friday, the last date for which the testing data is available. 10:49 a.m.: Ontario is reporting 158 new cases of COVID-19 today, with two more deaths due to the coronavirus. There were also 111 cases newly marked as resolved in todays report. The total number of cases in Ontario now stands at 43,161, which includes 2,813 deaths and 38,958 cases marked as resolved. (The Stars tally is slightly different.) Health Minister Christine Elliott says Toronto is reporting 49 new cases, Peel Region 44 and Ottawa 21. She says 29 of the provinces 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer new cases. The province was able to complete 28,955 tests over the previous day. 10:07 a.m.: York Region Public Health has traced back 11 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to wedding events in Toronto, Markham and the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The events took place Aug. 28 at a private residence, at the Rexdale Singh Sabha Religious Centre in Toronto, as well as Lakshmi Narayamandir Temple and on Aug. 29 at a private residence. The local public health units are advising anyone who attended these or other events related to this wedding to monitor themselves for symptoms until Saturday, Sept. 12, as they may have been exposed to the infection. York Region Public Health has followed up with known close contacts of the identified cases and directed them to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested. Public health is working with the family to notify attendees about the potential exposures. 9:32 a.m.: India saw another record surge of 90,632 cases in the past 24 hours, as infections spread to smaller cities and parts of rural India. According to the health ministry, Indias caseload reached 4,113,811, slightly short of Brazils confirmed 4,123,000 infections. The ministry on Sunday also reported 1,065 deaths for a total of 70,626. More than one million cases have been detected in India in less than two weeks. Authorities say Indias daily testing exceeds one million now. 8:53 a.m.: In Iowa, some drivers took advantage of roads and highways emptied by the coronavirus pandemic by pushing well past the speed limit, a trend that continues even as states try to get back to normal. The Iowa State Patrol recorded a 101 per cent increase from January through August over the four-year average in tickets for speeds exceeding 100 mph, along with a 75 per cent increase in tickets for speeds of 25 mph or more over the posted speed limit. California Highway Patrol officers issued more than 15,000 tickets from mid-March through August 19 for speeds exceeding 100 mph, more than a 100 per cent increase over the same time period a year ago. That includes a continuing spike from May on. The most likely explanation is drivers taking advantage of more open roads because of the pandemic, said Officer Ian Hoey, a spokesperson for the California agency. 8:10 a.m.: Hundreds of thousands of ship workers around the world have been thrown in limbo by the COVID-19 pandemic. Theyve been confined to their vessels and cant spend leisure time ashore while international travel restrictions have made it complicated and difficult for shipping companies to replace crews. Peter Lahay, the Canadian co-ordinator for the International Transport Workers Federation, estimates some 400,000 seafarers around the world are currently past the end of their contracts because they have no way to get home. 7:48 a.m.: Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is responding optimally to COVID-19 treatment but is the most vulnerable type of patient and is in the most delicate phase of the virus, his personal doctor said Sunday. Dr. Alberto Zangrillo repeated Sunday that he nevertheless remained cautiously optimistic about Berlusconis recovery. The three-time premier turns 84 in a few weeks and has had a history of heart problems that required being fitted with a pacemaker several years ago. He checked into the San Raffaele hospital in Milan early Friday after testing positive for the virus earlier in the week. At the time he had the early stages of a lung infection. Data from Italys Superior Institute of Health indicates that men aged 80-87 have the highest COVID-19 death rate among all cases in Italy, at 47 per cent. 7:46 a.m.: There are 131,319 confirmed cases in Canada. Quebec: 63,117 confirmed (including 5,767 deaths, 55,724 resolved) Ontario: 43,003 confirmed (including 2,811 deaths, 38,847 resolved) Alberta: 14,474 confirmed (including 242 deaths, 12,799 resolved) British Columbia: 6,162 confirmed (including 211 deaths, 4,706 resolved) Saskatchewan: 1,643 confirmed (including 24 deaths, 1,579 resolved) Manitoba: 1,294 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 852 resolved) Nova Scotia: 1,085 confirmed (including 65 deaths, 1,015 resolved) Newfoundland and Labrador: 269 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 265 resolved) New Brunswick: 192 confirmed (including 2 deaths, 186 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 47 confirmed (including 44 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: 131,319 (0 presumptive, 131,319 confirmed including 9,141 deaths, 116,050 resolved) 7:45 a.m.: The Public Health Agency of Canada expects higher demand for influenza vaccines amid a possible double whammy of COVID-19 and flu infections. Its recommending provinces and territories consider alternate ways to deliver immunization programs this season. Spokesperson Maryse Durette said the agency has ordered 13 million doses of the flu vaccine compared with 11.2 million last year. A study by University of British Columbia researchers published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may be motivating more parents to get their children vaccinated for flu. It found that was the case for 54 per cent of parents, up 16 percentage points from last year, among 3,000 families surveyed in Canada, the United States, Japan, Israel, Spain and Switzerland. 7:43 a.m.: The death toll from the coronavirus in Israel has surpassed 1,000, as the government on Sunday mulled steps for imposing new restrictions to quell a resurgence in infections. Israel had earned praise for its early handling of the virus crisis and imposing tight movement restrictions. Since reopening the economy in May, however, new cases have spiked to record levels and the government has been blamed for mismanaging the resurgence. Weekly protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his corruption trial have expanded to include demonstrations against his handling of the health crisis and the resulting economic pain. More than 3,000 new cases a day have been confirmed in the most recent spike, raising the spectre of a renewed nationwide lockdown. 7:39 a.m.: The premier of Australias Victoria state announced a slight easing of restrictions in Melbourne but the countrys second-largest city will remain in lockdown until at least Oct. 26. On Sunday, health officials said Victoria recorded 63 new cases and five more deaths. It takes the states total fatalities to 666 and the national death toll to 753. Sunday 7:37 a.m.: The U.S. Bureau of Prisons directed all federal prisons to reopen visitation for inmates by Oct. 3 in a memo sent to wardens last week, a move that representatives for correctional officers said would be dangerous and opening Pandoras box. The Bureau of Prisons suspended visitors coming to see inmates in March amid concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Six months later, it is directing wardens to open visitation under non-contact only rules. Social visiting will resume no later than Saturday, October 3, 2020, in accordance with the guidance below, the memo sent on Monday states. Wardens will immediately begin developing local procedures to reinstate social visiting. Read Saturdays rolling. Read more about: New Udon Thai Food (left) and Leng Saap @ Rot Fai Market were among the businesses fined following ESG's sweep in August. (PHOTOS: New Udon Mookata / Facebook, Leng Saap Rot Fai Market / Facebook) SINGAPORE Five eateries and a beauty salon have been fined by Enterprise Singapore (ESG) for infringements of safe management measures. The errant businesses were identified during enforcement checks in August, said ESG in a news release on Sunday (6 September). Fines of $1,000 each were issued to: King of Fried Rice and Leng Saap @ Rot Fai Market, both at Golden Mile Tower; Little Myanmar at Peninsula Plaza and Yanant Thit, both at Peninsula Plaza; and Mei Mei Beauty at Peoples Park Complex. New Udon Thai Food at Golden Mile Complex, a repeat offender, was issued with a higher fine of $2,000 for failing to ensure a minimum 1m safe distance between groups of diners, said ESG. This is the second time the outlet had failed to enforce proper safe management measures. It was first fined in June 2020 for poor crowd control and failing to ensure a minimum 1-metre safe distance among customers in queues, added the statutory board. The other four eateries were also fined for failing to observe safe distancing among customers in queues. Mei Mei Beauty was taken to task as it was found to be offering threading services in which the thread was held in the beauticians mouth a practice which is currently disallowed. Further action will be taken if these businesses continue to flout the rules, including imposition of higher fines and suspension of their operations. They could also be charged in court under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, said ESG. Under the Act, which was passed on 7 April, first-time offenders face fines of up to $10,000, jail terms of up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders face fines of up to $20,000, jail terms of up to a year, or both. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: COVID-19: 40 new cases detected in Singapore as total crosses 57,000 mark StarHub, M1 fined by IMDA over broadband service disruptions Managing Covid-19 Delhis ventilators filling up: Delhi government data shows that nearly half the ventilator beds have been occupied. 59 of the citys 79 private hospitals with ventilators are either already at full capacity or about to reach it. The national capital has 1,216 ventilator beds, of which 702 are in government hospitals and 514 in private ones. Further, doctors say that most beds are occupied by migrants and not residents. Authorities, however, are not very worried as beds are still available and deaths have not surged so far. Another trend that has been ... If the two sides fail to teach a deal, tariffs and other obstacles to trade will be imposed from January 1. The United Kingdoms chief Brexit negotiator talked tough before a crucial round of post-Brexit trade talks, saying the UK was not afraid to walk away if the European Union does not give ground on key issues. David Frost told The Mail on Sunday newspaper that the UK wants to get back the powers to control our borders and that is the most important thing. Frost and EU negotiator Michel Barnier are due to meet in London on Tuesday for the eighth round of negotiations since the UK left the now 27-nation bloc on January 31. That political departure is followed by an economic break when an 11-month transition period, under which EU rules still apply, ends on December 31 and the UK leaves the EUs single market and customs union after which either a new trade regime comes into force or it will revert to rules set by the World Trade Organization. The two sides are trying to strike a new deal on trade, security and a host of other issues, but talks are deadlocked. The key sticking points are European boats access to UK fishing waters and state aid to industries. The EU is determined to ensure a level playing field for the competition so British firms cannot undercut the blocs environmental or workplace standards or pump public money into UK industries. Not going to compromise The UK accuses the bloc of making demands that it has not imposed on other countries it has free trade deals with, such as Canada. Frost said the UK was not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control over our own laws. We are not going to accept level playing field provisions that lock us into the way the EU do things, he said. Both sides have downplayed the chances of a deal, though some of that rhetoric is muscle-flexing before crucial weeks of talks. The EU says a deal has to be struck before November to allow time for parliamentary approval and legal vetting before the transition period expires. Barnier said last week he was worried and disappointed by the lack of progress and said the UK had not engaged constructively. If there is not a deal, tariffs and other obstacles to trade will be imposed from January 1. British freight firms have warned if that happens, there could be logjams at ports and supplies of key goods in the UK could be severely disrupted. Its not going well French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday dismissed British attempts to drive a wedge between the EU nations on issues such as fishing. Le Drian said the 27 nations remained united. We would prefer a deal, but a deal on the basis of our mandate, he told France Inter radio. There is room for action, but the whole package, including the fishing package, needs to be taken up in order to avoid a no deal. He blamed the deadlock on the UKs attitude. The British people do not seem to understand that if one wants to negotiate a good deal, one must talk about all issues, Le Drian said. Its not going well, with only two months left, it is urgent, the countdown has started. We prefer to reach a deal but we need to discuss the whole package, including fisheries, to avoid a no-deal, he added. Historian Samuel Morrison writes that the 1840 campaign was the jolliest and most idiotic presidential contest in our history. The newly formed Whig Party beat the incumbent Democrat with no platform. They simply avoided real issues like slavery and western expansion. Instead, they ran a war hero who still had celebrity status from the Battle of Tippecanoe in the War of 1812. People sang ditties dedicated to Tippecanoe and Tyler, too. The Whigs packaged William Henry Harrison as a common man in a log cabin who liked to drink his hard cider. A Philadelphia distiller by the name of Edmund Booz produced a tin in the shape of a log cabin for his product. Long after the campaign, Americans bought Log Cabin syrup and enjoyed their booze. With rallies and parades throughout the country, 1840 was a carnival and President Martin Van Buren, still reeling from the effects of the economic Panic of 1837, never had a chance. As the 2020 Presidential campaign moves into the homestretch, there is no sense of frivolity coming from either camp. In the modern era, Labor Day has marked the beginning of political warfare that has been expensive, pervasive, and deadly serious. The year of Covid-19 has added even more drama to the discourse. By election day, 200,000 Americans will have lost their lives to the pandemic, millions will still be out of work, and racial tensions will remain. There will be no sugar-coating that reality with slogans, rallies or even hard cider. Voters will make a judgment on the effectiveness of the current administration and whether they want to move in a different direction. But it is never enough for candidates to be the opposition. It remains for Joe Biden to present his own credentials and to convince voters that he can do better than more of the same. Biden took a giant step in that direction with his first post-convention appearance in Pittsburgh. He went directly at the President: Trump cant stop the violence, because for years hes fomented it, Biden said. His failure to call on his own supporters to stop acting as an armed militia in this country shows how weak he is. Biden also laid to rest the Trump assertion that Democrats condone mayhem. While continuing to support peaceful protests, Biden said clearly and for the record: Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting . . . its lawlessness, plain and simple and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Biden also made his position on jobs, health care, and energy crystal clear. On the latter item, he spoke to his Western Pennsylvania audience in support of fracking for natural gas. It is time for Trump supporters to drop ridiculous notions to the contrary. The Biden camp has laid out an aggressive schedule of visits to swing states in the post Labor Day campaign season. This level of energy and the staying power of his lead in the polls is worlds apart from the Trump attempt to brand him as sleepy. For his part, Trump boarded Air Force One to visit Kenosha, Wisconsin over the objections of local leaders and families reeling from the unrest caused by the attack on Jacob Blake. He did not visit the victim but instead continued to fuel the fires of divisiveness with a series of reckless charges and false statements that had even Fox News anchors scratching their heads. At this stage of the contest, pundits are famous for pointing out that the race will get tighter before election day. This is probably true but there is a glaring difference between 2020 and even 2016. Poll after poll shows that the undecided vote is between 6% and 8%. Thats right: 92% to 94% of us have already made up our minds. Whats more is that voters from both parties are not likely to change their minds. This means that both sides will be unleashing the kind of rhetoric that is designed to bolster their base. Look for Trump to play the law and order card and downplay the health care crisis and the economic collapse. Look for Biden to remind voters that the mess we are in occurred on Trumps watch no matter how the President tries to spin it. Beyond the base, every dime of media spending, every social network message, and every debate point made will be aimed directly at a tiny sliver of undecideds especially those living in swing states. For Pennsylvanians, this means we can expect to see a lot more of the candidates in the weeks to come. Mark S. Singel is a former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. He and Republican Charlie Gerow can be seen at 8:30 a.m. each Sunday on CBS21s Face the State. Breast cancer is more commonly associated with women than with men, affecting approximately one in eight women during their life. However, men can still be diagnosed with breast cancer, albeit in far rarer circumstances. While boys do not develop breasts like girls do during puberty, they still have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipples where breast cancer can develop, Macmillan Cancer Support explains. Recommended Six most common cancers for women and the symptoms to look out for Until puberty, breast tissue in boys and girls is the same. Both have a small amount of breast tissue behind the nipple and areola (the darker area of skin around the nipple), the charity states. This is made up of a few tiny tubes (ducts) surrounded by fatty tissue, connective tissue, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. So how common is it for a man to be diagnosed with breast cancer, what are the signs that men should look out for and how can it be treated? Heres everything you need to know: How common is male breast cancer? Around 390 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK in comparison to 54,800 women, according to Cancer Research UK. Men who are between the ages of 60 and 70 are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Furthermore, men who have particularly high oestrogen levels also have more risk of developing the cancer. As with women, if a man has family members who have had breast cancer in the past, then his chances of also developing the cancer will increase. Around three in 100 breast cancers diagnosed in women are thought to be due directly to an inherited faulty gene (around three per cent). In men this might be more common, Cancer Research UK explains. Doctors think that between 10 and 20 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in men are due to inherited faulty genes (10 to 20 per cent). What are the symptoms? The most common symptom for breast cancer that men need to look out for is a lump in the breast tissue that can be felt close to the nipple. Lumps that require medical assessment may also be found further away from the nipple. Additional signs of breast cancer can include symptoms such as liquid discharge being emitted from the nipple; a nipple thats inverted or feels sensitive; swelling in the chest area; ulcers in the chest or nipple area; or lymph nodes in the armpit area, as outlined by Breast Cancer Care. The charity recommends visiting your GP as soon as you notice any changes to your chest area that could correspond to the aforementioned symptoms. How can a man check for breast cancer symptoms? His Breast Cancer, an organisation that raises awareness about male breast cancer, explains how men can carry out a self-exam. First, stand topless in front of a mirror, placing your arms on your hips. Look closely at your chest area, noting any changes to your nipples such as swelling or inversion. Then, raise your arms above your head and inspect the areas around your chest and your armpits. The next step is to feel your chest for any potential lumps, which can be done by moving your fingertips in a circular motion around the breast area. "You can perform this in either an up and down method, a circular or a wedge pattern, but try to be consistent using the same method each time," His Breast Cancer states. "In addition, check the nipple area for any discharge. Complete on both breasts." You can also inspect the chest area by lying down, placing a pillow under your right shoulder and placing your right arm over your head. Using the fingertips on your left hand, press down on the chest and armpit areas, before repeating the process on the other side. How can it be treated? The majority of men diagnosed with breast cancer may have to undergo a mastectomy, explains Breast Health UK. This procedure would then be followed by radiotherapy treatment targeted at the chest area in order to kill any remaining cancer cells. It can take between four to six weeks to recover from a mastectomy, as outlined by the NHS, with the operation lasting approximately 90 minutes. A man whos undergone a mastectomy may have to have chemotherapy and hormone therapy afterwards. This can depend on a number of factors, such as the size of the breast cancer tumour and whether or not the cancerous cells have spread. As with female breast cancer, if the cancer is caught in the early stages, a cure may be possible, Breast Health UK states. This is why early detection is important as once the cancer becomes more advanced, the prognosis and survival will be worse and long-term cure may not be possible." RURAL AMERICA It has been a difficult year for many: COVID-19, hurricanes, a derecho, unemployment, evictions, political antagonism, racial strife, you name it, this was the year for it. Lonesome feelings arrive unwanted, and every time I drive through one of the towns near me I see slumped shoulders, moving slowly along sidewalks, moving, always moving, and I dont know what to do except offer a ride if theyre carrying something. Major League Baseball has begun again and Im disappointed. Without all the fancy channels I can only see a rare game, which I did, once. Once was enough. There were crowd sounds in the empty stadium, the equivalent of a laugh track. Its a brilliant bit of showmanship but I cannot buy into it. I want baseball to be like the first time my father took me to Wrigley Field in Chicago and I was pretty sure I was in heaven, real crowd sounds, a constant undercurrent of real voices. This has been a good year out here for five-lined skinks. What? You dont know about skinks? They are small lizards that enjoy life in forested areas with limestone bluffs. The little creatures are actually quite exotic, as their tails are electric blue. Skinks are one of the few woodland creatures that can out-costume Lady Gaga. I like having them around. Kamala Harris slammed President Donald Trump and his Attorney General William Barr for denying the existence of systemic racism in the US justice system. The California senator and Democratic vice presidential candidate hit out at Trump and Barr in an interview with CNN aired Sunday - saying that they are 'spending full time in a different reality'. 'We do have two systems of justice' for black and white Americans, said Harris, the first black and South Asian American woman on a major party presidential ticket. 'I don't think that most reasonable people who are paying attention to the facts would dispute that there are racial disparities and a system that has engaged in racism in terms of how the laws have been enforced,' she said. 'It does us no good to deny that. Let's just deal with it. Let's be honest. These might be difficult conversations for some, but they're not difficult conversations for leaders, not for real leaders.' Scroll down for video Kamala Harris slammed President Donald Trump and his Attorney General William Barr for denying systemic racism in the US justice system during an interview with CNN aired Sunday Harris accused Trump and Barr of 'spending full time in a different reality' after they both dismissed the idea of two separate justice systems for black and white Americans Barr, the nation's top lawyer, dismissed the idea of 'two justice systems' in an interview with CNN last Wednesday. 'I think we have to be a little careful about throwing the idea of racism around,' he said. 'I don't think it is as common as people suggest.' Trump also refused to acknowledge the existence of systemic racism the day before during his visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which was roiled by riots following the police shooting of Jacob Blake on August 23. Well, you know, you just keep getting back to the opposite subject,' Trump said. 'We should talk about the kind of violence we've seen in Portland and here and other places.' During the same interview, Harris warned that Russian election interference and voter suppression could threaten her and Biden's bid for the White House. 'I am clear that Russia interfered in the [presidential election] of 2016,' Harris said, noting that she serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which has published reports on the interference. 'I do believe there will be foreign interface in the 2020 election and Russia will be on the front of line.' Asked if the interference could cost her and Biden the presidency, Harris replied: 'Theoretically, of course. Yes.' 'We have to be a realist. I'm a realist about it, Joe's a realist about it,' she added. Harris also highlighted several issues involving voter suppression, including what she called Trump's efforts to 'convince the American people not to believe in the integrity of the voting system'. The president has repeatedly suggested that mail-in voting will lead to a 'rigged' result and last week encouraged his supporters to vote twice - once by mail and once in person - to 'test' whether the system was working. Harris mentioned the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v Holder which she said 'gutted' the Voting Rights Act. 'In 2013, dozens of states passed laws that were designed to suppress the black vote, to suppress students from voting, to suppress our Indigenous people from voting ... So, we have classic voter suppression at play,' she said. Harris added that 'obstacles' will continue to be placed in front of voters until November, at which point she and Biden hope to win so they can 'put some teeth back' in the Voting Rights Act. During the same interview, Harris warned that Russian election interference and voter suppression could threaten her and Biden's bid for the White House At another point in the interview, Harris panned Trump's handling of the coronavirus crisis and said she would not take his word alone on any potential vaccine. Harris noted that Trump had a track record of suppressing expert opinion about the pandemic and worried that might happen again in the case of a prospective vaccine. 'I would not trust Donald Trump,' she said, adding she would only be convinced of the efficacy of a vaccine if someone credible were vouching for it as well. 'I will not take his word for it.' At least 6.2 million people have been infected in the US coronavirus outbreak, which has taken more than 188,000 lives. With the government's handling of the world's worst outbreak of the disease under close scrutiny, Trump has dangled the possibility that a vaccine might be ready ahead of the November 3 presidential election. But the president has a track record of flouting scientific advice and some experts are skeptical that vaccine trials, which have to study potential side effects on a wide range of people before they can deliver a verdict, can be completed by late this year or even early next year. Harris suggested to CNN that Trump might seize on a vaccine - no matter how untested - to burnish his image. 'He's looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days and he's grasping for whatever he can get to pretend he can be a leader on this issue when he's not,' she said. She also suggested that health experts would not get the final say on whether the vaccine is approved or not. 'If past is prologue that they will not, they'll be muzzled, they'll be suppressed, they will be sidelined,' she claimed. Jacob Blake has released his first public statement after being shot in the back by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Blake, 29, spoke out from his hospital bed in a video message released on Saturday by his attorney Ben Crump. 'I just want to say, man a lot of young cats out there and even the older ones, older than me, it's a lot more life to live out here man,' Blake said in the video. 'Your life, and not only just your life, your legs, something you need to move around and forward in life, can be taken from you like this, man,' he said, snapping his fingers. 'Your life, and not only just your life, your legs, something you need to move around and forward in life, can be taken from you like this, man,' Blake said, snapping his fingers 'And I promise you the type of s**t you go through, staples, I got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach, you do not want to deal with this s**t, man. Twenty-four hours, every twenty-four hours it's pain, nothing but pain,' Blake continued. He added: 'It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side-to-side, it hurts to eat. Please, I'm telling you, change your lives. Stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people out there, man, because there's so much time that's been wasted.' It is his first statement to the public since he was shot on August 23 by police responding to a domestic complaint 911 call, as he opened the door to a vehicle and leaned inside. However, Blake also appeared in court via a Zoom call on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to charges of criminal trespass, sexual assault, and disorderly conduct. The shooting of Blake has kicked off weeks of tense, and sometimes violent, protests in Kenosha, and renewed protests over racial injustice and police conduct nationwide. People attend a 'Trump-Pence Out Now' Nationwide Day of Action demonstration on September 5, 2020 in New York City Protestors march past the gates of Churchill Downs racetrack before the running of the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday Police responded to a 911 from a former girlfriend of Blake, who said that he was not permitted on her premises, and had taken her car keys and refused to give them back. Responding officers were notified that Blake had an active arrest warrant, based on charges of third-degree sexual assault filed by the former girlfriend. Police had deployed tasers on Blake, which seemingly had no effect, and were seen on bystader video physically grappling with him. Then, Kenosha police officer officer Rusten Sheskey fired seven times, striking Blake four times, as Blake opened the door to an SUV and reached inside. Prosecutors say that a knife was recovered on the driver-side front floorboard of the car, where Blake was leaning, sparking debate over whether he was holding or reaching for the knife. Blake, in white shirt, is seen moments before he was shot on August 23 US Attorney General Bill Barr said this week that Blake was was committing a felony and armed at the time he was shot. Lawyers for the Blake family Ben Crump, Patrick Salvi, and B'Ivory Lamarr released a statement disputing Barr's account. 'Attorney General Barr is misinformed. The police officers were the aggressors from start to finish, based on video and witness accounts,' they said. 'There was never any point in time when there was justification for deadly force. In fact, there were innocent bystanders in the line of fire when he shot seven times into Jacob's back,' they continued. 'At all material times, Jacob's back was to the officers and he never posed an imminent threat. This was never a life or death situation for the officers.' Dramatic video of the shooting shows Sheskey and another officer following Blake with guns drawn when the shooting occurs. In the video, a knife cannot be seen in Blake's hand, which disappears from view as he reaches into the vehicle. Neither Sheskey nor the other officers present at the scene have been charged or fired from the department, but the incident is under investigation. Kenosha police referred the investigation of the shooting to the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation. Those findings will go to district attorney Michael D. Graveley, the local official who will responsible for deciding whether to bring charges against any of the officers. Graveley said on August 25 that the investigation was in 'its earliest stages.' Trump visited Kenosha, where he toured damaged businesses, decried what he calls 'lawless' protesters and defended police departments as upholders of 'law and order' Biden met with Blake's family and spoke with Blake on the telephone and has expressed sympathy with people protesting police violence and their rallying cry that 'Black Lives Matter' The renewed protests sparked by Blake's shooting come in the closing phase of the presidential election, and the incident emerged a a flashpoint in the race. This week, both President Donald Trump, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, a former senator and vice president, visited Kenosha. Biden met with Blake's family and spoke with Blake on the telephone and has expressed sympathy with people protesting police violence and their rallying cry that 'Black Lives Matter.' Trump toured damaged businesses, decried what he calls 'lawless' protesters and defended police departments as upholders of 'law and order,' while declining to condemn right-wing armed vigilantes who have been accused of attacking and even killing protesters in Kenosha. The deal on the second round of stimulus checks is what millions of people are waiting for. Republicans and Democrats caught up in the conflict over the relief proposal. But both parties have agreed for more than a month on providing a second stimulus check to the American people. In September, CNET reported that Republicans and Democrats were still on $1 trillion apart, which kept things stuck. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump and his administration repeatedly said that they support a second round of the COVID-19 stimulus relief package, as per Heavy. On September 4, Vice President Mike Pence said, "Nobody wants to give American families direct payments more than President Donald Trump. We sent those checks to American families. It helped people through this tough time." (Photo : Artem Beliaikin @belart84) Stimulus Checks 2: How Much Money You Would Expect from Each Proposal? Now, the question is, how much money would you expect if the plan is already approved? Here are different proposals floating around that you need to know to identify the amount you should expect: $3,400 for a Family of Four and $1,200 for Dependents In the HEROES Act Democrats passed in May, the proposal would give Americans the same amount of stimulus payment as the first one, a $1,200 check if it meets the income guidelines. For up to three dependent children, recipients may get up to $1,200 instead of $500, according to NYMag. The HEALS Act or the Republican version of the plan would also give people $1,200 checks. However, it is $500, the amount for each dependent. The proposal is less than the Democrats' plan than the first round of stimulus checks, which limits dependent payments by age. In the HEALS Act, there are no such similar rules about age. In the HEALS Act, a family of four might get $3,400 compared to $2,900 the first time around, as per Kiplinger's report. $4,000 for a Family of Four and $1,000 for an Individual In July, Republican Senator Mitt Romney joined Steve Daines (R-MT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) in their proposal that would give people $1,000 checks, and $4,000 for a family of four. Senator Rubio said, "As Congress continues to negotiate another economic response to the coronavirus pandemic, we should prioritize direct assistance to those who needs it most. American families are among the hardest hit, facing unexpected challenges like child care shortages, homeschooling, and unemployment. Congress must take steps to help ensure parents and children can manage and recover from this crisis's impact as the American people continue to navigate these uncertain times." Their proposal suggests Disburse Economic Impact Payments of $1,000 for both adults and children with SSNs equivalent, $2,000 if they filed jointly, while $4,000 stimulus check for a family of four. The Senators also proposed to include eligibility for adult dependents like those with disabilities or college students. It also consists of U.S. citizens married to foreign nationals but does not have foreign nationals eligibility. $2,000 Stimulus checks monthly U.S. Senator Kamala Harris also supports a plan that would give Americans $2,000 stimulus checks monthly. Harris is a co-sponsor of legislation with Senators Ed Markey and Bernie Sanders, according to Business Insider. The plans of the Senators would continue giving $2,000 stimulus checks until three months after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. In a press release, Harris said that the pandemic caused millions who struggle to pay their bills to feed their families. The CARES Act gave Americans a significant one-time payment, but it is not enough to meet the American people's needs. As bills continuously come in every month amidst the pandemic, and so should the government's help, as per Harris. The Monthly Economic Crisis Act will provide resources for American families to make ends meet. "I am eager to continue working with Senators Markey and Sanders as we push to pass this bill immediately," Kamala said. Check these out: Stimulus Checks: Trump Urges Democrats to Release $300 Billion Unspent COVID-19 Relief Money to Americans Next COVID-19 Relief Package: Immigrants Must Be Included Second Stimulus Check: Parents in This State Will Soon Receive More Cash A mother-of-three is working to stop a multinational mining company from bulldozing koala habitat at the end of her street. Juggling home-schooling during coronavirus lockdowns and work commitments, Seaham, NSW, resident Chantal Parslow Redman already had her hands full before she began leading a grass-roots campaign to protect local wildlife. Chantal Parslow Redman and her children Neve and Torin search for koalas. Source: Michael Dahlstrom / Yahoo News Australia Estimates suggest there are between 200 and 400 koalas living in greater Port Stephens, 33km north of Newcastle, and experts argue that the old growth forest surrounding the Brandy Hill mine is key to the health of the areas small population hub. Despite an outcry from vocal residents, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has given the developer, Hanson Australia, approval to bulldoze 54 hectares of bushland. Walking alongside her children Neve, 7, Torin, 6, and Lars, 3, Ms Parslow Redman said green-lighting the mines expansion has left her heartbroken to say the least. A female koala photographed near the mine site on August 30. Source: L.G. Howell Yes this is my backyard, but really its all of Australias backyard, she told Yahoo News Australia. To know that these koalas and other animals here are facing potential destruction, well my heart bleeds for them. When will we start listening, and when will enough be enough? We need to do something, we need to do something now. It cant be tomorrow. Kids learn about koalas in the bush Walking through private property which borders the mining site, Ms Parslow Redmans children search eagerly for koalas. Torin casts his eye up a tree, while Neve scours the ground for koala poo. Six-year-old Torin searches for koalas near his home in the Port Stephens area. Source: Michael Dahlstrom Easily distracted by the sounds of the bush their mother calls her kids over and points out the silver glow emanating from the trees koalas like to feed on. Koalas love those trees, she tells her kids. So if we look at those trees around here and we look right up to the top of the branches, we might see something. Neve and Torin cast their eyes high in the sky. Their mum draws them in closer, reminding the pair about what they learnt about koalas during homeschool in lockdown. Story continues Locked gates at the entrance to the Brandy Hill quarry. Source: Michael Dahlstrom Why do koalas have white bottoms? she asks. So they look like clouds when you look up. Neve nods, saying And when you look down they look like trees. Exactly, her mother says. Not their lifetime: Concern for future of koalas Despite a NSW parliamentary inquiry warning in June that without urgent government intervention to protect native forests, the species faces extinction in NSW, the IPC approved the mine expansion on July 16 after what the state government described as a comprehensive assessment. On Saturday afternoon, a locally trained tracking dog discovered droppings within a kilometre of the proposed development site which were identified as belonging to an adult and a juvenile by trained koala rescuer Kai Wild. Vino the sniffer dog located koala poo near the mine site on Saturday. Source: Michael Dahlstrom Koala rescuer Kai Wild identified juvenile koala droppings near the site of the mine. Source: Michael Dahlstrom Following the discovery, NSW Labor environment spokesperson Kate Washington, who has been a critic of the approval of the mine expansion, described the situation as really upsetting. Weve got children that are now seeing some koalas around the place, but we now risk seeing koalas becoming extinct in our lifetime, she said. All the talk of wanting our grandkids to see koalas in the wild, yes we do, but the reality is they will not while we are continuing to bulldoze core koala habitat. Walking at a property close to the mine, Ms Washington said that following drought and a summer of bushfire, NSW cannot afford to lose any more koalas. The area was one of the few areas fortunate to escape the flames of Black Summer, and could be key to ensuring the species survival according to local experts. NSW Labor environment spokesperson Kate Washington said the development approval is "really upsetting. Source: Michael Dahlstrom / Yahoo News Australia We know that there are koalas here, the quarry is for gravel, its not like that cant be found somewhere else, Ms Washington said. Its really frustrating when we know that koala populations are on the decline, that theyll be extinct by 2050 unless urgent action is taken. How can something like this be approved? Koalas face death by a thousand cuts With the NSW government having approved the bulldozing of the area, the final approval is now in the hands of federal environment minister Sussan Ley who is expected to deliver a decision on Tuesday. The NSW department of planning noted that works cannot begin without Commonwealth approval and the required environmental management plans. In approving the project, the Commission imposed conditions requiring implementation of additional mitigation and offsets to address the impacts on native vegetation, including koala habitat, a department spokesperson said in a statement. This includes implementing a detailed Biodiversity and Rehabilitation Management Plan to manage the clearing of native vegetation that will occur progressively over the 30-year life of the quarry, rehabilitating koala habitat on the site and conserving additional areas of habitat to offset the biodiversity impacts of the project. Port Stephens is thought to be home to between 200 and 400 koalas. Source: Simon White University of Newcastle researchers Associate Professor John Clulow and Dr Ryan Witt have written to the minister, calling on her to block the project and protect the koalas living in area. Their 24-page report, commissioned by local koala advocates, concluded that destruction of the habitat would significantly impact the local population and disrupt breeding. The researchers describe the mine expansion as a significant blow in the fight to save Port Stephens koalas as the species faces death by a thousand cuts through habitat fragmentation. If you take out 50 hectares down here, and someone else does a development out the front, eventually someone else will do another one, Dr Witt said. Thats the chain reaction that were looking that will will leave koalas displaced and the populations in decline. Port Stephens locals are sharing photos of recent koala sightings to a Facebook group. Source: Supplied The researchers argue that continued bulldozing of wildlife corridors will see the areas koala populations isolated like on the Gold Coast, where animals are frequently impacted by cars and dogs as they attempt to navigate developments. Southeast Queensland is the perfect example of this playing out in the longer term, Assoc Prof Clulow said. You take out small increments (of forest), and you say those small patches dont matter, but when you add it up over time you find your (koala) populations drop by 50, 60, 90 per cent. Thats the process that plays out in this landscape as well as other places where koalas are. Developers to preserve 450 hectares in koala habitat offset The mining company, Hanson Australia, told Yahoo News Australia in a statement they did not accept the findings by Dr Witt and Assoc Prof Clulow as reported by some media. The multinational company, which is owned by German parent company Heidelberg Cement, said the proposed expansion area has been mapped as marginal in the Port Stephens koala plan. They said the mine expansion will not sever any koala corridors, and that given the regions koala populations were unharmed by last summers bushfires, outcomes for the koala remain unchanged. Hanson said that they understand the importance of managing to site to ensure risks to koala populations are limited. They said they will offset the development by preserving 450 hectares of koala habitat in perpetuity and abide by conditions set out by the NSW government. Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and NSW Environment Minister Matthew Kean have been contacted by Yahoo News Australia for comment. 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. The Natural History museum is conducting a review into potentially 'offensive' collections including its Charles Darwin exhibitions. In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, museum bosses have ordered an audit into certain collections that some staff believe are 'legacies of colonies, slavery and empire'. Rooms, statues and collected items in the museum that could be 'problematic' may be renamed, relabelled, or removed. The review into the museums links to slavery and colonialism could result in a potential overhaul of the museum's collections and public spaces. Natural History museum is conducting a review into potentially 'offensive' collections in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests including its Charles Darwin exhibitions. A statue of Darwin sits in the main hall of the London museum (pictured) In documents seen by The Sunday Telegraph, museum staff were told that as a result of the Black Lives Matter protests, the museum would undertake a review of room names, statues and collections that 'could potentially cause offence'. The executive board of the Natural History museum is said to be 'very engaged' with the issue and circulated an academic paper to staff which claimed 'science, racism, and colonial power were inherently entwined'. The paper proposes publicly acknowledging the past to create 'less racist' museums. Collections under review include specimens of exotic birds gathered by naturalist Charles Darwin on his expedition to the Galapagos Island with Captain Robert FitzRoy on HMS Beagle in 1835. Specimens of exotic birds gathered by naturalist Charles Darwin on his expedition to the Galapagos Island are under review. Pictured above are pages from a book entitled 'The Zoology of the Voyage of HMS Beagle' by Charles Darwin According to the academic paper shared with museum staff, the HMS Beagle was cited as one of Britain's many 'colonialist scientific expeditions'. It wrote that one of the purposes of the voyage was 'to enable greater British control of those areas'. The paper also argues that 'museums were put in place to legitimise a racist ideology'. Other collections that could come under scrutiny by the anti-racist review are specimens gathered by botanist Sir Joseph Banks who sailed with Captain James Cook, as well as items gathered by Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus who thought Africans were 'crafty', 'indolent' and 'negligent'. Museum bosses circulated a paper to staff which proposes publicly acknowledging the past to create 'less racist' museums The flora collection of Sir Hans Sloane, one of the British Museum's founders, may also come under review. He was labelled him a slave owner by the British Museum in August and his bust was removed from a pedestal. The ceiling of the main Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum - where 'Hope', a skeleton of a blue whale is hanging (pictured) - could also be 'problematic' due to paintings of colonial exports such as cotton, tea and tobacco. A statue of Charles Darwin that sits in the museum's main hall could also come under questioning as well as a statue of scientist Thomas Henry Huxley because of his theories of five 'races' of human. The ceiling of the main Hintze Hall of the Natural History Museum (pictured) could be 'problematic' due to paintings of colonial exports such as cotton, tea and tobacco According to The Sunday Telegraph, Michael Dixon, the director of the Natural History Museum, explained to staff: 'The Black Lives Matter movement has demonstrated that we need to do more and act faster, so as a first step we have commenced an institution-wide review on naming and recognition. 'We want to learn and educate ourselves, recognising that greater understanding and awareness on diversity and inclusion are essential.' Bay of Plenty Our client has projects underway in Tauranga and looking for scaffolders.You might be new to the industry or have a few years... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz The Indian and Russian navies on Saturday carried out a range of complex maritime operations as part of a mega military exercise in the Bay of Bengal to further enhance their operational convergence, officials said. The exercise comes at a time India is significantly expanding deployment of its warships in the Indian Ocean region in the wake of the festering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to the country's strategic interests. The officials said a wide spectrum of drills including surface and anti-aircraft drills, helicopter operations, maneuvers and cross-deck flying was carried out for the second consecutive day as part of the 11th edition of the biennial Indo-Russian exercise Indra Navy. "The exercise epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. The assets deployed in the exercise by the Russian Navy include destroyer Admiral Vinogradov, destroyer Admiral Tributs and fleet tanker Boris Butoma of the Pacific Fleet which are normally based at Vladivostok. The Indian Navy is represented by guided missile destroyer Ranvijay and fleet tanker Shakti, along with their integral helicopters. In July, the Indian Navy carried out a military exercise with a United States Navy carrier strike group led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship. In the exercise with the US Navy, four frontline warships of the Indian Navy participated. The US carrier strike group was transiting through the Indian Ocean Region on its way from the South China Sea. The US Navy carrier strike group comprises USS Nimitz, Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson. The Indian Navy carried out a similar exercises with the Japanese navy in June. The Indian Navy has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean region, deploying a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row to send across a message to Beijing. The maritime space around the Malacca Strait is very critical for China's supply chain through sea routes. A blind Ghanaian student who was manhandled out of the Oxford Union on October 17 last year has reached an out-of-court settlement with the prestigious debating society. A video of Ebenezer Azamati, 27, who was using a white cane, being ejected from the packed debating chamber in October last year sparked widespread protests. On Friday the union agreed to pay Azamati a settlement understood to run into thousands of pounds. What happened Ebenezer Azamati was 'pushed' out of the exclusive debating chamber by security on October 17. Footage of him being 'manhandled' went viral after the ex-president, Brandan McGrath - who wasn't there that evening - claimed Mr Azamati was behaving aggressively and banned him for two terms. In a statement tweeted by the union, which is independent from the university, the president apologised days later for the 'distress' and 'reputational damage'. But now, nearly a year later, the union have made another public statement saying: "Ebenezer Azamati, a member of the Oxford Union, sought to attend one of its debates. Mr Azamati is blind and Black. Mr Azamati was initially turned away. He was subsequently admitted but then steps were taken to remove him by force. "He eventually left voluntarily. Shortly afterwards, disciplinary proceedings were wrongly brought against Mr Azamati alleging violence and dishonesty. "The allegations and initial findings against him were made public. All the allegations against him were withdrawn on appeal, the findings were set aside and he was rightly cleared of any wrongdoing." Ebenezer Azamati was expelled from a debate at the Oxford Union after he attempted to attend a talk on the motion "This House has no confidence in HM Government". The 25-year-old arrived early at the Oxford Union on October 17 to reserve a seat as he was worried there were no special provisions for disabled students. He placed a book on an accessible seat near the entrance to the chamber to reserve it and went back to his college for dinner. When he returned later, accompanied by a friend and sat down, officials refused his attendance and were seen manhandling him out of his seat. Mr Azamati, who is a postgraduate from Ghana studying international relations, became distressed at the situation. Video footage from the event shows the student's white cane to be visible, while an official pulls him out of his seat. Mr Azamati has since said he feels 'unwelcome' in Britain following the incident. He said at the time: "In being publicly removed from the Oxford Union Society made me feel unwelcome in the Union, Oxford and even the country. "I felt that I was treated as not being human enough to deserve justice and fair treatment.' Today the statement continued: "We accept that the allegations of dishonesty and violence made against Mr Azamati by the union have caused acute distress to [him] and serious harm to his reputation. "We accept that those allegations are wholly unfounded and untrue, and we apologise for making the statements that contained them." Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Tens of thousands joined another postelection protest march in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on September 6. Men in plainclothes were seen assaulting people and engaging in violence after the march. Police also detained some of the protesters and blocked the route of the march. Demonstrators continue to demand President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's resignation after the August 9 election marred with irregularities. Since the Throughline began in July weve had a lot of stories forecasting possible futures for the Bay Area. But we never envisioned this as a one-way street. From the start, we wanted to collect reader responses and reaction to share at the end. This is the result: an assortment of reader feedback that adds to the ideas we presented and raises questions or issues we didnt consider. Letters have been edited for length and clarity. Week one: The City If youre going to write about the potential of making San Francisco a city with fewer cars and more streets dedicated to walking or biking, as Peter Hartlaub did, youre going to be reminded that people really like their cars. But we also received some intriguing thoughts on how the citys transportation spaces could be improved. San Francisco needs its versions of the Big Dig, tunnels under Lombard and under 19th Avenue to connect to the Golden Gate Bridge. Nineteenth could be taken down to two lanes in each direction with reduced speed limits, Lombard one lane. Sidewalks could be widened, bike paths added, trees planted in the medians. Property values would increase significantly, and in the case of the Sunset, the whole area would be cleaner, safer, less polluted and far more livable for families. Improved access to the bridge would also have the secondary impact of reducing congestion in other corridors, e.g., the Fell/Oak corridor. Bill Smith I think its great some thought and input from community is getting put together. My concern is with more bikes on SF streets with no control of the impact it has on the City. I propose bike riders get registered and get a permit, like a license. There should be a fee, to help fund maintaining and creating the bike lanes. I also recommend educating all bike riders with Rules of the Road. And they may need insurance to cover accidents, which unfortunately do happen. This is a practical line item that should be discussed with parties from all sides of the road. Thank you. Lila B., San Francisco I think there will be much more discourse on the use of space for people and community events rather than cars and commuting. Now that our roadways are not used nearly as much, how can we potentially rearrange space to better serve new priorities (such as outdoor dining) and continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., social distancing)? As well, how can traditional venues pivot to serve the new normal? One example, although located south of the city, is Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose. It will be digitally reopening with a brand-new environment and equipment specifically for HD live-streaming and recording for later use. Local artists can up the caliber of their live performances with quality sound and lighting now and in the future, even when larger gatherings are allowed again bringing art to audiences who may have previously been unreachable due to geographic or other constraints. As we confront the changes to our lifestyle, we will have to try and make the most of what we have, and get creative in our solutions. Steph Keay, San Jose I see internet access being open to public use the way phone booths once were. Demimonde Mesila Thraam, San Francisco Imagine the ability to earn a community college AA and AS degree, transfer credits, or a CSU or UC degree at all California student services-funded locations. San Francisco can lead the way in advocating for a different learning environment, a local community student-service center, providing student services to all students. Let me provide an example. Student X graduated high school and is accepted to UC. Lived in an apartment with 7 others in San Francisco Tenderloin. Home resource is limited. Trapped due to current pandemic. City College of S.F. Civic Center computer lab is 2 blocks away. Why not make it available to Student X for remote learning? Benefits: 1. A greener environment (less traffic). 2. Cost of time to student decrease. 3. Cost to California financial aid decrease. 4. Leverage for students who is willing but lacking support. 5. A true collaborative learning environment. For example: Student X is working on a video-editing assignment for a San Francisco State class. Student to his/her right is working on an assignment for a City College website-building class. Student to his/her left is working on a community website project. 6. It is good for the environment, California, San Francisco, students and it is a better use of the tax dollars. John Tam, San Francisco After an effective vaccine or other means of manageability is established, people will return to their past ways of living their lives. This will be similar to what happens to S.F. after any cataclysmic event earthquakes, world wars, epidemics, etc. People have relatively short memories and crave consistency. Visions of empty office towers wont happen. People will still like to drive their ultimate symbol of freedom/independence, the automobile. People are social beings. Richard Morris, Seattle I want to commend Annalee Newitz for her remarkable story with the future of the coronavirus and how it may affect us all. Please give her my thanks and congratulations for one of the first people to recognize and humanize the coming future. Remarkable writing! Thank her for me. I am a landscape designer in Petaluma. I did reside in S.F., so I am familiar. I applaud you all for your optimism for S.F. Terrific issue! Ingrid Larnis, Petaluma Week two: Closing the Gap With the pandemic inflicting disproportionate damage on communities of color and protests over the death of George Floyd spreading across the globe, this section focused on the equality gap and what it might take to narrow it in the Bay Area. We need these perspectives. We need to hear the stories, to listen to the experiences of people who are not the entitled recipients of Americas racist heritage. When Manifest Destiny stole the land and resources from the Indigenous people, enslaving the Black and brown people, the stories of the conquered and enslaved were lost, stolen, hidden and secreted away. People were diminished not for a year but for a lifetime and for generations. California is home to millions of people who have not received the ... certain inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. San Franciscos history is riddled with acts of discrimination and violence against BIPOC and Latinx people. The Throughline section has begun to shine a light where darkness has prevailed. Dont stop now. Please continue to interview the people, and show the views many white Americans havent seen or heard. Please keep the light on and continue to close the gap. We need to hear these stories. Rebecca Stockley, San Francisco Week three: The Future of the Arts The Bay Area loves its arts, and after a few months of existing without live, in-person performances or experiences, our readers had reflections on the arts and how they could adapt. With museums closed, it means most works of art will be enjoyed by the rich who own them and display them in their homes. The only way to combat this is to digitize art and make it accessible over the web for people to experience regardless of where they are ... streaming art. But, just like the music industry has seen, this means that there will be a direct impact on the art worlds finances. Once we start streaming, will private collections and commissions ever be worth the same? Kimberly Zerkel, San Francisco One way art is being kept alive is through the protest art painted on the boarded-up storefronts in downtown Oakland. Many powerful messages and unique art have been created. I have gone there on multiple occasions and have photographed 318 different pieces of art. Most of this artwork will be destroyed. To me this artwork is important because it reflects the voices of many unheard people. James Whittlesey Week four: The Social Scene Our fourth week explored dating and social activity, but it was eating out that captured most of our imaginations, like Justin Phillips story suggesting the future of dining out in the region. Readers responded with taste, and some spice. I hope not, but I do think that the popularity of dinner parties like in the 1950s and 60s may come back into play. People are likely to be more comfortable being with smaller groups of people that they know. Also, so many have realized how much more economical cooking at home is and have really honed their skills during this time. Dinners out may be reserved for truly special occasions rather than just a way to avoid having to figure out a meal plan. Judy Beall, San Leandro There should be more permanent outdoor dining areas. I think people will continue to be weary and some will choose to continue to wear masks and not go to large gatherings for a while, even with a vaccine. At least, Im going to be more cautious. Isabel Yrigoyen, Oakland 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. (Im) not yet comfortable dining in a packed place, dining in the new outdoor spaces have no ambiance, will places charge more than they already are? Raymond Manzano, Tiburon Week five: The Tech Sector Our tech stories about video meetings and public internet were well-received, but people really connected with Peter Hartlaubs look at food delivery and digital transactions through a burrito shop. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed todays column about Ramiro & Sons, one of my favorite places in Alameda. The people who work there are so amazingly nice and they remember everyone. When I walk in, the guy making the burritos will address me as Reina! and hold up two fingers, to ask me if I want the usual order from back when my son was still living at home. He knows that kid moved away for college in 2007, but its his way of saying I recognize you. Even now, when I am wearing a mask. Lets hope they survive. I plan on doing my part, one child-sized carnitas with guac at a time. Maureen Shandobil, Alameda Week six: Rewriting the Rules This issue contemplated a world considering new rules: How do you enforce them? Ryan Kost painted a picture of Berkeleys future law enforcement procedures after defunding its police force. Thank you for Jason Fagones excellent piece on reducing CA prison population. Re: role of police, Im interested in the perspective of social workers who are/may take over calls police currently take e.g., nonviolent, mental health calls. Are they supportive, what are challenges and opportunities, what support do they need, are there enough qualified workers, what is their relationship with police? Thank you. Caitlin Storhaug, San Francisco I think it would be great for social workers to be the first responders in a wide range of situations. We also need a major revamp of police training. Shannon Del Vecchio, Pacifica Week seven: How we move The ways we navigate the world and the people around us have changed. But one thing is the same, were fortunate to be in a bountiful state like California. Week eight: The Community So much of what makes the Bay Area unique and wonderful are our neighborhoods. But will they change as the way we live shifts? The topic was explored by our writers, including Melissa Hungs feature on San Franciscos Chinatown. Thanks for the great story on Chinatown. I would love to see more stories like this and more Chron coverage of the (Asian/Pacific Islander) community generally and the Chinese community specifically ... such huge assets for San Francisco. It would also be interesting to see some features on the remarkable networks of community organizations in these communities ... and I would put (Chinese for Affirmative Action) and its history on the top of the list. CAA ... its courage and integrity ... would be a great lens through which to view our community and larger society. Thanks again for the great work. Thomas Layton, San Francisco Politicians from across the political sphere have hit out at Extinction Rebellion activists who blocked printworks on Friday. More than 100 protesters targeted Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking newspapers from leaving the depots. The move has been widely criticised, with Home Secretary Priti Patel said to be looking at reclassifying the group as an organised crime gang. And across the house, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has slammed XR for targeting the press. He said: 'The free press is the cornerstone of democracy and we must do all we can to protect it. Denying people the chance to read what they choose is wrong and does nothing to tackle climate change.' Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said Extinction Rebellion protesters were 'shooting themselves in the foot' following their blockade of newspaper printing presses on Friday evening. Police and fire services outside the Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has slammed XR for targeting the press, leading condemnation from across the political spectrum He said: 'I think we need to bring the country together to realise we have a climate emergency alongside the Covid health and economic emergency. 'My concern with what we saw was that it actually divides people, it can undermine the message about the climate emergency. 'I fear that when you damage the free press in particular, that is shooting yourself in the foot. 'There was an interview with David Attenborough in one of those newspapers that didn't get distributed - David Attenborough is the environmentalist par excellence, he has a lot to say about climate change and how we protect our environment. 'I think stopping people reading David Attenborough is not a good message.' Hertfordshire Police said 51 people have now been charged with obstruction of the highway following the protest outside Newsprinters Ltd print works in Waltham Cross. The statement said two people have been remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday while 49 were released on conditional bail. Chief Superintendent Matt Nicholls of Hertfordshire Constabulary contradicted this stance and said the blockade was 'not lawful and not acceptable'. He added: 'People have a right to peaceful protest, however this was a carefully orchestrated blockade of a public road, designed to cause the maximum possible harm to local businesses. 'This was most certainly not lawful and not acceptable. In these circumstances, we will always seek to bring criminal charges against anyone who does this. Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said Extinction Rebellion protesters were 'shooting themselves in the foot' with the move 'The bail conditions forbid those charged from taking part in current protest events during the current 10 days of action on climate change.' It comes as a war of words erupted after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab slammed Labour's Diane Abbott this morning for defending Extinction Rebellion activists who blockaded newspaper printing presses on Friday. Ms Abbott compared Extinction Rebellion to the Suffragettes and criticised the government's plans to reclassify the activists as an organised crime gang. She also described the protest as a 'legal tactic'. Her comments come after a public outcry following XR action on Friday which saw protesters targeting Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking the day's newspapers from leaving the depots. However, Mr Raab has criticised Ms Abbott and slammed XR's actions. He told Sky's Sophy Ridge: 'I'm astounded at Diane Abbott's remarks. The idea that it is right to damage property or intervene with a free press in the name of progressive protest is, I think, perverse. 'Actually, I think it is damaging to the cause of climate change. Extinction Rebellion protestors block access of a printing house in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, leaving some newsagents' shelves empty on Saturday morning 'I respect the right of peaceful protest but hijacking that with a militant agenda to disrupt the very heart of democratic debate, which is through a free media, is just totally wrong and we're against it, and I think law enforcement action should be taken to preserve our wider freedoms, and they do include a free media.' Ms Abbott earlier defended the protest, saying direct action is a 'legal tactic' and adding that it would be 'ridiculous' for the Government to reclassify Extinction Rebellion. She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'They're not criminals, they're protesters and activists in the tradition of the Suffragettes and the hunger marches of the 1930s.' Following the stunt, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she wants to take a 'fresh look' at how XR is classified under law, while Boris Johnson deemed the act 'completely unacceptable'. A potential review could lead to XR being treated as an organised crime group, sources said, as part of a clampdown on its activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads, and by disrupting public transport. Kamala Harris is about to get the Trump treatment. President Donald Trump has long excelled at ridiculing opponents and fomenting rivalries among those around him from contestants on The Apprentice to his top aides inside the White House. Now he and his campaign are eyeing ways to drive a wedge between Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his younger, lesser-known running mate. The president and his allies are plotting ways to portray Harris as a serious threat to the working-class voters whom Biden hopes to flip this fall, four years after many across the Rust Belt ditched Democrats to support Trump. Theyre digging up her comments from Democratic primary debates, hoping they can use them to put her and Biden on defense. And despite Harris lukewarm relationship with some anti-establishment progressive groups, they are considering ways to cast her as a champion of the radical left by concentrating on positions shes taken that run afoul of Biden-style centrism, one of the former vice presidents key appeals to swing voters. Kamala Harris is a California liberal who has already defined herself as a radical Democrat with her support of the Green New Deal, socialized medicine, fracking bans, tax raises and taxpayer-funded abortions, said Courtney Parella, deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign. Some of those attacks will be dismissed as false or exaggerated. But the move to cast Harris as a socialist sympathizer and progressive stalwart comes as the Trump campaign struggles to deploy a similar playbook against Biden, who has mocked the presidents attempts to paint him as a helpless puppet of the radical left. Trumps standing against Biden in polls has barely budged throughout the year despite nickname after nickname, a flurry of vicious tweets and numerous presidential press conferences that hes used to assail his opponent. Do I look to you like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Biden asked the crowd on Monday at an event in Pittsburgh, where he distanced himself from calls to ban hydraulic fracking and condemned the rioting, looting and arson occurring in some U.S. cities. Story continues The coming focus on Harris presents some challenges for the Trump camp. The presidents team has repeatedly accused Biden of embracing radical social and economic policies to please left-wing revolutionaries ahead of the November election a line of attack that could complicate efforts to convince voters he and Harris disagree about the direction of their party and the policies their potential administration should enact. You cant spend the summer telling voters they should be afraid of electing Joe Biden because hes a socialist and then suddenly say, Harris is the actual socialist and she would be in charge if Biden wins, said a former Trump campaign official. A person involved with the Trump campaign maintained that the campaigns push in the coming weeks to define Harris would not contradict or undo their messaging on Biden. This person said they will focus on specific issues, like abortion and health care, where they believe Harris has staked out untenable positions for the swing voters Biden is targeting. They say Harris cannot afford to revise these positions if she wishes to remain in good standing with the left flank of the Democratic Party. For example, after Biden walked back his support for the Hyde Amendment, a decades-old law prohibiting federal funding for abortion, Harris asked him during a Democratic primary debate last year if he regretted his decision for years to withhold resources to poor women to have access to reproductive health care, including women who were the victims of rape and incest. The California senator has also said she supports the Womens Health Protection Act, federal legislation that would block states from placing restrictions on abortion services including gestational limitations that prevent women in some states from terminating their pregnancies in the third trimester. Biden has previously backed efforts to outlaw late-term abortion procedures and his campaign has not said whether he would oppose a Republican-led effort to ban abortion after 20 weeks if elected. Late-term abortion is a weak spot for Kamala because theres no way she is going to turn her back on the liberal women in her base, said an outside adviser to the Trump campaign. If she even appeared to embrace Bidens indecisiveness on these issues, she would piss off Planned Parenthood and NARAL beyond words. Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris listens as Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a Democratic presidential primary debate, July 31, 2019. Harris also clashed with Biden over his opposition to a Medicare for All health insurance system during the partys primary last year. She maintained an option for purchasing Medicare plans from private companies in her own proposal as a 2020 candidate last year, declining to go as far as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), whose health care reform legislation she previously co-sponsored in the Senate. Biden has promoted an expansion of the Affordable Care Act and once said he would be open to vetoing Medicare for All legislation if the overall cost placed a financial burden on middle-class Americans. Harris, whose record as California attorney general includes several lawsuits against oil companies over alleged environmental violations, has also carved out a position to the left of Biden on fracking. There is no question I am in favor of banning fracking, she said during a climate change town hall last September, adding that she would use executive authority to immediately ban fracking on public lands while pressuring Congress to expand the ban to private lands. Its not unusual to have two candidates with different policy views on the same ticket. When Vice President Mike Pence signed onto the GOP ticket in 2016, he brought with him a lengthy track record of supporting free trade deals, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership that Trump once likened to rape. Pence also called Trumps proposed Muslim ban, a variation of which he later implemented as president, offensive and unconstitutional in a tweet prior to becoming his running mate. Paul Ryans economic plan was more conservative than [Mitt] Romneys, and George W. Bush supported a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman in 2004, while [Dick] Cheney spoke supportively of gay marriage, said Joel Goldstein, an expert on vice presidential history. Generally, voters focus on the presidential candidates and their positions. As long as the vice presidential candidate is able to conduct themselves in an able and capable way, their own opinions are not likely to be much of an issue, Goldstein added. So far, Harris has emerged as an asset since Biden tapped her as his running mate in August. Her presence on the ticket contributed to a major fundraising boost last month as the Biden campaign and Democratic National Committee raised a record-breaking $364.5 million. And her history-making potential as the first Asian American and Black woman on a major party ticket has helped inject enthusiasm into the partys base, particularly among female and minority voters, according to recent polls. In a statement, Harris press secretary Sabrina Singh said Bidens 2020 rival-turned-running mate will be doing everything possible to elect him this November. As Senator Harris has said from day one, Joe Biden is the leader our country needs to see us through this public health and economic crisis and build a better future for America. She is Vice President Bidens partner on this ticket, said Singh. The Oakland-born senator already got a powerful first wave of the Trump treatment when the president and his allies questioned her eligibility for office the same week she joined the Democratic ticket a move that drew widespread condemnation even from some in his own party. I just heard it today that she doesnt meet the requirements and by the way the lawyer that wrote that piece is a very highly qualified, very talented lawyer, Trump, who was the most prominent figure to promote false birther conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama during his first term, said of Harris during a news conference last month. Though birtherism is unlikely to come up during the Oct. 7 debate between Harris and Vice President Mike Pence, Trumps running mate is expected to dig into the issues on which Harris and Biden harbor some differences. A person close to Pence said he will continue to push his view that the Democratic ticket is a trojan horse for a radical leftist agenda that aligns with Harris political views. This person and others said the vice president will attempt to box in Harris to where she must choose to disavow Bidens positions on certain policy issues or water down her own. The debate will be an important moment for Pence, who is widely viewed as having presidential aspirations of his own and delivered a strong performance in 2016 against then-Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine. Generally speaking, your focus is on the presidential candidates and their positions in the vice presidential debates though the vice presidential candidates become a little more important if youre worried about succession, Goldstein said, adding that Trump and Biden are the oldest candidates to compete against each other in a presidential contest. It will also be the first time Pence faces off against a female competitor, let alone a former prosecutor. The Trump campaign insists Harris record as a prosecutor is a liability for her and Biden, noting that she once declined to pursue the death penalty against a gang member who killed an on-duty police officer when she was in the midst of a 2004 bid for the office of San Francisco district attorney. There have been some very high-profile instances where she refused to seek the death penalty and shes largely skated by on them until now, said a senior Trump campaign official. But Harris prosecutorial background could also give her the upper hand when she takes the stage against Pence next month. The California senator deployed some memorable lines during the Democratic primary debates including during clashes with Biden where she often stood in sharp contrast to her opponents. Though Trumps even-keeled vice president is unlikely to be as brash as his boss on the debate stage, Goldstein said Pence must still walk a fine line as he takes on Bidens running mate. When Biden debated [Sarah] Palin in 2008, he was very careful to treat her respectfully and his success in that debate was just that that he was respectful to her while he stuck to the substance in attacking [John] McCain, he recalled. DHAKA -- A suspected gas pipeline explosion at a mosque in Bangladesh killed 17 people and injured dozens as worshippers were about to end their prayers, officials said on Saturday. The blast, which fire service officials suspect was caused by a leak from a gas pipeline, occurred on Friday night at a mosque in Narayanganj district, just outside the capital Dhaka. At least 37 people were rushed to Dhakas specialist burn and plastic-surgery hospital, most of them with severe burns, doctors said. Seventeen people, including a child, died after they sustained burn injuries, said Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the burn unit. The death toll could rise further as many of them were in critical condition, he said. I saw smoke was belching out of the mosque after the sudden explosion with a big bang and people were screaming. Some were rolling on the street as they tried to put out the flames on their bodies, said local resident Mohammad Ratan. Fire officials said gas that accumulated from a leak in a pipeline running underneath the mosque likely triggered the explosion. We primarily suspect that gas leaked from the pipeline and accumulated inside since the windows were closed. The explosion was probably triggered due to sparks when the air conditioners were turned on, said Abdullah Al Arefin, a senior fire service official. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Lax regulations and poor enforcement are often blamed for domestic and industrial fires in Bangladesh. In February last year, an inferno in a centuries-old neighbourhood of Dhaka killed 71 people. A month later, 25 people were killed when fire broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in an upscale area of the capital. Top administration officials on Sunday said theyve never heard President Donald Trump make disparaging remarks about veterans or the military, a subtle attempt to dispute a report in The Atlantic. But the presidents top defender was the president himself. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported last week that Trump in November 2018 told senior staff that the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris was filled with losers and that in a separate conversation he called the 1,800 Marines who died at Belleau Wood suckers for getting killed. Trump was also furious when the White House lowered flags to half-staff following Arizona Sen. John McCains death, Goldberg reported, and the president told senior staff that they wouldnt support that losers funeral, adding that the war hero was a f--king loser. Goldberg reported that Trump made similar comments about President George H.W. Bush, whose plane was shot down during World War II. The Associated Press, Washington Post, New York Times, CNN and Fox News all confirmed some elements of The Atlantics 1,500-word report, but Trump and his allies have denied since Thursday that he made such comments. On Sunday, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie credited Trump for what he called a renaissance at the VA and grouped the allegations with past stories citing unnamed officials that the president has dismissed as fake news and hoaxes. I think anonymous are the same people that brought you fake heart attacks, fake strokes, Russian collusion, Wilkie told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. I see the proof in the pudding, he added. The proof in the pudding is our military is stronger, and our Veterans Affairs Department is in a place that it has never been. This is the renaissance, and its all because of one man. Wilkie downplayed Trumps past comments toward McCain, whom the president in 2015 said was not a war hero, as politics in the heat of a campaign. Trump, however, was running for president while McCain was seeking reelection in the Senate. Story continues White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (left) and his wife Karen, along with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford (right) with his wife Ellyn, visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near the Belleau Wood battleground in France on Nov. 10, 2018. President Donald Trump opted not to attend the ceremony. And the VA chief declined to get into a he said, she said with the president and the former chief of staff when asked whether he agreed with Trumps assessment that Gen. John Kelly didnt do a good job in that position. Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that Kelly had no temperament, petered out, got eaten alive and was unable to handle the pressure of his job. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Bret Baier on Fox News Sunday that Trump supports the military in an unbelievable way. Mnuchin said hes been with the president at Arlington National Cemetery, the World War II Memorial and the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. I think this president has enormous respect for the military and for the generals, Mnuchin said. This president respects and supports the U.S. military. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel described Trumps reported comments as beneath the dignity of any commander in chief, if true. Hagel, a veteran of the Vietnam War, encouraged the anonymous sources to come forward if they feel so strongly. But he also suggested that Trumps own words and actions make the story believable, including his comments about McCain, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, former national security adviser H.R. McMaster and Kelly, who also led the Department of Homeland Security before joining and leaving the White House. Hes on the record with saying things himself over the past few years, Hagel told Martha Raddatz on ABCs This Week. And that makes the credibility of this article and those anonymous comments more and more credible. Trump was in France in November 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, but opted to cancel a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, citing forecasts of bad weather. In place of Trump, Kelly and Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, attended the ceremony. In addition, other world leaders went on with their scheduled events, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trumps defense of himself Sunday was to go on the attack. The president accused news organizations of partnering with the Democratic Party on a massive Disinformation Campaign and urged his 85 million Twitter followers to let the magazines owner know how you feel!!! The Democrats, together with the corrupt Fake News Media, have launched a massive Disinformation Campaign the likes of which has never been seen before, Trump tweeted Sunday morning. They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks... But #MAGA gets it! Nearly three hours earlier, before 7 a.m., the president amplified a tweet from Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point USA, who said Laurene Powell Jobs has donated at least $500,000 to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidens campaign and noted that she owns a majority stake in the news magazine. Steve Jobs would not be happy that his wife is wasting money he left her on a failing Radical Left Magazine that is run by a con man (Goldberg) and spews FAKE NEWS & HATE, Trump said. Call her, write her, let her know how you feel!!! Speaking in defense of his article, Goldberg told CNNs Brian Stelter on Reliable Sources that he felt comfortable publishing the story because he spoke to multiple people with firsthand knowledge of the presidents views and comments. Thats the only reason to publish anything, he said. And I felt it was important to publish because, in my experience and in our collective experience, I dont think weve had a president who has contempt for American soldiers, wounded veterans, people whove been killed in action. So its incredibly novel. Its one of these things thats in the category of shocking yet not surprising. Goldberg said he also expects more confirmation, reporting and new nuggets of information to emerge in the coming days and weeks. UPDATE (7:53 AM): The Eagles re-signed cornerback CreVon LeBlanc on Monday morning. The move comes less than 24 hours after the cornerback was cut to make room for running back Jason Huntley, who was claimed off waivers by the Eagles on Sunday. The Eagles now have five cornerbacks on the roster: LeBlanc, Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Craig James and Nickell Robey Coleman. --- The Eagles positionless secondary just got smaller. Sign up for Eagles Extra: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text directly with reporters Following Sundays waiver claim of running back Jason Huntley, the Eagles released cornerback CreVon LeBlanc in a corresponding move. LeBlanc joined the team midway through the 2018 season. Ironically, just like Huntley, LeBlanc arrived in Philadelphia after being claimed off waivers from the Detroit Lions. LeBlanc made the Eagles initial 53-man roster on Saturday as part of a five-man cornerback group. The Eagles choose to keep LeBlanc over 2017 draft picks, Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas, prior to the cutdown deadline. Buy an Eagles Darius Slay jersey: Fanatics, NFL Shop, Lids With LeBlanc now off the roster, the Eagles only have four cornerbacks: Darius Slay, Avonte Maddox, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Craig James. That means the group is rather light. LeBlanc had a strong camp as the backup nickel cornerback so his release is surprising. That said, he is a vested veteran and isnt subject to waivers. The Eagles are expected to place a few players on the temporary injured reserve list on Sunday afternoon, so the team could bring back LeBlanc to fill one of their spots in short order. The Eagles likely cut LeBlanc over safeties like Marcus Epps and Rudy Ford because those players are subject to waivers. Instead of risking a young defensive back to the waiver process, the Eagles might have reached an understanding with LeBlanc prior to his release. If the Eagles want to bring LeBlanc back soon, the cornerback could re-sign with Philadelphia at a moments notice. If the Eagles decide to re-sign LeBlanc after Week 1, the team could sign the veteran to a non-guaranteed deal. Either way, releasing LeBlanc doesnt put an absolute end to the cornerbacks tenure. Even with 10 defensive backs in the fold, it would be odd for the Eagles to go into Week 1 with just four of those players being cornerbacks. Granted, strong safety Jalen Mills has the ability to play cornerback if needed. Get Eagles text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text directly with beat writer Mike Kaye. Plus, exclusive news and analysis. Sign up now for a free trial. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. File photo taken on July 11, 2018 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Fear-mongering over China has always been the Pentagon's trick to demand more appropriations from the U.S. Congress. A fabricated grave threat to world peace can also help Washington sell more weapons to its allies, and serves as an excuse for America's pursuit of global domination. BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Over the past 20 years, the Pentagon's annual report on China's military development has always been one of Washington's major avenues to peddle its "China threat" theory. This year's edition is unsurprisingly no exception. The recently released 200-page report is crowded with anti-China hogwash. By using such speculative words as "likely" and "probably" to misinterpret China's national defense policy, it tries to mislead the world that the development of the Chinese military poses "serious implications" for global security. Fear-mongering over China has always been the Pentagon's trick to demand more appropriations from the U.S. Congress. A fabricated grave threat to world peace can also help Washington sell more weapons to its allies, and serves as an excuse for America's pursuit of global domination. With the election day around the corner, many inside the United States assume that the White House is trying to use the report to drum up its getting-tough-on-China campaign in order to score political points. CNN commented earlier this week that the China report "published in the run up to the 2020 election as President Donald Trump is looking to make his increasingly aggressive stance towards Beijing a key campaign issue." However, while Washington is selling its latest "China-scare" fiction to the world, it is hard to overlook such facts that the United States spent more on military than 144 countries combined in 2018 and maintains nearly 800 military bases in over 70 countries. The world's top military power also invaded sovereign countries based on lies, sent warships and fighter jets to far-flung waters to ignite regional tensions, and turned its back on its due global responsibility in arms control and nuclear non-proliferation. The Chinese military is in no way close to what the report has pictured. Beijing has persisted on a path of peaceful development, and its military expenditure faithfully reflects this truth. China is now the world's second largest economy, yet its defense spending has stayed much below the world average for years, and its defense budget growth rate has been falling in recent years. An official defense white paper issued in July last year said China's military has cut 300,000 personnel to keep the total active force at 2 million, with the number of personnel in the leading organs at and above regiment level down by about 25 percent and that of non-combat units by almost 50 percent. In the meantime, the Chinese military is faithfully implementing a defense-oriented policy. It has been committed to a self-defense nuclear strategy, vowing not to first use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances. China has been widely recognized for consistently maintaining its strong commitment to global nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament efforts. In early March, it issued a joint statement with France, Russia, Britain and the United States, reaffirming their pledge to honor the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in all its aspects. The Chinese military has also been working with others to safeguard world peace. China, with over 2,500 "blue helmets" across the world, is now the largest contributor of personnel to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Over the years, Chinese peacekeepers carried out missions to clear landmines in Lebanon, built roads in South Sudan, and cured the sick in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And the Chinese navy ships have also been on escort missions for vessels sailing in the Gulf of Aden. Moreover, Beijing has been actively supporting international military regulations and participating in global security governance. It has voiced on many occasions its full and steadfast support for the International Atomic Energy Agency, and has recently joined the Arms Trade Treaty. Facts speak louder than words. The U.S. administration's conspiracies behind the flawed report can fool no sober minds around the world. If Washington truly cares about building a more stable and peaceful world, it should join China for that end, rather than waste time producing lies. You can now create low-fi beats online using Google's Lo-Fi Player. You can mess about with different sounds and loops to create a full song. Google has also made the source code for the player available on GitHub. If you love music but really dont know how to play an instrument or even program music, Googles got you covered. The search engine giant recently released the Google Magenta Lo-Fi player that you can load up in your browser and start creating music right away. The project was created by an intern at Google and looks really retro with the 8-bit graphics and aesthetic. All you need to do to start making music is load up the player and start clicking on the various instruments you see on screen. It really is as easy as that. Objects like the cat, piano, acoustic guitar and bass will allow you to customize different tracks and melodies. In a blog post, Google said, We chose Lo-Fi Hip Hop because its a popular genre with relatively simple music structure. This limited flexibility helps ensure that the music always makes sense. Were able to create something more like a music generating room than a musical instrument or composition tool. Google has incorporated several music machine learning models developed by the Magenta team to help users make the experience more novel and dynamic. Google has also transformed the Lo-Fi Player into an interactive YouTube stream where instead of clicking on the various objects to make music, you simply type in the commands in the Live Chat. Google has also made the source code for the player available on GitHub. This may not be world-changing but it really allows people to mess about with sounds and loops and who knows, this could actually push people into making more music. Check out the Lo-Fi Player, here. In other Google news, weve got a handy and easy-to-follow guide on how you can activate Google Chromes Dark Mode on Android, iOS, Windows and Mac, right here. The search engine giant has also rolled out a new Saved tab on Google Maps to help you keep track of your favourite places. And finally, here is how you can recover your deleted photos on Google Photos. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which is looking into allegations of drug use by the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his actor-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, questioned Rhea for nearly six hours on Sunday. Rhea was allowed to leave the NCB office around 6.15pm. Meanwhile, NCB arrested ninth person, Khar resident Anuj Keshwani, in the case on Sunday. Rajput was found dead in his Bandra home on June 14, leading to doubts about whether it was a suicide. His father, KK Singh, filed an FIR with the Bihar Police, alleging abetment and suspicious money transfers. The arrests of two drug peddlers on a specific input led NCB to Rheas brother Showik, bringing in the drug angle. Sameer Wankhede, zonal director of NCB, said, The investigation has not been completed due to her late arrival. We will summon her again tomorrow and the investigation will continue. Also read: Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker react to Rhea Chakraborty being mobbed at NCB office: Witness our lowest, shameful witch hunt Rheas advocate and senior counsel Satish Maneshinde said, Rhea is ready for arrest as this is a witch hunt and if loving someone is a crime, she will face the consequences of her love. Being innocent, she has not approached any court for anticipatory bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar Police, now with CBI, ED and NCB. Meanwhile, Keshwani was arrested for allegedly supplying drugs to Kaizan Ebrahim, who was arrested on Friday. During interrogation, Ebrahim confessed that he used to buy drugs from Keshwani, said KPS Malhotra, deputy director of NCB. In the search at Keshwanis residence, officials seized 590gm of hashish, 0.64gm of LSD sheets, 304gm of marijuana, including imported marijuana joints and capsules, and 1,85,200 and 5000 Indonesian rupiah. The quantity can be termed commercial under the NDPS Act, said an official. Also read: Will Sushant Singh Rajput be pleased with treatment given to Rhea Chakraborty?: Shatrughan Sinha asks actors fans Earlier in the day, NCB produced Rajputs domestic help Dipesh Sawant, who was arrested on Saturday, before a magistrates court. He has been remanded in NCB custody till September 9. NCB on Friday arrested Showik, Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda, and two Bandra residents and drug peddlers Abdel Basit Parihar, 23, and Ebrahim. The other three arrested for drug peddling are Zaid Vilatra, 20 (arrested on Thursday), Abbas Lakhani, and Karan Arora (arrested on August 27-28). NCB officials told the court they wanted Sawants custody to confront him with other suspects, including Showik, Miranda and Vilatra. According to NCB officers, on March 17, on Showiks instructions, Sawant went with Miranda to get 5gm of marijuana from Vilatra. On April 17, Rhea and Showik instructed Sawant to receive a delivery of 10gm of hashish from Ebrahim near Mont Blanc building, said NCB officials. On May 1, Showik had reportedly asked him to receive marijuana from a person named Dwayne, and had received 50gm of marijuana from Dwayne on May 2. NCB officers claimed that in the first week of June, Sawant received 100gm of marijuana from a delivery boy, Rishikesh Pawar. However, Sawants lawyer Rajendra Rathod argued that he was just an employee of Rajput. By PTI NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan's mother died on Sunday morning at the age of 89, following a cardiac arrest, the minister said on Twitter. Vardhan said according to the wish of his mother, her eyes were donated at the AIIMS. Her body would be handed over to the Maulana Azad Medical College administration in the afternoon, the health minister also said. Heartbroken to inform that my dearest person on earth, my Mother, has left for heavenly abode. She was 89 & suffered a cardiac arrest today morning. A towering personality, my guide & philosopher, she has left a void in my life that none can fill. May her pious soul find peace. pic.twitter.com/wCAm0P74OC Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) September 6, 2020 "Her body donation would keep inspiring us to live for the society," he said in a tweet in Hindi. "Heartbroken to inform that my dearest person on earth, my mother, has left for heavenly abode. She was 89 and suffered a cardiac arrest today morning. A towering personality, my guide and philosopher, she has left a void in my life that none can fill. May her pious soul find peace," Vardhan tweeted. The political party to be launched by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) will contest 80-100 seats in the assembly elections in Assam due early next year, a top AASU leader said on Sunday. IMAGE: A woman holds a child as she casts her vote at a polling station in Hojai district of Assam. Photograph: Anuwar Hazarika/Reuters After the 18-member 'Assam Advisory Committee' suggested the two organisations to form a political party, a source close to the development said the new outfit will be launched within the next 10 days. Though the AASU and AJYCP will not forge any pre-poll alliance with the Congress or be part of its proposed 'Grand Alliance', it is open for an understanding with the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), AASU general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi told PTI in an interview. "Targeting 2021 polls, we will start working as per the recommendation of the committee. We are targeting to contest 80-100 seats across Assam," he said. The new political party will not join hands with the nationalist and 'communal' forces as that will hurt the sentiments of the indigenous people who trust AASU and AJYCP, he added. The election to the 126-member Assam assembly is likely to be held in March-April next year. The 2016 elections gave a fractured mandate and no party has an absolute majority in the current House. The 'Assam Advisory Committee' that had some of the most prominent names from the state submitted its report on September 2 and suggested the influential AASU-AJYCP to float a political party to contest the upcoming elections, the source cited above said. Though Gogoi declined to comment on the report, the source told PTI that the party will be launched within the next 10 days and it will be announced through a joint press conference by the leaders of the AASU and AJYCP in Guwahati. When asked if the new party will forge a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress and its allies, Gogoi said: "We are strictly against the Congress and AIUDF as well as the BJP. The Congress is equally guilty for the foreigners issue." The Congress had even supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Act with the 2014 deadline by including Muslim immigrants, and they are the ones who started the construction of big dams in Assam, he said. "Today, they (Congress) are opposing all these issues because they are not in power. They too worked on the lines of the BJP-AGP-BPF alliance. These are opportunistic parties," said Gogoi. He, however, said that once the Akhil Gogoi-led KMSS forms its political party, the AASU-AJYCP may have an understanding with them. "We will do a political settlement only because we cannot afford a vote division. It may be said that it is a political compulsion to prevent the division of votes against the anti-Assam forces," said Gogoi, who hails from the Tinsukia district and is pursuing PhD in Mathematics from the Dibrugarh University. The AASU leader said that they will also consider an alliance with the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), formed by Rajya Sabha member Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, who was backed by the Congress and All India United Democratic Front, provided it does not join hands with other parties. Replying to a question on the division of opposition votes if it stays away from the Congress, Gogoi said, "Votes will be divided if we put up candidates in all constituencies and specifically targeting the Congress. As I said, we will contest in 80-100 seats." "So, there will be 30-40 seats, where we will not give any candidate at all. However, one thing is clear, that we will not have any alliance with them (Congress). We believe Congress and BJP are both enemies of Assam," he added. He said the AASU and AJYCP are looking to form their own government when asked about its post-poll plans. On allying with the Congress and its partners in case of a fractured mandate, Gogoi said: "One thing is sure that we will adopt all tactics to oust the BJP." He said, "The BJP is a fascist force, which does not respect freedom of speech and never listened to the voice of the people". "Take any issue -- big dam, CAA and now EIA, BJP showed that they don't have any respect for democracy and are leading the government in an autocratic way. They are also attacking all the democratic institutions such as the press, judiciary, civil services, RBI and other agencies," he said. Gogoi further alleged that the sanctity of the educational institutes have been compromised with 'all RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) people' being appointed to the top positions, affecting the quality of learning. He said they had planned to finalise the political entry by April through a state convention but it got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "However, when the danger is very big, the time factor does not affect. Moreover, we have a strong ground base of both AASU and AJYCP, which will help us tremendously. It is a test -- not only for the political party but also for the people of Assam," he said. Gogoi said the political party will raise money through crowdfunding as it believes that the people of Assam will stand by it with their love. Earlier, he had said that the political party will be in the 'tight grip' of the AASU-AJYCP, which does not want another 'uncontrollable' AGP-like organisation to emerge in Assam. No challenge, says BJP Leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Assam on Friday asserted that no alliance or new party stands as a hindrance for the saffron party's return to power in the state for the second time in the assembly polls due in early 2021. State BJP president Ranjit Kumar Dass and senior party leader and Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also attacked the opposition Congress for the tardy development in the state and for going out of its way to 'disrupt and destroy' Assam. Addressing the state BJP Executive meeting in Guwahati on Friday, Dass claimed, "In front of our dedicated karyakartas (workers) no alliance/new party stands as a factor of hindrance." This was a reference to the coming together of All Assam Students' Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti to form an allaince and fight the polls. 'If the 42 lakh karyakartas of BJP Assam bring even one new member we we will undoubtedly be successful in our Mission #BJP + = 100 +,' he said. "Three Cs - that is Congress, Communist and Communalist have constantly gone out of their way to disrupt and destroy Assam," asserted the BJP state chief. A true Indian, patriot of Assam along with the karyakartas of BJP Assam should reject these three Cs, he said. Sarma said no alliance/new party was a hindrance to BJP's return to power for the second term in the state by winning the hearts of the people. Without referring to AASU, AJYCP and KMSS coming together with like-minded organisations and Congress, besides Congress' efforts for 'Mahajuth' for the assembly polls, Sarma said, "There may be two political parties, three political parties and Mahajuth (grand alliance)." "But they cannot stand one day in front of the three crore people of Assam. I tell those (AASU) who criticised the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or made public the report on the Clause 6 of Assam Accord without it being laid in assembly to face the people by fighting the coming assembly polls," he said. Clause 6 of Assam Accord provides constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards, as may be appropriate, to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. Criticising the 15-year Congress rule in Assam under Tarun Gogoi, Sarma said only the national games held then defined the three terms of the Gogoi government when the BJP government is defined by the 55 stadia and the slew of development schemes it undertook for the welfare of the people and the development of Assam in just five years. Sarma was a powerful minister in the Congress regime till he fell out with Gogoi and joined BJP on the eve of the 2016 elections. Chief Mininister Sarbananda Sonowal in his speech asked whether Congress has the moral right to criticise BJP. "Look at Congress' history. Beginning with first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru down to their other premiers, Congress created history by being involved in corruption." "So do not engage in any arguments with Congress but concentrate on finding a place in the hearts of the people," exhorted Sonowal. Stating that Assam in the pre-Independence era was one of the most developed states of India, he said due to the misrule of Congress it got relegated as one of the most backward states. "Now under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we want to go forward as a developed state. We seek the help of the people to make the youths of Assam self-reliant and able citizens of the state and country. I want to make our state economically developed," Sonowal said and urged the BJP workers to work for the party. Fire Watch, Red Flag Warning for Oregon, Washington Coast; Some Areas Ban Fires Published 09/05/20 at 7:41 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) Extremely low humidity and high winds have created some potentially dangerous situations across Oregon and Washington, even affecting the coastlines. The National Weather Service (NWS) is urging extreme caution with flames of any kind, now even on the Oregon and Washington coast. Its resulted in a Red Flag Warning and a Fire Watch issued for early in the week along the beach towns and coast range hills, from Westport, Washington down through Florence, Oregon. A handful of south coast parks have banned fiames of any kind, and Lincoln County has banned any fires on the beach or in county parks.. There is a Red Flag Warning in effect Monday to 10 p.m. Tuesday, for the upper half of the Oregon coast and the southern Washington coast. The NWS said this is because of low humidity and fairly high winds, which greatly add to the risk of a quickly-spreading wildfire. This has also led to an official Fire Watch issued by the NWS, in effect from Tuesday evening through Wednesday evening, due to extremely low humidity. The Fire Watch is also for the southern Washington coast and northern Oregon coast. Use extra caution with potential ignition sources, especially in grassy areas, the NWS said. Outdoor burning is not recommended. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) has banned fires of any kind in some south coast beach parks, including William Tugman, Bullards Beach State Park, Harris Beach and Umpqua Lighthouse, among a couple of others. Lincoln County has banned fires on beaches or in county parks. The ban applies to wood, charcoal and other flame sources that cannot be turned off, according to the county website. These include the town's of Lincoln City, Gleneden Beach, Depoe Bay, Otter Rock, Newport, Waldport, Seal Rock and Yachats. So far, OPRD has not banned fires in other parks, such as on the upper half of the Oregon coast, nor have any coastal cities outright banned beachfires aside from Lincoln County. The forecast for those sections of both states has drastically changed since earlier this week, including no 100-degree weather for Portland. Now southern Washingtons coast and the bulk of the Oregon coast are looking to be in the 70s close to the beaches for much of the week, then rising drastically to upper 80s to 90s if you head just a little ways inland. From Sunday onward, temps will be mostly in the upper 60s to 70s and mostly to all sunny, though inland areas like Nehalem, Astoria or Toledo will be sizably hotter, closer to valley temps. Its a similar forecast for the whole of the week, through Saturday, for both the upper and southern portions of the Oregon coast. See Oregon Coast Weather - Washington Coast Weather Oregon Coast Hotels in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted On September 7, 1940, the Luftwaffe launched the Blitz, starting with an aerial attack aimed mainly at the Port of London. The Nazi bombing campaign against Britain killed some 43,000 civilians, with raids on cities across the country lasting until May 1941. However, the Blitz did not achieve any military objectives or break British morale, failing to diminish the UK as a thorn in Adolf Hitlers side. When the Blitz started in September 1940, the Battle of Britain, which had been launched three months earlier, was drawing to a close before ending in October. It had become increasingly clear to the Nazis that the Royal Air Force was defeating the Luftwaffe in the skies. Still, the bombing of British cities went ahead even though it had been planned as part of Operation Sea Lion, the Nazi invasion of the UK that would soon be shelved amid the Germans defeat in the Battle of Britain and would never to take place. In addition to the tens of thousands of civilians killed, more than two million homes were destroyed, 60 percent of them in London. The capital was the major target, but industrial centres such as Coventry, Birmingham and Sheffield, and port cities including Portsmouth, Glasgow and Belfast were also victims of the Blitz, as the press dubbed it using the German word for lightning. The damage to Coventry in the West Midlands was particularly horrifying. Coventry Cathedral a 14th-century Gothic masterpiece; one of the jewels in the crown of the Anglican Church was reduced to ruins. Its roofless remains still stand as a testament to the pity of war. This destruction contrasts with the negligible impact of the bombing on the outcome of the war, with minimal damage to the UKs strategic infrastructure. By and large the British people kept calm and carried on. Eighty years on, FRANCE 24 discussed the Blitz with Richard Overy, professor of history at Exeter University and author of a variety of books on modern history, in particular the Second World War, including The Bombing War and Why the Allies Won. Story continues What motivated Adolf Hitler and Hermann Goring to launch the air raids on the UK? When they sent the Luftwaffe to Britain on September 7, they hadnt worked out the entire campaign; they hadnt thought about the Blitz as it was going to become. In fact, the September 7 attack was really part of the preparation for Sea Lion; a big air attack against London a week or so before Sea Lion had been planned in order to disrupt government administration, attack trade and shipping, and so on. So the idea was the launch a large shock attack against London, and then the invasion would take place about a week or 10 days later. But its often been misinterpreted, as if it was revenge for attacks by British bombers on Berlin. How did the Blitz develop into a campaign that lasted several months? The German invasion of Britain of course didnt take place. They hadnt defeated the RAF and Hitler realised it and postponed Sea Lion, finally cancelling it the following year, but he wanted to put pressure on Britain so he demanded a blockade campaign. Bombing was directed mainly at British ports and shipping, and the hope was that they could put pressure on Britain as its trade supplies would decline and the Churchill government would seek some kind of compromise with Hitler. But Hitler was always very iffy about it; he never had any confidence that the Luftwaffe could actually deliver what he wanted. So the invasion couldnt take place but Hitler wanted to keep going at Britain, and the only way he could think of doing it was by intensifying the blockade in the hope that that would be decisive. It was only when it had become clear, by November, that the bombing had not achieved anything that Hitler decided that he was going to turn against the Soviet Union, and he would do that because it would put pressure on Britain and would also the idea was give Germany resources it could then use to turn against Britain and the United States at a later date. How extensive was the damage the Blitz caused? The physical damage was much less than what the Luftwaffe had hoped for and it indicated how weak the German bomber arm was. It had a relatively small force, not capable of carrying heavy loads of bombs. It very soon lost the ability to navigate accurately, its navigation being intercepted. In German pilots bugged conversations, they would talk to each other and say: Whats the use? We simply couldnt bomb accurately; we didnt know what it was they wanted us to do. Britains potential war production was probably reduced by no more than 5 percent. Only 0.5 percent of Britains oil stocks were destroyed; the supply of oil soared. When gas or electricity supplies were disrupted, in most cases it could be restored within a day or so. After the bombing of Coventry, it took two or three weeks to restore services. But seeing as there were always people to restore services, the impact of the bombing was always going to be quite limited. The human damage was quite different. The Blitz killed 43,000 people. It was the first time that such a number of people were killed from the air. They were killed chiefly because the Luftwaffe focused on port cities and working-class districts were clustered around the ports. When they couldnt hit the ports, they hit the working-class districts. They hit the East End of London because thats where the port of London was. Many people tried to shelter in their own homes and were killed in large numbers. This wasnt really what the Luftwaffe was aiming for. It was a by-product of not being able to bomb very accurately. Psychologically, it was a boost to the morale of the people not being bombed; they could feel they were showing the Blitz spirit, and they wanted reprisals against Germany. In areas that were bombed, there was plenty of evidence of demoralisation and temporary panic. But there was nothing on a scale that could have amounted to social crisis. The government was very alive to this and made all kinds of efforts to provide shelter, food and so on. The immediate effect of the bombing was much less than one might expect. There was a lot of loose talk in the 1930s that city life would collapse, that there would be a social revolution. But during the Blitz there was no political backlash. People criticised but also appreciated what it was that the British government was trying to do. There wasnt going to be riots in the streets; people werent going to overthrow the government. Although they were demoralised by the bombing, it didnt then follow that it would produce a social or political crisis. That was the mistake made on the British side too, when it came to bombing Germany. They thought that somehow a certain level of bombing would produce a social or political crisis, but even in Germany where hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the bombing and 60 percent of urban areas destroyed it didnt produce any kind of social or political collapse. Michigan reported 838 new cases of coronavirus Saturday, Sept. 5, down from 982 the previous day. Statewide, there have now been 106,215 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 6,534 resulting in death. Saturday marked eight new deaths, three of which were identified during a Vital Records review. In other coronavirus news, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Saturday signed two executive orders that will continue the protection of frontline workers including grocery, pharmacy and long-term care facility employees. Heres the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in Michigan going into Sunday, Sept. 6. Whitmer extends executive order continuing protection of frontline workers during coronavirus pandemic Executive Order 2020-179 requires stores to provide two hours a week of reserved shopping time for vulnerable populations, and it will require health and safety precautions such as testing, cleaning and disinfecting, PPE and social distancing. Michigan has worked hard to fight COVID-19, but the fight is not over yet, Whitmer said. We cant let our guard down and must continue to step up to do our part to slow the spread of the virus and save lives. Frontline workers in our hospitals, grocery stores, nursing homes, and more have put their own lives on the line to protect our families. By extending these orders, we can protect our frontline heroes and most vulnerable populations from this virus and ensure they are able to work and live in a safe environment. Order 179 will continue through Sept. 30, according to a news release from the governors office, and will protect residents from eviction and employees from retaliatory action for staying home while exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Executive Order 2020-178 will also last through Sept. 30 and extends the health and safety rules to include the following: Grocery stores and pharmacies must allocate at least two hours per week of shopping time for vulnerable populations. If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, the business must notify other employees without infringing on private health information. Grocery stores and pharmacies must offer accommodations to vulnerable employees, such as low-risk assignments or a leave of absence. This is how Michigan colleges are carrying out classes for the fall semester Many colleges in Michigan have begun the fall semester, and all have varying approaches to try to keep students safe from COVID-19. A few have chosen to move all of their classes online, but many are offering a mix of online, in-person and hybrid classes to limit interactions on campus. Schools like Central Michigan University and Adrian College have already had outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus after students returned, and because of that, schools such as Kalamazoo College and Eastern Michigan University have chosen to move their classes online or delay the in-person fall semester by a few weeks. Michigan auto sales perking up, but blow to industry could last through 2022 While Michigans auto industry is recovering more quickly than predicted, it suffered an economic blow due to the coronavirus that will likely linger for years. Total new vehicle sales are down 25% this year, total annual production estimates have shrunk by about 4 million vehicles and there are fewer automotive jobs in Michigan than there have been in any year since 2009, Center for Automotive Research President and CEO Carla Bailo told the Michigan Legislatures Joint Select Committee on the COVID-19 Pandemic Wednesday. We expect (a full recovery) is going to take about another two years, Bailo said. Thats predicated on a continued recovery throughout this year. Should we have another hit in the fall, well have to adjust those numbers. Frankenmuth water park attractions to close, citing executive orders Parts of an iconic water park have closed after a new executive order out of Lansing, the business announced on Saturday. Zehnders Splash Village, a hotel and water park at 1365 S Main St., Frankenmuth, has temporarily closed off its Drop Slide, Family Raft Ride, and Tube Slides, the company announced on social media Friday afternoon. Swimming pools will remain open. The decision is in response to Whitmers most recent Executive Orders, the post reads. But the latest executive orders extended the statewide state of emergency and loosen some restrictions on gyms, and do not mention water parks. In fact, an explicit closure of water parks was announced in late July - during which time Splash Village remained open. And while water parks are not mentioned in Thursdays executive order pertaining to gyms, other amusement parks are, and are allowed to remain open, with safety precautions. COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and carry hand sanitizer with you when you go into places like stores. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also issued executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, click here. Read more on MLive: Gov. Whitmer hints at news on high school sports in the coming days Coronavirus in local schools is inevitable, Kalamazoo County health director says Decision on reopening of gyms, ice rinks, theaters coming very soon, Whitmer says Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, director of the World Trade Organization and International Trade Centre, under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry In the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Vietnam commits to opening part of its government procurement market to EU contractors. Government procurement, or public procurement, is the act of obtaining goods or services for a public agency, using part of the public budget. In such public procurement, states tend to give priority to buying goods and services from local businesses and units, considering it a good way to ensure the highest benefit for the locals. This is a popular practice that almost all countries follow. In the US, the Buy American scheme applies solely for the purchase of goods and services made by American groups. A similar act is being applied in other countries, except for those with open market agreements. In some specific cases, only domestic contractors are allowed to compete for the public procurement packages of their countries. In Vietnam before 2019, before the enforcement of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), there were in principle no foreign contractors freely joining government procurement packages in the country, except for cases of using foreign loans/international funding, or those offering international bidding. Within the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam is only an observer of the organisations Government Procurement Agreement and is yet to make any market-opening commitments in this field. In the FTAs which took effect before last year, Vietnam also did the same. Photo: Le Toan Bold step towards liberalisation The EVFTA is not the first time that Vietnam has opened its government procurement market to foreign contractors, with the CPTPP being the first. However, in the EVFTA, the scale of packages that Vietnam permits EU firms to join is significantly wider than that in the CPTPP. Specifically, in the EVFTA, Vietnam commits to opening government procurement packages for 20 central-level agencies, two localities (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), and 42 other units including hospitals and universities. Meanwhile, for CPTPP contractors, Vietnam opened packages in 21 central-level agencies, 38 other units, and no localities. The minimum threshold calculated in special drawing rights (SDRs) of packages that are subject to market opening to EU contractors is also much lower than that in the CPTPP. For example, in the CPTPP, except for construction packages, in the first five years of the enforcement only packages valued at VND98billion ($4.26 million) and higher are open to CPTPP contractors, and starting from the sixth year, the threshold is down to over VND65 billion ($2.83 million). In the EVFTA, the threshold is applied only for the packages offered by localities and other units in the first 10 years, and then will be reduced by a schedule to over VND32 billion ($1.39 million) starting from the 16th year onward. The minimum threshold of packages for central government procurement is much lower, from VND49 billion ($2.13 million) in the first five years to over VND4 billion ($173,900) from the sixth year onward (see box). Vietnams state budget is modest and so its expenditures therefore are not as big as in other countries. In spite of this, government procurement still makes up a significant part in the countrys total domestic spending. It could be said that the government is the big purchaser of goods and services in Vietnam. For domestic contractors who had for years dominated the government procurement market, sharing a slice of the cake to EU firms is not good news, especially as EU competitors have strong expertise in capital, professionalism, competitive edge, and international experience. Challenges and opportunities However, in a broader view, the market opening for EU contractors is not completely a serious threat to Vietnamese contractors. Firstly, generally the structure of goods and services of the EU does not compete directly with Vietnam. In government procurement, EU contractors mostly have no special interest in goods and services that Vietnamese contractors have advantages in bidding for public procurement contracts such as agroproducts, foodstuff, woodwork, textiles and garments, footwear, and more. On the contrary, the government procurement packages that EU businesses are forecast to have strong interest in, such as high-tech devices and machinery, are not the top focus and priority among Vietnamese firms. Therefore, direct competition in government procurement packages in Vietnam with the future involvement of EU contractors will not be as tough as expected. Secondly, although minimum thresholds of government procurement packages that Vietnam commits to open to EU contractors in the EVFTA are lower than in the CPTPP, such remains higher than the common ones in Vietnam, and the schedule to lower it is long. Thus, in the short term, the packages with small and average threshold will yet to face competition from the EU. Moreover, for some groups of specific and sensitive products like pharmaceuticals and products for national defence, Vietnam has specific market-opening commitments with a significantly slower timeline, and quotas of total contract value reserved specifically for Vietnamese firms. Even for packages expected to be exposed to competition with EU competitors, this is not all bad news. As to these packages, Vietnam not only promises to open to EU contractors, it also commits to ensure the bidding process and procedures are transparent and meet the high standards of the EVFTA. For genuine Vietnamese businesses, this will help them expel negative phenomena in bidding, thus increasing the opportunities to win bids for them. The EVFTA even brings about huge opportunities for Vietnamese contractors who are capable enough to access the EUs giant government procurement market. The EUs commitment to open its government procurement market to Vietnam is significant. This may be the reason why it asked Vietnam to make significantly stronger market-opening commitments than in the CPTPP. In fact, the EU has already made a similar market-opening commitment in the EU-Singapore FTA in this field. However, Singapore is not a direct competitor with Vietnam in the majority of products. The main competitors of Vietnam in the EU market, such as ASEAN and China, are yet to have the rights to approach the EU government procurement market. Indian and Chinese militaries on Sunday held another round of talks in eastern Ladakh in an attempt to calm tensions even as the situation remained 'delicate' with both sides further rushing in additional troops and weapons following last week's confrontations, government sources said. IMAGE: An IAF fighter jet flies over the UT amid the prolonged India-China stand off in the region, in Ladakh, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo The nearly four-hour brigade commander-level interaction near Chushul could not produce any tangible outcome, they said. The sources said the Indian Army has been on a very high level of alert and is ready to deal with any eventuality in the area. The overall situation in the region continued to be delicate, they said. Tension escalated in the region after Indian troops foiled attempts by Chinese military to occupy Indian territories in the southern bank of Pangong lake area on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. Following the confrontation, India occupied a number of strategic heights in the Chushul sector overlooking crucial bases of the Chinese military. Since then, China has deployed additional troops, tanks and anti-tank guided missiles in the area. India too has strengthened its combat capabilities following reinforcements by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The two sides held extensive talks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, each lasting over six hours, but no concrete result emerged from the negotiations. In talks with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe on Friday in Moscow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed that China's actions like amassing a large number of troops, its aggressive behaviour and attempts to alter the status quo in Ladakh were in violation of bilateral pacts. He also told Wei that China must strictly respect the Line of Actual Control(LAC) and not make attempts to unilaterally change its status quo. Sources said that Singh told Wei firmly that India will not 'cede an inch of land' and is determined to protect the integrity and sovereignty of the country at 'all cost'. On Monday, the Indian Army said the Chinese military carried out 'provocative military movements' to 'unilaterally' change the status quo on the southern bank of Pangong lake on the intervening night of August 29 and 30 but the attempt was thwarted by the Indian troops. The two sides were earlier engaged in a confrontation on the northern bank of Pangong lake but it was for the first time such an incident occurred on its southern bank. There have been reports that China has deployed J-20 long-range fighter jets and several other key assets in strategically located Hotan airbase which is around 310 kms from eastern Ladakh. In the last three months, the IAF deployed almost all its frontline fighter jets like Sukhoi 30 MKI, Jaguar and Mirage 2000 aircraft in the key frontier air bases in eastern Ladakh and elsewhere along the LAC. The fresh attempt by China to change the status quo in the Pangong lake area is the first major incident in the area after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. China also suffered casualties but is yet to make the details public. According to an American intelligence report, it was 35. India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in the last two-and-half months but no significant headway has been made for a resolution to the border row in eastern Ladakh. An IAF fighter jet flies over the UT amid the prolonged India-China stand off in the region, in Ladakh, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. (PTI Photo)(PTI Louis Theroux has had a good Covid. Grounded, his lockdown podcast series, has played host to Rose McGowan, Helena Bonham Carter and, most recently, Chris ODowd. Hes famous enough to attract interesting guests, and has a patient interviewing style well-suited to rambling Zoom calls. Now he has been roped into the lockdown TV genre with Life on the Edge, a four-part series that looks back on his career and revisits some of his previous subjects. Therouxs work lends itself to this treatment. With 25 years of documentaries behind him, he has a deep well to draw from. Hes also worked in this style before, most memorably when he examined his failure to spot the full monstrosity of Jimmy Savile. The framing is more thoughtful than you expect from a clips show. In each instalment, Theroux approaches his old work through a different lens. The first episode, Belief, revisits his subjects with the most extreme convictions, a rogues gallery of racists, anti-semites, UFO-fanatics, and bent pastors. Some are outright funny, which Louis acknowledges. Theres a pleasure in seeing someone do something really weird he says, a precis of his career. The reason its funny is because youre thinking, Thats not me, and I would never think that. But in a deeper way, that is all of us. Others are less entertaining. Although its still shocking to see a neo-Nazi throw Theroux out when he refuses to say whether he is Jewish, the most interesting passages in Belief are with more ambivalent subjects. In his first Weird Weekends series, in 1998, Theroux met a right-wing patriot in Idaho, Mike Cain, a mild-mannered and charming host utterly convinced another American civil war was imminent. The baby-faced Louis was rather taken in by Mike and his family, who possessed charm and ammunition in equal measure. When Louis made the documentary, President Bill Clinton was signing new gun control legislation and Cains view of the world looked absurd. Over video call this summer, with Donald Trump in office, mass protests over Black Lives Matter, and coronavirus prompting unprecedented government involvement in American life, Mikes outlook seems worryingly close to reality. The travesty of the Covid thing is not the virus itself, Cain says, but the tyranny its allowing to prosper. Many will agree. Perhaps the most alarming archive footage is with Lamb and Lynx, twin girls from California whose mother, April, was raising them to be a neo-Nazi pop act called Prussian Blue. They received widespread coverage after Louis featured them in 2003, but in their teens, the girls renounced their upbringing and previous views. Given all theyve been through, the two adult women who speak to Theroux seem remarkably well adjusted, and bewildered by their childhoods. Lamb and Lynxs story draws out the sentiment that lurks in Therouxs work: theres always the hope of progress, however weird the weekends of the past. Louis Theroux: Life on the Edge airs Sundays at 9pm on BBC Two The Dubai Health Authoritys Health Tourism Department will continue holding a series of webinars in collaboration with the private health sector to discuss the latest trends in health tourism. The aim of the webinars will be to discuss health tourism in the current global and local context and to discuss areas of focus, ways to provide medical tourists with enhanced health protocols, comfort and high-quality treatment. The webinars will also discuss the rising trend of wellness tourism which is an area that is emerging to be in demand with both residents and visitors in the Emirate. The wellness markets like resorts, spas and other operators are focusing their efforts providing the best services to travelers and residents who are looking for rejuvenation and detox. Patient care, experience and safety of travel are key parameters currently while destinations are slowly opening services for tourism; these educational webinars will reach out to the insurance companies, medical tourism facilitators and top hospitals to maximise ability to attract inbound patients, discuss opportunities and address challenges being faced by the medical tourism markets. Mohamed Al Mheiri, Director, Health Tourism Department, Dubai Health Authority said that DHA is keen to continue stakeholder engagement with the private health sector and the hospitality sector. He added that Dubai is the leading regional medical tourism destination and is one of the top healthcare destinations in the world thanks to its advanced patient care and state-of-the-art treatments, healthcare diagnostics and technology. Dubai has 20 licensed centres specialising in traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine (TCAM). These centers currently offer eight TCAM services and employ 234 professionals. The emirate witnessed a 4 per cent increase in its health tourist arrivals in 2019 to reach 350,118 compared to 2018. The majority of them were Asians at 34 per cent, followed by medical tourists from Arab and Gulf countries at 28 per cent and European countries at 17 per cent. Dermatology, dental and orthopedics remain the most sought after medical tourism specialties in 2019. Dubai also saw increased numbers of visitors from Asian, Arab , GCC and European destinations for various health and wellness pursuits. Fertility and ophthalmology are some of the other niche specialties that attracts medical tourists to the emirate. He added that although there are challenges and uncertainties due to Covid-19 that the world is facing, there are also opportunities and new trends in the health tourism sector that are worth exploring. Discussions with the private sector on challenges and opportunities as well as focusing on the current trend of wellness tourism and ways to provide the highest-quality of healthcare in a safe and comfortable environment are key factors. Al Mheiri highlighted that the department will also discuss the use of telehealth and digital health services especially for patients who require second medical opinion.-- Tradarabia News Service By Express News Service On pain of repetition, Covid-19 is to 21st century what the two World Wars were to the past century. The upheaval, the destruction, and the havoc wreaked by the virus are the stuff of a dystopian nightmare. But for the hopelessly sanguine, the crisis has a silver lining: The emergence of the State-run schools as a popular alternative to private institutions. The admissions to classes I, VI, and IX began at the government primary, middle, and high schools on August 17. However, by August 20, P Jayanthi had already welcomed 59 students from private schools to the Corporation Primary School in Tiruchy, where she is the Headmistress. The school saw 102 fresh admissions to Standard I, which Assistant Headmistress H Pushpalatha touts as the highest for a single class among government schools. Pushpalatha credits the karate classes, skating rings, Silambam training, among other curricular and infrastructure offerings for the newfound interest among the parents. The situation at Government Kurumbapalayam High School in Coimbatore district is similar. According to the headmaster, P Balan, As per data, 70 students were admitted to classes VI and IX last year. The figure stands at 113 students this year. Among them, 51 are from government schools and 62 from private schools. The migration from private schools to government institutions owes largely to the pandemic. Many parents told me that private schools have been forcing them to pay fees. As many have lost jobs, they preferred making their wards switch to government schools. Exceeding expectations These are not isolated schools, but the representative figures of a paradigm shift wrought about by a pandemic coupled with an economic slump. Probably this is the reason why the School Education Department officials are optimistic that admissions this season would trump last years. While School Education Minister K A Sengottaiyan had said that over 10 lakh students had sought admissions to government schools, officials estimated the figure to approach 15 lakh by September 30, marking a 25 per cent increase as compared to last year. The admissions have soared but are the State-run institutions equipped to handle the stress on their infrastructure? K R Nandhakumar of TN Matriculation, Higher Secondary, and CBSE Schools Association replies in the negative. While there has been a significant migration from private to government schools, State-run institutions may not have the infrastructure to accommodate the fresh intake. I doubt that enough government schools have adequate classrooms, toilets, tables, chairs, computers, or other infrastructure facilities. Many schools do not even have drinking water or drainage facilities, he said, adding that there might be a reverse migration to private schools once they reopen. Spending with elan When we talk about the State-run schools being light on pocket, an oft-ignored facet remains the investment made by the government in ensuring each student gets the best deal. While there is a price tag on everything at private schools, did you know that the government spends somewhere in the vicinity of Rs 25,000 on each child every year? Speaking to TNIE, Madurai District High School and Higher Secondary School Headmasters/Headmistresses Associations Treasurer C Thenkarai Muthupillai says the government shells out Rs 25,000 on every student to provide them free education, books, uniform, bags, slippers, learning aids, qualified teachers, good lab, and infrastructure. For parents reeling under financial strain, the switch to State-run institutions ensures affordable (nearly free) education without compromising on their wards future preparedness. Muthupillai is the Headmaster of Government Vedarpudur Higher Secondary School, where new admissions have risen from the 150 last year to the 210 now. And what motivates the government schools more is the fact that the admission season would last till September 30, by which time they expect the education officers predictions to come true. In Madurai, as per August 31 statistics, over 30,000 students have joined government schools. This is a 20 per cent spike when compared to last year. Done the homework When it came to preparing the generation next, private schools were considered eons ahead of their State-run counterparts. But the catch was that the parents had to pay with an arm and a leg for getting their wards the coveted tag of a private school product. Then came the pandemic, forcing the common Indian to revisit their budget. A cut here or a chop there was not sufficient. Strife for existence trumped exuberance. Practicality demanded that the education expenses undergo haircut. This proved to be the windfall for those government schools that had done their homework. Take Corporation Middle School in Piratiyur (Tiruchy) for instance. It witnessed 100 fresh faces joining its fold between classes LKG and VIII. Of the 100, 60 were from private schools. Among them were the son and the daughter of S Vasuki. After the pandemic, there was no way I could afford a private school. Then there was this school. I thought it was Tamil medium but soon realised it was English medium. Moreover, the administrations choice of uniform (violet and white checked tops with solid violet trousers) struck a chord with me. My inquiries revealed that the school had a rich repertoire of extracurricular activities and modern facilities like smart classes. The school also offers martial arts and yoga training, besides Hindi classes funded by the donors. NEET quota is the catalyst? Apart from the relief from the financial burden, the migration could also point towards a tactical move on the part of the parents to further the chances of their wards in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). A top office bearer of the Tamil Nadu Government School Teachers Association (TNGSTA), PK Ilamaran, says the governments promise to provide reservation to government school students in NEET could have tilted the balance in favour of State-run institutions. The State attracted many students to government schools by introducing LKG and UKG, and English medium sections. Similarly, the decision to introduce reservation in NEET is a major incentive for students to join government schools, he says. Attributing the pandemic as the sole driver behind this migration oversimplifies matters. For instance, Manachanallur Government Model Higher Secondary School Headmaster S Anbusekaran believes that augmented infrastructure, better academic training and the resultant performance, and the testimony of parents of the existing wards too have played a role. Anbusekarans school has had 270 fresh student admissions, of whom 230 have migrated from private institutions. Follow-up mantra An anecdote that Anbusekaran shared with TNIE is both instructive and enlightening insofar as gaining admissions are concerned. We had instructed the security personnel of school to note down the contact details of parents enquiring about admissions during the lockdown. Later, we followed up on those leads and kept in touch with the parents. This led to a sizeable conversion rate, he adds. While all the schools mentioned so far are English medium, Government M Kalathur Primary School near Thottiyam bucks the trend. A Tamil medium institution that offers English lessons, it managed to hold its own against private schools, and even English medium government institutions. Its Headmaster R Gurumurthy says they reached out to the prospective students and shared learning materials with them. This soft advertisement led to some sizeable conversion. Kumar admitted his son and daughter (Standards I and III) to Government M Kalathur Primary School. A lorry driver, Kumar had no source of income during the lockdown, prompting the shift. The school offers excellent spoken English training. I have seen students speak and read both Tamil and English better than they could before, he answers when asked about the reason for the switch. Migration-induced transfers Manikandam Block Education Officer (BEO) Maruthanayagam believes that the spike in admissions have a lot to do with reverse migration in the wake of job loss in the cities. In my block, most schools experienced a spike in admissions owing to the emigrant families returning home after losing jobs in cities. While agreeing to the notion that pandemic is the driving force behind the student migration, Tiruchy Chief Educational Officer S Santhi tells TNIE: The quality of education is improving with each passing year. Performance also is a factor in parents choosing State-run institutions... The schools in the district have got around 250 smart classrooms. It means there is one smart classroom for almost every high and higher secondary government school in the district. Dedicated campaign in coimbatore Door-to-door campaigns to explain the benefits of admitting wards to government schools were conducted in Coimbatore as well. The results are there for everyone to see. Coimbatores admission tally has already overtaken last years numbers. Coimbatore Chief Educational Officer (CEO) P Usha says, Compared to last year, student admission rate has increased in government schools here. Many students have moved from private schools to government institutions. We have beaten last years number in roughly a week. We do not have a concrete number now, but are hopeful that the strength would only increase in the coming days. Moreover, teachers too are chipping in their bit. Take Jasmine Victoria for instance. She teaches Tamil at Government Semmandampalayam High School. She admitted her son to class VI in Panchayat Union Middle School at Aathupalayam. My son studied up to class V at a private school. For long, I wanted to admit my son to a government school. After discussing with my family, I admitted my son to a government school. If government teachers and staff admit their wards to government schools, the public would be motivated to follow suit, she says. An aberration in Chennai The admission rate in Chennai is still lower compared to other districts. While the capital city recorded nearly 40,000 new school admissions until September 3, only about 15,000 were reported from government schools. However, of the 15,000, 7,600 were students migrating from private and CBSE schools, said Chennais Chief Educational Officer A Anitha. According to her, the slow enrolment rate is due to parents returning to their hometowns during the pandemic. When schools reopen, they may either continue in the same place or we might see a sharp surge in enrolment in Chennai when parents come back for work here, she said. (Inputs from Aadhithya MS @ Tiruchy, Sushmitha Ramakrishnan @ Chennai, Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam @ Madurai, & N Dhamotharan @ Coimbatore) The Paramount Chief of Tatale Traditional Area Oubore Gariba Yankosor, has commended President Akufo-Addo for the life-changing policies his government has introduced since assuming office. Addressing a durbur in honour of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumua at Tatale on Friday 3rd September 2020, Paramount Chief said Tatale and its environs have received their fair share of the President's nationwide impactful interventions, and that they have good reasons to back the President's bid for another term. "On behalf of the chiefs and people of the Tatale-Sanguli District, I express our appreciation to His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and His Vice, Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia for the numerous life changing policies they have initiated and implemented since the NPP Government assumed power that has gone a long way to improve the lives of the people in the District, and the country at large," said Oubore Gariba Yankosore. The Paramount Chief listed specific interventions by President Akufo-Addo, which he said are being felt by the district and beyond. "I wish to thank you for the laudable flagship policies and programmes your government has initiated since assuming power for which the district has received its fair share." "Some of which include the Free Senior High School Education, which has relieved parents of the burden of school fees; the Planting for Food and Jobs, One Village One Dam, etc." The Paramount Chief reserved special praise for the government's Planting for Food and Jobs, which he said has been beneficial to farmers in his community, as well as the One Constituency One Ambulance initiative. "Furthermore, under the Planting for (Export and Rural Development), most of our farmers have benefitted from the supply of free cashew seedlings annually for the past three years from the District Assembly. "Your Excellency, Tatale also received its ambulance under the policy of One Constituency One Ambulance. The Ambulance since its arrival has continued to provide the necessary emergency medical services to the people of Tatale-Sanguli District." The Paramount Chief noted despite the massive projects provided by the Akufo-Addo government, the district like Oliver Twist, the Tatale-Sanguli district is behind in infrastructure development. He therefore, appealed to the government for more development for the district, adding that he believes the government is capable of delivering more development in the area that is why the community wants to the President 4 more years. "We know your government can do that is why we want to go Nana Akufo-Addo four more to do more," the Paramount Chief stressed. In his address, Vice President Bawumia said in just three and half years, the government of President Akuffo-Addo has brought more development in the Tatale Sanguli District than the NDC did in eight years. He assured the Paramount Chief and the people of Tatale that President Akufo-Addo is committed to providing more development in the area and the northern part of the country in general. The Vice President announced that government has secured funding from the World Bank for the rehabilitation of the Yendi-Tatale road, which links Ghana and Togo. He added that processes are underway and a contractor will be on site to start work by the end of the year. Dr. Bawumia further indicated that the road is of utmost priority to the government of President Akuffo-Addo because it will bring many benefits, including improving international trade. Dr. Bawumia also announced that as part of government's vision to explore other minerals apart from gold, the Akufo-Addo government has decided to focus on exploring iron ore and bauxite, hence the government's decision to create authorities and corporations for their management and exploitation. The Vice President added that the Tatale area, which has a rich iron ore reserve in Sheni, will become one of the centres of government's iron ore exploration vision. He announced that government has already established the Iron and Steel Development Corporation, with former Northern Regional Minister Prince Imoro Andani as its maiden Chief Executive Officer. The Vice President introduced the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Tatale Constituency Patrick Mbomba and urged the constituents to continue to support the government by voting for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP Parliamentary candidate in December. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bechu S By Online Desk Mebin Thomas' day begins at around 7:00 AM. That is when he gets ready to deliver breakfast packets at two COVID quarantine centres. A hotel and a home-based catering service prepare the food for these centres on a contract basis. They pack and keep it all ready in cartons for Mebin to pick up. Once, he reaches the centre, he places each of these packets on a chair placed outside the rooms there. After this has been taken care of, Mebin empties the bins in front of each room and disposes of the waste. Next on his work log, lunch delivery around 12 PM and tea for the inmates at 4 PM. In the evening, he heads back home before returning again with dinner at 7:30 PM. All this was originally supposed to be done by a group of volunteers. But with the pandemic making people wary, the young man ended up with two obvious options - quit and stay indoors like other people or take on the onus of accomplishing all this by himself. He chose the latter. For almost five months now, the 25-year-old has been the caretaker of two quarantine centres in Kottayam district's Changanacherry. From serving food to the quarantined to sanitising containment zones, he has done almost everything a civilian volunteer possibly can. He put on the PPE kit not just to save himself from the virus but to stay hidden from his neighbours. And when more volunteers were needed, he convinced his brother and cousin to join the cause. Mebin's voluntary work began in late March when he came across online ads asking youngsters to enrol with the local government and become volunteers at community kitchens. The message was passed on WhatsApp, inspiring many youngsters to sign up. "A day after registering online, I got a call from the Vazhappally Panchayat asking me to attend a class where they taught us how to sanitise places safely along with the protocols to be followed," Mebin said. "These were the initial days of the national lockdown and community kitchens were where the need was. We served food to families and migrant labourers for weeks until most of them boarded the special trains home." However, he had little idea back then that his part-time task would become a full-fledged job in a matter of weeks. On May 8, the first flight under the 'Vande Bharat' mission touched down in Kochi. Keralites were returning home in large numbers from neighbouring states too, forcing the government to open quarantine centres for those unable to stay isolated at homes. The Vazhappally local body once again summoned the youngsters seeking assistance. They were needed to turn the selected premises into quarantine facilities. "Two floors of St. Jude Hospital, Thuruthy and a floor of St. Thomas Hospital in Chethipuzha were to be the quarantine centres here. Around 20 of us joined hands to clean each room of the two buildings. Later, we were taught to wear PPE kits at the Changanacherry government hospital," he said. On May 20, the first batch of NRKs arrived at Chthipuzha. The Thuruthy centre was opened on May 28. Time tables were made assigning two people each in three shifts with the volunteers taking turns at the centres. "Soon, my friend Jason and I were posted permanently at the Thuruthy centre as we lived nearby. Others were needed only when we ran out of supplies like gloves or masks," Mebin said. But things changed when the cases in Kerala gradually started to rise. Families weren't willing to send anyone to the quarantine centres fearing exposure. "When tests results of a few from our centres came back positive, my friend's family forced him to quit and I had to manage alone," he recalled. Working alone meant daily collection and disposal of the garbage, food distribution three times a day and disinfecting the entire floor after each batch left. Chethipuzha has 30 rooms while St Jude has 18. Mebin managed to carry on despite mounting pressure. "I thought this was only for a few days and everyone will convince their kin and return before the next batch arrives. But I was wrong," Mebin recounted. When St Jude hospital was ready for the next wave of gulf returnees on June 25, none of the earlier squad members showed up. The local body was in no position to force anyone as the situation had worsened. They asked Mebin to do his best. "I had to manage the centre all alone. Thankfully, my brother Mobin was willing to help. Soon, Chethipuzha also had to reopen but nobody else could come. It wasn't practical to shuttle between the two centres located seven kilometres apart. I asked my cousin Sudhi who lives in Kurishumood near Chethipuhza for help. It was a wild shot but he was very positive," he recounted. "I have been allotted a room in the hospital. I spend the night there and go home only if the phone battery drains out. The disinfection campaign happens in between these regular duties. If I have to go there, my brother steps in and serves the food," he said. When asked why he roped in his brothers for a mission that nobody else in the whole village was keen on, Mebin said his experience with the previous batches were moving. "Mothers worried about their children, sons about their ageing parents... I've seen a lot here. I feel moved when people return home and still keep in touch. Some say they miss the food we used to serve. "Then there are the officials who toil hard. Some of them accompany me to even burn the waste though they don't have to. I think we all should do our part to make life easy for all of them," he said. "The two floors of the hospital were converted into COVID centres with the ground floor being set aside for patients. The nurses found time to join us and were very helpful. It was inspiring how they tried to keep people, especially senior citizens, strong amidst the gloom loneliness brings." Mebin added that when people become nervous after testing positive, he is now able to comfort them thanks to the nurses. "'What is there to be scared of? You can't go home for a few more days, there is nothing more', I tell them." Service outside quarantine centres It is easy to manage cases within quarantine centres as people are less likely to mingle with each other thereby cutting down the transmission risk. If a person tests positive, he or she can be moved to the isolation facility easily. However, dealing with local transmissions is a different ball game altogether. The Vazhappally village authorities decided to disinfect courtyards of infected houses and nearby roads as soon as community spread was confirmed. Unlike managing quarantine centres, this was a job to be done in public and frontline workers had to battle stigma too. "I have disinfected around 15 such areas to date," Mebin recalled. "Public ostracise not just those involved but even their families. We know how badly doctors and nurses were treated in many places. My neighbours thought I was just taking the food to the centres at times. It could have spelt trouble if I was seen in the containment zones. Luckily masks and PPE kits hide a person completely. "But now the pandemic has reached such a stage that nobody cares anymore. But I still try to hide my identity when working," he said with a smile. Mebin, who left his BA Journalism course midway, was working for an interior design company when the pandemic struck. All contracts remain frozen there, leaving his family in a financially tight spot. They now depend entirely on the meagre sum his father earns at a timber company. Mebin is well aware of the fact that there are no schemes to pay volunteers like him. But he believes what he is doing now is not about money. "Bonds made during tough times like these are likely to last and I am happy. I am not planning to back off midway. My family was a little worried in the beginning, but not anymore. I use to add 'quarantine' at the end while saving the numbers of people who came here on my phone. But by the end of 14 days, they'd have become chettan, chechy, aunty etc. It means something." he said. No hard feelings The Changanacherry Archdiocese created a youth brigade to assist the health workers in burying virus victims. As protocols prohibit family members from attending the event, only this small team is allowed to be with the vicar at the cemetery. He is a part of this team as well. Mebin said he has no hard feelings for others who had to abandon the job midway. "Nobody backed off because they are selfish. They had children and elders to take care of and it is reasonable enough. It's alright to be scared during times like these," he said. FLINT, MI A 19-year-old man is ordered to spend more than four years in prison for the March 2017 shooting death of his friend at a Fenton Township home. Abdurrahman A. Akl was sentenced to a minimum of 57 months up to 15 years on a manslaughter charge, with credit for 550 days served. He was also sentenced to two years on a felony firearm charge, with credit for 730 days served. Akl pleaded guilty in August to the charges, with an open murder charge reduced to manslaughter as part of a plea deal. In a 911 recording played during an April 2018 preliminary exam in Genesee District Court, Akl said he accidentally shot 18-year-old Brady A. Morris. Morris had been living with the Akl family for two months at the time of the fatal March 17, 2017 shooting. Fenton Police Officer Julie Bemus testified at the preliminary exam that Akl had his arms raised in the air when law enforcement arrived at the familys Moffett Drive home on Lake Fenton. I heard him yelling, I shot my friend. I shot my friend, Bemus told the court. After her partner detained Akl, Bemus testified she retrieved the gun from a front porch area. Frank Manley, Akls attorney, called the fatal shooting a tragic situation. It was a very difficult case and I appreciate working it out with the prosecutor, he added, noting Akl didnt believe the gun was loaded. Whitny Pawlak, Morriss sister, remembered her little brothers boundless energy as a kid. His initials are B.A.M, so we called him Bam-Bam when he was little because he was just crazy, and now my youngest son is just the same, she previously told MLive-The Flint Journal. I said at least we have a little bit of Brady left because hes like that, he takes after him. More on MLive: Teen reaches plea deal in 2017 shooting death of friend at Fenton-area home Teen says fatal shooting of friend was accident on 911 recording Hundreds of bullet casings found at home of 16-year-old charged in killing 18-year-old dead following late-night shooting in Fenton Township Fenton Township teen shooting victim remembered for fun-loving nature MUMBAI: Actress Rhea Chakraborty was questioned by the National Control Bureau (NCB) at its Mumbai office for over six hours in connection with drug abuse linked to Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Rhea, 28, appeared at the NCB office after being summoned by the agency on Sunday morning, two days after her brother Showik Chakraborty along with Samuel Miranda was arrested by the probe agency. She has been called in again for questioning on Monday, i.e. on September 7 as the NCB continues its investigations to unravel the drugs angle that has emerged in Sushant death case.. Rhea, who did not appear to be flustered as she stepped out, underwent interrogation by several teams of NCB sleuths during the day before they finally permitted her to go home after 6 pm in her own vehicle. Shortly after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) issued a summon to Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the drug probe related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, Rhea's lawyer on Sunday (September 6) said that the actress is ready for an arrest in the case. Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde claimed that the action against Rhea is a witch-hunt. Maneshinde added that if loving someone is a crime then Rhea is ready to face the consequences of loving Sushant Singh Rajput. According to Maneshinde, Rhea is innocent and this is the main reason why she hasn't approached any court for an anticipatory bail in all cases foisted by Bihar Police with CBI, ED & NCB. Earlier in the day, sources told Zee Media that during the grilling, the NCB will show Rhea the CDR details of her WhatsApp chats on drug dealing. Sources say the NCB may arrest Rhea in case she fails to give convincing answers to questions posed by the agency. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 23:35:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office has pledged to safeguard intellectual property (IP) rights of global representatives attending the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services. The bureau said the fair has required exhibitors to sign a letter of commitment for IP protection. An intellectual property protection office has also been set up on site to handle IP rights disputes. The official website of the fair has launched an online complaint channel to deal with disputes of IP rights infringement. The fair opened in Beijing on Friday. It is the first major international economic and trade event held both online and offline by China since the COVID-19 outbreak. Enditem With just two months before the next presidential elections in the United States take place, one of the great unknowns is how the coronavirus pandemic is going to play its part. But, at the end of the day (whatever day that turns out to be in what could be a delayed count) it is the voters that matter. So lets look at who can actually do that Who is and isn't eligible to vote? Everyone knows that the United States of America is a proud democracy but what many people do not realise is that not everyone is entitled to cast a vote. Unfortunately the Founding Fathers were not particularly clear on this point when writing the US Constitution. Effectively elections came down to state control, said the Constitution, but Congress could overrule them. Since then, however, numerous amendments (seven to be precise) and law changes have been made to bring us to where we are today. From removing restrictions on voting due to race or gender, to changing the age requirement down to 18 from 21, battles have been ongoing to create a somewhat fair system. That said, the introduction in some states of voter ID and other practices brought in to help a particular party, are still in use. And there are other differences depending on what state you live in. Criminals in Vermont, for example, can vote while they are still in prison, while in Florida those felons have to wait until they have paid their debt to society before heading to the ballot box. In other states a criminal record means you can only cross your fingers and hope for the winner you wanted. Non-US citizens cannot vote in presidential elections, so you can ignore what President Trump said about that, as it was changed in law back in 1996. Puerto Ricans are able to vote in local elections and in presidential primaries - and why not? They are American citizens after all. In saying that, if they want to be involved in congressional or presidential elections - like the one coming up - they would have to be living in a new US state. So whether you want another four years for Trump or a new start with Joe Biden, make yourself heard. Assuming you're eligible... Back-to-school preparations have a little different feel to them this year. Families planning to learn remotely in the fall are likely expecting laptops, tablets, and other online technology to see a significant uptick in usage within their households. Unfortunately for parents, the risks associated with using those devices are likely to increase, too. Kids often have a tougher time spotting the difference what is real and what is not online, and that makes them especially vulnerable once virtual classes are in session. Anyone with an email account, for example, receives spam and junk mail in their inbox. If you dont have much online experience, those spam emails may seem pretty legitimate. Clicking on one of the links, though, could result in a pricey bill from a fraudulent website or access to your banking information. To further complicate circumstances, some of the most popular websites kids visit are the most common gateways to cybersecurity issues. Many social media sites and their corresponding apps are designed to collect and sell unauthorized user details to advertisers engaging in targeted marketing. Those ads can tempt kids to purchase products or services that may not actually exist. The same sites and platforms also host contests and giveaways that either collect a hefty amount of personal information on their entry forms or, in some worst-case scenarios, steal financial information that could lead to identity theft. As the beginning of the school year approaches, Better Business Bureau Northwest + Pacific encourages parents to educate their kids on how to stay safe online. BBB NW+P recommends using these tips and resources to help guide those conversations: Prioritize privacy. For any apps your kids want to use, read through the privacy policies and terms of use together. While that may not sound like the height of family fun, its important for everyone involved to know what they are signing up and made aware of any potential consequences. Keep your location on lockdown. Just about every app wants to know where its users are so it can track their whereabouts. Unless it is absolutely necessary for the app to keep tabs on your location, go into your devices settings and disable that feature. Disclosing where your kids are (or are not) at any given moment should be avoided as much as possible. Take control. The best way to safeguard your kids online privacy is to teach them to manage it themselves. But it doesnt hurt to mix in some parental controls as a back-up. Most devices and operating systems allow parents to monitor their childrens online activities. Follow through with your kids by explaining why you're checking in on their actions. Share with care. Any information kids share online can easily be copied, and it is almost impossible to take back. Before posting anything important, have a discussion about who might see the post and how it might be perceived in the future. Sharing personal information can also give online thieves an idea of what login information or passwords might be used for banking accounts or other online accounts. Find more information and resources for helping your family stay safe online this school year by visiting trust-bbb.org. Hannah Stiff is the Montana marketplace manager for BBB Northwest and Pacific. India reported a record rise of more than 90,000 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), also the highest single day-spike in the world, pushing the countrys tally past 4.11 million, the Union health ministry data showed on Sunday. Indias infection tally is now marginally behind Brazils at 4,123,000, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys dashboard. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here As many as 70,626 people have died of the coronavirus disease so far with 1,065 fatalities reported in the last 24 hours, according to the latest figures released by the health ministry. As most cases continue to come from Maharashtra (636,574), Andhra Pradesh (382,104) and Karnataka (283,298), the Centre has asked these states to focus on breaking the chain of transmission and keeping the mortality below 1%. Maharashtra contributes the maximum to the active caseload amounting to almost 25%, followed by Andhra Pradesh (12.06%), Karnataka (11.71%), Uttar Pradesh (6.92%) and Tamil Nadu which stands at 6.10%, according to the health ministrys statement on Saturday. Of these, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka account for nearly 49% of the active cases and more than 57% of Covid-19 deaths, the ministry said. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage Even as confirmed cases climbed to 4,113,811, the recovery rate at 77.32% comes as a sign of relief as 3,180,865 people have recovered from the infection. According to the health ministry data, 73,642 people were discharged in the last 24 hours. There has been a steep exponential rise in #COVID19 recoveries- from 50,000 in May to 30 lakh in Sept. The daily number of Recovered Patients has crossed 70,000. More than 3/4 of the total cases have recovered, the health ministry said in a tweet. Recoveries from the coronavirus disease have exceeded active cases by 2,318,545, data showed. The ministry credited the TEST, TRACK and TREAT strategy for the rising recovery rate. Responsive, collaborative and effective measures right from early identification through aggressive TESTING to efficient TRACKING and comprehensive TREATMENT have collectively led to these encouraging outcomes, it said. The surging recoveries also signal towards the declining case fatality rate (CSR), which now stands at a new low of 1.73%. The global infection tally has climbed to 26,873,146 and the toll has gone up to 879,307 with the maximum number of cases reported from the United States with 6,244,970 followed by Brazil at 4,123,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. RTHK: "Random" stabbings rock Birmingham One man was killed and two people were critically injured during a "random" stabbing attack lasting several hours in Britain's second city of Birmingham, police said on Sunday. Detectives said they were hunting one suspect after being called to reports of stabbings at four separate locations in the city centre between 12:30am and 2:30am local time. But they ruled out hate crime, gang violence and terrorism. "It does appear to be random in terms of the people that were attacked," said Chief Superintendent Steve Graham of West Midlands Police, adding that it was being treated as homicide. Britain has been on high alert after two mass stabbings in London in the last year, which saw both perpetrators convicted Islamic extremists released early from prison shot dead by armed officers. In June, a man was charged with murder after three people were killed in a park in Reading, west of London, in an attack investigated by counter-terrorism police. Six people were then injured, including a police officer, at a hotel housing asylum seekers in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Armed police shot dead the suspected attacker. The latest incident comes amid concern about levels of knife crime in Britain, particularly in London. The number of stabbings in England and Wales increased 6 percent in the year to the end of March, according to the Office for National Statistics. Birmingham is one of Britain's most ethnically diverse cities with a population of more than one million, and has had an explosive recent history of gang violence. No details were immediately released about the identity of Sunday's victims other than the two people critically injured were a man and a woman. Five other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, as police declared a "major incident" and said the incidents were linked. Eyewitnesses spoke about violence in one of the four locations, in and around the Arcadian Centre, a popular venue filled with restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Cara Curran, a nightclub promoter who was working at the Arcadian Centre on Saturday night, said she saw "groups upon groups" of people fighting in and around the venue and heard the use of "racial slurs". "I had seen a lot of tensions building through the night, which wasn't quite like what I've seen before," she said. "I had left with my boyfriend. I heard a commotion and saw multiple police coming towards our direction. I headed towards where I saw them coming and it all just unfurled in front of me. "It was quite a street fight. It didn't really look like fighting. It was just multiple people on top of each other, not one on one." She added: "There was every ethnicity there, there was Asian, black, white. It wasn't just this ethnicity against this ethnicity, it was a group of ethnicities with another group, and they sort of just went at it." Shabana Mahmood, who represents the area in the UK parliament for the main opposition Labour Party, described the events as "deeply concerning". Local councillor Yvonne Mosquito, also of Labour, said the violence was "traumatic" for everyone involved. Mosquito, a former city lord mayor, praised police for tackling so-called "black on black" violence in Birmingham in the early 2000s. But she said there remained a real issue with social exclusion among younger people, including "county lines" drug dealing. (AFP) ______________________________ Last updated: 2020-09-06 HKT 19:46 This story has been published on: 2020-09-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Authorities hit for giving in to striking doctors The Moon Jae-in administration deserves criticism for suspending a plan to strengthen public healthcare services in the face of a strong backlash from medical doctors. Unions and civic groups have denounced the government for making too many concessions to doctors to halt their strike. On Friday, doctors decided to end their weeks-long collective action and return to work after the health authorities and the ruling party agreed to put the reform plan on hold. Both sides also agreed to form a bilateral consultative body to start discussing the matter from ground zero. It is fortunate that the government has averted a prolonged strike by medical practitioners amid a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic. Yet the authorities cannot avoid blame for having inappropriately pressed ahead with the reform. It was wrong for the administration to announce the plan in July without gathering doctors' opinions. President Moon and his policymakers might have thought that the governing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) could railroad the reform bill through the National Assembly by using its super majority. The plan is essential to addressing a shortage of doctors, particularly in provincial areas. It is all the more so to strengthen public healthcare to respond better to pandemic outbreaks as seen in the spreading coronavirus. However, that does not necessarily mean the government has the power to seek reform unilaterally in an undemocratic way. Any policies will fall apart without undergoing a democratic process no matter how good they are. The Ministry of Health and Welfare could have predicted any possible objections from doctors before drawing up the plan. It should be not entirely, but partly held responsible for not preventing the doctors' strike, which has dealt a setback to public health. Nevertheless, the government's inadvertent policymaking cannot and should not justify doctors' collective action. That is why these medical professionals have sparked public rage over their strike, which held patients hostage to protect the doctors' vested interests. It is regrettable that doctors and trainee doctors are against the reform. They fear more medical professionals will lead to fiercer competition and eventually a decrease in income. Even though they acknowledge the need to beef up the public healthcare system, they have put their self-interest first with little respect to the people's right to better medical services. It is also hard to understand why interns and residents have refused to accept the agreement signed by Health Minister Park Neung-hoo and Korean Medical Association head Choi Dae-zip. They still call for the government to scrap the reform plan, instead of suspending it temporarily. Their demand is excessive. Now is the time for doctors to return to work and normalize the healthcare system. Their top priority is to work together with the authorities to bring the pandemic under control. Both sides face a rocky road before reaching a consensus on the issue. We call on them to narrow their differences through dialogue and compromise. The country can no longer delay the much-needed reform. And we wont stop doing this now for this movement or any other coverage. We are ethically bound to make sure people are notified and have a chance to speak toward their direct involvement in any story. Were trying to do our jobs the best we can fairly and accurately, as always and people have released a social media s---storm on us for doing that job. Thats unfortunate, but were going to keep doing the best we can to cover what needs to be covered. With a country in this state, the worst thing to do is kill the messenger. Automobile dealers body FADA aims to bring major auto industry bodies together to effectively engage with government regarding various issues plaguing the sector, a top official said. Vinkesh Gulati, in an interview with after taking over as new President of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), said the move is important to get much needed attention from the government regarding various policy matters and long-standing demands. Elaborating on tasks at hand, he said FADA would also work for making auto retail business viable again by taking steps to enhance profitability of the dealer community which has been hit hard by a prolonged slowdown. The industry body, which represents around 15,000 auto dealers across the country, aims to push for increasing dealer margins and collaborate with other retail organisations across verticals to work out a law that protects retailers and dealers. "We are of the view that auto industry should have a common stand. Practically as of today our voice is not being heard. For the past two-three years, SIAM, ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association), FADA have been independently trying to go to government for benefits for auto industry. But nothing has happened," Gulati said. "So we are trying that FADA should take the lead and make all these 5-6 auto organisations come together so that when we go to the government we are actually heard," he added. As of today, the government doesn't listen to the industry even when the auto industry accounts for over 50 per cent of the manufacturing GDP in the country. Even with such huge impact, there is still no value attached to the industry, he said. Pointing out issues with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), he said there are only 10-15 members who are active among 60 odd manufacturers in the auto industry body. "So there are no electric vehicles makers nor there are any premium car makers as members. We are not trying to make it look small, but we are making sure that all should come on one platform and our voice should be heard and if that happens, future can be better for the industry," Gulati said. The government is aware that auto bodies do not work together and therefore, FADA is trying that whatever communication goes to the government, it is through a common platform, he noted. Commenting on other priorities, Gulati said the dealers' body expects to be included under MSME fold once again so that the members can get central and state government benefits. "We will also be working with SIAM and its members to increase dealer margin on vehicle sales. The margins being offered currently in India are among the lowest in the world," he added. Besides, FADA would like to collaborate with other retail organisations in the country to push for a franchise law which would help in protecting the community when faced with issues like company exiting the business or terminating retailer/dealer agreements, Gulati said. "This would be beneficial for all including FMCG retailers...such kind of law is prevalent in all the major developed countries," he added. Franchise laws actually level the playing field between large automakers and small local dealers, Gulati said. There is disparity in size and power between individual dealers and manufacturers, franchise law will help to bring level playing field between them, he added. Currently, any agreement between a retailer and a manufacturer is skewed towards the latter, Gulati noted. "So if something happens, he cannot go to court and take action. So this (law) is not something which will be over in six months or one year, so will try to speak to other organisations like CII, FICCI and through them try to push for this law," Gulati said. When asked about FADA's view on auto industry's demand for a cut in GST rate, he said entry level cars and bikes should not be considered luxury items and should have a lower tax. "Three-wheeler provides employment for a family and it also comes under the 28 per cent GST slab. It is not a luxury product," he noted. FADA also plans to come out with a two-wheeler vertical which will specifically cater to the segment, Gulati said. State directors would be appointed for the vertical followed by a national director as well, he added. Gulati and his team have been elected for a two-year term. Also Read: Happiest Minds IPO: Rs 316 crore raised via anchor investors Also Read: Reopening of economy, increased testing, no mask use led to rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi: Experts After a three-day frantic search that gripped the worlds attention, rescue workers in Beirut said on Saturday night that they have been unable to find anyone trapped under a collapsed building one month on from the deadly blast. The chances of finding a survivor had always been slim but sensitive equipment operated by a volunteer Chilean team had repeatedly detected signs of shallow breathing amid the rubble of what had been a four-storey building in Gemmayze near the epicentre of the 4 August explosion. The Chilean team's rescue dog, Flash, had also repeatedly indicated the presence of a person. Together with members of Lebanese civil defence and fire department, the Chileans had worked day and night since Thursday to remove massive slabs of fallen masonry to try to find what they hoped might find someone alive. At one point the search was briefly called off to bring in a crane to better secure the area. On Saturday morning the teams expressed more hope as they focused on a stairwell a roof, where their instruments had picked up a new signal. But after uncovering three levels of rubble in their exhaustive search, they confirmed just after 10pm local time that they could not find anyone in the building. "Technically speaking, there are no signs of life," Francisco Lermanta, the head of volunteer rescue group Topos Chile, said in a news conference, adding that rescuers had combed 95 per cent of the building. The signs of life detected in the past two days, Lermanta said, were breaths of fellow rescuers already inside the building picked up by their sensitive equipment. He said efforts would now focus on clearing the rubble and finding remains on the sidewalks. "We never stop with even one per cent of hope," he added. "We never stop until the job is done." The desperate search for a survivor trapped so long under rubble had gripped Lebanese citizens, desperate for a glimmer of hope after the enormous blast, which ripped through the centre of the Lebanese capital on 4 August. Experts believe several thousand tonnes of poorly stored ammonium nitrate, an explosive material used in fertilisers and bombs, caught fire at the port. Over 190 people have been killed and more than 6,000 injured in what is being called one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in modern history. Hundreds of thousands of people were also made homeless by the blast, which caused an estimated $5bn (3.8bn) of damage. By Saturday afternoon, Lebanese engineer Riad al-Assad had told The Independent they were losing hope after no one was found after an extensive search of a stairwell on the right-hand side of the site. However Walter Manos, a member of the Chilean team, said that he had more hope than yesterday. The three-day search and rescue operation had been mired by disputes between the Lebanese and Chilean teams, as well as between the security forces and volunteers, who sourced a crane for the operation when the army attempted to pause the search due to safety concerns. Public anger has mounted over the last few weeks over the government's handling of the disaster particularly when volunteers handled most of the clean-up operation. Protests erupted when it emerged the authorities including port officials, security forces, the president and the prime minister knew about the dangerous stockpile but apparently did nothing to prevent the disaster. There is little clarity on what compensation and financial assistance people can expect. Lebanon was also in the grips of an unprecedented financial crisis when the blast hit. After decades of mismanagement and corruption the currency collapsed, sending food prices soaring. After the blast, the health authorities were forced to re-impose a lockdown as coronavirus cases spiked. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he was "uncomfortable" with a remark made by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the IRA during a clash with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Lindsay said Mr Johnson had gotten "carried away" when he made the remarks during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Mr Johnson accused Sir Keir of having supported an IRA-condoning politician by serving in former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyns frontbench team. Speaking to Times Radio, Sir Lindsay said he believed the exchange had become personal. "To accuse somebody of supporting the IRA as somebody who has actually prosecuted the IRA, I think was touching a nerve of something I didn't quite like. I wasn't comfortable with it," he said. But he denied losing his temper with Mr Johnson, saying he was "trying to use a bit of authority" and ensure there was order in the chamber. I"t was becoming very personal. I didn't think that was the right way to take the house on Wednesday - far from it," he said, speaking on Sunday. "To make accusations of people is not a good way forward. When we're talking about education, to make end up where we did is not the place where we should have been. "I want to make parliament to work and make it a nicer more friendly place. I have the same respect for everybody so I expect that respect to me extended right across the house," he said. Read More Labour leader Sir Keir called on Mr Johnson to have the decency to withdraw the remark after it was made on Wednesday. It's after Mr Johnson told the Commons: This is a leader of the opposition who supported an IRA-condoning politician who wanted to get out of Nato and now says absolutely nothing. Mr Johnsons comments were cut off by Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Sir Keir said: I worked in Northern Ireland for five years with the Police Service of Northern Ireland bringing peace. I prosecuted, as director of public prosecutions, serious terrorists for five years working with the intelligence and security forces and with the police in Northern Ireland. I ask the Prime Minister to have the decency to withdraw that comment. A Number 10 spokesman later said: I think the point the PM was making in PMQs was that Sir Keir Starmer was willing to serve in Jeremy Corbyns shadow cabinet despite the then-Labour leaders appalling record of sympathising for the IRA. Mr Corbyn, who has supported Irish republicanism, said in a 2017 interview with Sky News: I condemn all the bombing by both the loyalists and the IRA.

Mr Abbott said he is "looking forward" to facilitating new trade deals between the UK and other countries - "including Australia", adding he was "proud to be playing his part".

However, senior LGBT supporters including Sir Ian McKellen and Stonewall, as well as the Labour Party's equalities spokesperson and shadow international trade secretary, urged Boris Johnson to block the appointment.

Mr Abbott, 62, previously said he feels "threatened by homosexuality" and has campaigned "vigorously" against legalising same-sex marriage in Australia, according to campaigners.

He has also sparked controversy around women's rights, abortion and climate change.

When asked about his history on Friday, Mr Johnson said: "I obviously don't agree with those sentiments at all."

A statement from the Department for International Trade did not directly address the controversy, but said: "The new advisers to the board are announced at an important time for UK trade policy and as negotiations with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand enter their crucial latter stages - although advisers to the board will have no direct role in striking trade deals.

"The board will represent a range of views to help in its advisory function, promoting free and fair trade and advising on UK trade policy to the international trade secretary."

Despite the controversy, Mr Abbott received support overnight from his sister, a Liberal party politician in Australia who is married to a woman and has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage.

Christine Forster said on Twitter: "Congratulations @HonTonyAbbott. With your proven ability to clinch complex trade deals, I have no doubt you will be a fantastic envoy for the UK."

However, criticism is growing in the UK.

Emily Thornberry, the shadow international trade secretary, said Mr Abbott "has no credentials for this role" and he should not be representing the UK given his history of "offensive statements".

She added: "Tony Abbott is therefore the wrong appointment on every level, which begs the more important question of why on earth Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have given him the job."

Shadow justice secretary and Labour MP David Lammy accused the government of "not caring" about accusations Mr Abbott is homophobic and a misogynist.

Mr Abbott, who served as Australian PM between 2013 and 2015, has been criticised for a number of contentious comments over the years, including:

In an interview with Kay Burley on Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock did not condemn Mr Abbott's alleged homophobia and sexism, but said he is "an expert in trade".

Julia Gillard, another former Australian prime minister who famously branded Mr Abbott a misogynist in parliament in 2012, earlier told Sky News: "I stand by every word of it."

During a visit to Solihull on Friday, Mr Johnson said he does not share Mr Abbott's views.

He said: "I don't agree with everyone who serves the government in an unpaid capacity on hundreds of boards across the country - and I can't be expected to do so."

But he added: "This is a guy who was elected by the people of the great, liberal, democratic nation of Australia.

"It's an amazing country, it's a freedom-loving country, it's a liberal country. There you go! I think that speaks for itself."

There were a total of 150 indictments issued by a Henry County Grand Jury on Tuesday: 91 regular indictments an 59 direct indictments. An indictment is not an indication of guilt. It is the grand jury's determination that enough evidence exists to hold a trial. The Accra Regional Police Command in Friday dawn swoops arrested 93 suspected criminals at drug peddling and crime noted areas in the Accra Metropolis. The Police seized quantities of wrapped dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp. The suspects, between the ages of 18 and 60 were arrested in separate operations at the Tesano Division, Jamestown and Odokor Division. Other areas included Dome Railways, Lapaz, Akwetteyman, Ofankor Cemetery, Asofan, Alajo and Christian Village. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Afful Boakye Yiadom, told the media that the rest of the swoops were conducted at Palledium, Akuma Village and Adedenkpo/Timber market within James Town command and Odorkor Official Town, Odorkor Township, Mallam and Gbawe under Odorkor division. DCOP Yiadom said the operation formed part of Police outlined strategies to frustrate and weed out criminal elements within the metropolis and create an enabling environment for the upcoming general elections. The Regional Commander said the exercise would be sustained throughout the period. He said the suspects were currently being screened as part of profiling processes to ascertain their involvement or otherwise in other criminal activities being investigated by the divisions. 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 Producer Sandip Ssingh has decided to tell his side of the story after questions were raised on his relationship with the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Responding to the speculation, including Sushants familys claim that they didnt know him, he has made WhatsApp exchanges with the actor and his family public. Sharing personal chats with Sushant, he wrote, Sorry bhai, my silence has broken 20 years of my image and family into pieces. I was unaware that friendship requires a certificate in todays time. Today I am making our personal chats public, as this is the last resort which proves our equation. #sushantsinghrajput #sandipssingh. The texts he has shared are from 2016 till 2018, including details of a visit to the actors farmhouse in Pawana. He also explained his presence at Sushants residence immediately after the actors death. On 14th June when I heard about you I was unable to stop myself and I rushed to your house in grief but was shocked to see no one present except Mittu Didi. I am still thinking whether I was wrong to stand by your sister in that critical time or I should have waited for your other friends to come, he wrote. He then shared screenshots of his chats with Meetu Singh as well as a brother-in-law of Sushant. Also Watch | Those questioning me didnt even come to Sushants funeral: Sandip Ssingh Sushants family has said they did not know of Sandip. Everyone is saying that your family does not know me. Yes, its correct, I never met your family. Is it my fault to help a grieving sister alone in this city to complete the final rites of a brother ? Just want to end the speculation why I was talking to the ambulance driver despite his statement, he said. The chats have Meetu enquiring Sandip about Sushants death certificate and whether payments of ambulance drivers were made. Many reports had earlier questioned why Sandip was in touch with the ambulance driver after June 14. The chats suggest that it was to clear their payments. He also shared a certificate to clear the air that a case against him was pending in Mauritius. Earlier, Vikas Singh, the lawyer representing Sushants family in the case, said that Sandip was unknown to them. He told Pinkvilla, Meetu (Sushants sister) was devastated after seeing Sushants body so she went and she was lying down in the room so he just saw an opportunity and he took charge. Nobody in the family knows him, how did he come there. Suddenly how did he start taking charge. Since nobody from the family was there, there was an opening for him. I guess it should have been Pithani (Siddharth, Sushants flatmate) who should have been there and not Sandip. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Netflix released a new space series on Friday, Sept. 4, which shows the struggles and aspirations of an astronaut when tasked to be sent to the Red planet Mars. As the first humans to get to the planet, the show makes us realize how difficult the mission would be-hinting a possible setback on Elon Musk's somehow similar mission. Do you still want to sign-up for Mars? Want to sign-up for the Mars mission? Tech Times reported on Sept. 3, about SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's plan to get humans live on Mars. The original plan is to send humans there and make up the Martian colony, scheduled to end in 2050. Musk estimated about a million people must be sent there in order for the mission to work. Technically, bringing 300 people to Mars every single day. But this specific plan may pose a threat to humans that will be signing-up for it. Even the tech CEO warned everyone that will be joining his mission. "I want to emphasize that this is a very hard and dangerous difficult thing. Not for the faint of heart," Musk noted. He added that while it will be tough, "it will be pretty glorious if it works out." If you still want it, despite the clear warning, Musk said that he will offer a lot of jobs for those people signing up for the project. The billionaire will also provide everything during that trip and even all the necessities for the new Martians. But before you suggest your friends to get up there, here's a spoiler alert on the real things that may really happen in Mars. Introducing Netflix series Away starring Hilary Swank Just in time, as Musk told about the future Mars mission, Netflix released a Mars-inspired TV series called Away. (Warning: Spoiler Alert ahead!) Starring Hollywood actress Hilary Swank, the series will show the struggles and sacrifices of an astronaut that will show how the Mars mission would be like. Like what Musk warned, the chances of survival to get to Mars on the series is roughly 50/50. The show's complication starts with how each crew needs to bid goodbye to their families with the thought that it might be their last. As their journey also started, they will be faced with a chemical leak that causes their spacecraft called Atlas, to have some difficulties. Therefore, having doubts about Swank (Commander Emma Green) towards her leadership on the mission. She needs to decide whether still to lead the mission despite her crew's disapproval or just sit down in order for other crew members to step up. ALSO READ: [Spotted] SpaceX Ships Raptor Vacuum Engine for Starship to Texas from California: The Testing Continues? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Jamie Pancho 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Actress Rhea Chakrabortys father Indrajit Chakraborty has reacted to his son Showik Chakrabortys arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau. Showik, along with late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda, was arrested in relation to a drug case on Friday. In a statement, the 60-year-old retired Army officer wrote, congratulations India, you have arrested my son, Im sure next on the line is my daughter and I dont know who is next thereafter. You have effectively demolished a middle class family. But off course, for the sake of justice everything is justified. Jai hind. Lt col Indrajit Chakraborty ( retd)." Meanwhile, Showik Chakraborty and Samuel Miranda have been sent to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) custody till September 9 by 64th Metropolitan Magistrate NN Joshi. The NCB was seeking 7-days custody of the two but was given only 4-days custody by the Mumbais Esplanade (Killa) Court on Saturday. The NCB arrested actress Rhea Chakrabortys brother Showik and Sushant Singh Rajputs former house manager Samuel under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act late Friday night. The two were brought to Esplanade (Killa) Court on Saturday by the NCB officials to seek their custody for further interrogation. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which is looking into the allegations of drug angle in actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death case, also arrested two alleged drug peddlers operating in Mumbai in this case and detained one person. The two arrested are Zaid Vilatra (21) and Abdel Basit Parihar (23). Croatia Airlines has cancelled over 150 one-way flights this month, or 80% of its planned scheduled, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as travel restrictions which have reduced demand. Although the carrier has not dropped any routes operated in July and August, it has reduced frequencies to eighteen destinations from Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik, with some, such as London Heathrow, operating just once per week. New requirements imposed by the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Germany, and, as of tomorrow, Switzerland, for entry from Croatia or part of the country are having an impact on traffic flow as the summer travel period draws to a close. Routes which have seen the largest number of cancellations this month, in addition to the Zagreb - London Heathrow service, include Zagreb - Munich, Zagreb - Rome (via Split and Dubrovnik), Split - Vienna and Dubrovnik - Athens. The majority of the most affected routes have been those from countries which have introduced entry restrictions for arrivals from Croatia. Earlier this week, the European Commission adopted a proposal to ensure that any measures taken by member states that restrict free movement due to the coronavirus pandemic are coordinated and communicated at the EU level, in order to reduce the negative impacts on the travel industry. The Commissions proposal sets out four key areas where member states should work closer together, including common criteria, a common colour coded system, a common approach for travellers from high-risk areas and clear and timely information to the public. Croatia Airlines expects for its passenger numbers to decline 60% in 2020. As a result, it will likely handle under one million travellers for the first time since 1999. During the first half of the year it shed 630.000 passengers on the same period last year. Croatia Airlines previously noted, In case the crisis drags on and revenue levels reach 37% of last year, while border reopenings are delayed, which will result in lower demand at the start of 2021 and our schedule being reduced to significantly fewer routes, we could except a shortfall of 73 million euros. Even if a vaccine is proved to be safe and effective, rolling out a new one correctly is no small thing. It requires lots of coordination across multiple state and federal agencies that play a pivotal role in evaluating the science behind it, as well as among academia and the public and private sectors. All that requires public trust. If millions of Americans are going to voluntarily agree to have someone inject something into them to prevent a disease they dont already have, they need to have faith in the agencies that put the effort together and in the government backing it. So for the vaccine to appear in such short time and for Trump to get the credit, hell need people to trust the experts at the FDA, the CDC and other regulatory agencies he has spent so much of his presidency publicly denigrating or undermining. Given the usual time required for developing a vaccine which includes enrolling tens of thousands of volunteers to receive two doses of the vaccine or a placebo a month apart and then waiting to see if they become infected and the fact that Trump has delegitimized so much of that process, producing a vaccine that a large share of Americans are willing to trust and receive does not seem realistic for the fall. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Two men from Missouri have been arrested on illegal gun possession charges after the FBI says they traveled to Kenosha, Wisconsin to "see for themselves" what was going on regarding civil unrest there. Michael Karmo, 40, and Cody Smith, 33, were charged with federal crimes in the Eastern District of Wisconsin after authorities say they found an AR-15 rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, two handguns, a silencer, ammo, body armor and a drone in the Hartville men's vehicle and hotel room. The feds say Karmo and Smith were both prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior arrests Karmo with multiple felony convictions and Smith with a misdemeanor domestic abuse case. Karmo told law enforcement that he and Smith were members of the 417 Second Amendment Militia and would be willing to "take action" if police were defunded. Related: Trump defends Kenosha shooter before visit to Wisconsin 'Arms race': How the Portland shooting shows protesters on the right and the left are bringing guns Kenosha has been in the national spotlight over the last two weeks after video circulated of police there shooting a Black man named Jacob Blake in the back several times. The shooting temporarily halted the NBA playoffs and led to protests in the Kenosha streets. During one of the nights of civil unrest, police say Kyle Rittenhouse a 17-year-old who traveled to Kenosha from Illinois shot three people, two of them fatally. The governor declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard was sent to Kenosha where several businesses were also damaged. According to a criminal complaint filed against Karmo and Smith, the two men traveled from their home in southwest Missouri to Wisconsin earlier this week, stopping in Iowa along the way. Police shooting of Jacob Blake: A visual timeline of violence in Kenosha The complaint says someone the men interacted with in Iowa sent a tip to law enforcement that Karmo and Smith were headed to Kenosha with intentions to loot and there was also mention of "picking people off," although neither suspect had claimed they would personally do that. Story continues The tipster was reportedly concerned about Karmo's proclivity for guns and increased interest in conspiracy theories. The complaint says the FBI used cellphone data to track Karmo and Smith and arrest them Tuesday outside of a hotel in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, which is located near Kenosha. It was in that hotel room and the suspects' vehicle that authorities say they found the guns and a small bag of marijuana. Lawyer of accused Kenosha shooter: Troubled financial past, steps away from defense fund that raised $700K In an interview with law enforcement, both men said they attended President Trump's appearance in Kenosha on Tuesday. Karmo allegedly said the purpose of their trip to Kenosha was to "see for themselves" what was going on regarding rioting. He said they did not intend on shooting anyone and the guns were for protection, although Karmo also said none of the guns belonged to him, according to the complaint. Online records indicate neither Karmo nor Smith have attorneys listed for this case. They are scheduled to appear in court by video this coming Tuesday. Karmo allegedly told law enforcement that he and Smith planned on traveling to Portland, Oregon after leaving Wisconsin so they could check out the civil unrest there. Portland has seen 100 straight days of demonstrations since the killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day. Earlier this week, Aaron "Jay" Danielson, 39, was fatally shot in the chest just after a pro-Trump caravan of vehicles faced off with counter-protesters in the city. The man suspected of killing Danielson was killed in Olympia, Washington, as a federal task force tried to arrest him Thursday night, the U.S. Marshals Service said. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri men arrested on gun charges near Kenosha, Wisconsin, FBI says Amit Shah and the stars, Priyanka and her rented flat, and Jyotiraditya's long wait Jyotiraditya Scindia kept waiting Expansion of both the BJP national executive and the Union Cabinet is unlikely to happen before the Parliament session. It has been nine months since J.P. Nadda took over as party president but there is no sign of a new team. The new office bearers were supposed to be appointed in August but home minister Amit Shahs illness delayed it. Now the stars have turned hostile. BJP insiders say an inauspicious Shraadh fortnight has come in the way of the exercise. Jyotiraditya Scindia will be disappointed if he fails to join Narendra Modis Cabinet before the Madhya Pradesh Assembly bypolls. The Scindia thinks he can influence voters in 27 constituencies if he is given Cabinet rank. Wasnik in hot water Mukul Wasnik finds himself on a sticky wicket following his move to align with the 23 dissenters in the party who dared to write a letter on the leadership question. Wasnik is AICC general secretary in charge of Madhya Pradesh where crucial Assembly byelections are to be held. But he is unable to visit there on account of his rebel stance. There are four AICC secretaries under him who in private are giving him an earful for allegedly compromising their integrity and loyalty to the party. In principle, AICC secretaries are supposed to take direction and guidance from the general secretary but in Wasnik's case, neither side is speaking to one another. Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath fears this deadlock would cost the party dearly. Half a Question Hour Criticised for cancelling Question Hour in Parliament, the Narendra Modi government will allow a 30-minute question hour in the upcoming Parliament session scheduled to be held from September 14 to October 1. So far, India and Russia had been two democracies dithering on convening their Parliaments in the wake of Covid-19. On the other hand, as many as 105 parliaments worldwide have been meeting and discussing issues amid the pandemic. In the British Parliament, prime minister Boris Johnson has been fielding questions after spending a considerable time in the hospital ICU after getting infected by the coronavirus. A piece of the Prez With former president Pranab Mukherjee gone, attempts to usurp his legacy are underway by non-Congress parties, particularly the BJP and the Trinamul Congress. Narendra Modi had a picture of him touching Pranabdas feet while Rahul Gandhis rather perfunctory tweet was subject to social media criticism. Pranabs diaries Mukherjees daughter Sharmistha, currently the Congress spokesperson and the Delhi Mahila Congress unit head, is said to be in possession of her fathers diaries. These entries, written at the end of each day as was his habit, are more than a goldmine. Sharmisthas brother Abhijit is also in the Congress, having served two terms in the Lok Sabha. Pranabs diaries are being eyed by the Congress, the BJP, the Trinamul and several publishing houses. Sonia calls Sharmistha When Pranab was battling for his life at the Army's Research and Referral (RR) hospital in Delhi, Sonia Gandhi reportedly called up Sharmistha enquiring not just about Pranab but her as well. When she learnt that Sharmistha was alone, Sonia reportedly got restless and worried over the young Mukherjee, who had to calm and assure her that she was fine. Priyankas new abode Priyanka Gandhi has a new address in New Delhi. She has a duplex apartment in Sujan Singh Park facing Ambassador Hotel and in the close vicinity of Khan Market. It is one of the most sought-after addresses in the capital. Built by Khushwant Singhs father Sir Sobha Singh, Sujan Singh Park is one of the first residential apartments of Delhi, where stories of the residents are as interesting as its architecture. Sujan Singh was Khushwants grandfather. Priyanka, reliably learnt, is staying there as a tenant. People know Paris Hilton as a ditsy heiress who loves to party. Her image was all but cemented when The Simple Life premiered in 2003. Today, Hilton is 39 years old and says her public persona doesnt reflect who she really is. She has a film premiering on YouTube on Sept. 14 called This is Paris that will, for the first time, portray her in an accurate light. Paris Hilton | Tibrina Hobson/WireImage Paris Hilton says shes the exact opposite of her public image In an interview with Tracy Smith for CBS Sunday Morning, Hilton spoke about her perceived persona. Theres so many differences, she said of the real Paris and whats been portrayed. With the character, its mostly kind of this blonde, bubbly, kind of Barbie airhead. And, in real life, Im the exact opposite. Im not a dumb blonde. Im just very good at pretending to be one. RELATED: How Kim Kardashian West Really Feels About Paris Hilton Earlier this year, Hilton echoed the sentiment that shes been portraying a character, especially when she was on The Simple Life, in an interview with Deadline. Everything Ive done before was me playing a character, she said. Sometimes it is annoying, people assuming I am the blonde airhead that I played on [The Simple Life]. Paris Hilton opens up about being abused in school This is Paris will take a look at one of the more painful facets of Hiltons childhood. She says her parents sent her to various behavior modification schools, and at that one of them, Provo Canyon School in Utah, she was abused. Hilton told Smith that she never told her family about the abuse she endured. When I got out, I was just so grateful and so happy to be free and to be out of there that I just didnt want to bring it up, she said. I was like, Id rather, you know, just never talk about this. Just dont think about it. And the moment I stepped out of that building is when I decided Im never telling this story to anyone, ever. RELATED: Paris Hilton on the Rumored Simple Life Reboot Hilton also says her sex tape scandal never would have happened had she not gone to Provo Canyon School in Utah. That would never have happened if I hadnt gone to that school, she said. I just feel when I got out of that school, I was so lost. And then I ended up meeting the person who did that. And I never would have let someone like that in my life if I hadnt gone through such experiences. And therefore, I would have never put myself in that situation. But I just wanted love so bad. I didnt really know. I was so naive. And I trusted the wrong person. And thats something Ill regret for the rest of my life. Hilton is ready for the world to meet who she really is and learn what shes gone through. I think when people see the film, theyre going to see a completely different side, she said. And, theyre going to see I am human, and I do have feelings. The Queen never eats fast food except burgers which she enjoys without a bun, her former chef has revealed. Darren McGrady, 58, who was the personal chef to the Queen in the 1990s, told Insider that kitchen staff would make their own versions of takeout food for the royal family. 'It always tickled me at Balmoral, we would make our own burgers,' he explained. 'They would shoot deer, and we would do venison burgers. There'd be gorgeous cranberry and everything stuffed into them, but we never set buns out.' 'They would have burgers, but not the buns. So they would eat it with their knife and fork.' Darren McGrady, 58, who was the personal chef to the Queen (pictured) in the 1990s, told Insider that kitchen staff would make their own versions of takeout food for the royal family Darren, who was born in the UK but is now based in Texas, added that the Queen's upbringing means 'the only thing you would pick up and eat with your fingers is afternoon tea.' It comes after the chef revealed Her Majesty has never eaten pizza. Speaking to US weekly earlier this year, the chef said: 'In the years that I cooked at [Buckingham] palace, the queen never had pizza. I didn't start cooking pizza until I moved across to Kensington palace In a video for Delish in March, the chef said that he regularly cooked Italian food when cooking for Princess Diana and Charles. Darren (pictured), who was born in the UK but is now based in Texas, added that the Queen's upbringing means 'the only thing you would pick up and eat with your fingers is afternoon tea' He added that the Prince of Wales loves organic farming and encourages royal staff to cook using food found on the Balmoral estate or on his Duchy of Cornwall. Darren also explained that Italian food was a passion for the Prince, which is common within the royal family. He said: 'Whether it was risotto or polenta and healthy eating, when Princess Diana and Prince Charles ate together Italian food was often on the menu. 'Princess Diana loved Italian food too as it was simple and she had lots of salads and for the boys some Italian pizza, what boys don't love pizza? I know William and Harry did. He added that Prince Charles spent a lot of time in Italy which is where his passion for food came from. 'The Prince of Wales loved painting and I think going off to Italy and sitting there, I think that is where his passion for the beautiful countryside, and of course the food, came from,' he said. 'He'd take a little sandwich with him and maybe a piece of plum pudding.' Mitch Orr has called out Gordon Ramsay for 'stealing' one of his signature dishes Australian chef Mitch Orr has accused Gordon Ramsay of 'stealing' one of his signature dishes. The outspoken British chef uploaded a video to Instagram last week of himself making a Vietnamese braised pork carbonara served with an egg yolk. Mr Orr claims the recipe was an exact replica of his one of his dishes - macaroni, pig's head and egg yolk - once served at his former Rushcutters Bay restaurant ACME. Australian chef Mitch Orr has called out Gordon Ramsay for 'stealing' one of his signature dishes - macaroni, pig's head and egg yolk. Pictured: left; Gordon Ramsay's version, right; Mitch Orr's version He commented on Ramsay's post, saying: 'Looks familiar mate,' which instantly drew support from the hospitality industry. Mr Orr said that while chefs and cooks don't own recipes, it is 'standard etiquette to give credit where credit is due'. 'Gordon is one of the biggest chefs in the world with over 9 million followers on social media the right thing to do is to credit where the inspiration for the dish came from,' told Emerald City. Mr Orr said that while chefs and cooks don't own recipes, it is 'standard etiquette to give credit where credit is due' Mr Orr reached out to Ramsay's employee, chef Michael Dabbs, who was tagged in the post. 'I haven't heard anything from Gordon himself, but I have been in contact with the chef he tagged who agreed the [pasta] was too similar not to have given me credit for,' Mr Orr said. Mr Orr closed ACME last year before going to work at CicciaBella in Bondi. He left in May and hasn't revealed what the next step in his career will be. Kate Garraway has spoken sincerely about her husbands condition in intensive care, saying that the sadness and heartbreak she has been experiencing have been the most wearing things. In late March, Garraways husband, former lobbyist Derek Draper, was taken ill with coronavirus. While he initially suspected the painkillers he was taking at the time were causing him to feel unwell, it was quickly discovered that Draper had contracted Covid-19, despite not showing any of the main symptoms. As the 53-year-olds state worsened at a rapid rate, he was admitted to intensive care and placed in a medically-induced coma. In July, it was reported that Draper had come out of a deeper coma and was in a minimal state of consciousness. In a new interview with You magazine, Garraway described the emotional toll she and her family have been coping with over the past few months. We hope and believe he will come out of it, but we just dont know, the 53-year-old said, who shares two children with Draper. The heart of the family has been ripped out and we dont know if we will ever get it back. Garraway explained that while on some days the doctors will say that they have noticed an improvement of Drapers condition, you dont feel the euphoria youd like because you have this feeling the next day something else will have gone wrong. At first it was all about Dereks lungs. But then his kidneys started failing and he was on dialysis. Now theyve realised Covid can affect every cell of the body: most recently Dereks been having problems with his intestines, she said. The absorption of food and vomiting are problems and theyre trying to work out whether thats because his cells dont produce the enzymes to digest. His liver and heart and blood vessels have been affected. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 January 2022 Surfers enter the sea as the sun rises over Tynemouth on the North East coast PA UK news in pictures 17 January 2022 Bonhams Danny McIlwraith holds a Nigerian polycrome carved wood mask during a photocall for the sale of the Jim Lennon Collection at Bonhams in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA In July, Garraway returned to her post as a presenter on Good Morning Britain. The journalist told You magazine that upon her return, she didnt want to talk too much on air about the sadness of Derek, as she didnt want to bring anybody down. My job is to cheer people up. But its a balance: I also dont want anyone to think, There she is smiling and not caring about her husband, she stated. I anticipated nastiness, but the truth is I havent been trolled at all. Everyone has been staggeringly supportive. Garraway said that while there has been the odd day when Ive just been consumed with fear, she doesnt feel that she can go to bed and cry for 24 hours, as her children need her to be there for them. Thursday 10 September marks Garraway and Drapers 15th wedding anniversary, a milestone they had originally planned on commemorating by renewing their vows and having a party. Despite the sadness and difficulties she and her family have faced, the news presenter said they are lucky, considering those whose loved ones have passed away throughout the coronavirus pandemic. What you have to keep thinking is there were so many moments when doctors thought wed lost Derek or were about it, and hes still here. There is still hope, she said. Back-to-school supplies await shoppers. The pandemic has dragged into the new school year and wreaked havoc on reopening plans. That has extended to the back-to-school shopping season, the second most important period for retailers behind the holidays. AP Photo / Bill Sikes Read more Growing up, I was as excited to see the Sunday newspaper grow thick with back-to-school advertisements as I was to watch the trees in our backyard erupt into majestic oranges and golds. Perhaps its my South Jersey heritage (Exit 4 off the N.J. Turnpike, to be precise, land of wall-to-wall carpeting, food courts, and mall culture). For me, back-to-school shopping is among the fondest of childhood memories. My usually thrifty parents not only approved the purchase of new, not-yet-on-sale clothes for the first day of school, but also schlepped back and forth to the Cherry Hill Mall so that I could pick the perfect outfit. They were generous when it came to stocking up on school supplies, too usually a glossy new three-ring Trapper Keeper binder, spiral notebooks, and pens and pencils I probably didnt need but felt compelled to buy anyway. These rituals helped me prepare, and not just physically. Along with the drop in temperature and humidity, they signaled that summer was drawing to a close and it was now time to shift gears mentally, from relax-and-enjoy to get-it-together. Research shows that human beings are built for fresh starts. We are sensitive to cues that prompt us to change our routines. And we capitalize on them by setting new goals, disrupting bad habits, and with optimism and energy, moving forward. Going back to school in the midst of a pandemic is challenging for many reasons among them the absence of cues that shake us out of our summer stupor. My younger daughter, for instance, will begin senior year of high school the same way she ended her junior spring in her bedroom, on her laptop. This year, she didnt ask for a back-to-school outfit or new school supplies. Perhaps neither matter as much in the absence of an audience to appreciate them. My advice in this strange and challenging time is to repeat rituals, even when they arent strictly necessary. In our family, this means getting dressed up for the first day of school and taking a photo on the front steps even if this year, well all head right back into the house afterward. And though well miss wandering the store aisles piled high with pencil cases and notebooks, its still possible to scroll through the pages of office supplies online. Dont underestimate the power of physical cues to influence motivation and behavior. Do help your kids make a fresh start this fall. Years from now, they may look back and remember that going back to school in 2020 was surreal by nature and, at the same time, familiar by design. Angela Duckworth is cofounder and CEO of Character Lab and a psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania. You can sign up to receive her Tip of the Week actionable advice about the science of character at characterlab.org. US prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges that could draw a sentence of 175 years. If Julian Assange is prosecuted it could have a chilling effect on media freedom, leading publishers and journalists to self-censor in fear of retaliation, said Amnestys Europe Director, Nils Muiznieks. (Photo | Flickr - Ecuador Foreign Ministry) London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to fight for his freedom in a British court after a decade of legal drama, as he challenges American authorities attempt to extradite him on spying charges over the sites publication of secret US military documents. Lawyers for Assange and the US government are scheduled to face off in London Monday at an extradition hearing that was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. American prosecutors have indicted the 49-year-old Australian on 18 espionage and computer misuse charges adding up to a maximum sentence of 175 years. His lawyers say the prosecution is a politically motivated abuse of power that will stifle press freedom and put journalists at risk. Assange attorney Jennifer Robinson said the case is fundamentally about basic human rights and freedom of speech. Journalists and whistle-blowers who reveal illegal activity by companies or governments and war crimes such as the publications Julian has been charged for should be protected from prosecution, she said. American prosecutors say Assange is a criminal, not a free-speech hero. They allege that Assange conspired with US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack into a Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also say he conspired with members of hacking organisations and sought to recruit hackers to provide WikiLeaks with classified information. By disseminating the materials in an unredacted form, he likely put people human rights activists, journalists, advocates, religious leaders, dissidents and their families at risk of serious harm, torture or even death, James Lewis, a British lawyer acting for the US government, told a hearing in February. Assange argues he is a journalist entitled to First Amendment protection, and says the leaked documents exposed US military wrongdoing. Among the files released by WikiLeaks was video of a 2007 Apache helicopter attack by American forces in Baghdad that killed 11 people, including two Reuters journalists. His lawyers argue the prosecution is an abuse of process by a Trump administration that wants to make an example of Assange. They say he would be held in inhuman conditions and would not get a fair trial in the United States. Journalism organisations and human rights groups have called on Britain to refuse the extradition request. Amnesty International said Assange was the target of a negative public campaign by US officials at the highest levels. If Julian Assange is prosecuted it could have a chilling effect on media freedom, leading publishers and journalists to self-censor in fear of retaliation, said Amnestys Europe Director, Nils Muiznieks. The four-week extradition hearing is part of a twisting saga rife with competing claims of hacking, spying and subterfuge. Assanges lawyers claim the US intelligence services directed a private security firm to spy on him while he was living in Ecuadors London embassy a case currently being heard in a Spanish court. Assange also alleges he was offered a pardon by the Trump administration if he agreed to say Russia wasnt involved in leaking Democratic National Committee emails that were published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 US election campaign. The White House denies that claim. Assanges legal troubles began in 2010, when he was arrested in London at the request of Sweden, which wanted to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women. He refused to go to Stockholm, saying he feared extradition or illegal rendition to the United States or the US prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In 2012, Assange sought refuge inside the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he was beyond the reach of UK and Swedish authoritiesbut also effectively a prisoner, unable to leave the tiny diplomatic mission in Londons tony Knightsbridge area. The relationship between Assange and his hosts eventually soured, and he was evicted from the embassy in April 2019. British police immediately arrested him for jumping bail in 2012. Sweden dropped the sex crimes investigations in November 2019 because so much time had elapsed, but Assange remains in Londons high-security Belmarsh Prison as he awaits the extradition decision. Supporters say the ordeal has harmed Assanges physical and mental health, leaving him with depression, dental problems and a serious shoulder ailment. Assanges partner Stella Moris, who had two sons with him while he lived in the embassy, said he looked thinner and was in a lot of pain when she visited him in prison in late August for the first time since March. The extradition hearing opened in February but was put on hold when the UK went into lockdown in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. It is resuming with social distancing measures in court and video feeds so that journalists and observers can watch remotely. Assange is expected to be brought by prison van from Belmarsh to the Old Bailey criminal court for the hearing, which is due to run until early October. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser is likely to take weeks or even months to consider her verdict, with the losing side likely to appeal. Biden - AFP Joe Biden appeared to have won the first on-the ground duel of the coronavirus-hit US election after he and Donald Trump both descended on the battleground state of Wisconsin. For the first time both candidates travelled to the same place this week, visiting the flashpoint city of Kenosha where riots erupted after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, an unarmed black man, seven times in the back. The events in Kenosha finally, after much internal discussion with his team, induced Mr Biden to hit the campaign trail. Had it not been for the pandemic he would have done so months ago. Instead, Mr Biden has spent most of his time recently conducting virtual events from his home in Delaware. Mr Trump had called him "Joe Hiden," and accused him of hiding in his basement. Mr Biden's first campaign visit to the Midwest came with only two months to go until the election, and lit the touchpaper for what will be a bruising fight in Wisconsin. Mr Trump won the state by less than one percentage point in 2016. It had voted Democrat since 1984. Four years ago he took Kenosha County, which has 160,000 people, by just 255 votes, or 0.3 per cent of the ballots cast. Republicans had privately accepted losing Wisconsin this time, but Mr Trump has refused to give it up. The president swooped into Kenosha on Tuesday and accused rioters of "domestic terror," and Democrats of being weak on law and order. Mr Biden followed two days later, and prayed with the now-paralysed Mr Blake. A tracking poll completed this week suggested Mr Biden had come out on top. It showed him now leading by 10 points in Wisconsin, up from just three points in the same poll before Mr Blake was shot on Aug 23. The candidates presence provoked passionate responses from Kenoshans on both sides. Trump stood right where you're standing and I believe he felt it. He felt our pain," Scott Carpenter, 51, told The Telegraph, amid the charred remains of desks and filing cabinets in what used to be his shop, B & L Office Furniture. Story continues Trump sees his country is bleeding and he wants to help. He's a real person. He's a businessman, I could see he knows what it's like to build your business from the ground up like our family did, said Mr Carpenter. Biden? I never heard from him. Id like to. I don't know if he even reached out to any business owners while was here. Read more: Donald Trump vs Joe Biden policies Trump - Reuters Less than a mile across town Elizabeth Webb, 42, a black single mother, whos 20-year-old son witnessed the Jacob Blake shooting, said: I think Trump was a joke. He should have stayed his ass, excuse me, at home. Why come here to witness what your hatred has done? She added: It (the shooting) was a hard thing for my son to see. He's withdrawn, he's upset. This has got to stop. Kenosha has harassed and beaten down the young black men of this city. To me it was a political statement that the probation office got burned down. It has locked up so many young black people. God hears our prayers on a daily basis, but now its time for the world to hear our cries." It appeared the candidates visits, left Republicans and Democrats in Kenosha more deeply entrenched than ever. Trump ran into a roadblock with the virus, but anyone would have. He did his best, said Rich, 60, a Republican Army veteran, looking at the burned wreckage of The Too Good Ice Cream Shoppe on 22nd Avenue in Kenosha. The last thing standing was a gumball machine where insects were now feasting. It breaks my heart, I was born and raised here," he said. What happened here is a crime and you need a firm hand. Not abusive but tough. Trump's just a tougher guy than Biden and that's what we need now, a stronger police force and military. Biden's more relaxed with the protesters, then this happens. Kenoshans of all stripes were keen to point out that more than half of the 200 people arrested, many of them armed, were from elsewhere. And that means the same violence could come to other suburban towns. Read more: US Election 2020 poll tracker - who is leading the polls? flag - Reuters At his furniture store, Mr Carpenter said: "It was people from out of state, thats what were hearing. And theyre moving, they could go anywhere. You dont know where it'll happen next. He blamed the rioters, but also Wisconsins Democrat governor for not sending in the National Guard more quickly. This week, Mr Trump began hammering the airwaves, in Wisconsin and elsewhere, with a TV advert portraying Mr Biden, and Democrats generally, as weak on rioters. His new slogan is "Jobs Not Mobs". In a sign of his vulnerability on the issue Mr Biden has decided to spend an astonishing $45 million in a single week on adverts condemning violent protests. It is by far the biggest advert spend of his campaign. blake - Kenosha County Court It should be noted that, despite Mr Trumps focus on the protests, and endless TV coverage of them, US cities are not in flames. In Kenosha, while devastating for those involved, destruction was limited to small pockets over an area of less than a mile. Vast swathes of the city were unaffected. Several dozen businesses were destroyed. Kenosha itself was an improbable place for riots. Its story is familiar across the Midwest. Once a manufacturing hub, the last of 11 million cars rolled out of the Chrsyler factory in 1988, leaving 5,000 Kenoshans unemployed. Now, it is effectively a suburb of Milwaukee to the north, and Chicago to the south. Much of its, overwhelmingly white, population travels to work there. One of the few undecided Kenoshans, a small business owner, said he had watched the visits of the presidential candidates closely, but was more at a loss than ever who to support. Four years ago I scratched my head and voted for Trump at the last second because I thought he could do something about the trade deficit, he said. But on everything else hes failed. And Bidens an old guy whos just going to sit there. "Im scratching my head again. They both suck. Riders said they showed up to make clear that they, the mostly white North Shore citizens, dont share the views expressed by Irene Donoshaytis of Northfield, who appeared in court this week facing a class 4 felony hate crime charge. Winnetka has about 12,500 residents. Ninety percent are white; census data from 2018 registers the percentage of Black residents at zero because there are so few. Neighboring Northfield, with about 5,500 residents, is about the same. Glencoe too; about 1% of the roughly 8,900 residents are Black. London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has talked tough ahead of a crucial round of post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union, saying Britain could walk away from the talks within weeks and insisting that a no-deal exit would be a good outcome for the UK. With talks deadlocked, Johnson said an agreement would only be possible if EU negotiators are prepared to rethink their current positions. The EU, in turn, accuses Britain of failing to negotiate seriously. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit:AP Johnson's comments came as the Financial Times reported that Britain is planning new legislation that will override key parts of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement a step that, if implemented, could threaten a treaty signed in January and stoke tension in Northern Ireland. Assanges extradition to the US would set a chilling precedent for those who publish leaked or classified information. The last time I saw Julian Assange he looked tired and wan. Dressed neatly in casual business attire, the WikiLeaks founder was sitting in a glass-enclosed dock, at the back of a court adjoining Belmarsh high-security prison in London, flanked by two prison officers. I had travelled from the United States to observe the hearing. He had travelled via a tunnel from his cell to the courtroom. On Monday, Assange will be in court again, for the resumption of proceedings that will ultimately decide on the Trump administrations request for his extradition to the US. But it is not just Assange that will be in the dock. Beside him will sit the fundamental tenets of media freedom that underpin the rights to freedom of expression and the publics right of access to information. Silence this one man, and the US and its accomplices will gag others, spreading fear of persecution and prosecution over a global media community already under assault in the US and in many other countries worldwide. The stakes really are that high. If the United Kingdom extradites Assange, he would face prosecution in the US on espionage charges that could send him to prison for decades possibly in a facility reserved for the highest security detainees and subjected to the strictest of daily regimes, including prolonged solitary confinement. All for doing something news editors do the world over publishing public interest information provided by sources. Indeed, President Donald Trump has called WikiLeaks disgraceful and said its actions in publishing classified information should carry the death penalty. The chilling effect on other publishers, investigative journalists and any person who would dare to facilitate the publication of classified information of government wrongdoing would be immediate and severe. And the US would boldly go beyond its own borders with a long arm to reach non-citizens, like Assange, who is Australian. The US governments relentless pursuit of Assange and the UKs willing participation in his hunt and capture has now landed him in a prison typically reserved for seasoned criminals. It has diminished him both physically and emotionally often to the point of disorientation. Breaking him by isolating Assange from family, friends and his legal team, seems part and parcel of the USs strategy and it seems to be working. You do not need to know the vagaries of extradition law to understand that the charges against Assange are not only classic political offences and thus barred under extradition law, but more crucially, the charges are politically motivated. The 17 charges levelled by the US under the 1918 Espionage Act could bring 175 years in prison; add a conviction on the single computer fraud charge (said to complement the Espionage Act by dragging it into the computer era), and you get another gratuitous five years. Assange is the only publisher ever to bear the brunt of such espionage charges. There is no doubt that the charges are politically motivated under this US administration, which has all but convicted Assange in the public arena. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has claimed that WikiLeaks is a hostile intelligence service whose activities must be mitigated and managed. The flagrantly unfair prosecution of Assange is an example of how far the US will go to manage the flow of information about government wrongdoing and thus undermine the publics right to know. Assange was on Barack Obamas radar, too, but the Obama administration declined to prosecute him. Current US Attorney General William Barr, however, has turned out not one, but two indictments since 2019, the latest at the end of June. That second indictment was a surprise not only to Assanges defence team, but to the crown lawyer and the judge who were also taken unawares by the new indictment. Earlier this year, sitting 20 feet away from Assange, I was struck by how much of a shadow of his former self he had become. He did spontaneously stand up several times during that week of hearings to address the judge. He told her he was confused. He told her he could not properly hear the proceedings. He said barriers in the prison and in court meant that he had not been able to consult with his lawyers. He was not technically permitted to address the judge directly, but he did repeatedly, flashes of the aggressive tactics used in the past to advocate for himself and the principles he has espoused. If Assange is extradited it will have far-reaching human rights implications, setting a chilling precedent for the protection of those who publish leaked or classified information that is in the public interest. Publishing such information is a cornerstone of media freedom and the publics right to access information. It must be protected, not criminalised. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) The family of the late Filipino vlogger Lloyd Cadena confirmed on Sunday that he tested positive for COVID-19 and suffered a heart attack while asleep. In a statement posted on Lloyds official Facebook page, the Cadena family said the vlogger was confined in the hospital on September 1 due to high fever and dry cough, and was tested for COVID-19 on the same day. His test results came out positive on September 3, but the family said that at the time, his vitals were okay. On September 4, at 5 a.m. he was seen by the staff unresponsive and pale looking," they wrote. "As informed by the doctor, he suffered a heart attack while asleep." Lloyds remains were cremated yesterday. His death came more than two weeks before his 27th birthday. There are simply no words to express our heartfelt thanks for the prayers and sympathy you have extended to our family during this time of loss, said his family. Known for his hilarious videos, he began his YouTube channel in 2011 and has since become one of the country's most popular vloggers. He now has more than five million subscribers on the platform and over 6.5 million followers on Facebook. Lloyd quickly rose as a top trending topic on Twitter as condolences poured out for him, from social media personalities, celebrities, and fans. As the tensions rise in the South China Sea, the PLA is blustering its live-fire drills with alleged powerful ammunition that are used for these exercises. The CCP is hoping that it can show the world that their forces are not afraid of the combined U.S. Navy and Air Force. In response to stepped-up U.S. Naval activities in the Indo-Pacific, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducting military exercises with live ordnance that they cryptically call powerful munitions. These exercises still help in Leizhou Peninsula of South China's Guangdong Province, just close to the South China Sea, reported Global Times. The Americans have been holding their sea drills with combined carrier strike groups (CSGs) in the SCS within the vicinity of purloined Chinese islands. Demonstration of America naval and air superiority assets have rattled Beijing. To simulate attacks on primarily US naval tonnage and the top line F-18 Block III and support craft, the PLAN may use missiles and aircraft to assault by the Chinese Air Force that noted a Chinese military expert. He added other military branches like the Navy, Rocket Force, and the anti-aircraft carrier ballistic missile group. According to military sources, the PLA Unit 95180 sent out a brief to Beihai Television about drills in dual phases that will be done. Initially, the start will be from Saturday to Monday in a predesignated area near a watery strip close to the Leizhou Western Peninsula. The next phase will be held on Tuesday to August 2, in an eight-kilometer-radius that is smaller than the first area but the same location. In the report, the mention of non-conventional ordnance again that was never specified by Chinese sources. The military forbade civilians to enter these areas once the exercises commenced too. Secrecy about the details was evident. Also read: US Navy Develops Sea Drones to Join Surface Fleet for Joint Attack The unit carrying out the ordnance drills is linked to the PLA Air Force. Chinese military expert Song Zhongping, said to Global Times that these maritime live-fire exercises by the PLA Air Force includes shooting down the better armed and longer-ranged American jets and formidable warships of the U.S. navy. The Chinese objective is to pierce the heavily armed combat air patrols and ship defense screens with planes less fueled, fewer weapons dependent on land bases, that are compounded by lack of aerial fuel tankers. The Ordnance Industry Science Technology that specializes in the national defense industry made mention of that powerful ammunition that may have hinted about ballistic missiles. In particular, the DF series, which is the type to be deployed by the PLA Rocket Force. Based on the information, the rocket force will be targeting ships in exercises that also include heavy anti-ship cruise missiles aimed at 300 to 400 kilometers away for targets like the USS Nimitz or USS Ronald Reagan. More U.S. Naval and Air Force activity in the South China Sea with more complete combat assets are seen as threats to the Spratlys, Paracels, and Woody Island installations. Amphibious U.S. Forces with aerial, and submarine assets are threats to Chinese deployment limitations that are not welcome in encounters with the safety off. Related Article: US Navy Developing New Attack Weapons Against China in Indo-Pacific @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Published on 2020/09/06 | Source A trendy street in Seoul's Sinchon is deserted on Monday. Streets in Seoul were eerily empty again when a virtual curfew kicked in at 9 p.m. Monday as bars and restaurants shut under new lockdown rules. Advertisement The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday that people who are spotted wearing their face masks on their chins or just covering their mouths will be fined the same as those who fail to wear one. Jung Eun-kyeong, the chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, "Severing the chains of transmission this week by strictly adhering to social distancing will be crucial in managing the second wave of the coronavirus epidemic". New infections increased by some 10,000 over the last 150 days, and health authorities said the sources of transmission in 22.7 percent of new cases over the last two weeks were untraceable. As of Tuesday morning, Korea reported 235 new cases, bringing to the cumulative total to 20,182. The KCDC said the number of patients in critical or serious condition rose to over 100, an increase from just nine on Aug. 13. The sharp rise was attributed to a growing number of elderly patients affiliated with the Presbyterian Sarang Jeil church in northern Seoul, which has emerged as a new hotbed of infections. Among the 248 new cases detected on Aug. 30, 37.1 percent were over 60 years old. Meanwhile, a child in a kindergarten in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province tested positive for coronavirus on Aug. 23, but no other infection was detected among the 171 children and 33 staff there. The kindergarten credited its policy of mandatory face masks, frequent hand washing and social distancing. The Nigerian military has said it and other security agencies will continue to ensure effective surveillance of Abuja and its neighbouring states to prevent an attack by Boko Haram. It has been over three years that the terror group carried out any attack on the Nigerian capital as the military and other security agencies continue to battle the insurgents in Northeastern states. Despite the efforts of the security agencies, however, the terror group still carries out attacks in the North-east, mainly in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. However, a supposed internal memo of the Customs service suggests the terrorists are regrouping around Abuja, Kogi and Nasarawa, all in North-central Nigeria. READ ALSO: The militarys statement was in response to the controversial memo, purportedly signed by the Comptroller, Enforcement of the Nigeria Customs Service headquarters, H.A Sabo, disclosing that the terrorist group has camped in five prominent locations in Abuja with plans to unleash terror on residents of the city. Further reports have it that they are planning to attack some selected targets within the territory. They are reported to have set up their camps in the following identified enclaves: Kunyam Bush along airport road off DIA Staff Quarters-Abuja; Robochi/Gwagwalada Forest; Kwaku forest, Kuje, Abuja; Unaisha forest in Toto Local Government of Nasarawa State and Gegu forest, close.to Idu town in Kogi State, stated the memo which was not outrightly denied as fake by the Customs spokesperson. When contacted by PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday morning, the spokespersons of the Customs service and the Nigerian Army, Joseph Attah and Sagir Musa respectively, denied knowledge of the circulated memo. Mr Attah did not say the memo was fake; rather, he told PREMIUM TIMES that he is not aware of the source of the document, promising that the service will do a thorough investigation to identify its source. None of those contacted stated expressly that the memo or its content was false. However, the spokesperson of the Defence Headquarters, John Enenche, allayed the fears of residents, noting that security agencies have been alerted. The Defence Headquarters wishes to reassure residents of FCT and other adjoining states that the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have been on red alert to combat crime and ensure effective surveillance of the Federal Capital Territory and other States of the country. This is an imperative sequel to a purported memorandum from the Nigeria Customs Service warning its staff on a possible attack on the FCT, the major-general said. He said the military and other security and intelligence agencies are working hard to ensure no Boko Haram attack occurs in those states. The general public is thus advised to go about their lawful businesses undeterred, he stated, advising the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity accordingly. Boko Haram insurgency has claimed the lives of thousands of people and rendered millions homeless, particularly in the Northeastern parts of the country. Prior to 2016, Book Haram attacks were rampant in Abuja and Nasarawa with buildings such as the police headquarters and the UN building in Abuja attacked. Although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 presidential election accused former President Goodluck Jonathan of complacency in fighting the insurgency, the APC-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari has not been able to defeat the insurgents, although it has reduced the states and places they operate in. Apart from Boko Haram, Nigeria is also battling other security challenges including kidnapping and banditry. BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 6 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: As many as 1,992 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, 139 more people have died from the coronavirus over the past day. Sadat Lari added that the condition of 3,722 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 3.38 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 386,600 people have been infected, and 22,293 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 333,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. Karl Stefanovic welcomed his fourth child, daughter Harper May, just a few months ago with wife Jasmine Yarbrough, 36. And the Today show host, 46, has revealed he's already thinking about having more children with Jasmine. 'It's perfect to come home and be with Harper and however many more kids we have,' Karl told The Sunday Telegraph when quizzed about expanding his brood. 'I think we'll try to whenever the timing is right': Karl Stefanovic, 46, (left) has revealed he wants to have more children with wife Jasmine Yarbrough, 36, (right) - four months after welcoming their first child together, Harper 'You don't take it for granted, the ability to have a child, and I think we'll try to whenever the timing is right,' he added. Of his Father's Day plans, Karl revealed his plans to celebrate with Harper and the three children he shares with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn: sons Jackson, 20, and River, 12, and daughter Ava, 15. 'The kids adore [Harper], so it's a nice point in our lives to be able to celebrate being a dad,' he said. Blended brood: Of his Father's Day plans, Karl (pictured) revealed he's plans to celebrate with Harper and the three children he shares with ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn It comes just weeks after New Idea magazine reported that Karl and Jasmine are keen to give Harper a younger sibling. An insider claimed Karl has been telling colleagues at Channel Nine that he and Jasmine are keen to give Harper a younger sibling. 'A second baby is not far away and due to COVID, they have decided to increase their family,' a source alleged. Feeling clucky? It comes just weeks after New Idea magazine reported that Karl and Jasmine (left) are keen to give Harper (right) a younger sibling 'Karl is telling his network colleagues they want a new baby brother or sister for Harper as soon as possible. His Today co-workers have said they are already planning that it will be sooner rather than later,' they added. Jasmine and Karl welcomed their daughter Harper on May 1 at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital. In a statement to the Today show at the time, Karl said: 'Harper and Jasmine are doing well and dad had a great night's sleep.' Adorable! Jasmine and Karl welcomed their daughter Harper (pictured) on May 1 at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital He added: 'I am in awe. Harper is absolutely perfect.' Karl met shoe designer Jasmine in late 2016, five months after his split from his wife of 21 years, Cassandra. The new couple wed in a lavish ceremony at the One&Only Palmilla resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December 2018. COVID-19 vaccine could already be ready by October in the U.S., as announced by President Donald Trump to reporters on Friday, September 5 during a briefing at the White House. Trump announced that they remain on track in their goal of delivering a vaccine before the end of the year and just maybe even before November 1 as they think they can probably have it some time in the month of October. This is not surprising as Trump has been fixating on getting a vaccine out for the SARS-CoV-2 that during U.S. Pandemic Response meetings, nothing else captures his attention. Administration officials said that the President had urged health officials to fast track the vaccine timeline and deliver a vaccine before 2020 ends. He has been asking many questions about the status of the COVID-19 vaccine development and plans for mass distribution, according to a report by The Washington Post. Vaccinating all of the Americans would be a huge undertaking considering that the U.S. has a population of more than 300 million. As of late, Trump has been telling his advisers and aides that a vaccine may arrive by November 1. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director, Anthony S. Fauci, agreed that a vaccine could already be available before 2020 ends. Fauci, however, said that it is unlikely that the efficacy and safety of a vaccine will be determined by October, although, it can still be possible. According to the director, the public may be able to utilize a COVID-19 vaccine plausibly by November or December or early 2021. Trump's urging of a fast research, development, trials and distribution of a vaccine is demonstrative of his highest priority and that is the health and safety of the Americans. The President has cut through the red tape that would hamper a fast launching of a trial because he knows how important it is for the vaccine not to be entangled in government bureaucracy. According to the National Geographic, the Operation Warp Speed initiative of the U.S. government has pledged $10 billion for the development of 300 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine which is safe and effective and ready to be delivered by January 2021. The U.S. initiative is one of the many efforts in being able to market a vaccine soon to help ease the global crisis. There are more than 150 vaccines being developed worldwide with scientists having started back in January. Normally, it takes years for a safe and effective vaccine to be developed. However, the scientists are speeding up the process with the aim of producing a COVID-19 vaccine by 2021. The New York Times tracker has 91 vaccines in preclinical testing around the world. To date, there is only one COVID-19 vaccine that is already in the third phase of testing, Russia's Gamaleya. While China, where the virus originated, has already approved the Sinovac vaccine for limited use. Check these out: U.S. COVID-19 Deaths: 94 Percent of People Who Died had Contributing Conditions, CDC Reports Coronavirus Vaccine Needs to be Administered in Two Doses, Potential Problems Seen J&J Recruits 20,000 People in Latin America for the COVID-19 Vaccine Trials England is still in lockdown to try and reduce rising coronavirus case numbers, and avoid the NHS being overwhelmed with patients. The new variant spreads between 50 to 70 per cent faster than the first strain, and over 100,000 people have now died from Covid in the UK since the start of the pandemic. According to official statistics, there were 92,000 positive coronavirus tests in the last 7 days, and 4.4m tests conducted in the last week (around 730,000 daily). Recommended Your ultimate guide to the latest UK coronavirus rules Since 16 March the World Health Organisation has been telling countries with Covid-19 to test, test, test for the virus. As well as implementing strict social distancing measures and lockdown policies, experts have said a system of testing and tracking is an essential component to recovery. Testing has been part of the UKs five-pillar strategy to fight the coronavirus since March but it has frequently faced criticism over continued hurdles and problems. So who is eligible for a test now and what can you expect to happen if you get one? Who can get a test? Anyone in the UK with symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a persistent and new cough, loss of taste and/or smell has changed) can be tested for the virus on the NHS. You can also get a test if youve been asked by your local council to do so, youre taking part in a government pilot project or youve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result. You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms. You may need to get a test if youre due to go into hospital for surgery or a procedure. The hospital will arrange this for you. Those who cannot get a free test on the NHS include those who have come to the UK from a high-risk country, if you are planning to leave the country, or your employer or school has asked you to get a test but you have no symptoms. You may purchase a private test. Local authorities are now rolling out asymptomatic tests, as of the week beginning 11 January, but mostly only for those who cannot work from home. Check with your local authority to see if this is a service they offer. (PA) How do I book for a test? On the government website there is an NHS test checking function, which shows you if you are eligible for a free test. Those with symptoms are always eligible. Those in other circumstances should use the test checker. If you have symptoms, get a test as soon as possible. Testing sites around the UK are open seven days a week. If you are unable to travel to a test centre, you can order a home kit. The coronavirus home test kit, will be registered and posted, and the results will be sent to you. This can be ordered through the NHS app on your phone. Just go to check symptoms. Tests are most effective within five days of your symptoms developing. The ideal time is within three days of symptoms first showing. On the eighth day of having symptoms (England only), you must use a test centre as home kits will take too long to process. On the fifth day of having symptoms (Scotland and Wales), you must use a test centre. Those who can not get a test online can call 119 to arrange a test, or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland. What are my test options? For people in England there are several choices for testing: you can either go to a drive-through centre or a walk-in centre, where you may administer the test or someone will administer the test for you. In order to go to a regional centre, the government says you or someone you live with must have a car to use. With at-home test kit the tools will be delivered to your door and you can administer the test yourself in the privacy of your home. You will be asked to complete an identity check to get the test sent out. You can order a test for up to three other people. If you are getting a test because you have symptoms, you and all the people you live with muse self-isolate until you get the results of the test. Self-isolating also applies to the people in your support bubble. Recommended How to get a coronavirus antibody testing kit What happens in the test? The coronavirus test is not the same as the antibody test. The coronavirus test is an antigen test and tests if you currently have Covid-19, whereas the antibody test is to establish whether you have previously had the virus. The free coronavirus test involves taking a swab of the nose and back of the throat this can be done by the person themselves or by someone else. The test is done using a long cotton bud. An antibody test requires a sample of blood rather than a swab from the throat. These have not yet been made accessible to the public. Free antibody tests are currently only available for people who work in primary care. If you are having the coronavirus swab test done at a drive-through service you need to all arrive in the same vehicle and sit next to a window in the vehicle. You are not allowed to ride a motorbike to a drive-through test site. If you have booked an at-home test, you can watch this official tutorial to show you how to administer the test to yourself. How do I get my results? You will receive your test results by text message. The government says most people will receive a response the next day, but it can take up to three days. While you wait for your results you (and anyone you live with or bubble with) must continue to self-isolate. If your test turns out to be negative you can safely return to work as long as you are well enough, have not had a high temperature for 48 hours and anyone you live with also tests negative for Covid-19. If your test is positive and you have no symptoms you should self-isolate for 10 days from when you took the test. If your test is positive and you develop symptoms days after the result, you should self isolate for 10 days from when you started getting symptoms Duke University Press A few weeks ago, I re-watched Jordan Peeles racial thriller Get Out. The movie still elicits a visceral response of horror, mostly due to its banality and familiarity. The upper-class liberal white family is creepy, but they are given the benefit of the doubt, repeatedly. The situation is familiar to many of us who move in racially mixed social and work spaces. We ignore the uneasiness until we realize that, like a frog in water set to boil, its too late. They never actually saw your humanity. Instead, they saw you as a commodity, and you and the labor of your body and mind are about to be overrun and possibly consumed. Thats the feeling that some in academia have been expressing after being conned by recently tenured associate professor of Africana studies at George Washington University, Jessica Krug. According to her confession on Medium last Thursday, Krug, who is a white woman from Kansas, has been masquerading for years as a woman of color. She has embodied the identity of a North African, a Black Carribean and a salsa-dancing, accent-faking Afro-Puerto Rican from the Bronx for more than a decade. During that time, she has won a McNair Scholarshipa prestigious financial academic award reserved for people of color and first-generation students. White Professor Admits She Pretended to Be Black: I Absolutely Cancel Myself Similar to but unlike Rachel Dolezal, who feels she actually identifies as Black, Krug admits her act was, in fact, a ruse. She blames her identity shifting and cultural theft on mental illness due to childhood trauma. But before one looks at her actions as those of someone who is delusional or ill, its important to note that her actions are not as uncommon as they may seem. As outlandish as attempts to embody another race may seem (which is not to be confused with the type of passing mixed-race Black people may have done in earlier times in order to escape the horrors of Jim Crow and racial oppression), appropriating the culture and labor of Black people is precisely what white supremacy has been doing in this country since the first Black bodies were brought to American soil. Story continues From stealing the profit of Black labor through slavery, sharecropping, convict leasing, the current prison system, and intractable unequal pay, the economic theft and consuming of Black bodies has not abated. Cultural theft includes minstrelsy, the attribution of the birth of rock and roll to white artists, and the Kardashians, who continuously appropriate, don, and consume Blackness by transforming themselves, their lips, hips, skin color, and hair styles to perform a whitewashed Blackness for profit. And it is this last form that Krugs masquerade most closely resembles. The Kardashians gain credit for styles and looks that actual Black women have been criticized and shamed for. The legitimacy and success that white people obtain when performing Blackness that eludes actual Black people is evident in Krugs performance in academia. Not satisfied with being a scholar who is an ally to Black or Latina women, she actually took on the persona of these women, while also reportedly criticizing and denigrating the work of actual Black and Latina women. For example in the forward to her latest book, she referred to scholar Marisa Fuentes as a slave catcher. She also pitted Black and Latinx folk against one another, as many Black women questioned her racial and ethnic identity, while others felt compelled to shield and protect her. In addition, Krugs impersonation brings unwarranted scrutiny to the field of Africana studies, as some question that if the identity is a sham, perhaps the scholarship is as well. She also brings unwarranted scrutiny to Black women whose features may indeed not fit an Afrocentric mold. Colorism, the favoring of European features within communities of color, is real and harmful, and there is no doubt that the perception of Krug as a light-skinned Black woman helped her gain favor in a white supremacist culture and in academia. For Black women whose Blackness has already been called into question because of the shade of their skin, Krug did them no favors. And for darker-skinned Black women who are too often not centered in academic spaces or heard, Krugs successes confirm the reality of colorism, the biases against them, and the devaluing of Blackness. Toward the end of Get Out, the main character asks the man to whom his body is being sacrificed, Why us, why Black people? The character, an art lover and dealer who lacks legitimate artistic talent, says, I want your eyes I want those things you see through. Krugs deep insecurity with her own vision and talents caused her to don Blackness in an attempt to be who we are and see what we see, without realizing it doesnt work that way. And despite white Americas centuries-long attempts to capture and keep it, Blackness will never work that way. Blackness will never be yours. The author would like to dedicate this piece to her mother, Mary Francis Taylor. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Allegations that tanks are being deployed to the Greek border by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have proved baseless, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported late Saturday, Daily Sabah reports. According to information obtained by an AA correspondent, the transfer of the tanks was pre-planned by Turkeys Second Army, based in the eastern province of Malatya. Earlier Saturday, Ihlas News Agency reported that the TSK had begun deploying dozens of tanks to the Greek border amid tensions over maritime borders between the two countries. The agency reported that two truck convoys loaded with some 40 tanks had been dispatched from the Syrian border in the country's Hatay province to the province of Edirne, which borders Greece. Of all the riots that have gone unchecked in the country this summer, the one in Kenosha, Wisconsin, might matter most with regard to the November presidential election. The vivid imagery in the days following the police shooting of Jacob Blake shows a town in devastation. Rioters blocked traffic. And they stole gasoline from a nearby gas station to start fires that took out numerous small businesses, car lots, an apartment building and a Family Dollar store. Other businesses that were not burned down nonetheless were looted and had their windows and doors smashed. It is a war zone, and no one wants to live in a war zone. No one wants their children and grandchildren to live in a war zone. No one wants to own and run a business in a war zone. Consequently, no candidate running for president should be silent about it. Because in moments like this, people want safety, security and to know elected officials have their back. The potential electoral consequences are not just due to the fact that riots, destruction and lawlessness are happening in a swing state. It is because Kenosha is the Everyman of Americas midsized cities. People have known for decades the city officials in Portland and Seattle have looked the other way when anarchists rage. No matter where a person lives in this country, when people see Kenosha, they see their hometown, their suburb, their schools, their Middle America, and they say, By the grace of God, there goes the country. They are looking to see who is rising to the occasion. Wisconsin Rep. Bryan Steil was on-site immediately. The Republican, who represents Wisconsins 1st Congressional District, which includes Kenosha, said the question he has heard from people on the scene in the aftermath of the wholesale destruction of the business district is: Who is going to step up? Just broadly speaking, people want to see public safety restored to the city of Kenosha, Steil said in an interview with the Washington Examiner. I dont think they care if a Republican does it, a Democrat does it, if the man on the moon does it. They just want to see it done. They want to see leadership. Steil said that after two nights of rioting, he was deeply concerned there were insufficient resources, so he asked local officials and community members if they were open to receiving additional support from the federal level. They said they were, and he called the White House. I called the president, and he graciously gave me time to discuss what was playing out in Kenosha, and at my request, he called the governor and offered additional resources, explained Steil. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers rejected that offer, Steil said. The next night, two people were shot and killed in the continuing mayhem. Steil said Evers was extended the White House offer again the next day and accepted it. The deaths in Kenosha during the riots and the perceived lack of response by the Democratic governor caused a flurry of tweets from Democratic politicians, such as Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, all calling for the end of riots, violence and harassment in their own cities. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did as well. You dont have to wonder for too long why that suddenly happened. Portland has been rioting for months. The same goes for the D.C. protests. CNNs Don Lemon let the cat out of the bag Tuesday night when he told fellow anchor Chris Cuomo: The rioting has to stop. ... Its showing up in the polling. Its showing up in the focus groups. A Marquette Law School poll found that in Wisconsin in June, voters approved of the Black Lives Matter protests 61% to 36%. But by early August, 48% of people disapproved, and 48% approved. That represents a net 25-point swing. And this poll was taken before the recent Kenosha rioting. Kenosha County voted for both former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump. It went for Republican Scott Walker for governor and then against him. It went for Republican Sen. Ron Johnson twice and for Sen. Tammy Baldwin. It is the swingiest county in the swingiest 2020 state. It is the place Biden should have been immediately Tuesday morning, calling for calm and order. It is the place that President Donald Trump delivered that type of leadership to the humanity to restore public safety now not tomorrow, not next week, not next year. Now, said Johnson in an interview with the Washington Examiner. Kenosha County is bordered by Lake Michigan to its east, where it retains its early Rust Belt roots, thanks to the railroad and factories that lined it. Its western portion is rural. The center of the county is where it has seen the most growth in the past few years. Intersected by Interstate 94, linking it to Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago, its growth is driven by location, an exodus from Illinois taxes and a renowned work ethic. The county has a population of just under 170,000, and the city of Kenosha has nearly 100,000, making it the fourth-largest city in the state and along Lake Michigan. People come here to live with peace of mind. When that peace is shattered, it is hard to imagine them wanting to settle for someone who does not have their back. I talked to so many people today who were scared, Steil said. They were concerned for their public safety, for the safety of their family, for their home, for their small business. You can hear it. Its real. In his speech at the Republican National Convention Wednesday evening, Vice President Mike Pence addressed the violence in the streets, admonishing Biden for not doing so at his convention a week earlier. So let me be clear: The violence must stop, whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha, Pence said. Too many heroes have died defending our freedom to see Americans strike each other down. In 2016, Trump flipped the Great Lakes blue wall states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin due to the pull of cultural and economic concerns. No state embodied that shift better than Wisconsin. If security concerns in Kenosha persist, Nov. 3 may not shape up to be a good night for Democrats. Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Under the plan, childcare reopens from September 28 for all parents, while sessional kindergarten begins from October 5, Premier Daniel Andrews and Education Minister James Merlino announced on Sunday. In metropolitan Melbourne, from the week beginning October 12, the students returning to school are: prep, grade 1, grade 2, year 11, year 12, year 10s studying VCE or VCAL subjects and children at specialist schools. In regional Victoria, all students - from prep to year 12 - will return to school the week of October 12. Mr Merlino said schools can decide to stagger returns across the week. Senior students who are taking the General Achievement Test and other essential assessments will sit their tests at school from October 5 whether they are in regional Victoria or metropolitan Melbourne. Loading But students from grade 3 to year 10 in metropolitan Melbourne will continue remote learning. There is a potential for a staggered return for those year levels from October 26 if there was an average of less than five new cases day, according the government's road map. Independent Education Union general secretary Deb James said remote schooling has been hard for everyone, but safety must come first. "We support a carefully monitored return to school grounds next term for our lower primary and upper secondary students. Senior students in particular will need all the support we can give them as they continue to endure a very disrupted finish to their schooling," Ms James said. "Key to ensuring that this is safe and sustainable will be keeping on-site staffing levels to a minimum, and genuine ongoing consultation in every school around staff attendance and safety protocols. Parents Victoria executive officer Gail McHardy said she empathised with the frustration being felt by all households with students still at home, while the reopening of regional schools was good news for country areas. "None of this has been fair or easy on anyone or anywhere in regard to how the pandemic has impacted on us to all live, work and learn," Ms McHardy said. Mr Merlino said the decisions were based on the case numbers and health advice. He said whether students from grade 3 to year 10 will return to school this year will depend on daily case numbers. "We understand what impact this is having on parents and students and we want every child back to face-to-face teaching, but we simply cannot do that now. It is not a choice available to us," Mr Merlino said. Loretta Piazza, principal of Meadowglen Primary School in Epping, said the slow return was sensible, but the sooner all students could get back, the better. Credit:Joe Armao "Decisions will be made in the future, but they will be entirely based on case numbers." He said he was very confident VCE students in metropolitan areas will not be compromised. Students seeking to repeat their year 12 would be part of the conversation, Mr Merlino said. Australian Principals Federation president Julie Podbury said she was relieved to have a road map forward. "We all want the kids back as soon as it is safe for that to happen and this seems a sensible approach," Ms Podbury said. Lilydale High School principal Wendy Powson said she was worried the government could have been pushed into opening early. "Having spent many hours speaking to students, parents and teachers, it is very apparent that they understand and appreciate the decisions being made," Ms Powson said. I remember waking up one morning in 2019 in horror, as I opened Instagram to an error message: You were logged out. One of my biggest pages at that time was disabled for an unknown reason," recalls Elijiah Pitman, an Australian Social Media Expert and CEO of Clout Media. Pitman had grown a social media business to over 100k followers on Instagram, but on that tragic day, it was gone. Just like that, all his hard work vanishedwith no explanations, no concessions, and no appeal. Social media is clearly the most important marketing tool of the last decade, but as many are beginning to find out, it is a double-edged sword and can cut you when you least expect it. What happened to Pitman is not as strange or far removed as you might expect. Many business leaders have experienced a similar fate, losing loads of followers and business connections overnight. But this unfortunate situation didnt kill Pitmans dream. Quite the contrary, he went on to build one of his largest followings on another one of his Instagram pages, gaining over 500k followers in three months and building a thriving business around it. Pitman has since sought to help other entrepreneurs build their social media followings, teaching them how to leverage it to build longevity. His is a cautionary tale with a happy ending. But here are a few glaring lessons he learned along the way. Related: 5 Cannabis Brands That Are Crushing It On Instagram 1. Dont build exclusively on social media Its very easy to build 100 percent of your business on social media. Take advantage of the ads, stories, and all other creative avenues to get your business out there. But one major lesson Pitmans tragedy has taught him: Don't only build your business on social media or as John Obidi would say it, Dont build your house on rented land. Entrepreneurs should learn to move their business off social media systematically. Pitmans use of this strategy creates a strong backup for his clients should they ever have a social media tragedy like his. You need to create diverse avenues to move your followers into your e-mail marketing list or telegram/WhatsApp group. You can do this by offering certain free services, products, or information while using mail baits and other strategies to make sure you back your followers and business contacts up. 2. Build a reputation beyond social media. Pitman credits his great reputation before and after the tragedy to be the main reason for his success with Clout Media. I was able to establish connections and increase my reputation," he says. "From then on, positive client feedback and reputation is what has allowed for CloutMedia to remain a force in the industry. This approach doesnt revolve around your product and services, but more on your personal reputation. If you can build a name for yourself that people can trust, it can be carried over into any other venture and platformsocial media or not. This is why Pitman thinks it is absolutely necessary to be a recognizable face behind the business and uphold integrity in your dealings. This way, even tragedy cannot stop you. 3. Take a multi-platform approach The hard work involved in building a strong multi-platform approach to business on social media is probably the reason why people tend to shy away from doing it. But it's also why Pitman's company has become so relevant. His insistence on having a strong presence and activity on multiple platforms rather than settling on one is a no-brainer based on his experience. Still, it is a strategy he advocates for businesses that need to appeal to a diverse audience. The various platforms offer you a variety of people and being recognizable on many platforms is almost guaranteed to give you and your business longevity. 4. Become hyper-client oriented CloutMedias staple characteristic is how client-oriented they are in their operations. This is a spillover from Pitman's tragic experience on Instagram and one of the reasons for his current success. Social media presents the temptation to be satisfied with views, likes, comments, and orders so much so that you do not recognize your biggest followers and clients and engage with them reasonably. Building a highly individualized relationship with your social media followers will protect some relationships beyond just the likes and comments and certainly beyond any tragedy. This helped save Pitman earlier, as the genuine connection was his first reason for joining social media. He says, I have always had a passion for connecting with people and experiencing different cultures and lifestyles. My pages allowed me to do so, fueling and motivating the next three years of business growth as I aim to help other businesses and personalities reach their goals in the ever-growing climate of todays social media 5. Reinvest In yourself In the end, you are the business and the business is you. The company can never become more important than you are, and every beneficial investment in yourself is ultimately an investment in the business. Pitmans social media tragedy showed him the value of all the good books he had read and investments he had made in himself. The internal structures these formed within him, helped him lift himself up by his proverbial bootstraps and push on doggedly. His best advice for entrepreneurs has become the simple statement: Reinvest most of your resources in yourself. No one owns social media and just as easily as you acquire a space on it, you can lose it just as easily. The only thing that cannot be canceled is you. Pitmans success story reminds us all that tragedy is common to business, but should not be allowed to define or limit progress. Related: Could You Be Making (or Multiplying) Your Income With Instagram? When Instagram Cancelled His Account And Destroyed His Business, This Entrepreneur Took Matters Into His Own Hands Twitter Promises to Better Explain Why Certain Things Are Trending Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved When Katrina Cunnane felt blood seeping through her underwear as she drove down the Pacific Highway towards Sydney, she assumed it was an irregular period. It was the morning of December 23, 2018, two days before Christmas, and the Brisbane business manager was on her way to surprise her mother for the holidays. Having recently stopped her contraceptive injection, the then 32-year-old was unfazed by what she believed be to normal menstrual bleeding - but her mum, a retired nurse, insisted she go to the emergency room immediately. Ms Cunnane didn't know it then, but that 'irregular period' was the first warning sign that a massive tumour had grown across her cervix and was steadily spreading into her womb. Less than two years later, the power-lifter who used to train at F45 fitness classes is undergoing palliative chemotherapy to prolong her life - and tells Daily Mail Australia she is 'desperate for a miracle' to wake her from the nightmare that is terminal cancer. Scroll down for video Glamorous business manager Katrina Cunnane, 34, used to train at F45 classes and power-lift to keep fit; now, she is undergoing palliative chemotherapy to prolong her life After her hospital examination on December 23, doctors put Ms Cunnane back on a contraceptive pill to regulate what they diagnosed as a hormonal imbalance triggered by coming off her injection. But when bleeding resumed with renewed intensity and accompanying lower back pain just a few weeks later, she saw her GP who referred her for a pap smear which detected a mass of abnormal cells. 'We all knew that I had cancer, but no one wanted to say it out loud,' Ms Cunnane, now 34, recalled. Women should have cervical screening tests to check for pre-cancerous and cancerous cells every five years, the Australian Department of Health advises, provided the most recent test showed no abnormalities. The last test Ms Cunnane had was six years before her diagnosis and returned perfectly normal results a clean bill of cervical health. It was Ms Cunnane's mother Mary (right), a retired nurse, who sensed something more sinister than a hormonal imbalance was at play and insisted she go to the emergency room Fast-tracked for surgery on April 4, 2019, she woke to the news that doctors had discovered a tumour spanning the width of her cervix and well into the cavity of her womb. The growth was deemed too large to remove. In a doubly devastating blow, the damage to her cervix was so great that doctors confirmed she would never carry a child - a loss that broke Ms Cunnane's heart. 'I was inconsolable. Being a mum is all I've ever wanted,' she said. 'We all knew that I had cancer, but no one wanted to say it out loud,' Ms Cunnane, now 34, says On June 10, 2019, Ms Cunnane began gruelling treatment which involved six rounds of chemotherapy, 28 rounds of radiation and three days of brachytherapy, a form of radiotherapy where radioactive material is inserted into the body to destroy cancerous cells. Her body responded well and doctors assured her there was an '80 percent survival rate' associated with successful treatment. But despite their confidence, Ms Cunnane's world was shattered nine months later on March 5, 2020, when a routine PET scan revealed cancer had spread deep into her pelvic tissue and lymph nodes. This time, doctors said there was no option but palliative chemotherapy the medical term for 'end of life care' for patients with terminal cancer. 'I just remember going numb and starting to shake. The doctor had to write everything down for me because I couldn't process what I was hearing,' Ms Cunnane said. Ringing in her ears were the words '12 to 24 months' - the time she has been given to live. When she called her mother to tell her the news, Ms Cunnane said she 'heard her heart break' on the other end of the phone. Ms Cunnane's world was shattered on March 5, 2020, when a routine PET scan revealed cancer had spread deep into her pelvic tissue and lymph nodes Doctors have given Ms Cunnane (pictured with sister Danni) between 12 and 24 months to live Symptoms of cervical cancer * Vaginal bleeding between periods * Menstrual bleeding longer or heavier than usual * Bleeding after sexual intercourse * Pain during intercourse * Unusual vaginal discharge * Vaginal bleeding after menopause Advanced stages can cause excessive fatigue, leg pain or selling and pain across the lower back. Source: Cancer Council Australia Advertisement Katrina Cunnane was one of roughly 950 Australian women diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2019. An estimated 238 women will die from the disease in Australia in 2020, according to statistics from the Department of Health, despite being largely preventable through screening programmes and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). Different strains of HPV a common sexually transmitted infection believed to affect 80 percent of people at some point in their lives play a role in causing most forms of cervical cancer, which is notoriously difficult to diagnose because it often develops without a single symptom. Warning signs include pain vaginal bleeding between periods - which Ms Cunnane experienced - as well as pain during sex and unusual vaginal discharge. In its initial stages, cervical cancer is highly treatable and associated with long-term survival, which means early intervention can be the difference between life and death. Ms Cunnane (pictured with sister Danni) is racing against time to create memories with friends and family while she still can Ms Cunnane urges women to speak openly about their gynaecological health Terminal cancer patients like Katrina Cunnane face incredibly difficult decisions about treatment near the end of their lives. While palliative chemotherapy can prolong survival, it can also cause debilitating side effects that prevent people from fulfilling their dreams and enjoying precious time with loved ones. Although Ms Cunnane initially accepted her prognosis, she said said she is 'no longer at peace' with the hand she's been dealt and is 'desperate for a miracle'. Cancer has left her a 'shell of her former self' as she races against time to create memories with friends and family while she still can. 'My whole life has changed and I often feel I'm a shell of my former self,' she said. 'Time is precious and I've wasted so much of it over the years.' Ms Cunnane is desperately hoping to be accepted to an experimental immunotherapy trial which she sees as her last chance to overcome the insidious disease. Eager to help others avoid her fate, she urged women to speak more openly about their gynaecological health and normalise discussions about vaginal issues, which are still shrouded in stigma. 'It's time for women to look out for other women ask each other if you're up to date with your pap smears,' she said. 'There's so much embarrassment about these conversations but it's about time we start having them. Too many women are dying, let's have each other's backs.' For more information on cervical cancer and pap smears in Australia, please visit the Australian Cancer Council or the Department of Health's cancer website. Beirut French President Emmanuel Macron has warned Lebanese politicians that they risk sanctions if they fail to set the nation on a new course within three months, stepping up pressure for reforms in a country collapsing under the weight of an economic crisis. Visiting for the second time in less than a month, Macron marked Lebanons centenary by travelling to a forest outside Beirut to plant a cedar tree, the emblem of a nation facing the biggest threat to its stability since the 1975-1990 civil war. In central Beirut, riot police and armoured personnel carriers fired teargas to disperse protesters outside parliament as they vented anger at the mismanagement and corruption that has dragged Lebanon into crisis. Some protesters hurled rocks. Riot police were also deployed outside the venue where Macron met Lebanese political and religious leaders. One group held a banner reading: Legitimacy comes from the people. Its the last chance for this system, Macron was quoted as saying. I am putting the only thing I have on the table: my political capital. Macron, who toured Beiruts port that was devastated in an August 4 explosion, adding to the national crisis, said he wanted credible commitments and a follow-up mechanism from Lebanons leaders, including a legislative election in six to 12 months. Should they fail to shift in the next three months, punitive measures could be imposed, including withholding bailout money and sanctions on the ruling class, the French president said. Pressure from Macron, who said he would visit again in December, has already pushed major parties to agree on a new prime minister, Mustapha Adib, who has called for the rapid formation of a government and promised to implement reforms swiftly to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund. Forming a cabinet has taken months in the past. But Macron said he would push politicians to move fast and said billions of dollars in funds pledged at a 2018 Paris donor conference in Paris would not be released without reforms. The media is calling out its anonymous sources to criticize the president. Jeffrey Goldberg has written an article in The Atlantic claiming that President Trump "repeatedly disparaged the intelligence of service members." Goldberg contends President Donald Trump lied when he canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in 2018, claiming that the helicopter couldnt fly due to weather. According to Goldberg, Trump refused to visit because his hair would be disheveled in the rain and it was unimportant to honor American war dead. "According to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion" Trump said, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. In a later conversation Trump referred to the Marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as suckers. He also reportedly questioned, Who were the good guys in this war? In order to bolster his claim that Trump is anti-military Goldberg references Trump's relationship with Senator John McCain. Goldberg claims, "Trumps understanding of concepts such as patriotism, service, and sacrifice has interested me since he expressed contempt for the war record of the late Senator John McCain." Goldberg also mentions Trump's criticism of the parents of Humayun Khan, an Army captain who was killed in Iraq. It should be noted that his criticism had been in response to their attacks. Goldberg's information is attributed to anonymous sources: "three sources with direct knowledge of this event," "sources with direct knowledge of his views," one officer with firsthand knowledge of Trumps views" and "according to eyewitnesses." Goldberg stressed that "These sources, and others quoted in this article, spoke on condition of anonymity." The problem is that anonymous sources are getting old. An extremely credible source told Harry Reid that Mitt Romney hadnt paid taxes for 10 years. Reid later admitted this claim was false, telling Dana Bash I dont regret that at all. Romney didnt win did he? Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin cites two anonymous former senior U.S. officials who have confirmed key parts of the Atlantics story about the president. Griffin said she could not confirm the most salacious part of the Atlantic report which claimed that Trump had called World War I solders buried at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris losers and suckers. Griffin explained, "My sources are not anonymous to me and I doubt they are anonymous [to] the president." My Sources Are Unimpeachable The claim is that Trump "cant fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself, according to one of General John Kelly's four-star general friends. He finds the idea of military service difficult to understand and the idea of volunteering to serve especially incomprehensible, so the claim goes. This is an odd accusation of a man who is holding office without a salary. Perhaps he is motivated by the sight of the vast fortunes accumulated by recent presidents. That appears unlikely, given that he already has one. The public's response is reenforced with comments from people outside the press. Retired airline pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger condemned President Trumps reported comments saying he had completely failed to uphold his oath. He cannot comprehend the concept of service above self. and He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish. He cannot conceive of courage because he is a coward. He cannot feel duty because he is disloyal. Sullenberger has made negative remarks about Trump in the past, too. Senator Tammy Duckworth announced on CNN that We all know this is exactly Donald Trump. This is who he is. People know the story is accurate because hes consistently said these things over the years and continues to act in a way where he likes to use the military for his own personal ego as if we were some sort of toy soldiers you could pull out and line up on your desk to play with. Goldberg's article is a classic example of the Wrap-Up Smear as defined by Nancy Pelosi to a group of reporters: Its a diversionary tactic. Its a self-fulfilling prophesy, you demonize and then the wrap-up smear. You wanna talk politics? We call it the wrap-up smear.' You smear somebody with falsehoods and all the rest, and then you merchandise it. And then you (gesturing to the media) write it, and then they say, See, its reported in the press that this, this, this, and this. So they have that validation that the press reported the smear, and then its called the wrap-up smear.' Trump's press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, described it as "fake news." Nearly a dozen current and former government officials have gone on the record to state the story's claims were effectively false, including former National Security Advisor John Bolton, a Trump critic, who said he never heard it. Goldberg claim that Trump lied about the helicopter not being able to fly is contradicted by an email from one of the president's that reads, "We are a bad weather call for today's lift." Goldberg claims Trump blamed rain for the last-minute decision not to visit the cemetery, saying the helicopter couldnt fly and that the Secret Service wouldnt drive him there. "Neither claim was true." An email from one of the president's military aids clearly reads, "We are a bad weather call for today's lift." This smear will be repeated endlessly by the media until it becomes an established "fact." John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany. Image credit: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0. Enhanced with FotoSketcher. Names are inextricably tied to the character of the institutions or individuals carrying them. In the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, a Southern university named in part for Robert E. Lee is considering whether its name should be changed to reflect modern sensibilities about race. The answer carries implications for the founding ideals of America itself. In 1870, Washington College trustees renamed the school to reflect the contributions of Lee, who served as both commander of the Confederate States Army and president of the college. In 2020, Washington and Lee Universitys trustees must decide whether Lees influence merits continued recognition. While myriad reasons exist for the Civil War, the social, political and economic consequences of slavery drove the division of our nation. By design, slavery dehumanizes and reduces enslaved people into units of economic production to be traded and exploited. I am the descendant of men who not only supported such an institution, but were also willing to kill their fellow Americans to keep the advantages it offered. The discomfort of that acknowledgment pales radically in comparison to the destructive impact of slavery on Black families across the South. As Ive watched monuments to the Confederacy come down, my response has been simple. I will not support vandalism and mob destruction of any property. We elect officials fully capable of taking down or erecting monuments. We make our preferences known, and then we toss out politicians who think they know better. Thats how our representative democracy works. But thats the easy answer. Its the kind of answer that prompted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to write his Letter from a Birmingham Jail to white clergymen. Its easy for me to say, Trust the process. Ive never had reason not to do so. Grave injustices have never been meted out against me because of the color of my skin. One answer is to remove, expunge or delete any reference to anyone morally stained by benighted racial perspectives. Regrettably, that list is quite long. Even Abraham Lincoln, when accused by Sen. Stephen Douglas of supporting Black equality, noted, I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and Black races. To borrow from Southern author Flannery OConnor, a good man is hard to find. We should absolutely and publicly acknowledge the deep moral failings of those who came before us, but we must also carefully consider the context for which individuals and ideas were recognized. For example, the Lincoln Memorial doesnt honor Lincolns racial prejudice; it lauds his efforts to end slavery and keep America whole. The Washington Monument celebrates George Washingtons leadership in the American Revolution and his willingness to lay down political power instead of becoming a king. We dont celebrate his owning enslaved people. While Lee could easily have become governor of Virginia, he chose to become an educator rather than a political leader. In accepting the presidency of Washington College, Lee was both aware of the controversy his past would bring and sanguine about his hope for the future. Life is indeed gliding away, and I have nothing good to show for mine that is past, he wrote. I pray I may be spared to accomplish something for the benefit of mankind and the honour of God. His tenure at Washington & Lee suggests his objective was sincere. Unlike some Confederate monuments and naming honors designed to buttress Jim Crow laws or react to civil rights movements, Washington & Lees posthumous recognition of Lee wasnt and isnt designed to intimidate or deter people of color. It was truly an appreciation of his work to stabilize the university and create a unique student-led honor system that remains in place to this day. Where monuments and names mark virtues, ideas and institutions of merit, we shouldnt rename or destroy them simply because the men and women associated with them bore deep flaws. When erectors of memorials and icons crafted and installed them to intimidate, divide or reinforce racist sentiment, we should absolutely remove them. The Confederate Battle Flag, for example, does nothing but buttress the notion that the failed Confederacy carries weight in todays society. We have plenty of other ways to identify with Southern culture. If Mississippi is on track to dispose of this particular symbol, the rest of us can as well. I recognize those in our society who believe that American ideals, institutions and even the nation itself are so tainted by the moral failures of the past that they must be cast aside by nothing short of a revolution. The moral arc of American history is bending toward justice. Were engaging issues of race more today than Ive witnessed at any point in my life. Weve always had the choice between redemption and revolution. At times, both have been warranted. My sincere hope is that the former remains the preferred path for both Washington & Lee and the country I love. Smith is CEO of the Triptych Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit promoting a virtuous society through investments in socially impactful media and business. He was recently the executive director of the Republican Policy Committee in the United States House of Representatives and is a graduate of Washington & Lee. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is responding 'optimally' to COVID-19 treatment but is the most vulnerable type of patient and is in 'the most delicate phase' of his infection, his personal doctor has said. Dr. Alberto Zangrillo repeated that he nevertheless remained 'cautiously optimistic' about Berlusconi's recovery. Berlusconi turns 84 in a few weeks and has had a history of heart problems that required a pacemaker several years ago. The three-time premier checked into the San Raffaele hospital in Milan early Friday after testing positive for the virus earlier in the week. At the time, he had the early stages of a lung infection. Earlier in the week he said he tested positive but showed no symptoms. Then he said he had a fever and felt achy but still vowed to campaign for his Forza Italia party in upcoming regional elections. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is responding 'optimally' to COVID-19 treatment, his personal doctor has said 'The patient is responding optimally to treatment,' Zangrillo told reporters outside the hospital. 'This doesnt mean we can claim victory because, as you know, he belongs to the most fragile category,' given his age. Official data shows that men aged 80-87 have the highest COVID-19 death rate among all cases in Italy, at 47 per cent. Zangrillo suggested Berlusconi wouldn't be released anytime soon, adding that fighting coronavirus 'requires adequate treatment and takes its time.' Berlusconi spent some of his summer vacation at his seaside villa on Sardinias Emerald Coast. Many of Italys recent cases of COVID-19 have been linked to clusters in people who vacationed in Sardinia. Alberto Zangrillo, Silvio Berlusconi's longtime physician, tells reporters at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan that test results are reassuring and 'makes us optimistic' for his recovery over the next 'hours and days' Sen. Lucia Ronzulli, who is a top aide to Berlusconi told RAI state TV that the former premier was admitted to a Milan hospital early Friday as a precaution to monitor his coronavirus infection after testing positive for Covid-19 Zangrillo is head of intensive care at San Raffaele. To date, Berlusconi is believed to still be in a VIP ward at the clinic, not in intensive care. Zangrillo has been criticized for having asserted at the end of May, when Italy's lockdown had greatly slowed its rate of new infections to just a few hundred a day, that 'clinically speaking the virus doesn't exist anymore.' Zangrillo has since acknowledged that statement was too strong and 'off-key' and was based on observing that fewer patients required intensive care at the time. Both Italy's virus caseload and ICU numbers have been rising in recent weeks, mostly among Italians returning from vacation. On Sunday, Italy added another 1,297 confirmed infections to its official toll. Another seven people with COVID died over the past day, the health ministry reported, bringing Italy's official death toll to 35,541, the second-highest in Europe after Britain. Zoran Zaev, the leader of the social democrats (SDSM), center, talks to the country's President Stevo Pendarovski, right, prior the constitutive session of the Parliament, in a dome hall at the parliament building in Skopje, North Macedonia, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. North Macedonia has constituted its new parliament on Tuesday with strict protocols due to COVID-19 pandemic, with parties involved in July 15 snap elections now to start a complicated power-sharing negotiations after none of the main runners have won a needed majority in a 120-member parliament. (Press Service of the Parliament of North Macedonia via AP) SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) North Macedonias parliament started debate Saturday on a vote of confidence for a new left-wing coalition government after the Social Democrats and their ethnic Albanian partners secured a majority of seats in July's general election. Social-Democrat leader Zoran Zaev, 46, who led the previous government from 2017 to 2020, has announced a more streamlined Cabinet with 19 members, seven fewer than before. Nine ministers either kept their positions or were moved to new ones. Seven posts went to ethnic Albanians. Zaev told lawmakers his new Cabinet will focus on reviving the economy, dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and fighting corruption. He announced one billion euros ($1.19 billion) in new investments, a 40% increase in the minimum wage and pensions and a planned judiciary reform. The conservative opposition, led by the VMRO-DPMNE party, fiercely criticized the new Cabinet, claiming it is incapable of dealing with the pandemic and fulfilling its promises. This is a government (composed) of lies also it is a coalition of continued crime and corruption, claimed Aleksandar Nikolovski, a senior VMRO-DPMNE official, adding that protests will start this fall in a bid to force the governments fall. Parliament must conclude the debate on the confidence vote by midnight Sunday. Approval is expected, since Zaev and his allies won 62 of the 120 seats in parliament. Saudi Arabia cut pricing for oil sales in October, a sign the worlds biggest exporter sees fuel demand wavering amid more coronavirus flare-ups around the globe. The kingdoms state producer, Saudi Aramco, reduced its key Arab Light grade of crude by a larger-than-expected amount for shipments to Asia, its main market. It also lowered pricing for US buyers. Aramco cut Arab Light to Asia to a discount against the benchmark oil price used by the Saudis for the first time since June. Its the second consecutive month of reductions for barrels to the region and the first month in six that US refiners will see a cut. Aramco will trim pricing, too, for lighter barrels to northwest Europe and the Mediterranean region. Oil demand has plunged this year after the pandemic forced governments to lock down economies, airlines to cancel fights and workers to stay at home. Saudi Arabia, Russia and other OPEC+ producers agreed in April to slash output by almost 10 millions barrels a day, roughly 10% of global supply, to bolster prices. Those cuts and a demand recovery in China have since helped oil prices more than double. But theyre still down around 35% this year. Brent crude fell to $42.66 a barrel on Friday, suffering its biggest weekly loss in almost three months as infection rates continued to climb in nations such as the US and India. Aramco understands the importance of China for the global oil market, said Giovanni Staunovo, a commodities analyst with UBS Group AG. The cut for October might help to support stronger imports from China over the coming months. The company is reducing pricing for Light exports to Asia in October by $1.40 a barrel to 50 cents below the regional benchmark. It was expected to pare pricing by $1 a barrel to a 10-cent discount, according to a Bloomberg survey. The market will interpret these numbers to have been fair, Mike Muller, head of trader Vitol Groups Asian operations, said on a Sunday conference call hosted by Dubai-based consultancy Gulf Intelligence. There are some that wanted an even greater decrease. But, on the whole, people will say: OK, well take that. The Saudis raised pricing from June to August for Asia. However, refinery demand has softened due to weak profits from turning crude into gasoline and other fuels. Asian refiners are also working through large stockpiles built up earlier in the year when crude prices troughed. Aramco is cutting prices for the US for the first time since April after Saudi oil exports to the country dwindled to the lowest in decades in August. Saudi Arabia usually sets the tone for pricing decisions by other Middle Eastern petrostates, including Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, the second- and third-largest producers in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. As the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths continues to rise, a team of experts from New Delhi is set to arrive in Tripura at the earliest to assess the situation. A team of doctors from New Delhi is expected to arrive here at the earliest. We will seek suggestions from them on how to give better health care services, law minister Ratan Lal Nath told the media in Agartala. A total of 14,531 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the state since April 6, and 144 patients have died since June 9. Two Covid-19 patients killed themselves. A total of 8,745 patients have recovered. On Saturday, Nath said that the cabinet ministers decided they would take turns to stay at the Govind Ballabh Pant (GBP) Hospital, the first dedicated Covid Care Centre of the state, if required, to ensure there is no negligence. A case of negligence was lodged against doctors at the GBP Hospital that led to the death of a three-day-old baby last month. The babys mother said he died after his swab samples were taken for a Covid-19 test. The mother had tested positive and thats why the babys samples were taken. A peaceful protest of thousands in Rochester turned chaotic and violent Saturday night, with city police saying they used tear gas and pepper balls after some threw bottles and fireworks at uniformed officers. The day started peacefully, with hundreds gathered to decry the death of Daniel Prude, who died in March after being in police custody. But as the crowd moved closer to city hall, protesters and police clashed, according to a news release from Rochester police and multiple accounts from participants and journalists who were there. I felt complete safe until I confronted police, said Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart, a former journalist turned local lawmaker who stood at the front of the crowd with other local politicians. This was an unnecessary showdown. In the end, some protesters were hit with projectiles, windows were broken at city hall, a U-Haul truck burned and three police officers were injured, the Democrat & Chronicle reported. At least nine people were arrested, the D&C reported. Barnhart says she was hit with a police projectile in the head, adding she now understands the description athletes often use when they say their head was rung like a bell. Thats exactly how I felt, she said this morning. I do have a sizeable lump behind my ear. She said the afternoon started peacefully, with people chanting and singing and calling for more police accountability. The march started around 6:30 p.m. on Jefferson Street, in the same area where Prude was apprehended by police. Prude, 41, of Chicago, was arrested March 23 and apparently stopped breathing as police in Rochester restrained him. They placed Prude in a spit hood during the arrest. Prude died when he was taken off life support a week later. Seven officers were suspended Thursday, a day after video of Prudes arrest became public. On Saturday, the states attorney general announced a grand jury will hear a case against the officers. At Saturdays protest, few police were visible until the crowd got downtown. We didnt see a single police officer for hours, Barnhart said this morning. Not even to direct traffic when we were marching through the street. Police said in a news release they blocked off streets for the protesters, who arrived at city hall around 9:40 p.m. As the crowd moved from city hall to the police headquarters building, thats when people could see police officers, Barnhart said. People in the crowd were also calling for the resignations of Mayor Lovely Warren and police Chief LaRon Singletary. Tensions escalated around 10:20 p.m. when the crowd started to throw bottles at police, according to RPD. A few minutes later, police were hit with rocks and fireworks, police say. Barnhart says she saw a firework device thrown at an officers feet. She said she doesnt condone that action. But she added she believes the police overreacted and escalated the situation. I dont see how the use of force was proportional, she said. Im really shocked and appalled by what we saw last night. Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. CAIRO The ongoing struggle between Egyptian authorities and the Muslim Brotherhood took a new turn Aug. 28 when the Interior Ministry announced the arrest of the Brotherhoods acting general guide and acting leader Mahmoud Ezzat inside an apartment in the Fifth Settlement district of New Cairo. Pro-regime media quickly described the arrest as a valuable catch, and considered it the end of the organization that has exhausted the authorities since the events of July 3, 2013, that ended Brotherhood rule in Egypt. The Interior Ministry statement said Ezzat oversaw the management of terrorist and sabotage operations that the Brotherhood carried out over the years, namely the assassination of Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat in a 2015 car bombing and the 2016 assassination attempt on Assistant Prosecutor General Zakaria Abdel Aziz, also via a car bombing. The ministry said Ezzat was responsible for managing the organizations funds, supporting and financing suspicious international organizations and using them to offend the country and exert pressure on it. The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement Aug. 29, saying that it will carry on and that the organization remains committed to its principles and will not deviate or stray from its path, whatever the sacrifices and consequences. On Aug. 25, Ibrahim Munir, the Brotherhoods deputy general guide, had launched a fierce attack against Egyptian authorities in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying, Recent months have shown that the regimes role in the region has come to an end, leaving it standing on the ruins of the chaos it has brought upon Egypt. He stressed the organizations absolute refusal to conclude any deals to reconcile with authorities. Ezzats arrest raise many questions about the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and whether or not it means the virtual end of the organizations presence in the country, and how such a development could affect the possibility of reconciliation between the organization and the regime. Mohammed Habib, the Brotherhoods former deputy general guide, told Al-Monitor that Ezzat has been the mastermind of the Brotherhood since major 2013 events the fall of the Brotherhood regime in July 2013 and the August 2013 arrest of the general guide, Mohammed Badie. Habib said that after Badie's arrest, Ezzat took charge of the organizations activities and financing, as well as negotiations with the regime, indicating that Ezzat's arrest eliminates any possibility of reconciliation with the state in the near future. On June 30, 2013, protesters took to the streets in Cairo and massive demonstrations spread to several Egyptian cities, calling for the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi and demanding early presidential elections. On July 3, 2013, the army assumed power over the country. Following the fall of Brotherhood rule, authorities launched a crackdown on the organization in an attempt to limit its role in Egypt, and arrested Badie on Aug. 20, 2013, after which Ezzat assumed the position of acting guide. On Sept. 23, 2013, the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters decided to ban the organization's activities, seize its headquarters and freeze its funds. On Dec. 25, 2013, the Egyptian government announced a decision declaring the Brotherhood a terrorist organization. Habib said, There is no doubt that multiple attempts at reconciliation between the organization and the regime have been made in recent years, but Ezzat has always refused to make any concessions and insisted on bringing down the current regime. Most recently, the Brotherhood responded to Turkish President Recep Erdogan's [latest] attempt to court Egypt in the struggle over the Mediterranean by trying to mobilize the opposition to confront the Egyptian regime. On Aug. 14, Erdogan expressed surprise at Egypt's position in favor of Greece in the eastern Mediterranean crisis, saying, I have difficulty in understanding Egypt; the positions of the Egyptian and Turkish people regarding each other are not the same as the Egyptian people's solidarity with the Greek people, for our civilizations and principles are closer to each other than they are to Greeces, and the Egyptian government must understand that. In response, the Brotherhood announced Aug. 15 its support for calls to unify all opposition political entities abroad, considering that if these calls succeeded, the Egyptian revolution would find its way once again with greater influence and be more widespread at home and abroad. Habib said he believes Ezzats arrest puts the organization in a conundrum in terms of who will assume the position of acting guide, especially since most of its leaders in Egypt are either in prison such as Badie and his deputy Khairat al-Shater or dead. For example, prominent leader Essam al-Erian died in prison Aug. 13. The Brotherhoods jurisprudence requires that whoever assumes the position of guide or acting leader must be from Egypt, Habib said, noting that it is likely that the organization will resort to the jurisprudence of necessity to resolve this dilemma and appoint one of its leaders abroad. Meanwhile, member of parliament Ahmed Helmy al-Sharif, head of the parliamentary committee of the Congress Party and deputy head of the Support Egypt Coalition, told Akhbar el-Yom on Aug. 28 that Ezzats arrest is the true end of this organization as he was the man behind various terrorist and criminal acts the Brotherhood has carried out in recent years. However, Maher Farghali, an independent researcher on Islamic movements, told Al-Monitor that while the arrest will affect and confuse the organizations ranks, it will not lead to the Brotherhoods demise as some might claim, noting that the organization has suffered many blows over the decades but survived. Farghali said the Brotherhood's convictions will remain the same. He added, Ezzat was not an ordinary man within the Brotherhood; he was primarily responsible for the organizations education sector, the youth formation within its ranks and its restructuring after June 30, 2013. However, I expect that the group will maintain its position, and implement its agenda at home and abroad in an attempt to mobilize against the regime, and I stress that this security blow will not eliminate it, as some claim. Officials in Rochester, New York, have announced that they will be moving crisis intervention out of the police department following the death of Daniel Prude (pictured) who lost consciousness in police custody Officials in Rochester, New York, have announced that they will be moving their crisis intervention team out of the police department following the death of a black man with mental health issues who lost consciousness after officers held a hood over his head. On March 23, Daniel Prude, 41, was naked and handcuffed when he was held down by officers who responded to a 911 call made by his brother, seeking help for Prude's erratic behavior. Police body camera video shows the officers covering Prude's head with a 'spit hood' designed to protect police from bodily fluids, then pressing his face into the pavement for two minutes. Prude died a week later after he was taken off life support. Footage of his arrest were released by his family members on Wednesday and Thursday. Following the release of the videos, protests erupted throughout the state of New York and other major US cities, prompting Rochester officials to announce reforms for the city. Mayor Lovely Warren announced Sunday that the crisis invention department will be moving out of the police department and into the city's department of youth and recreation services. 'We had a human being in a need of help, in need of compassion. In that moment we had an opportunity to protect him, to keep him warm, to bring him to safety, to begin the process of healing him and lifting him up,' Warren said during a press conference. 'We have to own the fact that in the moment we did not do that.' Police Chief La'Ron Singletary also told reporters that he supported the need for reform in his department. Mayor Lovely Warren (pictured) announced Sunday that the crisis invention department, and its budget, will be moving out of the police department and into the city's department of youth and recreation services Police Chief La'Ron Singletary (pictured) also told reporters that he supported the need for reform in his department 'I understand that there are certain calls that law enforcement shouldn't handle alone and we are looking at ways to reimagine policing surrounding mental health, and have been for the last several months,' Singletary said. During protests on Saturday night, three officers were treated at hospitals for injuries they suffered when 'projectiles and incendiary devices' were hurled at them, according to Lt Greg Bello of the Rochester police. Nine protesters were arrested. The Democrat and Chronicle reported that some protesters were hit by projectiles as thousands marched through the streets of New York's third-largest city. Rev Myra Brown called for about 50 church elders to gather at Spiritus Christi Church in downtown Rochester Sunday evening to serve as a 'buffer' so protesters are free to express themselves without police interference. 'We elders have volunteered to put our bodies on the line to make sure that happens,' Brown said at the news conference with Warren and Singletary. The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the police use of 'military tactics' including sound cannons, flash bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls against the demonstrators. 'People speaking out are not enemy combatants, and to fire flash bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls at demonstrations against police violence only proves the point,' NYCLU Genesee Valley chapter director Iman Abid said in a statement Sunday. 'The mayor and RPD must stop these warfare tactics now.' The marches took place as New York's attorney general announced Saturday that a grand jury would investigate Prude's death. Protesters gather in Rochester, New York, on Saturday following the release of video showing the death of Daniel Prude Protesters (pictured in Rochester) have demanded police accountability and legislation to change how authorities respond to mental health emergencies Protesters use umbrellas and homemade shields in an attempt to protect themselves from pepper,'less-lethal' munitions and teargas in Rochester, New York, on Saturday 'The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish,' Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Saturday. She said the grand jury would be part of an 'exhaustive investigation'. Protesters have demanded police accountability and legislation to change how authorities respond to mental health emergencies. The Monroe County medical examiner listed Prude's manner of death as homicide caused by 'complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint'. The report cited excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP, as contributing factors. Protests have broken out in Rochester, after footage of Daniel Prude's arrest was made public. Prude was shown with a 'spit hood' over his head and died days later A police internal affairs investigation cleared the officers involved of any wrongdoing, concluding in April that their 'actions and conduct displayed when dealing with Prude appear to be appropriate and consistent with their training'. The seven officers were suspended Thursday after Prude's family released the video from the scene. Mayor Warren thanked Attorney General James for taking action in what she called 'a trying time in Rochester'. Protesters have called on Warren and Singletary to step down over the delay in releasing details of Prude's death. The mayor and police chief said Sunday they had no plans to resign. 'The chief and I, we love our city. We were born and raised here,' Warren said Sunday. 'We are committed to making the necessary changes to make sure this community moves forward.' Warren said the city is working to re-envision the police department and the way it responds to mental health crises. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has received a report that Shaheena Shaheen, a Baloch based female journalist, was shot dead in Kech, Balochistan on September 5. The PTV Bolan morning show anchor died after she was shot twice. Shaheen is known as being a strong supporter of gender equality and has campaigned for womens empowerment in Balochistan. The Turbat police have commenced an investigation into the murder and now claim that Shaheen was killed by her own husband in what appears to be a case of honour killing. Earlier on November 25, 2019, Urooj Iqbal, a female journalist was shot and killed by her husband. Iqubal was allegedly killed by her husband for not agreeing to quit her job. The IFJ and the PFUJ condemn the tragic killing of Shaheena Shaheen and are deeply disturbed by the ongoing violence against women in Pakistan. The perpetrators of these wanton, violent acts must be severely punished and authorities must make the safety of women a priority. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China will on Monday release August figures for imports, exports and trade balance, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. Imports are expected to add 0.1 percent on year after sinking 1.4 percent in July. Exports are called higher by an annual 7.1 percent, easing from 7.2 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $50.5 billion, down from $62.33 billion a month earlier. Australia will see August results for the services index from the Australian Industry Group and for job advertisements from ANZ. In July, the services index had a score of 44.0, while job ads were up 16.7 percent on month. Japan will provide preliminary July results for its leading and coincident indexes; In June, their scores were 84.4 and 76.6, respectively. Taiwan will release August numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to add 0.7 percent on year after sinking 6.8 percent in July. Exports are called higher by an annual 1.6 percent after adding 0.4 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $5.8 billion, up from $5.37 billion a month earlier. Finally, the markets in Thailand remain closed on Monday for the Songkran Festival and will re-open on Tuesday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Former Governor of Abia state and current Senate chief whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, says he will build a 20th-century economy in Nigeria if Nigerians make him president come 2023. Orji Uzor Kalu made this statement while speaking at a programme at a radio station in Umuahia, Abia state capital, on his presidential ambition in 2023. According to him, he is more than capable to do the job of a president. Yes, if you give me the presidency, why not, I will take. I am capable of doing the job. The problem is who is capable of doing the job. For now, I am focusing on my constituency; there is a lot of job to be done. If you give me opportunity, I will like to go back to the Senate for a second term, but if the people of Nigeria want me to be president, they will show the hand. I can do the job. I can build a 20th century economy for our people. he said After a private visit to former Military leaders, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, in Minna, on Monday, August 31, Kalu told newsmen that he would not hesitate to serve as Nigerias president if given the opportunity by the electorate. In December 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was convicted for N7.1bn fraud alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Director of Finance during his tenure as governor, Ugo Udeogu. The Supreme court on May 8, 2020, upturned Kalu and Udeogos conviction on grounds that the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to have presided over their case. He was released from Kuje prison on June 3, 2020. CLEVELAND, Ohio The city of Cleveland announced Sunday that a reward of up to $35,000 is being offered for information leading to the identity and prosecution of anyone involved in the murder of Det. James Skernivitz, who was shot and killed Thursday night while working undercover on the citys West Side. Skernivitz, 53, was killed along with informant Scott Dingess, 50. They were inside Skernivitzs unmarked police car on West 65th Street near Storer Avenue when somebody opened fire on the car, according to sources. Skernivitz, who was conducting an investigation into drug dealing in the area, was shot once in the chest. He tried to drive away but crashed. The informant was struck several times. Police arrested two juveniles and an adult in connection with the investigation, but none of them have been charged. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the FBI tip line at 216-622-6842. The FBI is putting up $25,000 of the reward and Crimestoppers of Cuyahoga Cpunty is putting up the other $10,000. Skernivitz worked in the departments gang investigations unit and the day before he was killed he was sworn in to work with federal agents on the Northern Ohio Violent Crimes Task Force. Skernivitz is the first Cleveland officer killed on duty in a shooting since Derek Owens on Feb. 29, 2008. Trump could issue an executive order to send stimulus checks to millions of Americans if Congress fails to act this month due to disagreements and rejections. Steve Mnuchin, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, recently revealed that the White House would make sure that there will be a second round of stimulus checks. In fact, an article from a news outlet said that Pres. Trump is now planning to issue an executive order to send stimulus checks if Congress fails to act. Pres. Trump urged Congress to release the unspent $300 billion relief aid under the CARES Act. Pres. Trump said that the Democratic leaders are blocking the cash to be sent out to millions of Americans. He even noted that the money is available and ready to go. Meanwhile, the Senate will return from recess on Sept.8, and the Republican lawmakers will introduce the new stimulus bill. This is to make sure that Americans' financial aid will be sent out before government operation shuts down. The resumption of the session at the Capitol this Sept. 8 could include another stimulus checks or stimulus package and the eligibility of those who will qualify for the next round. The Republican lawmakers will also try to find common ground with the Democrats to have progress on the stimulus checks. On the other hand, even though Treasury Secretary said that Pres. Trump does not have the power to send federal budget that is why the administration is urging to act immediately, Trump can still release an executive order that mandates the use of the unspent funding of agencies like what he did with FEMA. According to a published article in CNET, if the new coronavirus relief aid will be passed into law, a qualified individual is more likely to receive $1,200 while $2,400 for a couple if you file jointly with your spouse. Additionally, the first stimulus checks, only dependents aged 16 or younger could qualify for an extra $500 each toward the family total. However, this time there is bipartisan support to include more people, which means that you could potentially receive more checks that the first. These are the amounts proposed from CARES Act HEALS Act where lawmakers try to have an agreement with on Sept.8, according to MSN: CARES Act: With the CARES Act from March, there was no limit to the number of children who could count as dependents, as long as they were under 17 and claimed by the taxpayer on the tax return, according to the Tax Foundation. Each dependent would garner the taxpayer $500. Theoretically, a family in which two adults and six children under 17 were eligible for the full amount could receive $5,400. HEALS Act: Similar to the CARES Act, the HEALS Act put forth by Republicans doesn't mention a cap on the amount a family may receive. The difference is that it doesn't limit dependents to those under 17 to qualify for the $500 payment. Heroes Act: The Heroes Act, put together by the Democratic-led House and which has never been taken up or vetoed by the Senate, would place a cap of $6,000 for households of five or more. Essentially, it proposes $1,200 for each adult and dependent, with a maximum of three dependents per family. Check this out! Editor's Note Editors note: When the Air Mail 100 cross-country relay reaches the North Platte Regional Airport Wednesday, itll fit into a series of centennials for Lee Bird Field. This story draws from a story by the writer in the fall 2018 edition of The Telegraphs former Revisited magazine. UPDATED, Feb. 19, 2021: Updated to add details and reflect that nighttime airmail relay pilot William E. Lewis was bound for Elko, Nevada, but crashed his plane and died after taking off from Reno. *** In the first summer after the Great War, aviations pioneers discovered North Platte. Orville and Wilbur Wright had invented the first airplane 16 years earlier. One of North Plattes own had taken up aviation to serve his country and gave his life doing so less than a month after World War I ended. During that summer of 1919, North Platte proved itself a vital stopping point for transcontinental fliers. City leaders chose a spot near the forks of the Platte for them to take off and land. That airfield, later named for the local flyboy who barely outlived the war to end all wars, is still in use today. The flying pioneers Six decades earlier, the Pony Express had exploited the Oregon-California Trail to speed transcontinental mail service. Now aviators were keen to fly over the still-primitive Lincoln Highway in testing another approach to rushing letters and packages across the continent: airmail. That North Platte will be a terminal on the air line ... from coast to coast which is talked of seems quite likely, the Evening Telegraph reported on June 14, 1915. It noted a planned $50,000 New York-to-San Francisco flying contest by the Aero Club of America. It aimed to draw the most prominent aviators of the country and show the federal government that aeroplanes are practical means of carrying the mails to isolated points. But it didnt happen before America entered World War I, though the Semi-Weekly Tribune reported in May 1916 that the Aero Club had doubled its purse to $100,000. Before the race finally took place, North Platte mourned a favorite sons aviation-related death. Lee Bird, a 23-year-old North Platte High School graduate and Colorado School of Mines student, was one of Lincoln Countys first draftees. He shipped out in September 1917 to Camp Funston at Fort Riley, Kansas, but was transferred to the U.S. Armys aviation corps and commissioned a lieutenant. As Christmas 1918 neared, Bird had been a cross-country flying instructor for eight or nine months at Brooks Field in San Antonio, Texas, North Platte newspapers reported. I am flying every day and like it better every time I go up, Bird wrote home in August. I was doing spiral this morning. I would go up about 4,000 feet and spin about 3,000 feet, then glide the rest of the way and land to mark. When I got through with this, I took a joy ride for about 20 miles and it took me only 19 minutes. These airships travel pretty fast. But things went wrong the afternoon of Dec. 6, when Bird and a Lt. Howes took off. Their plane had only reached a height of about one hundred feet, the Tribune wrote Dec. 13, when it was caught in a swift current of air which threw it into a tail spin, and the machine fell to the ground. Howes survived for at least a while, but Lieut. Bird was instantly killed, his neck being broken in the fall. His death, The Telegraph wrote Dec. 7, was a shock to his many friends and the community in general, as Lieutenant Lee Bird was well known and liked. He was coming home for Christmas to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh W. Bird. Instead, he received full military honors at his Dec. 11 funeral at the Episcopal Church of Our Savior. Lee Bird, who rests in the North Platte Cemetery, would await a more prominent memorial. A pioneer airfield When spring 1919 came, so did the fliers. First was Lt. Roscoe G. Conklin of the U.S. Air Service, seeking a landing site for a Handley-Page bomber planning a coast-to-coast flight with only four stops. His flight was scrubbed in August. But North Platte leaders did locate a site one and one-half miles east of North Platte just across the (North Platte) river bridge on the right side of the (Lincoln Highway) road on part of the old Pawnee (Springs) ranch, The Telegraph reported on June 4, 1919. It was a hay meadow, with buffalo wallows here and there. But the above account is the first known reference to the airfield that in time would bear Lee Birds name. The second was in the Oct. 8 Telegraph: The trans-continental airplane race is on. The first plane (was) taking the air this morning from Mineola Field, New York. ... (It) is expected to arrive at the aviation field, east of the Lincoln Highway bridge, Thursday afternoon. Competitors, racing the clock, landed at and took off from North Plattes airfield over the next two weeks. The trail for airmail had been blazed. Airmails debut Second Assistant Postmaster General Otto Praeger picked up the baton in a July 30, 1920, letter to H.J. Moran, secretary of the North Platte Chamber of Commerce. It said an Omaha division superintendent of the budding U.S. Air Mail Service would arrive before Aug. 15 to arrange with the citizens of North Platte for a field and service station for the Air Mail, as it is probable that North Platte may be selected for a landing and gassing station. That official, Andrew Dunphy, told chamber leaders Aug. 7 the government wanted North Platte as an airmail stop but could not go to the expense of buying and equipping a landing field. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The chamber pledged to furnish the field, erect a hangar and tank and cooperate with the Air Service in every way possible to make the field satisfactory, the Tribune reported Aug. 10. Dunphy promptly wired Washington to include North Platte. Business leaders incorporated the North Platte Air Terminal Co. in October, with a capital stock of $45,000 to build and equip the airfield. But that was a month after North Platte welcomed the first westbound airmail plane from Omaha at 3:50 p.m. on Sept. 9, 1920. It bore several thousand letters for Pacific coast points, the Tribune wrote Sept. 14. After a 30-minute servicing stopover, the pilot, named Murray, made a very successful and graceful getaway and started out at a terrific speed. On Nov. 19, 1920, the Tribune printed this telegram from Dunphy to Chamber President Harry Dixon: Mail service for North Platte starts Monday (Nov. 22). North Platte will also be Air Mail Terminal from that date. Congratulations. Knights lighted flight The airmail route also brought North Platte its first permanent radio station, part of a 15-station Air Mail Radio Service to ensure pilots had up-to-date weather information. KDHM-AM, on the air by 1921, was located in the 1913 post office building now home to the Prairie Arts Center. Still, airmail arriving late in the day had to be transferred to Union Pacific trains. For airmail to be truly feasible, it had to be possible to fly safely at all hours. Jack Sky Knight, a pilot on the Salt Lake City-to-Omaha eastbound airmail route, helped prove it could be done. Leaving New York and San Francisco at about the same time, two airplanes will attempt to cross the country carrying mail with no layover for darkness, the Tribune wrote on Feb. 22, 1921. Large bonfires are to be built at the field to show its location and aid at the landing. A searchlight will play on the plane when it comes in sight and show up the field to the pilot. In fact, two planes started out in each direction on Feb. 22, Nancy A. Pope, historian and curator of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, wrote in 2016. Only one mail pouch went the distance. Pilot William E. Lewis crashed and died after takeoff from Reno, Nevada, bound for Elko. That left one eastbound plane, which Frank Yager landed at North Platte t 7:48 p.m. After repairs, Knight took off at 10:44 p.m., following bonfires set by farmers. In the open cockpit DH-4, the winter blast froze his feet and legs, according to a September 1980 Lee Bird Field souvenir edition of The Telegraph. Reaching Omaha at 1:10 a.m. Feb. 23, Knight learned the next pilots weren't there and a blizzard between there and Chicago had made bonfires impossible. No matter. Knight looked at a road map and took off in the storm, determined to make night flying cross-country with the Air Mail a success, the papers 1980 story said. He made it at 8:40 a.m. A fresh eastbound plane, its anchor leg flown by Ernest Allison, reached New York at 4:50 p.m. ET. The westbound flights got no farther than Pennsylvania and Chicago, with the latter foiled by the same snowstorm that bedeviled Knight, Pope said. Knights flight gave North Platte the nations first lighted airfield. Though round-the-clock airmail wouldnt become permanent until 1924, he became known as The Hero Who Saved Airmail. Lee Birds field The Post Office Department handled airmail directly until July 1, 1927, when it handed it over to commercial air transports. North Platte voters approved a $19,000 bond issue in 1929 to buy the airfield, which still was mainly a hay meadow. On Aug. 17, 1941, after the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Authority and Works Progress Administration built three concrete runways anticipating World War II needs, the city dedicated its airfield to Lee Bird. Some 15,000 visitors jammed U.S. Highway 30 for miles, The Telegraph reported. Red, white and blue bouquets were placed before an American Legion stone monument to Bird at the entrance. Sisters Helen Bird and Mrs. Charles Gassoway came back from their California homes. Helen told of her brothers intense interest in aviation, saying he was a flier by nature as well as instruction. Lee Bird Field, 1,492 miles from both the Pacific and the Atlantic, remains an honored name in U.S. and Nebraska aviation. More on North Platte's history Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. PHILIPSBURG:--- Another advice from our Council of Advice is in. This time it is the advice regarding the United NationsDecolonizationSt. Maarten, as presented to the Council by the Parliament of St. Maarten. MP Wescot-Williams recently shared some insight on the matter: This dossier has been circulating in Parliament since 2018, consisting of numerous documents and in the view of some, it is making a case for St. Maarten to have its decolonization process completed . Looking back at the Parliament meeting of June 18th, in which the decision was taken to send this request to the Council of Advice, and the disrespect and acrimonies during that meeting, I am happy the Council did not take long to render its advice. I did not expect and I am relieved to learn that our Council of Advice did not sway under political pressure. Whatever one might think of the process of decolonization, fact is that we are where we are today , 66 years of the Charter of the Dutch Kingdom, its flaws, its strengths etc. said the MP. In summary the Councils response to Parliament states: Its an outdated request The questions regard St. Eustatius and the court case of that island No evidence of country St. Maartens interest or of the Kingdom The role of the Council is not one of providing material for debate, but rather legally analyzing the choices made and giving advice on the basis of the law, and at its discretion. The Council has no role in political discussions and debates. It is obvious that the Prime Minister of St. Maarten is between a rock and a hard place. Given where we stand today as a country, in front of seemingly unsurmountable challenges of many kinds, I implore the Prime Minister of St. Maarten not to succumb to the political pressure from within her coalition to use our limited resources to engage in this entanglement at this time and waste time and money, which we do not have, is the former Prime Ministers advice to the current office holder, PM Jacobs. Talking about limited resources, MP Wescot-Williams reminds the Prime Minister that her response on August 7, 2020, regarding Governments alternative (Plan B) states: In the event that the Netherlands are unwilling to agree to soften their proposal or even engaging in a dialog with Sint Maarten pertaining to our counterproposal then the Government of Sint Maarten is looking into raising funds through shares acquisition by third parties as well as seeking a loan by the Central bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten. These options are not mutually exclusive and can be done together in the form of a package. The evaluation process that is necessary to assess the feasibility of these options have already started and the Council of Minister have commissioned the SOAB to evaluate the worth of all government owned companies. More than a month later, how much closer are we to these alternatives? In my view, no closer than a month ago. In July, I stated that the Government needs to make a course correction. Prime Minister, this has to happen now. You can no longer hold out on the people of Sint Maarten. And for whatever it is worth, I offer you my hand. But we need to face up to the reality of the day. Think for a moment where we would have been today had we allowed the Irma relief funds (TF) to be caught up in the acrimonious debate about the Netherlands owing us.. Today some of the few bright spots we have, come from that very fund. Again, with all its flaws and strengths. PJIA reconstruction St. Maarten Hospital The enterprise support project Emergency income support and training Roof Repair Project Debris Management So Prime Minister, we need a course correction and I am counting on you. The people are counting on you, MP Wescot concluded in her appeal to Prime Minister Jacobs. and Russia will cooperate to produce a COVID-19 vaccine in the Islamic republic as COVID-19 cases in surged to 384,666 on Saturday. Meanwhile, an Iraqi health official warned that the citizens should not play down the seriousness of the as 4,644 daily new infections were reported. Iran, the hardest-hit country in the Middle East region, reported 1,894 new cases, bringing the total number of infections to 384,666, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday. The pandemic has so far claimed 22,154 lives in Iran, up by 110 in the past 24 hours. A total of 332,131 patients have recovered, with 3,708 still in critical condition. The announcement of Iran-Russia cooperation on producing a vaccine was made on Friday at the online meeting between Kazem Jalali, Iran's ambassador to Moscow and Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Russian Direct Investment Fund, Iranian semi-official FARS news agency reported on Saturday. Jalali called for further health and medical cooperation between the two countries. In Iraq, 4,644 COVID-19 cases were reported during the day, bringing the total nationwide infections to 256,719. The death toll rose to 7,422 with the addition of 63 new fatalities, while 3,891 more patients recovered in the day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 195,259. "The lack of compliance of the citizens will increase the number of infections and make the ministry to stop at a certain stage because our health institutions have a limited capacity and this will also lead to an increase in deaths," Ryadh Abdul-Amir, head of Iraqi Public Health Department in the Health Ministry, said in a press release. Saudi Arabia announced 791 new cases and 34 more deaths, raising the tally of confirmed infections to 319,932 and the death toll to 4,049. The kingdom also reported 779 more recovered patients, taking the total recoveries to 295,842. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Turkey climbed by 1,673 to 278,228, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca tweeted. The death toll from the coronavirus in the country rose to 6,620 after 56 new fatalities were added in the past 24 hours, Koca said, adding that the total recoveries increased to 250,092. In Qatar, 227 new cases of coronavirus infections were detected, increasing the total number to 119,864, including 202 deaths and 116,780 recoveries. In Israel, 2,517 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, taking the tally of coronavirus infections to 128,936. The death toll of the virus in Israel increased to 1,007 while the recoveries rose to 101,481. The country will soon impose a full nationwide closure because of the recent jump in coronavirus morbidity, Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri told Channel 12 TV news on Saturday. Kuwait reported 720 new cases, taking the country's total number of infections to 88,963, of whom 540 have died and 79,903 recovered. In Morocco, the tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 70,160 after 1,555 new cases were added, which included 1,329 fatalities and 53,929 recoveries. Algeria reported 298 new COVID-19 cases and 10 more deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infection cases to 46,071 and the death toll to 1,549, while 222 more patients were newly discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 32,481. Palestine reported 433 new coronavirus cases, raising the tally of infections in the Palestinian territories to 33,250, including 199 deaths. In the mean time, Hamas-run Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip warned of the increase in the infections "because the residents do not abide by the precautionary instructions." In Lebanon, the number of COVID-19 infections increased by 531 to 20,011, while the death toll went up by four to 187. Sudan's nationwide coronavirus infections surged to 13,407 with 218 new ones, including 6,725 recoveries and 832 deaths. --IANS rt/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Global AI Summit, to be held here virtually from October 7 to 8, 2020, aims to build dialogues of global significance, both in terms of recovery from Covid-19 and the trends shaping the field of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, some key strategic considerations crucial to establish an efficient AI system will be covered, keeping into consideration the national strategic options of policymakers. The event, under the theme AI for the Good of Humanity, also aims to showcase some inspirational insights about future requirements for regulators, investors, and companies. In addition, it will enable attendees and participants to listen to the opinions and ideas of some pioneering innovators who are utilising AI to shape a better future for mankind. Further, the event will tackle the global changes that people face and their impact on the transformation of AI and review how these technologies are used in shaping the new reality in order to create a better future for all, in addition to highlighting the most prominent technical challenges facing the global AI community today, and how to develop AI technologies safely and ethically in various applications that affect human life. Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the summit is being organised by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) SDAIA said the summit is being held virtually, in line with the international efforts and precautionary measures set by Saudi Arabias government, to protect the participants and attendees from Covid-19. The summit will bring together decision-makers, experts, and specialists from various governmental and private sectors internationally and locally, including leading technology companies, investors, and businessmen. The summit covers a range of important topics, divided into four tracks: shaping the new normal, AI and governments, governing AI, and the future of AI. These topics will be addressed through keynote speeches, discussion sessions, dialogues, and interactive activities. Among the participants will be many distinguished speakers and global experts from different countries. The summit agenda includes a panel discussion between entrepreneurs to review AI solutions in several applications, in addition open dialogues on specific topics to enrich dialogue and exchange views, as well as other interactive features, such as polls and charts. The summit will include the announcement of the launch of the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was recently adopted by the kingdom and comes in the context of seeking to achieve the kingdoms aspirations for global leadership through a data-driven economy and AI. Further, the role SDAIA plays in the strategic leadership of the alternative economy, in cooperation with many relevant authorities to contribute to achieving the goals of Vision 2030, will be highlighted.-- Tradearabia News Service WAUWATOSA, Wis. - When Jill Biden introduced herself to millions of Americans during last months Democratic National Convention, she did so from a high school where she once taught English near her Delaware home. Since then, shes visited a classroom that would otherwise be filled with elementary school children, participated in a health briefing on how to safely resume in-person learning and met with teachers in a Wisconsin backyard. The emphasis on education is a natural fit for someone who was a public school teacher for more than 20 years, earned two masters degrees and then a doctorate in education and continued teaching at a community college when her husband, Joe Biden, was vice-president. But in an election year where reopening schools shuttered by the coronavirus is emerging as a flashpoint, Jill Biden is increasingly drawing on her classroom experience to empathize with parents struggling to cope with the shift to virtual learning. Shes taking a mostly virtual 10-city tour of schools disrupted by the pandemic and is trying to make the case that President Donald Trump doesnt deserve reeelection because of his handling of the coronavirus. I feel if Joe had been president at this time we would not be in the midst of this chaos, Jill Biden told a mother and two teachers during a discussion that lasted more than half an hour on the patio of a private home last week in Wauwatosa, outside Milwaukee. Trump has also tried to seize on schools as an election-year issue, pressuring state and local leaders to resume classroom instruction and threatening to withhold federal dollars for those who dont. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent mixed signals, saying students should return to the classroom but also noting that virtual classes present the lowest risk of COVID-19 spread. The public appears more skeptical of reopening than the White House. Only about 1 in 10 Americans thinks day care centres, preschools or K-12 schools should open this fall without restrictions, according to a poll released in late July from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs. Roughly 3 in 10 say that teaching kids in classrooms shouldnt happen at all. If Biden wins the election, his wife has pledged that his administration will make listening to teachers concerns a priority. She also could play a role in shaping school reopenings. Both Bidens listened and took notes during a virtual briefing last week with public health and education experts about how to approach a reopening without exacerbating the pandemic. How many times have we had someone whos wanted to be the education president and is very good on rhetoric but has very little or no idea how to translate that rhetoric into reality, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which has endorsed Biden. She sends a message throughout America, not only of the importance of education, but also the importance of sweating the small stuff. Sometimes her message is the contrast between Trump and a Biden administration. On the same day that the president travelled to Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week to blame protests that sometimes turned violent on domestic terror, Jill Biden was touring Evan G. Shortlidge Academy, a kindergarten through second grade school in Wilmington, Delaware, where she and her husband live. When Joe Biden made his own visit to Kenosha two days after Trump, both Bidens also made time for the Wauwatosa meeting a short time later. Joe can talk about his education plan. I probably know it better than he does, Jill Biden said with a laugh. As part of her multi-city tour, Jill Biden held a virtual North Carolina back-to-school roundtable and has upcoming online events in Florida and Nevada. She will also travel to Minnesota for an in-person meeting with parents and teachers. At Shortlidge, the school year will begin Tuesday, but in the short term, all instruction will be online, which some parents worry is not as effective as traditional instruction. More than 330 of the schools 369 students are Black or Latino, and 77% receive federally subsidized lunches. After walking through several empty classrooms and across freshly polished floors stenciled with paw prints in honour of the schools Wild Cats mascot, Jill Biden spoke to a small, socially distanced and masked group of teachers and administrators outside near a playground closed during the pandemic and roped off with yellow caution tape. The thrill of back-to-school has turned from excitement into anxiety and the playgrounds are still. Some classrooms are dark as the bright young faces that used to fill them; now we just see them on screens, Jill Biden said, noting that parents and teachers are losing sleep over whats in store for youngsters this fall. Americans of all walks of life are putting their shoulders back, and theyre fighting for each other. We havent given up, she said. We just need leadership worthy of our nation, and worthy of all of you. Alessandra Ambrosio has always been a proud Brazilian, frequently visiting her birthplace of Rio Grande do Sul. But the Victoria's Secret Angel has recently celebrated her other nationality, becoming a United States citizen on Friday. She teased her taut midriff Sunday in a yellow sundress, as she stepped out with a bouquet of red, white and blue balloons, while apparently shopping for a party in Los Angeles. Red, white and blue: Alessandra Ambrosio teased her taut midriff Sunday in a yellow sundress, as she stepped out with a bouquet of red, white and blue balloons, while apparently shopping for a party in Los Angeles The 39-year-old donned a two-piece halter top dress with white and yellow stripes, showing off her toned legs with two thigh-high leg slits. She finished the look with some clear-framed reflective wayfarers, a white face mask, layers of gold jewelry and a pair of tan leather sandals. Ambrosio reportedly became a citizen on Friday, when she was spotted leaving the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Downtown LA. She's lived in the US for roughly 20 years, having kicked off her successful modeling career when she was 15. Summer vibes: The 39-year-old donned a two-piece halter top dress with white and yellow stripes, showing off her toned legs with two thigh-high leg slits American girl: Ambrosio reportedly became a citizen on Friday, when she was spotted leaving the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Downtown LA Although COVID-19 has forced the cancellation of all naturalization ceremonies, she appears to be having her own celebration after getting all her necessary documents. The GAL Floripa founder later took to Instagram with a boomerang of her sporting a pink drawstring bikini top and a flower tucked behind her ear. It was a behind-the-scenes shot from a shoot she previously posted, also modeling a pair of mesh knit white pants in a wicker hanging cocoon chair. Pretty in pink: The GAL Floripa founder later took to Instagram with a boomerang of her sporting a pink drawstring bikini top and a flower tucked behind her ear Beach babe: It was a behind-the-scenes shot from a shoot she previously posted, also modeling a pair of mesh knit white pants in a wicker hanging cocoon chair Like a butterfly: She captioned the photos: 'That gentle sunrise peeping through the cocoon #goodmorning' She captioned the photos: 'That gentle sunrise peeping through the cocoon #goodmorning' Ambrosio returned last week from a gorgeous tropical getaway to the Maldives with daughter Anja Louise, 12, and son Noah Phoenix, 8, whom she shares with ex-husband Jamie Mazur, 39. She was also accompanied on the trip by her boyfriend of two years, Italian businessman Nicolo Oddi, 39. In it, Fontenot said the bureau had already begun terminating some employees, adding, It is difficult to bring back field staff once we have terminated their employment. Were the Court to enjoin us tomorrow we would be able to keep more staff on board than were the Court to enjoin us on Sept. 29, at which point we will have terminated many more employees. MANILA, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Philippine police drew criticism from netizens and activists on Sunday for a plan to monitor social media to enforce quarantine rules, with critics accusing the authorities of authoritarianism and double standards. National Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, head of a task force enforcing quarantine protocols, warned of fines and penalties of community service for people violating precautionary measures, while violators of liquor bans will face "additional charges". "Police could use public postings on social media as leads, and these will be over and above the police visibility operations we are conducting and will complement tips we get from police hotline," Eleazar told Reuters by phone. Manila ended a second round of strict lockdown measures on Aug. 19 to boost business activity, but people still must wear masks in public and observe one-meter distancing, while children, the elderly and pregnant women are urged to stay at home. The plan to monitor social media, announced on Saturday, seems to show the police agency "wants to use the pandemic to turn us into a police state, where every action is being watched by the authorities," Renato Reyes, secretary general of left-wing activist group Bayan (Nation) said on Twitter. Critics said the plan shows a double standard after a police chief was allowed to keep his post despite flouting a ban on social gatherings in May. Photographs on the police force's Facebook page showed Debold Sinas, chief of the National Capital Region police, celebrating his birthday along with dozens of people without masks sitting close together, with beer cans on their tables despite an alcohol ban. Sinas apologised. Eleazar said criminal and administrative cases have been filed against Sinas for the incident. The Philippines has recorded 234,570 coronavirus cases, the highest in Southeast Asia, with 3,790 COVID-19 deaths. (Reporting by Karen Lema; Editing by William) Boris Johnson today warns Brussels that he will walk away from trade talks in five weeks unless the EU 'rethinks' its demands. In a toughly worded ultimatum, the Prime Minister says there is 'no sense' in allowing faltering trade talks to continue beyond October 15, when EU leaders are due to hold a major summit in Brussels. Mr Johnson says there is 'still an agreement to be had' but says he 'cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it', such as the freedom for the UK to set its own laws and fish its own waters. The development came as it emerged the UK is planning to tear up parts of the Withdrawal Agreement ministers signed with the EU in January - a move that risks further damaging hopes of a deal. Legislation due to be published this week would effectively wipe out commitments on customs checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland. Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted that the Bill was merely clearing up 'loopholes' in the pact with Brussels. But the EU has responded with anger, with Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney warning that reneging on the deal would be 'unwise'. Mr Johnson insisted that a No Deal departure would still be a 'good outcome' from which the UK would 'prosper mightily' as it exploits its new freedoms outside the EU. Boris Johnson says there is 'still an agreement to be had' but says he 'cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it' 'There needs to be an agreement with our European friends by the time of the European Council on October 15 if it's going to be in force by the end of the year,' he said. 'So there is no sense in thinking about timelines that go beyond that point. If we can't agree by then, then I do not see that there will be a free trade agreement between us, and we should both accept that and move on.' Pressed on whether the UK was facing medicine shortages if there is not a trade deal, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told LBC radio: 'I am comfortable that we have done the work that is needed.' The PM's comments come ahead of crunch talks in London tomorrow between UK chief negotiator David Frost and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier. Lord Frost yesterday vowed he would not 'blink' in the face of EU demands to accept continuing Brussels oversight of key areas of British law. He urged Mr Barnier to 'take our position seriously' and act now to salvage talks. Lord Frost said the UK was not willing to be a 'client state' of Brussels in any circumstances, adding: 'We are not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control of our own laws.' Meanwhile the UK is planning a Bill that could override key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement. Sections of the Internal Market bill, due to be published on Wednesday, are expected to 'eliminate the legal force' of the Brexit Bill passed last October. That would potentially see Britain renege on promises on contentious areas such as state aid and Northern Ireland customs, the Financial Times reported. Such a move risks being seen by the EU as an act of bad faith and could further damage hopes of a deal. The government has an 80-strong majority and could almost certainly force the change through Parliament even if there was a significant Tory rebellion. However, Mr Eustice insisted it had always been the case that 'finer points' of the divorce agreement still needed to be resolved. 'The deal was always very clear, it had the Northern Ireland protocol, it set out the arrangements that would prevent the need for any checks along the Northern Ireland border but there were also one or two finer points of detail that still had to be resolved,' he said. 'Michael Gove is leading on that for us and they've been working through some of these very technical issues. 'All we're really saying is that once that process is concluded there may still be one or two loose ends and we just need the ability to give people the certainty they need to legislate to give that clarity that's all this is about.' The PM's comments come ahead of crunch talks in London tomorrow between his chief negotiator David Frost (left) and his EU counterpart Michel Barnier (right) SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon branded Mr Johnson a 'charlatan' over the idea of changing the Withdrawal Agreement SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon branded Mr Johnson a 'charlatan' over the idea of changing the Withdrawal Agreement. 'If true, this means repudiation by UK govt of a Treaty freely negotiated by it, & described by PM in GE as an oven ready deal,' she tweeted. 'This will significantly increase likelihood of no deal, and the resulting damage to the economy will be entirely Tory inflicted. What charlatans.' Yesterday Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the negotiations were facing a 'moment of reckoning' this week and warned that thousands of jobs across the EU would be put at risk unless Brussels relented. Mr Raab said there would be a 'significant downside' for the economies of EU member states if there was no trade deal, with exports of cars and other goods likely to be hit. The Department for International Trade will today launch an advertising campaign to warn EU businesses they must prepare for the changes that will come when the Brexit transition period finishes at the end of the year. Trade talks have been deadlocked for weeks over the EU's demands on fishing and the so-called 'level playing field'. Brussels wants EU trawlers to be guaranteed their current access to Britain's fishing grounds for ever. Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that this was unacceptable, adding: 'Having seen UK fisheries and the fishing industry pretty much decimated as a result of EU membership, the EU's argument is we should keep control of access to our own fisheries permanently low. That can't be right.' An even bigger sticking point is the EU's insistence that Britain continues to follow EU laws after Brexit in order to guarantee a 'level playing field' for continental firms. Talks are currently stalled over Mr Barnier's demand to see details of the UK's new state aid regime before moving on to other areas of negotiation. State aid is the system of rules that cover government support and subsidies for struggling industries. The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured) said the negotiations were facing a 'moment of reckoning' this week Mr Raab said the EU could not 'credibly be worried' that the current Conservative administration was likely to push for heavier subsidies than some existing member states. But he said it was a 'point of principle' that the UK should set its own rules. A government source last night added: 'It is a question of where decisions are made. We had a vote in this country to take back control and we are not going back on that.' The Prime Minister today stresses he is seeking a simple free trade deal along the lines of the one negotiated between the EU and Canada. He adds: 'If the EU are ready to rethink their current positions and agree this, I will be delighted. But we cannot and will not compromise on the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country to get it.' Some senior ministers are privately concerned that the UK is not ready to cope with the impact of leaving the EU without a trade deal at the end of this year. It would leave the UK trading on World Trade Organisation terms, with tariffs on some goods in both directions. Hauliers have warned of disruption to supply lines if there is no agreement on border controls. A pro-EU protester holds a large homemade sign about the Brexit Irish border issue during People's Vote march in 2018 But Eurosceptics have long complained that the terms of the Northern Ireland deal are unacceptable and risk undermining the Union by creating a trade border in the Irish Sea. A Brussels insider told the FT the move would 'clearly and consciously' undermine the agreement on Northern Ireland created to avoid a hard border with the Republic. Last week, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned 'a precise implementation of the withdrawal agreement' was vital for the success of the trade talks. 'It is a very blunt instrument,' the insider told the FT. 'The bill will explicitly say the government reserves the right to set its own regime, directly setting up UK law in opposition with obligations under the withdrawal agreement, and in full cognisance that this will breach international law.' A government spokesman said it was 'working hard to resolve outstanding issues' with the Northern Ireland protocol. He added: 'As a responsible government, we are considering fallback options in the event this is not achieved to ensure the communities of Northern Ireland are protected.' Under the withdrawal agreement, the UK must tell Brussels of state aid decisions that would affect Northern Ireland. It must also make businesses in the province file customs paperwork when sending goods into the rest of the UK. But clauses in the internal market bill to be debuted this week will soon force the UK courts to follow UK law rather than the agreed deal with the, weakening the current protocol in the agreement. NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police Crime Branch team probing the northeast Delhi riots said on Sunday (September 5) that the man, who had allegedly killing a 26-year-old law student and had been on run since then, has been arrested. According to the Crime Branch, the accused is carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head. Mustaqeem (25) alias Sameer Saifi, a resident old Mustafabad, who allegedly shot dead Rahul Solanki (26) near Rajdhani Public School in Shiv Vihar on February 24, was arrested by a Special Investigation Team on September 3, police said. He has been sent to judicial custody, officials told PTI. Mustaqeem joined the protest against CAA and NRC near Farukia Masjid, they added. Solanki was pursuing LLB from a private college in Ghaziabad and had stepped out of his home to buy milk when he was shot dead. The SIT has arrested seven other accused -- Arif, Anis, Sirajuddin, Salman, Sonu, Saifi and Irshad -- in the Solanki case and they have been chargesheeted for actively participating in the riots with a common objective to cause death, burn properties on February 24, police said. Solanki was shot dead near Rajdhani Public School and a case was registered at Dayalpur police station. Later, the investigation was handed over to the SIT. During the investigation, eyewitnesses described the person who opened fire on Solanki. They identified the accused by his clothes and appearance after they were shown a video of the incident, a senior police officer said. "We had deployed our sources in Mustafabad to identify the alleged shooter on the basis of his description. Our team questioned hundreds from the area and verified their presence at the spot through physical and technical means. But we did not find any information. After six months, on September 3, one of our sources informed us and he was apprehended from Bhajanpura Majar," the officer said. Initially, Mustaqeem denied his involvement but confessed to the crime after a detailed questioning. The country-made pistol used in the crime was recovered along with five live cartridges at his instance. A mobile phone and clothes, including his trousers, shoes and helmet, which he was wearing at the time of committing the crime, have also been found, police said. Mustaqeem studied up to class 10 but dropped out to work as a carpenter, police said. Students whose expectations of university life were forged by the recent TV drama Normal People may be sorely disappointed by the reality that awaits them when they step on to campus in a few weeks' time. Marianne and Connell wouldn't have the chance to kiss and make up at a party in Trinity College. With Covid-19 still far from beaten, young people having house parties are now regarded as only slightly below Isis terrorists on the scale of evil. There'd be no backpacking round Europe. No Erasmus student programmes in Sweden. For tens of thousands of students getting their Leaving Cert results in the strangest of circumstances tomorrow, the passage to third-level education has become suffused with uncertainty, even dread. For them, it may feel more as if they're in an episode of 'Abnormal People'. What honestly awaits them? Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has already announced that almost all lectures and tutorials will be held online during the coming academic year. Some activities will still take place in laboratories on campus, with social distancing applied; but, for most, what's being euphemistically described as "blended learning" - a classic example of officialese - will be a poor substitution for the real thing. There must be a suspicion that other third-level institutions will follow suit in the coming days. Trinity College currently states, "we are preparing to have face-to-face teaching for all students as far as is compatible with the prevailing social distancing guidelines at the time" when new undergraduates begin their courses on October 5. UCD states that while "large lectures will be delivered online in virtual spaces", students "will have safe face-to-face contact with our world-leading academics through seminars, tutorials, practicals and other teaching activities". It all sounds promising, but there are no guarantees. They're not denying that these guidelines could change overnight. If they do then it would be wishful thinking to pretend that a programme of "timetabled activity to structure the study week", designed to "allow students to work at their own pace, where and when this suits them" will be anything other than a charter for a swift descent into inertia. As parents discovered during lockdown, good intentions didn't always translate into a satisfactory learning environment. Many students will be left bereft if they accept CAO offers in the coming weeks, only to have the rug pulled out from under their feet and told that they too will be in the same boat as WIT students, forced to pay full whack for fees (not to mention the other expenses involved in going to college) for a second-rate experience. For now, much of the attention has understandably been on fees. Simon Harris, now minister for further and higher education, told RTE's Today With Claire Byrne last week that if students were to be sent home again because of a second lockdown they should have their costs refunded, adding: "I don't want any messing about in that regard." He followed that up with a classic political manoeuvre, hoping that fees might be reduced to reflect the denuded quality of what students are being offered this year while defending the decision to allow institutions to keep charging the full amount. Unless the Department of Education itself intends to refund students the money they will have lost, it seems unlikely they can avoid losing out financially. On fees alone, with typical verbosity, Trinity states: "In accordance with regulation 19 of the chapter on college charges of part II of the calendar... the board accepts no obligation to refund any fee, or any part of any fee, paid in respect of any exercise to be performed in the university" except under very strict conditions. Good luck getting blood from that stone. University, though, is not just about education. That's not even the most important part of it. Student life is meant to be an experience in independent living, in growing up, and students will have that stripped out. A generation of young people who have already been mockingly dubbed "screenagers" because they always have their noses buried in phones and tablets have in recent months been pushed further online every day. In lockdown they were glued to more screens watching Netflix and YouTube to fill the tedious hours at home. Now they're being told that university might be the same hollowed-out virtual venture. UCD may say it is "absolutely committed" that students will "receive the highest-quality student experience, no matter what the circumstances". That "no matter what" looks hugely optimistic to say the least. It simply can't be true. The implications for their future mental health are incalculable. Many may have fixed their hopes on escaping to university as a dive back into freedom. Think of the number of books and films that have dramatised university as a rite of passage, from classics such as Brideshead Revisited right up to Normal People itself. All that has been snatched away from this year's class. Tutorials on Zoom and a fatwa on house parties are no substitute. This is not how college is sold to young people in the first place. As UCD's Student Centre puts it: "The university experience is all about getting involved and getting active, trying something new, having fun and making some great friends and memories along the way." It's about bars and parties and being in one another's rooms talking rot until the early morning. That impulsiveness is psychologically vital. Now it's being recast as reckless and inconsiderate. Students at NUI Galway are even being asked to sign a pledge to "behave responsibly". This creepily named "community promise" does not even bother defining what irresponsible behaviour entails. It's whatever the university, guided by an "expert group", defines at any moment. Students must sign documents obliging them in advance, should their actions come under the radar, to "listening carefully to understand the concern, and changing my behaviour to remove it". Any student who is found to be in breach can be disciplined and even thrown out of college. Some students have started to question the dystopian implications of this constraint on their freedom but the university is unlikely to back down, believing, as the authors of the pledge phrase it, that "we cannot replicate life pre-Covid" and "must accept change and live within the boundaries it dictates". Third-level institutions are in an awkward position. There are bound to be outbreaks of Covid-19 in colleges when the new term starts. The authorities will get the blame for any perceived failures to protect the health of students and staff. They also have massive overheads that haven't magically vanished because of the pandemic. There may be no alternative to asking students to do things which have been asked of no students before them. But it's insulting to take them for fools by pretending that what's in store in any way resembles a full university experience - and expecting them to cough up the full amount of fees anyway. They are not walking ATMs for a sector under pressure. The best approach is to be honest with students before they make the decision to accept their CAO offers. If they're not going to get much for their money, tell them now so they can defer if that's what they decide is best. Of course, the resulting squeeze on places next year may well horrendously disadvantage those taking the Leaving Cert in 2021. Each day has enough trouble of its own, as the man once said. Tomorrow must wait its turn. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 01:06:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DHAKA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- A total of 20 worshippers including a boy died after air conditioners of a masjid burst Friday night in Bangladesh's central Narayanganj district, about 20 km from the capital Dhaka. The burst of the air conditioners is believed to have occurred due to a faulty gas line. Samanta Lal Sen, coordinator of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, told journalists on Saturday night that "20 people have so far died after being admitted to the institute with major burns on their bodies." Of the victims, he said, 19 succumbed to their injuries Saturday and one died Friday night. A total of 37 injured people were rushed to the institute on Friday night after the explosion. Most of the victims suffered from 60 percent to 70 percent burns, and the condition of several other patients is still critical, said Sen. Fire officials suspected a gas leak in the pipe line leading to the accident when the worshippers were about to leave the masjid after their Isha (night) prayers at around 9:00 p.m. local time on Friday. All the air-conditioners on the ground floor burst into flames when there were reportedly around 100 worshippers at the three-storey masjid. Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Fatullah Police Station in Narayanganj, said huge blasts caused window glasses of the masjid flying onto the street and burnt ceiling fans, wires and electric switch boards. Kamrul Ahsan, a control room official at the fire service headquarters in Dhaka, said firemen managed to bring the flames under control after hectic efforts of around half an hour. The Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense formed a committee to investigate the incident. Abdullah Al Arefin, assistant director of Narayanganj Fire Service and Civil Defence, told journalists that a gas pipe line has gone through the bottom of the masjid. "We're investigating whether gas accumulated inside the masjid from a leak in the pipeline and triggered the explosion and the subsequent fire when all the masjid doors and windows were closed for air conditioners." Enditem O ne man was killed and seven people injured in a series of random stabbings in Birmingham, in what West Midlands Police has declared as a major incident. Police and paramedics were called to reports of a knife attack in the early hours of Sunday, with further stabbings being reported between 12.30am and 2.20am. A man and a woman suffered serious injuries during the attacks, which police are treating as linked. Five people suffered non-life threatening injuries. The age of the man killed has not been released. Chief Superintendent Steve Graham said police are looking for one suspect, and that there was absolutely no suggestion at all that the attacks were released to terrorism. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Mr Graham added the stabbings appeared to be a random attack and there was no evidence the incident was motivated by hate towards any particular group nor gang-related. Clearly those of you who know Birmingham city centre know that Hurst Street is part of the gay communitys night-time economy but theres absolutely no suggestion at this point that this was in any way, shape or form motivated by hate, he said. Asked whether the incident was gang related, he said: At this stage we cant find a particular motive but it does appear to be random in terms of the selection of the people who were attacked. Extra police, including armed officers, have been deployed to patrol the city centre. Cara Curran, a club promoter working in the Arcadian Centre, had finished her shift at 12.30am and was drinking with colleagues when she heard a "loud bang and quite a lot of commotion". She told the BBC: "I found multiple people having fist fights... people from inside pubs and clubs came out and started to see what was going on. "There were females, males, old people, young people, such a mix of people, it didn't seem real at the time. "Working on the club scene for over two years, I've always seen quite a lot of fights but it was nothing like tonight. The body language and demeanour was quite different. Witness describes experience as 'major incident' declared in Birmingham City Centre following stabbings Ms Curran said the area had been busier during the evening than it had been at any time since the start of lockdown "The amount of things that I've heard have happened tonight in the space of three hours, with the stabbings that have happened, the car crashes and multiple other things it's such a huge shock to me. A crime scene in Birmingham / @ShaunInBrum/PA Wire "For me to be an eyewitness to something that has happened it's been quite an emotional night to the point where I'm actually still a bit shell-shocked." Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said those in the vicinity of the major incident in Birmingham should be very vigilant. Speaking to Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mr Raab said: My thoughts are with the victims and their families, there is obviously an ongoing police investigation. I cant say too much more at this stage but people should be very vigilant if they are in that area. The majority of Birminghams Hurst Street has been taped off by police, in an area which had already been closed off to traffic to aid social distancing. Several yellow police evidence markers could be seen on the ground, some near to broken glass. Two forensic tents had also been sited in nearby Irving Street, close to the gates of a primary school. West Midlands mayor Andy Street said his thoughts are with those affected by the major incident in Birmingham but asked people not to speculate about it. He tweeted: I would ask everyone to not speculate about the incident in Birmingham. West Midlands Police are set to hold a press conference this morning. My thoughts are with those affected and my thanks to the emergency services working to deal with this incident. The city remains open for business as usual this morning but clearly people are asked to avoid the immediate area surrounding Hurst Street while police carry out their investigation. A West Midlans Police statement read: "We can now confirm that weve launched a murder investigation following the events in Birmingham city centre overnight. "A man has tragically died. Another man and a woman have suffered serious injuries and five others have also been injured, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. "We believe the incidents, which took place between 12:30am and 2:20am, are linked and were doing all we can to find whoever was responsible. "Detectives are following a number of lines of enquiry and weve increased our uniformed and armed response in the city. "We continue to hold a number of scenes across the city, including Livery Street, Irving Street and Hurst Street. "Were urging anyone who witnessed anything or anyone who has any CCTV or mobile phone footage to get in contact as soon as possible, as the information you have may be crucial to our investigation. Chief Superintendent Graham said: The events during the early hours of this morning are tragic, shocking and understandably frightening. Please be assured that we are doing absolutely everything we can to find whoever was responsible and try to understand what exactly happened. We have well-rehearsed plans for dealing with major incidents. Your safety is always our priority and thats why youll see an increase in officers on the streets. In the meantime, wed ask anyone whos in the city to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to us. The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: Last nights events are truly terrible and have shocked the people of Birmingham, the West Midlands and the country. My first thoughts are with the victims and their families at this time. I have every faith in West Midlands Police who are working extremely quickly on this investigation. My thanks also go to the ambulance and hospital staff who are working around the clock to help those who have been injured. With reporting by the Press Association The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has accused the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, of plotting a violent attack against workers who are planning to hold a rally in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. There is an industrial dispute between the Rivers government and the state chapter of the NLC which has led to the sealing of the NLC secretariat in Port Harcourt. The NLC president, Mr Wabba, who is stepping into the dispute to show solidarity with the Rivers workers, said in a statement on Saturday that Mr Wike is planning to disrupt the workers rally scheduled to take place on Tuesday. READ ALSO: We have received very credible information that the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has mobilised two local government councils around Port Harcourt metropolis to engage armed thugs under the guise of putting up a counter-protest to the workers protest billed for Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Port Harcourt, Mr Wabba said in the statement. The plan is to unleash violence on workers during our protest. The NLC president said the dispute between the state government and the Rivers workers centres on non-payment of salary arrears to the workers, especially teachers and healthcare workers, the non-payment of promotion arrears since 2015, and the non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired workers since 2015, as well as negotiation for consequential wages adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage. PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately get a reaction from the Rivers government, as the Commissioner for Information in the state, Paulinus Nsirim, did not respond to calls and text messages from this newspaper. Read the full text of the NLC statement below: THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS ALERTS NIGERIANS ON THE PLANS BY GOVERNOR NYESOM WIKE TO MOBILIZE HIRED THUGS TO BE USED TO UNLEASH FURTHER VIOLENCE ON PROTESTING WORKERS Fellow Nigerians, we have received very credible information that the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has mobilized two local governments councils around Port Harcourt metropolis to engage armed thugs under the guise of putting up a counter protest to the workers protest billed for Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Port Harcourt. The plan is to unleash violence on workers during our protest. If Mr. Nyesom Wike goes through with his diabolical plans, it would not be the first. Nigerians would recall that on the 27th of August 2020, the State Executive Council meeting of the Rivers State Council of the NLC was violently disrupted by hundreds of thugs who openly boasted that they were sent by Governor Nyesom Wike to disrupt the meeting. Nigerians would also recall that earlier on the night of July 27, 2020 some armed hoodlums ransacked the sealed Secretariat of the NLC and vandalized equipment and installation worth millions of naira. Up till now, no single arrest has been made on that incident. Till date, workers are still looking for the kidnapped JUSUN Chairman in Rivers State. We wish to reiterate that any attempt to disrupt our rally come Tuesday September 8, 2020 would not only be another frontal attack against the Nigerian Constitution by Governor Wike but would also be a continuation of Governor Nyesom Wikes reign of impunity and ill-conceived ploy to exterminate Organized Labour in Rivers State. The right to peaceful assembly and protest is not just a Constitutional Right as provided for and guaranteed by Section 40 of Nigerias Constitution but is also a fundamental Universal Human Rights protected by international treaties signed up to by Nigeria. We wish to send a final warning to Mr. Nyesom Wike that in the event that any harm comes to any worker on September 8, 2020, Nigerian workers and the international labour community would hold him personally to account, after all, he remains the Chief Security Officer of Rivers State. Instead of wasting the state resources in the prosecution of a needless war against innocent workers, we urge Governor Nyesom Wike to commit his time and the state resources to attend to the industrial concerns of workers in Rivers State. These concerns include the payment of outstanding salary arrears he deliberately refused to pay workers in the state especially to teachers and healthcare workers, promotion arrears since 2015, payment of pension and gratuity to retired workers in the state since 2015, issuing of official circular to effect the payment of the new national minimum wage, conclusion of the negotiation for consequential wages adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage, remittance of withheld check off dues deductions to unions in the state, unsealing of Rivers NLC Secretariat, the withdrawal of trumped up charges against labour leaders in Rivers State and cessation of harassment and assault on workers in the state. The foregoing demands are in line with workers rights as enshrined and guaranteed by Chapter Two of Nigerias Constitution, relevant sections of the Section 5(3) of the Labour Act, Section 17 of the Trade Union Act and Articles 1 4 of Convention 87 on the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize and Articles 1 4 of the Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining of the International Labour Organization (ILO). A stitch in time may still save nine! A word is enough for the wise! Comrade Ayuba Wabba President, Nigeria Labour Congress 5th September 2020. The Government of India and the Armed Forces have "clearly demonstrated their resolve and commitment" to the Defence initiative, said Chief of Defence Staff General said on Saturday. "The Indian Defence Sector is today at an inflection point poised to take off. The Government and the Indian Armed Forces have clearly demonstrated their resolve and commitment to the Defence initiative. We are fully committed to winning India's wars with Indian Solutions," he said at a symposium on 'emerging defence exports'. "In this era of multidimensional technology, we must focus on constant innovations and modern technological solutions, to keep ourselves ahead of the adversaries. Keeping in mind the macro-economic parameters and socio-economic requirement of our country we have to work through the budgetary constraints by finding the best solutions through new acquisitions and optimization/upgradation of legacy systems," he added. The Defence Chief said that the creation of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) admits the military "into the central edifice" of the Indian Government further adding that the restructuring of the Defence Ministry would give an opportunity to embrace "forward-looking" strategies. "The creation of the DMA, headed by the CDS, having a central Staffing Scheme along with amendments to GoI Business Rules, in effect, admits the military into the central edifice of the Government of India," he said. "This restructuring of the Ministry of Defence gives us the opportunity to embrace forward-looking strategies to seize and exploit the moment and set in motion a dynamic transformation process," Gen Rawat added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Liberal Democrats' new leader has signalled that his party won't campaign to rejoin the EU, dubbing the matter "for the birds". Ed Davey said his party would remain "pro-European" and push for closer ties with the bloc but said there was no appetite to revisit the Brexit issue. The announcement is a bid to move the liberals beyond the Europe issue, which dominated the party's campaigning in the last parliament but failed to bear electoral fruit. Look, I cant see us at the next election being anything other than pro-European, but I also think we need to face the situation as it is," he told Sky News on Sunday morning. "Britain will have left the European Union, I think the idea that people want to re-visit this in two or three years time, I think thats for the birds but we will remain passionately pro-European, determined to get the benefits of working with our friends and neighbours. Under former leader Jo Swinson the party initially backed a second referendum on EU membership, but ultimately moved to a policy of revoking Article 50 without another vote. But despite netting the party an excellent result in the European Parliament elections, the strategy ended in disaster at the 2019 general election, where it failed to gain any seats and saw its leader ousted in East Dunbartonshire. Layla Moran, Sir Ed's recent leadership contest rival, had said the party needed to "make the positive case to the public" for rejoining the EU, though she said it was not a "short-term" priority. Sir Ed beat Ms Moran, who is seen as to his left flank, by 63.5 per cent of the vote to 36.5 per cent in a leadership content with the result announced on 27 August. Speaking on the same programme on Sunday morning Sir Ed, a former coalition cabinet minister under David Cameron, criticised the government's handling of trade negotiations with the EU, branding them "very reckless and risky". In May this year Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, also said the Brexit issue was over and that his party would not campaign to rejoin the EU. Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA Britain left the EU in February this year and is currently in a transition period, negotiating a trade agreement with the bloc. The transition period is set to expire on 31 December, and Boris Johnson has rejected suggestions that it should be extended. Germany's foreign minister has signaled that Berlin will push for new sanctions against Russia if Moscow fails to explain the poisoning of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, and rejected Moscow's allegations that Berlin was delaying investigation efforts. Heiko Maas opened the day's remarks in an interview published on September 6, as German officials signaled a tough line against Russia, which has denied involvement in the poisoning and which later in the day accused the German authorities of not cooperating with Moscow. According to Maas, there are "several indications" that Russia was behind the poisoning. "If in the coming days Russia does not help clarify what happened, we will be compelled to discuss a response with our allies," Maas was quoted as telling Bild am Sonntag. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later said that Russia would cooperate with investigations into the poisoning, but told the broadcaster Rossia-24 that "the Berlin side needs to show operational action." In follow-up comments on September 6 to the broadcaster ARD, Maas called the Russian accusation a "smokescreen," adding that there was no reason to not consent to cooperate with Russia on the matter. In his interview with Bild am Sonntag, Maas also signaled a possible shift in German policy regarding the nearly complete Baltic Sea pipeline known as Nord Stream 2. Chancellor Angela Merkel previously rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to Nord Stream 2, which would bring gas from Russia to Germany. Merkel has been under pressure from the United States and other Western countries to scrap the plan. Maas emphasized that stopping the pipeline would damage many German and European companies, but he said that didn't preclude other narrowly focused sanctions. "When we think about sanctions, they should be as targeted as possible," he was quoted as saying. Germany on September 2 said that toxicology tests provided "unequivocal evidence" that the gravely ill Navalny had been poisoned with Novichok. The Soviet-style, military-grade nerve agent has been in the past in the possession of military authorities and is only accessible to a very small group of people, Maas said. Novichok was also used in the attack on Russian double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain in 2018. If the Russian side did not participate in solving the crime against Navalny, that would be a further indication of the state's involvement, Maas said. Russian authorities have denied the German accusations, but also refused to open a criminal investigation into the case, saying that no hard evidence has been found. In a comment posted on Facebook, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asserted that German officials had failed to respond to a request for information sent by the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office. "Where is this urgency that you insist on?" Zakharova wrote, addressing Maas directly. "Berlin is stalling the investigative process which it is calling for. On purpose?" Navalny, 44, 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 hospital before being evacuated to Germany. He is now on a respirator and under medically induced coma in an intensive-care unit at Charite Hospital in Berlin. In Britain, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab seconded the warnings from Germany, saying Russia was obligated to make sure that chemical weapons are not, and cannot be, used on its territory. "What is clear right now is that the Russian government has a very serious set of questions to answer," he told Sky News. NATO on September 4 called on Russia to fully cooperate with an "impartial, international" probe to be led by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons into the poisoning. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the NATO allies demanded Moscow reveal its Novichok program to the chemical-weapons organization. Russia "now has serious questions it must answer," Stoltenberg told a news conference. With reporting by Bild am Sonntag, ZDF, and AFP Moscow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departs for Tehran, the Capital of Iran from Moscow after concluding his 3-day visit to Russia on Sep 5, 2020. The Defence Minister will make a stopover in Tehran and meet his Iranian counterpart, on his way bac Image Source: IANS News Moscow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departs for Tehran, the Capital of Iran from Moscow after concluding his 3-day visit to Russia on Sep 5, 2020. The Defence Minister will make a stopover in Tehran and meet his Iranian counterpart, on his way bac Image Source: IANS News Moscow: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh departs for Tehran, the Capital of Iran from Moscow after concluding his 3-day visit to Russia on Sep 5, 2020. The Defence Minister will make a stopover in Tehran and meet his Iranian counterpart, on his way bac Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Sep 6 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh discussed issues of regional security, including Afghanistan, and bilateral cooperation during his stopover in Tehran while on his way back to India from Russia. Singh held a meeting on Saturday with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latter's request. As per the Defence Ministry, the meeting between the two took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both leaders emphasised the age-old cultural, linguistic, and civilisational ties between India and Iran. "They discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan." The Minister had gone to Moscow to participate in a joint meeting of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. In Moscow, Singh met his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, on September 4 on the sidelines of the SCO meeting and held discussions on the border issues between the two countries in eastern Ladakh. Germany, the current head of the European Union, will discuss possible sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny if the Kremlin does not provide an explanation soon, its foreign minister said Sunday. Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Navalny fell ill on a flight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital before being evacuated to Berlin. Germany said last week there was unequivocal evidence that President Vladimir Putins top foe had been poisoned using Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. We have high expectations of the Russian government to solve this serious crime, Heiko Maas told German daily Bild. If the government has nothing to do with the attack, then it is in its own interest to back this up with facts. If Russia does not help clarify what happened in the coming days, Germany will be compelled to discuss a response with our allies, Maas said. The crime against Navalny was a violation of the international Chemical Weapons Convention and there must be an appropriate response, he said. When we think about sanctions, they should be as targeted as possible. Western leaders and many Russians have expressed horror at what Navalnys allies say is the first known use of chemical weapons against a high-profile opposition leader on Russian soil. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Germany is yet to share any findings with Moscows prosecutors. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Sunday accused Germany of stalling efforts to probe the Navalny case. Berlin is stalling the process of investigation for which its calling. On purpose? she said on Facebook. Several indications Maas said there were several indications that Russia was behind the poisoning, in the strongest accusations yet from Germany. The deadly substance with which Navalny was poisoned has in the past been found in the hands of Russian authorities. Only a small number of people have access to Novichok and this poison was used by Russian secret services in the attack against former agent Sergei Skripal, he said, referring to a 2018 attack on the former double agent and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. The Skripals spent days in a coma before recovering but local resident Dawn Sturgess died after picking up a discarded perfume bottle allegedly used to carry the poison. The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of provocations by Putin that have damaged ties and called future cooperation into question. The poisoning comes a year after the murder in broad daylight of a former Chechen rebel commander in a Berlin park, which German prosecutors believe was ordered by Russia. Nord Stream 2 German Chancellor Angela Merkel also revealed in May that Russia had targeted her in hacking attacks, saying she had concrete proof of the outrageous spying attempts. On the subject of which sanctions could be discussed by the EU, Maas did not rule out action relating to Nord Stream 2, a multi-billion-euro Russian-German gas pipeline nearing completion that has drawn the ire of US and European partners alike. I hope... that the Russians do not force us to change our position on Nord Stream, Maas said, adding that the consequences of any potential cancellation of the project would also need to be weighed, and that the debate on sanctions should not be reduced to one point. The controversial pipeline is meant to deliver Russian gas to Europe, but the German government has faced growing calls to abandon it as tensions with Russia escalate. Bild slammed Merkel last week for comments that Nord Stream 2 should be judged independently from Moscows actions. Vladimir Putin views the gas pipeline as an important strategic weapon against Europe and as a vital source of funding for his war against his own people, it said. Malaika Arora has tested positive for the coronavirus and is quarantining at home. Earlier on Sunday, her boyfriend, actor Arjun Kapoor, had issued a statement that he had tested positive for the virus. Malaikas sister Amrita Arora confirmed the news to Times of India. Earlier in the day, Arjun issued a statement on Instagram about his Covid-positive status. It is my duty to inform all of you that I have tested positive for coronavirus. Im feeling ok and Im asymptomatic. I have isolated myself at home under the advice of doctors and authorities and will be under home quarantine. I thank you all in advance for your support and I will keep you all updated about my health in the days to come. These are extraordinary and unprecedented times and I have faith that all of humanity will overcome this virus. ..Much love, Arjun, he wrote. Malaika had recently returned to the sets of Indias Best Dancer where she is a judge. Earlier, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had tested positive for Covid-19. The family was admitted to Mumbais Nanavati hospital. In May, the house staff members of Arjuns father Boney Kapoor had also tested positive for the disease. However, the producer and his daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, tested negative for the disease. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In Kano, northern Nigerias commercial nerve centre, at least nine persons were condemned to death after being found guilty of committing various offences from January to August 2020. However, the spokesperson for the states ministry of justice, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, told PREMIUM TIMES that none of these convicts on death row has been executed as they have appealed the judgement of the initial courts. According to BBC Hausa Service, seven of the convicts were found guilty of homicide, one person guilty of rape, and another was guilty of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the states governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said he would sign the death sentence for the execution of Yahaya Aminu, a man convicted of blasphemy in the state. Mr Ganduje said he will only fail to do so if the man appeals up to the Supreme Court and wins. Below are the names of the convicts and their offences The first death sentence was delivered on February 11. A court ordered that one Ali Abdullahi should be hanged to death after he was found guilty of homicide. Yakubu Dalha Mr Dalha was sentenced to death by Court 6 of the high court in Kano metropolis. He was found guilty of murder and the judgement delivered on March 3. He is to die by hanging. Abdullahi Isyaku Mr Isyaku was also found guilty of murder on March 16 by by the state high court. He is also to die by hanging. Mujahid Said Mr Said was on March 24 found guilty of murder by Court 13 of the high court. He is to die by hanging. Naziru Yau Mr Yau was found guilty of murder on June 13 by Court 1 of the high court. He was sentenced to death by hanging. Shehu Ado Shehu Mr Shehu was found guilty of murder on July 26 by Court 6 of the high court. He is to die by hanging. Isah Auta Mr Auta was found guilty of murder on July 29 by Court 1 of the high court. He is also to die by hanging. Yahaya Aminu Mr Aminu was found guilty of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad by an Upper Sharia Court on August 10. He was sentenced to death by hanging Mati Abdu Mr Abdu was found guilty of rape by an Upper Sharia Court on August 12. He is to die by stoning. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, weve been amazed at the resiliency, the ingenuity and the sheer doggedness of small business owners who were dealt a lousy hand. As the economy slowly reopened, many entrepreneurs found a way to get back to work. Its a struggle, though. Limits on indoor capacity and other public health guidelines mean fewer customers and tighter profit margins. Now that the infection rate is reliably below 1 percent in Onondaga County and New York state evidence that weve crushed the virus curve, not just flattened it a bigger hurdle to recovery is becoming apparent. People arent yet ready to pick up where they left off last March. And thats OK. Syracuse merchants and restaurateurs say they are ready to meet you where you are. A new campaign from the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Put the U back in Syrac_se, reminds us that local businesses are still here, and they need you customers to survive. Supporting local businesses takes intention: going out of the way to break patterns and habits established over the past six months. Were not commuting to the office. Were eating in. Cocooning with family or a small bubble of friends. Shopping online. Watching a livestreamed concert or theater performance from the couch. Its all a bit isolating. If youre ready to dip your toe into the world, the U in Syracuse campaign says youve got options. Museums are open, with precautions in place. Restaurants and lunch spots, too. The Downtown Committee estimates two-thirds of street-level businesses in the center city are open and safely operating. If you cant be coaxed back into public spaces quite yet, maybe youd consider getting takeout from a restaurant or curbside pickup from a store. If youre not ready to eat indoors at a restaurant, why not try outdoor dining at one of the expanded al fresco options available at least through October. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a participant in the campaign, sees resuming some fun activities as a reward for all the hard work members of the community did when the coronavirus was prevalent. Were getting pieces of our lives back, he told the editorial board. We should celebrate that and support local businesses. Theyve been hurting. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh echoed that sentiment. Government has done what we can do, he said. We need people to sustain these efforts and support businesses. Central New York has a huge hill to climb. Whole industries fell off a cliff when non-essential businesses shut down last spring, staff writer Michelle Breidenbach reported in detail last week. The pandemic wiped out 15 years of slow and steady job growth in the region. While construction and manufacturing came back quickly, tourism-related industries have not rebounded. The economic slowdown decimated sales tax revenue, and thats already causing layoffs and furloughs in local governments. Eating out a little bit more or shopping locally arent solutions to all our problems. But it may mean the difference between a small business making it or shutting its doors. If there is one thing weve learned during this challenging time, its the value of caring neighbors and a strong, supportive community spirit. In whatever way youre comfortable, be local and buy local. Loading About Syracuse.com editorials Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our mission statement. Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Trish LaMonte and Marie Morelli. To respond to this editorial: Submit a comment through the Google form above, or submit a letter or commentary to letters@syracuse.com. Read our submission guidelines. If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion leader, at mmorelli@syracuse.com A simple Tweet on March 17 summed up how many parents were feeling about educators shortly after school buildings closed in response to the novel coronavirus, saying, So many parents are trying to home school and finding out how insanely difficult teaching is and gaining a whole new level of respect for teachers- @Toure. Positive public perception of educators soared in late March, as parents-turned-homeschoolers struggled to balance work, home life and providing an adequate education for their children. Now, five months later, as educators are putting their health and safety and that of their loved ones on the line to serve students in the face of constant threat from COVID-19, they need your support, understanding and recognition now, more than ever before. COVID-19 laid bare the incredible extent to which our society relies on the services provided by education employees. School, education and education employees are undeniably essential. While we almost universally celebrate nurses, grocery workers, firefighters and other essential workers who have continued to perform their essential job functions through this pandemic, teachers and other education employees clearly fall in this category, especially with school buildings reopening. We must continue to celebrate and support our schools and every employee in those schools. From the teacher screening students with temperature and symptom checks long before the first bell rings, to the custodians doing deep-cleaning and sanitizing in addition to their normal duties, to the educators tirelessly working to prepare concurrent virtual learning materials in effect doubling or even tripling a bearable workload Im amazed by and proud of our dedicated Wyoming education employees. In my eyes, this is, in some ways, the dawn of a new day in our shared pandemic era. We have, right now, an opportunity; an opportunity to come together as a community to do the right things to ensure that Wyoming schools stay open and that Wyoming students and educators stay safe. In school buses, classrooms, cafeterias, libraries and front offices, some of the countrys hardest workers are putting their hearts into providing a quality, safe learning experience for Wyoming students. This Labor Day weekend, as we celebrate the workers who have built our country, I ask you, please take a moment to celebrate and honor the dedicated, indefatigable work of our teachers, education support professionals and all education employees. In that moment, please commit or reaffirm to yourself and to your friends, family, colleagues and community members that you will do what it takes to keep our schools open and most importantly, to keep our schools safe. Please keep these last few precious summer gatherings small, socially distance, wear a mask and exercise the commonsense public health protocols that we all now know like the backs of our often-washed hands. Educators are doing their part to keep students safe, but they cannot do it alone. Parents and community members play a hugely instrumental role in stemming the spread of COVID-19. The single most important thing you can do before sending your children to school is to screen them for COVID-19 symptoms. Does your child have a fever? Nausea? Chills or fatigue? Visit the Wyoming Education Associations webpage at wyoea.org for a printable checklist of symptoms. This checklist, a thermometer and less than five minutes each day will help to keep our communities safe and our schools open. On our website, wyoea.org, you will also find the Safe Schools Pledge. Signing this pledge reaffirms your commitment to screening your child for COVID-19 symptoms before sending them to school. Please, sign it. Exercise public health precautions and keep your kids home from school if they are sick or displaying any even mild symptoms or risk factors of COVID-19. What better way to celebrate our educators, some of the most dedicated professionals in our society, this Labor Day than by signing the Safe Schools Pledge and committing to the safest possible learning and working environment in Wyoming schools? Essential workers or not, we are all essential to halting the spread of COVID-19. Were in this together, and well get through it together. Stay safe. Stay diligent. Stay hopeful. Happy Labor Day, Wyoming! A classroom teacher for 24 years, Grady Hutcherson now serves more than 6,000 education employees as President of the Wyoming Education Association (WEA). The Wyoming Education Association is committed to building and protecting a high-quality, equitable education system for Wyoming students, teachers, and all education employees. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Veterans are under attack. Two fronts have been opened, and veterans are at risk. The current White House administration is on a privatization mission which, if completed, will adversely impact the health care of veterans while simultaneously benefitting the private sector, e.g, major corporations. Veterans depend on the Veterans Administration Health Services (VAHS) for the delivery of the medical services that best meet their needs. Veterans are also dependent on the Postal Service for timely delivery of their medications and pension and disability checks. The strategy to privatize the VA and the Postal Service by slowly depleting the resources of the VAHS and the Postal Service is strikingly similar, that each agency will die from a thousand cuts. Currently the VAHS is operating in part under the Mission Act, which was passed in 2018. A successor to the 2014 Choice Act, it was originally designed to provide access to services in the private sector when the nearest VA facility was at a distance, i.e., for veterans in rural locations, or the wait time at a VA facility was more than 30 days. But the Mission Act contains no provision for the integration of care between VA and non-VA providers, hence, opportunity for errors and a negative impact on the quality of care becomes more likely. In addition, the Mission Act does not require private-sector providers to be held to the same rigorous standards that makes VA health care for veterans superior to that in the private sector. The VA is currently serving about 9 million veterans, 90% of whom are satisfied with their medical care. The bad rap visited upon the VA stemmed from a wait time scandal in (Albuquerque), Phoenix and other VA facilities in 2014. The Choice Act and the subsequent Mission Act were designed to compensate for these deficiencies. These problems have been addressed, however mischief is afoot. In an effort to privatize the VA, the Trump administration has put into place a series of actions that will make the VA (underfunded and) ineffective. Veterans are being referred to private providers, even in situations where the patient lives a few blocks away from a VA hospital and the wait time for an appointment (there) is shorter. Under the new arbitrary standards for distance and wait time, there is a potential for up to 40% of veterans to become eligible for outsourcing. The funds for these private-sector services are and will continue to be drawn from existing VA budgets, further depleting the VA budget under attack. Cut the patient load at the VA, cut the funding at the VA, diminish the level of care at the VA and you have a perfect storm for privatization. Death by a thousand cuts. What would be lost if the VA were privatized? The largest training resource for medical and health professionals; each year 120,000 physicians and medical specialists are trained by the VA. A backup service for the private sector when it becomes overwhelmed, as is happening during this pandemic. Advancement in research and development in health care, e.g., CfT scans, liver transplants, shingles vaccine, nicotine patch and more. It is far better to improve the current medical services of the VA rather than to privatize. Expand care to the more than 4,700,000 rural veterans by creating rural clinics, VA mobile clinics and telemedicine under the supervision of each veterans primary VA doctor. Do not allow the (VAHS) to become another insurance company rather than a provider of health care. In the words of Will Fischer, a retired Iraq veteran of the U.S. Medical Corps, Privatization is a fancy way of saying were taking tax dollars out of the VA and putting it into the pockets of millionaires and billionaires. This exact sentiment applies to the post office equally. Contact members of your congressional delegation and tell them to save our VA and the Postal Service. Beaumont Hospital in Dublin has been hit by outbreaks of Covid-19, with three patients and two staff testing positive for the virus. Three wards in the hospital have been closed and more than 10 staff who are deemed to be close contacts have been asked to self-isolate at home. Professor Bill Tormey, chemical pathology consultant at Beaumont Hospital and a former Fine Gael politician, said the cases inside the hospital were expected but "worrying". "If the virus continues to spread in the community, there will inevitably be outbreaks in hospitals," he said. "These cases suggest that we may be in serious trouble over the winter unless we can curtail the current level of spread." Expand Close 'SERIOUS TROUBLE': Professor Bill Tormey, at his office in Glasnevin, Dublin, said cases occurring in hospitals were inevitable but 'worrying'. Photo: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp 'SERIOUS TROUBLE': Professor Bill Tormey, at his office in Glasnevin, Dublin, said cases occurring in hospitals were inevitable but 'worrying'. Photo: Collins The significance of the outbreaks is not that they occurred, he said, but it shows that people are getting sick enough to be admitted to hospital, and that in turn suggests there are many more people out there with the virus," he said. "Anybody over 60 should avoid crowds and try and stay out of the way of large groups of people. And people visiting those over 60 should always wear a mask." An email sent to staff last week confirmed that three wards had closed as a result of "recent cases" of coronavirus. The hospital introduced new infection controls and medical teams to minimise visits to multiple wards. The email continued that an increasing number of doctors were either "at home sick with Covid or are being asked to self-isolate due to close contact", which put added pressure on work rosters. News of the outbreaks comes as the Government and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) are finalising a coronavirus plan, setting out how society can "live with the virus" over the next nine months. The plan, to be published on September 13, is expected to include measures to help hospitals cope with a potential second wave. Ireland is averaging around 100 cases of Covid-19 a day. The 14-day incidence rate of coronavirus in Ireland remains just short of 30 per 100,000 people, ahead of Germany, Britain and Sweden. However, it positions Ireland well behind France, Portugal and Spain, which has the highest incidence rate in Europe of 218 per 100,000. As of Friday, 14 people were in critical-care units in Irish hospitals being treated for confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19, and 10 of those patients were on ventilators. The seven confirmed Covid-19 patients receiving critical care were in Beaumont, St James's, Tallaght and the Mater hospitals in Dublin and also Tullamore and South Tipperary general hospitals. Concerns have been expressed about a possible second surge of the virus in the winter months, which, combined with the annual influenza outbreaks, could put hospitals under intense pressure. The Health Service Executive (HSE) hopes to negotiate a second agreement with private hospitals if public hospitals face rising infections, in what Paul Reid, the chief executive of the HSE, referred to as a "call to arms". The deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the plan will outline how we live with the virus over the next nine months. In an interview on The Late Late Show, he said: "We are closing the first chapter of Covid-19 and are now moving into chapter two." Dr Glynn, who chairs Nphet, said that pubs could be open by Christmas, but added the caveat that this was dependent on schools reopening safely and the number of Covid-19 cases stabilising. The Government's road-map for the next nine months is also expected to include a shake-up of the advisory bodies, including Nphet and the Expert Advisory Group, which provides expert advice to Nphet. Several of the sub-groups are being stood down. Prof Tormey said that any revamped advisory group must incorporate transparent, evidence-based decision-making. He added that the government and health officials shaping public health policy must "respect the intelligence of the people, provide us with detailed information about the virus, and provide clear and sensible advice that all of us can adhere to". He said the need for public trust was higher now than it had been for months, given the 1.7pc rate of infection found in a Covid-19 prevalence study published last month. Its significance, said Prof Tormey, is that it shows very few people contracted Covid-19 so there is still a very high risk of transmission. Dr Jack Lambert, an infectious diseases consultant at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, said that the numbers in hospitals remain low and that reflects the more limited spread of the virus in the community. "It is important for the community to know that right now, because we have got the curve flattened, we don't have the vast spread of Covid-19 in the community that we did back in March and April," he said. "We are not increasing our numbers at the present time to dangerous proportions." However, Dr Lambert said that if cases in the community continue to rise, this increase will be reflected in the numbers of patients admitted to hospital. Minutes reveal that Nphet advised the HSE to conduct fortnightly testing of homeless people, the Roma community and those living in Direct Provision. Nphet asked the HSE to "reflect further" on the upper testing capacity limit of 100,000 tests per week because of the increase in serial testing. Nphet also raised concerns with "the provision of testing by private companies", according to the minutes, and stressed that testing for public health investigations should be conducted through the HSE "to ensure that no delays with data collection arise". The Sunday Independent attempted to contact Beaumont Hospital for comment. Actor Ankita Lokhande has shared a video by fellow actor Adhyayan Suman, made as a tribute to late Sushant Singh Rajput. Both Ankita and Adhyayan have been talking about Sushant and lent support to the family in their quest for justice. Sharing the video, Ankita wrote: Tribute to Sushant Speechless!! Replying to Ankita, Adhyayan wrote in the comments section: Means the world to me and all ssr fans out there Ankita thank u! The least I could do for all his well wishers and loved ones! The video, which is a montage of Sushant and also features Adhyayan singing. A major part of the video features Ankitas voice from her previous interviews to news channels where she had refuted the idea that Sushant had mental health issues. Sharing the video, Adhyayan had written: Jab tak 2.0 - A tribute for SSR Thank you Ankita @lokhandeankita for sharing this and being a part of this tribute ! The least I could do is to put a smile on peoples faces who have been relentlessly fighting for #justiceforsushant . He will live in our hearts forever. Adhyayan and his father actor Shekhar Suman were among the first to speak up for the need for the fair probe into Sushants death. They have also spoken about workings of Bollywood. After the emergence of a drugs angle in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the actor, speaking to Times of India, had said how he had witnessed drug use at high-profile Bollywood parties. He had said: As far as my experience is concerned, during my initial days in the industry, I went to a couple of big, high-profile parties where I saw a few actors doing drugs. It would be wrong of me to say that everyone does drugs, because that is not the case. There are few people in the high-profile parties who do them and it is really unfortunate. I decided not to be a part of those gatherings, forget doing drugs. Also read: Dia Mirza comes out in support of Kangana Ranaut who was called haramkhor by Sanjay Raut, asks him to apologise Ankita has been supportive towards Sushants family. She spoke to Republic TV and had refuted that Sushant was depressed. She had said: Sushant was not the guy who could commit suicide. We have seen worse situations when we were together. He was a happy-go-lucky guy. Follow @htshowbiz for more Shortly after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) issued a summon to Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the drug probe related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, Rhea's lawyer on Sunday (September 6) said that the actress is ready for an arrest in this case. Rhea's lawyer Satish Maneshinde claimed that the action against Rhea is a witch-hunt. Maneshinde added that if loving someone is a crime then Rhea is ready to face the consequences of loving Sushant Singh Rajput. According to Maneshinde, Rhea is innocent and this is the main reason why she hasn't approached any court for anticipatory bail in all cases foisted by Bihar Police with CBI, ED & NCB. Sources told Zee Media that two senior officers of the NCB, Samir Wankhede and KPS Malhotra, will lead the team questioning Rhea on Sunday. It is also expected that during the grilling, the NCB will also show Rhea the CDR details of her WhatsApp chats. Sources say that the NCB may arrest Rhea of she fails to give convicning answers to the questions posed by the NCB. Earlier on Sunday morning, a team of NCB officials and Mumbai Police officers reached Rhea's residence to issue the summon. The NCB team was led by Joint Director of NCB Samir Wankhede. On Saturday, the NCB had arrested Sushant's cook Dipesh Sawant in connection with this case. Notably, the NCB has arrested 8 people in connection with this case so far, including Rhea's brother Showik Chakraborty and late actor Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda. It may be recalled that Showik and Samuel were arrested on Friday night under several sections of the NDPS Act, including 20(b), 28, 29, 27(A) after the raids at their respective residences in Mumbai. The NCB had registered a case on August 26 under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, naming Rhea, her brother, talent manager Jaya Saha, Sushant`s co-manager Shruti Modi, and Goa-based hotelier Gaurav Arya, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) wrote to it about the drugs' angle. By William Schwartz | Published on 2020/09/05 Seung-hee (played by Kim Yu-ra) is a quiet woman who has recently returned to the family farm on Geoje Island. There's minimal verbal explanation as to why she came back. We just see Seung-hee stew in mild annoyance as she's given instructions for chores. Seung-hee is similarly diffident to typical social interaction. At first glance it seems like Seung-hee has an attitude problem. But as the "Days in a Summer" pass by, we see that in reality, Seung-hee is just an introvert. Advertisement Something most movies don't get when they try to be about introverts is that introverts really hate talking to people. They're not neurotic, in a charming way or otherwise. They just prefer to be alone. So it is that writer/director Oh Jeung-suk favors long, unbroken shots of Seung-hee quietly appreciating the scenery. Sometimes it's with her grandmother, other times it's in archaic city streets, sometimes it's near a stone wall, and in the movie's most striking visual, it's on a date at the top of a hill with a magnificent view of the ocean. Oh, about that date. For awhile it looks like "Days in a Summer" is going to be a romance, as Seung-hee starts hanging out with a fisherman played by Kim Rok-kyung. This man is never actually named in the script, because that's another detail introverts tend not to get hung up on. The closest the movie really gets to a plot is when Seung-hee is trying to learn how to fish. It's a hobby that's well-suited to her personality, and that's really all the motivation we get or need. Instead the focus is on the subtle details, like how writer/director Oh Jeung-suk eschews close-up shots, obscuring Seung-hee's face as necessary. While this does no good for Kim Yu-ra's exposure as an actress, it emphasizes her introverted mindset and how she never feels like the focus of her own life. An early scene featuring Seung-hee and a friend at a social event with some tourists uses this concealment to excellent effect. Seung-hee quietly endures chatter that is fun to extroverts around her but meaningless to Seung-hee herself. "Days in a Summer" also works powerfully as a travel movie about the value of getting away from it all. The visuals of Geoje Island are amazing, but more importantly, they're just visuals. Seung-hee doesn't grow as a person by talking with the quirky townspeople but rather by coming to peace with herself and understanding that she is solitary by nature and that's perfectly OK. "Days in a Summer" is also a very effective demonstration of the appeal of fishing for someone who has never fished. Here it works more like a form of meditation. Seung-hee and the fisherman she hangs out with are less looking purpose and more looking for understanding. Seung-hee doesn't change much over "Days in a Summer" but she does find inner peace and this conclusion is heartwarming in ways far more sublime than what can be hoped for from a traditionally plotted story. Review by William Schwartz ___________ "Days in a Summer" is directed by Oh Jung-seuk, and features Kim Yu-ra, Kim Rok-kyung, Lee Yeon-geum, Kim Jin-hong-I, Lee Jin-seo-I, Lee Hyun-ji-III. Release date in Korea: 2020/08/20. Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Sunday suggested the government to borrow more to help stimulate demand and revive the countrys economy. The senior Congress leader also suggested some measures to raise money which include relaxing FRBM norms, accelerating disinvestment and borrowing money from global banks. As part of his measures to revive the economy, he sought transferring cash to the poorest 50 per cent of families, offering them foodgrains and increasing spending on infrastructure, besides paying arrears of GST compensation to states. Here are some concrete steps to stimulate demand/consumption and revive the economy: Transfer some cash to the poorest 50 percent of families. Offer food grain to all families, those who need will take it. Increase spending on infrastructure projects. Use food grain stock to pay wages in kind and start massive public works. Recapitalize banks to enable them to lend and Pay the arrears of GST compensation to the States," he said on Twitter. All of the above will need money. Borrow. Dont hesitate," he suggested. Here are some concrete steps to raise money: Relax the FRBM norm and borrow more this year. Accelerate disinvestment. Use the offer of USD 6.5 billion by IMF, WB, ADB etc. As a last resort, monetise part of the deficit," he tweeted. Chidambaram has been urging the government to take concrete measures to revive the economy and has called upon it to provide GST compensation to states, as promised to them at the time of GST implementation. Being named as a 2020 Top Workplace, for the second consecutive time and year, comes as the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon is experiencing incredible growth, both regionally and nationwide. The Oregonian/OregonLives annual competition, now in its ninth edition, recognizes local workplaces based on employee feedback. The association uses a peer-based model that serves people experiencing mental health and/or addiction challenges. The associations 32 trained and certified peer support specialists, who identify as having lived the experience of mental health or addiction, walk alongside those seeking assistance on their path to recovery. Peer support specialists assist with a variety of needs, including addiction services, food insecurity and houselessness. The foundation of our work is fairly simple: We offer support to individuals seeking recovery from the lens of having been there, done that, " said Janie Gullickson, the associations executive director. Even though we maybe have navigated our recovery journey longer than those we serve, we respect that they are the experts of their own path. Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon is a winner in The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2020 Top Workplaces competition. Grace Jo (left), a peer support specialist, talks with Janie Gullickson, executive director, in the association's mostly-empty Northeast Portland office.Randy L. Rasmussen/For The Oregonian/OregonLive The association began as a grassroots movement in the 1970s and officially became a non-profit in 2001. Gullickson added that it has expanded significantly since launching the peer support program in 2015. The association has on-the-ground operations in Portland, but its current team of 45 employees also oversees efforts that reach far beyond the state, such as peer support and guidance to other mental health organizations through their Peerlink National Technical Assistance Center, online trainings of peer support specialists, and an international annual conference called Peerpocalypse for peer support programs and their employees. While many businesses and organizations are wrestling with the challenges of modified offerings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon demonstrated quick adaptation and flexibility from the start. People who have experienced mental health and substance abuse issues in their lives are incredibly resilient, and I think that resilience has really transferred over to services, said Jessica Carroll, the associations Peerlink director. We are a type of service that can go with the flow, and we figure it out, and we get creative because thats just what we have to do. Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon is a winner in The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2020 Top Workplaces competition. Emily Privatsky, a project coordinator, works in the association's office in Northeast Portland while others work from home and in the field.Randy L. Rasmussen/For The Oregonian/OregonLive Taking the majority of the associations work online has had some ups and downs, but there have been unexpected advantages. Some people have been able to access more services and not experience the challenges of transportation, having to navigate care of children or other family members while going to an appointment, and so on, said Gullickson, So in some respects, (the online format) is providing a service to folks that has been needed for a really long time. And then, in another aspect, that human connection, of course, is sorely missed. In addition to revamping its delivery model, the association recently received a federal grant for $3.95 million to expand its services, nearly doubling its annual revenue. With the changes brought on by that initiative and the demand for peer support specialist services expanding nationwide, the association aims to hire 18 to 20 people this year. Being predominately a white organization, with intention and accountability, as we recruit new staff in the next couple of months, we will be reaching out to communities of color to hire and recruit, Gullickson said. Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon is a winner in The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2020 Top Workplaces competition. Nicole Maupin, human resources assistant, works in the association's office in Northeast Portland while others work from home and in the field.Randy L. Rasmussen/For The Oregonian/OregonLive The association, which is currently 75% staffed by people who identify as white, also incorporates feedback from its diversity, equity and inclusion committee, such enforcing equitable hiring practices and including culturally specific modules in trainings. Social justice is one of our core values, said Gullickson. Feedback from employees who took the Top Workplaces survey indicates that the new hires will be working alongside a dedicated team that feels more like a family than coworkers. Those who responded to the survey cited autonomy, opportunities for professional development, supportive supervisors, fair compensation, and, above all, a sense of purpose within the community. I have grown so much with MHAAO, said Carroll. The thing that I can say is we are about our core values; we live them. We really believe people can recover and we are proof of that. To that, Gullickson added, We are the living proof that recovery is real and possible, and community support brings about real change. Read more Top Workplaces stories at oregonlive.com/topworkplaces. Keep up with Oregon business and economic news by subscribing to our Oregon Business Insights newsletter. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police are asking the publics assistance in locating a 63-year-old Stapleton woman reported missing, according to a written statement by the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Informations office. Linda Smith, 63, who is listed as a resident at a skilled nursing facility on Tompkins Avenue in Stapleton, was last seen just after midnight Saturday at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, police said. Smith is described by police as 5-feet-3-inches tall, and about 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing a long sleeved orange shirt and gray sweatpants. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public also can submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. Police say all calls are strictly confidential. On 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, theres trouble in paradise for Colt Johnson and his girlfriend, Jess Caroline. After Colt invites Jess to Las Vegas, Nevada to visit him, things get messy when Jess confronts Colt about other women. Colt admits to sending pictures to other women while they were broken up. To make matters worse, Colts friend, Vanessa Guerra, has moved into his home in the spare bedroom. Vanessa is someone who Jess has a problem with Colt even talking to, so this news has to be a blow to the relationship. Fresh from the events with Colt, Jess decides to meet up with Colts ex-wife, Larissa Dos Santos Lima, who tried to warn her about Colt in a previous phone conversation. This week, they sit down and have a conversation. Jess Caroline confronts Colt Johnson When Jess arrives in Vegas and meets with Colt, things spiral out of control. Jess immediately brings up the fact that other women have contacted her. Hows your d***? Jess asks him. You send pictures today? Jess doesnt just stop there, but reveals that she has screenshots. I have screenshots for eight girls, she says to him. Colt doesnt deny it, and Jess asks him yet again if he has been sending pictures of his private area to other women. Im mortified honestly, Colt tells producers. While I was talking to these women online, I sent them d*** pics. Im ashamed of myself. When things start to get loud, Colt asks if they can go back to his place. On the car ride over, he says that since what happened in Brazil, sometimes its difficult to tell if theyre together or not. When they get to the house, the fighting continues, and Colt drops the ultimate bomb that Vanessa is living with him now. No, Jess says to him back in response. Jess Caroline meets up with Larissa Dos Santos Lima Larissa Dos Santos Lima | Bryan Steffy/WireImage RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Colt Johnson Calls Jess Caroline Jealous and Insecure In a sneak peek of the upcoming episode, Jess has a surprising conversation with Larissa. While Jess is in Vegas, she takes the time to meet up with her. Larissa once warned Jess about Colt, but Jess didnt listen. I think Colt use me, Jess says to Larissa as they sit at a bar. Larissa asks her why, and Jess says maybe he used her to make Larissa jealous. Yeah, he try to make the same history, Larissa tells her. I think he say, Oh Brazilian girls, maybe Larissa jealous, Jess says. Larissa tells her that she actually thought Colt had found love with Jess. I thought that he found true love when I saw your pictures, Larissa says as Jess just shrugs. Larissa says she feels like Colt wants to be a pimp Jess tells producers that she wishes she had listened to Larissa when she called her. I wish I listen to Larissa when she called me and say, Jess, be careful. Colt istrash man, Jess says. Jess continues her conversation with Larissa, and mentions that shes sad, and Colt made promises to her. Larissa agrees, and says, Do what he does. Only promise. Nothing. Next, Jess asks Larissa if she remembers when she told Jess that Colt has a lot of girls. Yeah, its true, Jess clarifies. Eight girls send a screenshot for me in my social media, she continues. Larissas response back is priceless. I dont know, I feel like he wants to be a pimp, Larissa tells Jess. It sounds like Jess and Larissa are going to be friends. After all, they can bond over their time with Colt. What will Jess do in regards to the drama with her boyfriend? Well have to wait to find out. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 04:31:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Pandemic deniers held a protest in the Italian capital on Saturday, drawing a few thousand people near the Circus Maximus in the historic center. Organizers included the far-right Forza Nuova (FN) party, the anti-vax movement, and virus-denying civic groups, which complained about all precautionary measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 in the country. None of the protesters at the demonstration was seen wearing a face mask. The rally sparked condemnation by authorities. "Today we have people gathering in Rome, who think the pandemic does not exist," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during an annual event in Rome broadcast live online. "We answered them with figures: more than 274,000 people infected, and over 35,000 dead. Period." Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Rome mayor Virginia Raggi were among the other political leaders condemning the protest. The event came amid concerns for a limited but constant rise in coronavirus infections registered in the last five weeks, as official data and the latest monitoring report by Italy's National Health Institute (ISS) showed. In the daily statistical update late on Saturday, the Health Ministry confirmed 276,338 coronavirus cases in the country overall, with an increase of 1,695 cases over the last 24 hours, and 35,534 fatalities. Meanwhile, doctors at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan said 83-year-old former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was admitted to the hospital late on Thursday after being tested positive for the coronavirus, was in stable condition. "His clinical conditions remain stable," Alberto Zangrillo, head of the general and cardiovascular intensive care unit, said in a bulletin. Enditem Last weeks record of 43 new COVID-19 deaths is the highest in four weeks, a PREMIUM TIMES review of official data shows. According to data sourced from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the last time Nigeria recorded more deaths than last week was the 54 deaths reported in the 32nd week of the pandemic (August 2- August 8). The data also showed that the tally of 43 deaths last week represents a 67 per cent increase to the 14 deaths recorded in the previous week. Fewer cases, recoveries A PREMIUM TIMES analysis further showed that fewer cases were reported last week, the 36th week of the pandemic in Nigeria. Last weeks record of 1,178 new COVID-19 cases is Nigerias lowest in four months. The last time the country recorded a lower weekly figure was the 1,206 cases recorded in the week between April 29 and May 2. Also, the 1,178 cases represent a 35 per cent reduction when compared to the previous weeks record of 1,822 infections, which in itself was the lowest weekly record in three months. Not only was last weeks record of 1,178 cases the lowest in four months, but the 124 new cases recorded on Thursday was also the lowest daily figure in nearly four months. While last weeks fewer cases could be further evidence of the receding nature of the virus in the country, it could also have been the effect of reduced testing. A total of 18,473 samples was tested last week compared to the 24,277 samples collected in the previous week; a 23 per cent reduction. Nigerias testing numbers continue to reduce despite now having 70 molecular laboratories across the country. Federal authorities last week blamed the low testing on the fewer collection of samples by state governments. Also, a total of 1,608 persons recovered from the disease and were discharged last week, which represents a 36 per cent reduction when compared to the 2,547 persons discharged in the previous week. Compliance More emphasis is being placed on compliance with COVID-19 protocols particularly amid plans to reopen schools in Osun, Kogi, Anambra and Lagos states. The reopening of schools is, however, happening in spite of warning signals from the federal government. Boss Mustapha, secretary to the government of the federation and chairperson, presidential task force on COVID-19, said as the nation plans to re-open more sectors, everyone must stay the course and stick with the winning strategy which is anchored on the ability of our health institutions to contain the virus. He urged citizens to wear facemasks properly, stay away from crowded places, avoid mass gatherings, maintain simple hygienic practices and as much as possible protect the elderly and most vulnerable to this pandemic. Nigeria so far As of the time of reporting, Nigeria has 54,905 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this figure, 42,922 have been discharged and 1,054 deaths have been recorded in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. A breakdown of the confirmed cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 18,308 cases, followed by FCT 5,279, Oyo 3,187 , Edo 2,594, Rivers 2,175, Kano 1,727, Delta 1,768, Kaduna 2,189, Ogun 1,678, Plateau 2,720, Ondo 1,561, Enugu 1,184, Ebonyi 1,014 , Kwara 982, Katsina 812, Borno 741, Abia 807, Gombe 744, Osun 795, Bauchi 669, Imo 534, Benue 460, Nasarawa 437, Bayelsa 391, Jigawa 322, Akwa Ibom 280, Niger 244, Adamawa 228, Ekiti 282, Sokoto 159, Anambra 221, Kebbi 93, Zamfara 78, Taraba 87, Cross River 83, Yobe 67 and Kogi 5. Lagos State remains the epicentre for the disease with the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths in the country. The other five states with the highest number of confirmed cases are FCT, Oyo, Edo, Plateau and Rivers states. Of all the 36 states and the FCT, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Kebbi, Zamfara, Taraba, Yobe and Kogi did not record at least a fresh case last week. Also, there are currently no COVID-19 patients in Zamfara, Yobe and Kogi states. Timeline last week On Sunday last week, 138 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country. As of 11:55 pm on August 30, a total of 54,865 cases had been reported, out of which 41,513 had recovered with 1,013 deaths recorded. Advertisements On Monday, 143 new cases were reported in the country. On Tuesday, 239 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded. On Wednesday, 216 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country. On Thursday, 124 new cases were reported in Nigeria, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 54,587. On Friday, 156 new cases were recorded. On Saturday, 162 new cases were reported in Nigeria, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 54,905 as of 11:55 p.m. on September 5. People who wear face masks to protect themselves and others against the coronavirus do not adopt a false sense of security and neglect other safety measures, researchers have found. In a new study published in the journal BMJ Analysis, a team of researchers from Cambridge University and Kings College London conducted an investigation to determine whether risk compensation is posing a threat to public health during the Covid-19 outbreak. Risk compensation, they explain, is a term that can be interpreted in various ways, the predominant idea being that people have a target level of risk they are comfortable with and they adjust their behaviour to maintain that risk level. They state that during the early stages of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the widespread use of face masks could create a false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as hand hygiene practices. However, according to the researchers findings, this concern is unsubstantiated. The team, which was led by Professor Dame Theresa Marteau of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at the University of Cambridge, investigated 22 systematic reviews, which explored the impact of wearing masks on the spread of respiratory viruses. Six of the studies, which involved the assessment of more than 2,000 households, found that the wearing of face coverings did not have a negative impact of hand hygiene, with two of the studies concluded that rate of hand washing were higher in the groups allocated to wearing masks. In three observational studies, the team noted that people tended to move away from those wearing a mask, suggesting that face coverings do not adversely affect physical distancing at least by those surrounding the wearer. However, they added that all of the studies needed to be treated with caution as they have not been peer-reviewed. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 January 2022 Surfers enter the sea as the sun rises over Tynemouth on the North East coast PA UK news in pictures 17 January 2022 Bonhams Danny McIlwraith holds a Nigerian polycrome carved wood mask during a photocall for the sale of the Jim Lennon Collection at Bonhams in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA Professor Marteau explained that the concept of risk compensation, rather than risk compensation itself, seems the greater threat to public health. The professor explained that the concept of risk compensation could lead to potentially effective interventions being delayed, which could in turn increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Many public health bodies are coming to the conclusion that wearing a face covering might help reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and the limited evidence available suggests their use doesnt have a negative effect on hand hygiene, said co-author Dr James Rubin, of the Department of Psychological Medicine at Kings College London. To conclude their report in BMJ Analysis, the researchers stated that the assumption that use face coverings will lead to risk compensation should be laid to rest. In 2016, [Professor Barry] Pless [from McGill University in Montreal, Canada] argued that risk compensation theory is a dead horse that no longer needs to be beaten. We would add that this dead horse now needs burying to try to prevent the continued threat it poses through slowing the adoption of effective public health interventions, the researchers wrote. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has organized a public hearing on the proposed underground gold mining and processing project by "Gan He Mining Resources Development Company Limited" at Abreshia in the Wassa Amenfi East Municipality. The project would be carried out at Huntado, Asuonkrom and Abreshia communities and is expected to cover about 64 kilometer square land in the Western Region. The proposed underground Mine operation would not require the relocation of any major settlement and about 450 youth in the firms host communities would be employed. When "Gan He Mining Resources Development Company Limited" commence operations, the government would receive 22 million United States dollars as tax revenue and 12 million United States dollars would be paid to landowners as royalties. The Acting Director of EPA, Tarkwa, Mr Prosper Nkrumah, explained that the programme was in accordance with regulations 17 (1a and 1c) of the Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999 (LI 1652) and Ghana's Environmental Assessment procedures. He indicated that the forum should have been opened to the general public, interested parties and groups to attend and make their views and concerns known. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant restrictions on public gathering, EPA opted to hold the forum online via zoom to provide the virtual space for the collection of views from the general public for the proposed project, he said. The Acting Director of EPA implored the company to make their presentation in a very clear and concise manner to facilitate easy understanding. He urged the public to scrutinize and offer constructive inputs in a civil manner, so they could achieve a win-win situation that will guarantee economic growth, social equity and environmental protection should the company be granted the permit. The Administrative Manager for Gan He Mining Resources Development Company Limited, Mr Amin Ayamga, however, assured the citizenry that they would work closely with their stakeholders and address all challenges that might raise. He said the company through the Municipal Assembly would assist the security agencies to combat the increasing crime rate in Wassa Amenfi East Municipality. Mr Ayamga added that through its cooperate social responsibility plan, they would provide vocational skills to the youth and residents and also support other income generation activities. Most of the residents in the affected communities appealed to the company to adhere to all the agreement they have documented as their source of livelihood would be taken away because of the mining activities. Nana Kwame Ampong I, Saamang hene, who represented the Paramount chief of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Council, Tetrete Okuamoa Sakyim, urged Gan He Mining Resources Development Company Limited to comply with the rules and regulation outlined by the regulatory authorities in order to ensure peace and stability in the area when they begin operations. 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 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that good inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) even during coronavirus times shows foreign investors have taken India's commitment to economic reforms seriously. Between April-July, FDI into India stood at $20 billion. The investors are taking India to be a very desirable destination, otherwise there wouldn't have been a good amount of FDI coming even during the pandemic time when India, as many of our critics would say, had the strictest lockdown, Sitharaman said on Saturday. Releasing the state rankings based on the implementation of State Business Reform Action Plan 2019, Sitharaman said Aatmanirbhar Bharat would help India build on its strengths and become self-reliant. Aatmanirbhar Bharat will lead to greater export competitiveness, better pricing and quality of exports, which show the Indian skill of making things to perfection, she said. Sitharaman said Aatmanirbhar Bharat is not for making India inward-looking, but to build on its strengths, one of the ways in which the country can become more competitive. In the states' ease of doing business rankings released on Saturday, Andhra Pradesh retained the top position followed by UP and Telangana at the second and third spots, respectively. Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Ministry of Finance has clarified that there are no restrictions on filling up of vacancies in the government of India. The clarification comes a day after the ministry banned creation of new posts, except with the approval of the department of expenditure, in central ministries and offices and bodies. "There is no restriction or ban on filling up of posts in Govt of India. Normal recruitments through govt agencies like Staff Selection Commission, UPSC, Railways Recruitment Board, etc will continue as usual without any curbs," finance ministry tweeted on Saturday. Also read: Loan moratorium: FM Sitharaman asks banks to roll out resolution schemes by September 15 Also read:Govt working with RBI to extend moratorium, restructure loans, says FM Nirmala Sitharaman Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Spark New Zealand Limited (NZSE:SPK) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. See our latest analysis for Spark New Zealand Step by step through the calculation We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$582.5m NZ$514.5m NZ$510.0m NZ$421.0m NZ$422.0m NZ$402.1m NZ$392.0m NZ$388.1m NZ$388.5m NZ$391.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -4.71% Est @ -2.52% Est @ -0.98% Est @ 0.09% Est @ 0.84% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 7.4% NZ$542 NZ$446 NZ$412 NZ$316 NZ$295 NZ$262 NZ$238 NZ$219 NZ$204 NZ$192 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$3.1b Story continues The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.4%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2030 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$392m (1 + 2.6%) (7.4% 2.6%) = NZ$8.4b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$8.4b ( 1 + 7.4%)10= NZ$4.1b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is NZ$7.2b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$4.8, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf The assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Spark New Zealand as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Spark New Zealand, there are three further elements you should look at: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 2 warning signs for Spark New Zealand (1 can't be ignored!) we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for SPK's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Reports that the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was irritated that it took a week for Ireland to nominate two candidates to succeed Phil Hogan as European Commissioner may be overblown somewhat. However, the process did look uncertain as the Government took soundings throughout the week. Two candidates have now been nominated. It will now take a further week for Ms von der Leyen to interview Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness and Andrew McDowell, formerly of the European Investment Bank, before an appointment is made. Ms McGuinness is expected to be successful on the basis that the EC President also sought a female to be nominated for the position. However, Mr McDowell also has many fine qualities for the position and is a worthy candidate. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, initially in the running for nomination, withdrew from consideration presumably on the basis that Ireland will most likely fail to retain the Trade portfolio vacated by the resignation of Mr Hogan and he feels his expertise will be better utilised in his current role. In the Sunday Independent today, Mr Coveney outlines his thinking and seeks to focus attention on the issue of Brexit, which is expected to return to the agenda next week. It is unfortunate, indeed, that Ireland will fail to retain the Trade portfolio at such a crucial time. Mr Coveney warns that only a "very basic trade" deal is now possible after "little or no progress" between the UK and the EU over the summer; dismisses the notion of a Canada-style deal, saying this would still involve tariffs and quotas; accuses the UK government of reneging on what it committed to in the withdrawal deal and says the UK's approach to Brexit is driven by "pride, emotion and nationalism". The Government here will now have to set aside at least 1 billion in next month's Budget for new no-trade deal preparations. Should she ultimately be appointed, Ms McGuinness has the credentials to articulate well the position of Ireland at Commission level. This could prove to be valuable in the difficult months ahead. The last and current Government, with officials, have also done a creditable job in making known the unique circumstances of the Irish case. While it is unfortunate that Phil Hogan no longer commands such a central role, there remain experienced Irish politicians and officials within the process. Europe and Ireland remain on the same side and have shared interests. While there are some indications that the new Government here is beginning to show a united and coherent approach, it is vitally important that the Government co-ordinate its effort on Brexit and leave no scope for mixed messaging. The role of backbench TDs in the three Government parties, and in Opposition, will also be vital in the months ahead in relation to Brexit. The national interest remains in peril. Taken with the ongoing coronavirus emergency, it is no exaggeration to say that Ireland is facing into an intense period which will have long-term consequences for the future of the country. In relation to Brexit, now is the time for a national shoulder to be put to the wheel. Meeting comes after Augusts agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise diplomatic relations. Leaders of Lebanons Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian Hamas group met to discuss diplomatic normalisation between Israel and Arab countries, the movement said. On Sunday, Hamas chief Ismail Haniya was given a heros welcome at Ain al-Helweh, Lebanons largest Palestinian refugee camp. Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television reported earlier that Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Iran-backed Shia Hezbollah movement, and Haniya stressed the stability of the axis of resistance against Israel. They discussed political and military developments in Palestine, Lebanon and the region and the dangers to the Palestinian cause, including Arab plans for normalisation with Israel, Al-Manar said. The meeting comes after an August 13 announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to normalise ties. While the United States-backed diplomatic drive aims to boost a regional alliance against Iran, Palestinians have condemned it as a stab in the back as they remain under occupation and do not have their own state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is in talks with other Arab and Muslim leaders now about normalising relations, following the deals with the UAE and, decades ago, Egypt and Jordan. First visit in 30 years Haniya arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday, on his first visit to the country in nearly 30 years, for direct and video-conference talks with other Palestinian groups that oppose Israels diplomatic initiative. Haniya, who heads the political bureau of Hamas, the movement that controls the Gaza Strip, arrived in Ain al-Helweh under the protection of Hamas members and camp guards. Before a cheering crowd of hundreds in Ain al-Helweh, near the southern coastal city of Sidon, including refugees who travelled to see him from other camps, Haniya praised his movements military capacity and shrugged off the UAE-Israel normalisation deal. Not long ago, our rockets only reached [targets] metres from Gazas borders. Today, the resistance in Gaza possesses rockets that can reach Tel Aviv and beyond Tel Aviv, he said. As for normalisation between Israel and Arab countries, that does not represent the people, neither their conscience, nor their history nor their heritage, Haniya said, quoted in a Hamas statement. Israels military has in recent weeks targeted Hamas in the Gaza Strip and what it says have been Hezbollah gunmen along its northern border with Lebanon. It also regularly launches air attacks in war-torn Syria against what it says are Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian fighters fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assads regime. Nasrallah has been living in secret locations since Hezbollahs devastating 2006 war with Israel and only makes rare public appearances. He said in 2014 that he often changes his place of residence. Through much of his career, Fillmore referred to slavery as an evil practice, but his actions as president contradicted that view. He served as Zachary Taylors vice president until Taylors death in July 1850. Tensions between slave states and free states were roiling the nation, and members of Congress hammered out a package of five bills that became known as the Compromise of 1850. One was the Fugitive Slave Act, which amended a law from 1793 that authorized local governments and federal agents to capture and return runaway slaves found anywhere in United States territory to their owners. The 1850 law increased the penalties for anyone harboring escaped slaves or failing to help return them. India has recorded over 1,000 deaths a day due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for four days in a row, with the countrys toll crossing the 70,000 mark (70,626 to be exact) as of Saturday. With the increase in testing to over a million tests conducted every day across the country, the number of cases is also on the rise. Over 80,000 new cases have been reported each day for the last five days. At the same time, the number of recoveries a day has crossed the 70,000-mark. Also Read: Covid-19 updates: Indias daily tally crosses record 90,000, toll at 70,626 Responsive, collaborative and effective measures right from early identification through aggressive testing to efficient tracking and comprehensive Treatment have collectively led to these encouraging outcomes, the Union health ministry said. The health ministry has been engaging with the states and Union Territories reporting a surge in Covid-19 cases, have a higher case load or are reporting a higher mortality. The Centre has asked Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka to focus on aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission and bring down the mortality. The three states account for 46% of the total active cases in the country in the last 24 hours, with Maharashtra alone accounting for 22% of the active cases. Also Read: No Qawwali nights or sitting in the courtyard as Delhis Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah reopens amid Covid-19 These states together account for 52% of all the deaths reported in the country over the last 24 hours, with Maharashtra accounting for 35% of the deaths. The states have been advised to proactively ensure higher testing, effective clinical management to lower fatality and save lives along with efficient monitoring at various levels. The districts of concern in Maharashtra are Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Raigad, Jalgaon, Solapur, Satara and Palghar. In Andhra Pradesh, Prakasam and Chittoor have been highlighted as districts of concern with the Union government asking the state to monitor facility-wise deaths every day, strengthen hospital facilities, increase the number of ICUs and oxygen beds, and efficient clinical management. In Karnataka, the districts of Koppal, Mysuru, Davangere and Bellari are advised to optimally utilise RT-PCR testing facilities, to strengthen their door to door active case search and to protect their healthcare workers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anonna Dutt Anonna Dutt is a health reporter at Hindustan Times. She reports on Delhi governments health policies, hospitals in Delhi, and health-related feature stories. ...view detail European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier with his UK counterpart David Frost. Photo: Olivier Hoslet/POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on Monday called for targeted financial support from the UK government to aid firms with their Brexit planning. Noting that small businesses have been flat out dealing with coronavirus-related disruption over the past six months, the FSB said the introduction of so-called transition vouchers would allow firms to spend money on Brexit-related expertise, technology, and training. The transition period will soon be at an end but the small firms that make up 99% of our business community still have no clear sense of what theyll be transitioning to, said FSB national chairman Mike Cherry. The call comes after officials on both sides of Brexit negotiations warned of the growing likelihood that the UK will crash out of the EU without a trade deal. READ MORE: Virgin Atlantic to axe a further 1,150 jobs in restructuring Despite several rounds of intensified Brexit negotiations in both London and Brussels, scant progress has been made. We have no certainty that well reach a deal. I hope it will be possible but not at all cost, European Council president Charles Michel said last week. Sooner or later, the UK should clarify what they want. Its not possible to leave the European club and at the same time keep all the benefits, he said. Though the UK officially left the EU on 31 March, it is currently in a transition phase and subject to the blocs rules. On 31 December, the UK will leave the EUs single market and customs union, introducing a series of hurdles for firms whose businesses rely on access to the bloc. Prior to the striking of a transition agreement, firms had been told to prepare for the possibility of a so-called no-deal Brexit ahead of 31 March. READ MORE: UK services sector sees sharpest increase in activity since 2015 But the FSB warned on Monday that the coronavirus pandemic had put firms in an even worse state of readiness. The economy is in a very different place today compared to the last time we were told to prepare for a no-deal outcome. Small firms dont have the time or money to get across new bureaucracy or stockpile, said Cherry. Calling on negotiators to agree on a business-friendly deal, Cherry said that transition vouchers marked a sensible way forward. If the government wants firms to take preparatory action over the next few months, it needs to help them to do so. Business minds are, understandably, still very much focussed on coronavirus, he said. Many activists arrested after taking action against what they see as failure to accurately report on climate change. Distribution of several British newspapers was disrupted after climate change activists blockaded printworks used by Rupert Murdochs News UK, publisher of The Times and The Sun, drawing condemnation from United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Extinction Rebellion said nearly 80 people blocked roads leading to two printworks, at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, northeast of London, and at Knowsley, near Liverpool on Saturday. Hertfordshire police said they made 42 arrests and Merseyside police made 30. The Murdoch-owned Newsprinters also prints the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph, and the Financial Times. Campaigners said they had taken the action to highlight what they regard as the newspapers failure to accurately report on climate change, as well as their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal and political agendas. But the move was condemned by Johnson. A free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account on issues critical for the future of our country, including the fight against climate change, he said on Twitter. A free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account on issues critical for the future of our country, including the fight against climate change. It is completely unacceptable to seek to limit the publics access to news in this way. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 5, 2020 A Newsprinters spokeswoman said the disruption meant printing had to be transferred to other sites. We apologise sincerely to any readers of The Sun, The Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times who may be unable to buy their usual newspaper this morning due to late deliveries, she said. This attack on all of the free press impacted many workers going about their jobs This is a matter for the Police and the Home Office. The Sun pointed out that Saturdays edition carried a piece from veteran naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough. Extinction Rebellion said on Twitter it was sorry for disruption caused to newspaper retailers but was unrepentant about its targeting of the media outlets. Dear Mr Murdoch, we are absolutely not sorry for continuing to disrupt your agenda this morning, it added. Dear Newsagents, we are sorry for disruption caused to your business this morning. Dear Mr. Murdoch, we are absolutely not sorry for continuing to disrupt your agenda this morning. @rupertmurdoch #FreeTheTruth #ExtinctionRebellion #TellTheTruth pic.twitter.com/KU8msACDCv Extinction Rebellion UK (@XRebellionUK) September 5, 2020 The group, which formed in the UK in 2018 before becoming a global protest movement, said an emergency response and mass move away from polluting industries and behaviours is needed to avert a looming climate cataclysm. It kicked off 10 days of renewed demonstrations across the country on Tuesday. On Saturday, it also protested in central London, including holding a die-in in front of Buckingham Palace, where demonstrators lay underneath white sheets to represent corpses. Testing for coronavirus at airports is not a 'reliable' way of preventing the disease coming into the country, Dominic Raab insisted today. The Foreign Secretary defied mounting calls for a screening system to be introduced to save the travel industry, claiming that backers of the move - now including Labour - had not 'thought it through'. Mr Raab said under 10 per cent of cases would be caught by tests at the border, as people might still be asymptomatic. But he did confirm that ministers are looking at whether a two-test system - with people being checked on arrival and then again perhaps eight days later - could be deployed to halve the two-week quarantine period. Growing number of MPs and business chiefs have warned the government that the self-isolation rules are pushing travel companies and airlines to the brink, crippling trade and tourism, and jeopardising the recovery. Tony Blair and former Cabinet minister David Davis are among those voicing alarm about the 'strangulation of our economy'. Testing for coronavirus at airports (Heathrow pictured) is not a 'reliable' way of preventing the disease coming into the country, Dominic Raab insisted today Mr Raab (left) said under 10 per cent of Covid cases would be caught by tests at the border, as people might still be asymptomatic. Keir Starmer's (right) Labour has backed the introduction of testing at airports Bahrain dropped second Covid test after just 0.2% were positive Bahrain dropped quarantine for arrivals who were tested at airports after discovering only a tiny proportion went on to develop coronavirus. The Gulf state originally introduced a two-test system, with passengers screened on landing and then again after 10 days of self-isolation. The system is similar to that now being considered by ministers in the UK. However, Bahrain abandoned the quarantine requirement after concluding that the risk of people developing the disease later was miniscule. Just 0.2 per cent - one in 500 people - who were negative on arrival tested positive 10 days later, according to the authorities. The second test is still carried out, but there is no need to isolate until that result. Advertisement In interviews this morning, Mr Raab dismissed the intervention from Labour, saying the party had been demanding the introduction of quarantine just weeks ago. 'I don't think they are really thinking this through,' he said. Mr Raab insisted more airport testing was not a 'silver bullet'. 'Let's just be clear about this when we think about airports there is no silver bullet in airports,' he told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show. 'The current data suggests that the success rate of positively identifying people with Covid with a test in the airport is less than 10 per cent.' Challenged that those numbers increase if passengers are tested again later, Mr Raab said: 'The direction of travel will be making sure we have the capacity and the ability for when the time is right to ease up on the self-isolation at home, and that's certainly something that we'll be looking at. 'But we couldn't and I think Labour have got themselves into a terrible muddle on this the idea that one test in an airport could resolve the quarantine issues we couldn't safely do that.' Pressed on the idea of two tests on Sky News, Mr Raab said: 'We can look at that, we keep it constantly under review but that will be subject to the same challenges that you mentioned in relation to quarantine. 'So we can think about the system and we'd like to put in a failsafe system, but until the point at which we can, we're not going to risk reviving or re-infecting the United Kingdom with the virus when we've got to this very important stage with schools going back, with businesses going back, with more jobs being announced... 'We're not going to put that at risk by relaxing quarantine or any other measures which are critical to our ability to control, and keep suppressed, Covid-19.' In a letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel, Labour said the 'dire warnings' from the travel sector about the use of 'chaotic' blanket self-isolation advice meant it was time to review the methods being used to prevent the spread of Covid-19 from those returning to the UK from abroad. Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said a 'robust testing regime in airports' could minimise the need for those returning from countries with high coronavirus prevalence to quarantine for two weeks. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured earlier this week on a visit to HS2 in Solihull is considering changing the UK's quarantine rules after ruling out such a possibility earlier this week Former prime minister Tony Blair, pictured, has urged the current PM Boris Johnson to concentrate on testing and tracing people infected with Covid-19 to mitigate against the impact of the disease on the UK's economy since March He also said 'serious concerns' about the low-level of monitoring of incoming travellers, claiming 'less than a third of passenger locator forms are checked', were another reason why a review was required. Meanwhile, Mr Blair wrote in the Mail on Sunday about the 'current travel nightmare', saying the Government must use 'every innovation and capacity' to ease the problem. He added: 'Every decision taken about the easing is a mix of science and judgment, but when it comes to international travel, we need a much better mixture of the two. 'The insistence on the current quarantine measures is doing huge damage to the British economy quite unnecessarily so.' The UK Government has been making weekly decisions in response to rising coronavirus rates in Europe and beyond, opting to reimpose travel restrictions where the risk of infection is escalating. Holidaymakers in France, Spain and the Netherlands have all been caught out by the changes in recent weeks as ministers have introduced, in some cases with only a few hours' notice, regulations forcing those returning to self-isolate for 14 days. But Mr Thomas-Symonds said the quarantine was having a 'dire' impact on the travel industry. He has called on ministers to carry out a 'rapid review' of the current protocols and consider introducing more testing at airports. Zuckerberg controls three core communications platforms, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, that billions use every day On Thursday, Facebooks chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, announced the companys New Steps to Protect the US Elections. They include blocking new political ads in the week leading up to Election Day and attaching labels to posts containing misinformation, specifically related to the coronavirus and posts from politicians declaring victory before all the results are counted. One can and many will debate just how effective these measures will be at preventing election night chaos during a pandemic. (So far Facebooks misleading post labels are vague to the point of causing additional confusion for voters. Similarly, blocking new political ads one week out from the vote ignores the vast amounts of disinformation Americans are subjected to year after year.) But what seems beyond debate is just how deeply Facebook has woven itself into the fabric of democracy. Reading Zuckerbergs election security blog post reminded me of a line from a seminal 2017 article by journalist Max Read. Three years ago, Read was struck by a similar pledge from Zuckerberg to ensure the integrity of the German elections. The commitment was admirable, he wrote, but also a tacit admission of Facebooks immense power. Its a declaration that Facebook is assuming a level of power at once of the State and beyond it, as a sovereign, self-regulating, suprastate entity within which states themselves operate. That power is consolidated in the decisions of its chief executive, who has voting control over the company. Heres how Facebooks co-founder Chris Hughes described Zuckerbergs iron grip on the company in The Times last year: Marks influence is staggering, far beyond that of anyone else in the private sector or in government. Facebooks board works more like an advisory committee than an overseer, because Mark controls around 60 percent of voting shares. Mark alone can decide how to configure Facebooks algorithms to determine what people see in their News Feeds, what privacy settings they can use and even which messages get delivered. He sets the rules for how to distinguish violent and incendiary speech from the merely offensive, and he can choose to shut down a competitor by acquiring, blocking or copying it. If Hughes description feels hyperbolic, it may be because such a consolidation of power is actually hard to comprehend. I think we underestimate Facebooks power constantly, Siva Vaidhyanathan, a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia, told me. Its really hard for human beings to picture in their head the actual size and influence of the platform. Something like 1 out of 3 people use the thing its like nothing weve encountered in human history. And Im not sure Mark Zuckerberg is even willing to contemplate his influence. Im not sure hed ever sleep if he ever thought about how much power he has. Facebooks power is now self perpetuating. This week provided a great example. On Tuesday, Facebook and other platforms revealed a covert operation run by the Kremlin-backed Internet Research Agency to sow division ahead of the presidential election by setting up a network of fake user accounts and websites. This time, though, the agency hired unwitting American freelance journalists to create the content. Theres a grim circle-of-life quality to this news. Facebooks unprecedented growth and commandeering of the digital advertising market alongside Google and others helped accelerate the collapse of journalisms broken business models. This led to consolidation, publications shuttering and layoffs of journalists everywhere. Facebooks news dominance and mercurial distribution algorithms led to a rise of hyperpartisan pages and websites to fill the gaps and capitalise on the platforms ability to monetize engagement, which in turn led to a glut of viral misinformation and disinformation that Facebook has been unable (or perhaps unwilling) to adequately police. This free-for-all has made Facebook the platform of choice for political manipulation. Those bad actors are now hiring and exploiting the very freelance journalists displaced by the collapse of the media industry that Facebook helped accelerate. Eventually, Facebook takes action to remove the bad actors, assuring the country of its commitment to democracy and cementing its role as a protector of free and fair elections. Facebook wins in every direction. Its size and power creates instability, the answer to which, according to Facebook, is to give the company additional authority. This cycle is unsustainable. This summer has shown that the platform has been a prime vector for the most destabilising forces in American life. It has helped supercharge conspiracies around the dangerous QAnon movement. It has provided organization for, and amplified calls to action from, militia movements, which have been linked to deaths in US. cities at protests. Its moderation policies have failed to catch blatant rule violations around voter disenfranchisement, and the conspiracy theories that go viral on the platform have found their way, time and again, to President Donald Trumps mouth. Facebook employees seem to understand the situation is untenable and are speaking out internally against Zuckerbergs leadership. He seems truly incapable of taking personal responsibility for decisions and actions at Facebook, one Facebook employee told BuzzFeed News last week after a company meeting in response to the violence in Kenosha, Wisconsin. With just two months to go before the election, the nations focus is on the integrity of the electoral process. With the president threatening to undermine the results of the election, the stakes could not be higher. As Zuckerberg wrote Thursday, We all have a responsibility to protect our democracy. But what does it say that one of those institutions charged with protecting democracy is, itself, structured more like a dictatorship? Facebook had grown too big, and its users too complacent, for democracy, Read concluded at the end of his 2017 piece. His words feel prescient today as Facebook, unchecked and unregulated by governments, positions itself as a primary line of defense to protect those institutions. At first, Zuckerbergs recent election pledge might feel comforting (somebody! Doing something!). But his plan is an admission of a great power that should make Americans uncomfortable. In our quest to fend off a would-be strongmans power grab in one realm, we ought not allow a stronger mans power grab in another. Charlie Warzel c.2020 The New York Times Company A Minneapolis memorial to George Floyd, who was killed May 25 in police custody. (Associated Press) President Trump resumed television advertising after the Republican National Convention with two racially charged commercials airing in Minnesota and Wisconsin, battleground states racked by social upheaval after recent violent police encounters with Black men. Trump's ads show how he is trying to replicate his 2016 success in stirring racial resentments of white voters in Upper Midwest regions that have struggled for decades with a painful decline in manufacturing jobs. His Minnesota spot shows people leaping through broken storefront windows with arms full of stolen merchandise and protesters watching a Minneapolis police precinct burn down during unrest that erupted after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed in May by a white officer who knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. Lawless criminals terrorize Minneapolis. Joe Biden takes a knee, a woman says of Trumps Democratic challenger before an image of Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minneapolis wearing a hijab flashes on screen. The weak response from Biden and radicals like Ilhan Omar has led to chaos and violence. The ad Trump is airing in neighboring Wisconsin highlights demonstrators last month in Kenosha hurling debris and fireworks at police in riot gear after an officer in the small city outside Milwaukee shot another Black man, Jacob Blake, seven times in the back in front of his three children. Blake, who was paralyzed from the waist down, remains hospitalized. Trump's false depiction of Biden as a champion of arsonists and vandals who have marred a small portion of the recent nationwide protests against police brutality and racism led the former vice president to respond with his own ad in Minnesota, Wisconsin and other battleground states. "I want to make it absolutely clear: Rioting is not protesting," Biden says in the ad. "Looting is not protesting. It's lawlessness plain and simple, and those who do it should be prosecuted." Story continues Biden also accused Trump of fueling the unrest himself by refusing to discourage armed right-wing vigilantes from joining police confronting Black Lives Matter protesters. "Fires are burning, and we have a president who fans the flames," Biden says in the spot. "He can't stop the violence, because for years he's fomented it." David Paul Kuhn, author of "The Hardhat Riot," a book on white blue-collar voters, said the Biden response was essential to blunting the impact of Trump's racial appeals in the Great Lakes states. I think the Democrats should be concerned if Biden takes his foot off the gas on taking control of the 'law and order' issue and not letting it be Trump's, he said. Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the whitest states in America. Minnesota's population is 79% white; Wisconsin's is 81%. The nation as a whole is 60% white, 19% Latino, 13% Black and 6% Asian American. A Black Lives Matter demonstration June 7 in Pittsburgh. (Associated Press) Trump's new ads have run more than 1,800 times over the last week in Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth in Minnesota and in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Wausau in Wisconsin, according to Advertising Analytics, an ad tracking firm. The wide reach suggests that rural and small-town voters are as much a target as those in the suburbs. Facebook variations of the ads have been viewed overwhelmingly by men, according to the social media company. Trump won rural areas by enormous margins in 2016 and hopes to do so again in part by drawing thousands of votes from people who normally skip presidential elections. It's unclear whether his racial appeals can win back suburban voters, especially women with college degrees, who have been abandoning the Republican Party in droves during Trump's presidency. Marquette Law School polling shows that support among Wisconsin's white voters for Black Lives Matter protests dropped from 59% in June to 45% last month, just before the shooting of Blake in Kenosha. At the same time, white voters' disapproval of Trump's handling of the protests remained high, ticking upward from 55% to 57%. Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster, is skeptical about the effectiveness of Trump's approach, especially with suburban women. They want "calm and order," she said, but see Trump as contributing to chaos. "They feel like we're more divided than ever, and they want us to not be this way," she said. "Conflict is scary. Racial conflict is even scarier." In 2016, Trump's nativist appeals were crucial to his narrow wins in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the states that sealed his electoral college majority even as he finished 2.9 million votes behind Hillary Clinton nationwide. Trump lost Minnesota by just a 1.5% margin. No Republican presidential candidate has won Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972, but Trump has targeted it again. His effort to reap political gain from the racial turmoil over Floyd's killing recalled his attempts in 2016 to tap into white voters' discomfort with the tens of thousands of Somali immigrants in the Minneapolis area. At a Minneapolis rally two days before the 2016 election, Trump lamented "large numbers of Somali refugees coming into your state without your knowledge, without your support or approval, and with some of them then joining ISIS and spreading their extremist views all over our country." He gave no specifics to back up his charges. Trump portrayed himself as a staunch ally of Black Americans at the party convention. But his new ads reflect his opposition to the largely peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrations of millions of Americans denouncing racial bias in the criminal justice system. Trump's racial appeals in battleground states scattered around the country are fraught with risk as he struggles to gain support in the suburbs of cities such as Phoenix; Detroit; Philadelphia; Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta; Houston; and Orlando, Fla. "He's trying to use these incidents of violence to unnerve white voters, particularly in the suburbs," said Lawrence Jacobs, a political scientist at the University of Minnesota. It's not just the sporadic outbreaks of violence at the protests that could work in Trump's favor, he said. Jacobs suggested that some of the rhetoric that Minneapolis liberals have used recently to question white privilege was alienating rural and small-town white voters long beset by economic troubles. "The push for racial justice is certainly speaking eloquently about Black identity, and understandably so," he said. "There's not much appreciation for how it's also triggering white identity, and it's creating a tremendous opportunity for Donald Trump to swoop in." Egypt already sent the first batch to 10 countries Related Egypt sends coronavirus aid to Iraq Egypt sent on Sunday the first batch of medical aid to help African countries as part of its contribution to the coronavirus response fund launched by the African Union, the Egyptian foreign ministry announced on Sunday. According to the foreign ministrys statement, Egypt is going to send $4 million in medical supplies to 30 African countries starting with the first batch of aid sent to 10 countries. Each African country will receive a ton-and-a-half of medical supplies. The foreign ministry said that it organised the aid in coordination with other Egyptian ministries and authorities including the civil aviation ministry and finance ministry. The second batch of aid is being prepared to be sent to 20 countries soon, the statement said. Search Keywords: Short link: The stars were out for the special outdoor series premiere of the new Starz series Power Book II: Ghost, which is a spinoff of the long-running series, Power. And executive producer Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson was on hand to play host of the festivities that was held at a drive-in theater-like setting in the exclusive Hamptons neighborhood in West Mill, New York. With the COVID-19 pandemic still a major health concern, drivers pulled up their cars in front of a large screen for the airing of the very first episode. Scroll down to video Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson hosted a special outdoor series premiere of the new Starz series Power Book II: Ghost in the exclusive Hamptons neighborhood on Saturday Power position: Power Book II: Ghost a spinoff of the long-running series, Power, that featured 50 on screen and as executive producer Joseph Sikora, who starred in the original crime drama series Power for its entire six season run, hosted a pre-show event, with the help of 50 Cent, who got on stage in front of the screen to hype up the showing. He looked dapper and summer ready in a fitted white suit over a white-striped vest and t-shirt. Jeffrey Hirsch, the President and Chief Executive Officer for Starz, also helped rally the guests with a party atmosphere. Stylish: Decked out in a white suit, the legendary rapper, 45, got on stage in front of the screen to hype up the series premiere Power play: President and Chief Executive Officer for Starz Jeffrey Hirsch joined 50 at the Hamptons premiere in Water Mill, New York Safety of his car: Actor John Leguizamo was among the high-profile people to watch the premiere from the Stars are out Post coronavirus world: With the COVID-19 pandemic still a major health concern, drivers pulled up their cars in front of a large screen for the airing of the very first episode The hip-hop superstar-turned entrepreneur, 45, also took to his social media platforms to promote the premiere event and its TV debut on Starz on Sunday. 'POWER premier in the Hamptons now this is a vibe you ain't even gotta get out your car. BOOM #STARZPLAY,' he captioned a snap seemingly taken inside his car as the show was unveiled. He added, 'POWER is back better than ever tomorrow tune in 9pm STARZ,' in a short video clip he shared on Instagram. Some of the high-profile people who made their presence felt included former supermodel Christy Brinkley, actor John Leguizamo, journalist Jill Rappaport, CNN anchor Don Lemon and his husband Tim Malone and Candace Bushnell, the best-selling author and creator of Sex And The City. Sneak peak: Legendary supermodel Christie Brinkley and journalist Jill Rappaport pulled their protective masks off to an impromptu photoshoot Beaming: Brinkley looked lovely and summer ready in a plunging dress and sneakers Family pouting: CNN anchor Don Lemon and his husband Tim Malone couldn't resist showcasing some of their for-legged family members Strike a pose: Famed Sex And The City creator and author Candace Bushnell wore a red and orange tie-dye shirt and white pants for the event The original Power series was a success with critics and viewers following its premiere in 2014, all the way until it wrapped this past February. Power Book II: Ghost picks up the story just days after the Power finale and then follows Tariq (played by Michael Rainey Jr.) navigating his new life as he tries to shed his father's legacy amid the mounting pressure to save his family. Along with Rainey Jr. the sequel also star Naturi Naughton, Mary J. Blige, Method Man, Daniel Bellomy, Gianni Paolo, Justin McManus, LaToya Tonedeo, Lovell Adams-Gray, Melanie Liburd, Paige Hurd, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Shane Johnson and Woody McClain. Power Book II: Ghost is available on Stan in Australia Taste: 50 also took to social media to share some photos from the premiere Pitch man: The Power and Power Book II: Ghost executive producer hyped up the series premiere on Starz that airs on Sunday About 1:45 p.m., police officers were called to the 8000 block of South Green Street, near West 81st Street, on the citys South Side. Three people who had been standing in front of a home were shot when occupants inside a black sedan, possibly a black Chevrolet Impala, opened fire, according to a statement from investigators. The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) today announced an unconventional global initiative, in partnership with leading German associations, to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and the development of renewable energy projects supporting the global green agenda as well as Germanys National Hydrogen Strategy. The Green Chain Initiative aims to develop new, renewable energy value chains by combining a crowd-sourcing platform with blockchain technologies to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development, according to a statement. Inspired by Germany's leadership in driving clean technologies, and its ambitions for a net-zero carbon world, the pioneering Green Chain Initiative was announced by Badr Al-Olama, Head of the GMIS Organising Committee, during the Virtual Edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020). Also present during the announcement were Holger Losch, Deputy Director General and member of the Executive Board of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Dr. Volker Treier, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), and Dr Hiroshi Kuniyoshi, Deputy Director General and Managing Director, External Relations and Policy Research of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Al-Olama said the pause in day-to-day human activities over the past few months highlighted just how big of an impact humanity was having on the planet. During lockdowns imposed by various governments to stall the spread of the pandemic, pollution levels in urbanised areas dropped dramatically, resulting in cleaner air in cities around the world. Taking the events of the past few months into consideration, we wanted to initiate a legacy that can truly make a difference to our world, ensuring green energy to make green products that can be bought using green currencies, Al-Olama said. Hence, I'm proud to formally announce, on behalf of the Organising Committee for #GMIS2020, our new legacy initiative called The Green Chain. The Green Chain Initiative will crowdsource renewable energy projects that will use 4IR technologies to create the outcome of a greener planet for all. This initiative truly converges the interests of governments by providing new sources of green energy, with the interests of industries that will produce green products by decarbonising their manufacturing facilities, with the interests of consumers who are able to opt for green crypto-currencies to purchase these products. What is also unique about this initiative is that it includes all countries of the world, not just those with fossil fuel resources, and not just those with renewable energy. In that sense, what better partner for us to adopt and co-lead this initiative than Germany, a country with a proven track record in launching strategies for carbon neutrality. To define the concept and shape the objectives of the Initiative, GMIS formed a working group, comprised of leading industrial experts representing the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Federation of German Industries (BDI), the Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), the Association of German Engineers (VDMA), the German Electrical, Electronic Manufacturers Association (ZVEI), and the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GHORFA). Innovation to tackle climate change Volker Treier said tackling climate change remains one of the major issues facing humanity. However, he said there needs to be a common understanding at a global level or at least a European understanding, to fully address the challenge. Right now Germany is a good role model, but we need a European approach in order to maintain competitiveness because we are a highly industrialised country, he said. The problem is that policy makers are acting more or less on a national basis, and not on a European or a multilateral fundament. Dr. Hiroshi Kuniyoshi pointed out that the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted that CO2 emissions in 2020 would fall by 8% compared to 2019 levels. Despite the massive slow-down in economic activities, this is still far below what is required to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement. We need to introduce something more, and that is innovation, he said. We need to introduce innovative technologies, including renewable energy and energy conservation technologies. Manufacturing and industry needs to help the whole world by actively working on that direction and we all need to work together to achieve this. Losch said reductions in CO2 over the past few months had come at a very high price in terms of the disruption to peoples livelihoods and that the fallout from the coronavirus will likely continue for years to come. To protect the climate we have to change everything about the way we are doing business, and therefore, we really have to focus on enormously intelligent and efficient ways to tackle this problem. Defossilsing the energy system globally is the main priority, he said, followed by major investments in energy efficiency, and followed by the ability to couple sectors intelligently, highlighting the example of getting the mobility sector to defossilise in combination with the energy sector. All of this is very demanding, but it can be done by technology and by innovation. And this is, of course, a core competence of industry, Losch said. Badr Al Olama, Head of the Organising Committee of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation, added: #GMIS2020 was originally scheduled to be held in Germany alongside Hannover Messe in April before we shifted to our first Virtual Summit in line with COVID19 concerns. I am truly excited to advance our collaboration with Germany and launch the Green Chain Initiative. Together with Germany, we look forward to accelerating the decarbonisation of industry, through the transfer of knowledge and best practices, and addressing the challenges of climate change. The Green Chain Initiative will truly leave a legacy following #GMIS2020. Under the theme Glocalisation: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Global Value Chains, the #GMIS2020 Virtual Summit took place on September 4-5 and gathered a cross-section of close to 100 global leaders from the public and private sector participating across more than 20 virtual sessions. The first day of the Virtual Summit featured a series of keynote opening speeches and German-focused discussion on critical topics including Germanys Marshall Plan with Africa and the Global Hydrogen Economy. There was also a series of working group sessions which involved high-level representatives from industry and world-renowned organisations to discuss the development of a number of new initiatives the Summit plans to launch in the near future. The second day of the Summit featured a series of keynote addresses and panel sessions involving Heads of State, Ministers, and thought-leaders from some of the worlds leading organisations. Discussions focused on the major issues facing the manufacturing sector and will explore how the adoption of 4IR technologies, localising production capabilities and capacity building, and spreading inclusive and sustainable development will all be critical to the future of global value chains.--TradeArabia News Service LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / September 6, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) has launched a new blog post that presents how drivers can obtain the best car insurance policy online. For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/how-to-get-car-insurance-online. Nowadays, more and more people have access to the internet. The digital revolution has opened up an entirely new way of doing business. Drivers are no longer required to work with local car insurance companies. They can shop online at their own convenience. Besides the incredible convenience and choice offered by internet-connected devices, algorithms are also able to process a whole slew of data points at once in order to pinpoint the best car insurance options faster and more accurately than ever before. By using brokerage websites for comparison shopping, drivers can compare quotes instantly, view quote packages ranked from cheapest to most expensive, buy car insurance policy online or over the phone, make apples-to-apples comparisons, obtain real quotes from reputable provides, avoid scams, or sign-up for text alerts. To get an insurance policy online, drivers need to first enter their ZIP code and do the following: Enter info about the vehicle. All comparison sites will ask the drivers about the vehicle make and model, or about features like a GPS system or safety equipment that can affect the price of insurance. Luxury vehicles and cars with expensive safety features or high-end audio cost more to repair and will increase the price of insurance. The likelihood of a vehicle being stolen will also affect the price of insurance. Enter info about how the car is being used. Drivers who use their cars to commute to work will pay more than those drivers who use their cars only on vacation or for pleasure driving. Also, how many miles are driven each year is an important factor that needs to be mentioned. Furthermore, policyholders will be asked if they own the car, they are making payments, or they lease it. Enter info about the driver. In this section, drivers are required to fill in personal information such as name, age, location, gender, marital status, credit score, and education level. With these data, insurance providers can use statistics to predict how likely a driver can crash. For instance, teen drivers generally have higher insurance rates because they're more likely to get in a car accident than almost any other age group. Add information about past or current insurance coverage options. Drivers will have to tell if they are currently insured or not, if their car insurance lapsed, details about past insurance claims, details about their previous insurance company, how long they have been with the previous insurer, or deductible level. Add information about previous car accidents, or tickets. The driving record can make a big difference in the final insurance quote. A history of accidents, speeding tickets, and DUIs can obviously raise the car insurance rates, but drivers can also get higher insurance quotes if they don't have a driving record yet. Story continues The final results include more than just a sample of waiting providers and rates. Drivers can view and purchase coverage from auto insurance companies precisely matched to their insurance profile. For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/. Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Not all insurance companies provide online car insurance quotes. And when they do, they are generally just estimates. However, drivers can buy car insurance online through some insurance comparison websites," said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing Company Person for contact Name: Gurgu C Phone Number: (818) 359-3898 Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/604983/Easy-Steps-for-Getting-Car-Insurance-Online Donald Trump allegedly watched with delight at a Las Vegas strip club during a "golden showers" performance, the presidents former lawyer claims in his new memoir. In excerpts of Michael Cohens Disloyal: A Memoir, obtained by The Washington Post, Cohen calls himself one of Trumps bad guys. In the memoir Cohen, now a convicted felon, described visiting a Las Vegas Club called The Act in 2013, with Mr Trump, Russian oligarch, Aras Agalarov, and his son Emin. Cohen claimed that the group watched a strip show that involved one performer simulating urinating on another performer. Mr Trump reacted to the show with disbelief and delight, Cohen claims. The Act, which has since shut down amid legal problems, had regular performances showing young women urinating on other people, according to the book. The Agalarovs were also reportedly with Mr Trump on the night of the alleged golden showers incident following the 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. A tape of the golden showers incident fell into the hands of the Russian government, according to the so-called Steele dossier, compiled by British ex-MI6 agent, Christopher Steele. The unverified dossier, which was leaked in January 2017, claimed that the Russians had kompromat, or compromising information, against Mr Trump that could be used as blackmail. It included the alleged video of the golden showers incident, that took place at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow. Mr Trump has long denied the incident took place. Aras Agalarov also denied that the incident took place during a 2019 interview with Russian publication, The Bell. The billionaire businessman said that he was with Mr Trump until 2am, and then again the following morning. When I hear all these silly things about recordings, prostitutes, I fail to understand how a man aged almost 70 could do it all, Mr Agalarov said. He spent all first day with us, then allegedly invited prostitutes in his room, then early next morning he went to see businessmen, then sat with us till 2am, attended the competition and then flew out next day. It is some mad man's delirium to say this, he added. Cohens book also describes the president as a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man. The disgraced attorney pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and other crimes while working for Mr Trump. He was released from prison to serve out the rest of his sentence from his New York City home due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the book, Cohen said he was the star witness in a hush-money scheme and the president was just as guilty. The former fixer said his book was a fundamental piece of evidence to Mr Trumps guilt. You now have all the information you need to decide for yourself in November, Cohen concluded in the 432-page tell-all. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement: "Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and its unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies. The Associated Press contributed to this report New York: New York's Attorney-General has announced she would set up a grand jury to consider evidence in the death of a black man in Rochester, New York, who suffocated after he had been placed in a hood by police officers and pinned to the ground. The unusual weekend announcement by the Attorney-General, Letitia James, signalled a significant ramping up of the response to the March 23 arrest of Daniel Prude, 41, after months of official silence. Prude's family in recent days has accused local and state officials of covering up his death to protect the police officers involved. New York Attorney-General Letitia James. Credit:AP Prude went into cardiac arrest during a struggle with officers and died a week later. The county medical examiner labelled his death a homicide caused by complications of asphyxiation in a prone position. But for months, the police in Rochester treated the case as a drug overdose after PCP, or angel dust, was found in his bloodstream. "The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish," James said in a statement Saturday. "My office will immediately move to empower a grand jury as part of our exhaustive investigation into this matter." Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The DGCA also said that if airlines are not able to refund the amount, they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected New Delhi: Full refund shall be provided by airlines immediately for tickets booked during the COVID-19 lockdow for domestic or international travel within the lockdown period, civil aviation regulator DGCA has proposed in the Supreme Court. For all other cases, the airlines shall make all endeavors to refund the collected amount to the passenger within 15 days, the Director General of Civil Aviation said in an affidavit filed in the top court. If the tickets have been booked during the first lockdown period, that is 25 March, to 14 April, 2020 for the journeys to be undertaken in both first and second lockdown period that is from 25 March to 3 May, 2020, in all such cases, full refund shall be given by the airlines immediately (this is being mandated vide MoCAs OM dated 16 April, 2020 as the airlines were not supposed to book such tickets), it said. The DGCA said that after various rounds of deliberations between the stakeholders including the airlines, they have arrived at a proposed workable solution keeping in view the interests of both passengers as well as companies. On 12 June, the top court, while hearing a PIL filed by NGO ''Pravasi Legal Cell'', had asked the Centre, the DGCA and the airlines to discuss and work out modalities for full refund of tickets for domestic and international flights which were cancelled following the COVID-19 lockdown. The aviation regulator in its affidavit said that if airlines are not able to refund the amount on account of financial distress, they shall provide a credit shell equal to the amount of fare collected and this shall be issued in the name of the passenger who has booked the ticket for domestic travel directly or through an agent including online platforms. It said the passenger shall be able to consume the credit shell up to 31 March, 2021 on any route of his choice and If the passenger wants to buy a ticket of value more than the credit shell, then he can use cash to top it up. If he wants to buy a ticket of value less than the credit shell, he/she can do so and the balance amount of credit shell shall be available to him/her, it said, adding, there shall be an incentive mechanism to compensate the passenger if there is a delay in consuming the credit shell. It said, From the date of cancellation of ticket up to June 30, 2020 the value of credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.5 per cent of the face value (the amount of fare collected) for every month or part thereof between the date of cancellation and June 30, 2020. Thereafter, the value of credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.75 per cent of the face value per month, up to March 2021. The regulator also proposed the credit shall be transferable and to any person, and the airlines shall honour such a transfer. The airlines shall devise a mechanism to facilitate such a transfer, it said, adding that by the end of March, 2021, the Airlines shall refund cash to the holder of the credit shell. The DGCA said that the airlines shall also refund the full amount in case of travellers who have since expired to the account of the passenger or to his representative. Similarly, a proposal was made by the DGCA for refund of tickets for passengers who have booked tickets for international travel through Indian carrier or foreign carrier during the lockdown period. The aviation regulator said the existing legal regime which is governed by Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) recognises the rights of air passengers to seek refund of their air tickets. It further said that during the lockdown travel restrictions, some passengers reported that airlines have booked tickets during lockdown and are not refunding the fares. It is submitted that to address this peculiar situation, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) issued an Order dated April 16, 2020 providing for refund of fares of those tickets which were booked during the lockdown period, that is from March 25, to April 14, for the journeys to be undertaken in both first and second lockdown that is from March 25 to May 3, 2020, the DGCA said. Referring to the discussions held by representatives of the airline companies, the DGCA said that they have submitted that on account of cancelation of flights/complete suspension of operation due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, the airlines have run out of liquidity or are facing an acute liquidity crisis. The regulator said, considering the concerns highlighted by the airlines, any enforcement action initiated by the DGCA, for violation of provisions of CARs, can result in reduction/suspension of approved schedule of the airline which are already operating to their limited capacity. On June 12, the top court had asked the Centre to take a stand on the issue and work out ways for full refund. The plea by NGO had urged the court to declare the alleged action of airlines of not refunding the entire value of cancelled air tickets as violative of civil aviation requirement issued by the authority. Who really killed George Floyd? By Mark Alexander Based on all the information we now have about the 25 May death of George Floyd, the 46-year-old career criminal and perennial drug offender with a violent history who expired while being arrested by police in the Democrat Party protectorate of Minneapolis, allow me to ask a question... All the forgone conclusions notwithstanding, who actually killed George Floyd? Hint: It was not Donald Trump. (I know, you're shocked.) Spoiler alert: It was the same enemies of the state who have emboldened all of the violence and murder in the wake of Floyd's death, including their deadly charade to blame and defund police and they have done so in the midst of a devastating pandemic. "Who," you ask? (That was rhetorical.) The question begs an answer, given that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have refused to directly condemn by name their Marxist "Black Lives Matter" and "antifa" constituents, who are responsible for the unmitigated violence in Demo-controlled urban centers. Their deafening silence for the last three months certainly confirms the Left's "Silence Is Violence" mantra. While Biden and Harris have been forced by political polls to feign objection to the urban mayhem, they are now attempting to blame Trump for "fanning the flames." That is, in fact, precisely what Democrats and their Leftmedia propagandists have done for the last three months. To that end, Joe Biden read a few lines from a teleprompter this week. "Does anyone believe there will be less violence in America if Donald Trump is reelected?" he asked. (Translation: If you don't elect me, my constituents will burn this country down.) He followed up with, "Ask yourself: Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really?" (No, but that's exactly what his puppeteers look like.) So, who killed George Floyd? To answer that question, you have to first ask, what killed Floyd? Before we had public sources for details on Floyd's autopsy, a career federal law enforcement colleague provided this assessment: Given the fentanyl and meth in his system, combined with the COVID-related illness he had for almost two months prior to his death, Floyd died of a heart attack. It is certainly arguable that the stress and circumstances of his ninth felony arrest provoked his heart attack. Indeed, I have argued that the actions of Officer Derek Chauvin were negligent contributing factors. My colleague added, after reviewing the police body-cam videos and transcripts of those videos, that there was plenty of evidence Floyd was delusional consistent with the fentanyl and meth mix: "Floyd claimed his mother had just died but she died two years earlier. He resisted getting into the patrol vehicle claiming he was 'claustrophobic,' but had just been taken out of his own vehicle where he was not claustrophobic. He said he could not breathe and asked to be put on the ground before officers put him on the ground. Police hear these complaints all the time when arresting resistant suspects." Supporting this early assessment regarding causal factors in Floyd's death, in late August, according to documents citing Dr. Andrew Baker, the Hennepin County (Minneapolis) Medical Examiner who performed Floyd's autopsy, his blood contained a "fatal level of fentanyl," though Baker said he could not declare drugs the "cause of death." He also had a less-than-lethal dose of methamphetamine in his system, which, in combination with the fentanyl, can result in respiratory distress and death. Of equal importance, Baker further determined that there was "no physical evidence suggesting that Mr. Floyd died of asphyxiation" and no "signs of petechiae, damage to his airways or thyroid, brain bleeding, bone injuries, or internal bruising." He noted that the fentanyl overdose "can cause pulmonary edema," a fluid buildup in the lungs making it difficult to breathe, which is to say the "I Can't Breathe" mantra had little or nothing to do with being held on the ground. In other words, prosecutors who have charged Chauvin with Floyd's murder have evidence that there were other significant contributing factors, and it will be a legal bridge too far to convict Chauvin for murder as a result of keeping Floyd on the ground with his knee. Moreover, prosecutors were aware of these contributing factors within five days of Floyd's death, but did not release that information until three months after riotous fires swept through major cities nationwide, leaving violence, death, and destruction in their wake. So, we know the primary factors contributing to Floyd's expiration, but I ask again, who killed him? Well, however unfortunate, it is fair to say that Floyd made a series of very poor choices that day (and arguably in the 20 years prior to that day), including resisting arrest, and died as a result very much like the more recent Kenosha, Wisconsin, case. But that answer is too simple. I would suggest, as noted above, that Floyd's death is in no small measure on the hands of those Democrats who have emboldened all of the violence in the wake of his death. In Minneapolis, that would include the mayor, all but one (Green Party) member of the city council, the police chief, the county prosecutor, and the U.S. House district representative (radical leftist Ilhan Abdullahi Omar), all of whom are socialist Democrats. At the state level, that would include the governor, the state attorney general (radical leftist Keith Ellison), and both U.S. senators, all of whom are socialist Democrats. But Floyd's death and all the subsequent violence and destruction is also on the hands of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and the rest of their Race-Bait Hate Caucus. They have effectively cheered on the rioters. But now, fearing their 2020 prospects are going up in smoke, they are endeavoring to whitewash the death and destruction and blame Trump for "inciting the violence." Biden said last week: "Fires are burning and we have a president who fans the flames, rather than fighting the flames. ... This president long ago forfeited any moral leadership in this country. He can't stop the violence because for years he's fomented it." That constitutes a BIG lie. The fact is, Biden's campaign staffers were funding bail for release of rioters back onto the streets, and Harris was promoting that bail fund. Let's be clear: Trump did not create the hate; he exposed it. Moreover, the Demo-induced riots are NOT the problem. They are a symptom and a manifestation of an underlying metastatic cultural disease. Democrats have cultivated an "entitled victim" underclass, the direct result of their socialist policies, and those ensnared and enslaved by the resulting institutional poverty are now a key political constituency (read: dependency) upon which the Democrats' statist power relies. Democrats were, are, and will continue to be the party of black oppression. Arguably, the Democrat Party is now, simultaneously, the author and beneficiary of generations of Americans who are subjugated by their institutionalized "systemic racism" and poverty, which they have created over the last century. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Islam was going through its golden era of philosophical exploration and scientific discoveries. In front of it were two roads. One of enlightenment, modernity, innovation and peaceful co-existence. The other of orthodoxy, insularity and violent impulses. The year 1095 was perhaps the most important one in the life of Islam since 610, the year Prophet Muhammad is believed to have had his first revelation. Islam was going through its golden era of philosophical exploration and scientific discoveries. In front of it were two roads. One of enlightenment, modernity, innovation and peaceful co-existence. The other of orthodoxy, insularity and violent impulses. It chose the path of darkness and could never recover. It was in 1095 that Abu Hamid Al Ghazali an otherwise outstanding thinker, jurist and mystic published his book Tahafut al-Falasifa and launched a visceral attack on philosophy and openness of learning. He played on the faiths worst instincts to discredit falsafa, attack the stellar work of scholars such as Al Farabi and Ibn Sina, and declare them kafir or infidel. Even while the world rediscovered the wisdom of the Greeks, Romans and even ancient Indians through the work of the likes of Ibn Rushd, Ghazali had dimmed out that light from the Islamic world for centuries to come. In 2020, the Islamic world has once again reached a forked road in history. The United Arab Emirates has taken a revolutionary step to embrace Israel, the only non-Muslim nation in the middle of the Arab world. Last week, the momentous first flight between the two countries landed in Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia, which was cosying up to Israel in the last couple of years and even secretly allying on strategic and military issues, gave permission for the flight. Bahrain followed with an overflight clearance. Israeli and Omani foreign ministers have already spoken on the phone, and Oman could be the next Arab nation to normalise relations with the Jewish state. Sudan ended 30 years of Islamic law by separating the state from religion. Coincidentally or not, it is one of the countries actively considering normalising relations with Israel. Years of siding with Palestine and holding Israel as the pariah is slowly, unexpectedly ending. Hostilities unleashed by the Muslim world again Israel to deny its right to exist has made the Middle East the most disturbed and violent place in the world, obviated the scope of solving things bilaterally, egged on the entire Ummah to wallow in victimhood over a local problem, and motivated scores of Islamist terrorist groups worldwide to butcher the innocent in the name of avenging Palestine. The fact that tiny Israel has been the target of a cabal of over a dozen powerful nations and a victim of relentless waves of terror attacks has constantly been underplayed. While the new geopolitical changes in the Middle East has wide-ranging positive implications in the Islamic world and the promise of openness last held out in the time of Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sina and Al Farabi, there is a troubled road lurking alongside in the form of Turkey. Tayyip Erdogan could do what Al Ghazali did in 1095: lead Islam down the dark road. He has meticulously dismantled Mustafa Kemal Ataturks secular legacy and dreams of being the modern-day Caliph of the Muslim world. It is easier dreamt than done, with more than half the Arab world having a very different plan. But Erdogan has managed to pull in a few wretches like Pakistan to do his bidding and try to form a block. The examples he sets to the Islamic world is grabbing the Hagia Sophia church and converting it into a mosque, running a hub at home to revive the failed Kashmir separatism and hosting troublesome elements, bombing Tazidis and Kurds already tormented by ISIS, and following a brutally regressive track on freedom of speech. The Islamic world is at a very crucial juncture again. Whether it takes the road to Ankara or Dubai will decide whether it loses another shining opportunity to lift itself from the morass of bigotry and orthodoxy. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is privately encouraging voting by mail and warned President Trump the party could be "screwed" by his fight against mail-in voting. The big picture: "We could lose based on that," McCarthy (R-Calif.) told me at a diner in Salt Lake City last week, during a campaign swing that began in the Pacific Northwest. McCarthy said the party can't afford for Republicans to sit home, afraid of getting COVID-19, while Democrats flood the field with mail-in ballots. McCarthy is particularly worried about deterring senior citizens. McCarthy said he's spent hours telling Trump that this preoccupation will hurt the president's own re-election, as well as Republicans running for Congress. "I tried to show him ... you know who is most afraid of COVID? Seniors. And if they're not going to go vote, period, we're screwed," McCarthy told me. The other side: Trump trashes mail voting in part because he sees the messaging as good cover if he loses to Joe Biden in November, sources close to the presidents re-election campaign tell Axios. Last week, Trump even encouraged supporters in North Carolina to violate the law and vote twice through the mail and in-person to test the process. The backdrop: I traveled with McCarthy last week as he campaigned and raised money for candidates in Oregon and Utah. At every stop, he told Republicans to vote by any means necessary. He told donors in both states the story of Republican Mike Garcias knockout win in May's special election for California's 25th district, the seat that former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill carried by 9 points in 2018. It was a seat everyone thought was unwinnable, but we won it, McCarthy told donors at a winery in Oregon. McCarthy attributed the win in part to the twist in which California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, mandated late that all ballots be cast by mail to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, avoiding the obstacles of same-day voter registration. Between the lines: McCarthy says he agrees with Trump that there's a difference between absentee voting, in which voters request a ballot, and vote-by-mail programs, where jurisdictions automatically send ballots to registered voters. McCarthy sees vote by mail as particularly problematic in states that don't have the infrastructure to handle such ballots on a massive scale. But he said most Americans don't get the distinction. Reality check: There's no evidence that voting by mail is plagued by fraud. Trump himself voted by mail in Florida last month. We already knew that Postmaster General Louis DeJoys profile in Republican circles grew on the back of big campaign donations. The North Carolina businessman who became the first postmaster general in almost two decades to get the job without being a career postal employee, built a reputation as a superstar Republican bundler, which came with numerous benefits, including presidential and gubernatorial appointments for his wife. But it turns out at least part of that success in fundraising had to do with pressuring employees to donate to GOP candidates and then reimbursing them through bonuses, reports the Washington Post. Advertisement At least five former employees who worked for DeJoys former business, New Breed Logistics, said they were not-so-subtly pressured to write checks and attend fundraisers. DeJoy would then personally direct that bonus payments be made to certain staffers that would make up for the cost of their financial political contributions. He asked employees for money. We gave him the money, and then he reciprocated by giving us big bonuses, David Young, who as director of human resources had access to payroll records from the late 1990s to 2013, said. An unnamed former employee said DeJoy didnt hide his requests: He would ask employees to make contributions at the same time that he would say, Ill get it back to you down the road. The pressure didnt always come directly from DeJoy. His executive assistant regularly called senior staffers to ask whether they would attend fundraisers. Little wonder then that after DeJoy retired, the political contributions by New Breed employees dropped sharply. The Post explains what the numbers show: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Washington Post analysis of federal and state campaign finance records found a pattern of extensive donations by New Breed employees to Republican candidates, with the same amount often given by multiple people on the same day. Between 2000 and 2014, 124 individuals who worked for the company together gave more than $1 million to federal and state GOP candidates. Many had not previously made political donations, and have not made any since leaving the company, public records show. During the same period, nine employees gave a combined $700 to Democrats. Although it isnt against the law to encourage donations, reimbursing for those contributions does violate the law. A spokesman for DeJoy said the Trump appointee was not aware that employees had felt pressured to donate. Although he didnt directly respond to questions about whether DeJoy had reimbursed employees, the spokesman said DeJoy believes that he has always followed campaign fundraising laws and regulations. Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie has joined a long list of officials in blasting a recent report in the Atlantic that claimed Trump has repeatedly made disparaging remarks about the US war dead, calling them suckers and losers. The rebuttals come as the articles author, and the Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, has defended his decision to keep his sources anonymous and says he expects 'more information' to come out in the coming days to corroborate his story about Trumps remarks. These are not people who are anonymous to me, Goldberg told CNN. We all have to use anonymous sources especially in a climate in which the president of the United States tries to actively intimidate journalism organizations and people who provide information to journalism organizations. Wilkie discredited the claims to CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, saying the president described in the report by anonymous sources does not reflect the Donald Trump he knows. I would be offended, too, if I thought it was true, Wilkie said. I am very proud that this president has led to a renaissance in veterans affairs.' The report, published by the Atlantic Thursday, and credits four separate military sources, claims that Trump cancelled a visit to Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in November 2018 because he was worried his hair would be disheveled by the rain. In a conversation with senior staff before the planned visit, Trump reportedly asked aides: 'Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers.' During the same trip, the president allegedly later referred to the more than 1,800 Marines who lost their lives in the Battle of Belleau Wood in France as 'suckers' for getting killed. Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie (right) has joined a long list of officials in blasting a recent report in the Atlantic that claimed Trump has repeatedly made disparaging remarks about the US war dead, calling them suckers and losers' Wilkie discredited the claims to CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, saying the president described in the report by anonymous sources does not reflect the Donald Trump he knows Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie says he does not believe Pres. Trump made disparaging remarks about US service members and veterans, and has never heard the President make such remarks. "I would be offended too, if I thought it was true," he told CNN's Dana Bash. pic.twitter.com/SXy6Kts1zj State of the Union (@CNNSotu) September 6, 2020 Goldberg told CNN's Reliable Sources on Sunday that he expects more confirmation and new pieces of information to come out in the coming days and weeks that will corroborate about the alleged incendiary comments. Goldberg said his decision to publish the article was made confidently, because of the number of sources he had, and their close ties to the president. The formula is simple, he continued. What you do is you have to say, does the public's right to know or need to know a particular piece of information outweigh the morally complicated and ambiguous qualities of anonymous sourcing. Most of us, most of the time, don't rely on anonymous sourcing for most things because there are difficulties there. But in this climate, with information that we judge the voters to need, we are going to use anonymous sources because we think the public has a right to know. Especially when you have four or five or six sources, primary sources, corroborating sources, telling you the same thing. A senior Defense Department official with firsthand knowledge of events and a senior U.S. Marine Corps officer who was told about Trumps comments confirmed some of the remarks to The Associated Press, including the 2018 cemetery comments. Trump, however, emphatically denied the report Thursday night, calling it 'a disgraceful situation' by a 'terrible magazine.' 'It's a total lie. It's fake news. It's a disgrace, and frankly it's a disgrace to your profession,' Trump said, adding the trip was cancelled because of adverse weather conditions making it dangerous to travel by helicopter. The rebuttals come as the articles author, and the Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, has defended his decision to keep his sources anonymous and says he expects more information to come out in the coming days to corroborate his story about Trumps remarks Wilkie backed-up the president's protests Sunday, saying he doesnt believe Trump would make such remarks, based on what hes seen for himself. So what I'm looking at is the Donald Trump that I know; the Donald Trump that has turned around Veterans Affairs from a place that in the Obama administration was 16 out of 17 in terms of best places to work, he said. We're now up to six. He added that the Obama administration had a 37 percent approval rating among veterans in 2014 and 2015, compared to 90 percent for President Trump. Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney also leapt to the presidents defense Friday, accusing Goldberg of entirely fabricating the report. As you all can probably imagine, I have seen more than my share of outrageous (and false) attacks on the President over the last few years. But this whole injured soldiers thing really, really pushes the envelope, Mulvaney tweeted Friday. Ive never heard the President disparage our war dead or wounded. In fact, the exact opposite is true. I was with him at the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy. As we flew over the beaches by helicopter he was outwardly in awe of the accomplishments of the Allied Forces, and the sacrifices they paid. Johnny DeStefano, the former counselor to the president, also vehemently denied theres any truth to the report, writing in a tweet: I was on this trip. The Atlantic bit is not true. Period. Derek Lyons, staff secretary and counselor to the president, and Dan Walsh, former White House deputy chief of staff, have also both disputed the report. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany revealed Lyons and Walshs admonishment of the claims in a Friday press conference in which she read out statements on their behalf. I was with the president the morning after the scheduled visit. He was extremely disappointed that arrangements could not be made to get him to the site and that the trip had been cancelled, Lyons statement read. In all my time at the White House, I have never heard him utter a disparaging remark of any kind about our troops. In my view, he holds the brave men and women of our armed forces in the highest regard. McEnany then read out Walshs statement, which read: I can attest it to the fact that there was a bad weather called in France and that the helicopters were unable to safely make the flight. Overall, the presidents support and respect for our American troops past and present is unquestionable. Former national security adviser, John Bolton, who was with the president in France at the time and has shared a number of high profile fallouts with him Trump - also went on the record to dispute the Atlantics report. I didnt hear either of those comments or anything even resembling them, Bolton told Fox News. I was there at the point in time that morning when it was decided that he would not go Aisne-Marne cemetery It was entirely a weather-related decision, and I thought the proper thing to do. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018 Former national security adviser, John Bolton, who was with the president in France at the time and has shared a number of high profile fallouts with him Trump - also went on the record to dispute the Atlantics report Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney (left) also leapt to the presidents defense Friday, accusing Goldberg of entirely fabricating the report. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany revealed Derek Lyons and Dan Walshs admonishment of the claims in a Friday press conference in which she read out a statement on their behalf I never heard he made that kind of comment about another countrys forces either, no. Fox correspondent John Roberts, who conducted the Bolton interview, added that he has told him, if [Donald Trump] had said he didnt want to visit Aisne-Marne because the interred heroes were 'losers' and 'suckers,' he would have written an entire chapter about it in his book #TheRoomWhereItHappened. Former White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, meanwhile, has decried the report as total BS. I was actually there and one of the people part of the discussion - this never happened. I have sat in the room when our President called family members after their sons were killed in action and it was heart-wrenching I am disgusted by this false attack. In total, 14 current or former White House staffers have spoken out against the Atlantic's claims. They include Former Deputy White House Press Secretary, Hogan Gidley, who called the report grotesque, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino, and Jordan Karem, Personal Aide to President Trump. This is not even close to being factually accurate, Karem wrote. Plain and simple, it just never happened. Trump was meant to join John Kelly in paying his respects to Kelly's son's grave and comfort the families of other fallen service members in Arlington Cemetery on Memorial Day, 2017 (above). However, Trump reportedly turned to Kelly and said: 'I don't get it. What's in it for them?' The president's alleged comments are in stark contrast to Trump's public persona as a self-proclaimed champion of the military and its veterans. In the article, A source described to have first-hand knowledge of the president's views said Trump 'doesn't see the heroism in fighting'. Other sources said Trump is deeply anxious about dying or being disfigured, and that fear manifests itself as disgust for those who have suffered. The day of the planned visit at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, November 10, 2018, was also the 243rd birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Battle of Belleau Wood, which lasted 20 days in June 1918 and ended with German forces soundly defeated, was a defining moment in World War I for the Marine Corps. But Trump, on the same trip, reportedly asked aides, 'Who were the good guys in this war?' He also said that he didnt understand why the United States would intervene on the side of the Allies, the Atlantic reported. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump said he's be 'willing to swear on anything' that he never said anything derogatory 'about our fallen heroes.' 'There is nobody that respects them more. No animal nobody what animal would say such a thing?' He also wanted to go to the cemetery in France but said he was unable to because of heavy rainfall in Paris, and that the U.S. Secret Service would not allow him to motorcade there. 'The helicopter could not fly. The reason it couldn't fly, because it was raining as hard as I'd ever seen. And on top of that it was very, very foggy,' Trump said on Thursday. He added that staffers tried to arrange a motorcade, but that it would have meant going through busy parts of Paris. 'The Secret Service told me, you can't do it. I said I have to do it. They said you can't do it,' Trump said. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, also decried the report, saying 'Its sad the depths that people will go to during a lead-up to a presidential campaign to try to smear somebody.' In a conversation with then-Chief of Staff John Kelly (seen above), Trump reportedly complained bitterly that he didn't understand why John McCain, who was imprisoned and tortured during Vietnam, was so revered In another account, detailed by the Atlantic, the president told senior advisers that he didnt understand why the U.S. government placed such value on finding soldiers missing in action because they had performed poorly and gotten caught and deserved what they got, a source said. The president allegedly said that those who served in the Vietnam War were also 'losers' because they failed to dodge the draft. Trump received a medical deferment from Vietnam over alleged bone spurs. In a conversation with then-Chief of Staff John Kelly, Trump reportedly complained bitterly that he didn't understand why John McCain, who was imprisoned and tortured during Vietnam, was so revered. 'Isnt he kind of a loser?' Trump asked, according to the four sources. Trump has previously derided McCain's legacy as a war hero publicly. On the 2016 presidential campaign trail in Iowa, Trump said: 'He's not a war hero. I like people who weren't captured.' At the same event, Trump said 'I don't like losers' referencing McCain losing the 2008 presidential election to Barack Obama. 'I supported him. He lost. He let us down. But, you know, he lost. So I have never liked him as much after that, because I don't like losers,' he said. The senior Marine Corps officer and the Atlantic, citing sources with firsthand knowledge, further reported that Trump said he didnt want to support the August 2018 funeral of Republican Sen. John McCain. The Atlantic reported that Trump was also angered that flags were flown at half-staff for McCain, saying: 'What the f*** are we doing that for? Guy was a f***ing loser.' Trump acknowledged Thursday he was 'never a fan' of McCain and disagreed with him, but said he still respected him and approved everything to do with his 'first-class triple-A funeral' without hesitation because 'I felt he deserved it.' The magazine said Trump also referred to former President George H.W. Bush as a 'loser' because he was shot down by the Japanese as a Navy pilot in World War II. Trump has previously derided McCain's legacy as a war hero publicly. On the 2016 presidential campaign trail in Iowa, Trump said: 'He's not a war hero. I like people who weren't captured.' The Atlantic also details another exchange between Trump and Kelly on Memorial Day, 2017, at the graveside of Kellys son, Robert, who died at 29 years old in Afghanistan in 2010. Trump was meant to join Kelly in paying his respects to Robert's grave and comfort the families of other fallen service members. However, Trump reportedly turned to Kelly at his son's graveside and said: 'I don't get it. What's in it for them?' The Defense officials also confirmed to The AP that Trump made the remarks. One of Kelly's friends, who is a four-star general, told the Atlantic: '[Trump] cant fathom the idea of doing something for someone other than himself. He just thinks that anyone who does anything when theres no direct personal gain to be had is a sucker. Theres no money in serving the nation. 'Trump cant imagine anyone elses pain. Thats why he would say this to the father of a fallen marine on Memorial Day in the cemetery where hes buried,' the source continued. On Sunday, Trump went after the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs, as she owns a stake in The Atlantic magazine. 'Steve Jobs would not be happy that his wife is wasting money he left her on a failing Radical Left Magazine that is run by a con man (Goldberg) and spews FAKE NEWS & HATE,' Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. 'Call her, write her, let her know how you feel!!!' Laurene Powell Jobs (right) with her late husband Steve Jobs (left), the co-founder of Apple, at the Academy Awards in 2010 President Donald Trump sent an outraged tweet Sunday morning aimed at Laurene Powell Jobs, who owns a stake in The Atlantic, suggesting that her late husband would be disappointed she was 'wasting money he left her' on a 'Radical Left Magazine' Trump had shared a tweet from Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, a youth conservative activist, that claimed Jobs had donated 'at least $500,000 to Joe Biden 's campaign this year.' Recode reported in July that Jobs was among the Silicon Valley mega-donors who were giving the max donation, or close to it, of $620,600 to Biden's campaign. Earlier in the cycle she gave money to some of Biden's competitors, including Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang. A 70 per cent stake of The Atlantic was purchased by Jobs' Emerson Collective in 2017, according to Politico . Biden, meanwhile, said Thursday, 'If the revelations in todays Atlantic article are true, then they are yet another marker of how deeply President Trump and I disagree about the role of the President of the United States.' 'Duty, honor, country those are the values that drive our service members,' he said in a statement Thursday night, adding that if he is elected president, 'I will ensure that our American heroes know that I will have their back and honor their sacrifice always.' Bidens son Beau served in Iraq in 2008-09. At least 4 boats sank, no injuries reported as of late Saturday At least four boats at a pro-Trump boat parade today sank, just like the president's poll numbers. The event was held at Lake Travis, Texas, and there was rough weather on the water. Here's some video from local TV KXON TCSO responded to multiple calls involving boats in distress during the Trump parade on Lake Travis. Several boats did sink. Travis County SO (@TravisCoSheriff) September 5, 2020 "A parade of boats on a Texas lake intended to honor President Donald Trump threatened to turn disastrous when multiple vessels began sinking," reports HuffPo. Rough waters on Lake Travis as hundreds of boats in Trump boat parade. Several swaamped. #Statesman @bobphoto pic.twitter.com/DPpKKhgljF bobphoto (@bobphoto) September 5, 2020 Excerpt from HuffPo: At least four boats sank, according to The New York Times. Firefighters on the scene rescued people from the water, the Lake Travis Fire Fighters Association president told the Times. No injuries were reported as of midafternoon. The sinkings were under investigation, but law enforcement did not suspect foul play, Dark told The Associated Press. Trump supporters on Lake Travis, Texas. What a site to see at least three to four hundred boats. See if it make news today! pic.twitter.com/2K1uJ8Ln3i Linda Hawthorne (@l_hawth67) September 5, 2020 AP spoke to the Travis County sheriff's office in Texas, which said "several" boats sank Saturday while taking part in the boat parade in support of President Donald Trump. "We responded to multiple calls of boats in distress, several of them sank," but there are no reports of fatalities or injuries and investigators have not determined how many boats sank on the lake near Austin, according to sheriff's spokesperson Kristen Dark. "We have no reason to suspect foul play in any of these," sinkings, Dark said. Uh oh. A Trump Boat Parader's boat sunk pic.twitter.com/sz3uEA5Lla Brandon Lee CBS5 & 3TV (@BrandonLeeNews) September 5, 2020 When Fox News covered the Trump Boats, they didn't even mention the boats sinking, because we live in North Korea now and everything sucks. surprise, not a mention of Trump boats sinking in Texas on Fox News pic.twitter.com/00H8FDAGWw Peter Wade (@brooklynmutt) September 5, 2020 Congratulations to the brave submariners of the Autonomous Antifascist Navy for their magnificent victory at the battle of Lake Travis Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) September 5, 2020 Posed with the problem of visualizing a post-pandemic, post-protest San Francisco for the Throughline, I knew it would be difficult to condense complex issues and stories into the space of a city we all know so well. But having grown up here, I also knew that S.F. is more than streets and buildings and bridges and parks and sigh tech. Its a vibe, one that can be captured plausibly (David Finchers Zodiac or adaptations of Armistead Maupins Tales of the City) or not (the television series Monk). For the Throughlines cover illustrations, I knew we needed an artist who could make a drawing of a place that tells a story even if that drawing is a composite of scenes seen or memories misremembered. The essence is what matters. Enter Chaowat Pong Lertsachanant and VisDev. Lertsachanant, 31, grew up in Bangkok, where he worked as a concept artist for three years before deciding to try his luck internationally, beginning with graduate studies in 2016 at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He studied visual development, which propelled him to stints working for Zynga, Electronic Arts and DreamWorks as what the industry calls VisDev artists who take fictional worlds and actualize them into conceptual artwork that answers how people live in that world. Their work guides the direction of films, video games and commercial products. VisDev artists are really good at mixing things up and then making it seem plausible, Lertsachanant said. For the Throughline, I asked Lertsachanant to encode themes of connection, equality, equity and futurism into environs that Chronicle readers could accept as real depictions of the city. I asked him to be himself and to use his own style. The results have run as our covers for this section over the past eight weeks. Currently awaiting a response to his visa renewal application in his apartment in Japantown, Lertsachanant and I chatted over Zoom recently about his illustrations for the project: a series of eight connecting panels that form a larger panorama of a San Francisco of the future. Pong Lertsachanant / Special to The Chronicle Q: So, we made it. We survived eight issues. Are you relieved? A: Honestly, yes, because it was very challenging. The first day when you contacted me and I heard about the project, even though I said yes, deep inside, I screamed. I didnt have any visuals in my head, and I questioned how to tell the story and connect the eight panels. Would people like it? S.F. people and Bay Area people would be looking at it. This is literally the biggest illustration Ive ever done before. I cried inside sometimes while doing it. Q: How did your background in VisDev influence your work for this project? A: I definitely started with references. Whats it like in the real world? I did a lot of research using Google Street View of references you provided. I saw the flat picture and then walked around to get the actual feeling the vibes of the city. Then, from what I saw, I imagined what it could be in 5-10 years after the pandemic and protests. The futuristic elements were from my imagination or what I saw in movies. Q: What was the story you were trying to create as the panels progressed? A: Overall, I was trying to create a sequence from the overcast day in the first panel, progressing through night and ending on a normal day. Theres a happy ending to the series. The last panel has almost normal lighting, which progresses from the coming of dawn in the two panels prior. When everything ends, weve overcome the virus and have a better understanding of the other conflicts we have to solve. Actually this idea came from your side. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle Q: Shhh, dont tell anyone that! A: Also, secretly, I put my friends in the last panel. I couldnt keep coming up with random people, so I secretly put them in. I wanted to confess! Q: What was tricky about making the illustration? A: In animation, we usually dont have more than three to four things in each shot to depict. But for editorial we had to combine many things into a vertical. Usually I work in a horizontal, like a camera. Now its like, Rotate it by 90 degrees and compose the shot. Whoa! It broke my brain. Q: How did you balance the mix of hope and dread in the illustration? Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. A: It mostly came from my imagination: how I saw it after reading what the stories were about. I think that comes from my personality and how I see the world transferring into what I draw. Good and bad go along together always. It comes from my subconscious. Q: Youre from Thailand, which has been fairly successful in managing the coronavirus. What has it been like to watch the pandemic hit home and the U.S.? A: I had never been proud of Thailand before, but in this case, my country has a really good medical system. My country did way better than I thought. Compared to the U.S., Im also surprised. (The United States is) a first-world country, but some think more about individualism than being responsible to society. Thats the first time Ive thought about the good and bad side of thinking differently and not. Q: Has illustra ting this project changed how you look at the city? A: When I did research of San Francisco, I found more specific parts of San Francisco that had their own charming areas. There are a lot of gimmicks in the city, but all the creators, inventors, developers are coming up with solutions that improve our living quality. San Francisco could be the city that is at the center of technology and be an unimaginable sci-fi thing in 10 years. I see all the potential from the creativity and tech. Q: Lets say your visa is renewed and you end up living here permanently. What do you want to change? A: The topic that touched me the most is the gap between rich and poor here since everything is so expensive. Is it possible there is a solution for people to make their life here it doesnt have to be luxury reach a basic standard of living? If that could happen, there wouldnt be a bunch of homeless or people who struggle just to live here. I dont have any solutions. Im just an artist. Alex K. Fong is designer of the Throughline. Email: alex.fong@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @alexkfong COLUMBIA A Lexington County man is accused of shooting a sheriff's deputy and engaging authorities in an hours-long standoff before his arrest early Sunday morning. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division identified the man as 70-year-old Mark Louis Cote, of Lexington County. Charges were not immediately announced. The incident started around 4:30 p.m. in the Manchester Park subdivision, about 15 miles outside of Columbia, as a domestic dispute, said Capt. Adam Myrick of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. Shortly after a trio of deputies arrived, the man reportedly fired at them, striking an officer in the upper body. The deputy was transported to a local hospital and released later in the evening, Myrick said. The deputy's name was not immediately released, but it was the 30th officer-involved shooting of the year. There were 45 in 2019, SLED said in a release. Myrick said the dispute was between a husband and a wife, and the woman was able to make it to a neighbors home and call 911. Officials closed a nearby road and urged residents to stay inside as the situation unfolded into the early morning hours. People close by reported hearing loud noises and possibly an explosion. Myrick told reporters such sounds are common during large-scale responses as part of law enforcements tactics. SLED agents were among those who responded. The man was arrested around 3:30 a.m. 11 hours after the shot was fired. Authorities said Cote was uninjured but transported to a local hospital for observation. Mank will follow Herman Mankiewicz as he finishes the script of Citizen Kane for director Orson Welles. David Fincher returns to filmmaking since the release of his last directorial Gone Girl with Mank, a biographical drama on Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J Mankiewicz, who wielded immense influence over the Golden Age of Hollywood. Mank is Fincher's new collaboration with Netflix after House of Cards, Mindhunter and the animated anthology Love, Death & Robots. The first look images from the film, written by Jack Fincher, were shared on the 79th anniversary of Citizen Kane's theatrical release, reports IndieWire. Gary Oldman plays Mankiewicz and in the first image he can seen walking away from a set as Amanda Seyfried's Marion Davies looks on. Variety writes the film will follow Mankiewicz as he finishes the script of Citizen Kane for director Orson Welles. Here are the stills The outlet further writes that Fincher shot the film at Kemper Campbell Ranch in Victorville, California, the same location where Mankiewicz worked on the iconic film's screenplay. Known for his drinking habit, his stay at the ranch was helpful in channeling his focus on the screenplay. The cast also includes Lily Collins (as Rita Alexander), Tom Burkes (as Welles), Tuppence Middleton, and Charles Dance. Mankiewicz got his start as a reporter and critic in the early 1920s before being recruited by Paramount to work in the Hollywood studio system. He was involved in a number of iconic features such as The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Pride of the Yankees (1942) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). But it was 1941s Citizen Kane that made him truly famous, in part due to scandal: while he co-wrote the script with Welles, Mankiewicz accused the director of trying to cut him out of the credits, going as far as offering to buy him out. As metro train services will resume from tomorrow (September 7) in a graded manner after nearly six months of the shutdown, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) introduced a new travel protocol for commuters in view of COVID-19. DMRC has advised commuters to account an extra 10 to 15 minutes for their daily commute. All the metro commuters need to be aware of the new travel protocol amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot visited Rajiv Chowk to inspect preparations made to start Metro services from tomorrow. "I appeal to passengers to follow all protocols while travelling. But I would also advise people to not take the metro unless very necessary," he said. Delhi: Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot visits Rajiv Chowk to inspect preparations made to start Metro services from tomorrow. "I appeal to passengers to follow all protocols while travelling. But I would also advise people to not take the metro unless very necessary," he says. pic.twitter.com/25zGXNqiEI ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2020 At metro stations Initially, entry/exit of passengers will be permitted only through one or two identified Gates at each station. List of all such earmarked Gate numbers at each station is available on the Delhi metro website and official social media handles (Twitter & Facebook - @ officialDMRC) of DMRC for public information. Wearing of face mask will be mandatory for all commuters during entry into the stations/trains and during the entire journey. Use of Aarogya Setu App for updating health status by passengers will be advisable. All passengers will be required to undergo thermal screening and hand sanitisation at the entry/frisking point itself. Thermal screening will be done manually by Thermal guns. Passengers having temperature or sign of Covid-19 will not be allowed to travel. They will be directed to report to the nearest medical centre. At the station, passengers will be required to follow social distancing for which stripe markers have been provided at frisking points, customer care, AFC gates etc. Similarly, signages are also placed on the platforms to ensure social distancing by passengers. Only 2-3 persons at a time will be allowed to use Lift depending on the capacity of Lift. Similarly, passengers will be required to stand on alternate steps on escalators to maintain social distancing. Regular announcements will be made inside stations reinforcing the need for following new travel protocol to prevent spread of Covid-19. Dos and Donts guidelines in view of Covid-19 have been prominently displayed at all Metro stations and short audio-visual awareness films will also be run through LED screens available at prominent Metro stations. A team of around 800 officials/staff will be deployed for all stations to ensure the cleanliness and orderliness inside stations during revenue hours. In addition, they will regulate/stop entry of passengers to the station in case of crowd build up and violation of Social Distancing norms. For crowd management, monitoring will also be done through CCTV cameras installed at stations/trains. Divyangjan commuters will be facilitated by trained Customer Facilitation Agents ensuring proper social distancing and sanitization. Inside metro trains Passengers will be permitted to sit on alternate seats only in the train or stand, maintaining adequate social distancing. Do not sit here stickers have been fixed on alternate seats to maintain social distancing inside the train. The stoppage time of trains at each station will be increased by 10 seconds (from earlier 10-15 seconds to 20-25 seconds) so that passengers get sufficient time to board and alight. At interchange stations, the stoppage time of trains will be increased by 20 seconds (from earlier 35-40 seconds to 55-60 seconds). Pre-recorded audio/visual announcements will be made in all the trains regarding social distancing and wearing of mask. Trains will be sanitised at terminal stations. Similarly, once they are back to Depots after the end of the day, they will again be thoroughly sanitised. Train doors will be kept open at terminal stations to let fresh air infuse in the train. Ticketing system Tokens will not be permitted for travelling to prevent transmission of virus through frequent touching/handling. Only Smart Card holders (including QR code users on Airport Express Line) will be allowed to travel, which can be recharged digitally by number of ways easily avoiding human interface. Recharge of Smart Cards at the Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) OR Customer Care centre will be through cashless modes only (debit/credit/Bharat QR code etc). TVMs will not accept cash. New Smarts cards can be purchased at the Customer Care centres or Ticket counters through cashless modes (debit/credit card/Bharat QR code) only. For grievance redressal, passengers will be encouraged to register their feedback through digital means (email, social media, helpline etc.) only. Passenger complaint book at stations will be discontinued for the time being. Others To ensure compliance to new travel protocol at stations/trains, public is advised to take extra time of around 10-15 minutes for their daily commute. Hand sanitizers by passengers will not be permitted beyond 30 ml quantity. Public is advised to keep only pocket size hand sanitizers, if any, with them during the travel. It is also advised to travel with minimum luggage and avoid carrying metallic items. Parking facility will remain operational. Feeder bus services will remain suspended till further notice. Outlets/shops inside Metro stations will be permitted to operate as per prevalent government guidelines and subject to fulfilment of social distancing norms. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The recovery of fracking operations in the US is happening largely thanks to an unusually high inventory of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs), which is strong enough to sustain the current level of fracking without the industry adding more rigs to expand drilling deep into 2021, a Rystad Energy analysis shows. After DUCs run out, however, rig activity in the five key oil regions needs to be in the 280-300 range to maintain flat oil output. Actual rig activity today is almost 50% lower than that requirement, but the industry still has about two to three-quarters of leverage, based on the current DUC count, to achieve a smooth transition from a DUC-driven activity phase to a regular operations mode. The Permian Basin, where the recovery in fracking has been most pronounced, can still accommodate 13 months of activity at last months pace. With a normal DUC-to-fracking ratio of about five months, this implies that Permian operators are carrying an inventory that is equivalent to eight months of fracking at the current pace. Thus, even if drilling operations in the basin stop completely, Permian fracking can be maintained at about 200-250 wells per month through the first half of next year before the inventory size returns to normal. The nationwide DUC inventory reached a peak of about 5,800 wells before starting to decline in July. Drilling activity fell across all major oil basins Permian, Eagle Ford, Bakken, Niobrara and Anadarko in the March to May period. Fracking hit a bottom in May and stayed at that low in June before recovering sharply in July. As the rig count fell steadily through to early July, and with no material efficiency gains realized in the first months of the downturn, total depth count posted a sequential decline in July with just above 200 wells drilled in all oil basins combined. The oil basin inventory increased by about 650 horizontal wells between February and June, subsequently declining by about 140 in July. It is expected that the declining trend will last through the rest of this year, reaching pre-COVID numbers across all regions before the end of the year. Still, given that fracking remains far below the pre-COVID level, the size of the existing inventory is much higher than what should be expected for the current level of activity. Related: What Explains The Sudden Drop In Oil Prices? The inventory-to-fracking-run-rate ratio hovered at about five months through 2018 and 2019, widely considered a normal level based on the cycle time of a typical unconventional drilling and completion operation. In the second quarter, this ratio increased to an unprecedented level of two-three years of fracking at the current pace in all oil basins. Even after the recovery in activity in July, the inventory is equivalent to 13 months of fracking in the Permian Basin and 22 months across the rest of the regions. The oil DUC inventory structure today is very different from how it looked just a year ago. In the Permian Basin, the share of DUCs drilled less than six months ago declined to 55% in July from 72% in the same month a year earlier. The share of DUCs drilled six to 11 months earlier increased to 24% from 9% in the same period. Hence, there are more than 700 Permian DUCs that were drilled in the second half of last year that remains uncompleted as of today an unprecedented number in the basins history. A similar picture is evident in other oil basins where the share of young wells (drilled less than six months ago) declined from 62% to 36% with many wells drilled in the second half of last year remaining uncompleted. Besides the Permian Basin, there is also a material increase in the share of DUCs that were drilled 12-23 months ago, from 3% to 13%. These DUCs, however, faced an unusual challenge of persistent gas infrastructure bottlenecks in the Niobrara region in 2018-2019. Fracking activity for the rest of this year and early 2021 will be supported by the existing, abnormally high level of DUCs, though not all DUCs will be brought online quickly. Large, well-established operators will stay committed to capital discipline, only increasing their completion spend gradually in the current price environment, says Artem Abramov, Rystad Energys Head of Shale Research. But as the DUC inventory gets depleted, we estimate that about 190 rigs will be needed in Permian, out of the nationwide total of about 280-300, to maintain flat production next year compared with its current count of about 125 rigs. As new well performance remains at a record high, maintenance activity requirement will follow the base decline trend. In early 2020, the industry had to put on production more than 850 horizontal wells, across the five major oil regions, to keep production flat. We anticipate that the maintenance activity requirement will fall to 450-500 wells by mid-2021. Meanwhile, a large group of shale-focused E&Ps face financial distress or have already filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A vast majority of these companies will not be able to return to a reasonable capex and activity level before their debt restructuring is finalized, which typically takes about six to 12 months. By Rystad Energy More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Things appear to be getting serious between Kyle Sandilands, 49, and his new girlfriend Tegan Kynaston, 34. The couple, who confirmed their relationship in January, have reportedly moved in together in Sydney. According to The Daily Telegraph, Kyle and Tegan are settling into the KIIS FM host's multimillion-dollar mansion in Woollahra. Getting serious: Kyle Sandilands and his new girlfriend Tegan Kynaston (pictured) have 'moved in to multimillion-dollar Woollahra mansion' The home, which Kyle is renting, is just a 10-minute drive from Sydney's CBD. The property is also located within a short distance from Kyle's radio co-host Jackie O Henderson's $11 million mansion. Kyle began dating personal assistant Tegan, following his split from his long-term girlfriend Imogen Anthony. Moving in: Kyle and Tegan are reportedly settling into the KIIS FM host's multimillion-dollar mansion in Sydney's Woollahra The radio titan announced his shock split from his girlfriend-of-eight-years on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in November last year. He told listeners the couple 'haven't been living with each other' for months and their relationship had simply 'run its course'. 'We haven't been with each other for quite a few months now. Unfortunately it's run its course,' he said. Moving on: Kyle began dating personal assistant, Tegan, following his split from his long-term girlfriend Imogen Anthony (pictured) Tegan is the director of communications for Sandilands' company, King Kyle Pty Ltd, and was previously the radio star's personal assistant. The couple went public with their romance on New Year's Eve, when Tegan shared a picture of herself kissing Kyle on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Two months earlier, she had denied rumours she was dating her employer. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has responded to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rauts abusive comment on her in a video released on social media. She said, You are a public servant and a minister and must be aware that in this country how many women are raped every hour. How they are abused at work, disrespected and how their own husbands beat them up. And you know who is responsible for this? It is this mindset which is responsible for such treatment meted out to women, the same mindset you have presented in front of this country and the society. The women in this country will not forgive you as you have empowered those who victimise females." She added, When Aamir Khan said that he feels unsafe in the country, nobody called him H****khor. I used to heap praise on Mumbai Police but they keep silent on lynching on Hindus in Palghar or when they deny registering an FIR of a helpless father like that of Sushant Singh Rajputs and they do not take my statement then it is my right to express my opinion. If I criticise Mumbai Police or if I criticise you, then you cant say I am insulting Maharashtra. You arent Maharashtra. Your people are threatening me, still Ill come to Mumbai on Sept 9. You and your people are saying that they will break my jaw and kill me. You do it because this country has been built on the blood of those who shed theirs and I will too give my blood to this country." Kangana, in a tweet recently, compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This forced Sanjay to demand an apology from her. Kangana, who is currently in her home state Himachal Pradesh, also reiterated that she will be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and dared anyone to stop her. More than 200 people were airlifted to safety late on Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire trapped them at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir in Californias Sierra National Forest. The fire, which started burning on Friday, cut off the only road out of the popular recreation site, leaving many trapped. Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for rescues that started late Saturday night into the following morning, according to the California Office of Emergency Services. About 20 evacuees had injuries ranging from broken bones to burns. Two people had to be carried on a stretcher, Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue told CNN. "The situation only can be described as just hellish conditions out there for those poor people," Mr Pogue said. Two people reportedly declined evacuation services and decided to stay behind at the reservoir. Footage and pictures have since been released following the harrowing night of rescues. In one picture, shared by the National Guard, it showed about two dozen people packed into a helicopter as they were airlifted away from the forest fire. Video footage captured by Juliana Park showed her escape by car just outside Mammoth Pool Reservoir. In the video, flames surrounded the vehicle while she made her escape. "A backpacking trip cut short by unforeseen thunder, ash rain, and having to drive through literal fire to evacuate #SierraNationalForest in time," she tweeted. "Grateful to the SNF ranger who led us down... wish we ... got her name." The fire, named the Creek Fire, is still burning through Sierra National Forest as of Sunday afternoon and has prompted new evacuations. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office ordered everyone in the Shaver Lake community to evacuate immediately. "There is an imminent threat to life and property due to the fast moving Creek Fire," the office said. The wildfire started on Friday evening and quickly grew in size to engulf 36,000 acres in just one day. As of Sunday morning, it has burned 45,000 acres. What started the fire is still under investigation. Mr Pogue said on Sunday that they believed everyone had been rescued from the Mammoth Pool Reservoir. About 450 firefighters are battling the wildfire with the help of three helicopters and three air tankers, according to the Forest Service. But the current California weather conditions have made battling the blaze a challenge for firefighters. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the area, as temperatures reached up to 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44C). The heat warning will last until Monday night. As of Sunday, 0 per cent of the Creek Fire was contained. By Heekyong Yang SEOUL, Sept 6 (Reuters) - South Korea on Sunday reported the smallest rise in coronavirus infections in three weeks, remaining under 200 for a fourth consecutive day as tighter restrictions cap a second wave. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 167 cases of the new coronavirus for the 24 hours through midnight Saturday, down from 168 the previous day. That brings the country's total infections to 21,177 with 334 COVID-19 deaths. Success in crushing early outbreaks was partially reversed after a wave infections among members of a church spread when they attended a political rally in mid-August. Daily infections have hovered below 200 for four days after peaking at 441 in late August, as tougher social distancing curbs have taken effect. The measures have included unprecedented restrictions on eateries in the Seoul area, where the spread is concentrated, banning onsite dining after 9 p.m. and limiting coffee and bakery franchises to takeout and delivery all day. The government on Friday extended the curbs until Sept. 13, saying more time is needed to induce sharper drops in new infections. South Korea's efforts have been complicated by a strike of 16,000 interns and resident doctors who oppose the government's plans to reform the medical sector to better handle future epidemics. The country's top medical body agreed on Friday with the government to end the walkout, only to face an immediate backlash from trainee doctors who rejected the deal and continued the strike. The trainee physicians are likely to return to work on Monday, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by William Mallard) Mahesh Negi, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker from Uttarakhands Dwarahat constituency accused of rape, has been booked for the offence and criminal intimidation. The case was filed in state capital Dehradun on Saturday night following a sessions courts order. HT has a copy of the first information report (FIR). The woman, 30, has filed a petition at the sessions court in Dehradun. She has demanded a DNA test of the legislator and her daughter, who she said was born of the relationship, to prove her allegations. She has also alleged that the police were not taking action against Negi. Rakesh Gosain, station house officer (SHO), Nehru Colony police station, said, A case of rape and criminal intimidation under sections 376 and 506 of the of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), respectively, has been registered against Negi and his wife Rita late at night on Saturday as per the courts order. The complainant has ben booked for blackmail and a bid to extort 5 crore from Negi on the basis of a complaint lodged by Rita. A probe is underway in this connection. The woman, who accuses Negi of assaulting her over two years, welcomed the court order. I am happy with the court order because no case was registered on the basis of my complaint against Negi and his wife. I have full faith in the judiciary. So far, neither the police and nor the state administration took any action against the MLA and only penalised me, she said. Negi accused the woman of misleading courts by providing fabricated facts. We will move court, if needed...The police are probing the matter and the truth will be unearthed soon, he added. The incident has sparked a political row in Uttarakhand. Opposition Congress is attacking the state government and the ruling BJP by accusing it of not taking any action against Negi. Negi has accused the Congress of hatching a conspiracy against along with the complainant. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kalyan Das Kalyan Das covers crime, transport, human rights and central government offices from Bhopal and Indore. ...view detail The Morrison government will roll out a national threatened species strategy by the end of the year that will include a strong focus on controlling feral predators and weeds. The initiative, announced on Monday to coincide with National Threatened Species Day, comes in the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, which burned vast tracts of threatened species habitat and intensified the impacts of feral cats and foxes as well as invasive plants. Feral cats inhabit 99.8 per cent of the continent. Environment Minister Sussan Ley said native animals and plants were facing enormous challenges. "From the cute and cuddly ones we all know, to others such as the smoky mouse, the green carpenter bee and the matchstick banksia, she said. As COVID-19 hospitalization and infection rates continue to drop in Alabama, some school systems are moving forward - and even speeding up - plans to have students back in school. In the last week, systems in Shelby and Madison County, and the city systems in Tuscaloosa and Hoover, have announced plans to resume five-day-a-week in-person classes. Huntsville said the decision was made after witnessing improvements in the public health situation in North Alabama. The moves come at a time when Alabama is averaging less than 900 new cases a day, seven weeks after the state was averaging more than 1,800 cases a day. Of course, some systems didnt wait to begin with in-person classes, and systems that did wait ending up consulting with them to see what issues to look for. Department of Education Communications Director Michael Sibley said the department is providing information on its website about reopening plans as the department receives them from individual systems, but had no comment on whether systems statewide were switching to in-person classes in larger numbers. In Shelby County, Superintendent Lewis Brooks announced last week that the system would begin transitioning toward on-campus learning by Sept. 14. The decision came because the system had successfully completed two weeks of school in its Cautious Together plan, Brooks said in a letter to parents. School officials had anticipated switching to five-day-a-week attendance after about four weeks, so the move should be fully implemented about a month into the school year. District leaders have been monitoring the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases in our schools and we feel our mitigation efforts have been working, Brooks wrote. Masks will still be required, and remote learning remains an option, with about 25 percent of students taking part so far. Cindy Warner, the system spokeswoman, said students have been attending in-person classes according to a staggered schedule, and only .002 percent of students have tested positive for COVID-19 - thats six out of 20,000, she said. We feel pretty confident that coming back is the right decision, she said. Related: Alabama K-12 schools: one month in, heres whats happening In Hoover, the system plans to transition back to five days of in-person instruction beginning Sept. 21. Hoover has about 4,800 students in full-time virtual learning, and 8,600 in a staggered schedule with two days in-person, three days online. Jason Gaston, spokesman for the system, said it is paying attention to case rates in both Jefferson and Shelby counties, as Hoover is situated in both. Since the beginning of school, he said, less than one-half of 1 percent of students in the system, which includes more than 13,000, have tested positive. Tuscaloosa had originally approved a plan for up to nine weeks in remote learning. Lesley Bruinton, system spokeswoman, said school officials this week are expected to review a plan to begin returning students to classes, after consulting with medical and public health experts. Madison City Schools is relying on a phased-in reopening schedule which will put all students in all grades back in classes by October. The system did not commit to a nine-week virtual schedule, like neighboring Madison County and Huntsville, but had planned to begin virtually and assess the situation around Labor Day, Ed Nichols, Madison City Schools Superintendent, said. Its reentry plan begins on Tuesday. Elementary students, pre-K through fifth grade, will begin half-day rotations. Then on the 14th, elementary students will begin attending every day. Middle school will follow for the next two weeks on a rotating basis, with all students there attending by the 28th. On Sept. 21, high schools will begin, with all students attending in all schools by Oct. 12. We felt that by phasing them back in, our operations team, our cleaning, our maintenance team, could focus on those grades with priority, Nichols said. The time in virtual classes allowed the system to increase its supplies of personal protective equipment, such as desk shields and disposable wipes. And the system consulted with about ten different systems around the state that have already re-entered daily classes, he said, and most issues have been in the upper grades. Weve had fewer problems with the virtual platform with our older students, Nichols said. We felt like phasing in students in that pattern helped us to control the reentry and look at how it relates to transportation and child nutrition and other things. Huntsville City Schools is taking a similar approach - with students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade returning the week of Sept. 14, and high school students coming back the following week. Students who dont feel comfortable coming back immediately can continue to use remote learning through Oct. 23. In Madison County, students have until the end of this week to decide if they want to continue virtual learning. Students will transition in through a staggered schedule the week of Sept. 14, and all students will be on campus the following week. All the systems say they will be keeping an eye on infection rates and hospitalizations in their areas in order to decide if in-person classes need to be switched back to virtual learning. Huntsville said it will continue consulting with local health and city leaders. Gaston said Hoover will also be watching ahead of the Sept. 21 date for resuming. If COVID numbers do change, he said, we will pivot accordingly. Nichols declined to say what kind of conditions might spark switching back to virtual learning. We are still monitoring. If things were to go in the wrong direction, if we had to pull back out, we feel confident that our staff could do that very quickly because theyve had three or four weeks in this platform, he said. Were assessing it daily. A woman was killed when a pickup ran her over as she walked on the side of a road early Saturday morning. According to KSAT-12, the woman was struck around 2:29 a.m. on Spur Valley Street and Haven Valley on the Southwest Side. The stench of oil from the grounded ship was overwhelming and Vikash Tatayah's eyes stung as he mopped up the sludge lapping the unspoiled Mauritian shoreline that he has spent his life protecting. "It was uncomfortable to breathe," Tatayah, director for the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, told AFP of the devastating scene at Ile aux Aigrettes -- a wildlife haven facing a direct hit from the oil spill that has struck the island's southeast. "Your eyes burned up, people were getting dry skin and lips. It was difficult of course because we had the stench of petroleum in the air, but we just got on with it." People on the Indian Ocean archipelago rallied after a huge cargo ship ran aground on July 25 and began leaking fuel into picture-postcard seas, threatening a catastrophe. More than 1,000 tonnes have spewed from the MV Wakashio, befouling coral reefs, lagoons and mangroves that sustain Mauritius' global reputation as an ecotourism hub. "The seafarers' relationship with this coast is so deep that it's a tragedy. I've seen people from every town in Mauritius with tears in their eyes," said David Sauvage, an activist with the Rezistans ek Alternativ environment group. In the days following the spill last week, salvage crews have battled poor weather and dangerous conditions to extract the remaining 4,000 tonnes of fuel from the Japanese-owned ship before it splits in two. Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Thursday announced that all the fuel left in the tanks had been pumped out, although about 100 tonnes more was still elsewhere aboard the vessel. "It was a race against the clock, and I salute the excellent work to prevent another oil spill," said Jugnauth. - 'New Mauritian spirit' - The 13-year-old bulk carrier, which was otherwise empty at the time of the grounding, is 300 metres (984 feet) long -- if placed on its stern, the height of the Eiffel Tower -- with a laden weight of 203,000 tonnes. Story continues Thousands of Mauritians have sprung into action, marshalling along the shoreline day after day to fight the tide threatening their land, their health and their livelihoods. Volunteers have ignored government orders to stay away and dived headfirst into a clean-up drive to save the immaculate coastline. Kilometres (miles) of floating plastic barriers stuffed with straw and fixed with empty bottles have been stitched together into chains and placed at sea in an effort to hold back the oily tide. "We stayed up all night to make this," said Sauvage of the improvised "booms" stitched by hand by volunteers squatted in the sand. Mauritians clad in gumboots and rubber gloves, coated head-to-toe in treacly sludge, have scrubbed the shore, where in the distance the ship tilts perilously on its axis. Human hair has been woven into nets to absorb the oil, with barbers offering free cuts at the shore to those donating their locks. Salons have collected their cuttings while a French NGO has promised to contribute 20 tonnes of hair to the cause. "We are fighting on the beaches, we are fighting with all the resources we have as citizens," local MP Joanna Berenger, who cut her own hair in solidarity, told AFP, adding that one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of hair could absorb eight litres of oil (2.1 US gallons). "Today we are fighting as one people and one nation... We are witnessing the birth of new Mauritian spirit." - 'It was everywhere' - After the spill Tatayah raced to Ile aux Aigrettes, a protected wildlife sanctuary off the coast. His team had little protective gear early on, but could not risk delay. "There was so much of it coming down that it was pointless trying to mop small patches. It was everywhere. We were right in the middle of it," he said. There was a lot at stake. Ile aux Aigrettes is an ecological treasure, boasting ancient plants and endangered species. Conservationists managed to evacuate a number of indigenous birds and plants -- "the rarest of the rare" -- but not all: a dead native green heron was found coated in black tar. "This is 36 years, 40 years of our lives. So were pretty upset about it... We pride ourselves in our work. It becomes part of our DNA," he said. There is anger too and many want to know why more wasn't done to anticipate this disaster. "This government should have asked for help since day one," said Berenger. str-cyb-np/fb/ri Haryana chief ministers office on Sunday said that as per a medical bulletin issued by Medanta hospital, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is being treated for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease, is well rested and his vital parameters are normal. Khattar had tested positive for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) disease on August 24 and was hospitalised. I was tested for Novel Corona Virus today. My test report has returned positive. I appeal to all colleagues and associates who came in my contact over the last week to get themselves tested. I request my close contacts to move into strict quarantine immediately, the chief minister had tweeted. Also read: Congress MP Deepender Hooda tests positive for Covid-19 Meanwhile, Congress MP from Haryana Deepender Singh Hooda tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and requested all those who came in contact with him to get tested as soon as possible. Haryana on Sunday logged 2,277 new Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths, taking the overall tally and death toll to 76,549 and 806 respectively, the states health department said. (With inputs from ANI) Tammy Hembrow appears to have taken a brutal dig at her ex Reece Hawkins on Father's Day. Posting to Instagram on Sunday morning, the single mother-of-two, 26, uploaded a photo of herself posing with daughter Saskia, four, along with a very telling caption. 'Happy Father's Day to all the single mamas and boss b**ches doing it allll', she cryptically wrote next to a trio of love heart-eyed emojis. 'Happy Father's Day to all the single mamas and boss b**ches doing it allll': Tammy Hembrow, 26, (right) appeared to take a savage swipe at her ex Reece Hawkins, 25, on Father's Day Tammy shares custody of their children Saskia and Wolf, five, with their father Reece, 25, who she decided not to mention in her Father's Day tribute. Tammy and Reece split in 2018 after four years together. Not long after the break-up, Reece moved on with his new girlfriend, American model London, 22. On Wednesday, Reece and London announced they were expecting their first child - just weeks after getting engaged. Forgetting someone? Tammy (centre) shares custody of their children Saskia (left) and Wolf, five, (right) with their father Reece, 25, who she decided not to mention in her Father's Day tribute Family: Tammy and Reece split in 2018 after four years together. Pictured together in happier times 'Been busy growing a BABY in my belly with this one': Tammy's ex Reece (left) and his new fiancee London Goheen, 22, (right) announced their pregnancy on Wednesday London made the announcement on Instagram by sharing a sweet image of herself kissing influencer husband-to-be Reece. 'Been busy growing a BABY in my belly with this one wbu?' London captioned the image. Reece also shared similar images of the pair, calling London his 'Baby Momma' and the 'love of my life.' Sharing is caring: American model London, who recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with Reece, also shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram story, explaining that she'll be posting about her pregnancy journey on another platform, before linking to her OnlyFans account Interesting timing: Just hours after Reece and London announced their baby joy on Wednesday, Tammy uploaded a video of herself miming along to the lyrics: 'I hate a b**ch who think a baby finna keep a n**** (I hate you h*e)' 'Baby Momma alert. Having a baby with the love of my life and my best friend,' he wrote. Just hours after the couple announced their baby joy Tammy uploaded a video to Instagram Stories of herself miming to a set of very telling lyrics from the song Pressure In My Palms by Amine. Rolling her eyes and dancing in the front seat of her car, Tammy mouthed the lyrics: 'I hate a b**ch who think a baby finna keep a n**** (I hate you h*e).' Rumours: There have been ongoing rumours of a feud between Tammy (left) and London (right), with the pair taking potshots at one another on social media She continued to pout at the camera while the next set of lyrics played: 'Why every time he see his kids, we gotta see the picture? (I hate you too man).' There have been ongoing rumours of a feud between London and Tammy, with the pair taking potshots at one another on social media. On Wednesday, Texas-born London, who recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with Reece, also shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram story explaining that she'll be posting about her pregnancy journey on another platform, before linking to her OnlyFans account. 'I'm so excited': On Wednesday, Texas-born London, who recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with Reece, also shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram story explaining that she'll be posting about her pregnancy journey on another platform, before linking to her OnlyFans account 'I'm so excited that I can finally share with y'all the news that I'm PREGNANT!!!' London's post began. She said she made the decision to post on OnlyFans because over the years she and Reece have been 'harassed to the point where we've had to seek legal action.' 'We've also been harassed to the point where we've had to seek legal action a few times due to harassment, bullying and stalking over the last year... with that being said I've decided I'm going to share my pregnancy journey on another platform where I feel SAFE and POSITIVE,' she explained. Making a buck: OnlyFans is a subscription-based adult website where content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography. London is charging fans $14.99 a month for content She added that she wants to welcome her child in a 'happy and healthy environment.' 'This is the most magical time in my life and I feel so blessed to be able to share my journey and for the people who support us to be involved in watching our family grow together,' she concluded. London said she'd be posting 'updates, gender reveal and more intimate photos of me and Reece' online. OnlyFans is a subscription-based adult website where content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography. London is charging fans $14.99 a month for content. As Julian Assange makes his way in a prison van this morning, London time, to the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court for his US extradition hearing, he's heading for a date with destiny he long predicted. In Melbourne in 2010, after he had released the infamous US helicopter gunship video, Collateral Murder, which showed innocent civilians, including two Reuters news staff being mown down in a Baghdad square, Assange worried about being snatched off the streets. A frame from the "Collateral Murder" video published by WikiLeaks. Credit:Screengrab Now the United States is trying a less dramatic but equally questionable version of its CIA rendition program. The attempt to extradite Assange is designed to stifle dissent, sending a chill through the ranks of investigative journalists worldwide. If Assange can be prosecuted for exposing evidence of US war crimes, so can any journalist anywhere in the world. It was just such a fear of being extradited to the US that led Assange to successfully seek asylum in London's Ecuador embassy in 2012, where he remained until April last year when police stormed in and arrested him - a particularly zealous act for the relatively minor offence of skipping bail. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, left, and President Moon Jae-in shake hands after signing a Joint Declaration on Special Partnership between the two countries during Moon's state visit to Uzbekistan in April 2019. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan Address of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea Vitaliy Fen to the readers of The Korea Times on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of Uzbekistan's Independence and the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. It is my great pleasure to address dear readers of The Korea Times on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. Over the past three and a half years, under the leadership of the distinguished President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has clearly seen a steady pace of development in all areas. An effective multilateral foreign policy has become an important factor in increasing export potential and expanding economic opportunities of Uzbekistan. Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Vitaliy Fen The ideas and initiatives advanced by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Action Strategy defined for 2017-2021 open up wide opportunities for deepening socio-economic reforms, further strengthening trade, economic and investment ties with other states. As it was emphasized by the Esteemed President Shavkat Mirziyoyev the underlying idea of progressive reforms which are carried out in Uzbekistan is not people to serve the state bodies, but state bodies to serve the people. In fact, this idea is very similar to the Korean main concept, which defines the people as the true head of state. The foundation for the development of bilateral relations between our states was laid on Dec. 30, 1991, when the Republic of Korea was among the first countries to recognize the Independence of Uzbekistan. Diplomatic relations were established on Jan. 29, 1992. Since that moment, an active political dialogue has been conducted between the two states, as evidenced by the 16 high-level meetings held over this 28-year period. Regular dialogue between the leaders of the two countries, which has become one of the distinctive features of Uzbek-Korean relations, plays a key role in the consistent advancement and deepening of bilateral cooperation. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in, made his first state visit to this country in Nov. 22-24, 2017. The historic state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Korea was comprehensively fruitful and identified new prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Special emphasis should be given to the reciprocal visit of President Moon Jae-in to Uzbekistan on April 18-21, 2019, which can rightly be called as historical and unique in spirit. All this is confirmed by signing the Joint Declaration on a special strategic partnership between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea. As a result of the business forum with the participation of the two presidents, investment agreements amounting to $12 billion were signed. In general, the visit was assessed by both sides as a visit at the highest level. During President Moon Jae-in's stay in Uzbekistan on April 20, the opening ceremony of the House of Korean Culture and Art was held with the participation of the two leaders together with their spouses. President Moon Jae-in said that "This center of friendship, peace and harmony will become a common home for the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, Korean expats working here and all Uzbek people. The House will connect our brotherly nations and countries that have a lot in common." Among the main goals of the construction of the House is to create favorable conditions for the preservation of the cultural heritage, traditions and art of the Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, as well as to familiarize representatives of other nations and people of Uzbekistan with them. The colorful concert program held at the Palace of International Forums in Tashkent in honor of the distinguished guest with the participation of domestic artists, members of centers of Korean culture and creative teams from South Korea became another embodiment of friendship and cultural cooperation between our countries. This year, the main event in bilateral relations was the telephone conversation on April 13 between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in. During the telephone talk, the Heads of State in a traditionally friendly and warm atmosphere thoroughly discussed current issues of further strengthening bilateral relations of special strategic partnership and expanding multifaceted cooperation, primarily in the fields of trade and economy, and exchanged views on some problems of the regional and international agenda. Special attention was given to the continuation of interaction and joint efforts in the fight against the spread of coronavirus infection. The leader of Uzbekistan sincerely thanked President Moon Jae-in for the practical assistance provided in countering the pandemic. Since the end of March of this year for about two months in our country, Korean professors epidemiology specialist Choi Jae-wook and anesthesiologist-resuscitator Yoon Seung-zhoo have been actively working and sharing their skills. In accordance with the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan, "On rewarding citizens of foreign states and compatriots living abroad in connection with the 29th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan," Choi Jae-wook was awarded with the Salomatlik Order of the First Degree. The leaders of Uzbekistan and South Korea firmly emphasized their commitment to expand practical cooperation and effective implementation of the best practices of Korean medicine in our country, including in organizing quarantine measures, diagnosing and treating diseases, conducting rehabilitation programs, and improving the qualifications of medical personnel. An agreement was reached on close coordination of actions and operational interaction between the ministries of health and leading medical centers of the two countries. This year, projects for the establishment of a Children's Multidisciplinary Medical Center in Tashkent and the Uzbek-Korean International University in Fergana have been successfully implemented, creating about 1,000 new jobs. The construction of the Innovative Scientific and Production Pharmaceutical Cluster in the Zangiata district of the Tashkent region, which was kicked off by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on April 17 of this year, is under full progress. The project also entails the creation of a Pharmaceutical Technical University, as well as a modern production of medicines. On Sept. 24, 2019, the grand opening ceremony of the Textile Training and Research Technopark took place in Tashkent on the territory of the Tashkent Institute of the Textile and Light Industry. The project is implemented by the Uztekstilprom Association together with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea. Such fields as innovation and ICT, mechanical engineering, chemical, pharmaceutical, light, electrical and jewelry industries, agriculture, education and healthcare were identified as promising spheres. Within the framework of financial and technical assistance programs through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Economic Development Fund, 17 projects worth over $750 million are being implemented, including the construction of a Center for Chemical Technologies, a medical clinic for adults, equipping medical institutions and educational institutions of Uzbekistan. Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov discusses the status quo of bilateral economic cooperation with Korean Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki at the Seoul Government Complex in Seoul, July 6. / Courtesy of Embassy of Uzbekistan As part of the practical implementation of the agreements reached at the highest level during July 6-8 of this year and with the purpose of successful preparation for the upcoming event at the highest level, a delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade H.E. Sardor Umurzakov paid a visit to Seoul and held meetings with government officials and seniors of leading companies of the Republic of Korea. It is noteworthy that the first foreign delegation that the Republic of Korea has received since the start of the coronavirus pandemic was a delegation from the Republic of Uzbekistan. This once again confirms the special level of strategic partnership relations and the desire of the two countries to further strengthen them. During the visit, meetings were held with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy Sung Yun-mo, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Sang-hee, Eximbank Chairman Bang Mun-kyu, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) President Lee Mi-kyung and heads of leading companies in Korea. During the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea Hong Nam-ki, the current economic cooperation between the two countries, including 90 new joint investment projects, were analyzed and further tasks to expand bilateral cooperation were identified. During the dialogue, the special strategic nature of relations between Korea and Uzbekistan was repeatedly emphasized, and it was also noted that the common priority of the parties is the complete, high-quality and timely implementation of the agreements reached during mutual visits at the highest level. Special gratitude was expressed for the decision of the Government of Korea to provide grant support for the implementation of the "COVID-19 Emergency Response Program" in Uzbekistan, amounting to $5 million, which entails the provision of technical assistance in the areas of healthcare and social support of the most vulnerable segments of the population. Uzbekistan's firm intentions were announced to support the New Northern Policy pursued by the President of Korea and provide comprehensive assistance in the implementation of promising projects within the framework of this initiative. On a mutual basis, the initiative was supported to develop, together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Korea, a new three-year program of financial and technical cooperation between Uzbekistan and Korea for 2021-2023 with an increase in its budget to $1 billion. Moreover, Korean side declared its readiness to support the implementation of new projects jointly with Eximbank Korea and the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF) by accelerating the relevant procedures and processes, as well as promoting a number of new projects planned for implementation with the participation of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The tangible support of the Korean side in matters of bilateral cooperation in the framework of accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) was highlighted, in particular, due to the practical assistance of the Chairman of the Working Group on Uzbekistan's WTO Accession Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Korea in Geneva, as well as close cooperation with the Korean Institute for International Economic Policy regarding research on the impact of Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO. It is noted that the entry of Uzbekistan into the Organization and its integration into the multilateral global trading system will open up new opportunities for further increases in the volume of mutual trade. In addition, it was announced that the Government of Korea is ready to fully support the measures taken in Uzbekistan to reduce the negative consequences of the Aral Sea ecological disaster, in connection with which the issue of allocating funding to support the activities of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Human Security in the Aral Sea region will be considered. As a result of the meetings and negotiations, the parties reached an agreement on all issues on the agenda. Interparliamentary cooperation plays an important role, which helps to raise the relations between our countries to an even higher level. The first foreign visit of the parliamentary delegation led by Tanzila Narbaeva, Chairwoman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in August 2019, is an example of this. Further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries is facilitated by consistently developing cultural and humanitarian ties, especially in the areas of education, medicine, tourism and sports. The Seoul Park in Tashkent, effectively functioning since 2014, the Korean House of Culture and Arts, which was built in Tashkent with the support of the Government of the Republic of Korea, as well as the renaming of one of the streets in Tashkent in honor of Seoul are vivid examples of cooperation in this field, as a symbol of special relations between the two countries. The Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan, one of the largest in the world, plays an important role in strengthening friendly relations between our two countries. In 2017 the Korean diaspora celebrated the 80th anniversary of their residing on the hospitable Uzbek land that became their second motherland. Relations are developing dynamically in the sphere of education. The universities of our country are cooperating with more than 30 scientific research institutions of South Korea. Centers of Korean language and culture are opened in a number of educational institutions. Additionally, the Korean language is taught at the Uzbek State University of World Languages, the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies and the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages. Successful activity of Inha University in Tashkent since 2014 is an eloquent example of the prospects of partnership in the field of education. At present, Uzbekistan has branches of six Korean universities that train highly qualified specialists in the field of information technology, engineering, medicine and logistics at the level of international standards. Within the framework of establishing close ties at the municipal level, the relationships between Tashkent and Seoul, Fergana and Incheon, Samarkand and Gyeongju, Yangiyul and Yangsan as well as many other cities are becoming stronger day by day. All-in-all, over the past 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Tashkent and Seoul have forged a genuine strategic partnership and currently are closely cooperating with each other in further advancing multifaceted cooperation in various fields and strengthening mutually beneficial bilateral relations that serve the interest of the two countries and their nations. In conclusion, taking this opportunity, I would like to wish to the esteemed readers of this reputed newspaper every success in all their endeavors, longevity and well-being. Chopped is one of the Food Networks most popular and longest-running shows, airing more than 40 seasons since 2009. Fans cant get enough of the fast-paced cooking competition show, with chefs competing to create the tastiest three-course meal using a basket of mystery ingredients. The judges that preside over the show are accomplished chefs in their own right, including Amanda Freitag, who has worked in the kitchens of many famous restaurants. Recently, fans of the show have been wondering if shell ever get her own cooking show. Amanda Freitags recipe for success Alton Brown, Amanda Freitag, Marc Murphy and Ted Allen | Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Discovery Inc. Freitag is a New Jersey native and was encouraged to follow her passion for food by everyone from her grandparents to her home economics teacher. After high school, she went to the Culinary Institute of America, graduating in 1989. Freitag started her career working at the upscale New York City restaurant, Vong, learning the art of merging French technique with Southeast Asias flavors and ingredients. From there, she took a position in the kitchen of Verbena, one of the top new restaurants in the city, at the time. Her talent didnt go unnoticed. She worked her way up the ranks, eventually becoming the chef de cuisine. At Verbena, she discovered the importance of cooking with the freshest local, organic, and seasonal ingredients. Always on a quest to learn more, Freitag spent much of 1999 exploring the vibrant food and restaurant scene in France and Italy. While in Paris, she spent a few weeks working with acclaimed chef Alain Passard at his famous Arpege restaurant. When she returned to the states, she brought everything she learned in Europe to several of New York Citys most high profile eateries, including il Buco, Cesca, Gusto, and The Harrison in TriBeCa. Making the jump from the kitchen to the TV studio Freitags extensive restaurant experience and long list of accolades brought her to the Food Networks attention. The network asked her to compete on the 7th season of Iron Chef America, where she battled chef Bobby Flay in an episode that aired in February 2009. Though her Alaskan King Crab dishes lost to Flay by just one point, her personality and skill were enough for the network to make her a judge on their new cooking competition show Chopped. Freitag remains a regular judge on the show. While she seems tough on the show, Freitag told POPSUGAR: I get totally edited. Im funny behind the scenes. Im funny sometimes with the chefs. I think they capture those moments when Im being stern. Thats only one part of me. The other fun-loving, playful part is the other 80 percent. Its hard. I have to be a judge; I have to be intimidating and serious. RELATED: How Long Do Chopped Judges Take to Decide Who Gets Kicked Off the Show? In 2015, she began co-hosting American Diner Revival with Ty Pennington. On the show, the two travel the country to revitalize struggling diners with physical and menu makeovers. Shes also contributed to other Food Network shows like Unique Eats and Guilty Pleasures. Freitag released her first cookbook in the fall of 2015, called The Chef Next Door: A Pro Chefs Recipes for Fun, Fearless Home Cooking. Fans want Amanda Freitag to have her own Food Network show Freitag has been a mainstay and a fan favorite on the Food Network for many years. In a recent Reddit thread, the question was asked: Which Chopped judge would you like to see have their own show? Many users voted for Freitag, with one saying, Definitely Amanda Freitag for me, that would probably become my number one favorite show on the network. Another added: Amanda and most chefs on Guys Ranch show. Freitags fan following, combined with her 20 years of restaurant experience and her bubbly, warm, relatable personality, would lend itself well to a cooking show all her own. While the Food Network hasnt bitten on that idea yet, during the Coronavirus pandemic, Freitag has been using her YouTube channel to help home chefs with their adventures in the kitchen. Over the past few months, shes covered everything from how to make guacamole, crepes, and homemade hummus to patty melts, omelets, and mac and cheese. Earlier this month, Freitag also announced a partnership with the meal subscription service Blue Apron. Express News Service By NEW DELHI: Days after India sought the removal of the Kashmir issue from the UNSC agenda, Pakistan said that it cannot be done. "Indian representatives are either deluding themselves, or deluding public by asserting that they will remove Kashmir from the Security Council's agenda," Pakistans permanent representative to the United Nations Munir Akram said. Saying that the agenda of the council cannot be changed unilaterally, Khan said that the UNSCs agenda was set in accordance with rules and can be changed. Replying to this, India has said that the outdated item in the council needs to be removed from the agenda permanently. Islamabad has sought to internationalise the Kashmir issue and has approached the UNSC at least thrice after India abrogated Article 370 and Article 35A in August last year. "The UN Military Observers are stationed in Kashmir and ceasefire violations are reported daily to the Security Council. This is proof that this dispute remains under the active consideration of the UNSC and is in no way outdated," Akram said. Delaware County law enforcement organizations are calling for the resignation of Darby Township Commissioner Marvin Smith after he shared an image on social media depicting two Black men holding guns to the head of a white police officer. Does it have to come to this to make them stop murdering and terrorizing us? a caption on the image reads. The post appeared to have been deleted from Smiths Facebook page by the time it was brought to the attention of the Daily Times. The Times is not publishing the meme because of its violent nature. Joseph Fitzgerald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #27 for Delaware County, said in a release that leadership was angered and outraged by the image. This inflammatory post puts our police officers in grave danger and targets them for unnecessary violence and vitriol, said Fitzgerald. The Delco FOP leadership team and its members demand the immediate resignation of Commissioner Smith and his removal from the townships public safety committee, as we believe hes unfit to serve the residents of Darby Township. Our officers work tirelessly to serve the great residents of Darby Township and keep that community safe. This despicable rhetoric by Commissioner Smith only serves to divide us and creates distrust of law enforcement. Nether Providence Police Chief David Splain, who serves as president of the Delaware County Chiefs of Police Association, also vehemently condemned the post and said it inflames tensions in communities while promoting violence toward officers. Our police officers have been sworn to protect all of the residents of Delaware County and do so without regard to their personal safety on a daily basis, said Splain. (Smith) is an elected official who has oversight of the Darby Township Police Department who has clearly shown callous indifference to the lives of the police. He should resign immediately. Darby Township Commissioners board President Robert Gougler declined comment, saying the matter is under investigation. Smith did not respond to a request for comment Friday, but did issue a statement on his Facebook page saying the post depicted the frustration of the community with the instances of rogue policing that have happened in cases like that of George Floyd and other instances that have caused our nation much discord. Smith said he supports and welcomes good policing of our communities and described himself as a zealous ally of our friends in blue who works with police on a daily basis. He had recently shared another image of text reading: Just to be clear, I support police officers, but not the ones who commit crimes. I support protesters, but not the ones who commit crimes. Yes it really is that simple. Our nation and more specifically our communities are hurting, he said in his statement Friday. I regret and whole heartedly apologize if my sharing of that meme exacerbated any of the pain that individuals may be feeling. Perspective is everything and I stand before you with a more educated perspective and the intention to use that more educated perspective in my role as commissioner and my everyday role as your neighbor. Smith ended the statement by saying it would be the only comment he has on the matter. Delaware County Council and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer also put out a release Friday condemning Smiths post and saying elected officials must be held to a higher standard. Now, more than ever, elected leaders must work with law enforcement to develop and practice positive community policing and mutual respect between law enforcement and the public, the release states. The social media post is not only threatening to law enforcement; it also continues to create a divide in our community. Violence only leads to more violence, and it is not a solution or justifiable. Promoting violence does not advance the movement to implement meaningful criminal justice reform that addresses long standing racial inequities. The statement added that council and the district attorney found it extremely troubling that an elected official would display a post portraying acts of violence and that his actions do not reflect the standards of the community as a whole. Elected officials of Delaware County are committed to providing leadership in police reform along with partners in law enforcement, the statement reads. We all lead by example, and expressions of hate and vengeance are inconsistent with the values of our community. Smith, a Democrat who was elected to represent Darby Townships First Ward last year, has been rebuked by the FOP in the past. He was the subject of an FOP letter to the township in April that indicated he had begun telling members of the public that he was a police commissioner in charge of members of the police department and was directing the actions of officers at service calls. The FOP issued a warning in the letter that it would take whatever legal action is necessary if the board did not prohibit him from continuing the alleged unauthorized conduct. A spokesperson for the FOP said Friday that Smith seemed to have stopped that activity following the letter and no formal action was ever taken. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Most seats in the newly reconstituted 300-seat upper house of parliament were won by he pro-government coalition led by Mostaqbal Watan Party Run-offs for seats in Egypts Senate kicked off Sunday with polling stations open for Egyptian expats until Monday, ahead of a run-off vote at home 8-9 September. Some 174 senators, representing different constituencies countrywide, were officially named last month after receiving the majority of votes during the first round of elections, while 26 seats are still up for grabs. Only 8.95 million out of 62.94 million eligible voters cast their ballots during the four-day long voting period in August, a total turnout of 14.23 percent. Valid votes were recorded at 7.5 million, or 84.58 percent of the total turnout, with invalid ballots numbered at 1.38 million, or 15.42 percent. Most seats were won by a pro-government coalition led by the Mostaqbal Watan Party, claiming, along with its allies, the majority in the newly reconstituted 300-seat upper house of parliament. The remaining 26 seats, whose nominees failed to obtain the necessary absolute majority, are distributed over 14 governorates: Qalioubiya, Menoufia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Giza, Beni Suef, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia and Marsa Matrouh. The results are set to be announced 16 September. The Senate, which was created in accordance with constitutional amendments approved last year, will act as an advisory chamber to the House of Representatives. It will sit in place of the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament that was dissolved in 2014. Two-thirds of the members are elected via the individual candidacy and the closed party list systems, and the rest will be appointed by the president. The first session of the new body, where senators are required to be sworn in, is set to be held in October. The first five-year term of the Senate will end in 2025. Search Keywords: Short link: A 27-year-old Houston man accused of shooting and killing his grandfather last week died early Friday in Harris County custody, officials said. The Harris County Sheriffs Office on Saturday confirmed the identity of the inmate whose death was reported Friday as Bryant Davis. Davis was charged with murder last Thursday in connection with the shooting death of his grandfather, 65-year-old Clyde Ross, at his mothers Baytown residence. Court documents show the murder charge was dismissed Friday because the defendant is deceased. A detention officer found Davis unresponsive in his cell at the 1200 Baker Street jail around 1:35 a.m. Jail staff attempted to revive him with CPR and a defibrillator, the sheriffs office said. Davis was pronounced dead roughly an hour later at Ben Taub Hospital. Davis had no apparent physical injuries, the sheriffs office said. The medical examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The Houston Police Department is conducting an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Davis death. Davis was accused of shooting his grandfather multiple times in the chest. The shooting happened, apparently unprovoked, when Davis grandparents arrived at his mothers home for a visit, according to court proceedings. His grandmother witnessed the killing. Davis told police he shot his grandfather as a way to protect his family from the incoming storm, according to the prosecution. Steven Greenlee, the defendant's court-appointed lawyer, did not respond to inquires regarding the case. anna.bauman@chron.com Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE With Election Day less than two months away, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has a sizable lead over President Donald Trump among New Mexico voters, according to a Journal Poll. Fifty-four percent of likely general election voters surveyed recently said they would vote for Biden, while 39% said they would vote for Trump, the Republican incumbent. The remaining voters surveyed were undecided or said they did not plan to vote for either candidate. Bidens commanding advantage in the Journal Poll was due largely to strong support among female voters, Hispanics and self-described moderates. Specifically, 67% of moderates, a category that includes Democrats, Republicans, independents and those affiliated with other political parties, said they would vote for Biden, compared with just 29% who said they would support Trump. Brian Sanderoff, president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc., which conducted the poll, said Trumps law-and-order focus and frequent tweeting appear to be aimed at shoring up support in his GOP base, not winning over moderates. I think thats costing him here in New Mexico, where you have so many voters who describe themselves as middle-of-the-road types, Sanderoff said. Of the 1,123 people contacted for this poll question, 39% described themselves as moderate, 36% described themselves as conservative, and 20% described themselves as liberal. Trump lost New Mexico and its five electoral votes to Democrat Hillary Clinton by roughly 8 percentage points in 2016. That race also featured Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, a former New Mexico governor, getting about 9.3% of the votes cast statewide. In the run-up to this years general election, campaign aides for Trump have said they see an opportunity in New Mexico, especially among Latino voters. The president, a businessman and former reality show star, drew a crowd of about 9,000 to a September 2019 campaign rally in Rio Rancho during which he touted the oil drilling boom in southeastern New Mexico. However, Sanderoff said that widespread Hispanic support for Trump in New Mexico does not appear to be materializing. In fact, Hispanic voters preferred Biden over Trump by a ratio of more than 2-to-1 in the Journal Poll, with 64% of Hispanic voters saying they would vote for Biden and just 28% for Trump. It appears as if Biden is picking up nearly all the Hispanic support that Gary Johnson had in 2016, Sanderoff said. While Anglo voters across New Mexico were much more narrowly divided, Biden had a narrow edge over Trump among those voters, too. Women prefer Biden As for the states gender gap, 59% of female voters surveyed said they would vote for Biden, compared with 37% who indicated they would vote for Trump. It was a much narrower breakdown among male voters, with 49% supporting Biden and 43% saying they would vote for Trump. While New Mexico was long regarded as a swing state, a Republican has not won the states five electoral votes since George W. Bush did so in 2004. Democrats have also been successful in other recent statewide elections, sweeping all state offices on the ballot in 2018 and turning New Mexicos congressional delegation into an all-Democratic one for the first time since 2010. New Mexico voters are largely divided over their preferred pick in this years presidential election depending on where they live, the Journal Poll found. Likely voters in both northwestern New Mexico and the states east side both traditional Republican strongholds backed Trump over Biden by significant margins. However, voters in the Albuquerque area, southwestern New Mexico and the states largely Hispanic north-central region overwhelmingly backed Biden, a former vice president and longtime U.S. senator who, at age 78, would be the oldest president at inauguration if hes elected. Trump is ahead in two of the five regions, but those regions are not densely populated enough to offset Bidens advantage in the other parts of the state, Sanderoff said. While likely New Mexico voters of all education levels were more likely to support Biden than Trump, that support was particularly pronounced among voters with graduate degrees. That mirrors a national trend, Sanderoff said. Election Day is Nov. 3, with absentee voting scheduled to begin Oct. 6 across New Mexico. The first presidential debate is scheduled for Sept. 29 in Cleveland. Methodology The Journal Poll is based on a scientific, statewide sample of 1,123 likely general election voters who also voted in either the 2016 and 2018 general elections or both. Respondents were given the choice of Biden or Trump, as well as the option of volunteering support for a different candidate. Fewer than 1% chose other candidate, and 2% said they would not vote for either Biden or Trump. The poll was conducted from Aug. 26 through Sept. 2. The voter sample has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples. All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, with multiple callbacks to households that did not initially answer the phone. Both cellphone numbers (73%) and landlines (27%) of likely general election voters were used. Kim Kardashian is having a chill Labor Day weekend as she prepares for the launch of her new bodywear on September 10th to celebrate SKIMS one year anniversary. The social media queen, 39, took to her Instagram on Sunday morning to give her 188M followers a look at her lilac loungewear set as she enjoyed a matching smoothie. The mother of four posed on a chair in her picturesque backyard as she put her famous curves on display while coyly looking into the camera. Matching: Kim Kardashian, 39, put her famous curves on display in a purple SKIMS loungewear set on Sunday. The brunette stunner sipped a matching colored smoothie as she smoldered into the camera She captioned the series of images 'Match made in heaven' with two purple hearts as she seductively sipped on her purple smoothie. The cotton ribbed tank and thermal leggings in color 'iris mica' are currently waitlisted. In her first snap Kim could be seen leaning back with her right foot popped as she enjoyed her refreshing beverage. Purple moment: The SKIMS founder posed in her signature thermal leggings and a ribbed tank top in color iris mica as she sipped her refreshing beverage. Both pieces in the color are currently waitlisted For the second snap Kim sat perched on her knees as she showed off her tiny waist and a hint of her toned stomach. She wore her famous locks down and long, showcasing a french manicure and a light smokey eye. This week Kim has continued to tease her upcoming Solutionwear launch on both her personal social media and the SKIMS Instagram as she poses in the various products. The bodysuits, some of which are being restocked and some being launched in new colors, are intended to be a special one-year of SKIMS anniversary treat. SKIMS: KKW models her sculpting body suit which will be launched in a new color marble on September 10th as part of their anniversary celebration Solutionwear: KKW has trademarked Solutionwear as she uses it as the overarching term to describe her line of body shaping products With SKIMS hitting its one year mark, the entrepreneur is now looking to add homeware to the KKW empire as it was reported by TMZ that her team had filed to trademark 'KKW Home' this weekend. The line will reportedly include everything from scented-candles to bath mats to wastebaskets to drapes as the beauty continues to expand into a new market. Though business is always booming for the KKW beauty mogul, she has also been spending time in Los Angeles with her four children North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1, while husband rapper Kanye West continues his presidential bid. Family affair: Kim and Kanye pose with their four children North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1, at their West Ranch in Cody, Wyoming Presidential bid: Kanye West reportedly just spent $6M of his own money as he continues his efforts to get on state ballots across the country in advance of the November election West who notoriously had a public episode on Twitter back in July, reportedly just spent $6M of his own money to continue his efforts to run for president and get on state ballots across the country. The rapper's mental health struggles were brought to light at he launched into a bizarre tirade of now deleted Tweets where he likened his mother-in-law, Kris Jenner, to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un among other things. Days later he made headlines again while at his first Presidential rally in South Carolina. The rapper revealed his wife Kim had thought about aborting their first daughter North as he broke down in tears fresh off his social media spiral. He later apologized to Kim publically. Apology: Kanye West took to his Twitter where he apologized to his wife Kim for announcing their personal business at his July South Carolina rally Nude: Kim Kardashian is her own best model as the founder of SKIMS and KKW Beauty models all her products for her line of shapewear Though it seems the couple have made strides to get past their issues, the public nature of Kanye's outbursts is no doubt a tough thing to cope with. The KKW Beauty founder and Kanye have been splitting time in quarantine between their Los Angeles megamansion, their ranch in Wyoming and a Malibu beach house with their children. The Billionaire power couple also recently purchased an undeveloped lot in the coveted La Quinta Madison Club in Palm Desert for a reported $6.8M dollars. A new book by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov titled The Spiritual World of Turkmens was presented at a ceremony in Ashgabat. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the participants emphasized the importance of the new book by the head of state, in which he talks about the need to study and promote the cultural heritage as the basis for spiritual development of the people in the new historical era. Consisting of twelve chapters, the book explains the relationship between man and nature referring to examples from ancient legends and traditions that carry the ancient wisdom and centuries-old experience of the nation. Speaking at the presentation, writers and poets noted that the new work by the President of Turkmenistan would contribute to the succession and further popularization of the spiritual values of the Turkmen people. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2022 Sushant's personal staff member Sawant remanded in NCB custody Sushant's chef Dipesh Sawant (green) being taken to court by NCB officers for a hearing in connection with death by suicide case of the bollywood actor, in Mumbai. PTI photo Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Meetu Singh reached the DRDO guest house here on Sunday afternoon in connection with the CBI's probe into the case of the actor's death, a police official said. Earlier in the day, Rajput's business manager Shruti Modi, his talent manager Jaya Saha and cook Neeraj also reached the guest house in suburban Kalina, where the probing team is stationed, he said. On Saturday, a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited Rajput's flat in Bandra as part of its investigation into his death. Rajput's cooks Neeraj and Keshav, his flatmate Siddharth Pithani and his sister Meetu Singh accompanied the team, the official said. After inspecting the flat, the investigators went to the terrace of the building, he said. In the last two weeks, the central probe agency visited the flat at least three times to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the actor's death. Meanwhile, actress Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting Rajput's suicide, on Sunday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) here for questioning in the drugs case linked to the actor's death. Her brother Showik Chakraborty, Rajput's house manager Samuel Miranda and personal staff member Dipesh Sawant have been arrested by the NCB. Rhea Chakraborty and her family members are accused of abetting the suicide of Rajput (34), who was found hanging in his flat in Mumbai's Bandra area on June 14. The CBI earlier questioned the 28-year-old actress, her brother, father Indrajeet Chakraborty and Sandhya Chakraborty in connection with the case. After Rajput's demise, the Mumbai Police registered a case of accidental death and recorded statements of over 50 people. The late actor's father subsequently filed a police complaint in Patna, accusing Rhea Chakraborty and her family of abetting his suicide and misappropriating his money. The Supreme Court last month upheld the transfer of the FIR lodged in Patna to the CBI. Derry Girls star Leah O'Rourke has revealed she was in the running for the role of Marianne in global smash-hit drama Normal People. Leah, best known for playing Jenny in Derry Girls, says she's a huge fan of the show despite missing out on the lead female role to British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones. The actress, who is now also working in a Fermanagh school part-time, told Sunday Life: "I absolutely loved the show, the casting was brilliant, my whole family watched it including me and my boyfriend, I thought it was a just a really fantastic show. "It's one of those shows that at the end of each episode you need to watch the next one, there's very few shows like that for me. "Normally I can watch the next episode another night but you literally ended up glued to it for hours just wanting to know what happens. "The couple are so captivating you just wanted to know how things worked out for them. Expand Close A scene from Normal People / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A scene from Normal People "I do think it took them a while to find the lead girl so I think a lot of actors will have auditioned for it as well as me, possibly the other Derry Girls might have done too. "It was a good experience, it was a really short scene which wasn't very detailed at all, again it was a bit like auditioning for Derry Girls in that you don't really know how successful something is going to be when you're at that stage. "It was just one of many self-tapes that I was making so I never really thought about it again after I sent it off and then I watched the series and all the hype had taken off and people were blown away. I was like, 'Oh my God, I auditioned for that!'" Expand Close Leah O'Rourke who plays Jenny Joyce in Derry Girls / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leah O'Rourke who plays Jenny Joyce in Derry Girls Newry native Leah, who is best known for her portrayal of prim and proper prefect Jenny Joyce in Lisa McGee's hugely successful Derry Girls, has recently taken a part-time job at a Fermanagh primary school after moving to the county with her boyfriend at the start of lockdown. The 31-year-old confessed to loving life in the country and picking up character inspiration for season three of Derry Girls from some of her new students. She added: "I had been a classroom assistant since 2016 and had been working at Lagan College in Belfast for the past year or so and was living there but my boyfriend is from Fermanagh and whenever lockdown started I moved down to be with him. "Things in Fermanagh worked out really well and I said if I could get a job in a school I'd stay, so I applied to a school and luckily I got the job. "I only do three hours a day because I still have to keep lots of free time if my agent sends me any scripts to learn or auditions and so on so it's nice that it keeps me ticking over that way. "I like to keep busy, I don't like to be sitting waiting on the phone to ring. "My mum and dad have always been really hard-working and I've always grown up having a job on the side as well as my acting. I love working with children and it just seemed like the right avenue for me." Leah is settling into Fermanagh well, admitting the "very peaceful" existence is a big change from living in London, where she was previously based. "The people are really friendly here and take time to stop and chat to you whereas in London it was so fast-paced nobody had time for that but Fermanagh people are lovely, it's a very chilled, laid-back sort of vibe down here," she added. "I love working in the school, the day goes in so quick. "It's very rewarding and also it has helped me with my part in Derry Girls, with the character, because I'm seeing schoolchildren every day and I'm immersed in that world every day. "So it's given me some ideas for Jenny seeing people who get on a similar way to her in the classroom, it's pretty handy. "The kids are lovely, it's such a lovely school it really is, I'm there to support one student and that student is like a comedian, they make me laugh every day. "I'm only in three hours in the morning so the day goes in very quick, all the staff have been lovely too." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Geert De Clercq (Reuters) Paris, France Sun, September 6, 2020 07:02 502 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c42ed45e 2 Food Fauchon,Paris,France,coronavirus,gourmet,COVID-19,food,Tourist Free Since its start as a grocery pushcart, the Fauchon delicatessen has been on the same spot in central Paris for 134 years where it was buffeted by two World Wars, countless mass demonstrations, strikes and riots. Now Fauchon, famous for its eclairs, foie gras, truffles, and fine wines, is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic which has robbed Paris of most of its tourism trade and struck when the store's footfall was already weakened by months of social unrest. In June, Fauchon put its two flagship stores on Place de la Madeleine into receivership and submitted a restructuring plan to court, which will rule by Sept. 15. "All demonstrations in Paris seem to start or finish at La Madeleine, and each time we need to close shop. Then there were the strikes around Christmas, our peak period, then came COVID, which was the final blow," Fauchon executive Justine Klar said. The firm has warned its 107 staff at La Madeleine there will be job cuts and is negotiating redundancy terms with unions. Read also: French bistros down but not out: Paris chef Fauchon hopes to move to cheaper premises in Paris, away from the demonstrations circuit and to focus more on a Parisian clientele than on tourists. It also wants to boost its network of 73 franchises in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, which are not impacted by the receivership. Founded in 1886 by a pushcart fruit and vegetable grocer named Auguste Fauchon, the store is one of several Paris luxury food brands with 19th century roots. Like macaron shop Laduree, hot chocolate specialist Angelina and gourmet traiteur Maxim's, Fauchon competes with LVMH-owned market leader La Grande Epicerie. Fauchon said that even if its food outlets will likely move, its luxury hotel is doing well and will stay at La Madeleine. "La Madeleine was the cradle for Fauchon, so it is very important for us to maintain a presence here," she said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mardika Parama (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, September 7 2020 E-commerce platform Shopee has seen transactions more than double in the second quarter compared to a year earlier as the COVID-19-induced social restrictions prompted consumers to shop online. Shopee Indonesia director Handhika Jahja told journalists during an online press conference on Tuesday that the company posted 260 million transactions from April through June, making for an average of 2.8 million transactions per day. We saw an increase of around 130 percent from the same period last year. The increase reflects a positive trend in the e-commerce industry, he said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login By PTI NEW DELHI: The Indian and Russian navies on Saturday carried out a range of complex maritime operations as part of a mega military exercise in the Bay of Bengal to further enhance their operational convergence, officials said. The exercise comes at a time India is significantly expanding deployment of its warships in the Indian Ocean region in the wake of the festering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical to the country's strategic interests. The officials said a wide spectrum of drills including surface and anti-aircraft drills, helicopter operations, maneuvers and cross-deck flying was carried out for the second consecutive day as part of the 11th edition of the biennial Indo-Russian exercise Indra Navy. "The exercise epitomises the long-term strategic relationship between the two navies," Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said. The assets deployed in the exercise by the Russian Navy include destroyer Admiral Vinogradov, destroyer Admiral Tributs and fleet tanker Boris Butoma of the Pacific Fleet which are normally based at Vladivostok. The Indian Navy is represented by guided missile destroyer Ranvijay and fleet tanker Shakti, along with their integral helicopters. In July, the Indian Navy carried out a military exercise with a US Navy carrier strike group led by nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The USS Nimitz is the world's largest warship. In the exercise with the US Navy, four frontline warships of the Indian Navy participated. The US carrier strike group was transiting through the Indian Ocean Region on its way from the South China Sea. The US Navy carrier strike group comprises USS Nimitz, Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Sterett and USS Ralph Johnson. The Indian Navy carried out a similar exercises with the Japanese navy in June. The Indian Navy has significantly expanded its deployment in the Indian Ocean region, deploying a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row to send across a message to Beijing. The maritime space around the Malacca Strait is very critical for China's supply chain through sea routes. Rescue workers digging through the rubble of a Beirut building for the third day on Saturday said there was no longer hope of finding someone alive more than a month after a massive port explosion shattered Lebanons capital. About 50 rescue workers and volunteers, including a specialist team from Chile, had worked for three days to locate anyone after sensors on Thursday detected signs of breathing and heat. Technically speaking, there are no signs of life, Francisco Lermanta, the head of volunteer rescue group Topos Chile, said in a news conference on Saturday evening, adding that rescuers had combed 95% of the building. The signs of life detected in the past two days, Lermanta said, were breaths of fellow rescuers already inside the building picked up by their sensitive equipment. He said efforts would now focus on clearing the rubble and finding remains. We never stop with even one percent of hope, Lermanta said, of finding a body. We never stop until the job is done. The Aug. 4 blast killed about 190 people, injured 6,000 more, and devastated whole neighbourhoods. The authorities held ceremonies on Friday to mark a month since the explosion tore into a city already reeling from a crippling economic crisis. Rescue efforts dominated local and social media, as the Lebanese were transfixed, desperate for a miracle. None came. The ruined building where the search was continuing lies between the residential districts of Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael, among the hardest hit areas by the blast and home to many old buildings that crumbled as the shockwave ripped through. Work was slow, rescue workers said earlier in the day, as the badly damaged building was at risk of complete collapse. The building is really crumbling, its scary and theres a lot of danger to the team, Abou Moussa said. Workers used shovels and their hands to dig, while mechanical diggers and a crane lifted heavy debris. Scanning equipment was also used to create 3D images of the wrecked building. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A TOTAL of 75 additional buses and modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJs) will be deployed on Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, to augment the existing number of public utility vehicles (PUVs) allowed to operate in Cebu, which is currently under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) status. Eduardo Montealto Jr., director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7, said majority of the additional units are buses. He said the units will add to the existing 201 buses and MPUJs first issued with special permits to operate. Montealto said 40 additional buses and MPUJs will be deployed next week. He said the units are already here and operators are preparing the needed documents for the issuance of special permits. Montealto said most of the additional PUV units will ply an intra-city route while some will be allowed to cross borders such as routes from I.T. Park in Cebu City to Liloan in Cebu Province. Previously, he said, these buses plied southern Cebu routes while some are provincial buses that were realigned while crossing of borders to other provinces is not yet allowed. (WBS) Death toll from Bangladesh mosque AC blasts climbs to 24 The number of deaths from the mosque air-conditioner blasts in Narayanganj has increased to 24 as three more victims have succumbed to their injuries on Sunday. Another 13 people are battling for their lives at the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka after near-simultaneous blasts of six air-conditioners during prayers at the Baitul Salat mosque on Sept 4. As many as 21 victims of the blasts died until 11 pm Saturday, said Partho Shankar, the resident physician of the hospital. The latest victims were identified as Julhas Uddin, 35, and Shamim Hasan, 45. Shamim was treasurer of the ill-fated mosque, according to Fatullah Model Police OC Aslam Hossain. Law enforcers inspect the damage inside the Baitul Salat Jame Masjid in Narayanganjs Fatullah after six air-conditioners simultaneously exploded during the nightly prayers, leaving 11 people dead and dozens hospitalised, September 5, 2020. Law enforcers inspect the damage inside the Baitul Salat Jame Masjid in Narayanganjs Fatullah after six air-conditioners simultaneously exploded during the nightly prayers, leaving 11 people dead and dozens hospitalised, September 5, 2020. The authorities have handed over the bodies of 20 victims to their loved ones so far, the OC said. They have been laid to rest at a local graveyard, he added. The other victims are the mosques Imam Abdus Sobhan, 60, Md Nizam, 40, Nadim, 40, Md Baharuddin, 55, Kuddus Bapari, 72, Mostafa Kamal, 34, Jewel, 7, Md Rashed 30, Humayun Kabir, 72, Jamal Abedin, 40, Ibrahim Biswas, 43, Md Rifat, 18, Mainuddin, 12, Joynal, 38, Nayan, 27, Kanchon Howlader, 50, the mosques Muezzin Delwar Hossain, 50, his son Junayed, 16, Jobayer, 18, Jobayers brother Sabbir, 21, and Abdul Malek. As many as 11 of them died until Saturday morning. Some of the victims were workers of readymade garment factories. The child, Jewel, had burns on 95 percent of his body, according to the institute's Assistant Director Dr Hussain Imam. Source: bdnews24.com Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 4:37PM A leaked photo of an internal Vodaphone document shows the reported release date of the upcoming Google Pixel 5, 4a 5G, and 4a phones in Germany. In the picture above, you can see that all three units will supposedly drop on September 25 in the country, which could also be the release date in other countries, including ours. This date also suggests that the public launch for the Google Pixel 5 and 4a 5G will be held soon. The tech giant did promise a fall release for the phones, so this rumoured launch will line up with that statement. Source: Android Authority A surge in at-home dining and happy hours has led to a surge in demand for aluminum cans that is changing what shoppers might find on the shelves in Southeast Texas. An increase in the purchase of canned sodas and beverages has slowly eclipsed parts of the nations production capacity, mostly for 12-ounce aluminum cans used for soda and beer. This is forcing some companies to innovate ways to keep products in the stores. Skylar Thompson, president of Market Basket Foods, said the shortage has meant soda and beer producers have been cutting down on the varieties they send to his stores and that sometimes means an empty spot on the shelf for a few days. In mid-August, the Keurig Dr Pepper company joined a growing list of manufacturers reporting shortages across its entire flavor line. In an effort to keep giving customers the products they want and take some strain off can manufacturers, Thompson said the company has started offering sales for other forms of beverage packaging across its Texas and Louisiana stores. Weve been doing more promotions for non-can packages like plastic bottles, Thompson said. Thats been our direction, and it seems to help. Related: Beer fans race to aid Beaumont brewery during shutdown While stores try to shift demand during the shortage, the variety of different packaging options seems to be growing as well. Jeff Wheeler, director of marketing for the beer wholesaler Del Papa Distributing, said the shortage has led to unexpected outages of certain brands and varieties. In those situations, you have to optimize for what makes the biggest impact, he said. Our supplies are feeling the pinch, so companies are putting eggs in a few brand baskets and sending the most products they can. Alcoholic beverage makers are also shifting focus to glass and other forms of aluminum containers besides 12-ounce cans. Wheeler said brands like Michelob have started making changes like switching 24-packs almost exclusively to aluminum bottles. He said consumers can probably expect more changes if the shortage continues. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Ball, one of the countrys largest can manufacturers, has announced plans to build new beverage can plants in Pennsylvania and Arizona early next year, but that is not expected to ease shortages anytime soon. The can-demic presents yet another challenge for an industry thats been particularly hurt by the economic slowdown related to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. Most smaller craft breweries that distribute their products in stores rely on specialty companies that can wrap their cans in labels that meet state regulations. Now, there is a growing backlog for orders, which could prevent some beers from showing up on shelves. Joel Hollier, a partner with Pour Brothers Brewery in Beaumont, said the company bought extra pallets of its four-beer core lineup for local in-store sales. But top-seller Hooligan Hefe could soon disappear from shelves. We were getting reorders of cans at five to six weeks, but now it is more like 10, he said. Weve been going through 12 to 20 cases a week. At this rate, Hollier said, Pour Brothers could be sold out in about two weeks. If that happens, the brewery could print its own labels and sell six-packs directly from its storefront in downtown Beaumont. That presents its own challenge in a time when taprooms are closed and to-go sales have been unsteady for most craft brewers. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Indonesia is hundreds of millions of dollars in arrears on its dues for South Korea's next-generation fighter jet development project, even though the country agreed to fund some of the development costs as a partner nation, officials said Sunday. Indonesia joined the KF-X project in an effort to procure aircraft for its air force and to advance the aerospace industry, and agreed to shoulder 20 percent of the development cost of the 8.8 trillion won (US$7.3 billion) project, or about 1.7 trillion won. But the Southeast Asian country failed to pay around 500 billion won it was supposed to pay as of end-August, the officials well-versed in the issue said, adding that Indonesia so far has paid 227.2 billion won. It has reportedly earmarked about 270 billion won for the KF-X project in this year's budget. "Little progress has been made in terms of cooperation with Indonesia regarding the KF-X project," an official said. During their bilateral defense ministers' meeting in December last year, Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his Indonesian counterpart, Prabowo Subianto, vowed efforts to move the project forward, calling such cooperation "a symbol of their strong relationship of trust." Despite such financial issues, the KF-X project has proceeded without a hitch. Earlier this week, South Korea began the final assembly of a first prototype jet after the final confirmation of the design last year. The prototype is expected to be rolled out in the first half of 2021, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). South Korea aims to complete development by around 2026. (Yonhap) Melbourne will remain under coronavirus lockdown until at least October 26 but some restrictions will be eased from midnight next Sunday. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has outlined a four-step plan for the state to return to normality if case numbers continue to fall. From September 14, the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am. People living alone can nominate a friend or family member who can visit them and two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including 'social interactions' such as having a picnic at a local park or reading a book at the beach. Further restrictions could be eased from September 28 and the government will consider lifting the curfew entirely from October 26, depending on case numbers. 'We can't run out of lockdown. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown to find that COVID normal,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday. Under Mr Andrews' roadmap out of lockdown, residents will have to wait until November 23 for all retail stores to reopen. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the tough restrictions will be extended from 11.59pm on September 13 for an extra 14 days From September 28, subject to public health advice, public gatherings will increased to five people from two households Step One From September 28, up to five people from a maximum of two households can meet outdoors for social interaction and the curfew will be eased to 9pm to 5am. Childcare centres will be allowed to reopen without permits and workers across construction and manufacturing can return to their jobs, along with landscape and maintenance workers who operate alone. Public outdoor gatherings of two people will also be allowed and playgrounds can reopen from next Sunday. Exercise will be increased from one permitted hour per day to two. Masks will remain compulsory Mr Andrews ruled masks will remain compulsory and said he has a 'pretty conservative view' on the effectiveness of masks. 'There is a likelihood that at a point in the future we don't need to have compulsory masks or we alter the settings in which you need to use them,' he said. 'Yes, it's a pain, no-one enjoys it. But compared to being locked at home, compared to people becoming gravely ill or becoming ill and not being able to shake this, and that is presenting in lots of people these days, think masks are we should continue to do. 'We will follow advice, of course, but I have been pretty conservative view on masks.' Advertisement Singles can have one nominated person to their home as part of the 'singles social bubble'. The five kilometre radius rule will not apply for those people, but the curfew hours still do. People can still only leave home for the four reasons (shopping, exercise, work and care or medical attention). Step Two The move to 'second step' restrictions from September 28 will only happen if there is an average daily case rate of 30 to 50 cases in metropolitan Melbourne over the previous 14 days. Public gatherings will be expanded to five people from two households. Schools will begin a staggered return to the classroom. Students from Prep, Grade One, Grade Two, VCE, VCAL and specialist schools will return first. Prep to grade two students in Melbourne will return to classrooms from October 12 and all regional students will return in the same week. Childcare facilities can also reopen. Outdoor pools and outdoor personal training with two people and one trainer will be permitted under the second step of the roadmap. Step Three Melburnians will be freed from the lockdown from October 26 if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are less than five unknown source cases. The curfew would be scrapped altogether, and there would be no restrictions on leaving home. The five-kilometre radius rule will no longer exist. This means that there will be no restrictions on reasons to leave home. Along with the curfew being removed, up to 10 people will be allowed to gather outdoors and up to five visitors will be allowed from a nominated household. Retail and hairdressing will reopen, while hospitality can resume trading with a focus on outdoor seated service. Two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including 'social interactions' such as having a picnic at a local park or reading a book at the beach Gatherings of up to 50 people outdoors and up to 20 visitors to homes will be allowed under step four, which will come into effect on November 23 if Victoria goes 14 days with no new cases Step Four The last step will come into effect from November 23, if Victoria goes 14 days with no new cases, allowing public gatherings of up to 50 people and 20 home visitors at a time. All remaining restrictions will be removed when Victoria goes 28 days with no new cases. Gatherings of up to 50 people outdoors and up to 20 visitors to homes will be allowed. Mr Andrews said all retail and hospitality will be open, and indoor groups with a limit of 20 people with seated service, a 50 more broadly will be permitted. The future of the Spring Racing Carnival Mr Andrews said he wouldn't 'rule it out' but didn't want to speculate on the chances of the Melbourne Cup going ahead. 'The events will still go on but the question is will there be people there on-site watching it? And that will be to the extent that is safe,' he said on Sunday. Mr Andrews said 'one day at the races for 5000 people or 25,000 people' was not worth potentially plunging the state into a third wave. 'As much as I respect the contribution that sector makes, we have to do it safe so that again, 2021 looks much more like a normal 2021 and does not have all of these hangovers of restrictions on, restrictions off. 'That is just no way, that is no way for us to spend next year.' Advertisement Mr Andrews' lockdown extension has been criticised by fed-up residents, business owners and politicians alike, who blasted the Premier for his disappointing road map out of strict COVID-19 sanctions. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Paul Guerra said Mr Andrews' plan was a 'kick in the guts' for businesses across the state. 'Today we have been delivered a road to nowhere,' he said. 'This does not deliver for the thousands of businesses that are trying to keep this state going and trying to keep their doors open. 'We cant continue to let business and jobs be decimated on the way to controlling the spread of the virus. This has to end. Business needs hope.' Mr Guerra said the COVID recovery plan wasn't good enough and would leave thousands of employees out of work. 'The heartbreak for members, and in fact business owners today is the realisation that many of them who have been desperately hanging on for months will see their businesses fold and they will have to look their employees in the eye and tell them that they no longer have a job,' he said. 'We need to get the virus under control. We are lock-step with both the federal and state governments on that aim. But we cant just let business and jobs be sacrificed on the way.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and minister for health Greg Hunt released a joint statement after Mr Andrews' announcement. 'Todays announcement from the Victorian government to extend lockdown arrangements will be hard and crushing news for the people of Victoria,' the trio said. 'The proposed road map will come at a further economic cost. While this needs to be weighed up against mitigating the risk of further community outbreak, it is also true that the continued restrictions will have further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and loss of livelihoods, as well as impacting on mental health. 'Of course the federal government would like to see restrictions in Victoria lifted as soon as it is safe to do so, but at the end of the day these are decisions solely for the Victorian Government to determine and the road map released today is a Victorian government plan.' Public outdoor gatherings of two people will also be allowed and playgrounds can reopen from next Sunday Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien called Mr Andrews' plan 'illogical'. 'Why is it that you can go to the local park and have a jog around with your mate, but if that mate is a personal trainer, sorry, you are both breaking the law,' he said. 'There is no logic to it. There are so many ridiculous, illogical inclusions.' Social media lit up with furious Melburnians forced to spend another seven weeks trapped in lockdown after Mr Andrews' announcement. 'Another two weeks of tyranny,' one post reads. 'Daniel Andrews road map out is a cul-de-sac,' another tweet reads. 'This megalomaniac is out of control, the abuse of power has killed more people by suicide than the virus itself ever will,' another comment reads. 'I'm disgusted in both Daniel Andrews & Professor Brett Sutton who do not follow their own advise regarding the science.' Mr Andrews stressed the importance of easing slowly into normal life to avoid a dreaded third wave. 'We can't run out of lockdown. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown to find that COVID normal,' he said. 'If we open up too fast then we have a very high likelihood that we are not really opening up at all. 'We would all like to open up as quickly as possible. We would all like to find that COVID normal or go back to actual normal as soon as possible. Melbourne 's tough stage four restrictions have been extended by another two weeks, while the city's lockdown won't be fully lifted until November 23 'But that is not the nature of this virus. It is wicked in many ways.' Victorians were warned earlier on Sunday that daily coronavirus cases might not be low enough by mid-September, raising the prospect of more months under lockdown. University of Melbourne modelling says based on current levels of social distancing, the 14-day case average was likely to be around 63 cases by September 17. 'With so many cases in the community, re-opening at this point will risk a resurgence, undoing all of the gains achieved from lockdown,' the modelling released by the state government overnight on Saturday concluded. If that happened, restrictions could be 'reimposed and last much longer'. 'Keeping Stage 4 restrictions until case numbers are low enough to safely reopen will enable all Victorians to get back to COVID-normal, faster,' the modelling said. On Friday, Victoria's 14-day case average was 116. On Sunday, it recorded 63 new cases and five more deaths. This takes the state's total fatalities to 666 and the national death toll to 753. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 02:05:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VANCOUVER, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Canadian Chinese community in the city of Richmond of the Canadian province of British Columbia has made a great contribution to bringing down the COVID-19 case number, said Kenny Zhang, director of research for the Canada Committee 100 Society. Canada Committee 100 Society is a non-partisan and not-for-profit community organization based in Vancouver. Richmond is home to more than 200,000 residents, making it the fourth populous city in the province. Among them, 54 percent are of Chinese descent, which is higher than 28 percent in the city of Vancouver, 12 percent in British Columbia, and five percent in Canada. The latest data released by the British Columbia government shows Richmond has the lowest COVID-19 cases per capita among major cities in the province, Zhang told Xinhua that "other factors must have played a part." Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie spoke highly of the Canadian Chinese community, saying that their early adoption of measures like wearing masks and staying physically distant helped keep the COVID-19 caseload relatively low in his city. The Canadian Chinese community not only was aware of what was happening in then infected areas of China but also knew the dangers that were being faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Zhang said. "They believed it is everyone's responsibility to do more together." "The responsibility means all individuals need to keep apart by taking accountable actions. The responsibility means all communities need to stand side-by-side by supporting each other," he said. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Chinese community started practicing social distancing in both conventional and innovative ways. Zhang said the Canadian Chinese community was the first group to wear masks in public spaces despite being misunderstood, mistrusted and mistreated as it was not deemed normal at that time. "They still stuck to principles that the benefit of wearing a mask does not simply lie in protecting oneself, but also in protecting others." They creatively drove two vehicles to pick up families or friends who returned from overseas to avoid their use of public transit, taxis or ride-sharing services, which would prevent this high-risk group's possible spreading of the virus to their family members and further to the local community. Zhang also praised many Chinese residents for putting themselves in voluntary self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from overseas, long before it became a mandatory requirement for all international travelers. Meanwhile, a group of volunteers used a Chinese social media platform to provide pick-up services to passengers who returned from international travels, and helped deliver groceries to the doors of those who were in home confinement. In addition to online shopping and delivery services, Zhang said Chinese markets and stores were among the first in the industry to require customers to wear masks and to practice social distancing. At the time COVID-19 cases exploded in the Iranian Canadian community in Richmond, Zhang said a joint initiative between Chinese and Iranian community organizations was established to help members of both groups who returned home from then COVID-19 infected regions. Before a COVID-19 case emerged in British Columbia, many Canadian Chinese opened their hearts and wallets to support Red Cross Canada's China COVID-19 Response Appeal and other aid initiatives while others spontaneously shipped protective gear to hospitals and to their families, friends, or other loved ones in the then epicenter of the pandemic. "It was their strong faith that Canadians will be truly safe at home only if neighboring countries manage to control the virus spreading," Zhang said. Individuals and businesses were responding beyond Richmond, too. Zhang told Xinhua that Mrs. Chen, a 95-year-old Chinese grandmother, and her group of volunteers delivered 3,500 home-made scrub caps for healthcare workers at Surrey Memorial Hospital, Richmond Hospital, Peace Arch Hospital and others. A nine-year-old North Vancouver boy surnamed Yang raised a total of 3,000 Canadian dollars, all of which were used to provide food and beverages for frontline staff. Some Chinese restaurants provided free meals for healthcare workers, and community organizations donated cash and protective masks to hospitals and nursing homes. While some people argue that the high numbers of COVID-19 cases in seniors' facilities in other Canadian cities are the result of the pandemic outbreak, Zhang responded, "there are some 36 seniors' homes in Richmond, why seniors are safer here?" Enditem Andrew Harnik /Associated Press (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Friday suggested mental health care for followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, a right-wing movement that believes President Donald Trump is fighting a ring of child sex traffickers entrenched in government. Ive been a big supporter of mental health. Id recommend people who believe it should take advantage of it while it still exists under the Affordable Care Act, Biden told reporters after a speech about the economy. New Delhi: Urban Development Ministry has approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) to allow it to continue the advertisement campaign under the central flagship programme Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) as the Model Code of Conduct has come into effect in five states with the announcement of poll dates. In a letter to ECI Senior Principal Secretary R K Srivastava, Joint Secretary in Urban Development Ministry and SBM Mission Director Praveen Prakash has requested for a No Objection Certificate to carry on the advertisements under the SBM which aims for a clean India by October 2019. The copy of the letter was also marked to Election Commissioners O P Rawat and A K Joti. Urban Development Ministry has been running various communication campaigns under the mission in all states on television, radio, print media and outdoor media such as hoarding and posters through Directorate of Advertising and Publicity (DAVP). Currently, the ministry is running two major campaigns the Asli Tarraki aimed at behaviour change to stop open defecation and advertisements to make people aware of and participate in Swachh Survekshan, a survey which began on January 4 to rank 500 cities across the country on cleanliness. Given the recent announcements of Assembly elections in 5 states, the DAVP would like an NOC from the office of the Election Commission, in order to continue to run these advertisements on TV, radio, outdoor etc as per the ongoing approved schedule. Since these advertisement are a part of our ongoing campaign and have been running on public domain for the past many months, we would like to request you to kindly issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to allow DAVP to continue to run these campaigns in all the states, on behalf of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Prakash said. Given the time-bound nature of the mission to reach its goal, he said it is necessary for the nodal ministry, Urban Development Ministry, to carry out extensive multimedia communication campaigns targeted towards changing citizens behaviour away from the prevalent practice of open defecation and unsafe waste management. Model Code of Conduct came into effect in five states Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipurfrom January 4, the day Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi announced the poll schedule. The high-stakes assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases between February 11 and March 8, while Punjab and Goa will go to polls together on February 4, Uttarakhand on February 15 and Manipur in two phases on March 4 and 8, with counting to be held on March 11. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Ascott, a global leading lodging owner-operator, maintained an average occupancy rate of 80% on its long stay base across its regional portfolio in the Middle East & Turkey during May, the peak of Covid-19 crisis. On the short-stay front and in light of the increasing demand for domestic tourism in the region, Ascott revealed that there is a substantial and steady increase in staycations, as its properties have experienced an ample pickup in this segment. Currently, the brand is at a 50% occupancy rate for both long and short stays and is experiencing a continuous healthy pick in domestic tourism. The Ascott Limiteds business model has proven to be more resilient due to its strong extended stay segment. Offering home-like environment combined with hotel services & amenities, Ascott has gained reputation amongst its corporate accounts and is conducive for longer-term guests. Globally, over 85% of Ascotts properties remained open during the Covid-19 period. The strength and sustainability of our Serviced Residence model by far outweighs the risks and challenges of a traditional hotel model, which we at Ascott have experienced first-hand during the global crisis. With the unfortunate situation of hotels closing down temporarily, and some permanently, Ascott has been able to endure this pandemic, said Vincent Miccolis, Ascotts Regional General Manager for the region. Amongst its back-to-business strategies, Ascott launched the Work-in Residence initiative that transforms selected apartments into conducive work suites for working professionals and students, by leveraging on the existing design strengths of its serviced residences. The group is further providing loyal Ascott Business Travellers added benefits with its programme, the ASR Corporate. For residents, Ascott regionally launched the Long Stay Residential offer to support the arising needs for comfort, safety and peace of mind. In addition, to adapt to the emerging trends and redefine guest experience, Ascott rapidly evolved its digitized approach to Future Ready Lodging offerings; this includes the development of a one-stop service app that will offer guests contactless entry to their apartments, payments, check-in and check-out, in-room service and smart controls. On the business front, Hafid Mirabti, Ascotts Director of Business Development in Middle East, Africa and Turkey said: We expect that as the real estate sector picks up steam in due time, many developers and hotel owners will be more inclined towards sustainable business models, which will certainly present some viable opportunities of partnerships for Ascott to grow further regionally. The Ascott Limited also collaborated with leading testing and certification leaders Bureau Veritas through its Ascott Cares initiative, making them the first serviced residence to achieve this feat. In the Middle East and Turkey, Ascotts operational properties have received the Bureau Veritas certification to endorse their hygiene and safety standards. TradeArabia News Service 06.09.2020 LISTEN A 28-year-old lady Alberta Mensah has been arrested and arraigned before court by the Ajumako District Police Command for attempting to bury her day old baby girl. Presenting the facts of the case in court yesterday, prosecutor, Chief Inspector,Peter Kojo Abochie, told the court presided over by her Ladyship, Eunice Apalawin that the assembly for Esti Ekwamase Electoral Area, Mr.Isaac Acquah, who is the compliant fo the case went to farm, suddenly, he heard a cry of a baby about 5pm, Thursday 31st August , though alarmed, he approached the scene in the company of a colleague farmer who shares boundary with him. Closer to where the sound was coming from, only to see a spot that appeared to have been dug and covered with lots of sand. The young men then rushed and informed some elderly people in the town about what they had discovered who rushed to the scene. The sand was cleared from the spot and fortunately, the baby was alive. She was retrieved and sent to the Abura Dunkwa Government hospital for treatment,and was currently doing well. He said the assembly man with support from the community identified the suspect to be tge one since she was the only one who just delivered of a baby that week hence caused her arrest. Information gathered indicate that suspect lives in Ebowkurase a farming community in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District with the husband,Yaw Asante who are both farmers and 7 children. After the suspect had been pregnant for months and delivered safely of a baby girl in an unknown location, she came home empty handed only to tell the husband that she lost the child. The presiding judge unaware of the latter fact considered the medical condition of the mother and the last but one baby girl who is just a test and four months old and granted the suspect bail of Ghc5,000 with two sureties to reappear in the 9th of October,2020 Currently the less than a week old baby girl according to a reliable source has been sent to an orphanage unknown to the family in the central region for security reasons . India is reeling from a quadruple whammy that is practically unique even during this pandemic. First, growth has taken a hit that appears to be larger than any of its peers, with GDP shrinking 23.9% in the first post-pandemic quarter. While the economy has re-opened somewhat since then, it remains beset by supply constraints. That means second that inflation may have reached almost 7%, according to Bloomberg Economics Abhishek Gupta. Thats well out of the Reserve Bank of Indias comfort zone. And, third, all this has hit an economy that was already suffering from slipping potential growth and a major tax revenue crisis following the underperformance of a national goods-and-services tax. India might still have managed this economic storm if its Covid-19 case total was not exploding as well. The country is now registering over 83,000 new cases a day. Most nations across the world have successfully moved off the peak of their infection curves; in India, on the other hand, new daily records are still being set. Its now likely that the pandemic has, as feared, moved out of urban areas into Indias vast, and crowded, rural hinterland. Here, health services will be far less equipped for a surge in cases and a distant state machinery itself may not know of localized outbreaks till it is too late. The government, faced with a crashing economy and with its cupboards completely bare, has no real way to directly improve the welfare of those most affected. Programs like Britains furlough scheme or the U.S.s $600 per week unemployment aid are a distant dream in India. Even if the government had the money which, thanks to its tax botch-up, it does not it couldnt be sure of getting it to the people in need. So, as far as officials are concerned, the only way to get people back on their feet is to gradually lift pandemic-related restrictions. That is precisely what is happening: Restrictions are being removed without any consideration for the increasing caseload and with minimal information about possible infection clusters. Strangely, theres very little panic in India, either among policymakers or the public in general. Perhaps thats because the case fatality rate, as far as the government can tell, is well below 2% and thus among the lowest in the world. We dont know why are we missing cases, as the Lancet suggests? India is increasingly using buggy antigen tests, so that is certainly a possibility. Its also possible that Covid-related deaths arent being recorded as such. While there are no signs yet that the health system is overloaded, it may be getting there. Delhis most prestigious state-run hospital recently tried to shut down all outpatient work to focus on hospitalizations. In any case, climbing case rates will inevitably increase the stress on Indias inadequate health systems. So its entirely possible that the case fatality rate may also, tragically, increase. Worryingly, the drumbeat for a big stimulus" has begun. Pressure is growing on the finance ministry which has so far been impressively careful to start shelling out more cash to business. Some sectoral associations have even gone to the Supreme Court demanding the judges ensure they dont have to pay interest on their loans. The fact is, however, that a second stimulus" especially one directed at business would be fiscally dangerous. It would also be wasted money, because neither consumer nor business sentiment is going to revive while case numbers are growing so fast. Everyone can see the curve and nobody knows how bad it may still get. Meanwhile, as the Delhi hospitals attempt to cut off routine health services indicates, the silent costs of the pandemic are building up. The immunization program, for example, has essentially been halted, which means that a generation of children will be particularly vulnerable to communicable diseases such as measles. Millions of kids who already receive an education that is not up to global standards cannot go to school. And, unlike in the West, only a quarter of students in India can access online classes. Given that this generation is the one that will have to take Indias last shot at prosperity, thats especially bad news. India wont get a proper sense of the extent of these silent costs for some time, certainly not before next year. The finance ministry and the government more broadly should resist calls to spend money now that it does not have. Its going to need that ammunition even more soon. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was a columnist for the Indian Express and the Business Standard, and he is the author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Actor Mark Strong has given a startling description of the lengths the profession is going to in order to get the movie and TV business in action again after the worst of the pandemic. Strong, 57, who starred in two of the Kingsman comedy spy films, and is the voice of the Governments Covid-19 TV campaigns, is now involved in one of the first UK dramas to resume filming after a forced five-month hiatus. And he revealed that sex scenes were banned and that even kissing was not encouraged if a look or a gesture could be used instead. Actor Mark Strong has given a startling description of the lengths the profession is going to in order to get the movie and TV business in action again after the worst of the pandemic. He is pictured above as Daniel Milton in Temple Strong is back as Daniel Milton in Sky Ones mini-series Temple, playing a brilliant surgeon who runs an illegal clinic for criminals beneath Londons Temple underground station. The cast, including Line Of Dutys Daniel Mays and Game Of Thrones actress Carice van Houten, have been divided into three bubbles which operate in isolation of each other. On set they wear masks until the moment they set foot in front of the camera, while make-up and costume teams wear full PPE and regularly disinfect areas. Strong said: We eliminated things from the script that werent entirely necessary. So if there were too many extras or if there was a kiss which could be signified by looking into each others eyes we chose that option instead. The cast, including Line Of Dutys Daniel Mays and Game Of Thrones actress Carice van Houten (who is seen above in Game of Thrones) have been divided into three bubbles which operate in isolation of each other There are no love scenes or scenes of a sexual nature. He added: If you are making a show like Normal People, I dont know how you would deal with that! He said cast and crew have been divided into bubbles to minimise social contact and must limit their movements outside of work for the next six months in a form of soft isolation. Additionally, there are regular coronavirus tests on set. I really wanted to get back to work, said the actor. Daniel Mays is pictured above in Line of Duty. He is in the cast of Temple. On set they wear masks until the moment they set foot in front of the camera, while make-up and costume teams wear full PPE and regularly disinfect areas We are quite proud about going ahead and being one of the first to get back. My only worry was the fun of being on set that the banter would be somehow diminished. It doesnt seem to have been so far and I dont think it will be. I think everybody is going to make a really good fist of behaving as if it was normal. Covid-safe guidelines have been issued across the industry, meaning all eyes will be on how the drama, produced by Strongs wife Liza Marshall, is filmed in a more restricted way. The lockdown has already cost the UK film and television sector 36 billion as it shrank by 57 per cent. And Strong, a father-of-two, said cast and crew were eager to make the show work, knowing peoples livelihoods are at stake. He said: You are responsible for a hundred people and if the show closes down then those people dont have a job. We feel that very keenly. We want a safe environment so that we can carry on shooting and everyone can stay in work and earn money to feed themselves. Advertisement The army and security forces have blockaded Minsk city centre as more than 100,000 demonstrators demand the Belarusian President quit over 'rigged' election victory. Protests against President Alexander Lukashenko entered their fifth week as tens of thousands of demonstrators marched to the outskirts of his presidential residence in the capital. Protests calling for the country's authoritarian leader to resign also took place in major cities throughout Belarus, said Interior Ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova. More than 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets in Minsk, Belarus, to demand the President quit over 'rigged' election victory The army and security forces have blockaded Minsk city centre as protesters marched to the presidential residence Protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, pictured, entered their fifth week Demonstrators place flowers in barbed wire as they protested against the presidential vote they say was rigged The protests, unprecedented in Belarus for their size and duration, began after the August 9 presidential vote Crowd sizes for those protests were not immediately reported, but Ales Bialiatski, head of the Viasna human rights organisation, said the demonstration in Minsk attracted more than 100,000 people. The protests, unprecedented in Belarus for their size and duration, began after the August 9 presidential vote that election officials said gave Mr Lukashenko a sixth term in office with 80% support. Protesters say the results were rigged. Mr Lukashenko, 66, has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, regularly repressing dissent and press freedom. Police cracked down on demonstrators in the first days of the protests, and reportedly arrested some 7,000 people. Police cracked down on demonstrators in the first days of the protests, arresting some 7,000 people Protesters marched towards Mr Lukashenko's residence which is three kilometres outside Minsk Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched during an opposition rally calling for the President to resign A protester stands in front of barbed wire wearing a poncho to keep dry from the rain during the demonstration Although they have scaled back, detentions continue and it was reported scores of people were arrested in Minsk and in the city of Grodno, in western Belarus, on Sunday. Police and army troops blocked off the centre of Minsk on Sunday, but demonstrators marched to the outskirts of the Palace of Independence, the president's working residence three kilometres (two miles) outside the city centre. The palace grounds were blocked off by riot police armed with shields and water cannons. Maria Kolesnikova, a leader of the Co-ordination Council set up by the opposition to try to arrange a dialogue with Mr Lukashenko about a transition of power, said: 'This sea of people cannot be stopped by military equipment, water cannons, propaganda and arrests. A woman holds a sign with a caricature of Mr Lukashenko during the rally Demonstrators stand in front of the police blockade waving an old Belarusian national flag and a LGBT rainbow flag A protestor wears a mask with the colours of the national flag at the rally to reject the election results The palace grounds were blocked off by riot police armed with shields and water cannons 'Most Belarusians want a peaceful change of power and we will not get tired of demanding this.' Mr Lukashenko has rejected any discussion with the council, and some of its top members have been jailed. One of them, Olga Kovalova, was expelled from the country over the weekend, driven to Poland by police. Despite the stalemate between Mr Lukashenko and the opposition, protesters in the Eastern European nation with a population of 9.5 million, say they will not tire. Authorities have also revoked the accreditation of many Belarusian journalists and deported some foreign journalists, including two Moscow-based Associated Press journalists. Riot police holding shields stand behind barbed wire and block off access to the Independent Palace A man waves a wooden rifle as opposition supporters gather in front of the police line Demonstrators draped in flags gather during the rally against the results of the recent election In North Carolina, our executive branch is multi-headed, comprising 10 elected officials who form the Council of State. Most of their specific powers are granted by the General Assembly, not by the state constitution. North Carolinas governor is the most important counterexample, but even here his enumerated powers are relatively few. Although Roy Cooper spent decades in other roles, first in the General Assembly and then 16 years as attorney general, he has spent the past four years trying to expand gubernatorial power at the expense of other offices. This may surprise you, but at first I was sympathetic. Coopers predecessor, Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, had also battled the GOP-controlled legislature over the separation of powers, and won a key court case that ensured meaningful executive control over regulatory boards and commissions by having most board members appointed by the governor, not the legislature. Moreover, shortly after Coopers narrow victory over McCrory in 2016, the General Assembly had unwisely stripped the governor of additional powers. The balance was out of whack. His initial response was understandable. In his first public comments about being shot seven times in the back and paralyzed by a Wisconsin police officer, Jacob Blake described the pain he endures 24 hours a day and how his life changed in the snap of a finger. The 29-year-old Black man, who was shot last month in Kenosha in front of three of his children, broke his silence in the 57-second video from his hospital bed that was released by his attorney. "I just want to say, man, to all the young cats out there, and even the older ones older than me, it's a lot more life to live out here, man. Your life and not only just your life, your legs, something that you need to move around and move forward in life, can be taken from you like this, man," he says snapping his right fingers. Blake, a father of six children, was shot on Aug. 23 when Kenosha police officers, including Officer Rusten Sheskey, 31, responded to a domestic incident after a woman called 911 saying, "Her boyfriend was present and was not supposed to be on the premises," according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. The woman has not been identified and authorities have not said if Blake was the subject of the complaint. PHOTO: In this social network video released on by his lawyer Ben Crump, Jacob Blake delivers a message from a hospital bed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sept. 5, 2020. (Attorney Crump Twitter account/AFP via Getty Images) Once on the scene, officers said they tried to arrest Blake and deployed a Taser in an unsuccessful attempt to detain him, the department said. Investigators said Blake walked to his vehicle, "opened the driver's side door, and leaned forward," before Sheskey, who is white, fired seven shots into Blake's back, according to the agency. The shooting was captured on a witness's cellphone video, sparking protests in Kenosha that included vandalism, looting, numerous arrests and the deaths of two men who were allegedly shot by a 17-year-old suspect who was among a group who say they were protecting property. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Blake and his family, posted the video of Blake speaking from Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee on Saturday, writing, "#JacobBlake released this powerful video message from his hospital bed today, reminding everyone just how precious life is." Story continues MORE: Extradition hearing for alleged Kenosha gunman, Kyle Rittenhouse, set for Sept. 25 "I've got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach. You do not want to have to deal with this s---, man," Blake says in the video. "Every 24 hours, it's pain, it's nothing but pain. It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side to side. It hurts to eat." PHOTO: Adria-Joi Watkins poses with her second cousin Jacob Blake. (Adria-joi Watkins/AP) Blake also added a message of hope that his ordeal will bring people together to turn his tragedy into something positive. MORE: ACLU calls for Kenosha police chief and sheriff to resign in wake of Jacob Blake shooting "Please, I'm telling you, change y'all lives out there," Blake said. "We can stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people out here, man, 'cause it's so much time that has been wasted." Blake's family said the shooting left him paralyzed from the waist down and that doctors fear he may never walk again. MORE: Jacob Blake appears in court from hospital bed for domestic abuse charges All of the officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave. Sheskey is the only officer who fired his gun at Blake, authorities said. No charges have been filed in connection with the shooting. Investigators have not explained why officers moved to arrest Blake or why Sheskey fired so many times. The agency said Blake told officers that he had a knife in his possession. Investigators said police later recovered a knife from the driver's side floorboard of Blake's vehicle. The Wisconsin DOJ has not said whether Blake was holding that knife during his interaction with police. An attorney for the Kenosha Professional Police Association has previously released a statement disputing the facts about the Blake shooting that were released by the Wisconsin DOJ. Crump has said Blake was helping to deescalate a domestic incident when police drew their weapons and used a Taser on him. Blake's family is calling for the officers to be fired and for Sheskey to be charged with attempted murder. Jacob Blake speaks out from hospital bed in emotional video: 'It's nothing but pain' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com NAIROBI, Kenya Breaking his silence on the dramatic arrest of a prominent dissident, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda insisted on Sunday that his government had not forced Paul Rusesabagina, who is famed for his portrayal in the movie Hotel Rwanda, to return from exile to face charges of terrorism and murder. Instead, Mr. Kagame hinted, he had been tricked into coming back. There was no kidnap, Mr. Kagame said during a live television call-in on state television. He got here on the basis of what he believed and wanted to do. Mr. Rusesabagina, best known for the story of how he saved 1,268 people during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, vanished from Dubai soon after he arrived there last week on a flight from Chicago. Days later he re-emerged, wearing handcuffs, in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, where he faces a raft of charges, including terrorism, arson and murder. Mr. Rusesabaginas family, which insists he would never have voluntarily returned to Rwanda, has accused the Kagame government of kidnapping him from Dubai, and demanded to know more about the circumstances of his transfer. Refusing to apologise on his unpardonable and foul remark on actor Kangana Ranaut, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday unbelievably said that she is the one who should apologise for her 'Mumbai-PoK' comment. Sanjay Raut said that he would 'think' about apologising to Kangana if the latter says sorry to Mumbai and Maharashtra for using objectionable remark against it. Raut has on Saturday night used foul language against Kangana amid war-of-words, after the actor stoke controversy by comparing Mumbai to 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir' and 'Taliban'. Sanjay Raut is facing heat on Twitter from celebrities like Anubhav Sinha, Ashoke Pandit, Dia Mirza and politicians like Sanjay Nirupam, for his remark. However, the Shiv Sena leader remains remorseless. On Sunday morning, speaking to media at Ahmedabad, Sanjay Raut blatantly said: "That girl who has said bad things about Mumbai, why don't you ask her. She uttered bad words for Mumbai, Maharashtra, stop being biased and ask her. If that girl apologises then I will think. That girl calls Mumbai as 'Mini Pakistan', she has himmat to call Ahmedabad as Mini Pakistan? Mumbai is our mother, Mumbai Mumba Devi is our mother. I am clearly stating that anyone who speaks against Mumbai, Maharashtra or Marathi manus and I mean it when I say anyone, I will tell the same thing to them. She gets her fame, her food, money from Mumbai, live here, and badmouths the place, why don't you ask her." Sanjay Raut also hit out at media persons and said: "You people have gone mad." Earlier in the day, Raut took to Twitter and posted a Hindi poem that read, Meri himmat ko parakhne ki gustakhi na karna, pehle bhi kai tufano ka rukh mod chuka hu. Along with the image, he wrote, Jai Maharashtra attempting to uphold defending his state's honour for using words that have no place in the public sphere. READ | Sanjay Raut Flogs His 'himmat' Under Fire For Ugly Uncouth Cuss against Kangana Ranaut Sena vs Kangana A war-of-words broke out between Shiv Sena and Kangana Ranaut after the latter made controversial remarks about Mumbai by comparing it to 'PoK' and 'Taliban' while slamming Sena MP Sanjay Raut for his 'open threat'. Raut in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece had slammed Kangana for her treachery after she criticized the police force, despite living in the city and working in the film industry in Mumbai. He told the National Award-winner, to not return to the city. Questioning the 'Aazadi' graffitis and the 'open threats', Kangana asked why was Mumbai feeling like 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.' READ | Mumbai Mayor backs violence against Kangana Ranaut after Raut's foul-mouthed shocker As the controversy spilled over, Raut on Saturday night used abusive and derogatory language against Kangana, and is facing outrage. NCW has also stepped in and NCW chief Rekha Sharma has demanded protection for the actor. While several Sena leaders have used derogatory remarks against Kangana, Bollywood celebs have come out praising Mumbai Police and have said that Mumbai is the safest. Several others have supported Kangana and slammed Shiv Sena for curbing the actor's freedom of expression. Kangana who is currently in Himachal Pradesh has announced that she will return to Mumbai on September 9. READ | Kangana Ranaut returning to Mumbai on Sept 9 amid Sena's threat; dares anyone to stop her Taking to Twitter, Kangana then said that she has decided to return as many people are threatening her to not come back to Mumbai. Kangana is currently at her hometown Manali and issued an open challenge saying 'himmat hai toh rok le' adding that she will also share the exact time of her arrival at Mumbai Airport. Kangana has in the past two months slammed Mumbai Police for their sham investigation in Sushant Singh Rajput case and has shared explosive details on Bollywood's drug nexus in her interview to Republic TV. READ | Amid Kangana's Row With Shiv Sena, Rekha Sharma Urges Maha DGP To Provide Security To Her 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. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday paid rich tributes to India's former president Pranab Mukherjee and said he was a true friend of Bangladesh, as the country's Parliament adopted a condolence motion over his death. He was a true friend of Bangladesh since our 1971 Liberation War, Hasina told the maiden session of Parliament called for the second time since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's Parliament adopted a condolence motion to mourn the demise of Mukherjee and several distinguished Bangladeshis who died recently. Mukherjee, 84, died on Monday in New Delhi following a 21-day battle with multiple ailments. The former president was cremated with full state honours on Tuesday. The Bangladesh government on Tuesday announced that it will observe a one-day state mourning at the death of the countrys real friend. Hasina recalled Mukherjee's personal support for her and her family particularly during her life in exile in India after the August 15, 1975 coup in Bangladesh. The putsch killed her father and Bangladeshs founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members and toppled his post-independence government. Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana survived as they were on a brief visit abroad. Hasina recalled that during the exile, the remaining members of her family had to keep their identities secret for security reasons which also restricted their movements and social interactions. In those days, it was his family alone we could develop a family relation and got the taste of the family relationship, she said. Hasina described Mukherjee as an erudite politician with vast knowledge in different fields.The premier said Mukherjee always used his good office for Bangladeshs benefit and counteracted negative campaigns against the country. Hasina last week also sent a letter to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi saying as a renowned scholar and statesman of India, and a highly esteemed leader of South Asia, Pranab Mukherjee commanded the respect and admiration of all. She said Bharat Ratna Mukherjees tireless work for the welfare of the people of India will inspire the future generation of leaders not only in India but across countries in the region. Hasina called Mukherjee a true friend and said that he was always been highly revered and loved by the people of Bangladesh. She recalled his support and contributions in strengthening bilateral relations. Bangladesh in 2013 conferred the honour of Bangladesh Muktijuddho Sommanona (Liberation War Honour) on Mukherjee for his valuable contributions to its 1971 Liberation War. (Image Credits:PTI) Police blocked hundreds of demonstrators from marching to a Southeast Portland police precinct Saturday night, then quickly declared the gathering a riot after people threw at least three incendiary devices toward officers. Police used tear gas for the first time in September and arrested several people. The clashes played out for hours in the neighborhoods surrounding Ventura Park, where people initially gathered to protest police violence and anti-Black racism. Protesters tried repeatedly over the course of the night to find a path to the precinct. Police blocked the way every time. Tensions remained high throughout the night and into early Sunday morning. It was the second straight night that state troopers helped Portland police. In recent weeks, nightly protests have often culminated in damage such as graffiti, broken windows and small fires outside law enforcement buildings. A few of those demonstrations happened at East Precinct. Demonstrators planned to return there Saturday. But just as more than 400 people started to leave Ventura Park around 9 p.m., police told the crowd they could not march to the precinct, for the safety of city employees, community members and nearby residents. An officer using a loudspeaker said the march was not permitted, and said police have the authority to place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on this event. The officer did not explain the rule, but a spokesperson for Portland police later pointed to part of the city code that gives police the power to shut areas in cases of emergencies. The announcement caught marchers at Ventura Park off guard. The gathering had started as a peaceful rally led by a series of Black and Indigenous speakers, who urged protesters to continue pressing for police reforms. Police never let the crowd get close to the precinct. Dozens of officers arrived to block the march at Stark Street near 113th Avenue around 9:20 p.m. Some people reacted by throwing Molotov cocktail-like devices toward the police lines. Another person lit a firework. The devices exploded in Stark Street, several feet away from the police line. But one person was injured after their shoes and pants caught fire. Police immediately declared the gathering a riot and ordered people to leave. Police forced the crowd east and released tear gas onto the crowd within minutes. Officers detained at least one person. Police sometimes stopped and faced off with protesters. Then after a few minutes, officers advanced again. The pattern repeated itself throughout the night. Protesters split into smaller groups amid the confusion. The groups navigated around area residential streets. City and state police periodically arrived to intercept them. Officers arrested several people at 117th Avenue and Taylor Street, a residential area. At least one resident emerged and yelled at protesters to leave. Most protesters started to reunite on 122nd Avenue, nearly 15 blocks from the original destination. The combined group of hundreds of people marched back to Ventura Park. Lines of officers moved in to force people east soon after the march arrived. The advance stopped at 117th and Stark, where another face off ensued. Police stood in the street, ordering people to stay on the sidewalk and helping traffic pass through. Officers sometimes released smoke into the air to break up the crowd. The canisters landed at the feet of protesters and journalists. People responded by throwing water bottles and paint-filled balloons. Police eventually forced the crowd north on 117th Avenue, a mostly residential street, arresting more people as they went. Protesters shouted at police. The push by police stopped at Burnside Street, where the MAX line divides the roadway. Police retreated south on 117th in clouds of smoke. Protesters followed them. The face offs continued at various points along the street for more than 45 minutes. Police sometimes rushed in to arrest specific people in the crowd. At the same time, a second, larger group of marchers formed on 122nd Avenue. The march eventually made its way back to Ventura Park. Police rushed toward people and set off smoke devices. The crowd ended up at Burnside Avenue. Officers tried to find one person who threw something toward them. When they could not, one officer yelled, Hiding in the press like a coward toward the unidentified person. Police retreated after several minutes, deployed stun grenades and releasing some sort of irritant into the air as they left. Many people coughed for several minutes. By then, it was past 1 a.m. More than 100 protesters remained in the area. When protesters returned once more to Ventura Park, police ordered them to leave. Then, officers started running through the park to press people away. Police told the crowd the park was closed since city parks close at midnight. The tense night came after two peaceful sit-ins earlier in the day to mark the 101st day of protests in Portland. Read more: Dave Killen, Beth Nakamura and Mark Graves of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. -- Samantha Swindler It wasnt only NBC. Several networks first called Florida for Gore, then reversed themselves by calling it for Bush, whiplashing their viewers. At 2:16 a.m., Fox News Channel declared Bush the winner in Florida. Within four minutes, NBC, CBS, CNN and ABC did the same. The AP said the race was still too close to name a winner, the Associated Press recounted later. As it turned out, of course, the nation wouldnt know for many weeks who the next president would be, and then only after contentious recounts involving hanging chads and a controversial decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. By PTI NEW DELHI: As COVID-19 cases surge so do worries about how to contain the spread of the disease that is spreading inexorably through India, initially in urban centres and now increasingly into the hinterland where medical infrastructure is scarce. Though there are no exact numbers about the spread of the virus into rural areas, there is enough evidence to suggest it has reached most corners of India and there is community transmission, say experts. Just two figures could tell the story: an estimated 65 per cent of India's 1.3 billion population lives in rural areas. And, according to the website How India Lives, 714 districts in India have coronavirus cases, putting 94.76 per cent of the population at risk. "Increasingly, COVID-19 positive persons are being reported from small-sized towns, as well as from rural areas. Sero-surveys have revealed that the disease has spread to most parts of the country indicating community transmission of COVID-19," a group of public health experts said in a statement earlier this week. The experts, from the Indian Public Health Association, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine and the Indian Association of Epidemiologists, also expressed concern that reports of stigma, fear and discrimination continue even after six months. "A higher number of infections are being reported from semi-urban areas," said a Health Ministry official as India's COVID-19 tally raced past the 40 lakh mark on Saturday with 86,432 fresh cases. The death toll also climbed to 69,561 with 1,089 fatalities in a day. In the face of the relentless march of the disease, India took just 13 days to go from 30 lakh to 40 lakh and is the third worst-hit nation by the pandemic after the US and Brazil in terms of cases and deaths, the inescapable truth is that India's villages and semi-urban centres don't have the same facilities as bigger towns in terms of hospitals and laboratories to treat and test patients. Experts also stress the need for more data. "There is not enough data yet to do a detailed comparison, but anecdotal reports suggest that testing is limited and not accurate enough to be a good measure of trends," Gautam Menon, professor, Departments of Physics and Biology, at Ashoka University said while discussing trends in rural districts. Explaining the trajectory of the disease, Sitabhra Sinha, professor at Chennai's Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), told PTI, "As of now, the bulk of the active cases are centred in the major urban metropolitan areas and their immediate surroundings." "Places like Odisha which are still low in terms of numbers have a high R value - which means over the next few weeks, if the growth rate continues unabated, they may well turn out to be the new frontline in the fight against COVID," he cautioned. R value is the reproductive number that indicates the number of people getting infected by an already infected person on an average. The incidence of the disease in the eastern state demonstrates the vulnerability of those in rural areas. Since more than 75 per cent of the state's population lives in rural areas, it is natural the infection rate is also high among villagers in comparison to towns and cities, an official in Bhubaneswar said. More than 60 per cent of Odisha's cases are from rural areas and the number is rising as the pandemic gets prolonged, he said. Though the infection was mostly confined to urban areas till April end, it entered rural pockets after migrant workers left places such as Surat, Mumbai and Delhi to return home. Stage one of the infection was from people traveling to foreign countries. Stage two was those returning from the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi's Nizamuddin locality in March. The third stage of the infection, said Odisha's COVID-19 spokesperson Subroto Bagchi, came through people with a West Bengal link. And the fourth was when more than six lakh migrants returned to their home state. In neighbouring West Bengal, too, the incidence went up after the migrants started returning. "This also added to the community transmission of the disease," a senior official of the West Bengal health department told PTI. In the south, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan compared the fight against the coronavirus to a test match. "The more aggressive we test-conducting about 76,500 RT PCR tests per day, the more the number of cases," said Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan. The state's health department will launch a programme to re-emphasise the importance of wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and hand washing. In Maharashtra, one of the country's worst hit by the pandemic, rural areas had reported a rise in the number of fresh cases as well as deaths by the end of fifth month of lockdown in the state, said a senior state health official. He also cited the trajectory of the infection in August to make his point. "As of August 26, there were 7,03,823 cases of COVID-19 in Maharashtra, of which 5,07,022 (72.03 per cent) were from municipal corporation areas. Similarly, out of 22,794 deaths reported, 17,423 (76. 43 per cent) had taken place in municipal corporation areas and 5,371 in rural areas. But now the picture is changing," he said. With sizeable number of people have officially or unofficially travelled to rural areas, the infection has spread there as well followed by more deaths, the official said. "For instance, on August 1, there were 4,22,118 cases of COVID-19 in Maharashtra of which 3,36,740 (79.77 per cent) were from municipal coronation areas. Similarly, there were 14,994 total deaths in the state of which 12,543 (83.65 per cent) were from urban areas and 2,451 from rural areas," he said. "We have to admit that some people have illegally snuck into rural areas and spread the virus," he said. Efforts are on to ramp up infrastructure at the grassroots level to meet the escalating challenge. In Andhra Pradesh, for instance, every primary health centre (PHC) and community health centre (CHC) in semi-urban and rural parts area is doubling up as a Covid Care Centre. According to government data, about 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks have been reported from rural areas. "We have accordingly improved the infrastructure in PHCs and CHCs, so much so that they are now equipped with oxygen facilities as well to handle the caseload," state Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar told PTI The 104 service (mobile medical units) that makes rounds of villages is also coming handy to treat coronavirus patients at their doorstep. "The good thing about rural areas is that they are not as compact and dense as urban areas, except a few so proper testing and isolating measures can control the outbreaks, said Dr Giridhar Babu of the Public Health Foundation of India and a member of Karnataka's technical advisory committee. In Puducherry, the numbers have gone up from three in April to 5,042 active cases and 10,279 who have been cured and discharged, according to Union Health Ministry figures on Saturday, hospital infrastructure and testing facilities are being improved, said Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao. Kerala, a state grappling with a resurgence in the number of cases, is doubling up on its efforts to make sure that everybody receives high-quality treatment. "Now we have enough COVID First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTC), enough labs for testing, COVID care hospitals, more health workers, COVID brigade and other facilities which would help us to contain the pandemic when it reaches the peak," said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Officials in Telangana said the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area, the state capital region, has been the COVID-19 hotbed in the state but cases in the area have been mostly stable in recent weeks. However, there has been a rise in the numbers in rural Telangana. "We have earlier said the cases would gradually come down in the GHMC area by the end of August. We also said though there would be some uptick, the cases in rural Telangana would be under control by the end of September. The trend is as expected," state Director of Public Health G Srinivas Rao said. Officials in Madhya Pradesh estimate that the infection has spread its footprint in rural areas of 51 of the state's 52 districts. In neighbouring Gujarat, a bulk of its more than 97,000 cases have emerged from its seven main cities but the rural areas make up the rest In Goa, almost 50 per cent of COVID-19 cases are from rural areas. According to the Health Department's data, rural areas such as Curchorem, Canacona, Valpoi and Sankhalim are the worst affected. Vasco town was the first point of infection and from there it spread to the villages through government employees who travel from towns to their home back in villages. In Uttar Pradesh, however, officials said the infection is still urban centric. Surveillance teams and 'gram nigrani samitis' have been activated and the strategy is to conduct maximum number of tests and do intensive contact tracing. "When the migrants had returned to the state, we had some problems," an official said, adding that 58,000 'nigrani samitis' are working and the government already has a data base of 35 lakh migrants. Published on 2020/09/06 | Source A surge in coronavirus infections has prompted businesses across the country to make their staff work from home again wherever possible. Advertisement Kindergartens and schools have closed, so many parents have to juggle both office work and household chores in often cramped conditions. One 37-year-old office worker with a child in third grade said, "It's really tough for me to focus on work at home because of my child, so my husband and I take turns working in a coffee shop in our neighborhood. But I'm not sure how safe it is to work outside". "Video conferences have also increased, and it's a bit uncomfortable holding them from a coffee shop", she added. "I'm also concerned if I should be talking about company matters in a public space". Kim Woo-joo at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "It would be advisable to restrict places suitable for work for telecommuters as part of quarantine". One 38-year-old banker in Seoul has been working from home since last Tuesday for the second time this year. "I have to leave my air conditioner on all day so my electricity bill rose 10 percent compared to last month", he said. "Plus I spend more on food deliveries and end up eating more, so I'm putting on weight". Employers in turn resort to fiendish wiles to check that staff working from home are not dozing off or watching TV. One state-run company made sure the intranet connection from an outside source automatically disconnects if a telecommuting worker leaves his or her computer for more than 15 minutes. The company said it was part of "online security", but a staffer said, "It means you have to at least move your mouse or tap your keyboard once every 15 minutes, and it sure feels like I'm being monitored". But of course telecommuting is impossible for many companies that either require face-to-face interactions or lack the infrastructure, and even those who can do it face obstacles. One mobile provider said it will let staff in the Seoul metropolitan area and Busan telecommute until the end of this month, but now staff are complaining that this is simply unfeasible. "I work for a branch in the Seoul metropolitan area, but I still have to meet clients", one sales assistant said. "The company says 80 percent of workers excluding essential staff will telecommute, but in fact 80 percent of the workers are essential staff". Work-from-home guidelines announced by the Ministry of Labor and Employment in April do not provide specific details and were criticized for being ambiguous. They have nothing to say, for example, on what to do if personal information is leaked while workers of banks or insurance companies are telecommuting. Nor do they contain any tips on how to prove if an accident happened at home while a worker is telecommuting so the employee can file for work-related injury compensation. The ministry has promised improved guidelines in September. "Unless detailed instructions are announced, we lay ourselves wide open to legal disputes", a business insider said. - By Nathan Parsh Whenever the market has a temper tantrum and decides to sell everything, it often throws out good stocks along with the bad. This can lead to a situation where the dividend yield is considerably higher than usual. This is what investors refer to as an accidently high yielder. One excellent example of this is Aflac Inc. (NYSE:AFL). Shares of Aflac sold off along with the rest of the market in March as the Covid-19 pandemic spooked the market and resulted in dramatic selloffs in nearly every industry. Shares of Aflac have recovered somewhat from the lows, but the stock sits more than 30% off of the 52-week high. While making a new 52-week high might not occur for sometime due to the uncertainty that remains in the market, Aflac's current yield is more than 50 basis points above its 10-year average. This may not sound like much, but the share price would have to increase more than 20% in order for the stock to trade with its 10-year average dividend yield. Shares of the company also trade below the long-term average. This could be a great opportunity for investors to acquire shares of an undervalued stock offering a higher than usual dividend yield. Company background and quarterly highlights Aflac has been in business since 1955. The company has grown to become the largest underwriter of supplemental insurance in the world. The company also sells cancer, accident, short-term disability, critical illness, life, dental and vision insurance. Aflac has operations in just two countries, Japan (70% of pretax earnings) and the U.S. (30% of pretax earnings). Aflac is valued at $27 billion today. Aflac reported second-quarter earnings results on July 28. The company's revenue declined nearly 2% to $5.4 billion, missing Wall Street's consensus estimates by $80 million. However, the company did manage to produce a solid gain in profit. Adjusted earnings per share increased 15 cents, or 13.3%, to $1.28. This was 23 cents higher than expected. Story continues The company did repurchase 5.2 million shares during the quarter, but Aflac's adjusted net earnings increased 8.9% to $921 million. This means that gains in earnings per share weren't exclusively due to share buybacks. Currency is always going to be part of the equation with Aflac as the majority of sales are conducted in Japan, but results are reported in U.S. dollars. Currency exchange actually added a penny to adjusted earnings figures in the most recent quarter. Net premium income for the Aflac Japan segment was flat at $3.2 billion. Total revenue grew 0.3% to $3.8 billion, while net investment income net of hedging costs grew 3.9% to $633 million. The Covid-19 pandemic severely limited this segment's ability to conduct business. New annualized premium sales for protection-type products, which is the bulk of Aflac Japan's business, fell 60% in local currency. The pandemic limited contact between Aflac's employees and workers. The company also extended grace periods for premium payments in both Japan and the U.S. This quarter also faced a tough comparison in the second quarter of 2019, which saw strong sales related to Japan Post business. Aflac U.S. net premium income was also flat at $1.5 billion. Total revenues improved 0.9% to $1.7 billion due to higher third-party administrative fees, but net investment income was lower by 4.4%. Aflac U.S. new sales were down almost 56% compared to the previous year, due primarily to the pandemic. The company ended the second quarter with a remaining share repurchase authorization of 21.9 million shares. In addition, Aflac announced on Aug. 12 that it was going to add 100 million shares to its repurchase authorization. This total authorization represents 17% of the outstanding share count at the end of the quarter. Aflac suffered high rates of decline in new sales as a result of the social distancing restrictions in both of its markets. However, net premiums were stable in both Japan and the U.S. This is a sign that Aflac's customers remained loyal to the company's products even in a difficult business environment. This should also provide some evidence that Aflac's products will remain in demand for new customers once the restrictions related to the pandemic have been eased. Aflac's leadership position in supplemental insurance should serve the company well following a recovery from Covid-19. Insurance is often seen as a boring but steady business. Aflac has grown its earnings per share with a compound annual growth rate of 5.6% over the last decade. A solid, if not spectacular, growth rate. Even with Covid-19 headwinds, analysts who cover the stock expect the company to produce earnings of $4.65 per share this year. This would be a 4.7% increase from the previous year. Dividend and valuation analysis Companies that have steady business results tend to return capital to shareholders through dividends. Aflac is no different. The company raised its dividend 3.7% for the payment made this past March 2. As a result, Aflac now has 38 consecutive years of dividend growth. The company has raised its dividend by an average of: 9.2% per year over the past three years. 7.9% per year over the past five years. 6.8% per year over the past 10 years. Aflac's dividend growth had been trending higher in the near term, though the most recent increase is down significantly. On the plus side, the dividend is well covered using either earnings per share or free cash flow. Investors should receive $1.92 of dividends per share in 2020. Using analysts' estimates for the year, the earnings payout ratio is just 41%. While this is a low payout ratio, it is much higher than the average payout ratio of 25% that Aflac has averaged since 2010. This might be the reason for the lower-than-usual increase as the company has typically had an extremely low payout ratio. The free cash flow payout ratio is much better. Aflac distributed $193 million of dividends last quarter while generating free cash flow of $1.2 billion for a payout ratio of 16%. Year to date, dividends paid have totaled $388 million while free cash flow was $2.6 billion for a payout ratio of 15%. It is likely that this already extremely low payout ratio will only improve as the company embarks on an aggressive share buyback. Dividends distributed will be lower due to the lower share count. Aflac has a share price of approximately $38 at the moment. Using the annualized dividend of $1.12, the stock has a dividend yield of 2.9%. The yield isn't as robust as when I bought the stock earlier this year, but it is higher than the 10-year average yield of 2.4%. For context, there is only two other times since 2004 that Aflac has averaged a higher yield for an entire year (2009 and 2012) according to Value Line. Shares would have to increase $9, or 24%, to $47 for Aflac to trade with its long-term average dividend yield. The stock is also cheap compared to its historical average using the traditional price-earnings method for valuing securities. Using the current share price and expected earnings per share for 2020, Aflac has a forward price-earnings ratio of 8.2. The average multiple is 10.2 times earnings since 2010. Only once in the last 16 years has Aflac averaged a price-earnings ratio below 9. That was in 2009, when the multiple was 8.8 times earnings. Aflac is trading with one of its lowest valuations in a very long time. Applying expected earnings per share for the year by the average price-earnings ratio results in a price target of more than $47. Final thoughts Aflac definitely faced some headwinds during the second quarter, mostly as a result of the pandemic. Still, the company managed to maintain its net premiums and saw a strong gain on the bottom line. New sales were decimated, but overall sales dropped just slightly. This shows that Aflac has a product and service that consumers like once they have it. As social distancing restrictions ease, the company's new product sales should return to growth. The company's most recent increase was very low, but its dividend is very safe in my opinion. The free cash flow payout ratio is in the mid-teens and is likely to decrease following a very large share repurchase. Even after the stock has railed almost 65% off the March lows, the yield remains higher than normal. In addition, Aflac is undervalued compared to its decade-long average valuation. The stock still has 20%-plus returns to go before it trades with its long-term average yield and valuation. This makes shares of Aflac look like an excellent opportunity for investors. Disclosure: the author has a long position in Aflac Inc. Read more here: Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. The world's most populous nation has a strong appetite for Australian beef, and in the last financial year China accounted for about 15 per cent of AACo's total meat sales. While digesting news of the abattoir suspension has been more difficult for Killen than digesting a plant-based protein burger, the company has moved quickly to respond to the trade hit. AACo beef exported to China is also processed at another abattoir that was not affected, so the company redirected some beef there. It also sent some beef that would have gone to China to other markets. "I saw someone who bought some of our product ... I just bumped into them in the street ... and they'd just spent $550 for a dinner party on beef": Hugh Killen. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "What's happened since then is there's been pretty significant demand across some of our other markets, most noticeably in the US and Korea, so we've redirected into that space. And while China, we hope comes back on, it's not a huge issue for us at the moment," Killen says. "China's an important trading partner for us at AACo, they pay really well. We hope to be dealing with them in the same volumes that we were before, but at this point we have other options and contingencies," he says. While AACo has managed to navigate the difficulties posed by the abattoir suspension, Killen admits to being concerned by the ongoing stoush. "Every time you lose the ability to sell your product into a global market, it's something that you're concerned about," he says. The pandemic has had a material impact on AACo's provision of beef to the restaurant sector, however, Killen says there are a couple of silver linings that have emerged over the period as well. People are doing a lot more cooking at home and they are willing to spend more on the food they prepare in their own kitchen. "There's been a bit of a rise of what I'm calling the home chef," he says. "Eating at home has really become the new going out, so there are a number of different food items, beef being one of them, that is really restaurant quality that you can now get through distributors online, or specific direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels," he says. Killen says US market research has found that 54 per cent of consumers are cooking more at home now than they were before COVID-19, adding that cooking searches on YouTube have also soared as people seek to expand their culinary skills. After COVID-19, whenever that is, Killen predicts a vibrant restaurant scene will return around the world, but how that looks exactly is impossible to forecast. "I do think however that people are going to continue to eat more at home," he says. There's been a bit of a rise of what I'm calling the home chef. Hugh Killen, AACo chief executive Killen got an insight into just how enthusiastic some people can be about eating at home in the era of COVID-19 during a recent chance meeting. "I saw someone who bought some of our product the other day who I was talking to, I just bumped into them in the street...and they'd just spent $550 for a dinner party on beef. So where you might have gone out and spent that money at a restaurant, people are more than happy to do that at home," he says. A $550 bill for AACo Wagyu beef is clearly not the cost of your typical, home-cooked meal, but the beef boss was pleased to hear it nevertheless. Loading "It's not a full thematic at this point. And our larger retail channels are definitely more important, for now, but to me this is an emerging trend and one to keep an eye on," he says. AACo runs a series of cattle stations in Queensland and the Northern Territory, as well as feedlots and farms. All up, its operations cover a massive 6.4 million hectares, or about one per cent of the Australian land mass. This means that Killen leads one of the biggest workplaces in Australia. And when he needs to move around "the office", AKA remote cattle station, it is often done by helicopter or light plane. Flying is so essential to the company's operations that AACo actually employs a number of pilots, and does not allow its own managers to fly aircraft themselves. No one realises how lucky they are at school to have a never-ending carousel of potential friends rotating around them. But the older we get, the more the opportunity to meet new people lessens. Suddenly, youre so far from the fun youre not just in the fairground car park but on the other side of the road where they put the bins out wondering where everyone went. While its no longer unusual for singletons to spend their time scrolling through apps to find a date by 2031, over half of relationships will start with a swipe, eharmony predicts there remains a taboo around openly admitting youre trying to find new friends. We can meet up with a stranger from the internet for the chance of love and sex, but the mere suggestion of a platonic date with a stranger is treated as borderline perverted. Yet we are in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. Despite the cliched stereotype of the solitary pensioner, young people living in metropolitan areas are most likely to report feeling isolated, according to a recent YouGov survey. Distressingly, 31 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds have said they feel lonely often or all of the time. But friendship apps have existed for years. Bumble whose modus operandi is women making the first move expanded to launch Bumble BFF in 2016. The friendship feature works in the same way as the dating app, but with the sole goal of matching same-sex users who want to socialise. In internet terms, however, its a relic. When Bumble users surpassed 100 million in 2017, the number of people on the BFF platform stood at just 3 million. When I moved from London to Marbella for work, the worry Id be entirely friendless when tourist season was over, and the citys outgoing visitors returned to their hometowns, hovered in my head. I needed something less transient, someone within a 30km radius to collapse hungover and eat pesto pasta with. If friends visited me from the UK, their inevitable departure made the gaping social hole in my routine all the more noticeable. We filled the void with long-distance video calls, but I still noticed the quiet where their laughter had been when the conversation was over. (Lydia Spencer-Elliott) After overcoming some serious scepticism surely only weirdos find friends online, I thought I faced the reality of my impending loneliness and downloaded Bumble. My profile needed an update from the days it was briefly used for dating: potential friends really didnt need to know how I looked in a bikini. Recommended My fiancee left me just before lockdown but my sausage dog has helped me through my darkest moments Just moved here to work for a newspaper. Looking for pals, I wrote before whacking two emojis and my Instagram handle on the end for good measure. I swiped hopefully until the profiles ran out near impossible on a dating app but only 10 minutes of light work in BFF mode. Im fun I promise!!! read one bio, Not a murderer said another. Swipe left no, swipe right yes, until I matched with Anna. Her photos followed the same format most BFF profiles do: an approachable smiling selfie before a photo with friends to demonstrate the capacity to make them. Hey Lydia! Let me know if you fancy going for a coffee or a drink sometime, she messaged. And it was as simple as that. In the place of shudder-inducing chat, Jesus abs and the cry laughing emojis that characterise digital dating, was an exchange devoid of ego and objectification. First, we met in a group. I was early, she was late and much like when you make the misjudged decision to invite your crush to a party instead of dinner the music was too loud and the table too long to achieve anything other than small talk. But the need to play it cool evaporates when you take sex off the table, so Anna and I made more plans without performative hesitation. Anna on Bumble BFF (Lydia Spencer-Elliott) On our second meeting, I waited for Anna to pick me up for a sightseeing daytrip to the Spanish countryside. My palms were sweaty; 60 minutes in the car is a decade for two people in a conversational stalemate. What if she had the personality of a potato? Or off-putting political views? Or nits? Annas car flew around the corner, windows down, music loud, with the same chaotic energy as Cher Horowitz in her Jeep Wrangler. Like the initial swipe, our connection was fast, and familiarity came quicker. I unclenched. IM OUT WITH A GIRL FROM BUMBLE, Anna yelled proudly at her dad over the hands-free as she drove. We wandered around the town of Ronda: God, I miss Pizza Express, do you have any siblings?, will you come out for my birthday? bounced the conversation. Annas energy level was stratospheric, her laugh loud and eyes uncritical. Each detail divulged she likes French rap and hiking became a landmark that punctuated our shift from strangers to friends. Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best Show all 30 1 /30 Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 30. "The One with Chandler in a Box" Season four, episode eight This list wouldnt be complete without a post dedicated to Chandler and Joeys friendship. After a multi-episode arc that sees Chandler falling for and then kissing Joeys girlfriend Kathy, the former is struggling to get his roommate to forgive him. Joey thus sentences him to spending Thanksgiving inside a wooden crate. Kathy, of course, shows up during dinner to give Chandler an emotional farewell prompting Joey to open Chandlers box and tell his friend to go be with Kathy. Sweet. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 29. "The One with the Cop" Season five, episode 16 Joey thinks hes in love with Monica, Phoebe meets a police officer, but none of this matters the beating heart of this episode is Rosss attempt to purchase a new sofa and get it to his apartment without paying the delivery fee. Rachel and Chandler agree to help him, only for Ross to repeatedly instruct them to pivot, pivot, pivot, in one of the funniest, most memorable scenes in the shows 10-year history. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 28. "The One with the Sonogram at the End" Season one, episode two In the second episode of Friendss first season, Ross and Susan struggle to find their places as co-parents at the onset of Carols pregnancy. The storyline manages to address both Rosss and Susans angst in a rather sensitive way, with a sweet denouement when both of them hold Carols hand during her ultrasound. (Side note: Carol is played in this episode by Anita Barone, though the part ultimately went to Jane Sibbett for the rest of the show.) An unrelated scene in which Rachel brings her engagement ring back to her former fiance Barry (while the orthodontists young patient awaits) delivers a nice dose of comic relief. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 27. "The One with the Memorial Service" Season nine, episode 17 This episode aired for the first time in 2003, and its fascinating to see how Friends delivered its take on the beginnings of social media. Ross has discovered an alumni website for people who went to his and Chandlers college and is understandably fascinated to find out his former crush lost an ear in a boating accident and had a failed business. He and Chandler, naturally, end up posting false updates about each other. While the episode is filled with the kind of Friends jokes that havent aged well (quips about Chandler being gay, comments about women not wanting to sleep with a weird man), Rosss need for his former classmates attention prompts him to hold his own funeral wake which of course doesnt go well. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 26. "The One where Emma Cries" Season nine, episode two As Rachel struggles to get her newborn daughter to stop crying, Ross and Joey fight over the latters decision to propose to Rachel after she gave birth. The dispute escalates to hilarious heights when Joey begs Ross to punch him only to dodge the blow, leaving Ross to painfully hit a pole. Things only get worse when Joey takes Ross to the hospital and asks one insulting question after the other. The punching incident is played for laughs a second time after Joey, wanting to demonstrate how natural it is to duck when a punch is approaching, ends up hitting Ross in the face. The whole thing is just goofy and classically funny. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 25. "The One with All the Rugby" Season four, episode 15 Ross tries to impress his English girlfriend Emily by playing rugby with her friends, and ends up rather seriously injured in the process. But the funniest plotline of the episode involves Monica, who grows increasingly obsessed by a light switch in her apartment that seemingly doesnt do anything. Courteney Cox does a wonderful job at bringing to life Monicas increasing frustration and who cant relate to her level of dedication when it comes to solving an inane problem? Meanwhile, Chandler tries to escape his relationship with Janice by telling her hes moving abroad specifically to 15 Yemen Road, Yemen. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 24. "The One where Rachel Has a Baby Part One" Season eight, episode 23 As Rachel progresses through the phases of labour, she and Ross are left sharing their room with several couples, one after the other. Theres the couple that overshares, the couple that fights (with a great guest appearance by Debi Mazar) and ultimately, Janice (Chandlers ex) with her new husband. I happen to find most TV birth episodes a bit, well, exhausting so many times, theyre an overwhelming combination of high-running emotions, screams, and physical approximations but this one is genuinely funny. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 23. "The One with All the Jealousy" Season three, episode 12 Ross showers Rachel with gifts at her office, setting the stage for the pairs break-up a few episodes later. Monica strikes up a romance with her colleague Julio, who writes a poem inspired by her and titled The Empty Vase. Those make for nice sitcom moments, but Matt LeBlanc is the real star of the episode. Joey finds himself in an embarrassing situation when auditioning for a part in the Broadway play A Tale Of Two Cities and is asked to use the advanced dance skills he listed on his resume a brazen line. After failing to train a group of performers to do the instructed choreography, he is asked to perform the dance himself and winds up running away. The whole storyline is hilarious, and its a rather original take on the lying-on-your-CV trope. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 22. "The One with the Dirty Girl" Season four, episode six Per the titular plot, Ross dates a woman who happens to have an extremely messy apartment. The episodes best scene, however, comes when Phoebe and Monica partner up to cater a funeral. When it seems like the widow is trying to avoid paying Monica, the latter cant work up the courage to confront her. Phoebe, however, is having none of it and delivers an impassioned speech about the importance to get paid for ones work. The moment is empowering, played for laughs, and stands out as an instance of Phoebes trademark audacity. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 21. "The One with the Blackout" Season one, episode seven A power blackout in New York City might not be the most thrilling premise in the history of television, but it is brilliantly executed here. Chandler takes the cake when it turns out hes stuck with a Victorias Secret model he admires and his internal monologue grows increasingly panicked as he tries to interact with her. Meanwhile at Monicas apartment, Ross tries to tell Rachel he loves her but is interrupted when a cat jumps on his back. Its a lively episode that showed Friendss potential from season one. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 20. "The One with Ross's Sandwich" Season five, episode nine Another classic one-liner. When Ross finds out someone at work ate his Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich the only good going on in [his] life he goes in a rage at work and winds up yelling at his superior, who not only ate some of the sandwich but threw the rest away. You threw my sandwich away? MY SANDWICH! MY SANDWICH, he yells, loud enough to scare away the pigeons in the Flatiron district. To this day, Ross when he finds out his boss ate his sandwich remains the gold standard for anger among Friends fans. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 19. "The One with Ross's Wedding Part Two" Season four, episode 24 Two pivotal arcs in one episode! First, Monica and Chandler sleep together for the first time after a guest at her brothers wedding mistakes her for the mother of the groom. Then, just as it looks like Rachel is finally ready to let Ross go and let him marry Emily, he says the wrong word at the altar. This was only the season four finale, yet it foreshadowed the end of the series six seasons later in more ways than one. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 18. "The One with Ross' New Girlfriend" Season two, episode one Ross and Rachels on-off love story provided some of Friendss funniest, saddest, and most memorable moments. In this instance, Rachel returns from the airport, where she intended to surprise Ross and confess her feelings for him only to find out he had reconnected with an acquaintance named Julie, now his girlfriend. Anistons comedic talent shines as Rachel goes from one mishap to the next falling from an airport chair, splitting her forehead open, using a bouquet of flowers to stop the bleeding, and running up the stairs to tell the other friends about Julies arrival. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 17. "The One where Rachel Tells..." Season eight, episode three Rosss reaction to Rachel telling him she was pregnant with his child wasnt great, but it was funny. After a couple episodes worth of build-up, Rachel finally feels ready to break the news to her ex only for him to focus on his outrage upon finding out that condoms are only 97 percent effective. Jennifer Aniston delivers a great performance as the calm, confident Rachel, which contrasts brilliantly with Schwimmers outrage as he calls the president of the condom company. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 16. "The One with Unagi" / "The One with the Mix Tape" Season six, episode 17 Who could forget unagi, the concept Ross supposedly learned during his karate training (which is actually the Japanese word for freshwater eel)? After Rachel and Phoebe take a self-defense class, Ross explains somewhat disdainfully that being able to defend oneself in a controlled environment is different from being able to do so when the attacker strikes by surprise. The rest of the episode sees the group trying to scare one another adding unagi to the list of Friends catchphrases fans still reference today. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 15. "The One with the Stripper" Season eight, episode eight Forget about the main plot line, which centres around Monicas efforts to throw Chandler a late bachelor party and unknowingly hires a prostitute instead of a stripper. The best part of the episode and the reason why it deserves the 15th spot on this list is a scene in which Ross gets caught between his girlfriend Mona and Rachels father, Dr Leonard Green, who has just found out that Rachel is pregnant to Rosss child. Ross ends up in the unfortunate position of having to explain both how much he cares for Rachel to Dr Green and why he doesnt want to be with her to Mona. The situation escalates when Joey leaves a message on Rosss answering machine, accusing him of knowing something about the hooker in Chandler and Monicas home. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 14. "The One with the Embryos" Season four, episode 12 This season four instalment has the right balance of emotion and humour. On the one hand, Phoebe goes through IVF and anxiously waits to find out whether the process was successful knowing that her brother and his wife can only afford to try once. On the other hand, Rachel, Monica, Chandler and Joey embark on a silly contest to determine who knows the other friends best. That particular story line ends not only with Monica and Rachel having to trade apartments with Chandler and Joey it also gave viewers a cult sequence that sees Ross going over the top as the host of the groups trivia game, and the two women losing their flat because Rachel doesnt know that Chandlers TV guide gets delivered to Chanandler Bong. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 13. "The One Where Ross Is Fine" Season 10, episode two If you feel the need to state multiple times in a conversation that you are doing just fine, you most likely are not. Ross learns this lesson the hard way in season 10, after finding out that Rachel and Joey are dating while he himself is in a relationship with paleontologist Charlie Wheeler (Aisha Tyler). Yes, Ross was too often a lacklustre romantic partner, but David Schwimmer is a brilliant comedian whose talents shine as he brings Rosss manic energy to life. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 12. "The One with the Holiday Armadillo" Season seven, episode 10 How could we possibly forget David Schwimmers performance as the Holiday Armadillo, the character invented by Ross in an attempt to get his son Ben interested in Hanukkah? Even when Chandler comes close to unknowingly ruin his friends efforts (by showing up dressed as Santa Claus), the episode keeps the sweet, heartwarming tone expected during the holiday season. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 11. "The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break" Season three, episode 15 Chronologically, this episode directly precedes The One with the Morning After. Rachel and Ross have a major argument due to Rosss insecure behaviour, which causes him to smother his girlfriend while shes trying to deal with a stressful situation at work. Ross tells Rachel hes tired of having a relationship with her answering machine and brings up Rachels oft-maligned mentor Mark. Whats interesting here is that Ross is getting upset over a situation he helped create in earlier seasons, by rightfully urging Rachel to spread her wings, become assertive, and ultimately chase a fulfilling career. The fact that he cant handle her success and its impact on their personal lives speaks volumes, and many couples might relate. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 10. "The One with the Morning After" Season three, episode 16 The break-up episode to rule them all. When Rachel finds out that Ross slept with someone else shortly after they decided to take a break from their relationship, she makes it clear theres no going back. Seeing the two of them split (for valid reasons!) after trying to find each other for so long is a bitter experience, but the point of no return occurs when Rachel realises the other woman was there when she visited Rosss apartment. Not to sound overly involved in the lives of these two entirely fictional people, but its impossible to watch and not feel it all: Rachels anger, Rosss despair as he tries and fails to fix the unfixable, and the sadness of two people who tried, tried and tried again to make it work but couldnt. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 9. "The One with Frank Jr" Season three, episode five Two elements land this episode a spot in the top 10. First, Phoebe tries to bond with her half-brother Frank Jr, with difficulty and while shes understandably frustrated when she realises how little they have in common, the storyline sets the basis of their unique sibling relationship. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 8. "The One Where No One's Ready" Season three, episode two No, nothing groundbreaking happens in this episode. Its season three. Ross is growing increasingly frustrated because his friends including his now-girlfriend Rachel are taking too long to get ready for an important event. But Monica, who is distracted after hearing a message from Richard, goes through a truly agonising mishap involving her exs answering machine, which escalates to unforeseeable heights. Plus, Rachel ends up putting Ross in his place after he yells at her in front of the rest of the group. Ross was a funny character but often a horrible boyfriend, and its truly refreshing to see Rachel call him out on his behaviour. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 7. "The One with Barry and Mindy's Wedding" Season two, episode 24 Yes, Rachels awful experience as the maid of honour at her ex-fiance Barrys wedding is hilarious and it culminates with an unexpectedly uplifting rendition of "Copacabana". But the real stars of the episode are Monica and Richard, who end up breaking up because they dont see eye to eye when it comes to having children in the future. Their split takes viewers somewhat by surprise Richard was, after all, ready to go through all the stages of parenting again if he had to and rings impressively true. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 6. "The One Where Ross and Rachel...You Know" Season two, episode 15 Its season two. Ross and Rachel are transitioning from their initial friendship to their first attempt at a romantic relationship. Meanwhile, Monica falls in love with Richard Burke, the older ophthalmologist whom, according to many fans, she should have chosen over Chandler (and whether you agree with that take or not is entirely up to you). Its vintage Friends and this episode set up storylines that framed the rest of the sitcom for many seasons to come. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 5. "The One with the Birth" Season one, episode 23 In the penultimate episode of the first season of Friends, Carol give birth to Ben, further exploring the family dynamics of Carol, Ross and Susan as co-parents. Ross and Susans near-constant fighting causes them to get locked in a closet with Phoebe an unlucky accident that ends up giving them the chance to bond in earnest. In short: The One with the Birth puts same-sex parenting on the map, and yes, it does so at times in a very 1995 way, but its overall touching and tackles the theme in a rather convincing way. Plus, the side storyline that sees Joey bond with a single mother as she goes through labour shows a sweet, unexpected side of his character. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 4. "The One Where Ross Got High" Season six, episode nine At first glance, this isnt one of Friendss most memorable tour de forces. The Thanksgiving episode begins with the ordinary concerns Monica doesnt want to tell her parents that she and Chandler are living together, Ross and Joey are itching to get dinner over with so they can spend time with Joeys attractive roommate Janine and her friends but it escalates into amazing levels of absurdism. Rachels failed trifle, which includes beef, remains a cult reference. But most memorable is Judy Gellers monologue when she puts all six friends in their places one by one, swiftly handling everyones issues from Monicas reluctance to tell them about her relationship with Chandler to the revelation that Ross smoked pot as a teen. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 3. "The One with the East German Laundry Detergent" Season one, episode five Its filled with many of the moderately funny Friends staples Chandlers unsatisfying relationship with Janice, Joeys romantic troubles, and of course, Ugly Naked Guy, Monicas neighbour from across the street but the laundromat scene alone salvages the entire episode. What begins as an innocent attempt at learning how to wash her clothes by herself sees Rachel stand up for herself when another woman tries to steal her cart. Its not just a fundamental element of the character journey that sees her grow from a spoiled young woman who has never had to fend for herself into an accomplished professional and capable parent. Its also a moment that will ring true to many who have moved to New York over the course of their lives: the city, because its so big, overpopulated and filled with overachievers, has a way of teaching even the most timid of wallflowers how to advocate for themselves. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 2. "The One Hundredth / The One with the Triplets" Season five, episode three Lisa Kudrow carries this season five episode which, as one of its two titles suggests, was the 100th of the show, on her shoulders as Phoebe, who agreed to be her brothers surrogate, gives birth to triplets. Kudrow gives a memorable performance as Phoebes feelings escalate from fear (while she readies herself for contractions), to frustration (when her doctor turns out to be an overly dedicated fan of the Happy Days character Fonzie) and, finally, to sadness (when her last-minute request to keep one of the babies fails to materialise). Its a touching take on surrogacy, which manages to address some of its emotional entanglements while still showing how Phoebe can move on with her life and find her place as the babies aunt. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Friends' top 30 episodes from worst to best 1. "The One with the Lesbian Wedding" Season two, episode 11 In 1996, The One with the Lesbian Wedding gave viewers the first same-sex wedding between two women shown on network television. Sure, the episode itself isnt without flaws (some might argue that Carol and Susans wedding remained fundamentally heteronormative) but it remains one of the milestones from Friendss legacy. Its also moving and plants the seeds for some of the most enduring character arcs of the show, from Joeys soap opera career to Monicas professional woes and Rachels evolving family dynamics (beginning with her parents divorce). Phoebes storyline, which sees her supposedly possessed by the spirit of a recently deceased elderly massage client, is full of her characters trademark whimsy and quirkiness. This is, in many ways, the quintessential Friends episode. Netflix / Warner Bros Television Then the winding ridge we had meandered down became slippery, our sandals had no grip and I fell backwards with a shriek. Anna caught me by the arm but lost her own balance in the process. We clang to each other in peals of laughter, scrambling for stability while sliding down the slope with no control. It felt easy. After a bowl of pasta more enjoyable than any romantic meal saturated with fake laughter and vodka, we said goodbye. I revelled in the absence of the uninvited first date tongue lunge. Today was fun, we agreed as I hopped out the car, swaddling each other in assurance that the feeling was mutual. You went where with who from what?, interrogated a friend in the UK. Bumble BFF? Do people really do that? asked another, mystified. They do. I did. And perhaps, more should. Now Anna and I send voice notes, plan trips, swim, laugh and sunbathe until our cheeks are red and our throats croak. A whirlwind friendship: weve known each other five weeks. Films and novels romanticise the quest for love, while friendship is expected to happen organically. Thelma already knows Louise, Monica remembers Rachel, and Grace cohabits with Frankie, all without fate or luck. But Notting Hill is plotless without Will throwing orange juice over Anna by chance. Yet, isnt a firm friendship more significant than the fleetingness of most romantic encounters? Spike is, after all, the one who watches Will moon around forlorn when Anna disappears. A few women I know have cobbled together platonic friendships off the back of sparkless Tinder dates. But, based on the ghost of mutual attraction, most of them tend to conclude after the same dismal decline: a drunken snog, an unsolicited dick pic and the block button on Instagram. With our conversion to fibre-optic flirting, the lingering stigma around finding friends online is markedly strange. Knowing people, feeling known, allows you to tether yourself to a new place. Just like finding a favourite bar or somewhere to get your hair cut, the possibility of bumping into a familiar face reminds us that we belong where we are. As the girl gang grows Otilia, Paula, Holly, Denice, and more a swipe away Spain has started to feel less like the first day of school and more like the sixth form common room: theres always someone to eat lunch with. I have the internet to thank for that. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 15:18:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education (MOE) has launched four international online platforms for learning the Chinese language. Besides the launch which was on Saturday, "Chinese Plus" cloud services, "Chinese Bridge" app and two other platforms were also on the scheduled agenda of the International Forum on Trade in Education Service at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2020 that opened Friday. At present, more than 4,000 universities, over 30,000 primary and secondary schools as well as over 45,000 colleges of Chinese studies in more than 70 countries around the world have offered Chinese courses, according to Liu Jin, director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges with MOE. A total of 200 million people outside China have learned, and use Chinese, according to Liu. "Online platforms can help the development of Chinese education internationally amid the epidemic," said Zhao Guocheng, deputy head of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation. A total of 18,000 enterprises and institutions from 148 countries and regions and about 100,000 people have registered for this year's CIFTIS. Enditem Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon speaking during the Scottish Government's daily briefing last Thursday - AFP Nicola Sturgeon has warned that Covid-19 deaths and hospital admissions could start rising again shortly in Scotland after the large number of cases in four months. Scottish Government figures disclosed 208 new cases were recorded in the previous 24 hours, the highest daily total since May 8. The total included 92 more cases in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area, where Ms Sturgeon has banned people from visiting other households following a spike in cases linked to outdoor gatherings. The proportion of Covid-19 tests that returned a positive result also increased to 2.3 per cent, up from 1.5 per cent the previous day and the highest rate since June 4. However, no new deaths were reported. 1/ Todays numbers show a continued increase, including in % positive. While this reflects the substantial opening up of the economy, it reminds us of the need to deploy strong counter measures. We have two main tools at our disposal... https://t.co/J2EQUo2LJW Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 6, 2020 In a series of messages posted on social media, Ms Sturgeon blamed the "continued increase" in cases on the "substantial opening up of the economy". She said that it was "good news" that so far the rise has not been "matched" by an increase in hospital or intensive care admissions, or deaths. But she warned there could be a "time lag", noting that other countries including France "that have had cases rising for longer are seeing these indicators rise now too." The First Minister also noted that the number of cases across the UK had surged from 1,813 on Saturday to 2,988 yesterday. In June Ms Sturgeon said Scotland was "not far away" from eliminating the virus and the following month she claimed it was five times less prevalent in Scotland than England, a boast that prompted an official reprimand from the statistics watchdog for being unsubstantiated. Story continues But she warned last week the virus is spreading again and the R number in Scotland - the average number of people each carrier infects - was now above one and potentially as high as 1.4. Across the UK, the R number is estimated to be between 0.9 and 1.1. 4/ So far the rise in cases is not matched by a rise in hospital/ICU admissions/deaths. Thats good news but we musnt be complacent about it. It could be a time lag - some countries, eg France, that have had cases rising for longer are seeing these indicators rise now too Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 6, 2020 The First Minister imposed a ban on indoor gatherings involving more than one household on more than 800,000 people in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire. She blamed small family gatherings for a surge in cases. NHS Lanarkshire, which serves a population of around 655,000 people, warned on Friday that its region was "very close" to having similar measures imposed. A further 30 cases in the area were reported on Sunday. Ms Sturgeon yesterday tweeted that the rise in cases "reminds us of the need to deploy strong counter measures", including the Test and Protect contact tracing system, and noted that the new Protect Scotland proximity app will be launched within the "next few days." Although she admitted that it was the largest daily total since May, she said that earlier in the year "we were testing far fewer people and mainly those in hospital, so reported case numbers then were likely to have been a much bigger underestimate of true prevalence." A father who killed his son and then himself in a shocking murder-suicide posted on Facebook about his battles with mental health issues just weeks before the tragedy. Troy Harvey, 45, and his son Koah, four, were found dead at a property at Rossville, north of Cairns in far north Queensland, on Friday morning. Police initially attended the home after receiving a call from a 36-year-old woman a night earlier, who claimed she had been assaulted by Mr Harvey. When officers arrived they made the grim discovery. Tributes have flowed for the youngster in the days since his death, while Mr Harvey's social media posts are expected to form part of a coronial inquiry. In early July, less than a month before the tragedy, Mr Harvey - a boxercise teacher - posted about how he had suffered through 'a full on nervous mental breakdown'. Troy Harvey (pictured), 45, and his son Koah, four, were found dead at a property at Rossville, north of Cairns in far north Queensland, on Friday morning Koah, 4, (pictured) was killed by his dad in a horrific murder suicide in Queensland on Friday. In the aftermath his mother Natsuko Kurihara posted a heartbreaking dedication to her son and begged him to forgive her for not being able to 'save' him In early July, less than a month before the tragedy, Mr Harvey - a boxercise teacher - posted to his friends about how he had suffered through 'a full on nervous mental breakdown' (pictured) 'I had a full on nervous mental breakdown whatever you want to call it,' he wrote. 'I am so sorry to all the people I have hurt or let down over the years due to excessive drug and alcohol abuse. 'I am seeking help,so come on down get fit. Let's support those with mental health issues, past traumas, or any thing else that's seems to pull us down and feel like know where to run to.' Police are appealing for public assistance in their investigations and want to speak to anyone who had contact with Mr Harvey between August 28 and September 4. They also want to speak to the driver of a silver vehicle who visited Mr Harvey's home on Friday morning Queensland detective inspector Jason Smith said. Koah's mother Natsuko Kurihara posted a heartbreaking dedication to her son where she begged him to forgive her, saying 'I'm so sorry I couldn't save you'. 'My beautiful boy Koah, he has had only four years of life, this has been taken by his father. He then took his own life,' Ms Kurihara posted on Saturday. 'I'm in pain life is not fair. 'Let the people you love know you love them as they can be taken from you. Kurihara (pictured, left) wrote that her 'beautiful son' Koah (centre) was killed by his father, and expressed her pain that she 'couldn't save him' Mum Natsuko Kurihara (pictured, left) said Koah's dad, Troy Harvey (right), had killed his own son Little Koah's mum issued a heartwrenching Facebook post after her little boy was killed by his own dad 'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever.' Detective Acting Inspector Jason Smith told The Cairns Post 'they worked on him for a significant period of time.' He is one of a number of detectives who are specialist officers who are travelling to the remote town on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland about 30km north of Cooktown, on Saturday. A crime scene has been established and detectives have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Harvey, 46, and the boy. 'We're treating it seriously and looking at all possibilities. We'll have a total of eight detectives and we're seeking to speak to anyone who had any information about the family,' Dect Insp Smith said. Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning despite paramedics rushing to the scene to try and save his life 'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever,' his mum wrote on Facebook after the four-year-old (pictured) was killed Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning and his mum has posted a heartbreaking tribute It is understood Ms Kurihara was not at home when officers arrived on scene. Ms Kurihara said there are 'no words to describe how I feel. Sad and regrets,' she posted to Facebook. Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott described the incident as 'terrible' and offered his commiserations to the family and friends. Pictures posted online appear to show the suspected killer as a loving, doting father. The town of Rossville has a population of just over 200 people. Lion's Den Hotel pub owner, Darryl Paradise, said it's the kind of close-knit community where 'everyone knows everyone'. A keen fisherman, Mr Harvey (pictured) is understood to have posted a message to a local Facebook group apologising to people he had 'hurt or let down' Harvey (pictured) took his own life after killing his young son, his mother alleged in a social media post 'We don't expect to see this sort of thing happening in the neighbourhood,' he told the ABC. 'We heard about it at lunch time today we're all totally shocked and just find it hard to believe. 'It is a very small community, everybody knows everybody and everybody speaks to everybody.' If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott has warned the extended lockdown in Victoria will extract a terrible toll on the state's economy, adding that the state's recovery road map creates more confusion for the public and businesses. I worry that this latest announcement creates more uncertainty and hardship and will inflict a greater personal and economic cost, not just to the people of Melbourne but the whole of Australia," he said. While he acknowledged the need for the Andrews government to take heed of the medical advice, Mr Scott said the state government had failed to adequately consider the needs of the broader business community. Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott. Credit:Trevor Collens "To develop a better plan would require the Victorian government to engage in genuine consultation; to listen and learn about industries that are outside their expertise, including how businesses have evolved to be COVID-safe," he said. Haiti - FLASH : Launch of works to strengthen the electricity network of the metropolitan area Saturday September 5, in downtown Port-au-Prince, President Jovenel Moise, accompanied among others by Michel Presume Director General of Electricity of Haiti (EDH) launched the work to strengthen the electricity network of the metropolitan area financed by a commercial loan of 150 million Taiwan dollars (Republic of China) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26457-haiti-politic-government-borrows-$150m-from-taiwan-for-electricity.html . Note that this is the first official loan from Taiwan's Official Development Assistance to a diplomatic ally, according to a Taiwan official. This important project will be executed by the Taiwanese firm Overseas Engineering & Construction Corp. LTDA. S.A. (OECC) jointly with EDH "Today we are launching the Power Grid Reinforcement Project. This operation, which will be jointly led by EDH and the Taiwanese firm OECC, constitutes an important step towards the electrification of the country," declared Moise adding "My thanks and feelings of gratitude to the Government of Taiwan and to its President Tsai Ing-wen for this loan. The Haitian state will provide the OECC with all the assistance it needs in order to enable it to achieve the goal we set for ourselves." Recall that this loan from Taiwan, mentioned in 2017 and whose agreement dates from 2018, has never been ratified by Haitian parliamentarians due to multiple blockades from the opposition. "With this launch of construction work on the metropolitan network, it is one more step in the battle to eliminate blackouts and make more electricity available to the population. Every day we are moving a little more towards the goal of putting electricity 24/24 in the country https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21342-haiti-flash-moise-reiterates-his-promise-of-electricity-24-24-throughout-the-country-in-2-years.html," specified Jovenel Moise. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26983-haiti-taiwan-the-project-to-build-an-electricity-grid-in-port-au-prince-temporarily-suspended.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26457-haiti-politic-government-borrows-$150m-from-taiwan-for-electricity.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25139-haiti-flash-taiwan-will-build-an-electricity-grid-for-port-au-prince.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24648-haiti-politic-electricity-taiwanese-experts-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24554-haiti-flash-jovenel-moise-relies-on-taiwan-to-electrify-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24261-haiti-energy-taiwan-grants-a-loan-of-about-$150m-dollars-to-haiti.html HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre When Aamir Khan said...: Kangana Ranaut responds to Senas Sanjay Raut Actor Kangana Ranaut delivered her response to Shiv Sena politician Sanjay Raut amid their ongoing verbal volley. After Raut reportedly used an expletive with regard to the actor, she accused him of encouraging misogynist elements in society. The root of the controversy is Kangana's comment that she's more scared of the Mumbai police than 'movie mafia goons'. She made the remark while claiming that she wants to expose an alleged drug mafia in Bollywood. When the ruling parties in Maharashtra opposed her criticism of Mumbai police, she said that India's financial capital was beginning to look like Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. She also criticised Mumbai cops over the probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Kangana said that Raut's people have threatened to break her jaw and kill her, and she was ready to meet them on September 9 when she lands in Mumbai. Earlier, Raut had said that he would consider apologising to Kangana if she issues a contrite statement for Maharashtra. ...read more GREENWICH Generation Impact, a program for local high school girls to take part in philanthropy, hosted its Big Give event online this year, and awarded its second annual $10,000 grant to Open Door Shelter, a Norwalk-based nonprofit that works with homeless individuals. The grant will fund a program leader who will oversee after-school education and enrichment activities for homeless children on-site at the Childrens Resource Center at Open Door four days every week throughout the school year and during the summer. We are beyond thrilled ... so excited to have a way to open our Childrens Resource Center for the upcoming school year, said Michele Conderino, executive director of the Open Door Shelter. To maintain social distancing, children at the shelter will use the Resource Center in small groups. The curriculum will be developed by retired teachers who volunteer at Open Door to provide homeless students access to some of the benefits that are accessible to many of their peers throughout Fairfield County. To support the charitable awards, each member of Generation Impact donated $100 to the grant award of $10,000. The girls from Greenwich wanted to make an impact on youth in need in Fairfield County. Before voting for a grant winner last month, the members reviewed grant applications and budgets for proposed projects and programs, along with videos submitted by Open Door and three other nonprofit finalists: Center for Childrens Advocacy, New Beginnings Family Academy and STAR Inc.-Lighting the Way. The finalists work with homeless children in Norwalk; bilingual students and public charter school students, both in Bridgeport; as well as intellectually and/or developmentally disabled youth across Fairfield County, respectively. Members chose the four finalists from an initial applicant pool of 43 Fairfield County-based organizations. Each organization proposed a youth-focused project or program. Members voted online and votes were tallied in real-time. Its been a crazy year, and it took a while, but we were committed to awarding this grant, said Isabel Allard, Generation Impact founder and leadership committee chair. Our nonprofit finalists worked hard to bring their organizations and proposed projects to life through amazing videos. Their causes are so important and they each need the funding now, more than ever. It was very hard to vote for only one winner. In addition to the $10,000 grant, thanks to donations from members and friends, Generation Impact is awarding $2,500 to each of the three other finalists. Generation Impacts mission is to introduce the next generation to the needs in the community, the organizations working to meet those needs, and how to join together to make an impact. The high school girls learn about needs in the community and work together to make an impact. There are currently 100 members, each of whom donated $100 to be pooled and awarded in the form of one $10,000 grant to a local nonprofit for a youth-focused project or program. For more information on Generation Impact and its grant process, visit: www.generationimpactffc.org/. Generation Impact was inspired by the powerful giving of Impact Fairfield County, a collective giving circle that engages women of Fairfield County in local philanthropy to work together to provide large, transformational grants to local nonprofits. James Madison University welcomes Class of 2024 James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., is welcoming the Class of 2024 to campus. The incoming freshman class hail from 36 states, the District of Columbia and 10 countries. The Class of 2024 includes two local students: Lillian Fischetti of Cos Cob, who will major in economics; and Elizabeth Stahl of Greenwich, who will major in psychology. Greenwich resident earns masters at Northern Illinois University Over 550 students received their degrees from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., in August. Included among the graduates was Chelsea Cwiklik of Greenwich, who earned a master of science in art, concentrating in art and design education. Two Greenwich Law Firms unite as Smith & Grant LLP joins the Whitman Breed Team Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC, a full-service law firm based in Greenwich, has welcomed the attorneys and staff from the Greenwich-based firm of Smith & Grant LLP to the growing Whitman Breed team. Smith & Grant LLP was founded by attorneys George L. Smith and Elizabeth M. Grant and has provided trust and estate services for over 15 years. We at Whitman Breed are very excited at the prospect of adding George and Libby, two of the preeminent estate planning lawyers in Fairfield County, to our team. Their arrival will add significant depth and experience to our existing trusts and estates practice and enhance our trust and estates/fiduciary litigation capabilities, said Charlie Pieterse, co-managing partner of Whitman Breed. Grant and several Whitman Breed attorneys have roots in town as residents, and Smith and Grants legal careers started at the same firm theyre now joining. We are coming full circle as we both started our Connecticut legal careers at Whitman & Ransom, the firms predecessor, said Smith. We look forward to augmenting the firms highly regarded probate litigation practice as well as its general trusts and estates practice. Kevin Walsh, Whitman Breeds other co-managing partner added: Their joining Whitman Breed represents a natural outgrowth of the two firms respective commitments to providing the highest quality legal services to their clients. Whitman Breed is a full-service law firm with a history dating back more than a century. Local student makes Deans List at Union College Michael Sands of Greenwich was named to the 2020 Deans List at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. Sands is a member of the Class of 2020 majoring in economics. The Deans List honors students who have a grade point average of 3.5 for the entire academic year. St. Lawrence University names students to Deans List Two local students Erin Grace Carey of Old Greenwich and Sean Pratley of Riverside have been selected for the Deans List during the Spring 2020 semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. To be eligible for the Deans List, a student must have an academic average of 3.6 or higher. U.S. regulators are considering adding Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. to a list of foreign buyers that need government permission to acquire technology or components, according to The Wall Street Journal and other outlets. They said officials are looking at whether SMIC plays a role in Chinese military development. Jerri-Lynn here. This is a timely reflection on the dire state of permanent U.S. unemployment as we cruise into Labor Day. Happy holiday! By Jake Johnson, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams President Donald Trump on Friday wasted no time taking a victory lap after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.4% in August, but economists warned a closer look at the new economic figures reveals an alarming surge in permanent joblessness that could portend a prolonged recession if Congress and the White House fail to quickly approve additional relief. The number of Americans classified as permanently unemployedas opposed to being on temporary furloughgrew by 534,000 in August even as the U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs. On Twitter, Trump celebrated the latter data point as great and much better than expected. The total number of workers who are permanently jobless is now 3.4 million, according to the bureaus latest data. Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), wrote in a blog postFriday that contrary to the White Houses rosy spin, the new BLS report shows the pain is nowhere near over for millions of workers and their families across the country. At this point, the U.S. economy is still down 11.5 million jobs from where it was in February, before the pandemic hit, wrote Gould. With this kind of slowing in job growth, it will take years to return to the pre-pandemic labor market. And, without the $600 boost to unemployment insurance, jobs will return even more slowly than had policymakers stepped up and continued that vital support to workers and the economy. EPIs Heidi Shierholz echoed Goulds assessment, noting in a series of tweets that the situation is dire and the labor market remains in crisis. This is the most important chart from today: a growing number of permanent job losses because of the Administrations inept public health response to the virus and a lack of additional fiscal support. pic.twitter.com/BtpS2MZTwc Bharat Ramamurti (@BharatRamamurti) September 4, 2020 On top of the growing number of Americans whose jobs have completely disappeared due to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting economic collapse, economist Jared Bernstein noted that another worrisome development spotlighted by the new BLS report is the shift to longer-term unemployment: the share of job losers unemployed for at least 15 weeks has gone from 8% in April to 60% in August. In sum, the failure of the Trump administration to control the virus has led to a slower pace of job gains and, while the jobless rate fell significantly last month, it is still in recessionary territory and more job seekers are at risk of longer-term unemployment, wrote Bernstein, a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Importantly, note that this shift is occurring as Congress, particularly Senate Republicans, has dropped the ball on further fiscal relief. As Common Dreams reported Thursday, Senate Republicans are preparing to vote as soon as next week on a skinny coronavirus relief package that would provide a $300-per-week federal unemployment supplementjust half of the $600 weekly payment the GOP allowed to expire in Julyas well as additional funding measures that Democratic lawmakers decried as woefully inadequate. In a Dear Colleague letter (pdf) on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) slammed the GOP proposal as an attempt to check the box and give the appearance of action rather than actually meet the truly profound needs of the American people. With no money for rental assistance, no money for nutrition assistance, and no money for state and local services, the census, or safe elections, wrote Schumer, Senate Republicans would be making another unacceptable and ineffective attempt at providing relief. The Washington Posts Jeff Stein reported Friday that the decline in the unemployment rate emboldens voices in White House saying more stimulus is unnecessary, even as economists warn that failing to provide additional relief fundsincluding substantial aid to cash-strapped state and local governmentscould have catastrophic economic consequences in the near future. Despite several recent attempts to jumpstart negotiations, Covid-19 relief talks between the White House, Schumer, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have been stalled for weeks as tens of millions of Americans attempt to meet basic needs with drastically reduced incomes. Nearly 30 million Americans are going hungry, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tweetedFriday. Meanwhile, three members of the Walton family grew their wealth by $3.7 billion in a single day. Mitch McConnell and the do-nothing Republican Senate refuse to help the working class. Pathetic. Business Council of Australia chief Jennifer Westacott believes firms receiving JobKeeper for their staff shouldnt be paying executives bonuses. She also feels companies should be exercising some very careful judgment when paying dividends while receiving the wage subsidy. But she was adamant bosses shouldnt be paying themselves a bonus while their company gets the JobKeeper COVID-19 support measure. It wasnt designed for that, she told ABC televisions Insiders program on Sept. 6. It was designed to keep people working. But she said when it comes to companies paying dividends when they are receiving JobKeeper, it is more complicated. She said dividends are usually part of a long-run policy of companies to their shareholders and many of these are self-funded retirees and mum and dad investors, as well as everybody through their superannuation. I would just urge those companies to really think about these decisions because we have to build community confidence, Westacott said. Westacott was also critical of the Victorian governments plan to reopen the economy. Speaking ahead of the states eagerly awaited press conference concerning easing stage four restrictions, she said communication between the Victoria government and the business council could have been better. There has been consultation but it has not been good enough, Westacott told ABC insider. Its one thing to tell businesses, but its another thing to work with them. By Colin Brinsden The Epoch Times contributed to this article. There are days Senior Constable Gausden thinks about giving up his job and starting fresh. It is often on Friday and Saturday nights when patrolling Perth's notorious entertainment strips gets rough. But there's always something that keeps bringing him back. That something is camaraderie. Probationary Constable Wiliams, Constable Gaffney, Senior Constable Gausden, Sergeant Todd, Senior Constable Kay, Senior Constable Garner and First Class Constable Morphew. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola "There's nothing more exhilarating than knowing you are going to a dangerous situation to back up your colleagues to make sure they are safe," he said. Senior constable Gausden is one of about a dozen specialised police bike squad officers tasked with patrolling the streets of the CBD, Northbridge, and East Perth. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned the Victorian governments decision to extend its harsh lockdown will come at a cost to both the state and national economy, with further job losses expected. But Premier Daniel Andrews defended the plan, saying the state had no choice but to proceed cautiously because the risk of setting off a potential third wave of infections and fatalities was too great. This will cause pain. It absolutely will. But it is the only option that we have, Andrews said on Sept. 6 at a press conference. In a joint statement with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt, Morrison said the Victorian governments proposed roadmap from its harsh restrictions would come at a further economic cost. The continued restrictions will have a further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and loss of livelihoods, as well as impacting on mental health, they said. Under state Labors plan, metropolitan Melbourne will undergo another two weeks of hard lockdown, albeit with some small concessions, before the government begins looking for trigger points of reductions in daily average case numbers to make further easings. The plan for Melbourne and regional Victoria sets a course toward so-called COVID normal when no new cases have occurred for 28 days and there are no active casesand which Andrews agrees might not be until December. Until we contain this (virus) properly we cannot open up, Andrews told reporters in Melbourne. If we did that, we wouldnt be opening up at all, we would simply begin a third wave, one that would do even more damage than this pandemic has already done. Deputy federal Labor leader and Victorian MP Richard Marles said he understood it was a frustrating time for Victorians. The health advice that Premier Andrews outlined shows we cant run out of the strict restrictions or well be back in a strict lockdown by the end of the year, he told AAP. But the Australian Industry Group has condemned the roadmap, saying it only prolongs the pain. Todays so-called Victorian roadmap to recovery is a document of despair for industry and their employees, Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said. It is now clear that as a result of state government decisions, actions and failures, Victoria will be an economic basket case and a drag on the national economy for years. Economists are concerned, given Victoria makes up 25 percent of national output and its delayed return to normality is likely to continue to drag on the Australian economy, which is now in recession. Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott said while there might be light at the end of the tunnel, more concessions should be made. The longer the road out of this, the harder it will be for the state and the nation to recover, get people back to work and create new jobs, she said. Australias national death toll is now 753 after Victoria recorded 63 new cases and five more deaths on Sept. 6, taking the number of state fatalities to 666. Daily case numbers in the southern state have been tracking steadily down in recent weeks and are now frequently below 100. By Colin Brinsden OKLAHOMA CITY A former top aide to Gov. Kevin Stitt received two contracts with state entities that he approved for millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funds. Donelle Harder, 34, served as Stitts campaign manager and senior adviser before leaving her $140,600-a-year state job in February. In March, she was hired under a contract with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, where she was paid $27,500 for communications support for the agency during the pandemic. That contract ended June 30. On June 1, she signed a contract with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for up to $130,000 a year for 28 hours a week for work and being on call. It was paid for with dollars from the Coronavirus Relief Fund authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, called CARES. Her duties included providing strategic consultation for stakeholders on CARES Act public policy and external facing factors on the management and distribution of funds. Harder recently ended that contract, saying her new company, Pliris Strategies, was pursuing private contracts. Its now less than two months until Election Day, and the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional campaigning. So the young Texans who volunteer with the state chapter of They See Blue, a progressive national organization focused on voters of South Asian descent, are focusing on new tactics as they pursue a mission of registering, persuading and mobilizing such voters. Theyre phone-banking for two hours on Saturday mornings, each week featuring a candidate for the Texas House, as well as a local celebrity a recent example was Aparna Shewakramani, a Houston attorney who stars in the new Netflix show Indian Matchmaking. Theyre sending mail-in ballots to voters who are eligible for them, as well as registering voters who may have sat on the sidelines in previous cycles. And theyre creating content, tailored for specific South Asian communities blog posts, op-eds and memes. The memes are so much fun, said Ali Hasanali, an attorney and member of the TSB TX Core Team, adding that theyre also a crucial way to reach millennial and Generation Z voters. Many of the challenges facing these organizers are the same encountered by anyone who attempts to mobilize voters in Texas, a state with historically low electoral participation compared with the nation writ large or reliable swing states. We have to do education here in Texas because of the voter suppression efforts, said Hasanali. For example, we have to educate voters that there is no straight-ticket voting this year; we have to educate them on ballots by mail. But interest in this years election is high, he continued, among South Asian voters and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Texans more generally. In 2018 we caught them off guard, because Republicans didnt expect Democrats to go after South Asian voters so hard, Hasanali explained. No one did. AAPI voters are the fastest-growing segment of the electorate, but they remain a small minority. This year, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center, they will make up nearly 5 percent of the nations voters; the figure is a bit higher in Texas, according to AAPI Data. And historically, at least, theyve been politically divided, with older AAPI voters from most sub-communities often favoring Republicans. But the election of President Donald Trump has changed that, perhaps permanently: In the 2018 midterms, AAPI voters favored Democrats by staggering margins. And in Texas, at least, the 2018 midterm were a wake-up call for both parties. In a battleground state, you have to look for every nook and cranny of voters, said Varun Nikore, the president of the AAPI Victory Fund, a nationwide super PAC. And Texas, he reckons, currently qualifies. I think this election will prove that its a swing state, Nikore told me last week. Obviously, theres no way to know until it happens, but after the 20th poll that says Biden and Trump are in the margin of error? Maybe you want to believe the polls. The left-leaning AAPI Victory Fund is investing accordingly. The PAC last month announced that its committing $1 million to boost AAPI turnout in Texas this cycle. Republicans many of whom recognize a need to diversify their electoral coalition as well as to keep Democrats at bay in the Lone Star State are also likely to step up their efforts with AAPI voters this cycle, with groups such as the Texas Asian Republican Assembly and the relatively new Indo-American Conservatives of Texas on the scene. And Trump, in his bid for re-election, has sought to make hay of his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with whom he appeared onstage at last years Howdy, Modi! event in Houston. Nikore explained that the challenges of mobilizing these voters are considerable but that the effort can pay significant dividends. You dont see sort of an organized ecosystem for AAPIs, Nikore told me. We tend to be fragmented by our core ethnicity the Chinese groups will organize, the Indian and South Asian groups will organize. That makes it hard, frankly, for progressive investors or campaign types. And organizers with experience in AAPI communities say the most effective form of outreach, for these voters, is highly specialized. When youre dealing with a community that is 65 percent first-generation American, you can see how sending the right individual to the right household would make the difference, right? Nikore said. Having that cultural understanding of the voter could be the difference between a persuasive message and someone who wants to slam the door in your face. But Trump, he continued, has created an opportunity for progressives to build relationships with AAPI voters that may last well past this election cycle. Its essentially the chickens coming home to roost for Republicans, Nikore said. They said for a long time, AAPIs are our natural allies. Theyre fiscally conservative, theyre socially conservative, theyre natural for our party. But they drove them away with the rhetoric and the extremism. In a state as competitive as Texas, the results of that alienation could prove decisive. erica.grider@chron.com New Delhi: More than 15 lakh people have returned to India through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, said Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Saturday (September 5). Taking to Twitter, Puri said, "International flights continue to facilitate repatriation and outbound travel of stranded citizens under Vande Bharat Mission since 6 May 2020. More than 15 lakh people have returned through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights so far." International flights continue to facilitate repatriation & outbound travel of stranded citizens under Vande Bharat Mission since 6 May 2020. More than 15 lakh people have returned through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights so far. pic.twitter.com/ChiWT140yz Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) September 5, 2020 Further, the Aviation Minister also informed that 4,059 Indian nationals returned on September 5. The Vande Bharat Mission started in early May to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus restrictions. In early September 2001, I got talking to a middle-aged neighbour about the news of the week. A long-time Labor voter, she was singing the praises of the then prime minister John Howard. A few days earlier, Howard had refused to accept refugees picked up at sea by the Norwegian freighter Tampa and sent special forces troops on to the ship after it entered Australian waters. My neighbour was all for Howard's action because, as she told me, refugees who tried to come by boat could be terrorists or be carrying disease. "Good on Howard. Don't let any of them in," she said. Most Australians agreed with her. The instantaneous leap in support for Howard and his government in opinion polls after Tampa was so profound that some pollsters went straight back out into the field and polled voters again to check that the first polls were accurate. They had been. The Howard government won a federal election in a canter soon after. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: John Howard is long gone from politics but his stance on the Tampa was the gift that kept on giving for the Liberal Party. At election after election, the Liberals have ramped up their strong-on-borders brand and reaped the benefits at the ballot box. Fear can have a powerful effect in politics, as some state premiers have found to their advantage lately. The more they've dug in on locking down their borders and casting themselves as great protectors, the more popular they've become. Watching Scott Morrison's rising frustration as various premiers against his wishes kept their borders closed for a mixture of practical and political reasons was piquant, to say the least. Patna: While addressing members of SC/ST committee of Bihar, Health Minister Mangal Pandey said that the opposition parties like Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress party are experts in farming lies and confusion on September 06, 2020. (Photo: IA Image Source: IANS News Patna, Sep 6 : Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey on Sunday alleged that opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress are experts in telling lies and creating confusion and stressed that countering their lies was very important in the coming Assembly elections. The RJD hit back by saying that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was on record for dubbing the BJP as 'Badaka Jhuthe Party' in the past. "The RJD and Congress leaders are used to lying to create confusion in society. They will frequently use this policy in the next two months in the run-up to the Assembly elections. They are past masters in this game. Hence, we have to counter their lies by telling voters about genuine work we have done over the years," Pandey said while addressing members of the state BJP's SC/ST committee. Pandey has been appointed election management committee chief by the BJP central leadership. "We have executed so many public welfare works during the last 13 years in Bihar and if we put all these policies and works in the right manner before the voters, it would answer the lies and confusion of the opposition," Pandey said. "We will succeed only if the BJP increases its support among all sections of society, including the Scheduled Castes and Tribes," the minister said. Reacting to Pandey's remarks, RJD state spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said: "Whether we are liars or the BJP can be established from the statement of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has in the past dubbed BJP as 'Badaka Jhuthe Party' on record." "The BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014 with the poll promise to deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of every Indian. They also talked about 'Achhe Din', and creation of two crore jobs every year. What happened to these promises? Now, the people can decide who is a liar. They have not fulfilled any of their promises, neither at the Centre nor in Bihar," Tiwari said. Madam Patience Sally Kuma, the Upper West Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has appealed to women in the Region to initiate development projects to benefit them and their children. She explained that the over-reliance on men and government for the establishment of development projects had not favoured or benefited women and their children as expected. Madam Kuma made the appeal at a Social Auditing forum organised by the Wa Municipal Directorate of the NCCE for residents of Kpongu Community in the Wa Municipality to advocate for increased accountability and a reduction in corruption in Ghana. She noted that women were always marginalised when it came to the formulation and implementation of development policies and programmes and as such their real development needs and those of their children were misdirected. We know our development needs and those of our children, and so time has come for us to take up the challenges and take our destiny into our hands and initiate development to enhance our total developments, Madam Kuma pointed out. The NCCE Regional Director urged the women to lobby civil society organisations and international donor countries and government institutions for financial support to initiate development projects. Madam Kuma also encouraged women to patronise the governments development programmes and policies to improve livelihoods. They should also take the maintenance of projects initiated seriously. Mr Isaac S.Y. Tadoh, the Wa Municipal Director of the NCCE, said the Social Auditing Engagement should not be regarded as find faults platforms or opportunity to witch-hunt duty bearers. He said social auditing should be considered as an opportunity to promote discourse among citizens and office bearers on planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development projects and programmes. It is also to provide opportunities to persons outside government operations to influence policy-making, implementation and evaluation, and to engender community ownership of projects, deepening effective and efficient delivery of social services to communities in need. Mr Tadoh urged community members to focus on community needs assessment and prioritisation to make the right choices of their pressing needs and to develop community action plans. He appealed to community members to delegate individuals and groups in the implementation of community-initiated projects or action to address the identified need. These roles could be in the form of the provision of land, communal labour, using the services of local artisans, organising fund-raising activities or seeking assistance from the Wa Municipal Assembly, he said. The Social Auditing Engagement is a product of the Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-corruption Programme (ARAP) initiative to promote community ownership of development projects and policies, increase awareness of the operations of the local government and empower the citizenry to demand accountability from duty bearers. 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 In the Dail last Thursday, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan announced the Government would reveal a longer-term strategy for dealing with the pandemic on September 14. Over the last few weeks, it has been clarified that the Government has pursued a policy of suppression, rather than elimination, of the virus. Several Irish medical experts have been arguing that a zero-Covid target would be superior, most recently David McConnell of Trinity College in the Irish Times last Thursday. They believe that elimination of the virus may not be possible until a vaccine becomes available, but that pursuit of the zero target, as in New Zealand, would see only occasional outbreaks, containable without costly national lockdowns. The policy would require perseverance with restrictions, sizeable testing and tracing capacity and tight controls at ports and airports. When the decision was taken to ease restrictions in Ireland, the incidence of new cases had fallen to around 10 per day during June and July. As has happened elsewhere, infection has begun to spread more rapidly as restrictions were eased, to the point where a renewal of lockdown is a possibility. This experience has reinforced the view that fixing the economy is not possible without getting on top of the virus. The resurgence in cases has dampened consumer sentiment around Europe and will put investment decisions on hold. The lesson is that the economy cannot be reopened if the public declines to go along, with rising case numbers making people scared all over again. This feeds a perception of opportunity missed through premature reopening. But what about the economy; livelihoods as well as lives? If a trade-off exists, there must be a level of increased risk worth taking to end the economic downturn, which has wreaked such havoc. The trouble is that the trade-off is impossible to quantify and there could even be no trade-off available - no controllable increase in risk, no fine-tuning of economic recovery through a planned easing of restrictions. The public health professionals, to their credit, admit to an incomplete understanding of the virus. Is it even possible to stabilise infection employing a target level other than zero, without repeated excursions back into restrictions and nervous public withdrawal from economic activity? When the Government's plan is unveiled on September 14, it needs to address these questions. By that time, the rate of new infections could have diminished, with a zero target again becoming plausible. Speaking at the Oireachtas Covid Committee, Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, stated that "eliminating Covid-19 is not realistic", implying that the zero-Covid target has been considered and judged infeasible. This may be a reasonable conclusion for all sorts of reasons - Ireland is not located in the South Pacific, 5,000km from the next significant neighbour. Irish governments are rarely found wanting when it comes to targets - many politicians appear to feel that a target is itself a policy - but the Covid response has seen an avalanche of detailed policies implemented at great speed without the benefit of any specified target at all. Minister Ryan also announced that consideration is finally being given to testing people at Irish airports. Airport testing regimes are already in place, for arriving or departing passengers, or both, at numerous airports around Europe and could eliminate the need for the quarantine of arriving tourists and of returning Irish holidaymakers. As discussed in these pages 10 weeks ago, Reykjavik in Iceland, Frankfurt and Munich in Germany, Vienna in Austria and several others had introduced airport testing (back in mid-June at Reykjavik) and Ireland's voluntary declaration and unpoliced quarantine arrangements are deterring air traffic without the promise of effectiveness. The public health officials believe that imported infection has not been a principal source of the recent resurgence in Ireland, but summer travel has been blamed for spreading the virus in several other countries. The Irish aviation sector has been a major victim of Covid. Several thousand employees have been made redundant or laid off temporarily in airlines and ground handling companies. Traffic fell to just 2pc of the 2019 level in the second quarter and looks to have recovered only to about one-third in the third quarter. Airlines are operating reduced schedules and further schedule cutbacks are threatened. Dublin is the only Irish airport to have earned profits in recent years but will lose money for 2020 and into 2021. Losses at Cork are covered by Dublin, and at Shannon by the rent roll of the property assets of the former Shannon Development company. All regional airports, including Waterford, which has had no scheduled passenger flights since 2016, receive direct and indirect subsidies to cover losses. Aer Lingus has suspended operations at Shannon and so have all the other airlines except Ryanair, down to a handful of daily departures in recent weeks. Prior to Covid, Shannon had been doing poorly. Passenger numbers in 2019 remained well below the figures reached before the 2008 financial crash and there has been inevitable leakage up the M7 to Dublin, which offers far more destinations and far better frequency. Aer Lingus has threatened not to resume transatlantic operations at Shannon and the US operators may not return either. The closure of Galway and Sligo airports leaves the island of Ireland with 10 airports, rather a lot for a small country with an improved road network. The introduction of testing at airports will be welcomed by the airlines since the quarantine regime discourages traffic. Once the Covid emergency is over, the industry faces another headache: aviation has had a charmed life with the taxman. There is no excise duty on aviation fuel and no VAT on airline tickets. Any serious climate policy will impose both over the next decade and the European Commission has commenced a review which could eventually see ticket prices rise by as much as one-third. European governments have committed around 23bn to financial support for 'national' airlines and the Irish Exchequer might yet be hearing from Aer Lingus. The first train for the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro project in HCM City will arrive in Vietnam from Japan in October. On September 4, the HCM City Management Authority for Urban Railway (MAUR) announced that 75% of Metro Line 1 has been completed. They expected to complete 85% of the total project by the end of 2020. However, Covid-19 badly affected their progress as foreign experts were unable to get into Vietnam and it was difficult to import machinery. The authorities have gradually dealt with each challenge. Two experts from South Korea arrived in Vietnam and completed the 14-day quarantine period to be able to go to work on August 24. Six Japanese experts will arrive in Vietnam on September 18 and start the quarantine period. They are responsible for the import and transportation of the first train. The train will leave Japan in September and arrive in HCM City in mid-October. The train has three carriages. It is 61.5 metres long and can run at the speed of 110km/h on elevated railways and 80km/h underground. It has the capacity to carry 930 passengers. According to MAUR, they have completed 85.5% of the work on elevated railways and Long Binh Depot. By the end of 2020, 90% of the work will be completed. Main facilities have been completed to inspect and store the train. After importing the train, MAUR will pilot run it on the elevated section spanning from Binh Thai intersection to Long Binh Depot. dtinews The number of men seeking vasectomies has increased by 20pc in a year at a busy Dublin clinic. The rise by one-fifth in the numbers of men requesting the snip has seen an increase in activity at the Morehampton Clinic in Donnybrook, said Dr John O'Keeffe. The Dublin doctor, who was one of a small group of Irish doctors who made the procedure more widely available in Ireland in the early 1980s has performed the procedure for 18,000 men over the past four decades. Dr O'Keeffe said he does not think that the Covid-19 pandemic was the primary cause of the rise in demand but he believed it influenced a number who underwent the procedure who had been wavering about whether or not to get a vasectomy. "We are flat out with all the patients who were cancelled in March, April and May and new applications are up 20pc," he said. While most men undergoing the procedure have two or three children, Dr O'Keeffe conducts vasectomies on about a dozen men each year who have no children. These men are typically well-educated and in their mid-30s, often professionals, academics, or working in the tech sector, who are either not in a relationship or who have decided with their partner that they do not wish to have children, he said. Patients undergo counselling before having the procedure. Dr O'Keeffe said the average age of his patients rose from 34 in 1988 to 38 and six months in 2018. His oldest vasectomy patient was 72. Having a vasectomy is the most successful form of contraception. The operation takes just 15 minutes under local anaesthetic. It involves using a device to make a small incision which allows the vas deferens vessels from the testes to be blocked. This prevents sperm from entering the man's seminal fluid. Dr O'Keeffe (71) retired from general practice three years ago but continues to work in his vasectomy specialty. As he winds down his work in the coming months, he will be succeeded in his vasectomy duties at the clinic by the experienced Dr Killian Bates. They can be contacted via vasectomy.ie. Dr O'Keeffe qualified in Ireland and learned to perform vasectomies as a normal part of general practice in England. He then worked in Australia before returning to Ireland at the beginning of the 1980s when he began offering the service as a GP. He was invited to provide a service based at the new Well Woman Centre in Dublin. "It was an absolute revelation to me to come back to Ireland to what was like the Middle Ages as regards attitudes to contraception," he said. "Vasectomy in London and Sydney was absolutely accepted as part of GP practice. There was zero moralising. "In Ireland people were still very much influenced by what the Catholic Church taught. A lot of doctors told me of their own reservations about it. Some doctors told me 'it's absolutely disgraceful.' Objections gradually disappeared." The procedure had been chiefly available only at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin under general anaesthetic and was then transferred to Tallaght Hospital. There was a four-year waiting list. Dr Andrew Rynne was the first doctor to offer the procedure in general practice in the late 1970s. Dr Rynne, Dr O'Keeffe and Dr Niall O'Leary approached the Department of Health in 1993 and proposed offering the procedure in their practices for medical card patients. The department quickly agreed and the four-year hospital waiting list was cleared in four months. Dr O'Keeffe was amused by a memory from that era. One day there were two men waiting for the procedure in a waiting room and they appeared most unwilling to converse or even look each other in the eye. The doctor discovered later one was allegedly a major Dublin criminal and the other a member of a garda taskforce that monitored his activities. Dr O'Keeffe quipped: "There was an unspoken look between them which seemed to say 'We won't mention this to anyone else now'." During the pandemic, Google has been working to provide useful information to people via some of the companys most popular products. The company has been placing COVID-19 reminders and warnings in many of Googles services, and you cannot use a Google product without being reminded to take necessary precautions such as wearing a mask. The company has even added several tips to Google Maps, including where to get takeout during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, it seems that you might soon be able to Maps to your coronavirus tracing applications. The company is now reportedly working to add a new layer in the Google Maps app that will provide important COVID-19 outbreak information to users.The company is soon going to add a new layer in Maps which shows where coronavirus outbreak are at their worst, according to Jane Manchun Wong. Wong is a coder famous for reverse engineering applications to uncover new features and tools before they are announced. The new discovery regarding Google Maps was first spotted by Jane Manchun Wong who posted screenshots on Twitter showcasing this feature. The feature will be available from the Map Detail section of the app, and you can access that section by clicking on a white circle with a square overtop another square in the right corner of the Google Maps app on your smartphone. It is noteworthy that the company has not yet rolled out the new feature.Users can also access other map options from this menu including Satellite and Terrain, and map details such as Traffics, Street View, and Transport. The new feature displays the number of COVID-19 outbreaks in a specific US state and country. The data also indicates whether COVID-19 cases are increasing or decreasing in that region. According to Jane Manchun Wong, when the COVID-19 info feature is enabled in Google Maps, a pop-up explains the information and where it comes from. Numbers shown over various areas display the 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 individuals. Google Maps sources data from Johns Hopkins University, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, The NY Times, and Wikipedia.According to the screenshots, it seems that the feature works internationally, with the United States displaying COVID-19 cases at a state level. Although it is not yet clear if or when the company will roll out the COVID-19 info feature, it will likely be helpful for those who have to travel. Of course, we should avoid traveling if possible, and minimize contact with people to stop the spread of the virus.Read next: Google Maps perfects through DeepMind AI-model In Arizona, USA a pregnant dog lost her puppies because she gave birth prematurely, but then found three new babies to nurture. She was found abandoned near a petrol pump. This was not far from the Mexico border and she was rescued by the group named The Sunshine Dog Rescue. Those looking after her realised that she was pregnant but because she had to give birth before her term was over, none of the puppies survived and then she found three kittens who were orphans. It is the saddest return to school in Irish drama. In Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa, the narrator, Michael, looking back from a time long after the action on stage, recalls how in autumn 1936 he learned that two of his aunts, Agnes and Rose, had secretly left the family home in Donegal: "On my first day back at school, when we came into the kitchen for breakfast, there was a note propped up against the milk jug: 'We are gone for good. This is best for all. Do not try to find us.' It was written in Agnes's resolute hand." Michael proceeds to explain that the family had tried to find them, as had the police and the neighbours, "who had a huge network of relatives all over England and America... but they had vanished without trace". And then, he says, that 25 years after their departure, meaning sometime between August 1961 and August 1962, he had finally tracked them down in London: "Agnes was dead and Rose was dying in a hospice for the destitute in Southwark. "The scraps of information I gathered about their lives during those missing years were too sparse to be coherent. They had moved about a lot. They had worked as cleaning women in public toilets, in factories, in the Underground. "Then, when Rose could no longer get work, Agnes tried to support them both - but couldn't. From then on, I gathered, they gave up. They took to drink; slept in parks, in doorways, on the Thames Embankment. Then Agnes died of exposure. And two days after I found Rose in that grim hospice - she didn't recognise me, of course - she died in her sleep." Critics have described it as Friel's "most autobiographical play". For sure, the central characters in the play - five sisters and a brother, a priest home from the missions - are, more or less, based on his mother, four aunts and an uncle of Glenties, Co Donegal. The uncle's name, Jack, is different to that of Friel's uncle, Barney, but the female characters have the same Christian names as his mother, Christina, and aunts, Kate, Maggie (also known, in life, as Peg), Agnes and Rose. Still, the play remains a work of fiction; not everything that happens on stage actually happened. Michael, the narrator, who is taken to represent Friel, was born to a single mother; Friel was not. And the young Friel could not have come downstairs to find a note from two runaway aunts on his first day back at school in 1936, because in that year he returned to school in Omagh, Co Tyrone, not in his mother's homeplace in Donegal. Yet Brian Friel did have two aunts, Rose and Agnes Mac-Loone, who left for London in the 1930s. What became of them? Did they really experience the drink-addled destitution described by Michael in the play? Scraps of information, in Michael's phrase, can be put together. The year of their departure is unclear. But it was likely in the mid- to late-1930s, when both women were in their mid-forties - too old, if truth be told, to leave west Donegal for London. Older, too, than they are represented in the play. There, Rose, who is portrayed as "simple", is the younger one, aged 32, and Agnes, 35. In reality, if they did in fact leave in August 1936, then Rose, born in November 1889, would have been 46 going on 47 and Agnes, born in July 1891, would have just turned 45. History first gets a fix on the MacLoones in September 1939 when the National Register - a census compiled to facilitate mobilisation for the war - shows them working and living at the Warwick Club on St George's Square in Pimlico, west London. Agnes was a kitchen maid and Rose a pantry maid, both likely attired in the black dress, white bonnet and apron that was everywhere the uniform of England's female domestics, a disproportionate number of them Irish. The Warwick had begun as a residence for female students, clerical workers and professionals. By the 1930s, however, it was drawing an older clientele. With breakfast and dinner mandatory, it had the air of a retirement home rather than a hotel. Kate Bosse, a young refugee from Germany, who lived there for a few months in 1937, paid 35 shillings a week for a small room and food. "In the evening after supper," she remembered, "the old women and the men who were more or less invalids would sit around the fire in the [main] room socialising, knitting, talking now and again about the parts of the Empire, where they had spent most of their lives - Africa or New Guinea or India." War came and the West End took a battering. Pimlico is adjacent to Westminster, where iconic public buildings presented propaganda targets to the Luftwaffe. There were also targets of strategic importance in the surrounding area, notably Battersea Power Station, Victoria Station, and major rail bridges on the Thames. The MacLoones' experience in the war years is unclear; they may have remained for part of it at the Warwick Club. But doubtless the war for them meant ration books and sirens and air raid shelters. At the war's end, in 1945, the MacLoones were still in Pimlico, at 14 Lillington Street, apparently a house divided into flats; the other four occupants of the house were male. It was a short street that had been hit twice in the Blitz. By 1948, they were at 137 Vauxhall Bridge Road, a boarding house or a house divided into flats, and, then, in 1949-50, they moved to 26 Cambridge Street, sharing a substantial house with a couple, William and Edith Von Arx, presumably in a self-contained flat. They were still at that address in 1960. But there had been some changes. The Von Arxes had moved next door, to No 24, and No 26 was then the property of William's father Otto, who lived there himself and ran it as a boarding house. And so while the MacLoones moved a bit in the 1940s, the 1950s, as regards residence, were stable. And in contrast to Kate, Maggie and Chris in the play, the MacLoones' siblings knew - or at least came to know - that they were in London; they had not "vanished without trace". When their brother Barney died in Glenties in 1950, they were listed among the bereaved, with London given as their residence. Likewise, in 1952, when their sister Kate died, "Rose and Agnes MacLoone (London)" were listed in funeral notices. As late as 1960, with the women still living on Cambridge Street, Agnes, then aged 68, was still working as a canteen assistant. Rose, then 70, would have been entitled to a state pension, but may still have been employed as a "domestic worker". They had survived, they had made lives for themselves in London, they were not destitute. Then in 1960 things suddenly came undone. Agnes underwent surgery in Westminster Hospital for cancer of the oesophagus. She developed post-operative bronchopneumonia and died on May 9, 1960. Agnes had made a will in the late 1940s: Rose received 174 15s 7d. But notwithstanding that bequest, by 1961 she was in Newington Lodge, Southwark. Erected as a workhouse in 1850, it had been rebranded as the Newington Lodge Public Assistance Institution in 1929, and latterly it had become a dumping ground for homeless women and children. "Newington Lodge is a sadness no one could ever forget," one woman wrote. Rose MacLoone died of a cerebral thrombosis, a stroke, on June 17, 1962. She had developed generalised athero- sclerosis, a thickening and stiffening of the arteries, meaning she had likely experienced chest pain or difficulty walking over the previous few years. A stroke is a sudden thing: it had not sent her to Newington Lodge - it released her from it. So questions remain about Rose's departure from her home of 10 years on Cambridge Street. Agnes, as the wage-earner, may have been the lessee. As a pensioner, it is possible Rose could no longer afford the lease. The accommodation may have been unnecessarily large for a single woman, and, besides, it may have been lonely for Rose without Agnes. Or she may have suffered some other physical, mental or financial crisis. The admission book to Newington Lodge is in an archive closed due to Covid. It may hold the answer. And so "those missing years" - the late 1930s through the early 1960s - come into view, not with sharp resolution but a certain clarity. Yet the reasons for Rose's departure from Cambridge Street, like the reasons for her departure with Agnes from Glenties, are blurred. There is one final irony. Little over a year before Rose MacLoone arrived in Newington Lodge in 1961, journalist Jeremy Sandford had taken an interest in the place. A family living a few doors down the street from him had been evicted, and he discovered that, unable to find any other accommodation, the wife and children had resorted to the Southwark institution. Shocked, he resolved to expose it. In April 1960, the BBC Home Service broadcast his Homeless Families, a short documentary in which people who had accepted accommodation in public shelters, including women surreptitiously recorded at Newington Lodge, told their own stories. The effect was "absolutely nil", with Sandford blaming the medium: "I had the impression, as so often when working for radio, of shouting something very important down a deep well." And so he turned from radio documentary to TV drama. In 1966, the BBC screened his sensational Cathy Come Home on its celebrated series, The Wednesday Play. Director Ken Loach used Newington Lodge - that cacophonous, lonely house of the homeless - as a location for a scene at the end of the play. Rose MacLoone's world had been dramatised long before Dancing at Lughnasa. A longer version of this article will appear in www.drb.ie The U.S. Park Police said the crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on the southbound lanes of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway near Route 197 in the Laurel area. Rescuers found the vehicle overturned near a wooded area. KOLKATA: Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Saturday (September 5) shot dead a Bangladeshi smuggler along the India-Bangladesh international border in Malda district of West Bengal. The Bangladeshi smuggler was killed by a BSF party near the Gopalpur post of the border force in Malda district on Saturday evening. PTI quoted officials as sayinf that the smuggler was trying to smuggle Phensedyl bottles with him. The troops recovered at least 75 bottles of cough syrup from his possession. Phensedyl is codeine-based cough syrup and abused as an intoxicant in the neighbouring country that follows liquor prohibition. It is abused by youngsters and is 'consumed in large quantity against the recommended small dose to get a kick', according to a recent BSF report. The Central Bank of Nigeria has ordered banks to freeze the accounts of 38 Nigerian companies, including Premier Lotto, owned by bussinessman Kessington Adebutu, a.k.a Baba Ijebu. According to a circular of 4 September, Bello Hassan, CBNs Director of Banking Supervision, asked banks to place the accounts of the 38 companies on Post-No-Debit (PND) order You are hereby required to place the under listed accounts on Post-No-Debit with immediate effect and revert with the account names, numbers, currencies and balances of all accounts placed on PND. Note that only the listed entities should be placed on PND, all related accounts are excluded. Your response should be forwarded to the underlisted email addresses Osoladipo@cbn.gov.ng or moabeng@cbn.gov.ng, part of the circular read. Some of the affected companies are 3D Scanners Bureau De Change Limited, Blue Wall Nigeria Limited, JNFX International Limited and Northline Limited. Others are SV Gaming Limited, R&S Lotto Limited, TM Gaming Networks Limited, Escale Oil and Gas Limited, Barkoli Trading Company Limited, Godoni Enterprises Limited. This is the second time the authorities will beam the searchlight on Premier Lotto. The company, along with KC Gaming, a.k.a Bet9Ja was probed early this year by the EFCC for tax evasion. After the probe, the two companies paid N1billion into the treasury. A breakdown of the payments shows that Premier Lotto (Baba Ijebu) remitted N833,333,494.58, while KC Gaming (Bet9ja) remitted N166,666,827.92. According to the EFCC, the N1 billion was the arrears of debt the lotto companies owed the Nigerian treasury. They were supposed to remit 20 per cent of their turnover to government through National Lottery Trust Fund, NLTF as required by law. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Sunday he will apologise to Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut only if she says sorry to Maharashtra for calling Mumbai a mini Pakistan amid calls for the politician to back down. The war of words between the Rajya Sabha member and Bollywood actor erupted over Kangana Ranauts comment about Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir on Thursday. She had also said that she feared Mumbai Police more than what she has dubbed as movie mafia. Raut in his weekly editorial in Saamana the Senas mouthpiece on Thursday had hit back and asked Ranaut not to return to Mumbai for criticising Mumbai Police. Also read: Dia Mirza comes out in support of Kangana Ranaut who was called haramkhor by Sanjay Raut, asks him to apologise If that girl (Actor Kangana Ranaut) will apologise to Maharashtra, then I will think about it (of apologising). She calls Mumbai a mini Pakistan. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad? Raut was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Sunday. This issue concerns the pride of Maharashtra and there will be no compromise on this front. Ranaut needs to apologise for her PoK remarks or she will face the music from our womens wing, he had said in his editorial. The verbal duel had escalated on Saturday after Ranaut reacted to a Twitter user who claimed that the actor had not insulted Maratha king Shivaji and had called out freedom of speech warriors for not speaking up for her. In 2008 Movie Mafia declared me a Psycho, in 2016 they called me a Witch and Stalker in 2020 Maharashtra Minister publicity gave me the title of Haramkhor Ladki, because I said after a murder I feel unsafe in Mumbai, where are INTOLERANCE debate warriors? Ranaut had tweeted from her teams account. Also read | Ranvir Shorey supports Kangana Ranaut against Sanjay Rauts comments: She is heartthrob of millions around the country Following this, Raut had advised Ranaut to use her own social media handle and not run it through the IT cell of a political party. The construction firm building the new children's hospital challenged Leo Varadkar to correct and apologise for "factually inaccurate" figures on cost overruns on its projects. BAM Ireland wrote to the then Taoiseach last February on the "anniversary" of "highly damaging" remarks he made in the Dail last year in a row over the escalating costs of the facility. Mr Varadkar had accused companies of "low-balling" and said there were "one or two contractors" he would not like to see getting public contracts. In a letter to the then-Taoiseach, BAM Ireland chief executive Theo Cullinane said he had received a chart purporting to list BAM projects with cost over-runs from the Department of the Taoiseach under the Freedom of Information Act. "The source of these figures is unclear, but they are completely factually incorrect. It is concerning that they are apparently sitting on a file in your department and available to inform Government commentary in relation to our company," Mr Cullinane said. "I have asked that you apologise publicly for the damage your remarks caused and continue to cause particularly as it has been suggested that you didn't in fact intend that they refer to BAM. "In the absence of that apology and in the interest of fairness, we would ask that you place this correspondence on file to correct the record. "You will also note we have not commented publicly on the National Children's Hospital, although the PwC report goes a significant way to explaining the real issues related to budgets and the costs on the project. We hope that the full truth about this will emerge in due course." The letter, which was dated February 5, was released to the Sunday Independent under the Freedom of Information Act. The building company came under scrutiny as the cost for the new children's hospital soared to 1.7bn, with the final costs estimated to exceed 2bn. Mr Varadkar made his "low-balling" comment at the height of the cost overrun controversy last year. Afterwards, Mr Cullinane wrote to the then Taoiseach, giving him two-and-a-half hours to clarify his Dail remarks, after which time BAM would consider "all our options". The company has also invoked the anger of Mr Varadkar's successor as Taoiseach, Micheal Martin. A work stoppage at the children's hospital site during the Covid-19 pandemic continued even after restrictions eased. When work had not resumed by July, the Taoiseach instructed BAM to get back to work, saying he was "angry" and "not interested in excuses". It has been reported that the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board had threatened to take legal action if work did not resume within a timeline. BAM is also separately being sued in the High Court by the children's hospital development board in a contractual dispute. BAM Ireland did not respond to a request for comment. DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will need to set aside at least 1 billion euros in next month's budget for 2021 to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, Foreign Minister Simon Coveney was quoted as saying on Sunday. Ireland's economy is considered the most vulnerable EU member to an unruly British exit due to its close trade links and Dublin set aside a similar amount a year ago when the initial withdrawal negotiations went to the wire. Britain ended up leaving the European Union on Jan. 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal with the bloc by the time a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December. Ireland's tax authority will write to 90,000 business this week urging them to ramp up their customs expertise and the government will publish a revised Brexit plan preparing for two outcomes, Coveney told the Sunday Independent newspaper in an interview. "One is bad. One is very bad," Coveney was quoted as saying. "I don't believe there's any good outcome to Brexit now from an Irish perspective but it's a matter of damage limitation." The 1.2 billion euros Ireland set aside for Brexit a year ago has since been swallowed up by the far larger response to COVID-19 that is set to swing the public finances from surplus to a deficit of up to 30 billion euros or 10% of GDP this year. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) A third Kerry school in just days has been affected by Covid-19, with families affected and their contacts given specific advice, the HSE has written to parents. The rest of the school can continue as normal, but the situation was being monitored closely, parents were told. The letter from the Department of Public Health told how a positive case had been identified in the school community. Close contacts of families involved contacted and given advice. Earlier this week, on Wednesday morning, a small number of classes were sent home from a primary and a secondary school in a rural part of the county. The latest school is large school in an urban centre. Parents were told in the letter on Friday that necessary Covid-19 control actions were being taken. A medical team from the Department of Public Health HSE-South had conducted a comprehensive public health risk assessment, the letter said. A number of close contacts of the case have been identified. The families involved have been contacted and they have been given the necessary public health advice, it said. The rest of the staff and pupil community had been advised to attend school as usual unless they had health concerns. The rest of the staff and pupil community are advised to attend school as usual- unless of course they have any health concern for which they should contact their GP, it advised. The situation was being closely monitored, the letter said. Air passengers could be tested eight days after arrival under plans to get Britain flying again. Ministers are considering two options to open up the skies and help rescue the Covid-ravaged economy. Under the first, passengers would be given an airport test on arrival followed by a second test a few days later. The second option is for a single test after five to eight days of self-isolation. Insiders say the Department for Transport is 'rattled' by mounting Tory anger over the disastrous 14-day quarantine policy. Scores of MPs and business chiefs are supporting the Mail's drive for Covid-19 tests to save thousands of jobs. In a boost for our campaign, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday said a testing regime was under review but would be 'no silver bullet' to end quarantine. Aviation chiefs are furious at the slow pace of progress and want a firm commitment to border tests by the end of the week. Leaders from the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Luton have set the Prime Minister a seven-day deadline to replace mandatory self-isolation with Covid-19 testing at airports. In the letter seen by the Daily Telegraph - also addressed to Chancellor Rishi Sunak - 20 airport chief executives claimed testing, alongside other measures, could save 110,000 jobs industry-wide. Having already lost over 4billion due to reduced traffic during the pandemic, they wrote: 'We cannot currently envisage an end to this struggle, and without robust Government support there is real possibility of irreparable damage being done to our once world-beating aviation sector.' Led by Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, conservative chair of the Airport Operators' Association, the signatories stressed that testing, along with regional travel corridors, were critical to opening up travel. It is also believed scores of Tory MPs will today urge the government to back testing in airports to remove a 'barrier to travel'. Airport bosses from Britain's largest transport hubs have warned Boris Johnson that he risks 'irreparable damage' to the economy if quarantining upon arrival is not scrapped. Pictured: Passenger wearing face covering has temperature checked In the letter seen by the Daily Telegraph - also addressed to Chancellor Rishi Sunak - 20 airport chief executives claimed testing, alongside other measures, could save 110,000 jobs industry-wide. Pictured: Arrivals at Gatwick Airport TUI managing director Andrew Flintham also criticised the lack of testing at airports last night, writing in the Daily Telegraph: 'This Government wants to get people back to work - but what happens when there's no work for people to come back to.' In a boost for the Daily Mail's campaign, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab yesterday said a testing regime was under review but would be 'no silver bullet' to end quarantine. But aviation chiefs are furious at the slow pace of progress and want a firm commitment to border tests by the end of the week. Ministers are now leaning toward the idea of a single Covid-19 test eight days after arrival to cut travel quarantine times by almost half. The Mail understands that the single test would see travellers swabbed at an NHS testing centre or given home kits. A negative result would allow for early release from the 14-day quarantine rule. Airlines welcomed the move but warned time is fast running out. Industry leaders want ministers to commit to testing this week, with a firm timeline for implementation. They fear failure will wreck hopes of a rise in bookings over the autumn half term and lead to mass redundancies when the furlough scheme ends next month. Scores of Tory MPs and business chiefs are supporting the Daily Mail's campaign for Covid-19 tests at ports and airports and save thousands of jobs. Led by Baroness Ruby McGregor-Smith, conservative chair of the Airport Operators' Association, the signatories stressed that testing, along with regional travel corridors, were critical to opening up travel Bosses from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Luton set the Prime Minister a seven-day deadline to replace mandatory self-isolation with Covid-19 testing on arrival There is growing frustration at the Prime Minister's insistence that a single test on arrival would only detect 7 per cent of coronavirus cases. Public health experts and industry leaders have accused Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of ignoring an official Sage science advisers' report showing tests five days after arrival will detect 85 per cent of cases and 96 per cent after eight days. They also point out that the 7 per cent figure is based on a three-month-old Public Health England model that does not account for real-world data from 30 countries that have introduced airport testing regimes. Ministers have stoked further confusion by failing to clarify whether the 7 per cent figure refers only to asymptomatic carriers or to all coronavirus cases. One Tory MP said: 'There is a growing realisation that Downing Street might have got the wrong end of the stick on all this. 'It is possible the risk of airport testing is being dramatically over-estimated.' Sir David Spiegelhalter, a Cambridge University professor and one of the UK's top statisticians, yesterday described the Government's defence of 14-day quarantine as 'hopelessly wrong'. There is growing frustration at the Prime Minister's insistence that a single test on arrival would only detect 7 per cent of coronavirus cases He said even if only 7 per cent of cases were picked up 'the vast majority of people will have correct negative tests'. He described a single test on arrival as a 'straw man' and called for 'proper cost-effectiveness analysis of reasonable repeat strategies'. Senior Tories, including a number of former transport ministers, are now calling on Downing Street to carry out a review of data from countries with airport testing. One former minister told the Mail: 'They keep referring to this out-dated and questionable 7 per cent figure. I'm hoping it is a fig leaf while they work out how to do a reverse ferret.' Sir Graham Brady, leader of the 1922 committee of backbenchers, said: 'The variety of tests available means that there are a number ways of having far greater confidence that passengers are not carrying infection. 'This can also be done by means of a double-test with tests taken a few days apart from each other. 'Britain's aviation industry is on its knees and this country has lagged behind all its main competitors in terms of getting an airport regime in place. 'This should be done urgently while we still have a world-leading aviation industry.' Tory MP Henry Smith, whose constituency includes Gatwick, said: 'Boris and Shapps need to start looking at other countries which have introduced airport testing. These are big economies which we compete with. If it's working for them, why not us? Official Sage science advisers' report showing tests five days after arrival will detect 85 per cent of cases and 96 per cent after eight days but Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) have been accused of ignoring this 'No system is fool-proof. That goes for testing as well as quarantine. But I would argue that airport tests are a far more fool proof then a blanket 14-day quarantine that relies almost entirely on trusting the public to comply.' Former Tory health secretary Lord Lansley told Times Radio the quarantine policy should be ditched in time for half term. As many as 40 Tory MPs are preparing to rebel against 14-day quarantine ahead of a Commons debate on aviation on Thursday.Asked if the quarantine time could be cut to eight days, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC's Andrew Maar Show: 'The direction of travel will be making sure we have the capacity and the ability for when the time is right to ease up on the self-isolation at home, and that's certainly something that we'll be looking at.' But he cautioned: 'Let's just be clear about this when we think about airports - there is no silver bullet in airports.' Airlines UK, the trade body representing British carriers, is pushing for shorter five-day quarantine. Chief executive Tim Alderslade said: 'The Government's modelling says that if you undertake a test on day five the percentage of asymptomatic carriers caught rises to 85 per cent. 'So if the Government is not happy to introduce a regime based on one test on arrival, it could introduce a regime based on a day five test, but at the same time run a trial testing both on arrival and at day 5. 'This would provide real-world data which we hope would enable the Government to move to a one test on arrival system.' A Whitehall source told the Mail: 'There is a live discussion in Government over the possibility of a two-step testing regime to replace quarantine. But it will depend on a number of other factors such as testing capacity.' Europe is taking off again... as UK remains grounded By Transport Correspondent Britain lags behind most of Europe when it comes to re-opening the skies, damning figures reveal. Passenger numbers were down by 73 per cent year-on-year in August, according to data from Airports Council International seen by the Daily Mail. This compares unfavourably to data from countries where airport testing regimes have been put in place. In France, passenger numbers were down by only 60 per cent and in Italy by 62 per cent. Most countries in eastern Europe were down by 68 per cent and in southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, by 65 per cent. Airport bosses said the figures prove the UK is trailing behind dozens of other countries which offer or accept Covid tests at airports. Figures show Frankfurt airport in Germany and Charles de Gaulle in Paris carried more passengers over the past few months than Heathrow (pictured) for the first time in history In another blow to Britain's status as an aviation heavyweight, figures show Frankfurt airport and Charles de Gaulle in Paris carried more passengers over the past few months than Heathrow for the first time in history. Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, told the Mail: 'There is no surprise that, with quarantine measures constantly changing, and no sign of a testing regime, UK aviation has suffered through its worst summer in a generation. 'The Government needs to work quickly with the industry to ensure further, irreparable damage to our once world-leading aviation sector does not occur. 'A robust testing regime for international travellers is one solution which could help secure the restart of UK aviation and UK PLC.' Aviation bosses backing the Mail's Get Britain Flying campaign have warned we will lose our status as a global trading superpower unless ministers take urgent action. Writing in the Mail last week, Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye warned: 'If the Government doesn't get a grip and reopen our borders safely, Britain will fall behind. 'If EU airports thrive, while the UK's hub declines, then Brexit Britain will rely on European hubs to get their global goods to market... Britain will become a vassal state of the EU, just after we have left.' Fly Out To Help Out? Rishi could cut tax on tickets By Tom Payne, Transport Correspondent for the Daily Mail The price of plane tickets for holidaymakers could be cut by the Chancellor under plans to get Britain flying again. At least 24 Tories, including Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, are pressuring Rishi Sunak to suspend air passenger duty until the end of summer next year. The tax on flights from UK airports is charged to airlines but much of the cost is passed onto holidaymakers. It can add 13 to every short-haul ticket and 78 to long-haul fares. Last night the Treasury hinted that changes could be made in the autumn Budget after the transport committee called for a six-month suspension. At least 24 Tories are pressuring Rishi Sunak (pictured) to suspend air passenger duty until the end of summer next year An official statement said: 'The Chancellor has announced that there will be a consultation on aviation tax reform. 'As part of this, the Government will consider the case for changing the air passenger duty (APD) treatment of domestic flights, such as reintroducing a return leg exemption, and for increasing the number of international distance bands.' Research by York Aviation, a research consultancy used by Ministers, found waiving the duty would generate 8billion for the economy. This is three times the amount it had been expected to bring into the Treasury's coffers in 2019-20. Tory MP Henry Smith, whose constituency includes Gatwick airport, is urging Mr Sunak to grant an APD holiday to struggling airlines. In a letter to the Chancellor, he said: 'If we maintain our levels of air passenger duty, it will become a 'tax on recovery' as flying is the only viable route for investors and business people to approach and service existing and potential new markets.' A suspension could allow airlines to entice holidaymakers with cheaper fares and save many of the 600 air routes lost as a result of the pandemic. Andrew Flintham, managing director of Tui UK and Ireland, has warned that many companies would not survive unless flight levies were reduced immediately. He said the industry was 'on its knees', adding: 'We really need the Government to step in and help us.' Airports are also calling on the Chancellor to waive business rates to help them cope with the collapse in travel. Regional airports have been hit particularly hard. The Airport Operators Association recently warned 20,000 jobs will have to be cut without urgent relief. Airports in England have paid more than 70million in business rates since March despite a 97 per cent slump in passenger numbers. Sir Graham said yesterday: 'The UK levies the highest rate of tax in the world on air passengers. 'After months in which the Government has effectively shut down much of our aviation industry, particularly through its blunt instrument of quarantine, it is unrealistic to think the goose will continue laying golden eggs. A period of relief for APD would help the sector get back in the air.' Mr Smith said: 'In light of the way the aviation industry is struggling, we are calling for a scrapping of APD until the end of summer next year. This would be a way of encouraging people to travel. 'We need to help the industry on a range of fronts and an important part of that is getting rid of flight levies. 'Other measures include testing for passenger and an extension of the furlough scheme for the aviation industry.' A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'We acted quickly to provide the aviation industry with an unprecedented package of support to help it through this exceptionally difficult period.' This included loans, tax deferrals and the furlough scheme, he added. NOTE: The Press Council has not upheld a complaint about this article. Read the full adjudication here. An ASX-listed marketing group with extensive links to the NSW Liberal Party was awarded millions of dollars in contracts by state-run workers' compensation insurer icare without all being put to an open tender. Icare, overseen by NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, has spent more than $18.3 million since 2015 with IVE Group, an ASX-listed marketing firm run by former NSW Liberal Party president Geoff Selig. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said he could have chosen his words better after last month praising icare's senior management for doing a "superb job". Credit:Kate Geraghty But in an apparent breach of state laws, the NSW government's e-tender site only discloses contracts worth just over $10 million awarded by icare to the company. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As indoor dining remains a no-go in New York City for almost six months, restaurant owners will file an injunction on the mandate after the Labor Day weekend. A rally also is planned on Staten Island for Tuesday, Sept. 8 following the formal filing of a class action lawsuit against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio. On behalf of Bocellis Restaurant in Grasmere, Joyces Tavern in Eltingville and IROAR -- Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue -- papers will be filed on Tuesday morning in Richmond County. St. George attorneys Louis Gelormino and Mark Fonte partnered with Syosett counselor James Mermigis in the coalition of mainly Staten Island and Brooklyn restaurant owners. They are demanding emergency immediate relief allowing restaurants throughout NYC to immediately open for indoor dining at 50% capacity, according to Gelormino. Mermigis made the news this past week with a $2 billion suit filed on behalf of Queens restaurant, Il Bacco. Rob Hanley of Bocellis said his linen cloth, Grasmere establishment has been servings its award-winning, fine dining Italian fare to beloved guests for over two decades. He said in a statement, We pride ourselves on having been an integral part of the Staten Island small business community and one that has delivered thousands of special moments for our cherished customers as well as providing employment opportunity for hundreds of devoted workers. It is with great sadness and difficulty that we have been relegated to operating under current conditions and we pray that a return to indoor dining is imminent. Bocelli currently offers sit-down service in its parking lot. Weve had enough, said Rob DeLuca, owner of DeLucas Italian Restaurant in Tottenville and the defacto head of IROAR. We owe it to our staff and their families who make their livings in the restaurant industry, said DeLuca. Proprietors feeling left for dead started IROAR in May with a letter lobbying the governor to get back into business in a safe, responsible way. At that time in the spring, the document aimed to fire up indoor seating at 50 percent capacity. The delivery and curbside pickup model is unsustainable, owners have maintained, as demonstrated by the thousands of businesses already shuttered permanently. IROAR argues that the impending cold weather will be disastrous. While borough politicians have been largely supportive of reopening immediately at reduced capacities, the stance of Councilwoman Debi Rose recently sparked outrage among her North Shore constituents. Advance articles have detailed how Rose threw expensive HVAC ventilation requirements into an argument as to why dining rooms should not open immediately, even at limited capacities. Im not here to talk badly about any politician. This is a cry for help, said Massimo Felici, owner of three Staten Island restaurants and one of IROARs vocal members. Our lawsuit is saying please help us and listen to us. Thats what its truly about. Otherwise we are not going to survive past this year, Felici said. Following the paperwork filing, IROAR members plan to rally at 11 a.m. at the Richmond County Court House at 26 Central Avenue Sept. 8. DeLuca will shut his eatery for lunch that day so his staff can attend. Felici encouraged other business owners and elected officials to stand with them. He said passionately, If youre here for the people then you all show up. If youre not able to do that, then youre not my politician. DeLuca said he felt so frustrated being in the crosshairs of the governor and mayor he planned to run for an office in the near future. Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com. IN OTHER FOOD NEWS: Councilwoman Roses comment on indoor dining sparks ire among her restaurant constituents Desolate St. George . . . a ghost town highlighting the state of the restaurant industry | Pamelas Food Service Diary NYC restaurant plight illustrated just outside Borough Hall Ins and outs of drive-ins . . . saving the restaurants -- and our sanity | Pamelas Food Service Diary Todays fig news -- fake and otherwise -- from S.I. to Timbuktu | Pamelas Food Service Diary Getting ready for cold-weather dining in NYC Ralphs Ices moves locations on the South Shore Adobe Blues postpones reopening A federal bailout for Americas restaurants: Will this help NYC? Restaurant rally planned for Labor Day Restaurants throw support behind Tunnel to Towers foundation on 9/11 with Dine Out When the Kichwa community closed off their village near the Coca River in Ecuador's northern Amazon rainforest in March to protect themselves from the coronavirus pandemic, they planned to live off fishing and whatever food they could grow. But about two weeks into their quarantine, two damaged oil pipelines leaked thousands of barrels of crude into the river, spreading along the banks and contaminating the water, said Carlos Jipa, leader of the indigenous community. On Tuesday, a lower court judge ruled against the 105 mostly Kichwa communities affected by the spill, in a lawsuit that demanded urgent environmental and community reparations from the Ecuadorian government and oil companies responsible. Already feeling trapped by quarantine, the more than 27,000 indigenous people living along the Coca and Napo rivers now cannot farm or fish on their own territory because of the oil in the water, Jipa said. Also read: European banks face indigenous calls to end Amazon oil trade "We are trapped again," said the local leader, who is president of the Kichwa indigenous federation, FCUNAE. "Just thinking that my brothers and sisters will not be able to eat due to the contamination - I'm worried." Climate experts have long warned about the damage that the oil industry is causing to the Amazon rainforest, which plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing carbon dioxide, one of the main drivers of rising global temperatures. Search for clean water The recent oil spill, which environmentalists say was the largest in Ecuador in more than a decade, started on April 7 along the Coca River, in the northeast, when a landslide caused by severe soil erosion ruptured two oil pipelines. By the time the pipelines' owners - state-run oil company Petroecuador and privately-owned OCP Ecuador - halted operations, more than 15,000 barrels of crude had flowed downstream. The suit filed by FCUNAE, other human rights groups and affected residents said Petroecuador, OCP and the environment and energy ministries had violated the constitutional rights of indigenous people and the rights of nature. The plaintiffs also said authorities had not done enough to clean up the spill or help local populations. The two oil companies told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that they had alerted local and national authorities as soon as they detected the spill, and worked together to coordinate a community response which began the following day. They provided more than 1.7 million litres of water and 25,000 food kits to local communities, dispatched medical teams to the contaminated areas, and spent $3.8 million on the cleanup operation, both companies said in separate email responses. "The aid delivered to the communities was immediate, within all the limitations imposed due to the health crisis caused by Covid-19," wrote Santiago Sarasti, OCP Ecuador's safety, health and environment manager. 15 countries with the highest number of cases, deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic The pipelines became fully operational again in May after Petroecuador and OCP built bypass pipelines around the ruptures. Ecuador's Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources responded to requests for comment by directing the Thomson Reuters Foundation to Petroecuador. The environment ministry said in an emailed statement that it had alerted both companies that their equipment was at risk immediately after national park rangers detected the landslide. But nobody warned the populations downriver of the landslide or the oil spill, said Jipa, so they had no chance to prepare for a sudden lack of food and freshwater. Also, the aid that the oil companies provided afterwards did not reach everyone in need, he added. Many people are still walking up to four km (2.5 miles) through the jungle to find smaller streams to access clean water, Jipa said. 'Destroying lives' In his verdict, the judge said it was undeniable that an oil spill had affected the communities living along the river. But he rejected the lawsuit, saying his court - which processes constitutional rights violations - was the incorrect legal venue. He told the plaintiffs to try administrative or criminal avenues. After the verdict, the plaintiffs' lawyer Lina Maria Espinosa called the court's decision "unacceptable", and said the communities planned to appeal the ruling. An extractive economic model built on exporting natural resources is "destroying people's lives and the Amazon rainforest", she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Indigenous leaders across the Amazon have recently stepped up demands to stop the extraction of oil and other resources. Last month, indigenous groups in Ecuador accused major European banks of "double standards" for financing oil exports from the region while also backing action on climate change. Oil is one of Ecuador's main exports, accounting for nine per cent of its GDP in 2019, with the vast majority of operations located in the Amazon rainforest, according to government data. Catastrophic soil erosion Isabel Carolina Bernal Carrera, a geology professor at the National Polytechnic School in Quito, said scientists have long known the Coca River area is surrounded by unstable terrain. The region is located near an active volcano in an earthquake zone, and soil erosion along the river has happened naturally for thousands of years after eruptions, she noted. Human activity, including the construction of highways and pipelines that line the river and a nearby dam, has accelerated the erosion, with catastrophic results, she said. The country's tallest waterfall, San Rafael, collapsed in February, just two km from the pipelines, event scientists attributed to massive soil erosion. Both OCP's Sarasti and experts with Petroecuador said by email that they had monitored the area carefully since then. But Sarasti said that, as with volcanoes or earthquakes, it was difficult to predict the scope and impact of erosion in advance. Toxic residue Small and medium-sized oil spills in the Amazon are a common occurrence, said Kelly Swing, director and founder of the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Yasuni National Park. Even the best cleanup methods with the latest technology will leave toxic oil residue in soil and water, he added. "When (the oil) touches the riverbanks it starts getting absorbed into the soil, and then the water can rise and cover it so you're not seeing it," said Swing, adding the residues could remain for decades. Jipa, who has now seen three major oil spills near his home in his lifetime, said his community is constantly living with the consequences of the oil industry's push into the Amazon. "We had just recovered from the last spill, and again we're hit with another," he said. A loving family who were falsely accused of evil sex crimes against children have spoken publicly about their devastating ordeal and their terrifying time behind bars. Seven members of the Cook family, who have run a circus school in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney since 2009, were charged with more than 120 offences in 2018, but the sickening allegations were completely untrue. Theresa Cook-Williams, 60, her daughters Yyani, 35, and Clarissa, 25, two women aged 22 and 19, a 20-year-old man and 54-year-old Paul Cook were all cleared of any wrongdoing in Penrith Local Court almost two years later in February 2020. But freedom came after four of the accused had already spent 206 days in prison. For Clarissa, three of those weeks were in a cold solitary confinement cell where the lights always stayed on. Therese's daughter Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams, 35, was falsely accused of 'inciting' a boy to rape another little boy 'You couldn't sleep. It was freezing. And you can hear the guards talking about you. They call you names and threaten you: 'you're going to be raped in here. You're going to be bashed'',' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. Matriarch Theresa Cook-Williams, the accused ringleader, said her greatest distress were the death threats. 'I was scared of being killed,' she said. Seven months on from their release, the family will appear on 60 Minutes to break their silence on the false accusations. The segment, to air at 8.30pm Sunday, will detail how their lives were torn apart while trying to clear their names - and their fear of being thrown in jail for life. 'I was just told when I was arrested that I'd be in prison for 25 years to life,' Theresa Cook said as she broke down in tears clutching her chest in a preview. The alleged offences involved three boys under the age of ten between 2014 and 2016 and included false allegations of rape, assault and kidnapping. It was also alleged the family took part in 'blood rituals', sticking needles in a person's eye, and tongue biting, while some boys were allegedly filmed to create pornographic material. All allegations were false, with the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrawing all 127 charges, but the family was forced to hear them in court as the case played out in the public eye. 'I still get scared. Very, very scared,' Ms Cook said in the preview. In a preview for the interview which will air on Sunday, Ms Cook sobbed as she explained the initial moments following her arrest Therese Cook is pictured after an accident Yyani Cook-Williams, her 30-year-old daughter, was wrongly accused of inciting two of the boys to have sex with each other. She explained how she repeatedly insisted she was innocent during an initial police interview for 'what felt like an hour'. 'I would rather be accused of murder,' Yyani Cook-Williams said. Her brother explained that he'd 'never felt dread like that before in my life'. 'I was so afraid,' the young man said. Paul Cook said he still carries 'pain, sadness, some days despair' following all charges being dropped. Yyani Cook-Williams (pictured) explained how she repeatedly insisted she was innocent during an initial police interview for 'what felt like an hour' The family (pictured) all maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal and were finally vindicated after nearly two years of hell After all charges were dismissed, the family's defence layer Bryan Wrench said the prosecution's case was weak. 'Crucial evidence had been overlooked and the police had no leg to stand on,' he said at the time. Mr Wrench reiterated his clients' innocence, and said he was pleased they could finally be reunited after were separated for the length of the court case as part of their bail conditions. 'It was probably one of the greatest miscarriages of justice this state has seen,' he told 9News at the time. 'It was totally concocted, they are totally innocent, and it's been total vindication today. 'It's been a saga, it's finally over, it's been two years since they have seen their family and today will be reunited.' Police falsely alleged in court Therese Cook was the ringleader and organised the 'systemic rape and detention of the boys'. She was charged with 43 offences, including aggravated assault of a child, sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and holding children against their will. All charges were dropped. Her brother Paul was wrongly accused of filming at least one encounter on his mobile phone and three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. The family-run Katoomba circus school is pictured Therese Cook (left) and Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams (right), together in costume Cook-Williams was wrongly accused of 'inciting' a boy to rape another little boy on Anzac Day in 2016 and raping both of the little boys in company with her mother. Meredith, Cook's adopted daughter, was charged with rape, assaulting two of the boys and depriving a boy of his liberty. They all maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal and were finally vindicated after nearly two years of hell. The court was told one of the alleged victims penned a letter to his mother admitting the allegations were fabricated, but the confession was hidden from investigators. NSW Police called for a review of the decision to withdraw the charges earlier this year, but it was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Timeline of events leading to dismissal of all charges February 5, 2018: All seven members of the Cook family were arrested on a property in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, falsely accused of sexually assaulting three boys under the age of eight. February 9, 2018: Accused enter pleas of not guilty. Mid August, 2018: Therese Ann Cook, her daughter Yyani Cook-Williams and Clarissa Meredith were all granted bail. They were not allowed to contact each other or other members of the family during court proceedings. March 8, 2019: One of the boys who claimed he was a victim of the family wrote a letter to his mother admitting he had lied about being sexually assaulted. Defence solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court the boy had written a letter saying: 'Mum I'm really sorry I've been lying about the whole thing. Nobody hurt me, I've been lying to you.' He claimed the boy's mother had hidden the note from investigators. February 14, 2020: All charges against each of the seven members of the family were dropped. They had maintained their innocence throughout the court process. September 13, 2020: The family will break their silence to appear on 60 Minutes and discuss the trauma of the false accusations and wrong charges. Advertisement Mumbai, Sep 6 : A man claiming to be an aide of absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar called up "Matoshri" and demanded to speak to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, officials said here on Sunday. The caller, whose identity is not clear, reportedly called up at least twice on the landlines of "Matoshri" - the CM's private residence in Bandra east - on Saturday and said he wanted to speak to Thackeray, said Transport Minister Anil Parab. "We have immediately informed the Mumbai Police to do whatever is necessary in the matter. The police will verify the antecedents of the caller and take whatever measures necessary for the safety and security of the CM," he told media persons this evening. However, Parab categorically refuted reports in some sections that the caller allegedly issued threats to blow up the CM's residence, saying that there was no such thing. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the government has taken strong note of the development and the CID has been directed to look into the matter which has come up on the eve of the Monsoon Session of Maharashtra Legislature starting here on Monday. Meanwhile, leaders of the ruling coalition - the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress - including Eknath Shinde, Parab, Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan, besides Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and others have reacted strongly to the incident and said the government will not be cowed down by any such threats to the CM. All leaders have expressed full support to Thackeray while Pednekar said Shiv Sainiks will be ready to deploy their own ring of security around "Matoshri" if needed. Taking serious note of the incident, the Mumbai Police have beefed up security around the Thackeray home as well as the Vidhan Bhavan complex at Nariman Point as a precaution. A no-deal in Brexit talks could be on its way, driven by emotion and nationalism on the British side, Ireland's foreign minister has warned. Simon Coveney, a veteran of Brexit talks, said he feared both sides would fail to reach an agreement, especially given a trade deal with the UK was a relatively low priority for the EU side compared to other issues post-Covid. "Nobody wants to be paying tariffs or having unnecessary disruption to trade between the EU and the UK. But I do think that the way in which the British political system deals with Brexit is incredibly inward-looking," Mr Coveney told the Irish Sunday Independent. "It's focused on British politics, it's driven by pride, emotion, nationalism, as opposed to the detail of what's required to get a trade deal and the compromises that are required to do that." The foreign minister said some people in the UK were indulging in a "fantasy" that a trade deal was more important to Europe than the UK, adding that "the idea that actually a trade deal with the UK is going to be No.1 or No.2 or No.3 or No.4 on the priority list for the EU, in my view, is very unlikely". He said other issues like finalising the EU's own budget, reforming the Common Agricultural Policy, migration, and the coronavirus economic recovery would take precedence. His warning comes after reports that EU leaders may not intervene in Brexit discussions at next month's EU summit in Brussels a blow for those on the British side who want leaders to change course to facilitate a deal. "I fear no deal. I mean from an Irish perspective, a no deal is really bad news; from a UK perspective, a no deal is equally a really bad news story. But for many countries in the EU, this is an important issue but it is not the priority like it was this time last year because Covid has changed a lot and many countries are now dealing with more immediate and fundamental issues," he told the newspaper. The Independent reported on Sunday that the European Parliament has drawn a "red line" on letting talks push past October, citing technical and administrative reasons. The intervention dashes hopes of a last-minute deal struck in November or December while the looming threat of no-deal concentrates minds. Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66 Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover Sky News/AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London AFP via Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU REUTERS Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge EPA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters Getty Images Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border PA Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day AP Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31 Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square Getty Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time Reuters Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament EPA Speaking on Sunday morning Labour MP and former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "I think there's a very real danger that we will leave without a proper deal and that will be disastrous in many ways." In an interview with the Mail on Sunday newspaper, the UKs chief negotiator David Frost said the UK was not scared of walking away from talks. By contrast he claimed Theresa May had "blinked and had its bluff called". A lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realise that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously," Lord Frost, who was recently ennobled by Boris Johnson, said. The peer claimed the UK was not going to be a client state of the EU, adding: "I don't think that we are scared of this at all. We want to get back the powers to control our borders and that is the most important thing." After splitting the first four games of the series at Fenway Park, the Toronto Blue Jays were looking to continue their good momentum and leave Boston in winning ways. The Red Sox are never an easy task but led by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who picked up four singles hits, the Blue Jays topped the Red Sox by a 10-8 score. Also, Cavan Biggio's two-run double capped a six-run fifth inning, Rowdy Tellez and Caleb Joseph homered to secure the win for the Jays. The outfielder, Gurriel Jr. also scored a pair of runs, and drove one in himself with an RBI single in the fifth. The 26-year-old has been on a mission, and the four-hit game has his average at .290 with a solid .832 OPS over 38 games this season. Making his first start for the Blue Jays since being acquired in a deadline-day trade from Arizona, the 28-year-old, Robbie Ray gave up four runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked three. Despite the injuries and despite getting walked off twice in the rare five-game series over four days, the Jays found a way to take the rubber match in the five-game series. Toronto, second in the AL East, will begin a three-game series at its temporary home, Buffalo, New York against the third-place Yankees. Charlie Montoyo's team has won 15 out of their last 22 games. A New York City man accused of killing a man and dumping his body in a wicker trunk in Bergen County was released by a judge Friday, authorities said. On Friday, Superior Court Judge James Sattely approved the release of David Garrido, 67, who was arrested and charged in February with the June 1985 murder of Ricardo Brown, 29, a spokeswoman for the Bergen County Prosecutors Office confirmed. After more than 34 years, Garrido was arrested in February for what was previously a cold case, where police found Browns body stuffed in a wicker trunk on the side of a road in East Rutherford. Sattely put Garrido on pretrial monitoring, which will require him to check in by phone every other week and in person the other weeks, the spokeswoman said. Among the conditions of Garridos release is that he cannot apply for a passport, the spokeswoman said. Authorities arrest of Garrido follows more than three decades of mystery surrounding polices discovery of Brown, who was shot, strangled and wrapped in plastic inside a wicker steamer trunk on the side of Madison Circle Drive. Although nobody was arrested in 1985, the investigation initially pointed to Garrido as a person of interest. Court records show that authorities searched Garridos New York home the month after Brown was found, collecting evidence but not making arrests. According to the criminal affidavit, during a search of Garridos apartment just weeks after Brown was reported missing, police found traces of blood and a trunk that was nearly identical to the one that contained Browns body. On June 18, 1985, Browns wife, who was only referred to by her initials, reported him missing, police say. During an interview with police, Browns wife said Brown was a drug dealer who used a pager for his business, the affidavit said. The last message on Browns beeper the day he went missing was from Garrido, she told officers, according to the affidavit. Browns wife witnessed her husband call Garrido, she said, with Garrido asking for a nine, which was believed to be a term for cocaine, police wrote in the affidavit. The last time she spoke to her husband was when he called her at 4 p.m. the day he disappeared, the affidavit said. A week later, across the Hudson River, police found Browns body wrapped in plastic sheets and stuffed inside a wicker steamer trunk in East Rutherford, authorities said. An autopsy found Brown had been shot once in the head. Days after Brown was found, investigators from the NYPD and the Bergen County Prosecutors Office began interviewing Garridos neighbors, police said. Two neighbors remember seeing a wicker steamer trunk, much like the one that Browns body was found in. Another neighbor told police that Garrido once took care of her apartment while she was away. When she returned, she saw a smaller, but similar wicker steamer trunk in her apartment. The smaller trunk had the words the long lock on it, just like the trunk found in East Rutherford. She also remembered seeing both trunks in Garridos apartment. Investigators searched Garridos apartment little more than a week after Brown was found. The search revealed several items which tested positive for blood, the detective wrote in the affidavit. In August 1985, police sat down with Garrido, who told them that when Brown arrived at his apartment to sell him drugs, he took the drugs, paid Brown and retired to his room, police wrote in the affidavit. While he and Brown were in his apartment, Garrido heard a gunshot he said was fired by another person. Helping the other person, Garrido wrapped Browns body in a plastic sheet and placed it into the wicker steamer trunk before loading into the other persons car, he said. It wasnt until February that Garrido allegedly told police that he had blacked out during Browns slaying, according to the affidavit. Garrido allegedly changed his story from one police interview to another, switching from blaming the murder on another man in 1985, to claiming he lost consciousness during the time of the slaying, and called his father to take the body away in the second interview in February, according to the affidavit. All witnesses/information that Garrido provided during his interview proved to [be] fictitious and/or incorrect, the detective who signed the affidavit wrote. It was not immediately clear how or if Garrido pleaded to the charges. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. The professor, Partho Sarathi Ray, said that he has never visited the Bhima Koregaon memorial in Pune. The NIA has asked him to appear at its Mumbai office on 10 September Kolkata: Days, after the NIA summoned IISER-Kolkata professor Partho Sarathi Ray for questioning in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018, the scientist and social activist on Sunday, said he had nothing to do with the incident and the probe agency was trying to "harass him, as has been the case with other intellectuals". Ray also said that there was no charge against him, and he had never visited the Bhima Koregaon memorial in Pune. "The agency (NIA) has summoned me as a witness in the case, under section 160 CrPC. Therefore, there are no charges against me. I have no connection with this case as I have never been to Bhima Koregaon. I wasn't even aware of the incident until I read about it in the newspapers," he told PTI. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a notice to Ray, who is also the convenor of the Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC) West Bengal unit, asking him to appear for questioning in its Mumbai office on 10 September in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. The case pertains to an incident of caste violence that took place near the Bhima Koregaon war memorial on January 1, 2018, following alleged provocative speeches at Elgar Parishad conclave a day earlier. Several vehicles were torched and one person killed in the incident, triggering large scale Dalit agitation in Maharashtra. "This is nothing but a tactic to harass and intimidate me, as is being done with academics and intellectuals all over India. I am a biomedical scientist who has been involved in the battle against COVID-19. I have also stood consistently on the side of the persecuted and disadvantaged. It is very unfortunate that I'm being harassed in this manner at this critical time," he said. A high school assistant principal has recorded himself saying 'f*** the police' after telling cops 'what a s***y a*** job they were doing' during the Rochester protests. Steven Lysenko, a ninth-grade teacher at Spencerport High School, posted the clip on Facebook Live amid ongoing demonstrations over the the death of black man Daniel Prude, who lost consciousness after police held a hood over his head. Lysenko tells viewers he has been on a peaceful protest when 'our peacekeepers ended up shooting pepper spray at us for singing and chanting and telling them what a s***y a*** job they were doing'. He added: 'They can f*** right off America. F*** the police. F*** Rochester police department. Thank you.' After the footage went viral over the weekend the school district posted to Twitter Saturday to apologize and say it 'will be addressed as a confidential, personnel matter'. Scroll down for video Steven Lysenko, a ninth-grade teacher at Spencerport High School, posted the clip on Facebook Live amid ongoing demonstrations over the the death of Prude The video sparked outrage among some, with one Twitter user, Jeff Belles, writing: 'Any Spencerport student with a similar rant on social media would have consequences. This is not respectful and encourages hate. Fire him.' @Mindfullyrude wrote: 'This man is inciting and expressing hate towards law enforcement. Shame on him. Hateful individuals should not be allowed around children.' But a petition to keep Lysenko at the school had more than 3,500 signatures as of Sunday afternoon. Black Lives Matter protesters march in downtown Rochester Saturday night Rochester Police use pepper spray Saturday night. Lysenko tells viewers he has been on a peaceful protest when 'our peacekeepers ended up shooting pepper spray at us for singing and chanting and telling them what a s***y a*** job they were doing' Lysenko, who describes himself as a 'Husband, Father, Child, Advocate for Social Justice, Educator, Child of God', has been vocal on social media about the Black Lives Matter movement. In June he wrote: 'To any students-past or present-who follow me here: know that when you post '#WhiteLivesMatter, you are condoning White Supremacy. In that I will not abide!' He earlier apologized on Facebook for using 'police-centric and police-friendly language'. Spencerport Schools said in their statement on Twitter: 'As we have stated consistently and clearly, Spencerport Central School District stands in solidarity in support of racial equality and systemic change. 'We remain committed to this change, and want all of our families to know we further stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters. However, when a District employee uses language in public or on social media that does not align with our Code of Conduct or demonstrate appropriate role modeling for students, that is something that we will not condone. These statements by our administrator have caused disruption within our school community. 'We apologize to our students, parents and community that you had to hear this language from one of our employees. This will be addressed as a confidential, personnel matter.' After the footage went viral over the weekend the school district posted to Twitter Saturday to apologize and say it 'will be addressed as a confidential, personnel matter' Nine protesters were arrested overnight Saturday in Rochester as demonstrations over the the death of Daniel Prude earlier this year continued for a fourth night. Three officers were treated at hospitals for injuries they suffered when 'projectiles and incendiary devices' were hurled at them during Saturday night's protests, Lt. Greg Bello of the Rochester police said in a news release. The Democrat and Chronicle reported that some protesters were hit by projectiles as well as thousands marched through the streets of New York's third-largest city. No information about injuries to protesters was provided by police. Nine protesters were arrested overnight Saturday in Rochester as demonstrations over the the death of Daniel Prude, pictured, earlier this year continued for a fourth night The New York Civil Liberties Union criticized the police use of 'military tactics' including sound cannons, flash bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls against the demonstrators. 'People speaking out are not enemy combatants, and to fire flash bangs, tear gas, and pepper balls at demonstrations against police violence only proves the point,' NYCLU Genesee Valley chapter director Iman Abid said in a statement Sunday. 'The mayor and RPD must stop these warfare tactics now.' The marches took place as New York's attorney general announced Saturday that a grand jury would investigate Prude's death. Prude's death after his brother had called seeking help for his erratic behavior in March has sparked protests since video of the encounter was made public Wednesday, with protesters demanding police accountability and legislation to change how authorities respond to mental health emergencies. Prude, 41, was naked and handcuffed when he was held down by officers who responded to his brother's call. Police body camera video shows the officers covering Prude's head with a 'spit hood' designed to protect police from bodily fluids, then pressing his face into the pavement for two minutes. Prude died a week later after he was taken off life support. Police body camera video shows the officers covering Prude's head with a 'spit hood' designed to protect police from bodily fluids, then pressing his face into the pavement for two minutes. Prude died a week later after he was taken off life support The Monroe County medical examiner listed the manner of death as homicide caused by 'complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.' The report cited excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP, as contributing factors. A police internal affairs investigation cleared the officers involved of any wrongdoing, concluding in April that their 'actions and conduct displayed when dealing with Prude appear to be appropriate and consistent with their training.' The seven officers were suspended Thursday after Prude's family released the video from the scene. Mayor Lovely Warren thanked James for taking action in what she called 'a trying time in Rochester.' Protesters have called on Warren and Police Chief La'Ron Singletary to step down over the delay in releasing details of Prude's death. A couple from Ohio was arrested by authorities for torturing a 7-year-old girl over a period of seven months in 2019. The couple also padlocked the little girl into a dog cage. Child abuse According to Cleveland.com, a grand jury in Canton indicted 30-year-old Derek Mayle and 29-year-old Lillian Cottrell on August 31 on charges of endangering children. The court records say that the couple did torture and cruelly abuse the child from January 1, 2019, until July 30, 2019. The victim weighed only 28 pounds when she was rescued, prosecutors said. Stark County assistant prosecuting attorney Dan Petricini said that the child, who is related to Cottrell, had been visiting with another relative for two weeks in the summer of 2019 but refused when it was time to go back home. Also Read: Pedophile Shoots Teen to Death Multiple Times While Raping Him in Broad Daylight Peticini said that it was during that time when the child said that she did not want to go back to Cottrell's house because she has to sleep in the cage. The relative who exposed the couple has now gained full custody of the girl. It is also the same relative who called Canton police and Stark County Child Protective Services, according to Canton Repository. The little girl and her two older brothers were removed from the house, the brothers are with another relative, according to Petricini. Investigators also said that it does not appear that they were subjected to the types of abuse and torture leveled at the girl. The police said the girl was forced to sleep in the cage as punishment. Petricini cited the ongoing status of the investigation and did not provide details about the accusations against Mayle and Cottrell, which were part of a secret indictment. On September 3, a judge set bond for Cottrell and Mayle at $1 million each, and they are scheduled to appear in court on September 11. Similar incident In 2007, another couple from Ohio locked up their then 10-year-old son in a small dog cage when he was being punished and while his father used drugs. Authorities also said he sometimes had to wear a shock collar. The boy's parents were charged with child endangerment and making or selling drugs in front of the boy and his 5-year-old brother, according to NBC News. The suspects, then 28-year-old Jessica Botzko and then 37-year-old John Westover, were arrested a day after the boys were left alone at home and ran away. They were found on a neighbor's porch. The 10-year-old boy told police officers that he left because he was tired of being locked up. The cage was less than 2 feet high and 2 feet wide, and it had a chain across the top with two locks on each end. Carroll said that the boy had to tuck his knees into his chest and he fell asleep in there on a couple of occasions. He was locked up in the cage on occasion for punishment. According to the court documents, the 10-year-old boy was repeatedly shocked at the family's home through a remote-controlled collar meant as a training device for animals. Related Article: US Marshals Rescue 39 Endangered Children in Georgia and Busted a Sex Trafficking Ring @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hyderabad, Sep 6 : The stage is set for the Monsoon session of Telangana legislature beginning Monday amid unprecedented arrangements in view of Covid-19 pandemic. All members of both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council have been asked to undergo a Covid-19 test and only those with negative results will be allowed to attend the session. Presiding officers of both the Houses have already announced the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), under which all legislators, employees, security staff and journalists covering the session have to undergo the tests. Finance Minister T. Harish Rao on Friday tested positive and is under home isolation. Assembly Speaker P. Srinivas Reddy and Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy have also asked those having Covid symptoms not to attend the session. Wearing of masks will be mandatory for all legislators. The personal staff of legislators will not be allowed to enter the legislature complex while one or two assistants of ministers will be permitted. Officials said visitors will also be not allowed during the session, which is likely to continue for 20 days. The 'media point' in the Assembly premises, where leaders of various parties used to address media persons, has been removed to ensure social distancing. Seating arrangements in the Assembly and the Council have also been changed to ensure that social distancing is maintained between members. This is the first legislature session since the outbreak of Covid and the presiding officers of both the Houses are making fool-proof arrangements to prevent spread of the disease. The main opposition Congress will be looking to corner the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government on what it calls its failure to check the spread of Covid in the state. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has already said that the government is ready to discuss and debate threadbare all the issues. He directed the ministers to be prepared to place all the facts so that they would be known to the people. A meeting he held last week with ministers and TRS legislators decided to have discussion on the containment of coronavirus and treatment of patients, crop loss due to heavy rains, the fire accident in the Srisailam Hydel Project, the achievements made in the power sector, the new Revenue Act, the illegal construction of project by Andhra Pradesh government under the name of Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme, and irrigation sector issues. KCR, as the Chief Minister is known, said the legislature would also discuss injustices being meted out by the Centre to the state in Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation, financial and economic losses due to the policies of the Centre, lukewarm response of the Centre to the resolutions made by the State on the reservations, agriculture sector and regulatory cultivation method. He asked the ministers to get equipped with all the information on the issues that would come up for discussions during the session. "The legislative Sessions should be held upholding the democratic values. There is no other platform other than the legislature to discuss matters on people's issues and take appropriate decisions. We have to utilise this platform and opportunity. The Telangana Legislature should be held as an ideal one for others in the country to look up for inspiration. The members should analyse how the programmes and Acts implemented by the government are performing at the field level. The members should be able to point out if there was some lacunae somewhere. The government will answer each and every query raised by the members. The ruling party members also should mention about each and every issue of the people," he said. The legislature will also pass a resolution demanding the Centre to confer the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, on former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. The chief minister had already announced this The state government also decided to install a portrait of Narasima Rao in the Assembly and it will request the Centre install his portrait in the Parliament. Through another resolution to be passed in the legislature, the Centre will be urged to rename the Central University of Hyderabad as P.V. Narasimha Rao Central University. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Liberty U provides 500 sexual assault victim kits to local community Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Students and staff of Liberty University assembled 500 sexual assault kits that will be distributed to victims in the Lynchburg, Virginia, community. LU Serve, the university department responsible for local, national, and international ministry, arranged the event on Thursday, according to the department's executive director, Lew Weider. Weider told The Christian Post that the kits included a backpack filled with underwear, sweat pants, a shirt, a stress ball, writing material, and a teddy bear. Each teddy bear has a backpack filled with dissolvable paper that the victims can write their feelings of anger on and then throw it into water to watch it dissolve. The imagery, according to Weider, is to show that the feelings of the victim's attack don't have to have control over them. Weider told CP that every 98 seconds in America a person is sexually assaulted, and the students at Liberty University have taken the opportunity to help. "Our students are passionate about doing something for the problems of our culture whether that's sexual assault, sex trafficking, whether it's poverty, homelessness. So this is just one more way to provide students an opportunity to learn about what happens, to be better informed, to be proactive, to make a difference, and to actually understand that they can make a difference in the lives of the people in their community that are hurting." The kit assembly was broken up into stations. At each station, students heard the continued segments of a sexual assault victim's story. LU Serve works with the Lynchburg-based Sexual Assault Response Program at the local YWCA. SARP Director Sherell Smith told CP that the backpacks are delivered to victims while they're in the emergency room. Smith noted that clothing is necessary because "they can get ripped and torn and since DNA is on the clothes, the police want them and we like to be able to provide them with clothes." According to Smith, in 2019, SARP had 713 cases of sexual assault in the city of Lynchburg. Also included in the kits are handwritten notes from students who prayed for each bag as they made them. LU Serve will hold this event at least on an annual basis moving forward. By Express News Service COIMBATORE: The death toll in the Coimbatore building collapse has gone up to two, with Fire and Rescue personnel rescuing the body of a 72-year-old man from the debris on Monday early morning. The search operation for his wife Kasturiammal (65), who is believed to be trapped beneath the debris of a three-story building at KC Thottam, near Chetti Street in Coimbatore is still going on. Due to the incessant rain, the roof of the three-story building collapsed and slides down on a tile roof house in Coimbatore on Sunday night. In the sudden mishap, nine people residing in those two houses got stuck into debris. In the night-long rescue operation, six including a five-year-old male child were rescued from the collapsed building. Among them, four were admitted to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) with injuries. The rescue work is still going on to rescue one more woman Kasturiammal. The deceased were identified as K Swetha alias Shalini (25) wife of Kannan and K Gopalsamy (72) who was residing in the tile roof house. The incident took place at KC Thottam near Chetti Street in Coimbatore at around 8.45 pm on Sunday night. Coimbatore Police on the site of the building collapse asking residents of neighbouring houses to vacate the buildings to facilitate rescue ops. Two women and a child have been rescued so far. Five others believed to be trapped in debris @kirubakaranR1 @rk_clicks pic.twitter.com/UBcmOP5AQp Ranjitha Gunasekaran (@ranjim) September 6, 2020 The three-story building was owned by Vanaja (65), the wife of Govindarajan. They have two daughters and a son Kannan. Vanaja was residing on the first floor along with her son Kannan, daughter-in-law Swetha and their son Thanveer (5). The ground floor of the house was rented to another family and the second floor was used by them. Vanaja's daughter Kavitha, son-in-law (Husband of the second daughter Punitha) Manojkumar (47) and their relative Sarojini (70) was also there in the house on Sunday. In front of the concrete building, there was a small tile roof house where the deceased Gopalsamy lived with his wife Kasturiammal (aged around 65) and son Manikandan (42). On Sunday night, when the building fell on the tile roof house, all the nine inmates were got stuck into the debris. The tenants of the ground floor escaped without any injuries. Kavitha and Sarojini were rescued by the locals and the house owner Vanaja was also rescued within 15 minutes of the mishap. However, the others were not able to be reached immediately by the rescue team. After a three-hour-long struggle, a five-year-old child was rescued by the team and he was taken to CMCH and his health condition is stable. However, the mother of the child Swetha died in the mishap. She was found next to her son. It is believed that she had saved her son from the falling roof, said, officials. During the rescue operation, police asked the neighbouring residents from houses very close to the building to vacate their houses, like the roofs, the collapsed building started to slide again down. It made the rescue operation as hard. However, the efforts made a positive response from the victims who were stuck into it. In a wee hour of Monday, Manojkumar and Manikandan were found alive with minor injuries, and immediately they were taken out from the debris. Two people have been rescued while six, including a child, are believed to be trapped beneath the collapsed three-storey building at KC Thottam near Chetti Street in Coimbatore. Express Photos | @rk_clicks @xpresstn @mannar_mannan @ranjim Read more: https://t.co/tXfwTdQtOY pic.twitter.com/IggV8fhsXw The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) September 6, 2020 The Kasturiammal is believed to be trapped in the building collapse and the rescue team is trying to save her alive. More than 200 fire and rescue service personnel and police personnel are on the rescue service and they were pressed to rescue the trapped persons. Meanwhile, they have been clearing the debris from the backside of the building fearing it could made further fallout from the neighbouring building. Also, they feed oxygen supply to those who trapped in the collapse. District Collector K Rajamani, and City Police Commissioner Sumit Sharan, along with deputy commissioners G Stalin (law and order) and ES Uma (Crime), MLA Amman K Arjunan, and other officials were on spot in the night to monitor the rescue operations. Coimbatore Corporation Commission Kumaravel Pandian also visited the spot on Monday. Note that this only concerns my own imagery posted here, not imagery by others which I post with permission (the latter are clearly indicated as such in the subscripts)! Excerpt from United Nations resolution 2222 (XXI) Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies In order to promote international co-operation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, States Parties to the Treaty conducting activities in outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, agree to inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as the public and the international scientific community, to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, of the nature, conduct, locations and results of such activities. On receiving the said information, the Secretary-General of the United Nations should be prepared to disseminate it immediately and effectively. Donald Trump has lashed out at the widow of Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs, whose philanthropy organisation Emerson Collective owns The Atlantic magazine - which reported earlier this week that the president made disparaging comments about dead American military soldiers. The president called on his supporters to call her, write her, let her know how you feel as he retweeted a tweet by Charlie Kirk, founder of a right-wing student movement. Steve Jobs would not be happy that his wife is wasting money he left her on a failing Radical Left Magazine that is run by a con man (Goldberg) and spews FAKE NEWS & HATE. Call her, write her, let her know how you feel!!! said Mr Trump. Mr Kirk, an outspoken Trump supporter, said in his tweet: The widow of Steve Jobs - Laurene Powell Jobs donated at least $500,000 to Democrat presidential nominee Joe Bidens campaign this year. Do you know who owns a majority stake in The Atlantic? Laurene Powell Jobs. Ms Powell Jobs, who is a billionaire and inherited her late husbands Steven P. Jobs Trust after he died in 2011, frequently advocates for policies concerning education reform, social redistribution and environmental conservation. She is a supporter of the Democratic party, and donated $2 million to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election, and raised a further $4 million for her. When Mr Biden became the presumptive presidential nominee for the Democratic party, she donated at least $500,000 to his campaign, reported The New York Times in July. Earlier this week, The Atlantic published an article that described Mr Trump as unwilling to honour the US' s war dead, instead calling lost service members and prisoners of war losers and suckers. The Trump administration has bristled at the allegations, written by the magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, with Mr Trump accusing The Atlantic of dying" and therefore fabricating the story. But the president has publicly expressed contempt for service members who died in duty, or who were captured before. Most notoriously, he denigrated the service of senator John McCain, who was widely considered one of the countrys greatest living war heroes. Mr Trump said during a 2015 event: Hes not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. By Cobus van Staden CAPE TOWN The COVID-19 crisis is pushing Africa to the financial brink. African governments are under pressure to continue servicing their external loans, leaving them with few resources to confront a historic pandemic and its economic fallout. Without external support specifically, a comprehensive repayment freeze some African economies will buckle under their debt burden. The resulting domino effect could imperil the entire continent's development and harm richer countries, too. The international community's response so far has been mixed. The most notable step so far the G20's Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) for the world's poorest countries covers only official bilateral debt. But 61 percent of African DSSI countries' debt-service payments this year will go to private creditors, bondholders, and multilateral lenders like the World Bank. And, despite the G20's assurances, some countries joining the DSSI were subsequently downgraded by global ratings agencies. The World Bank has played an unhelpful role here. Although its president, David Malpass, recently called for expanded debt relief and even raised the possibility of a write-off, he has also resisted calls for the Bank itself (a major lender to Africa) to freeze debt repayments. Instead, the U.S.-dominated institution seems more interested in scoring political points by urging the China Development Bank to join the G20 initiative, even though doing so would really affect only one African country. Geopolitics are also derailing the promising option of a new allocation of the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights (its global reserve asset) in order to unlock extra liquidity. This initiative faces resistance from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which worries that some of the funds would flow to countries like Iran. A major problem for Africa is that it now has significant private-sector debt. In May, a group of 25 of the continent's largest private creditors was created, in consultation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The organization's executive secretary, Vera Songwe, has been pushing for Africa's debt to be bundled into an instrument resembling a collateralized debt obligation, backed by an AAA-rated multilateral finance institution or a central bank. This would save countries time by quickly giving them a two-year repayment freeze in order to deal with the pandemic, without preventing them from tapping credit markets in the future to fund economic recovery. But the private creditors quickly rejected such blanket approaches, insisting that African countries' debt needs to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. This risks wasting so much time that many countries could slide into default while they're waiting, which would be especially galling in view of the large profits these creditors have made by chasing Africa's sky-high yields. Although none of these proposals is a magic bullet, Africa's debt problem is not intractable. The continent's debt-service payments in 2020 amount to $44 billion. That is a lot of money, but it's small change compared to the trillions of dollars that rich-country governments are pumping into their own economies. Pious laments about how the "poorest countries will suffer the most" accompany the infighting among Africa's creditors. This response assumes that while Africa's distress is regrettable, it's also far away, and the continent will quietly suffer in its corner. Today, such thinking is woefully naive. Until early this year, many African economies had been growing robustly. Now, without external help to weather the COVID-19 storm, these countries could face economic collapse. This will directly affect the rich world in ways for which it is not prepared. For China, the current debt crisis represents its biggest political setback to date in Africa. The continent's economic value to China may have declined somewhat, but its political value as a dependable bloc of votes in multilateral institutions is increasing. If Democratic challenger Joe Biden wins November's U.S. presidential election, China will face concerted pressure in those organizations. And although China has joined the G20's DSSI in principle, its application remains piecemeal and opaque. The political costs are mounting. China currently faces a chorus of debt-related disapproval in Nigeria, both on social media and in the country's House of Representatives. Nigerian politicians are calling for an audit of every Chinese loan to the country an unprecedented move in China-Africa relations. If the economic and debt crisis worsens, this hostility will spread across the continent. During previous hard times, African opposition parties campaigned against the Chinese presence in their countries. Increased economic chaos may lead not only to an erosion of high-level African support for China in forums like the UN, but also to populist targeting of Chinese firms and citizens. America's engagement in Africa has a strong military and anti-terrorist component. U.S. policymakers should thus be concerned that the Islamic State (ISIS) has recently taken control of a port in Mozambique. Africa has a population of 1.2 billion, with an average age of 19. A continent of teenagers with no economic prospects will not be difficult to radicalize. Europe is already dealing with the scandal of Greek authorities abandoning African migrants, leaving them to die on the high seas. If African economies collapse, Europe will face an unprecedented migration crisis that dwarfs that of 2015, which almost triggered right-wing populist takeovers in several EU countries. The cost of helping Africa to ride out this debt storm is minuscule, while the costs of not doing so are unimaginably huge. Many European Union member states have joined the DSSI, and they might support its extension when the G20 and the Paris Club of sovereign creditors reconvene later this year. But avoiding nightmare scenarios will require innovation. All of Africa's financial partners, including multilateral institutions, private creditors, and rich-country governments, must get together with UNECA and other African stakeholders to work out a broad solution, and fast. Cobus van Staden is a senior foreign policy researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Former Union minister and Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari in an interview to Hindustan Times talks about the letter that created ripples within the Congress and the partys future course of action. Edited excerpts: Why did you sign the letter? The Congress today faces profound electoral, ideological and organisational challenges. The electoral challenge is underscored by our two consecutive defeats in 2014 and 2019 and our diminished footprint across the country. An overall electoral rejuvenation is vital for the Congress to be on a glide path to a majority in 2024. We are currently not on that trajectory. What are the ideological challenges? Strangely, in this hyper-communicative age, theres been a critical failure of messaging. There is the central question of secularism. Is the Congress comfortable to interpret secularism as Sarv Dharm Sambhav or should it pursue the classical construct of the separation of church and state? How does the party combat the immoral allure of majoritarianism. With nationalism, the challenge is further accentuated. We are failing to articulate convincingly that our nationalism is infinitely superior to the chauvinistic and exclusionist muscularity espoused by the BJP. The irony is the Congress led the freedom struggle, while the rightwing collaborated with the coloniser. It is astonishing we are failing to appropriate our own legacy while they cynically vandalise our achievements and leaders and pretend they belong to them. The truth is Gandhi, Patel, Ambedkar -- not one of them approved of the bigoted, hate politics of the right. Then we have serious organisational challenges. The Congress has lost cadre vitality on the ground, where real electoral battles are fought. These issues require deep thought. Have you lost faith in the Gandhis? Absolutely not. I respect Sonia Gandhi as much as my late mother. She led us with dignity, sensitivity and equanimity for 19 years and was responsible for creating and giving direction to two successive UPA governments. If wed lost faith in her do you think we would have collectively written to her. I for one am deeply grateful to Mrs Gandhi for all the opportunities she has given me in the past 21 years. Who among the 23 is best suited to be an effective full time leader? None of the 23, to the best of my understanding, wrote that letter out of any personal aspiration to be Congress President or to seek any other position. Most of them already occupy senior positions in the party or have served in senior positions in government. In fact I told my colleagues, who signed the letter, send it only if you believe in the need for reform for there would be consequences and reprisals. The letter is not a negotiating tool. Some of my colleagues do have a problem being called traitors and dissenters. For me, the tag of being a conscientious dissenter works. Labels are irrelevant, issues are vital. Is Rahul Gandhi the target? That is an imbecilic thought. In December 2017 all of us unanimously elected him as the president of the party for five years. In May 2019, he stepped down taking moral responsibility for the defeat, despite everyone urging him to stay on. It was a rare step indicative of a fine moral compass. Rahul Gandhi is in the best position to outline his own way forward. Nobody has a difficulty with him, least of all me. But whosoever assumes the mantle will need to embark on a path of serious introspection and action simultaneously or we shall collectively perish. What do you expect Mrs Gandhi to do now? The letter is not a conspiracy to destabilise the existing order. It is in fact a cry for reform and rejuvenation. It was written with a clear conscience in the best interests of the party. As for the canard that the letter was written in cahoots with the BJP, one can only laugh. None of the letter-writers need a certificate -- their political lives testify to their credentials. What if your concerns are not addressed? We will continue to raise them internally, for they are germane to the partys revival. The party must recognise that every time an issue is flagged it is not dissidence, much less a negotiating position. If you are not going to debate and discuss, how are you going to refine party positions on various issues? We are soon going to have a parliament session. China is in occupation of Indian territory. . The government has indeed botched up. However, the Chinese have not grabbed BJP territory, they have grabbed Indian territory. Are we not all Indians first? Should we not send a message to our armed forces that the nation is one behind them in this hour of national peril? Do you anticipate that a new Congress president outside the Gandhi family could be appointed and hence the letter? The letter is about processes, issues and not about personalities. All those who reduce it to that binary do so with mala fide intent. The party chose Gaurav Gogoi over you or Shashi Tharoor as its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. Is it a fallout of the letter? I never asked for any position. The only thing I beseeched the leadership with folded hands was a chance to fight the Parliament elections of 2019. That too, because a perception had been created that I was scared of contesting elections and withdrew from the battlefield in 2014 for fear of losing. It is a decision I regretted every waking moment of my life from 2014 to 2019. I should have fought, even if from my hospital bed. I am grateful the leadership gave me a chance to vindicate my honour. You want elections for the presidents post but you have criticized the elections in the Youth Congress. Isnt there a contradiction? A number of us who came from NSUI and Youth Congress felt elections were not a good idea when Rahul Gandhi kicked off the process in 2007. In fact, most of the signatories have been beneficiaries of the nomination paradigm and felt that there was no need to shake the tree. However, as the process unfolded, an impression gained ground that barrier to entry for less affluent people was getting higher and higher. Some of the letter writers seem to have bought peace? Is there a divide? The only peace you need to buy is with your inner self and your god. I signed the letter in good faith with the best interests of the party at heart. Not for any post, much less for publicity. You started the process a few months ago and were able to get only 23 signatories as many refused to sign the letter. Why so? I did not care to ask how many were approached. Even if I would have been in a minority of one, I still would have signed for the issues are critical. Could the letter have been more happily worded to obviate any presumptions and conclusions? Perhaps. Should it be seen as a selfless act in the larger party and country interest? Absolutely yes. Is there a danger of the party splitting? Why should there be a split? The issues that the letter raises have to be addressed if you want to be on the glide path to 272. Nobody even in their wildest imagination is contemplating such a move. Detectives released the names of three men killed in incidents across Albuquerque over the past several days. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos identified the men as Saul Mendoza, 23, Jeremy Stueck, 34, and Christopher Garcia, 29. None of the cases have been solved and Gallegos gave no other details. On Aug. 28 police responded around 7:30 p.m. to a shooting at the Alon gas station at Gibson and Broadway SE. The man who had been shot, Mendoza, was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound and died of his injuries soon after. Last Tuesday, officers responded around 6:15 p.m. to reports of gunfire in the 200 block of Charleston NE, near Central and Pennsylvania. Police found Stueck mortally wounded and he died at the scene. Then, on Wednesday morning, police responded around 2 a.m. to a suspicious situation in the 7700 block of Prospect NE, near Menaul and Pennsylvania. Officers found Garcia dead, from an unknown trauma, in the front yard of a home. The fast-spreading wildfire near Central California's Mammoth Pool Reservoir in the Sierra National Forest trapped at least 1,000 people. The wildfire in California continues to ravage the area. On Saturday, at least 10,000 people were trapped near Central California's Mammoth Pool Reservoir while 10 other individuals got hurt. Forest spokesman Dan Tune said that those who were trapped inside were already told to shelter-in after the only road out of the campground was compromised, Tune said that their main purpose and top priority right now is the safety of people all over the forest and they will make sure that people be safely evacuated out of the area. In a Twitter post of FOX26, they wrote "Over 50 people have arrived at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport after being rescued from the Mammoth Pool area. Ambulances are rushing those who need treatment to the hospital." Meanwhile, director of the Fresno County Department of Health Dan Lynch told the reporters that the aircraft that rescued the people out of the forest would return to the area to pick up the trapped people. According to a published report in FOX News, rescuers were planning to evacuate around 150 people stuck at the reservoir's boat launch, the Madera County Sheriff's Office said. In a published article in Bee, they reported that the Creek Fire had exploded to around 36,000 acres with zero containment. Moreover, the temperature got higher due to heatwave. Tune also added that fire crews will attempt to get access to the area via water-dropping aircraft and all their resources are working and that the escape round is nice and safe for them as well. The California Fire Department said that nearly 12,500 firefighters were battling 22 major fire in the state that was triggered by hot temperatures and hot weather. There have been over 900 wildfires since Aug.15 and many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightning strikes. Check these out: Trump's Payroll Tax Deferral Won't Give Benefit to this Group of People Beneficiaries Who Owe More Stimulus Money have Until September 30 to Get It Second Round of Stimulus Checks Seem to be in Danger The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a dispute involving a Catholic adoption agency and gay rights. (Michael Reynolds / EPA) To the editor: Why not treat foster care like marriage? ("Religious freedom is not a license to ignore civil-rights laws," editorial, Sept. 1) In Pennsylvania (as in California), religious leaders solemnize weddings. These ceremonies also give newlyweds civil and legal benefits that come from the government. The Catholic Church cannot perform same-sex marriages, but that doesn't stop LGBTQ couples from getting married in California, Pennsylvania or anywhere else in the country. The same goes for foster care. While Catholic Social Services of Philadelphia cannot endorse the relationships of same-sex couples, there are 29 other foster agencies in the city that can, including three certified by the Human Rights Campaign for their excellence in serving LGBTQ families. Excluding a Catholic ministry and its dedicated foster parents from serving vulnerable children doesn't create any more opportunities for LGBTQ families to foster. In fact, the city's actions disproportionately harm minority and disadvantaged kids: Roughly 70% of the foster kids and 60% of the foster parents who partner with the Catholic Church in Philadelphia are people of color. Philadelphia is willing to keep these kids in institutions rather than put them in loving homes of families who partner with Catholic Social Services. The best way forward is to let heroic foster parents who partner with Catholic Social Services to continue serving kids in need. Lori Windham, Washington The writer is senior counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. When asked if the U.S. had "turned a corner" on coronavirus, per Donald Trump, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, responded: "I'm not sure what he means. There are certain states that are actually doing well in the sense of that the case numbers are coming down," he told CNN's Jim Acosta on The Situation Room, but added, "all concern right now is that there are a number of states who are starting to have an uptick in what we call percent positive of testing, which generally is a predictor that there's going to be a problem." Read on to see which states are in trouble, and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus. Michigan A Moon rising over Detroit, Michigan "Michigan will remain under a State of Emergency for the coronavirus pandemic at least until October," reports ABC 12. "Gov. Gretchen Whitmer extended the current State of Emergency until Oct. 1." "We must continue to take this seriously and do everything we can to protect ourselves and all Michiganders from COVID-19," Whitmer said. "By extending the state of emergency, we can continue the crucial work needed to save lives." Minnesota Downtown of Minneapolis.Minnesota MPR reports: "Minnesotans' behavior in stores, restaurants and other public places isn't so much the problem now, but 'informal gatherings have really proven to be a weak spot in our response to the pandemic,' Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said this week." "We're in a more precarious situation today" compared to then, Malcolm said. "There is risk in this situation. The virus is all over the state. The outbreaks are happening all over the state and we just want people to be vigilant." North Dakota "Local governments will discuss mandating mask wearing in public and turning other coronavirus guidelines into requirements at their next meetings following a recommendation from the Burleigh-Morton COVID-19 Task Force on Friday," reports the Bismarck Tribune. "The guidance came as state health officials reported a record number of active COVID-19 cases statewide, and another big jump in Burleigh and Morton counties." Story continues South Dakota A storm rolls in at dawn at the South Dakota State Capitol building in Pierre, South Dakota "South Dakota is one of the nation's hot spots for COVID-19 infections. That didn't stop another large-scale event from kicking off Thursday," reports USA Today. "The rural South Dakota State Fair, which reported an attendance of 205,000 people last year, is set to run through Labor DayIt comes on the heels of the state's two largest events: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the The Sioux Empire Fair. In the weeks following those events, South Dakota has emerged as a virus hotbed, according to data analysis." Montana "As of Saturday, September 5, Montana reports a cumulative total of 8,164 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 146 new cases since yesterday, 1,829 active cases, and 116 deaths from the disease," reports Montana Free Press. "State officials also report that 477 of the cases have resulted in hospitalizations, with 151 patients currently hospitalized, and 6,219 patients considered recovered." Other States are Seeing Upticks Also Indianapolis, Indiana, USA skyline over Soliders' and Sailors' Monument at dusk. Fauci didn't explicitly name them in the CNN interview, but the day before he expressed concern over the numbers in Iowa, Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas. No matter where you live, wear a face mask, social distance, wash your hands frequently, avoid crowds and to get through this pandemic at your healthiest, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch Coronavirus. Alexander Albon came through Q1 and Q2 with difficulty, but is still satisfied after his qualification. The Red Bull Racing driver says he had trouble finding the right tow in his last run, but is happy to be closer to Max Verstappen. The perfect slipstream "I just got through Q1 and Q2 so it was a hectic one. We knew this was going to happen. We had this problem on other fast circuits like Austria and Spa," Albon opens in an online press release from Red Bull. According to Albon, there is a 'sweet spot' to drive behind your predecessor so you can grab the perfect slipstream. "But the sweet spot isnt one second, but its two, three, four or five seconds depending on the circuit. That creates that sector two bunch up. We all wanted to advance through so we wanted to create the gap that we want." Satisfied after qualifying Albon says he is happy with his qualification, even though P9 doesn't look very great. "I was just a bit to far away from the Mercedes on my last run. Yeah, Im pretty happy with it. Obviously its so tight up there. P9 doesnt really look like a good result. But if I compare myself to the other car, its a step forward." In 2022 there will be new rules that will allow the cars to follow each other closer together. Albon doesn't know if that will help in other races at high speed circuits. "I dont know if that would create even more slipstream," concludes the Thai. Click the photo to write a caption and have a chance to win a free subscription to the Norfolk Daily News. New Yorks attorney general on Saturday moved to form a grand jury to investigate the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after being hooded and held down by Rochester police earlier this year. The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish, Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement about Prudes death, which has sparked nightly protests and calls for reform. She said the grand jury would be part of an exhaustive investigation. Prudes death after his brother called for help for his erratic behavior in March has roiled New Yorks third-largest city since video of the encounter was made public earlier this week, with protesters demanding more accountability for how it happened and legislation to change how authorities respond to mental health emergencies. This is just the beginning, Ashley Gantt, a protest organizer, said by email after James announcement. We will not be stopped in our quest for truth and justice. Protesters gathered Saturday for a fourth night on the street where Prude, naked and handcuffed, was held face-down as snow fell. Policy body camera video shows officers covering Prudes head with a spit hood, designed to protect police from bodily fluids, then pressing his face into the pavement for two minutes. Prude died March 30 after he was taken off life support. The Monroe County medical examiner listed the manner of death as homicide caused by complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint. Excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP, were contributing factors, the report said. A police internal affairs investigation cleared the officers involved of any wrongdoing, concluding in April that their actions and conduct displayed when dealing with Prude appear to be appropriate and consistent with their training. James office opened its investigation the same month. Under New York law, deaths of unarmed people in police custody are often turned over to the attorney generals office, rather than handled by local officials. Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this week called on James to expedite the probe. Today, I applaud Attorney General Tish James for taking swift, decisive action in empaneling a grand jury, Cuomo said in a statement. Justice delayed is justice denied and the people of New York deserve the truth. Advocates say Prudes death and the actions of the seven now-suspended Rochester police officers demonstrate how police are ill-equipped to deal with people suffering mental problems. Having police respond can be a recipe for disaster, The National Alliance on Mental Illness said in a statement Friday. Prudes death is yet another harrowing tragedy, but a story not unfamiliar to us, the advocacy group said. People in crisis deserve help, not handcuffs. Stanley Martin, an organizer of Free the People Rochester, told reporters: We do not need violent workers with guns to respond to mental health crises. Activists have marched nightly in the city of 210,000 on Lake Ontario since the police body camera footage of the encounter with Prude were released by his family Wednesday. Friday nights protest resulted in 11 arrests, police said. As they had the night before, officers doused activists at police headquarters with a chemical spray to drive them from barricades around the building. As the night wore on, demonstrators were pushed further back, as police fired what appeared to be pepper balls. Fireworks were shot off and a bus stop was set on fire. Prudes family has said he appeared to be spiraling into crisis in the hours before his encounter with police. Youre trying to kill me! the 41-year-old man is heard saying. A police union has defended the officers involved in the encounter, saying they were strictly following department training and protocols, including using the mesh hood. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has allegedly received a call threatening to blow up his house 'Matoshree'. The calls were made in the name of dreaded gangster Dawood Ibrahim. As per reports, threatening calls were made to CM's residence in Bandra on late Saturday night. Four such threatening calls were made from Dubai in the name of gangster Dawood Ibrahim on the land line phone. "Security has been tightened at Maharashtra CM's residence Matoshree, as a precautionary measure after calls were received on the landline at Matoshree. The caller said he was calling on behalf of Dawood Ibrahim and wanted to speak to the CM. We're trying to locate the caller," Mumbai Police was quoted as saying by ANI. Following the threat call security at the CM's house has been increased. Apart from CM Uddhav Thackeray, the security cover of his son and Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, and other family members has also been increased. (This is developing news, more details awaited.) Masked security agents dragged students off the streets and bundled them into vans as new protests broke out against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Saturday on the fourth weekend since his disputed re-election. Up to 30 people were detained for taking part in unsanctioned protests, Russian news agency TASS quoted the Minsk police as saying. Draped in red-and-white opposition flags, students staged protests in several places in the capital, including outside the Minsk State Linguistic Institute where police had arrested five people on Friday, local media footage showed. Elsewhere masked men dragged away students who had gathered at an eatery in Karl Marx Street in the centre of Minsk, while some of the protesters shouted tribunal!, according to footage shown by news outlet TUT.BY. Thousands of women later held a separate march through Minsk in the afternoon, shouting hands off the children as one of their slogans. One woman went up to masked security forces standing in a line, showing them pictures of protesters with bruises on their bodies. The government has previously denied abusing detainees after many come out of prison following the election complaining of punishment beatings. Protesters later converged on a Catholic church in Independence Square, with hundreds crammed inside for a service, in solidarity with Minsks archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz who was barred from re-entering Belarus on Monday. After the service finished, priests and protesters marched in a procession around the building known as the Red Church and said prayers on the square, with hundreds of people shining their phones as flashlights. A former Soviet collective farm manager, Lukashenko has struggled to contain a wave of mass protests and strikes since he won a sixth term at an election last month that opponents say was rigged. He denies electoral fraud. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, his main challenger who fled into exile two days after the election, will travel to Warsaw to meet the Polish prime minister next week. A member of her campaign team and a senior member of the opposition Coordination Council, Olga Kovalkova, on Saturday also arrived in the Polish capital fearing she would be arrested again if she remained in Belarus. Lukashenko has previously dismissed the coronavirus pandemic as a psychosis that could be tackled by drinking vodka and taking saunas. But on Saturday he appeared to chide the protesters for spreading the disease. We stagger through the streets, rubbing against each other, he said at a televised government meeting. Wheres the social distancing and so on in that? Were doing everything we can to delay the moment when we say goodbye to this disease. Thats unacceptable. Thousands took part in protests that coincided with the start of the school year on Tuesday. At the Minsk State Linguistic Institute, students sang Do you hear the people sing, a protest anthem from the musical Les Miserables. By Leika Kihara and Yuka Obayashi TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, a frontrunner to be the next prime minister, said he would like the central bank to continue its ultra-loose monetary policy as the economy is still struggling with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In an interview that ran on Saturday in the Nikkei newspaper, Suga also said he would consider compiling another economic stimulus package by the end of this year to "put the pandemic to an end and shift the economy to a new stage." "I highly approve of his handling of monetary policy," Suga said of BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, who undertook bold easing steps that were part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics" stimulus strategy. "I want to carry over (the bold easing steps)," he was quoted as saying by the paper. The remarks reinforce expectations that Suga will continue with many of Abe's pro-growth economic policies as the pandemic adds to the pain of an economy already in deep recession. Suga told Nikkei he would take steps to revitalise smaller firms by promoting consolidation and boosting competitiveness. He also expressed hope of creating a new government agency to promote digitalisation of government services and various industries such as healthcare, as delays on this front have slowed payouts to companies and households hit by COVID-19. "I know there could be resistance, but we should move forward on this," Suga said of his plan to allow clinics to permanently offer medical treatment online. Japan currently allows online treatment only as a temporary step to accommodate patients having difficulty visiting hospitals due to COVID-19. Suga is widely expected to win the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) leadership election on Sept. 14, set after Abe's decision to step down. The winner is virtually assured of becoming premier due to the LDP's parliamentary majority. Story continues Markets have been rife with speculation that Suga, upon becoming prime minister, may call a snap election in coming months to solidify his political grip. "What people want most from the government is to deal with the pandemic and create a safe environment to live," Suga told a television programme, when asked whether he would call an early snap election if he becomes Japan's new leader. (Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Sandra Maler and Tom Hogue) She jetted off to Spain with her family in August to celebrate her 40th birthday. And Kerry Katona has received backlash from fans online for allowing her children to skip the start of the school term in favour of their Mediterranean break. The mother-of-five, 40, admitted that her kids will miss the beginning of school due to their post-holiday quarantine. Criticised: Kerry Katona has received backlash from fans online after allowing her children to skip the start of the school term due to their Spanish holiday to celebrate her 40th birthday Kerry had been staying at a luxury 1000 a night villa in Granada before returning to the UK last Sunday. Due to the lockdown restrictions for Spain, the family have been completing their 14 day quarantine at home, meaning her youngest children would miss some of their school term. An Instagram follower quizzed Kerry on her decision and said: 'Are your kids not going back to school next week when you have to isolate? Not much forward thinking.' She responded: 'No they won't be.' Oh no: The mother-of-five, 40, admitted that her kids will miss the beginning of school as they complete the 14 quarantine period following their Mediterranean break Congrats! Kerry's holiday proposal took place after Ryan asked her children, Dylan-Jorge, six, Maxwell, 12, Heidi, 13, Lily Sue, 17, and Molly Marie, 19, for their approval It appears the TV personality has already broken quarantine rules as she she was pictured driving back to Gatwick Airport on Monday to pick up her daughter, Molly's missing suitcase. However, that can't dampen the Atomic Kitten star's spirits after her boyfriend of two years Ryan Mahoney, 31, popped the question during their family getaway. Kerry uploaded the proposal to Youtube on Wednesday, which took place after Ryan asked her children, Dylan-Jorge, six, Maxwell, 12, Heidi, 13, Lily Sue, 17, and Molly Marie, 19, for their approval. Sporting an elegant red dress, the blonde beauty could not contain her delight as she was presented with the eye-popping diamond. Now she is forced to spend time at home in the UK, Kerry can make a start on her wedding plans with Ryan, which is set to be her fourth marriage. She was previously married to Brian McFadden, 40, Mark Croft, 49, and late ex-husband George Kay. In an interview with New Magazine, the couple hinted they could well tie the knot in a Las Vegas wedding BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 6 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Export of jewelry from Turkey to international markets dropped by 9.4 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $1.6 billion, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. This amount accounted for 2.2 percent of the countrys total export from Jan. through Jul. 2020. "Turkeys export of jewelry to international markets amounted to $346.6 million in July 2020, which is 31.8 percent less compared to the same month of 2019," the ministry said. In July of this year, Turkeys export of jewelry to international markets amounted to 2.3 percent of the countrys total export. "During the last twelve months, from July 2019 through July 2020, Turkey exported jewelry worth $3.9 billion," added the ministry. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Richard Wilson, who is also the head of comedy at Hat Trick productions, regularly puts right-wing columnists on the show but they get into rows with other panellists that doesn't inspire laughter A producer on 'Have I Got News for You' has hit back at claims of left-wing bias and said the BBC show struggles to find right-wing comedians. Richard Wilson, who is also the head of comedy at Hat Trick productions, said that most people who work in the comedy business are left-wing and the show cannot have someone on the programme just because they 'tick a box'. He added that he regularly puts right-wing columnists on the show but they get into rows with other panellists that doesn't inspire laughter. It comes amid reports the BBC's new director-general Tim Davie is concerned the broadcaster is creating too much left-wing content. Mr Wilson, who admits to being a conservative with a small c, told The Times: 'Most people who work in the comedy business will be left-wing. 'It is by its nature slightly anti-establishment and subversive, and it has got a young audience. But we try and leaven it as much as possible. Predictable jokes we try and cut out. 'It is not something that we don't try and address. It is definitely the case that there aren't many right-wing comics. It's not like America, where there are a lot of right-wing commentators who are funny. 'Andrew Neil is a good example. He made some rude comments about the BBC, but I think he is terrific. 'There aren't many people like him, though, and there certainly aren't many comics. You cannot just have someone on because they tick a box.' The show has recently included panellists who are on the right wing, including MP Johnny Mercer and comedians Fin Taylor and Henning Wehn. Regular panellist Victoria Coren Mitchell, who has also hosted the show, slammed claims 'Have I Got News for You' was too left-wing. Regular panellist Victoria Coren Mitchell, who has also hosted the show, also slammed claims the show was too left-wing She said: 'This talk of Have I Got News For You being too left-wing is absurd. It's just anti-establishment! Donald Trump is anti-establishment, is he left-wing? 'It's mischievous, it fires darts at everybody; most of the criticism I get when I'm on is from the left who feel strongly that it's too right-wing. 'Basically anyone with a dog in the fight protests about that show, which is exactly what satire should do.' Mr Wilson added that the show has always attacked both the right and left wing and 'get flak from both sides.' It comes after Mr Davie has warned staff over their use of social media, saying sharing their opinions online could harm the broadcaster's reputation for impartiality. Tim Davie said renewing the BBC's commitment to being impartial is the 'number one priority' amid accusations of bias from figures across the political spectrum. Addressing staff at the BBC's Cardiff office, Davie said: 'If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC.' New BBC Director General Tim Davie is pictured delivering his first speech with a few warning shots He added: 'Our research shows that too many perceive us to be shaped by a particular perspective.' Davie said new rules around employees' use of social media will be introduced and will be 'rigorously enforced', while also hinting at a crackdown on the corporation's stars making money from private companies, adding there will be 'clearer direction on the declaration of external interests'. Davie added: 'To be clear, this is not about abandoning democratic values such as championing fair debate or an abhorrence of racism. But it is about being free from political bias, guided by the pursuit of truth, not a particular agenda.' Several high-profile BBC employees have been accused of bias. Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis was criticised for her opening monologue about the Government's handling of Dominic Cummings' lockdown trip. The BBC ruling the introduction 'did not meet our standards of due impartiality'. And BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty was rebuked last year after commenting on remarks made by US President Donald Trump. Then-chief Lord Tony Hall later reversed the decision. Davie also addressed doubts over the future viability of the licence fee funding model. He said he was not in favour of a Netflix-style subscription fee that would make the BBC 'just another media company serving a specific group'. He said: 'The evidence is unequivocal: the future of a universal BBC can no longer be taken for granted. We have no inalienable right to exist. 'We are only as good as the value we deliver our audiences, our customers. We must grow that value. That is our simple mission. 'For the avoidance of doubt, I do not want a subscription BBC that serves the few. We could make a decent business out of it, and I suspect it could do quite well in certain postcodes, but it would make us just another media company serving a specific group.' Elsewhere Davie, the 17th director-general, suggested there could be a cull of content at the broadcaster. 'The truth is that we have tried to cope with increasing competition by making more and spreading ourselves too thinly,' he said, 'Of course, we need to offer a broad choice as the BBC, and we should not retreat to a narrow offer. But we have been too slow to stop things that don't work.' Davie said the BBC will 'look in all areas' and 'identify how we can have more impact by making less'. He added: 'I want us to consider what we would do if we could only make 80% of our current hours. What would we stop?' He said the 'simple' move was not 'about cuts to save money'. Davie praised dramas such as Normal People, Line Of Duty, Fleabag, an EastEnders special and documentaries Blue Planet 2 and Once Upon A Time In Iraq. He said Strictly Come Dancing, Wimbledon, comedy This Country, the BBC's VE Day 75 coverage, educational service BBC Bitesize, the World Service and regional and national news were all examples of where the broadcaster builds a connection with the audience. But the BBC must re-allocate 'funds to where they generate most value - to ensure that we make our output world-beating and utterly distinctive'. He also said there was 'too much bureaucracy', adding: 'I want every area of the BBC not to moan about bureaucracy but dismantle it.' Terming the recommendations of the Montek Singh Ahluwalia committee on power sector as discouraging, PSEB Engineers Association has sought a meeting with chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh. The associations general secretary, Ajay Pal Singh Atwal, said the expert committees recommendations disregard the performance of PSPCL/PSTCL. The association also pointed out that there was no expert from the power sector in the committee and moreover, the opinion of the PSPCL management and engineers was also not taken. Atwal said the overall distribution losses in PSPCL are 11.7%, which is among the lowest in India. Association president Jasvir Dhiman said that the closing of two PSPCL thermal plants will lead to disastrous consequences for Punjab in the long run. The expert group has failed to point out that independent power producers are creating an extra burden of Rs 1,000 crore per annum in the form of fixed charges. The closure of the states thermal plants will not only raise the tariff but also lead to total blackmail by the private sector independent power producers, he said. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the NDAs Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not a tax system but an attack" on Indias poor and on its small and medium businesses, and urged all to stand against it. Dubbing the GST as Gabbar Singh Tax, he said it is the second major attack on Indias unorganised economy, and is an absolute failure. He had earlier said demonetisation was the first attack on the informal sector in the economy. As part of his video series on the economy, the former Congress president alleged that the NDA government has kept four different tax slabs to help those big industrialists with means and contacts to change the taxes under the GST regime. This GST is an absolute failure. Not only is it unsuccessful, it is an attack on the poor and on the small and medium businesses," he said in the video series shared on his social media platforms. GST is not a tax system, it is an attack on Indias poor. It is an attack on small shopkeepers, small and medium businesses, farmers and labourers. We have to recognise this attack and stand against it together, he said. Gandhi shared the under 3-minute video on Twitter and said, Another major reason for the historic decline in GDP is the Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) of the Modi government. It has destroyed a lot lakhs of small businesses, crores of jobs and the future of youth and the financial health of states. GST means economic devastation. This is the third of the four-part series by him on the economy. Gandhi and the Congress have stepped up their attack on the Modi government over the state of the economy after Indias economic growth suffered its worst fall on record in the April-June quarter, with the gross domestic product (GDP) contracting 23.9 percent. He claimed that the GST was UPAs idea, which meant One tax, minimal tax, standard and simple tax. NDAs GST is completely different. Four different tax slabs, up to 28 percent, complicated and difficult to understand, he alleged. The Congress leader said the small and medium businesses cannot pay this tax, whereas the big companies can easily pay it by employing a few accountants to do the job. Why are there four different rates? This is because the government wants those who have the means to be able to easily change GST, and those who dont have means, cannot do anything about GST. Who has the means? Indias biggest 15-20 industrialists. So, whatever tax law they want to change can easily be done in this GST regime, he alleged. Gandhi said the result of the NDAs GST is that today, the Government of India is unable to provide the GST compensation money to the states. The states are unable to give money to state employees and teachers, he said. Gandhi has earlier brought out a similar video series on the situation on the border with China.. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 5 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Jair Bolsonaro, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. "Dear Mister President, I sincerely congratulate you and your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the national holiday of the Federative Republic of Brazil the Independence Day. I believe that the relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil will further evolve and expand in the spirit of friendship and cooperation in line with the interests of our peoples. On this festive day, I wish you strong health, success in your work, and wish peace and prosperity to your country", the letter said. Actor Rhea Chakrabortys father Indrajit Chakraborty has issued a statement in which he has expresses his dejection at the arrest of his son, Showik. Rheas brother was arrested on Friday in Mumbai. Indrajit, Lt Col (retd), was quoted in India Today as saying: Congratulations India, you have arrested my son, Im sure next on the line is my daughter and I dont know who is next thereafter. You have effectively demolished a middle-class family. But of course, for the sake of justice, everything is justified. Jai Hind. ALSO WATCH | Rhea Chakraborty to be grilled on Sept 6 by NCB; Sushants cook arrested His statement came after Showik and late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda were arrested on Friday evening, as part of the probe into Sushants death by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Showik and Samuel were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. As per a PTI report, teams of NCB had searched the residences of Showik in Santa Cruz (West) area and Samuel Miranda in suburban Andheri (West) area. The NCB on Saturday also arrested Sushants domestic help Dipesh Sawant in connection with the drugs probe. NCB has arrested Dipesh Sawant, the house helper of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in connection with the late actors death case, said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Director, NCB. Also read: Dia Mirza comes out in support of Kangana Ranaut who was called haramkhor by Sanjay Raut, asks him to apologise The NCB had initiated a probe after it received a communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), with regard to chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage and transportation in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Sushant died on June 14 in Mumbai, after which the Mumbai Police began investigation into the case. In July, KK Singh, father of the late actor, filed an FIR in Patna, accusing Sushants girlfriend, Rhea and her family, of abetment to suicide and siphoning off of funds. In her defence, Rhea refuted all charges levied against her and her family. After a Supreme Court verdict in August, the case was transferred to Central Bureau of Investigation. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Labor Day 2020 is unlike any other Labor Day that workers today have lived through. The pandemic of COVID-19 has caused lives to be lost and jobs to disappear. Our country is in turmoil over who is running the show for all working people. Who is looking out for the interests of workers and their families? The interests of working families are many, but of utmost importance are wages, health insurance and leave days to protect against illness. The pandemic has continued its assault on workers. Real political leadership is needed, and in the next few months, our union members will fight to see we have responsible leadership. Labor Day celebrates the accomplishments of labor unions through the actions of their members. Labor union members have been responsible for the creation of the American middle class. Their achievements are too many to mention, but its good to remember and appreciate the eight-hour day, the weekend, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, civil rights and the abolition of child labor. The first Labor Day was in 1882, when unions went on strike for dignity and fairness in the workplace. Then, and sometimes now, workers lost their lives for lack of safety standards. Today, some are trying to weaken or take away the safety standards that so many unions have worked for. In achieving these goals, many have lost their lives or their livelihood, so while it is a day of celebration, it is also a somber day of remembrance and appreciation. It appreciates todays workers who continue to fight for dignity on the job, better wages, good health insurance, fair processes for promotions, a grievance procedure and much, much more. Union membership declined for many years as unions were the victims of their own success. A strong middle class was built, and many mistakenly thought the unions time had passed. Not true. Its become harder and harder for the average worker to obtain home ownership. Wages have not kept up, preventing many families from having a middle-class lifestyle. Job protections are being weakened. For some, retirement benefits have been taken away and pensions are being replaced by inadequate 401(k)s or nothing at all. San Antonio and the surrounding area have more than 85,000 union members who proudly wear their union T-shirts, union caps and union buttons. If you see someone wearing these items, say thank you, as their union may have been responsible for the dignity you have on the job, or the legislation that was passed so you have a safer job, or for the laws that protect your paycheck. Todays unions are re-energized. They are already fighting to stop the economic slide middle-class families find themselves in. They are fighting for a higher minimum wage to bring poverty-level workers into the middle class. So today, on Labor Day, we celebrate, we remember, we mourn and we continue our fight for human dignity with compassion, energy and love of our community. Linda Chavez-Thompson is executive vice president emerita for the national AFL-CIO. Tom Cummins is president of San Antonio Central Labor Council. On Monday in Pittsburgh, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denounced violence that has attended some recent protests, even as he accused President Donald Trump of fanning the flames. "I want to make it absolutely clear, so I'm going to be very clear about all of this," Biden said. "Rioting is not protesting. Looting is not protesting. Setting fires is not protesting. None of this is protesting. It's lawlessness, plain and simple. And those who do it should be prosecuted." But the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal wasn't satisfied. "Surely Biden knows that the protests and riots since Memorial Day are overwhelmingly led by Black Lives Matter and antifa," the Journal's editorial board said. "Mr. Biden didn't mention those groups in his prepared remarks, and he never used the words 'left-wing' to describe those who are burning businesses and attacking police precincts." So what? It's clear from Biden's remarks that he was denouncing violence by people aligning themselves with what the Journal apparently would call a "left-wing" agenda protesting police brutality and asserting that Black lives matter. Besides, on Sunday the day before the Pittsburgh speech Biden said in reference to violence in Portland, Oregon, that "I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right." The Journal is in bad company in fixating on Biden's failure to say the magic word "antifa." On Sunday night, six hours after Biden denounced violence "whether on the left or on the right," Trump tweeted: "When is Slow Joe Biden going to criticize the Anarchists, Thugs & Agitators in ANTIFA?" On Monday, after Biden's speech, Trump complained at the White House that "I don't believe he mentioned the word 'antifa.' Antifa is a criminal organization, and he didn't mention antifa thugs, but mostly seemed to blame the police and law enforcement." It's bizarre to suggest that Biden must specifically condemn antifa and that his failure to do so reflects favoritism or cowardice. As the Los Angeles Times' Melissa Etehad explained last week, the antifa label was embraced in the early 2000s by left-wing activists who said they were inspired by an organization called Antifaschistische Aktion founded during the 1930s in Germany to oppose Nazism. But antifa isn't the sort of behemoth Trump seems to imagine, and still less one that Biden has any reason to placate. As Zack Beauchamp wrote in Vox earlier this year, antifa "is not a unified organization, but rather a loose ideological label for a subset of left-wing radicals who believe in using street-level force to prevent the rise of what they see as fascist movements." Demanding that Biden condemn antifa by name is nitpicking, and it invites him to embrace Trump's exaggerated characterization of its importance in the protests against racism and police brutality. Biden has credibly denounced violence "whether on the left or the right." Can the same be said of Trump? Michael McGough is the Los Angeles Times senior editorial writer, based in Washington, D.C. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 38 India, one of the largest troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations, has co-sponsored a Security Council resolution that calls for "full, effective and meaningful participation" of women personnel in peacekeeping operations. India's Permanent Mission to the UN, in a tweet on Friday, said "India is proud to co-sponsor" the resolution which was put forth by Indonesia. "We are proud to co-sponsor the UN Security Council Resolution on women in peacekeeping that calls for full, effective and meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping operations," the Indian mission said. "In line with the priorities we (India) have set for ourselves, during our tenure in the Security Council beginning 2021, India will continue to push for greater involvement of women in all areas, the Indian mission said. In June, India was elected a non-permanent member of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021. It will serve as the president of the powerful 15-nation UN body for the month of August 2021. India will preside over the Council again for a month in 2022. India has a long tradition of being associated with UN Peacekeeping since its inception. The country made history in 2007 when she deployed the first all-women Police Unit in the UN Mission in Liberia. India is the fifth-largest contributor of uniformed personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Forces. It currently contributes more than 5,400 military and police personnel to the UN peacekeeping operations in Abyei, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara as well as one expert to the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia. Over the last 70 years, more than 160 Indian military, police and civilian personnel have lost their lives while serving in UN Peacekeeping Missions around the world, the highest deaths from any troop-contributing country. A church in Gwangju's Gwangsan-gu District is closed on Sept. 4 where two people were infected with COVID-19. They were infected after members of a family who had attended the controversial large-scale congregation in downtown Seoul in August that led to mass cluster infections of the coronavirus visited the church. Yonhap The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Saturday that the number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea stayed below 200 for the previous day the third straight but the health authorities said it is still too early for the country to let down its guard. The KCDC reported 168 additional infections, including 158 local ones, raising the total caseload to 21,010. The country has been posting triple-digit rises for around three weeks due to infection clusters tied to a slew of churches and an anti-government rally in central Seoul in mid-August. After keeping new cases of COVID-19 in two-digit numbers for more than five months, more than 100 cases were recorded Aug. 14 before skyrocketing to 441, Aug. 27. The number fell below 300 last Sunday. While the latest figure marks a fall from 198 cases Friday, the health authorities said the country should remain on alert, calling for residents to abide by the government's tightened social distancing guidelines. "While new cases are coming in at around 200 and seem to be declining, we are not yet at a stage where we can relax," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said in a response meeting at the Government Complex in Seoul. Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo takes off his mask to brief journalists on the results of a Central Disaster Safety Countermeasures Committee meeting held at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno District, Sept. 4. Yonhap 06.09.2020 LISTEN The pledge made by John Dramani Mahama to legalize, train and regulate the okada business if voted into power come December 7th 2020 has ignited public debate as to whether okada business should be legalized or not. Politicians, civic service organizations, economist, public safety organizations, okada riders, and many other Ghanaians have laid down their arguments either for or against the legalization of okada business. Historically, Okada (motorcycle taxi) originated from Nigeria. The name was borrowed from Okada Air- a local airline that was not popular for its comfort but remained the most used local airline in the country. The first group of motorcycle transporters was then given this name, okada because they could manoeuvre between the heavy traffic of lagos and take you to your destination in time, just as okada airline did. From the above paragraph, one could deduce that even though okada airline was not comfortable, it was the most used means of transport because of its community penetrations. The emergence of okada business in many African countries such as Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Rwanda, and Ghana and among others was met with wild allegations and perception about its negative impact on the societies. The resultant effect of these perceived negativities of okada business was the banning and making it illegal in many countries including Ghana. Okada initially referred to motorbikes (single lane motors), has subsequently covered tricycle motors popularly known in Ghana as, ABOBOBYAA, MOTOR KIA, PRAGIA, YELLOW YELLOW and other interesting names in different countries and places. The major issue that has characterized the ongoing argument against the legalization of okada business is its accident rate and the fact that criminals are using it for criminal activities. But many people too have failed to critically examine the economic and other positive aspects of the okada business. Before I make my case, let us consider these questions: What brought about this okada business? What influenced its banned? Has the banned achieved its purpose? Is the okada business even boomed after the banned? Are people earning income from it? What is its fatality rate as compared to other means of transport? What will be the situation when it is legalized? What measures will government put in place to make it safe? In seeking answers to the above questions, one could appreciate the dynamics of the okada business. Basically, okada business originated as a result of traffic congestion on our major roads, poor nature of our roads, inefficient and high cost of our transportation. Okada services addresses minor individuals and rural transport challenges. It eases the daily stress and cost of transporting passengers, goods and service from one place to another and also provides the owners and drivers some level of income to meet their daily expenditures. The banning and making okada business illegal in many countries including Ghana was basically because of its emerging risk and fatalities. But in my view, these actions by authorities were rushed and failed to critically examine the economic and future socio-cultural changes. The okada business seems to have even seen much booming after it was banned in 2012 in Ghana. This is because many unemployed youth depend on it for survival and even people who are employed in the formal sector are also using okada as additional source of income. At least okada operator makes a daily sale of ghc70 in a day after all other expenses. You can imagine how much they make in a month. Economically, the okada industry has employed thousands of Ghanaians (graduates, non-graduates) and they earn reasonable incomes from it. It has generated a lot of incomes to owners, riders and many Ghanaians. It has also reduced the traveling cost of many rural dwellers because they charge far lower than Taxi and other cars and if legalized, it can generate a lot of revenue to the government. Before one would kick against the legalization of okada business, the person must consider the following question; What influenced the introduction of okada business? What makes it illegal? Have nations succeeded in stopping okada operations? What is the socio-economic impact of okada business on people lives? How best can we regulate the commercialization of okada business? How can government generate revenue from it? Yes! Okada may have its unfavorable impact on people but as corona virus has come to stay and we are living a new normal life under health measures and protocols, okada business has also come to stay and the best way to live safely with it is to put measures and protocols in place to make it more safe for both passengers and riders. Many countries including Rwanda have legalized and commercialized an okada operation which is yielding positive results. Comparing okada to nabco in terms of employment and benefits is a pedestrian analysis. One thing people must understand is that unemployed youth in this country is of different categories of which nabco is dealing with a miniature portion of it. Legalization of okada must come with a broader stakeholders consultation to ensure smooth implementation. The following can be considered; Formation of okada union at the district levels through to national level. When this is done, anybody who wishes to engage in okada business must register with the association so that comprehensive data on okada owners and drivers can be obtained. Compulsory and intensive training for okada riders must be regularly done at the district levels. Ministry of transport in collaborations with road safety commission and MTTD of the Ghana police service can organize training on road safety and traffic regulations for these okada riders. Licensing and identification cards should be issued to qualified okada riders after going through the training. When this is done, passengers can demand for okada riders license or identification cards before patronizing their services. All motors use for okada should have insurance cover to cater for unforeseen incidences. Regularly public education and monitoring of will ensure the safety of both passengers and riders. Other countries have commercialized okada and regulating it. We too can do same. Legalization of okada is a MUST and not an option. #legalizeokadanow!!! Republicans lost the majority in the House of Representatives during the 2018 elections. Many argue that the reason was that President Trump was not on the ballot. American Thinker decided to use the 49th Congressional District of California as an example of a red district going blue after sixteen years. Brian Maryott, who is the 2020 Republican candidate for Congress, and Melanie Burkholder, the Republican candidate for the State Assembly, discussed their chances this November. The district's current representative, Mike Levin, is just like many Democrats today: a wolf in sheep's clothing. He has not aligned himself with the Blue Dog Democrats, but has instead sided with the Squad, led by AOC. The 49th District straddles southern Orange County, from Dana Point to San Clemente, and northern San Diego County, including Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. Brian Maryott is a certified financial planner and served as mayor of San Juan Capistrano. He believes that Levin is one the of the six hard leftist members of Congress. "Levin co-sponsored the Green New Deal, wants to allow sixteen-year olds to vote, has rhetoric that supports open borders, co-sponsored a bill that calls for a complete government take-over of health care, and speaks of re-imagining policing." On Levin's website, it says, "Mike would like for our nation to work towards achieving a Medicare for all type healthcare system." He "[c]o-sponsored the NO BAN Act for immigrants." "Mike strongly opposes the Trump Administration's desire to privatize public education." He "introduced legislation including the Zero-Emission Vehicles Act of 2019 and the Green Spaces, Green Vehicles Act of 2019, to create a national zero emissions vehicle standard and expand zero emission vehicle charging structure on our federal public lands." Unbelievably, the website also says that "Mike disagrees with the idea that you cannot protect the environment and grow the economy at the same time. We are doing it in California." Is he kidding? How could California be doing it correctly when there are rolling blackouts? Melanie Burkholder's opponent is no better than Levin, which is why Burkholder is running for the 76th Assembly District that includes Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, Encinitas, and Camp Pendleton. As a former Secret Service agent, she noted, "I was heavily recruited became they were actively employing female agents. I was part of the counterfeit squad and also protected Dick Cheney. I also am a health care therapist." She wants Americans to understand: "When the police roll up on a call, they know someone's rap sheet. Before I became a law enforcement officer, I spent six months of my life in training. Because of both of my background careers, I understand about de-escalating situations. Those who want to defund the police are not interested in finding solutions, but are the rioters, looters who hit people, shoot people, and as in Portland kill people. To me these are extreme groups that are borderline domestic terrorists. The police go out every day to protect people. After seeing the recent events, I think there could have been alternative tactics at the time that could have resulted in a different outcome. The police need more experienced training like I had with emphasis on how to de-escalate situations. The president is correct, law enforcement has only a split second to decide. They have to be trained on situational awareness. No one is arguing that there are not bad police just as there are bad people in every profession. But to recommend a social worker to go on calls would not be effective. Imagine a 24-year-old just out of college going to a domestic violence call. People should be aware of how stressful it is to be in that position where there are only seconds to decide what must be done." Maryott feels that people need to start questioning what Biden and Levin mean by re-imagining the police. "He voted for a federal police bill to federalize the police. He also supports removal of qualified immunity for police officers. I do not believe in taking it away from police and their families. We are completely on the side of respect and admiration for those police that risk their lives every day. Other than the Carlsbad Police Department who supports my opponent, I have the endorsement of the Local County sheriff, the San Diego County sheriff, and the Oceanside police department." Levin does not say anything on his website about police reform. For Maryott, it comes down to being sensible. "I believe in body cameras and de-escalation tactics. It is all about recruiting people with the right mentality and the right accountability. It is clear that there are some bad people in the police, but for the vast majority the police officers are good men and women who want to keep the peace. It is very dangerous when police officers lose the benefit of the doubt of their elected officials and the media does not show the full score of the circumstances." After seeing the dangerous riots, he sides with those who believe in the Second Amendment. "Gun safety laws should be made on the state level and within the construct of the Constitution. Even the Ninth Circuit recently struck down a California gun law because it was not in the constricts of the Constitution." Burkholder also believes in the Second Amendment. "Public safety should be government's number one priority. Gun sales have increased is some areas by 72%. It is because people do not feel government is keeping them safe." Maryott says, "The pandemic has shown how children lost socialization, after schools were shut down because of Covid-19. Single parent households are being devastated by not having the school system help them. I do not think the federal government should have a major role in education. No Child Left Behind by George W. Bush and Reach for the Top by President Obama have been utter failures. Billions were spent on national education, and it did not work. Education needs to work well at the local school level where parents can have accessibility to speak their minds." Since Burkholder is a mom with two school-age sons, she believes "in competition regarding school choice. I withdrew my child from public school and put him in an online charter school. Children do not all learn in the same way. There should be learning options to fit the children's needs." The issue of homelessness deserves more attention. President Trump tried to call attention to it after visiting California in May 2019. Both Maryott and Burkholder believe there is a difference between homeless individuals and their circumstances. Many of those who do suffer from addiction are quietly committing suicide. California laws have to change and not have a one-size-fits-all policy. The single mom who cannot make ends meet is different from the drug addict. Case officers, social workers, health experts, and medical doctors need to become part of the solution. President Trump has eliminated needless regulations, but states like California are consumed by them. Burkholder believes that the regulations are a stranglehold on people. "Sacramento wants all these policies without thinking or caring about unintended consequences. Take for example AB 5, which curtails employers to hire certain freelancers and independent contractors and requires them to hire workers as employees. My opponent has voted three times in support of it. Single moms, retired people, and senior citizens are all affected. Think about working moms who were able to work when their children were at school, and now they cannot. It makes no sense to put constituents out of work." She has a good point, considering that her opponent was highly rewarded. Within a month after her vote in May, she received $243,700 in contributions from the AB 5 coauthors and other assembly Democrats. Maryott also wants to talk about the wall. "I have called our immigration system disingenuous and chaotic. We need a safe and secure border. California by calling this a sanctuary state does not help the situation where barriers are feasible. There have been hundreds of miles of barriers for years, and neither a Republican nor Democrat complained about it. The president was willing to have some progress on DACA. Clearly, today's hard left has put politics over people. They have gone down a path of complete obstruction. Barriers taken together with technology can ultimately be very effective. We need a safe and secure border to keep our country sovereign." Burkholder wants Americans to understand that California is just the tipping point. "Liberals do not think outside the box and never try to come up with creative ways to solve issues. Instead, all they do is tax, tax, and more tax. In California they are talking about this wealth tax, which would tax any Californian who wants to leave the state. This is nuts." Maryott thinks Americans should be very careful when they vote. "Career politicians get in the way of getting things done. I do not think our Founders envisioned thirty-year legislators who become obstructers. I believe in term limits." These purple districts need to turn red again. If not, nothing will get done because the Democrats care more about their power than helping the American people and have shown themselves to be hypocrites. If people like Maryott and Burkholder are elected, then maybe common sense will again prevail. The author writes for American Thinker. She has done book reviews and author interviews and has written a number of national security, political, and foreign policy articles. Image: Tom Arthur via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. As colleges throughout the United States reopen, facing a weird new landscape of empty rooms and scattered classmates, its easy to wonder what these traditional places of learning still have to teach the rest of us. Long before the pandemic, campuses were in the news not so much for opening young minds as for closing down discussions and less for encouraging humanity than for promoting ideologies. Upon my own return to a university classroom, in the spring of 2019, after a hiatus of 37 years, I imagined that my tastes and values, my very language, might seem out-of-date to many of the students I was instructing, and Im sure they did. I suspected that these teenagers would be much less concerned with books than I and my old classmates were, and I was right. I assumed that as a writer who had been crisscrossing the globe for 45 years, Id have wisdom about travel to impart, and I was wrong: Thanks in part to their generous and well-endowed university, the 16 undergraduates in front of me spent the first class speaking of recent trips theyd taken to Nauru and Kyrgyzstan and Hongpo, among other places Id barely heard of. In almost every way, the young at this elite university seemed brighter, more mature, more reliable and infinitely more globally aware than I and my pals had been in our radically less diverse day. But the most beautiful surprise was to see how deeply many of them had absorbed lessons not to be found in any textbook. Picking up a campus newspaper one day, I found an article by the person Id foolishly taken to be our class clown. He went to Mass every Sunday, he wrote, precisely because he had no religious commitment. He wanted to learn about perspectives other than the ones he knew. He admired the discipline and sense of order encouraged by such a practice, which he felt he might lack otherwise. Hed been startled by the open-mindedness of a devout roommate, with whom he used to argue through the night. If someone of religious faith could be so responsive to other positions, he wrote, should not a secular liberal aspire to the same? I realized, as I read the piece, that I had little to teach such students in a class ostensibly about exploring cultures different from our own. More deeply, I was impressed by how imaginatively a young person was addressing the central problem of the times: the fact were all united mostly by our divisiveness. Whether in the context of climate change or the right to life let alone the ethics of trying to protect others from a killer virus by simply wearing a mask more and more of us refuse ever to cross party lines. And in an age of social media, when we all imagine we can best capture the worlds attention by shouting as loudly as possible, theres every incentive to take the most extreme and polarizing position around. 06.09.2020 LISTEN By ONE FOR ISRAEL Staff I (not the one for Israel staff) have throughout my revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and our SAVIOUR on many facts UNKNOWN to many which unites both the Jew and the gentiles. Especially read the amazing story of Jews and Arabs coming together for Jesus Christ at the end of the story. He is truly coming soon. It's all coming together to the father of our calling Abraham " I dwell on truth but not political Christianity or religion (Christendom). All of them group are the money launders religion selling Jesus Christ Yeshua for celebrity and wealth. Using all powers and principalities but not Jesus Christ. Salvation for the sinner is not in their curricula. Now please enjoy the truth that will give you the authentic route to salvation. The study as follows ""God commanded his people: Have a feast! Take a break! He made these feasts part of the Law, codifying the commandments to stop for a while and celebrate a few times a year. Of course, theres more to it than just food and merriment (although theres plenty of that for most of them) but theres deep prophetic meaning woven into the tapestry of Gods mandated feasts. In ingenious ways, God created fun, experiential reminders of important milestones along the journey of Redemption but as well as marking the history between God and His people, these milestones also go way into the future too. Today, as people are beginning to think more about the second coming of Jesus, its worth remembering that the feasts not only speak of Yeshuas first coming, but also His triumphant return. Its a great time to look again in earnest at the information God has given us in the calendar He set for His people. Dates with destiny The first thing to talk about is the word for feast used in Hebrew. The word for feast is moed (). This word is based on a very important root word, . In general, we say that moed means appointed time, or set feast. But there is more to it. There is certainly a sense of destiny associated with the word, but the word is also used to talk about time: everlasting, like Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). It also means until. Heres the other main meaning of : it is the Hebrew word for witness. In court a witness gives testimony to what they have seen and heard, telling something to the people listening about something they have not experienced. The witness testifies and points to something that isnt present, but has to be explained. So all together, the word for feast, moed, means a fixed appointed time of destiny which testifies and points to something that goes backwards and forwards through eternity. Isnt that a perfect description of what God gives us in the biblical feasts?! Woah! Slow down there Other Hebrew words for the feasts are mikra () and atsera (). Mikra is often translated as holy convocation, and it means to call people together. It is also one of the words we use in Hebrew for Bible, because it has to do with the word for reading as well as calling. The second word, often translated as solemn assembly, is the word to stop. Today in Israel youll see it on buses, showing where the next stop is. It has to do with stopping activity, or being restrained. Leviticus 23 gives us a clear rundown of all of these feasts that God established and commanded the Israelites to keep. They all are extremely rich with prophetic meaning. The first moed listed is the Shabbat. In Ezekiel 20:12 God says that the Shabbat is a sign between Him and His people, a holy day which serves as a reminder that He has set us aside to be a holy people. The pause each week reminds us that its God who created the world and the seven day week, and Jesus says that the Shabbat was created for our benefit. The rest from work helps us relate in a more healthy way to God, our families, our environment and ourselves. The Hebrews chapter 4 also explains that it is a witness to the rest that Jesus would bring through His work at calvary. Now He has finished His work, and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12). Thanks to Yeshua, we can enter perfect rest with God with Him. The Shabbat testifies to what Jesus did when He paid for our sin, and also what we have to look forward to when He returns in glory. Another interesting thing about the Shabbat is that God made seven days in the week. He could have chosen any number, but He chose seven. Many of the times and seasons mentioned in Genesis chapter one are obvious to both humans and animals alike nature knows the difference between night and day, spring, summer, fall and winter and even months going by as the moon changes shape. But the days of the week? Only human beings know which day of the week it is no animal knows whether its Shabbat or not! The seven day week and the weekend was created by God for us. The whole world keeps to this pattern, this seven days of completion, and this is also significant, as we shall see. The Spring Feasts Then the next set of feasts come in the Spring, and are all related to one another: In Exodus 12, God instructs the Israelites to start the calendar in the first month, which is now known as Nisan in the Spring. This month will mark the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb for his family, one lamb for the household Your lamb is to be without blemish, a year old male. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You must watch over it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to slaughter it at twilight. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. When we think of the events of the Passover and the Exodus from Egypt, its hard to think of a more perfect picture for what was to come in Jesus! An innocent lamb without flaws was sacrificed, and the blood smeared on wood vertically and horizontally so that people who believed would be saved from death. Hammering the point home, Jesus was tested and found innocent, then He was beaten and betrayed, before his sacrifice for us on the wooden cross at exactly the time Passover lambs were being checked and slaughtered. The picture is crystal clear. Get rid of the old hametz [leaven], so you may be a new batch, just as you are unleavenedfor Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5:7) Then the people, after being redeemed by blood, passed through water and went on a long, hard journey before they finally arrived in the Promised Land. Similarly, after receiving salvation through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world, we go through the waters of baptism and walk with God through hardships until we finally arrive in the place prepared for us. After the night of Passover itself, we enter the Feast of Unleavened Bread which lasts for seven days. This is a picture of our lives as believers here on earth, choosing to turn our back on sin, with leaven (hametz) being symbolic of sin. The unleavened bread also points to Jesus matzoh bread is striped and pierced, just as He was, and with no trace of leaven which represents sin and pride. The 14th of Nisan, the night of the Passover, falls on different days of the week each year, but we are told that the Feast of Firstfruits must always be celebrated on the first SUNDAY after Passover (Leviticus 23:15). This feast is unique in that it fixes the day of the week of course it points to resurrection Sunday, as a prophetic witness to the day when Jesus gained victory over death. It is also unusual because although there are other sacrifices mentioned, there is no sin offering required for the festival of Firstfruits. Jesus was the first to rise again from the dead, never to die again, but He will not be the last! At the end of time, we will all join Him and have glorious, new resurrection bodies. We will all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). Then from that Sunday, God commands that His people should count seven weeks to the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot in Hebrew, which means weeks (Leviticus 23:16). This festival is also known as Pentecost, with pente meaning 50, because its 50 days since the Feast of Firstfruits. Pentecost is the time when God poured out His Holy Spirit on the believers, giving them His power to live a new life in the Messiah and take the gospel all over the world. Shavuot testifies to the gathering and inclusion of the Gentiles into the New Covenant. These Spring feasts all connected and dependent on each other, and the basis and foundation is the blood of the lamb. All the other Spring Feasts depend on when the night of Passover falls. Unleavened bread follows the Passover seder, and Firstfruits falls on whichever Sunday comes next and Shavuot is counted seven weeks from then. But it all hinges on that night of blood on the doorframes. Eating the unleavened bread of a repentant lifestyle is no use without the salvation of blood. The Passover and the redemption of blood must come first, and is followed by the equipping of the Spirit to help us walk out our new lives in Him. So all these Spring Feasts have been fulfilled in many ways in the first coming of Jesus. The Fall Feasts Then there is a long gap before the next festivals in the fall. This gap between the Spring feasts and the fall feasts is not dependent on wherever Shavuot ended up, but rather starts on the first day of seventh month, which means the gap between them varies and is of uncertain length, year to year. This testifies of our experience of waiting, living in expectation of the trumpet call which will announce the return of King Jesus. The Feast of Trumpets is called Yom Teruah in Hebrew, which means a loud noise, rather than trumpets exactly. Silver trumpets were called for, and we learn in Thessalonians that there will be a great trumpet sound to usher in the return of the Messiah. Silver represents redemption in the Bible, and although Jesus opened the door of redemption 2000 years ago, God has yet to ultimately redeem all things to Himself as He promised He would do in the Age to Come. Ten days later, on the tenth day of the seventh month, we have Yom Kippur the Day of Atonement. The number ten signifies Gods claim for perfect obedience (think of the 10 commandments). In this special day of national repentance and sacrifice, the claims of God are met and the conscience of the people is cleared. Its a time of affliction and humbling, repentance and cleansing. In ancient Israel on Yom Kippur, the high priest entered in alone, but Jesus, our high priest, has made a way for us to be together with Him in the holy of holies. However, those who reject the forgiveness of Jesus will have to stand before the judgement seat with no cover of atonement. Yom Kippur points towards the Day of Judgement, the great and terrible day of the Lord. Last of all we have the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot as we call it in Hebrew. After hearing Ezra the priest read the instructions about how to celebrate Sukkot after they had returned from Babylon, the people of Israel joyfully went to fulfil the command to go and build booths! God instructed His people to build shelters, or sukkot as theyre called in Hebrew, to remind us of the forty years of journeying in the desert. A week spent in a flimsy shelters reminds us of the temporary nature of this life, and points to our eternal home in the world to come. The wheat harvest and the grape harvest are both gathered before Sukkot. Jesus speaks of good crops of wheat being like fruitful believers, and also the Bible warns us of grapes trodden down in Gods wrath. The harvesting and the sorting happen before Sukkot which is like a big harvest festival. Unlike the Feast of Unleavened Bread which is seven days long, this holiday lasts for eight days, which symbolises going beyond completion into eternity, resurrection and a new beginning. There are seven days of the feast, with an eighth day (known as shmini atzeret) of joyful rest at the end! So on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you are to keep the Feast of Adonai for seven days. The first day is to be a Shabbat rest, and the eighth day will also be a Shabbat rest. In Zechariah 2:10, God promises His people that Hes going to come and tabernacle with us, and Jesus makes it clear to us that He wants to live with us, and we with Him. In Jewish thought, a sukkah is reminiscent of a chuppa, a wedding canopy. This is another shelter that points to the ultimate wedding of the Bride and the Lamb. The ultimate rest. This is how the calendar ends, with joyful union with God. The feasts as witnesses and pointers Now you might ask, with all these amazing signs that point so clearly to Jesus, why dont Jewish people believe in Him? A large part of the answer is that the Jewish picture of the Messiah is very different to the Lamb of God, the Suffering Servant who came 2000 years ago. They were expecting a conquering king, a victorious warrior, who would usher in a Messianic age of perfection. Why did they think that? Because that is what is described over and over again in the Hebrew Scriptures and it will happen! But many Christians dont seem to know this side of our Messiah very well. They might know what Revelation says about the end of time, but arent so familiar with the hundreds of details about the Messiahs glorious coming given to us in the Old Testament. In the same way that the Jewish people missed the time of His visitation in the first century because they were expecting something very different, people will be in for a big shock when He comes again in glory if theyre expecting a gentle shepherd instead of a conquering King. Where Christians see the crucifixion prophesied in the Passover, Jewish people see multiple pointers to the ultimate redemption to come. Many seem to believe that the Spring feasts point exclusively to Yeshuas first coming and only the Fall feasts look to his return, but there is plenty we can learn about His second coming from all of the feasts. As each day passes we are getting nearer and nearer to the day of His return. Do you know what to expect? Do you know what the Hebrew Scriptures tell us about what will happen when the Messiah comes in glory? What we can learn from all of the Feasts of the Lord about that great and glorious day? Its high time to learn more about the Lion of Judah the Jewish people have been expecting generation after generation, because let me tell you, He is on His way."" I AM EXCITED GOD IS CUTTING ACROSS HUMAN WISDOM AND SHOWING HE LOVES US ALL. --*We're an initiative of Jewish and Arab born-again believers, building the Kingdom in Israel through online evangelism and our own Bible college*. What will Peace with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bring? ISRAEL What is a Christians Responsibility to Israel? By PTI MUMBAI: Actor-writer Piyush Mishra says for him theatre is a selfless romance, while cinema is a money-driven business. Mishra, who has spent 20 years of his life in Delhi as a theatre artiste, believes the medium lets him push boundaries as a performer. "You do theatre for the love of theatre and not to get any benefit from it. Theatre is a live art, you get to play and perform challenging roles with depth and feel. I believe pure acting is there only in the theatre. You get nothing in return from theatre except love and applause. Cinema is a trade. If you invest money in making a film, you expect a return," the actor told PTI in an interview. A National School of Drama (NSD) graduate, Mishra said he continued doing theatre primarily for his love for acting but one is paid better in films. READ| Love's Labour Lost: How the theatre world is coping with the COVID-19 lockdown Some of his memorable performances are in films "Maqbool", "Gulaal", "Rockstar" and "Gangs of Wasseypur". The 57-year-old actor said there is a dearth of well-written parts for a performer like him in movies. Citing the example of the 2019's Joker", featuring Joaquin Phoenix as the DC supervillain, Mishra said apart from intelligent writer and director, a film also needs a producer who understands the medium. It is essential to have an intelligent producer, who understands cinema and not just the director and scriptwriter who are expected to be intelligent. We don't see those many good films being made (here). The poet-lyricist said he has enjoyed being a part of literary adaptations like Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool. "I felt we were doing a piece of literature. There are very few films which are based on literature like 'Haider' and 'Omkara'. We don't seek inspiration from there (literature). " Mishra didn't do any films last year as his focus was to travel across the country with his 25-year-old musical play on the life and times of Bhagat Singh. He had many shows lined-up this year too, but the performances were called off due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mishra currently features in "JL 50", a science-fiction web-series. Written and directed by Shailender Vyas, "JL 50" is about the investigation of a plane crash by a CBI officer (Abhay Deol). The plot takes a turn when he finds out that the flight took off 35 years ago from Kolkata. "There is an element of mythology, science-fiction and it has interesting characters, but it is not a whodunnit," he said. The actor plays the role of a survivor, a science professor, Mishra said he had to brush up his knowledge of elementary physics to understand the world better. "I had not seen this kind of mad scientist so I had to imagine this part. For this role of a mad scientist, who is whimsical and is into himself, I created a background for my own understanding. I did a bit research and read a lot of rules and books on physics. Mishra said as an artiste, he likes to do to his homework before playing a part as he doesn't want to trouble anyone on the sets because of his lack of preparation. "I always do a lot of homework before going on set. I make sure the director or my co-actor or any technician do not face any trouble because of me. I prepare a lot for my role, so I add my bit and follow what the director is also saying and this always works for me. " "Besides, I believe an actor's imagination is important. The broader it is, the better it is for your performance. That's how a rich actor is born," he added. The web-series "JL 50", currently streaming on SonyLIV, also features Pankaj Kapur, Rajesh Sharma and Ritika Anand. Gardai were called to separate angry exchanges between Dublin north inner city residents and mourners attending a vigil for Thiago Cortes. The incident was instigated after a firework was thrown by a group of youths. Thiago Cortes died on Tuesday evening after being knocked down in a hit-and-run near Dublin's 3Arena. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday claimed to have busted an international heroin smuggling syndicate with the arrest of seven persons, including foreigners, and seizure of drugs worth about Rs 48 crore in Delhi. Among the arrested are an African man and a woman from Myanmar, the federal anti-narcotics agency said. The agency unearthed a modus operandi where the mastermind was coordinating the operations from abroad by creating various layers of anonymity, it said. "To circumvent the current situation of controlled international passenger flights, the mastermind and the syndicate involved were exploiting the international courier route," the agency's Deputy Director (Operations) K P S Malhotra said in a statement. The operation began early this month with the seizure of a parcel, originating from South Africa, containing 970gm of heroin from a courier service in the national capital. "In order to unearth the full trail, NCB chief Rakesh Asthana issued an order to initiate the controlled delivery procedure to the Delhi zonal unit of the agency to track the beneficiaries of the seized parcel. "The controlled delivery mechanism empowers NCB to keep the parcel delivery alive, even after seizing the contraband and replacing the same with the dummy parcel," Malhotra said. Under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the NCB director-general is authorized to order a controlled delivery operation to unravel all layers of a drug cartel or syndicate. The parcel led the agency to arrest Indian nationals identified as Wahid, Mohsin, Shahjahan, Hanif, and Munnasir from a hotel in the Mahipalpur area of Delhi, Malhotra said. Their interrogation led the NCB to another parcel containing about 980 gms of heroin. Later, a lady from Myanmar and an African were also arrested. "Two live parcels are also being identified and they will be seized in the near future. The credentials of the Burmese and the African nations are being verified." "The international value of the seized heroin including the one kept in the yet-to-be seized parcels is estimated to be more than Rs 48 crore," the NCB officer said. Novichok is a deadly nerve agent that left Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny in a coma. It also nearly killed a former Russian spy and his daughter in 2018. Novichok was the creation of a very secretive chemical weapons program when Russia was part of the Soviet Union. Here is a look at the nerve agent and its history. How deadly is Novichok? Novichok has been described as much deadlier than anything created by the United States. Just a few milligrams of the odorless liquid are enough to kill a person in a few minutes. The nerve agent could be watered down to the desired amount and added to food or drink. It also could be placed on clothing or other things the intended victim will touch. In the attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, a small amount was placed on the front door of his house in Salisbury, England. He and his daughter Yulia spent weeks at a local hospital in critical condition before recovering. A local woman later died after she found a bottle containing the nerve agent. What does Russia say about Novichok poisonings? Russia strongly denied British accusations over the poisoning of the Skripals. It accused Britain and other Western nations of using the poisoning to fuel an anti-Russian campaign. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalnys poisoning an attempted murder that aimed to silence the fiercest critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia has demanded that Germany share all information leading to its announcement that Navalny was poisoned. Russia also has called for a joint investigation effort. President Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Thursday that there is no reason to accuse the Russian state over the poisoning. He said that Russian doctors in Siberia found no evidence of poisoning. Navalny was on a flight from Tomsk, in Siberia, to Moscow when he collapsed. The flight returned and Navalny was taken to a hospital in Omsk, also in Siberia. Sergei Naryshkin is the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. He said it is possible that Navalnys poisoning was carried out by Western intelligence agencies as a provocation. When was Novichok designed? The Soviet program to design a new generation of chemical weapons was launched in the 1970s to answer the latest U.S. chemical weapons. The Soviets created several deadly poisons, some no less than military-grade nerve agents. The Soviet leadership later lost interest in chemical weapons. Novichok-class nerve agents were made only in small amounts for use in laboratories. Vladimir Uglev was a top scientist in the program. He has estimated about 100 kilograms were made. Is it possible to identify where Novichok was made? Russian experts who have worked on the Novichok class of agents have warned it may never be possible to know where the nerve agent came from. To identify which lab manufactured a given batch of Novichok, investigators need another sample from the same batch -- an impossible requirement. Could it fall into the wrong hands? The main Soviet research center that created the Novichok nerve agents was in Shikhany, a town in southwestern Russia. It was one of the closed cities controlled by Soviet security forces. The research center also had chemical weapons storage areas and a military firing range. Nerve agents were tested there during Soviet rule. Some Novichok-related research also was done at a research center in Moscow. It shared samples with other labs across the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union collapsed, the United States attempted to oversee the destruction of chemical weapons in Russia. Scientists involved in the program said it was possible that lab workers may have sold the nerve agents during the economic and political unrest of the 1990s. Russia said in 2017 it completed the destruction of 40,000 metric tons of chemical weapons left over from the Soviet period. At first, the Novichok nerve agents were not listed in the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international document that banned chemical weapons. Last year, however, they were added to the list of chemicals that require special verification measures under the treatys rules. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story coma n. the state of unconsciousness caused by illness or accident odorless - adj. not having a smell intend v. a thing that is meant to be done batch n. items made from the same ingredients provocation n. an act that one hopes will cause another to react range n. a place for shooting guns or rifles verification n. the act of proving something is true While most countries are in different stages of trials with regard to their potential COVID-19 vaccine candidates, Russia is all set to roll out its newly developed vaccine Sputnik V for civilian use this week. This vaccine candidate Sputnik V may get the approval for the release of the first batch this week, Denis Logunov, an associate member of Russian Academy of Sciences, said, Russian news agency TASS reported. The report quoted Logunov as saying that the necessary approval could be granted to vaccine in a few days. He said the country's medical watchdog Roszdravnadzor will soon assess the vaccine for quality check and that they are hoping that it would get approval by September 13, following which the government will authorise the vaccine for civilian use. Also read: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine safe, produces immune response: Lancet The Russian health ministry had recently invited general public to participate in the post-registration advanced vaccination trial study. Over 40,000 people are expected to take part in the study. The government also administered the Sputnik V vaccine on COVID-19 patients at three outpatient clinics in Moscow. Though world medical community at large has been sceptical of Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, the recent peer-reviewed data, published in The Lancet medical journal, could give a much-needed boost to its credibility. Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Russia invites Moscow residents to join advanced trials for Sputnik V Based to the data from preliminary results of phase 1 and phase 2 trials, The Lancet medical journal last week said Russia's potential coronavirus vaccine, Sputnik V, approved in the country last month, induced an antibody response in all participants with no serious side effects. The vaccine produced a response in T-cells, a type of white blood cells that helps the immune system combat any infection, the report said. Also read: COVID-19 crisis: Scientists flag concerns over vaccines from Russia, China The vaccine has been developed by the Gamaleya Institute in Moscow in collaboration with Russia's Defence Ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin had earlier hailed Sputnik V named after the Soviet Union's 1957 launch of the world's first satellite into space, as the first vaccine globally to receive clearance. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine news: Russia approaches India for production; Novavax starts trials For the last three months, Mali, aka Maalavika Manoj, has had a hectic schedule, given the forthcoming release of her album, Caution to the Wind. But now shes gone from planning a tour for the albums release to figuring out how to release it in a staggered manner. Thats because she is recovering from Covid-19 infection that has left her with little stamina for aggressive publicity since she woke up with a mildly dry throat on Thursday, August 27. It felt different from the scratchiness announcing the onset of a cold, says Mali about that day. On Friday morning, when she was to step out for her first recording in five months, she had severe muscle and joint aches. By Saturday, she also had chills and a fever of 101.2. On Sunday morning, the last day of the lockdown in Chennai, Mali got herself tested for coronavirus. Within six hours, the testing centre phoned to tell her she had tested positive. A part of me was just thinking it was a dream, because I was sleeping when they called, she says. The circus begins Now Mali had to go through the process of trying to figure out where she got it from. Her father had been out of town, and her brother and mother (who is in her 50s) had both tested negative. So Mali must have caught the infection from her house help, who had returned from her hometown on the outskirts of Chennai a few days earlier. The lady had had a cold, Mali recalled, and had quietly made her way through a whole strip of paracetamol. When she was tested, her result was also positive. The actual illness wasnt as bad as the drama surrounding it Mali Mali now had to phone all the people she had met while presumably carrying the virus, including her aged grandparents (her grandmother later tested positive). And then she started receiving calls herself, from municipal officials to tell her she needed a doctors certificate for home quarantine. The certificate had to come specifically from a hospital dealing with Covid cases, says Mali. They kept threatening to send a van and take me to a Covid centre if I didnt. But to get the certificate, I would have had to step out, which would not be safe for others. Fortunately, a doctor Mali had once actually sung with at some point, helped her get the certificate. But they couldnt get a similar certificate for their house help. She had milder symptoms than me. Yet, the corporation officials insisted we drive her to a government Covid testing centre, says Mali. Fake or not fake? Since she was the only other Covid case in the house, Mali volunteered to drive the lady to the hospital. But the officials insisted her mother to go along as well, so off they went in the car, keeping windows rolled down and sitting as far away from each other as possible. (Clockwise) Mali performing at the Covelong Point Festival in Tamil Nadu; Her Insta post about contacting Covid-19; Malis first show outside the country in Bangkok in 2016; Performing at VH1 Supersonic last year When they got to the centre, officials insisted that Malis household help be taken to a Covid centre. My mom saw the survey form that the people who had come home had filled out, says Mali. It said the house wasnt well-ventilated though we have windows all over, and wasnt fit for isolation. This, when they hadnt even stepped into the premises. A lot of people dont have the privilege of home isolation, but we did. And incidents like this may make people think that Covid is a fake virus and refuse to be tested, she adds. All is well (sort of) Was she scared? Yeah, when they kept saying they would take me away. And when my 74-year-old grandmother tested positive, it reminded me of the movie Contagion. Malis grandmother is now observing home isolation and Mali is symptom-free too. I feel like Ive aged 10 years in a week. The actual illness wasnt as bad as the amount of drama surrounding it, says the 26-year-old who is looking forward to being Covid-free by her birthday on September 16 (her 14-day quarantine ends on September 13), meeting her dad and grandparents, and sharing a drink with them. I think we will need it, she laughs. Follow @Kkuenzang on Twitter From HT Brunch, September 6, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Two months before the November election, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler faces calls to resign from sources as wide-ranging as liberal constituents who once supported him to the nations Republican president, who cite what they say is his lack of clear leadership as the city hit 100 days of protests. Many critics say theyre frustrated that Wheeler, the citys police commissioner, expresses support for police reforms yet hasnt come out strongly when officers appear to use excessive force on people during protests. Many others are frustrated he hasnt done more to end the nightly demonstrations and the property damage, small fires and provocations of police that usually accompany them. Still others feel he has said more about his disagreements with President Donald Trump than his solutions to aid a city reckoning with a pandemic, a recession, homelessness, unaffordable housing, increased gun violence and other racial and economic inequalities. I dont know how many more examples we need to show he is not the right leader for this moment, said Bobbin Singh, executive director of the Oregon Justice Resource Center, one of six community and civil rights groups to jointly call for Wheelers resignation a week ago. Calls for resignation have also been loud during protests, including recent marches to the mayors condo building. He now plans to move. Wheeler himself questioned his handling of the first 90 days of demonstrations, saying in a late August press conference that he wasnt focused enough on finding ways to address the protests, improve police accountability and help downtown businesses. He vowed to be more visible and to collaborate better with other elected and community leaders. I have been trying to do too much and Ive been trying to do it alone, he said as he stood alone at a lectern in the Portland City Council chambers. In the days since, he has yet to appear before the public with another city commissioner. Still, political observers arent ready to declare Wheeler in dire jeopardy of losing his job in the Nov. 3 runoff election. He faces urban policy consultant Sarah Iannarone, a two-time mayoral candidate who has never held public office. She captured 24% of the vote in the crowded primary race to Wheelers 49% to force the fall election. His other challenge, from a well-publicized write-in campaign for community activist Teressa Raiford, also comes from the left, making Raiford more likely to cobble support that would have gone to Iannarone than Wheeler, said John Horvick, political director for Portland-based survey research firm DHM Research. The longer these protests turn violent, the more of a referendum this is on the incumbent, Horvick said of the upcoming mayoral contest. (Wheeler) needs to make it clear to voters that there is a clear choice between her and himself and I think its hard for the average voter to look around, see whats happening around the city and know what hes doing to help things. Critics and observers largely fault Wheeler not for what hes said or done as much as the tepid manner in which hes addressed key issues and the steps and stands he hasnt taken. Wheeler told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday that he disagrees with those who think he hasnt clearly said he doesnt condone violence, whether by a protester or police officer. But, he said, If people dont know where I stand, even on a basic issue such as violence, who else can I blame but myself? He noted reading a letter to the editor in The Oregonian earlier from a constituent who said she hadnt heard Wheeler say anything against violence at all over the last three months. Wheeler has repeatedly said he supports the Black Lives Matter movement and peaceful protest in the city. But some question why hes failed to explicitly criticize the police and instead decried vandalism and other damage to public and private buildings. Some people took issue when he called for their help in stopping the destructive protests but offered no specific ways to do so. Others complain he seems to tolerate criminal activity that has dampened business downtown and left some buildings around the county Justice Center graffitied. Perhaps most striking over the past weeks is the void of support around the mayor from wide swaths of other elected and business leaders. Divisions among council members, tensions with the governors office and little support from county officials have largely left him solo. While no polls on Wheelers standing have been released recently, Horvick said he suspects Wheelers approval among Portlanders today cant possibly be good. None of the community frustrations at how the city has handled homelessness, housing and other issues that may have kept Wheeler from winning reelection outright in May have gone away, he noted. Meanwhile, the pandemic and social reckoning over racial injustice have exacerbated and magnified those problems, Horvick said. Andrew Hoan, president of the Portland Business Alliance, said he believes frustration about persistence of protests and Portlands battered economy shouldnt be aimed solely at Wheeler. It should be everyones responsibility to be better, he said. Hoan said he appreciates Wheelers recent efforts to try to respond more assertively to the business communitys concerns. Portlanders shouldnt support calls for Wheeler to resign, he said. Rather, he has earned the right to be considered on the ballot and be supported through another term if he wins. We ask our leaders to sometimes serve in ways that are so unfair and incomprehensible that no one would be successful, Hoan said. In my opinion, what we truly do need is our city needs to line up behind the mayor and his leadership and figure out a way to end whats troubling everyone, get through the violence, respect the important work of racial justice, roll up our sleeves and get it done. Singh, however, said the last three months have crystalized for him that Wheeler may not be able to rise to the occasion. Hes an impediment to progress at this point, and if he steps down, that will open the door for more collaborations that should have been happening from the beginning between the city, county and state that appear to be unwilling to be made with him in charge. Shirley Jackson, a professor who chairs Portland State Universitys of Black studies department, said while there is still a Black Lives Matter movement in Portland, its not always clear to many people when its leaders and supporters are protesting and when splinter movements that use the slogan veer toward other agendas. Because its so unclear, the mayor is clearly having difficulty responding to these other movements that are occurring at the same time that can be destructive and shouldnt necessarily be associated with Black Lives Matter, Jackson said. The danger of having a social movement centered on race in cities like Portland, where Black people said to be the focus of the movement make up a tiny fraction of the population, is that the drivers of the narrative can come from anywhere, Jackson said. When the public perceives a lack of leadership from government officials, people may try to fill the void in a variety of ways, she said. The public can tell the City Council isnt unified in its approach to responding to the demonstrations, Jackson said, because Wheeler almost always participates in press conferences without any other council members present. He frequently opts to appear with the police chief, who answers to him, but not with other leaders or groups that play or potentially could play a hand in city reforms. Jackson said she personally was struck by how clear Wheeler has been in rebukes of Trump but not what the city is doing to address concerns of residents and to find common ground with protesters so they no longer feel demonstrations are necessary to achieve change. You cannot be tentative and have people take you seriously, and thats what we see happening, Jackson said. Because were in Portland and theres a very passive-aggressive nature here, there is a tendency for people to see officials not being very firm in what theyre trying to say, not committed to the decisions that theyre making and not clear on the actions theyre taking that people need to be witnessing. Singh said his group and other civil rights and community groups have worked with the city on ways to address policing concerns throughout Wheelers term and theyve been met with incremental change at best. His group was among those that called in June for the City Council to reallocate $50 million from the Police Bureau for other programs to strengthen justice and well-being among Black and Indigenous Portlanders and other marginalized communities. The fact that Wheeler and two of the three other city commissioners voted to reallocated $15 million from police and refused to consider the $50 million request, he said, adds to the frustration playing out nightly on city streets. The property damage and other types of vandalism during some protests are just the symptom of the problem, Singh said. He said Wheeler and other leaders have shown an inability to explicitly condemn violence by police officers during protests and acknowledge that the historical violence by police on citizens brought about the protests. Many critics also fault Wheeler and the council for moving too slowly on police accountability and transparency. In June, Wheeler ceded leadership on that topic to fellow commissioner and longtime police critic Jo Ann Hardesty. She led the council as it voted to reroute the $15 million from the police bureau to other city programs and initiatives and disband several specialty police units changes that she said would have been unthinkable a month earlier. Since that vote, however, Wheelers hasnt provided specific plans to the public or articulated clear follow-up steps. The most significant new action city officials promised stationing six teams of mental health workers and EMTs throughout the city to respond in place of armed police to people in crisis on the streets hasnt happened yet and wont for months. On June 9, Wheeler unveiled a 19-point action plan to bring about police reform. As of September, a graphic on the citys website shows seven of those points with green check marks next to them and the rest have yellow circles with in progress written inside. The seven green check marks largely represent others initiatives. Three of the accomplishments were to support members of the legislatures People of Color Caucus as they successfully called for a special session and put forth legislation to improve police conduct and accountability. The other four: support the stalled plan for the street response teams to replace police on some calls, disband the specialty police units Hardesty suggested, support the city and countys existing homeless outreach team and move the police bureaus office of equity and inclusion to answer directly to the police chief. Among the points of the mayors plan still left to complete are redirecting $12 million from the Police Bureau and other city funds directly to communities of color, urging other local law enforcement agencies to match the city commitment and reinvest in communities of color, a third-party review of the citys police recruitment and retention strategies, changing the city code to make the Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing a permanent community oversight body, requiring the police bureau to receive City Council permission to acquire military surplus equipment, changing the citys standards for consent to searches during traffic stops and changing the bureaus use of force policy to completely ban officers from using neck constraints such as chokeholds. Wheeler hasnt given the public timelines to deliver any of these promises, but he has repeatedly said violence at demonstrations must end so officials can focus on reforms to city policing as well as social and racial justice. During an Aug. 6 news conference, Wheeler said he would publicly announce the following week a comprehensive plan to address increased gun violence in 2020, which saw more than double the amount of shootings in July than the same time last year and led to the deaths of 10 of the 15 people killed in the city in July. Mothers of Black adults and children whove been killed were among those who issued a public plea the same day for the City Council to do more to address the shootings and underlying circumstances that may lead to them, particularly in the citys historically marginalized communities. But as of Sept. 5, Wheeler still hasnt announced his full plan. Raiford, the Dont Shoot Portland founder with a write-in campaign to unseat Wheeler, said the mayors and other city leaders slow response to community concerns is hurting all of us. Dont Shoot Portland is involved in several lawsuits related to law enforcement actions during city protests. Raiford said she regularly receives calls from parents whose children have been killed in the city who are frustrated with the citys response. Raiford said shes also concerned about the lasting psychological ramifications that could come from people regularly subjected to tear gas and attacked by officers during Black Lives Matter protests. Raiford was on the ballot for mayor in May and finished third. There is a community mayoral campaign for her as a write-in candidate, which she said she supports but isnt involved in coordinating. Wheeler is the first Portland mayor to seek reelection since Vera Katz was re-elected to a third term in May 2000. In 2016, Wheeler won the seat outright in the May primary with 55% of the vote. Four years later, he captured 49% of the vote, leading to the runoff. A poll of nearly 1,000 Portland voters paid for by Iannarones campaign and released in June showed about a third said they would vote for Wheeler, another third supported Iannarone and the other third were undecided. Horvick, the Portland survey research expert who leads a different polling outfit, said its unclear which of the two mayoral candidates listed on the ballot has the edge. While Iannarone more clearly condemned excessive force by Portland police officers during demonstrations, she hasnt said what she would do differently other than accept Commissioner Jo Ann Hardestys request to be in charge of the police bureau, he said. Wheeler said Friday that he still plans to do more to communicate and be transparent with the public about the citys plans to address issues facing it. Theres so much negativity out there right now, Wheeler said. I want people to know Portland has a good base to build on. There are better days ahead and I look forward to leading us there. -- Everton Bailey Jr; ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 | @EvertonBailey Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. NSW will pursue large-scale hydrogen production as part of its attempt to tackle the COVID-19 economic crisis, with Newcastle and Port Kembla identified as critical hubs for tens of thousands of new export jobs. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean will use a major speech on Monday to release a report from the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer which highlights the economic opportunities of hydrogen. NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean wants a green-led recovery from COVID-19 for the state's economy. Credit:Janie Barrett The report says Australia, and in particular NSW, has the potential to be one of the most cost-competitive locations in the world to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen is a gas or liquid that can be used to store energy produced from other sources, including renewable energy. That means it can be used as a source of portable emissions-free power. One-in-four drug users at music festivals in Ireland get high on laughing gas, it has emerged. The HSE has found that nitrous oxide is an emerging trend among young Irish festival-goers. The gas is intended for use as an anaesthetic in dental practices or as a propellant in whipped-cream canisters. However, due to its use in the catering industry, the gas can be bought in large quantities online with relative ease. It is illegal to sell nitrous oxide for human consumption and it is also illegal to consume it under the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010. The gas is inhaled using a balloon, creating a short-lasting euphoria, but there are risks associated with its use. People who use them are at risk of dying from suffocation and frequent use can lead to blood cell problems. Fine Gael TD, Emer Higgins, has called for legislation to limit the sale of nitrous oxide. The HSE released new data to her showing that one in four attendees at music festivals who used drugs last year, used nitrous oxide. Ms Higgins said local parks in her Dublin constituency have become littered with strange shiny, silver bullets - the canisters that contain the gas and local community leaders said the problem was widespread. Teenagers inhale nitrous oxide - laughing gas - from these bullets to get high and the easy availability of nitrous oxide online really is shocking. Ms Higgins, who has raised the issue in the Dail, said the gathering of evidence by the HSE on nitrous oxide in Ireland was a welcome first step in tackling this scourge. Revenue has never seized this drug before 2020. But, alarmingly, I obtained figures which show that Revenue has seized over 14,000 canisters this year. Ms Higgins has also called on Google to ban sponsored advertisements for nitrous gas and to include a health warning on search results. Nitrous oxide is freely available to purchase online from some Irish and foreign hosted websites at less than 2 per canister. Ms Higgins said Belgium was planning to ban the sale of nitrous oxide to under-18s and the Netherlands was considering banning it altogether. "While too many young people see it as harmless fun, neurologists are crystal clear about its long-term consequences. "The gas depletes the body's store of vitamin B12. This can cause spinal cord damage and is leading to young people being diagnosed as paraplegic and becoming wheelchair-bound." Former President John Dramani Mahama has said the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will transform Ghana into an advanced nation if given the nod in the 2020 general elections. It is our sacred mission to turn Ghana into an advanced nation as soon as possible! It is our moral obligation to be bold and to aim for greatness! the President said in a statement released ahead of the NDCs 2020 manifesto launch, scheduled for September 7, 2020. The former President said the current challenges in Ghana requires the formulation of new policies and standards a move the NDC intends undertaking if it comes to power. 'Good enough' is no longer good enough! To prosper and thrive, we need a fundamental change! We need to set our standards and expectations far higher than good enough! If we settle for good enough, we settle for a slow death of our very soul and of our pride. John Mahama further explained that he decided to run for a second term in order to fix these challenges. In all honesty, I didn't take the decision to run for a second term as President neither easily, nor quickly. I didn't jump into it. I did it out of a sense of urgency after I began to contemplate more and more thoroughly about our vulnerabilities as a nation. Below is the statement from the former President My brothers and sisters, On Monday, we will launch our manifesto for 2020. Let me take this opportunity to offer some personal reflections on the political substance of this manifesto. You offered me the humbling chance to serve you from the highest offices in Ghana first as Vice-President, for four years, and then as President for another four years. For this, I will forever be grateful, and I will fight for your wellbeing, for your hopes and for your rights with all my strength for the rest of my life. But since I have already been there, why run again? I know many of you ask this question sometimes openly, sometimes in silence. Why run again? It is a fair question, and it deserves a fair, personal answer. In a sense, our manifesto will provide the answer, but it will be a collective answer, coming from all the fabulous NDC members and supporters, men and women, who participated in its formulation. In all honesty, I didn't take the decision to run for a second term as President neither easily, nor quickly. I didn't jump into it. I did it out of a sense of urgency, after I began to contemplate more and more thoroughly about our vulnerabilities as a nation. No country can aspire to become developed; no society can be truly resilient in the face of crisis and adversity without a solid economic and social infrastructure. To create sustainable and ever-growing prosperity something we all deserve it requires building a robust social and economic infrastructure, one that supports creativity, innovation and the production of high value-added products and services. This is precisely why, during my Presidency, I took aggressive steps to develop and consolidate our healthcare infrastructure, our educational infrastructure, our transport infrastructure and our digital infrastructure. This is the only way to build a resilient nation. Without creating and consolidating a developed infrastructure, no nation can resist global shocks. Unfortunately, this current government has refused to continue on this path and therefore failed to make our nation less vulnerable and more resilient. Let me give you just one example: access to electricity. In 2012, 69.2% of Ghanaians had access to electricity. In 2016, when I left office after my first term as President, 79.3% of Ghanaians had access to electricity. A 10 percentage points increase in 4 years. When I left the office, I was confident that a new government will deliver 90%, if not 100% access to electricity in the next four years. However, the NPP government increased overall access to electricity from 79.3% to only 82.3%, a mere 3 percentage points increase. It is our sacred mission to turn Ghana into an advanced nation as soon as possible! It is our moral obligation to be bold and to aim for greatness! Good enough is no longer good enough! To prosper and thrive, we need fundamental change! We need to set our standards and expectations far higher than good enough! If we settle for good enough, we settle for a slow death of our very soul and of our pride. I run for President because I want to leave a legacy: a solid infrastructure, with 100% access for all. With this legacy, we will build a truly developed Ghana, on a par with the advanced nations. I know how to do it, part of it I've already accomplished, and since I know how to do it and the current government doesn't, I feel I have the moral duty to ask for a second term. This is not about me, it's about Ghana and Ghanaians. This is what Monday's manifesto is about. This is why I encourage all of you to watch the launch ceremony. God bless Ghana! God bless each and every one of you! citinewsroom Kesavananda Bharati, a petitioner in a case that led to the evolving the celebrated doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution, died here on Sunday. Police said the 79-year old Kerala-based seer Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru died at the Edaneer Mutt here due to age related ailments. "As per the information with us, he passed away at around 3.30 AM on Sunday," police told PTI. The case in which Bharati had challenged a Kerala Land Reform Act nearly four decades ago set the principle that the is the guardian of the basic structure of the and the verdict involved 13 judges the largest bench ever to sit in the apex court. The case of Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala was heard for 68 days and continues to hold the top spot for the longest proceedings ever to have taken place in the top court. The hearing in the case commenced on October 31, 1972, and concluded on March 23, 1973 and it's the most referred to case name in Indian Constitutional law. When asked about the importance of the verdict, former Judge of Madras High Court Justice K Chandru told PTI: "The Kesavananda Bharati case is significant for its ruling that the can be amended but not the basic structure. P Thiruselvam By Express News Service PERAMBALUR: In an effort to catch up with the ways of the ongoing pandemic, a government school teacher has spent a lakh from her savings to buy 16 smartphones and sim cards for her students. A teacher of Elambalur government higher secondary school, K Bairavi, told The New Indian Express that she wishes to conduct online lessons for her students just like private schools. Her students, who study in standard 10th, will be appearing for board exams next year. Taking their financial background into account, she bought the smartphones and even recharged the sim cards for the students to avail lessons. "We went to various villages to approach parents and convince them to admit their children. Here I saw several students living under poverty without any basic facilities at their homes. I was very sad after seeing this," K Bairavi said. "Due to lockdown, I have been teaching my students through WhatsApp for the last few weeks. But some of them do not own a smartphone and no money to recharge. This is why I decided to buy smartphones and distributed them to my students. The idea was given by my daughter. I have set up a blackboard at my house to record online classes for my students." Bairavi, who distributed phones to 16 students including the new joinees, has assured them that she will continue to recharge their smartphones till the school reopens. One of Bairavi's students, Priyadharshini, said, "When my teacher came to our house during a door-to-door campaign, my parents asked her about online classes. After telling my parents about the classes, we were invited to the school. Bairavi madam surprised us by giving us a smartphone. I am very happy as nobody in my family has one. I will use it for my studies." Schools in Tamil Nadu have remained closed for over five months. In this situation, the state government declared all students as 'pass' in the annual exams. Subsequently, enrollment in government schools began two weeks ago. Teachers at Elambalur government higher secondary school in Perambalur district have been doing a door-to-door and distributing leaflets describing the features of government schemes available for the students. Also, they are raising awareness among parents about the special features of their school. They are conducting lessons through 'Kalvi Tholaikatchi', a government-run TV channel. Ah, the History of the Ester Lee, Central Oregon Coast Published 09/03/20 at 4:41 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Lincoln City, Oregon) One of those few places that stand out as an old yet still vital, relevant icon is Lincoln Citys Ester Lee Motel. Its Oregon coast history and modernity all rolled up into one these days, with the catch phrase that seems to live forever: Ah, What You Can See from the Ester Lee. (All photos courtesy Ester Lee Motel. Above: the Ester in the '50s) Mark Baete and his wife Gina run the operation these days, having been there over 20 years now. It was Ginas dad and mom, Paul and Linda Love, that bought up the place in the early 70s and rocketed it forward in the realm of Oregon coast tourism. So its stayed in the family for over two generations. The multiple-building complex started out as a meager cabin overlooking the surf. Way back in the 1920s, Baete says, which is about when the beach access was constructed as well. This, of course, is back when Lincoln City didnt exist, but instead this was a village called Taft that would later become part of the whole town. Redoing that building yielded some ancient surprises. 1927 I did a remodel on the office which had an apartment in the back, Baete said. I took out the apartment and made that into a lobby. I had to get into the walls and found that old wire-on-post wiring. Thats bare wire wrapped around ceramic and those go into an outlet, all behind the wall. All done in bare wiring, with maybe two outlets originally. I was pretty impressed to find it. 1920s Who created the cabin isnt known, but Baete knows that an Ester and Lee Inman bought up the property somewhere around 1940. They built on the first additions, creating the Ester Lee Apartments. A couple named RH and Libby Bing bought it from the Inmans, but by 1942 a pair of sisters named Bena Englund and Carrie McClanathan had it, and they added two more apartments. Baete said the sisters then purchased an adjacent property in 1946, creating another building shortly after as well as some garages. By this time, the Ester Lee Apartments had 15 units. Baete said as far as he knew these were still apartments, but a series of ads and articles from the 40s onward show Ester Lee Apartments was renting out its units to tourists. In the earlier days, these were likely arrangements that lasted all summer, but it held onto the name apartments through the early 70s, even though it acted at least partially as a motel. It was in 46 that Bena married a North Bend man, according to newspaper reports at the time. Sister Carrie threw a big shindig for the reception at the Ester Lee Apartments. Somewhere about this time, a woman named Berniece Moore created the Moores Apartments right next door, and in fact the building looked similar to the Ester Lee architecture. They mirrored each other, Baete said. The Moores Apartments had a garage out front, Baete said, and you could pull off of 101 into the garage and walk straight into your home. In 53, the sisters purchased that from Moore, converting the garages into rental units as well. This brought the whole operation to 20 units. Also next to the property was the Granview Apartments, which operated in a similar motel fashion in the 60s. That too was absorbed into the Ester Lee empire. Its about here Baete notes that in the 60s, a two-bedroom unit cost 16 bucks to rent, then bumped up to $21 per night in the 70s (now its $200 per night). When Gina and Mark started running it in 98, a studio cost $50 per night, and now thats $126. Somewhere in the 70s Paul and Linda Love changed the name to Ester Lee Motel, after they purchased it from McClanathan. In 1978, the couple built 24 units on the hills southern end, bringing together a total of 53 units which it still has. In the late 90s, the Loves retired and Mark and Gina took over, buying the property in 2007. 1940s The Ester Lee saw a bit of adventure one winters night in 1993. A neighboring building caught fire after a storm blew down a live power line, gutting that building and threatening the motel. Guests were actually evacuated. The motel fared just fine, however. One endearing part of the Oregon coast hotels history is its goofy jokes and puns it put on the readerboard in the 90s and early 2000s. Yet its part of the places past Baete doesnt dig. They were way out there, sometimes, he said. They didnt sit well with me, and didn't fit well with the property. So it just gave me all the more drive to come with some slogan. This consternation was the inspiration behind the now-famous Ah, what you can see from the Ester Lee slogan. 1960s We were scratching for stuff to come up with on our readerboard, and as a matter of fact we were coming up with stuff that wasnt really getting it for who we are and what we got, he said. One day I was just driving home, trying to think of something to put on the readerboard, and I came up with this. That slogan on Highway 101 is probably about as famous as Pixie Land is now. 3803 S.W. Hwy. 101, Lincoln City, Oregon. 541-996-3606. www.esterlee.com/ MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Disgraced Trump fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen's forthcoming tell-all book reveals supposed examples of the president's alleged racism, hatred of Barack Obama and reaction to a surprising strip show performance. Cohen's memoir, Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump, hits bookshelves Tuesday, despite his currently serving out a three-year federal prison sentence for tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations. In the book, Cohen reveals information about a variety of alleged Trump actions and statements that have made headlines since the former reality TV star ran for office, according to the Washington Post, which obtained an advance copy of it. Cohen writes that he was 'one of Trumps bad guys,' while calling Trump - who he had previously defended to the hilt - 'a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man.' Disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen's forthcoming memoir reveals all sorts of unflattering anecdotes about President Trump (on September 4) Cohen, who is still serving prison time for federal convictions, wrote of Trump's 'hatred' for Barack Obama and also presented alleged instances of his racist commentary He wrote that during the 2016 campaign, Trump allegedly said that minorities were 'not my people' and that the president also supposedly claimed he would 'never get the Hispanic vote,' because, 'Like the blacks, theyre too stupid to vote for Trump.' The disbarred lawyer detailed Trump's 'hatred and contempt' of Obama, too. Cohen revealed that at some point in time, Trump allegedly hired a 'Faux-Bama' to star in a video, in which Trump 'ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him,' CNN reported Cohen as having written. The news organization, which also obtained a copy of the memoir, said that the actor who played Faux-Bama was not named and there's no hint of when or why the video was filmed. But, the book does include a color picture in which Trump can be seen sitting behind a desk opposite a besuited black man with greying hair and an American flag pin on his lapel. One of the books on Trump's desk reads 'Obama.' Over the years, Trump has been criticized for spreading 'birther' statements, which insinuated that Obama was unqualified to be president because he might not have been born in the US - an untrue theory. Among Cohen's book's claims was that Trump said the only reason why Obama had been admitted to Columbia University for undergrad and then Harvard Law School was because of 'f---ing affirmative action.' Cohen also wrote that Trump's 'low opinion of all black folks' included him allegedly saying: 'Tell me one country run by a black person that isnt a s---hole. They are all complete f---ing toilets.' Cohen wrote that Trump said the only reason why Barack Obama (pictured) got into Columbia University and Harvard Law was 'affirmative action' Cohen also wrote that Trump allegedly said Nelson Mandela (in 1996) had turned South Africa into a 's**thole' and that he 'was no leader' According to Cohen, Trump used the 's**thole' phrase again, when talking about South African President Nelson Mandela. When Mandela died in 2013, Cohen wrote that Trump didn't think Mandela 'was a real leader not the kind he respected.' Cohen claimed that Trump said 'Mandela f---ed the whole country up. Now its a s---hole. F--- Mandela. He was no leader.' Mandela was a key figure in ending apartheid in South Africa, a practice which divided the country along racial lines. Trump was slammed in January 2018 after he allegedly said, during an Oval Office meeting about the visa lottery, 'Why do we want all these people from "s**thole countries" coming here?' while supposedly referring to Central American and African nations. He later denied making the 's**thole countries' remark. Despite all this, Cohen wrote that he never heard Trump utter the 'N-word.' In another anecdote that bites from headline-making news about Trump, Cohen wrote about a supposed 2013 visit Trump made to a Las Vegas strip club. Cohen wrote that Trump went to the strip club with Russian father-son oligarchs Aras and Emin Agalarov. During the visit, Cohen claimed that they watched as one of the strip club performers simulated urinating on another performer, who then pretended to drink it. According to Cohen, Trump reaction to what they saw on stage was 'disbelief and delight.' Cohen wrote that Trump allegedly said that his supporters would 'think its cool that I slept with a porn star,' of the Stormy Daniels (in 2019) payoff scandal Cohen wrote Trump (center in 2013) visited a Las Vegas strip club with Russian oligarch Emin Agalarov (left) and Aras Agalarov (right), where they saw a simulated golden shower scene Cohen also said that while there was no collusion with Russia during the 2016 election, Trump (left) had cozied up with President Vladimir Putin (right) to help push along a future real estate development deal in Moscow In January 2017, word surfaced of a so-called 'pee tape,' which was supposedly filmed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow in 2013, when Trump was attending the Miss Universe pageant there. In the alleged video - described in the Steele Dossier - Trump was said to have watched two prostitutes as they urinated on a bed Barack and Michelle Obama supposedly slept in. The tape was supposedly made because Russia's state security agency, the FSB, had the hotel under surveillance and had multiple microphones and hidden cameras in the room. Cohen wrote of the tape that 'this claim never occurred, to the best of my knowledge and investigations.' He did write that he was once approached by someone who claimed to have the tape in 2016, but that when Cohen asked to see a few seconds to determine it was real, the called demanded $20million and hung up. The person never reached out again, Cohen wrote. In discussing Trump's supposed admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cohen wrote that Trump admired Putin'complete control over the country, but that there was no collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. 'What appeared to be collusion was really a confluence of shared interests in harming Hillary Clinton in any way possible, up to and including interfering in the American election,' Cohen wrote, also claiming that Trump campaign officials were too disorganized to coordinate with Russia anyway. Cohen wrote that Trump hadn't expected to win the presidency and that his purpose in playing nice with Putin was an effort to make money off of a real estate development he was planning in Moscow post-election. Cohen also devoted portions of his book to Trumps alleged role in the Stormy Daniels hush money scandal, in which she claimed that she had an extramarital affair with Trump, but was paid $130,000 to keep her quiet prior to the 2016 election. Cohen admitted to using his own money to pay Daniels off, but said that Trump reimbursed him with 'fake legal fees,' according the AP, which also obtained an advance copy of the memoir. 'It never pays to settle these things, but many, many friends have advised me to pay,' Cohen wrote Trump said. 'If it comes out, Im not sure how it would play with my supporters. But I bet theyd think its cool that I slept with a porn star.' On a more personal note, Cohen included some alleged details about Trump's much discussed hairstyle. In the memoir, Cohen wrote that the distinctive hairdo is a 'three-step' combover, which was developed as a way to hide what Cohen called 'unsightly scars on his scalp from a failed hair-implant operation in the 1980s.' Cohen wrote that he once saw Trump post-shower, when his hair was down. According to Cohen, Trump's 'strands of dyed-golden hair reached below his shoulders along the right side of his head and on his back, like a balding Allman Brother or strung out old '60s hippie.' While making all these alleged revelations about his former client, Cohen also wrote: 'I care for Donald Trump, even to to this day.' He also noted: 'and I had and still have a lot of affection for him.' Cohen wrote that his support of Trump for president was due to thinking 'Trump was a visionary with a no-nonsense attitude and the charisma to attract all kinds of voters.' he writes. But, wrote that he really wanted Trump in the White House 'because I wanted the power that he would bring to me.' Cohen wrote in the memoir that things that Trump has been maligned for after he became president weren't obvious until after he was elected. 'Locking up your political enemies, criminalizing dissent, terrifying or bankrupting the free press through libel lawsuits -- Trump's all-encompassing vision wasn't evident to me before he began to run for president,' Cohen wrote. 'I honestly believe the most extreme ideas about power and its uses only really took shape as he began to seriously contemplate the implications of taking power and how he could leverage it to the absolute maximum level possible.' In a statement to the Washington Post Saturday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that 'Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and its unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies.' The White House, meanwhile told the AP that the memoir amounted to 'fan fiction.' Cohen 'readily admits to lying routinely but expects people to believe him now so that he can make money from book sales,' White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern said in a statement to the news agency. 'Its unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump.' Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 6) Shaky images of his work area and scattered items on the floor were the last photos Chief Engineer Aristotle Sabellena sent his wife Liberty Seneres before he went missing. In his final message, he told her that the waves were now extremely rough as they make their way to China from New Zealand. Sabellena was one of the 43 sailors on board the cargo ship Gulf Livestock 1 which was capsized on Wednesday in the East China Sea. His wife, Liberty shared that during her conversations with her husband, he would mention that when the ship started to voyage from New Zealand to China last August 14, they have already faced strong waves and a number of storms. Mula po noong umalis sila ng New Zealand ng August 14 going to China yung karagatan po ay maalon daw talaga po. Mula New Zealand, tatlong bagyo na rin po yung na-eencounter nila so pang apat po yung bagyo na latest na na-encounter nila. Yung alon po nitong September 1, sobrang lakas daw po at masama daw po talaga yung panahon, said Liberty. [Translation: Since they left New Zealand on August 14 to go to China, he said the seas were rough. Since their journey from New Zealand, they have already encountered three typhoons, so the latest they have encountered is already the fourth. On September 1, he said the waves were really strong and that the weather was terrible.] However, the cargo ship was no match for Typhoon Maysak as it brought powerful waves that eventually overturned vessel carrying 43 sailors and less than 6,000 cattle. For Liberty, she is still holding on to the hope that her husband will eventually be rescued like two of his other comrades. One of the luckier ones was Jaynel Rosales who was found floating on a life raft a few kilometers off Kodakarajima, a small island in Japans southern Kagoshima prefecture on Friday. Since his rescue, his partner Gina Baulita was only able to talk to him once as Jaynel is still recuperating from his injuries. Hindi pa siya masyadong okay kasi na-impeksyon po kasi siya. Sugatan po kasi siya. Masaya kasi anong pakiramdam na naghihintay ka nalang ng update kung ano balita. Kasi di rin naman kami makatulog, said Gina. [Translation: He's still not that okay, because he got an infection from being wounded. We're happy, but we're still waiting for updates. We also couldn't sleep.] According to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the two Filipino survivors are currently recovering in a hospital in Japan. Search and rescue operations for the 36 other missing crew of the Panamanian-registered Gulf Livestock 1 are still on hold due to weather disturbance in the area. Government officials assure that operations will resume once the weather calms down. Ire-resume yan pero sa ngayon di pa nila magawa. In fact yung mismong rescue ay nag evacuate din dahil masamang masama ang panahon don. According to their weather report, it is one of the worst typhoons in a decade. Napilitan din yung coast guard team na mag evacuate muna dahil masama daw talaga ang panahon, said Bello. [Translation: It will be resumed, but right now it's not possible yet. In fact, the rescue team also had to evacuate because of the terrible weather there. According to their weather report, it is one of the worst typhoons in a decade. The coast guard team was likewise forced to evacuate first because of the weather conditions.] Bello said they are now confirming information that the other recovered body belonged to a Filipino. He said DNA samples were already taken from the body. The chairman of the department store chain Debenhams has said its biggest city centre stores are 'vulnerable' to closure without a large-scale Government intervention to avert disaster. Mark Gifford said last night that he was lobbying Whitehall at 'every single level' to head off a town centre crisis that would be likely to see swathes of the West End of London and other major cities boarded up. In his first major newspaper interview, Gifford said his stores in London's Oxford Street as well as Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds were all facing closure after a 'torrid' year as the pandemic delivered a hammer blow to some of Britain's most familiar high street names. Debenhams' chairman Mark Gifford said his stores in London's Oxford Street as well as Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds were all facing closure after a 'torrid' year He told The Mail on Sunday that they were among 30 to 40 of his 124 stores that could face the axe in the coming months without a signal from the Government that tax bills would be slashed. The chain closed 22 stores in January, warning that more closures might follow. Gifford said Debenhams had been performing ahead of its business plan, which was drawn up before stores reopening in June. Sales have reached 80 per cent of last year's levels across the chain after rising ten percentage points week-on-week for the past three weeks. But despite renewed optimism at the troubled chain, which entered administration for the second time in April, its flagship Oxford Street branch remains its worst performer with sales still at half of last year's levels despite it being the most expensive store to maintain. Other major cities where many office workers have so far failed to return and shoppers are reluctant to visit are also struggling, holding back a recovery for the chain. Despite talk that liquidators had been lined up, Gifford swept aside the possibility of a collapse of the chain. He admitted that his and other chains would struggle to survive another national lockdown. However, he said he 'absolutely' gave a personal guarantee that the chain would continue trading until after Christmas, at which point store contracts could be overhauled and unprofitable branches closed in light of festive trading failures. Grim warning: Debenhams chairman Mark Gifford He admitted: 'Some of them aren't going to make it. Some will have to close. We're looking at them every week to see how things develop.' He added: 'Sales are returning every week, we are building more confidence, and shoppers are returning in bigger numbers. 'But Oxford Street is really vulnerable. It has a 5.5million annual rates bill eyewatering. It's the fourth most expensive in the country after Harrods and Selfridges and John Lewis on Oxford Street. 'You go to cities like Edinburgh and it's the same story Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow. 'Is London going to return? Is Manchester going to return? We've been open for 12 weeks, in the best locations, and are seeing really good footfall outside the big city centres, but not inside them. 'It's too early to say we are closing stores in those centres some were our most profitable stores. So we'd like to keep them open. But we can't keep them open forever on a hope.' High street businesses were handed a 12-month business rates holiday in March after the pandemic struck. But Gifford said the Government must not wait until the holiday ends in April next year before making further reparations to protect Britain's town centres. 'This is a massive problem. At the moment we have to assume we will be paying full business rates from April because the Government hasn't said otherwise,' he said. He added that the increase in trading over recent weeks and unexpected windfalls, such as savings on its foreign exchange costs, meant it had 50million more cash than it had previously anticipated. Gifford, who was appointed chairman less than a year ago to salvage the business, said: 'We've done some fabulous deals with our landlords. Without that the business would be having a closing down sale right now. That's the truth. 'First we had a rent holiday and now we're paying landlords on a turnover basis. So rents have changed considerably. But business rates have not. So we are going into a battle with the Government on this now. We are lobbying at every single level but the decision-making process is very slow.' The industry estimates 200 of 300 shops along Oxford Street would be boarded up if nothing changes The industry estimates 200 of 300 shops along Oxford Street would be boarded up if nothing changes. Gifford said: 'Can you imagine tourists arriving at the nation's favourite high street to find half of it is boarded up? It's already happening. Shops are closing down, businesses are failing and nobody is opening up.' He said Debenhams in administration and being supported by its lenders is taking an 'aggressive' stance on next year's rates bills. Gifford is taking advice from top insolvency lawyers he says would vastly cut the rate payments to 'a very, very small amount' of previous bills for the duration of the extended administration process. He added that slashing rates which have long been a ball and chain for high street stores, unlike their online counterparts would give Debenhams breathing space to revive its fortunes. He said the chain was likely to stay in administration until the reorganisation was complete and the Government had cut rates, allowing for new investors or a buyer to be found. Diane Abbott likened Extinction Rebellion's blockades at newsprinters to the suffragettes. (PA) Dominic Raab has criticised Labour MP Diane Abbott for defending Extinction Rebellions blockade of national newspaper printers on Friday and Saturday. The foreign secretary said Abbott was perverse to compare the climate activist campaigners to suffragettes. Abbott on Sunday defended Extinction Rebellions actions, which disrupted the distribution of several newspapers on Saturday, saying the group had employed legal tactics. She told Sky News: I think it's important to remind ourselves that direct actions, which is what those actions were, are actually legal. These are legal tactics and we don't want to talk as if its not illegal to take direct actions because direct action has been legal since the time of the suffragettes. They are protesters and activists in the tradition of the suffragettes and the hunger marchers of the 1930s. Protesters used bamboo lock-ons to block the road outside the newsprinters at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. (PA) More than 100 demonstrators used vehicles and bamboo lock-ons to block roads outside two newsprinters one at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, the other at Knowsley near Liverpool on Friday evening. Both protests continued until Saturday afternoon. Abbotts comments came as Merseyside Police on Sunday said they had charged 26 people with aggravated trespass after the Knowsley demonstration. They are due to appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates Court and St Helens Magistrates Court on January 8 and 13 next year. Hertfordshire Police said its officers had taken 50 people into custody. Raab told Sky News on Sunday: The idea that it is right to damage property or to intervene with free press in the name of progressive protests is perverse. I respect the right of peaceful protests but hijacking that with a militant agenda to disrupt the very heart of democratic debate through free media is just totally wrong and law enforcement action should be taken to preserve our wider freedoms, and they do include a free media. One of the protesters at Broxbourne is led away by a police officer. (PA) The blockades prevented delivery vans from leaving presses that publish the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp titles The Sun, The Times, The Sun On Sunday and The Sunday Times, as well as The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday. Story continues Extinction Rebellion apologised to newsagents for the disruption but said it would not apologise to Murdoch, calling on him to stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create. Government sources told the PA news agency that home secretary Priti Patel wanted to take a fresh look at how Extinction Rebellion is classified under law after the protests, which Boris Johnson deemed completely unacceptable. "I fear when you damage the free press, that is shooting yourself in the foot." In response to Extinction Rebellion's protests outside printworks, @EdwardJDavey says it was not a "good message" to stop people from reading David Attenborough,#Ridge: https://t.co/NZtlQe2tCY pic.twitter.com/prkWZ2qBKF Sophy Ridge on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) September 6, 2020 Reacting to the blockade on Twitter, Patel said on Saturday: This morning people across the country will be prevented from reading their newspaper because of the actions of Extinction Rebellion. This attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable. A review could lead to Extinction Rebellion being treated as an organised crime group, sources said, as part of a clampdown on its activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads and by disrupting public transport. Under additional proposals, Parliament, courts and the press could be given special status in regard to the key role they play in democracy, with the potential for police to be handed beefed-up powers to stop demonstrators entering designated areas outside such premises. It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press, a government source told PA. Dominic Raab criticised Abbott's comments. (PA) This morning people across the country will be prevented from reading their newspaper because of the actions of Extinction Rebellion. This attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable. https://t.co/3DfasjD6sS Priti Patel (@pritipatel) September 5, 2020 Abbotts comments came a day after MPs from across the political spectrum had criticised the blockades. Communities secretary Robert Jenrick tweeted: A good day to #buyanewspaper. A free press matters to all of us who value a free society. They mustnt be silenced by an intolerant minority. Emily Thornberry, Labours shadow international trade secretary, told Times Radio: This is very worrying and I dont really know what it is that is expected to be achieved. I know that for many older listeners its very much part of their daily life, getting their paper delivered in the morning, and I just think its wrong. Speaking to the same radio station, Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood claimed Extinction Rebellion had lost sight... of how to campaign on a very important issue. The wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia has said a vote for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in December will be an endorsement of the country's retrogression. She has thus urged electorates not to repeat what she calls a mistake in bringing the NDC back to power since they were unable to solve the problems facing Ghanaians during their tenure in office. While addressing New Patriotic Party supporters during the launch of the party's Women's Wing Campaign Committee in the Ashanti Region, Mrs. Bawumia urged them to work hard to increase votes of the NPP in the 2020 elections. This election is not about an individual, it is about our nation Ghana. It is not for you and me alone, it is about the future of Ghana. For the good job His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and my own Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the kind of work they have done and served Ghana, we have to consolidate our gains. Mrs. Bawumia cited the depreciation of the cedi, erratic power supply and economic hardship as some of the things Ghanaians endured under the NDC government. She said: God intervened and blessed us by giving us His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. So, we will not make that mistake again. We will not move backwards; we are moving forward. By God's grace, we are winning and will win again. When a certain President came, he gave all Ghana's Bauxite to his brother, but President Akufo-Addo changed the narrative and he said he will let all Ghanaians benefit from Ghana's resources. If you don't want this, what do you want again? Although we don't have much of a problem in the Ashanti Region, just like the Regional Women Organizer said, more than 51% of the registered voters are women which means if the women vote, victory will certainly be ours. But we need a 100% turnout to let Nana Akufo-Addo win the elections, she added. Give Nana Addo four more years to do more First Lady First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo had earlier said another four-year term for the Nana Akufo-Addo led administration and the New Patriotic Party is what is needed to transform Ghana for the better. For her, the unprecedented achievements of the NPP in the last four years are evident enough for the administration to be endorsed for its second term. The First Lady appealed to Ghanaians to renew the mandate of the current leadership for more progress. You have seen what Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP are doing. You can see he is doing all the things he promised. That is why you have to vote for him again so he and the NPP can change Ghana for the better. citinewsroom The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to announce the financial parameters of its proposed loan restructuring scheme soon. In his interview to CNBC Awaaz, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that banks can extend the loan moratorium by 3, 6 or even 12 months under the one-time restructuring. To mitigate the hardships faced by the borrowers during coronavirus pandemic, the central bank allowed the lenders to grant a loan moratorium for for three months of EMI (Equated Monthly Instalments), falling due between March 1 and May 31 2020. Later, RBI extended it for further three month till August 31. The central bank later permitted the lenders a one-time restructuring of loans without classifying them as non-performing assets to help companies and individuals manage the financial stress caused by coronavirus pandemic. Only those companies and individuals whose loans accounts are in default for not more than 30 days as on 1 March, 2020, are eligible for one-time restructuring. For corporate borrowers, banks can invoke a resolution plan till 31 December, 2020 and implement it till 30 June, 2021. For personal loans, banks have an option to invoke the resolution plan till December 31,2020 and implement it within 90 days from the date of invocation. Accounts which are standard, but not in default for more than 30 days as on March 1,2020 will be eligible for restructuring. The RBI set up a five-member committee under former ICICI Bank chief executive chairman K.V. Kamath on 7 August to recommend eligibility parameters for restructuring stressed loans. The committee will only specify financial parameters like debt-equity and debt coverage, Das said in an interview. The Supreme Court of India on 3 September passed an interim order saying that the accounts not declared as non-performing asset (NPA) as on 31 August shall not be declared as NPAs till further notice. While arguing whether banks should charge interest on moratorium period, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme Court, "The idea of the moratorium was to defer repayment to ease the burden caused by COVID and lockdown so that business can manage working capital. The idea was not to waive off interest. The effort is that those who are affected by COVID and facing distress get the benefit and those who are defaulters are not able to take benefit." "The expert committee will come up with sector specific guidelines on September 6," Mehta told the apex court. The Centre and RBI on 1 September informed the Supreme Court that the moratorium period on repayment of loans amid the COVID-19 pandemic is extendable" by two years. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman earlier asked bankers to roll out loan resolution schemes by September 15. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Youth-led protests have been going on since mid-July in an increasing challenge to the government, powerful monarchy. Hundreds of high school students have demonstrated in Bangkok to demand reform of an education system they say is outdated in the latest of more than a month of anti-authority protests. Protests that began on Thai university campuses have taken place almost daily since mid-July in an increasing challenge to the government in the Southeast Asian country, with some protesters also demanding change to the powerful monarchy. Over 600 students rallied outside the education ministry in Bangkok on Saturday. They called for the freedom to be able to speak their minds at school and the relaxation of rigid rules on uniforms and behaviour. Thai education has made us puppets, 18-year-old Supicha Menu Chailom said. We are not robots of the system, we are the youth and have the right to express ourselves. Protests spread to some high schools last month, with students raising the Hunger Games three-finger salute during morning assemblies, a symbol of the pro-democracy movement. Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan told reporters that he respected students rights. The issues that the youth raised are things we can come to an understanding on as long as we respect each other and the rules, he said. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the main target of the protests, last week warned protesters they were creating divisions that could cause the collapse of Thailand and leave it engulfed in flames. He has particularly condemned those who have demanded reforms to the monarchy once a taboo subject. On Saturday, Thailands government released a cartoon drawn by King Maha Vajiralongkorn, who spends most of his time in Europe, that portrayed a happy Thai family living a contended rural life. Several activists been arrested and charged in recent weeks for their anti-government protests. Baldinwsinville, N.Y. Mailboxes across Lysander neighborhoods are decorated this weekend with purple and teal ribbons. Some of the ribbons are silky and solid colored, while others are polka dotted or gauzy. Most are looped in bows around the base of plastic mailboxes, porch posts and lamps. But all of the brightly colored ribbons have been hung with the same purpose: Remembering the lives of two little girls who called Baldwinsville home. Sisters Maryella Annal, 11, and Elizabeth Annal, 9, died Thursday morning when their familys minivan was rear-ended by a pickup truck on the New York State Thruway. The girls parents, Maureen and Thomas Annal, were seriously injured and airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Saturday evening, Maureen, 50, was in guarded condition and Thomas, 54, was in satisfactory condition, the hospital reported. Purple and teal the color of the ribbons tied outside Lysander and Baldwinsville - were the sisters favorite colors. The accident happened at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 90 west near the Junius Ponds rest stop in Seneca County, about 45 miles west of Syracuse. The familys minivan was slowing down for a lane closure when a pickup truck didnt slow down and rammed into the back of the van, the New York State Police said. After it was rear-ended, the minivan hit a car. That car then hit a tractor-trailer. The driver of the pickup truck -- Abraham Hara, 73, of Gevena was not injured. Police have said charges are pending. This is the stretch of the New York state Thruway where police say a pickup truck plowed into a Central New York familys minivan, killing two children and injuring their parents, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 The accident has shocked the tight-knit Baldwinsville-area community. Maryella and Elizabeth had attended L. Pearl Palmer Elementary School. The schools principal, Alex Ewing, announced the deaths of the two Palmer penguins in an email sent to parents. Please keep Maryella, Elizabeth and family in your thoughts, Ewing wrote. The community has poured out its grief and support for the Annal family on Facebook and other social media. In comments on announcements and news stories, people prayed for strength for the Annal parents and for a peaceful life after death for their girls. Dozens of parents and grandparents, with their hearts sympathetically aching, shared the same sentiment: We cannot imagine the familys pain. Over and over, friends and acquaintances and co-workers wrote about the Annals love for their girls. Anyone who knows this family knows the absolute love and devotion between them, one woman wrote. It is my only consolation. The family were long-time members of St. Marys Church in Baldwinsville, according to a church announcement. The church plans a virtual candlelight prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Sunday - it is distributing candles to church members and asking people to light them as they watch the service from their homes. Maureen Annal volunteered her time to support her daughters school community, serving as the secretary of the L. Pearl Palmer Elementary School PTA, according to the associations website. She is an assistant administrator at McHarrie Life Senior Community in Baldwinsville, according to her Linkedin profile. Thomas Annal, a longtime state Department of Conservation employee, told Veronica LaRiviere his friend and coworker of more than 30 years that he wanted to retire next year so he could spend more time with his daughters, LaRiviere said. Hes an amazing person very dedicated to his family, she said. The Annals neighbors, both near their home and in surrounding neighborhoods, wanted to help the family. They have organized donations and gift cards. They also discovered Elizabeth and Maryellas favorite colors, a neighbor said, and decided to deck the streets in purple and teal. Neighbors and friends this weekend made bows of purple and teal ribbons and distributed them to be displayed at homes and businesses. In one yard, folding tables were set up and more than a dozen women and girls worked to make bows out of the ribbons. People wanted to send the grieving a family a message, one neighbor said: We are here for you. Purple and teal ribbons have been hung in the Baldwinsville area this weekend in memory of sisters Maryella Annal, 11, and Elizabeth Annal, 9, who were killed Thursday morning in a crash on the Thruway. This photo was taken on Killoe Road in Lysander. Samantha House | shouse@syracuse.com Staff writer Julie McMahon contributed to this report. Staff writer Samantha House covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? Reach her at shouse@syracuse.com. Flash Upholding multilateralism still represents a compelling consensus shared by the international community and corresponds with the aspiration of countries, a senior Chinese diplomat has said. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks on Friday in a written interview with Xinhua after he wrapped up the visits to Myanmar, Spain and Greece. For some time, the headwinds of unilateralism and protectionism have disrupted and damaged international coordination and cooperation, casting a shadow on the economic and social development of countries across the world, Yang said. Yet, he noted that multilateralism constitutes an important foundation for the operation and development of multilateral mechanisms after World War II, a prerequisite for promoting global governance and an effective way to safeguard world peace and bolster common development. China, Yang said, has always maintained that the international order is by no means an order where some countries are above others. Sovereign equality and multilateralism still remain the mainstream in today's world, he added. In the interview, Yang also called for firmly upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the international order and system with the United Nations at its core and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter as its foundation. Noting that some countries attribute their own problems to globalization, even shift the blame to others, incite the Cold War mentality and creat estrangement and confrontations among countries, Yang said such acts are totally wrong and their attempts will never succeed. Yang said during his visit, leaders of Myanmar, Spain and Greece all expressed their hope to strengthen communication and cooperation with China in improving global governance and jointly support the multilateral system. The three countries agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic has once again proved that mankind is a community with a shared future, he said, adding that China and the three countries are opposed to politicizing the pandemic and stigmatizing other countries. China will join the three countries in supporting the World Health Organization in playing a leading role in the global fight against the pandemic, strengthen coordination and cooperation within such multilateral frameworks as the United Nations, the Group of 20 and the World Trade Organization, jointly advocate multilateralism and free trade, maintain stability and promote democracy in international relations, and steer the development of the global governance system in a fairer and more equitable direction, Yang said. Australias second most populous state will soon begin easing a strict lockdown put in place to contain the nations worst coronavirus outbreak, although most measures will remain in place for at least two more weeks. The lockdown is hurting the Australian economy, which is gripped by its first recession in almost 30 years. Victoria contributes about one-quarter of Australias gross domestic product, but is isolated from the rest of the country after other states closed their borders against a spike in community transmission. Also read: Kamala Harris says she would not trust Trump alone on coronavirus vaccine If we open up too fast then we have a very high likelihood that were not really opening up at all, were just beginning a third wave, Victorias Premier Daniel Andrews said at a media briefing. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown. The first changes, which take effect from Sept. 14, include a lengthening of permitted outdoor exercise time to two hours, and an allowance for two people or a household to meet outside. Across the state, people have been ordered to stay at home except for essential work, medical care, provisions, or exercise. The state capital Melbourne, home to five million residents, has been under even tighter restrictions since early August, with a nighttime curfew and large parts of its retail and manufacturing sectors shuttered. A further easing of restrictions, including a phased re-opening of schools and childcare centers, is planned for Sept. 27. Opening up beyond that will depend on the state meeting targets for reducing the rate of new infections. The Melbourne curfew will be fully lifted on Oct. 26, as long as the daily average is lower than five new cases and fewer than five infections have been reported from unknown sources in the previous 14 days. Victoria reported 63 new cases in the past 24 hours, down from a daily peak of 687 on Aug. 4, the states health department reported Sunday via Twitter. Also read: Israelis protest against PM Benjamin Netanyahu as coronavirus infections spike Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who is pushing for states to lift border restrictions to help kick-start an economic revival, said the move to extend lockdown measures was hard and crushing news, for the people of Victoria. The proposed roadmap will come at a further economic cost, Morrison said in a media statement. While this needs to be weighed up against mitigating the risk of further community outbreak, it is also true that the continued restrictions will have further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and loss of livelihoods, as well as impacting on mental health. Australias business lobby has also called on Andrews to move quicker to re-open businesses and get the state economy moving again. Where businesses can operate safely with strict protocols in place, they should be allowed to open, and people should be allowed to work, Jennifer Westacott, chief executive officer at the Business Council of Australia, said in a statement. Morrison said Friday that most state and territory leaders have recommitted to opening up the economy by December, although he failed to secure an immediate agreement to lift border restrictions that are hampering the recovery. Australias first lockdown, which lasted roughly from March to May, was one of the most successful in the world, bringing down the number of cases to just a handful a day nationwide. But security failures at quarantine hotels for returning travelers and poor communication of critical information to migrant communities allowed the virus to roar back in Victoria. The Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), today announced the launch of the EGA Womens Network in celebration of Emirati Womens Day 2020 and also to signal the companys commitment to improving gender diversity both within and in the heavy industry sector in the UAE, a Wam report said. The EGA Womens Network will enable women at EGA to form a community where they can share knowledge and experiences. The network will be focusing on useful topics, training sessions and inspiring talks with the hope of sharing tips and techniques that can be actively put into practice. The network is launching with a series of virtual panel discussions titled, "How Does She Do It?!", where female employees will be invited to connect with inspiring women both inside and outside of the EGA to hear their stories and share best practices. Women hold more than 19 per cent of supervisory roles at the EGA and the company hopes to increase this number by developing and mentoring the female talent pipeline. Earlier this year, Aissata Beavogui, Director-General of the EGAs bauxite mining and export subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation, was awarded the "Gender CEO" award by the World Bank Groups Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. EGAs Chief Executive Officer, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, said, "Improving gender diversity and maximising the contribution of all should be an important aspiration for all businesses. Gender diversity is recognised as an important contributor to business success, but it is also challenging to achieve in heavy industry and requires us to be proactive to achieve our goals. Women are already an important part of our workforce at EGA, but we recognise that there is significant scope to increase our female talent. On Emirati Womens Day, I applaud the team behind the EGA Womens Network for their dedication to ensuring our female colleagues can achieve their full potential both for themselves and EGA." Katherine Hahm, Chairwoman of the EGA Womens Network and General Counsel of EGA, said, "The UAE is one of a few countries in the world where more women graduate in science and engineering than men, which presents the EGA with a great opportunity to grow its female talent pipeline. We have some incredible women at the EGA across all departments and geographies. The network is being created to provide a forum to assist those women to develop the contacts and skillsets that they need to progress and achieve their personal goals."TradeArabia News Service Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he's considering legislation that would put Austin's police department under state funding as a way to protect it after the city council voted to defund it. 'This proposal for the state to takeover the Austin Police Department is one strategy I'm looking at,' Abbott, a Republican, tweeted from his personal Twitter account Thursday. 'We can't let Austin's defunding & disrespect for law enforcement to endanger the public & invite chaos like in Portland and Seattle.' On Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton confirmed the sentiment behind Abbott's tweets, telling Fox News that the idea is a response to Austin's city council voting to defund $150million from the city's police department in August - a move that Austin Mayor Steve Adler is supporting. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (in March) said the state could take over the Austin Police Department in response to the city council's decision to defund the Abbott tweeted that Austin defunding the police department would endanger city residents Paxton, a Republican, said that while there isn't a way to prevent Austin from defunding its police department, the legislature could pass a bill that allowed the state to fund the Austin Police Department instead. 'The state could take it over,' Paxton said. 'We can fund the police in a way that will keep the city safe, which is what we all want.' In a statement to Fox News, Adler, a Democrat, said: 'Austin is the safest big city in Texas and one of the safest in the country. Public safety is our priority and we support our police.' Paxton said that cutting between 33 to 34 per cent of the police department's budget didn't make sense. 'With the way the city is growing, it makes the city less safe,' he said, adding that he believed the only reason to cut $150million from the police's 2021 budget is that 'they're appeasing left wing radicals who think this is a good idea.' Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (in 2018) said the legislature could pass a bill that allowed the state to fund the Austin Police Department instead Austin Mayor Steve Adler said that the city was one of the safest in the country. He supports the idea of defunding the city's police department Social justice protesters have been active in Downtown Austin for months. Protesters are seen in the city, marching for Garrett Foster, who was killed during an altercation with a motorist Paxton said that whatever party people are from, 'you want public safety' and that he thought 'in general the people of Austin don't like' the idea of defunding the police. The attorney general said the state could pass legislation that would allow it to fund police, effectively taking the department over. Following Austin's vote to defund the police, Abbott and other state leaders said they would push legislation that would freeze property tax revenue for cities that defunded their police departments - essentially defunding the cities. Prior to voting to defund the police department, the Austin City Council issued a vote of no confidence that police leadership would be able to make the necessary changes that would end police violence against people of color, the Texas Tribune reported. Adler told KXAN in August that the $150million being taken away from the police department's budget would include leaving positions unfilled, delaying three police cadet classes and putting departments - including internal affairs and forensics - under civilian control. 'I don't think the city's going to recognize or operate any differently under civilian control or command on forensics or some of these other things,' Adler said. He also noted that 'There's nothing about what we did last night that takes any job away from any police officer' and that 'Hopefully we're going to be giving the officers the return of the time to do the things we want them to actually do which is fighting crime for us.' In a September 2 tweet, Abbott pondered whether Adler was willing to lose his police detail as part of fallout from defunding the department. 'Any defunding of law enforcement must start at the top,' Abbott tweeted, again from his personal account. 'Any mayor or governor that supports defunding police should lose their security detail. As Austin reshapes police, will Mayor Adler's security detail be a casualty?' By PTI ISLAMABAD: A woman journalist and social worker has bee shot dead allegedly by her husband in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, media report on Sunday. The incident took place in Turbat, the headquarters of Kech district, on Saturday. According to a police statement, husband Mehrab Gichki took Shaheena Shaheen Baloch's body to a hospital in a car, but fled soon afterwards. By that time, the woman had died from bullet wounds. Police visited a house in the PTCL Colony, Turbat, where the shooting allegedly took place. Police found blood, an empty bullet shell and a bullet at the scene, the Dawn newspaper reported. Police quoted some sources as saying that Baloch was the wife of Gichki. However, a relative of the deceased disputed this. A case has been registered and investigation is underway, a senior police official said, adding that Gichki is still absconding. He said the incident seemed to be a case of domestic violence. An FIR has been registered against Gichki, who allegedly killed his wife Baloch by firing at her using his 9mm pistol in a house in Turbat, the report said. She was editor of a Balochi language magazine, Dazgohar. She also hosted a programme on PTV Bolan. Baloch was also involved in efforts aimed at empowering women, something that was reflected in her journalism. Pakistan is considered to be one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 17:16:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong police arrested a 47-year-old male on Sunday on suspicion of posting seditious texts. The man held 29 street lectures nominally on epidemic prevention from the end of June to August in multiple districts of Hong Kong, which were actually aimed to incite public hatred, contempt and dissatisfaction with the government, said Senior Superintendent Steve Li of the police's national security department. Police also reported the arrest of a 25-year-old female civil servant on suspicion of plotting online to attack and kill members of the police force. Her employer, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, said the office had suspended her from duties. Enditem WEST SPRINGFIELD Police are warning residents that scammers have spoofed the departments phone number so it looks like local officers are calling to try to steal Social Security numbers, bank account information or to push the recipients to turn over money to them. Two recent scams where the caller ID number comes up as the West Springfield Police department have been reported. One involves a person pretending to be from Border Patrol in Texas and the caller claims to have found a vehicle with blood, drugs and the recipients bank information inside. They then ask for the persons Social Security Number and offer them a new one, police said. Another is following the well-known scam when someone pretends to be from the Social Security Office. In this case, the caller claims there was an incident in Texas and the persons Social Security number has been suspended. The caller then threatens the victim with arrest if they do not pass on their name, date of birth, Social Security number, bank information and other personal records, police said. The recipients then receive a follow-up call which looks as if it is coming from the West Springfield police business line on caller ID. The caller accuses the victim of being involved with money laundering and drug trafficking and threaten victims with arrest if they dont transfer money via Byte Federal which is a bitcoin cryptocurrency ATM system, police said. Police remind people never to give any personal information to anyone over the phone. Neither law enforcement nor the Social Security Agency will ever ask for personal information and will never demand any type of payment over the phone especially through gift cards or a system such as Byte Federal, police said. Anyone who receives a call where someone demands any personal information or money, even if caller identification says it is a police number, should hang up. If they are concerned the call is legitimate, they can call police themselves to make sure the number is not being spoofed, police said. Related content: The five men, all from the Tagin community, were identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Police has launched a probe following reports that five people, who had gone hunting in a forest in Upper Subansiri district on the China-India border, were allegedly kidnapped by the Chinese military, a senior official said on Saturday. The alleged incident occurred on Friday in Nacho area of the district, their families said. Two others, who were in the group, managed to escape and informed police. "I have sent the officer-in-charge of the Nacho police station to the area to verify the facts and directed him to report immediately. However, the report will be available only by Sunday morning," Superintendent of Police Taru Gussar said. Those allegedly kidnapped have been identified as Toch Singkam, Prasat Ringling, Dongtu Ebiya, Tanu Baker and Ngaru Diri. All of them belong to the Tagin community. Their family members living at district headquarters Daporijo said some of their relatives had left for Nacho Saturday morning to discuss the matter with the Indian Army. Nacho is around 120 kilometers from the district headquarters. The families urged the authorities to take steps to bring them back. The Army could not be reached for comments. Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering said that befitting reply must be given the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) for the incident. Five people from Upper Subansiri district of our state Arunachal Pradesh have reportedly been abducted by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Few months earlier, a similar incident happened. A befitting reply must be given to #PLA and #CCPChina. @PMOIndia, he tweeted. In March, a 21-year-old man was abducted by the PLA from Asapila sector near the McMahon line. While his two friends managed to escape, Togley Sinkam was taken away at gunpoint, his family had said. After 19 days in captivity, the youth was released by the Chinese Army. Trump Says Schools Teaching NY Times 1619 Project Will Not Be Funded President Donald Trump on Sunday warned the Department of Education is investigating the use of the New York Times 1619 Project in schools, saying that institutions that use the alternative narrative of U.S. history could lose federal funding. The 1619 Project, created by Nikole Hannah-Jones and widely panned by historians and political scientists, attempts to cast the Atlantic slave trade as the dominant factor in the founding of America instead of ideals such as individual liberty and natural rights. Some critics have said that it is an attempt to rewrite U.S. history through a left-wing lens. Some historians have criticized the project over inaccuracies such as the American Revolution having been fought to preserve the institution of slavery rather than for seeking independence from Britain. Department of Education is looking at this. If so, they will not be funded! Trump wrote on Twitter Sunday, responding to a post that said California has implemented the 1619 project into the public schools, and that soon you wont recognize [A]merica. Californias Department of Education came up with a draft model last month to include some of the project in history classes. It echoes the sentiment of a bill that was proposed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced in July that proposes denying funds to a school that uses the 1619 Project. Schools in places like Washington D.C. and Chicago have modified their curriculum for the project. Controversy erupted earlier this year when a professor at Northwestern University who helped fact-check the project said that she alerted Hannah-Jones about inaccuracies contained in the project but got no response. On August 19 of last year I listened in stunned silence as Nikole Hannah-Jones, a reporter for the New York Times, repeated an idea that I had vigorously argued against, wrote professor Leslie Harris in Politico. Harris also said she vigorously disputed the claim that protecting slavery was a major reason why the American Revolution was fought. Far from being fought to preserve slavery, the Revolutionary War became a primary disrupter of slavery in the North American Colonies. Lord Dunmores Proclamation, a British military strategy designed to unsettle the Southern Colonies by inviting enslaved people to flee to British lines, propelled hundreds of enslaved people off plantations and turned some Southerners to the patriot side. It also led most of the 13 Colonies to arm and employ free and enslaved black people, with the promise of freedom to those who served in their armies, Harris wrote. Cotton, meanwhile, wrote in July that the project is racially divisive and engages in a revisionist rewriting of U.S. history. Not a single cent of federal funding should go to indoctrinate young Americans with this left-wing garbage, said Cotton. "The whole world has this problem -- kids who have to work to be able to live and let their families live," Majidi said It took Majid Majidi four months and nearly 4,000 auditions to find the dynamic street children stars of "Khorshid" (Sun Children), the Iranian director's latest movie premiering Sunday in Venice. But the five kids lucky enough to be cast -- one of whom accompanied Majidi to the prestigious Venice film festival on the Lido -- are just a handful of the world's 152 million street children who face a grim future without society's intervention, the director said. "The whole world has this problem -- kids who have to work to be able to live and let their families live," Majidi said. "Many of these kids are selling items in the streets, or underground. They have the worst conditions but it's not limited to Iran, it's everywhere, unfortunately." Despite the heavy subject matter, an adventure story plot and Majidi's ability to find humanity and humour in the face of adversity help highlight the spirit, intelligence and potential of Majidi's young subjects. In the film, 12-year-old Ali (Rouhollah Zamani) and his three friends help support their families through odd jobs, even stealing a tyre or two. One day, they are told a hidden treasure is buried underneath a school for street children. To dig for it, they must enrol. Majidi said he deliberately sought a light touch, even including unexpected moments of humour that had the audience cheering at a press screening. "The topics are already very sad, very heavy. So in order to be able to keep the viewers engaged, you don't need to force them into a heavy, sad situation," Majidi told AFP, speaking through an interpreter. "I wanted to do a mixture of light and heavy and play between those so people can stand to watch this misery." The film is one of 18 in competition for the festival's top prize, the Golden Lion. - Working at five - Just before departing for the festival, lead actor Zamani tested positive for coronavirus and could not travel, Majidi said, adding that the youngster was fine, though disappointed. Story continues Actress Shamila Shirzad, 13, made the trip, however. In the film, Shirzad and her younger brother played roles that differed little from their actual lives. As Afghans without papers in Tehran, they worked selling items in the subway while living under the constant threat of their family being sent to a refugee camp. "I was born in Iran and started working when I was five and went to school," where Majidi found her, she said at a press conference. Some three to four million Afghans are currently living in Iran, their situation worsened by their illegal status and the prejudice they face, said the director, whose 2001 film, "Baran" focused on Afghan refugees in Iran. Majidi warned that the plight of street children was not limited to one country or region, saying the world could not afford to ignore these kids' potential. "These (children) are supposed to be the future of humanity, and what is happening to the future of humanity is disastrous," Majidi said. Responsibility goes "beyond the state," he said. "The responsibility is to understand and be aware of the children's situation, and that concerns us all, not just those who govern us." ams/gd Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin I Wayan Juniarta (The Jakarta Post) Bulian, Bali Sun, September 6, 2020 13:40 502 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c42f445a 1 Books #literature,#culture,#manuscript,#Bali,#lontar,#language,#reading,#preservation Free A young man carefully tended a small campfire on which scores of candlenuts were being grilled. Their aromatic fragrance wafted into the adjacent hall, where dozens of youths were busy cleaning old lontar (palm leaf manuscripts). It was a scorching hot day in Bulian, a village some 82 kilometers north of Denpasar. Yet, the hall's high ceiling and the light breeze coming down the nearby hills provided some relief from the heat. Moreover, the hovering scent of the two important substances in cleaning up lontar, burned candlenuts and citronella oil, had created a soothing ambience quietly embraced by the youths. "First, using a brush we dust off each leaf of the manuscript. Then we thoroughly scrub them with burned candlenuts. Their oil will rejuvenate the pale leaves while the charred surface of the burned candlenut will lend another layer of black color to the letters incised into the leaves, thus making the text more legible," Ida Bagus Ari Wijaya explained. Team work: Members of Penyuluh Bahasa Bali work together to clean up lontar manuscripts owned by residents of Bulian. (JP/I Wayan Juniarta) Ari Wijaya is one of the leaders of Penyuluh Bahasa Bali (Balinese Language Educator) for Buleleng regency. Founded in 2006 by the Bali provincial administration Penyuluh Bahasa Bali is tasked with conserving, developing and promoting Balinese language, literary works and alphabet at the island's 716 villages. The educators were recruited from university graduates majoring in Balinese or Old Javanese languages. One educator is assigned per village. "The leaves are then cleaned using a soft cloth. The last stage in this conservation process is applying a concoction of alcohol and citronella oil onto them. This concoction will prevent the manuscripts from being damaged by the insects and rodents as well as prolong their shelf life," he said. Medicine: 'Lontar Usada', palm leaf manuscripts containing ancient medicinal treatments and herbal medicines, are on display at Bulian's community hall. (JP/I Wayan Juniarta) Properly stored and cared for, lontar manuscripts can last for centuries. Unfortunately, most of the lontar manuscripts kept by Balinese families have not been maintained properly, resulting in irreparable damage to the physical text and, more importantly, the loss of valuable knowledge contained in the manuscripts. Lontar expert Sugi Lanus witnessed first-hand this tragic phenomenon as he visited families along the coast of Buleleng in search of lontar manuscripts. From Banjar in the West to Kubutambahan in the East, hundreds, probably thousands of lontar manuscripts have met an unworthy end due to lack of knowledge about proper maintenance or simply because of a misconception about their roles and functions. "A great number of lontar manuscripts were stored for decades inside wooden boxes. The families never opened the boxes because they considered the manuscripts as sacred objects. When we finally got approval to open them, well, we found only fragments and debris of lontar. Humidity had worked in unison with termites, moths and rats to destroy them," he sighed. Lost knowledge: Sugi Lanus tries to read a partially damaged 'lontar' leaf manuscript. Before him is a box with remains of 'lontar' manuscripts destroyed by moths and rats. (JP/I Wayan Juniarta) Sugi was the founder of Hanacaraka Society, an organization dedicated to the promotion of and research on lontar. In cooperation with Penyuluh Bahasa Bali, Hanacaraka Society now organize lontar events in villages across Bali to teach the locals practical ways of conserving lontar manuscripts as well as educating them on the best way to treat a manuscript: by reading and sharing its knowledge instead of locking it inside a box. "We bring our lontar manuscript collection and read parts of it to the participating villagers. By doing so, we want to show them that lontar manuscripts are no different than books, they are meant to be read, Sugi said. They will see that lontar manuscripts could be brought to an ordinary meeting, be read and discussed in public and be shared together. Surely, the manuscripts should be accorded a proper respect but in no way they should be venerated as a sacred and secret object that must be kept hidden away." Sugi brought 110 lontar manuscripts to the event in Bulian. Most of them are Usada texts that deal with traditional medicine and herbal concoctions, an important knowledge for the Bulian residents, who are in the process of developing their village into a herbal tourism destination. In his conversation with the village's elders, leaders and youths, Sugi also reminded them about the historic importance of Bulian as one of the oldest villages in Bali. Two of Bali's ancient rulers, the 10th century's Tabanendra Warmadewa and the 13th century's Adi Dewa Lencana, spent their last years in the village. "The village also houses some of Bali's most important inscriptions, suggesting that learning and writing have a long history here," Sugi Lanus said. Repository: 'Lontar' manuscripts are the primary repository of Balinese traditional knowledge, religious teachings and literary works. (JP/I Wayan Juniarta) By that time, participating members of Penyuluh Bahasa Bali had finished cleaning up the lontar manuscripts owned by the Bulian residents. They then began filling in the lontar identification sheets detailing the manuscripts' physical dimensions, the authors, the owner, as well as a brief summary of their respective contents. "One copy of the sheet will be kept at our archive and another copy will go to the owner, thus providing them with basic information on the manuscripts in their possession," Ari Wijaya said. As of today, Penyuluh Bahasa Bali has completed the identification process of 3,160 lontar manuscripts in 66 villages across Buleleng. But their work is far from over. "We need to transliterate the manuscripts into the Latin alphabet, translate the content into Indonesian as well as digitalizing the original manuscripts, Sugi said. It is a towering task but fortunately we have a group of passionate and dedicated youths to handle it. (ste) 2020 June Lake Jam Festival "Safe at Home" Edition Poster The June Lake Jam Fest is more than a festival. Its a caring, kind community that extends beyond the bands and the fans. It brings so much joy that weve decided to move forward and stage a virtual event with the same high quality music and production that has become synonymous with our festival. In the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, the June Lake Jam Fest, an annual fundraising event for the Mono Arts Council, has announced an online version of their storied jam band music festival. The livestream, dubbed the Safe at Home Edition, will feature some of Southern Californias biggest jam bands in footage captured live at previous festivals, as well as new footage taped especially for this event. The June Lake Jam Fest is more than a festival, said Coordinator Janet Hunt. Its a caring, kind community that extends beyond the bands and the fans. The event brings so much joy to all the participants that weve decided to move forward and stage a virtual event with the same high quality music and production that has become synonymous with our festival. The free event, which will begin streaming from September 11th through September 13th, features several renowned regional and national touring artists, including Melvin Seals & JGB, Jason Sinay, The Mother Hips, Cubensis, GrooveSession and Jerrys Middle Finger. While viewing the virtual festival is free, that doesnt mean there arent plenty of opportunities to help us raise money for these arts and music programs, said Hunt. We will be raising funds through straight donations, selling merchandise, holding a raffle with stunning items, and weve set up a crowd funding campaign at IndieGoGo offering perks from free merchandise to having some of our great bands performing at your homes. Hunt and her husband Bill, both retired educators, founded the event in 2015 for the purpose of raising funds to support art and music programs, through the Mono Arts Council, in Mono County schools. A state-of-the-art website has also been launched. The website, designed and donated by Los Angeles marketing firm BrightBulb Solutions, features bios of past and present lineups, video and image galleries, an online store, festival schedule and more. The website reflects the unique nature and vibe of the Jam, which is colorful, warm and communal in nature, said Hunt. According to Kristin Reese, Executive Director of Mono Arts Council, the music festival has been a valuable tool in raising funds for the Councils programs. Were pleased that Janet and her team have been working diligently to stage an online version of our beloved music festival, said Reese. We are all passionate about the arts and the benefits of arts in schools. Students who have access to the arts perform better academically, are more resilient, and are provided avenues for creative self-expression. Its a worthy cause. Access the new June Lake Jam Fest website: http://www.JuneLakeJamFest.org Access the June Lake Jam Fest IndieGoGo campaign website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/june-lake-jam-festival#/ Learn more about the Mono Arts Council: https://www.monoarts.org Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 19:34:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Sunday reported 619 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 89,582 and the death toll to 544, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Currently, 8,517 patients are receiving treatment, including 94 in ICU, according to the statement. The ministry also announced the recovery of 618 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 80,521. On Aug. 30, the Kuwaiti government lifted a nationwide partial curfew, while activities, including celebrations, parties, weddings, gatherings, banquets and funerals, will remain restricted to curb the spread of the coronavirus. On Aug. 18, Kuwait moved into the fourth phase of its five-phase plan to return to normal life, during which, salons, gyms, barbershops, and spas reopened and restaurants can offer more services. Kuwait and China have been supporting each other and cooperating closely in combating the COVID-19. Kuwait donated medical supplies worth 3 million U.S. dollars to China at the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, while China has been facilitating the procurement of medical supplies by Kuwait. On April 27, a team of Chinese medical experts visited Kuwait to assist the Gulf country's anti-coronavirus fight, through sharing with Kuwaiti counterparts their experience and expertise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. Enditem For years, the fashion world was neither diverse in ethnicities nor in body types. Though supermodels like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell shattered the mold in some instances, until very recently, in order to be a supermodel, you had to be very tall and extremly thin. As the body positivity movement grew in the past decade, supermodels like Hunter McGrady and Ashley Graham began garnering more opportunities as people and models called for more diverse body types and for representation of what women look like from all walks of life. Graham, in particular, has used her platform to write a book, have guests on her podcast, and to be someone that curvier women could look up to. However, shes not quite as tall as you may have thought. This is how Ashley Graham was discovered Growing up in Nebraska, Graham had never thought about modeling until she was discovered by at Oak View Mall in Omaha when she was 12. By 2001, the 32-year-old was signed to Wilhelmina Models later signing with Ford Models. For years, Graham worked doing campaigns for Hanes, Liz Claiborne, and Bloomingdales among many others. However, her big breakout was in 2016 when she became the first curve model to appear on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover. Since then, Graham has built her career on being as transparent as possible with her fans. The more youre vulnerable with the people youre sharing with, the easier it is to be who you are. Thats why I always tell women, just be who you are. Dont retouch your photos, she told Today. RELATED: Ashley Graham Broke Her Front Tooth in the Most Hilarious Way Ashley Graham calls herself a body activist Though society has labeled Graham a plus-sized model, she is not at all a fan of that term. In a 2016 interview with Shape Magazine, Graham explained, Why do we want to be put in a different category than all the other types of models? No one says skinny model, so am I wrong for not wanting a label? I dont think so. Graham also revealed that she thinks people should stop putting so much focus on size. I believe you can be healthy at any size as long as youre getting off the couch and moving your body, she told Health. I have been a size 10 and I have been a size 18. Regardless of the size, Ive always been active because I know its the healthier version for me. Ashley Graham is much shorter than you thought Despite her supermodel status, the mother-of-one isnt actually as tall as youd think. Graham stands at 5 9 tall. This means that Graham is just one inch taller than the minimum height for female models in the fashion industry. Still, like anything else shes never let being a little different deter her from her dreams. On Naomi Campbells No Filter with Naomi YouTube series Graham said, Of course youre going to get negativity. It brought up a great conversation about what is health? What is beauty? What is sexy? Were excited to see what Graham is going to do next. Stan Wischnowski, right, in The Inquirer's newsroom this past February. Read more Stan Wischnowski, who resigned as The Philadelphia Inquirers top editor in June after staff discontent over a headline on a column about the impact of civil unrest after the police killing of George Floyd, has been appointed executive editor and vice president of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. John Robinson Block, the Post-Gazettes publisher and editor-in-chief, said in an article posted online Saturday that Wischnowskis long and distinguished career inspires us at this difficult time. I look forward to working with him. The Post-Gazette has a strong tradition of serving this region with outstanding local reporting, so its a tremendous honor to have the opportunity to help uphold and improve upon that legacy, Wischnowski said in the newspaper. At such a critical time for this community, particularly given the pandemics devastating impact, the PGs public-service mission has never been more important. Wischnowski, 58, who worked at The Inquirer for 20 years and led the paper when it won two Pulitzer Prizes, takes charge of the Post-Gazette as it and other newsrooms across the country, including The Inquirer, grapple with systemic racism. Alexis Johnson, a Black Post-Gazette reporter, said earlier this year that she was told she couldnt cover protests triggered by Floyds death in Minneapolis because of a tweet she wrote. Fellow journalists and the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, among others, rallied to Johnsons defense. Johnson sued the newspaper. The union last month voted to authorize a strike. Keith C. Burris, whom Wischnowski is replacing, will concentrate on his roles as vice president and editorial director, the newspaper said. Wischnowski helped create Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom producing investigative reporting. As of July, the Post-Gazette is no longer a partner with Spotlight PA, a project of The Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/the Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Wischnowski will begin with the Post-Gazette on Sept. 14. Disneys live-action remake of Mulan has the internet talking. Part of this conversation is the various controversies surrounding the film, from the many changes made from the original to Disneys conversations with the Chinese government to allow a theatrical release in China. However, fans of Disney and of Mulan are still largely excited by the new film, and its release on streaming service Disney+ had to have created a large number of new subscribers and a large profit for the Disney corporation. Similarly, the choice of the actress to play Mulan has drawn a lot of attention. In 2016, Disney began their search for the right actress to play Mulan. Because many fans wanted to ensure that the character wouldnt be whitewashed like other characters of color, Disney announced that they were going to cast a Chinese actress. The skills required to play Mulan were considerable, from fluency in English to martial arts training. And after seeing nearly 1000 actresses, Disney eventually came to choose Chinese-American star Liu Yifei. Who is Liu Yifei? Liu Yifei | Getty Images Liu Yifei, who has also gone by Crystal Liu, is a veteran actress who started performing from a very young age. When she was 10 years old, her family moved to New York, though she returned to China just a few years later to attend the prestigious Performance Institute at the Beijing Film Academy. She acted in various Chinese TV dramas, and her role in the wuxia series Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils led fans to start calling her Fairy Sister. Her first Hollywood role was as Golden Sparrow in Rob Minkoffs The Forbidden Kingdom (2008). This film was a success, however, Liu continued to mostly act in Chinese films. She focused more on big-screen performances, however, she returned to television to star in the recent fantasy drama The Love of Hypnosis. Clearly, Liu was ready to take on a role like Mulan. Liu Yifei in Mulan RELATED: Heres Why Disney Fans Are Boycotting the Live-Action Mulan Lius previous training and experience in martial arts films gave her many important skills for Mulan. As the title character, Liu plays the daughter of an injured veteran. Her father is called to return to and serve in the army after an invasion from the north, but Mulan disguises herself as a man so that her father will not have to fight in his condition. Since the plot of the film centers around war, it would be important for the cast to be able to perform in convincing and difficult fight scenes. Mulan is actually based around a historical Chinese story, The Ballad of Mulan. This story dates back to the 6th century, during the time of the Tuoba or Northern Wei dynasty. Unlike in the Disney film, the historical Mulan was less of an ugly duckling archetype. She was a devoted daughter who was already skilled in fighting and spends 12 years in the army before she returns to her family. In China, there have been many adaptations of the story of Mulan. Is Liu Yifei single? Liu has been in the limelight for over a decade, but the giant fame of Disney has only increased the attention on her personal life. For a few years, Liu had been dating actor Song Seung-heon, who she had been cast with in The Third Way of Love. However, the two had busy schedules that made it hard to maintain a relationship, and by 2018 the couple had broken up. Most likely, Liu is still single. If she is dating somebody, shes keeping quiet about it. However, interaction on Chinese social network Weibo led fans to speculate on whether Liu and Song had gotten back together. The actors agency said that this interaction didnt mean that the couple was back together, though, so for now, we can only assume that Liu is single. South Korea and the United States are in talks to arrange a visit to Washington by Seoul's new First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun for talks with his U.S. counterpart, a foreign ministry official said Sunday. The visit, which could reportedly take place this week, would come as Seoul and Washington seek to address an array of pending issues, such as deadlocked defense cost-sharing negotiations and coordination on North Korea-related issues. Should Choi meet Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, it would be their first face-to-face talks since Choi, formerly presidential secretary for peace planning, took office last month. "During their first phone talks on Sept. 2, Vice Foreign Minister Choi and Deputy Secretary Biegun shared the understanding that they will meet at the earliest possible date to discuss the overall bilateral relations and situations in the region," the ministry official said. "At each level, we consult over the schedule for bilateral exchanges with the U.S. side, but there is nothing that we can confirm at this point," the official said. If the two sides meet, the agenda could include a set of geopolitical issues, given that the U.S. has been seen as trying to close ranks with its regional allies amid its intensifying rivalry with China on multiple fronts, including trade, technology and maritime security. (Yonhap) Military fencing can be seen along the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas. The opposite side of the river is Nuevo Laredo, Mexico on Nov. 18, 2018. (Thomas Watkins/AFP via Getty Images) Missing Girl Found Hidden in Tractor-Trailer at Texas Border Crossing: Officials A missing girl was found inside a tractor-trailer at the U.S.-Mexico border near Texas in late August, officials said, adding that she might have been the victim of sex trafficking. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents in Laredo, Texas, were able to locate a missing female juvenile concealed inside a tractor-truck at the [Interstate-35] checkpoint. The missing girl was reported missing in Odessa, Texas, and the Webb County Sheriffs Office took the juvenile and driver into custody, officials said. Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents continue to be diligent every day in protecting the safety of our citizens and preventing potential tragedy, the agency said. The childs identity has not been released. Also in Texas, a woman recently told officials she jumped from an 18-wheeler to get away from alleged kidnappers, Fox News reported. The woman, who was injured, said it occurred in Cisco, and added that she was taken to El Paso by three men. Police in Cisco said last week that a second female that was in the truck is safe and accounted for, adding, The alleged victim that jumped from the truck is safe. According to Human Trafficking Hotline, the state had more than 1,000 human trafficking cases reported last year, and more than 900 of them involved female victims. Anyone with information about a case can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888. Last week, around 39 missing children were located in a two-week rescue operation in Georgia, according to the U.S. Marshals. 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, a press release from the service said. Director of the U.S. Marshals Donald Washington said in a statement: The message to missing children and their families is that we will never stop looking for you. In a press conference announcing the news, Washington told reporters that the operation is among the missions that the Marshals are very proud of but that we wish we didnt have. As successful as this operation was there is a harsh reality herethe harsh reality is, gee, why are we doing this in the first place? Why do we have missing, endangered children? he said. The stats are that in every 40 seconds, there is a child abducted in the United States. The operation, a culmination of several months of planning, was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit and its Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, as well as a number of Georgia state and local agencies, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Mimi Nguyen-Ly contributed to this report. After sharing a new set of snaps, the new girlfriend of Brad Pitt, Nicole Poturalski draws even more resemblances to the award-winning actor's ex, Angelina Jolie. The now 56-year-old actor, Brad Pitt was married to the 45-year-old Angelina Jolie in 2014, but after two years of being tied Jolie filed for divorce wherein, she cited irreconcilable differences in 2016. Poturalski, who is now 27 years old is Pitt's first public romance after splitting up with Jolie. Following the publicity made by the couple, fans quickly commented on how much the new fling of Pitt is eerily alike to the actor's ex. On Thursday Poturalski posted on her Instagram account some stylish photos wherein she wore a gray Djerf Avenue blazer. The German model also wore a black crop top that exposed her toned midriff under her blazer and completed her look with a pair of jeans that matches the color to her blazer, Daily Mail reported. Poturalski, who is a model in Germany captioned her snap in her Instagram account 'See you later' for her 195 thousand followers to see. Poturalski also posted an Instagram story on her account to share a short video about what happened on her photoshoot, wherein she posed in front of a white backdrop, sans blazer. The German model also shared an OOTD short for 'Outfit of the day' displaying her outfit on her selfie. As of the moment, the German model did not make any comment about her relationship with the Hollywood heartthrob, but the new couple made some buzz and went to the headlines after Pitt took Poturalski to a familiar locale. Read also: Victoria Beckham Allegedly Threatened by David Beckham's Attractive Assistant Loulou Dundas According to The Sun, the 56-year-old Hollywood actor took his new girlfriend to a familiar location in the Southern part of France, the Chateau Miraval, the place where Pitt tied the knot with Hollywood star Angelina Jolie way back 2014. The said trip made by the couple seemed to coincide with Pitt's past wedding anniversary, but based on the sources they shared that the 56-year-old actor does not care if her ex-wife Jolie gets upset about the coincidence. The source stated that by taking Nicole to Miraval on their former wedding anniversary, the actor knows exactly what he is doing and the reaction that he will get from Angelina for the idea that he did. Moreover, according to the source, the Hollywood heartthrob just does not care if Angelina will be lashing out as he expects it already. In 2008, the then couple Pitt and Jolie purchased the estate six years before they tied the knot in the French castle. The ex-couple are still mired in their lengthy custody war over their six children which include twins Knox and Vivienne, 12, Shiloh, 14, Maddox, 19, Pax, 16, Zahara, 15, and the then power couple is expected to be in court in October. Poturalski is a cover star for Elle Germany and goes by the name of Nico Mary professionally. The German model also represented by three different international modeling agencies. Based on some sources, the model before being discovered by a talent scout at Paris' Disneyland, wants to become a marine biologist. Related also: 'Batman' Halts Filming After Lead Star Robert Pattinson Tests Positive for COVID-19 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has asked electorates to vote him back to power to enable him to correct the mistakes of his previous administration. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer believes that although he bettered the lives of Ghanaians during his reign, there were steps he wrongly took in his first term in office. Addressing the chiefs and people of Ullo in the Upper West Region, John Dramani Mahama promised he would have a better NDC administration than the previous one when voted for. Development takes place in stages. The last time we were in government, it was to improve the road network so we get many of the roads on contract. Unfortunately, because the NDC left office, a lot of these projects came to a standstill. So I can assure Nana that, I am in a unique position because I am the only President who has the opportunity to come back and correct his mistakes. No other President in Ghana can do that. I believe that a new NDC government will be a much better government than the previous one. John Mahama has already indicated that he is seeking power back to help mold the nations destiny and the future of the young generations. He has also accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of political short-sightedness and victimisation, and said, this government takes decisions aimed at penalising political opponents but end up affecting the growth and prosperity of the Ghanaian. The Tamale North Member of Parliament, Alhassan Suhuyini has also been pushing for the return of the former President. According to him, the only way Ghanaians will see some comfort is to vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leader John Dramani Mahama to continue the rescue mission of the party. So we need to ensure that President Mahama gets back to the flagstaff house, he insisted. The legislator has also said the return of John Mahama will see a massive economic transformation. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video State lawmakers say Alabamas venture into privately owned prisons comes with troubling uncertainties and potential pitfalls. Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday announced the proposed locations of three new prisons and the two groups of companies in negotiations to build them. It was the latest step in a plan Ivey announced last year to try to fix the states overcrowded and deteriorating prisons, conditions that have festered for years. Cost is one of the unknowns. The financial terms will be disclosed when the deals are final, which the Ivey administration expects to be late this year. The developers will finance, build, and maintain the prisons, which the state will lease and operate. The prisons will be in Bibb, Elmore, and Escambia counties, three counties that already have prisons. Some of the states 13 mens prisons, yet to be named, will close. The Alabama Department of Corrections said it intends to control the states cost by setting an affordability limit of $88 million a year on the cost of the three leases over a 30-year period. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, one of the lawmakers on a prison study group Ivey appointed, said there are many concerns, including the magnitude of the financial commitment, $2.7 billion over 30 years. Thats assuming the annual cap holds. England said theres no guarantee it will. He said state law will require annual renewals of the leases. Factors the state does not control could change the financial standing of the leaseholders, who will bear the debt for the prisons, and force them to cut corners or drive the states annual cost over the $88 million cap, England said. If youre telling them beforehand that were not paying you anything beyond this, but their profit margins begin to shrink, where do you think theyre going to make up the difference? said England, who is chair of the state Democratic Party. On maintenance maybe? On personnel costs maybe? On many other things so they can continue to cut a profit while operating a private prison within the parameters that they have been given. But at some point if that does not work, then of course, every year theyre going to come back to the table and say, We need to change some of the terms of this arrangement. And every year that goes by when we get rid of all of our old prison infrastructure, we lose more and more leverage. So, this is going to be something that were going to deal with every year for the next 30 years. Alabama Department of Corrections public information specialist Samantha Rose said the state does not intend to increase the $88 million limit. While financial terms have not yet been finalized, the developer teams are well aware of the $88 million affordability limit for the annual lease payments, Rose said in an email. The State does not intend to increase that limit year-over-year. As stated in the press release (Thursdays announcement), the ADOC expects financial close for the facilities to occur in late 2020, at which time the final financial terms will be publicly available. Ivey and ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn do not promote the plan as a way to increase prison capacity, but to improve the safety for inmates and staff and to better accommodate education and training programs, considered vital to help inmates leaving prison avoid new crimes that send them back. The ADOC says the new prisons will have designs and surveillance technology to operate with 25% fewer correctional officers and will have four times more cells than current prisons, which house inmates mostly in open dormitories. Related: Recidivism is key issue for Alabama prisons, study group finds. In April 2019, two months after Ivey announced the prison plan, the U.S. Department of Justice reported findings from an investigation into Alabamas mens prisons and alleged the violence, rapes, weapons, drugs, and other problems created conditions that violate the Constitution. A followup DOJ report described violence against inmates by correctional officers. In a separate lawsuit, a federal judge found that mental health care for inmates failed to meet constitutional standards, partly because of overarching problems of overcrowding and understaffing. Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, chairman of the Senates General Fund budget committee, said potential increases in the lease payments are one of his concerns about the prison plan. The General Fund is the main source of funding for prisons. Albritton said he has worked on the prison proposals for four or five years and said its his understanding the state will have to renew the leases annually. Now, does that open up opportunities for increases? That would seem logical unless there is something done under contract or statutorily to remedy that difficulty, Albritton said. At this point, Im not sure what that would be. The state is asking the developers to build prisons that can be used for 50 years. Albritton says that raises the question of what happens after the 30-year lease arrangement. The private entity still owns it, Albritton said. Do we still have the option of being there? Thats a bone of contention also that has been asked but not completely resolved yet. Albritton said there is an overarching concern about the states risk in making a decades-long commitment to companies that will own the prisons. What happens when or if the owner fails to make payments, goes bankrupt, has other financial issues, and then the bank tries to repossess? Albritton asked. Where is the state in that regard? Thats a question that I think needs to be resolved. Again, by contact or by statute. Albritton said the Ivey administration has kept lawmakers informed and been open to questions but has still not answered some of their concerns. How the lease will work. When the state is going to own it. Whats the protections for the state under certain conditions? The oversight that the state will have on the private entity so that theyre making sure that they have done the maintenance and such or that they have the money for the maintenance. Those type of things. The ADOC has about 17,000 inmates in its 13 prisons for men, plus about 2,700 in work release or community work centers. The new prisons will be designed for a total of 10,000 inmates. Ivey will appoint a panel to help determine which prisons should close and which could be renovated or used for another purpose. Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, has three prisons in his southeast Alabama district, all built in the 1980s. Beasley said he has not been told they would close, but is concerned. He opposes the plan to build new prisons and says those in his district Bullock Correctional Facility in Union Springs, Easterling Correctional Facility in Clio, and Ventress Correctional Center in Clayton -- could be renovated. Im concerned about it not only for jobs, but Im also concerned about the fact that I know Clio floated a bond to pay for improvements to the water treatment facility, Beasley said. So, theyve got a debt. If they were to close that prison, then the state needs to be responsible for making sure that debt is taken care of. Beasley said Clio would not have have taken on the debt if the prison were not there. Ive expressed my views to the governor and Ive expressed my views to Commissioner (Jeff) Dunn that our facilities could have been renovated, and we could have had electronic security systems installed into the prisons a whole lot cheaper than building these new prisons, Beasley said. The ADOC said major renovations are not feasible in many of the states prisons and that overdue repairs amount $1 billion. Beasley said he thinks the assertion that renovations are not feasible is a way to build the case for new prisons. The senator said he would ask the governor and Dunn to consider keeping the three prisons in his district to use for for nonviolent offenders. He also said the state needs to have effective oversight of the companies that will own the prisons. They build these prisons to make money, Beasley said. Thats their goal. Iveys predecessor, Gov. Robert Bentley, proposed a plan to build prisons through a state bond issue. That required legislative approval, and lawmakers could not reach final agreement, so the plan died. The Legislature took two sessions to deal with floating a bond issue for prisons, Ivey said last year when she announced her plan. Both times it failed. Iveys plan, with the developers bearing the upfront costs of obtaining the land, financing, and construction, does not require legislative approval. The overall plan itself is just the unfortunate result of the Legislatures inability to pass a plan to actually create an Alabama solution to this problem, England said. So, instead, we are having to basically employ an out of state landlord, give them well over two billion dollars to design, build and then ultimately manage our prison system. Where at the end of all that, we dont own the land, the landlord has more control over what goes on in the facilities than we do, and when its all said and done, we also wont own the buildings. As for Englands point that the owners will manage the system, the ADOCs plan calls for the state to staff and operate the prisons as state facilities. But England said the leaseholders will have plenty of say about decisions that affect the prisons they own because of the risk they bear and the necessity to make a profit. If we dont own the buildings, we have no ownership interest in the buildings, that means ultimate control over what happens there falls to the leaseholder, England said. In the announcement that named the locations on Thursday, Dunn said the state has no choice but to find a way to build new prisons. It is no secret that the ADOC is facing real, longstanding challenges, most of which are decades in the making and rooted in inadequate, crowded, and structurally failing facilities, Dunn said. Building new facilities that improve safety and security for staff and inmates and allow for effective inmate rehabilitation is the right and only path forward. Write A to Z in capital letters. Paste a picture of objects in your copy names of which begin with a small letter like b for ball. This is not a homework meant for children of nursery schools in any city but class 9 students of government schools of Madhya Pradesh. This exercise in the English language is a part of their studies at home under a bridge course they are supposed to purse across the state during the closure of their schools, as per a time-table prepared for the students by the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI), a wing of school education department in Madhya Pradesh. As per the time-table introduced to the students from class 9 to 12 during the Covid period by the DPI, since July 20 has a bridge course on other subjects too. For class nine students subjects include Hindi, English, Mathematics, and Science. Introducing the course to students in the time-table, commissioner DPI Jaishree Kiyawat states, Schools are not able to run due to the situation created by Covid-19 but studies of the students must continue to take place. With this objective Hamara ghar hamara vidyalaya programme is being introduced. The role of teachers, guardians, elder brothers, and sisters of students besides the students themselves is much important in the implementation of the programme. If under the English section the class nine students are supposed to write the alphabet and paste pictures in copy based on the alphabets, in the Math section they are supposed to memorize multiplication tables on a chart from 2 to 10, inter alia. In the science section, they have to learn the definition of matter and write the names of 10 matters. In the Hindi section, they have to recite the poem Suraj ka byah, understand its meaning, and write it inter alia. Educationists have expressed their disappointment that students of class 9 have to practice on such basic education to acquire knowledge which students in private schools are supposed to learn in pre-primary or at best at the primary level of education. At least three teams of school education department authorities including one led by the then minister for school education Dr. Prabhuram Chaudhary had visited South Korea in September 2019 to study the education system over there. It was during the then Congress government in the state. On his return, he talked of replicating South Koreas education system in the state but nothing significant could take place, as per officials of the education department. Educationist Prof (retd) Zameeruddin said, I see a pathetic situation in the field of primary education in Madhya Pradesh. This is why when the students of government schools pursue secondary education from class 9 after completing primary education they cant compete well with students who have private schools background. As per the annual status of education report (ASER) 2018 (Rural) by Pratham, an organization working in the field of education, there were 34.4% children in class 5 of government schools in 2018 who could read standard II level text. Similarly, there were merely 16.5% of students in class 5 who could do division. Similarly, as per the annual status education report (rural), 2019 of the organisation, as many as 34.2% of students in class 3 in the state capital Bhopal could recognize numbers from 1 to 9 but couldnt recognize numbers from 11 to 99. As per the school education quality index report, 2019 of NITI Ayog Madhya Pradesh was at the 15th position in the country with 47.2 percentage points in 2016-17 while slipping one position further in comparison to 2015-16. Retired joint director of Directorate of Public Instructions, Bhopal KK Pandey said, Alphabet knowledge should begin at primary level. If we dont improve education at the primary level we cant improve education at the secondary or higher level. The state government must take a serious note of the situation. The directorate of public instructions commissioner Jaishree Kiyawat couldnt be reached for her comments. She didnt respond to phone calls and text messages. There was a similar response from the principal secretary, school education Rashmi Arun Shami. Minister of state for primary education (independent charge) Inder Singh Parmar said, The state government under the leadership of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is taking several measures including the new education policy to bring about a positive change in the field of education and improve the overall situation in the state. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Man Accused of Murder While out on 3 Felony Bonds Gets Bond Again A Houston man accused of murder while out on three felony bonds was granted bond again, it was reported. Vernon Menifee, 24, since 2013, has been convicted of six felonies, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, officials told Fox26 in Houston. Menifee was charged in 2019 with organized criminal activity and felon in possession of a weapon and was granted bond and a third bond for burglary, officials said. Authorities charged Menifee with allegedly murdering Guy Anthony Owen Allen, 29, in April, said the City of Houston in June. According to the City of Houstons website, As Allen was speaking with this person, two suspects approached them at gunpoint and forced them on the ground. It is believed a struggle ensued and Allen was shot one time. Paramedics transported Allen to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The sad reality is Menifee should have been locked up before he could even commit the murder, said Andy Kahan with the Houston Police Departments Crime Stoppers. When he was denied bond, Kahan said, Finally the court said no more, Mr. Menifee. Every time we keep letting you out on bond you keep reoffending and it gets worse and worse and theres nothing worse than murder. But he was recently granted bond by the 209th Criminal District Court Judge Brian Warren, according to Kahan. What on Earth makes you think hes going to abide by any laws of society based on his track record, Kahan said. Youve got to be delusional to think this way. The judge has not released a statement on why Menifee was granted release. 05.09.2020 LISTEN The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the fragility of weak health systems that were ill prepared to withstand the onslaught of the pandemic. As documented by the Pulse survey of the WHO, the pandemic has resulted in disruption of essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, in most countries. Weak and perpetually poorly resourced health systems have escalated the woes of the public, more so in low- and lower-middle income countries. This disaster has reinforced the need for countries to not only increase their public health spending, but also explore innovative ways of financing healthcare systems. More than 50% of countries in the Asia and the Pacific region come under the category of low- and lower-middle income countries. While there has been economic growth in the region resulting in corresponding improvements in health service delivery systems, in many countries these gains are unjustly reserved for the elite few in terms of quality and timely services, says Dr Ashish Bajracharya, Population Council's Deputy Director for global country strategy and regional representative for South and East Asia. Large parts of our populations still have an unmet need in sexual and reproductive health and out-of-pocket expenditures continue to pay for most of the healthcare expenditures. For Dr Bajracharya, it is critical to work towards universal health coverage and to promote sustainable financing strategies, including heightening of commitments of state resources for sexual and reproductive health. Dr Bajracharya was Chairing the sixth session of the ongoing virtual series of 10th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR10). Two interesting studies were presented in this APCRSHR10 session from Pakistan and Philippines. The first study was presented by Dr Moazzam Ali, noted epidemiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO), who shared the results of a research project on "demand side financing" implemented in two districts of Punjab province of Pakistan to meet birth spacing needs of the underserved. What is demand side financing? Dr Ali explains that the three key components of any demand side financing project are (i) a pre-specified target group, like, pregnant women, children under five years of age, poor households, etc; (ii) a financial transfer to the beneficiaries through the government, the private sector, NGOs or some other mechanism. It can be a direct conditional cash transfer or it can be via vouchers; and (iii) a very clear rationale for the choice of services covered, for example, immunisation, family planning, cancer screening etc. Any intervention that meets these three conditions qualifies to be a demand side financing. This particular study was done to assess the effectiveness of free, single-purpose vouchers for increasing the uptake, use and better targeting of modern contraceptives among women from the lowest two wealth quintiles in rural and urban communities in Pakistan. The project tried to see if vouchers can contribute in achieving universal health coverage, especially in the context of sexual and reproductive health and, more specifically, for family planning. The study was implemented across an intervention (Chakwal) and a control (Bhakkar) district in Punjab province. 1276 married women of reproductive age were enrolled in each arm. The single purpose voucher was from Marie Stopes International branch in Pakistan. Services included follow ups/ side effects management, services regarding the modern contraceptives and the removal services (for the implants and Intrauterine devices-IUDs). Did the intervention enhance equity, especially among the poor? Project results show that compared to baseline, use of modern contraceptive methods increased by 30% in the intervention area as against 14% in the control area. Specifically, in the intervention area IUD use increased from 2% to 20% (national level use of IUD is 1-2%) and condom use increased from 7% to 13%. Vouchers also resulted in an increase of 16% in current contraceptive use and 26% increase in modern methods use. Intervention area also reported low method-specific discontinuation (13.7%) and high method-specific switching rates (46.6%) amongst modern contraceptive users. The corresponding figures for control area were 26.8% and 13.3% respectively. Many of those who switched to modern methods, switched to IUDs, implants, injectables and pills, which are far more effective compared to the traditional family planning methods. Also, the underserved population utilized the modern methods more than their affluent counterparts. The study outcomes prove that vouchers increase the use of modern contraception methods (especially the long acting reversible contraception methods) along with other modern methods like pills and injectables. Vouchers also decrease discontinuation and increase switching. Voucher use seemed to reduce the inequality in access to modern methods across wealth quintiles and enhanced equity by reaching out to the poor who began using them more. "Vouchers can be a highly effective tool to increase access to, and use of, family planning and reproductive health services. Long term use of vouchers can strengthen the health system capacity and provide a pathway to the strategic purchasing power such as insurance or contracting in the long run and contributing in the context of universal health coverage in the low and middle income countries", Dr Ali said to CNS (Citizen News Service). The second example of innovative financing was from the Philippines on "Public-Private Partnership Bridge Funding. Loida Almendares, Programme Manager at DKT International in Philippines, shared the concept of "bridge financing". What is bridge financing? The Philippine Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law calls for engagement of the civil society by the government to address the unmet need for family planning. The Department of Health allocates funds for this purpose. However, the process of transferring government funds to private organizations is cumbersome and often results in delays in fund release. Bridge financing is a mechanism to address this gap and to allow civil society organizations to implement family planning and reproductive health activities without unnecessary delays. It allows family planning services to be provided even while the government is yet to release project funds for the civil society organizations. Bridge financing is a "no interest loan" given to civil society organizations with existing project contracts and is to be strictly used for project implementation. It is to the tune of 30-35% of the total project fund. The money has to be returned to the Bridge Fund provider - which could be any financing entity - at the end of the project at zero interest. Philippines government laws support public and private partnerships or engagement of civil society organizations and private sectors to actively participate in the development processes of the state. There could be different public-private partnership models utilising the bridge financing mechanism. Almendares shared the outcomes of one such model developed in the Philippines jointly by the Cooperative Movement for Encouraging No-Scalpel Vasectomy (CMEN), Pangasinan Province civil society organization and the government. This public-private partnership with bridge financing reached more than 13000 women with unmet family planning needs. Of them, 61% were provided with long acting and permanent methods - which is more than triple the national average of 14% for these methods. For the HIV programme, the project was able to reach out to underserved populations, including LGBTIQ+ community, students, pregnant women and people who inject drugs and test 678 people in three months. Persons who tested positive for HIV were then referred to treatment hubs for immediate care. All of the loans received under bridge funding were repaid. Almendares says that public-private partnership is important to escalate delivery of quality sexual and reproductive health services with financial resources from the government and human resources from the civil society organizations or private sector. She lists several advantages of public-private partnership through Bridge Funding: "It is an intermediate financing to address the gap due to fund delays and allows civil society organizations to provide reproductive and sexual health services to a vast number of people in communities and key populations even while the government is yet to release project funds for civil society organizations." COVID-19 has changed the expectations and outlook of healthcare worldwide. India's public health expenditure is dismally low at less than 1.5% of the gross domestic product and this warrants a drastic increase. Quality healthcare should be a fundamental right of every citizen of our country as well as of other countries. Innovative health financing makes good business sense Zahra Fathi Geshnigani, senior gender equality advocate and former CEO of Family Health Association of Iran puts it very succinctly that health enables people to learn and earn, creates jobs, drives productivity, stimulates inclusive growth, and protects economies from the impacts of outbreaks and other emergencies. So innovative health financing that aligns with the vision of inclusive and sustainable health services makes good business sense. Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the founding Managing Editor of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a noted health and gender justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Media Network to end TB & tobacco and prevent NCDs. Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 09:39:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe (4th L, front) poses for a photo with heads of delegations attending the joint meeting of the heads of defense departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization members in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo by Evgeny Sinitsyn/Xinhua) MOSCOW, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has, as always, followed the path of peaceful development and is committed to building a world featuring universal security, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said here Friday. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, this meeting is of special significance, Wei said at the joint meeting of the heads of defense departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization members. The international situation, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, has become more unstable and uncertain, and therefore has given added urgency and importance to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. Countries across the world should work together to fight the pandemic, resist unilateral bullying, resolve conflicts, and insist on win-win cooperation so that the whole world could overcome difficulties through solidarity, the defense minister said. The Chinese military, Wei said, has full determination, capacity and confidence to defend its own national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to earnestly implement the consensus reached among the heads of state, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, push for new progress in bilateral and multilateral military cooperation, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding global and regional peace and stability, he added. On Saturday, Wei held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on such issues as bilateral relations, practical cooperation between the two militaries, and international and regional situations. Wei also met with Pakistan's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza. Enditem Hundreds of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate in southern Japan, and companies including Toyota Motor Corp. and Canon Inc. are planning to shutter factories as Typhoon Haishen approaches. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the typhoon may make landfall on Kagoshima prefecture in the southern Kyushu island on Sunday evening. More than 46,000 households were without power in Kagoshima prefecture as of 5 pm local time, according to Kyushu Electric Power Company Inc. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said at least 218,000 households have been ordered to evacuate to safety in Okinawa and five of the Kyushu prefectures. Canon said it will suspend operations at four manufacturing units affecting seven factories in Kyushu on Monday, while Toyota decided to halt three plants in Fukuoka. Daihatsu Motor Co.s factories in Oita and Fukuoka prefectures will be suspended during morning shift on Monday, company spokesman Kazuki Inoue said. Sony Corp. plans to shut production in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki prefectures from Sunday afternoon, and is also considering closing its Oita prefecture facility during the storm, a spokesperson said. Alter destinations The nations train and airline services will also be disrupted by the typhoon. West Japan Railway Co. said it will halt operations between Hiroshima and Hakata on the high-speed Sanyo Shinkansen line on Monday, while Central Japan Railway Co. said it could suspend or alter destinations for some of its operations of the high-speed rail network. Japan Airlines Co. and ANA Holdings Inc. plan to partially or totally suspend flights to and from Okinawa and Kyushu on Sunday and Monday. Typhoon Haishen forced the Japanese coast guard to suspend its search and rescue efforts for crew members of a cargo ship transporting cattle that overturned in the East China Sea last week. Authorities will decide whether to resume the search after the typhoon passes, a spokesperson for the Japan Coast Guard said on Sunday. The ship with 43 crew and 5,800 cattle capsized after engine trouble and as Typhoon Maysak swept through. South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked central and local governments to make every preparation for Typhoon Haishen as its expected to cause great damage to the Korean peninsula, presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a statement on Sunday. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Government's claim that 31billion of taxes go uncollected each year is based on a misleading algorithm created for the American tax system, it can be revealed. Revenue & Customs is now working on major changes to the calculation which could see the figures altered radically up or down. The potential revision to Britain's so-called tax gap the difference between the amount owed to the Revenue and the sum collected comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak works on possible tax rises to balance the books in his next Budget. Tax gap: Revenue & Customs is now working on major changes to the calculation He told Tory MPs last week that any increases would not be a 'horror show with no end in sight'. The tax gap results from firms and individuals avoiding or evading the taxes they should pay. A key aspect of calculating the figure is the use of software developed by America's Internal Revenue Service. The algorithm calculates the difference between what the very best auditor would be able to find and what an average auditor would reclaim. Now, the Revenue is working on a system that will ditch the algorithm and replace it with expert opinion. Jim Harra, head of the Revenue, will be quizzed tomorrow by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee on subjects including the tax gap. At present, the Treasury is congratulating itself on reducing the gap to 4.7 per cent of tax liabilities in the financial year 2018-2019, the most recent figure, down from 7.5 per cent in 2005-2006. In July, Financial Secretary Jesse Norman said the 31billion gap was 'the lowest on record'. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is looking on possible tax rises to balance the books in his next Budget But there is disquiet that the use of US software could be giving a very misleading picture as America and Britain have quite different tax systems. In the US, almost everyone fills out their own tax return, in contrast to Britain's PAYE system that taxes salaries before money is transferred to bank accounts. In addition, the IRS taxes non-resident citizens on worldwide gains and income, which Britain does not. Sarah Saunders, personal tax manager at accountant RSM, asked: 'Is the UK targeting evasion behaviours that primarily occur in the US, and missing our own evasive behaviours? 'One would have thought that the greater opportunity for tax to be missed under the US self-filing system and the worldwide reach of its taxes would mean a larger estimated gap using the American algorithm. However, that is far from certain.' Published on 2020/09/06 | Source Fashion stylist Jeong Yun-kee, has become the first-ever Korean to be chosen as London Fashion Week ambassador. Advertisement The British Fashion Council announced the appointment on Wednesday and voiced hopes of positioning London Fashion Week as the "most innovative and creative showcase". Jeong will serve for two years. Former ambassadors include model Poppy Delevingne, former British prime minister David Cameron's wife Samantha, Vogue critic Sarah Moore and TV presenter Alexa Chung. "After years of working with the fashion industry in the U.K. and other countries, I began full-fledged exchanges with the British Fashion Council in 2016 when designer Song Zio held a show in Paris and London", Jeong told the Chosun Ilbo on Thursday. "I would like to act as a bridge between the highly creative London Fashion Week and Seoul, which has become a top emerging fashion city". Jeong has helped young Koreans embrace British brands ranging from Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood to Burberry and Victoria Beckham. After starting in 1994 as a stylist, Jeong rose to prominence as fashion consultant to celebrities like Jun Ji-hyun, Gong Hyo-jin, Kim Hee-ae, Kim Hye-soo and others. He was included alongside Shinsegae Department Store president Chung Yoo-kyung and former Samsung C&T fashion chief Lee Seo-hyun on a list of the Business of Fashion magazine's 500 most influential people in the industry in 2017. He also became well-known in China by assembling the costumes for Jun's character in the 2013 TV drama "My Love from the Star", which was an enormous hit there. For Subscribers Senate votes to increase Partners in Education tax credit program Senators voted to increase the amount of money the Partners in Education tax credit program can give out for scholarships to private school students. First case of covid-19 among students at reopened school in Rome. A final-year student at Marymount, a prestigious private international school in north Rome, tested positive for covid-19 on 4 September, two days after the school reopened to students, in the first such case in the capital. Rome's ASL health authorities provisionally placed 65 people in home isolation, including the Grade 12 student's class-mates and his teachers, as a precautionary measure, reports Italian news agency ANSA. However the number in isolation was quickly reduced to nine of the student's closest contacts, with the other pupils free to return to school on 7 September, according to a statement released by the Catholic co-educational school. Those in isolation will follow their lesson via distance learning and their health will be monitored by ASL authorities who assessed the risk of contagion as "very low," according to the school located off Via Cassia. ASL praised the school's management of the situation, which it described as "optimal," while the school stated: "We cannot emphasize enough the importance of strictly following the implemented social distancing, mask wearing, and hand sanitising." The news came less than a week after another noted international school in the capital, St George's, decided to delay its reopening, scheduled on 1 September, due to the number of positive covid-19 cases within its community. Italian schools reopened on 1 September for catch-up lessons, with the 2020-21 academic year beginning officially in Italy on 14 September. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - A fire on a large oil tanker drifting off Sri Lankas coast was extinguished on Sunday after burning for three days, as a team of experts moved to salvage the vessel, the countrys navy said. Four tugboats, three Sri Lankan navy ships and six Indian ships battled the fire on the MT New Diamond since Thursday. Five Sri Lankan coast guard ships and gunboats also took part in the effort. As of now, the fire has been completely extinguished, the navy chief, Vice Adm. Nishantha Ulugetenne, said in comments that were broadcast on local TV channels. But he cautioned that there is a risk of another fire erupting due to the heat of the ships iron plates. Earlier Sunday, the navy said a team of experts was already on one of the tugboats. Another 10 British and Dutch professionals, including rescue operation specialists, disaster evaluators and legal consultants, were also expected to join the mission to salvage the ship. With its engines shut down, the tanker carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude oil drifted about 20 nautical miles (37 kilometres) from Sri Lankas eastern coast on Friday before a tugboat towed it farther out to sea. The fire killed one crew member and injured another. Both are Filipino. The injured third engineer was hospitalized in stable condition. The fire began in an engine room boiler but did not spread to the tankers oil storage area and no leak has been reported, the navy said. Sri Lankan officials have warned of possible massive environmental damage to Sri Lanka if the ship leaks or explodes. The head of Sri Lankas Marine Environment Protection Authority, Darshani Lahandapur, had said the Indian Ocean island nation does not have the resources or capacity to combat such a massive disaster and appealed for help from regional countries. She said her organization plans to take legal action over the fire. The tanker had 23 crew members 18 Filipinos and five Greeks. Twenty-one crew members left the tanker uninjured as the fire burned. The tanker was transporting crude oil from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip, where the state-owned Indian Oil Corp. has a refinery. Read more about: Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe (4th L, front) poses for a photo with heads of delegations attending the joint meeting of the heads of defense departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization members in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 4, 2020. (Photo by Evgeny Sinitsyn/Xinhua) MOSCOW, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has, as always, followed the path of peaceful development and is committed to building a world featuring universal security, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said here Friday. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, this meeting is of special significance, Wei said at the joint meeting of the heads of defense departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization members. The international situation, affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, has become more unstable and uncertain, and therefore has given added urgency and importance to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said. Countries across the world should work together to fight the pandemic, resist unilateral bullying, resolve conflicts, and insist on win-win cooperation so that the whole world could overcome difficulties through solidarity, the defense minister said. The Chinese military, Wei said, has full determination, capacity and confidence to defend its own national sovereignty, security, and development interests. The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to earnestly implement the consensus reached among the heads of state, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, push for new progress in bilateral and multilateral military cooperation, and make new and greater contributions to safeguarding global and regional peace and stability, he added. On Saturday, Wei held talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on such issues as bilateral relations, practical cooperation between the two militaries, and international and regional situations. Wei also met with Pakistan's Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Nadeem Raza. John Lewis is considering plans to open a Waitrose foodhall in its 143-year-old Peter Jones store on the King's Road potentially turning the entire ground floor into a supermarket. The strategic review of the iconic London shop is part of a wider overhaul of John Lewis stores and website which is being driven by the recently arrived chair Sharon White. The store is one of the oldest in the group and was founded by Peter Rees Jones, the son of a Carmarthenshire hat manufacturer, before being taken over by John Lewis early in the last century. Iconic: 43-year-old Peter Jones store on King's Road in London The Waitrose branded foodhall would be located on the lower ground floor, where household goods are currently sold. The firm wants to find other uses for space in its giant stores as more goods are sold online. Waitrose stores located in John Lewis outlets could also help to bring in more regular customers who might then browse around the rest of the building. John Lewis has been hugely successful online where its far-sighted business planning and investment model placed it well ahead of rivals such as Debenhams and Marks & Spencer. But along with many others it has failed to react to the accelerating decline of town centres that has left it struggling to make profits. The pandemic has also taken its toll. John Lewis said its plans are under consideration but no decision has yet been made on whether to press ahead. Last week, the company said it was planning to launch 30 new labels. It will also sell more high-end sportswear from Stella McCartney, Calvin Klein, Fat Face and Sosandar. A presidential campaign long muffled by the coronavirus pandemic will burst into a newly intense and public phase after Labor Day, as Joseph R. Biden Jr. moves aggressively to defend his polling lead against a ferocious onslaught by President Trump aimed chiefly at white voters in the Midwest. Private polls conducted for both parties during and after their August conventions found the race largely stable but tightening slightly in some states, with Mr. Trump recovering some support from conservative-leaning rural voters who had drifted away over the summer amid the worsening pandemic. Yet Mr. Biden continues to enjoy advantages with nearly every other group, especially in populous areas where the virus remains at the forefront for voters, according to people briefed on the data. No president has entered Labor Day weekend the traditional kickoff of the fall campaign as such a clear underdog since George Bush in 1992. Mr. Trump has not led in public polls in such must-win states as Florida since Mr. Biden claimed the nomination in April, and there has been little fluctuation in the race. Still, the presidents surprise win in 2016 weighs heavily in the thinking of nervous Democrats and hopeful Republicans alike. Mr. Trumps effort to revive his candidacy by blaming Mr. Bidens party for scenes of looting and arson in American cities has jolted Mr. Biden into a more proactive posture, one that some Democrats have long urged him to adopt. The former vice president spent last week pushing back forcefully on Mr. Trumps often false attacks, after encouragement from allies including former Secretary of State John F. Kerry, whose 2004 presidential campaign faltered in the face of a concerted smear campaign about his Vietnam War service. Despite rapidly approaching his 53rd birthday, he remains in great shape. And Liev Schreiber put his fit physique on display, while enjoying a beach day with girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 27, in the Hamptons on Saturday afternoon. The 52-year-old actor went without a shirt as he took a dip in the refreshing ocean water. Leading man: And Liev Schreiber put his fit physique on display, while enjoying a beach day in the Hamptons on Saturday afternoon Schreiber wore a pair of solid black swim trunks and looked to be rocking a freshly shaved head. He had a silver chain fastened around his neck and a matching watch on his wrist. Schreiber's girlfriend Taylor slipped her refined curves into a black two piece suit that included a pair of high waisted bottoms and a bandeau style top. She let her blonde hair poke out from beneath a stylish sunhat and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup. Lovebirds: The 52-year-old Ray Donovan star was joined by girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 27 Taking a dip: The 52-year-old actor went without a shirt as he took a dip in the refreshing ocean water Taylor layered up her look with an oversized white button up shirt. Once Schreiber was finished romping in the water, he returned to shore and throw on a black and white striped tee. The couple, who have been linked since 2017, brought their newly adopted dog Scout to the beach with them. Meet Scout: The couple brought their newly adopted dog Scout to the beach with them; Scout pictured in July Liev announced he adoption on Instagram in July and introduced Scout to his nearly 500,000 followers 'New guy. His name is Scout,' captioned the Spotlight actor, before giving the dog rescue he got Scout from a major shoutout. Before entering into a relationship with Taylor, Schreiber was in a long-term relationship with fellow actor Naomi Watts, 51. Loved up: Liev and Taylor have been linked since 2017; the pair pictured in 2019 Former flame: Before entering into a relationship with Taylor, Schreiber was in a long-term relationship with fellow actor Naomi Watts, 51; Naomi and Liev pictured in 2016 The former pair, who were linked from 2005 until their split in 2016, share sons Sasha, 13, and Samuel Kai, 11. Liev often shares portraits of his two children with his devout following on Instagram. Most recently, the Defiance star uploaded a photo of himself and Samuel Kai hanging out with one another in the Hamptons. Proud dad: Liev often shares portraits of his two sons Samuel Kai and Sasha with his devout following on Instagram; Samuel Kai and Liev pictured on August 15 Canceled: In February, Showtime announced that it would not be renewing Schreiber's drama Ray Donovan for an eighth season; Jon Voight and Liev pictured in Ray Donovan In February, Showtime announced that it would not be renewing Schreiber's drama Ray Donovan for an eighth season. 'After seven incredible seasons, Ray Donovan has concluded its run on Showtime. We are proud that the series ended amid such strong viewership and on such a powerful note,' said the network in a statement to Deadline. 'Our deepest thanks go to Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight, showrunner David Hollander and the entire cast and crew, past and present, for their dedicated work.' Ray Donovan, which premiered in 2013, completed its seventh and final season in January. NEW DELHI : Military commanders of India and China sat down for another round of talks on Sunday with the aim of defusing heightened tensions that erupted after Beijing looked at opening a new front in the current military face off with India. The brigade commander level talks on Sunday were the seventh in a row of discussions that started last Monday and which were aimed at resolving new tensions along the south bank of Pangong Tso lake that erupted after the Indian army pre-empted intrusions by Chinese troops on 29-31 August. It came two days after Indian and Chinese defence ministers Rajnath Singh and Wei Fenghe met in Moscow on the sidelines of a regional conference of defence ministers. This was the first face to face meeting at the political level between the two countries since tensions sparked in May after India detected intrusions by Chinese Peoples Liberation Army soldiers at multiple locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) border in the Ladakh in May. This included an intrusion along the north bank of the Pangong Tso lake along the Finger area i.e. a series of eight mountain folds jutting into the lake. Many rounds of talks at the military and diplomatic levels have not been able to achieve a breakthrough on disengagement and de-escalation, stalled since mid-July after some initial steps. With the Singh-Wei on Friday meeting not yielding an obvious way forward, all eyes are on a meeting this week between Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, again in Moscow this week. Officials in New Delhi were not willing to hazard a guess about the outcome of the talks on Sunday. One official pointed to both the Indian and Chinese statements issued separately after Fridays discussions talking of keeping the channels of communication open. The official also said that the Singh-Wei talks had been requested by the Chinese side which analysts like Srikanth Kondapalli, a professor of Chinese Studies at the New Delhi-based Jawaharlal Nehru University saw as a possible sign that Beijing could be looking for a compromise. Given that China had challenges on the India border, besides the South China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and on the Senkaku Islands with Japan, there could be a window of opportunity for a compromise," Kondapalli said. But that process would need to be initiated by China," he said. So far, militarily, New Delhi was prepared for the long haul" i.e. ensuring troops supported by the Indian Air Force stayed put along its border with China not only in Ladakh but in the east in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, according to two people familiar with the matter. The deployment would continue till Beijing did not disengage its troops , de-escalate tensions and move its troops back to positions they were at in April, one of the two people cited above said. This would mean stretching" the Indian Army given its challenges on the Pakistan front besides the China border, former Northern Army commander, Deepender Singh Hooda said. But the army has sufficient capabilities to deal with the current levels of tensions" on both fronts, he said. On the diplomatic front, New Delhis plans were to keep the doors open for engagement. On Thursday, the Indian foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that the the way ahead is negotiations, through the diplomatic and military channels." India "is firmly committed to resolving all outstanding issues through peaceful dialogue. We strongly urge the Chinese side to sincerely engage the Indian side with the objective of expeditiously restoring peace and tranquillity in border areas" through complete disengagement and de-escalation, he added. Again on Thursday, at a virtual event to release his book The India way: strategies for an uncertain the world, foreign minister S. Jaishankar said What happens on the border will impact the relationship," in response to a question on India-China relations. The solution to situation had to be found through diplomacy," he said adding later that We have to work our way through this." S.L. Narasimhan, a member of Indias National Security Council Advisory Board was of the view that India had already communicated to China that unless status quo ante was achieved" and there was peace along the LAC, there would be repercussions for bilateral ties" a possible indication towards the banning of a series Chinese mobile phone applications and strictures against Chinese investments in areas like Indian infrastructure. We need to wait and see what happens at the brigade commander level talks (on Sunday) as well as the foreign ministers (possible) meeting on 10 September," he added. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 00:34:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2019 shows China's national flag and the flag of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) "We have zero tolerance for any violation of the national security law in Hong Kong," said the spokesperson of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). HONG KONG, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday voiced firm support for the HKSAR government and the Hong Kong police in resolutely enforcing the law and safeguarding Hong Kong's social stability and rule of law. A small number of rioters instigated unlawful assemblies and threatened to "rekindle the war" and "fight back", with some confronting the police in Kowloon on Sunday afternoon. Those acts are suspected of violating the national security law in Hong Kong and local laws, a spokesperson of the office said. As of 9:00 p.m. local time, at least 289 people had been arrested for offenses including participating in an unlawful assembly and assaulting police officers, the Hong Kong police said in a statement. The 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) election in the HKSAR, originally scheduled for Sept. 6, was put off for a year due to the COVID-19 epidemic. According to the decision made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Aug. 11, the 6th term LegCo of the HKSAR will continue to discharge its duties for no less than one year until the commencement of the 7th term LegCo. The related arrangements are reasonable and conform to public opinion, said the spokesperson. "The street confrontations on the original election date blatantly violated the gathering restrictions in the face of the epidemic, and provoked relevant laws and the state will. It is a cold-blooded disregard for the lives, health and safety of the general public. We strongly condemn this," the spokesperson said. With the strong support from the central government and the mainland compatriots, as well as the concerted efforts of the HKSAR government and Hong Kong residents, the third wave of the epidemic has been gradually brought under control. But the situation remained serious as infection sources of nearly half of the confirmed cases remained unknown. The general public has a strong desire to put the the epidemic under control and get out of the economic and livelihood difficulties as soon as possible, said the spokesperson. However, at such a critical moment, those who instigated and organized street disturbances not only spread all kinds of rumors, but also constantly attacked and smeared the mainland's aid and support for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic fight, politicizing it without limit while ignoring the safety of residents and the public interest. They have no bottom line and are unethical, said the spokesperson. The spokesperson stressed that the national security law in Hong Kong has been promulgated and implemented, the relevant national security agencies of the central and HKSAR governments have been established to perform their duties. As a result, the Hong Kong society has undergone a positive change from chaos to governance. "We warn the few people that in maintaining Hong Kong's national security and social stability, there is only a rigid principle and no room for flexibility. We have zero tolerance for any violation of the national security law in Hong Kong," said the spokesperson, citing that the Hong Kong police have solemnly declared that they will resolutely enforce the law and will not relent on any illegal act. "We believe that people from all walks of life will have a better understanding of the true character of the rioters, and jointly safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. We will not allow chaos in Hong Kong again." The Bethlehem Police Departments line of succession is solid if Mayor Bob Donchez chooses to promote from within when naming a new police chief, recently retired Chief Mark DiLuzio said Friday. DiLuzio stepped aside this week during a dispute about a racially insensitive Facebook post that he shared with his friends on the social media platform. Deputy Chief Scott Meixell was named interim chief, but Donchez could not immediately be reached to learn about his search plan. Scott will make a good chief, DiLuzio said. Hes an excellent deputy chief. Personally I think hes a good choice. Meixells been on the department for more than 17 years and worked well independently, always did his assignments and is good in the community, DiLuzio said. Meixell didnt immediately return a phone message from lehighvalleylive.com seeking an interview. Meixell understands the issues facing the department and hes approachable, DiLuzio said. Deputy Commissioner Daniel Meixell, left, pins badge onto his son, Scott, as the younger man is sworn in as a new officer.lehighvalleylive.com file photo The son of former Deputy Commissioner Daniel Meixell, Scott Meixell grew up in the area. He has come up through the ranks, serving as a patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. When Bethlehem reconstituted its Emergency Response Team and crisis negotiation group following the disastrous killing of John Hirko in 1997, Meixell was a key part of the effort, colleagues said. He worked the night shift as a lieutenant before returning to days prior to his promotion to captain. He spent much of the latter part of his career working in professional standards. But DiLuzio said the captain of professional standards is part of a trio with the chief and deputy chief when it comes to effectively running the department. Newly promoted Bethlehem police Lt. Michelle Kott poses in 2017 with her family as Chief Mark DiLuzio, right, and Mayor Bob Donchez, second from right, look on during a promotion and swearing-in ceremony in Town Hall.lehighvalleylive.com file photo If Donchez doesnt choose Meixell, he could look to Capt. Michelle Kott, who worked with the former chief as a detective and detective sergeant in criminal investigations before becoming captain in professional standards. The PhD would be the departments first female chief. DiLuzio says shes done outstanding work in professional standards. That area deals with accreditation as well as training, equipment, body cameras, dash cams and Right to Know requests. While its likely the city will announce a nationwide search, it has historically stayed within its ranks, DiLuzio said. You know Bethlehem, how to run it, where everythings at. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris has said Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr live in an alternate reality from the rest of America when they say there is no systemic racism in the US. I think that Donald Trump and Bill Barr are spending full time in a different reality," the California senator said in an interview with CNNs Dana Bash that aired on Sunday. The reality of America today is what we have seen over generations and frankly since our inception. Which is we do have two systems of justice in America one for white people, and another for minorities, Ms Harris said. At a roundtable event in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last week, a reporter asked the only two black people on the dais, local pastors James and Sharon Ward, if they believed police violence was a systemic issue. Mr Trump cut in before either of the pastors could answer. "I don't believe that. I think the police do an incredible job, and I think you do have some bad apples," the president said. Last month, Kenosha was the site of several anti-police brutality protests which devolved into pockets of rioting and looting, as tensions flared over the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake. Senator Harris said in her interview on Sunday that while she does not have all the facts surrounding Mr Blakes shooting, she believes charges "should be considered in a very serious way and that there should be accountability." The clashes in Kenosha continued a summer of confrontations with law enforcement after the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis; Breonna Taylor who was shot dead by police at her home in Louisville, and others. Mr Barr said expressly last week that he does not believe there are two justice systems, and that claims of systemic racism in law enforcement are overblown. "I think the narrative that the police are on some, you know, epidemic of shooting unarmed black men is simply a false narrative and also the narrative that that's based on race," Mr Barr said. "The fact of the matter is its very rare for an unarmed African American to be shot by a white police officer," the attorney general said Ample data has shown that black people are far more likely, proportionately, to be the victims of unarmed police shootings than people of other races. After the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, The Washington Post began compiling national data on fatal shootings by on-duty police officers. Although black Americans represent just 13 per cent of the US population, they were killed by police at more than twice the rate of white Americans, the data found. Ms Harris suggested in her interview on Sunday that American politicians cant address racial disparities and close existing gaps if they cant even acknowledge that they are real. It does us no good if we want to solve those disparities to pretend they dont exist, she said. On Aug. 24, deputies responded to a call from Damian Lamar Daniels and his family over Daniels mental health. Deputies went to his house, found him despondent and provided the family with information on accessing a mental health warrant. The following day, three deputies responded to a call from the Red Cross regarding Daniels. When they went to his home, a confrontation broke out, and Daniels, who had a gun under his shirt, was shot twice in the chest and killed. After a review of the information Aug. 28, I stated this incident should have never happened. Daniels had a right to have a gun at his residence, he did not have a criminal record, there was no warrant for his arrest, and no mental health order was issued to seize him. I stated it may have been better to send mental health professionals instead of armed deputies in uniform. The sheriffs office had access to mental health professionals from the Bexar County Center for Health Care Services, as well as 16 deputies assigned to a mental health unit with specialized training in such issues. County Manager David Smith, at my request, has assigned the Mental Health Department the task of conducting a review of the handling of this case and to make recommendations for policy changes. He will also determine if the Mental Health Department needs additional staff. Our criminal justice system is systematically flawed to the extent that it fails to administer justice to the poor, homeless, minorities, mentally ill and drug-dependent citizens. First, we need to address a number of police and deputy reforms, including use of force. On July 16, Commissioners Court instructed county staff to include in a new collective bargaining agreement with the deputy union the following: establishment of a civilian review board; requirement that all deputies wear cameras; new de-escalating nonlethal restraint policies; a psychological evaluation before hiring; and removal of protectionist clauses that exceed civil service legislation. Second, police and deputies should not take mentally ill and drug-addicted people who have committed nonviolent offenses to jail. Individuals should be taken to the Center for Health Care Services 24-hour crisis care facility where medical, psychiatric and social work professionals are located. Third, the Texas Legislature needs to prohibit commercial or cash bonds for misdemeanor cases and instead allow personal recognizance bonds, or PR bonds, to be issued under standards set by magistrates and pretrial services officers. Our PR bond policy requires individuals to report to a pretrial bond officer. If a PR bond is granted, these individuals can work, pay rent and child support, and support their family. Under our present system, the cash bail bond industry is favored over PR bonds. The poor, homeless, mentally ill and drug-addicted who are thrown in jail for minor offenses have a hard time getting released because they cant make bail. Unless they meet stringent conditions of eligibility for PR bonds set by the state, they are held in jail. Fox example, if you are homeless and have no address you are not eligible for a PR bond. To offset the failure of the Legislature to act, the Commissioners Court has taken numerous steps to address the issue of mental health and drug addiction. In 2001, my first year as county judge, we established our first drug court. Since then, we have expanded to 14 therapeutic courts that include mental health courts, a veterans court, a DWI court and additional drug courts. We also created the Office of Criminal, Policy, Planning and Programs, and the Public Defenders Office to represent indigent defendants, contracted with Center for Health Care Services for mental health clinicians, staffed the jail with more than 100 health care professionals, and created a restoration program to help build a pathway for inmates who have served their time. Fourth, the Texas Legislature needs to pass a reasonable gun control law. The Legislature should require enhanced background checks, pass red-flag laws, ban sale of high-capacity magazines and close loopholes in protective order laws. Fifth, the Legislature needs to change the way judges are elected. Under our present system, Texas judges are subject to the political power of the bail bond industry, criminal defense lawyers and partisan politics. The Texas Legislature should establish high qualifications for judicial candidates who should either be appointed or run in a nonpartisan elections with limits on donations. We all need to work together to fix our flawed criminal justice system. It will require state and local government to put in place needed reforms. If so, we will make significant progress in establishing a justice system that will be fair to all, including the poor, the homeless, minorities, and mentally ill and drug-dependent citizens. Nelson Wolff is the Bexar County judge. A literary club, Uyo Book Club, in Akwa Ibom State, has thrown up a challenge to its members read 100 books in a year and win N100,000 cash. The reading challenge, which began in January, is meant to encourage reading culture in the city. Udeme Nana, the club founder, revealed this to guests who participated in the clubs book reading on August 29. Someone has put the prize money in the purse, Mr Nana, a journalism teacher, said. We are just waiting for the end of the year. The literary event which took place at Watbridge Hotel, Uyo, was attended by the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State, Moses Ekpo, who was represented by his media aide, Ekikere Umoh. Joe Ushie, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, took the gathering through the life and works of William Shakespeare, the legendary English playwright, poet, and actor. Shakespeare was almost unnoticed in the society he lived, even the birthdate was not known. But today he is in every village, courtesy of reading and writing, said Mr Ushie, a poet and a professor of General Stylistics and Literary criticism. There is nothing greater than things that have to do with the brain When you associate with intellect, you have associated with immortality. Mr Ushie said Nigeria could be a better place if only there was a connection between intellectual inputs and governance. Yes, I need money to buy a good car, a good house, and other good things of life. If the society cannot let me buy them I will endure. But if the society stops me from reading books, I can commit suicide, he added. Imabong Akpan, a radio personality who is a member of the club, asked Mr Ushie if William Shakespeare would have excelled the way he did if he were to be a Nigerian at a time like this. So large and very intelligent question, Mr Ushie said. The answer, he said, was yes and no. The system that we have found ourselves have killed so many talents, he said. However, there are people who are still writing. The majority of them are the ones that are unnoticed Wole Soyinka is there even though he did most of his work when the society was sane. Mr Ushie said after the likes of Wole Soyinka, Odia Ofeimun, Niyi Osundare, new writers have emerged in the Nigerian literary scene. When everybody is running away towards survival, we should stay in one little corner and keep the records of all the noise, all the hunger, all the injustice, all the deprivation. When all is over, the manuscript will be found and the world would be informed of what happened, he said. Ekong Sampson, a lawyer, author, and former commissioner for the environment in Akwa Ibom, is the patron of the Uyo Book Club and the owner of the hotel where the clubs meetings are held, free of charges, every month in a room that is interestingly named Shakespeare Room. Mr Sampson condemned the military take-over of power in Mali and called on writers in Africa to rise in defence of democracy in the continent. We must use literature to engender nation-building, he said. The Akwa Ibom deputy governor, Mr Ekpo, while commending the leaders and members of the Uyo Book Club, advised them to take their literary activities to schools around the state. The fact that we dont read anymore means that we are losing fortunes, Mr Ekpo said through his media aide, Mr Umoh. The deputy governor announced a donation of N200,000 to the club, while copies of Ekon Nke Our Stories, a book on Ibibio folktales, were presented to him by the club patron, Mr Sampson. Ini Ubong, the author of Ekon Nke Our Stories, and Inyang Jameson, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Information, Akwa Ibom State, were among the dignitaries at the event. Advertisements The book club, which started in 2015 at the verandah of Mr Nanas home in Uyo, has grown in size and strength and has hosted notable writers, including Martin Akpan, a medical doctor, author, and the founder of the International Society of Doctors in Literature, and Jude Idada, a writer, filmmaker and the winner of the 2019 NLNG Prize in literature. The book club has helped me in broadening my horizon, the books and magazines in the club have been very insightful, a member of the club, Iniobong Leroi, told PREMIUM TIMES. I have learned a lot about writing and have been encouraged to write more from my interactions with literary minds at the club. While environmentalists affirm that use of gas-fired power will be inevitable in Vietnam, some energy experts think it is not the right time to think of developing this expensive type of energy in the country. The Van Phong Economic Zone Board of Management has allowed the US-based Millennium Corporation to do the field work for the development of an $8 billion project on a gas-electricity complex. In mid-June 2019, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed in principle on the proposals by the Ministries of Industry and Trade and Planning and Investment to allow Gazprom EP International B.V., a subsidiary of Gazprom from Russia, to develop the 340 MW Quang Tri mixed gas turbine power plant, using gas from Bao Vang field. Commenting about the prospect of gas-fired power in Vietnam, Truong Duy Nghia, chair of the Vietnam Thermal Science And Technology Association (VTA), said on Dat Viet newspaper it is not feasible for now. According to the expert, gas-fired power projects have advantages: they dont require large land and dont cause high pollution. In particular, the efficiency of gas use is much higher than coal. Besides, gas-fired power plants can be activated very quickly: it takes just 10 minutes to start the machine. To activate coal-fired power plants, it takes hours to burn the boiler. However, he warned of problems for Vietnam if it develops gas-fired power. According to the expert, gas-fired power projects have advantages: they dont require large land and dont cause high pollution. In particular, the efficiency of gas use is much higher than coal. The biggest problem is the high investment rate and high operation cost. When building gas-fired power plants, Vietnam will have to think of importing gas, which is very difficult work at this moment because of the lack of a pipeline, storage capacity and tanks, he said. Even if Vietnam can import LNG, the supply sources are limited because only a few countries have profuse supply, namely Indonesia, Australia, and the US. Meanwhile, import prices are very high. The LNG price is $3.7 per MMBtu in the US, but it would be $9-10 higher for every 1 million MMBtu in Vietnam. The high material price will increase the electricity production costs. While coal-fired electricity has production cost of 6-6.5 cent per kwh, the production cost is 13 cent per kwh for gas-fired electricity. The price is overly high compared to the peoples average income, Nghia commented. Therefore, it is unfeasible to develop gas-fired power projects." Meanwhile, other experts applaud gas-fired power projects, affirming that gas-fired power is a growing tendency in the world and Vietnam cannot go against the trend. Nguyen Dang Anh Thi, an energy and environment expert from Canada, in his article on Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon in February 2020, affirmed that the investment rate of gas-fired power wont be as high as people think, especially as the gas price has been decreasing in the last five years. With the price of $5 per MMBtu, the author estimates that the electricity price would be from 5.4 cents to 7.7 cents per kwh. Kim Chi With more coal-fired thermopower plants, Mekong Delta faces higher risks Many Mekong Delta provinces, including Bac Lieu, Long An and Tien Giang, are saying 'no to coal-fired thermopower plants. Nioteas TV - Jan 16 In this episode, we travel across Japan's largest tea growing region to learn different secrets farmers use to get the most out of their tea fields and we also learn how they maintain the health of their surrounding ecosystem. (Newser) When Sheryl Sandberg held a videoconference with employees last month, more than 2,000 workers wanted to ask the Facebook boss where the help was for people who aren't parents. In keeping with the industry's reputation for top benefits, Facebook had stepped in quickly when the pandemic shutdown hit, offering extra time off to parents suddenly dealing with closed schools and day care centers. Some employees without children now are wondering where their extra help is, the New York Times reports, sometimes saying they've been left with greater burdens at work. At the same time, employees who are parents say their colleagues don't always get what they're going through. Even the process of getting permission to take leave seems to go more smoothly for parents, one employee said. story continues below Sandberg said she "disagreed with the premise of the question" about inequity, pointing out that everyone received a larger bonus this year and $1,000 to buy equipment for working at home. And a parent-employee argued on an internal site that the pandemic leaves aren't exactly vacation, per the Times. "Please dont make me and other parents at Facebook the outlet for your understandable frustration, exhaustion and anger in response to the hardships you're experiencing due to Covid-19," she wrote. Other tech companies face similar issues; Google and Microsoft offered similar paid leave to parents. A former human resources chief at Google said the complaints from nonparents show "a lack of empathy and a sense of entitlement." But some employees wrote that living alone is especially difficult now, too, and that Facebook seems less worried about them. (Read more Facebook stories.) Google Maps is one of the most popular product by the company. Thanks to its ability to predict traffic jams in our future routes, many of us utilize the app on a daily basis to ease the hassle during commutes. In fact, Google says that more than 1 billion kilometers of road are driven with the app's help.And now latest blog post shows that Google Maps will get more accurate by implementing machine learning tools from Deep Mind . For those who are not aware, DeepMind is a London-based lab owned by Googles parent company Alphabet.In the blog post, researchers from both Google and DeepMind explained how they take data from different sources and have it analyzed by machine learning models to predict the traffic flows. The data they collect includes live traffic information, speed limits, and presence of construction sites, along with the quality, size, and direction of the given road.All this information is fed into the networks created by DeepMind, that picks out patterns in the data and uses them to predict traffic flow. Google claims that updates to its AI models have improved the accuracy of Google Maps real-time ETA by up to 50 percent in some cities.Regarding COVID-19, Google commented that they saw a 50 percent decrease in global traffic when lockdowns were imposed in early 2020. They also had to make updates to their AI models to make them more agile with the change.Google further explained that the AI tools work by dividing maps into super segments or clusters of adjacent streets that share traffic volume. Each of these is paired with another network that makes predictions for that specific sector. As of yet, its unclear how large the super segments are but Google claims that they are dynamics in size and are adaptable to the fluctuations in traffic.They also make use of a special type of neural network known as Graph Neural Network, which according to Google is one of the best way to process this sort of mapping data.Read next: Chrome 86 Will Introduce A New Feature Called Quick Focus Highlight Which Improves The User Experience When It Comes To Working With Focus Nightclubs are preparing to axe thousands of jobs as the industry faces collapse, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Britain's biggest nightclub operator has launched a consultation to slash 402 roles ahead of crisis talks with the Government on Monday. The move by the Deltic Group, which runs 53 clubs and late-night bars across the UK, will mean losing 10 per cent of its 4,000 employees. Fears: Deltic Group is UK's biggest nightclub operator with 53 clubs and late-night bars Chief executive Peter Marks warned more redundancies could follow unless the Government provides urgent support. 'There will be far more job losses if we don't get something material in the next six weeks,' he added. 'As an industry, we won't get through November.' Entrepreneur Charlie Gilkes whose Inception Group runs some of London's best known venues including Maggie's Club, as well as bars such as Barts, Bunga Bunga and Mr Fogg's said clubs were already struggling to pay the 10 per cent furlough contributions that kicked in last week. Contributions rise to 20 per cent in October and then 100 per cent in November when the scheme ends. He said Maggie's one of Prince Harry's former haunts will 'struggle' without the state support and is one of many nightclubs that could have to re-open as a bar. 'If we get to November, and we are paying full wages, it will put us in a very difficult situation,' Gilkes said. His firm has made an undisclosed number of job cuts across its 11 sites. Maggies Club is run by Charlie Gilkes Tomorrow, Deltic chief Marks and other bosses from the sector will meet Business Minister Paul Scully to try to thrash out a rescue plan. Many fear bankruptcy after paying fixed costs since closing in March with no date set for re-opening. They want the Government to confirm a 'roadmap' to get the night-life sector back on its feet. They will ask for an extension of the furlough scheme, grants linked to venues' rateable value, or help with commercial rents. According to a survey by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), which represents 1,200 late bars, clubs, casinos and live music venues, 71 per cent will make more than half their workforce redundant from September while 58 per cent said they will be bust within two months. More than 80 per cent will lay off staff when the furlough scheme ends in November. The night-time economy employs 1.3million people, and contributes 66billion each year to Britain's GDP. Michael Kill, chief executive of the NTIA, said: 'I don't think the Government recognises how many people could be made redundant. There are a lot of businesses out there which are really on the edge now.' The Deltic Group had a 106million annual turnover and 12million profit before the crisis but is forecast to lose 17million this year. It is burning through 600,000 per month in fixed costs, plus 1million in rent, which it cannot pay. A disqualified driver has been charged after attempting to cross the border into NSW with a passenger in his car boot. Officers stopped a Mitsubishi Magna on Saturday morning at a border checkpoint on the Hume Highway near Albury. The 34-year-old driver had a permit to enter NSW but was unable to produce identification. Police stop and question drivers at a checkpoint on the NSW-Victoria border in Albury. Credit:Getty Images The man was arrested following further checks, which revealed he had been disqualified from driving. Police then conducted a search of the vehicle to find a 41-year-old woman hiding in the boot. She was unable to produce a permit and was directed to return to Victoria. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 20:17:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Pakistan Air Force cadets take part in a ceremony at the mausoleum of the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah to mark the country's Defense Day in southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Sept. 6, 2020. Pakistan celebrated the country's 55th Defense Day on Sunday to pay homage to the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the war with India in 1965. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan celebrated the country's 55th Defense Day on Sunday to pay homage to the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives in the war with India in 1965. The defense day was celebrated amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India over the latter's decision to revoke the Indian-controlled Kashmir's special status in August last year. The day dawned with 31-gun salute in the federal capital Islamabad and 21-gun salute at provincial capitals, while special prayers were offered for the soldiers and civilians in the war. On the occasion, Pakistani President Arif Alvi issued a message, saying that Pakistan has achieved self-reliance in the defense field and the armed forces are playing an active role in internal security as well as nation building while safeguarding the frontiers. "We have thwarted external aggression. We have successfully defeated terrorism and extremism, and now we are on the path towards economic prosperity. Lastly, I would once again pay homage to our great heroes who sacrificed their lives for the motherland," the president said. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in his separate message said Pakistan is for peace but this must not be misconstrued as the country's weakness. "The world understands that our desire for peace is for economic wellbeing and prosperity of the people of this region," Khan said. The Pakistani leaders mentioned India's decision to revoke the Indian-controlled Kashmir's special status last year and said that the move of India has violated the United Nations Charter. The Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly or the lower house of the parliament Shahbaz Sharif said in his message that freedom is a precious asset that can be defended by building unity and working together in the pursuit of national objectives. The main ceremony in connection with the Defense Day was held at the General Headquarters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi. On the occasion, Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa laid floral wreath at the memorial of martyrs and paid homage to them. In the southern port city of Karachi, a change of guard ceremony was held at the mausoleum of the country's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in connection with the Defense Day. Enditem Delhi HC refuses to stay release of movie 'Nyay: The Justice', purportedly based on Sushant Singh Rajput's lif Sushant Singh Rajput Death Anniversary: A Timeline of the of events that have transpired so far Relief for Rhea Chakraborty, Court allows de-freezing of actress' bank accounts after a year At least 6 members of Sushant Singh Rajputs family killed in road accident in Bihar Witnessed our lowest: Bollywood lashes out at media for mobbing Rhea Chakraborty at NCB office India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Sep 06: Several Bollywood personalities, including actors Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker, and filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, criticised media's mobbing of actor Rhea Chakraborty, flouting all standard protocols amid COVID-19 pandemic, as she reached Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) office on Sunday. Rhea Chakraborty, who is accused of abetting Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide by his family, appeared before the NCB for questioning in the drugs case linked to the death of the actor and her live-in partner. According to viral visuals from several channels on social media, the 28-year-old actor was seen being heckled and pushed by the media as she made her way to the NCB office, escorted by Mumbai Police. Media's behaviour was criticised by Twitter users, including celebrities from the fraternity who called it "disgusting". Pannu took to Twitter and lamented over the treatment being meted out to Rhea Chakraborty in the case. Sushant case: NCB questions Rhea for about 6 hours; to be grilled again tomorrow "In the name of justice these people have lynched a human being off her right to live even before proven guilty. I sincerely pray karma finds the address of each and every human being part of this lowest low of mankind we are witness to," the actor wrote. This was the "lowest" the country had stooped to, said Bhasker. "India... witness our lowest! Shameful witch hunt! Disgusting," she wrote. Mirza said the behaviour by the media present on ground was "reprehensible". "The law must and will take it's course. This behaviour reprehensible in every way. Enough! Why can't Rhea be given space and the right to physical distancing? Why are the media behaving like vultures? Please please give her space. Stop attacking/dehumanising her & her family," the actor wrote. The NCB, over the last two days, has arrested Rhea Chakraborty's younger brother Showik Chakraborty (24), Rajput's house manager Samuel Miranda (33) and Dipesh Sawant, a member of the actor's personal staff, in this case. Sinha said the video of Rhea Chakraborty's entry into the NCB office was representative of the "power of media over law and order in Mumbai". "And yes, this is much worse than being called names. Any names," he added. Filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava said it's sad how the entire country's focus was on Rhea Chakraborty. "No thoughts about the economy, the pandemic or anything else of consequence. Indians are only interested in burning Rhea at the stake. That is what makes our people happy and fulfilled and validated. No amount of hate and venom is enough. We are sick. Very very sick," she tweeted. Various angles surrounding the death of Rajput, 34, are being probed by three federal agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The NCB initiated a drug angle probe in this case after the ED shared with it a report following the cloning of two mobile phones of Rhea Chakraborty. Rajput was found dead at his flat in suburban Bandra area on June 14. The same pro-Taliban commander who had forced her father to agree to Ms. Yaris engagement with his son then demanded Ms. Yaris older sister as a bride, she said. When her father refused, she said, he was kidnapped in 2000 and has not been heard from since. Her fathers fate is a reminder of how far she has come, Ms. Yari said, and how common it still is for Afghan women to be treated as property. The environment here in Afghanistan is still not friendly to women, to say the least, she said. Even in Kabul, the capital, women who do not fully cover their hair or who appear in public with a man who is not a family member are sometimes cursed or attacked by men. Child marriages are common in rural areas. Hundreds of thousands of Afghan girls do not attend school. Ms. Yari has a prominent job: She reviews human rights and civil rights cases brought by civil service employees in the American-backed government in Kabul. It is a position that would have been inconceivable for a woman under Taliban rule, but it is no insurance against harassment or harsh judgments, Ms. Yari said. When I was trying to escape a child marriage, I didnt feel as much stress as I do now, she said. I still feel pressure at many levels. Do I wear makeup or not? Do I wear my scarf? Do I wear tight or loose clothes? Some of her colleagues at the civil service commission adhere to traditional views of a womans professional role that she should stay in the background and defer to men, she said. I feel like Im always introduced as an angry woman who came from the West and is trying to implement feminism in a way that is not possible here, she said. People get upset with me, but I dont care. When a Republican-led Senate committee issued a nearly 1,000-page report in mid-August that detailed the prodigious extent of the contacts between Russian officials and members of Donald Trumps 2016 campaign team, it felt a bit like a dispatch from a vaguely familiar reality a pre-pandemic realm when we could mostly agree to focus on foreign interference in American democracy, and when the Trump presidency felt as if it were hanging in the balance while it awaited word from Robert S Mueller III. This is the world that forged Michael S Schmidts Donald Trump v. the ... Monday, Sept. 7, is Labor Day. Most municipal services will be closed for the day in observance. Services like law enforcement and the first department will be on call as usual. City offices are scheduled to re-open and resume service, including virtual services, on Tuesday, Sept. 8. For city-specific information, go to: City of Sugar Land Phone: 281-275-2700; Website: www.sugarlandtx.gov City of Richmond 281-342-5456; Website: www.richmondtx.gov City of Rosenberg Phone: 832-595-3300; Website: https://rosenbergtx.gov City of Missouri City Phone: 281-403-8500; Website: www.missouricitytx.gov City of Fulshear Phone: 281-346-1796; Website: www.fulsheartexas.gov. Bond Election Update A bond election update with Fort Bend County Engineer Stacy Slawinski is scheduled for 8-9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, via a Zoom webinar. Fort Bend County Commissioners Court authorized two bonds worth more than $256 million to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. The bonds include $218 million for mobility and another $38 million for parks. Introductory remarks will be made by Fort Bend County Judge KP George. Registration ranges from $20 for chamber members, $30 for prospective members up to $500 for event sponsors. Zoom login information will be provided following registration. For more information call Ryan Husid at 281-566-2163 or email ryan@fortbendcc.org. Go to https://tinyurl.com/y6zeafc5 to register. Monthly member meeting The Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will host a monthly member meeting, beginning with a meet-and-greet at 7:30 a.m. with the meeting starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. To join in the virtual meeting, to to Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87166137975. The meeting ID is 871 6613 7975. The topic of the meeting will be the Greater Houston Partnership with Patrick Jankowski, the organizations senior vice president-research. For more information go to www.fulshearkaty.com. Rosenberg Development Corporation The Rosenberg Development Corporation is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9. The corporation promotes economic and industrial activities in the city. For more information go to https://rosenbergtx.gov. Richmond City Commission The Richmond City Commission is scheduled to meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. To attend the virtual meeting go to https://zoom.us/j/92540659681 and enter Meeting ID: 925 4065 9681. To dial in call 1-346-248-7799 and enter 925 4065 9681 when prompted. The main purpose of the meeting is to hold a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2020-21 budget. The total budget is $35,642,689. For more information go to www.richmondtx.gov. Community Blood Drive A community blood drive is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, 445 Commerce Green Blvd. in Sugar Land. Appointments are required to donate blood. Go to www.CommitForLife.org and enter sponsor code F445 to set up a donation time. For more information call Brenda DeFrayne at 832-335-5701 or email bdefrayne@giveblood.org. rkent@hcnonline.com Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts also tweeted about the photo Sunday afternoon. "This is disgusting," he said. "Racism has no place in our society, and does not reflect Nebraska values. This language is wrong and hateful. We must all strongly condemn statements like this, and work to build greater understanding and love for our neighbors in our communities." Cordis said that he has been receiving threats since his name and address were posted on social media accounts Saturday. "I've got everybody and anybody you can think of calling me and texting me," Cordis said. "There have been a lot of death threats from people that I don't know." A Stromsburg woman who has a 15-month-old child with Cordis, said she has also received death threats. A tearful Josephine Ewing returned a call from the World-Herald on Sunday to say she and Cordis are no longer in a relationship and she doesn't know anything about what was written on his truck. "I want people to know that he does not live here, and we are not together," Ewing said. "Me and my daughter have been getting death threats. Everyone needs to keep me and my child out of this. My kid needs to be left alone." remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Tony Mokbel was arrested after giving vital clues of his whereabouts during a phone call home after a friend passed away, an underworld source has claimed. The 55-year-old underworld figure was arrested in Greece in June 2007 after fleeing Australia while on trial for cocaine smuggling. Mokbel fled the country to Europe by boat, sparking an international manhunt for the career criminal, who was on the run from law enforcement for more than a year. Police were able to find Mokbel after tapping his phone lines and learning valuable details from a conversation between Mokbel and Joe Mansour. A snitch known as Informer 3030 gave police a list of phone numbers to track Mokbel after speaking with Mansour and another man named David. Tony Mokbel (pictured centre) was arrested in Greece in 2007 after fleeing his drug trial by boat Mokbel had called to offer his condolences to David after his father Max died of a heart attack. Informer 3030 earned a reward of more than $1million for his role in finding the fugitive drug trafficker. The Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants heard Nicola Gobbo also played an important role in having Mokbel extradited to Australia. Ms Gobbo -Melbourne's infamous 'Lawyer X' - was police informer 3838 and was instrumental in bringing Mokbel to justice. 'She had for example, played a pivotal role in the dismantling of the Mokbel drug syndicate and the ultimate recapture of Mokbel in Greece,' Former chief commissioner Simon Overland told the royal commission, as reported by The Herald Sun. Mokbel had asked Ms Gobbo to come to Greece with him, and she gave details to police after he contacted her following his capture. Nicola 'Lawyer X' Gobbo (pictured) played an integral role in bringing Mokbel to justice Ms Gobbo was registered as an informer three times and helped police bring down a number of her former clients including Tony Mokbel and Carl Williams. Jailed underworld figure Mokbel is one of nearly a dozen people currently appealing convictions they claim were tainted by Ms Gobbo's informing. He spent 15 months on the run after fleeing his 2006 drug trial, in which more than 15 million pills hidden in tomato cans from Italy were found. Evidence suggests both federal and state prosecution agencies knew Ms Gobbo was working as an informer during the trafficking case. Zlate Cvetanovski was freed on bail while he awaits his appeal, after spending almost a decade in jail, while Faruk Orman had his murder conviction quashed by Victoria's Court of Appeal last year. Victoria Police sensationally apologised for the gangland barrister's involvement as a police informant, and said steps had been taken to ensure it could 'never happen again'. Mokbel had asked Ms Gobbo (pictured) to come with him to Greece and she gave police vital evidence to have him extradited to Australia 'It was an indefensible interference in the lawyer/client relationship, a relationship that is essential to the proper functioning of the criminal justice system and to the rule of law,' a police spokeswoman said. 'Our failure at that time to ensure that these circumstances were identified and disclosed was also a significant and missed opportunity to right a wrong.' 'We have taken steps to make sure that what happened with Ms Gobbo can never happen again.' Over the course of the pandemic, individuals with a past history of eating disorders noted concerns of relapse brought on by COVID-19 circumstances, according to a 2020 study published by the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Rivky strolled through the Zara store in Manhattan's fashionable SoHo neighborhood, one eye examining the racks of skirts and blouses and the other looking out for anyone she might know. She was looking for something that would fit her broad frame. Rivky made her way to the women's dressing room line, dresses and skirts piled on her forearms. The female attendant looked confused and then chuckled. Why was this male-presenting person wearing traditional Hasidic Jewish men's attire walking into the fitting room with women's clothing? Rivky, 41, is not your typical gender-conforming religious observer. Her white dress shirt, black vest and black slacks the daily dress code for Hasidic men serve as culturally acceptable covers for the bra and women's underwear she frequently wears underneath. She feels her best when dressed in women's attire, and at home she regularly strips down to just a bra, panties and nylon tights when she knows her wife will not be back for hours. "It makes me feel like I want to dance for joy," said Rivky, who asked that her full name not be published because she is not out to friends and family about her gender identity. "If you take a magnifying glass and look into my heart, you will see 100 percent I am a girl." Rivky identifies as transgender but deeply buries these emotions and feelings away from her ultra-Orthodox community in Borough Park, Brooklyn. She fears that if she were to come out of the proverbial closet, she would face social expulsion or, worse, abandonment by her wife and four children. While there is no set Hasidic policy regarding those who come out as transgender, the community's strict code of living does not condone even the slightest deviation from the Hasidic norm. Neither biblical nor rabbinical literature points to changing one's sex, but the Torah does discuss cross-dressing, said Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky of Park Avenue Synagogue, a prominent Conservative congregation in New York. Story continues Deuteronomy 22:5 reads, "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." Witkovsky said some rabbinical teachings might support the literal translation of this verse, while others would interpret it otherwise. Related: Brendon is the subject of "Draw With Me," a short film directed by Constantine Venetopoulos in collaboration with The Trevor Project. From a young age, Rivky was in tune with her womanhood, but always in secret. As a child, she mirrored her sisters and female cousins, and she dressed like a girl when she had the chance. When her mother was away, Rivky, as young as 6 years old, would sneak into dresser drawers and try on her mother's undergarments. They were large on Rivky's child-size body but nonetheless "amazing," she recalled with a smile. When she grew older, Rivky ventured to women's stores outside her community and glanced around the racks, wistfully. She was ashamed to admit her presence and found herself telling salespeople that she was shopping for her mother or sister. That prevented her from entering fitting rooms to try on clothes, denying her the satisfaction she craved. "I should've been born a girl," she said. Despite temptations, Rivky kept her desires clandestine, believing they were sinful thoughts that needed to be purged. "I would pray to God, 'Take this away from me,'" she recalled. But the more she pushed her womanhood away, the stronger her feminine wishes would return. Rivky continued to fight them off and kept to tradition when the Hasidic community arranged her marriage at 18. More than two decades and four children later, concealing her true identity left Rivky feeling incomplete. Only in the past 10 years has she realized that the only way to make peace with herself is to embrace those thoughts. Her urge to be the woman she has always wanted to be after decades of hiding grew stronger and stronger. "I wanted to take off my beard," she said. "I wanted to grow my hair." Rivky's face glowed under tangled facial hairs when she discussed how she wants to take hormones some day. She also dreams of growing her hair long and styling it. She does, however, already shave her legs and chest hair from time to time, she confessed. Related: Johnson is best known for her role in the Stonewall uprising and for co-founding the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries with fellow activist Sylvia Rivera. In small and subtle ways, Rivky increasingly started to express her gender identity, while keeping her friends and relatives in the dark. Her wife, however, had her suspicions and conveyed her disapproval. The couple have not discussed Rivky's identity as a transgender lesbian, but Rivky said she knows that if she were to come out, she would lose her wife and children. While coming out to those within her religious community is still a bridge too far for Rivky, she has taken steps to open up to those outside her Hasidic circle. On a recent Sunday, Rivky attended a monthly feminist gathering in Brooklyn called Sacred Space, which celebrates and empowers women of all and no religious backgrounds. Women of various ages flashed smiles, exchanged hugs and gathered in a large circle around pastel furniture at the meeting room in the borough's trendy DUMBO neighborhood. Attendees began introducing themselves, and Rivky, dressed in slacks and a dress shirt with her long curly sidelocks falling from her balding head, spoke up. "If you take a magnifying glass and look into my heart, you will see 100 percent I am a girl," Rivky announced in a Yiddish accent. She attended the event to see the co-host, Abby Stein, an openly transgender woman who was once an ultra-Orthodox rabbi. Rivky listened to Stein attentively, admiring her courage and openness, and then ducked out of the meeting early, as confidentiality was a concern. Rivky yearns to assimilate into a larger society that extends beyond Brooklyn's ultra-Orthodox community, and without blowing her cover, she relies on Facebook as an outlet. Hasidic Jews typically do not use social media, but Rivky's account is disguised, and it is strictly used for expressing her womanhood. Her Facebook cover image is of a rainbow flag with the words "love is love," and her profile photo is of a polished woman's hand holding a red rose. Her tag line reads, "A transgender girl who appreciates seeing a smile on her friends lips when they are painted hot red!" An estimated 1.4 million adults identify as transgender in the United States, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, although it is unknown how many trans Americans, like Rivky, are not open about their gender identities. For those who do come out, living openly is not without its challenges: According to the Human Rights Campaign, the country's largest LGBTQ advocacy group, transgender people often face discrimination in housing, employment and health care, among other hurdles. Image: Abby Stein appears on NBC's TODAY show on Nov. 19, 2019. (Nathan Congleton / TODAY) Stein, 28, is no stranger to the challenges of both the proverbial closet and coming out as transgender in the Hasidic community. A former rabbi, Stein said she struggled with her gender identity since she was at least 5 years old, recalling anger toward her parents at the time for not letting her wear dresses and telling her mother that the genitalia she was born with "doesn't belong there." Stein was born into a large family of 12 children, and she socialized with no one outside her close-knit Hasidic circle in Brooklyn growing up. She divorced her wife, pursued a secular education and then came out as transgender in 2015. Stein was ostracized by her religious community, and her ex-wife severed ties, as well, because Hasidic leaders forbade their remaining in contact. She does, however, get to visit with her son from time to time. Now, five years after having left the community, she still savors the freedom fueled by that difficult decision. "Even sometimes just waking up in the morning and walking in the streets you can be yourself," she said. "Being yourself every day is really powerful. I can't overstate that enough." She finds value in the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life rather than be confined to one group that shares the same religious and cultural values. "I could never form strong friendships before I came out," she said, adding that now, after having traveled to six continents and becoming friends with diverse groups of people, that aspect of her life is thriving. Over the past few years, Stein has become a global LGBTQ rights activist and has given lectures in more than 20 countries, hoping to inspire courage, resilience and inclusion. Her autobiography, "Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman," was released in November. But while Stein has found beauty and inspiration in her expanded world, the loneliness that comes from the loss of her Hasidic friends and family still creeps in from time to time. Stein said that for years after she was shunned by her religious community, she would call her mother every Friday, even though her mother would avoid answering the phone or answer and immediately hang up when she realized Stein was on the other end of the line. Stein called less frequently, reaching out only on holidays, and eventually she stopped calling altogether. "Being yourself every day is really powerful. I can't overstate that enough." The fear of alienation and losing her family is what kept Rivky on guard during her SoHo shopping trip. But despite the uneasiness, the experience was a mini-vacation, because her wife was out of town. "Just walking into this environment makes me feel womanized, girlish," she said while walking into Club Monaco. "I like heels. Something pointy," she said before settling on a pair of pink pumps at a nearby shoe store. Her size was not available, but that did not stop her from squeezing what she could of her foot into the shoe and admiring the dainty look in the mirror. Rivky abides by social distancing rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she said the most difficult part has been the lockdown on self-expression. Her family is home more than usual now, which means bras, panties and other expressions of her gender identity are relegated to their own version of quarantine. There's "very little time to express my feminine self," she said dejectedly. A quick trip to the market is her excuse to escape the social construct and at least call her non-Hasidic friends to discuss her frustration. Rivky said her fear of "remaining a man" is greater than her fear of contracting a dangerous virus. Rivky remains caught between two worlds, and she yearns to one day reconcile her inner gender identity with the person she presents outwardly. On some days, she feels that her coming out is closer, but for now, she continues to sneak out for short shopping trips and to message people through her secret Facebook account. "Keeping the FEMININE flame's burning and it gets stronger and wider," she recently wrote on Facebook. "I am getting closer to living my feminine dream." Follow NBC Out on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram RTHK: Facebook tells Frenchman his death can't be live Facebook has blocked a terminally ill French euthanasia campaigner from livestreaming his own death. Alain Cocq, who has been suffering for 34 years from a rare and incurable degenerative disease, said he would find another way to broadcast his death. He has stopped taking food, drink or medicine, and says he wants his death to be seen to help persuade French authorities to lift a ban on medically assisted suicide. While we respect Alains decision to draw attention to this important issue, we are preventing live broadcasts on his account based on the advice of experts that the depiction of suicide attempts could be triggering and promote more self-harm," Facebook said. Cocq, 57 had said he would livestream his death on Facebook from Saturday morning. After Facebook blocked it, he said a new means of livestreaming would be set up within 24 hours. "So I have finished my last meal ... I drink to your health one last time. The road to deliverance begins and, believe me, I am happy," Cocq said in a video posted on Friday night and shot from his bed at his home in Dijon, eastern France. "I have made up my mind and I am at peace," he added. He had written to French President Emmanuel Macron asking that medical professionals be allowed to assist his death. Macron wrote back saying this was not allowed under French law. France's neighbours Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands have adopted laws that allow medically-assisted dying in some cases. But France has resisted that step, in part under pressure from the Catholic Church. "Because I am not above the law, I am not able to comply with your request," Macron said in a letter to Cocq, which Cocq published on his Facebook page. "Your wish is to request active assistance in dying which is not currently permitted in our country," said Macron. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-09-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the second major assault on Indias unorganised economy after demonetisation was the faulty Goods and Services Tax (GST). He further alleged that GST was not a tax system but an attack on Indias poor, and called upon countrymen to stand united against it. The video was the third part of Gandhis fresh series on economy. He had earlier released a five-part series on Chinese aggression in Ladakh. GST was UPAs (Congress-led United Progressive Alliances) idea. One tax, minimal tax, standard and simple tax. NDAs (the ruling National Democratic Alliances) GST is completely different, Gandhi said in his latest video message. The Congress argues that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA has badly conceptualised GST. Small and medium businesses cannot pay this tax. The big companies can easily pay it by putting 5-10-15 accountants to do the job. Why are there four different rates? This is because the government wants those who have the means to be able to easily change GST, and those who dont have means, cannot do anything about GST, he said in the 2.27-minute video. Who has the means? Indias biggest 15-20 industrialists. So, whatever tax law they want to change can easily be done in this GST regime, added Gandhi. Also Read: Modi dispensations thinking - minimum govt, maximum privatisation: Rahul Gandhi The former Congress chief also attacked the government for its failure to pay the GST compensation to states. And what is the result of NDAs GST? Today, the government of India is unable to provide the GST compensation money to the states. The states are unable to give money to state employees, teachers, etc, he said. Hence this GST is an absolute failure. Not only is it unsuccessful, it is an attack on the poor and on the small and medium businesses, Gandhi added. Gandhi urged the people to recognise this attack and stand against it together. GST is not a tax system, it is an attack on Indias poor. It is an attack on small shopkeepers, small and medium businesses, farmers and labourers. We have to recognise this attack and stand against it together, he said. Gandhis latest video series comes in the wake of the Indian economys decline by a record 23.9% in the first quarter of April to June in the current financial year of 2020-21. The deceleration reflected the economic impact of the 68-day Covid-19-induced lockdown restrictions in the first quarter. Gandhi has often described the GST as Gabbar Singh Tax, a pun on the name of the villain in the famous Bollywood movie Sholay, insisting that it is flawed and needs to be reformed and changed. Also Read: Note ban meant to hurt informal sector: Rahul Gandhi BJP spokesperson Gopal Agarwal said, Across globe single indirect tax is considered as a mega reform. Indias GST has subsumed more than 13 indirect taxes into one online tax system for ease of compliances. With its online registration, filing of returns, payment, assessment and refund, it removes subjectivity and harassment to small assesses. It has successfully reduced the incidence of taxes on the consumers also with input tax credit. He went on to say that more than 60% of small businesses are in the informal sector and were facing continuous harassment from local inspectors, which is now a history. All MSMEs are coming into formalisation segments which is important for 97% of our labour forces social well-being. Establishment of the GST council is a landmark for our federal structure, where all decisions are taken collectively, he said. Agarwal termed it initial hiccups, adding: A country like Australia took more than six years for implementation. Its the need of the hour, globally implemented as a progressive reform. In the first video, Gandhi alleged that the central government has destroyed the economy by repeatedly assaulting the informal sector and the latest attack on it was the coronavirus-induced lockdown. In the second video, Gandhi alleged that the governments hidden agenda behind demonetization, which saw the scrapping of all Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, was to deliberately harm Indias informal sector, which survives on liquid cash. Simply the best. Better than all the rest. The new Sunday Life staff swiftly adopted Tina Turner's signature song 32 years ago even though the paper was entering the most crowded weekend market-place in Europe. When it hit the newsstands for the first time in October 1988, the Life was surrounded by 20 other Sunday papers from Britain and Ireland. Three years later, as the launch editor, I had the privilege of receiving the UK Regional Newspaper of the Year award from the late Sir David Frost at a glittering ceremony in London before 1,500 guests. I still recall his words of introduction: "And now the winner -- the pride of Belfast -- the Sunday Life." I also remember the looks of bewilderment on the faces of the elite of the newspaper industry, owners, directors and editors, as Frost opened the envelope in his hand and revealed which paper had won the premier award. Expand Close Ed Curran was launch Editor of the Sunday Life / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ed Curran was launch Editor of the Sunday Life Sunday Life was so new hardly anyone outside Northern Ireland had heard of it. The paper had come from nowhere to eclipse others which had been in existence for more than a century. It was as if a non-league team had just won the FA Cup. My attachment to Sunday Life goes back to the early 1980s when I was Deputy Editor of the Belfast Telegraph and the idea of launching a Sunday paper was gaining more interest. A small team of Telegraph staff worked on various designs until eventually, in the spring of 1988, the paper's then proprietor, the Canadian-born Lord Thomson and his international board agreed to launch three new Sunday papers, in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast during a conference on the idyllic island of Bermuda. The president of the Thomson publishing group wrote the word 'yes' on the page of a notebook and to this day that page, now framed, hangs in the Sunday Life editor's office. Sunday Life set out to appeal to a new generation of reader. It had colour on every page at a time when many papers were still strictly black and white. The design was tabloid for handy reading and the style was brash and in your face or, in the words of the paper's motto, "racy but responsible." Expand Close An injured man is aided by mourners, including Sinn Fein vice president Martin McGuinness, left, at Milltown Cemetary (PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An injured man is aided by mourners, including Sinn Fein vice president Martin McGuinness, left, at Milltown Cemetary (PA) Northern Ireland was coming out of a long conflict but it was still far from over. The year 1988 saw the SAS killings of three IRA members in Gibraltar, followed by the Milltown Cemetery attack by Michael Stone and the murders of two Army corporals in west Belfast a few days later. Expand Close Michael Stone during the Milltown Cemetry attack in 1988 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Stone during the Milltown Cemetry attack in 1988 As the first editor, I spent much of that summer in the Europa Hotel interviewing the journalists who would go on to make the Sunday Life a national success story. Most came from weekly and daily papers and many have made their mark since in print journalism and broadcasting. It was an exciting and challenging time. Each week, as more staff were hired, dummy issues of the paper would be printed and assessed in the run-up to the actual launch date. A major advertising campaign was planned for television and radio. Everything was state of the art from the office furniture to the computers on the desks. Sunday Life was a new paper for a new era and so it proved to be. Of course it was nothing like what it is now. The paper has grown from the original 48 page tabloid divided into three sections -- news, features and sport -- to become the hugely comprehensive platform it is today. How far, too, has the Life and its tens of thousands of readers travelled from October 1988 when the first front page headline was "Mission of Peace" referring to a tentative initiative by the Protestant and Catholic archbishops of Armagh. The launch was not without difficulty. On the opening night, as we all congratulated ourselves, a glitch stopped the press for a worrying time before it re-started and the new paper hit the streets. I would tour the news vendors around Belfast on Sunday mornings apprehensive as to how well the paper was selling and there were nail-biting moments when the first circulation figures came through. However, Sunday Life was soon a success. In the eyes of its readers it lived up to being simply the best, better than all the rest. No paper in Northern Ireland could equal it for its unique combination of local news, sport, features and advertising. That is still so today. She is beloved by 007 fans for her memorable appearance opposite Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977. And Bond girl Susie Vanner looked nothing short of sensational as she soaked up the sun while on holiday in St Tropez, France on Saturday. The actress, 69, donned a bright red bikini as she sunbathed on a boat while making the most of her trip. Vacation: Bond girl Susie Vanner, 69, looked nothing short of sensational as she soaked up the sun while on holiday in St Tropez, France on Saturday Styling her blonde locks into a ponytail, Susie chatted with a group of friends as she kicked back and relaxed on the French Riviera. Showing off her tan, the film star completed her look for the outing with a simple gold necklace and matching watch. Susie is remembered for her portrayal of the Log Cabin Girl in Sir Roger Moore's The Spy Who Loved Me. The character was an unnamed honeytrap who acted as bait in a Soviet attempt to assassinate Bond. Role: Susie is beloved by 007 fans for her memorable appearance opposite Roger Moore in The Spy Who Loved Me in 1977 When the film was adapted for Christopher Wood's novelisation, she was given the name Martine Blanchaud. Last year, Susie spoke out about the moment her 32-year marriage crumbled when her husband Warren Todd left her for a younger woman he met at the gym. The Bond star admitted she was a 'fighter' but found things 'really hard' when Warren, 54, ended their marriage to pursue a relationship with his new girlfriend, who became pregnant. Appearing on ITV's Lorraine, Sue told how she has found solace in music after her bitter split. Fun in the sun: The actress donned a bright red bikini as she sunbathed on a boat while making the most of her trip Lorraine said: 'It's a sad reason for you to go back into the music business... 32 years and he's gone off with someone else, and that's really hard.' Susie replied: 'It's really hard, but I'm a fighter so I decided to go back into my music.' Lorraine continued: 'So instead of sitting in the corner crying because your husband has run off with somebody whose younger, and they've now got a baby I believe' To which a hurt Susie quipped back: 'Not that much younger actually but never mind.' Lorraine scoffed: 'That's almost worse. I know we're laughing about it but its really hard.' Holiday: Styling her blonde locks into a ponytail, Susie chatted with a group of friends as she kicked back and relaxed on the French Riviera After an awkward moment, the conversation then led to Bond, where Susie compared today's Bond to when she starred in it in 1977. 'They are different, theres more special effects, theyre less tongue in cheek,' she said. 'But I think theyre fantastic. Its moving with the times.' Back in June, it emerged Susie's husband Warren fell in love with a much younger woman, known only as 'Anya', who is pregnant with his child. The multi-millionaire property tycoon, owner of a huge chunk of London's fashionable Notting Hill, moved out of the 10million Georgian mansion he shared with Susie near the Beckhams' home in Holland Park. Warren is now living in a smaller property around the corner with his new girlfriend, who thought to be Eastern European. Memorable: Susie's character was an unnamed honeytrap who acted as bait in a Soviet attempt to assassinate Bond A close friend told The Daily Mail at the time: 'Sue is devastated, After 32 years of happy marriage, Warren's made decisions, during a very serious mid-life crisis, which have broken up their family.' Warren's stepmother, the U.S. television star Lisa Vanderpump, previously admitted that the 16-year age gap between the couple initially worried her and his father, Ken Todd. Lisa said: 'When Warren first met Sue, the age difference, the secrecy that had transpired, was not something we supported. 'But I learned a very valuable lesson when our children make a choice, remember our opinions and influence are pretty much redundant.' She added that, after a few years, 'we would have to admit we were wrong'. Still, recalled Berryman, I think if we had known earlier, some of us may not have volunteered. There were definitely times we thought, what the hell are we doing here? Were getting five bob a day for this? The two-week voyage through Japanese-occupied waters was uncomfortable. They flew the Japanese flag and posed as Malay fishermen, wearing sarongs and constantly applying foul-smelling brown dye to their skin. Berryman spent much time at the top of the mast with binoculars looking out for other craft, which would be given a wide berth. When a Japanese float plane flew over, members of Z Force would wave and stand in a circle pretending to unpick fishing lines. On September 18, Krait arrived off Singapore, which was ablaze with lights and where the Japanese thought themselves safe, and offloaded six commandos in three two-man canoes. Much to their disappointment, Berryman and Marsh were told to stay behind. Of course, we put on a bit of a turn weve done all the training, sir, why cant we be in it? and he said, nope, you two are going to be babysitters and look after Krait . The canoeists established a base in a cave on a small island, and on the night of September 26, they paddled into the harbour to attached limpet mines to seven vessels, sinking or damaging 37,000 tons of shipping. However, when Krait reached its rendezvous, the island of Pompong, 50 miles off Singapore, on the night of October 1-2, only one canoe was found. Lyon had told Krait to leave that night no matter what but being good old Australians, we decided wed break the law and go back in two nights later, when the other two canoes were recovered. As temperatures rise across the UK throughout August, many people will likely be spending more time basking in the sunshine. However, amid the picnics and barbecues, the continued spread of the coronavirus remains a concern, despite the recent easing of lockdown measures in England and the devolved nations of the UK. There are some who believe that warmer temperatures may reduce risk of spreading or catching the coronavirus, considering seasonal flu typically spikes in the winter months. And some reports during the early stages of the pandemic said that warmer climates may see fewer cases. However, previous pandemics such as the 1918 Spanish flu, which peaked during the summer months could suggest otherwise. So do warmer temperatures have a significant impact on transmission of the coronavirus? Do warmer temperatures reduce risk of catching the coronavirus? On the website for the World Health Organisation (WHO), it lists a series of myths concerning the coronavirus that it has deemed important for the public to be made aware of. Among the list includes the notion that exposing yourself to the sun or to temperatures of higher than 25C prevents spread of Covid-19 an idea that WHO has adamantly dismissed. You can catch Covid-19, no matter how sunny or hot the weather is, the organisation states, adding that countries with hot climates have reported cases of Covid-19. In a separate document, which has been tracking rumours circulating about the virus, WHO states that based on the current available evidence, the Covid-19 virus can be transmitted in all areas, including areas with hot and humid weather. Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting Covid-19, the organisation advises, adding that people should frequently wash their hands to protect themselves from the virus. Nonetheless, some studies have suggested that Covid-19 may exhibit seasonality in summer and winter. Earlier this year, researchers at University College London conducted a study of the common coronaviruses, analysing historical data. The researchers found that the highest rates of cases occurred in February, with fewer cases during summer. Our findings support the idea that in the UK we could see continued but lower levels of coronavirus transmission in the summer, but this may reverse in the winter if there is still a large susceptible population at that point, said lead author Rob Aldridge. However, given this is a novel virus, we dont know if this seasonal pattern will hold over the summer due to high levels of susceptibility in the population. A study conducted a decade ago by the Centre for Infectious Diseases at the University of Edinburgh concluded that three coronaviruses showed marked winter seasonality, causing infections predominantly between December and April, similarly to influenza. Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Show all 7 1 /7 Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the hot weather at Bournemouth beach in Dorset on 20 May PA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach in Brighton on 20 May EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People enjoy the sunshine on Birling Gap beach on 20 May near Eastbourne Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Seagulls are perched on a street lamp as beachgoers bask in the sun on Brighton Beach EPA Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures People head to the beach as England basks in sunshine in Blackpool Getty Sunseekers head to beaches amid lockdown measures Parts of the country were expected to reach 29 degrees celsius, luring sunbathers and testing the capacity of parks and beaches to accommodate social distanced crowds. Getty Another study published in March 2020 by epidemiology company Ausvet Europe stated that preliminary evidence has shown that higher temperatures are associated with lower incidence of Covid-19, for cases reported up to 29 February across the globe. However, it added that temperature explained a relatively modest amount of the total variation of Covid-19 incidence. On 6 May 2020, a scientific study published in The Lancet by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine explored the role of climate in Covid-19 mitigation strategies. The paper stated that while warmer weather might slightly reduce transmission of the coronavirus, no evidence has suggested that warmer conditions will reduce the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to an extent that few additional interventions are needed to curb its spread. At present, policy makers must focus on reducing physical contact within communities and any Covid-19 risk predictions based on climate information alone should be interpreted with caution, it concluded. Why does the flu peak in winter? While it is understood that flu season reaches its peak in winter, there are several hypotheses why this may be. One of the reasons is that when the temperature is cooler, people are more likely to take public transport and so have a greater chance of coming into close contact with other people. Another is that lack of vitamin D from reduced exposure to sunlight can impact our immune systems. In 2008, research conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that the influenza virus has a coating, which becomes a hardened shell in winter. When the virus enters the respiratory tract, this coating melts, the researchers found. However, in the summer, the coating melts before it enters the respiratory tract, which may indicate why it is less likely to spread. Should we expect to see cases of Covid-19 decline during the heatwave? In the warmer weather, it is likely that an increased number of people will be spending time outdoors while social distancing. While this could mean that people may spend less time indoors in close proximity to other individuals, it may also result in members of the public becoming lax with social distancing measures as they head to the park and other peoples homes. Either way, the WHO stresses that Covid-19 can still be spread in warmer temperatures, so social distancing guidelines and good hygiene should be stringently practised. By Elyssa Cherney; Chicago Tribune; (TNS) College students, beware: You could temporarily lose your spot on campus or worse, get expelled for partying with your peers this fall. It happened at Purdue University in Indiana, where 36 students received summary suspensions earlier this month for attending an off-campus gathering that lacked face masks and social distancing, just hours after a warning from administrators. The Ohio State University issued about 225 interim suspensions for off-campus parties and gatherings between Aug. 19 and 23, spokesman Benjamin Johnson said. More than half of the suspensions were lifted after students showed they did not attend, host or participate in unsafe activities, Johnson said. And on the East Coast, Pennsylvania State University suspended a fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha, and its student leaders for holding an event with 70 people on Aug. 22, while Syracuse University in New York took action after a large group of freshmen met up in a campus quad. As colleges across the country allow students to return for fall classes, many are ramping up enforcement of new rules to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The stakes are high: Universities that cant contain the virus on campus have paused in-person classes or reverted to remote learning entirely, sending students home for the rest of the semester. In recent weeks, some colleges have said they will check social media to monitor student behavior, review security footage when students mingle in large groups and, most severely, kick students out of classes for violating school policy. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the states largest college, disciplinary cases are pending as well, according to spokeswoman Robin Kaler. As of Monday, two students were issued interim suspensions, one faced disciplinary action and a fraternity Pi Kappa Phi was placed on interim suspension, Kaler said. The suspended students were accused of hosting a large apartment party Friday and violating a quarantine order Saturday, Kaler said. The fraternity was also accused of hosting a large party this weekend. The student facing discipline allegedly posted a social media video showing how to override the schools COVID-19 tracking application, Kaler said. In Indiana, the University of Notre Dame, which confronted a surge in infections attributed to off-campus parties, is also cracking down on irresponsible behavior but assured students the information would not be used against them if it was volunteered during contact tracing. We will continue to adhere to this policy because we want students to be forthright with us so that we can discover the source of the infections in order to keep the community safe, said the Rev. John Jenkins, the schools president, during a recent video address. But if Notre Dame learns about serious violations from other sources, they will be referred to the university conduct review process, Jenkins said. Also in the Hoosier state, Indiana Universitys board of trustees passed a policy Aug. 5 underscoring that students who fail or refuse to comply with health and safety directives related to COVID-19 can be suspended or expelled. That policy will be applied to a recent gathering of about 100 people off campus in Bloomington. A video of the event circulated on Twitter but has since been removed from public viewing. IU spokesman Chuck Carney said the school began contacting involved students last week and planned to issue suspensions, though he did not know how many students were affected. The off-campus party violated local prohibitions on gatherings of more than 50 people, he said. The city has since reduced the limit to 15. With many Illinois colleges beginning classes in the last two weeks, few local examples have yet to emerge. But many of the policies are consistent with whats transpired at other campuses. In one of the more forceful approaches, Northwestern University is effectively enlisting nearby residents to help monitor off-campus behavior. During a community town hall last week, Interim Dean of Students Mona Dugo asked neighbors in Evanston, Ill., to use an online form to report social gatherings that dont follow health precautions. She said that providing photo evidence and specific information, such as the address of the event, will help NU follow up. On its website, NU says students who dont comply with a host of requirements for returning to campus such as taking an online safety training could be subject to disciplinary action. Northwestern will address the range of student behaviors, from isolated low-level incidents, like failure to wear a face covering, to the most severe cases, such as hosting a gathering that does not comply with expectations, that could lead to suspension or expulsion, the website says. In addition, students must agree to a set of community standards that includes social distancing, limiting gatherings, hygiene protocols and cleaning shared surfaces. Northwestern had been planning to open residence halls to everyone but announced Friday that only third- and fourth-year and graduate students would be allowed to return for classes, which starts Sept. 16. The University of Illinois at Chicago will also suspend or expel students, in accordance with its student disciplinary policy, based on the severity of the misconduct, spokeswoman Sherri McGinnis Gonzalez said. UIC expects that all students comply with all public health directives made by the university, local and state officials, she said in an email, adding that students can report concerns about peers or student organizations with an online form. Students were also asked to sign a pledge that states violations of COVID-19 protocols can be reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students and possibly result in campus restrictions or disciplinary action. At Purdue, students learned their lesson quickly. On Aug. 19, Purdue announced its code of conduct had been amended to include repercussions for violating its student pledge called the Protect Purdue Pledge. The revisions spelled out the consequences for students caught partying without masks and without social distancing. On the same day, Dean of Students Katherine Sermersheim emphasized Purdues stance in an online message. She said Purdue was taking a hard line on misconduct and cautioned: If you dont abide by rules, there is no place for you here. But that night, officials learned about a gathering at an off-campus residence. And the next day, Purdue moved to suspend 36 students who allegedly partied at the Circle Pines Mens Cooperative. A school spokesman said the organization and the students can appeal the suspension, and that a final decision will be made after an administrative hearing. Students had to sign the Protect Purdue Pledge and were told that violating it could lead to disciplinary action, spokesman Tim Doty said in an email, stressing that the expectations were clearly communicated. Asked if more gatherings had subsequently come to light, Doty said that Purdue will not comment on every alleged party or student disciplinary investigation. Kaler of UIUC said administrators will respond to student misconduct based on the frequency and severity of reports. Hosting a large event without masks or social distancing could be considered an egregious act, resulting in interim suspension or dismissal, according to a summary of the protocol provided by UIUC. Students will also have to follow local regulations prohibiting large gatherings, or face fines. The cities of Urbana and Champaign both recently issued orders capping parties at 10 people excluding the host, the hosts immediate family or other members of the household. Hosts can be fined up to $750 per violation per day. UIUC informed students about the emergency orders, which were implemented immediately, through an email Aug. 20. Kaler said conduct complaints will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and that educating students about the new expectations is a priority. 2020 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Darcie DeBlois-Rivard/AP Vera Rivard A 16-year-old girl from New Hampshire successfully swam across the English Channel this week, making her way from England to the shores of France in just over 14 hours. Vera Rivard celebrated her impressive achievement on Instagram, joking that the very first thing she was doing after accomplishing the feat was taking a nap. What an awesome and crazy day! I was able to complete my English Channel swim in 14hr10min (unofficially), she wrote. Thank you so much for all the love and support! Now safe and sound back on the dry land. Im incredibly grateful for everything that has happened. More pictures coming soon But first, a nap! Rivard began her swim on Tuesday around 9:30 a.m., leaving from Samphire Beach in Dover, and eventually came to shore near Calais, France just before midnight, according to the Associated Press. The water was reportedly 64 degrees Fahrenheit as she swam, and Rivard was accompanied by a pilot boat carrying a crew, as well as her mother and younger sister. As she leaves the beach in England for her English Channel attempt, I will be the proudest parent ever! Not if she finishes, not how fast she swims, but that she was brave enough to start, her mother, Darcie DeBlois-Rivard, wrote on Facebook. Rivard, who lives in Springfield, New Hampshire, is a student at Kearsarge Regional High School, and has dreamed of swimming across the English Channel her entire life, the Valley News reported. According to the outlet, shes the second American to complete the swim this year. Story continues I wasnt sure it was going to happen because of everything that is going on right now with the pandemic, and I was just so happy to get in the water, she told the AP. Rivard and her family reportedly quarantined in Dover for two weeks before she set off on her journey. RELATED: Sarah Thomas Closes in on Record 4-Time Swim Across English Channel 2 Years After Cancer Diagnosis For the athlete, the feat was reportedly a culmination of years of hard work she completed her first 1-mile open water swim at just 10 years old, and after swimming 25 miles across the Canadian border two years ago, has been training for the English Channel ever since. Rivard stopped to tread water every 45 minutes so that she could eat an energy gel and powdered energy drink, the AP reported, as Channel Swimming Association rules state that she cannot leave the water or touch anyone or anything that floats for the entire swim. Upon completing the journey, Rivard shared a photo of her signing her name at Les Fleurs, a pub in Dover where its tradition for all whove swum across the Channel to sign their name and time on the wall. According to the Association, the shortest distance across is about 21 miles, though it takes some people longer depending on which side of the French coastline they approach. Rivards journey was about 33 miles thanks to tides and marine traffic, according to The Valley News. The fastest swim ever completed was done in a little over 7 hours, while the slowest took nearly 27 hours, according to the Association. RELATED: SeeHer Story Features Annette Kellerman, Pioneer of the Women's One-Piece, in Episode 4 The Channel is known for its difficult conditions, including wave heights often higher than 6 feet, cold water and things like jellyfish, seaweed and the occasional plank of wood in the water. Its also a busy shipping lane. The youngest person to ever swim the English Channel was 11-year-old Thomas Gregory, in 1988, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. However, the Association now requires all swimmers to be at least 16 years old. 2 | Next crop of COVID-19 vaccine developers take more traditional route: The handful of drugmakers dominating the global coronavirus vaccine race are pushing the boundaries of vaccine technology. The next crop under development feature more conventional, proven designs. The world will need several different vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, given the sheer size of global need, variations in effects on different populations, and possible limits of effectiveness in the first crop. Many leading candidates now in final-stage testing are based on new, largely unproven technology platforms designed to produce vaccines at speed. Several COVID-19 vaccine developers, including Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc, plan to issue a public pledge not to seek government approval until their vaccine candidates are proven to be safe and effective, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The companies would pledge to adhere to high scientific and ethical standards in the conduct of clinical studies and in their manufacturing processes, the Journal report said, citing the draft of a joint statement that is still being finalized. The companies might issue the pledge as soon as early next week, the report added, citing two people familiar with the matter. The news comes amid rising concerns that political pressure ahead of the November 3 election could weigh on the safety and effectiveness of a potential vaccine for the respiratory illness. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said on Thursday that even though the stakes are high for President Donald Trump, who is squaring off against former Vice President Joe Biden, there is no political pressure on the U.S. health regulator to quickly approve a vaccine. 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 AstraZeneca Plc , Pfizer and Moderna are among those farthest along in the race to develop vaccines to prevent COVID-19 infection or limit its severity, with their candidates in late-stage clinical trials. Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here The Health Authority (DHA) and are collaborating to further enhance cooperation in the medical field amid the pandemic as part of their constant endeavour to foster knowledge-transfer and provide high-quality care to patients. A meeting was held recently between Director-General of the DHA, Humaid Al-Qutami and the Indian Consul General, Dr Aman Puri to discuss the possible collaboration, according to a statement. The statement said the DHA and are collaborating to further enhance cooperation in the medical field amid COVID-19. Al-Qutami highlighted the long-standing relationship between the UAE and in several fields including the health sector, the statement said. The two also discussed ways to explore and enhance cooperation between the two countries in the medical field. Puri said that COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of collaboration between countries and health systems. He discussed collaboration opportunities and knowledge-transfer in various medical fields particularly between the DHA and Health Authority of India. The two sides will discuss knowledge transfer, exchange of best practices and collaboration in all aspects of delivery in both countries, said the statement. On August 18, Indian health officials held a webinar to discuss public and mental health, and to explore collaborative opportunities. In December 2019, a delegation headed by Al-Qutami had visited India on an official tour. The delegation had visited several hospitals in India to explore collaborative opportunities. Specific areas of collaboration included mental health, organ transplant, medical research, cancer care, cardiology, health innovation, mental health services and geriatric services. India's COVID-19 count has crossed over 41 lakh. More than 70,000 people have died due to the infection in the country. The UAE has so far reported 73,984 cases with 388 deaths. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John McAreavey and his wife Tara have announced that they are expecting a baby. The pair announced the news on Twitter alongside photos of them on holiday in Donegal. Great few days exploring Donegal with Tara and bump! pic.twitter.com/OrVeA81JLR John McAreavey (@john_mcareavey) September 5, 2020 "Great few days exploring Donegal with Tara and bump!" Mr McAreavey wrote on Twitter. John and Tara tied the knot in a private ceremony in Co Kildare in September 2016. John's uncle, who is the Bishop of Dromore, officiated at the couple's wedding. Expand Close John McAreavey and new wife Tara / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John McAreavey and new wife Tara Both chartered accountants, John and Tara Brennan met in Galway just a week after a 'Match for Michaela' event in Belfast's Casement Park. Speaking to the Irish Catholic magazine in 2017 about meeting Tara for the first time, John said he had found new happiness with his second wife. "Tara was the first girl that I had spoken to since Michaela. There was just something there, there was a spark there, it was completely innocent on both sides. We got on very well and she told me a bit about herself and vice versa, and so we exchanged numbers," he said. "No girl dreams about getting married to a young man who has been married before and whose wife has been tragically murdered. There is no guide to go by because nobody knows what it is like, but our guiding thing was our love and that is what prevailed." Washington: "Pandemic fatigue" is a risk as the US heads into autumn and winter when infectious diseases spread more readily, former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) head Scott Gottlieb said on Sunday. A coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to be available for widespread use this year, and more than 20 per cent of the US population could be infected with COVID-19 by year-end based on current spread rates, Gottlieb said on CBS's Face the Nation. Public health officials in the US and elsewhere are facing growing anti-vaxxer movements and resistance from groups claiming coronavirus rules are affecting personal freedoms. Credit:AP "People are exhausted," he said. "People have been social distancing and wearing masks and staying home for a long period of time right now. Small businesses are hurting." Cold weather and people spending more time indoors can allow viruses to spread more easily in the months ahead, said Gottlieb, who served as FDA commissioner under US President Donald Trump for almost two years until April 2019. A mother has opened up about her painful struggles of living without an oesophagus and stomach after a restaurant mistakenly gave her oven cleaner as a remedy for her hiccups. Amanda Merrifield believed she was swallowing vinegar when she was handed the spoonful of toxic chemicals at The Point, on the Gold Coast, in 2013. The chef had mistaken the oven cleaner for cooking liquid, which was kept in a similar looking bottle, before then-owner Paul Jeynes handed it to Mrs Merrifield. The 46-year-old immediately collapsed in pain and has since endured more than 80 surgeries, 120 hospital visits and seven years of agony, Courier Mail reported. A mother (pictured, Amanda Merrifield) has opened up about her painful struggles of living without an oesophagus and stomach after a restaurant mistakenly gave her oven cleaner as a remedy for her hiccups 'After the first two months in hospital I was on the operating table every week for months, and then every two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, trying to save my oesophagus,' she said. Mrs Merrifield had her oesophagus and stomach removed and has to take medications and some injections at least three times a day just to keep her body 'somewhat liveable'. 'Mentally and physically, it's broken me,' she said. The distraught mother has also lost her career prospects as a lawyer as well as her social life. Her time is spent mostly at home with every life decision centred around her injuries. Husband Bob and nine-year-old son Jack have been with her every step of the way. 'My hope is to stay alive and see my son grow up and not feel like I'm a burden all the time,' Mrs Merrifield said. Queensland Health, Blue Care and private health insurer Bupa have provided some relief for Mrs Merrifield. The insurer of the restaurant has also paid for some of the expenses. But Mrs Merrifield and her family are slowly bending under the strain of hospital bills. The 46-year-old immediately collapsed in pain and has since endured more than 80 surgeries, 120 hospital visits and seven years of agony Mrs Merrifield had her oesophagus and stomach removed and has to take medications and some injections at least three times a day just to keep her body 'somewhat liveable' The family has also launched a $5million claim against the restaurant in 2018. No-one has been charged over the incident and the local council told the restaurant to label its products more clearly. Ms Merrifield earlier told reporters then-owner Mr Jeynes has never apologised to her. 'Never, I've never heard from him again, ever,' she said, However Mr Jeynes said he has 'apologised profusely'. The restaurant has since been sold to a new owner and has a new name. Attackers with knives killed a Tunisian National Guard officer and wounded another Sunday before three assailants were shot dead in a firefight, the security force said, labelling it a "terrorist" act. The attack took place in the tourist district of the coastal city of Sousse, the site of the worst of several jihadist attacks in recent years, where 38 people, most of them Britons, were killed in a 2015 beachside shooting rampage. "A patrol of two National Guard officers was attacked with a knife in the centre of Sousse," 140 kilometres (80 miles) south of the capital Tunis, said National Guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebabli. "One died as a martyr and the other was wounded and is hospitalised," he said, adding that "this was a terrorist attack". The attackers had first rammed the officers of the national gendarmerie with a vehicle, said the interior ministry in a statement. After the knife attack, security forces pursued the assailants, who had taken the officers' guns and vehicle, through the Akouda district of the city's tourist area of El-Kantaoui, said Jebabli. "In a firefight three terrorists were killed," he said, adding that security forces "managed to recover" the car and two pistols the assailants had stolen. British ambassador to Tunisia Louise de Sousa tweeted she was "appalled to hear of the attack on a National Guard patrol in #Sousse this morning. "My sincere condolences to the family of the murdered officer & I wish a swift recovery to the injured. #UKsupportTunisia" - Series of attacks - Tunisia: national guard officer killed in knife attack / AFP Tunisia, since its 2011 popular revolution, has been hit by a string of jihadist attacks that have killed dozens of security personnel, civilians and foreign tourists. A suicide attack against security forces protecting the US Embassy in Tunis killed a Tunisian police officer and left several others wounded in March. 2015 was a particularly bloody year, with three major deadly attacks claimed by the Islamic State group. An attack at the capital's Bardo museum in March killed 21 foreign tourists and a security guard. Just three months later, the 38 tourists were killed in the shooting rampage at Sousse. And that November, a bomb blast on a bus in central Tunis killed 12 presidential guards. While the situation has significantly improved since then, Tunisia has maintained a state of emergency. Assaults on security forces have persisted, mainly in remote areas along the border with Algeria. A 2015 file picture from the Tunisian resort town of Sousse where a jihadist gunman had killed 38 people on a beach / AFP/File Tunisia has been praised as a rare success story among the 2011 Arab Spring popular uprisings that swept the region and brought down many autocrats, among them Tunisia's long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. But the small Mediterranean country of about 11 million people is mired in an economic crisis, with the official unemployment rate at 18 percent, and in need of new assistance from the International Monetary Fund. Last week Tunisia's parliament approved a new technocratic government led by Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi which faces the task of tackling deep social and economic woes in the North African country. The 46-year-old premier pledged to revitalise the economy, including the crucial tourism sector, which had rebounded after the jihadist attacks but has been hit hard this year by the coronavirus pandemic. BEIRUT - The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday warned Israel that his organization has missiles capable of striking the city of Tel Aviv, Israels commercial and cultural centre, and areas beyond it. Ismail Haniyehs comments during a visit to Lebanon followed an escalation in recent weeks in which Hamas-affiliated groups fired rockets into Israel and Israeli warplanes struck areas in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by Hamas. Hamas announced last week that international mediators had brokered a new set of understandings with Israel, halting the latest round of fighting for the time being in exchange for an easing of Israeli restrictions on the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh gave a speech in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, where he received a heros welcome by armed men who carried him on their shoulders. Haniyeh and a Hamas delegation met earlier with the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, during which they discussed the situation in the Middle East and the recent normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, a Hezbollah statement said. Our missiles had a range of several kilometres (miles) from the border with Gaza, Haniyeh said. Today the resistance in Gaza has missiles that can hit Tel Aviv and beyond Tel Aviv. Hamas rockets have reached Tel Aviv and beyond in previous rounds of fighting, but such launches are rare and considered a serious escalation by Israel. The seaside metropolis is located some 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Gaza. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and several smaller battles over the last 13 years. Neither side is believed to be seeking war, but any casualties could ignite a wider conflict. In recent weeks, groups affiliated with Hamas launched incendiary balloons into Israel, igniting farmland in a bid to pressure Israel to ease the blockade it imposed on Gaza when Hamas seized power in 2007. The group had also fired rockets into Israel in recent weeks, which was seen as a significant escalation. Haniyeh was criticized during his visit by some in Lebanon on social media. One post sarcastically asked whether it would be better for him to threaten Israel from the West Bank, which is ruled by the Palestinian Authority and with whom Hamas has a longstanding feud. Another post said Lebanon has enough problems at the moment, and doesnt need Hamas on top of that. Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic and financial crisis in decades, and the capital Beirut was devastated one month ago by a massive explosion, the result of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrates igniting at the port. The blast killed more than 190 and injured thousands. She recently wowed in a stunning red ballgown as she arrived at the Marx premiere during the 77th Venice Film Festival. And Arizona Muse showcased her model credentials once again in a linen mustard suit as she stepped out at the Hotel Excelsior in the Italian city on Sunday. The British-American star, 31, looked effortlessly chic as she packed on the PDA with her beau, Boniface Verney-Carron, whom she married in 2017. Wow: Arizona Muse, 31, wowed in a mustard suit before packing on the PDA with husband Boniface Verney-Carron as she stepped out for the 77th Venice Film Festival on Sunday Completing her look, Arizona layered a simple high-neck white t-shirt under her yellow ensemble and cinched in her waist with the belt of her trousers tied in a bow. She toted a miniature leather Lulu Guinness handbag in a bright yellow hue over her shoulder which featured a sweet tan keyring. Arizona opted for flat gladiator tan sandals for the occasion. Sweet: The British-American star looked effortlessly chic as she packed on the PDA with her beau, Boniface Verney-Carron, whom she married in 2017 The model wore barely a scrap of makeup and tied the top half of her caramel locks in a loose ponytail. Arizona was seen locking lips with Boniface before the pair embraced at the side of the water. He wore a light blue unbuttoned shirt paired with dark shorts and finished his look with a black bandana across his forehead. Smile: The model opted for barely a scrap of makeup and tied the top half of her caramel locks in a loose ponytail Close: Boniface wore a light blue unbuttoned shirt paired with dark shorts and finished his look with a black bandana across his forehead The model was also seen putting safety first in a white pattered face mask as she sorted through items in a suitcase. The Venice Film Festival is one of the world's oldest award ceremonies and is listed as one of the 'Big Five' events. It started on 2 September and ends on the 12 September. Arizona welcomed her first child Nikko, 10, with fashion stylist and former flame Manuel Quintana when she was 20. The couple eventually split, and she married Boniface three years ago, welcoming a daughter with him at the end of 2018. Couple: The pair packed on the PDA (left) and hugged by the side of the water Together: Arizona married Boniface three years ago, welcoming a daughter with him at the end of 2018 Speaking to Town and Country magazine recently, the beauty reflected on being a young parent. She said: 'I dont know what its like to be a 20-year-old who didnt have a child. I loved having Nikko. 'He was like a doll. I was a child myself and it was an "ignorance is bliss" situation.' Arizona candidly admitted her reasoning for marriage being particularly meaningful to her, given that Nikko 'doesn't have a relationship' with her ex-fiance Manuel. Model: Arizona layered a simple high-neck white t-shirt under her yellow ensemble and cinched in her waist with the belt of her trousers tied in a bow Happy: She toted a miniature leather Lulu Guinness handbag in a bright yellow hue over her shoulder which featured a sweet tan keyring She said: 'It meant a lot to me to get married. Especially because I already had a child who doesnt have a relationship with his dad.' Touching on how she burnt herself out by working and parenting in the early days, she told: 'By the time Nikko was three, I was totally exhausted.' Arizona battled on because she feared that if she took time off her career would disappear - which caused her massive amounts of stress that she 'was under, every single day, for years'. She added: 'I probably needed to take some time off, but I was stuck in this fear cycle. Arizona announced the arrival of her baby daughter by sharing an adorable snap of her laying alongside the newborn in November 2018. Safety first: The model wore a white pattered face mask as she sorted through items in a suitcase "Hotel Rwanda" protagonist is allegedly denied legal counsel: Supporters of Paul Rusesabagina, the man portrayed in the movie "Hotel Rwanda," say Rwandan authorities have denied a lawyer access to him, nearly a week after the outspoken government critic was paraded in handcuffs and accused of terrorism. The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation said the U.S. permanent resident and Belgian citizen has had no consular visits. His family has said they believe he was "kidnapped" during a visit to Dubai. He has lived outside the East African nation since 1996. Rusesabagina was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 for saving the lives of more than 1,200 people during Rwanda's 1994 genocide. HDI Global SE holds a majority stake in Vietnamese life insurer PVI As VIR reported previously, the State Securities Commission (SSC) has fined HDI Global SE a German investor which is the largest shareholder of Vietnamese non-life insurer PVI for non-compliance with information disclosure and violating foreign ownership limit (FOL) rules. In mid-August, HDI Global SE was allegedly fined for VND125 million ($5,430) for conducting one or several transactions to obscure company ownership and avoid information disclosure responsibilities. A fine of VND60 million ($2,600) was also imposed on the corporation for violating the FOL. On the other hand, HDI Global SE now holds a majority stake in PVI with 53.92 per cent. Specifically, on April 8, 2018, PVI confirmed that HDI Global SE purchased all PVI shares of Funderburk Lighthouse Ltd. (FLL), which owned 11.58 per cent. Besides, PVcomBank a commercial lender backed by PetroVietnam previously divested its capital in PVI. HDI Global SE requested PVI to dismiss the representative of PVcomBank from the Board of Management, although the representative allegedly bore a great deal of responsibility and was legally bound to work to bring the best out of PVI. Accordingly, PVI Board structure decreased from eight to seven members, including three representatives of PetroVietnam and four representatives directly and indirectly nominated by HDI (three representatives of HDI and one of FLL). This was contrary to HDIs prior decision to keep eight board members during 2017-2019. In March 2019, in a document sent to the prime minister of Vietnam, Jens Wohlthat, director of HDI, proposed to increase the number of board members at PVI from eight to nine. Nguyen Anh Tuan, representative of PetroVietnam and chairman of the PVI Board, requested keeping key personnel on the board unchanged with eight members until PetroVietnam could successfully divest from PVI. The plan would have helped PetroVietnam to retain control over the PVI Board. However, PetroVietnam later agreed to HDI's proposal to increase the number of board members from eight to nine. On March 16, 2020, at PVIs annual shareholders' meeting, PVI elected and replaced three members of the board, bringing total members to nine. In particular, four members are PVI representatives, while HDI and FLL representatives number five. Jens Holger Wohlthat has been appointed as chair of the board for 2017-2022, effective since January 16, 2020. Nguyen Xuan Hoa has been appointed as standing vice chairman of the board cum head of the Remuneration and HR Committee. Duong Thanh Danh Francois, who is of French nationality, has become chairman of the Members Council of PVI Insurance on February 28, 2020. Francois is currently also director of the Asia-Pacific region (except Japan) of HDI Global SE. So far, besides its 42.34 per cent stake, HDI allegedly indirectly owns 11.58 per cent through FLL, bringing its total interest to 53.92 per cent. HDI Global SE is a subsidiary of Talanx the third-largest German insurance group in terms of premium income and one of the largest in Europe. HDI operates through foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates, as well as network partners in more than 130 countries, offering international industrial insurance products. Headquartered in Germany, the company generates more than half of its premium volumes abroad. In line with this international focus, the former HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG changed its name to HDI Global SE in 2016. Embarking on a new school year can be daunting if youre the parent of a child with special needs, even under normal circumstances. But navigating a childs Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan while he or she begins the year with remote learning, as many are doing this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, can add multiple layers of stress, education experts say. This makes a parents understanding of their childs learning experience more important now than ever, the experts say. Determining where a student is in their skill levels is part of the return to school every year; however, it takes on a particular significance this school year given the abrupt closures and switch over to remote instruction in the spring, said Heather Eckner, an Autism Alliance of Michigan. education consultant. Many students did not receive services and supports that were outlined in their IEPs (including) services related to specially designed instruction, speech and language, social work, occupational therapy and physical therapy. Now we enter the next school year with a high level of uncertainty. As parents are faced with the sometimes daunting challenge of overseeing their childs remote learning, here are some tips from experts on how to enhance the experiences of children with special needs. Work with your childs IEP team A crucial first step in helping your child is knowing members of his or her IEP team, Washtenaw Intermediate School District Deputy Superintendent Cherie Vannatter said. Other important contacts from the childs team might include general and special education teachers, as well as paraprofessionals and support staff. If you start there, you can always ask specific questions about your child and the team should be able to help you address those questions or help find specific resources that apply to your child, Vannatter said. These 100 Michigan schools will start the year with remote learning If there is a service thats not being provided, or a proposed change to the childs learning plan that a parent does not agree with, the parent can request a meeting with the rest of the IEP team to discuss it, National Center on Learning Disabilities CEO Lindsay Jones said. Many parents are in a unique position this year because they have more information about their child this year than ever before after having observed how their child learned throughout the end of last school year, Jones said. Parents should be sure to share those observations with the school and make clear what kinds of supports parents believe need to be provided based on the new learning environment their child is in. Dont be afraid to ask questions Parents should be proactive in reaching out to their childs IEP team and request meetings to discuss what learning will look like for their child this year, Eckner said. Sharing observations in writing with the IEP team about what went well for their child in the spring, as well as what areas were a challenge in the learning environment is helpful in making it clear they want their childs IEP fully implemented, Eckner said. Parents should ask a lot of questions and make sure they keep asking questions until they understand what is involved with their childs educational program for the school year, Eckner said. Parents will play an essential role in terms of communicating with their school team what they are observing at home and what aspects of remote learning are working well for their child, as well as those they are creating barriers to access. As members of their childs IEP team, it is important that parents be active participants during meetings with the team, Ann Arbor Public Schools Executive Director Student Intervention and Support Services Marianne Fidishin said. No in-person classes? No problem. This Michigan school has a personal solution Parents should be able to express their perspective of the childs strengths, areas of need and observations of their child in the home environment, sharing strategies that they find helpful in the childs academic, social and emotional development, Fidishin said. Parents should also feel comfortable to be able to question instructional strategies, service type and time, and placement options, she said. Parents will want to be very involved with the determination of present levels for their child, Eckner said, which are the foundation of the childs IEP. The present levels of academic achievement and functional performance are the areas of need that drive the goals and objectives that will be worked on for the child, translating to the services and supports received by the team of professionals with the school. Emphasizing appropriately ambitious IEP goals is one way to mitigate potential instructional loss and accelerate learning for students during this time, Eckner said. See the world through your childs eyes As a parent, you know your child best, so make note of what types of learning and aesthetic environments work best for him or her, former UM instructor and school leader for Boston Public Schools Rebecca Gadd said. That could mean allowing your child to work outside to break up the monotony of screen time, or allowing the child to listen to a recorded online lesson from a teacher on headphones while shooting baskets in the driveway, Gadd said. Follow your childs lead, Gadd said. You know them best and know what is going to help and support them. As an example, a child with attention deficit disorder is going to need a more quiet environment and shorter spans of time they are engaged in learning, pediatric psychiatrist and UM Clinical Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Sheila Marcus said. See first day of school photos of Michigan students amid pandemic In that situation, 10 to 15 minutes of engaged learning should be followed by a break that could include exercise or outdoor play. Parents know their children pretty well, Marcus said. In some ways, being able to see the world through your childs eyes and knowing, for an autistic child that sensory environment is going to be a problem for them, using a weighted blanket or a chair that rocks can help. It is important to see how your child responds to different types of learning, both positively and negatively, University of Michigan School of Information researcher Olivia Richards said. Richards recommends parents start a tracking journal to make notes on the good, the bad and the ugly they observe in their childs remote learning, including what types of learning they respond to best to and in what format. Each child has a different length of focus and it can be difficult to look at a computer or tablet screen for long periods of time, said Richards, whose research involved surveying parents of children with documented behavioral or emotional needs during the spring and summer of 2020. Be flexible with their capabilities as well as your familys. Consistency is key Recognizing a childs strengths and areas of interest are a great way to draw them into activities and content, Eckner said. When students know what to expect, they can often prepare more adequately, she said. Keeping to routines and structure while allowing for some flexibility to meet particular needs is also very important, Eckner said. Maintaining a routine with your child is important, particularly when they are unable to regularly engage with their teachers or peers, adding that building in breaks that remove them from the learning environment are also helpful, Vannatter said. Still stuck on back-to-school? What Michigan health experts are deciding for their own kids Being able to keep a schedule for students, giving them breaks at the same time of the day and being able to go outside or change their environment to switch it up a little bit, helps to keep kids engaged and focused, she said. Students with learning or attention issues might be easily distracted, Jones said, so its important that parents create a separate place for their child to do their school work that is free from distractions. Students might have an easier time when they have a routine or a structure to their day, so be sure they know what to expect each day and that they are making time for exercise, play and more than just school, Jones said. Seek out social, outdoor opportunities One of the things largely missing from most virtual learning experiences is relationships, Jones said. Some schools are trying to find ways to incorporate social and emotional learning into their curriculum, but the interaction between students and their peers or teachers is not the same, she said. To keep kids engaged in learning and to keep them happy and healthy, building in time for social interactions and relationships is important, Jones said. It could be asking the teacher if theres an opportunity for the class to get together for a lunch break where they can all chat with each other, or it can be small groups that meet virtually. Why one Michigan school district is allowing online learning on campus It might sound simple, but taking a break from the learning routine by going outside is rarely a bad idea, Vannatter said. Few things are simplistic or effective as going outside and observing nature, she said, particularly when you can turn the recreational experience into a learning experience. It doesnt always have to be that youre sitting at a table. It could be outside on a picnic table, Vannatter said. You could be walking through the park counting things. Theres other ways, rather than just sitting behind the computer, that you can work on student goals. To help readers navigate this complicated fall, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up. READ MORE: Michigan schools need cash to keep kids safe from coronavirus, but the coffers are running low Learning pods have arrived in Michigan. Heres why theyre causing controversy. Put your kids on a news diet and other tips to coping with anxiety during a pandemic Apple season is upon us, but it will go a little differently this year. Before heading out to your favorite local orchard, check out the new rules and guidelines farms and apple orchards in and around Connecticut are implementing for the 2020 season. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 6, 2020 08:17 502 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c42edef5 4 City transjakarta,Greater-Jakarta,fraud-cases,Jakarta-administration,prosecutors,Prosecutors-Office,Attorney-General-Office,Fraud Free A joint team of prosecutors arrested on Friday the former president director of city-owned transportation company PT Transjakarta, Donny Andy Sarmedi Saragih, who has been at large since 2019 after he was convicted of fraud. The team from the Attorney Generals Office, the Jakarta Prosecutors Office and the Central Jakarta Prosecutors Office arrested him at his apartment in North Jakarta at 11:30 p.m. on Friday Central Jakarta Prosecutors Office General Crime Unit head Nur Winardi said Donny had been on the wanted list since the Supreme Court convicted him of fraud in 2019. He said the joint team found that Donny was going to Pondok Indah Hospital (RSPI) in South Jakarta. The team immediately went to the hospital to monitor him, but he could not be found there. The team then tracked Donnys whereabouts until they went to his residence in North Jakarta. They immediately arrested the convict at his apartment. He was taken to the Jakarta Attorney General's Office to be handed over to the Central Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, Nur said as reported by kompas.com on Saturday. Read also: Marias extradition shows up other fugitive failures The case started in 2017 when he was serving as the operational director of private transportation company PT Lorena Transport. He and the companys corporate secretary Porman Tambunan, pretending to be officials from the Financial Services Authority (OJK), blackmailed the companys president director Gusti Terkelin Soerbakti into paying US$250,000 by threatening to reveal wrongdoings by the company. Gusti then reported the blackmail to the Central Jakarta District Court in 2018. Donny and Porman were declared guilty by the court in the same year, and the verdict was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2019. Porman was arrested in January 2020 while Donny fled his conviction. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan briefly appointed Donny to lead Transjakarta in January. However, Anies sacked him less than a week after his appointment following reports of his criminal record. (dpk) Whatever its apprehensions and concerns about the regime of the Rajapaksa clan, India must be ready with unconditional assistance when Colombo asks for it. Because it will, observes Aditi Phadnis. IMAGE: Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's prime minister, left, and his younger brother, Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at the latter's swearing-in ceremony at the Kelaniya Buddhist temple in Colombo, August 9, 2020. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters No one could have said it better. Analysing the recent parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka, Dayan Jayatilleka, former ambassador to Russia and France and Lanka's permanent representative to the UN at Geneva, and now advisor to the Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, wrote: 'President Gotabaya Rajapaksa repeatedly made two requests of voters during his electioneering walkabouts. One was that they had given him 69 lakhs (6.9 million) of votes at the presidential election, but now he wanted 79 lakhs (7.9 million) votes.' 'The other was that he wants a two-thirds majority. He got 6.8 million votes, which is a fraction less than what he polled in November 2019. His personal best remains the ruling party's ceiling...' 'Five years ago, in 2015 August, Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost the presidential and parliamentary elections, was not the leader of the SLFP, had been denied the leadership of the Opposition and did not lead a political party of his own.' 'Five years later, Mahinda Rajapaksa is the 'Rocky' of South Asian politics.' 'Significantly, for the first time in four, he was sworn in as PM at a Buddhist temple, which was also a first for any Lankan PM. The new times are the very old times.' This summarises the recent parliamentary elections and what is to come in Sri Lanka. The implications of the two-thirds majority are clear: It allows the ruling establishment to amend the constitution and bend Sri Lanka to its will. Most Sri Lankans are placing bets on how soon the 13th amendment -- which was a product of the India-Sri Lanka Accord and visualised devolution of powers to the Tamils in the north and east province of the island -- will get the Hamlet poison. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Mahinda Rajapaksa in February during his India visit that he wanted the full implementation of the 13th amendment. Full? Provincial councils are likely to be emasculated, the governor to the Tamil-majority north will likely be ex-military, and the land transferred to Tamils could be reclaimed by the armed forces on the grounds that they are needed for the defence of the island. Very quickly, the new times will be the very old times. What about the project for the Sri Lankan majority, the Sinhala Buddhists? Mahinda Rajapaksa invoked the old bogey of the India-Tamil coalition to remind the Sinhala Buddhists what they had gone through in the 1980s and warned them it could happen again. Indian analysts say Sri Lanka faces no security threat. Sri Lankans, sotto voce, say there is a threat to their existence: It comes from India, via the Tamils. A two-thirds parliamentary majority means the Sinhala Buddhist identity will be cemented like never before so that the humiliations it has had to go through can never be repeated. Once, India stood in between. But now, India is plumb out of options. It has run out of leverage. All it can do now is to stand by and watch. Much has been made of Chinese interests -- investment and FDI -- in Sri Lanka and how much more will flow in because of the Rajapaksas. But many Sri Lankans are themselves re-evaluating this as an option. Hambantota port continues to be a white elephant. Matale airport is still the emptiest airport in the world: No flights land or take off from there. The eastern terminal of Colombo port, which was to be constructed jointly by India and Japan, will now be re-negotiated, but as a warning to China -- that Sri Lanka will not be toyed with and that it has other options. The biggest immediate crisis for the country is the management of its economy. Public debt is about 90 per cent of GDP, and external debt, at over $50 billion, is about 60 per cent of GDP. If the impact of COVID-19 is factored in, the budget deficit could go up to 10 per cent of GDP this year, and the economy may shrink by up to 5 per cent. There is no fiscal space for tax cuts and extra public expenditure. The government needs to negotiate a debt moratorium, extra loans, and possible debt restructuring with the International Monetary Fund and others. Another loan from China cannot be ruled out if the IMF does not oblige. Sri Lankan resilience and the national capacity to bounce back after repeated disasters are legendary, and an example to the rest of South Asia. Whatever its apprehensions and concerns about the regime of the Rajapaksa clan, India must put transactionalism aside and be ready with unconditional assistance when Colombo asks for it. Because it will. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 22:46:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)'s spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday that the elements behind the July 2 blast at the Natanz nuclear facility have been identified, official news agency IRNA reported. In an interview with the state TV, Kamalvandi said the Iranian security services "have discovered those responsible and they know the reasons, the method employed and how it was done." The official refused to reveal further details since the issue is still being investigated. Kamalvandi stressed that Iran's uranium enrichment activity was not disturbed, and the AEOI is expanding the fuel plant's primary facilities with a new hall to transfer the enrichment process there from a pilot building. On July 2, the AEOI announced an "incident" had occurred at an industrial shed under construction in Natanz, without causing casualties or disrupting ongoing activity in the facilities. On August 24, Kamalvandi announced the explosion in the Natanz complex was an act of "sabotage." Enditem Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Gwyneth Paltrow and her producer husband Brad Falchuk have enjoyed almost two years of wedded bliss. And the Hollywood power couple, who each have homes in Los Angeles and in New York, have been spending a lot of their quarantine at Gwyneth's Hamptons property. On Saturday, the veteran actress, 47, was spotted taking her beloved husband Brad, 49, to the East Hampton airport in a red jeep as he left to catch a flight. Smooch: Gwyneth Paltrow, 47, and husband Brad Falchuk, 49, share a smooch in the front seat of their car as she dropped him off at the airport in East Hampton on Saturday Gwyneth bid her mate farewell with a sweet kiss in the front seat of their red jeep before Brad left. Though the Goop founder was barely visible she clung onto her husband who was dressed down in a white t-shirt, black sweatpants and distressed brown boots. Just last summer, Gwyneth caused a stir when she admitted to The Sunday Times that the couple - though married - were not living together. The pair typically spend four days a week cohabitating with Brad returning to his Los Angeles property for the rest of the week. 'All my married friends say that the way we live sounds ideal and we shouldnt change a thing' the blonde beauty said. Parting ways: Gwyneth bid her mate farewell with a sweet kiss in the front seat of their red jeep before Brad left Takeoff: Brad dressed down for his airport excursion in a pair of black sweatpants and a classic white t-shirt. The father of two appeared to be flying solo has his two kids were nowhere in sight The couple both have sets of kids with their exes. Gwyneth shares Apple, 16, and Moses, 14, with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and Brad has Isabella and Brody with his ex-wife Suzanne Falchuk. It appears as if the blended family of six has been quarantining together as Gwyneth revealed in a Goop video that 'Its pretty close quarters.' The pair seemed to have been splitting time between the east and the west coast with Brad likely heading back home to Los Angeles as Hollywood productions slowly start to open up safely amid COVID restrictions. Most recently the producer and writer created a part for his wife in the Netflix smash hit The Politician. 'Year one done': Gwyneth paid tribute to her husband of one year on Instagram in a sweet selfie. The couple were originally introduced on the set of Glee in 2014 before marrying in 2018 The Politician: Brad created the part of Georgina Hobart in the Netflix smash hit The Politician for Gwyneth. Though she originally said no she ended up caving after production told the Goop CEO they could work around her schedule Glee: Brad and Gwyneth originally met on the set of his show Glee in 2014. Gwyneth who had a recurring role on the show and co-creator Brad hit it off and started dating before getting married in 2018 Co-created with his right hand man Ryan Murphy, Falchuk wrote the role of Georgina Hobart for Paltrow, a Montecito mom to protagonist Ben Platt's character Payton. Speaking about her husband's persistence to get her to play the part he had written, Paltrow revealed that she originally said 'no.' The actress who has recently pulled back from Hollywood amid her success from her lifestyle brand Goop, told her persistent husband that there was 'no way she could do it.' Soiree: Brad and Gwyneth at a promotional party for The Politician in East Hampton; August 2019 Kissy face: The couple of 5 years share a kiss at a Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony where Brad's lifelong creative partner Ryan Murphy was honored with a coveted star; December 2018 In an interview with Elle magazine, Falchuk added, 'Shed show me a giant chunk of her dialogue and be like, I have a [Goop] board meeting in two days. Please dont make me do this' he said. Production eventually agreed to work around her schedule and the Hollywood power couple were back on set together for the first time since they met on the set of Glee in 2014. Gwyneth had a recurring role in the show and Falchuk co-created the show with Murphy. Since her hiatus from acting, Gwyneth's lifestyle company Goop has exploded. The company was valued at $250 million in 2018 and seems to only be getting bigger. She first launched the company as a newsletter in 2008 and now the brand is a full lifestyle website with skincare products and wellness tips among other things. One weekday morning in August, I strapped the boat to the roof of my 2004 Prius and set off for Long Island soon after daybreak; when the last of the sprawling suburbs fell away and the familiar coastal wetlands widened to the horizon, I knew I was nearing the South Shore. My destination was Tobay Beach, just past Jones Beach, a childhood summer stomping ground where I still often went to swim. It could have just as easily been Fire Island, or Robert Moses State Park, or any other beach on Long Island, for that matter make no mistake, the sharks are everywhere. And yet, while fishing for them from shore is pretty widely condemned by scientists and many other conservationists, it surprisingly didnt seem to bother beachgoers too much. (Shark attacks on humans are extremely rare). In fact, its almost become an attraction by now people running down the beach, cameras in hand to watch a fisherman with a shark on the line. These anglers are considered local celebrities, if not trusted fishing companions. And with sharks always swimming close to shore, unlikely to bite, catching and releasing them poses less of a hazard to swimmers than to the injury-prone creatures themselves. The photographer Mark Abramson and I were right to think that this would be a hands-on assignment: two 12-hour days and seven big sharks later, we were exhausted trying to document all that went on. When a rod lurched forward and a fight was on, there was lots of running and yelling and quick-thinking on the part of the fishermen not to mention the mere seconds Mark and I had to get a good glimpse of the shark itself, thrashing in the shallow water. An ambulance stands at a road block in Germany in a stock photo (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa via AP) Woman in Germany to Be Charged Following Death of Her Five Children: Officials Five children have been killed and a mother was severely injured in Germany in what has been described as a possible murder-suicide. German prosecutors have said they will charge a 27-year-old woman, identified as the mother, according to The Guardian. Heribert Kaune-Gebhardt, a prosecutor, told reporters that postmortem examinations showed signs of suffocation and sedation. Their causes of death werent officially disclosed. The cause of death is to be determined through investigations and autopsy, said police spokesman Stefan Weiand, reported DW.com. Police said that the children were found dead at a German apartment building in Solingen. Officials added that she attempted to take her own life at a nearby train station, reported the BBC. A sixth child, identified as an 11-year-old boy, survived the incident, authorities said. Authorities said the sixth child was sent to stay with her grandmother, the Guardian reported. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul was quoted as saying that the mother attempted to jump in front of a train in Dusseldorf, located northwest of Solingen. She was found between two track beds and was taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said. We are assuming there was a criminal offense and will question the mother but she is not fit for questioning at the moment, added Weiand. We do not know exactly what happened yet, only that it was a very tragic situation. The family drama in Solingen fills me with great sadness, and at the moment I am sending my thoughts and prayers to the five children who were torn from life so terribly early, said Reul. The mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, wrote on social media that he visited the apartment complex, according to the BBC. For me, it is still incomprehensible, he wrote, adding: Today is a day of mourning for all of Solingen. Our authorities will do everything to investigate this case, the North Rhine-Westphalia state governor, Armin Laschet, said, the Guardian said. The thoughts of very many people are with the family, the grandmother, the surviving boy and everybody who is affected by this event. SHAVER LAKE, Calif. - Three fast-spreading California wildfires sent people fleeing Saturday, with one trapping campers at a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest, as a brutal heat wave pushed temperatures into triple digits in many parts of state. The wildfire burning near Shaver Lake exploded to 56 square miles (145 square kilometres), jumped a river and compromised the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman Dan Tune said. At least 2,000 structures were threatened in the area about 290 miles (467 kilometres) north of Los Angeles, where temperatures in the citys San Fernando Valley reached 117 degrees. The Fresno Fire Department tweeted late Saturday night that 63 people were rescued from the campground by military helicopters and that two of them were severely injured, 10 were moderately injured and 51 others had minor or no injuries. The Madera County Sheriffs Department said in a tweet earlier Saturday that about 150 people were at the campgrounds boat launch, and 10 of them were injured. All are safe at this time, the department tweeted. Officers also were evacuating Beasore Meadows. a large ranch in the Sierra National Forest, on Saturday night, the department tweeted. The Sacramento Bee reported that agencies were co-ordinating an aircraft rescue for crews to come and safely evacuate them. Tune said the campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews, aided by water-dropping aircraft, could gain access to the site. Tune said he didnt know how close the fire was burning to the campsite. All our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them, he said. The lake 35 miles (56 kilometres) northeast of Fresno is surrounded by thick pine forests and is a popular destination for boating and fishing. Bone-dry conditions and the hot weather fueled the flames. Once the fire gets going, it creates its own weather, adding wind to increase the spread, Tune said. The fire broke out Friday evening. Crews worked through the night, but by Saturday morning authorities issued evacuation orders for lakeside communities and urged people seeking relief from the Labor Day weekend heat to stay away from the popular lake. Adjust your Labour Day weekend plans. Access to Shaver Lake is completely closed to the public due to the #CreekFire, the Fresno County sheriffs office tweeted after announcing evacuation orders for campsites and communities by the lake. The California Highway Patrol shut State Route 168 to only allow access for emergency responders and evacuees. In Southern California, a fire in the foothills of Yucaipa east of Los Angeles prompted evacuation orders for eastern portions of the city of 54,000 along with several communities, including Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) said the fire scorched at least 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometres) and was burning at a moderate to dangerous rate of spread. A portion of the San Gorgonio Wilderness was closed, and hikers were urged to leave. In eastern San Diego County, fire officials warned a fire near Alpine was burning at a dangerous rate of speed after spreading to 400 acres (0.6 square miles) within an hour. A small community south of Alpine in the Cleveland National Forest was ordered to evacuate. Cal Fire said nearly 12,500 firefighters were battling 22 major fires in the state. Despite the heat, firefighters were able to contain two major fires in coastal Monterey County. California has seen 900 wildfires since Aug. 15, many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightening strikes. The blazes have burned more than 1.5 million acres (2,343 square miles). There have been eight fire deaths and nearly 3,300 structures destroyed. The heat wave was expected to spread triple-digit temperatures over much of California through Monday. Officials urged people to conserve electricity to ease the strain on the states power grid. Pacific Gas & Electric, the states largest utility, warned customers Saturday that it might cut power starting Tuesday because of expected high winds and heat that could create even greater fire danger. Some of the states largest and deadliest fires in recent years have been sparked by downed power lines and other utility equipment. Typhoon Haishen: 200,000 ordered to evacuate as Japan braces for storm September 06,2020 | Source: BBC News More than 200,000 people have been ordered to evacuate areas of Japan threatened by an approaching storm. Typhoon Haishen is expected to intensify on Sunday, bringing heavy rain, storm surges and winds of more than 100mph (160km/h). It will move past Kyushu on Sunday and is expected to make landfall on Monday in South Korea, which has raised its typhoon warning to the highest level. It comes days after Maysak, one of the region's strongest typhoons in years. Haishen has led to the closure of factories, schools and businesses across western Japan. Hundreds of flights and train services have also been cancelled. Japan's government will be holding an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday to address the storm. The country's weather agency said it was not likely to issue its most serious typhoon warning, but added that residents should exercise their "most serious caution" for possible record rains and high waves along the coast. Yoshihisa Nakamoto, director of the agency's forecast division, told reporters that surging tides may also cause flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths. As a result of the storm, hundreds of thousands of people have been advised to move to designated shelters in places like schools and community centres. This includes all 36,600 residents of the city of Goto, in Nagasaki, where the typhoon may hit directly. But local media report that some people have chosen to seek safety in local hotels to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in crowded public shelters. In South Korea, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters raised the country's typhoon warning level to four - the highest - at 19:00 (10:00 GMT) on Sunday. The Korea Forest Service also raised the landslide alert to its highest level. Its chief, Park Chong-ho, told Yonhap news agency: "Huge damage is expected as the typhoon this time is forecast to be more dangerous than the previous ones that affected South Korea shortly after the end of the monsoon season." Typhoon Haishen is forecast to move close to Busan on Monday morning. The typhoon has also forced Japan's coast guard to suspend its search for missing sailors from a cargo ship that sank during Typhoon Maysak. The Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying 43 crew members and 6,000 cows when it went missing on Wednesday. Three crew members were rescued alive. 2020 BBC Theme(s): Others. Protesters holds a Q sign waits in line with others to enter a campaign rally with President Donald Trump in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Candidates engaging with the QAnon conspiracy theory are running for seats in state legislatures this year, breathing more oxygen into a once-obscure conspiracy movement that has grown in prominence since adherents won Republican congressional primaries this year. Read more PHOENIX Candidates engaging with the QAnon conspiracy theory are running for seats in state legislatures this year, breathing more oxygen into a once-obscure conspiracy movement that has grown in prominence since adherents won Republican congressional primaries this year. Some of the legislative candidates have repeatedly shared QAnon memes and interacted extensively with social media accounts promoting the conspiracy which is centered on the baseless belief that President Donald Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the deep state and a child sex trafficking ring. Others have acted in ways that leave it unclear whether they believe in the theory or may be merely flirting with the ideas to garner attention. They make up a tiny share of the thousands of state legislative candidates on the ballot in November and many are longshots, but several, including in Arizona, Minnesota and Wisconsin, are running in competitive districts. Among those who have engaged with QAnon postings on social media is Dave Armstrong, a Republican candidate for the Wisconsin Assembly. He was asked to run for the seat by the incumbent, a fellow Republican. While he does not describe himself as a QAnon adherent, he has liked and forwarded videos made by QAnon backers. Armstrong told The Associated Press that he finds core aspects of the conspiracy credible, but not all of it. I dont know if well ever know the answer to that, nor can we prove it, he said. Thats the biggest thing with QAnon is you cant prove any of it. John Ellenson, Armstrongs Democratic opponent for the seat, said it would be dangerous to elect Armstrong because he plays in conspiracies and not the truth. The conspiracy theory has been creeping into the mainstream political arena. It gained wider attention after Marjorie Taylor Greene won the Republican primary for a U.S. House seat in a heavily GOP Georgia district last month. Greene was invited to the White House for Trump's acceptance speech during the Republican National Convention. Trump has said he knows little about the movement but has spoken favorably of its followers. Vice President Mike Pence has dismissed it. While races for congressional seats often generate more publicity, state legislative positions serve as springboards to higher office, and their holders wield significant power to affect everyday life determining state policies on education, policing, health care, criminal justice and other issues. As with many conspiracy theories, it's not always clear how much of it the candidates believe. Through the APs statehouse reporters, the nonprofit research group Media Matters for America and Democratic groups involved in state legislative races, the news cooperative identified about two dozen candidates in more than a dozen states who have expressed some level of support or interest in QAnon. That number is only the roughest of estimates. Some who had shared messages referencing the conspiracy sought to put distance between themselves and the movement when contacted by the AP. Many simply did not return requests for comment perhaps not surprising given that the movement proclaims the mainstream media is in on the conspiracy. Among those was Suzanne Sharer, a Republican legislative candidate in the Phoenix area who has posted QAnon videos and messages more than a dozen times in recent months. She is running in a suburban district that once was solidly Republican but has been trending Democratic. In April, she wrote: Q has been quiet. Is this 10 days of darkness? Julie Buria, a Republican running in a northern Minnesota legislative district that Trump carried by nearly 3 percentage points in 2016, retweeted at least four posts in April and May that seemed to support QAnon. In one she wrote: Link to new Q drop with a link to a QAnon site. The tweet also used several hashtags common to the conspiracy's followers. But in an interview, Buria insisted she was not very familiar with QAnon. Have I looked at it? Yes. Do I believe all of it? No. Im not really sure what to think about all that, she said. Whether or not candidates believe in QAnon, they are lending the ideas legitimacy by sharing them, said Jenny Guzman, legislative communications coordinator for Progress Arizona, a liberal group that has worked to draw attention to candidates sharing conspiracy theories. I think that Republicans very clearly know what theyre doing when theyre engaging and spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories, Guzman said. But when they get caught, theyre trying to play ignorant because they just dont want to face accountability for their actions. Most of the legislative candidates identified by the AP as having some history of posting about QAnon are Republicans, though some are independent or third-party candidates. Some are not shy about their interest in the movement. On her Twitter account, Melissa Moore has included a picture of Earth inside the letter Q with the slogan, The World is About to Change, that is common among the movement's followers. She has also used several Q-associated hashtags in her tweets. A delegate to the Republican National Convention, she is running in a Democratic-leaning district in suburban Minneapolis. I like following it, Moore said. Its an exciting movement that opens up our minds to different possibilities of whats going on, of whats really happening in our world today. In Nevada, independent state Assembly candidate John Cardiff Gerhardt also openly embraces the movement. He said he suspected government officials, the mainstream media and the criminal justice system were conspiring to cover up human trafficking even before he became familiar with QAnon. Hiding behind the curtain where everything seems to be fine and dandy, theres actually executives, CEOs, pop stars and the top politicians, including the past few presidents before Donald Trump, said Gerhardt, who is running in a heavily Democratic district of eastern Las Vegas. Gerhardt said his main focus is to replace the state constitution. A draft proposal integrates elements of the conspiracy, including an official recognition that a Cabal is attempting to control & corrupt the State of Nevada. ___ Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada, and Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, contributed. A mystery COVID-19 case in a Northern Sydney man is among the 10 new cases reported in NSW recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19, including two schoolchildren linked to the growing CBD cluster. Six of the new cases are locally acquired and two have no links to known cases or clusters, including the man in his 40s and a child at Lidcombe Public School. The Kincoppal school at Rose Bay will close on Monday after two students tested positive for the virus. Credit:Louise Kennerley In NSW, three of the new cases are linked to the Sydney CBD cluster, including two year 7 students at Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, taking the cluster to 64 cases. The secondary school, junior school and early learning centre will be closed on Monday for cleaning. She's set to strip off on Seven's The All New Monty: Guys and Gals later this month. And now comedian Fiona O'Loughlin has revealed what it really feels like to be baring all for breast cancer. Speaking to The Advertiser, the 57-year-old comedian admitted she didn't hesitate when she was asked to be involved. Baring all! Australian comedian Fiona O'Loughlin, 57, (pictured) has revealed why she didn't have anxiety ahead of stripping down for All New Monty: Guys and Gals 'I'd stripped on stage before in one of my shows, On a Wing and a Prayer,' Fiona said. 'I thought to myself everybody (in The All New Monty: Guys & Gals) is doing it, so I didn't have much anxiety about it and the costumes were just amazing.' Fiona told the publication that the show's live audience was 'so pumped' for her and her co-stars, including Home and Away's Sam Frost, to take to the stage. 'I thought to myself everybody [on the show] is doing it, so I didn't have much anxiety about it and the costumes were just amazing,' she told The Advertiser this week 'It was an exciting, joyful night,' she added. The funnywoman was crowned Queen of the jungle back in 2018, after winning the Australian version of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Fiona will do the burlesque show alongside the likes of actress Sam Frost, entertainer Patti Newton, Russell Crowe's ex wife Danielle Spencer and Olympian Leisel Jones. Fiona told the publication that the show's live audience was 'so pumped' for her and her co-stars, including Home and Away's Sam Frost to take to the stage In this year's iteration of the charity strip show, the ladies will be joined on stage with male celebrities. They include the likes of actor Samuel Johnson, former Home and Away star Orpheus Pledger and comedian Paul Fenech. The All New Monty: Guys & Gals premieres September 13 at 7PM Channel 7 Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 00:14:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Any attack on police officers is "tantamount to treason," Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Sunday as the country mourned the deaths of police officers killed in the line of duty. "I will continue to be loud and say any attack to a police officer is a direct attack to the authority of the state and it should be regarded as treason," Cele said in commemoration of the annual Police Service Commemoration Day which falls on September 6. Cele paid tribute to police officers who lost their lives while conducting their duties. He said 40 police officers died in the line of duty in the past year. Deputy President David Mabuza also joined other South Africans in honoring those police officers "whose lives were lost while defending the noble ideals of peace, security and freedom." "We mark this day in our annual calendar, to remember the fallen heroes and heroines whose deeds serve as an example to all of us, about what it means to be selfless and patriotic in the service of humanity," Mabuza said in a commemoration address. He voiced "serious concern" that police officers are killed by suspects resisting arrest while responding to complaints, effecting arrests, in stop-and-search operations, and in vehicle accidents. "Equally, it is highly disturbing that police officers lose their lives in stop-and-search operations and are sometimes murdered for their firearms," said Mabuza. The government, he said, will continue to build a police service that is effectively equipped, professionally managed and whose members are highly motivated to perform this important national service to the people of South Africa. According to Mabuza, the South African Police Service is enhancing skills of its members through training with the aim of minimizing attacks on police members. Mabuza urged the whole society to continue working together to fight crime and create a better and safer environment for all South Africans. Enditem Parents in Quebec have challenged the requirement that students return to school in court, arguing it deprives them of their right to make decisions related to the health and safety of their children. The government says there arent enough teachers to manage both in-person and remote learning; a voluntary reopening in May was successful; safeguards are in place to protect students health; and keeping kids at home is more dangerous than sending them to school. In other words, CarPlay information now shows up on the BMW digital instrument cluster, so drivers should now be able to see Apple Maps navigation instructions right on the dashboard.The new feature is believed to be part of a recent firmware update installed by BMW, and someone on reddit says they got it on the 2020 3 Series While at this point its not exactly clear if this software update is also available for other 2020 BMW models, the version is 07/2020, so it received the green light to be installed by dealerships in July. The update doesnt seem to be available over the air (OTA), so only dealerships can install it for the time being.The bad news is that Apple Maps appears to be the only navigation app that can show up on the BMW digital cluster through CarPlay. In other words, if youre using Waze or Google Maps, theres no way to bring driving direction on the dashboard, so your only option is to wait until this feature rolls out or just make the switch to Apple Maps.The navigation information powered by Apple Maps through CarPlay is also available on the supported BMW models on the head-up display.As for the Google Maps update, no information is available at this point regarding general availability, but its without a doubt just a matter of time until the app gets support for the BMW digital instrument cluster too. A similar approach was used by Apple for the CarPlay dashboard too, with Apple Maps originally being the only navigation app that was available with support for this feature.The release of iOS 13.4 in April this year unlocked the maps card for third-party apps on the CarPlay dashboard. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, September 6, 2020 18:24 501 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c42fc2ce 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,COVID-19-death-toll,doctors,IDI,medical-workers,respiratory-infections,medical-practitioners Free The government must provide accessible health care for health workers and their families as the battle against COVID-19 seems far from over, the Indonesian Society of Respirology (PDPI) has said. Hundreds of health workers who have died [of COVID-19] prove that the pandemic is not a conspiracy made by doctors and health workers; it is real, a pulmonologist and a member of the PDPI, Eva Sri Diana, said during an online discussion held by volunteer group Lapor COVID-19 on Saturday. We also beg [the government] to give the health workers who relentlessly fight COVID-19 easy access to medical check-ups. Please help us [health workers] get access to health care." Read also: 100 doctors in Indonesia have died from COVID-19: IDI She said health workers and their families still found it hard to access COVID-19 swab tests and had to pay out of their own pockets, increasing the risk of getting infected and passing the disease to others. According to the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), at least 100 doctors have died of the disease as of Aug. 31. Those are not just numbers; those represent peoples souls, hopes and dreams. Each of those numbers have families, parents, children and relatives who love them. IDI chairman Daeng M. Fiqih told The Jakarta Post last week that the association had coordinated and urged the national COVID-19 task force to ensure more personal protective gear and health facilities for health workers in order to prevent more fatalities. Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) The Nigerian Armed Forces said on Saturday that at least 100 bandits were killed and 148 others arrested in various parts of the Northwest by troops of Operation Sahel Sanity, in the last two months By PTI MORADABAD: A police head constable, who had tested COVID-19 positive, allegedly jumped to death from the fifth floor of the TMU hospital here, officials said on Sunday. This is the third such incident in which a coronavirus patient has jumped to death at Teerthanker Mahaveer University (TMU) hospital, they said. Last month, two COVID patients -- a 28-year-old woman and a bank manager -- allegedly died by suicide at the hospital, the officials said. Moradabad SSP Prabhakar Choudhury said he has ordered a magisterial inquiry into all the three incidents of suicides in the hospital. According to police sources, head constable Diwakar Sharma was admitted to TMU hospital on Saturday after he was found COVID-19 positive. Sources said the policeman was allegedly trying to escape from the hospital but the medical staff stopped him. Later, he allegedly jumped from a window of the medical facility and died on the spot, they said. The senior superintendent of police said the constable was disturbed due to his family circumstances and got fed up after finding that he is COVID-19 positive. The mental condition of a COVID patient should also be examined during treatment, the SSP added. Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Saath helpline:+91 79 26305544, +91 79 26300222 and Jeevan Aastha helpline: 1800 233 3330 "Those who are insulting Maharashtra, should remember that Maharashtra is because of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Balasaheb Thackeray" Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Saturday appeared to have softened its stand on the controversy involving Kangana Ranaut, who had likened Mumbai to PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir). Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said he does not have any personal issue with the actress and added that he raised his voice because she spoke against Maharashtra. Meanwhile, RPI chief and Union minister for state Ramdas Athawale said his party would take care of Ranauts security in Mumbai. Raut said that those who are insulting Maharashtra, should remember that Maharashtra is because of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. I dont have any personal issue with Kangana Ranaut. But insulting Mumbai and Maharashtra will not be tolerated, the Shiv Sena leader said, adding that linking Mumbai with PoK is a very serious offence. The Sena leader said that he read few statements of the BJP leaders. Ashish Shelar has asked Kangana Ranaut to not teach Mumbai, Maharashtra and its people how to behave. Mr Shelar should speak more aggressively on this issue. Maharashtra belongs to them (BJP) also, said Mr Raut. They (BJP) are also active in Maharashtras politics. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj does not belong to an individual. Maharaj belongs to the entire state and the country. The issue is not limited to Shiv Sena only, it also involves 11 crore people of the state, he added. The Shiv Sena and Congress have been alleging that BJP IT cell is behind Ranauts tweets. Mr Raut said, One needs to use their Twitter handle themselves instead of allowing the IT cell of a political party to do so. Meanwhile, defending Kangana, the RPI chief said every citizen has the right to express their views in democracy. She did not criticize Mumbai but the government. Kangana Ranaut has the right to live in Mumbai as per the rights provided by the Constitution of India. If anybody protests against her, RPI would provide her security in Mumbai, said Mr Athawale. So the other day I both defined Tcl procedures all by myself and used them interactively, and I liked it, to the point where it felt like some kind of local optimum. This entry is an attempt to cope with the trauma of liking Tcl, by means of rationalizing it. I'll first tell the story of my fascinating adventures, and then I'll do the rationalizing (to skip the oh-so-personal first part, go straight for the bullet points). Here's what I was doing. I have this board. The board has a chip on it. The chip has several processors in it. There's a processor in there that is a memory-mapped device, and I talk to it using CPU load/store commands. The CPU is itself a JTAG target, and I talk to it via a probe, issuing those load/store commands. To the probe I talk via USB using an ugly console that can't even handle the clipboard properly. The console speaks Tcl. Net result: in order to talk to the memory-mapped processor, I have to speak Tcl. Or I can use a memory view window in a graphical debugger. Except some addresses will change the processor state when read (pop an item from a LIFO, that sort of thing). So no, memory view windows aren't a good idea you have to aim for the specific address, not shoot at whole address ranges. Damn, just who thought of defining the hardware in such a stupid way? Why, it was me. Little did I know that I was thereby inflicting Tcl on myself. Anyway, there's this bug I have to debug now, and as far as I know it could be in at least three different pieces of software or in two different pieces of hardware, and I don't like any of the 5 options very much, and I want to find out what it is already. So at the ugly probe console I type things like word 0x1f8cc000 (reads the processor status), word 0x1f8cc008 2 (halts the execution), word 0x1f8cc020 0x875 (places a breakpoint). I get sick and tired of this in about 2 minutes, when the command history is large enough to make the probability of hitting Enter at the wrong auto-completed command annoying. It's annoying to run the wrong command because if I ruin the processor state, it will take me minutes to reproduce that state, because the program reads input via JTAG, which is as slow as it gets. So I figure this isn't the last bug I'm gonna deal with this way, and it's therefore time for Extending my Environment, equipping myself with the Right Tools for the Job, Tailored to my needs, utilizing the Scripting capabilities of the system. I hate that, I really do. Is there something more distressing than the development of development tools for the mass market of a single developer? Can a programmer have a weakness more pathetic than the tendency to solve easy generic meta-problems when the real, specific problems are too hard? Is there software more disgusting in nature than plug-ins and extensions for a butt-ugly base system? But you know what, I really fail to remember 0x1f8cwhat the breakpoint address is. This story has one hexadecimal value too much for my brain. OK, then. Tcl. I decided to have one entry point procedure, pmem , that would get a memory-mapped processor id, 'cause there are many of them, and then call one of several functions with the right base address, so that pmem 0 pc would do the same as pmem_pc 0x1f8c0000 . Well, in Tcl that's as simple as it gets. Tcl likes to generate and evaluate command strings. More generally, Tcl likes strings. In fact, it likes them more than anything else. In normal programming languages, things are variables and expressions by default. In Tcl, they are strings. abc isn't a variable reference it's a string. $abc is the variable reference. a+b/c isn't an expression it's a string. [expr $a+$b/$c] is the expression. Could you believe that? [expr $a+$b/$c] . Isn't that ridiculous? In fact, that was one of my main applications for Tcl: ridiculing it. I remember reading the huge Tcl/Tk book by Brent Welch with my friend once. There was a power outage and it was past the time when the last UPS squeaked its last squeak. And the book was there 'cause the hardware guys use it for scripting their lovecraftian toolchain. We really did have fun. Tears went down my cheeks from laughter. Even people with the usual frightened/mean comments about those geeks who laugh their brains out over a Tcl book didn't spoil it. So, ridiculing Tcl, my #1 use for it. The other use is the occasional scripting of the hardware hackers' lovecraftian toolchain. Overall, I don't use Tcl very much. The nice thing about Tcl is that it's still a dynamic language, and reasonably laconic at that, modulo quoting and escaping. So I enter the usual addictive edit/test cycle using tclsh < script . N minutes down the road (I really don't know what N was), I've finished my 2 screenfuls of Tcl and the fun starts. I actually start debugging the goddamn thing. $ pmem 0 stat IDLE $ pmem 0 bkpt 0 0xbff $ pmem 0 bkpt 1 0xa57 $ pmem 0 cmd run $ pmem 0 stat DEBUG $ pmem 0 pc 0xbff $ pmem 0 rstack 3 return addresses addr 0: 0x0005 addr 1: 0x05a8 addr 2: 0x0766 $ pmem 0 cmd stp $ pmem 0 pc 0xc00 Weeee! HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY! You have no idea just how happy this made me. Yeah, I know, I'm overreacting. I'll tell you what: debug various kinds of hardware malfunction for several months, and you'll be able to identify with the warped notion of value one gains through such process. On second thought, I don't know if I'd really recommend it. Remember how I told low-level programming was easy? It is, fundamentally, but there's this other angle from which it's quite a filthy endeavor. I promise to blog about it. I owe it to the people who keep telling me "so low-level is easy?" each time they listen to me swear heartily at a degenerate hardware setup where nothing works no matter what you try. I owe it to myself me wants to reach a closure here. Why should I tolerate being regularly misquoted at the moments of my deepest professional catharsis? Aaaanyway, in just N minutes, I bootstrapped myself something not unlike a retarded version of gdb, the way it would work if the symbol table of my program was stripped. But no matter I have addr2line for that. And the nice thing about my retarded debugger front-end is that it looks like shell commands: blah blah blah . As opposed to blah("blah","blah") . And this, folks, is what I think Tcl, being a tool command language, gets right. I come from the world of pop infix languages (C/Java/Python/Ruby/you name it). Tcl basically freaks me out with its two fundamental choices: Tcl likes literals, not variables. Tcl: string, $var. Pop infix: "string", var . Tcl: Pop infix: . Tcl likes commands, not expressions. Tcl: doit this that, [expr $this+$that] . Pop infix: doit("this","that"), this+that . So basically, pop infix languages (and I use the term in the most non-judgmental, factual way), pop infix languages are optimized for programming (duh, they are programming languages). Programming is definitions. Define a variable and it will be easy to use it, and computing hairy expressions from variables is also easy. Tcl is optimized for usage. Most of the time, users give simple commands. Command names and literal parameters are easy. If you are a sophisticated user, and you want to do pmem 0 bkpt [expr [pmem 0 pc] + 1] , go ahead and do it. A bit ugly, but on the other hand, simple commands are really, really simple. And eventually, simple commands become all that matters for the user, because the sophisticated user grows personal shortcuts, which abstract away variables and expressions, so you end up with pmem 0 bkpt nextpc or something. Apparently, flat function calls with literal arguments is what interactive program usage is all about. I'm not saying that I'm going to use Tcl as the extension language of my next self-made lovecraftian toolchain (I was thinking more along the lines of doing that one in D and using D as my scripting language, 'cause it compiles fast enough and it's apparently high-level enough). I haven't thought enough about this, but the grotesque escaping/quoting in Tcl still freaks me out; I don't want to program like that. All I'm saying is that I like the interactive part. Specifically: Short code matters a lot; short interactive commands matter much more. more. An interactive command language must be a real language (loops, functions and all). Tcl allows for the shortest commands and it's a real language. I'm fascinated. Allow me to elaborate. Short code vs short commands Lots of people have noticed that keeping your code short is extremely important. More surprisingly, many people fail to notice this, probably because "1 line is better than 5" doesn't sound that convincing. OK, think about 100K lines vs 500K and you'll get the idea. Oh, there are also those dirty Perl/shell one-liners that make one doubt about this. I've known a Bastard Programmer that used 2K bash one-liners as his weapon of choice. OK then, so the actual rule must be "short code is good unless it's written by a bastard". But it's the same core idea. So we have the Architect type, who loves lots of classes which delegate work to each other, and we have the Enlightened type, who wants to write and read less. And the Enlightened type can rant and rave all day how Python, or Ruby, or Lisp make it oh-so-easy to define data structure literals, or to factor out stuff using meta-programming, or some other thing an Architect just never gets. And I'm all with it. And then we have interactive shells. And in Python it's doit("xx","yy") . And in Lisp it's (doit "xx" "yy") , or (doit :xx :yy) , or (doit xx yy) if you make it a macro. And in Ruby it's doit :xx :yy , if you use symbols and omit parens. And that's about as good as you can get without using your own parser as in doit "xx yy" , which can suck in the (more rare) case when you do need to evaluate expressions before passing parameters, and doesn't completely remove overhead. Also note how all these languages use (), which makes you press Shift, instead of [] which doesn't. Ruby and Perl let you omit (), but it costs in readability. And [] is unanimously reserved for less important stuff than function calls. The whole point of short code is saving human bandwidth, which is the single thing in a computing environment that doesn't obey Moore's law and doesn't double once in 18 months. Now, which kind of bandwidth is the most valuable? I'll tell you which. It's the interactive command bandwidth. That's because (1) you interact a lot with your tools and (2) this interaction isn't what you're trying to do, it's how you're trying to do it, so when it isn't extremely easy it's distracting and extremely frustrating. This is why an editor that doesn't have short keyboard shortcuts for frequently used commands is a stupid fucking piece of junk and should go down the toilet right now. This is why a Matlab vector [1 2 3] is much better than a Python list [1,2,3] (ever noticed how the space bar is much easier to hit than a comma, you enlightened dynamic language devotee? Size does matter). And don't get me started about further wrapping the vector literal for Numeric Python. The small overhead is tolerable, though sucky, when you program, because you write the piece of code once and while you're doing it, you're concentrating on the task and its specifics, like the language syntax. When you're interacting with a command shell though, it's a big deal. You're not writing a program you're looking at files, or solving equations, or single-stepping a processor. I have a bug, I'm frigging anxious, I gotta GO GO GO as fast as I can to find out what it is already, and you think now is the time to type parens, commas and quotation marks?! Fuck you! By which I mean to say, short code is important, short commands are a must. Which is why I never got to like IPython or IDLE. Perhaps Ruby could be better, because of omitting parens and all. Ruby seems to be less inflicted with the language lawyer pseudo-right-thing mindset. But the basic plain vanilla function-call-with-literal-args syntax still doesn't reach the purity of *sh or Tcl. Well, the shell is an insanely defective programming language, so it's not even an option for anything non-interactive. But Tcl gets way closer to a programming language. Which brings us to the next issue: Ad-hoc scripting languages the sub-Turing tar pit Many debuggers have scripting languages. gdb has one, and Green Hills MULTI has one. Ad hoc command languages usually get the command-syntax-should-be-easy part right it's command arg arg arg They then get everything else wrong. That is, you usually don't have any or some of: data structures, loops, conditionals and user-defined functions, option for expression evaluation in all contexts, interface to the host OS, and all the stuff which basically would make the thing a programming language. Or you get all those things in a peculiar, defective form which you haven't seen anywhere else. I wish people stopped doing that. I understand why many people do that very well they don't know any language which isn't a 3rd generation one (presumably C++ or Java). They don't know how scripting works except on a theoretical level. They know how to build a big software system, with objects and relationships between objects and factories of objects and stuff. At the system/outside world boundary they're helpless though. Outside of the system our objects are gone. There's this cold, windy, cruel world with users and files and stuff. Gotta have an AbstractInputParser to guard the gates into our nice, warm, little system, um, actually it's "big", no, make it "huge" system. These are the Architects who get mocked by the Enlightened dynamic language lovers. They normally dismiss scripting languages as "not serious", therefore, when faced with the need to create a command language for their system, they start out with a plan to create a non-serious (a.k.a crippled) language. Even if they wanted to make it a good one, they never thought about the considerations that go into making a good scripting language, nor do they realize how easy/beneficial it is to embed an existing one. So basically we have 3GL people, who realize that commands should be short ("it's a simple thing we're doing here"), but they don't see that you need a real Turing-complete programming language for the complicated cases. And we have 4GL people, who optimize for the complicated case of programming ("what's a scripting language it's a programming language, dammit!"), and they don't care about an extra paren or quotation mark. And then we have Tcl, which makes easy things really easy and scales to handle complicated cases (well, almost, or so I think). And not only does it make plain funcalls easy it reserves [] for nested funcalls, in the Lispy prefix form of outercall arg [innercall arg arg] arg... [] is better than (). Pressing Shift sucks. And custom keyboard mapping which makes it possible to type parens without pressing Shift is complete idiocy, because you won't be able to work with anyone's machine. This shit matters, if you program all day long it does. Now what? I don't know if I'd use Tcl. It's less of a programming language than your typical pop infix 4GL. For starters, [expr] is a bitch. And then there are "advanced" features, like closures, that I think Tcl lacks. It has its interesting side from a "linguistic" perspective though. It has really few core syntax, making it closer to Lisp and Forth than the above-mentioned pop infix ilk. So you can use Tcl and claim for aristocracy. Of course you'll only manage to annoy the best programmers this way; the mediocre won't know what you're talking about, seeing only that Tcl doesn't look enough like C to be worth the name of a language. I'd think a lot before embedding Tcl as a scripting language for my tools, because of linguistic issues and marketing issues (you ought to give them something close enough to C, whether they're a customer or a roommate). So the practical takeaways for me are modest: More than 200 people have been airlifted to safety after being trapped by a fast-moving wildfire near a popular recreation area in northern California, according to officials. The evacuees climbed aboard military helicopters on Sunday after the blaze, in bone-dry conditions, cut off ground escape routes from Mammoth Pool Reservoir in the Sierra National Forest, about 45 miles (70 km) northeast of Fresno. Flames moved in so fast that at one point people were advised to shelter in place in the reservoir itself if need be. Simply extraordinary, lifesaving work by the @CalGuard airlifting more than 200 people to safety overnight from the imminent danger of the #CreekFire, army General Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said on Twitter. Twenty of the evacuees were transported to area hospitals, the Madera County Sheriffs Office reported on Twitter. At least two were seriously injured, according to the Fresno Fire Department. Hokanson tweeted a dramatic picture taken from the cockpit of a helicopter showing it surrounded by blazing trees. Photo from the cockpit of a @CalGuard Chinook minutes ago rescuing people trapped by the #CreekFire So proud of our National Guard pilots and crews. Thoughts with those affected by this unfolding disaster. pic.twitter.com/GDV9J62MBT General Daniel Hokanson (@ChiefNGB) September 6, 2020 He said dozens of those rescued had been brought to California National Guard facilities and were met by military medics and civilian first responders. State of emergency California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in five counties later on Sunday, including Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino and San Diego, according to a statement published by the governors office. The Creek Fire consumed more than 14,500 hectares (36,000 acres) and threatened numerous mountain communities after igniting on Friday and exploding on Saturday, authorities said. California has been baking with record-breaking temperatures expected over the Labor Day weekend, bringing dangerous fire weather conditions. The high temperatures come as the state is recovering from another heatwave in mid-August and devastating wildfires that have burned about 600,000 hectares (1.5 million acres) in the last three weeks. Blake, who is Black, was shot in the back by a white police officer on Aug. 23 after walking away from the officer and two others who were trying to arrest him. The officer, Rusten Sheskey, opened fire after Blake opened his own SUVs driver-side door and leaned into the vehicle. The shooting was captured on video and posted online, sparking several nights of protests and unrest in Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 between Milwaukee and Chicago. They taught us how to be financially responsible, she said. I feel very grateful. If theres something positive about the pandemic, its that it has strengthened some family ties, though not always happily. In an Edward Jones/Age Wave study, two-thirds of Americans said the pandemic had brought them closer to their family, although only 28 percent of those over 65 have yet to begin discussing their end-of-life care preferences with anyone at all, including their family. With the U.S. economy shrinking by nearly a third and more than 185,000 Americans dying in the pandemic, the sheer grief of the current situation can be overwhelming. Its arduous for many people to move ahead and process all of the potential effects on families but for many, the impact on their general prosperity and later years will be profound. A study in July by the Brookings Institution said that, while the full effects of the pandemic werent yet known, the impact was likely to transform retirement for years, if not decades. An extended slump could reduce stock market returns, retirement savings and income, and force many Americans to work longer. This is the biggest labor market shake-up in a century, said Ben Harris, a co-author of the Brookings report and a professor at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. Some 30 percent to 40 percent of lost jobs may not be coming back. What if breadwinners cant go back to work? In addition to the labor market damage, theres little question that the pandemic has already hurt retirement savers in the past year. More than 60 companies employing more than 100 people have suspended their 401(k) contribution match since the pandemic began, affecting more than a half-million active participants, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Many of them are large employers hit particularly hard by the crisis, including Best Buy, Dell Technologies and Kelly Services. Not surprisingly, the social disruption aggravated by job losses, halts in retirement savings and health-related employment interruptions has created a great deal of financial stress. In a survey published in April by the National Endowment for Financial Education, 88 percent said the crisis was stressing their personal finances. The top three stressors, respondents said, were lack of emergency savings, job security and income fluctuations. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_595.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_595 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_595.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement So much has been said and written about the person of Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She is one of the most popular women in Africa today and there are good reasons for that. This is not just due to her previous political appointments as two-time Minister of Finance and one-time Minister of Foreign Affairs of the largest and most populous black nation on earth, and we cannot equally say this is only because of her record as the Managing Director of the World Bank. Having followed Dr Okonjo-Iwealas activities since 2004 when she was heading Nigerias Ministry of Finance, I have come to observe she has always been bold to take up the toughest of jobs, tasks and implement the seemingly most difficult reforms with effortless ease. I thought it was only me observing this till I was recently proved wrong. At this point, let me invite Mr Gordon Brown into the discussion. For some reasons, some of us may not know Mr Brown. Mr Brown is a British Statesman and public figure who served as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. Aside from this, Mr Brown is a well-known friend of Africa (Nigeria especially). This explains why Mr Brown was among the first set of endorsements for Dr Okonjo-Iweala for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) sometime in July. The British newspaper, The Times, captures it properly with the bold headline GORDON BROWN BACKS OKONJO-IWEALA TO LEAD WTO. This endorsement means a lot. First, having served as UK Prime Minister at the time Okonjo-Iweala was Nigerias Finance Minister, Mr Brown knows her competence in implementing tough reforms and handling complex development and budgeting challenges in a unique environment like Nigeria. As I said earlier, Mr Brown is not a stranger to Africas murky socio-political environment and what it takes to implement reforms in payroll and pensions management. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_ff5.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_ff5 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_ff5.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_ff5.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_ff5.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Quoting The Times, the former Prime Minister said that Okonjo-Iweala would make an outstanding success of running the Geneva-based organization which is currently facing some fundamental crises and in search of its soul. Gordon Brown surely knows too well that the choice of the next DG of the organization is very crucial as the world grapples with the global economic disruption caused by Covid-19. Secondly, Browns backing of Okoko-Iweala is altruistic. By endorsing Okonjo-Iweala, Brown allowed himself to be guided by the spirit of competence rather than nationalistic milieu and innuendos. He is well aware that Mr Liam Fox, his compatriot who previously served as UK Secretary of Trade is in the race with Okonjo-Iweala. Even at that, Mr Brown does not seem rightly persuaded by ultra-nationalist arguments before endorsing the amazon from Nigeria. According to Brown, Okonjo-Iweala is well-respected across the whole of the world. I understand some people may want to bring in British party politics into this matter at this point. Oh, Gordon Brown wont endorse Liam Fox because of his Labour affiliation or similar arguments. This, to be honest, is either ridiculous or petty. As bitter as Nigerian politics can be, politicians of all orientations have endorsed Okonjo-Iweala. Even though she served under the government of the opposition party, the current government still went ahead to nominate and support her for the position. The reason for this is straightforward: she is perceived as competent irrespective of her political orientations or affiliations. If competence is what is required, then Okonjo-Iweala is the one the cap fits. Earlier in July, Mr Patrick Lumumba, a Kenyan lawyer and global anti-corruption crusader, bypassed his fellow Kenyan, Amina Muhammed, to endorse Okonjo-Iweala. In Lumumbas own words, he said: Right now Okonjo-Iweala is the candidate we should back, given her credentials. (Italics mine). Notice, Lumumba never bothered about Okonjo-Iwealas country of origin. He is also not moved about the argument that his own country has a candidate for the same position Ngozi is running for. What he bothers about is who is most qualified for the job. All other things are details. This leads me to Mr Browns striking evaluation of Okonjo-Iweala: she handles the toughest of jobs. Dr Okojo-Iweala has become adept at handling and delivering on seemingly complicated tasks and implementing life-threatening institutional reforms in fast-paced settings. She has mastered the art of making seemingly difficult problems look simple with the ways she handles them. Nobody ever thought it was possible to build a centralized database for payroll for public sector workers in Nigeria until Okonjo-Iweala came. Nobody thought it was going to be easy negotiating debt relief for Nigerian until Okonjo-Iweala made it possible in 2005. Many Nigerians now take the benefits of Banking Reforms for granted but do not know it started while Okonjo-Iweala was Finance Minister. The current pension system in operation in Nigeria today came through the table of Madam Okonjo-Iweala. What about the use of technology to fight corruption in the public sector? Many people seem to forget that existing initiatives like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Integrated Personnel Payroll Identification System (IPPIS) which have saved the Nigerian government huge sums of dollars are the initiatives of Dr Okonjo-Iweala. Also, her foresight in making Nigeria learn how to save for the rainy days led to her to initiate the Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) to cushion the effects of fluctuations in the international oil market and stabilize domestic prices. These are not easy reforms to implement in any way. These are some of the though jobs handlined by this brilliant woman. These are legacy projects. No wonder Gordon Brown bypassed his compatriot to endorse her! With more of her rivals compatriots endorsing Okonjo-Iweala, the world is beginning to see politics differently. This time, its about giving the job to the person who knows how to do it the best. That person is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. I stand with Gordon Brown! Olalekan Adigun, a public affairs commentator, writes from Lagos. He tweets from @MrLekanAdigun Coimbatore: Two persons have been rescued while five others remain trapped after a building collapsed in Tamil Nadu's Chetty Street area of Coimbatore following incessant rainfall on Sunday (September 6, 2020). Two persons have been rescued so far. The rescue team from the Fire Services department said five persons, including a baby, are reportedly trapped under the debris, officials told ANI. District Collector K Rajamani has reached the spot and is monitoring the operation. Police said ambulances and medical teams have been kept on standby. The administration has launched an operation to rescue them, police said. (This is a developing story, further details awaited) Kathmandu, September 6 An experts term formed by the government to collect evidence to prove that the disputed Kalapani-Limpiyadhura region belongs to Nepal, not India, has decided not to visit the area before submitting its report. The panel has cited the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason for its inability to visit the site. A member of the nine-member panel says the team is already finalising its preliminary report. The team is waiting for comments from one of its member, Surya Prasad Subedi, on the draft report before finalising. Probably, Dr Subedi will present his comments this Friday, then we will conclude the discussion on the preliminary report, the member reveals. The report will have a section on onsite observation, but the members will write that the task is pending. The government had formed the team comprising policy researcher Bishnu Raj Upreti, international law expert Surya Subedi, historian Ramesh Dhungel, constitutional expert Bipin Adhikari, water resources expert Jagat Kumar Bhusal, former survey official Toya Nath Baral, former army officer Himalaya Thapa, community forestry activist Apsara Chapagain and Foreign Affairs Ministry official Ram Prasad Subedi, in early June. When the news of the formation of the team came out, the governments decision was criticised as it had already been three weeks since the government had issued the new political map of the country incorporating the region. The critics said the government should have collected all necessary evidence before issuing the new map. Therefore, the team members now say its assignment is not to collect the evidence to prove Nepals ownership of the land but to suggest a strategy on how the government can reclaim it in reality. (Natural News) The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the largest police union in the United States, announced it is endorsing President Donald Trump, commending him for his calls for law and order in the wake of civil unrest and riots over the summer. (Article by Jack Phillips republished from TheEpochTimes.com) Public safety will undoubtedly be a main focus for voters in this years election, FOP President Patrick Yoes said in a statement on Friday. Look at what the national discourse has focused on for the last six months. President Trump has shown time after time that he supports our law enforcement officers and understands the issues our members face every day. The FOP is the largest organization of sworn police officers and has more than 355,000 members in 2,100 lodges. The organization unanimously voted to endorse Trump to reelection. On behalf of the 355,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police, we are proud to unanimously endorse @realDonaldTrump for President of the United States. #FOP4Trump pic.twitter.com/uAF6SWNRnA National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) September 4, 2020 The FOP endorsed Trump for president in 2016 and alleged that former Secretary of State and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton snubbed them for not seeking their endorsement. During his first four years, President Trump has made it crystal clear that he has our backs, Yoes said in the statement. Our members know that he listens to the concerns of our brothers and sisters in uniform and is able to make tough decisions on the issues most important to law enforcement. President Trump is committed to keeping our communities and families safe. The group didnt back a presidential candidate in 2012 when former Democratic President Barack Obama faced Republican Mitt Romney. Before that, the FOP endorsed Republican candidates in 2000, 2004, and 2008George W. Bush twice and John McCain once. In 1996, it endorsed former President Bill Clintons reelection. Its not the first police union to endorse Trump. Several weeks ago, the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), an affiliate of the massive AFL-CIO union, endorsed Trump for reelection while supporting the presidents plan to send in federal law enforcement agents to hotspots like Portland, Chicago, and Seattle. President Sam A. Cabral said Tuesday that the union was backing the presidents re-election bid as it believes there is no other viable alternative for anyone who desires peace and security in their community. Last month, during the Republican National Convention (RNC), Patrick Lynch, the head of the Police Benevolent Associationthe largest police union in New York Citypublicly endorsed Trump and accused Democratic politicians of capitulating to far-left activists on policing. The radical left doesnt really want better policing, he said. They dont really care about making the justice system fairer. What they want is no policing. What they want is a justice system that stops working altogether. He asserted that Biden would serve as a vehicle for leftist politicians to control the federal government. The message is: police officers are the enemy. The message is: criminals have the right to resist arrest. The message is: if you victimize a vulnerable person, the justice system will not hold you accountable. The criminals have heard that message, and they are taking full advantage, Lynch said. Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com Germany, the current head of the European Union, will discuss possible sanctions on Russia over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny if the Kremlin does not provide an explanation soon, its foreign minister said Sunday. Russian opposition leader Navalny fell ill on a flight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital before being evacuated to Berlin. Germany said last week there was "unequivocal evidence" that President Vladimir Putin's top foe had been poisoned using Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. "If in the coming days Russia does not help clarify what happened, we will be compelled to discuss a response with our allies," Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told German daily Bild. Any sanctions decided should be "targeted", he added. Western leaders and many Russians have expressed horror at what Navalny's allies say is the first known use of chemical weapons against a high-profile opposition leader on Russian soil. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that Germany is yet to share any findings with Moscow's prosecutors. Maas on Sunday said there were "several indications" that Russia was behind the poisoning, in the strongest accusations yet from Germany. "The deadly substance with which Navalny was poisoned has in the past been found in the hands of Russian authorities. "Only a small number of people have access to Novichok and this poison was used by Russian secret services in the attack against former agent Sergei Skripal," he said, referring to the 2018 attack in the English city of Salisbury. On the subject of which sanctions could be discussed by the EU, Maas didn't rule out action relating to the disputed Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Merkel ally dodges questions on gas sanctions The controversial 10 billion ($11billion) project is meant to deliver Russian gas to Europe, but has been strongly contested by the United States. Story continues "I hope ... that the Russians do not force us to change our position on Nord Stream," Maas said, adding that the consequences of any potential cancellation of the project would also need to be weighed, and that the debate on sanctions should not be "reduced" to one point. Merkel, a supporter of the pipeline, has said it should not be linked to the Navalny case, and on Saturday a senior member of her conservative party dodged questions on possible gas sanctions. Asked whether the Navalny case meant the government should reconsider the pipeline, Armin Laschet, governor of the most populous German state and a leading contender to succeed Merkel as candidate for chancellor, said Germany should seek a common response with its EU partners. "We need a European answer not go it alone that allows Europe to make its position clear to Russia," said Laschet. "It is good if we reach a common solution that's as cohesive as possible." (FRANCE 24 with AFP) WASHINGTON (AP) Sales of previously occupied homes fell in December for the first time in four months as many would-be buyers were frustrated by a lack of available houses, which fell to the lowest level in more than two... Were in Washington, D.C. this weekend for a happy family event. Taking a walk yesterday afternoon, I got a call from friends in Minneapolis who were on the St. Croix River. The magnificent river divides Minnesota from Wisconsin about 30 miles east of St. Paul. My friend happily reported that she and her husband had happened onto the Trump boat rally taking place in front of her as she spoke. She told me there were hundreds of boats on the river waving the flag to support Trump. She encouraged me to report on it because she was sure the Star Tribune wouldnt. Oh, Judy, how right you are. The Star Tribune not only leaves the story unmentioned, it runs the AP story Several boats sink during Texas parade for President Trump. So much for the rally on Lake Travis in Texas. What about the bistate Minnesota/Wisconsin edition? For this story, we must turn to KSTP Eyewitness news here and FOX 9 here. KSTPs Crystal Bui reports: Hundreds of boats cruised the St. Croix River on Saturday. It was part of a national movement showing support for President Trump. The parade went up the St. Croix River, from Prescott, Wisconsin to Stillwater, Minnesota. From the air, Chopper 5 captured hundreds of boats and more than a thousand in the crowd cheering on those waving campaign flags [KSTP live stream video below]. Security was heightened. Law enforcement oversaw the Highway 36 bridge, and Washington County sheriffs deputies and Department of Natural Resources conservation officers were out patrolling the water by the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The Washington County Sheriffs Office told KSTP said they had no issues at the rally. In all honesty, I wasnt worried, said Adam Matakis, one of the events organizers. There was a bunch of messages sent to us saying this, and this, and this, was going to happen, and theyre going to be dropping Molotov cocktails off bridges and you go on a bridge and start throwing stuff. Look at all the cameras, all of the people are around. At least one flag supported former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential nominee. Others were happy to see the hundreds of people come out to show support to President Trump. Honestly, USA, Trump supporter Emily Jackson said. Land of the free, say what you want. Come on out! But respect those that have this opinion as well. I think its awesome. I love it its so good. More here on Facebook. Detectives have charged four men and seized cannabis with a street value of nearly $13 million on Aug. 26, 2020 as part of Strike Force Riche to investigate a criminal syndicate involved in cannabis cultivation and money laundering. (NSW Police Force) An alleged drug ring supplying cannabis-infused confectionery and sweets through an online marketplace has been taken down by New South Wales police. Detectives have charged five men and two women over their alleged involvement in supplying drugsincluding drug-infused baked goods. Officers found jelly lollies, chocolate and baked goods, along with cannabis and cannabis oil during a raid of a Sydney home on Sept. 6. Superintendent Paul Carrett says online drug supply isnt new but it remains challenging for police and people should be wary. The sale of drug-infused goods in what looks like unsuspecting food items poses a significant risk to the community, he said. Not only are these drugs illegal, they are also incredibly dangerousyou simply dont know what youre taking or how it will affect your health. Two 28-year-old Taiwanese men have been charged supplying prohibited drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime. One is also accused of possessing prohibited drugs. A 27-year-old Taiwanese woman was also charged with possessing and supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Police will allege the trio were involved in the supply of cannabis-infused baked goods through the website. A 25-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were later charged with supplying prohibited drugs, dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group. Police allege the pair delivered the cannabis-infused confectionary to users at locations in Sydneys inner-city between July and August 2020. Detectives have also arrested two French nationals during the ongoing investigation. The pair, 31 and 30, are accused of supplying and possessing a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group. Police allege both also supplied MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. By Aaron Bunch Isaiah Sizenbach only winced once as Juan Rodriguez pressed the barber clippers down for a close shave above the 6-year-olds ears before in-person school starts Tuesday. His mother Katrina Sizenbach held his 3-year-old wailing sister, Mariska, as the licensed cosmetologist focused on finishing the boys haircut at the Avistar at the Oaks management office on Thousand Oaks Drive. Im so glad youre sitting still son, she said with pride over the buzz of the clippers. More for you Family and heartland provide moral touchstones for longtime... Isaiah, stoic and silent, rested his chin upon a camouflaged cape wrapped around his neck at the school readiness event, sponsored by Foresight Asset Management and Northern Hills United Methodist Church. The event featured free school supplies, facials and haircuts for students kindergarten through high school who live at the apartment complex and sister communities. Empty backpacks and bags filled with school supplies were handed out by volunteers to Isaiah, his siblings and a steady stream of youngsters for the new school year. It definitely helps knowing somebody is there, and youre not alone, Sizenbach, 35, said. When the help is there, I definitely try to take it. On ExpressNews.com: Imagination, creativity flourish at elementary school on San Antonios North Side Lisa Krantz, Staff / Staff photographer The event is a vital service to ensure young residents at Avistar communities are not left behind, said Dorthy Winfield, program director of social services for American Agape Foundation and Foresight Asset Management. During her 14 years with the foundation she helped refugees at the residences, but now most of the resettlement families own homes, have become American citizens and are self-sufficient. Winfield said during the pandemic, the focus has been on food security, the well being of older residents and getting children ready for school. They appreciate the haircuts, and the young women getting facials builds up self esteem, she said. Im hoping the young people will take this lesson back home with them and continue the skin-care regime. The pandemic has upended after-school programs and residents lives said Renee Castaneda, leasing specialist and program coordinator for Avistar communities. An after-school coordinator, she has witnessed families in need of assistance who have lost jobs and relatives to the coronavirus. Its almost unimaginable, said Castaneda, who is raising her two grandchildren Jayden, 4, and Aaliyah, 5. The children dont understand all of this, except what we teach them for their ages and level of understanding. Its vital to know that someone else cares and to have backup support. Its very important, and it makes my heart happy that were able to do this. Lisa Krantz, Staff / Staff photographer Property manager Janet Bellefeville said they encourage children at the apartment complex to concentrate on their grades with their A and B Report Card Club. They ask the kids to bring in their cards, take a photo with their grades and administrators post the photos on a special board in the office. At the end of the school year, they celebrate with a barbecue. This year, she said, because of safety concerns, the celebration will be different. Were excited for them, knowing that we can help, Bellefeville said. Were all in this together, but together we can accomplish more for each other. Pastor Abdon Garza, said prior to the pandemic his church volunteers helped the children with after school tutoring sessions. Not able to provide one-on-one tutelage because of COVID-19, he said they have a team of retired educators and teachers from Northern Hills ready to offer virtual tutoring as well as at their ministry center in October. Methodist Healthcare Ministries partnered with the church to provide food to families without transportation. Were always looking at different ways we can help the community, said Garza, 62. On ExpressNews.com: Roller derby-skating, reptile-loving librarian encourages San Antonio students to live life out loud Amber Gonzalez, 30, brought her three daughters, ages 5 to 13, who all received school supplies. Her oldest daughter, Callie Gallardo, was the only one old enough for hair styling and a facial. Its nice of them to give back to the community with all of the hardships going on, Gonzalez said. It cant get any better than that. Lisa Krantz, Staff / Staff photographer Foresight Asset Management set up an unique partnership with Rodriguez and licensed esthetician A.J. Martinez who both live at the Avistar residences. The pair offer their services once a month to residents in exchange for a discount on their rent. Rodriguez said the arrangement has helped immensely since he was laid off from work at a West Texas oil field in February. Its very good that they take advantage of this opportunity, Rodriguez said of parents who brought their children. And it also helps us as tenants here. Martinez, 45, said it was rewarding to help the high school students with skin-care tips and a bit of pampering to lift their spirits. It actually helps with their confidence, he said, and getting healthier once again for school. 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 By PTI NEW DELHI: The CISF has planned an airport-like "contact-free" security check for the Delhi Metro and will deploy modified hand-held and doorframe metal detectors for scanning passengers, who will be required to put metallic objects such as belts and pens in their bags. The security drill changes have been outlined in the CISF's 'business continuity plan' for the Delhi Metro which resumes its services from Monday in a "staggered" manner. Before COVID-19 struck, CISF personnel, who guard the metro network, spread over 230 stations, used to scan passengers from proximity and even touch them during security checks. The passengers were also allowed to keep their wallets and belts on the body. Officials in the paramilitary force, however, said things will change now as social distancing and other public health norms need to be strictly followed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. As per the new 'business continuity plan' prepared by the force for resumption of the metro services, the personnel will scan commuters using a hand-held metal detector which has been attached to a lean wooden stick so that there is a safe physical distance between the scanner and the passenger. The plan has been prepared to ensure the health and security of metro staff and the passengers are not compromised, and the rapid rail transport system, often called the 'life line' of Delhi-NCR, has a robust counterterror cover during the COVID-19 pandemic period. "The CISF will provide an airport-like touch-free or contact-free security service at the Delhi Metro from Monday keeping in mind the anti-coronavirus spread guidelines of the government. "Apart from enhancing the length of the hand-held metal detectors, we have also re-calibrated the doorframe metal detectors that are placed just before a commuter climbs on a small stool for their frisking," a senior officer of the force told PTI. The Central Industrial Security Force also guards the civil airports of the country and as per protocols prevalent here, its personnel do not touch a passenger with their hands or security gadgets unless necessary. Suspect airport passengers, however, are subjected to intense manual frisking and pat-down search. The Delhi Metro services were suspended on March 22 in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The operations on its 'yellow line' (Samyapur Badli to HUDA City Centre) will resume from Monday followed by other lines in a phased manner. The CISF officer added that the doorframe detectors have been recalibrated in such a manner that they will beep along that body part where it is suspected that the passenger is carrying a metallic object. As per the new procedures, passengers will be asked to put all the objects on their body including metallic ones like belts and pens in their bags and if someone does not have a bag they are supposed to keep them in their hands, he said. But unlike at airports, no plastic trays will be provided to the passengers to keep their belongings for scanning, he said. "Even after taking out all the objects, if the door-frame detector picks a beep then the passenger will again be asked to clean himself of all the items on their body and if the situation persists they will be minutely frisked by the hand-held scanner albeit from a distance and without any touch," the officer explained. The business continuity plan of the force, that has been reported earlier, had said that "contactless frisking shall be carried out of the passengers using hand-held metal detectors at a minimum distance of 2. 5 cms. " The officer said the passengers will be requested by on-duty CISF personnel to open and show the contents of their bags in case they find it suspicious even after making it pass through the x-ray scanner. All the force personnel on duty would be wearing masks and gloves and those who frisk will also use face shields to ensure that both the jawan and the passengers are safe, he added. Some CISF personnel will be deputed to guide passengers undertake these new drills, the officer said. "The personnel are being provided with re-usable gloves which will be replaced after a certain cycle. All the weapons used by the personnel will also be sanitised regularly," he said. Mobile and armed quick reaction teams of CISF commandos will patrol the station area and keep an eye on the operations from vantage positions, he said. As per the CISF plan, physical distancing norms will be "strictly" enforced inside the station area and a two-metre distance shall be maintained between the frisking and the line-up points and one-metre between passengers waiting at the security point. "Electronic and manual surveillance will be intensified to have close monitoring on all activities in metro premises," the plan has said. The CISF has deployed a contingent of about 10,000 men and women personnel to guard the Delhi Metro network, except the Rapid Metro in Gurgaon. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli urged citizens living in rural areas to be aware of potential forest fires as numerous wildfires were reported across the country amid a heat wave, Daily Sabah reports. Pakdemirlis warning came as he spoke about a wildfire that erupted in the western province of Denizli that either destroyed or damaged an estimated 200 hectares (around 490 acres) of forested area. The fire in Denizli began in the province's Cardak district Thursday, and firefighters were still trying to cool off the area after the flames were extinguished. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Two other fires also broke out in the central Corum and northern Sinop provinces. The minister said weather conditions aggravated fires and complicated extinguishing efforts. It is so hot and dry, forests are like gunpowder now, Pakdemirli said. He warned the public to be more careful in the next 15 days due to high temperatures. Do not visit the forests if possible and never set a fire (for camping). The majority of fires originate from human factors, he said. Postcard from Plymouth: The Mayflower at 400 celebratory year adapts Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It was supposed to be a yearlong commemoration of the 1620 sailing of the Mayflower and the Pilgrim settlement of what became New England. Then came the global pandemic that is the novel coronavirus and international tourism ground to a halt. A large component of the celebration in Britain involved the expected hundreds of thousands of American tourists in the lead up to Sept. 16, the exact anniversary of the Mayflowers departure from Plymouth, England. But with foreign tourists effectively banned technically a visit is possible if one quarantines for two weeks upon arrival in the United Kingdom the entire program had to be adapted. The recently relaunched Mayflower 400 commemoration includes much of the programming originally planned. The big change, however, is the extension of the timetable through next summer, which should enable destinations, attractions, museums and tour operators to recoup some of the visitors and money lost this year. Home base for much of commemoration is Plymouth, England, which sees new museum The Box finally open later this month with its flagship exhibition, Mayflower 400: Legend and Legacy. Organizers tout the exhibition as highlighting the experience and impact the Pilgrims had on local Indians. Also exhibited will be 300 artifacts, including the first Bible printed in the present-day United States. Meanwhile, programming on this side of the pond is moving forward under the auspices of Plymouth 400. This includes Mayflower II, a replica ship, and Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. There will also be a formal remembrance ceremony with dignitaries and others in April. Spires and Crosses, a travel column exclusive to The Christian Post, is published every week. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter and Instagram. Over the last few months, The Ellen DeGeneres Show has gotten a lot of flack for alleged toxic workplace environment claims. It brings past relationships with Ellen DeGeneres to light. One of her more prominent romances with actress Anne Heche happened at the precipice of her public coming out. Why did it end? How Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche met Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres | SGranitz/WireImage RELATED: In the Wake of Ellen Show Controversy, Is Rachael Ray Next? Fans Say Yes In 1997, DeGeneres was at the height of fame. The stand-up comedian stood among Hollywoods A-list celebrities with her hit sitcom, Ellen. During a Vanity Fair Oscars party, DeGeneres met Heche with one caveat: DeGeneres hadnt yet come out to the world, or on her show. I saw Ellen across a crowded room, not knowing anything at all, except that I was just drawn to her, Heche told Oprah in a now-deleted YouTube Clip (via InStyle). Heche said in other interviews the timeline of their relationship going public was complicated. That VF party occurred on a Sunday night. Tuesday was her coming out episode of the Ellen show. Wednesday was the press junket for [my movie] Volcano. Thursday was the opening of Volcano, she told the Irish Goodbye podcast in 2018. Heche took DeGeneres to the premiere. Heche alleged that 20th Century Fox said theyd terminate her contract, and her future roles if she did so. We went to the premiere these are the stories that I know people dont know we went to the premiere, we were tapped on the shoulder, put into her limo in the third act and told that we couldnt have pictures of us taken at the press junket. And both she and I were fired that week, she said. The two stayed together despite DeGeneres hesitance about showing affection in public. I didnt want to hold hands. I had never done that in public, she later told The Los Angeles Times. And yet there was this attitude of, you know, Youre going to be on the cover of Time magazine and say youre gay but youre not going to hold hands? You deserve to hold hands as much as Tom [Cruise] and Nicole [Kidman]. Or Tom [Hanks] and Rita [Wilson]. So I have to take responsibility for participating in [that]. The breakup confused DeGeneres RELATED: Ellen Degeneres May Have Foreshadowed Her Ellen Show Downfall Back in 2018 After more than three years of dating, DeGeneres and Heche broke up. ABC News reported that the split happened in late summer 2000, just weeks after househunting. Unfortunately, we have decided to end our relationship. It is an amicable parting, and we greatly value the 3 1/2 years we have spent together, a statement read at the time. We hope everyone will respect our privacy through this difficult time. However, in the same LA Times interview, DeGeneres revealed her shock, claiming she didnt see the breakup coming. She walked out the door and I havent spoken to her since, I dont have the answers, she said. I would love to have them myself. I would ask all of the questions that everyone else wants to ask. Im left with everybody else wondering what happened. I dont know, I feel betrayed. After the breakup, Heche was hospitalized something she attributed to years of alleged abuse throughout childhood. She detailed the events in her memoir, Call Me Crazy in 2001, and spoke about it with Barbara Walters on ABCs 20/20. I think everything Ive done in all my insanity was trying to get my parents to love me, she said via E! News. My father loved movie stars. I decided I needed to become famous to get his love. My mother loved Jesus, so I wanted to become Jesus Christ. I wanted to save the world to get her love. Regardless of all that happened, Heche described DeGeneres as radiating. I think at certain times in peoples lives you just radiate an energy and a glow of fabulousness. And that was her. I had never seen anybody so lit up, she said. Are DeGeneres and Heche friendly now? RELATED: Where Is BFF Jennifer Aniston While Ellen Degeneress Brand Tanks? The Ellen Show has been under fire as of late, leaving some to wonder what former partners and friends think. DeGeneres is happily married to Portia de Rossi (for over a decade) and Heche is a busy mother of two. A lot of time has passed, but it doesnt appear as though the two are friends. Still, Heche has a few things to say about the controversy. I havent spoken to Ellen in years. Id listen to the people who have, Heche told Mr. Warburton. Our time was a beautiful part of my life and one that I wear with honor. I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her. Im proud to have been part of a revolution that helped move equality forward, but there is still work to do, she added. How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. She's the talented actress who has starred in hit films such as Mamma Mia, Darkest Hour and Cinderella. And Lily James delighted fans on Sunday as she shared a sweet throwback snap of her enjoying a day out at the beach as a child. The beauty, 31, looked adorable as she grinned for the camera in a light blue tie dye t-shirt while sitting next to her two brothers Charlie and Sam. So sweet! Lily James delighted fans on Sunday morning as she shared a sweet throwback of her as a child with her two brothers Charlie and Sam at the beach Lily captioned the picture: 'There is so much I love about this photo. Not in the least my tie dye top, the mini rugby ball, the bowl hair cut, grins and the fact it appears as if my brilliant mother had triplets.. oh, and also my brothers.' The three children all appeared to be in good spirits as they perched on a wall at the seaside and posed for the snap. Lily's brother Charlie could be seen sitting in the middle while holding the mini rugby ball while Sam showed off his teeth with a wide grin. After posting the sweet picture, Lily replied to a comment saying: 'Charlie. Theres a photo of him proudly holding some sort of ball every year of his life. For sure.' Stunning: The actress has starred in films such as Mamma Mia, Darkest Hour and Cinderella as well as Downton Abbey (pictured at the British Independent Film Awards in London in 2019) And it didn't take long for fans to share their excitement at getting a glimpse into the actress' childhood. One showed they were amazed at how similar Lily looked now, writing: 'Same smile and everything.' While another penned that the siblings were the 'perfect trio' before someone else added that the picture was 'really cute'. Lily has previously spoken about her family, revealing the impact of losing her actor father James Thomson who died of cancer in 2008 at the age of 54. Impressed: Lily's fans quickly replied to the snap with some saying she hadn't changed a bit since childhood Adorable: Others replied that Lily and her two brothers made 'the perfect trio' Family: Lily replied to one comment joking there must be photos of her brother Charlie holding a ball for every year of his life The young actress changed her name from Lily Thomson to Lily James to honour her beloved father and said his death turned her into the workaholic she is today. She also revealed that the loss of her father came on the heels of the death of his brother, Bruce, who had motor neurone disease, and of her grandmother, actress Helen Horton, who had returned to the US to care for her son. 'A lot of my family died in the space of five years, she told the Daily Telegraph magazine in 2019. But I am glad that my grandma died before my dad, because if she had seen that Father and daughter: The young actress changed her name from Lily Thomson to Lily James to honour her beloved dad Lily also spoke about how the role of Cinderella in Kenneth Branaghs reworking of the fairytale was a delight until she had to play a scene in which she is told that her father is dead. I couldnt really go there, she said. Sometimes there was a coldness to me around that. I was trying so hard to hold on to something. Even though it has been more than a decade since her father died, Lily said that she still finds it difficult to speak about her hero. He was so artistic and so bold. There was so much life in him. He was brilliant, she said. Sometimes when I speak I feel relaxed, I feel completely at peace and calm. But there are other times when I feel more on edge. - Rita Avila took to social media to send a general message to all those people who are asking help from her - She revealed that they would send her a direct message and would ask for assistance amid the pandemic - She said that she understands how hard it is to ask for help, and people may be doing that because of the tight situation that they are already in - She clarified though that she is not as rich as they think she is and that she has been helping in any way she can but that she simply does not post it PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Actress Rita Avila took to social media and penned a lengthy message to those who are asking help from her through direct message. The actress said that they are all in the same boat, without a means of livelihood. She explained that when the lockdown started, she tried to help the best way she can but does not post it on social media. The actress further explained that she understands how hard it is to ask for help but she could no longer help everyone who is coming to her. She even went out of her way explaining that the royalties she gets from her books go to orphanages. Here's her full statement: PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedback Photo: Wikimedia Commons Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! The pandemic has really caused so much difficulty to the people. The government faced problems when they imposed the initial community quarantine, which was elevated into enhanced community quarantine. It also suspended transportation causing massive problems with commuters. Doctors have died after being infected by COVID-19. They are among the frontliners who attend to the patients rushing to hospitals amid pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak started out in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China. Scientists believed that the virus came from an animal at one of Wuhan's wet markets. The Philippines has slowly eased quarantine measures and Filipinos are starting to adapt to the new normal. 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 More and more women in Egypt are starting to ride scooters in spite of the social stereotypes that hinder and shame them from taking part in the practice. The move is being triggered by high rates of sexual harassment in the country, which in turn is forcing females to seek their own means of safe transportation. A group of startups has emerged encouraging females to ride scooters, promoting them as cheap compared to cars, fast, and a good way to reduce traffic congestion and eliminate pollution. The startups include Two Wheels, Cairo Scooters Club, Alexandria Scooters Club and Dosy. Dosy launched in April 2019 and put up a website in December where females can go online to book their scooter-riding classes. Dosy is a tech-based scooter- and bicycle-riding platform founded by two sisters who aim to reach females interested in learning to drive scooters. They'll also help those who want to work after their classes to provide delivery services via scooter for restaurants, coffee shops and bookstores. Dozy also hires female trainers who have ample experience in riding scooters. At first, we received a lot of criticism on social media because it is not common in Egypt to see women riding scooters. But then the criticism fell away and many people started to accept the idea. And we are seeing more and more women in the country riding scooters especially since they are private means of transport, Nouran Farouk, co-founder of Dosy, told Al-Monitor. Farouk added, We have trained so far 1,000 women and girls, and our overall market target is 13 million Egyptian women and girls across Egypt. Egyptian celebrities Sandy and Rania Mansour took scooter-driving classes with Dosy trainers and now recommend other females do the same. Other celebrities such as Dina el-Sherbiny, Naglaa Badr, Heidy Karam and Samar Yousry posted on their Instagram accounts that they ride scooters as well. Although enthusiastic about spreading the practice in Egypt, these scooter-riding females face uphill challenges such as the absence of safe, dedicated scooter-riding lanes, the negative social perspective of women riding scooters and sexual harassment. It was in Tunisia where I found myself suffering from the weak transportation system and lack of taxis. When I looked around, I saw that the scooter was a perfect solution. When I moved to Egypt, I found another issue, which is the nerve-breaking traffic and lack of parking spaces everywhere I go, Nada Ebkoora, scooter-rider and trainer, told Al-Monitor. Sally el-Gendy, or as the media calls her, the Iron Woman of Alexandria, is one of the first female scooter-riders in Egypt. She established her startup, Go Wheels, to train girls and women in how to drive scooters. When girls saw me riding my scooter, they approached me and asked me if I could train them on how to ride a scooter, Gendy told Al-Monitor. This was the main reason I decided to have an academy to help all these girls who want to learn. And recently I began accepting men as well, she added. In July this year, victims of sexual harassment voiced their anger via social media. They spoke out about how they were harassed and revealed identities of harassers. The hashtag #MeToo invaded Egypt's social media with stories about sexual harassment written by hundreds of females, many among them accusing alleged serial sexual abuser Ahmed Bassem Zaki of harassment. But this time, the women are calling for actual change in the way authorities and officials respond to such crimes. They have spoken out in public and on social media and are taking legal action against harassers and rapists. A poll released by Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed in 2017 that Cairo is the most dangerous megacity for women, while the United Nations disclosed in 2014 that 99% of women in Egypt reported sexual harassment. A crime known as the Fairmont incident took place in 2014, but the crime was only recently revealed after the incidents involving alleged rapist Zaki went viral. In the Fairmont incident, a woman was drugged, rendered unconscious and repeatedly gang-raped by nine men at Fairmont Nile City Hotel. Information about the rapists spread on social media, forcing Egypts prosecutor general to launch an investigation. Despite these challenges, the startups have decided to encourage females to hop on their scooters and take the streets back for themselves. Society assigns masculinity and femininity to means of transportation; people will always consider female scooter-riders weird and the practice unacceptable. The decision of a girl buying a scooter or a motorbike in itself is a big deal, Alia Soliman, an Egyptian women's rights and gender advocate, told Al-Monitor. We have to normalize the practice and present more role models promoting the idea that it is not monopolized by men, Soliman added. NOT LOUISVILLE There is nothing ordinary about the surreal and contorted thoroughbred Triple Crown of 2020, a four-month slog across the breadth of a nation (mostly, kind of, depends on where you live) held captive by a virus that has killed nearly 190,000 Americans, pushed to the edge by racial and cultural tensions decades (centuries?) in the making, and riven by political differences hurtling toward a collision in early November and probably well beyond. There is nothing ordinary about a Kentucky Derby in September or a Preakness in October or about both of them coming after the Belmont Stakes at the unnatural distance of 1 1/8 miles. There is nothing ordinary about acres of empty seats in racetracks from New York to Kentucky (and soon enough, Maryland), or trainers in surgical masks or jockeys living in racetrack trailers for days on end, quarantining to ride safely. It is all from a dystopian novel in a place we hadnt imagined living. Different in the extreme. There is nothing ordinary about one aging sportswriter awakening on the morning of the Kentucky Derby in his own bed for the first time in 19 years, his own book on the nightstand, his own sneakers on the floor nearby. He is supposed to be in a modest hotel in Louisville, charging his employer a ridiculous three-night minimum more expensive than the cost of his first car. He is supposed to have spent the day at Churchill Downs, delightfully dodging overserved patrons (Hunter S. Thompson wasnt wrong), and then frantically typing a game story alongside colleagues in the kinetic atmosphere of a buzzing press room and not in the eerie silence of an NBC office in Connecticut after a brief television appearance. Different, in a narrower extreme. And then, early on an autumn Saturday evening, closer to Christmas than to the first Saturday in May, a horse trained by Bob Baffert won the Kentucky Derby. And in horse racing, and in all of sports, there is nothing more exceptionally ordinary on this earth than Bob Baffert winning the Kentucky Derby (with the possible exception of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady winning Super Bowls). On this day, it was a three-year-old colt named Authentic who gave Baffert his sixth Derby win, tying Ben Jones, who won six Derbies from 1938 to 1952. So as the sun fell behind the twin spires and empty grandstand (not there to witness, but I am confident this happened), there was Baffert in the winners circle, white hair, blue blazer and yellow tie, on rewind (excepting the reality that with the Belmont having been won by Tiz the Law in late June, there will be no Triple Crown). It was a rare moment of familiarity in confusing times. Except so much that led to it, and followed, was not. Story continues Jockey John Velazquez, aboard Authentic, celebrates with Bob Baffert after Bafferts sixth career Kentucky Derby win. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) The 146th Derby unfolded 16 months after the 145th, which itself was one of the strangest in history, and included the first on-track disqualification in the long history of the race and was not officially decided until lawsuits were dismissed and appeals dropped just a week before yesterdays Derby. It unfolded in a city on edge since the spring, with nightly protests connected to the March 13 shooting death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor, a Black woman shot by Louisville police, and it unfolded with peaceful protests taking place during the running of the Derby and against the backdrop of a significant law enforcement presence. It unfolded with the Churchill grounds devoid of spectators (although there were plenty of VIPs visible in television images), after racetrack officials had scrapped plans to seat no more than 23,000 spectators, up until a week before the Derby. As accustomed as we have become to empty venues, Churchill took up its own place in this canon. It unfolded with Tiz the Law made a 7-10 favorite, the shortest priced-favorite since Spectacular Bid went off at 3-5 in 1979, unsurprising since Tiz the Law had a been a beacon of reliability throughout the spring and into the summer, even as virus numbers grew and nationwide unrest expanded. He had won the Florida Derby at the start of the pandemic, and he had won the Belmont Stakes in front of the manifestly empty Belmont Park grandstand on June 20. Seven weeks later he won Saratogas Travers at the Classic Derby distance of 1 1/4 miles, cantering across the finish line, leaving fuel in his tank for Kentucky. Tiz had been a sweet story, too. He is owned by Sackatoga Stables, the same common-man ownership behind 2003 Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, and trained by 82-year-old Barclay Tagg, who would have been the oldest Derby-winning trainer in history. (Tagg complicated this feelgood story during Derby week, when he was asked about the protests in Louisville and said, in part, I dont know what these guys are gonna do, these rioters. Who knows? All I know is youre not allowed to shoot them, and theyre allowed to shoot you, thats what it looks like to me (I discussed these comments with NBCs Mike Tirico during Saturdays Derby telecast. They were unfortunate at best, in light of the tensions in Louisville, and incendiary at worst). Baffert, meanwhile, had worked through a challenging year. In the early spring, he seemed to have accumulated his usual deep roster of potential Derby and Triple Crown challengers. Even after the pandemic reshuffled the calendar, Baffert won both divisions of the May 2 Arkansas Derby with Nadal and Charlatan. Bad news followed quickly. First came the story on May 26 that Charlatan had tested positive for a banned substance (later announced as lidocaine) in Arkansas; Baffert-trained filly Gamine also tested positive. It got worse: Two days later Nadal suffered a condylar fracture of his left front leg and was retired. Nine days later Charlatan was injured and taken off the Triple Crown trail, even in its expanded format. The narrative expanded. Baffert first railed against the confidentiality breach that made the positive tests public before the split, or B sample was tested. When the split sample came back positive, Baffert explained that his longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes (remember his name; he will reappear soon), who has had back surgery and still endures pain, had worn a lidocaine patch in Arkansas and inadvertently transferred the substance to the horses. It was a plausible explanation but also exotic, in the realm of distance runners claiming spiked toothpaste (which has been claimed). In a sport where many lie in wait for Baffert to fall, there was damage done to his reputation. (He was also hit with a 15-day suspension, which he has appealed). After the Derby, Baffert said in the winners press conference, This is crazy. I have had so many things. This is the craziest year ever. Ive been I cant believe its tough. Its tough on me. Its tough on my wife, Jill. The ups and downs we had. In May, we had four I had four. I had all these horses. Wed go to Oaklawn, Charlatan. Weve got Nadal. They looked like unbeatable. We had this guy [Authentic], we didnt know how good he was. We knew he was a good horse. I had four horses ready to roll. And just things happen. Indeed, even with the injuries, there were still three-year-olds in the barn. Thousand Words finished second in the Los Alamitos Derby on July 4 and then on Aug. 1 won the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar. Authentic, who had won two Derby preps in the spring, finished second to the very respected Honor A.P. on June 6 in the two months-delayed Santa Anita Derby and on July 18, won the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth at 3-5 odds. After everything, Baffert would have two starters in the Derby. Except he did not. Twenty minutes before the Derby, Thousand Words reared up in the paddock and fell disturbingly hard on his shoulder. Barnes, who was walking Thousand Words was yanked to the ground. Thousand Words was scratched from the race, although veterinarian Kathy Anderson said, later, The horse is perfectly fine. Barnes, however, according to Baffert, suffered a broken arm and was taken from the track by ambulance. Baffert texted me late Saturday night with an update on Barnes: Broke wrist in eight places but doing fine. Flying home tomorrow and [will] do surgery in CA. Thats the second Purple Heart he has earned working for me. Broke pelvis a few years ago when pony fell with him. Trooper. Good man. Nevertheless, two starters had become one. It was enough. Authentic and John Velazquez hold off Tiz the Law down the stretch. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) Authentic broke sluggishly from the outside post in the now 15-horse field, while Tiz the Law, just inside, got away cleanly. But jockey John Velazquez, who rides primarily on the East Coast but picked up the mount on Authentic when Mike Smith chose to ride Honor A.P. in the Derby (Honor A.P. was the marginal second choice in the Derby, at 7.60-1, while Authentic was 8.40-1), hustled Authentic into the lead. He never gave it up. Velazquez masterfully harnessed Authentics speed and endurance for a mile and then turned him loose just as Tiz the Law and Manny Franco came to his side, seemingly poised to attack after an easy, stalking trip. I let him get loose and get comfortable. I waited until the horses got to him to get after him, and he responded right away, said Velazquez. Bob kept telling me to make sure I saved that last eighth of a mile. I want that eighth of a mile, he said. I want you to hit left-handed, and he responded. It worked out the way we had planned it. I waited until he got right next to me. When I went lefthanded, this horse responded so good. It was like, Oh, yeah, come and get me. The final margin was 1 1/4 lengths. Franco said, I had the trip that I expected. He just couldnt go by the other horse. The other horse fight so hard. He was ready for today, too. Tagg spoke similarly, in his usual succinct manner: We didnt win it. Bafferts hard to beat. I thought [Tiz the Law] would [kick away], because he usually moves away from them. What can you do? Its a horse race. He ran a good race today. He got beat. With Baffert in recent years, there have often been emotional subplots. In the spring of 2012, he underwent heart surgery in Dubai and six weeks later watched Bodemeister, named for his son, Bode, get caught at the wire in the Derby. In 2015, his historic Triple Crown with American Pharoah came after the deaths of his parents, a hole in the experience that he references often. Now he has won a Derby just minutes after his Sancho was rushed to the hospital. I just wish Jimmy was here with me. I gotta go see how hes doing. He did break his arm. But Im sure hes hes worked so hard. Hes one of the greatest assistants of all time. And, like I said, if there was a hall of fame, he would be in it for assistant trainers. And this: And I told Johnny and the horse, You know, just do it for Jimmy, you know? In all of this, there were also unmistakable echoes of the turbulent year its been. Velazquez, who won the Derby for the third time, was among the New York jockeys who took a knee on the first day of the Belmont race meet in early June, to show solidarity with Black Lives Matter. In the post-race press conference, he showed an armband that read: Equality For All. And Velazquez explained: Equality For All. We believe that if we have equality for everybody, we wont be in the mess we are in right now. Really. I think people have to look inside and be more peaceful. It goes the same way to when things are going wrong or something makes a mistake by the law and everything, you need to be held accountable, definitely. Baffert has lived through the pandemic in Southern California, which has lived through waves of optimism giving way to near defeat. Theres a lot of frustration going on, Baffert said. I know we won the Derby and all that, but theres a lot of people out there that are just suffering and all that. So thats why its very humbling for me to win this race during this time because, you know, America, its just crazy out there. Every day we wake up, Im like everybody else: Is this really happening? And I love to be up here pounding my chest because I won six, but I feel for everybody in the city because this is supposed to be a happy time, the Derby, especially in Louisville, and its not. So its sort of a very strange, weird feeling. And this: I cannot wait until 2020 is over. There was another moment. As Authentic was led to the Churchill Downs infield and walked in a tight circle, he became excited and scattered VIPs gathered nearby. Baffert was knocked to the grass, unhurt, yet symbolic. Even in victory, a fall. Even in celebration, a struggle. Twenty-twenty, indeed. Tim Layden is writer-at-large for NBC Sports. He was previously a senior writer at Sports Illustrated for 25 years. Authentic, Bob Bafferts Kentucky Derby win a familiar sight in unfamiliar times originally appeared on NBCSports.com Ousted Malian President Boubacar Keita, was evacuated late Saturday to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment, reports from Bamako indicated.. The 75-year-olds health has been in question since he was admitted in a private hospital in the capital city, following his detention for 10 days by the military junta now in power. According to the report by AFP, Keita left Mali with his wife, Aminata Maiga Keita, an attache, two doctors and four security agents. The plane was dispatched by the United Arab Emirates following a request from Malian authorities and Keita, so he can be treated at a military hospital in Abu Dhabi, the diplomat said. Keita had been moved to his residence earlier this week after hospitalization at a private clinic under the tight security of the junta. Leaders of the junta had said they were open to whatever treatment he needed to get, even if in another country. The junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, is now running Mali under the leadership of Col. Assimi Goita. On Saturday, members of the junta held inconclusive talks with political groups on a transition programme. The talks continue on Sunday. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Rata Tata often shares varied posts on social media. From sharing words of inspiration to posting throwback images, his Instagram posts prompt people to share various reactions. Like his recent post which gave people an opportunity to ask him questions. It all started when, on September 5, Tata shared a post on Instagram. There are many messages in my inbox that I cannot respond to, but you have some wonderful questions and I would like to answer a few. I understand Instagram has a question-answer feature, so I will try my best to answer some on Sunday evening. I look forward to hearing from you in the QnA story thats added, Tata shared. On September 6, he shared some such questions along with his answers and chances are the business tycoons replies will leave you with a smile. One person asked Tata what he would have done if he wasnt heading the Tata group. To this, he replied: Ratan Tata took to Instagram and invited people to ask him questions. (Instagram/@ratantata) How to compete when others are not playing fair, asked another user of the photo and video sharing platform. This is how Tata replied: Several people asked Ratan Tata varied questions. (Instagram/@ratantata) Does Ratan Tata do yoga? Heres the answer: From his aspiration to inspiration, people asked Ratan Tata about varied things. (Instagram/@ratantata) On this question about charities in India, this is what Tata wrote: Ratan Tatas Instagram post has captured peoples attention. (Instagram/@ratantata) This person didnt ask a question but had something wonderful to share. Were pretty sure its the impression which many have: This is what an Instagram user asked Ratan Tata. (Instagram/@ratantata) An answer about the global situation by Tata is something we wish would happen in reality too: Ratan Tata answered different questions on Instagram. (Instagram/@ratantata) What would he like to be remembered for? Tata answered in an amazing way: Given the chance, what would you have asked Ratan Tata. (Instagram/@ratantata) Is it ok to settle for less? Ratan Tata conducted a question and answer round on Instagram. (Instagram/@ratantata) Can you guess what Tatas dream project is? Ratan Tata shared snippets from his life. (Instagram/@ratantata) Known for his love for animals, this is what he had to say when someone asked about the bond he shares with his dog: Instagram story shared by Ratan Tata. (Instagram/@ratantata) Finally, when asked about from where he got his love for animals, Ratan Tata replied with this: An Instagram user asked this to Ratan Tata. (Instagram/@ratantata) If you had a change what would you ask the business tycoon? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Half Moon Bay, California On a recent foggy morning at a ranch outside Half Moon Bay, California, the air was thick with the smell of smoke. The air quality index (AQI) for the day was deemed an unhealthy 153, as the CZU Lightning Complex fire continued to burn about 20 miles (32km) away. Alberto Menchaca, 37, has worked on the ranch for six years. Asked if the smoke makes it more difficult to perform the already strenuous task of picking crops, he nods. The smoke gets in your eyes, and in your lungs, he said, adding that he was a little concerned about potential health effects. Having been deemed essential workers, farm labourers have continued to work throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and with hundreds of wildfires scorching more than 600,000 hectares of land (1.5 million acres) across California in recent weeks, they face a difficult choice between working in the fields and exposing themselves to smoke-filled air, or giving up shifts that few can afford to pass up. Yesenia Garcia, a 27-year-old mother of two who has worked on the farm since 2011, said the smoke made things more difficult. It agitates your lungs a little, she says. Because schools are closed, my two children have to stay home. Now, with this smoke, they cant even play outside. Farmworkers wash their hands before returning to work at a farm outside Half Moon Bay, California [Brian Osgood/Al Jazeera] Farmworkers evacuated On August 16, lightning strikes ignited a series of fires that then merged together to become the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, which has burned more than 85,000 acres (34,400 hectares) of land in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, destroying 1,487 structures and killing at least one person. In San Mateo County, evacuation orders went out to areas home to roughly 6,600 people. At the Good Living Inn in San Carlos, where Ayudando Latinos A Sonar (ALAS), a Latino cultural and social services group provided fire evacuees with breakfast, groceries, and face masks, the toll on workers living on ranches was on display. Antonia Moreno, 55, described fleeing her home, as embers rained down and her grandchildren screamed. We feared for our lives, and we had to leave everything behind, even my husbands insulin and pictures of first communions. Weve had nightmares every night since weve been evacuated. We have so much sadness. They have since been able to refill the insulin prescription of her husband, Tirso, a 66-year-old farmworker who has worked in Ano Nuevo for 20 years. But as she recalls the fear they felt during an evacuation, he is not there to console her: he is looking for work in the fields in the surrounding area. You talk to workers who are still in the fields in their 70s, even their 80s. They just cant afford to stop, says Joaquin Jimenez, an outreach coordinator with ALAS. At the evacuation centre over the mountains in Half Moon Bay, Mariela Lopez, a mental health worker with the nonprofit Puente, says, even amid the ordeal of evacuation, farmworkers are worried that they might miss out on work. Cristina Zavala, 28, recently returned to her home in La Honda after a weeklong evacuation at a hotel in San Carlos. She said her grandparents are farmworkers at a ranch outside Pescadero. Im a little worried about their health, with all of the smoke in the air, she said. Pandemic increases pressure In California, more than 400,000 people work in the agricultural sector, a critical part of the countrys food supply chain. The gruelling work usually involves long hours bent over in the soil picking crops in stifling heat or the frigid cold of the early morning for about $14 per hour. Many of the farmworkers in the sector are undocumented, meaning that government assistance programmes, such as unemployment insurance and Medicaid, are not available to them. The fear of deportation can also turn everyday affairs into anxiety-inducing events. For an undocumented person, being asked for your social security number at a community health clinic can be a terrifying experience, says Daniela Dominguez, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of San Francisco whose research focuses on the undocumented community in Sonoma County. In addition to being low-paid, farm work is also seasonal, meaning that annual incomes often fall far below the full-time equivalent of their hourly wages. A 2016 report on farmworker housing in San Mateo County found that many live in packed homes, and that the median household income for farmworkers was just $26,000, although the California minimum wage has seen several increases since then. Joaquin Jimenez in the ALAS office in Half Moon Bay, California [Brian Osgood/Al Jazeera] The COVID-19 pandemic has presented additional challenges for the farmworker community. Were still waiting on more data for a better picture of the effects of the virus, but agricultural production is about the same in 2020 as 2019, so work availability should reflect that, said Philip Martin, professor emeritus of agricultural and resource economics at the University of California, Davis. But if there was one thing you could do to reduce farmworker incomes in 2020, its school closures. Workers have to stay home to watch their kids, or find someone else to do so. That puts pressure on people who already arent making a lot. They need help Local community aid organisations, such as ALAS, have reported significant upticks in farmworkers use of food pantries and services like rental assistance in recent months. Even before the fires, ALAS was distributing groceries to farmworker families throughout San Mateo County. Weve scaled up from six employees in March to 10 now, said Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, the founder of ALAS. Sadly, its taken a pandemic for people to realise just how essential farmworkers are. These are such resilient communities, but they need help, and they arent used to asking for it. Some wonder how long the community can carry on. How long can they keep tapping into that resilience? said Dominguez. Theres so much stress in these communities, and Im not sure I see those in influential positions making the structural changes, like immigration reform, or expanding Medicaid to undocumented people, they urgently need in order to thrive. While many evacuated families have been able to return to their homes, Yolanda Martinez, a mother of five, has now been evacuated for more than two weeks, first at the hotel in San Carlos, now at another hotel in San Mateo, wondering if her home has burned down, and worrying about her familys future. If our home is gone, were going to be living on the street. We dont have enough to make it right now Weve worked hard for everything. But if others dont help us right now, who will? The Lewis Central Community School District Board of Education recently awarded a contract for construction of a new operations center to Ronco Construction. Ronco submitted a bid of $6,195,000, including all but one alternate. It was the lowest of nine bids received for the project and almost $2 million lower than the architects estimate of $8,166,500. All nine of the contractors bid the project at below the cost estimate, Superintendent Eric Knost said at the Thursday board meeting. Alternates included portable shop equipment, a storm water drainage system, an enclosure for exterior mechanical equipment, more expensive wall coverings and motorized blinds for the training room. The company also won the contract to build an addition to Lewis Central High School containing an auditorium and career-technical areas. That contract was awarded at the boards last meeting on Aug. 17. The district and BVH Architecture fully vetted the contractor to make sure they could handle working on both projects at once, Knost said. Following a public hearing, the board voted to proceed with the process of issuing revenue bonds of up to $30 million, which will pay for both projects. The building is to be built in a vacant area between Lewis Central Middle School and the Wabash Trace trailhead. The structure will house four bays for vehicle maintenance and repair, an automatic bus wash, a large training room, offices, a garage and storage space. The board also approved contracts for material testing at the building sites of both the operations building and the high school addition, which will include an auditorium and career-technical areas. The contract for testing at the high school addition site was awarded to Thiele Geotech, which submitted the lower of two bids on the work, $48,374. Thiele was also given the contract for testing at the operations building site, again submitting the lower of two bids. This is not in addition to our project, this is part of our project, Knost said. Surcharge will need to settle at both sites before construction can begin. The boards next meeting will be on Sept. 21. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A woman who identified herself as Maryam al Britaniya urged supporters of Islamic State to donate money to help free others from Kurdish-run camps British female Islamic State (IS) suspects have been smuggled out of detention camps in northeast Syria, with some raising funds online to pay for further escapes, according to jihadist social media activity. At least one British woman is among numerous European IS supporters who have broken out of Al Hol camp to reach rebel-held Idlib, where they can freely proselytise for the group. In a recent video published to Telegram channels and Facebook pages devoted to crowdfunding for Islamic State supporters detained by Syrian Kurdish forces, a woman identified as Maryam Al Britaniya from UK exhorts followers to donate money. The video was filmed in Harim city near the Turkish border in Idlib, according to Bellingcat senior investigator Nick Waters. The woman describes being smuggled out of a camp where she was detained for over a year after surrendering to Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in fighting that killed her children. The western-backed group recaptured the last Islamic State (IS) territory in March last year. A woman walks through Al Hol camp in northeastern Syria - AFP Being sent out from the Islamic State to the camps was by far one of the worst moments of my life, she says, her face obscured by a black niqab. Since then the Kurdish-led SDF has been left guarding prisons holding roughly 10,000 IS-affiliated men and nearly 70,000 mostly women and children in the sprawling Al Hol camp, with about 2,000 in the smaller Roj camp. Among the detainees are several dozen British women and about 60 British children, according to estimates by aid groups. Its obligatory on you to free them, the woman in the video says, wagging a gloved finger. Help them and donate every month to help smuggle them out. Many western governments have ignored calls by the SDF and the United States to repatriate their citizens, leaving women and children lingering in deteriorating conditions in which hundreds have died from malnutrition and disease. With increasing numbers paying to be smuggled to Idlib, where some eventually plan to cross into Turkey, counter-terrorism experts warn that leaving them in limbo is a dangerous long-term strategy. Story continues After Kurdish authorities recently started moving high profile European women and their children to a higher security extension to Roj camp, those remaining in Al Hol have increased escape attempts and fundraising efforts. This is another sister from Al-Hol Camp, reads a recent Facebook post in English by a female IS supporter. If she doesn't leave soon, they will catch them and send them to the humiliation camp - Roj where it's impossible to escape. A lot of people are trying now to escape, said Vera Mironova, a Harvard University researcher who speaks to IS-affiliated women in the camps. While the Turkish border is much closer, Idlib, over 300 miles westward, is the only option for most Europeans she said, as Turkish authorities only allow crossings from Kurdish-controlled areas after prior negotiation. With traffickers charging roughly 12,000 to smuggle a family out, a decentralised network of social media accounts is soliciting donations via PayPal or the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Numerous accounts copy and paste messages across various platforms, including Telegram, Facebook and Twitter, making it difficult for authorities to stamp out. The online jihadist environment has been a whack-a-mole environment for a long time and more so now than ever, said Laith Alkhouri, a private sector counter-terrorism adviser. Telegram has achieved a great deal with the suspension of these accounts but instead of decreasing their activities, they expand onto new apps and then return to Telegram with backup accounts. British Islamic State supporters are being smuggled from detention camps in Syria to rebel-held Idlib - AFP Thousands of posts in English, French, German and other European languages form a separate network from a much larger Russian-speaking web of IS supporters. This sister has to have the money by Friday, 1000 is still missing, reads a post in German. Another post in French reads: Only 3000 more is needed to free two of your sisters. Add this good deed to your balance, it may gain you entry into paradise. No one knows how many have escaped, though SDF officials have shared numerous videos of foiled attempts. Among those caught trying to escape were twins from Manchester Zahra and Salma Halane, who the Telegraph located recently in the new high-security extension to Roj camp. The escapees include other high-profile jihadists. French media reported earlier this year that Hayat Boumeddiene the widow of Amedy Coulibaly, who carried out the January 2015 Paris attacks had escaped Al Hol and was believed to be in Idlib. The escapes and associated fundraising undermine counter-terrorism strategy, according to Mr Alkhouri. Anything that could advance the terrorist agenda, whether in ideology or practice, should be everybodys concern, he said. When you dont know the source of funding or the recipient of the funding and you do know that the people who are potentially receiving it and the people sending it are ideological supporters of ISIS, then that should absolutely be a concern, even if its going to helping women and children escape those detention camps, he said. The decision to leave IS-affiliated women and their children in Syria may be politically expedient but it also suits resource-strained counter-terror units, according to Raffaello Pantucci, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. For security forces I think it is in some way making their lives easier, he said, as repatriation would require costly prosecutions and surveillance operations. But this short-term tactic is a bad long-term strategy, Mr Pantucci argued. The worrisome thing is, the longer we leave them stuck in this limbo, and with kids in tow, frankly the more radical theyre going to get and the greater the threat they might pose, he said. Either find a way of getting them in a court there [in Syria] or bring them home and get them in court and process them here, he said. Rather than have them be smuggled out and in a few years god knows where else they might show up. The Vietnamese National Assemblys thorough and professional preparation for the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) has left good impression on and won the trust of international and regional friends, said AIPA Secretary-General Nguyen Tuong Van. AIPA Secretary-General Nguyen Tuong Van (Photo: VNA) Talking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the event, to be held virtually from September 8 to 10, Van held that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese NA took the initiative in changing the form of the event from offline to online, which she said has reflected its flexibility, sense of responsibility and resolve to fulfill its role in AIPA Chairmanship. This is the third time the parliament of Vietnam has served as AIPA Chair and hosted an AIPA General Assembly, but the first time an event of this kind takes place in the form of a teleconference. The theme of AIPA 41, Parliamentary Diplomacy for a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community, matches the theme of Vietnams 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, which is Cohesive and Responsive, aiming to create high consensus among member countries and inherit the outcomes of the 36th ASEAN Summit in June, especially the initiatives suggested by Vietnam and supported by other nations, according to Secretary-General Van. She went on to say that upholding its chairmanship, Vietnam has suggested the establishment of the mechanism of young parliamentarians meetings to promote the youths role, while boosting links between AIPA activities and those of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in association with the implementation of the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development The country has also proposed themes for meetings of women parliamentarians and the AIPA committees on political matters, economic matters and social matters and received other members support, she added. There are two highly important principles in the ASEAN Charter and AIPA regulations, consensus and non-intervention in one anothers internal affairs, which have helped maintain the blocs solidarity and unity. However, Van added, ASEAN and AIPA members havent been always shared common voices on certain regional issues in recent years. During Vietnams AIPA Chairmanship, politics security remains one of the key areas, aside from sensitive issues among ASEAN countries as well as between the bloc and partners. Therefore, it requires the host countrys sharpness, particularly in terms of negotiation skills, so as to seek similarities among partners who sometimes have very different interests and concerns, she noted. As host of AIPA 41, the Vietnamese NA has coordinated with the Foreign Ministry to negotiate with other member parliaments to deal with some issues in the Political Affairs Committees agenda, Van said. She emphasised that Vietnam concurrently serving as ASEAN Chair, AIPA 41 Chair and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020 holds great significance, creating conditions for the country to continue affirming its growing position and role in the region and the world. The COVID-19 and the new and complex developments in the region will pose challenges and pressure, requiring high sense of responsibility from host Vietnam. Therefore, the Secretary-General said, Vietnams flexibility, proactiveness and sense of responsibility during the preparation for AIPA 41 as seen recently have been highly valued by other countries. According to her, the practical and effective contributions by the Vietnamese NA during the AIPA Chairmanship Year in this special context are critical to the reinforcement of the countrys friendship and multifaceted cooperation with other ASEAN members, which in turn will provide the foundation for it to push ahead with and assert its stature during international integration./.VNA Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel discussed developments in the Eastern Mediterranean on Sunday, CNN Turk reported. NATO allies Turkey and Greece have been locked in a row over hydrocarbon exploration in the sea's disputed waters and the extent of their continental shelves. There was no official confirmation of the talks. Michel said on Friday that European Union leaders will decide on a "carrot and stick" approach to Turkey when they meet on Sept. 24-25, proposing a conference to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Tensions escalated last month after Turkey sent a seismic survey vessel for hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters in the region after a maritime deal between Greece and Egypt. On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Greece and Turkey had agreed to launch technical talks to avoid accidental clashes in the region. The following day, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would start talks with Turkey to resolve a dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean once Turkish "provocations" ceased. Search Keywords: Short link: Vietnam is currently home to about 200 PPE manufacturers PPE producer Garment 10 Corporation (Garco10) recently received a $4.3 million loan from UK-backed Standard Chartered Bank (Vietnam) for PPE production. Earlier, the British lender also provided $2.7 million to Bac Giang LGG Garment Corporation to feed the latters fabric mask production needs. The credit package from Standard Chartered helps us expand the production of face masks and other protective gear to keep up with ever-increasing demands in many countries hit hard by the pandemic as well as in the domestic market, said Luu Tien Chung, CEO of Bac Giang LGG. A big textile apparel export producer, since the early second quarter, Garco10 had secured high-value export orders from business partners in the EU and the US for medical face mask and protective gear. In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam exported more than 711 million medical face masks of diverse kinds to global markets, according to figures from the Vietnam General Department of Customs. As apparel products saw a sharp decline while PPE orders rose sharply, the company has invested in a standard medical face mask production line for long-term export production. Along with a $52 million deal with a big foreign partner to produce 400 million face masks, the company received an order from a US partner for 20 million fabric face masks and a German partner for two million fabric face masks and six million medical face masks. We have invested in a cutting-edge production line to meet EU and US export standards and our face mask production for export will be maintained for the long-term, said Than Duc Viet, Garco10 CEO. Experts assumed that Vietnam has enormous potential for PPE production and is facing an unprecedented opportunity to take the lead in the face of the current COVID-19 pandemic. During the first wave of COVID-19, many Vietnamese companies were considered as alternative suppliers for the US and the EU as other sources were cut short. The US ordered 450,000 sets of Tyvek protective suits which were manufactured by DuPont in Vietnam. FedEx took charge of transporting the raw materials from a production factory based in Richmond, US to Vietnam for production at a production facility based in the port city of Haiphong. Prof. Eric Mottet at Quebec University (Montreal) highlighted that the current time provides a big opportunity for Vietnam to get ahead in producing PPE such as face masks, gloves and other medical protective instruments. Vietnam is currently home to about 200 PPE manufacturers. Amid the burgeoning demand for PPE products across the globe, many businesses have been running at full throttle in the past six months. Taking advantage of its certifications for meeting US and EU export standards, VRG Khai Hoan JSC based in the southern province of Binh Duong currently exports 80 per cent of its products to these two markets while the rest fees the domestic market. Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC (TCM) has also seen a sharp jump in revenue and profit, mainly due to the export of face masks made from anti-microbial cloth and medical protective gear. This year, the company is set to rake in VND3.78 trillion ($164.35 million) in revenue and VND188 billion ($8.17 million) in after-tax profit. In the first half, TCM reported VND1.738 trillion ($75.57 million) and VND115 billion ($5 million) in revenue and after-tax profit, respectively. However, manufacturers are cautioned to stay alert and not just jump on the bandwagon without careful consideration. Unlike conventional garment production, to minimise risks, firms shouldonly make products after receiving orders and only hand them over to customers after getting full payment, said the director of a renowned garment export firm. In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam exported more than 711 million medical face masks of diverse kinds to global markets, according to figures from the Vietnam General Department of Customs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020, the world will need 2.2 billion surgical masks, 1.1 disposable gloves, 13 million protective goggles, and 8.8 million face coverings for COVID-19 prevention. Albeit China is still the biggest supplier of PPE products in the world, the market is more-or-less evenly distributed among competitors, including Vietnam. One of the world's most popular fashion brands among teenage girls is at the centre of a racism storm after claims that 'deplorable' messages targeting black people were circulated by company bosses. The Brandy Melville line, which has been worn by celebrities including pop star Ariana Grande, is such a phenomenon on Instagram it has been dubbed the first retail 'Insta-brand'. It has stores all over the world, including London, but has been criticised for its disproportionate use of white models and a lack of diversity among its store staff. One image which can be seen in the phone text group called 'Brandy Melville gags' shows a woman holding a T-shirt at an angle to make it spell 'Hitler' Documents lodged in a Californian court have now made extraordinary claims about racist policies at the heart of the firm. The allegations, made by the former operators of Brandy Melville Canada as part of a wider dispute about licensing, centre on material exchanged on a phone text group called 'Brandy Melville gags'. It includes a picture of a Hitler lookalike crying at the racial diversity of pictures of modern European men and a National Geographic picture of an early human juxtaposed with a young black man. Another image shows a woman holding a T-shirt at an angle to make it spell 'Hitler'. It is alleged the material was circulated among some of Brandy Melville's most senior executives. The Brandy Melville line, which has been worn by celebrities including pop star Ariana Grande (pictured), is such a phenomenon on Instagram it has been dubbed the first retail 'Insta-brand' Scott Gizer, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said: 'It's shocking to me that such a large company would tolerate this.' The complaint against Brandy Melville says: '[The] postings featured deplorable written messages and pictures targeted at persons of colour.' It is also alleged an executive ordered a store in Canada to be shut down because 'the clientele were 'ghetto', insinuating the customer base was mostly ethnic minorities that did not fit in with Brandy Melville's 'image'.' The same executive is accused of complaining the store needed to hire 'attractive white girls'. The store operators in Canada say they believed it was illegal to hire and fire staff on looks and ethnic origin. Bastiat USA, which trades as Brandy Melville, has not yet filed a defence to the legal complaint lodged at the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Neither Bastiat USA nor Brandy Melville responded to requests for comment. A 74-year-old woman was punched in the face after confronting three teens who police say stole her purse following yet another week of violence in New York City. Disturbing security footage shows as one of the suspects - all thought to be aged between 14 and 18-year-old - knocks the victim to the floor on East 14th Street in the East Village last Thursday evening at 7pm. New York City has seen a troubling spike in crime and violence this year, and new data shows there were 242 shootings recorded last month. In August 2019 there were just 91 shootings recorded. In the clip, released by police hunting the alleged attackers, the woman attempts to get her purse back from the teenagers before one of them turns round, sucker punching her. The suspects fled the scene, leaving her purse behind, police said. Police said: 'Although the victim sustained bruising and swelling to her face, and cuts and scrapes to her hands, she refused medical attention.' Scroll down for video A 74-year-old woman was punched in the face after confronting three teens who police say stole her purse following yet another week of violence in the city The suspects, pictured, fled the scene, leaving her purse behind, police said The victim, who was delivering food to a friend, said she has lived in the city since 1963. She told ABC7 she has never experience anything like this and wants the area 'cleaned up'. Footage shows as the three teens, made up of a girl and two boys, pass the woman; one appears to grab her purse as they all continue walking. The woman then chases after the group before one boy turns back to punch her, knocking her to the ground. Footage shows as the three teens, made up of a girl and two boys, pass the woman; one appears to grab her purse as they all continue walking The woman then chases after the group before one boy turns back to punch her, knocking her to the ground New York City saw a 4.1 per cent rise in robberies last month compared to August last year; assaults are also up 2 per cent year on year, figures show. Shootings in New York soared 166 percent last month compared to August 2019, and murder rose 47 percent, according to NYPD statistics released at the end of last month. On Sunday a 25-year-old man was shot in the head and killed in Queens, police said. The victim was found dead after his wife called cops. Police were also called to another shooting in the city over the weekend in which a man, 23, was wounded. He is expected to survive. Hours later another man, 40, was shot and left in a critical condition in Brooklyn; another was shot in the hand in a separate incident in the same borough an hour later, The New York Post reports. Shootings in New York soared 166 percent last month compared to August 2019, and murder rose 47 percent, according to NYPD statistics released at the end of last month The NYPD has struggled to get a handle on the sharp increase in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of shootings last month rose in all boroughs except Staten Island. The number of murders is also up citywide, increasing from 36 in August 2019 to 53 last month, marking a 47 percent rise. During a television interview last month, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said the new policy was necessary given the departments limited resources. Were doing what we can with the resources we have and making sure that its all hands on deck, he said. On Sunday a 25-year-old man was shot in the head and killed in Queens, police said. The victim was found dead after his wife called cops New York Governor Andrew Cuomo last week rebuked President Donald Trump over his threat to pull federal funding from 'lawless' U.S. cities, and issued a chilling warning that the president would need 'an army' to set foot in New York City. The comments came following Trump's move on Wednesday to pull federal funding from New York City, Seattle, Washington DC, and Portland, Oregon, in a presidential memo saying 'My Administration will not allow Federal tax dollars to fund cities that allow themselves to deteriorate into lawless zones.' Extra officers have been drafted to police stations in Brooklyn hotspots in anticipation of an increased demand for processing detainees ahead of Labor Day weekend, a source told the New York Post. 'If there's violence, we're going to make arrests,' said Terence Monahan, chief of department for the NYPD. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. On Saturday, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that under the Vande Bharat Mission, more than 15 lakh people have returned through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights. Under the Vande Bharat Mission, more than 15 lakh people have returned through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights, said Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, on Saturday. Puri said in a tweet that the International flights continue to facilitate repatriation and outbound travel of stranded citizens under Vande Bharat Mission since 6 May 2020, more than 15 lakh people had returned through various modes including more than 4.5 lakh on flights so far. Puri also shared a photograph that stated that 4,059 Indian nationals returned on September 5. The Vande Bharat Mission started in early May to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus restrictions. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Rhea Chakraborty arrives at NCB office; Actors lawyer alleges witch hunt, says ready for arrest Also read: Apart from borders, Indias security to be maintained in extended neighbourhood: Gen Rawat A special Air India flight from Thailand departed for New Delhi on Tuesday, carrying 153 stranded Indians, under the Vande Bharat Mission. On Tuesday, Indian Embassy in Thailand tweeted that the 12th Vande Bharat Mission flight from Thailand to India AI 335 from Bangkok to Delhi departed with 153 pax, mission team sent off pax. The Vande Bharat Mission started in early May to evacuate Indians stranded abroad due to coronavirus restrictions. More than 12,60,000 stranded Indians have been repatriated under the Vande Bharat mission, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The MoCA had said that between May 6 and August 30, a total of 12,60,118 persons were repatriated under the Vande Bharat mission. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case LIVE news updates: Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer alleges witch hunt Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said on Sunday in Bistrita that the current Government will draw up the draft budget for 2021, but he prefers that the state budget law be voted on by the Parliament to result from the elections to be held on December 6. "We are drafting the budget. Of course I would prefer the budget to be voted by the Parliament to be elected on December 6, because it will reflect the current, refreshed will of the Romanians, it will be a faithful mirror of the elected Parliament, of the current political options of the Romanians. And even if we draw up the draft budget, we want it to be debated by the newly elected Parliament," Orban said. According to the prime minister, the budget for 2021 has a chance to be voted by the end of the year, if the new Parliament that will result from the December 6 elections will be convened between the winter holidays. "I believe that Parliament, if it mobilizes itself, can debate and adopt the budget by the end of the year, so that we do not have to enter next year without a budget, because there is a period between Christmas and the New Year in which Parliament can be convened and can debate the state budget law and the state social insurance budget law", Ludovic Orban also declared. AGERPRES . March 16, 1932- Sept. 1, 2020 The Lord peacefully called Patricia Patsy home to begin her eternal life on September 1, 2020. Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, devoted wife, and friend to all was 88. Patricia was born to Richard and Margret Trythall on March 16, 1932. With her birthday so close to St. Patricks Day, her parents named her Patricia. She grew up in Meaderville, in the Italian-American neighborhood, among one of the many diverse ethnic neighborhoods during Buttes historical mining days. Patsy graduated from Girls Central High School. She became a registered nurse, graduating from the St. James Hospital unit, Sisters of Charity School of Nursing in 1953 and remained there after graduation on the nursing staff. She married the love of her life, Don Dutch Nevin, on February 27, 1954, at St Patricks Church. They enjoyed over 51 wonderful years together on this earth and are now in eternity rejoined. She was the wonderful mother of Donny Pat, Diana, Ernie (Rick), Suzette, the proud grandmother of Jeff, Ryan, Mark, Matt, and Jonathan, and the great-grandmother of Riane. Although Patsy was an only child, she was quickly immersed with her new family of brothers and sisters from Dons side, along with the Guays. Together they enjoyed family picnics, outings at the Columbia Gardens, summers at Georgetown Lake, and socializing at the family owned Vegas Club and later, the Sky Chalet. In 1970, Patsy and Don left their home on Park Street in Butte to ranch in Whitehall. Together with her love of animals and Dons love of the land they worked together in raising their children, animals, and alfalfa, not necessarily in that order. Patsy loved her puppies, most especially poodles. She enjoyed being surrounded by all her furry friends. They also enjoyed traveling in their RV and visiting their children and grandchildren. Patsy taught us that joy is found in the small moments, the ordinary pleasures, and the people close to us. Shell be remembered for her gentle nature and kind heart. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts. Patsy is survived by her children and their spouses/significant other, Diana/Sam, Ernie/Martina, Suzette/Dennis; her grandsons, Jeff, Ryan (Fry), Mark, Matt/Nicole, and Jonathan; and her great-granddaughter, Riane (small fry). She also leaves behind Dons sister, Myrna; her children; her niece, Cindy Fawcett; and nephew, David/Carol Nevin; and many other close relatives. We would like to thank all of her beloved family and friends as well as the staff at Crest Nursing Home, who provided wonderful care for her. A mass of Christian burial will be held to celebrate Patsys life on Friday, September 11, 2020, at 11 a.m., at St. Patricks Catholic Church, in Butte. Interment will follow at the Holy Cross Cemetery, where Patsys ashes will be placed with Don and their son Donny Pat. The family asks that you please wear a mask. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in Patsys name to one of her favorite charities, Silver Bow Humane Society or Our Lady of the Rockies. The Italian Grand Prix is the first race weekend in which the special engine modes are forbidden during qualification, the so-called party mode. All teams eagerly awaited how this would shake up the field on Saturday. However, that turned out to be rather disappointing. If you look at the results of the qualification for the Italian Grand Prix, you will not immediately see the effect of this ban. What they will certainly not see is some disadvantage that Mercedes will suffer as a result, something that was predicted by many beforehand. Team boss Toto Wolff explains why to Motorsport.com. Lobby' against Mercedes not successful according to Wolff "This 'lobbying' against our qualification mode came about long before the new directives were introduced. We have, of course, already adjusted our development in that direction. The people who insisted on this change have not done a great job today". So the fact that Mercedes seems to be as dominant in Monza as it has been in previous races is due to the fact that the team was already taking this change into account. For example, did they still use party fashion at Spa-Francorchamps? "In Belgium we did, but before that there were weekends when we did not use it." William Purcell at the piano in 2017. (Pursell Family Archives) William "Bill" Pursell, a Grammy-nominated composer and studio musician who accompanied such artists as Patsy Cline and Bob Dylan, died Thursday in Nashville at the age of 94. Pursell's death came after a "very fast, tough battle with COVID pneumonia," his daughter and recording artist, Laura Pursell, said in a statement. Pursell's song, "Our Winter Love," became a big seller in 1963. He was twice nominated for a Grammy, the first for inspirational performance (non-classical) on the album "Listen" for Ken Medema in 1974. His second Grammy nomination was for his 1978 arrangement of "We Three Kings" for National Geographic. Born June 9, 1926 in Oakland, Calif., Pursell was raised in the Central Valley town of Tulare. He studied composition at the Peabody Institute, a music conservatory in Baltimore and, during military service in World War II, he arranged for the U.S. Air Force Band, according to the family. He later studied classical composition at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., earning a master's degree in composition. In 1953, his arrangement "Christ Looking Over Jerusalem" for the Eastman-Rochester Orchestra was awarded a prize. William Pursell in a publicity photo from the 1960s. (Pursell Family Archives) Pursell arrived in Nashville in 1960 at the invitation of legendary country artist Eddy Arnold. Two years later, Pursell was signed as a solo artist with Columbia Records. His hit, "Our Winter Love," was released the following year. A career highlight, according to his family, was playing with noted guitarist Chet Atkins at a press corps dinner at the White House for President John F. Kennedy. Through the 60s and 70s, Pursell worked as a session pianist for industry greats, including Johnny Cash, Boots Randolph, Marty Robbins, Jim Reeves, Johnny Paycheck, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Dan Fogelberg and Dylan, among others. In 1980, Pursell switched gears, joining the faculty at the Belmont University School of Music in Nashville as a composition professor. Story continues In 1985, he was honored as Composer of the Year by the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. His symphony, "Heritage," which was commissioned by the Nashville Symphony and Victor Johnson, debuted in 1989. Two years later, he earned his doctor of musical arts degree, with distinction, at the Eastman School of Music. In 2017, Pursell retired from Belmont University after 37 years. Over the years, he taught such country artists as Trisha Yearwood and Brad Paisley. It was not clear when he contracted COVID-19, but he entered the hospital approximately a week ago, according to publicist Harlan Boll. "While in the hospital, my father became a Catholic He said his entire life now made sense," his daughter wrote in the statement distributed by Boll. "This gives us some measure of peace. We know how many lives he touched, and he knew how much he was loved." Pursell is survived by his daughter, Laura Pursell, son Bill Pursell and stepdaughters Ellen Spicer and Margaret Pursell. He was preceded in death by daughter Sharon Pursell in 2012 and wife Julie Pursell in 2018. Donations to the William Whitney Pursell Scholarship in Composition can be made to the Belmont University School of Music. The federal government will scrutinise Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' handling of the coronavirus pandemic and has warned an extension of two weeks to lockdown will cause more workers to lose their jobs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a joint statement on Sunday afternoon that Victoria's performance on contract tracing was particularly concerning and the new road map would have difficult economic consequences. The federal government will scrutinise Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui, Alex Ellinghausen The road map extends the lockdown for two weeks, which the Morrison government warned would "come at a further economic cost". It will work directly with business and industry to understand their concerns and seek to ensure they are addressed. Tensions between the federal and state governments were on show in Canberra over the past two sitting weeks with Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg both airing frustrations with Mr Andrews' handling of the outbreaks. A Delhi Court has declared two accused as proclaimed offenders in a case related to the murder of Delhi Polices head constable Rattan Lal during the violence which broke out in the north-east district of the national capital earlier this year. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pushotaum Pathak of Karkardooma Courts Complex while declaring Suleman aka Salman Siddiqui and Ms Ravish as Proclaimed Offenders on Saturday said, I considered that both accused are intentionally avoiding to appear in the court despite due service of process under section 82 of CrPC. The same court has recently also taken the cognizance on the chargesheet filed in the High Court regarding Rattan Lal murder case. The court said, It is of the opinion that there is sufficient material on record to take cognizance of the offences alleged to have been committed by accused persons. The court while taking cognizance on the chargesheet also added that However, it is not inclined to take cognizance for the offence under Section 153-A IPC as for taking cognizance for the said offence, the previous sanction as provided under section 196 CrPC is mandatory to be filed by the agency but same has not been filed till today. Investigation officer has informed that in the present case a letter dated 13.07.2020 has been sent to the competent authority but it is not clear as to how much time, it will take for obtaining sanction. In this scenario when there is no timeframe for obtaining sanction and that any delay in proceeding further in the matter will unnecessarily defeat the purpose for which the special courts for trial of riot cases have been created. It deems it fit to take cognizance of all the offences as discussed. Court had also issued a production warrant against all the accused and directed the Tihar Jail authority to produce them through video conferencing on September 10. Delhi Police chargesheet stated that Head Constable Rattan Lal was killed and several other police officials and public persons were injured when the mob without provocation attacked the police party. The post mortam report of Rattan Lal revealed that he sustained gunshot injuries apart from 21 injuries and had succumbed to these injuries. According to the chargesheet, the public witnesses and the local beat staff have categorically stated in their statements about the specific role of accused persons that they were the main organisers of the protest and were fully involved in inciting people for rioting. Further, the eyewitnesses who have witnessed the incident have stated in their statements that on February 24, the police party deployed at Chand Bagh protest site was suddenly attacked by the mob led by accused persons. The mob was armed with lathis, rods and killed HC Rattan Lal, caused injuries to DCP Amit Sharma, ACP Anuj Kumar and also to several other police officials and public persons. Besides the statement of witnesses, there is also CCTV footage which showed the presence of accused persons, said the Delhi Police chargesheet. According to the chargesheet, protests were being held against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Chand Bagh area without any official permission and in blatant violation of rules and regulations. Speakers addressing gathering were spreading false information about CAA and NRC and were deliberately conveyed to the Muslim population that they would lose their citizenship and later when NRC would be introduced then on non-production of the documents they would be sent to the detention camps, Delhi Police said in the chargesheet. In February, violence took place in the northeast area of Delhi between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which led to the deaths of at least 53 people. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 01:53:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 28, 2020 shows the European Parliament Liaison Office in the United Kingdom in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan) Frost made the remarks as the trade talks are to resume on Tuesday in London with both sides still having differences on issues such as fishing and the level of taxpayer support Britain will be able to provide for businesses, also referred to as state aid rules. LONDON, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The British government's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost has said that his government is unafraid to walk away from the post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union (EU) if the regional bloc does not compromise on major issues, including fisheries and state aid rules. "This time, we won't blink," Frost told the Mail newspaper on Sunday. "We came in after a government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our words seriously... So a lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realize that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously," he said. "We are not going to be a client state," he said. "We are not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control over our own laws." "We are not going to accept level playing field provisions that lock us in to the way the EU do things," he said. Britain ended its EU membership on Jan. 31 but is still following EU rules during the transition period until Dec. 31 to enable a permanent future trade deal to be reached. During this period, Britain would have to pay into EU funds but have no say in laws imposed by Brussels. "We want to get back the powers to control our borders and that is the most important thing," he said. People are seen in front of buildings in the City of London, London, Britain, on Feb. 1, 2020. (Photo by Stephen Chung/Xinhua) Frost made the remarks as the trade talks are to resume on Tuesday in London with both sides still having differences on issues such as fishing and the level of taxpayer support Britain will be able to provide for businesses, also referred to as state aid rules. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the week ahead was "a wake-up call for the EU," adding that "the EU's best moment to strike a deal is now." Both sides want a deal agreed next month in order to have it signed off by politicians on both sides of the Channel by the end of the transition period on Dec. 31. The upcoming talks in London are expected to mark the final phase of the negotiations, with Frost's team calling for "more realism" from the EU side to break the deadlock. "The EU must also realize that we are serious about leaving with an Australian-style trading relationship and reclaiming our independence as a sovereign nation if we cannot find acceptable terms," he said. The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Wednesday in Dublin that he was "worried and disappointed" after Frost made no concessions to end the impasse during their informal talks in London a day earlier. There will be no post-Brexit trade deal without UK-EU agreement on fisheries, Barnier said. He warned Britain against using the issue as a "bargaining chip" in stalled talks. If Britain and the EU fail to secure a trade deal before the transitional period expires, both sides will trade under the World Trade Organization terms, under which new border controls and tariffs will mean extra cost for their trade. About 11:20 p.m., officers were called to the area of Dale Drive and Dove Tree Court in Indian Head, the Charles County Sheriffs Office said. The officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. No one else was reported injured as of Sunday morning. Officials said they would release the victims name once he is positively identified. BHUBANESWAR : India not only took the bold and timely step of imposing a lockdown to save the lives of 1.3 billion people from COVID-19 but also took care of the economy to turn the tragedy into an opportunity, BJP president JP Nadda said on Saturday. Addressing a meeting of the party's Odisha executive committee, Nadda said that while powerful nations were helpless in combating the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was clear in his mind as he took the decisive action of imposing the lockdown in order to save the lives of the people. PM Modi made it clear that the lives of 1.3 billion people must be saved. He said Jaan hai to Jahan Hai as public health was at the top of his mind, the BJP chief said. The lockdown was imposed well in time and also implemented effectively across the country as a weapon against the pandemic, he said. Besides taking care of the health-related matters, the Modi government also addressed the economic issues through several programmes such as the 'Garib Kalyan Yojna' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', Nadda said. Even the UN secretary-general has acknowledged Indias steps in this regard, he added. The tragedy and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic were effectively turned into an opportunity by the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said. Nadda's comments came amid the criticism of the government by the opposition over the sharp decline in the GDP. The countrys economy suffered its worst slump on record in April-June, with the gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 23.9 per cent as the coronavirus-related lockdowns weighed on the already-declining consumer demand and investment. Noting that all the political parties except the BJP became "inactive" after the lockdown was imposed, Nadda said his party took to the virtual mode and continued to serve the people. Asserting that the healthcare infrastructure of the country was given a major boost by the government, he said that when the lockdown was imposed India did not have a single COVID hospital, and over 1,500 such facilities with 2.5 lakh beds have been set up in the last few months. Similarly, daily COVID-19 testing has also increased to over 10.10 lakh, he said. Nadda also hit out at the BJD government in Odisha, accusing it of refusing to implement the 'Ayushman Bharat' programme because of narrow and petty politics, depriving 2.74 crore people of quality healthcare. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Nightly protests against racial injustice were sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody in May. Protesters in Portland threw rocks and firebombs at police who in turn made more than 50 arrests and used tear gas on Saturday night on the 100th day of demonstrations in the Oregon state against racism and police brutality. Police described what they called tumultuous and violent conduct by protesters on the citys Southeast Stark Street. One of the firebombs caught a community member on fire and he was taken to hospital, Portland police said in a statement, adding that a sergeant was also struck by a commercial-grade firework that injured his hand. This is a riot. Police are giving announcements to disperse. People are throwing Molotov cocktails, Portland police said on Twitter. Police said officers used tear gas among other crowd control measures to disperse the gathering, which the Oregonian newspaper had estimated to be about 400. The often violent nightly demonstrations that have happened for 100 days since George Floyd was killed show no signs of ceasing [Noah Berger/AP Photo] Portland has seen nightly protests for more than three months that have at times turned into violent clashes between demonstrators and officers, as well as between right- and left-wing groups. The nightly protests were sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyds death triggered similar protests nationwide, but it is in Portland a city of 650,000 of which more than 70 percent are white that activists have remained on the streets practically every night, demanding racial justice and police accountability. President Donald Trump has cast the city as being under siege by thugs engaged in domestic terrorism. though the demonstrations have been peaceful for the most part. Memorial for shooting victim Tensions escalated again last weekend after a man identified as a supporter of a right-wing group was shot and killed. Earlier on Saturday, hundreds of people gathered in a park near Portland in a memorial for Aaron Jay Danielson, a supporter of the far-right group Patriot Prayer. The 39-year-old was fatally shot after he joined pro-Trump supporters who descended on Portland, sparking confrontations with Black Lives Matter counter-protesters. The suspect in the shooting, Michael Reinoehl, 48, was killed in neighbouring Washington state as police tried to arrest him. The circumstances of Danielsons death are still under investigation but Reinoehl appeared to acknowledge shooting him in an interview with Vice News. We are in the midst of a civil war between good and evil, the good, the good is all the folks you see here, said Dann, 50, who knew Danielson through Patriot Prayer, pointing to the families lined up near an imposing barbecue among camping chairs and numerous US flags displayed for the occasion. Portland Police officers disperse a crowd of protesters after a Molotov cocktail was thrown on the 100th consecutive night of protests in Portland, Oregon on September 6 [File: Caitlin Ochs/Reuters] Elsewhere on Saturday, armed police supporters and anti-racism demonstrators clashed in Louisville before the Kentucky Derby horse race, while Rochester police also used tear gas to disperse protesters. President Donald Trump signed a memo on Wednesday that threatens to cut federal funding to lawless cities, including Portland. His Democratic challenger in the November 3 presidential election, Joe Biden, has accused Trump of stoking violence with his rhetoric. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 18:47:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Jiao Zixin, a first-year student participates in physical education class at Experimental School of Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 4, 2020. In the first week of September, Experimental School of Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone arranged content-rich physical education classes for first-year student to help them adapt to campus life as soon as possible and cultivate their interests in participanting in sports. (Xinhua/Xu Chang) Masks are on, tables are spaced and JWs Patio on Phelan Boulevard is open for business, marking a new phase for a Beaumont restaurateur opening his second eatery this time during a global pandemic. Creating a new restaurant while operating another amid coronavirus constraints has its own set of challenges, but John Wilson owner of J Wilsons and now JWs Patio said it is a matter of adapting. In fact, he said, this experience has shown him a better way to open a restaurant. It might just be the experience or a new level of maturity, but I think this has actually been smoother than when we opened J Wilsons, he said. Weve been just taking it slow, which is the way it probably should be. JWs Patio had a soft opening over the weekend of Aug. 28, just a day after Jefferson County braced for a potential early morning impact from Hurricane Laura. Despite the evacuation days earlier and the strain of hurricane recovery for some, crew members got to work refining the new game plan for the restaurant and online reservations quickly filled up. Wilson said the reduced capacity Texas restaurants are ordered to follow and the new expectation customers have to plan ahead before going out has actually been a kind of blessing after the whirlwind startup of J Wilsons. JWs Patio has also been open for walk-in dining, but the motto has still been slow and steady to help build up his team and make sure all precautions are followed. Running a restaurant has always been about adapting and getting better, and this is really no different, Wilson said. Well survive, it just may not be fun for awhile. That ability to adapt was put to the test in June when an employee at J Wilsons reported a possible exposure to coronavirus. Wilson temporarily shut down the restaurant, ordered a round of tests for staff members who might have been exposed and started the cleaning process while he waited. Luckily, none of his staff actually tested positive and the restaurant reopened soon after, but he said it was another example of how important it is to stay level-headed and try to make the best choice possible. That has been the same strategy hes used to keep the restaurant opening on track even while the hospitality industry has been facing extreme challenges. We started this before the pandemic, but we knew we couldnt just pull the plug, he said. We would have lost our relationship with our bank and our partners. We had to keep going. Other developments Despite the pandemic, Wilson isnt the only Beaumont business owner who has been following through with plans for new developments. Chris Boone, director of planning and community development for the city of Beaumont, said applications, permits and inspections have outpaced results from the same period last year. So far in 2020, 33 residential plans and four commercial plans have been submitted, compared to 18 residential and one commercial plan submitted in 2019. There have also been 1,335 inspections, about 200 more than last year, and 838 permits approved. Certificates of occupancy are also up by 22 to make a total of 72 completed this year. Some of those projects have been major developments in the works for some time such as the new Kommercial Kitchens showroom and warehouse on the I-10 corridor and Docs Yardhouse on Calder Avenue. Other projects including Pattys Mexican Restaurant on Calder and the Blue Crew Car Wash at Folsom and Dowlen have been largely completed during the pandemic. While the office has been somewhat surprised by the pace of permitting, planning applications seem to be dwindling as it works through some of the projects that have already been in the works. Boone said there has been a slowdown in planning applications, which usually have a six- to 12-month work process. Much of that slowdown could be attributed to economic instability from the pandemic and even political anxiety over the upcoming election. Turnaround could speed up once developers regain confidence. I think the gap (in planning) is obvious because there are slowdowns in the economy and the election coming up, but if we get out of the pandemic I think youll see a return of applications, Boone said. Our projections show a dip in development, but it really only changes the pace of our plans. The Wilson brand Just as this launch has put Wilson on a familiar task with changing circumstances, JWs Patio is a combination of the atmosphere customers may have loved from the other restaurant with some flavors theyve never tried before. A central bar in the dining room and a spacious patio outside that will host live music are two of the most distinctive aspects of the place, and Wilson has been trying to develop a menu to match it. He said he wanted to bring Mediterranean-inspired dishes and light, fresh food that isnt always readily available in Beaumont with the kind of chef-crafted favorites people have come to expect from J Wilsons. Wilsons connection with Mediterranean food dates back to his time running a Zoes Kitchen franchise in Houston, but he said there was actually more crossover with the Greek-focused chain at J Wilsons than can be expected with the new joint. JWs Patio is also something of a full-circle transformation for Wilson from a restaurant worker to a restaurant owner. The building that most recently housed Greenlight Americana was also the former home of the Crazy Joses location where Wilson once worked as a waiter. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Soon Kiki Pew's body having been removed from the python is found, and one of those pink pearls leads to Diego Beltran, an innocent undocumented immigrant, being blamed for her death because, really, who wants to admit there are killer reptiles in Palm Beach? The case becomes particularly high profile, and Diego is a convenient scapegoat, because Kiki Pew is a founding member of a group of wealthy widows who are ardent fans of the president of the United States and members of his private club in Palm Beach, here called Casa Bellicosa. Although it's clear who they are, Hiaasen refers to the POTUS and FLOTUS only by their Secret Service code names. His is Mastodon, which he loves because it sounds tough. "On only his second day in the White House, the President had ordered his chief of staff to arrange a trip to the National Zoo for a close-up look at a real mastodon. The chief of staff wasn't brave enough to tell the President the truth, so he cooked up a story that the zoo's beloved mastodon herd was on loan to a wildlife park in Christchurch, New Zealand." Her code name is Mockingbird, and she is in her own way as formidable a woman as Angie, though not nearly as likable as the wildlife wrangler. The two are the book's main characters whose separate stories will collide. The alleged Novichok poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has all the hallmarks of Russian state involvement, Dominic Raab has said. In the clearest indication yet that the UK Government suspects Moscows involvement in the incident, the Foreign Secretary said it is very difficult to come up with a plausible alternative explanation other than Russian influence, given its historical use of the chemical weapon. Novichok, which means newcomer in Russian, was developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s as a new kind of chemical weapon which would be harder to detect, more potent than existing nerve agents, and exempt from the Chemical Weapons Treaty. The UK and Germany, where opposition leader Mr Navalny is being treated, are united on the need for Russia to explain what happened following talks between Mr Raab and German foreign minister Heiko Maas on Thursday. The Cabinet minister, asked whether he thought the Russian state poisoned Mr Navalny, told BBC Ones Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: I think its very difficult to come up with a plausible alternative explanation based on Russias track record of using it Salisbury based on the difficulty of getting hold of, let alone deploying Novichok as its such a dangerous substance. As I said, the case to answer is there for Russia and we need, I think, through the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), an investigation, and Russia needs to co-operate fully. Whats clear also is that it cant just say This is a domestic issue, it is just our internal affairs. The use of chemical weapons in this kind of context is pure gangsterism and Russia does have responsibility never to use it as a government, and second of all to make sure no-one else can use it within its territory. Corruption investigator Mr Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on August 20, before being transferred to Berlin. The 44-year-old remains on a ventilator in intensive care. Story continues On Wednesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Navalny was the victim of attempted murder by poisoning with Novichok, and added that the aim was to silence the opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In interviews on Sunday, Mr Raab said the emphasis at present is on ensuring Russia is held to account in any OPCW investigation before any further UK sanctions are considered, such as those seen in the aftermath of the Salisbury attack. Britain has long accused Russian operatives of using Novichok on Sergei Skripal, the former double agent targeted in 2018. The UK Government accused Russia of being behind the Novichok attack in Salisbury in 2018 (Andrew Matthews/PA) In response, Boris Johnson, as foreign secretary, helped corral a wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats across the EU and US after Britain told 23 envoys to leave. Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were two of five people exposed to the substance, both spending weeks in hospital recovering. But Dawn Sturgess, 44, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, died in July that year after coming into contact with a perfume bottle thought to originally contain the poison, while her partner, Charlie Rowley, spent nearly three weeks in hospital. Germany, meanwhile, has stepped up the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the poisoning of Mr Navalny, warning that a lack of support in Moscow for an investigation could force Berlin to rethink the fate of a German-Russian gas pipeline project. Foreign Minister Mr Maas told weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag: I hope the Russians wont force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea. Close to 200 families belonging to the Sikh community who have arrived here from Afghanistan have been put up at gurdwaras that are run by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Close to 200 families have come here and are staying in gurdwaras. We are making arrangements for their accommodation till the time they do not get permanent citizenship. We are also providing them assistance in getting employment, DSGMC president Manjinder Singh Sirsa said. He added that all the cost would be borne by the management committee. He also thanked the Central government, particularly home minister Amit Shah, for facilitating visas for these families. There are 138 persons in 31 rooms living over here. We are providing them with all the basic amenities. We will also try to have the children enrolled in Guru Harkishan Public Schools and will teach them free of cost if the need arises, Harjit S Bedi, chief VC, gurdwara, Motibagh, said. Bedi said that the persons could stay in the gurdwara for as long as they need to. In the case of earning bread and butter, they need to be emotionally secure. In the case of residential, they are secure over here, he added. Balbir Singh, 63, one of the Afghan Sikhs who along with his family were brought here by the Union government following attacks faced by minorities in the country, said that he was grateful to the gurdwara for looking after him and his family. We left everything, including our houses in Afghanistan. Our lives were in danger, but now, we feel safe here, he added. The ministry of external affairs recently announced that India has decided to facilitate the return of Afghan Hindu and Sikh community members facing security threats in Afghanistan to India. The decision comes after a terror attack at a gurdwara in Kabuls Shor Bazaar in March killed at least 25 members of the community. Once a community of nearly 250,000 people, the Sikh and Hindu community in Afghanistan has endured years of discrimination and violence from extremists, and the community is now estimated to comprise fewer than 100 families across the country. The Huawei logo is seen at the IFA consumer technology fair, in Berlin By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. rural telecommunications networks, which have relied on inexpensive network equipment from China's Huawei Technologies Co [HWT.UL] and ZTE Corp <000063.SZ>, have told the government that it would cost $1.837 billion to replace those switches and routers, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Friday. In June, the FCC formally designated Huawei and ZTE as threats to U.S. national security, a declaration that bars U.S. firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies. The U.S. telecommunications regulator voted last year to propose requiring rural carriers to remove and replace equipment from the two Chinese companies from U.S. networks. FCC commissioners said the report shows the need for Congress to approve funding to replace that equipment. Congress has authorized reimbursements but has not approved the money. The FCC said it believes the carriers would be eligible for reimbursements of about $1.62 billion. "By identifying the presence of insecure equipment and services in our networks, we can now work to ensure that these networks especially those of small and rural carriers rely on infrastructure from trusted vendors," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said, urging Congress "to appropriate funding to reimburse carriers for replacing any equipment or services determined to be a national security threat so that we can protect our networks." The FCC identified more than 50 mostly smaller telecom companies with ZTE or Huawei equipment or using services from the companies, as well as a few larger companies like CenturyLink and Verizon Communications Inc Verizon said its networks do not include equipment from Huawei or ZTE but has a small number of devices, called VoiceLink, made by Huawei that some customers use to make voice calls. Verizon said it expects to retire all VoiceLink devices this year. CenturyLink said the legacy equipment at issue cannot be used to route or redirect user traffic and is not covered under restrictions established by Congress. The company added it has actively been removing and replacing equipment and continue to work with federal policymakers to accelerate the process. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Writing by Diane Bartz; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and David Gregorio) Talk of a talent shortage when the oil industry is laying off workers en masse may sound counterintuitive. However, a few years from now, the industry will recover, if its past cyclical boom-and-bust nature is any guide. And when that happens, the oil industry will have to hire again. But it may not find enough talent to fill in the gap. U.S. Layoffs Reach 100,000 and Counting Some of the more than 100,000 workers laid off in the U.S. oil and gas industry in the past few months alone are likely to consider changing their career path - permanently. Tesla, for example, has plans to hire as many as 65,000 workers by the end of this year, and people are scrambling for any open spot in the attractive company. Others who have been let go in the oil industry have simply retired. This means that a whole new kind of talent will need to be tapped. Although it is unlikely that the same number of additional jobs will be needed again in the future, considering the increased automation in the industry, oil and gas companies will have to hire employees among the younger generations to fill the gap. The young generations, however, are not particularly attracted to work in the fossil fuel industry because they see it as misaligned with their values of working for a social and environmental-conscious employer. Other employers and sectors - like Tesla, for example - dont have the same problem. Avoiding the Talent Gap The current crisis and the tens of thousands of layoffs every month since March are setting the stage for a massive talent shortage in just a few short years - but oil companies are not sitting idling by. Despite cutting jobs en masse, Big Oil is not giving up on internships as it looks to avoid repeating the mistakes it made during the previous downturns when it had to pay retirees to train the new recruits once prices and markets recovered. Related: Oil Rig Count Inches Higher Amid Price Plunge Supermajors such as Chevron and BP are keeping their internships and university graduate recruitment efforts even though they are slashing around 15 percent of their respective workforce, HR executives told The Wall Street Journal. Story continues We dont want to repeat history, Chevrons Chief Human Resources Officer Rhonda Morris told the Journal. Extraction, Oilfield Services Jobs Hardest Hit The current crisis will go down as the steepest crash in oil demand and prices in history, which forced production curtailments in the U.S., and resulted in thousands of employees in the sector losing their jobs. The hardest-hit sector? Extraction and oilfield services. An estimated 118,000 fossil fuel workers lost their jobs between March and July - a 15.5-percent drop in employment, according to research firm BW Research Partnership. Oil lost the most workers of the fossil fuels, shedding 69,400 jobs or 17 percent of pre-crisis employment, with most job losses in extraction activities, BW Research said. Texas leads the number of layoffs, followed by Louisiana and Oklahoma. The situation in the oilfield services sector is even more dramatic. Employment in the oilfield services and equipment sector fell by more than 9,300 jobs in July, which brings total job losses due to pandemic-related demand destruction to 99,253, the Petroleum Equipment and Services Association (PESA) said in its monthly report in August. Year over year, oilfield services employment dropped by 15.1 percent - from 785,106 jobs in June 2019 to 664,936 in 2020. When the industry enters the next boom cycle, it may not need all these jobs - some of them could be eliminated due to greater efficiency and automation. But while it might not need all those employees, it will need many. The question is, will there be enough people interested in working in the industry from which it can choose? Some who have lost their jobs are considering completely different career paths and are planning never to return to the boom-and-bust job insecurity in the oil and gas sector, even though it can be quite lucrative. Others, like oil workers in Scotland, for example, are looking to be retrained to use their skillsets in the renewables sector, as actions to tackle climate change could impact careers in oil. For new hires, oil and gas companies have the tough task of convincing young generations that work in the industry is not necessarily the image of a roughneck spending days on a rig, toiling at a wellhead while polluting the world with dirty oil. The Conundrum that is Generation Z While salary is often the biggest draw for working in the industry, many young people would choose other industries with similar pay because of their perception that oil and gas is an industry of the past. Petroleum Engineering is by far the highest-earning Bachelors degree major with median earnings of $120,000, the University of Georgetown said in a 2018 report The Economic Value of College Majors. Millennials and Generation Z rank salary as the top motivator in a job, according to a 2017 survey by EY. But money isnt everything. The survey also found that 62 percent of Generation Z respondents consider a career in oil and gas unappealing, and 39 percent rank it as very unappealing, compared with just 4 percent of respondents who see it as very appealing. Two out of three teens believe the oil and gas industry causes problems rather than solves them, the survey showed. It will be very difficult for oil and gas to change these perceptions among Generation Z amid growing calls from investors and the general public for the industry to start tackling climate change and stop greenwashing the problem. Still, there is one strong sales pitch that the oil and gas can use to reach out to younger generations - the digital transformation. Increased automation and ubiquitous use of the latest technologies, including machine learning and AI, can be a major attraction for young talent to the industry with roles such as data scientists or software engineers for the digital natives who would rather work with the latest tech than settle for a role in a company of any sector using substandard technology. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com Those whove followed Jill Duggar might be familiar with the ongoing saga thats happening with the rest of her family. According to Derick Dillard, Jills husband, Jills on the outs with her father, Jim Bob Duggar. And Jill continues to make decisions for her family that totally go against what the Duggars believe. Jill and Derick decided to send their son, Israel, to public school and theyre the first Duggars to take this step. Now, Derick is getting even more involved with Israels schooling. Heres whats going on. Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard sent their son, Israel, to public school RELATED: Jill Duggar Told a Follower She Doesnt Have Advice About Homeschooling: Not Sure I Have Much to Offer While Derick attends law school currently, Jill was homeschooled her entire life and never went to college or university for higher education. But everythings changing with their son, Israel. Jill and Derick announced months ago that theyd be sending Israel to public kindergarten and the big day finally arrived. Happy first day of school for these two! Jill captioned her Instagram post showing off Israel with his backpack and bright smile. 1st day of Kindergarten for Israel and 1st day of last year of law school for Derick! Jill keeps her fans apprised with what its been like getting Israel prepped for school, too. She took her fans on a shopping journey via video, and on Aug. 31, she posted another video to her Instagram Story showing off more thrift store finds shes bringing home so that Israel can have new clothes to head to kindergarten in. Derick announced hes taking part in the public school system I never thought Id see the day, but Im officially a member of the PTO at my kids school. Does that make me a grown-up now?! #parentteacherorganization #adulting Derick Dillard (@derickmdillard) August 27, 2020 It looks like Dericks ultra-supportive of sending his kids to public school as well. And he even took to Twitter to announced that hes going to actively participate in Israels school by joining the parent-teacher organization. I never thought Id see the day, but Im officially a member of the PTO at my kids school, Derick tweeted. Does that make me a grown-up now?! Were not sure the exact role Derick will be taking in the organization. But parent-teacher groups typically offer more support to the schools and teachers for continued success with childrens education. According to the National Parent Teacher Organization, parent groups fulfill the important duty they hold as the overall part ensuring a positive school experience for our children. And we have a feeling Derick may have plenty of input regarding how he wants his kids to learn and grow in the public school system. Duggar family critics are impressed by Derick Derick Dillard visits Extra at their New York studios | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra It looks like Duggar family critics are impressed with how much Derick is stepping up to the plate. Some Reddit users think he could be pivoting toward a future in school administration, too. Im actually slightly impressed by that, one Reddit user commented. Most small town PTOs are over run by the stay at home moms. Betting hes probably the treasurer with his accounting degree. Im a CPA and automatically get thrown into those roles all the time. Im hoping against hope that this is the beginning of a fruitful career in public school education for the Dillards, another wrote. Maybe he will divert towards school administration. However, others are wary of the changes that Derick might suggest. On one hand, being on the PTO is a good step for them to be involved in the secular community and more committed to the public school education, another Reddit user wrote. On the other well, hopefully they arent trying to force their beliefs on anyone. They arent fundies, but still conservative Christians as far as we know. Were hoping Derick will enact some positive change in the school system with his suggestions as a member of the parent-teacher organization. And were excited to hear more! Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Katsina state police command has rescued 16-year-old boy, Sadiku Umar, who was locked up in a cage for two years by his father, Salisu Umar, in Daura, Katsina state. According to neighbors, Umar locked up his son who is physically challenged in the cage since he was 14, and fed him like a dog. The boy was rescued when members of the non-governmental organization, Save the Children International (SCI), were notified and thereafter alerted the police. An SCI agent in Daura, Aminu Gambo said W.B. Yeats wrote: We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the quarrel with ourselves, poetry. He was right about that, and yet if poetry rehearses an internal argument, where our individual complexities are encountered anew and brought to the surface, this does not preclude the presence of other, internal sparring partners. Of these, perhaps none are so present to us and in us as our own parents, whose DNA we carry along with an entire catalogue of their personality traits and quirks, good and bad. Father's Day ... there are treasures of discovery in poetry. Credit: Theres not much you can do/about the odd parents who conceived of you, Derek Mahon ruefully reflects. This is probably why poems about parents so often combine gratitude with regret. In Diptych, the contemporary Australian poet Robert Gray writes movingly of how he came to accept his father, a drunkard who, despite his callousness to my mother had given, or shown me, the best advice, and had left me alone. James McAuley, in Because, another beautiful Australian poem about parents, describes an unhappy house in which his father had damned up his Irish blood And stiffened into stone and creaking wood. McAuley asks nonetheless: How can I judge without ingratitude? And summarises: Judgment is simply trying to reject/A part of what we are because it hurts. Demonstrating the truth of McAuleys statement, Sylvia Plath despairingly proclaims: Daddy, daddy, you bastard, Im through, in a poem in which she compares her father who died when she was eight to a Nazi, and her own suffering to that of the Jews. For another poet who, like Plath, died tragically young, there is a worse fate than losing a parent, and that is knowing they will lose you. In Apologies, Philip Hodgins imagines his parents coming to terms with the news of his terminal illness: Their only child will not bury them. /I must tell them how sorry I am. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott will take on an advisory role (Chris Jackson/PA) Concerns of potential conflicts of interest have been raised following the appointment of former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott to a role at the UK Board of Trade. Mr Abbotts appointment as an adviser was overshadowed by fierce reaction from some quarters, including accusations of the politician holding misogynistic and homophobic views and an outdated view on climate change. But in Australia, where he served in Parliament for 25 years, the focus has been switched to how the London-born but Australia-bred politician will balance the interests of the two countries. The countrys shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said Mr Abbotts knowledge of the ruling Liberal party and Australian government dealings could present an issue in trade discussions. . @HonTonyAbbott announces he will facilitate UK's negotiation of a trade deal with Australia. He will be representing the UK's interests, not Australia's. He makes no mention of his clear obligation to register here as a foreign agent. #disgraceful #auspol https://t.co/VqOm0SvMZK Rex Patrick (@Senator_Patrick) September 4, 2020 He was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald saying: Its up to the government to explain how conflicts arising from Mr Abbotts intimate knowledge of Australias trading interests and strategies, gained during his years as a minister and prime minister, will be managed. Meanwhile, Rex Patrick, an independent senator, replied to a statement from Mr Abbott writing: @HonTonyAbbott announces he will facilitate UKs negotiation of a trade deal with Australia. He will be representing the UKs interests, not Australias. He makes no mention of his clear obligation to register here as a foreign agent. #disgraceful #auspol After Prime Minister Boris Johnson came out in support of the 62-year-old, Mr Abbott who led Australia from 2013-15 said he was only too keen to help the UK and looked forward to helping facilitate trade deals between Britain and other countries, including Australia. A UK-Australia trade deal, maximising the movement of goods, services and people is clearly in the best interests of both our countries, Mr Abbott said in a statement on Twitter. Its important for the wider world that Britain make the most of its post-Brexit opportunities and I am proud to be playing a part. My government finalised trade deals between Australia and China, Japan and Korea. Im looking forward to bringing that expertise to bear as Britain works towards mutually beneficial improvements with its major trading partners. Statement on appointment as adviser to UK Board of Trade. pic.twitter.com/Xw08RDmmAf Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) September 4, 2020 Labour shadow trade secretary Emily Thornberry said Mr Abbott was not the right person to advise the UK on trade policy due to his history of offensive comments and lack of experience. But Alexander Downer, a former Australian high commissioner to the UK, said the arguments against his ally Mr Abbott did not stack up. He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: He is not a misogynist, he has appointed many women to positions he was appointed to this position by a woman. I dont think it stacks up, I think its just party politicking. Wonderful to catch up with former Australian Prime Minister @HonTonyAbbott this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/OUKxcmEaGe Priti Patel (@pritipatel) September 2, 2020 The Department for International Trade formally announced on Friday Mr Abbott would form part of the new-look Board of Trade, in what is said to be an unpaid role. In its announcement, the department stressed advisers to the board would have no direct role in striking trade deals. The UK is currently looking to agree its own trade agreements for the first time in more than 40 years after leaving the European Union in January. It is conducting negotiations with the US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. I downloaded and read the charges filed against Kyle Rittenhouse by Kenosha assistant district attorney Angelina Gabriele. If I were on the jury and read only the D.A.'s side of the story, I would acquit Rittenhouse for the most serious charges without even listening to his side. The only one that looks to me as if it could have merit is "possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18," which is a misdemeanor. Let's start with Rittenhouse's first assailant, Joseph D. Rosenbaum. If this is Joseph Don Rosenbaum from Arizona, he served prison time, which is usually consistent with a felony conviction. I was unable to confirm from AZ or WI records that he was a sexual offender, as some have claimed. The following is not Rittenhouse's side of the story as told by himself or his attorney; it is the prosecutor's side of the story. The "probable cause" portion of the document says (I am copying from an OCR transcription of the original PDF document so the accuracy might not be 100%, and emphasis is mine): Following the defendant is Rosenbaum ... The video shows that as they cross the parking lot, Rosenbaum appears to throw an object at the defendant. The object does not hit the defendant and a second video shows, based on where the object landed, that it was a plastic bag. The prosecutor has therefore stipulated that Rosenbaum followed Rittenhouse, and the video shows that he pursued Rittenhouse. The video also shows that the unknown object went considerably farther than an empty plastic bag would have gone, which suggests that it was some kind of weapon. Rosenbaum appears to be unarmed for the duration of this video. A review of the second video shows that the defendant and Rosenbaum continue to move across the parking lot and approach the front of a black car parked in the lot. A loud bang is heard on the video, then a male shouts, '**** you, then Rosenbaum appears to continue to approach the defendant and gets in near proximity to the defendant when 4 more loud bangs are heard. Rosenbaum then falls to the ground. The prosecutor therefore stipulated that Rosenbaum not only continued to approach Rittenhouse, but was in close proximity to him. She then adds that, according to the witness, "McGinnis stated that there were other people that were moving very quickly. McGinnis stated that they were moving towards the defendant. McGinnis said that according to what he saw the defendant was trying to evade these individuals," thus stipulating not only that the mob was chasing Rittenhouse, as shown in the video, but also that Rittenhouse was attempting to retreat from the mob rather than use deadly force. Rittenhouse did his best to de-escalate and disengage while his assailants insisted on a deadly confrontation, which, in Rosenbaum's case, ended badly. The D.A.'s "probable cause" continues by stipulating that Rosenbaum did try to grab Rittenhouse's weapon, which seems to constitute robbery (forcible taking, a violent felony) of a firearm that could have been turned immediately on its owner. "McGinnis said that the unarmed guy (Rosenbaum) was trying to get the defendant's gun. McGinnis demonstrated by extending both of his hands in a quick grabbing motion and did that as a visual on how Rosenbaum tried to reach for the defendant's gun. Detective Cepress indicates that he asked McGinnis if Rosenbaum had his hands on the gun when the defendant shot. McGinnis said that he definitely made a motion that he was trying to grab the barrel of the gun." The prosecutor offers no justification, such as self-defense, for Rosenbaum's actions, which means he had no right to take Rittenhouse's firearm. The criminal complaint then stipulates that a mob was indeed chasing Rittenhouse while yelling violent threats such as "Get his ***!" and allegedly "Beat him up!" "Then a male in a light-colored top runs towards the defendant and appears to swing at the defendant with his right arm. This swing makes contact with the defendant, knocking his hat off." The prosecutor goes on to stipulate that convicted domestic abuser Anthony M. Huber assaulted Rittenhouse with a weapon and then did exactly what Rosenbaum did to get himself killed; he tried to grab Rittenhouse's rifle. "Anthony Huber approaches the defendant who is still on the ground, on his back. Huber has a skateboard in his right hand. When Huber reaches the Defendant it appears that he is reaching for the defendant's gun with his left hand as the skateboard makes contact with the defendant's left shoulder. Huber appears to be trying to pull the gun away from the defendant." This tells me (my perception) that Huber tried to commit an armed robbery to obtain a firearm he was prohibited from possessing as a convicted violent felon, and also that he assaulted Rittenhouse with a weapon one of the aggravating factors in his domestic abuse conviction, too. Next we come to the survivor, Gaige P. Grosskreutz. "After shooting Huber, the defendant moves to a seated position and points his gun at a third male, later identified as Gaige Grosskreutz, who had begun to approach the defendant. When the defendant shot Huber, Grosskreutz freezes and ducks and takes a step back. Grosskreutz puts his hands in the air." This tells me Grosskreutz had a possible opportunity at this moment to de-escalate and disengage, but he chose not to take it. "Grosskreutz then moves towards the defendant who aims his gun at Grosskreutz and shoots him, firing 1 shot. Grosskreutz was shot in the right arm. Grosskreutz appears to be holding a handgun in his right hand when he was shot." Rittenhouse refrained from shooting another individual who put up his empty hands to show that he wished to discontinue whatever he was doing a rapid de-escalation for which both Rittenhouse and the other man deserve credit. Grosskreutz, on the other hand, continued to advance while allegedly armed. "Hands up, don't shoot" doesn't count when you are holding a firearm in your upraised hand. I am not an attorney, but my understanding is that the prosecutor must establish a prima facie (at first sight) case to charge somebody with a crime. Prima facie means that if we assume that everything in the criminal complaint is true, the defendant is guilty. If we assume that everything in the complaint against Kyle Rittenhouse is true, it looks instead as though all the shootings were clear-cut self-defense, while the misdemeanor charge is the only one that survives even this preliminary assessment. While I am not an expert witness, either, here is what Massad Ayoob (who is) has to say about not only the Rittenhouse shooting, but also the Jacob Blake shooting that prompted the civil disorder in Kenosha in the first place. Ayoob points out, for example, the issues of (1) disparity of force and also (2) that Huber's skateboard was a dangerous weapon similar to an axe handle. Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter. Image: Daily Caller via YouTube. Last September seems like a lifetime ago. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank had come off a record year of meeting the need of area residents and had almost closed the meal gap. We were beginning to work on longer-term projects and making great strides to build capacity of our member agency network and technology. Northeast Iowa had rallied around us and provided volunteers, funding and food. With all the work we had done we were close to closing the meal gap determined by Feeding America using USDA data and defined as the meals government programs do not provide and the community should by the end of June 2020. Then the global pandemic hit in March, and all of our lives were impacted. September is Hunger Action Month, a time when people all over America stand against hunger. Sharing, volunteering, pledging to advocate, fundraising and donating are just a few ways you can help. In the last year, our goal of closing the meal gap has become more difficult. Feeding America projects the meal gap to be almost 9 million meals annually, or well over 10 million pounds of food. The number of food insecure people is projected to be over 52,000. In the past 10 years, we dont remember it ever being that high. In a recent CNN report, 30 million Americans stated that during the month of July they sometimes or often dont have enough to eat. Locally, we expect to see a 21% increase in people served. And as we have done throughout the pandemic, we dig in, we adjust and look and ask for resources we need to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve. In March when the need skyrocketed, the supply chain shut down. We had food in supply, but we had to be strategic in our sourcing as we knew we were in this for the long haul. We asked the community for support and they responded. Northeast Iowa continues to support us in so many ways. Additionally, the federal government stepped in to provide some resources, and Gov. Kim Reynolds formed the Feeding Iowans Task Force to address the needs of people through food banks. This has and will continue to supply food banks across Iowa, in addition to the many other resources we have access to, with food for their member agencies and programs that will in turn be distributed to people in need. With the need rising, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank continues to provide the basic resource of food for many by partnering with government, business, individuals and community groups to get food to people in need through our member agencies and programs. When the derecho hit Iowa, we mobilized and provided food to our three affected counties through Operation Threshold in Grundy Center, the Montezuma Food Pantry and MICA in Grinnell. Our mobile food pantry program increased distributions in Tama and Grundy Center along with additional service to the Meskwaki Nation. Our sister food bank in Cedar Rapids, HACAP Food Reservoir, needed additional assistance and we reached out and helped. We are here to help no matter who needs food, whether there is a disaster or not. We need you to help us make food insecurity a top priority for Iowans by speaking out to those who are elected and to continue to educate and take action to increase awareness in Northeast Iowa, our state and nation. At the national level, we need additional funding for food assistance (SNAP), which is the first line of defense for families in need; and additional funding for the emergency food assistance program, which not only helps families but also helps farmers. The food is distributed through the food bank. We need you to continue to raise awareness at the Legislature. Food banks are not funded through the Legislature, nor are we sales tax exempt. You can help us by alerting your elected officials and asking them to help us build on the partnerships that have happened through COVID19. You have always been there for us to help make a difference in the lives of those we serve, whether it is during a disaster or when anyone needs help. Thank you for stepping up and helping us raise awareness to the issue of hunger and taking action against it and please continue to do so. For more information, visit www.northeastiowafoodbank.org. Barb Prather is executive director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. State Representative Gary Gates, House District 28, was elected in a special election when State Representative John Zerwas stepped down in the middle of his term. Since taking office, the district has faced an unprecedented economic crisis. Gates discussed his decision to run for state representative and issued his advice to district residents who are frustrated with health mandates. Tell us a little bit about your background and what drew you to the position of state representative. I moved to this area back in 1982 when I bought some rent houses and then bought a small little apartment complex and started my company with zero employees. Over the years, that's grown from that to over 500 employees, and I own now 8,400 apartments throughout the Houston area and surrounding cities. As the business grew, our family grew, and we started a couple of kids of our own. After we hit two, my wife couldn't carry more, so we decided to explore adoption. We adopted a total of 11 kids from mothers with various backgrounds- drugs or in jail. Eventually we adopted a group of Black kids that had been in 20 different foster homes from CPS. That brought us up to 13. What got me involved in politics was raising kids and running a business. Back in 2000, I was really pushing and advocating for a lot of things from the school district, and they kind of got frustrated and called CPS. The investigation was on Feb. 11, 2000. They took all of our kids on Friday night. We got them back Monday morning in an emergency hearing, but it opened my eyes to shoddy government, and I decided I was going to step up and try to make some changes. Initially we sued the state- that resulted in the Fifth Circuit decision in 2005. That kind of changed the way they had to run the CPS system. Then I tried to change things legislatively. Eventually, I decided to run for state representative back then. You were elected during a special election after Dr. John Zerwas stepped down. What was it like, mobilizing that quickly to vie for his seat? And over the years, I've run seven times and lost all seven. Id kind of given up, but when John Zerwas decided he was going to step down, I talked to my kids and family and I said, Id like to give it one more try. I might stand before God one day, so I thought, I know you had run those times, and it wasn't your time, but what if this was going to be your time? What did you do? Did you tuck your tail and run? I said, We're going to give everything we can to that, and were going to do something different. I knocked on 17,650 doors to win that election through the first round and then in the run off. That really helped make the difference. I walked 122 of the 137 days. The only days off- six of those days I went to Hawaii and did a Hawaiian Ironman in Hawaii. I did that race on a Saturday and caught the plane out on Sunday and flew all night and did 150 doors on Monday. I knew it was going to be an epic race, and it turned out to be the largest turnout in Texas history. My wife asked me, Do you know what day this is? And then it hit me. The darkest day of my life was Feb. 11, 2000 when CPS stepped in our lives, and I was sworn in on Feb. 11 2020 - 20 years to the day of the event that started me on this path. That's the background of what brought me here now. You had been in office for little more than a month when the COVID-19 pandemic hit Fort Bend County. Can you share with us that experience of moving straight into a crisis after taking office? The speaker put me on two committees - appropriations and pensions - and then the coronavirus stepped up and kind of shocked everyone's world. I can't think of two better committees for me to be on than those two with my business background and my skill sets to help deal with what I think is going to be the biggest financial crisis Texas has ever faced. And on the pension side, the state pension for state employees is really, really underwater. We have got to have some dramatic changes in that pension. So those are the two things - I'm glad to be a part of those committees and be able to bring what I can to help solve those problems. Before the coronavirus hit, Id met with about 90 percent of the republicans and about 50 percent of the democrats, and I just wanted to reach out, go meet them at a coffee shop in our district, and just get to know a little bit about them and their district. Then the coronavirus hit and put a stop to that. One of your biggest contributions to the community during this time has been your distribution of personal protective equipment. Can you tell us about that? What are some other things youve been doing to help the people of House District 28 through this crisis. Related: High demand at PPE distribution event in Katy We decided what I wanted to do was call mainly senior citizens, because those are the ones that are being shut in the most to just see if there's anything we can do to help. After a few phone calls, I started hearing it consistently said that they didn't have toilet paper or masks and stuff. Through my contacts, I was able to come up with those supplies, and eventually we came up with a care package that was two rolls of toilet paper, two KN-95 masks, two surgical masks, a pair of gloves, some hand sanitizer - we went through a distiller and bought 55 gallon drums and mixed them up - and then some Clorox. We came up with what really is a care package, and we started off with mainly senior citizens and delivering it to them. We were doing about 10 to 15 a day. Then we decided, Lets do a drive through. We posted it on our Facebook and at Cinco Ranch Library. We thought maybe 100 people or something would show up, but the lines were over a mile long. We did over 800 deliveries that day. That's when I decided to take it even bigger. We started sending out some flyers. Eventually now, today, we've done over 10,000 through our drive through distributions and probably about 5,000 home deliveries. Its starting to die down a little bit, but it's been a great opportunity to give back to the community, especially for something that a lot of people really need, especially the older people who can't get out. They've appreciated being able to have a home delivery. As you know, were now in the middle of hurricane season, and we had a very near miss with Hurricane Laura. What are some of the things your office is doing to help prepare the area for a disaster, should one occur? Theres not a lot that I can do as a member. But I've hired a pretty good staff, because I have the ability. The state only gives you enough money to maybe hire one or two staff members, and because of taxes and big issues, I was funding most of my staff just out of my own pocket. We were ready, because there's been a certain uptick in the demand for legislative members and staff with unemployment and people to help navigate through that process. If the hurricane had hit, then we were going to be ready to be able to deal with whatever those issues were, and even in the future, because a lot of times it's government bureaucracy that gets people tied up. We have the ability to try to help clear the way and deal with issues that people have during these difficult times. Do you have any projects youre working on right now that you can share with us? There hasn't been a lot for the members of the legislature to do, because so much is with the governor through emergency powers, and so the individual members really haven't had that much of an input right now. What I have been doing is to get ready for the next session, because the bigger issues that I'm going to be dealing with is with the budget. We've had the Black Lives Matter incident come up, and I've always had a passion for the minority community. My 8,400 apartments are workforce housing types, and I probably have one of the most diverse families you could have with Hispanics and Blacks in mine. I think it gives me a little bit different perspective. In owning all those apartments, one thing that's always frustrated me is, I never see kids that grow up in these complexes. They never come knocking on my door for a job. We have over 500 employees and 98 percent are blue collar-type workers - HVAC, electrical managers and stuff - you don't need a college education. I made it part of my campaign, but Ive seen through this crisis, and theres a big, big issue of bringing vocational training back. Ive really been digging into this issue.What I'm seeing is where a lot of schools want to pat themselves on the back for providing vocational training. The thing is, they're not providing it in the areas where the greatest demands for skills are needed. That's what I want to try to change and make sure that money going into the school districts for vocation training is going into the right type of programs. You see too often that what causes all this disturbance, especially in the minority community, is that if they don't go to college, and they graduate from high school, they're not prepared for today's job market. I want to bring it in where by eighth and ninth grade this training is available. While the goal, of course, is always college, the fact is that 75 percent are not going to go to college or will never graduate with a college degree. I really think that can help solve a lot, if everyone has a good path to opportunities out there. Just like with my kids, they had better opportunities, but no telling where they would have been. Seventy-five percent of Black males in the CPS system end up in prison. None of mine are in. Why? Because they had opportunities. I adopted some difficult kids, and while not every kid can have the same opportunities maybe as mine, there is a minimum level of opportunities that everyone should have. I think that would help solve a lot of the stress that you see happening out there. And that's what I want: to be a part of that. I've reached out to a number of my democratic fellow members, and I share with them what my passion is, and they want to know how we can develop legislation to deal with that. What advice do you have for the residents of Katy and the surrounding area for navigating these times, when it feels like were inundated with so many crises? On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus live updates: Houston nearing 3,000 COVID-related deaths I know a lot of people are frustrated by the mask and how in and they want to open up businesses. I feel that what is happening right now is going to have economic consequences that's going to go far beyond this pandemic. We have so many businesses that have been affected. I think it was unfair how we went around picking winners and losers and who could open and who could not. We need to have a little bit more confidence that people could have made precautions and monitor who was coming into their stores and so forth. People can make their own decisions where they want to go, so I wish we had not shut down so many, because we are going to have a lot of businesses that don't have the capital to open back up. The last thing that we should do right now is shut down again, because people that are struggling are not going to be able to survive economically. At the same time, while I might have my own preferences about masks, we need to come together. Youve got to understand and see that I sympathize somewhat with the governor, because some people have picked on him that hes gone too far. Some say he hasn't gone far enough. I can tell from the emails and requests I get that there are people that legitimately feel one way about the mask and about their benefit. Im not going to sit there and argue with them. I go down to the stores, I go to Lifetime Fitness, or I go to a restaurant, and I really have compassion for these employees who are having to go to work. They're making maybe $30,000 a year or $40,000, and theyve got to wear a mask all day long or they won't have a job. And Im going to sit there in support for them. I'm going to wear a mask, regardless of how I feel. When I go into that business, I'm going to support it, because I want that business to stay open. I'm going to do everything that I can, and I encourage everyone else to do the same. Weve got people struggling, and we need to cooperate.When I go out to a restaurant, I give an extra tip - a minimum of 20 percent - because many of these businesses that I go to are still operating at 50 percent. We go to these various restaurants on Saturday afternoon with a bunch of the kids, and we all get together and go have lunch. We used to be waiting lots, and now these businesses are operating at 50 percent, and even at 50 percent, we have no problem finding a table. This is horrible, because these businesses make all their money from Thursday to Sunday. If they're only operating at 50 percent on Saturday, whats going on the other days? If we want to help keep these businesses open, we need to just be considerate of other people's feelings. Lets just wear the mask, and we'll work our way through these times. Itll pass. Weve had these kind of things happen in the past. This one isn't quite as devastating as some others, whether the 1918 flu or some other other times. I just encourage that we be considerate, because I can see from my emails that people are all over the range. I was elected to represent everyone, not just one particular faction of people. claire.goodman@chron.com Until Friday, it appeared that fresh air was no longer an important commodity in New Jersey, given the governors unconscionable decision to lift the temporary ban on smoking in casinos, which have long been exempt from our indoor smoking laws. But rationality intervened. It took some tenacious counsel from health-minded lawmakers notably, Sen. Joseph Vitale (D-Middlesex) for Murphy to hit the brakes on casino smoking (again) after recklessly green-lighting it in his executive order on restaurants and gyms. Vitale reminded the governor that under the Emergency Health Powers Act, he has the legal authority to extend the temporary casino smoking ban which was imposed in July for as long as the pandemic lasts. But Murphy had a greater moral obligation, given the existing science suggesting that second-hand smoke could transmit the coronavirus. So this interval creates an ideal opportunity for the governor and the Legislature to permanently ban smoking from these gambling halls, just as it has been prohibited from our parks and beaches. Murphys earlier decision was rooted not in rationality, but rationalization: He said he was merely restoring existing law, that the Legislature should take the lead if it wants to end the casino carveout, and that he was still examining whether or not smoking creates a higher risk of transmitting COVID-19 than other unmasked activities such as eating or drinking. You didnt have to search for long to recognize that as an reckless gamble with public health. Perhaps the governor consulted the World Health Organization, which is clear in the conclusions it draws from current research. These include a possible association between smoking and increasing severity of COVID-19 symptoms, and evidence that the effect of COVID-19 on the cardiovascular system which is weakened by tobacco and second-hand smoke could make pre-existing conditions worse. Upshot: The WHO, which consists of 8000 public health experts from 147 countries, recommends that countries fully implement. . . .a comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco use, including waterpipe use, in all indoor (and, as appropriate, outdoor) public places (including cafes and restaurants) as we wage this fight against the greatest health threat of our lifetime. Or one might heed the remarks of a pathogen transmission expert in the Washington Post, who says that smelling someones cigarette smoke serves as a proxy to warn you that, Hey, I might be breathing in that persons virus. A pulmonary specialist noted that Someone who isnt smoking may only project respiratory particles six feet, but it could be more like 10 or 12 feet for someone who is smoking. But smoking is a public health crisis all by itself, and Vitale, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, will seize this moment. This temporary ban can serve as the perfect model for a permanent ban that protects the public and casino workers, he said. Permitting smoking in any indoor space is barbaric, and in the case of casinos, driven by money. There are roughly 1,000 smoke-free casinos in the US, including every gambling house in New York, Delaware, and Maryland. They are able to sustain a clientele. If our casinos cannot do it without a nicotine rush, maybe its time to find a new business model. Banning indoor smoking should be the new normal. It is one we can live with. And, live longer with. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. The fire on board an oil tanker off Sri Lankas eastern waters has been completely extinguished, nearly 79 hours after the incident was reported, the Navy said on Sunday. The ship was carrying 270,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Kuwait to India and caught fire on Thursday. The Sri Lankan Navy on Friday confirmed that a Filipino sailor died in the boiler explosion in the engine room of the Panama registered tanker MT New Diamond. Indian ships supported the Lankan Navy to douse the flames on the tanker off the coast of Sangamankanda in the eastern district of Ampara. Nearly 79 hours after the distress was reported, the Sri Lanka Navy and other stakeholders were able to bring the fire under control at around 3.00 pm Sunday," the Navy said in a statement. The ship was sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point when it caught fire with an explosion in a boiler in the ships main engine room. The Navy said the Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) sacks tested by the Sri Lanka Air Force delivered successful results to smother the raging flames onboard. However, the Navy warned that although the fire has now been completely extinguished, there is a possibility of a recurrence of the fire due to the high temperature inside the ship and environmental influences. A specialised Indian Coast Guard (ICG) pollution response ship, Samudra Paheredar, joined the firefighting operation onboard an oil tanker off the Sri Lankan coast on Sunday, the coast guard said. The Indian Coast Guard has launched the firefighting and pollution response operation for MT New Diamond off Sri Lanka on September 3. The Indian Coast Guard is the competent authority under the South Asian Cooperative for Environment Protection (SACEP) for coordinating pollution response in the South Region Sea Area. Specialised ICG pollution response ship Samudra Paheredar arrived at the scene of the incident today at 0300 hours and joined the firefighting operation. The ship is equipped with an ocean boom, four oil skimmers and oil spill dispersant to handle pollution response in event of an oil slick," a statement issued by the coast guard said. A team of 10 British and Netherlands experts, including salvage operations experts, assessors and a legal adviser arrived in Sri Lanka Sunday morning under the facilitation of the company that works as the commercial and technical operator of the tanker. The Sri Lanka Navy said the commercial owners of the tanker had appointed an international Singapore-based company as its salvage expert. The team of experts will make an assessment of the damage caused to the ship. Accordingly, the proceedings regarding the ship will be decided on their recommendations. Some 5 ships of Indian coast guard and one Indian Navy ship engaged in fire fighting, the Navy said. Further, the Sri Lanka Navy will continue to provide assistance to the distressed ship until it leaves the Sri Lankas Maritime Search and Rescue Region. The tanker had 23 crew members - 18 Filipinos and five Greeks. Twenty-two of the 23 member crew had been safely rescued off the tanker. Amid ongoing monsoon season, Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has again launched the initiative 10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute, Har Ravivar, Dengue Par Vaar initiative to arrest the surge of dengue cases across the national capital. Speaking to ANI, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said he was confident that the people of the national capital will make the programme a success like last year. The monsoon season has already started. Its the first week of September. We all know that dengue cases rise during this time. To reduce the spread across the national capital, we are once again starting our 10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute, Har Ravivar, Dengue Par Vaar initiative, the chief minister said. Talking about last years success of the initiative he said, In 2019, two crore people of Delhi successfully defeated dengue with no deaths reported from the disease. There were only 1,400-1,500 cases compared to 14,000-15,000 previously. I urge people to Delhi to remove old stocked water in their homes and replace them with fresh water every Sunday at 10 am. It hardly takes 10 minutes. This way we can defeat dengue this year as well. Am confident that the people of the city will once again take part in the initiative, he added. Why did TikTok feel like a queer space? Because it is. The Queer Take is a fortnightly column by poet-writer Joshua Muyiwa. Read more from the series here. *** TikTok wasnt my thing or maybe it wasnt around for long enough for me to play Im not sure. Im also terrified of having too many apps on my phone as it can be overwhelming, so I didnt bother to download it since I wasnt going to participate. However, is it possible to live under a rock in these refresh-page-every-second times? While I had got tired of friends sending me those ironic Good Morning messages, Ive begun hankering after the TikTok gems they cull especially for me. (Okay, fine! I was on a forward chain). Initially, I could understand neither the production value nor the aesthetic of these short clips. Listen, Id been trained from my Doordarshan days to find meaning in the long shot of a whirring ceiling fan a signature in early Indian art-house cinema. The more TikTok videos I watched, the more of its language made sense to me. I began to notice the subject of these videos, traditional tropes faked and fumbled with, emotions being mercilessly exploited, skills that were being showcased, strategic shifts in content consumption dynamics and the way they were being marked. And then, I read Gee Imaan Semmalars piece on the precise ways it undoes all of these middle-class, liberal lenses that I had been viewing it with. Gee showed me the stealth with which TikTok content creators have managed to capitalise on the open fields of love and desire. He urged me someone who has been complaining that discourses around sexuality and gender arent fun anymore to turn to TikTok. In these short videos, there was play, possibility and punch. And there seemed to be a fearlessness, not the kind that gets fondly felicitated and feted by every straight person. But the kind that didnt care for consequences. I was drawn in by the masquerade and world-building power of these short videos and kept going back to them. At some point, I even asked for curated videos of certain creators to be forwarded to me because they were doing it better. But I had to constantly grapple with a question that kept coming up on watching these videos: Are these people queer? It was Gees essay which freed me to think they didn't have to be. And I could still count them as people like me. While John Waters the high priest of trash is right, the trouble with the generations of the post-internet world is that they dont have a well-defined look. Perhaps, in the erasure of physical proof, these generations have had to learn other grainy, glitchy gestures for us to read its (our?) ways. And maybe TikTok is our first universal thesaurus? Also read: For LGBTQ creators and users, TikTok was space even if imperfect to reclaim identity, sexuality. That is now lost Honestly, I hope it is. I mean youve just gotta look at our countrys widely-opposed Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. One of its many ugly requirements: a district magistrate must physically ascertain the gender identity of a trans person. Self-determination, while good for our nations freedom movement, isnt good enough for her citizens. And if youve smugly decided that you aren't prone to such oversight, or you are open-minded enough to let people tell you who they are before you jump to conclusions, Ive got news for you. Just a couple of weekends ago, transfixed as the rest of you, I watched Netflixs Indian Matchmaking. (Someone, anyone, please make a t-shirt sequinned with the words: 'Hi, Im Sima Taparia from Mumbai.' I only want a say in the font). It seemed everyone and their uncle was saying that the Mumbai fellow was gay. The hip, hep and happening ones were decidedly throwing out bisexual into the mix. I mean, Ill be upfront with all of yougais, I did too. I have been trained by the same social standards as the rest of you. Therefore, I'm not impervious to the aftermath of observing even the slightest deviation from our consensually agreed upon tenets of masculinity. Though Ill have to recuse myself from your mob and head-over to over to the gurl gang gossiping over there, in the far corner. See: it is different when we do it. Im not just marking out this difference only because I tripped up, but because it is an important one to remember. See, that Mumbai fellow was gloriously campy but it is the kind that emerged from being the apple of his mothers eye with the backing of old money. (I mean, which out Indian queer person can afford a walk-in closet and still have access to their family and generational wealth? Maybe they can, but will there be room for other things besides them in that closet?) And yes, queer people do have a specific sense of self-obsession but ours isnt aimed at being awesome, it is in the service of being archived. After all, were all magpies with memories for only the singular, the shiny, and the silvery. And the trouble isnt that I saw hints of myself in the way that the Mumbai fellow moved around in the world. It wasnt just his opulence and ostentatiousness that I and so many other queer people aspire to have. It is also in the way that he was an outsider to the people around him nobody gets him at all. It is that feeling that we in the Indian queer community know and have been drowning in. Herein, perhaps, lies the genius of virtual realms like TikTok, Instagram, Second Life (hi, Nadika Nadja!) or any other mediums that need you to produce an avatar of yourself. It reminds us that these open fields of love and desire are for all to play in you and us. It forces you to experience the community guidelines that we queer people constantly have to juggle in the real world. Why did TikTok feel like a queer space? Because it is. In breaking out of these binding straps of societal standards to express themselves, these content creators were imitating our daily existence. Or in most cases transmitting their wonderful lives from across towns all over our country. Is that Mumbai fellow from Indian Matchmaking queer? No. You know why? Because he told us so. Joshua Muyiwa is a Bengaluru-based poet and writer Health officials in the UK have issued a rallying call for those who have recovered from the coronavirus to donate their plasma. On 3 August the NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) unit launched an urgent appeal for more donations as the health service prepares for a potential second wave of the virus. So far more than 13,000 donations have been made, but more are urgently needed says Dr Gail Miffin, NHSBT's chief medical officer. According to preliminary research, there are three groups of patients whose plasma could have the most potential to help others, due to the antibodies produced by their immune systems when fighting the virus. These include patients who are over the age of 35, males and those who required hospitalisation. Prof David Roberts, NHSBTs associate medical director for blood donation, previously said: Please help your NHS fight Covid-19. Convalescent plasma donation is safe and easy and you could save lives. If you get the call, please donate. In May, Dr Alessandro Giardini, a consultant in the cardiology department of Great Ormond Street Hospital, was billed as an antibody 'super donor' after he spent seven days on a ventilator in intensive care after contracting the virus. The 46-year-old, from Camden, London, was later found to have the highest antibody level of any recovered patient measured so far, with 40 times the amount typically found in a convalescent plasma donation. Dr Giardini said that even though it was scary to return to a medical environment after his ordeal, he felt that if there was any chance I could help someone else who was still ill with Covid-19, that I needed to do it. Here is everything you need to know about plasma donation. What is convalescent plasma? Plasma is a clear liquid found in your blood that is used for transfusions, the NHS explains. Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Show all 13 1 /13 Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Cheryll Mack, 46, a registered nurse in the emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The Covid-19 spread has affected a lot of livelihood, a lot of people's lives. It has created a crisis, death in general. So I would like to ask not one single person, but all people worldwide, to converge and join the platform that this is something that nobody can fight individually," said Mack. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Laura Bontempo, 50, an emergency medicine doctor wears her personal protective equipment she uses when she sees patients, while posing for a photograph after a nine-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moments have actually been separating families from patients, there is a no-visitor policy now and taking people away from their loved ones is very challenging," Bontempo said. "I'm used to treating sick patients. I treat sick patients all the time. It's very different knowing that the patient you are treating, is actually a risk to you as well. That's the main difference here. No one who works in hospitals is afraid of treating sick people. Just want to keep staff safe and the patients safe at the same time." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Ernest Capadngan, 29, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment during the shift was just seeing Covid patients die helpless and without their family members beside them," Capadngan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Martine Bell, 41, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a six-hour shift outside the hospital where she works. "The hardest thing in all of this, has been taking care of fellow healthcare providers. It really hits home and it's really scary when you see someone that could be you coming in and now you're taking care of them. It's also hitting home that once healthcare providers start getting sick, who is going to be taking care of the public," Bell said. "It's very stressful, everyone is on edge. We don't know who's coming in next, or how sick they're going to be, or if we are going to get a whole bunch of people or if we're not going to get no one. It's a really stressful and just a completely unusual time for all of us." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kaitlyn Martiniano, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital. "We have a lot of patients and they are pretty sick right now but we have not yet been hit as hard as New York or Seattle, so I feel like we are very lucky with that so far. Every day you have to just be optimistic." Said Martiniano. "I think the reason that we are not being hit as hard right now is because so many things are closed, and because so many people are staying at home." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tracey Wilson, 53, a nurse practitioner in an intensive care unit (ICU), poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I had a patient fall out of bed today and I had to call his wife and tell her and she couldn't come see him, even though she pleaded and begged to come see him," Wilson said. "There is a lot of unknowns and with that unknown is a lot of anxiety and stress that we're not used to dealing with." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Meghan Sheehan, 27, a nurse practitioner in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "I think the hardest moment has been the fear that lives within all of us. There is a lot of unknown right now. We fear what's going to happen tomorrow, how the emergency department will look next week when we come in. We have fears about our own colleagues, whether they will fall ill. We also fear that we could be asymptomatic carriers and bring this virus home to our families and our loved ones. There has been a lot of fear over our supplies and whether we'll run out. And then obviously there is the fear that we will see patients and not be able to do everything we normally can to help save patients' lives," Sheehan said. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Kimberly Bowers, 44, a nurse practitioner in an ICU, poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was a young woman who died and her family wasn't able to be here with her," Bowers said. "I think right now, it's just frustrating and scary just not knowing what comes next." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Tiffany Fare, 25, a registered nurse who works at a biocontainment unit poses for a photograph after a 13-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works. "One of the hardest moments was having to see a family member of a Covid patient, say goodbye over an iPad, rooms away. That was a tough one, I can't imagine how hard it would be to be saying goodbye, you can't see your loved one and then they're gone," Fare said. "My team has been really great to me. We've worked really well together and we've really come together in this crisis. We don't really know each other, we all come from different units within the same hospital, so for us to come together and work so well as a team, it's been a journey but I think that's what is giving me hope." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Dr Kyle Fischer, 35, an emergency medicine doctor, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift, outside the hospital where he works. "Since it's a new virus, we don't have any experience with it. For most diseases I am used to seeing it and taking care of it and this, I don't have any starting place. I know what I'm hearing from New York, I've read all of the papers it seems like, but no one knows what the correct answers are, so there's a huge amount of uncertainty and people are really, really sick. So it's hard to second guess whether or not you are doing the right thing when you think you are but you never quite know," said Fischer. Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Julia Trainor, 23, a registered nurse at a surgical ICU, poses for a photograph after a 14-hour shift, outside the hospital. "The hardest moment was having to put a breathing tube in my patient who could no longer breathe for herself and after the breathing tube went in, we called her family and the husband, of course, couldn't visit her because of visitor restrictions at the hospital. So I had to put him on the phone and hold the phone to her ear, as he told her that he loved her so much and then I had to wipe away her tears as she was crying," said Trainor. "I'm used to seeing very sick patients and I'm used to patients dying but nothing quite like this. In the flip of a switch, without the support, they're completely isolated. They're very sick. Some of them recover and some of them don't. But the hardest part, I would think, is them having to go through this feeling like they are alone." Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Lisa Mehring, 45, a registered nurse who works in a biocontainment unit with Covid-19 patients, poses for a photograph after a 12.5-hour shift, outside the hospital where she works in Maryland. "Seeing these new moms have babies has been the hardest moment along with having do their pumping for the new moms and them not being able to be with their newborn children, it's hard to think of the family that they are missing," Mehring said. Photos Reuters Inside US hospital: A day fighting the coronavirus Jacqueline Hamil, 30, a registered nurse in an emergency department, poses for a photograph after a 12-hour shift outside the hospital. "The hardest moment of my shift today, I was in charge, and we had a really sick patient that was in a really, really small room and usually, when we have sick crashing patients, we can have a ton of resources and a ton of staff go in and help with the nurse and the doctors that are taking care of that patient. But due to the patient being ruled out for the coronavirus, we could only have five or six people in the room at a time and putting on all the gowns and gloves and masks and face shields to protect us in case the patient does have coronavirus, it takes a while, so the nurse that was in there, ended up being in the room for you know 6, 7 hours with minimal breaks and it was hard being in charge and knowing that she was stuck in the room and really nothing I could do to help her," Hamil said. Reuters It makes up about half of your blood volume and carries red and white blood cells and platelets around the body. When you have recovered from a virus, your plasma contains antibodies which help to fight future infection. This is called convalescent plasma. Why does the NHS want plasma? If a patient has recovered from the coronavirus, their immune systems will have produced antibodies found in their plasma that could be used to help treat others. The health body recently assessed plasma donations from 435 recovered coronavirus patients. Prof David Roberts, NHSBTs associate medical director for blood donation, said: People who are more seriously ill produce more antibodies, which can be transfused to potentially help others. "The evidence so far is that men and older people are more seriously affected by coronavirus, he said. They discovered that men were twice as likely than women to have high enough levels of antibodies in their plasma, while 70 per cent of former hospital patients had sufficient levels of antibodies in their plasma, compared to 31 per cent of donors who had a positive test but were not hospitalised. Furthermore, only 10 per cent of people under the age of 35 were found to have high enough levels of antibodies, compared to 31 per cent of 35 to 45-year-olds and 40 per cent of people 45 and older. How can convalescent plasma help a patient being treated for coronavirus? The NHS outlines that this antibody-rich plasma can be transfused to patients whose immune systems are struggling to develop their own antibodies. If plasma is taken from a patient no sooner than 28 days after they have recovered from Covid-19, it is hoped that their plasma will contain a high level of this neutralising antibody. This should in turn help other patients currently suffering from the virus to improve their speed of recovery and chances of survival. This treatment is currently being undertaken in national clinical trials, with the plan being to later make it widely available across hospitals. How are plasma donations being undertaken? Two clinical trials have been given approval to determine if plasma donated by patients who have recovered from Covid-19 can help those battling the illness, the NHS says. These clinical trials are being conducted in collaboration with the NHSBT Clinical Trials Unit. The NHS stresses that if transfusions are shown to help patients, then the trials will build in capacity to allow plasma to be collected and delivered to patients at a large scale. Once you have arrived to donate your plasma, the process should take around 45 minutes. Who can donate plasma? In order to be viable as a plasma donor, you need to have either tested positive for Covid-19 or have exhibited clear symptoms of the virus. However, donors who have confirmed coronavirus test results, people who are already blood donors and those who are healthy enough to be able to donate will be prioritised. It is important that donors have recovered and their body has had time to develop a good antibody response, the health service states. For these reasons, we are currently collecting plasma no sooner than 28 days after recovery. When you submit your application to become a plasma donor, you will need to meet certain eligibility criteria and be able to travel to a plasma collection venue. There are 23 donor centres, which are located in London, Manchester, Cambridge, Luton, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leicester, Bradford, Leeds, Newcastle, Lancaster, Liverpool, Stoke, Birmingham, Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford, Southampton, Poole and Plymouth. Is anyone restricted from donating their plasma? The NHS states that no one is prevented from becoming a plasma, blood or platelet donor based on their sexuality. However, the rules for plasma donors are the same as those for whole blood donors, which includes limits on male donors who have sex with men. All men must wait three months after having oral or anal sex with another man before donating, the NHS states. This rule applies to every man, regardless of their sexual orientation, whether theyre in a stable relationship or whether they use protection such as condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Recommended Gay and bisexual coronavirus patients barred from plasma trials The NHS outlines that this rule is in place in order to reduce the risk of any very recently acquired infections from being unsuccessfully detected. It adds that at a population level, men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of acquiring certain infections through sex. Earlier this month, critical care manager Andy Roberts was prevented from participating in a plasma trial after telling an operator over the phone that he was in a same-sex relationship. His partner, Keith Ward, told ITV News that he felt very angry. We have been together in a monogamous relationship for more than 30 years and I previously didnt know of this outrageous three month rule, he said. It only goes to show that in the UK being gay is still thought as a form of contamination, so if youre straight and sleep with a different person every weekend its safer according to [the rules]. Laura Russell, director of policy at Stonewall, said that deciding who should be allowed to donate their blood or plasma should be based on individual risk assessments, not on peoples sexual orientation. To become a plasma donor, contact NHSBT on 0300 123 23 23 or visit http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk. Students at University College Dublin (UCD) will be asked to sign a contract to say they will practise social distancing on campus in a move that is expected to be rolled out nationwide. As thousands of first-year students prepare to register, UCD confirmed they will have to sign a 'health declaration'. In it they must promise to follow social distancing rules and to self-isolate for 14 days if they experience any symptoms or visit so-called 'red list' countries. If a student fails to adhere to the guidelines, the university will deal with them on a case-by-case basis. The Covid-19 measures will also extend to limit student interactions, including banning all house parties and gatherings on campus. Under the measures students will be prohibited from having guests sleep over at their residence. On the ban on student parties and guest sleepovers a UCD spokesman said: "Residences are very easy to supervise and estate services will be there to keep everyone safe. "We are complying with public health policies. When they change, we change." The spokesman added that there was scope for repercussions for students who fail to comply with the new contract. Sunday's meeting coincided with talks in Morocco between delegates from Libya's rival administrations President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday pledged that Turkey would continue to support Libya's UN-recognised government during closed-door talks in Istanbul, his office said. Erdogan met with the head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, for talks on the most recent developments in Libya as well as bilateral relations and regional matters. During the meeting, Erdogan "stated that Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with Libya's UN-recognised legitimate government, and reiterated that Turkey's priority is to restore Libya's stability, without further delay", the presidency said. Erdogan also said that "Libya's peace and stability would benefit its neighbours and the entire region, starting with Europe", adding that "the international community ought to assume a principled stance in that regard". Since the 2011 toppling and killing of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising, Libya has been torn by violence, with its rival administrations vying for control and international forces militarily backing each. Turkey backs the GNA against Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia. Ankara signed security and maritime deals with the GNA last year and sent drones which turned the tide in the increasingly complex war and helped Sarraj's government make gains against Haftar's forces. At the Istanbul talks, Erdogan and Sarraj also exchanged views on ways to strengthen their cooperation, together with steps to defend Turkey and Libya's rights in the eastern Mediterranean," according to the Turkish presidency. Turkey's maritime deal with Libya has angered Greece which says it violates international law. Sunday's meeting coincided with talks in Morocco between delegates from Libya's rival administrations. Last month, the two warring sides announced separately that they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections, drawing praise from world powers after a series of fruitless initiatives in recent years to stop the conflict. Search Keywords: Short link: With a COVID-19 vaccine likely a year away at best, the WA government has moved to expand its contact tracing capabilities and local PPE supply chains to ensure it can manage an outbreak of up to 10,000 active cases until at least the end of 2022. Documents released by the Department of Health showed it was moving to solidify its contact tracing system during a relatively comfortable period following 149 days without community transmission of the virus. WA will implement a new COVID-19 contact tracing system in 2021. Credit:WAtoday The current system was acquired quickly under emergency procurement laws and has to date traced 551 confirmed cases and 2033 of their close contacts using 118 staff. Only 16 of WA's cases were unable to be traced back to a known source. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- On this Labor Day weekend, President Trump is laboring to refute the confirmed report in The Atlantic on his repeated disparagement of U.S. soldiers killed and wounded in action, which he should be fired for. Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor and Chief of The Atlantic, reports that Trump allegedly called U.S. soldiers who had died fighting for the nation Losers and Suckers. Trump also said permanently wounded soldiers should be kept out of military parades, and canceled a visit to a U.S. military cemetery because rain risked damaging his hairstyle, according to The Atlantics story. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Delhi Police map burglary-prone areas in capital A team of investigators analysed 1,269 cases of burglary reported in Delhi till August 15 to divide the city into red, green, blue, and white zones, with red representing the most vulnerable areas and white the least. Read more Sushant Singh Rajput case: Rhea Chakraborty served summons by NCB, asked to join probe The NCB has said that Rhea Chakraborty will be confronted with her brother Showik, who along with Rajputs house manager Samuel Miranda has been remanded to the central agencys custody till September 9. Read more Rajnath Singh to meet Iranian defence minister after 3-day Russia visit Defence minister Rajnath Singh reached Iran on Saturday to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries after concluding his three-day Russia visit during which he urged the Persian Gulf countries to resolve their differences. Read more Congress demands CBI probe in MP rice scam, says con took place under BJP rule The Congress in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday demanded a CBI inquiry into the rice scam in the state while alleging that the entire con took place during the earlier and current BJP regime as suggested by the central governments letter on the swindle. Read more IPL 2020: On the comeback trail, Bhuvneshwar Kumar looking for the edge Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who made his India debut ahead of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, is no longer an automatic selection in the high-performing group of Indian fast bowlers. Read more Rhea Chakrabortys father issues statement after son Showiks arrest: Congratulations India, next on line is my daughter Actor Rhea Chakrabortys father Indrajit Chakraborty has issued a statement in which he has expresses his dejection at the arrest of his son, Showik. Rheas brother was arrested on Friday in Mumbai. Read more Ananya Pandays Bambaiya girl mix with glamorous avatar at Khaali Peeli promotions put fashion police on alert Bollywood diva Ananya Panday stepped out this weekend for the promotions of her upcoming Maqbool Khan-directorial, Khaali Peeli. Vibing in a smoking hot mood, Ananyas Bambaiya girl mix with glamorous avatar put fashion police on immediate alert. Read more Kids reaction to see-through glass floor makes people laugh. Some relate to the video too This video of a kids reaction to a see-through glass floor makes for an entertaining watch. Though its unknown who captured the video or when, it has now grabbed peoples attention after being shared by Twitter user @eli__097. It was also retweeted by Rex Chapman. Read more Will Railway recruit for vacancies this year? Board chairman answers Railway board chairman Vinod Kumar spoke on vacancies and tests amid Covid-19 pandemic. Kumar said that 1.40 lakh vacancies were notified in railway before covid-19 and 2.42 crore applications were received for the notified vacancies. Watch By Express News Service GUNTUR: The district police have arrested six persons for illegally transporting 9,096 NDPL bottles worth Rs 21.65 lakh in a water tanker. The police also confiscated a car and water tanker. The accused have been identifed as K Nagamalleswara Rao, B Krishna, K Venu Babu, B Venkaiah, P Gopi Nagaraju and V Venkata Rao. Addressing newsmen on Saturday, Guntur Rural Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni said acting on a tip off, the police have seized the highest cache of NDPL till now. He said that prime accused Nagamalleswara Rao operated from Vijayasai Womens PG Hostel at Gachibowli in Hyderabad for the past three years. He also used to supply drinking water by a water tanker. Explaining the modus operandi, the SP said when Nagamalleswara Rao lost all his savings during the lockdown, he hatched a plan to earn money by selling non-duty paid liquor (NDPL) in Andhra Pradesh. He befriended one B Krishna and they together bought 60 cases of brandy worth Rs 3 lakh and sold the stock within a few days for a profit of Rs 1.5 lakh. Greed taking the better of them, the duo decided to buy NDPL bottles and went to Hyderabad on September 1. They collected an amount of Rs 13 lakh. When the Metro Wine Shop refused to sell them liquor worth Rs 13 lakh, one Naveen assured to do the needful for a commission of Rs 8,000. They purchased 9,096 liquor bottles by paying Rs 12.39 lakh and transported the liquor to Hyderabad outskirts and then loaded the liquor bottles into the water tanker. When they reached Pondugala check-post, the accused changed the route following intensive police checking, Vishal Gunni said. They reached Munugodu village on September 3 night via Suryapet, Kodad and Garikapadu check-posts and asked one of their friends V Venkateswara Rao to keep an eye on the liquor bottles, while they visited Abburu village in Sattenapalli mandal in Guntur district. On a suspicion, the police reached the water tanker and on examining it, recovered 9,096 liquor bottles and seized the vehicle. Krishna, Venu Babu, Venkata Rao and Nagaraju returned in a car and Nagamalleswara Rao, Ashok and Naveen on a motorcycle to the waiting arms of the police, the SP said. Guntur Urban police file 198 cases, arrest 331 The Guntur urban district police has filed 198 cases and arrested 331 accused involved in illegal transportation of liquor. The police booked 22 cases against locally-made arrack, seized 2,460 litres of liquor bottles, including 90 beer bottles, 1,098 750 ml liquor bottles, 54 375 ml liquor bottles, 8,735 180 ml liquor bottles in Guntur urban district. The Guntur rural district police registered 486 cases and 804 accused were arrested up to August 31. They seized 676.50 litres of arrack, 485 litres of fermented jaggery wash, 12,761 NDPL bottles, 37.93 litres of beer bottles, 219.82 litres of IMFL and a total of 69,538 liquor bottles in Guntur rural district. Lalkaar (1972): Lalkaar was based on a Hindi novel written by Ramanand Sagar, the director. The film follows two brothers - Major Ram Kapoor, another in the Royal Indian Army (played by Dharmendra) and Wing Commander Rajan Kapoor in the Royal Indian Air Force (played by Rajendra Kumar). The two are in love with the same woman but before any of them can profess, they are sent on a mission against the Japanese enemies to quash their secret airport. (Image: Special Arrangement) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Remember that time that Cobra Commander made a guest appearance in Springfield? Not the show, the actual place. In 2015, the city of Springfield, Illinois celebrated the masked shouter by giving him the official key for his service to the city and let him make an impassioned speech: "Springfielders near and far, I accept your Mayor's generous gift. And let it be known that I too bring a gift for every man, woman, and child of this city that is so near and dear to my heart; an invitation to join with me. Join Cobra!" In reality, Cobra Commander was feted for the publicity the town got from the animated series episode "There's No Place Like Springfield," which had led to the city hosting a large G.I. Joe Con. But that means they gave CC the key to the city for an episode where he takes over the city, plants humanoid infiltrators everywhere, and turns it into a kind of Truman Show for G.I. Joe's Shipwreck (better known as Bee Gee Aquaman) making him think he was a regular old Joe about town. All of this just to mentally traumatize Shipwreck for info, which eventually escalates to Cobra melting his loved ones into goo, including his fake wife and child, and burning down his house. Covid-19 is, in many ways, a numbers game: the number of cases per day, the number of people in ICU - and the tragedy of the number of people dying. There was debate last week as to whether daily cases should be in the news. Does this needlessly frighten people? The announcement of weekly numbers (with daily numbers available on the HSE website) would be better - as it's the trend that actually counts since there can be daily blips here and there. When it comes to numbers dying, there is good news in many countries. Fewer people are dying. Survival rates for people in intensive-care units in several countries have increased, with 20pc more people surviving across all age groups when the numbers in April are compared with June. That percentage appears to be increasing week on week. What this means is that where five people might have died in April, four die in June. This is Mission One when it comes to Covid-19. If we can save people from dying because of Covid-19, half the battle is won. A vaccine remains the best plan, as prevention is always better than cure. And three vaccines are advancing through phase three trials, the final phase. Readouts from two of these are expected in November/December. You have your fingers crossed, right? HOPE IN HOSPITALS If we can help people in hospital with Covid-19, that is a good plan B. And it's happening. There are three likely reasons for this. Firstly, it's mainly young people who are becoming infected. Study after study has found that if you are under 50, you are very likely to have a disease that won't kill you. And for the under-20s, even if they end up in hospital, 99pc survive. Covid-19 remains a disease mainly of older people. Secondly, fewer older people are becoming infected when compared with March and April, because they are by and large complying with all the guidelines. The message that they are in a vulnerable group has gotten through. They are limiting their movements, maintaining social distancing, washing their hands and wearing masks. These measures, difficult and all as they are, are protecting them. The third reason is doctors are getting better at treating patients. With experience and the sharing of new knowledge, doctors are increasingly able to keep people alive. There have been over 50,000 separate reports on Covid-19 published to date - and I've tried to keep up. All contain a nugget of information that adds to how this disease is being handled. A huge amount of scientific knowledge is building up and that is what we need to defeat this virus. When it was discovered that blood clotting is a key feature of Covid-19, doctors began deploying drugs that stop that. The most impressive discovery so far though is that an anti-inflammatory steroid called dexamethasone, widely used for decades in diseases like asthma, decreases the death rate by one-third when given to patients on ventilators. It is now what is called 'standard of care' for all patients on ventilators. Once this is widely rolled out, it will save one in three lives. And if we combine that with the overall 20pc decrease in death (a number sure to go up), we can conclude that overall there is currently a 50pc decrease in the numbers dying of Covid-19 in hospital. Time will tell if this number bears out and goes up. Meanwhile, over 1,000 trials are running - testing all kinds of other medicines. Some of these are bound to work, bringing the death rate even further down. Antibodies as a therapy are showing great promise, too. They will protect people from getting infected in the first place, like a vaccine, or will be deployed as a therapy, along with the anti-viral drug Remdesivir, which in a major study decreased hospital stays by 30pc. As with many diseases then, a combination approach is likely to prove the most efficacious at saving people. PROMISING EVIDENCE One active area of research is whether the virus is weakening. Might that be a reason for fewer people dying? There is evidence for a weaker version in Asia, but as yet it hasn't spread far so it isn't part of the Covid-19 story for now. If it were to spread, this would be a good thing. It might protect people from catching the nasty version, which would then have nowhere to hide. It's another hope, but no guarantees. All this is good news. But as ever with Covid-19, we can't let our guard down. There is still a risk of older people becoming infected. Other vulnerable groups are also at risk. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes, or if you're overweight, you are in the vulnerable category, no matter what age you are. As many as one in three people in America are vulnerable for these reasons, and the number is likely to be similar in Ireland. These people need to keep taking precautions but nothing is foolproof and there is a risk of them becoming infected and sadly not surviving Covid-19. LONG-HAULERS If half of the war against Covid-19 is to keep people alive, what is the other half? Long- term symptoms after the infection has gone are becoming a major focus. These include fatigue, so-called brain fog, and more serious features like heart damage. The people who have persistent health problems are called 'long-haulers' and it's still not known why it happens. These can happen at any age. In one study, as many as 8pc of children had persistent symptoms one month after infection. And a study published in July found cardiac abnormalities in 78pc of people who had recovered from the virus. The effect on the heart was independent of pre-existing conditions, severity and overall course of the acute illness. It's seems a remarkable figure - 78pc having some kind of heart damage, for no obvious reason other than having the virus. We know ACE2, the lock the virus has to open to get inside cells in our bodies, is in the heart, and that the virus can infect the heart. Let's see if the observation on heart abnormalities is true in other studies. If it is, it will be a significant worry. How common is it to be a long-hauler? An Italian study found that 87pc of hospitalised patients still had symptoms after two months; and a British study found similar numbers. It's an area of intense investigation and scientists are exploring whether a long-hauler's immune system has been somehow reset and continues to burn away, causing symptoms. Or perhaps they still have low levels of virus on board. It's important to remind people that you don't want to catch this virus. If it doesn't kill you it might make you unwell for months. So much for promoting herd immunity. We still don't know enough about Covid-19 to take any chances. MINOR VICTORIES And so we battle on. We're seeing minor victories in a war against an enemy that will only be brought to heel with a vaccine. The vaccine will end this war as sure as the atom bomb ended World War II. In the meantime, we mustn't let our guard down. We have to hope that news from the frontline will continue to be good and that one day we can declare VV Day - Victory against the Virus Day. This will surely come, but only if we keep doing the right thing together in this most troubling of times. Luke O'Neill is professor of biochemistry in the school of biochemistry and immunology at Trinity College Dublin Cases of rape and murder of three minor girls in Lakhimpur Kheri between August 14 and September 3 have put the focus on the state of policing in the district located 124 km north of the state capital. A fourth case of unnatural death of a minor girl in the same district came to light on Sunday morning when the body of a 13-year-old Dalit girl was found hanging. While the police said it was death by suicide, the family members of the girl alleged that this was a case of rape and murder and demanded a thorough investigation. Lakhimpur Kheris superintendent of Police (SP) Satendra Kumar blamed the sociological and psychological depravity of youth for the recent crimes, but local residents accused the police of a lax approach in the handling of law and order. Surendra Mishra, a lecturer and resident of Lakhimpur Kheri, said, It appears that the police failed to handle these cases with prudence which led to a repeat of similar offences. A few others also questioned the functioning of the police. I have not seen such ghastly incidents being reported in our district with this frequency (before). I dont know who to blame for this but isnt it the work of the police to stop such incidents? questioned Dilip Nath Rana, a social worker in the district. He also questioned what anti-Romeo squads, small groups formed by the local administration to check crimes against women, were doing. I have not seen them in action for over a year now, he added. The police asserted that they arrested the accused in each incident. Only arresting the criminals will not work. Police must begin a drive against criminals, who have a past record of crime against women. They must increase police presence in the area to instill a sense of confidence amongst locals and fear among criminals, suggested retired deputy SP Harpal Singh. Lakhimpur Kheri district magistrate Shailendra Kumar Singh met Kumar on Sunday to discuss the recent incidents. The district administration and local police, along with our civil society, will work together to stop these incidents, the DM said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says he is very relaxed with no marital issues to cause him any distractions in achieving his goals as the president of Ghana. He was all thanks to his wife, First Lady R Rebecca Naa Okaikor Akufo-Addo for being understanding and supportive over the years. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Madina based Oman FM and monitored by Peacefmonline.com, President Akufo Addo light-heartedly indicated that his wife gives him the peace of mind he needs to govern excellently when asked by the host how his wife was faring. Oh, Rebecca is not a burden, she doesnt worry me so I have my peace of mind to rule this country. You cant rule a country with a destructive mind, he said amidst smiles. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Even though the Punjab government has banned sand mining operations on riverbeds during the monsoon, till September 15, illegal mining is continuing in the Ghaggar near Kakrali village in Dera Bassi. People with mining contracts in the area have alleged that some unscrupulous elements were digging up sand on Sunday. They fled when they were spotted by men working for a contractor. We have received complaints regarding illegal mining in Ghaggar and I have asked the team to check and lodge a police complaint. Last month too we lodged an FIR against some persons on the same site, said Gurpreet Pal Singh Sandhu, district mining officer. In the past three years 50 FIRs have been lodged to cope with the problem, but no one has been convicted as yet. About 17 cases were registered in 2018; 21 in 2019 and 12 in 2020, police records state. Around 50% cases in the past three years were registered in Mubarakpur, Dera Bassi. On July 6, Majri Police had booked former director general of police (DGP) Paramdeep Singh Gill and 44 farmers of Saini Majra under Section 21 of the Mine and Minerals (Regulations and Development) Act for allowing illegal mining on their land. A fine of 11 crore was imposed on them by the mining department. Mohali deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan said he had directed officials to take strict action against offenders and also owners of sites where illegal mining was carried out. In July last year, the mining department had imposed a penalty of 52 crore on 193 landowners in three villages of Mohali Mianpur Changar, Kubaheri and Abhipur for allowing illegal mining. The wife of a property developer says she will stand by her husband's side after he was jailed for five years for trying to smuggle 300 kilograms of cocaine into Australia. Kelsea Nagel Doyle sat in the New South Wales District Court while her partner Matthew, 32, was sentenced on Friday. Doyle and his private school mates Jared Hart, 31, and Raoul Kesby, 29, had planned to bring $80 million worth of cocaine from overseas before they were caught in September 2019, Daily Telegraph reported. Doyle, a property developer who had bought real estate in Cronulla, Caringbah South and Wollongong, had boasted about his love for money and put up $500,000 in advance for the cocaine. He pleaded guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and received a 25 per cent reduction on his jail term. While he serves a minimum of five years in jail, Mrs Doyle says she will raise their child and support her husband from their luxury $2million Burraneer home, in southern Sydney. Kelsea Nagel Doyle (right) sat in the New South Wales District Court while her partner Matthew, 32 (left), was handed his lengthy sentence on Friday While he serves a minimum of five years in jail, Mrs Doyle (pictured) says she will raise their child and support her husband from their luxury $2million Burraneer home, in southern Sydney 'It's been an extremely tough 12 months for our family. I'm just thankful it's now over,' Mrs Doyle said. 'I would love to be left in peace to get on with looking after my child and supporting my husband and I would appreciate the media would finally give me some privacy.' Undercover police had been posing as drug dealers while Doyle and his accomplices attempted to smuggle in the cocaine. Detectives had recorded conversations with Doyle since April 2019. In one recording, Doyle boasted about selling 50 kilograms of cocaine a week. In another, he claimed he 'was not a gangster but a businessman and loved money and loved making money for people and making friends'. Police set up the trio when Doyle, Hart and Kesby tried to pick up 50 kilograms of a cocaine shipment from a Marrickville store unit, in Sydney's inner west, on September 4, 2019. Throughout Doyle's trial, defence barrister Philip Boulton QC argued Doyle would have not been involved in the plot to import drugs into the country if he was not approached during the police sting. He also told the court the cocaine never existed. 'This is not a standard police entrapment case there was never any drugs, he was never going to effect an importation, he was never going to obtain possession of drugs,' Mr Boulton said. Doyle and his private school mates Jared Hart, 31, and Raoul Kesby, 29, had planned to bring $80 million worth of cocaine from overseas before they were caught in September 2019 Matthew Doyle (left, with his wife Kelsea) pleaded guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and received a 25 per cent reduction on his jail term While Matthew Doyle serves a minimum of five years in jail, Mrs Doyle says she will raise their child and support her husband from their luxury $2million Burraneer home, in southern Sydney Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard accepted the drugs never existed but claimed Doyle wanted to be a part of the plot so he could make a lot of money (pictured, Matthew Doyle with his wife Kelsea) Crown prosecutor Emma Blizard accepted the drugs never existed but claimed Doyle wanted to be a part of the plot so he could make a lot of money. 'He saw an opportunity that presented itself and his greed took over that is why he became involved in this offending behaviour,' she said. Ms Blizard said Doyle's actions over several months, including handing over $500,000 in cash, proved he wanted the plot to import drugs to be a success. Mr Boulton said that Doyle was aware that his life has been 'wrong' and he is trying to better himself. 'He knows that he has caused a lot of harm, he is doing what he can to make amends for his past and I would ask your honour to accept that his arrest has led to a readjustment of thinking,' Mr Boulton told Judge Penelope Hock. Hart pleaded guilty to his involvement in supplying 50kg of the illicit substance and Kesby pleaded guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of illegal drugs. Thiruvananthapuram: Heavy rains lashed several parts of Kerala on Sunday due to a low pressure in the Arabian Sea, prompting the Met department to issue an orange alert for two districts of the state. Places in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts received heavy rainfall after a low pressure was formed under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over Southeast and adjoining East Central Arabian Sea. Also, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea in the next 48 hours. The Met department has issued an orange alert (warning of heavy rainfall) in Kollam and Alapupuzha districts, warning of heavy rainfall and yellow alert in 10 districts and Lakshadweep islands. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also issued yellow alerts for 10 other districts barring Palakkad, Wayanad and Kasargod. "Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over Southeast and adjoining Eastcentral Arabian Sea, a Low Pressure Area has formed over Southeast and adjoining Eastcentral Arabian Sea in the morning of today (September 6). It is very likely to move slightly northwards during the next 48 hours and weaken thereafter," an IMD statement said here. The IMD has predicted that sea will be rough near shore and the low-lying areas of Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Ponnani, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod and these areas may experience surges (gushing of sea water) intermittently in the next three days (September 7 to September 9) due to the effect of high period swell waves, having 2.0-2.7 metres height. IMD officials said the state may experience extremely heavy rains and winds in Kerala due to the low pressure formed in the Arabian sea near Kerala coast. In view of the prediction of rough sea along the Kerala coast, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday appealed to fishermen not to venture out to sea in the next 48 hours. The Weather Department has also predicted rough sea near shore and the low lying areas of Amini, Kavaratti and Kiltan Islands of Lakshadweep. A man-eating leopard that recently killed a 25-year-old man in Uttarakhands Tehri Garhwal district was shot dead early Sunday, officials said. Dharam Singh Meena, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of Narendra Nagar forest division, said, A seven-year-old leopard was shot dead by hunter Joy Hukil in the early morning on Sunday. The leopard was declared a man-eater after it had killed a man in Devprayag on August 29. The forest department had been trying to capture the leopard for the past week after the animal killed a man and attacked a few other people in the area. We had installed cages to capture the leopard and set up camera traps to track its movement. The pictures helped identify the leopard and it was shot dead in the early morning on Sunday. The animal had become old and was looking for easy prey, Meena added. Earlier on July 11, a man-eater leopard, which had killed a girl (12) in Chamoli district, was shot dead in Badrinath forest division. Ashutosh Singh, the DFO of Badrinath division, had said that the leopard was declared a man-eater on June 30, a day after its second kill. A chief wildlife warden of a state can declare any wild animal a threat to human life and fit to be killed by invoking Clause 11 (1) (a) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. . Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy skies with a few showers this afternoon. High around 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 39F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. CARBONDALE Many animals rely on quickness or flashy, top-end speed to stay out of a predators way or to avoid encountering humans encroaching on their territory. But for one animal in particular the aptly named sloth a hasty retreat is not an option. As one of the slowest mammals on Earth, sloths are one of the most commonly rescued species throughout Latin America. Their notoriously slow gait makes them extremely vulnerable to human impacts. But what happens to sloths after they are relocated? Does simply moving them out of the path of development save them or simply delay their demise? SIU in Central America A graduate student from Southern Illinois University Carbondale is spending a year in Central America studying how well the species adapts and survives once they are moved to new locales where they can live their lazy days out in peace. Chelsea Morton, a graduate research assistant with SIUs forestry program and Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, is based in the small town of Gamboa, located in the province of Colon in Panama. Located in the buffer zone near the Panama Canal, its forests form part of the Soberania National Park, renowned for its diverse wildlife in one of the worlds most zoologically fascinating areas. Sloths are extremely fascinating animals Morton said. Their evolutionary biology is so unique, allowing them to sleep, eat, and even give birth upside down, at unimaginable heights in the forest canopy. But they are also so fragile, both in captivity and when it comes to habitat loss. Before beginning her research, Morton did rescue and rehabilitation of sloths in Panama. I discovered they had personalities, preferences in food, individual habits, and so many characteristics you only witness through long periods of direct observation and admiration, she said. Now, researching them in the wild has allowed me to see the same species I cared for in captivity, in an entirely different construct. They are very intelligent and unpredictable, which makes the field work all the better. Mortons research focuses on understanding how sloths rescued from the wild as orphans and rehabilitated in captivity adapt following their release back into the wild. Finding out what types of habitat they select, and how those compare to habitat selected by wild sloths, are key aspects of the work, as well as studying their behavior in the wild, the distances they travel to establish their home range and ultimately, their survival rates. To my knowledge, there are no studies to date that have published results on the post-release success of rescued sloths that have been hand-reared in captivity, which is why this project is so fundamental, Morton said, meaning the data can be essential to improving current husbandry techniques. The goal is to develop an understanding of the success rate of releasing rehabilitated sloths so that these individuals may contribute to wild populations throughout Latin America by increasing genetic diversity and population abundance. Working with SIUs forestry program and CWRL Mortons adviser is Clay Nielsen, professor of wildlife management and conservation with the forestry program and SIUs Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory. He has guided me and continues to do so even being in different countries, Morton said. His attentiveness and experience truly form a crucial part of this project. Nielsen said Mortons research is important to sloth conservation. It provides insight into the efficacy of sloth relocation programs, Nielsen said. Such programs are popular in Central America, but have received little research attention. A veteran of dozens of such wildlife investigations, Nielsen said his research at SIU has contributed to global wildlife conservation, with study findings used to inform conservation decisions regarding wildlife habitat and populations on multiple continents. Morton said SIU in particular has played an important role in her development as a researcher. SIU has given me the resources and tools necessary to develop a project that I always have been so passionate about. The forestry program has been very supportive of my endeavors abroad and assisting me as a graduate student. Andrew Carver, executive director of international affairs at SIU, said he is proud to have helped recruit Morton to SIU while conducting research himself in Panama. Carver said former SIU student and LASPAU Fulbright grantee Nestor Correa, along with his partner, Yiscel Yangues, are co-directors of the Panamerican Conservation Association, a non-governmental organization which is leading Panamas sloth conservation efforts. The organization has a long tradition of collaboration with SIU, and has facilitated research for several SIU faculty and graduate students. Morton said she enjoys working with Correa and Yangues. They took me in as a volunteer three years ago and have become my personal and professional support system here in Panama for the project, Morton said. They have more than 15 years rescuing and rehabilitating sloths, and I will always admire them for the marvelous work they do. Working in the field Before their release into the wild, the captured or rescued sloths are placed into an enclosure within a wild environment. This soft release technique allows the animal to acclimate to a wild area while minimizing risks. While in that environment each animal is fitted with a VHF tracking device, allowing Morton to track them once they are fully released. Five or six days a week, Morton finds each sloth using radio telemetry equipment. Once she finds them, she takes down information on the characteristics of the tree that the sloth is using, its behavior and how far its traveled from the previous location. Researching them in the wild has allowed me to see the same species I cared for in captivity, in an entirely different construct, she said. They are very intelligent and unpredictable, which makes the field work all the better. At SIU, promoting student research, even at the undergraduate level, is a top priority. As a graduate student who is entertaining the idea of pursuing a doctoral degree in the future, Morton said the research experience has been invaluable. Its taught me the art of self-discipline and self-diligence, she said. As a researcher, problem-solving has been the main attribute I have been able to improve. This project continues to remind me how much I admire the tropics and wildlife conservation, and how rewarding it is to research a species that I have personally worked with for over three years. A fondness for wildlife Morton said she takes pleasure in finding was to protect wildlife, which she considers innocent and vulnerable in a world where humans can make it difficult for animals to live. I grew up developing a passion for endangered species or animals that were heavily affected by deforestation, poaching and other anthropogenic disturbances, Morton said. So I guess realizing how susceptible wildlife are to things they can't control has made me love and appreciate wildlife even the more. I love my project because it involves sloths, a species that is very sensitive to human activity, and finding ways to rescue and give them a second chance at survival. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Flash Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday evening outside the racecourse where the 146th Kentucky Derby was held in Louisville in the U.S. state of Kentucky to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, an African-American woman killed by police. Protesters stood outside the racetrack fences, calling for justice for the shooting death of Taylor during a police raid and for the Derby to be canceled. A plane dragging a banner saying "arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" flew overhead just a few minutes before the Derby race was set to begin, local media reported. Protesters left the racecourse and continued their march shortly after the Derby ended. Earlier Saturday, armed counter-protesters confronted a group of demonstrators downtown. Then the group engaged another one coming from Jefferson Square. Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers worked to separate the two groups of protesters and ease the tensions, police official account tweeted. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer warned on twitter Saturday that the Louisville police department "has a plan and is ready for Kentucky Derby day." Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron tweeted Saturday: "Today, while we honor a KY tradition with the running of the Derby, we remain cognizant of the community's desire for answers in the investigation into the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor," adding that "we continue to move forward with our investigation, reviewing each fact to reach the truth." Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by several LMPD officers on March 13 when they were executing a "no-knock" search warrant at her apartment, and gunfire broke out after her boyfriend fired a warning shot because he thought the plainclothes officers were intruders. Kentucky Derby is one of the three legs of the American Triple Crown, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The race is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, but the 2020 running was rescheduled to Saturday, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ran without spectators. A London hearing resumes on Monday to decide if WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the United States to face trial over the publication of secrets relating to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 49-year-old Australian, who is currently being held on remand at a high-security jail, faces 18 counts from US prosecutors that could see him jailed for up to 175 years. The hearing at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, is due to last three to four weeks. It had been due to go ahead in April but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Any ruling is "almost certain" to be appealed by the losing side, according to John Rees, of the Don't Extradite Assange Campaign, raising the prospect of more time behind bars for the former hacker. Rees told AFP that Assange -- who has become a figurehead for press freedom and investigative journalism -- had a "very strong defence" but was concerned the case was "highly politicised". A previous hearing in February was told that US President Donald Trump had promised to pardon Assange if he denied Russia leaked emails from the campaign of Hillary Clinton, Trump's opponent in the 2016 election. Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of 500,000 secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Washington claims he helped intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to steal the documents before recklessly exposing confidential sources around the world. At the February hearing, Assange's lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald, said his client would not get a fair trial in the United States and would be a suicide risk. James Lewis, representing the US government, said WikiLeaks was responsible for "one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the United States". "Reporting or journalism is not an excuse for criminal activities or a licence to break ordinary criminal laws," he added. Assange's partner and the mother of his two young sons, South African-born lawyer Stella Moris, attempted to secure his release in March, claiming he was in danger inside the prison during the coronavirus lockdown. "The life of my partner, Julian Assange, is at severe risk," she said, arguing that Covid-19 was "spreading within (the) walls" of Belmarsh prison in south London. In an interview published in The Times newspaper on Saturday, Moris, 37, said: "For Julian, extradition will be a death sentence." She said she feared he would take his own life, and that his sons, who were conceived during his asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, would grow up without a father. Assange appeared weak and confused during his February court appearance, apparently forgetting his date of birth. He also told district judge Vanessa Baraitser he had not understood what had happened in the hearing. His legal team has repeatedly warned about his health and an independent UN rights expert said in November that his continued detention was putting his life at risk. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe rights group warned that Assange's extradition would have a "chilling effect" on press freedom. Other high-profile supporters of Assange include the Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson, designer Vivienne Westwood, and Greece's former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis. The saga began in 2010 when Assange faced allegations of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he denied. He was in Britain at the time but dodged an attempt to extradite him to Sweden by claiming political asylum in Ecuador's embassy in London. For seven years he lived in a small apartment in the embassy, but after a change of government in Quito, Ecuador lost patience with its guest and turned him over to British police in April 2019. Swedish prosecutors confirmed last year they had dropped the rape investigation, saying that despite a "credible" account from the alleged victim there was insufficient evidence to proceed. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh discussed issues of regional security, including Afghanistan, and bilateral cooperation during his stopover in Tehran while on his way back to India from Russia. Rajnath Singh held a meeting on Saturday with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latter's request. As per the Defence Ministry, the meeting between the two took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both leaders emphasised the age-old cultural, linguistic, and civilisational ties between India and Iran. "They discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan." The Minister had gone to Moscow to participate in a joint meeting of Defence Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. In Moscow, Singh met his Chinese counterpart, General Wei Fenghe, on September 4 on the sidelines of the SCO meeting and held discussions on the border issues between the two countries in eastern Ladakh. Desperate farmers are calling for jobless Australians to help them pick fruit usually harvested by backpackers as coronavirus restrictions threaten their crops. With thousands of people left jobless by the coronavirus, temporary fruit-picking work can rake in big dollars for those willing to travel. One top picker brought in $3800 for one week of work recently at Pinata Farms, in Wamuran, Queensland, as farmers pay top dollar, fearing they will otherwise have to leave unpicked fruit to rot. Pinata Farms managing director Gavin Scurr said a portion of his strawberry and pineapple crops had to be destroyed due to a worker shortage and called for Aussies to help pick fruit Italian backpackers, Lorenzo Scalesi (left) and Elena Frazzetto (right) pictured on August 5 at Pinata Farms, Wamuran, during winter strawberry season. Coronavirus restrictions have reduced the number of backpackers and foreign fly-in workers at the farms An unnamed Bundaberg grower has allegedly destroyed half his strawberry crop, while other growers fear they won't be able to harvest fruit, according to industry group Berries Australia. Pinata Farms managing director Gavin Scurr said a portion of his strawberry and pineapple crops had to be destroyed due to lack of labour this year. The the bulk of the temporary workforce was usually backpackers, however Coronavirus travel restrictions have reduced backpacker numbers by more than 60 per cent, he said. Strawberry picking at Pinata Farms - good workers can make $3000 a week with the top worker earning a whopping $3800 in one mammoth six-day 10-hour per day week So farmers are now calling out to Australians to go bush and help them harvest fruit. 'There is this perception that fruit picking provides poor wages but that is simply not true,' Mr Scurr told the Courier Mail. 'We recently paid a worker $3800 for a week's work recently and that is a top picker working six days a week, probably around ten hours a day, but even when you look at it as an hourly rate, that is pretty good.' FIND A FRUIT PICKING JOB HERE Fruit picking jobs can be found at: Fruit Picking Jobs website Seek Jora Indeed Backpacker Jobs Board website AgriLabour Australia Advertisement 'It's all about attitude _ there are the real guns who just get right into it and make it a competition, with themselves and with the other guns,' Mr Scurr said. Mr Scurr said it was not rare for good pickers to earn $3000 per week. He said farmers will accommodate good workers who want flexible hours. Fruit-picking work is seasonal, physically strenuous and often far from large population centres meaning farmers need to pay a premium to attract workers away from their homes to the work. Temporary visa workers have flown in from overseas to work in recent years along with backpackers who are travelling the country, however this has been restricted by the pandemic. Australia's official unemployment rate edged up to 7.5 per cent in July however economists believe the real figure is closer to 10 per cent, ABC News reported. Australians made jobless by the pandemic have reported applying for jobs alongside up to 1500 other desperate applicants, as the nation slipped into its first recession in 30 years. The call for fruit pickers comes after the National Farmers Federation put out a 10-point plan to the Federal Government asking them to bring in more foreign workers. Farmers Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said the industry group had been calling for measures to address the farm worker shortage since before the pandemic. 'The situation is now much worse with Australia's international borders closed and internal border movement highly restricted,' he said on Friday. Pictured: worker Sam Storey packing strawberries at Pinata Farms, Waruman, Queensland, on September 4. Farmers are keen for city folk to come out and help them pick their crop Pinata Farms strawberries. Farmers are worried their crops will be left to rot unless they can get enough fruit pickers, and have called on the Federal Government to subsidise accommodation and to re-start fly-in foreign seasonal workers on a special Agricultural Visa 'Ideally, this year we'd like to see Australians, especially those who have been displaced from their pre-pandemic jobs, fill roles performed by backpackers and seasonal workers, but the reality is more support is needed to attract the required number of local workers.' The National Farmers Federation Horticultural Council called on the Federal Government to provide accommodation support for temporary workers, restart the Working Holidaymakers program, and introduce an Agricultural Visa. Infectious disease specialists in the Bay Area and around the country are worried that the Trump administration is preparing to bypass science and rush unproven coronavirus vaccines into use, a move that physicians warn could have dire consequences. President Trump and administration officials have said a coronavirus vaccine could be ready by the end of the year, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election. That timeline has lit a fire under scientists, including doctors conducting at least four vaccine trials in the Bay Area, but it has also made a lot of people uneasy. I understand the urgency, but the urgency should be that we want to protect people from disease, not because of other agendas, said Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford University, who will be conducting two vaccine trials. These vaccines could have side effects. At a very minimum, they might not work. We need some time to determine if these vaccines will work. Several drugmakers, including Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna, told the Wall Street Journal on Friday that they plan to issue a pledge not to seek government approval of the vaccines they are developing until they have proved to be safe and effective. The vaccine sweepstakes took on space-race qualities on Aug. 11, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had approved a COVID-19 vaccine named Sputnik V, a tribute to a spacecraft test flight launched by the Soviet Union in 1961. The vaccine race is the new arms race its the Russians versus the U.S. versus the Chinese for who can get their vaccine out, said Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at UCSF. Putins move outraged the worlds medical community because the Russian vaccine had not gone through the standard drug trials to determine safety and effectiveness, let alone phase three trials, which are the scientific standard for determining safety and effectiveness. Photos by Alison Yin / Special to The Chronicle Epidemiologists are afraid that Trump might be planning to approve an untested drug, which violates what Chin-Hong calls the three Ts testing, transparency and trust. Whether Putins gambit raised the presidents competitive juices is unclear, but White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews said Friday that Trump is cutting through every piece of red tape with the goal of delivering a vaccine as quickly as possible. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the countrys top infectious disease expert, and Dr. Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told reporters late last month that an American vaccine might be made available before the completion of clinical trials. The independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board has the authority to end phase three trials only when the preliminary data show the drugs are overwhelmingly effective. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has since directed public health officials in all 50 states to be ready to distribute a vaccine by late October or early November. The announcements set off alarms because it looked to many physicians as if Trump was more interested in timing vaccine approval for maximum effect on election day than protecting the health and safety of Americans. Robert Siegel, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford University, said cutting short testing would be irresponsible because there is no way of knowing whether a vaccine is safe unless it is tested on people of different ages, genders and ethnicity. SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, mutates once or twice a month, so a vaccine would also have to be tested against different strains and lineages to make sure it is safe. There is no way to determine the long-term consequences of vaccination in a short period of time, Siegel said. The worst-case scenario is the premature licensing of a vaccine that actually increases illness and death. The race for a cure in the United States is largely being driven by Operation Warp Speed, a partnership among at least six federal agencies developed by the Trump administration that is supposed to cut bureaucratic red tape and speed the approval process. Alison Yin / Special to The Chronicle Administration officials insisted last week that the rush to get a vaccine by November has nothing to do with the presidential election and promised that no corners would be cut on safety. This has to do with delivering safe, effective vaccines to the American people as quickly as possible and saving peoples lives, Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, told CBS This Morning on Thursday. Whether its Oct. 15, whether its Nov. 1, whether its Nov. 15, its all about saving lives. But even at warp speed, developing a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine by January about a year after the pandemic began would be unprecedented. It normally takes about a decade to develop vaccines for new diseases. The CDC did approve four new vaccines five months after the H1N1 influenza virus, also known as the swine flu, was detected in 2009, but flu viruses were already well known. What were talking about now is a brand-new virus that weve never seen before, Maldonado said of the coronavirus. The faster process is nevertheless yielding promising results. More than 175 vaccine candidates have been developed, and eight of them are undergoing phase three trials, including the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, according to the World Health Organization. The San Francisco Department of Public Health is scheduled to begin a phase three trial of the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed by Oxford University, this week in partnership with UCSF. In phase three, each vaccine will be tested against a placebo on 30,000 volunteers from around the world. Dr. Susan Buchbinder, a UCSF professor of medicine and epidemiology, is enrolling 1,000 Bay Area residents for the AstraZeneca trial. It is being conducted at remarkable speed, she said, but none of the checks and balances is being sacrificed, including monitoring by regulators and independent review boards. Alison Yin / Special to The Chronicle What we are trying to do is remove some of the bureaucratic barriers in the way of the speed with which we do trials, she said. What we are not short-shrifting on are the safety measures we take in the trial itself or in the very thorough evaluations of everybody in the trial. The problem is that most vaccine developers are attempting to use neutralizing antibodies, which bind to the virus crown-like spikes and prevent them from entering and hijacking human cells. Recent studies have cast doubt on whether these protective antibodies last long enough in the body to provide lasting immunity. Some of the vaccines would also stimulate T cells, which attack and destroy the pathogen itself, but many questions remain about the ability of a vaccine to effectively use these armaments. Recent evidence suggests that people who get the virus once can be infected a second time. The history of medicine is rife with promising therapies that have proved ineffective or even harmful, particularly when they were rushed into service without proper testing. Hydroxychloroquine, which the president touted as a coronavirus cure, was one such drug. It had to be pulled after evidence emerged that it could cause heart problems. A study by the National Academy of Medicine discovered an increased risk in children who were given a swine flu vaccine in 1976 of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease in which the bodys immune system attacks its own nerves. Failing to adhere to rigorous standards of testing increases the risk of these side effects and diverts money and resources away from potentially effective coronavirus drugs, disease specialists said. If all were doing is cutting out paperwork and business planning, thats fine, said Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease specialist. But if were cutting out review, ending the trials early or we have too few patients to find unusual side effects, thats a concern. That could potentially lead to mistakes. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite Don MacVicars term on the Hamilton Police Services Board has come to an end. Local MPP Donna Skelly informed him Thursday morning his five-year term wouldnt be extended despite his desire to stay on, he told the board. MacVicar is a well-known community development activist, founding member of the Robert Land Community Association and former record-setting powerlifter. It has been a privilege to serve alongside each and every one of you, MacVicar, who joined the board in 2015, told fellow members. This leaves a vacancy on the board that normally includes three city council members, three provincial appointees and one municipal appointee. MacVicars term has coincided with turbulent times, most recently related to polices response to violence at Pride celebrations in 2019 and calls to defund the budget. Critics have also pointed to the boards mostly white male membership and missed chances to widen its diversity and relevant expertise. In March 2019, provincial appointee Geordie Elms, a former commanding officer of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, joined the board. Then council tapped Fred Bennink, retired president of Zip Signs, who is also white. Pat Mandy, a health-care industry professional and member of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, is another provincial appointee. On Thursday, Coun. Tom Jackson, whos Armenian-Canadian, said he was very disappointed in the provinces decision. Coun. Chad Collins praised MacVicar for his calming demeanour and presence. Mayor Fred Eisenberger, chair of the board, said he was equally disappointed. Stephen Warner, a spokesperson for Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, said in an email the ministry makes every effort to ensure that there is a strong pool of candidates of diverse backgrounds for consideration ... We thank Donald MacVicar for his service on the Hamilton police services board. The ministry expects to announce a new appointee in the very near future. As is the case with all provincial appointments, we will be appointing a capable and committed member who reflects the diversity found in the community and who is committed to keeping their community safe. A priceless gift from a friend in Kerala, a Namboodiri to boot, is a film to augment my collection which has sustained my personal film festival to beat the unintelligible lockdown. The film, Agraharathil Kazhutai, or Donkey in a Brahmin Village, was a pleasant shock not because of the title, but its authorship. The film is listed as one of the masterly satires by the late John Abraham. A baby donkey, whose mother has been beaten to death for reasons unknown, strays onto the doorstep of a tall, lanky professor of Philosophy in a local college. The donkey in the bachelor professor's house leads to amusement, gossip, graffiti until the principal, a stern looking pastor, informs the professor that his hospitality towards the donkey was affecting the college's reputation. The professor carts the donkey by bus and bullock cart to the Agraharam or the Brahmin village where his parents live. A deaf and mute maidservant looks after the donkey. The maid has an affair with the village washerman, delivers a still-born male child which is left outside the temple. The Chief Priest declares it the most dreadful omen, unanimously attributed by the elders to the donkey's presence in the village. The animal is beaten to death, followed by a series of unfortunate events which the Agraharam, on second thoughts, blame on the fact that the donkey was killed in haste. A monument to the beast is planned. A wild fire dance burns much of the village leaving the professor and the maid contemplating the scene for its deeper significance. The reason for my focus on the film is not 'cinema', but the fact that someone with a name like John Abraham could satirize the Agraharam with such outrageous audacity. In my limited experience -- a day's visit -- the Agraharam was quite stately in its austerity. I saw no car on the street nor, in the middle of the day, was there any movement outside, dogs, cats, cattle, nothing. There is a lovely view of river Kalpathy below, like the Agraharam's private pond for a holy dip. Away from the road, on the stone seat were occasional bare bodied men, sporting the fattest janeyus I have seen. The visitor's room has a mural size painting of Palghat Mani Iyer, the great mridangam player and a local icon. The centre of the main hall is dominated by a swing; every square inch of the wall space is covered with Gods and Goddesses. At the end of the passage is a 'tulsi' plant in a decorated pot on a pedestal. The master of the house, a man of wit and music, had worn a shirt to appear hospitable. With amusement in his eyes, he showed us where he slept: on a narrow bed in the passage. And his wife? "On the floor right below me." He puts his head back and guffaws. But it is not quite so unequal. "She qualifies for the bed when she is unwell." I found it quaint, as an uncritical bird of passage would. But the Agraharam, like Peyton Place, would expose its darker side to a son of the soil, a few mohallas removed, like Abraham. It is all so refreshing this informality across faiths, this ability to tolerate irreverence without ill will. The most popular political prisoner in Adoor Gopalakrishnan's The Wall is Basheer, pining for Narayani on the other side of the wall and whom he has not seen. Adoor is quite unselfconscious about the fact that the protagonists belong to different faiths. My romance with 'God's own country' goes back to the 70s when I was editor of The Indian Express in the south. But a change has come upon me: earlier I admired Kerala, indeed much of the South; now I have begun to envy it. India was always ones country, but the basic affiliation was with Awadh of which Lucknow was the markaz or centre. Mir Taqi Mir talked of Delhi's destruction: "Dill jo ek shaher tha alam mein intekhab rehte thay muntakhib hi jahan rozgar ke Usko falak ne loot ke barbaad kar diya Hum rehne waley haen usi ujre dayar ke." (Delhi which was once the world's pride, where only those with good manners lived, Fortune turned upon the city, destroyed and looted it. In that desolate city did I once live) Replace Delhi with Awadh/Lucknow and you are somewhere near the root of those ogres in the mind. Lucknow, indeed Awadh, was generosity personified. Ram Advani from Sindh was embraced as Lucknow's very own. His bookshop was an incomparable cultural landmark. Among the Lucknavi's several quaint beliefs: to be a lawyer or a doctor, you had to be a Bengali first. For obvious reasons, Western enlightenment had come to Bengal first. Riding this belief, Bengali lawyers and doctors had easy passage in Lucknow. The intellectual life of Lucknow University was dominated for long stretches by Radha Kumud and Radha Kamal Mukherjee. Little wonder, when Satyajit Ray, soaked in Bengaliness, ventured out of Bengal, it was towards Lucknow he deviated with his superb Shatranj ke Khiladi. The ogres of the mind have been gestating for at least 30 years when the BJP and the Congress began to compete for the Hindu vote. The Congress chose to play both sides of the street. Once, V.P. Singh tossed the Mandal Commission into the simmering cauldron, the Hindutva brigade ran away with the platform of brazen anti Muslim Hindu consolidation, leaving the Congress sleeping by the lamp post with its soft saffron. There is a certain demoralization in the anti Hindutva ranks at the presumed invincibility of Narendra Modi, despite the country crashing on every count. This may well be a function of shrewd tactics: keep the media focus away from regions where the country still breathes easy. It may not be such a good thing, though, for national cohesion if different parts of the country do not fit into the same frame. (Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic issues. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com) Justin Sullivan/Getty Images A crowd of over a thousand people gathered at Ocean Beach on Saturday night to celebrate what would have been the 34th year of Burning Man, leading Mayor London Breed to shut down all parking lots in the area for the remainder of the weekend. This was absolutely reckless and selfish, Breed tweeted on Sunday morning. You are not celebrating. You are putting people's lives at risk. You are putting our progress at risk. No one is immune from spreading the virus. SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio - Police are asking for help locating a missing/runaway 16-year-old named Desmond Yanamayu II. Yanamayu is 6 feet tall and 235 pounds. He has been missing since Friday morning following an argument the night before with his family, according to the South Euclid Police Department Facebook page. Police are asking that anybody with information about Yanamayus whereabouts to call 216-381-1234. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_294.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_294 .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_294.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_294.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_294.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. Helen Keller Next Friday, September 11, 2020, the mortal remains of my late father, Pa Sunday Alaba Komolafe, will be committed to Mother Earth. The event, which will take place at Ijebu-Jesa, his Osun State-ancestral hometown, will no doubt mark the end of an era and, of course, the beginning of a new journey that will be without the fervor of the usual fatherly counsel which any man in my shoe would always want to crave. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_64f.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_64f .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_64f.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_64f.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_64f.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Like every mortal being, I knew it would one day get to this! After all, it is appointed unto this perishable body to put on the imperishable; and, this mortal body, to put on immortality so that death can become swallowed up in victory. Nevertheless, being the child of this man of many parts from the Ogboni Abon Ruling House in Ijebu-Jesa has again reminded me of the roles and ascribed duties of a responsible father. According to the Holy Writ, a father is an important source of a childs genetic makeup. He is also his or her first teacher. He loves the child and provides for him or her as a precious jewel. Since children are the heritage of the Lord, a father is expected to have compassion for his child, nurture him in pious love and correct identified misdemeanour. A good father prays for his children and engages them in kind of deep, heart-to-heart conversations that impart more than facts, but teach wisdom. Again, since fathers are known to know Gods Word, they are expected to study it and teach it to their children. What more? God blesses the children through their fathers. Little wonder Frank Clark, in one of his immortal words, describes a father as a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be. One can now imagine the depth of the mist of darkness and emotional trauma which accompanies the sudden departure of a very close companion. Though my father died at a ripe age of 92, he meant so much to the family; and nobody wants to lose a loved one, no matter how old. Maybe that is why we have not been able to stop grieving since August 11, 2020 when he bided this Gods Green Earth the final goodbye. Neither shadow nor curious love! Neither concocted nor conscripted love! Neither overlapping nor parallel love! Neither unrequited nor abridged love! Sunday Alaba Komolafe showered his children and all those who encountered him with affection, not affliction; and he encouraged, not disparaged, them. Not only did he live and let us watch him do it, he also gave us partnership and protection. This pleasant man was indeed a peacemaker whose life depicted a concrete evidence of an organized future. Personally, my father meant much more to me! Sometime in 2004, a friend had asked why my song, daily, had always revolved around my father and her mother, Madam Ajiweda Komolafe. Perhaps, he was able to peep into my mind for the right answer: the two were my most valuable jewels in life. They showed me love and encouraged me to always look up to the One who made me, because He would never leave me helpless. Unfortunately, both of them have now gone to join their ancestors. What a pity? Baba mi, as I used to call him, was indeed my confidant. He intimately exerted so much energy and deftness to teach me how to persevere in the face of adversity, needless innuendos and unbargained-for provocations. I could not imagine the depth of my fathers joy when I told him that His Royal Majesty, Oba Oladele Olashore (the late Ajagbusi Ekun of Iloko-Ijesa); and Akin Fatodu (of Olufemi Fatodu Foundation) had agreed to sponsor and part-sponsor my Bachelors and postgraduate Masters degrees respectively. While he attempted to express his gratitude to the-then Venerable Olukayode Akinyemi (now Archbishop Emeritus of Kwara) for his fraternal efforts, my father still came back, practically thanking me for being determinedly consistent, despite the stress that life, then, offered. I also remember the day I came from Lagos to meet him at Osogbo, with tears in my eyes, in a reluctant obedience to the winding and wearisome nature of a journey of life which, at the time, had tended to dilute my faith. By my mortal estimation, life had been unfair to me and I was fed up with it. Baba mi not only fed me with words of encouragement, he also willingly accompanied me to a church where a man of God prayed for me. And as I watched him struggle with kneeling down for prayers on that fateful afternoon, due to a fractured leg, tears rolled down my eyes, seeing how loving a father could be as well as the extent he could go towards ensuring that his children succeed in life. Unfortunately, the man is dead and long-gone! So also are those frequent telephone calls, asking me how my family was faring! Gone forever also are those wonderful, soothing words of wisdom, which I had always longed for, and coveted earnestly. Again, how I wish my father had waited a couple of years more to enjoy the fruit of his labour? But, who am I to challenge the decision of the Eternal Rock of Ages? Toni Morrison was right: something that is loved is never lost. From the seeming endless valleys of travails, to the promising heights of triumphs, Baba mi, I cannot thank God enough for how He has used you to bring me to my present pass. Of course, while it lasted, I loved you as my earthly father; and, whichever way my life forges ahead, I will remain eternally grateful and relish the fact that I was privileged to have had one of the best dads in the world. On behalf of Oluwafunmilola, my wife; Abiola and Ajibola, my two little kids; and, of course, Mrs. Felicia Aarinola Aluko, my mother, I wish you a wonderful rest in the bosom of the Lord! Baba mi, se o ti pari naa niyen? O digba kan na! Sunre o! May the Stone of Israel comfort and strengthen the wonderful family you left behind! May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, rest the loving soul of my departed father! *KOMOLAFE writes in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk; 07087941459 SMS only) The White House has ordered federal agencies to stop funding diversity trainings, said a memo released on Friday. Some of the topics banned from the White House are "critical race theory" and "white privilege," reported USA Today. These are key topics in many diversity training. The orders came from the White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. He said taxpayer money wouldn't be allowed to go to diversity training anymore. Vought wrote a letter to the heads of executive departments and agencies. He said the President had been made aware of the "millions of taxpayer dollars" that went to such training. Diversity Training Create A 'Divisive' America? The OMB director added that these training only 'train' workers "to believe divisive, anti-American propaganda." He said the training teaches these beliefs on workers. It opposed the "fundamental beliefs for which our nation has stood since its inception," Vought said. The document also stated that such training only fosters resentment in the workforce. The memo noted that there are continued efforts to welcome all individuals. He said the nation has to be proud of these efforts. But Vought also said it should not be accepted that workers get training that wants to "undercut our core values as Americans and drive division within our workforce." All agencies were directed to identify all their contracts or spending linked to training on the topics outlined. Vought also cited reports from agencies that went through training. In the reports, employees are told that "virtually all white people contribute to racism". The training also teaches that racism is "embedded in the belief that America is the land of opportunity." It was not clear which specific reports Vought was referring to. It is also unclear what drove the White House to issue the memo, noted BBC News. Pulling at the Root The training sessions have also been highlighted by the Discovery Institute, a conservative non-profit think tank in Seattle. Its fellow, Chris Rufo, told Fox News this week that the U.S. Department of Treasury is one of the federal agencies that held such training. Public records showed that these sessions taught workers that white people uphold the U.S.'s system of racism. These sessions also required male executives to go to training and write an apology letter to minorities. For Rufo, the matter was "so serious." He said that Trump had to "immediately issue" an executive order to stamp out the ideology at its root. The memo is just a little over a page long. A detailed set of guidelines on how to implement the ban will be issued by the OMB shortly. According to the New York Post, Trump spent most of Saturday morning reposting news coverage on this decision on Twitter. Race relations have been one of the most controversial issues of 2020. In fact, it is at the forefront of the 2020 presidential campaign. Police related violence that has become widely talked about since late May. It has swept the nation in recent months. It has also ignited violent rioting around the country, calling for an end to racism. But Trump has said before that he believed systemic racism is not a problem in the U.S. Check these out! Hispanics in Florida Are More Likely to Vote for Trump Stimulus Checks: Trump Urges Democrats to Release $300 Billion Unspent COVID-19 Relief Money to Americans Next COVID-19 Relief Package: Immigrants Must Be Included News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. New Delhi: After Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to Moscow for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers meeting, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be visiting Russia to attend the meeting of SCO foreign ministers. Jaishankar is scheduled to visit Russia on September 10 and the speculations revolve around him meeting his Chinese counterpart amid the ongoing border row between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava was recently quoted by PTI news agency as saying, "Once his engagements are finalised we will let you know," on being asked whether Jaishankar will meet his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Earlier on September 4, Rajnath and Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe met in Moscow, which was reportedly the first high-level meeting between the two sides after the border row escalated in eastern Ladakh in May. Met with the Chinese Defence Minister, General Wei Fenghe in Moscow. pic.twitter.com/Jex9gKCf98 Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 4, 2020 As per the Defence Ministry, the meeting lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes. Jaishankar recently addressed the Ambrosetti Cernobbio 2020 Forum on "The World after the COVID-19 pandemic" and highlighted the growth of Indian medical and pharmaceutical capacities. Addressed the @Ambrosetti_ #Cernobbio2020 Forum on The World After the CoVID19 Pandemic. Highlighted the growth of Indian medical and pharmaceutical capacities. Created an effective response domestically while contributing to global requirements. pic.twitter.com/rrkQ51felA Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 4, 2020 He also shared Indias repatriation experiences and underlined the need for global cooperation as proposed to G20 recently. He also analysed the impact of coronavirus on global politics and brought out the importance of India-EU partnership on the economic recovery process. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latters request on September 5. Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation . pic.twitter.com/8ZENfAgRPS Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) September 6, 2020 Rajnath, who was on a transit halt in Tehran en route from Moscow to New Delhi, discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. The meeting between the two Ministers took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both leaders emphasized the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between India and Iran. For example, people are being forced to stand in queues for more than four hours before a bus is available to take them home. In some instances, the buses are carrying standing passengers in order to clear the long queues and some passengers are being asked to sit down on the floor of the bus to avoid being detected. This is a clear indication of poor service delivery, Aliki said. She was Strawberry Fields in Quantum of Solace, but Gemma Arterton has admitted she would not pick a similar role for herself anymore. The actress, 34, from Kent, who had her big break when she was 21 with the Bond movie starring Daniel Craig in 2008, said her character didn't have much to do in the movie. Speaking to The Telegraph, Gemma, who has started her own production company, Rebel Park, which aims to involve women in all aspects of film making, said: 'I know I wouldnt choose a role like that now. Because she was funny and she was sweet, but she didnt really have anything to do or a backstory.' Despite that, Gemma says she's still grateful to Quantum's producer Barbara Broccoli and for the doors the Bond franchise has since opened for her. Kent-born actress Gemma Aterton, 34, who had her break when she was 21 with the Bond movie starring Daniel Craig in 2008, said her character didn't have much to do in the movie (pictured at the BFI gala dinner and auction in October 2019 in London) In the 2008 movie, Strawberry Fields was an intelligence operative working at the British Consulate in Bolivia, charged with sending Bond back to London. She was the second Bond Girl in the movie after Olga Kurylenko's Camille Montes and became a romantic interest for Bond shortly after being introduced. Speaking of how her career has evolved since her Bond days, Gemma says she now feels more confident - and would happily challenge any uncomfortable on-set requests. She gave the specific example of unplanned intimate scenes that may not have been in a script. Arterton as Strawberry Fields. Pictured, with Daniel Craig as James Bond in Quantum of Solace, the 2008 addition to the Bond franchise 'Youre thinking: Hang on, thats not in the script, and you havent even spoken to me about that, she told the publication. And at that point youre in front of all the crew and under pressure, when you should have dialogue way before that where you get asked: Are you cool with this,' she went on. She admits she doesn't mind if she seems 'a bit difficult' now that she has an established career, whereas a younger version of herself wouldn't have wanted to 'challenge' it. Gemma went on to say she didn't experience sexism until she started working in the movie industry - adding that she's been 'a bit naive.' Gemma, pictured in 2018, said she doesn't not mind seeming 'difficult' now when she stands up for herself on set. Pictured, at the British Independent Film Awards in London on 2 December 2018 Gemma also admits that as a young actress she struggled to stand up for herself in the way she would in her personal life. However, she says co-founding Rebel Park has changed her outlook on the movie industry as she gets to work with so many talented women. She says it helped her discovered another way of thinking and motivated her to work with all female or gender-split filming crews. Gemma's recent movie Summerland, which is now showing in cinemas, was filmed with a totally 50-50 crew, which she says was 'really hard to achieve,' but could be done. In Matthew Vaughn'd upcoming movie The King's Man, a World Wat I prequel to his very successful Kingsman: The Secret Service and Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Gemma plays a gun wielding Nanny Polly, which she described as a 'matriarch' and 'everybody's rock.' On the trail of the global rainbow revolution Mark Gevissers deeply reported new book opens up the many debates about LGBTQ+ rights and identities unfolding in different parts of the world On 6 September 2018, as the Supreme Court read down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, India reconfigured what Mark Gevisser calls in his new book the Pink Line. As he explains early on in The Pink Line: Journeys Across The Worlds Queer Frontiers, this is a notional line between those places increasingly integrating queer people into their societies as full citizens, and those finding new ways to shut them out now that they had come into the open. Such boundaries are opening up conversations about gender and sexual identities on the internet and social media, spilling over into street protests and pride marches, entering our living rooms and workplaces. advertisement advertisement Based on his visits and re-visits to different countries over several yearsMalawi, Uganda, Egypt, Israel, India, the US, among othersGevisser documents stories of resilience and fortitude, bravery and heartbreak, to map the shifting contours of these pink lines. While his narrative is grounded in the historical, political, legal and cultural specificities of the places he travelled to, it is also informed by his investment in the subject as a gay man. I wanted the stories to live and breathe, instead of burdening them with too much context, Gevisser says on a video call from his home in Cape Town, South Africa. advertisement advertisement This deft interleaving of macro-analyses with close insights into microcosms lends The Pink Line a unique flavour. You can dip into the book anywhere you like, or skip to a character that catches your fancy. There is always Gevissers constant and reassuring presence, his sharp observations and light-footed erudition, to steer you through the ever-expanding scope and complexity of the LGBTQ+ alphabet soup. As he shows, the Pink Line is inspiring uncomfortable conversations within the LGBQT+ movement too, not just conflicts between queer and non-queer populations. The Pink Line: By Mark Gevisser, HarperCollins India, 568 pages, 699. A key focus of the narrative, for instance, is to reveal the fault lines that are opening up between a woke generation of queer people, choosing their pronouns and rallying for gender fluidity, and their predecessors, who were satisfied with their constructivist approach to gender as long as they were able to embrace their sexual orientations, even if that meant identifying as one of the male-female binary or abiding by socially encoded heteronormative prescriptions. advertisement advertisement Clashes and rifts are being created not always because of a refusal to accept queerness, but because authority figures are trying to set the terms and limits for the expression of such identities. Take, for instance, the case of Sean, whom Gevisser meets in Ann Arbor, US. Sean does not face any opposition from a liberal feminist parent for coming out as lesbian as a teenager. But when Sean opts for the they pronoun and announces they are pansexual but homoromantic, rumblings of discontent erupt on the home front. Gevissers encounters with another American teenager, the trans man Liam Kai, come as a sobering reminder about the psychological gulf that allies and welfare states have to bridge before they can boast of being non-discriminatory, fair and equal towards all. Rewriting the laws and upping the human-rights ante are not enough to guarantee equality. advertisement advertisement The last statement rings especially true in places where sexual minorities have been tolerated historically, either due to progressive laws (in Jordan, for instance, where sodomy was decriminalized in 1951) or as integral to the traditional fabric of society (eunuchs in harems, for example). Gevissers visit to Israel and his meetings with Arab-Jewish couples reveal nuances that may not be obvious from an official rhetoric about the fair treatment of sexual minorities. From exploiting such a stance to stoke Islamophobia, to ethnically profiling members of the LGBTQ+ community, the infractions of the Israeli state have been subtle and insidious. advertisement advertisement In India, too, despite the triumphant repeal of Section 377, which criminalized carnal intercourse against the order of nature, the tensions between acting out a sexual urge and owning a sexual identity are far from resolved. As is the case with many Asian and Arab cultures, the idea of non-heteronormative desire was ingrained in India through history, as scholars such as Ruth Vanita and Saleem Kidwai have shown. The objection to queerness in Indian society is often not so much to do with the sexual act itself but with the idea that it could lead to the emergence of new identities, followed by demands for recognition and rights. And so, homosexuality is perceived as a Western import, but homoerotic desire goes back to ancient times. advertisement advertisement The opposition to sexual choice is, of course, never benign, or without context. It is, as Gevisser witnesses in Cuddalore, a small town in Tamil Nadu, inflected by class, caste and education. There are real and palpable dangers involved, too, including the threat of violence and bloodshed. The harrowing ordeal of Tiwonge Chimbalanga, nicknamed Aunty, is a case in point. A Malawi who was assigned the male gender at birth, Aunty made international headlines by getting engaged to a man in 2009. The breathtaking story of her ordeal, which opens the book, became a flashpoint in the narrative of global aida moment in the human rights struggle that segued into debates about the treatment of refugees. Another story, about a lesbian couple in Cairo who came together during the Arab Spring revolution in 2010-12, ended with them seeking asylum in Europe. Yet, in spite of the promise of a new life, their future is undone by institutionalized racism, inflicted on the sly. advertisement advertisement Gevissers understanding of these fissures in the global narrative of human rights and sexual politics is informed by his personal circumstances, as a white cis-gendered gay male. To his credit, he is aware of his privilege and the advantages it brings. However, while his passport may make it easy for him to fly around the globe and his Ivy League education may open doors, Gevisser is unafraid of putting himself in tough, often vulnerable, positions vis-a-vis his interviewees. To a couple of them, I became a benefactor, even a father figure of sorts, he admits. But being cast in that role has helped me, I believe, to unpack some of the issues I try to explore in the book. advertisement advertisement No matter where you belong along the spectrum of genders and sexualities, Gevissers book will make you reflect on your inner and outer pink lines, especially about your own stakes in this teeming ecosystem of identities. The future of fashion chain New Look is on a knife edge after a group of major landlords 'flatly rejected' its rescue plan. The 450-store chain, with more than 10,000 staff, has asked landlords to switch to controversial turnover-linked rent contracts and offered sweeteners such as one-off payments and multiple lease breaks in return. But The Mail on Sunday understands around ten landlords including several big shopping centre owners have already rebuffed the plan which will be voted on by creditors in nine days' time. That leaves the chain 'facing Armageddon', according to one source. New Look has asked landlords to switch to controversial turnover-linked rent contracts 'If this fails, with no credible buyer emerging, the fallout is most likely liquidation,' said another. One retail rival said: 'Big landlords feel like they need to be seen taking a stand. But if they are hoping other creditors will step in, they are playing with fire because this could all go very wrong very quickly.' New Look said the plan 'represents the best outcome for all stakeholders'. Lacking essential life skills and support, many young women have given up their newborns in the past few years, causing an ethical storm. On June 9, a newly born boy was found abandoned near a manhole in Hanoi's Son Tay Town, covered in ant bites and with his ears, eyes and mouth infested with maggots. The infant, having spent 40 hours exposed to the elements, was immediately hospitalized. Unfortunately, he succumbed to septic shock after 21 days of intensive care at Hanoi's Saint Paul Hospital, with his spurned mother subsequently arrested by local police. In recent times, many cases of newborn abandonment have been uncovered across metropolises and remote areas in Vietnam. In Hanoi, four cases were reported since the beginning of this year, including two infants in Gia Lam District and another in Me Linh, left with a note stating the mother could not bring the child up due to personal circumstance. In northern Hai Phong City, only four babies were abandoned from 2011 to 2014, but the number had escalated to 25 in the 2015-2019 period, according to the People's Committee of the city. An abandoned infant in southern Ca Mau Province in July 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Hung Phuc. In southern Kien Giang Province, at least four infants were abandoned since the beginning of this year. In the last five years, around 40,000 abandoned babies were collected and buried by "Bao Ve Su Song" (Life Protection) organization under Tan Long Parish. Instances of babies found in a manhole, wrapped in a suitcase, left in front of pagodas... have become alarming phenomena. In the last ten years, the numbers have only increased, creating community backlash, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. "Why are there babies not given up for adoption, since there are many families who want, but cannot have children of their own. It is inhumane," said Nguyen Thi Hang, from Hanoi's Gia Lam District where an infant was abandoned in a narrow gap between two houses in August. Such unethical behavior can affect the mothers in many ways, burdening them with feelings of guilt for the rest of their lives, said psychology expert Nguyen Trong Nhan. Perfect storm According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), most Vietnamese mothers who abandon their young are teenagers, students experiencing unintended pregnancy, young industrial zone workers, those with health issues including HIV or mental problems, and those faced with a heavy financial burden. A lack of comprehensive sexual awareness is a leading cause of unplanned pregnancies among young Vietnamese, directly influencing the countrys high abortion rate. According to the Department of Maternal Health and Children under the Ministry of Health, Vietnam conducts around 300,000 - 400,000 abortions among women aged 15-19 each year. While Vietnam ranks top in Asia and among the top five worldwide in the rate of abortion, a 2017 survey of Vietnamese aged 15-24 by the United Nations Population Fund found 83 percent knew about condoms and 63 percent understood their use, but that only 24 percent knew how to use them properly. A survey by sexual health brand Durex in 2017 revealed Vietnamese have sex for their first time at an average age of 19.6, younger than those in Malaysia, India, Singapore, China, and Thailand. According to experts, while more Vietnamese are making their sexual debut at a young age, related knowledge and life skills are lagging, causing a perfect storm for unintended pregnancy and sexually-transmitted disease. Major Nguyen Dang Manh, deputy head of Hanoi's Gia Lam District Police, holds a newborn baby he helped rescue from a gap between two houses, August 18, 2020. Photo courtesy of police from Hanoi's Gia Lam district. Lack of understanding in terms of the law is another factor driving the troubling situation. According to lawyer Tran Minh Cuong in Ho Chi Minh City, people could be face administrative or criminal charges if abandoning their infants. "Those abandoning their babies within seven days after birth, leading to the death of the child, will face criminal charges and a penalty of up to two years' imprisonment," Cuong said, adding he thinks such penalties are inadequate in relation to the crime perpetrated. Empowering young women with sexual awareness and life skills is one of the foremost solutions. "We must prioritize improving awareness and a sense of responsibility among young people," said Do Van Du, deputy head of Hanoi-based Institute of Human Resources Training and International Cooperation. Many people think new born fathers should take equal responsibility when it comes to giving birth and abandoning innocent babies. Meanwhile, many helpless newborns still face a myriad of dangers due to the irresponsible behavior of their parents. The infant found in Hanoi's Son Tay Town was named An (Peaceful) by the doctor at Saint Paul Hospital. Dozens of hopeful parents came to inquire about his adoption. But An, whose life proved paradoxical to his name, could not wait. His detained mother said she could not remember who the father was. A rise in violence is almost inevitable because of the coronavirus lockdown, a police and crime commissioner warned as a series of stabbings left one dead and seven injured in Birmingham. David Jamieson, the elected official overseeing policing in the West Midlands, said that people had a lot of pent-up feelings because of the pandemic and its impact on their jobs and futures. Police said they were hunting for a lone male suspect over the apparently random attacks in the city centre early on Sunday morning. There was no suggestion the stabbings were terror-related, motivated by hate or were gang-related. Mr Jamieson, who has been West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner since 2014, said the stabbings were truly terrible and have shocked the people of Birmingham, the West Midlands and the country. He said the incident followed a surge in violent crime across the region over the past weeks and months. I have been saying for some time, in the context of Covid-19, that a lot of the pent-up feelings of people have, and not being able to get out, and combine that with people who are now unsure about their future and about their jobs, it was almost inevitable that we would see a growth in violence, Mr Jamieson said at a press conference. "I'm not saying that this is directly related to that, but nevertheless we are seeing now a growth of violence among younger people, particularly younger males, we're seeing that growing across the region. "My fear is that if we don't address that and some of the underlying problems with some urgency then we could see that grow. "But, notwithstanding that, Birmingham is a good place, it's a good place to be, it's a safe city and it is regrettable that this awful incident happened last night." Mr Jamieson said the city centre was well used to activity but added: "I think what is different is the randomness of this particular event but also the number of other events that were happening as well. "The amount of violence that was happening is actually very, very disturbing." He has previously warned that criminal gangs were "coming out of lockdown" and said in July that the reopening of pubs could see an increase in disorder. Additional reporting by Press Association NEW DELHI : The Delhi government's 10-week anti-dengue campaign commenced on Sunday, with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inspecting his house for any signs of stagnant clean water and draining it. The '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute' campaign seeks to build awareness about prevention of vector-borne diseases. Kejriwal said that like last time, two crore people of Delhi will join hands and work together to fight against dengue. "The rainy season is here again, and it is the first week of September. We all know that at this point, the breeding of mosquitoes that spread dengue is at a peak. We have to save ourselves and our family from dengue," he said. Last year, Delhi participated in a massive campaign against dengue, '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute - Har Ravivar, Dengue Par Vaar' and this year, we will do that again, he added. Citing numbers, he said that last year, there were only 1,400-1,500 dengue cases in Delhi, which was a "big achievement for us because this number was around 14,000-15,000 a few years back". "Like last year, today is the first Sunday, and for the next 10 Sundays, please spend 10 minutes to inspect your homes for stagnant clean water at 10 am. Please drain the standing water and replace it," he urged people. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, cabinet ministers Rajendra Pal Gautam and Kailash Gahlot shared pictures and videos on Twitter as part of the campaign. Sisodia tweeted in Hindi, "Often we feel that there is not a single place in our house where there is stagnant water but if you take 10 minutes to check properly, you will find stagnant water somewhere. That's why it is important to join the #10Hafte10Baje10Minute campaign - to protect your family from dengue @ArvindKejriwal." Kejriwal also tweeted about kick-starting the campaign. "The people of Delhi have once again started a war against dengue. On the first Sunday of this 10-week massive campaign, I have also changed the clean water accumulated in my house and eliminated the possibility of mosquito-borne diseases," he tweeted. He also asked people to check their homes for just 10 minutes for the next 10 weeks, every Sunday at 10 am. "Along with saving our families from dengue, we have to save Delhi from dengue. I am sure the people of Delhi will defeat dengue this time as well," he tweeted. Last year, through the '10 Hafte 10 Baje 10 Minute' campaign, which was launched in September last year, there were only 2,036 cases in Delhi and two deaths due to dengue, as compared to 2015, when the dengue cases were 15,867 and there were 60 deaths, a statement from the government said. The campaign also garnered the support of many celebrities as well as officials of the government and other autonomous bodies, it said. Under the campaign, citizens must inspect their homes for any possible sources of stagnant clean water, which can lead to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes that spread vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and Chikungunya. Kejriwal has appealed to the ministers, MLAs, and the citizens to begin the mega campaign from their own homes and spend 10 minutes every Sunday to make sure there is no stagnant water in their homes and surroundings. After the first week of the launch of the flagship programme, a doctor will share advises on the dos and don'ts to prevent dengue in the second week, the statement said. The campaign also seeks to engage the residents to pick up their phones and call 10 of their friends or relatives and advise them on the good practices of preventing dengue, it said. The Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) will be asked to come together and help in the fight against dengue and promote the campaign. Many celebrities and social media influencers will also take part in the campaign by recording a video of themselves on following the good practices advised during the campaign and subsequently sharing it through their social media channels, the statement said. At various stages, children will be encouraged to take part in the campaign by assigning them homework on behalf of the schools and asking them to call their friends to encourage them to take part in the campaign as well, it said. Neighbourhoods will be encouraged to follow the good practices of preventing dengue and promote them in their surrounding areas, it said. Offices will be encouraged to follow the good practices of preventing dengue and promote them in their offices and surrounding areas, it added. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics Pop guitarist Jim Corr is battling to avoid a road ban after being caught driving while using his mobile phone. Crawfordsburn-based Corr (56) already has nine points on his licence and his solicitor said in court last week that he's willing to pay an "exceptional fine" to keep his licence. At Belfast Magistrates Court, the guitarist with the 90s family band The Corrs, pleaded guilty to using his mobile phone while driving on the M3 motorway on May 16 this year. Corr, whose recent tweets about lockdown and masks have gone viral, faces a six-month driving disqualification. Defence solicitor Hamill Clawson, of Reid, Black and Co, told District Judge Amanda Henderson on Thursday that he planned to raise an issue of "exceptional hardship" which if successful, would mean that Mr Corr gets to keep driving. "He accepted using his mobile phone and he gave an account as to this and why he was using it," said the lawyer, adding that the guitarist, originally from Dundalk but now living on the Old Windmill Road in Crawfordsburn, has still been working in the music industry throughout the lockdown. Mr Clawson revealed that his client "drives between Belfast and Dublin daily" to work while a prosecuting lawyer said there were multiple convictions for "simple speeding" on Mr Corr's licence dating back to 2006 when it had nine points accumulated on it. Judge Henderson told the court the case "doesn't strike me as exceptional hardship" and that such a legal application "might be a difficult one to run" given that "there's still public transport". Expand Close Jim Corr / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jim Corr Mr Clawson suggested there could be submissions relating to "special reasons". The lawyer added: "If the court was minded to impose a short disqualification that is ultimately what we would be looking for and an exceptional fine that he could pay." "In other words, get around the points," replied Judge Henderson and Mr Clawson agreed "absolutely and that would keep nine points on his licence." Adjourning the case for mention to September 19, the judge said she wanted to consider guidelines on exceptional hardship and special reasons cases as that would mean "I wouldn't impose penalty points at all." As guitarist for The Corrs, along with his sisters Andrea, Sharon and Caroline, the band released seven albums and multiple singles, with their 1998 record Talk on Corners being the biggest selling album of the year and the band is one of only a handful of acts who have held the top two positions simultaneously in the UK album charts, with Talk on Corners at Number One and Forgiven, Not Forgotten at Number Two. More recently, however, Mr Corr has gained more attention for his social media rather than his guitar skills, posting for example on August 4: "This is insane! I have no doubt at this stage that the Irish Government is simply trying to destroy the hospitality industry, because the numbers DO NOT, and never have supported the hysteria and extreme reaction. Being forced to wear masks is simply about keeping the fear alive until the lucrative vaccine with God knows what in it arrives. You Are Being terribly Manipulated Folks!" He also joked on July 25: "Masks stop viruses in their tracks, in the same way underpants stop farts". He regularly tweets and retweets to his almost 37k followers about issues including anti Covid restrictions protests, vaccinations and fake news. A top Serbian official has lashed out at Moscow after a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman mocked Serbia's president for his participation in a U.S. White House ceremony. The back-and-forth between Belgrade and Moscow was an unusually public and biting exchange given the historical close ties between the two countries. Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic participated in a ceremony at the Oval Office on September 4 along with Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti of Kosovo, in an event marking the normalization of economic relations between the two countries. The event was hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump. A day after the ceremony, however, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova posted a photograph of Vucic sitting in front of Trump's desk, and wrote a mocking post suggesting he should have been sitting like the seductive character played by actress Sharon Stone in the U.S. movie Basic Instinct. On September 6, a top Serbian government official, Marko Djuric, defended Vucic and reprimanded Zakharova. He also took a poke at Russian President Vladimir Putin who, Djuric said, had once made Vucic wait 90 minutes for a meeting in Moscow. Vucic "did not say a single bad word against Russia, not even in that place," Djuric wrote on Twitter. Vucic "waited for an hour and a half to be received by the Russian president and never asked for a special chair. I will not allow you to attack proud Serbia. Shame on you!" he wrote. In a later post on Facebook, Zakharova seemed to walk back her suggestion about Vucic, saying she had been misunderstood. The Russian Foreign Ministry also announced on September 6 that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had spoken by telephone with Vucic, during which Vucic briefed Lavrov on the outcome of his trip to Washington. On the issue of Kosovo, the Russian ministry said, the Kremlin had stressed its position of seeking a "long-term settlement based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244." The Oval Office event was seen as notable progress in getting Belgrade and Pristina to agree to full diplomatic relations. A former province of Serbia, Kosovo broke away after the 1999 war and declared independence in 2008. Serbia, and Russia, have refused to recognize the declaration, and Serbia and Kosovo have engaged in trade blockades. The Trump administration has pushed hard for the two countries to normalize relations, and the ceremony was seen as a victory for U.S. diplomatic efforts. MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that it wanted dialogue with Germany over the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny and that Russian doctors who treated him initially were much more transparent than the German doctors treating him now. Germany, where Navalny is in hospital, has said he was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent and wants the perpetrators held to account. Russia has until now not opened a criminal investigation and said there is no evidence yet of a crime. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow wanted to find out from Germany what exact substance caused Navalny to fall ill in Siberia last month. "According to the version of our doctors it wasn't a poisoning," Peskov said. "The German specialists managed to establish some kind of poisonous substance. We're counting on a dialogue with our German colleagues." He added: "Investigative actions are being carried out by our specialists, and if there is confirmation of the presence of poisonous substances in the biological material of the patient (Navalny), then of course legal consequences will follow. We ask everyone to rely on the facts." Navalny is the most popular and prominent opponent of President Vladimir Putin, and the German announcement this week that he was poisoned by a nerve agent has raised the possibility of further Western sanctions against Moscow. Separately, a Russian court said on Friday it had rejected a complaint filed by allies of Navalny accusing a top law enforcement body of inaction over what they said was his attempted murder. One of Navalny's allies accused the Investigative Committee, which handles probes into major crimes, of inaction following a statement they filed to it on Aug. 20 demanding a criminal investigation be opened into Navalny's attempted murder. The court said the Investigative Committee had passed on the statement by Navalny's supporters to one of its regional branches in Siberia and asked for it to be reviewed. Story continues Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, said the court had said their statement had been treated as a "citizen's appeal", a legal nuance she said meant it could take up to 30 days for it be looked at. "Anything so they don't have to start an investigation," she wrote on Twitter. (Reporting by Elena Fabrichnaya, Anton Kolodyazhnyy and Maria Vasilyeva; writing by Tom Balmforth and Mark Trevelyan, Editing by William Maclean) Dr. Anthony Fauci on June 30, 2020, in Washington, DC. Al Drago/Getty Images The nation's top infectious-disease specialist warned that seven states might see a surge in the number of positive coronavirus cases after the Labor Day weekend. "There are several states that are at risk for surging, namely North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said. In the past, several states have reported surges in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases after a holiday weekend like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. Dr. Anthony Fauci delivered a grim warning ahead of the Labor Day weekend, saying that seven states should be on high alert for a potential spike in coronavirus cases. "There are several states that are at risk for surging, namely North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the leading White House coronavirus expert, told Bloomberg News. "Those states are starting to see an increase in the percent positive of their testing; that is generally predictive that there's going to be a problem." The warning comes after at least one of those states engaged in large-scale events in recent weeks. South Dakota held a 10-day motorcycle festival last month, a spectacle that drew more than 400,000 people and led to hundreds of positive cases nationwide connected to the event. Most attendees had not worn a mask and did not adhere to social-distancing guidelines. Multiple states have reported surges in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases after a holiday weekend like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July. As many states enter the seventh month of mask-wearing and quarantine, the coronavirus continues to spread nationwide. The disease has infected more than 6.2 million people in the United States, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Of that figure, more than 187,000 people have died. Story continues Anticipating a surge over the holiday weekend, the White House doubled down on the message to practice social distancing and wear masks. On a phone call earlier this week, Fauci and Vice President Mike Pence asked governors to continue to enforce mask-wearing and social distancing, Bloomberg reported. Following Fauci's warnings, President Donald Trump on Friday urged people to "remain vigilant" and "apply common sense." "As we begin Labor Day weekend, America's unprecedented economic recovery continues," Trump said, speaking at a White House briefing. Read the original article on Business Insider About 50 miles southeast of the courthouse in downtown Huntsville, the site of ongoing protests and debate about the 115-year-old Confederate monument, is another Alabama courthouse with another Confederate monument. And, next to it, a flagpole hoisting the Confederate flag next to a flagpole with the American flag. The Confederate flag and monument are outside the Marshall County Courthouse on Emmett Street in downtown Albertville the countys largest city, though with a small-town population of almost 22,000 people. And its become a new epicenter of protests, albeit on a smaller scale from what has been seen in the states largest cities. Bottom line is, there is no way to spin the flag as anything other than a symbol of oppression and hate, said Breanna Hutcheson of the Say Their Names Alabama organization that began holding protests outside the courthouse last month. The group is also planning a peaceful debate about the Confederacy on Sept. 9, followed by another protest, according to its Facebook page. Related: Hecklers shout down group speaking in support of Confederate monument in Huntsville Related: Moral obligation: Religious leaders call for removal of Huntsville monument Unlike the conflicts in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile over Confederate monuments, the Marshall County monument has a sort of escape clause. It was not put in place until 1996 by a chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans so it would be eligible for consideration for relocation by the state monument review committee. The 2017 Alabama Monument Preservation Act established the committee to consider waivers to relocate historical structures in place between 20 and 40 years. The Confederate monument sits next to the Confederate flagpole outside the Marshall County Courthouse in downtown Albertville. (Paul Gattis | pgattis@al.com) The Confederate flag outside the courthouse, however, could be removed immediately, according to Marshall County Commission Chair James Hutcheson (no relation to Breanna Hutcheson). The commission could vote to remove that, James Hutcheson said. Its not considered a monument. The Confederate flag and flagpole were put in place, like the adjacent monument, by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, according to Reginald Hughes, the commander of Capt. John Rayburn Camp 452, which meets regularly in Guntersville a neighboring city that shares a city limits border with Albertville and where the countys primary courthouse is located. Hughes said the camp got permission from the county commission to install the granite monument at the Albertville courthouse in 1996 and that it has since erected a nicer flagpole for the Confederate flag. As long as I can remember for the past 10 years, the flag has been there, he said. Before I became a member, the flag was there. While Confederate monuments are commonly seen throughout Alabama and on public grounds such as a courthouse, the flying of the Confederate flag at courthouses is rare. Former Gov. Robert Bentley ordered the Confederate flag removed from the state capitol in 2015. At the time, Bentley said his decision was partly motivated by the church shooting in Charleston, S.C., the previous week that took the lives of nine African Americans attending a Bible study. This had the potential to become a major distraction as we go forward, Bentley said. Hutcheson, the commission chair, said there has been no discussion among the commissioners about the monument or the flag and no decisions have been made. Its just an issue I guess I have to deal with, he said. Next door to the courthouse is Albertville city hall. Mayor Tracy Honea did not respond to a request for comment by AL.com about the monument and the flag. Honeas executive assistant, Robin Lathan, said the mayor typically avoids commenting on the issue because it does not fall within the citys jurisdiction. Hutcheson, with the protest group, connected the issue of slavery in the Civil War as the root of its protest. That is why the secession was initiated, and that is at the core of the Civil War, she said. The Confederacy were traitors to America and fought for the right to literally own other human beings. Hughes said the Sons of Confederate Veterans have not heard any objections about the monument or the flag except from the protest group. The monument includes the Latin motto of the Confederacy Deo Vindice, which translates to With God, our defender. Theres a lot more positive comments as opposed to the negative, he said. There is also a two-themed monument outside the courthouse in Guntersville recognizing those who fought on both sides of the Civil War, Hughes said. James Hutcheson said supporters and opponents of the Confederate flag and monument have regularly addressed the commission in recent weeks. And the commission welcomes anyone to address the topic during public comments, Hutcheson said. Ive had people speak on both sides in each commission meeting, he said. My stance on it is a very strong presence on both sides of the issue. I accept that. But I havent talked to the commission. My only comment right now is I realize very strong comments on each side of the situation. Ive had ancestors that fought on both sides on North and South. Its not unique to Albertville. Its all over the country. Im just trying to be very polite to each side, listen to their concerns and treat each side as fairly as I can. Thats what Ill continue to do. The protest group also cited the issue of justice under the law in opposing the Confederate flag and monument outside the courthouse. Thats been a complaint of protest groups at the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville as well. For a county to be flying this symbol in front of a government building that is supposed to represent justice for all, is unacceptable, Breanna Hutcheson said. Justice in a courtroom has not been compromised by the flag or the monument, Chairman Hutcheson said. Personally, I dont think a flag or a monument has anything to do with people in Marshall County being treated (unfairly) I dont see any issue, he said. Ive been in office 10 years and I dont see any issue where its been relevant at all. I just dont see that. A young Asian man says he was pinned to the ground and searched by police officers at Waterloo station after he was seen leaving a Pret a Manger without buying anything. Kashif Baig, 26, was stopped and accused of being evasive as he travelled through the station on his way from his customer support job on Friday evening. After refusing to give officers his address Mr Baig, who is of British and Pakistani heritage, says he was handcuffed and wrestled to the ground as he pleaded to passers-by for help. On its website, the Metropolitan Police says that you dont have to give [your address] if you dont want to during a stop and search. Mr Baig, from Hounslow, west London, began shouting out his mothers telephone number after an officer took his mobile, before a woman stopped to give him water. He was released after several minutes but has been left traumatised by the encounter. [Afterwards] I just sat on the floor in tears as I was in pain and couldnt believe what had just happened to me, he told the Standard. I am traumatised to even see the station now and will have to take time off work. Mr Baigs stop and search form read: Officers observed Mr Baig being evasive in Waterloo station. He entered and exited Pret in quick succession making no purchases. The police search form (Kashif Baig/Twitter) / Kashin Baig/Twitter "He then went to the underground and came up immediately. When officers went to speak with Mr Baig he continued to be evasive, failed to answer officers questions and did not account for his whereabouts. A box on the form labelled reason was left blank. Mr Baig, who has submitted a complaint following the incident, said he had planned to buy a drink from Pret but left after seeing the length of the queue. He added: The stop and search process is absolutely disgusting. "I was treated like I already committed a crime, my phone was snatched off me...A change needs to happen." A Scotland Yard spokesman said: On Friday, 4 September at approximately 5.45pm a male was stopped and searched in Waterloo Station. As a result of this stop, a complaint has been received by the Metropolitan Police which is being fully investigated. Kushinagar, Sep 6 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced that the much awaited Kushinagar international airport will start functioning in next two months' time. The announcement was made by the CM in presence of Union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri and state civil avaition minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi during their inspection of the construction of new international airport here. Kushinagar is the gateway of Buddhist circuit and we can expect tourists from far flung areas like Sri lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia to come and visit the places of Buddhist culture like Sarnath, Srawasti, Lumbini, Gaya and Kushinagar. This will give an impetus to tourism, he said and added that the state government was committed to extend all help to the companies. "We are expecting that the flights would commence within next 2 months time," he revealed. " The work of the air strip has completed while the construction work of the building was on the final stages" disclosed state additional chief secretary ,home, Awnish Awasthi in Lucknow Claiming that this international airport, which was the demand of the people of Buddhist religion and of the Poorwanchal, would change the tourism scenario of the state as now direct international flights with Buddhist tourists would land here directly, from Sri Lanka,Thailand, Nepal, Combodia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Laos and other places, he further added. This would be the fourth international airport in the state after Lucknow, Varanasi and the new one coming up in Jewar. " People of the region for the past 25 years were demanding for this airport and works were also going on at a snail's pace. But when we came to power, it was put on a fast mode and even the Airport Authority of India (AAI) took over the airport realising its importance," CM added. Besides, he said six important religious places related to Lord Buddha is in UP and foremost is Kushingar, his place of Mahanarvan, and government has plans to connect all of these for attracting the tourists and the pilgrims. Yogi Adityanath said his government has already given importance to the civil aviation in the state and 17 new airports were being constructed in different districts. UNI MB SY 1839 Published on 2020/09/06 | Source Korea's agricultural exports have risen even as overall shipments shrank due to the coronavirus epidemic. Advertisement Agricultural exports rose 4.9 percent on-year in the period from January till August to US$4.85 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Thursday. Overall exports shrank by 10.1 percent over the same period. Kimchi exports played a huge part, rising by a whopping 40.3 percent. "The increase is due chiefly to an increased worldwide interest in healthy fermented foods since the outbreak of coronavirus and to our development of new products like vegan kimchi", the ministry said. Exports of instant noodles also soared by 36.7 percent from a year earlier. The ministry said, "It seems that demand for easy-to-keep and easy-to-cook instant noodles has increased in worldwide lockdown". Influential marketers like YouTubers contributed significantly to the worldwide interest in Korean foods. ST. Paul, Va. - In the brightest red corner of Virginia, where "Trump Digs Coal" signs dot the Appalachian mountain hollers, Jerry Estep first brushed off the coronavirus as an urban plague. Now he won't leave home in this tiny town, population 980, without a mask. "I was just going out like normal, but that's not normal no more," said Estep, 77, a retired florist with longtime health woes that could make a case of the novel coronavirus especially lethal. "I thought we were immune to it because we're a small, rural area. But it has caught up." It took a while for the global pandemic to wind its way through crooked mountain roads to the coalfields of far Southwest Virginia, but it's spiking here now. The isolated region, which is trying to replace its dying coal economy with one based on outdoor tourism and higher education, is the only part of the state where case numbers have been climbing steadily all summer. Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said on Tuesday that he is worried about the Southwest, where the average of 229 new cases each day rivals the 251 per day seen in far more populous Northern Virginia. "This is especially concerning for a region where there are fewer hospitals," he said. The virus has taken hold in communities where up to 80 percent of voters backed Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton four years ago. The region's cultural independence, and allegiance to a president who called virus warnings a "hoax" meant to undermine him, initially presented a challenge to health officials across the Southwest. "People are stubborn, and a lot of people buy into the, 'Oh, this is going to go away after the election,' and, 'This is not real,' " said Pam Chambers, who works at the Food City supermarket in St. Paul, which straddles Wise and Russell counties - two of the 36 communities that state health officials include in their expansive definition of the Southwest, stretching from east of Lynchburg to the Cumberland Gap. Frank Kilgore, a St. Paul attorney and civic booster, was the rare Southwest Virginian who wore a mask in public right from the start. Sporting one in the local hardware store early on, he got strange looks and a ribbing from a longtime buddy in line with him at the checkout. "I felt like a sissy," said Kilgore, 68. "I go in there and was treated like one, too. 'You want us to carry that nail out for you?' " But attitudes toward pandemic precautions have begun to shift as the number of local cases has risen. Chambers started handing out masks to Food City shoppers just after Memorial Day, and so far, she said, only three have refused: a teenager with asthma and two elderly coal miners with black lung disease. "I'm a Harley guy. I'm bearded. I don't have a gun - I have an armory," said one retired Wise County resident who wears a mask over his long gray beard and spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his privacy. " 'Macho,' to me, is a word. It will get you nowhere, except probably into trouble. So if there's some way or some minute possibility of taking care of yourself, what's the harm in doing it? I mean, I don't want to be laying there in the hospital with both lungs clogged up with this crap saying, 'I wish I'd done that.' " The state's first cases of the coronavirus were detected in March, in Northern Virginia and other population centers. At the pointy western tip of the state, where it meets Tennessee and Kentucky, the threat seemed hundreds of miles away. The chief worry here was why, with no local cases, they had to comply with Northam's statewide emergency orders to shutter schools and certain businesses. The regional economy was already struggling before the virus, with per capita incomes $20,000 or less in Lee, Dickenson, Wise and Buchanan counties, the four poorest in the region. Never fans of government mandates, local leaders were already primed to resist new rules out of Richmond, where Democrats consolidated legislative and executive power this year for the first time in a generation. As Democrats prepared to enact sweeping gun-control legislation in January, leaders across the Southwest promised defiance, declaring their counties "Second Amendment sanctuaries" where the new laws would not be enforced. Pandemic restrictions were greeted in much the same way. Then came the outbreak at Mountain Mission School, a 99-year-old Christian boarding school for orphans and other children in need in the Buchanan County town of Grundy. Middle schoolteacher Russ Hertzog was the county's first case. Forty-two and normally in good health, Hertzog was driving home from the supermarket on March 23 when he was suddenly overcome by fatigue. "I just felt so exhausted that I couldn't even carry the groceries in," said Hertzog, who thought he had the flu. The local urgent care facility told him it wasn't covid-19 because he did not have a cough. After an agonizing week of chills and fever, his wife drove him an hour - into Kentucky - to get the nearest coronavirus test. He got the news on April 1: positive. Hertzog, who lives on campus and had not traveled, had no idea where he'd picked up the virus. But it soon spread at the school, which has 54 faculty members, many of whom live on campus, some in residence halls along with the school's 175 students. In all, 13 students and four staffers got it. None had to be hospitalized. "It took a good month before we were in the clear," said Chris Mitchell, the school's president, who recalled state health officials descending in hazmat suits. "We definitely got to know the health department on a first-name basis." Mitchell embraced and enforced all of the health officials' orders - grouping students and employees into "pods" that did not mix with others on campus. He followed strict rules at his own, off-campus house, showering in the garage before entering and limiting himself to the basement so he didn't potentially expose his wife and daughter. He even swapped his phone's standard-issue ringtone for a reminder in the form of 1980s pop: The Police's "Don't Stand So Close to Me." In response to the outbreak at the school, the Buchanan County Board of Supervisors took a hard line, too. On April 14, it passed an ordinance far stricter than anything ordered by Northam, whose statewide mask order would not come for another five weeks. In addition to requiring masks in stores, the board closed all county parks and offices, prohibited more than one person per household from shopping in a store at the same time, limited the number of store customers to 20 percent capacity and prohibited non-county residents from visiting for more than 24 hours, except for work. The sheriff was authorized to conduct traffic checkpoints to enforce the order. Violators could face misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine. The backlash was swift and fierce among community members, many of whom believed the outbreak could be contained at the school. On social media, critics warned of "government overreach" and something even more ominous in rugged mountain culture, which the mask-wearing Kilgore ran into in the hardware store: the perceived "sissy" factor. "Once you lose your rights you are not getting them back," one resident wrote on Facebook. "The people I see being the biggest advocates of this are women and effeminate men." On May 4, the supervisors rescinded the order. Board member Trey Adkins said in an interview last week that the board reversed itself not because of public pressure, which he attributed to a vocal minority, but because the virus seemed to have been fully contained at the school. "Our numbers looked good," Adkins said. Then came the summer vacation season, with locals traveling to Virginia Beach, Myrtle Beach and other hot spots. As cases started spiking in June, more residents started embracing safety measures, said Sue Cantrell, director of the health district that covers part of the Southwest, including Lee, Scott and Wise counties. But that has not stopped the spread entirely. "[M]ore people in the region are wearing masks and adhering to physical distancing, but they continue to see cases linked to family gatherings and celebrations, faith community meetings, including regular services as well as funerals and weddings where mitigation measures are not followed," she wrote in an email. "There continue to be cases from congregate settings. We have seen cases and then secondary cases in close contacts related to travel into east Tennessee for shopping, medical appointments etc." The region's institutions of higher learning - some of them fairly new and science-oriented - have adopted strict safety precautions, although it's not clear that people in the community take their cues from the schools. Veterinary students at DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center in Lee County wore masks one recent afternoon even as they met outside in a field, for hands-on instruction on treating horses. Appalachian College of Pharmacy in Buchanan County launched the fall semester with students seated six feet apart where they could be and separated by plastic barriers where they couldn't. Appalachian School of Law, also in Buchanan, moved some classes into empty retail space by the Grundy Walmart to allow for more space between students. On a recent weekday afternoon, nearly every shopper at the Walmart wore a mask. Albert Cook, 65, a retired coal miner browsing hunting shirts, said he did so as a sign of respect for store workers. "If they've got to wear it for 12 hours, I can wear it for 20 minutes," he said. Even as masks are beginning to catch on, Adkins, the Buchanan County supervisor, worries that the region could face "a major outbreak" as schools there and in many other Southwest counties open Tuesday for in-person instruction, with an online option. He has a personal connection to a local covid-19 victim: One of the county's two deaths was his father-in-law's first cousin. "It's not a hoax," he said. "Anybody with common sense will tell you that." But even after the rise in cases hit the region, not everyone feels precautions are necessary. Wanda Stinson, shopping maskless at Walmart, said some measures go overboard. She noted that her husband has been forced to wear extra protective gear at the coal mines, but still had his overtime cut so the mines can be disinfected between shifts. "None of it makes sense," said Stinson, 47. "If the gloves work, if the masks work, why do you need the disinfectant? . . . I honestly think it's all political." Jennifer Stiltner also went into the store without a mask, accompanied by her three children, Shawn, 17; Dakota, 12; and Emily, 7. Stiltner said she and her family find the masks uncomfortable - especially Shawn, who has autism. She put more stock in religious faith to keep them healthy. "I pray every day for protection, that God protects us and watches over us," she said. "I don't think anybody wants to get it, but if we do, we know he'll watch over us and keep us safe." As Louisville prepared for the Kentucky Derby Saturday, hundreds of protesters marched for Breonna Taylor and were met by pro-police militia groups. She's best known for playing Hermione Lodge on the long-running Netflix series, Riverdale. And on Sunday, American actress Marisol Nichols spoke about her undercover role as a law enforcement agent in the battle against human trafficking. 'Having a skill set of being an actor it kind of just melded together,' she said during her appearance on Australia's Weekend Today. Scroll down for video Riverdale star Marisol Nichols, 46, (pictured) has discussed her secret life as an undercover sex trafficking agent... after it was revealed it will be turned into a TV series 'As an acting gig first of all your stakes are so high because all you want to do is get these guys to show up so you can take them off the streets. Period,' she said. Marisol, 46, explained she would assist police enforcement by playing the necessary character in order to bait and arrest sex offenders and paedophiles. 'I remember the first time flying back and walking to the airport and it was really hard for me to look at men,' she admitted. 'Having a skill set of being an actor it kind of just melded together,' she said during her appearance on Weekend Today. Pictured alongside Richard Wilkins and Rebecca Maddern 'The ones that would show up, you think would look a certain way, but they are normal people. These are dads, these are white middle aged guys.' 'It was horrific, it took me a long time to separate it out.' reported Sony Pictures Television optioned rights to bring Nichols' story to the TV . Earlier this month, Deadline Secret gig: The American actress explained that would assist police enforcement by playing the necessary character in order to bait and arrest sex offenders and paedophiles The story of the actress comes after she revealed her efforts with law enforcement in a piece with Marie Claire earlier this year. Nichols said that she's been collaborating with police, FBI and Operation Underground Railroad putting her acting talents to use playing the roles of people involved in the situations. In the operations, which took place on a global level, Nichols portrayed a parent looking to prostitute their child; or a child involved in the process. Coming soon: Marisol Nichols' amazing story of balancing being a Hollywood star and an undercover agent in the battle against human trafficking is headed to the small screen. She was snapped in LA in 2015 at the Human Rights Hero Awards She's expected to both star in and executive produce the adaptation, according to the outlet. Nichols has also been seen on shows including Teen Wolf, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law & Order: SVU, and played the role of Audrey Griswold in 1997's Vegas Vacation. Teen Wolf is available on Stan in Australia An investigation into an assault by soldiers in the border city of Nuevo Laredo in July that killed 12 people comes amid UN pressure. Mexicos president says he has ordered an investigation into a shooting by soldiers in the border city of Nuevo Laredo in July that killed 12 people. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been under pressure from the United Nations. The incident is not the only alleged case of extrajudicial killings by the Mexican security forces in recent memory. Al Jazeeras Manuel Rapalo reports from Mexico City. Boris Johnson has announced that England will enter a four-week lockdown as of Thursday 5 November to help prevent the further spread of coronavirus. On Saturday 31 October, the prime minister announced the new measures - which will remain in place until 2 December - during a press conference at Downing Street alongside chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty. While many of the rules for the second lockdown are the same as the first, with pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops being forced to close, there are some notable differences. In March, only vulnerable pupils and children of key workers were permitted to attend school in person, with A-levels and GCSE exams being cancelled nationwide. However this time, schools, colleges and universities will be allowed to stay open. During his speech, Mr Johnson said: My priority, our priority, remains keeping people in education - so childcare, early years settings, schools, colleges and universities will all remain open. We cannot let this virus damage our children's futures even more than it has already. I urge parents to continue taking their children to school and I am extremely grateful to teachers across the country for their dedication in enabling schools to remain open. But, is it safe for children to be at school and can they spread the virus to adults? On 28 August, a BMJ study found the need for children to have hospital treatment for Covid-19 was "tiny" and critical care "even tinier". It said parents should be "reassured" Covid-19 has not caused the deaths of any otherwise healthy schoolchildren in the UK. However, black children, obese children and very young babies have a slightly higher risk. Deputy chief medical officer, Jennie Harries previously said that the risk of seasonal flu or a car accident to students was "probably higher" than the current risk presented by coronavirus. And prime minister Boris Johnson said the risk of contracting Covid-19 at school was "very small". He said "it is far more damaging for a child's development and their health...to be away from school any longer." On 24 April, Great Ormond Street Hospital said: The evidence to date suggests that although children do develop Covid-19, very few children develop severe symptoms, even if they have an underlying health condition." In Switzerland, authorities said on 29 April it was safe for children under the age of 10 to hug their grandparents because young children do not transmit the virus. But German virologist Christian Drosten conducted a study in May, which found children may be just as infectious as adults. As understanding has developed - what is the current understanding about how coronavirus impacts children? And is it different between primary and secondary age children? Here is everything you need to know. Can children pass coronavirus onto adults? On 23 August, Professor Chris Witty cited evidence of children "much less commonly" needing hospital treatment or becoming severely ill with coronavirus than adults. According to the Office for National Statistics data on ages there were 10 recorded deaths as "due to Covid-19" among those age 19 or under in England and Wales between March and June 2020. A Public Health England study found of the one million children who went into pre-school and primary school before the summer holiday, in June, 70 children and 128 members of staff were infected in outbreaks. It said of the 30 outbreaks detected in that time, most had likely been caused by staff members infecting other staff members, with only two instances thought to involve students infecting other students. In April, a report published on the Dont Forget the Bubbles blog, in partnership with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, outlined findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which could not recall episodes during contact tracing where transmission occurred from a child to an adult. Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Show all 12 1 /12 Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Marc Lyons ICU Consultant, East Cheshire NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Emma Kelly Critical Care Nurse, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Laura Arrowsmith COVID-19 Ward Cleaner, Leighton Hospital, Crewe PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Stuart Brookfield Paramedic, South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Claudia Anghel Midwife, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Sarah Jensen Chief Information Officer, Barts Health NHS Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Anne Roberts District Nurse, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ali Abdi Porter, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Jack Hannay Manikum 111 call handler, West Midlands Ambulance Service PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Ade Williams Superintendent Pharmacist, Bedminster Pharmacy in Bristol PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Farzana Hussain GP, Project Surgery, Newham PA Rankin unveils portraits of NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline Roopak Khara General Adult Psychiatrist, West London NHS Trust PA But it did warn there was no certainty. The role of children in transmission is unclear, but it seems likely they do not play a significant role, it stated. Speaking to The Independent, Dr Alasdair Munro, who compiled the research said that studies have shown that children have a lower attack rate than adults, that children are less likely to acquire it from a household contact than adults are and that children are less often the people bringing it into the household than adults. A UCL study, published in May, found children "appear half as likely to catch Covid-19 as adults" but warned that "evidence remains weak on how likely they are to transmit the virus". It was the largest study of its kind, including a systematic review of more than 6,000 international studies into Covid-19 spread. "Susceptibility is a key part of the chain of infection, and this supports the view that children are likely to play a smaller role in transmitting the virus and proliferating the pandemic, although considerable uncertainty remains," it said. A study published in The Lancet in June, concluded: "Covid-19 is generally a mild disease in children, including infants. However a small proportion develop severe disease requiring ICU admission and prolonged ventilation, although fatal outcome is overall rare." Should we still express caution about children's ability to pass on the virus? Much of the research on children has focused on young primary-age children, not on those of a secondary school age. In August the World Health Organisation warned that young people could be driving spikes in coronavirus across Europe. There was also concern closer to home with Preston Council warned young people "Don't kill granny" after it discovered that half of new cases were occurring in people aged under 30. A study by French epidemiologist Arnaud Fontanet at a school in France found that although younger age groups do not "transmit to the same extent", "teenagers are just as contagious as adults". Labour shadow education secretary Kate Green has said that the government policy of not making children wear face masks in secondary school, is something that should be kept under review. She says this is because we don't yet know how best to manage safely returning to school from next week: "I think it's really right that it's kept under very close watch as to where they might be appropriate in school [and] whether they might be appropriate in school." Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, says it is important to err on the side of caution when discussing whether the coronavirus can be transmitted to adults by children. Given that not many pieces of work have been done on it, its very difficult to judge, Dr Clarke told The Independent in April. Theres not a mountain of evidence on both sides. The fact is we know very little about this, precious little. From Niagara Falls to Mexico another generation of monarch butterflies are on their way. About 200 of the brightly-coloured North American monarchs were released Saturday at the Niagara Parks butterfly conservatory, doing what few other insects do head south for the winter. The Niagara Parks annual monarch release program allows visitors to tag individual butterflies, then track their progress when the tagged insects are found and posted online. Only a small percentage actually make it to Mexico, said entomology technician Mandin Tomlinson. Of all the years weve released, weve only had five that were tagged that were recovered, she said. That doesnt mean there werent more that didnt make it, those were just the ones that were (found). Some head to Cuba. Some stop in Florida. But wherever they end up, the release program offers insight on their migration patterns. The program is run in conjunction with University of Kansass Monarch Watch. Butterflies released Saturday each had a polypropylene tag attached to their hind wing. It has a number to enter into an accompanying website. The trip usually takes about six weeks, said Tomlinson, and the monarchs make several stops along the way. Research has shown it is a one-time trip for the monarchs. Often, its their great-grandchildren which make the trip the following year, and many go to the exact same location. Before the big trip, monarchs released by the butterfly conservatory will often hang around and fuel up on nectar. Tomlinson said they are usually all gone by the end of October. Monarch Watch began in 1992 and involves thousands of schools, nature centres and other groups. About 100,000 people participate in tag-and-release programs every fall. Read more about: John Malkovichs son was arrested at a protest in Portland, Oregon on Friday night. The legendary actors son Loewy, 28, is accused of interfering with a peace officer and disorderly conduct in the second degree. He is among 27 arrested at the demonstration, where Black Lives Matter activists and Antifa members gathered outside the offices of the Portland police union to protest police brutality and racial inequality. John Malkovichs (left) son Loewy (right) was arrested at a protest in Portland, Oregon on Friday night He is among 27 arrested at the demonstration, where Black Lives Matter activists and Antifa members gathered outside the offices of the Portland police union to protest police brutality and racial inequality Protesters gather outside the Portland Police Association building where they are met with a wall of Police including Mobile Response Team (MRT) members on Friday Officers wrestle a homemade shield from a protestor as they were arrested near the Portland Police Association building on North Lombard and North Campbell Streets in Portland, Oregon A Portland Police Department (PPD) press release listed Loewys name along with the others arrested after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly by the city and officers in riot gear rushed the crowd, detonating a smoke grenade and firing pepper balls and rubber bullets on the activists. Loewy lives in the Oregon city and works as a Junior Software Engineer at tech firm Chainstarters Inc. The 28-year-old appears to lean further left on the political spectrum than his Hollywood star father, who previously voiced his support for the Iraq war and once said in support of the death penalty: I would have no problem pushing the switch while having dinner. But in May, 66-year-old Malkovich told The Guardian the last time he voted in a presidential election was for Democrat George McGovern in 1972. Multiple warnings were given to disperse with the threat of crowd control munitions and arrest Just before midnight an unlawful assembly was declared and a large number of police moved in quickly making multiple arrests Loewys sister, Amandine, is living a quieter life during quarantine at home with her parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts and working in a grocery store, according to the interview the actor gave the paper. The protest was attended by around 300 people, who marched from a local park to the Portland Police Association office east of the city. Many wore gas masks, helmets and body armor in anticipation of violent clashes with police. But apart from expletive-ridden chants and abuse hurled at the state police lining the outside of the building, the gathering remained largely peaceful until police moved in on the crowd at 11.45pm to break up the demonstration and clear the road. PPB traffic police said they stopped a car at the protest and seized an illegally possessed pistol, arresting the driver on warrant and gun-related charges. MUMBAI/NEW DELHI : Senior ministers of the Union government took Prime Minister Narendra Modis clarion call of Atmanirbhar Bharat forward and urged automakers to reduce their dependence on imports, increase exports, and make India a global manufacturing hub for automobiles and auto components. I request the auto industry to not depend on imports, develop import substitutes, and expand its export business. The government will support you in increasing production and boosting employment potential," said Nitin Gadkari, the Union minister for road transport and highways, and micro, small and medium enterprises. Minister of railways, and commerce and industry Piyush Goyal and minister of environment, forest and climate change Prakash Javadekar also urged the auto sector to boost local manufacturing at the annual conventions organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), held on 4-5 September. This is also likely to boost the economy by creating enormous job opportunities at a time that the country is struggling to shake off the adverse effect of the lockdown imposed to check the spread of coronavirus. Gadkari urged the industry to develop import substitutes and increase investment in research and development (R&D) and export volumes and said that the government will set up industrial clusters along the 12-lane, 1,400km Mumbai-Delhi expressway. The expressway passes through the backward tribal areas of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Land acquisition cost in these areas is low. The land rate in Gurugram or any big city is 2-2.5 crore per acre. I am willing to give you land in these areas for 10-15 lakh per acre. I request the auto industry to develop industrial clusters on the land parcels," the road transport and highways minister said. Gadkari said his ministry will take the responsibility for connectivity to ports, railway stations and airports. Citing examples of existing auto hubs, such as Sanand, Manesar, and Hosur, Goyal said India must look at boosting its domestic capabilities and expand its global economic engagement. The auto industry should reduce dependence on imports, specifically in areas such as steel, tyres, and electronic parts," Goyal said. Goyal said he has requested the industry to come up with a viable model for setting up semiconductor fabrication units, which will help increase production of electronic components. India needs to focus immediately on setting up fabrication facilities because that is the root of the entire electronics chain. The government is willing to extend support to set these up," Goyal said. One or more large automakers may look at setting up such units, and even consider moving existing fabrication units from other countries to India, he said. I think it should be driven by the private sector and the government setting up a fabrication unit is not a good idea." Goyal said. The industry must aim to become a global manufacturing hub for sunrise sectors, including electric and autonomous vehicles. The government is working with other countries to sort out tariff and non-tariff barriers, including a free trade agreement with the European Union for India to become a preferred supplier. We are also considering a credit guarantee model to help exporters. Under the model they may get insurance of up to 90% of their export value. The scheme should be finalized soon," Goyal said. Gadkari and Goyal also hinted that the government is considering an increase in duties on import of auto components. Javadekar said that the government was evaluating the possibility of reducing goods and services tax for two- and three-wheelers to revive local demand, while Gadkari said that the much awaited vehicle scrappage policy is in its final stages of approval and will be rolled out within a month. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Given the complex system of electoral college in the United States (US), and the fact that most states are either firmly red or blue, it is a set of swing states which exercise a major say in determining the outcome of the presidential elections. Polls suggest a tight race in these states. The larger electoral backdrop itself is grim, with the country confronting a pandemic, race riots and an economy in recession. President Donald Trump has given up any pretence to being a unifying national leader. He has positioned himself as a majoritarian law-and-order candidate, seeking to drum up fears in suburban America of minorities. He has added fuel to the fire by portraying his Democratic opponent as a radical leftist. Democratic candidate Joe Biden has given a starkly different message, arguing he would be a healer and address the long-standing grievances of the USs black minority. The problem for both candidates is that neither is seen as presidential material. Mr Trumps idiosyncrasies have cost him the support of a lot of Republicans. Mr Biden has struggled with his age and explaining why he should be in the White House . But his most important advantage is that Americans have changed when it comes to race. White Americans today accept their country has a race and policing problem and a policing problem much more than before. Some polls show this figure has tripled in just the past decade. And while support for the present protests has been falling, the sense the status quo is not sustainable has remained strong. If this translates into ballots, Mr Trumps message will struggle to find traction with the middle-of-the-road voters who will decide this election. A white middle-aged couple claimed they were victims of discrimination after they were handcuffed and removed from a New York City ferry for refusing to wear masks. Video recorded by Gothamist reporter Jake Offenhartz showed the man and woman arguing with ferry workers on the boat's top deck after it docked in Brooklyn Bridge Park at around 8pm on Saturday and the captain ordered them to disembark because they didn't have face coverings. They continued to defend themselves for 45 minutes when two NYPD officers arrived to haul them off - while fellow passengers shouted at them to leave so the boat could continue on its way. The woman, who said she and her husband were returning to their home in Bay Ridge from a night out in Manhattan and urged a bystander to film the incident - told Gothamist: 'I'm just so fed up. 'This has been going on since March, and my husband is f**king pissed off. Every time I have to commute to Manhattan, it's a f**king process. 'If we were f**king black, I can guarantee you that guy' - the captain - 'would never come out and tell us put a mask on.' Her husband, who identified himself as David, chimed in: 'Right, because Black Lives Matter.' Were being targeted. Were being shamed. (I spoke to the couple prior to this. Theyre planning to sue, and encouraged me to film.) pic.twitter.com/SRLG6kqiqM Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) September 6, 2020 Ferry riders are turning on the maskless couple. The two cops seem to be split on what to do pic.twitter.com/z0BgYdUYpu Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) September 6, 2020 The couple claimed that they had a constitutional right to ride the ferry without masks, and that they both suffered from a medical condition exempting them from Gov Andrew Cuomo's mandate to slow the spread of coronavirus. 'These people are just doing what the government is telling them,' the woman said of the masked riders on the boat in one video from the encounter. They presented their case to responding NYPD officers, accusing the captain of 'targeting' and 'shaming' them. 'Because we can't wear a mask, we're being discriminated against,' the man says in a video. One of the officers sought to de-escalate the situation by asking for proof of the couple's supposed medical issues, but they declined to present any. The other officer then determined that the captain did have the power to remove passengers deemed unruly and offered the couple one last chance to leave voluntarily. When they refused to do so, the couple were placed in handcuffs and escorted off the boat while cheers and applause erupted among fellow passengers, with many shouting: 'Thank you, NYPD!' The man and woman were each slapped with a summons for disorderly conduct, according to Gothamist. Theyve been handcuffed and removed from the boat. pic.twitter.com/jD9eO0cCnR Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) September 6, 2020 The couple are reportedly planning to sue NYC Ferry for violating their constitutional rights by kicking them off the boat because they didn't have masks (file photo) The woman told the outlet that she and her husband have already sued the Metropolitan Transit Authority after a similar incident when he rode maskless on a city bus. She said that they will likely file another lawsuit against NYC Ferry after Saturday night's confrontation. As the cops escorted the couple off the pier, David ranted about why the NYPD wasn't more focused on 'homeless drug addicts and looters'. 'Can one of you guys give us a ride home please? We feel so good about the NYPD,' he said, Gothamist reported. The cops told the couple that that was against the rules, at which point they were placed in the back of a police van. 'I understand your frustration,' one of the officers told them. Another officer at the scene told Gothamist: 'Mostly everyone complies [with the mask mandate], and then you get a few knuckleheads who don't.' (Newser) President Trump, art lover? That's what Bloomberg is reporting. Seems the president carted home a box-load of art from the US ambassador's mansion while visiting France in 2018. Insiders say Trump told the ambassador, Jamie McCourt, that a painting, bust, and set of figurines were returning with him to Washingtonand the startled diplomat didn't say no. Trump had the $750,000 haul loaded onto Air Force One while he visited a cemetery to commemorate the end of World War I. He later said the art would be returned "in six years" after his possible second term. The move triggered a flurry of emails between Washington officials, but they ultimately deemed it legal because the art belonged to Uncle Sam. story continues below "The president brought these beautiful, historical pieces, which belong to the American people, back to the United States to be prominently displayed in the People's House," White House spokesman Judd Deere told AFP. The art piecessilver figurines of Greek mythical characters, and a bust and portrait of Benjamin Franklinall turned out to be copies, so Trump had the original portrait, from the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, hung in the Oval Office instead (although he quipped that he liked the copy more). The figurines are sitting on a mantel at the Oval Office. The fate of the bust remains unclear. (It's the same trip in which Trump allegedly called America's war dead "losers and suckers.") Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 15:35:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIANJIN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Lorenzo Pecoraro, an Italian teacher based in China for years, cannot wait to start lessons online with students more than 1,000 kilometers away after he visited them in an impoverished county in northwest China's Gansu Province twice this year. He has made certificates with encouraging messages for each of the students on grading their assignments and sent them to the students after he returned to north China's Tianjin Municipality where he works. Lorenzo, 45, who hails from Rome in Italy, said he has been interested in teaching biology to children back in Italy since college. After he moved to China to do teaching at the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology with Tianjin University in 2018, Lorenzo has been eager to make a difference for the young students in impoverished areas. "It is difficult for children in poor villages to acquire thorough knowledge or receive higher education. I would like to make my contribution to sparking the students' interests in biology," Lorenzo said, adding that he has been an active member of the university's relative project. As part of the efforts to introduce higher education resources to remote and poor rural areas, Tianjin University has been working with Tanchang County, Gansu Province, to help improve local education. In his first three-day visit to Tanchang County in June, he delivered a lecture on the nutritional value of fungi and discussed ecological conservation and environmental protection with students. Lorenzo also visited a mushroom farm and a noodle factory sponsored by the local government. "I tried to know this place as more as I can so that I could teach the children in a way that is more acceptable," he said. As soon as he came back to Tianjin, Lorenzo immediately prepared for his second visit. "I could not wait to go back there," said Lorenzo. He visited the place again from Aug. 1-7. Tanchang County is rich in medicinal mushrooms, so he invited the students to visit a local mushroom cultivation base to collect samples, and observe fungi under a microscope to help them know more about biology and the local economy. He also designed activities such as drawing and painting, collecting, and observing the plants and animals in parks, building nests for birds, to drum up their interests. "The children exhibit their self-made plant specimens in the classroom and I can sense a sense of pride among them," Lorenzo said. Liu Mingcai, a student, wrote in a letter to Lorenzo that "you encouraged us to learn about nature, explore nature, and protect nature, which left me a very precious and unforgettable memory." "Their enthusiasm to learn and explore new things, as well as their positive attitude, will be significant for the future development of their hometown," Lorenzo said. Lorenzo opened a WeChat group with the students and often shared his work and life in Tianjin. "They are very interested in the campus life of Tianjin University and my scientific work in the laboratory," he said, adding that he was delighted to see more students from rural areas have more access to higher education. Lorenzo also shared his experience with other foreign professors at Tianjin University. "They have also expressed great interest in the project," Lorenzo said. "I would certainly go back to Tanchang County soon." Enditem Opposition supporters in the capital Minsk keep the pressure on Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko, with a fresh demonstration planned for Sunday At least tens of thousands and possibly more Belarusian protesters staged a peaceful new march on Sunday, keeping the pressure on strongman Alexander Lukashenko who has refused to quit after his disputed re-election, turning instead to Russia for help to stay in power. Troops, water cannon, armoured personnel carriers and armoured reconnaissance vehicles were deployed to the centre of Minsk ahead of the march and several metro stations were closed. Viasna rights groups said nearly 70 people had been detained in the capital. But protesters from all walks of life, from parents with children to students and from Catholic priests to prominent athletes, came out onto the streets in a show of defiance, an AFP correspondent reported from the scene. Many held red-and-white flags and placards while a band beat drums and played other instruments. Some demonstrators danced or walked on stilts. Unprecedented protests broke out after Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote on August 9. Opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says she won the vote but Lukashenko's security forces have detained thousands of protesters, many of whom accused police of beatings and torture. Several people have died in the crackdown. Tikhanovskaya left Belarus under pressure from authorities and took shelter in EU member Lithuania. - 'Honest elections' - Belarusians have been demonstrating across the country for nearly a month even though the protest movement lacks a clear leader, with many activists jailed or forced out of the country. On Sunday, the protesters marched towards Lukashenko's residence at the Independence Palace where they chanted "Tribunal" and "How much are you getting paid?" Some participants held impromptu picnics near security cordons and water cannon close to the Independence Palace. "I am in favour of new honest elections," said 28-year-old protester Nikita Sazanovich. Story continues One protester held a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who Germany says has been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent "Please only live," said the placard, referring to President Vladimir Putin's top foe. Navalny has been in a coma for the past two weeks as his aides suspect he drank a cup of poisoned tea at a Siberian airport. "Sasha, have some tea. It's Putin's treat," some protesters chanted, referring to Lukashenko by his diminutive name. Many say they will keep taking to the streets until Lukashenko quits. "Lukashenko must go," said Nikolai Dyatlov, a 32-year-old protester. "Why is our legitimately elected president located in a different country?" he said, referring to 37-year-old Tikhanovskaya. More than 100,000 people are estimated to have flooded into the streets of the capital Minsk over the past three weekends and AFP journalists said Sunday the crowd in Minsk was even larger. "Remember we are strong as long as we are united," Tikhanovskaya told supporters in a short video address ahead of the "March of Unity." Russia has said it will respond to any Western attempts to "sway the situation" and Putin has raised the possibility of sending military support. - 'Tough nut' - Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its recent offers of economic and military aid with calls for tighter integration. Lukashenko has in the past ruled out outright unification and sought to play Moscow off against the West but his options now are limited. On Thursday, Lukashenko hosted Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and said the two countries had managed to agree on issues they "could not agree earlier." The moustachioed leader said he planned to "dot all the i's" with Putin in Moscow in the next few weeks. Lukashenko made headlines this week when he claimed that his security forces had intercepted German calls showing that Navalny's poisoning had been faked. Belarusian state television broadcast the "intercept" in which a Mike in Warsaw and Nick in Berlin discuss Navalny's materials and call Lukashenko a "tough nut to crack." Lukashenko also raised eyebrows last month when he brandished an assault rifle and had his 16-year-old son Nikolai appear next to him in a bulletproof vest while also wielding a weapon. tk-vk-as/bmm P olice have charged 77 people following the newspaper blockades by Extinction Rebellion. The environmental group targeted nine major newspapers at printing presses in Knowsley on Merseyside and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, leaving some newsagents with empty shelves. About 80 people were arrested on Saturday across both protests, which received widespread criticism from across the political spectrum. Hertfordshire Police said 51 people had been charged with obstruction of the highway on Sunday following the demonstration outside the printworks in Waltham Cross, north London. Dominic Raab: Police already have powers to tackle Extinction Rebellion The statement said two people have been remanded in custody to appear in court on Monday while 49 were released on conditional bail. It came after officers on Merseyside charged 26 with aggravated trespass on Sunday morning. Merseyside police said in a statement: "We were contacted at 10.10pm last night, Friday 4th September, following reports that a group of protestors had gathered outside News International on Kitling Road. "The 30 people arrested for aggravated trespass have been taken to police stations across Merseyside where they will be interviewed by officers. "A boat and two vans, used by the protestors to cause obstruction to and from the premises of News International have been removed. "The incident has now been stood down and the surrounding roads and entrances have been fully opened." They are due to appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates Court and St Helens Magistrates Court on January 8 and 13 next year. Police said all 26 have been granted bail under the condition they do not enter Merseyside or contact any News International employees. Meanwhile 50 people were arrested at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire police said. It comes after reports that Home Secretary Priti Patel wants to take a fresh look at how XR is classified under law to protect the "tenets of democracy". It could potentially lead a wider clampdown on the group's activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads, and by disrupting public transport. Under additional proposals, Parliament, courts and the press could be given special status in regard to the key role they play in democracy, with the potential for police to be handed beefed-up powers to stop demonstrators entering designated areas outside such premises. Extinction Rebellion: London demonstrations 1 /102 Extinction Rebellion: London demonstrations PA PA Extinction Rebellion UK AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA AFP via Getty Images Jeremy Selwyn The environmental campaign group has planned events to be held at several landmarks in the capital PA Extinction Rebellion protesters in Parliament Square, London PA Extinction Rebellion protesters tussle with police officer in Parliament Square PA Extinction Rebellion protesters in Parliament Square PA Actor Juliet Stevenson speaks at an Extinction Rebellion protest PA PA AFP via Getty Images PA PA REUTERS AFP via Getty Images PA Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn Jeremy Selwyn PA AFP via Getty Images PA REUTERS PA Reuters AFP via Getty Images Reuters PA Jeremy Selwyn AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Reuters PA Reuters Reuters PA AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA PA Reuters Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS AFP via Getty Images Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AP REUTERS AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images PA Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press, a Government source told PA. But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that police already have the powers to tackle disruption caused by Extinction Rebellion. Speaking to Sky News Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Mr Raab said: We always keep all of our laws under review but I think actually the laws are in place to take relevant enforcement action against criminal behaviour. Pressed on the issue again later in the interview, Mr Raab added: As I said, we keep all our laws under review but I think from everything Ive seen today, we have the enforcement powers necessary to ensure that kind of behaviour we saw overnight is not repeated. Meanwhile former shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said on Sunday morning that it would be "ridiculous" to call Extinction Rebellion an organised crime group as they were "in the tradition of the suffragettes". She faced criticism for her remarks from both Mr Raab and new Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey. Police and fire services outside the Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, as protesters use bamboo lock-ons continue to block the road. / PA Wire/PA Images The Foreign Secretary said: "Im astounded at Diane Abbotts remarks. The idea that it is right to damage property or intervene with a free press in the name of progressive protest is, I think, perverse. Actually, I think it is damaging to the cause of climate change. I respect the right of peaceful protest but hijacking that with a militant agenda to disrupt the very heart of democratic debate, which is through a free media, is just totally wrong and were against it, and I think law enforcement action should be taken to preserve our wider freedoms, and they do include a free media. Asked by Sophy RIdge if he agreed with Ms Abbotts assessment that the demonstrations had been legitimate, Sir Ed said: No I think we need to bring the country together to realise we have a climate emergency alongside the Covid health and economic emergency. Extinction Rebellion in the tradition of the suffragettes', says Diane Abbott My concern with what we saw was that it actually divides people, it can undermine the message about the climate emergency. I fear that when you damage the free press in particular, that is shooting yourself in the foot. There was an interview with David Attenborough in one of those newspapers that didnt get distributed David Attenborough is the environmentalist par excellence, he has a lot to say about climate change and how we protect our environment. I think stopping people reading David Attenborough is not a good message. It comes after the protests which targeted nine major UK newspapers, including the Evening Standard were roundly criticised on Saturday. The presses also publish Rupert Murdoch's News Corps titles including The Sun, The Times, The Sun on Sunday and The Sunday Times, and The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, and the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Newsprinters condemned the protests as an attack on all of the free press that affected workers' jobs and meant newsagents could face a "financial penalty". The company said it had been able to print papers at other sites, but that some deliveries of The Sun, The Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times would be delayed. Ms Patel branded the demonstration an attack on democracy. Extinction Rebellion protesters / Extinction Rebellion UK She wrote on Twitter: This morning people across the country will be prevented from reading their newspaper because of the actions of Extinction Rebellion. This attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable. A Labour party spokesperson said: "A free press is vital for our democracy. People have the right to read the newspapers they want. Stopping them from being distributed and printers from doing their jobs is wrong. But Labour MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler posted a tweet supporting the group, which was later deleted. The tweet read: "Bravo #ExtinctionRebellion....Excellent work...." Ed Davey condemns Extinction Rebellion's printworks protest She told Times Radio: I dont really know what it is that is expected to be achieved and I know that for many older listeners its very much part of their daily life, getting their paper delivered in the morning and I just think its wrong. Robert Jenrick, the Housing Secretary, labelled the Extinction Rebellion protesters an intolerant minority. Posting on Twitter, he said: A free press matters to all of us who value a free society. They mustnt be silenced by an intolerant minority. Meanwhile Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told Times Radio that Extinction Rebellion had lost sight of how to campaign. He added: The Government has done much itself but obviously could do more and we need to work with the people to get that message across so we all can be more aware of the carbon footprint that we create. But what theyre doing here is to alienate more people. I fear the organisation itself has been hijacked. Extinction Rebellion said the blockade was "an escalation of our tactics". Scottish members of the group said on their Twitter account: "Weve moved on from general disruption to target the institutions that are causing and covering up the climate and ecological emergency. The time for change is now. With additional reporting by PA British police declared a "major incident" on Sunday after several people were stabbed in Birmingham city. "We can confirm that at approximately 12:30am today (Sunday 6 September) we were called to reports of a stabbing in Birmingham city centre", West Midlands Police said in a statement. #UPDATE | We can confirm that at approximately 12:30am today we were called to reports of a stabbing in #Birmingham city centre. We immediately attended, along with colleagues from the ambulance service. A number of other stabbings were reported in the area shortly after. West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) September 6, 2020 "A number of other stabbings were reported in the area shortly after and this has been declared a major incident. We are aware of a number of injured people, but at the moment we are not in a position to say how many or how serious. However, all emergency services are working together at the scene, and making sure that those who are injured receive medical care," added the statement. Security forces have cordoned off a large area of the city centre as officers arrived at the scene of incident. "Work is still going on to establish what has happened, and could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything. At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident," West Midlands Police said. Local media reported that a cordon has been set up by police at the junction of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street. Police have urged the people to remain calm and stay away from the area of incident. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of the Governors Conference on National Education Policy on September 7, 2020, informed the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday (September 6, 2020). The Conference titled Role of NEP-2020 in Transforming Higher Education is being organized by the Union Ministry of Education and will begin at 10:30 AM IST through a video conference. The NEP-2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century which was announced after 34 years of the previous National Policy on Education 1986. It is directed towards major reforms in both school and higher education level. The new National Education Policy strives for making India into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society. It envisions an India-centred education system that contributes directly to transforming India into a Global Superpower. Also read | National Education Policy 2020 is a revolutionary reform for 21st century, says Union Minister Prakash Javadekar The comprehensive transformation aimed the NEP will bring about a paradigm shift in the countrys education system and create an enabling and reinvigorated educational ecosystem for a new Atmanirbhar Bharat envisaged by Honble Prime Minister of India. Various webinars, virtual conferences, and conclaves on various aspects of National Education Policy 2020 are being organised across the country. The Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission earlier organized a Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy-2020 which was also addressed by PM Modi. The Governors Conference on September 7 will also be attended by Education Ministers of all States, Vice-Chancellors of State Universities and other senior officials. 1988 was one of the bloodiest years of the Troubles since the dark days of the 1970s - but the seeds of hope and peace were being sown as Sunday Life appeared on the news-stands for the first time. SDLP leader John Hume and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams began a series of private talks in January which angered many leading nationalists but which would lead ultimately to the vast majority of republicans choosing the ballot box over Armalites and bombs. But peace seemed a long way off in March 1988 when three linked events plunged Northern Ireland deeper into the darkness of sectarian conflict. Expand Close The funeral procession for the Gibraltar Three / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The funeral procession for the Gibraltar Three First, an SAS team shot dead three IRA members in Gibraltar. Ten days later at the funerals of those IRA members - Mairead Farrell, Sean Savage and Danny McCann - at Milltown Cemetery, loyalist Michael Stone launched a gun and grenade attack on mourners, killing three men and wounding 70 people. Expand Close The Gibraltar bombers Sean Savage, Mairead Farrell and Danny McCann / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Gibraltar bombers Sean Savage, Mairead Farrell and Danny McCann Three days later, British Army corporals Derek Wood and David Howes were abducted, beaten and shot dead by republicans after driving into the west Belfast funeral cortege of IRA member Kevin Brady who had been killed by Stone. Expand Close Corporal Derek Wood killed at the IRA funeral of Kevin Brady in Andersonstown in 1988. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Corporal Derek Wood killed at the IRA funeral of Kevin Brady in Andersonstown in 1988. TV footage of the Milltown attack and the lynch mob style abduction of the two corporals shocked the world. There was more carnage to follow. In June, at a fun run event in Lisburn, an IRA bomb killed six British soldiers and injured 11 civilians including a two-year-old child and an 80-year-old man. And in August eight soldiers were killed by an IRA bomb attack on their bus in Ballygawley. It was against this backdrop of bloodshed and mayhem that Sunday Life's first editor Ed Curran and his team prepared to launch the new paper. Expand Close Ed Curran / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ed Curran Defying the old adage that bad news sells papers, Ed Curran was determined that the first front page splash would be upbeat and he was keen to have PEACE in the headline. A joint visit by the Protestant and Catholic Archbishops of Armagh to the United States gave Mr Curran opportunity to run the headline Peace Mission to the USA. He later admitted: "We had little to justify any optimism." Only months earlier, a future Stormont First Minister survived a sickening IRA bomb attack on a school bus in Fermanagh. Sixteen-year-old Arlene Kelly (later Foster) was one of 17 pupils on the bus driven by the IRA's target, part-time UDR soldier Ernie Wilson who despite suffering serious injuries himself, saved the life of Arlene's friend Gillian Latimer. A few months later, in October, the then DUP leader Ian Paisley was ejected from the European Parliament for heckling Pope John Paul II. Expand Close Causing uproar: Rev Ian Paisley denounces Pope John Paul during his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Causing uproar: Rev Ian Paisley denounces Pope John Paul during his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg In the same month Margaret Thatcher's government attempted to starve Sinn Fein of the "oxygen of publicity" by banning the voices of its leaders from the airwaves. Broadcasters simply hired actors to dub the voices of the likes of Adams. Internationally, George Bush senior was elected US President, succeeding Ronald Reagan. The year 1988 brought tragedy elsewhere too in the UK with 259 passengers and crew on board a Pan Am flight to New York killed by a Libyan terrorist bomb over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. Eleven people on the ground were also killed by falling debris. Expand Close The bomb killed all those on board and 11 people on the ground (PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The bomb killed all those on board and 11 people on the ground (PA) The 105 victims of the Troubles in 1988 included entertainer Paddy Kielty's businessman father Jack, shot dead by loyalists on January 25 outside his office in Dundrum, Co Down. One of those linked to that murder was notorious UDA gangster Jim Craig who himself was murdered by members of his own gang in an east Belfast pub in October - they accused him of "treason", alleging he was involved in the IRA murder of top loyalist John McMichael. Just days earlier, prison officer Brian Armour was killed by an IRA booby-trap bomb in east Belfast. It emerged he had been betrayed by a fellow officer, Christopher John Hanna, who had been lured into an affair with a TV actress called Rosena Brown, who was an IRA spy. Hanna (45) died from cancer in jail after being convicted of a role in Mr Armour's murder while Brown, dubbed an IRA Mati Hari, was later jailed for explosives offences. A few readers had issues with some of the stories I reported last week. A couple disliked the post quoting a spotted lanternfly expert at Penn State on the widely reported deaths and injuries caused to nontarget mammals, birds, reptiles and insects by sticky tapes wrapped around the trunks of trees as a defense against the invasive lanternflies. The article offered ideas on modifying the traps to prevent the capture of nontarget species. One of them thought the article should have pointed that he thought very few people would go to the trouble of adding exclosures to their sticky tapes to protect nontarget species. The other thought there was no need to worry about nontarget species because he had not seen any stuck to any of his sticky-tape traps. A third reader asked for illustrations on how to modify the traps. Those can be found on the Penn State Extension spotted lanternfly website. Another reader took issue with the headline on the article Coyotes in Pennsylvania: Are they coming to get you? from nearly a year ago. The reader felt the headline was overly sensational. But the headline was based on questions that other readers had asked and I was answering for them. A caterpillar described as apricot color, but not fuzzy like the puss or monkey caterpillar about an inch in length and kind of fat apparently stung a reader, who asked for an identification of the caterpillar from me. Without a photo, I was unable to offer an identification, but I recommended that the readers doctor would be his best bet to check on any allergies you might have or if you feel you encountered something really serious. In response to my article on a bleak outlook for fall foliage this year a reader asked me for a prediction on the timing of peak fall color in the Wellsboro area. I answered, Probably mid-October. We will begin running the states foliage reports at the end of September, which will give you a good heads-up each week. After reading my report that the Pennsylvania Game Commission will not be hosting a driving tour of Stony Valley this fall, a reader asked, Will there be a driving tour in Berks County? The answer, from the article, is yes. The State Game Land 110 driving tour will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 18. It will begin at the SGL 110 entrance off Mountain Road approximately five miles west of Hamburg and end at Route 183, four miles north of Strausstown. Travel will be limited to the designated tour route only and off-road vehicle operation is not permitted. Do you have questions about the outdoors and nature? Contact me at mschneck@pennlive.com. - Thandeka Mdeliswa has been killed in an argument over the weekend - She was reportedly shot after two men came to her family's house and began arguing - The police are in pursuit of the shooter, the identity of the owner of the gun is known to the police PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Actor Thandeka Mdeliswa was killed in her family's home in Evander, Mpumalanga. It has been reported that she died of a gunshot wound. The family has confirmed her death and the police are investigating. Police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlathi has said that two men came to the home and had an argument with Thandeka's brother. She went to talk to the two men and the argument escalated and one of the men grabbed his friends gun and shot her. The men ran away and the police have said that they know who the owner of the gun is but they are still pursuing the shooter. The family reportedly released a statement saying that Thandeka was airlifted to hospital where she passed away on Saturday morning according to News 24. READ ALSO: Boity Thulo surprises her beautiful momma with lush birthday party Thandeka (27) was known for her role on SABC 1's drama iKani, she played the role of Khanya. Her family released the following statement: "She was a young, talented and inspirational actress and her family and community were looking to see her flourish. We had a lot of expectations for her. The brutality which was affected on our daughter has left us deeply hurt. This is another incident of gender-based violence (GBV) which our country has to fight against. We believe justice will be served. Evander SAPS are continuing to investigate. Thandeka Mdeliswa has tragically lost her life. Photo credit: Facebook/@Thandeka Mdeliswa Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Boy moved to tears as classmates gift him a phone and matric jacket Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that Somizi has taken to social media to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa what it will take for him to address the current scourge of femicide in Mzansi. The media personality recently sent an open video message to Ramaphosa. Somgaga asked the president probing questions related to the scourge of gender-based violence in the country. The Idols SA presenter feels that the president has not done enough when it comes to femicide. "What is it going to take for you to say enough is enough?" In other news, Lady Zamar has taken to social media to praise Mzansi men who do not abuse women. She also gave a shout-out to men who lend their voices towards the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). The musician is currently embroiled in a legal case against her ex-boyfriend Sjava, who she accuses of mistreating her. Sjava denied the allegations. Taking to Twitter, Lady Zamar posted: "Massive thanks to every man who has never laid a finger on a woman, threatened her, beat her or in anyway abused a woman. Big thanks to all the men who fight alongside women to stop gender-based violence, protecting their wives, daughters, sisters, friends, aunts, moms, cousins." Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news! Source: Briefly News (Left to Right) Pei Jette, Ashley HomeStore-Jacksonville President, Chris Caprio, and scholarship recipient Jak McCurdy "We wanted to show our employees that we are here for them and that they are never alone." Chris Caprio, President, Ashley HomeStore-Jacksonville Ashley HomeStore announced the winners of the 2020 Inaugural Scholarship in memory of Jacob Jette. Annette Whitehurst, the daughter of an Ashley HomeStore employee, and Jak McCurdy, a retail sales associate with Ashley HomeStore, each received a $2500 check from the locally-owned, employee-owned and operated company to help with their higher-education expenses. The scholarship program resulted from the tragic death of Jacob Jette, the 19-year old son of one the companys long-time employees. To keep my son, Jacob Jettes name alive was a selfless act by my Ashley HomeStore family, for which I will forever be grateful, said Jacobs mother, Pei, who has worked as a visual merchandiser with the company for more than eight years. Nothing can replace the loss of a child, said Chris Caprio, president of Ashley HomeStore, Jacksonville. But we wanted to show Pei Jette and her family that were here for our employees and that they are never alone. The scholarship idea was born from a senseless act of violence. Each year we will issue it in honor or memory of someone who has made a significant impact on our Ashley HomeStore family. Alicia Whitehurst, whose daughter received the scholarship to help with expenses in chiropractic school, expressed her gratitude: My daughter is in a season of her life where so much loss has taken place. In spite of everything, she remains focused and I have such a sincere appreciation to Ashley HomeStore for this scholarship blessing. Ashley HomeStore Retail Sales Associate, Jak McCurdy, said that the scholarship has inspired him to pay it forward and help others. The scholarship means the world to me and relieves a lot of stress about how to pay for tuition while also working full time. I feel so blessed to be chosen for the scholarship and hope to one day return the gesture and help someone who is striving to better themselves, McCurdy said. A suspect in the murder of Jacob Jette was apprehended and is currently awaiting trial. The SFTF Scholarship Program awards two $2,500 scholarships annually to students entering an accredited post-high school learning environment (ie, technical college, trade school, junior college or traditional four-year degree seeking-students) based on demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and an express interest in pursuing a particular passion. Eligible students must be a current Ashley HomeStore-Jacksonville/Brunswick employee with at least 12 months of full-time employment, or the immediate child or grandchild of an eligible employee. To learn more, go to http://www.ashleyjaxcommunity.com. Ashley HomeStore is the #1 furniture and mattress retailer in America and the #1 selling furniture store brand in the World. Ashley HomeStores has five locations in Jacksonville, Florida (St. Johns Town Center, River City Marketplace, Orange Park @ I-295, Glynn Isles Market (Brunswick GA)) and the recent Ashley HomeStore Outlet at Southside and Atlantic Blvds. The retailer is an exclusive provider of furniture from Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., the largest furniture manufacturer in North America. For more information on Ashley HomeStore and our products, visit our website at http://www.AshleyHomeStore.com. The 101st consecutive day of protests in Portland began with a pair of sit-ins. One, a rally in the Northeast sextants King School Park. The other, a demonstration in Southeast Portland featuring an impromptu appearance from a local drumline, the members of which came together after they began recognizing each other during protests. Demonstrators have gathered for every day since the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd to call for criminal justice reforms. The event at King School Park drew around 100 people, according to social media reports. There, as at Lents Park, organizers offered food and mutual aid. During the Southeast Portland demonstration, attendees stenciled the names of 39 Black people killed by police or racially-motivated violence. A sit-in event at Lents park with speakers, music and performances was organized as part of the 100th Day of protests in Portland.Dave Killen/The Oregonian Ray Austin, who moved to Portland nine months ago, led the Frontline Drumline in a trio of performances shortly after noon. During one song, he asked rally attendees to chant Black lives matter in tune to the music. Austin, like other members of the collective, has attended Portlands protests against systemic racism and police brutality nearly every evening since May 28, when a group of people demonstrated in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center to little fanfare. The events at King School and Lents parks events were billed as celebrations of the 100th day of protests organizers considered a May 29 rally the first. That night, a protest at Peninsula Park that drew thousands culminated in a march and rally downtown during which police eventually declared a riot. On various evenings afterward, Austin would hear someone drumming in the distance, so hed wander over to introduce himself. We were all doing the same thing so we were sort of drawn to each other, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Austin and his fellow drumline members didnt know there was supposed to be a rally in Lents Park Saturday. But he and his crew were already there to rehearse and, when he was asked to give a short speech, he obliged. A sit-in event at Lents park with speakers, music and performances was organized as part of the 100th Day of protests in Portland.Dave Killen/The Oregonian Austin said hes noticed police responses to protests escalate as the demonstrations have continued, a reaction Austin attributes to progress protesters have made in their reform efforts. The city police bureaus budget was cut by about $15 million, or 2%. Democratic leaders in the Oregon Legislature say they want to take up more police reform bills in a third special session. And school districts within Portland city limits will no longer have armed officers patrol their campuses They know their time is over. They know they are on their way out the door, Austin said. We must continue that pressure. The six-hour sit-ins at King School and Lents parks were the first racial justice demonstrations of the day. A second, larger protest began Saturday evening at Ventura Park in Southeast Portland. About 400 people converged in the park by 8:30 p.m. A series of Black and Indigenous speakers and performers addressed the crowd. Fahiym Acuay, a community leader who goes by the name Mac Smiff, urged people to continue pressing for police reforms. The crowd planned to march from Ventura Park, likely to the nearby East Precinct nearby where dozens of police officers were awaiting their arrival. Saturdays demonstrations came one week after the fatal shooting of Aaron Jay Danielson, a supporter of right-wing group Patriot Prayer shot and killed in downtown Portland. Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson and others organized a memorial for Danielson that hundreds of people attended Saturday afternoon in Vancouver. Samantha Swindler, Dave Killen, Beth Nakamura and Michael Russell of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. --Eder Campuzano | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook The Parramatta Powerhouse is undergoing a significant redesign to remove a publicly accessible undercroft deemed a deathtrap during downpours and floods. The undercroft lifts the museum and its collection above the 1-in-100-year flood level, collecting rising floodwaters. In dry weather, it was to have been open to the public with sports courts and art displays suggested for the space. The new Parramatta Powerhouse Museum showing the undercroft. The redesign is to be detailed in the government's formal response, which will argue for the development despite most of the 1300-plus public submissions opposing the demolition of two historic buildings. Parramatta Council first sounded the alarm to the risk with flood management engineers while also warning that visitors risked drowning while sheltering or being evacuated from the museum during flash floods. B order officials have found more than 1 million hidden inside two lorries trying to leave the UK. The money was found concealed inside the refrigerated motor housing of both vehicles at Dovers Eastern Docks on Friday. The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Border Force officers stopped the first truck at 2.45am, with a search uncovering about 830,000. A second lorry was stopped at 11am, and about 330,000 discovered inside. The NCA shared photos of bundles of banknotes that appeared to have been stuffed inside plastic bags. The drivers of the vehicles, both Turkish nationals working for the same company in Belgium, have been charged with money laundering, the NCA said. Dursun Mehmet Keles, 49, is due to appear at Medway Magistrates Court on Monday in a virtual hearing. Yusuf Yukel, 50, is also due to appear at a court yet to be confirmed on October 7. Andrea Wilson, regional head of investigations at the NCA, said: "This was superb work by our Border Force colleagues. "Money is the life blood of serious and organised crime. "UK law enforcement has taken more than 1m off this organised crime group which they can no longer invest in further offending." Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper to The Korea Times, July 27, at his office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han Second disaster relief fund to be provided selectively By Jung Da-min A ruling bloc heavyweight has criticized the government's decision to provide emergency disaster relief money selectively to those in a poorer financial situation, warning the Moon Jae-in administration of public anger and distrust of its policies. The criticism was made by Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who has called for a universal payment of a second round of relief funds aimed at minimizing the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. His comments show the government's selective payment decision faces opposition from some members within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who are concerned that such a selective support could bring social division. "It is clear to me that the conflict and confusion caused by division, the feeling of alienation due to exclusion (from the handouts), and the resentment against and sense of betrayal by the Moon Jae-in government and the DPK, further against the state and community, are spreading like flames," Lee wrote on Facebook, Sunday. "I also see the forces of deep-rooted evil and malicious conservative media seeking a chance to strike back again behind the veil, wearing a contented smile." Lee cited a short posting written by a young husband, who said it was so difficult for the couple to earn a living that he and his wife had to sell their wedding rings, and as his wife wept all night, he wrapped his arms around her shoulder and cried with her. "I also shed tears while reading it," Lee said. "However, those whose situations suddenly deteriorated like this young couple are highly unlikely to be eligible for the support money this time." He said that throughout history, scholars had stressed that people were angrier at unfairness than poverty itself. "I'm so worried about the backlash that could arise due to discrimination forced by the nation's representatives in a crisis where everybody is suffering hardship," the governor said, urging the government to minimize this by setting up detailed criteria for the selective payment. Lee's strong criticism of the Moon government and the DPK could also be seen as a move to appeal to people as a prospective presidential candidate by drawing a line between him and the incumbent administration. His favorability as a potential presidential candidate has been increasing in recent months, and political watchers attributed this to his straightforwardness and strong drive in pushing forward with policies, seen in his efforts to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the province earlier this year. He was one of the first municipal heads in the country to provide relief funds to residents separately from the government, and recently has urged it to offer 300,000 won ($252.6) to every citizen for the second round of disaster handouts. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, second from left, holds a meeting at his official residence in Seoul, Sunday, with officials from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), relevant ministries and Cheong Wa Dae to confirm a plan to provide relief funds selectively to those directly affected by the recent resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. From left are DPK floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon, Chung, DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon and presidential chief of staff for policy Kim Sang-jo. / Yonhap Defence minister Rajnath Singh reached Iran on Saturday to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries after concluding his three-day Russia visit during which he urged the Persian Gulf countries to resolve their differences. Singh arrived in Tehran on Saturday evening from Moscow where he attended a meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries. He is scheduled to meet his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami during his Tehran visit. Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh reached Tehran this evening. He will be meeting the Iranian Defence Minister during his visit, the defence ministry said in a tweet. The defence ministers visit to Tehran comes a day after he expressed concern over the situation in the Persian Gulf and called upon countries in the region to resolve differences through dialogue based on mutual respect and sovereignty. Singhs remarks came in the backdrop of a series of incidents in the Persian Gulf involving Iran, the US and the UAE in recent weeks which have flared up tension in the region. Iranian navy had last month briefly seized control of a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in what the US said were international waters near the Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond. Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the United States tries to strangle its economy. Iran has observer status in the SCO, which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted as observers of the grouping in 2005 and in 2017, both the countries were admitted as full members of the bloc. (With agency inputs) In an editorial on Saturday, Global Times, which is closely aligned with the ruling Chinese Communist Party, said, "We must remind the Indian side that China's national strength, including its military strength, is much stronger than India's. Although China and India are both great powers, when it comes to the ultimate competition of combat capability, the Indian side will lose. If a border war starts, India will have no chance of winning." New Delhi: Terming Friday's meeting between Indian and Chinese Defence Ministers as a positive step, the Chinese media said on Saturday that in case of a border war, India will have no chance of winning. The editorial said, "We hope that the defence ministers' meeting will be a turning point for the two countries to come back to the consensus of the leaders' meeting. Each side will make its due effort to reduce tensions on the border." It has supported the meeting of the Defence Ministers in Moscow on Friday. However, it seemed to point to the fact that Indian policies on the border are being dictated by nationalism and public opinion. "Indian public opinion is too deeply and widely involved in border issues. The Indian troop has been obviously kidnapped by domestic nationalism. Therefore, in addition to the joint control of the border dispute between China and India, India should also manage public opinion and nationalism, and make the best choice for its country and its people," the Global Times said. "The problem now is that India has drawn an aggressive line on the border issue, misinterpreting China's desire to maintain peace and stability on the border as a weakness that can be exploited by threatening to wage a border war 'at any cost'. "Some in New Delhi also believe that the US' suppression of China and support for India has increased India's strategic strength and provided it with additional capital for risky adventure along the China-India border. This miscalculation has led it to a series arrogant and reckless moves on the China-India border issue," it added. Chinese State Councilor and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Moscow on Friday. This was the highest-level military meeting between the two countries since tensions flared along the borders in recent months. The two armies are currently confronting each other on the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake and Reqin mountain pass in eastern Ladakh. The situation on the ground is quite tense. "The fact that the two defence ministers are sitting face-to-face is in itself a positive signal and provides the necessary atmosphere for the two countries to manage their border disputes and cool down the situation on the ground," Global Times said. "Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also plan to meet on September 10. The meeting between Wei and Singh laid an important foundation for the meeting between the two foreign ministers. The complex border issue between China and India cannot be resolved in one meeting, but the role of the two defence ministers will be crucial in cooling border frictions," the editorial said. "China and India are both big powers that have the capacity to mobilise national forces to support a military conflict in the border areas, but at this moment both sides need to calm down and clarify two major issues," it added. Flagging the first issue, it said that China and India have not yet demarcated their borders and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) shouldn't be subject to constant change and different interpretations. "The LAC of November 7, 1959 should be the base for both sides," it said. "If both sides want to create a new LAC on their own, and the will of the two major powers were to collide, the result would be disastrous. If both countries use their national power to support this collision indefinitely, it will lead to war, and the scale of the war may not be controlled near the LAC, resulting in a tragic loss of both countries' power, including the lives of their soldiers. "And given the size of both countries' national power and the current international climate, it is almost impossible to change the status quo on their borders to a large degree. In the end, the two countries will have to return to the general state of the existing LAC. So what are the two sides fighting for?" Global Times said. The China-India boundary issue, which had been dormant for decades, has become "an active volcano" again in recent years, and it should not be. Before delimiting the border, it should be a common goal for both the countries to manage the border issue by letting the disputes become "dormant" between the two sides again, Global Times said. (Newser) Anthony Fauci has a message for the Midwest: Please be careful. America's top infectious disease expert says seven states with rising COVID-19 rates should take extra care this Labor Day weekend to avoid trouble in the fall, the New York Post reports. "There are several states that are at risk for surging, namely North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois," Fauci told Bloomberg this week. "Those states are starting to see an increase in the percent positive of their testing; that is generally predictive that there's going to be a problem." Among the seven states, Illinois has the highest official coronavirus tally with at least 241,704 cases, Newsweek reported Friday. story continues below The other states in descending order are Indiana (96,854), Missouri (89,639), Iowa (67,692), Arkansas (63,081), South Dakota (14,337), and North Dakota (12,977). In a call to Mike Pence and several governors this week, Fauci advised them to follow mask-wearing and social-distancing guidelines. "If we're careless about it, then we could wind up with a surge following Labor Day," Fauci said. "It really depends on how we behave as a country." Bloomberg recalls that Memorial Day "marked a turning point" that appeared to trigger outbreaks, and America's worst spike came a few weeks after July 4th, when new cases surpassed 60,000 per day. (Read more coronavirus stories.) It's a crisp recent Tuesday evening and a group of scouts from Killarney Heights is tramping happily along a trail deep within Manly Dam state park, their torches and chatter giving ample warning to any wildlife to scamper. They stomp past our little troupe, which includes an ecologist, an evolutionary biologist and a conservationist, unaware that our nocturnal mission has just reached its goal: finding the elusive climbing galaxias fish. Ecologist Sonya Ku at Manly Dam where shes been monitoring climbing galaxias fish and also conducting a survey of the state park's rich biodiversity. Credit:James Brickwood The fish aren't scaling the slippery rocks with their large pectoral and pelvic fins this night but they are still there, swimming in the clear waters of Curl Curl Creek, seemingly unperturbed by the large spiny crayfish. "It's a Gondwanaland relic that climbs waterfalls as part of its life cycle, takes in oxygen through its skin and survives in both fresh and marine waters," says Sonya Ku, the ecologist and our guide this night. Bihar records 1,797 new Covid-19 cases in last 24 hours; total recoveries over 130,000 Healthcare worker collects swab sample of the residents at Kandivali in Mumbai on Saturday. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo) India on Sunday reported a record rise of more than 90,000 cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), also the highest single day-spike in the world, pushing the tally over 4.11 million, according to the union health ministry's dashboard. Maximum number of cases have been coming from Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. As many as 73,642 patients have recovered and been discharged from either home isolation or hospitals in the last 24 hours. The total numbers of recoveries have reached nearly 32 lakh. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage Covid-19 cases across the world have topped 26 million with the United States reporting the highest number of cases at 6,243,849 followed by Brazil (4,092,832), according to Johns Hopkins Universitys tally. The global toll from the infection has gone up to 877,438. This article will reflect on the compensation paid to Alastair Smith who has served as CEO of Avacta Group Plc (LON:AVCT) since 2005. This analysis will also evaluate the appropriateness of CEO compensation when taking into account the earnings and shareholder returns of the company. Check out our latest analysis for Avacta Group Comparing Avacta Group Plc's CEO Compensation With the industry According to our data, Avacta Group Plc has a market capitalization of UK408m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK328k over the year to December 2019. Notably, that's an increase of 58% over the year before. We note that the salary portion, which stands at UK282.0k constitutes the majority of total compensation received by the CEO. In comparison with other companies in the industry with market capitalizations ranging from UK150m to UK602m, the reported median CEO total compensation was UK327k. So it looks like Avacta Group compensates Alastair Smith in line with the median for the industry. Component 2019 2018 Proportion (2019) Salary UK282k UK193k 86% Other UK46k UK15k 14% Total Compensation UK328k UK208k 100% On an industry level, around 70% of total compensation represents salary and 30% is other remuneration. According to our research, Avacta Group has allocated a higher percentage of pay to salary in comparison to the wider industry. If salary dominates total compensation, it suggests that CEO compensation is leaning less towards the variable component, which is usually linked with performance. A Look at Avacta Group Plc's Growth Numbers Avacta Group Plc saw earnings per share stay pretty flat over the last three years. Its revenue is up 65% over the last year. The decrease in EPS could be a concern for some investors. But on the other hand, revenue growth is strong, suggesting a brighter future. In conclusion we can't form a strong opinion about business performance yet; but it's one worth watching. Looking ahead, you might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for the company's future earnings.. Story continues Has Avacta Group Plc Been A Good Investment? Most shareholders would probably be pleased with Avacta Group Plc for providing a total return of 126% over three years. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size. In Summary... As we noted earlier, Avacta Group pays its CEO in line with similar-sized companies belonging to the same industry. Shareholder returns for the company have been strong for the last three years. At the same time, revenues are also moving northwards at a healthy pace. On a worrying note, its important to acknowledge that EPS growth has been negative recently. Considering overall performance, it's fair to say Alastair is paid reasonably. CEO compensation is an important area to keep your eyes on, but we've also need to pay attention to other attributes of the company. In our study, we found 4 warning signs for Avacta Group you should be aware of, and 2 of them are potentially serious. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a different set of stocks. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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. By Krisztina Than BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief has been quarantined until he tests negative for the coronavirus, after attending a private event last Saturday where a participant tested positive, Orban's office said. The first test on Gergely Gulyas was negative, it said in a statement on state news agency MTI on Thursday. A state secretary working in Orban's office has also gone into self-isolation since Wednesday. Orban's spokesman said in a reply to Reuters questions that "the Prime Minister is not affected." Orban's office said Gulyas could leave quarantine and attend a government meeting on Friday only if his second test proved negative. Justice Minister Judit Varga announced on her Facebook page that she had also moved into quarantine after meeting someone on Monday who had been diagnosed with COVID-19. She said her first test on Thursday was negative and she had shown no symptoms. The governing Fidesz party's director of communications, Istvan Hollik, announced on his official Facebook page that he had also tested positive. Hollik was one of the organizers of an event where Orban was supposed to speak on Friday. The event was cancelled on Wednesday, according to its official page. The Hungarian government is expected to discuss new restrictions due to a rising number of infections, flagged by Orban last week. The central European country recorded 91 new infections on Thursday, the highest figure since April, with total cases now at 5,379. Hungary has recorded 614 deaths from the disease. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Nirmala Sitharaman, in the 41st meeting of GST Council on 27 August, ruled out paying compensation to states Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the centre not giving full GST compensation to the states, saying this "act of sovereign default" runs against the very spirit of the cooperative federalism. In a letter addressed to the prime minister, Soren said this is symptomatic of the "withering trust" between the centre and the states. In the letter, dated 4 September, Soren said the states were given assurance that the centre would compensate the losses they suffer for the next five years, but it has just been three years, and "we find ourselves deserted". "Reluctance and inability of the GOI to give full compensation to the states is a betrayal of the commitment it made in the Union Parliament and also in all the council meetings held so far (sic)," the chief minister said. Soren is the latest non-NDA chief minister to come out against the centre's offer on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation to the states. Soren is heading a coalition government in Jharkhand consisting of JMM, Congress and the RJD. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has also written to Modi, saying depriving states of GST compensation is an "attempt to undermine federalism" and urged him not to belie the trust between the states and the centre on the issue. Besides the two, the chief ministers of Punjab, Kerala, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Rajasthan and Puducherry have also rejected the centre's proposal. Banerjee and Soren were among the opposition parties CMs who had participated in a virtual meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, a day before the GST council meeting. In the 41st meeting of GST Council on 27 August, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the COVID-19 pandemic is an "act of God" which has hit GST collection and ruled out paying compensation to states from its coffers. As per the centre's calculations, the compensation requirement of states in current fiscal would be Rs 3 lakh crore, of which Rs 65,000 crore would come from levy of cess. Out of the shortfall of Rs 2.35 lakh crore, the shortfall due to GST implementation is Rs 97,000 crore and the remaining is due to COVID-19 impact. The centre has given two options to states - to either borrow the entire Rs 2.35 lakh crore or borrow only Rs 97,000 crore through a special window, which would be provided by the RBI- to meet the revenue shortfall. Referring to the prime minister's speech at the launch of the GST in July 2017, Soren said, Modi had portrayed the new tax regime as a great example of cooperative federalism that would herald inclusive growth of the nation. "I echo your sentiments but you would agree that India as a nation can grow only if its constituent states also grow and become self-reliant. But the reluctance of the central government to fulfil its constitutional obligations regarding GST compensation goes against the interests of the states and the spirit of cooperative federalism," he said. "... Jharkhand contributes to compensation fund a cess of nearly Rs 5,000 crore from the mineral sector alone. What we get in return is just a paltry sum of nearly Rs 150 crore as monthly compensation. And now we are being asked to borrow at a time when the state is hard-pressed to fulfil salaries of government servants," he added. Soren said that as the state's economy is in a precarious situation at present, it needs more funds to take care of farmers, migrant workers, those in the unorganised sector and unemployed youths. "At this critical juncture, we naturally expected you to give us more than just the admissable compensation. We also expected you to announce that the GST compensation would continue even beyond the original period of five years," he said. Urging the prime minister to intervene in the matter and issue directions to the ministry concerned for the release of the compensation amount, Soren said, it will not only melt away all the apprehensions but also reinforce the trust in the spirit of cooperative federalism. We were en route to Ramvan from Chakrata, the broken-down hill road shrouded in silence. Suddenly, we heard a scream. We moved forward to find a number of soldiers in military attire near a cave on a hilltop. A rope stretched from the cave down to the road. An instructor was training them to descend from the top using the rope. Before beginning the descent, the soldiers had to utter a loud cry. We stopped. While they took a break, I asked the instructor the name of the unit. He replied that this was the Special Frontier Force (SFF), and said most of the soldiers in his force were Tibetans. During the ensuing conversation, I found that they were angry with China and were waiting to take on any aggression by that country. More than three decades have passed, but the incident has stayed with me. Today, when there is tension on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, the spotlight is on SFF. This force was relatively unknown. It was strategically kept in the background during the 1971 Bangladesh War on the Chittagong Hill; in 1984 during the hoisting of the Tricolour at Siachen; and in the Kargil War in 1999. The Army has not made any official statements about this, but it is no secret that SFF soldiers have captured inaccessible peaks on the southern banks of Pangong Tso. The force which occupies the highest peak in a war gets an automatic tactical edge. This is the first time that India has taken such action on the China border. Earlier, through Balakot and the surgical strikes, the Narendra Modi government sent a message to not just Pakistan but others across the border. It was decided that any incursion on the Line of Control (LoC) would be answered decisively and in kind. We have been trying to resolve both Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and Chinese incursions at the diplomatic level until now. Now, the army will respond to the action and the diplomatic establishment will convey our position to our adversaries and others through dialogue. But unfortunately, Chinese president Xi Jinping seem to have failed to grasp the implications of this strategy. In this light, defence ministers Rajnath Singh visiting Moscow twice in the last three months is not surprising. Last week, he went there for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting. Chinas defence minister, Wei Fenghe, was also there. Talks were not scheduled between them, but Wei took the initiative with Russia pushing for it as well. This is the first high-level dialogue amid the tensions at the border. A government statement said that Singh asked China to respect LAC while China sought to blame India for the border tensions. However, Wei also suggested that both sides maintain communications at all levels. We cannot let down our guard. China rarely lives up to its promises the deaths of Indian soldiers from Rezang La to Galwan is proof of that. The Rajnath visit is important in the light of our dependence on Russia for essential military supplies and the historic ties between the two countries. Russia has always supported India during the wars with Pakistan, but now things have changed. Hence, the need to renew the bond. It is said that decisions on war are made on the negotiating table. This means that if negotiations are done first, war can be avoided. And now, foreign minister, S Jaishankar, will meet Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi in Moscow on September 10. Is Moscow going to add a new chapter in Indias strategic history after Tashkent? Even if China had not encroached into our territory, India had to still acquire the power to deal with it. The Pentagon revealed, in a report this week, that China is looking to double its nuclear stockpile in ten years. It has ambitions to build military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles, Angola, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. China claims that it has the largest navy in the world. While we have made some gains through diplomacy in the neighbourhood and held the Chinese back, the challenge will persist. It is said of World War II that if Hitler had been prevented from advancing from Munich, the war would not have taken place. The fear of another great war can be allayed if the world makes a serious effort to stop Xi Jinpings expansionism. Perhaps this is why the United States (US) has increased the deployment of ships and warplanes in Diego Garcia and the South China Sea. The manner in which the Chinese foreign ministry has conducted itself recently is telling. Earlier this week, when the Czech Republic criticised it, Beijing sent out a warning that Prague would regret this. Australia has also been threatened in the same manner. Chinese spokespersons even signalled that China could make things worse for India than in 1962. This overconfidence is dangerous for China. It should know that India has changed a lot between 1962 and 2020. The peaks of southern Pangong bear witness to this. Beijing cannot be unaware of these realities. Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief, Hindustan The views expressed are personal By PTI AURANGABAD: Air India is not certain about resuming services between Mumbai and Aurangabad in Maharashtra from September 15, an official said on Saturday evening. Earlier in the day, Airport Aurangabad Director had tweeted that Air India was set to resume its services to Mumbai from here with three flights per week, starting September 15. But later, the tweet was deleted. When contacted, an official said that Air India was not certain about resumption of the service which was suspended in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. The Airport Director's deleted tweet had stated that "Air India is starting Mumbai-Aurangabad-Mumbai flight from 15 September 2020. Frequency of operation 2,4,6 days a week." When contacted, the airport official said that since Air India was not certain about the launch of the flight, the tweet was withdrawn. Prabhu Chawla By The Indian media is a misnomer. Its mostly via media. Its the best trifle-a- minute regurgitation of insane sound bytes. Its a nonstop cacophony of epithets that dont unite but divide. It doesnt inform. It deforms the information system. With minimisation of news and maximisation of valuation, Indian news media has become the manufacturer of both news and its ingredients. It has given up its traditional role of collector and disseminator of correct and credible news. The unnatural death of a popular film star has now become the perfect parameter for judging the success and failure of a media organisation. In New Age journalism, media mojo lies in changing consumer choices rather than providing credible corroborations. Contentious content is the fastest selling news product de-jour. Instead of making viewers better informed, the decomposed composition of a moving frame accompanied by ferocious octaves hawking inanities as exclusive news from a toilet or a rooftop is the basic requirement of news illiteracy. Unsubstantiated and sensational personal details about the food habits and health of an individual are touted as the most impactful parts of the everyday news narrative. Television and digital news have lost both in terms of content and credibility. Fiction is served up as facts. News channels devoting over 70 percent of time on just one individual or a sordid incident for months, reflects the growing redundancy and irrelevance of serious and independent news journalism. The fatal fallout is not due to news famine anywhere in India. In fact, post COVIDd-India is the most fertile hunting ground for getting news that matters and information that influences policymakers. From numerous sagas of success to stories of savagery are waiting to be told and shown. The ground level reporting about how a nation of 1.3 billion people is coping with the Coronavirus in the remotest parts of India could serve as motivational models for others to follow. But Indian TV channels are salivating to learn about the habits of Indian celebrities, known or yet to be known, and how they are spending their time at home gaming, dancing and cooking. Unfortunately, the Indian news establishment is defined by new medium, which has sprouted all over the country in the form of social and electronic platforms. An idiot box, a palm size smart phone or an iPad are vehicles to spew titillating, sadistically scintillating and corrosively captivating clips of news and venomous views. Ever since the electronic media replaced its print counterpart as the most sought after vehicle for promoting markets for goods and services, pecuniary compulsions dominated the composition of the news basket. The Television Rating Point (TRP) is the tool that decides the fate of a news bulletin or programme. Based on opinion collected from less than 50,000 households, TRP is the mirage of total TV viewership. With all the rating agencies and regulatory institutions dominated by media owners or advertisers, the credibility of data about the quality and quantity of audiences provided by any organisation is suspicious. Yet in the mad rush for chasing TRPs, noise erases news in newsrooms. Lately, the coverage over Sushant Singh Rajput's death defied all the principles of objective and fair reporting. Many TV channels took extreme sides but provided very little information. In fact, a section of the media even played the role of investigator, prosecutor and judge. The stories about SSR werent confined to the how-why-and-where of the incident, but focused on the when-and-where his death could influence an electoral verdict. Investigating agencies were driven by planted "explosive evidence" provided by the news channels instead of digging out the truth themselves. L' Affaire SSR proved Marshal McLuhan absolutely right. Almost five decades earlier McLuhan wrote, 'Medium is the message'. For the media philosopher, the quality of the message is decided not by the accidents and incidents taking place in society. It is tailored and coloured by the ideological choices and ownership character of the medium. Unlike in the past, the media mediums are now commercially and ideologically aligned. Once upon a time, the Indian media was led more by professionalism and less by profit. Those who had minimum corporate interests owned a large number of media houses. As India globalised through marked induced reforms, the maximisation of valuations and minimisation of news became the twin mantras for the success of a media house. Invisible and low-profile owners were replaced by highly paid CEOs, who converted the promoters into market mavens and influencers. Yet, print media was able to retain its credibility and acceptability because content needs words not voice. Thankfully, print news hasnt been fully replaced by TV noise. However, the nexus between the corporate and New Age media is damaging the architecture of information as a whole. Surprisingly, none of the professional agencies provide total viewership of news channels. They only provide the TRPs or absolute number of impressions. Even then, according to rough estimates, not more than eight million (less than one percent of total viewership) people watch prime time news in all news channels on a daily basis. On the other hand, around 450 million readers go through a newspaper every day. But the medium has now acquired multiple faces, arms and eyes. Newspapers or TV channels are no more the mediums for carrying messages. Wireless communication carries info-bytes faster than the speed of a supersonic jet. India alone has over 560 million internet users, 34 million Twitter members and over 350 million Facebook accounts. An algorithm written by Team Zuckerberg transmits messages to billions of people worldwide. YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and other social media platforms deliver messages that can cause riots or create celebrities. Heads of the government roll out red carpets to new medium owners than they ever did to proprietors of newspapers with large circulations. It is the information and the content generated, conceived or invented by the new medium that has shaken the trust of readers and viewers in the media. The money minded communications outfits are like start-ups, which dont need any experience, gravitas or analytical skills. India now boasts of 850 TV channels, including over 300 news channels. They provide employment to over 80,000 people. Most of them havent been taught even the basic principles of journalism. They have to only provide suitable input to the anchors who become the mediums to convey the message laced with their characteristic colour and style to their target audience. The formula has generated both moolah and might, so far. Information is no more power. Revenue is. The medium has become an instrument which carries advertisements and propaganda camouflaged as news. McLuhan once announced that advertising was the greatest art form of the 20th Century and defined as an environmental striptease for a world of abundance. Indian medium is just getting there. It serves news in just black noise with puffery, not sense, as the news neophytes remote control. (The writer can be contacted at prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Twitter: @PrabhuChawla) As the post-Brexit UK-EU negotiations are appearing to be leading a deadlock on several grounds, Britain has warned the European Union that it is not going to blink first in the trade talks. UKs top Brexit negotiator warned the 27-nation-bloc on September 6 in a televised interview as the negotiations between both sides have only made a little headway on agreeing for a new trade agreement to be followed after the 11-month transition period ends on December 31, 2020. David Frost told the Mail that the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government has come after the previous administration and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments. According to him, it led the EU to not take our word seriously. Therefore, Frost explained that a lot of what the UK is aiming at doing is to get the bloc to realise that Britain means what it says and their position shall be taken seriously. This came just days before the UK-EU post-Brexit talks are set to resume in London on September 8. Read - Slovenia Holds Strategic Forum On EU After Brexit And COVID-19 Read - UK Govt Debunks Reports About Squashing Proposed Digital Tax Amid Post-Brexit Concerns France, Germany blame UK for stalled talks Meanwhile, as France slammed Britain for intransigent and unrealistic attitude during the Brexit trade talks, Germanys European affairs minister Michael Roth has reportedly said that the UK needs to be more realistic and pragmatic in the negotiations. The UK-EU Brexit talks have reached a deadlock, Roth expressed deep disappointment in an interview with an international media agency because these negotiations will establish the future relationship of Britain with the 27-nation-bloc. The negotiations are not advancing because of an intransigent and, lets be clear, unrealistic attitude of the United Kingdom, said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian while speaking alongside his German counterpart Heiko Maas. Read - Post-Brexit EU-UK Talks Reach Another Stalemate; Big Allegation Against Boris Government Britain is in an 11-month transition period with the 27-nation-bloc after exiting the union on January 31. The UK and EU had begun the trade negotiations in March after being halted due to coronavirus outbreak and it would set the frame for the future relationship between both sides after December 31. However, not much progress has been made in the talks and in the letter, Frost had also accused EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier of demanding unprecedented authority over the British laws and its institutions through novel and unbalances proposals. Read - Barnier: Brexit Trade Deal 'seems Unlikely' Read - UKs Johnson Seeks To Quell Brexit Fears In Northern Ireland Image: AP U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday assailed U.S. news media accounts that in 2018 he belittled American World War I casualties while skipping a centenary commemoration of the end of the war on a rainy day at a cemetery outside Paris. The Democrats, together with the corrupt Fake News Media, have launched a massive Disinformation Campaign the likes of which has never been seen before, the U.S. leader claimed on Twitter. They will say anything, like their recent lies about me and the Military, and hope that it sticks.... The Atlantic magazine reported late last week that the U.S. leader rejected going to the World War I cemetery at Aisne-Marne in part because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain. The account, based on four anonymous sources, said that Trump commented to senior staff aides on the morning of the November event, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. On the same trip, the magazine said, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 U.S. Marines who lost their lives during the Belleau Wood battle as suckers for getting killed. The Republican Trump, facing a difficult re-election contest November 3 against his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden, immediately rejected the Atlantics account of his comments. But several other U.S. news outlets have subsequently confirmed from their own unnamed sources that Trump was uninterested in attending Aisne-Marne event. He did attend a separate commemoration of allied war dead the following day. The White House said at the time that Trump called off the visit to the Aisne-Marne cemetery because the foul weather would have made it dangerous for him to make a helicopter flight there. His chief of staff at the time, retired Marine Corps Gen. John Kelly, attended the ceremony after traveling there by motorcade. During a Friday news conference, Trump said he called home, I spoke to my wife (first lady Melania Trump) and I said I hate this. I came here to go to that ceremony. And to the one that was the following day which I did go to. I said I feel terribly. And that was the end of it. Fact checkers, however, said Trump couldnt have called home to Washington to talk to his wife because she was in Paris accompanying him on the trip and that night, they had dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron. After the Atlantic article appeared online, Biden attacked Trump. If what is written in The Atlantic is true, its disgusting, Biden said. And it affirms what most of us believe to be true: that Donald Trump is not fit to do the job of president, to be the commander in chief. Robert Wilkie, Trumps veterans affairs chief, told CNN on Sunday that he had never heard Trump belittle military service or the countrys war dead. Im looking at the Donald Trump I know, Wilkie said. Ive watched this president sign letters of condolences written to families of those killed in action. VANCOUVER - Pamela Hardy will be getting her 11-year-old twins vaccinated against flu as soon as an immunization program begins but she's worried about how public health officials will deal with any overcrowding at clinics to reduce transmission of COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/9/2020 (501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 file photo, a patient receives an influenza vaccine in Mesquite, Texas. Parents are concerned about getting kids vaccinated but also worried about overcrowding at clinics and transmission of COVID. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/LM Otero VANCOUVER - Pamela Hardy will be getting her 11-year-old twins vaccinated against flu as soon as an immunization program begins but she's worried about how public health officials will deal with any overcrowding at clinics to reduce transmission of COVID-19. "The main concern is accessing the vaccine and not having long lineups," Hardy said in an interview from Coquitlam, B.C. The Public Health Agency of Canada expects higher demand for influenza vaccines amid a possible double whammy of COVID-19 and flu infections. It's recommending provinces and territories consider alternate ways to deliver immunization programs this season. Spokeswoman Maryse Durette said the agency has ordered 13 million doses of the flu vaccine compared with 11.2 million last year. A study by University of British Columbia researchers published recently in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests the COVID-19 pandemic may be motivating more parents to get their children vaccinated for flu. It found that was the case for 54 per cent of parents, up 16 percentage points from last year, among 3,000 families surveyed in Canada, the United States, Japan, Israel, Spain and Switzerland. Hardy said she's expecting health officials to provide early and widespread information about where flu vaccines will be available, especially because working parents who rely on high-risk grandparents for childcare will want to ensure their families are immunized. "I think they need to go across all platforms because not everyone uses Facebook, especially older generations, and not everyone uses Twitter," said Hardy. Countries including Australia in the Southern Hemisphere have experienced lower than usual flu infections this year, likely due to COVID-19 precautions, such as mask wearing, physical distancing and higher immunization rates for flu. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, which is part of the Public Health Agency of Canada, has recommended provinces and territories take steps to allay fears about exposure to COVID-19 for those accessing immunization for influenza. "This fall, jurisdictions should consider a wide range of strategies to deliver influenza vaccine, with the goal of reducing crowding while maintaining or increasing vaccine uptake," the committee says in its guidelines. Alternate models include allowing pharmacists or paramedics to provide immunization in provinces or territories where legislation does not permit it. "If demand is high, potential vaccine supply limitations may affect the decision to use some alternate delivery models," the committee says. It's recommending multiple smaller clinics be held to avoid larger numbers of people and for health-care providers to take opportunities to immunize patients and those accompanying them during discharge from hospital, for example. It also suggests vaccines be provided during senior shopping hours at pharmacies in grocery stores or outdoors, including in drive-through clinics and parking lots as well as at living centres, such as retirement homes, shelters and group homes. British Columbia's provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, said flu rates in the Southern Hemisphere are a "slight glimmer of hope" but they do not always reflect what happens in the Northern Hemisphere so vaccination against flu is important, especially for high-risk populations like seniors who are also vulnerable to COVID-19. "My message to people in British Columbia is we all need to do our part to stop influenza this year as well and that means getting the flu shot, even if this is the first time you've ever had it," she said, adding the province is working to mount a strong campaign in an effort to increase immunization for flu. "It's for your own protection but it's also for our community because we need to tell the difference between influenza and COVID and right now it's easy, we don't have a lot of influenza. But going into the fall that's going to be our challenge." Dr. Monika Naus, medical director of the communicable diseases and immunization service at the BC Centre for Disease Control, said the province has ordered two million doses of several types of flu vaccine, up from 1.5 million doses last season. Alberta Health spokesman Tom McMillan said a record amount of vaccine has been ordered this year, up by 23 per cent from last season. "We are currently developing new policies to address physical distancing and other public health measures that may be necessary this year as a result of the pandemic," McMillan said. Ontario's Health Ministry has ordered an additional 300,000 doses and is exploring the purchase of more, said spokesman David Jensen. Naus said only about 60 per cent of seniors typically get vaccinated but that decreases to 50 per cent for people with chronic heart and lung disease. "Somebody with both influenza and COVID will be more ill," Naus said, noting people with any type of respiratory sickness would be required to stay home and may have to get tested to rule out the novel coronavirus. "The overall burden on the population, on the health-care system, on testing, all of that, will be reduced if we can have more people vaccinated to prevent flu transmission." Entire families will be encouraged to get vaccinated together, in contrast to testing for COVID-19, Naus said, adding B.C. is expected to start receiving shipments of flu vaccine in mid-September, with long-term care residents and health-care workers given priority. Unlike last year, a nasal-spray form of the flu shot will be available in Canada for children between ages two and 17, she said, adding it's a good option for those who fear needles. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 6, 2020. The recent crisis is the most serious in Turkish-Greek relations in decades. The neighbors have come to the brink of war three times since the mid-1970s, including once over maritime resources in the Aegean. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin -- (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, September 7 2020 Local authorities in Buton regency, Southeast Sulawesi, are investigating how the provinces Pendek Island ended up for sale online, following a report filed by the heirs of former islanders. The sparsely populated island of 242 hectares belonging to Boneatiro village in Kapontori district was offered on an e-commerce site at a price of Rp 36,500 (US$2.47) per square meter. The site has since taken down the offer. Kapontori Police chief First. Insp. La Ajima said police had received a report from the heirs of former islanders and would coordinate with the Buton Police in the further investigation. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login After the Moscow talks, Rajnath and Wei Fenghe give no sign that stances have shifted on either side India's defence minister Rajnath Singh attends the joint meeting of the heads of defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) members, in Moscow on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020. (PTI) New Delhi: In the first high-level political contact between India and China since border tensions flared up in May, defence minister Rajnath Singh categorically told his Chinese counterpart Gen. Wei Fenghe that there should be no doubt about Indias determination to protect its territorial integrity and China should not make attempts to unilaterally change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Rajnath Singh also said neither side should take any action that could either complicate the situation or escalate matters. The defence ministers met in Moscow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Moscow on Friday. The meeting went on for two and a half hours. However, no breakthrough emerged. Chinese state media reported that Gen. Wei told Rajnath Singh that India bore full responsibility for the current border tensions and that the Chinese military has the determination, capability and confidence to safeguard China's territorial integrity. Gen. Wei reportedly also said that "not an inch of China's territory should be lost." The Chinese statement comes against backdrop of the Indian Armys move to preempt the Peoples Liberation of Army and occupy over two dozen strategic peaks on the southern banks of the Pangong Tso and Spanggur Gap. This has not gone down well with Beijing. The Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement that the two ministers had a frank discussion about the developments in the India-China border areas. Raksha Mantri categorically conveyed Indias position on the developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), including in the Galwan valley in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas in the last few months, said the statement. Rajnath Singh told the Chinese delegation that the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing of a large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements and not in keeping with the understandings reached between the Special Representatives of two sides. He said that Chinese side should work with India for complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas, including Pangong Lake as well as de-escalation in border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols on maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas. Singh also conveyed that the two sides should continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure complete disengagement and de-escalation at the earliest. Raksha Mantri said that both sides should take guidance from the consensus of the leaders that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in India-China border areas was essential for the further development of our bilateral relations and that two sides should not allow differences to become disputes, said the defence ministry. Indian defence ministry statement also said that Gen. Wei agreed both sides should scrupulously implement the consensus reached between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping and continue to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation. (Natural News) China has been forcibly collecting blood samples from Falun Gong practitioners, and given their track record, many believe organ harvesting is the motivation. Falun Gong is a spiritual practice based on compassion, tolerance and truthfulness. Its adherents follow meditation exercises and moral teaching, and China has been suppressing them for the past two decades. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been placed in detention centers, labor camps, re-education facilities and psychiatric hospitals, where theyre often tortured into renouncing their faith. One 70-year-old woman who lives in Shanghai, Shen Fang, recently recounted her ordeal. After refusing to open her door to four police officers last month, they called a locksmith and broke into the apartment anyway, pinning her down and scratching her hand to draw blood. They told her the blood sample was required by the state. An officer told her that the law doesnt apply to you guys while covering his badge number. He also threatened that were going to wipe you all out. She isnt the only person who has been violated in this manner. Dozens of Falun Gong adherents across the country have dealt with similar situations according to U.S.-based clearinghouse Minghui.org, which tracks Falun Gong persecution by Chinese authorities. The police have been paying visits to some of their homes, while others have been forcibly brought to a police station to have their blood drawn. In Pudong, more than 10 practitioners had their blood drawn and were forced to provide fingerprints, recordings of their voice, and handwriting samples. They were threatened with arrest if they did not comply. A Tianjin Falun Gong practitioner reported that police rushed in her home one day in March while she was doing laundry and confiscated her Falun Gong books and materials. She was brought to a local police station, where she was shackled to a chair before being locked in a metal cage. They forcibly collected her blood and released her on bail, and she is now under house surveillance. CCP is committing crimes against humanity Last year, an independent tribunal in London found that imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners were the main source of the for-profit organ harvesting industry in China. Their final judgment, which was released in March, said the crime against humanity was going on unchecked. They said: If the accusations are proved, they will, inevitably, be compared to the worst atrocities committed in conflicts of the 20th century. Chinese trial lawyer Chen Jiangang told The Epoch Times that the Chinese Communist Party does not need the backing of the law when it persecutes people. He said the blood collection did not have anything to do with a routine physical collection and was instead an effort to acquire peoples biological samples. He added that the police officers behavior breached peoples personal rights and humiliated their character in an attempt to control them and psychologically terrorize them. A former human rights lawyer who has defended Falun Gong practitioners in Chinese courts, Peng Yongfeng, said the actions were illegal and that police would be liable for causing intentional homicide if the blood samples prove to be an effort to fuel an organ data bank. A group of 49 state lawmakers in Virginia recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking him to raise awareness about the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Their letter contained descriptions of torture and abuse from survivors who now live in Virginia. Some of them said they were handcuffed and hung, subjected to high-voltage electrical shocks, deprived of sleep and violently force fed. The letter also called attention to the forced organ harvesting that they are subjected to, pointing to the London tribunals finding that many people have died horribly and unnecessarily because of the practice. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com TheEpochTimes.com COLUMBIA Following consecutive days of more than 1,000 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, South Carolina added 600 more, pushing the states total number of those sickened to nearly 123,000. Public health officials also reported Sunday that the disease claimed 10 more lives, bringing that tally to 2,748. According to state Department of Health and Environmental Control projections, nearly 5,800 more people could be diagnosed with COVID-19 through Sept. 12, as the cumulative case rate per 100,00 residents continues on an upward slope. Meanwhile, South Carolina hospitals are treating 787 COVID-19 patients: 208 are in intensive care and 129 are being ventilated. By Sept. 19, DHEC anticipates a total of 133,978 coronavirus cases will have emerged statewide since March 1, when the first diagnoses were confirmed. Last week, DHEC surpassed one million tests for the illness, and 4,774 more were reported to the agency on Saturday, with a 12.6 percent positive return rate. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 603 Total cases in S.C.: 122,944 New deaths reported: 10 Total deaths in S.C.: 2,748 Hospitalized patients: 787 Percent of positive tests: 12.6 Total tests in S.C.: 1,066,496 Hardest-hit areas Richland County led the state in daily coronavirus cases on Saturday with 66, while Greenville County saw 65 more, according to DHEC. Double-digit jumps also occurred in Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester, Florence, Horry, Lancaster, Lexington, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Spartanburg and York counties. What about tri-county? Charleston County had 49 new cases, Berkeley had 11 and Dorchester had 15, according to DHEC. Deaths Of the 10 confirmed deaths reported Sunday, half were patients age 65 and older and the others were classified as middle-aged, defined as 35-64. They lived in the following counties: Aiken, Dorchester, Florence, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry Orangeburg and Spartanburg. What do experts say? Authorities continue to urge South Carolinians to avoid being indoors or within 6 feet of unmasked people. Several municipalities have formalized the request with local ordinances. There are 241 mobile testing events scheduled through Oct. 17 and 256 permanent COVID-19 testing facilities across the state. To find a testing clinic or event near you, visit scdhec.gov/covid19testing. SACRAMENTO California is poised to become the first state to develop its own line of generic drugs, targeting soaring drug prices and stepping into a fiercely competitive drug market dominated by deep-pocketed pharmaceutical companies. The Democratic-controlled Legislature overwhelmingly approved a measure Monday that would direct the states top health agency to partner with one or more drug companies by January to make or distribute a broad range of generic or biosimilar drugs including the diabetes medicine insulin that are cheaper than brand-name products. The bill, SB852, also opens the door for California to make its own generic drugs in the future. Gov. Gavin Newsom will have until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the measure. People need these drugs, but prices are through the roof, so were saying theres a role for the state to bring prices down, said the bills author, state Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento. He argued the measure is more important than ever because COVID-19 has exposed glaring gaps in the ability of public and private entities from major hospitals to government drug purchasers to maintain adequate supplies of drugs, medical equipment and devices. This also creates a model to address drug shortages and other supply chain issues during COVID and future pandemics, he said. Newsom, a Democrat, floated his own generic drug proposal in January as part of his broader drug agenda to reduce pharmaceutical costs, but was forced to abandon his plan in May as he and lawmakers sought to address a pandemic-induced $54 billion budget deficit. Though it could take years to successfully bring a new California generic product to the market, the move would put the nations most populous state in direct competition with major generic and brand-name drug manufacturers that dominate the market, and potentially allow California to use its massive purchasing power to drive down drug prices. Other legislative efforts in Congress and in other states have focused on government negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices on generic drugs, said Edwin Park, research professor at the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, which represents brand-name drugmakers, has taken a neutral position on the bill and declined to comment. But Brett Michelin, lead lobbyist for the Washington, D.C.-based trade group that represents generic drugmakers, the Association for Accessible Medicines, said generic companies arent threatened by the possibility of California entering the market and even welcome it. Generic manufacturers are more than open to doing this kind of partnership, Michelin said. I think having a fair and open process to sell drugs and compete for customers is what the generic industry is very used to and comfortable with. Under the measure, state-developed generics would be widely available to public and private purchasers within California. Taxpayers would pick up the costs, roughly $1 million to $2 million in startup funding, plus ongoing staff costs estimated in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, according to a state fiscal analysis. Its unclear which drugs the state would make or procure, though it would target drugs that could produce the biggest savings for the state and consumers. But the bill specifically calls for the production of at least one form of insulin, provided that a viable pathway for manufacturing a more affordable form of insulin exists at a price that results in savings. Insulin is a biologic drug, made with living cells. Once a biologic hits the market, rival copycat products that follow are called biosimilars. Three major drug companies Eli Lilly and Co., Sanofi and Novo Nordisk have long controlled the lucrative insulin market in the U.S. The state of California would be the first entity to produce a biosimilar version of one of the newer, fast- and long-acting insulins on a not-for-profit basis, said Jane Horvath, a health policy consultant in Washington, D.C. Although it would be costly and could take years, the Utah-based nonprofit drug company Civica Rx, which has consulted with Pan on his bill, is discussing partnering with California to produce generic or biosimilar drugs. It has already hammered out deals with major health systems running short on critical drugs, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, and is producing lower-cost generics for insurers, including Blue Shield of California. Theres no doubt insulin would be a more complex and expensive drug to develop, but its certainly possible, said Allan Coukell, the companys senior vice president of public policy. We are watching how the biosimilar market develops. Patients who need insulin have faced huge cost spikes. A 2019 report by the Health Care Cost Institute concluded that average prices for insulin doubled from 2012 to 2016. And California health insurance regulators found last year that diabetes medications accounted for nine of the 25 costliest brand-name drugs sold in the state. Its a big deal diabetes affects a lot of people who rely on insulin for their very lives, said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Insulin has probably been the poster child for unreasonable drug pricing. (Kaiser Health News, which produces California Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) Laura Marston, a Washington, D.C., lawyer and diabetic who advocates for lower insulin prices, said shes excited about Californias idea. Marston has been on the same insulin, Humalog, since 1996. At that time, the price was $21 a vial, but has since ballooned to more than $275 a vial, she said. If there was a lower-cost option and the price wasnt going to be raised, I would absolutely switch from Humalog, she said. I feel held totally hostage to these pharmaceutical companies. Marston said shed like the federal government to do the same thing, so it could apply to all patients. Congressional efforts to tackle rising prices for insulin and other drugs fizzled last year in the face of opposition from the influential pharmaceutical lobby. So states have increasingly sought ways to regulate a for-profit industry in which brand-name manufacturers hold near-monopoly power. Colorado last year became the first state to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $100 for a 30-day supply. It was followed by at least nine other states, from New Mexico to New York, whose cost-sharing caps vary. California had already capped out-of-pocket drug costs at $250 to $500 for a 30-day supply, but a measure that would have lowered the cap for insulin to $100 a month stalled this year a casualty of a pandemic-shortened legislative calendar. Newsoms office declined to comment on the generic drug legislation. But recent changes to the proposal reflect direct negotiations with the administration, Pans office said. Newsom spokesman Jesse Melgar said in a statement that the governors goal of a sustainable system of universal coverage has not changed and making prescription drugs affordable is one more step toward that goal. Should Newsom sign the bill into law, the Health and Human Services Agency would have 18 months to identify a list of drugs the state could manufacture, with a report due to the Legislature by July 2022. By July the following year, the state would be required to assess whether it can manufacture its own generics and biosimilars. The bill calls for state health officials to prioritize development of generics for chronic and high-cost health conditions, and urges production of those that can be delivered through mail order. California could emerge as a leader in the national drug debate, Levitt said. If California can pull it off, it would be a model for other states and federally, he said. For it to pull this off means it can be done at scale. Angela Hart and Samantha Young are writers for Kaiser Health News, which is independent of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Email: ahart@kff.org, syoung@kff.org Twitter: @ahartreports, @youngsamantha Indian businessman, Anand Mahindra took to Twitter on September 5 to share a post commemorating former president Pranab Mukherjee who died on August 31. The share, which encompasses a nostalgic snapshot from 1993, is receiving a whole lot of appreciation from tweeple. When Shri Pranab Mukherjee (R.I.P) passed on, I was searching for this photo from way back in 93! Couldnt find it. But unexpectedly, a retired colleague excavated the pic from his albums. (Thank you Mukulbhai!) I will cherish this memory of a man who served his country well, read the text shared alongside the image. Check out the post which has already accumulated nearly 15,100 likes and almost 150 comments on the micro-blogging application, below: When Shri Pranab Mukherjee(R.I.P) passed on, I was searching for this photo from way back in 93! Couldnt find it. But unexpectedly, a retired colleague excavated the pic from his albums. (thank you Mukulbhai!) I will cherish this memory of a man who served his country well. pic.twitter.com/OULaHGkSlA anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 5, 2020 Here is what tweeple had to say about the share, which shows both Mahindra and Mukherjee engaged in a celebratory exchange. One person said, Awesome. Another individual wrote, Rest in peace. A historical pic read one comment under Anand Mahindras Twitter post. Another Twitter user proclaimed, Lovely pic! Great man. He (Mukherjee) will remain in our memories forever, declared somebody else on the thread. Pranab Mukherjee died at the age of 84 due to multiple organ failure after he was admitted to New Delhis Army Hospital Research and Referral. Also Read | One of Bharats brightest Ratnas, says Amul in tribute to Pranab Mukherjee Rhea Chakraborty's lawyer Satish Maneshinde on Sunday said that she is ready for arrest as it is a witch-hunt. Maneshinde said in a statement that Rhea Chakraborty was ready for arrest as it was a witch-hunt. Amid the ongoing investigation into the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, actor Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer Satish Maneshinde on Sunday said that she is ready for arrest as it is a witch-hunt. Maneshinde said in a statement that Rhea Chakraborty was ready for arrest as it was a witch-hunt and if loving someone was a crime she would face the consequences of her love. He added that being innocent, she had not approached any court for an anticipatory bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar Police with CBI, ED, and NCB. Chakraborty was summoned by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday morning to join the investigation of the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. On August 19, the Supreme Court had asked the CBI to investigate the case related to the actors death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. The agency has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actors death after the Centre accepted the Bihar governments recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Rhea Chakraborty summoned by NCB, asked to join investigation today Also read: With highest single-day spike of over 90k cases, Indias Covid-19 count crosses 41L mark The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actors death case after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Rajputs father KK Singh against Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. Actor Rhea Chakraborty on Sunday was summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for the first time in the case, two days after her brother Showik was arrested by the agency which is investigating a drugs angle into the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput. Previously Rhea and Showik have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Deputy Director, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amit Fakkad Ghawate told reporters here She (Rhea Chakraborty) will come to the office. There will be cross-questioning and nothing else. The outcome will be communicated to you. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case LIVE news updates: Rhea Chakrabortys lawyer alleges witch hunt Boaters rallied for a pro-Trump boat parade off the New Jersey shore on Saturday, September 5, attempting to break a flotilla world record. Parade organizer Chris Molla told Fox News: Were hoping to double our number. Last time was 1,200 [boats], so 2,400 would be nice. Three thousand was our goal, and well see if we meet it. Several other pro-Trump boat parades occurred on September 5, including in Lake Travis, Texas. Footage of the New Jersey parade shows a long line of vessels, many waving American flags. Credit: @georgeswoyer via Storyful NEW HAVEN A large group of motorcyclists moved through New Haven on Saturday, drawing attention from both city officials and police. Mayor Justin Elicker said the East Coastin gathering is held annually in the city by a motorcycle club on Forbes Avenue. This year, he said, officials had asked organizers not to hold the event, but they advertised it on social media regardless, bringing a crowd to New Haven. In an Instagram post, organizers asked attendees to be respectful when moving through the area. Elicker said the city had increased the number of officers on duty and closed a portion of Forbes Avenue in response. Police are also working to disperse the crowd. We have serious challenges in the city and our policing resources should be spent on more important issues, said Elicker. People should not be coming to New Haven for these unlawful joyrides and they should leave. Sgt. Brian McDermott estimated that 1,000 to 2,000 bikers gathered near Forbes and East Street for the event. Families and couples, as well as a large group of motorcycle riders, were gathered on Sports Haven property, as well as along East Street watching the event where speed, noise and smoke from burning rubber was the attraction. McDermott said it was publicized by the Hole in the Wall Motorcycle Cub, which has its headquarters on Forbes Avenue. We were aware of it. We spoke to them. We didnt want them to hold the event, but they insisted on holding it anyway. This is the result, McDermott said of the scene on East Street at around 7 p.m. Right now we are waiting for some more units to get everyone out of here safely. Shortly after that the police presence increased from around six patrol cars to more than 20 lined up on Forbes Avenue. Asked how he was going to move such a large crowd and the bikers, McDermott replied with a combination of patience and persistence. There was also a large presence of motorcycles on Long Wharf Drive, which has been the scene of motorcycle racing. Groups of motorcycle riders could be seen downtown before the event began. Nicole, who would not give her last name, said she thought the event was called End of the Summer and she found it on social media. She said this is different from those who race along Long Wharf. This is just for fun. No one is arguing. No one is fighting, Nobody gets hurt, Nicole said. She said she lived nearby and while she does not have a bike herself, all the kids in the neighborhood do. In a message to residents Saturday evening, Elicker, describing the event as unauthorized and unpermitted, said police would make arrests where necessary as they strive to disperse the crowd. If you are attending one of these events, go home, said Elicker. Our police resources have more important issues to address to the residents of this city. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com She's rumoured to be the new girlfriend of one the biggest stars in the world. And on Sunday, Vanessa Valladares, who's recently been in the constant company of Hollywood A-lister Zac Efron, stepped out in Bryon Bay. The 25-year-old former cafe worker was on a coffee run, fetching a brew in a small cup, which she brought from home, before returning to her car. Coffee run: She's rumoured to be the new girlfriend of one the biggest stars in the world. And on Sunday, Vanessa Valladares (pictured) stepped out in Bryon Bay She was dressed for what was a warm summer's day in a long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder crop top, in a shade of baby blue. Vanessa appeared to go braless under the ribbed garment, and added a fine gold necklace and earrings to her look. The brunette wore her cropped locks casually un-styled and appeared to go makeup free. Happy girl: The 25-year-old former cafe worker was on a coffee run, fetching a brew in a small cup, which she brought from home, before returning to her car Cute: She was dressed for what was a warm summer day's in a long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder crop top, in a shade of baby blue Flirty: Vanessa appeared to go braless under the ribbed garment, and added a fine gold necklace and earrings to her look She completed her look with a pair of loose cargo pants, black socks and black and white sneakers. Vanessa carried in her hand a phone and car keys, as well as wearing sunglasses on her head. Zac reportedly met Vanessa in July when she was working as a waitress in Byron Bay, at the Byron Bay General Store cafe. Hair care: The brunette wore her cropped locks casually un-styled and off her face Pants: She added a pair of loose cargo pants to the casual ensemble Relaxed: The aspiring model and cafe worker appeared to go makeup free She's rumoured to have quit her job now and is said to be staying with Zac at Belongil Beach. The pair have even enjoyed a ski trip in Thredbo together. Last month, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Zac had cancelled a scheduled flight back to Los Angeles. 'He was only planning to fly home if he had to,' a source revealed. 'He didn't really want to go back to America.' Details: Vanessa carried in her hand a phone and her car keys Shady lady: The beauty wore her sunglasses on her head Dressed: She completed her look with black socks and black and white sneakers Zac had purchased the plane ticket several months ago in case his application for a visa extension was denied by the Department of Home Affairs. But it seems his request to have his tourist visa extended from three months to 12 months was granted, hence why he cancelled his trip home. Daily Mail Australia understands Zac received a last-minute refund for his ticket. Chance encounter: Zac reportedly met Vanessa in July when she was working as a waitress in Byron Bay, at the Byron Bay General Store cafe A man who was remanded into custody at Maghaberry Prison has tested positive for Covid-19 (Michael Cooper/PA) A prisoner is being treated for Covid-19 after becoming the first inmate in Northern Ireland to test positive for the virus. The man tested positive for coronavirus after being remanded into custody at Maghaberry Prison on Thursday. The Northern Ireland Prison Service said the case had been contained due to robust processes put in place in response to the pandemic. The robust processes put in place in response to the pandemic have ensured this has been contained Northern Ireland Prison Service A spokesman said: A man remanded into the custody of Maghaberry Prison on Thursday has tested positive for Covid-19. As with all new committals during the pandemic, he was separated from the main prisoner population to ensure the safety of staff and other prisoners. He is being cared for by our staff and colleagues from the South Eastern Trust. His family have been informed. This is the first positive test of a prisoner in Northern Ireland. The robust processes put in place in response to the pandemic have ensured this has been contained and the Prison Service will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone in our prisons during these challenging times. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has raised alarm of threat to the peace deal agreed to by all stakeholders in the governorship election in Edo State at the Obas Palace in Benin City. The APC on Saturday protested that a video has gone viral on the social media exposing that Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu of Edo State threatening violence against anyone associating with APC supporters; the party noted that this constitutes a breach of the peace deal supervised by the Oba of Benin. APC further said that the wife of Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, Mary-Ann Shaibu, further took a violent cue from her husband, when she spat fire, threatening to flog any woman, she sees associating with a group, which is suspected to be an affiliate of the main opposition party, APC, in Edo. APC Media Campaign Council accordingly protested that this violates the rights of Edo people which grants them freedom to associate with anyone within the ambits of the law and the recent peace deal convoked by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. Apparently, the Chairman of the APC Media Campaign Council, John Mayaki, in a statement indicated that decried that the viral video shows the wife of the Deputy Governor who was seen gesticulating wildly and requesting the picture of every woman attending the meeting she was addressing be captured, vowing afterwards that anyone of them found identifying with another group would be flogged with the cane. Mayaki declared: The sense of urgency and desperation in the tone of Mrs. Shaibu, who has been making frantic but futile moves to boost the chances of the temporary ruling party, PDP, in Edo North, through a series of meeting with women at different parts of the region, is no doubt as a result of the chill wind reaching her. Although, women openly support her to enjoy what pleasures they could, she had realized, they secretly intended to vote for APC. Mayaki criticised the deputy governors wife for perceived imprudent choice of words; he added: I am not surprised that she is threatening violence. We know that her husband arms thugs. Her imprudent choice of words, though regrettable, is simply a manifestation of what they bring to the table in Edo State. Every step of the campaign, they have brutalised us, and unleashed weapons of warfare. But they are making martyrs of us. All we want is good governance in Edo State and now she is threatening to whip us. PV: 12 When Aleasha and Ben Mawhinnew started renovating the spare room of their New South Wales home in early 2020, they had no idea it would soon be named one of Australia's best DIY projects of the year. After their six-year-old son Nate outgrew his nursery, the couple from Shellharbour, south of Wollongong on the NSW South Coast, decided to convert the space into a luxurious ensuite. The result is a hotel-style bathroom - complete with a double shower, monochromatic tiles and a marble-top vanity - fitted with bargain buys from Kmart, Target and Bunnings that cost just $3,700 for everything from toilet to tapware. Bunnings has featured the Mawhinnews handiwork in its roundup of 'Australia's best DIY projects of 2020', which recognises the country's greatest home transformations 'from simple makeovers to full-on renovations'. Scroll down for video New South Wales couple Aleasha and Ben Mawhinnew transformed the disused nursery of their Shellharbour home (left) into a luxurious, hotel-style ensuite (right) for $3,700 The renovation completed by the Mawhinnews (pictured) has been named one of 'Australia's best DIY projects of 2020' 'It's everything we dreamed it would be, it says 'us' all over!' Ms Mawhinnew, a 31-year-old childcare teacher, told Daily Mail Australia. She said the project took roughly six months to complete, with most of the work being done on weekends as the couple held down full-time jobs while chasing two lively children around. 'Two kids, work and life in general made it to tricky to complete,' Ms Mawhinnew said. Some of the heavy lifting was done with help from friend Jimmy, a plumber, and Ben's 'handyman' father Mark, but Ms Mawhinnew said her 32-year-old cabinet maker husband deserves credit for 'nearly all' of the renovation. The couple's budget breakdown Hexagon tiles, grouting, shower head and tapware, toilet, hand towel ring and toilet paper holder - $2,500 from Bunnings Rectangular wall tiles - $300 from ColorTile Port Macquarie Fan, wall light, hook and shower screen - $550 eBay Linen and soft furnishings - $200 from Spotlight Bathroom accessories and toiletries - $50 from Woolworths Laundry basket - $50 from Target Miscellaneous accessories - $50 from Kmart Vanity - secondhand from Facebook marketplace (repainted) Total: $3,700 Advertisement Budget savvy Ms Mawhinnew spotted a secondhand vanity (left) for sale on Facebook marketplace, and revamped it with a coat of forest green paint (right) The couple bought their toilet, tapware and hexagon tiles from Bunnings 'Ben has literally made my vision come to life and I am not only lucky to have such a hardworking husband and father to our kids, I'm so proud of what he has done,' she said. Ms Mawhinnew was instrumental in the project too, finding a secondhand vanity for sale on Facebook marketplace and revamping it with forest green paint. Over on social media, people were amazed at what the couple had achieved with such a reasonable budget. Cabinet maker Ben Mawhinnew (pictured) was responsible for 'nearly all' of the incredible renovation, his doting wife said Shelving and toiletry baskets were bought from discount retailers like Kmart and Target Every step of the renovation 1. Marked out the area, framed up and installed new window 2. Sheeted the walls and ceiling 3. Concreted the hob and niche/shower seat 4. Waterproofed the two walls and floor 5. Tiled and grouted floor and walls 6. Installed marble stone 7. Painted and installed skirting 8. Wired lighting and fan 9. Revamped and installed the vanity 10. Plumbed the room 11. Added finishing touches like shelves, hooks, mirror and lights 12. Installed the shower screen and slider door Advertisement Photos showcasing the transformation drew gushing responses with comments including 'that's awesome', 'absolutely genius' and 'brilliant job'. 'I saw your fabulous bathroom renovation in the Bunnings magazine. You are so smart it looked a winner, well done,' one woman said. Another joked that Ms Mawhinnew should 'rent' her husband to other women who are looking for help with home upgrades. Hundreds of fans gathered at a church in Germany on Saturday to hear a chord change in an organ piece which lasts for a whopping 639 years. The performance of the ORGAN/ASLSP, or As Slow As Possible, a piece of music penned by US composer John Cage, started back in September 2001 at the St Burchardi Church in the eastern town of Halberstadt. One of the worlds lengthiest musical performances is not due to end for another 639 years until 2640. Saturday's performance marks the first chord change in seven years in the song which is being played on a special organ inside the mediaeval church. The last sound has been the same one for the last six years and 11 months so the chord change is a big event among fans of the John Cage Organ Project. A chord change means that the sound of the organ pipes changes either because new sounds are added or existing sounds end. On Saturday, two new organ pipes were added. Organisers say the performance is one of the slowest realisations of an organ musical piece. A compressor in the basement creates energy to blow air into the organ to create a continuous sound. When a chord change happens, its done manually with two people changing the chord on Saturday. When the piece officially started on 5 September 2001, it began without any sound. It was only in February 2003, the day of the first chord change, that the first organ pipe chords could actually be heard inside the church. Cage was born in Los Angeles in 1912 and died in New York in 1992. Hes known not only as a composer but also as a music theorist, artist and philosopher. Cage is arguably most famous for 433 which is simply made up of four minutes and 33 seconds of silence. Chord changes usually draw more than 1,000 visitors to Halberstadt but the number of guests allowed into the church was limited this year due to the public health crisis. People celebrated the momentous event on Twitter. Jonathan Bungard, a music teacher, said: For the last eight years, whenever I have taught a lesson on Cage, we have listened to the sound from Halberstadt, where his Organ/ASLSP (As Slow as Possible) has been being performed since 2001. Today, the sound will change for the first time since 2013! The Grand Anderson, a musician, tweeted: Blink and youll miss it! Additional reporting by Associated Press Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, left, speaks to reporters in Wilmington, Del., on Aug. 13, 2020. On right, President Donald Trump before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 27, 2018. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images; Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Michigan House Speaker: Democrats Should Be Scared About Michigan in November The Republican Michigan state House speaker said that President Donald Trump could easily win the state again, as former Vice President Joe Biden prepares to visit the state this week. Democrats should be scared about Michigan, the House Speaker, Lee Chatfield, told Fox News on Sunday, saying that it went red in 2016 while adding that he believes it will go red again in 2020. Chatfield noted out that voters Michigan cast their ballots for Democrats in previous elections stretching back to the late 1980s. But the 2016 election went to Trump. Michigan had not been won by a Republican on the presidential ballot since 1988, Chatfield told the news channel on Sunday, adding, Theres two main reasons for that: Number one how radical and progressive the Democrat left has been, but also Trumps focus on an economic message. Chatfield added that GOP voters are enthusiastic to vote for Trump, adding, I just think Democrats have taken our state for granted Michigan went blue in presidential elections for 30 consecutive years. So they [Democrats] are scared, they are a little frightened, but their problem is they have to find out how do they give Michigan voters and Michigan workers attention while also proving that theyre the party not run by progressive leftists, he argued. Following the 2016 election, former Democrat nominee Hillary Clinton was accused of not paying attention enough to Michigan, which was seen as a battleground state. Trump won the state by fewer than 11,000 votes, or around 0.2 percent. Last week, Bidens campaign announced a stop in Michigan. Details about where he will visit are not clear, although reports said he was likely to visit somewhere in the southeastern portion of the state. Trump last made a stop in Michigan in May, touring Ford Motor Co.s Rawsonville Components Plant. In late August, Vice President Mike Pence visited Traverse City and said that Michigan said yes to President Donald Trump in 2016, and I know Michigan is going to say yes for four more years of President Donald Trump in 2020, reported the Detroit News. Trumps campaign announced he would visit Michigan, going to the AvFlight Saginaw facility in Freeland, according to the Detroit Free Press. State Democratic Party spokesman Christian Slater issued a statement about the event, saying, A quick fly-by cant fix the four years of chaos and crisis this president has created while Michiganders suffer from his failed leadershipThis November, Michigan will reject his failures and elect Joe Biden and (vice presidential pick) Kamala Harris. The visits come as former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who served as a Republican, endorsed Biden on Sept. 3 for president. Having worked with Joe Biden and Donald Trump when I was Governor, I believe Biden is the clear choice to put our country back on a positive path, he said in a statement. Bihar, one of the most populous states in the country, is set to vote for the State Legislative Assembly elections in October. And ahead of the polls, the untimely death of Sushant Singh Rajput has turned out to be a major poll plank with parties like the BJP using posters seeking Justice for Sushant as part of their poll campaign. About 30,000 election campaign posters featuring Rajput seeking justice for the departed son of the soil" were created and shared by BJPs art and culture cell in the state, replete with the partys logo, Indian Express reported. Printed in Hindi, the posters read, Na bhule hain, na bhulne denge" (We have not forgotten, neither will be let you forget). BJPs Bihar state convenor Varun Singh told Times of India that the poster was part of their campaign to seek justice for SSR. He also said that BJP Bihars art and culture cell were one of the first to seek a CBI probe in the SSR death case, which had initially been tagged as death by suicide by Maharashtra Police. The news was met with discouragement from Opposition parties in the state such as RJD. A spokesperson from the party said that it was not right to add political colour to the actors death. Many on Twitter also called out the poster campaign as a disgusting" poll trick. Many apologised to the deceased actor, stating, Sorry Sushant, you deserve better". this is so fucking disgusting, i'm sorry ssr pic.twitter.com/kFjfTx66Rf sad bitch (@dipashasnapped) September 6, 2020 #DisgustingMedia and #DisgustingBJP is after @Tweet2Rhea . Not allowing independent probe, shameful media and political trial is on. Now see poster, #SSR suicide case is political issue for BJP. Modi and his team has already devastated country with economic blunders. #COVID19 https://t.co/0Vh2KXpIQz pic.twitter.com/shxh8aM7q5 Mahesh Kumar (@maheshu483) September 6, 2020 This poster by Bihar BJP 'kala evam sanskriti prakishth (art and culture cell) has comeup at BJP office in Patna. Isn't BJP hellbent upon doing politics in the name of SSR? Maut ke saudagar! Koi shaq? pic.twitter.com/JcwqNFcyyg NN Ojha (@nnojha) September 5, 2020 Posters are already out ! pic.twitter.com/M6YWmPuw4S Shiva (@ssr99) September 5, 2020 The report also quoted BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand who claimed the posters should not be seen as politcal and that they were only meant to express BJPs dedication in seeking truth and justice for the deceased actor. While the party has actively claimed that it is not using Rahputs death as a poll issues, the art and culture cell of the party in Bihar has regularly been taking out protest marches and demonstrations for seeking justice in Rajputs death. Many senior party leaders such as Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sushil Modi and others have personally visited Rajputs father after the 32-year-old demise. Born in Patna, Rajputs tragic death on June 14 created a huge stir in the state, sending it into a state of shock and mourning. Following news of Rajputs death and his familys subsequent allegations against his reported girlfriend and others in abetting the actors death by suicide, parties like BJP, JD(U) and LJP supported the call for the now-ongoing CBI investigation into the matter. The matter also became a bone of contention between Bihar and Maharashtra government (Maharashtra Police had dubbed the death the result of suicide) with several politicians and public servants from both states trading barbs on social and legacy media. Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty was meanwhile summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regarding the matter. The actor arrived at the NCB office in Mumbai for questioning in connection with the drug case. The summon to Rhea comes a day after a court on Saturday sent her brother Showik and Sushants house manager Samuel Miranda to four days NCB custody till September 9. Doosan Infracore's DX520LCA excavator / Courtesy of Doosan Infracore By Nam Hyun-woo Doosan Group's restructuring efforts to save its flagship unit, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, are entering their final stages as the group managed to sell affiliates and assets to infuse new capital into the debt-ridden company. Analysts said Sunday the upcoming sale of Doosan Infracore was key if the group was to stabilize its financial structure and resuscitate Doosan Heavy, though whether or not investors will pursue Doosan Infracore is still under question. Doosan Corp. signed deals on selling its Mottrol Business Group and its stake in Doosan Solus. Doosan Corp. is Doosan Heavy's parent company and the group's holding firm. Doosan Corp. sold Mottrol to a consortium between domestic private equity firms Socius PE and Well to Sea Investment for 453 billion won ($380.83 million), and handed over an 18.05 percent stake in Doosan Solus to SkyLake Investment for 238.2 billion won. Following the announcement and after the financial market closed, Doosan Heavy released a plan to issue new shares worth 1.3 trillion won. Some of them will be sold to Doosan Corp. and its other shareholders first, and the remainder will be up for sale by the public. Doosan Corp. said the funds it secured by selling the affiliates will be used to purchase Doosan Heavy shares. Along with the rights issuing, Doosan Corp.'s largest shareholders, including Doosan Group Chairman Park Jung-won, decided to provide their 23 percent stake in Doosan Fuel Cell, worth 574 billion won, to Doosan Heavy for free. These moves came after Doosan Heavy and Doosan Group vowed to raise at least 3 trillion won through massive restructuring in return for a state bailout. So far this year, state-run banks including Korea Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea have decided to extend 3.6 trillion won of loans and other financial assistance. As part of the restructuring, Doosan Group is also in talks to sell its head office Doosan Tower and Doosan Engineering & Construction with respective preferred negotiators. When those deals are closed, analysts expect Doosan Group will be able to secure 2.5 trillion won. "Along with the deals announced, Doosan is seeing its sales of Doosan Tower and the Club Mow Country Club enter their closing stages," Daishin Securities analyst Yang Ji-hwan said. "When the group completes the sale of Doosan Infracore, its restructuring process will end." Doosan Heavy earlier said it will consider selling its stake in Doosan Infracore as part of the restructuring drive, but has yet to finalize how to proceed and when. Doosan Infracore is said to have sent letters to potential buyers and is preparing to accept preliminary bids in the near future. It has garnered keen attention from analysts and investors due to the heavy equipment manufacturer's market value and its importance in Doosan Heavy's shareholding structure. Doosan Heavy has the largest 36 percent stake in Doosan Infracore. Given Doosan Infracore's market capitalization of 1.67 trillion won, Doosan Heavy's stake in the company is valued at 600 billion won. Doosan Group is seeking to receive at least 1 trillion won, because it is a controlling stake. Questions remain, however, as the 1.67 trillion won market capitalization includes Doosan Infracore's value as the largest stakeholder of Doosan Bobcat, a major heavy equipment firm in North America. Doosan Group has been consistent in claiming that it has no intention to sell Doosan Bobcat. Another factor is that Doosan Infracore is in a legal battle with investors in Doosan Infracore China, who filed suits worth 1 trillion won. If the company loses, the buyer of Doosan Infracore will have to shoulder that amount. "Doosan Group's restructuring hinges on the proper valuation of Doosan Infracore," an industry official said. "With investors having high hopes on Doosan Group's new business priority of renewable energy, successful restructuring will allow the group to recover its status promptly." HONG KONG: Police fired rounds of pepper balls at protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday as hundreds took to the streets to demonstrate against the postponement of legislative elections and a new national security law imposed by China. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam postponed the Sept. 6 election for seats in the Asian financial hubs Legislative Council for a year in July because of a spike in coronavirus cases. The move dealt a blow to the pro-democracy opposition who hoped to win a historic majority in the Council, where only half the seats are directly elected and the other half are appointed members who mostly support Beijing. Today is supposedly our voting day, we need to resist to fight back for our vote, said a 70-year old woman surnamed Wong as she marched with other demonstrators. The poll would have been the former British colonys first official vote since Beijing imposed new security legislation in late June. The government insists there was no political motive behind the delay. Thousands of police were stationed around the bustling Kowloon peninsula as marchers waved placards and chanted popular anti-government slogans such as liberate Hong Kong".These slogans are now banned under the new security law. Police said they arrested at least 30 people for illegal gatherings, in a notice on their Facebook page. Several well-known activists were arrested during the demonstration including Figo Chan, the vice-convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front and former legislator Leung Kwok-hung, also known as Long Hair, according to a post on Chans Facebook page. Anti-government demonstrations have declined this year mainly because of limits on group gatherings, imposed to counter the spread of coronavirus, and the security law, which punishes actions China sees as subversive, secessionist, terrorist or colluding with foreign forces. Critics say the law aims to quash dissent in the city, while supporters say it will bring more stability after a year of often-violent anti-government and anti-China unrest. Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a guarantee of autonomy but critics say the new law undermines that promise and puts the territory on a more authoritarian path. Advocates of the law say it plugs loopholes in national security left by the citys inability to fulfil a constitutional requirement to pass such laws on its own. While street protests have largely lost momentum, anti-government and anti-Beijing sentiment persists, with Chinas offer of mass coronavirus testing for Hong Kong residents prompting calls for a boycott amid public distrust. Authorities have cited coronavirus fears to restrict gatherings, which are currently limited to two people, and police have rejected applications for protests in recent months. Hong Kong has reported around 4,800 coronavirus cases since January, far lower than in other major cities around the world. The number of new daily infections has fallen substantially from triple digits in July to single digits currently. (Additional reporting by Joyce Zhou; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Christian Schmollinger & Simon Cameron-Moore) 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 Biotechnology giant CSL says it's ready to juggle production of two separate coronavirus vaccines in Australia after inking deals with the government and global pharmaceuticals firm AstraZeneca. The $128 billion blood products business unveiled details of the agreements on Monday, which involve plans to produce 30 million doses of the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine and 51 million doses of the University of Queensland's vaccine product if successful. CSL Behring's production facilities in Broadmeadows, Victoria. CSL will be key to onshore manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines after a heads of agreement was signed with the Australian government. Credit:Joe Armao Producing both vaccines is a task CSL chief executive Paul Perreault had previously flagged as a challenge due to their different approaches. The company says it has now worked through the technical challenges. Senior vice president of research and development at CSL's vaccine business Seqirus, Dr Russell Basser, said it was too early to tell whether CSL would be involved in coronavirus vaccine production in the long term, though it would be making doses for the next couple of years. I began the study and practice of medicine 65 years ago (more, if you count the years of growing up in the home of a busy, well-respected family doctor who, in todays parlance, would be called a primary care provider). After graduating Waco High School (55), I had the good fortune to attend well-respected university, medical school and post-graduate training programs, and entered the solo practice of pediatrics in 1966. During these formative years, I was exposed to and mentored by men and women of unparalleled knowledge, experience and ethics who had a burning desire to teach their students how to be of service to any and all in need of their ability and competence. We were taught the basics of how to recognize the good and the bad that was extant in medical knowledge, and how to approach the determination of a patients complaints and needs. We were taught to care. We did not have 911. We were available. We became doctors. Daniel Andrews has revealed the heartbreaking toll his coronavirus lockdowns have taken on his family. The Victorian premier said he hasn't seen his 75-year-old mother, Jan Andrews, since Christmas as he unveiled the hard road to his state's freedom on Sunday. 'None of us have had visitors for a very long time and it is tough, it is really, really tough,' he told his daily press briefing. 'It was my mum's birthday just recently.' Jan Andrews (left) pictured at Daniel Andrew's election victory in 2018. Mr Andrews has not been able to see his mother, now aged 75, since Christmas due to the coronavirus restrictions Dan and Jan Andrews: Daniel Andrews pictured with his mother, Jan, at her Wangaratta farm before the restrictions 'I probably shouldn't do this, but I thought to myself: how long is it since I've seen her? 'I haven't seen her since Christmas.' The Victorian premier said between the bushfires and the pandemic, he hadn't been able to get up to his mother's Wangaratta farm. He also missed seeing her on Mother's Day, May 10, which fell a day before Victoria's previous State of Emergency ended at midnight on May 11. 'I want to get there this Christmas coming, though,' he said. 'I want all of us to stay the course so that we can all have something approaching a normal Christmas.' Bourke Street, Melbourne, was empty on Sunday, with a lone delivery driver and police in sight as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the coronavirus lockdown had to be extended Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews at the press conference on Sunday. Mr Andrews said there was no choice - there was too much virus spreading in the community to lift the lockdowns It was a poignant moment during the Premier's daily press briefing on Sunday as it was also Father's Day - and Mr Andrew's lost his father Bob, a cattle farmer, in 2016. In a separate Father's Day statement, the Premier revealed that his normal Father's Day plan was to have lunch with his wife and children, then take a trip to Wangaratta to visit his mum and pay his respects to his father's resting place. The Premier made his lonely admission as he revealed Victoria's road map to coronavirus freedom would be difficult. An extra two weeks of Stage Four lockdown have been added for Melbourne stretching until September 28. Coronavirus warning messages at Melbourne's Central Shopping Centre on Sunday. Premier Daniel Andrews announced a four-step path to freedom on Sunday Pictured: State Library lawn, Melbourne on Sunday Mr Andrews explained it was just not possible to lift the lockdowns on schedule as there was too much community transmission. To lift them now would only ruin the recovery and then the lockdowns would have to be reimposed all over again, he said. Poll Did Premier Daniel Andrews make the right call to extend the lockdown in Victoria? YES NO UNDECIDED Did Premier Daniel Andrews make the right call to extend the lockdown in Victoria? YES 217 votes NO 510 votes UNDECIDED 24 votes Now share your opinion '(We) Haven't yet hit these targets, these very low numbers,' he said. 'Our daily case average these last 14 days is 100-odd. If you open up at that level, you're not open for long.' Mr Andrews said even at a two-week average of 25 cases per day, there was still a 60 per cent chance that the lifting of restrictions would simply ruin the progress made. 'You open at five, do it steady and safe, and the risk of having to go back into lockdown goes down to three percent,' he said. Mr Andrews said there was a 97 per cent chance the lockdowns would be successful and Victorians would be free to enjoy summer, and Christmas, with very few restrictions, if the lockdowns were lifted with a 14-day average of five cases. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt put out a joint statement on Sunday afternoon calling the lockdown extension 'hard and crushing news' for Victoria. The trio said Victoria's contact tracing needed to be strengthened to the highest possible levels, saying that was what had helped the NSW Liberal government under Gladys Berejiklian to keep the state open while containing the virus. 'This is the way forward. Restrictions are not substitutes for strengthening health systems to cope with the virus, especially when community outbreak is brought under control,' they said. 'The most effective means of reducing community transmission must be an effective testing, tracing and quarantine system, bolstered by enhanced local health capacity and physical distancing. These are essential prerequisites to reduce the spread, save lives and manage the economic and job impacts.' There were 63 new coronavirus cases recorded in Victoria on Sunday bringing the total number to 19,538, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Sunday. Of those, 1872 cases are active infections and 1734 are in metropolitan Melbourne, which is still subject to Stage Four restrictions. In NSW there were just 10 coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday night by comparison bringing the state's total to 3,925. Mr Andrews said he was concerned there were cases spreading in Victoria's community that had not been picked up by testing, after sewage testing confirmed the presence of the coronavirus at Apollo Bay in southwestern Victoria on the Great Ocean Road on Saturday. The Premier has been heavily criticised for his tough lockdown in recent weeks. Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett called him 'a megalomaniac' who was 'destroying' Victoria's economy. He urged independent senators to join the opposition to block legislation extending the State of Emergency, calling it a 'grab for dictatorial power'. The extension passed last Wednesday, however, giving Victoria's Parliament the power to enforce coronavirus restrictions without a Parliamentary vote for an extra six months. US President Donald Trump 'bullied' and 'mansplained' to exasperated former-Prime Minister Theresa May in a series of strained meetings, sources claim. One official even feared Mrs May would either 'scream or start crying' over her frustration at Mr Trump's stubbornness during a call about the US government's response to the Salisbury poisonings. A series of meetings - details of the notes of which were leaked and verified by various officials - outline the strain put on the so-called US-UK 'special relationship' after the former-PM became the first foreign leader Mr Trump hosted in his White House. Notes taken during this first meeting in January 2017 revealed that Mr Trump asked Mrs May: 'Why isn't Boris Johnson the prime minister? Didn't he want the job?' US President Donald Trump (left) 'bullied' and 'mansplained' to exasperated former-Prime Minister Theresa May (right) in a series of strained meetings, sources claim Mrs May - who was also pressed for her stance on abortion - is said to have explained to the newly-inaugurated president that Mr Johnson himself withdrew, The Sunday Telegraph reports. Another conversation between the pair followed the Salisbury novichok poisoning in March 2018. Former GRU spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were the targets of a nerve-agent attack - allegedly orchestrated by two Russian assassins. The US announced the expulsion of 60 Russians - including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to UN headquarters in New York - later that month, following a conversation with Mrs May. The then-Prime Minister urged Mr Trump to head the global action against Russia - but Mr Trump pushed back, instead stating the EU should take action. The call was said to be so frustrating that one US listener feared Mrs May would break down in tears. But officials both in the UK and the US have denied these suggestions A series of meetings - the notes of which were leaked and verified by various officials - outline the strain put on the so-called US-UK 'special relationship' after the former-PM became the first foreign leader Mr Trump hosted in his White House (pictured during Mrs May's trip to the US in 2017) Notes taken during this first meeting in January 2017 (their first meeting, pictured) revealed that Mr Trump asked Mrs May: 'Why isn't Boris Johnson the prime minister? Didn't he want the job?' Boris Johnson (pictured with Trump in 2019), on the other hand, did things differently. He formed relationships with those close to Mr Trump - including his son-in-law Jared Kushner Mr Trump also had a 'bullying' and 'mansplaining' tone during certain conversations between the pair, the paper reports, and Mrs May was sometimes forced to pull the conversation back to the relevant topic after Mr Trump would go off on tangents. Boris Johnson, on the other hand, did things differently. He formed relationships with those close to Mr Trump - including his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Just this week, Mr Johnson 'dropped in' on a meeting between White House adviser Mr Kushner and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Mr Johnson made a 'short drop-in' during talks at the Foreign Office between Mr Raab and Mr Kushner about the situation in the Middle East. It was 'specifically a discussion about the Middle East peace process', the Prime Minister's spokesman told reporters during a briefing. President Donald Trump's son-in-law arrived in London having this week travelled on a high-level Israeli delegation to the United Arab Emirates on the first direct commercial passenger flight between the two countries. Authentic won the 146th annual Kentucky Derby on Saturday as Black Lives Matter protesters and armed supporters of police faced off, while the usual horse racing crowds were cast aside to promote social distancing. The big picture: Like most sporting events this spring, the first leg of the American Triple Crown was postponed from its traditional first Saturday in May to the new September date because of the coronavirus pandemic. A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted. Demonstrators gathered in front of the venue, chanting, "No justice, no Derby," Friday and Saturday, as groups called for justice over the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. Activists chanting "Say her name: Breonna Taylor" were met by an armed group, which responded by shouting: "All lives matter," "U-S-A" and "Back the blue," referring to law enforcement, USA Today reports. The tense scenes came to an end when "police in riot gear arrived" and the crowds broke up, per the Washington Post. Of note: Churchill Downs issued a statement about racial injustice on Thursday, saying: "We are not doing enough, quickly enough. That is true in our country, in our city and in our sport." The organization promised that the "atmosphere of the Kentucky Derby will be different this year as we respond to those calls for change." In photos: Jockey John Velazquez aboard Authentic #18, celebrates after winning the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky. Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Connections of Authentic including Spendthrift Farm president Eric Gustavson, Velazquez, and Bob Baffert with the trophy after winning the Kentucky Derby. Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images Demonstrators walk through smoke in front of the Louisville Metro Hall ahead of the Kentucky Derby. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images Photo: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Photo: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A general view of the paddock at Churchill Downs. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images Empty seats at Churchill Downs. Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted. Editor's note: This article has been updated with information of Authentic's win and further details on the protests. Washington, Sep 6 : President Donald Trump has refused to condemn Russia over the poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, saying he has not seen proof. He said the case was "tragic" but urged reporters to focus instead on China, which he said was a bigger threat to the world than Russia, the BBC reported on Saturday. Nato and Germany say there is "proof beyond doubt" that Navalny was attacked with a Novichok nerve agent. His team said he was poisoned on the Kremlin's orders. Russia denies this. On Saturday, the Russian foreign ministry suggested that if a Novichok-type nerve agent had indeed been used, it did not necessarily originate in Russia. Navalny - an anti-corruption campaigner who has long been the most prominent face of opposition to President Vladimir Putin in Russia - is in a coma in a Berlin hospital having been airlifted there from Siberia, where he fell ill. Speaking at a press event on Friday, he said he had yet to see evidence of poisoning in the case. "So I don't know exactly what happened. I think it's tragic, it's terrible, it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet but I will take a look," he said. He also stopped short of criticising Mr Putin and said Beijing posed a greater threat. "It is interesting that everybody's always mentioning Russia and I don't mind you mentioning Russia but I think probably China at this point is a nation that you should be talking about much more so," he said. Tests at a military laboratory in Germany show "beyond doubt" the presence of a Novichok nerve agent, the German government and Nato say. On Friday Nato called for Russia to disclose its Novichok nerve agent programme to international monitors. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said members were united in condemning the "horrific" attack on Mr Navalny. Stoltenberg said it required an international response, but gave no further details. The US National Security Council has pledged to "work with allies and the international community to hold those in Russia accountable". Nine protesters have been charged and 81 have been handed $1000 fines by NSW police following anti-lockdown protests over the weekend. Police made a number of arrests at protests across Sydney and Byron Bay on Saturday, with a further six people charged on Sunday. Two men, aged 45 and 34, were arrested at a protest at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush. The older man was charged with assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting an officer and not complying with police directions, according to a police media statement. An ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy, wearing a face mask amid the coronavirus pandemic, looks out of his window in Bnei Brak, Israel Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. The death toll from the coronavirus in Israel has surpassed 1,000, as the government on Sunday mulled steps for imposing new restrictions to quell a resurgence in infections. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced overnight curfews on some 40 cities and towns hit hard by the coronavirus, but backed away from reported recommendations for full lockdowns after an uproar by politically powerful religious politicians. The measures were announced late Sunday after hours of consultations with decision-makers. The government has been forced to take new action after failing to contain an outbreak that has claimed more than 1,000 lives and remains at record levels of new infections. The curfews will go into effect Monday night at 7 p.m. and will last until 5 a.m. It was not known how long they will remain in place. People will not be allowed to venture more than 500 meters (yards) from their homes, and nonessential businesses will have to close. The announcement came less than two weeks before the Jewish New Year. The outbreak has raised concerns that the country could be forced to declare a nationwide lockdown during the upcoming holiday period, a time of widespread travel and large family gatherings. Under heavy public pressure, Netanyahu in July appointed Dr. Ronni Gamzu, a respected hospital director and former Health Ministry director, as the national "coronavirus project manager." Gamzu has been pushing for full lockdowns on areas that have the worst outbreaks. These "red" cities have been heavily concentrated in Israel's Arab and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. Israeli activists wear masks depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers during a mock cabinet meeting protesting the government's response to the health and economic crisis in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. Hebrew reads: "Detached government meeting" . (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) But ultra-Orthodox leaders have strongly resisted calls for lockdowns and threatened not to obey new orders. Orthodox parties are key partners in Netanyahu's governing coalition. In an apparent compromise, Netanyahu said these red areas would have nighttime curfews, schools would be closed and there would be restrictions on public gatheringsbut a full lockdown was avoided. "I know these measures are not easy, but in the current circumstances, there is no escaping them," he said. "We will continue to take responsible steps that are required to protect public health, lives and the economy." Israel had earned praise last spring for its early handling of the virus crisis, moving quickly to seal the country's borders and appearing to bring an outbreak under control. But Netanyahu has come under criticism for reopening the economy too quickly in May. Since then, new cases have spiked to record levels, the government has been blamed for mismanaging the resurgence and unemployment has soared to double-digit levels. Weekly protests against Netanyahu over his corruption trial have expanded to include demonstrations against his handling of the health crisis and the resulting economic pain. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children wear face masks amid the coronavirus pandemic as they gather in Bnei Brak, Israel Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. The death toll from the coronavirus in Israel has surpassed 1,000, as the government on Sunday mulled steps for imposing new restrictions to quell a resurgence in infections. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli activists wear masks depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers during a mock cabinet meeting protesting the government's response to the health and economic crisis in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020. Hebrew reads: "Detached government meeting" . (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Overall, Israel has recorded nearly 130,000 cases of the virus, with more than 26,000 still active. It recently has been reporting some 3,000 new cases each day. Upon Gamzu's recommendation, the military established a task force last month to bring the outbreak under control. Its main responsibility is taking the lead in contact tracing and breaking chains of infection. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon has banned sales of foreign seeds in the U.S. after thousands of people received unsolicited packets of seeds in the mail, most from China, according to reports. The packages of seeds are believed to be part of a 'brushing' scam. A 'brushing' scam is when a seller sends items to people that they didn't order then posts false customer reviews to boost sales. As per the reports, thousands of U.S. people received the unsolicited seeds in the summer. The packages were postmarked from China, and many of the shipments were marked as jewelry or toys. Amazon will now only allow the sale of seeds by sellers based in the U.S., the reports said. Amazon's new guidelines, which took effect from 3 September, also reportedly prohibit the sale of seeds within America by non-US residents. It added that sellers may be banned if they do not follow the new guidelines. The online retail giant's ban also applied to plants and plant products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in July that it had identified more than a dozen plant species among the mystery packages, including mint, lavender and roses. In mid-August, the US Department of Agriculture said experts analyzing the seeds found few problems with them, and that China was assisting with investigations. The US authorities have warned people not to plant seeds of unknown origin, saying they could be non-native species or carry pests and diseases. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Two mystery coronavirus infections in a northern Sydney man and a western Sydney child are among the 10 new cases reported in NSW, and health authorities are getting closer to identifying the source of the swelling CBD cluster. Six of the new cases reported on Sunday were locally acquired, including the two with no known links to confirmed cases or clusters: the man, who is in his 40s, and a student at Lidcombe Public School. The Kincoppal school at Rose Bay will close on Monday after two students tested positive for the virus. Credit:Louise Kennerley Three of the new cases are linked to the Sydney CBD cluster, including two year 7 students at Kincoppal Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart, taking the cluster to 64 cases. One new case is a woman in her 30s from south-western Sydney linked to a previously reported case and four cases are returned travellers in hotel quarantine. To expand Vietnams wood industry sustainably, its development strategy must not only focus on the policies of importing countries but also domestic priorities. Senior policy analyst Dr. To Xuan Phuc from non-profit organisation Forest Trends talked about his ideas for long-lasting and successful development in this field. As the pandemic has disrupted Vietnams timber and furniture exports, what are the prospects for the industry to restructure itself? Up until now, Vietnams wood industry has been strongly focusing on exports, but the ongoing pandemic disrupts both the input and output of domestic enterprises. However, the crisis can also be an opportunity to build new development strategies and select key products. Vietnam will only be able to find the best position on the global processing, trade, and consumption map if these strategies are developed thoroughly. Moreover, if the country wants to further favour the export market, the developments parameters should aim for the importing countries demands and export forecasts. Policy changes such as the one from China three years ago can have a devastating impact on Vietnams woodchip industry. So, if the country blindly focuses on expanding the woodchip industry, without knowing which partners could buy or import these products, the plan will fail. The same is true for other wood products. If Vietnam wants to export these, it must at least know where and how to do so. Furthermore, there should be policies to regulate local consumption, and domestic producers should be competitive within their respective product lines. However, up until now, Vietnam has not carried out any research on this. Currently, planted forests are mainly concentrated in the central and north-eastern regions, but there is no developed system of processing facilities, especially in the central region. Although the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) introduced some policies to support growers, there is a lack of output for post-harvest products. Ultimately, Vietnams wood industry needs a clear vision and development policy for the next 20 years that also takes care of enriching all stakeholders involved in the industry. To achieve this, Vietnam must focus more on processing facilities and growers, as well as on developing the domestic market. New strategies required to set deeper roots for wood industry, photo: congthuong.vn You have said that Vietnams policy focus lies on expanding exports. What are the criteria for the sectors upcoming development strategy? Exports are important and directly related to employment. However, if responsible state agencies give more attention to other industry-related groups, such as the 1.4 million afforestation households, the social and economic benefits are significant. However, so far, their policies look at 5,300 businesses in the industry, especially at the over 2,000 exporters among them. While the export turnover of wood and products thereof has gradually increased year by year, from $6.9 billion in 2015 to $11.2 billion in 2019, Vietnamese businesses spend about $0.8-1.2 billion importing roughly two million cubic metres of sawn timber. Nevertheless, it is a bit too early to state specific criteria for Vietnams wood industry as there is still no development strategy. It is, of course, very important to have a set of criteria for strategic products. However, such criteria cannot be given by a few state management agencies but must be based on findings of group discussions with those who understand the industry the most. In that way, establishing a guiding strategy is a bit like how the United Nations Development Programme assesses poverty criteria. More and more markets that import Vietnamese wood mention the risk of wood sourcing from China. Should Vietnam include measures against this risk in the contents of a new development strategy? This risk has indeed become a concern of several countries that import our wood products as the US-China trade tensions intensified. Temporarily, such illegal imports could lead to a short-term decline in Vietnams timber exports. However, I think that the country should not wait until a new development plan is designed but rather take immediate action in order to prevent any damage to the industry. Currently, domestic wood production is dominated by Chinese-invested enterprises, which are enjoying benefits that should belong to Vietnamese ones especially, since export figures for timber and wood products remain strong, despite pandemic impacts. If not in the development plan, how would you suggest reducing the risk of Chinese wood sources? Vietnams state management agencies and business associations should work on detecting every single enterprise that partakes in the import of wood products from China. To do so, they should closely monitor import and export of timber to and from Vietnam, thereby trying to detect any fluctuations in product quantity and other suspicious factors right away. However, this is a huge workload due to the large volume of product lines. For instance, just the wares exported to the European Union include over 250 different products. Therefore, the main issue is to find measures to ensure that related agencies have enough capacity and resources to do this work. Nonetheless, Vietnam can successfully minimise the risk from Chinese imports if there are a clear focus and mutual mechanisms for information sharing among state agencies and associations, and businesses as well. While Vietnamese customs acts as a guardian at the border, there is one hole to plug in this system, which is the current lack of similar agencies in localities that can inspect factories and detect any frauds. It also would be better if Vietnam had an independent watchdog. For example, amid working on regulations needed to implement the Vietnam-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement, which came into force in June 2019, Vietnam could inquire the EU to monitor illegal timber sourcing into the country, which could be a good solution to minimise such risks. Some international policy developments related to the extraction and use of unprocessed timber from natural forest areas: - The amended US Lacey Act (2008) prohibits the exploitation, transportation, and consumption of wood items that are illegal in the United States; - The European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR, 2013) states similar requirements for the market, also holding importers and producers accountable for misconduct; - Similarly, Australias Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (AILP, 2012) contains the same requirements as the EUTR to remove illegally sources timber from the market; - The Japanese government moves towards requiring companies to perform due diligence for all locally consumed wood products, which at the moment takes place voluntarily; - The South Korean government is also considering similar mechanisms as described in the EUTR and the AILP; and - The Chinese government has applied strict regulations on public procurement for wood products. VIR Hai Van Vietnams woodworks prepare for FLEGT licensing Striving to become a woodwork manufacturing center of the world, Vietnam is endeavoring to localize regulations to be able to grant FLEGT licenses, paving the way for woodworks to penetrate the EU and other markets. The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded ERC Starting Grants to two researchers from Bielefeld University. They will each receive 1.5 million euros for top-level research in their disciplines. In her project, Professor Dr Martina Hofmanova from the Faculty of Mathematics is investigating fluid flows and studying how they are influenced by randomness. Dr Toni Gomann from the Faculty of Biology is working on epigenetic programming--that is, he is investigating flexible changes in the genomes that control, for example, which genes are activated in body cells. As recipients of this research funding, Hofmanova and Gomann now belong to Europe's best young scientists. I join Martina Hofmanova and Toni Gomann in being delighted that they are receiving ERC Starting Grants, and I congratulate them warmly on their success. Both scientists have distinguished themselves through outstanding specialist publications and international scientific cooperations. The research projects that have just been approved are very promising. They are designed to produce ground-breaking findings for their research areas." Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer, Rector of Bielefeld University How randomness influences equilibria and turbulence The ERC is funding the project 'Mathematical analysis of fluid flows: the challenge of randomness' (FluFloRan) as part of Professor Dr Martina Hofmanova's award. Funding will run for five years from March 2021. Martina Hofmanova's research group is investigating how randomness influences fluid flows. Unlike physicists, she is not using experiments for this purpose, but working with mathematical equations. Like many scientists worldwide, she is working on finding the right equations to describe flows in liquids and gases. One of her major goals is to develop a mathematical theory for the origin of turbulence. 'I am trying to do this by considering randomness--that is, random perturbations on a microscopic level.' Research in this field is relevant to many applications ranging from aerospace engineering to the development of racing bikes. 'If we succeed in preventing turbulent flows or making use of them, this will save energy or power,' says Hofmanova. The further development of corresponding mathematical models is also important for meteorology and will enable it to make more precise predictions. 'The equations we are working with in the project come from physics. We want to clarify them with mathematical methods: Do the equations really have a solution? And if so, is this solution also unique?' says Hofmanova. Experts are familiar with the Navier-Stokes equations and the Euler equations. Engineers and meteorologists use them for simulations. 'However, they repeatedly produce strange, unphysical results that cannot exist in reality,' says Martina Hofmanova. 'I would like to find out how we can use mathematics to distinguish such impossible solutions from the good, physical solutions.' Martina Hofmanova obtained her Master's degree in mathematics at Charles University in Prague, the largest university in the Czech Republic. She obtained her doctorate at the Ecole Normale Superieure Cachan, L'antenne de Bretagne, in France. Before coming to Bielefeld in 2017, she spent a year researching in Leipzig at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences and three years at the Technical University of Berlin. She is a member of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1283 at Bielefeld University, in which the mathematical theory of randomness plays a central role. Understanding the evolutionary role of epigenetics As part of Dr Toni Gomann's award, the ERC is funding the project 'Deciphering adaptive footprints of epiC evolution on different timescales' (DECAF). Funding will run for five years from February 2021. Toni Gomann's research group is dedicated to epigenetics, a special field of molecular biology. The human organism contains hundreds of cell types. Although they all contain the same DNA sequence, they all differ from each other by tiny markers known as epigenetic marks. Epigenetics is about how these marks control which genetic information becomes effective in the cells. This control can, for example, react to environmental changes such as the outside temperature and make cells more resistant to heat. 'Epigenetics plays a fundamental role not only in the function and regulation of our cells but also in diseases such as cancer,' says Toni Gomann, who works at the Department of Behavioural Research. Experts are currently engaged in a controversial discussion over whether epigenetics is in any way significant for evolution in humans and animals. 'Epigenetic marks are usually not inherited. Therefore, I would like to clarify what role epigenetics plays in evolution--that is, in passing on and modifying genetic traits from generation to generation. This would enable us to draw potential conclusions about diseases and their cure.' Hence, Gomann is investigating those epigenetic marks that actually are hereditary and occur in young cells shortly after fertilization. He is also analysing the genes that are known to be epigenetically activated or silenced. 'For these genes, we then track how and whether they are passed on to the offspring,' says Gomann. Gomann and his team are investigating a specific type of epigenetic mark: DNA methylation. 'It is currently the best understood mark in epigenetics.' Toni Gomann graduated in bioinformatics at the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena. He then received his doctorate in biology from the University of Sussex (UK). Afterwards, he carried out research at the University of Hohenheim and the University of Sheffield (UK) before moving to Bielefeld University in 2019. His move to Bielefeld was made possible by the university's 'ERC Preparative Fellowship'. The fellowship is designed to help outstanding young academics prepare a proposal for an ERC Starting Grant. Gomann is an associate member of the Transregio Collaborative Research Centre (SFB/TRR 212) NC at Bielefeld University and the University of Munster that is focusing on the individualization of animals and their ecological niches. The ERC Starting Grant The European Research Council (ERC) awards its Starting Grant to outstanding young researchers in the first seven years after completing their doctorates. The award will fund their research over five years with up to 1.5 million euros. To be eligible for the award, researchers must have already published their own work as first authors and have demonstrated their future leadership role in research. There are two researchers at Bielefeld University who have already been awarded the ERC Starting Grant: the sociologist Professor Dr Minh Nguyen (2018) and the mathematician Dr Dawid Kielak (2019). The coronavirus pandemic has more than ever made businesses, educational institutions and other organizations dependent on using remote tools and has accelerated the shift to the cloud. The spike in internet traffic has put CDN (content delivery network) and edge computing companies like Akamai Technologies, Cloudflare, Fastly, and Limelight Networks in the forefront. What's more, these companies are also seeing stronger demand for their cybersecurity solutions as remote working and increased reliance on the internet has heightened the risk of malicious cyber-attacks. Using the TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we will place Cloudflare and Fastly side by side to see which stock offers a more compelling investment opportunity. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Cloudflare-vs-Fastly.png Cloudflare (NET) Cloudflares global cloud platform provides a broad range of network services, including security for websites and applications from cyber attacks and CDN solutions that ensure faster delivery of internet content. Cloudfares revenue has grown at a compounded annual rate of 50% from 2016 through 2019 and the company currently has over 3 million customers. The pandemic-led work-from-home trend helped Cloudflare boost its paying customer base by 24% Y/Y to 96,178 in the second quarter. Large customers (those paying more than $100,000 annually) rose 65%. During these difficult times, the company is offering concessions and is allowing deferral of payments to certain customers who need them. The larger customer base drove a 48% rise in Cloudflares second-quarter revenue to $99.7 million. Adjusted loss per share during the period narrowed to $0.03 compared to a loss per share of $0.22 a year ago. Also notable is the companys gross margin, which contracted Y/Y but still came in at 75.8% (adjusted 76.8%) in the second quarter. Looking ahead, Cloudfare sees revenue growth in the range of 39% to 40% in the third quarter and 41% to 42% in the full year. Cloudflare has a presence in over 100 countries and international business accounted for over 50% of its second-quarter revenue. It continues to invest in international growth as part of its strategy to expand its global customer base. Story continues On August 7, Robert W. Baird analyst Jonathan Ruykhaver raised his price target on the stock to $48 from $45 following the better-than-expected second-quarter results and full-year revenue guidance. The analyst maintained a Buy rating. We see the company continuing to leverage an innovative platform of products addressing security, performance, and a variety of other use cases. Ruykhaver said in a note to investors. We like the story and see a long tailwind for growth as the company maintains its move upmarket while continuing to deliver product innovation. (See NET stock analysis on TipRanks) Overall, the Street has a Strong Buy analyst consensus on the stock based on 10 Buys versus 2 Holds. With shares up a stellar 104% year-to-date, the average analyst price target of $48.25 implies upside potential of another 38.8% over the next 12 months. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Cloudflare.png Fastly (FSLY) The stock of edge computing specialist Fastly has jumped a whopping 303% so far this year. Fastlys edge computing platform processes data and applications closer to end-users and ensures improved speed and efficiency. Amid the pandemic, the company is seeing robust adoption of its edge platform, CDN and security products by both new and existing customers. The companys customer count grew about 20% Y/Y to 1,951 in the second quarter. Moreover, Fastly's enterprise customers (revenue in excess of $100,000 annually) increased by 16% to 304. Enterprise customers generated 88% of the trailing 12-month revenue as of June 30. The companys net retention rate increased to 137.8% compared to 110.9% in the second quarter of 2019. Overall, accelerated digital transformation needs during the current crisis fueled a 62% advance in Fastlys second-quarter revenue to $74.7 million. Strong top-line growth and an expansion in the adjusted gross margin to 61.7% from 55.6% in the second quarter of 2019 helped the company swing to an adjusted EPS of $0.02 from an adjusted loss per share of $0.16 during the same quarter last year. However, the upbeat performance was overshadowed by Fastlys disclosure that China-based TikTok is its largest customer and contributed 12% of the companys revenue in the first half of 2020. Investors perceive this as a major risk as President Trump has called for TikToks ban in the US if its owner ByteDance doesnt sell the app to an American company by September 15. Growth beyond the domestic market is vital for Fastly. As of the end of June, 52% of the companys customers were from international markets. The company is increasing the number of POPs (Points-of-Presence) in select international locations to attract more customers. Meanwhile, Fastly continues to expand the availability of Compute@Edge and invest in its enhancements. It is also expanding its security offerings through the recently announced acquisition of web application security company Signal Sciences. Following the Signal acquisition, Credit Suisse analyst Brad Zelnick on August 28 raised the price target on the stock to $110 from $100 and maintained his Buy rating . Zelnick believes, the deal advances Fastlys position in edge security, specifically in the context of DevSecOps, and in a way that differentiates from prior generation technology. The analyst added, In addition to TAM [Total Addressable Market] expansion and the likelihood for synergies, the deal appears both growth and GM [Gross Margin] accretive on a standalone basis. (See FSLY stock analysis on TipRanks) The rest of the Street is cautiously optimistic on the stock. The Moderate Buy analyst consensus is based on 7 Buys, 3 Holds and 2 Sells. The analyst average price target of $92.38 suggests additional upside potential of 14.2% in the coming 12 months. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Fastly.png Conclusion Both Cloudflare and Fastly are poised to benefit as more businesses migrate to the cloud. Currently, both stocks have lofty valuations. However, Cloudflares higher margins and greater upside potential in the stock make it more favorable than Fastly. To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment More recent articles from Smarter Analyst: The National Nuclear Security Administration will not heed the call by New Mexicos congressional delegation to explain a supplemental analysis of a 2008 environmental impact study the NNSA says is sufficient for it to go ahead with plans to accelerate the production of triggering devices for nuclear warheads at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The NNSAs recent review of the 12-year-old site-wide study released last week concluded that even taking into consideration expanded plutonium pit production at LANL, further analysis is not required under the National Environmental Policy Act. Congress in 2018 enacted a policy to increase plutonium pit production at LANL to at least 30 a year. The plan calls for $13 billion in spending at LANL over the next 10 years. Anti-nuclear advocates argue that the expansion of LANLs mission is significant enough to warrant a new Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement. They also point to a number of safety breaches that have occurred at LANL over the years and environmental damage that has already been done, including a chromium plume that threatens the groundwater supply. In a joint statement from U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall, and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, all Democrats, the delegation said the NEPA process was important in ensuring worker, community and environmental safety. They urged the NNSA, a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, to undertake a robust public engagement process to explain its findings. Northern New Mexico has had to deal with decades of environmental cleanup from past activities and the burden is fully on DOE to justify its decisions to the public to ensure confidence and take the public input they have received seriously, they said in the statement. In response, an NNSA spokesperson said the agency has already engaged the public and there is no further public engagement planned on the results of the analysis. Additionally, NNSA has met both the letter and the spirit of NEPA requirements throughout the process, the statement said. With regards to public engagement, we shared a draft Supplement Analysis and extended the public comment period to accept feedback. New Mexicos congressional delegation had called for a 45-day extension of the comment period due to the pandemic. The NNSA did extend the deadline, but only by 15 days. President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to depart Abuja for Niger Republic on Monday to participate in the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government according to a presidential statement. Mr Buhari will travel in the company of some ministers and government officials. According to his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari will present a special report on COVID-19 pandemic in the one-day summit. Mr Buhari was appointed the ECOWAS Champion on the Fight against COVID-19 during the Extraordinary Virtual Summit of ECOWAS on April 23, 2020. Like every other part of the world, Africa has been affected by the pandemic. Over 1.2 million infections and 30,000 thousand deaths occasioned by COVID-19 have been recorded on the continent. Apart from the extensive deliberation on the COVID-19 special report, the summit will also receive a Special Report on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme, which will be presented by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), and President Alassane Ouattara, who is Chair of the West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA). Mr Shehu noted that the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean Claude Kassi Brou, will present the 2020 Interim Report on activities of the sub-regional body including ECOWAS Vision 2050 to the leaders. Amongst other events scheduled to take place, the rise in incidents of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry and piracy will also come under focus, while the disruption of the democratic process by the military in Mali, will receive further attention, said the presidential spokesperson. Similarly, in Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger where parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for this year, the imperative to strengthen democracy in the sub-region by respecting constitutional provisions, rule of law and outcomes of free and fair polls, will be emphasised. Its election season, so of course candidates on each side are predicting doom and gloom if the other prevails. However, on criminal justice reform, recent history suggests even a divided government can prioritize public safety without being too tough on taxpayers. At the federal level, this meeting of the minds culminated in the First Step Act passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in December 2018. Indeed, significant progress has been made. As of Aug. 20, there were 156,415 federal prisoners, a sharp decline from the 2012 peak of 218,687. The First Step Act was inspired by reforms in states like Texas, which, since its 2007 shift away from building more prisons and toward community-based supervision and treatment, has cut crime 40 percent while reducing incarceration by 34 percent. As the first step moniker implies, there is still unfinished business at the federal level. Now Playing: Marc Levin is chief of policy and innovation for Right on Crime, an initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. An attorney, Levin is a nationally recognized criminal justice expert. He began the TPPF's criminal justice program in 2005. Video: San Antonio Express-News We can start by making retroactive the drug sentencing reform provisions in the First Step Act. Doing so could benefit 4,000 people. These provisions were hardly radical. One reduced mandatory life without parole for a third felony drug offense to 25 years and dropped the 20-year mandatory minimum for a second felony drug offense to 15 years. The First Step Act also expanded the safety valve that allows a court to impose a prison sentence slightly below the mandatory minimum in cases involving low-level drug offenses by those with little criminal history, but this was also only prospective. The case for retroactivity is even stronger following a U.S. Sentencing Commission study in July demonstrating that reducing time served for drug offenses does not increase recidivism. Action should also be taken to streamline federal probation. The average federal probation term is 41 months, but a two-year term is slightly more effective than a three-year term for reducing recidivism. Since 2007, many states have adopted earned-time policies that provide an incentive for exemplary conduct while on community supervision. Results from Missouri show this lowered caseloads while preserving public safety. Additionally, 7 in 10 revocations from federal probation occur due to technical violations, such as missed meetings or positive drug tests. States, including South Carolina, have seen positive results from recent policies to reduce such revocations through graduated sanctions. A survey of federal judges found they want more discretion to use alternatives to revocation in responding to positive drug tests, suggesting a need for Congress to act. Action is also needed on record sealing and certificates of rehabilitation. The bipartisan Clean Slate Act would seal the records of a low-level federal drug possession offense after two years if the person has not reoffended. This legislation would help someone found with a joint in an airport or national park when they seek employment and housing. To address a wider range of cases, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has joined Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., on a bipartisan proposal for creating federal certificates of rehabilitation, which research has shown improve employment outcomes. Recent months have seen a disturbing uptick in shootings in many cities, even as overall crime rates remain at historically low levels and have declined even more in major cities since the pandemic. While policing must largely remain a local function, federal grant programs can play a complementary role by funding strategies likely to reduce violence. Focused deterrence and violence interruption programs received a nod in Trumps June 16 executive order and are backed by local leaders like Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. Such initiatives often involve partnerships between law enforcement and credible messengers. These include people who were formerly incarcerated, often gang members, before turning their lives around, positioning them to help others avoid the same mistakes. After implementing such a model in 2012, known as Ceasefire, Oakland, Calif., cut its shootings in half by 2018. These programs wisely target resources and interventions to the very small percentage of the population statistically most likely to shoot someone or be shot, and provide these individuals with positive pathways, such as connections to employment and mentoring. At the same time, they build trust between communities and law enforcement, and unequivocally communicate that acts of violence will be prosecuted. Criminal justice policy deeply impacts lives and liberties. It is too important to be the province of any one political party or candidate. Regardless of what this election holds, we all benefit if our leaders take the next steps toward a federal system that balances the need for incarceration in some cases with the goals of promoting second chances and preventing crime. Marc Levin is chief of policy and innovation for Right on Crime, an initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Follow @RightonCrime and @MarcALevin. They have been dating since January. And Paris Hilton and her beau Carter Reum, 39, looked like the ideal couple as they vacationed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Saturday. The 39-year-old socialite sent temperatures soaring in a one piece leopard swimsuit and matching coverup. Getaway: Paris Hilton and her beau Carter Reum, 39, looked like the ideal couple as they vacationed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Saturday Lady in leopard: The 39-year-old socialite sent temperatures soaring in a one piece leopard swimsuit and matching coverup Hilton and Reum, who appear to be staying at the popular Nobu Resort, walked around leisurely with their hands interlocked. Paris had a bright yellow canvas bag over her shoulder that had the humorous phrase 'I'm a ray of f**king sunshine' printed on it. She wore her signature blonde hair in two ponytails and concealed her hazel eyes behind a pair of large sunglasses. Strike a pose: Once the couple made it to the resort's pool and spa area, the Simple Life star posed for some photos Exposed: Hilton removed her chic swimsuit coverup before entering the pool She looked to be wearing little to no makeup and she was sporting a noticeable tan. Once the couple made it to the resort's pool and spa area, the Simple Life star posed for some photos and removed her swimsuit coverup. Paris had a huge smile on her face, while she and Carter selected their lounge chairs on the deck. Cheeky: Paris had a bright yellow canvas bag over her shoulder that had the humorous phrase 'I'm a ray of f**king sunshine' printed on it Smiley: Paris had a huge smile on her face, while she and Carter selected their lounge chairs on the deck Protect the hair: Before stepping into the boiling water, Hilton transformed her two ponytails into two buns Before stepping into the boiling water, Hilton transformed her two ponytails into two buns. Paris' businessman boyfriend removed his white tee and had on a pair of navy blue swim trunks. Once he got situated, Carter joined his girlfriend in the spacious resort hot tub. Over it: After they spent some decent time immersed in the water, the couple exited the hot tub and made their way back to their lounge chairs Covering up: Paris wrapped her swimsuit coverup back around her waist before taking a seat Ogling: As Carter dried off his body, the pair enjoyed some light conversation After they spent some decent time immersed in the water, the couple exited the hot tub and made their way back to their lounge chairs. Paris wrapped her swimsuit coverup back around her waist before taking a seat. As Carter dried off his body, the pair enjoyed some light conversation. Earlier in the day, Hilton and Reum were spotted taking in the resort's picturesque views from their balcony. Ogling: As Carter dried off his body, the pair enjoyed some light conversation Natural beauty: Paris looked to be wearing little to no makeup and she was sporting a noticeable tan For the gram: Carter and Paris took turns snapping pictures of the gorgeous sites and compared photos with one another Carter and Paris took turns snapping pictures of the gorgeous sites and compared photos with one another. Not satisfied with the snaps, the reality star rose from her seat and ventured further out onto the balcony to capture the perfect shot. Paris and Carter celebrated their seven-month anniversary on August 29. To commemorate the special date and their love, Hilton uploaded a touching tribute to her boyfriend on Instagram. Smoldering: Paris' businessman boyfriend removed his white tee and had on a pair of navy blue swim trunks Welcome: Once he got situated, Carter joined his girlfriend in the hot tub Going strong: Paris and Carter have been dating since January of this year 'When we first met, I had no idea of the amazing journey I was about to embark on. My life was always empty, like I was missing something. But when I met you, I knew you were the one,' she began. Paris included a black-and-white snapshot of herself and Reum sharing a tender moment. She continued: 'Youve filled my heart with so much love. I believe that everything happens for a reason because everything in my life, all the good and the bad, has led me right to you. 'You are my reason for me being so happy and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world! I love making you happy and promise to make you smile forever Anniversary: Paris and Carter celebrated their seven-month anniversary on August 29 'Love so much handsome! Happy anniversary!' concluded Hilton, along with a lightening bolt emoji,' concluded Hilton in the post seen by her 12.5million followers. Though things with Carter are going great, it was not always smoothing sailing for Paris when it came to relationships. In a recent interview with People, the heiress opened up about enduring 'multiple abusive relationships' in her life. 'I was strangled, I was hit, I was grabbed aggressively. I put up with things no one should,' said the star, who believes she was set up for a future of abusive relationships while attending the Provo Canyon boarding school as a teenager. Opening up: In a recent interview with People , the heiress opened up about enduring 'multiple abusive relationships' in her life; Paris pictured in 2019 Paris says she was abused by five of her exes, whom were all sweet and kind to her in the beginning of their relationship before making a dramatic change. 'They all seemed like such nice guys and then the true colors would show,' Paris explained. 'They'd get jealous, or defensive or try to control me. And there there would come a point where they would become physically, verbally and emotionally abusive.' Paris initially interpreted the 'crazy' behavior as an indicator of just how much they loved her. 'Looking back, I can't believe I let people treat me like that,' she said. Amanda Holden and husband Chris Hughes were diagnosed with PTSD and sought therapy following the death of their stillborn son Theo and to help conceive again. The Britain's Got Talent judge, 49, described how the couple attended a session before she discovered hypnotherapy which helped her 'believe in her body again'. Amanda revealed how she 'felt so responsible' for the loss with her describing how 'not a day goes by' that she does not think of Theo after he passed away in 2011. Heartbreaking: Amanda Holden and husband Chris Hughes were diagnosed with PTSD and sought therapy following the death of their stillborn son Theo and to help conceive again Speaking to The Sun, the Heart Radio presenter explained how hypnotherapy gave her 'confidence' in her body which led her to welcoming her youngest Hollie a year later. 'After we first lost him, Chris and I were diagnosed with PTSD so we went and had some therapy about that, as anyone would,' Amanda said. She added: 'I just felt like everything was my fault, and I felt so responsible what did I do wrong?' Strong: The Britain's Got Talent judge, 49, described how the couple attended a session before she discovered hypnotherapy which helped her 'believe in her body again' Discussing her loss, Amanda added: 'There is not a day that goes by when I don't think about Theo, especially when a new school year begins.' Amanda spent several days in intensive care following the life-threatening childbirth of daughter Hollie Rose in 2012. The star did not see her newborn daughter for the first three days of her life as she was forced to recover in intensive care in hospital, where she was deemed to be in a 'critical condition'. Family: Amanda and her husband Chris are also parents to daughters Lexi, 14, and Hollie, eight (pictured this summer) Amanda, who shares daughters Lexi, 14, and Hollie, eight, with Chris, also revealed lockdown, like many other families, has made her realise 'what is and isn't important'. She described how she has put on half a stone during lockdown which has gone to her 'boobs and bum' with husband Chris 'not complaining in the slightest'. Amanda, who recently spoke of her new album Songs From My Heart, said she has embraced lockdown with Chris and the pair have enjoyed 'date nights' including watching 'sunsets with a glass of wine'. Earlier this week, Amanda fought back tears while appearing on Lorraine when she revealed her new single reminds Chris of their late son, Theo. Exciting: Amanda revealed she's dedicated a song on her debut album Songs From My Heart to her late son Theo ahead of its release The TV star debuted her the song, With You, from the musical Ghost on YouTube on Thursday and Chris said it brought back memories of losing Theo back in 2011. Amanda said: 'It's a song about grief and loss. It's a very moving song. My whole album means so much for me. 'I sing it a lot. My whole album in fact is about songs that mean so much to me and my family. It was my husband Chris who absolutely floored me one day when I was singing. 'He said, 'The last two lines of that song really remind me of how we felt when we lost Theo' - who was our lovely little boy who was born sleeping. The last two lines are, 'you took my world away, you took my life away'.' Amanda continued: 'Chris is a typically stoic man who was very supportive of me and our girl Lexie when it all happened and never took time for himself. 'So for him to come out with that sentence, it just floored me. That's the first single we thought to release - very emotional.' If you have been affected by this story, support and advice can be found at Sands (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity) Helpline: 0808 164 3332. Defence Minister on Sunday said he had a "very fruitful" discussion with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed regional security situation including Afghanistan and issues of bilateral cooperation. "Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation," said in a tweet. "The meeting between the two Ministers took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both the leaders emphasized upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between India and Iran," the Defence Minister's office said in a tweet. The Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Singh had held bilateral meeting on September 5 with Iran's Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latter's request, according to the office of the Defence Minister. Singh had arrived in Tehran on a transit halt to New Delhi from Moscow, after concluding a three day visit to Russia for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers that took place on Friday. On Saturday, Singh met his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and deliberated on ways to give greater thrust to defence cooperation between India and the Central Asian countries. On Friday, Singh had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe during which the two sides discussed military standoff along the Line of Actual Control. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A positive case of COVID-19 was linked to Susquehannock High School, WGAL reported. The school said an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 had previously been at the school but had not been in the building for more than a week. The high school will not close and classes will continue as usual on Sept. 8 in guidance with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The individual will not return to the school for at least 10 days and officials say they have cleaned and disinfected classrooms and have taken all the necessary precautions. The district conducted contact tracing and is advising anyone who might have been exposed to quarantine for 14 days. Any changes will be communicated to families and staff as soon as possible. In a major boost to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) in its operation to douse the fire on board oil tanker 'MT New Diamond' off the east coast of Sri Lanka, ICG's pollution control vessel 'Samudra Paheredar' reached the incident site on Sunday, September 6. The pollution control vessel is equipped with an Ocean boom, four Oil skimmers and an Oil Spill Dispersant. "Major boost to @IndiaCoastGuard efforts #MTNewDiamond with arrival of #ICG pollution control vessel Samudra Paheredar today morning at scene of incident. Equipped with Ocean boom, 04 Oil skimmers, Oil Spill Dispersant ,the vessel gives shot in the arm to #ICG PR operation," ICG said in its tweet. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) along with the Sri Lankan ships continue with the firefighting operation of MT New Diamond. CG Dornier aircraft Ex Mattala carried out a recce of the area and ICG's Abheek reached the scene of action to augment ongoing efforts, the coast guard informed. READ | Fire on board oil tanker brought under control with India's help: Lankan Navy @IndiaCoastGuard & Sri Lankan ships continue #FireFighting on #MTNewDiamond. CG Dornier aircraft ex #Mattala carried out recee of the area. #ICG Abheek reached scene of action to augment ongoing efforts. pic.twitter.com/T8Af1ePyKs Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 6, 2020 Major boost to @IndiaCoastGuard efforts #MTNewDiamond with arrival of #ICG pollution control vessel Samudra Paheredar today morning at scene of incident. Equipped with Ocean boom, 04 Oil skimmers, Oil Spill Dispersant ,the vessel gives shot in the arm to #ICG PR operation. pic.twitter.com/c1AOer2aGi Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) September 6, 2020 READ | Sri Lanka: One dead as firefighters battle blaze aboard Panamanian oil tanker MT New Diamond towed to safe waters On Saturday the ICG, the Sri Lankan ships, and aircraft along with tug ALP Winger through it's consolidated efforts successfully towed MT New Diamond more than 35 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka coast to safe waters, ICG informed. It further said that the fire combat continues, however, the fire has now reduced with no oil slick reported. So far 22 out of 23 crew members have been rescued since the ICG fire fighting ships assisted in successfully dousing the fire onboard earlier on Friday. Search is underway for one missing crew member, according to the ICG. MT New Diamond- fire fighting operation On Friday, September 4, the ICG fire fighting ships successfully doused a fire after assistance was sought by the Sri Lankan Navy following an explosion onboard the oil tanker MT New Diamond, 37 nautical miles east off Sri Lanka coast. On Thursday, September 3, the Coast Guard had said that after Sri Lankan Navy sought their assistance for the firefight, three vessels were rushed to the Central-eastern Sri Lankan coast to help fight the massive fire onboard the oil tanker. The vessels mobilised by ICG to assist in fighting included Shaurya, Sarang, and Samudra Pehredar. Besides the Coast Guard vessels, a Dornier aircraft too had also been deployed for the firefighting operation. The Panama registered tanker, New Diamond was carrying 2,70,000 tonnes of crude oil from Kuwait to India when its engine room caught fire off the coast of Sangamankanda in the eastern district of Ampara. READ | Oil tanker carrying crude from Kuwait to India catches fire off Sri Lanka READ |ICG successfully tows MT New Diamond away from Sri Lanka's coast Hamas and Israel reached a Qatari-brokered deal to end the latest round of violence, the Gaza administration announced Aug. 31. The deal also includes several projects serving the Gaza Strip. Hamas thanked the Qatari ambassador to Palestine, Mohammad al-Emadi, for his efforts. Since the beginning of August, tensions have grown in the Gaza Strip, with incendiary balloons lighting fires in Israel in an effort to force it to ease the siege in place on Gaza since 2006. Israel responded with airstrikes on Hamas positions and closed off access to the sea. It also closed the only open trade crossing with Gaza and halted fuel shipments, leaving Gazans with less than four hours of electricity per day. Gaza's coronavirus crisis has also worsened since Aug. 25, with cases reaching 581 as of Sept. 3, according to the enclave's Health Ministry. Emadi announced on Al-Araby TV Sept. 2 that Qatar has pledged $34 million to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, including $7 million for those affected by the coronavirus. He added that Qatar has supplied the Ministry of Health in Gaza with 20,000 testing kits. Arrangements were also made with Israel to allow the entry of 7,000 Gazan workers into Israel and supply the Gaza Electricity Company with natural gas at a cost of $2.5 million. He did not specify who would bear it. Khalil al-Haya, a member of Hamas political bureau, told Al-Aqsa TV Sept. 1 that the agreement with Israel includes hiring 3,500 employees in Gazas ministries for renewable three-month contracts and increasing the ministerial staff's pay by 50%. While Hamas' statement thanked Qatar for its efforts and did not mention Egypt, Haya said during the Sept. 1 interview that Israel had foiled Egyptian efforts to achieve a truce. This statement seems to point to Qatar's exclusive success in Gaza, where it won influence at Egypt's expense. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor, The truce was reached following calls between Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar, but it was implemented during Emadis visit to Gaza that began Aug. 25. Whether the situation will remain calm or not depends on Israels implementation of the agreement, which is considered a step toward breaking the siege. The coronavirus pandemic deepened Hamas insistence on its demands. The humanitarian situation has become tougher with the coronavirus. Hamas dealings with Egypt and Qatar serve the interests of our people. We have important relations with them and we want to develop our ties. Unlike previous escalation rounds, Hamas did not launch rockets on Israel, and no Palestinians were killed in Gaza in the Israeli shelling, a sign that neither party wanted an open confrontation. Things may have gone differently if not for the novel coronavirus. It would have been difficult for Hamas to battle both the pandemic and Israel at once. Mohammed al-Brim Abu Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Popular Resistance Committees, told Al-Monitor, We have engaged in a real confrontation with Israel, even if it was limited to balloons. Through our indirect negotiations with Israel, we have earned points and broken some aspects of the Gaza siege without incurring human and material losses. We did not reach our demands to lift the siege completely, but this is what we got. The coronavirus pandemic expedited the end of this round. He noted, Qatar has been patient throughout the negotiations with the Israelis, with Emadi shuttling between Gaza and Tel Aviv. He eventually succeeded in easing some of the restrictions imposed on Gazans, who have been suffering on a daily basis. Qatar worked alongside Egypt and the UN for the same goal, which is to achieve calm and alleviate the siege. But Qataris spearheaded the initiative, which deepened Palestinians trust in them, though we would never forget Egypts continuous role. An official from a Palestinian faction in Gaza who asked not to be named revealed to Al-Monitor, The Egyptian intelligence delegation that arrived in Gaza Aug. 17 and met with Hamas leaders told them that the political situation was not in their favor and that the escalation should be halted. Hamas interpreted the message as an Israeli threat sent via the Egyptians. Therefore, Egypts efforts failed early on, and the stage was set for Qatar, which served as a messenger between Gaza and Tel Aviv, rather than in only one direction. Qatar and Egypt are both working to win Hamas over and increase their influence. It is now clear that Qatar has been seeking to bolster its political and financial position and it has succeeded. Hamas sees Egypt as a country with deep interests in the Gaza Strip as it borders the enclave. Meanwhile, Hamas benefits from Qatars funding and foreign connections. Hamas has proven able to communicate with both even though the two countries have deep-seated enmity over regional disputes including Cairos accusations that Doha is harboring Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members wanted by Egyptian authorities. Said Basharat is the editor-in-chief of the Hodhod news site, which focuses on Israel. He told Al-Monitor, Hamas clearly indicated its field demands during the recent round. Meanwhile, Israel does not want to engage in a military confrontation with Hamas, because it would ruin its diplomatic achievements. Hamas led the escalation round without bloodshed or military action. The Arab world has given up on it and Hamas is fighting alone. For that reason, the outcome of this round was modest. Hamas was quick to issue media statements about [the recent agreement], raising the hopes of Palestinians that the siege was to be completely lifted, but this did not happen. Gaza's leaders made overambitious statements, disappointing their people. Meanwhile, Israel back down from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Aug. 19 threats to assassinate Hamas leaders. Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz announced Aug. 7 that the sanctions on Gaza would not be lifted unless the bodies of Israelis held by Hamas are released. Jordan Kristine Seamon and Jack Dylan Grazer in a scene from HBO's Italian-set "We Are Who We Are," one of a number of TV series this fall that will take viewers where they can't yet travel themselves. Read more If fall to you means kids back in school and your favorite shows are back on TV, 2020 remains the pits. We dont yet know when well see Queen Latifah make her debut as CBSs The Equalizer, or when ABCs The Goldbergs will return for more Jenkintown shout-outs. What we do know is that there will be plenty to see this fall, some of it set in places Britain, Italy, France, outer space we can only reach through television. When production shut down in the spring, some networks went shopping for other countries pre-pandemic programming, or raided corporate siblings to fill in gaps. The streaming services that have fueled our quarantine binges havent yet run out of new shows, either. Still, for fans of the broadcast networks scripted shows, September and October may feel like summer, with reality competitions and game shows filling spots that might once have gone to sitcoms or dramas. NBC has pushed its premiere week to Nov. 9-13, with This Is Us scheduled to return with a two-hour season premiere on Nov. 10. Much of the planned scripted programming at CBS, ABC, and the CW will be delayed, too, as studios work out how to bring actors together safely. Fox, with its animation-heavy Sunday lineup, and a couple of shows held back from last season, may look closer to normal. Not even COVID-19 could stop The Simpsons, which begins its 32nd season Sept. 27. READ MORE: Hold on tight for a wild, unpredictable ride in movie releases this fall Also on the horizon: an HBO Max 30th anniversary reunion special with Will Smith and his Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast mates thats expected around Thanksgiving, the fourth season of Netflixs The Crown on Nov. 15, and on Oct. 4, the coronavirus-delayed Season 10 finale of AMCs The Walking Dead, which brings Cherry Hills Lauren Cohan back to the show and will be followed by the premiere of a new spin-off, The Walking Dead: World Beyond. Heres some of what else is in store: Away (Friday, Sept. 4, Netflix). Im a sucker for space sagas, and this one, about the first human expedition to Mars, fits our times well, with stories of people at a distance trying to stay close. Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank plays the mission commander, who leaves a husband (Josh Charles, The Good Wife) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman), at what turns out to be a tough moment, to lead an international team of sometimes cranky characters on the ultimate quarantine-pod experience. Noughts + Crosses (Friday, Sept. 4, Peacock). Six-episode British drama is based on Malorie Blackmans novel, set in a world in which the people of what we know as Africa long ago colonized Europe and enslaved white people. Slaverys over, but the Crosses, the ruling class in Britain (or, as its known, Albion) are still Black, and the countrys underclass is white. Masali Baduza plays Sephy, a politicians daughter who becomes romantically involved with Callum (Jack Rowan), the white (Nought) son of her familys housekeeper. (Peacock is the Comcast-owned, ad-supported streaming service thats free to Xfinity X1 and Flex subscribers.) Power Book II: Ghost (9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, Starz, moving to 8 p.m. on Sept. 13). The first of four planned spin-offs of the Starz hit stars Michael Rainey Jr., reprising his role as Tariq St. Patrick. With his mother (Naturi Naughton) charged in the killing of his drug lord father, Tariq juggles college and trying to make enough money to pay for his mothers expensive defense. Mary J. Blige and Clifford Method Man Smith join the Power crew for this 10-episode season. Woke (Wednesday, Sept. 9, Hulu). Cartoonist Keith Knight (The K Chronicles) cocreated this series about a Black cartoonist, Keef Knight (Lamorne Morris, New Girl), who, after a traumatic experience with police, finds his purpose even as he appears to others to be losing his mind. The Duchess (Sept. 11, Netflix). Katherine Ryan, a Canadian comedian and actress whos based in Britain, created and stars in this comedy about a single mother in London whos thinking about having a second child with the despised father of her first. The Third Day (9 p.m. Sept. 14, HBO). Jude Law, Naomie Harris, Katherine Waterston, and Emily Watson star in a limited series set on a mysterious island off the British coast. (Think Stephen King with British accents.) Three separate but related stories will be told, two presented in three-episode arcs, with the middle piece becoming a live, immersive theatrical event that will be available online. We Are Who We Are (10 p.m. Sept. 14, HBO). From Luca Guadagnino, the director of Call Me By Your Name, this coming-of-age series stars Jack Dylan Grazer (It) and Jordan Kristine Seamon as Fraser and Caitlin, American teenagers living on a U.S. military base in Italy where Frasers mother (Chloe Sevigny) is the new commander. Departure (Sept. 17, Peacock). Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife) and Christopher Plummer star in an eight-episode British-Canadian thriller about the investigation of a mid-Atlantic airliner crash. It first aired in the U.K. last year. Ratched (Sept. 18, Netflix). American Horror Story fans probably wont want to miss Ryan Murphys take on the origin story of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nests iconic tyrant Nurse Ratched, which stars AHS regular Sarah Paulson in the title role. No, its not part of the same world as the FX anthology series, but it feels as if it could be. READ MORE: 10 big books for fall 2020 Last Tango in Halifax (8 p.m. Sept. 20, WHYY12). After a longish gap, the dance continues in this series about 70-something newlyweds Alan (Derek Jacobi) and Celia (Anne Reid). In this latest installment, the couple are now seven years married, and still not always seeing eye to eye. L.A.s Finest (8 p.m. Sept. 21, Fox). Gabrielle Union and Jessica Alba play Los Angeles police detectives in a show that premiered in 2019 but until now has been available only to subscribers of Charter Communications Spectrum Originals. Filthy Rich (9 p.m. Sept. 21, Fox). Sex and the Citys Kim Cattrall stars as Margaret Monreaux, the matriarch of a New Orleans family thats made its millions through televangelism. When a private jet carrying her husband (Gerald McRaney) crashes, shes faced with not only keeping together the empire they built, but with evidence of his infidelity in the form of three grown children he fathered with other women. Fortunately, she seems to have a sense of humor. Manhunt: Deadly Games (10 p.m. Sept. 21, CBS). Another show made for Spectrum Originals, this one grew out of Discoverys 2017 miniseries Manhunt: Unabomber. This season the true-crime anthology series deals with the bombing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and the case of Richard Jewell, the security guard who was falsely accused. Star Trek: Discovery (10 p.m. Sept. 24, CBS). All good things come to those who wait. Sonequa Martin-Green stars in an edition of the franchise that may be new to many CBS viewers, although its premiere debuted on the network in 2017 as a come-on for the CBS All Access streaming service. Now CBS is plugging a hole with the entire first season. (Season 3 premieres on All Access on Oct. 15). Utopia (Sept. 25, Amazon). Adapted by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn from, yes, a British series, this one has everything: comic books, violence, John Cusack, and, um, a viral pandemic. The Comey Rule (9 p.m. Sept. 27 and 28, Showtime). Jeff Daniels stars as former FBI director James Comey and Brendan Gleeson as President Trump in a two-night miniseries that doesnt cover anyone including Comey with glory, but does serve as a reminder that breaching governmental norms can have far-reaching consequences. Fargo (9 p.m. Sept. 27, FX). After a more than three-year hiatus that included a coronavirus-related delay this past spring, the fourth season of the Noah Hawley anthology series is ready to roll. Chris Rock stars as the leader of a crime organization in 1950 Kansas City in another story inspired by the Coen brothers 1996 film. Connecting ... (8:30 p.m. Oct. 1, NBC). How do you get a new comedy on the air quickly during a pandemic? Film it through video chats. From Blindspot producers Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, this ones about a group of friends trying to stay close while social distancing. But will we all be too Zoomed out by then to tune in? Emily in Paris (Oct. 2, Netflix). Lily Collins stars as the cutest of ugly Americans in this romantic comedy from Darren Star (Sex and the City, Melrose Place) about a social media expert who doesnt speak more than a few words of French but whos nevertheless transferred to Paris for a year to dazzle the locals with her Instagram expertise. The Good Lord Bird (9 p.m. Oct. 4, Showtime). Ethan Hawke stars as abolitionist John Brown in a seven-episode adaptation of the National Book Award-winning novel by Lambertvilles James McBride. Soulmates (10 p.m. Oct. 5, AMC). New anthology series is set in a not-too-distant future where science has supposedly discovered how to identify our soulmates. What could possibly go wrong? Next (9 p.m. Oct. 6, Fox). John Slattery stars as a tech mogul who enlists a federal agent (Fernanda Andrade) in an effort to contain artificial intelligence that appears to have gone rogue from the company he founded. You may not want to watch with Alexa. Welcome to Blumhouse (Oct. 6, Amazon). For those who need even more reasons to lie awake at night, Jason Blums Blumhouse is releasing four new films in October, two on Oct. 6, and two more on Oct. 13. In The Lie, from Veena Sud (The Killing, Seven Seconds), Mireille Enos (The Killing) and Peter Sarsgaard (The Looming Tower) try to cover for their daughter (Joey King) after she confesses to killing her best friend. The Black Box, directed by Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., stars Mamoudou Athie, Phylicia Rashad, Amanda Christine, Tosin Morohunfola , Charmaine Bingwa, and Troy James and tells the story of a man who undergoes an experimental treatment after losing his wife, and his memory, in a car accident. Devils (8 p.m. Oct. 7, the CW). Greys Anatomy veteran Patrick Dempsey stars in a financial thriller from Sky Italia. Not quite what you expected to find in the home of Riverdale? As Deadline notes, Devils was a hot commodity given that it is an English-language drama starring a recognizable U.S. star that was in the can before the pandemic forced a production shutdown. Supernatural (8 p.m. Oct. 8, CW). The long-running series will begin airing the coronavirus-delayed last episodes of its 15th and final season. The Right Stuff (Oct. 9, Disney+). A new generation of actors gets to embody the Mercury 7 as Tom Wolfes 1979 book about the early space program becomes a series, produced by Disney partner National Geographic. Stars include Patrick J. Adams (Suits) as John Glenn, James Lafferty (One Tree Hill) as Scott Carpenter, and Jake McDorman (Limitless) as Alan Shepard. The Haunting of Bly Manor (Oct. 9, Netflix). A young American woman (Victoria Pedretti) takes a job as a governess in a remote English manor to look after two orphans. Do I even need to tell you what happened to the last governess? From Mike Flanagan, the creator of Netflixs The Haunting of Hill House. Grand Army (Oct. 16, Netflix). A fictional Brooklyn high school is the setting for a new drama adapted by Katie Cappiello from her 2013 play Slut, which looked at rape culture and slut-shaming through the experience of a 16-year-old girl. David Byrnes American Utopia (8 p.m. Oct. 17, HBO). Definitely not to be confused with Amazons Utopia. Spike Lee directed the film adaptation of Byrnes Broadway hit. " " Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images The detonation of the first nuclear bomb at the Trinity test site in New Mexico was a triumph for American scientists. For about three years, the scientists and military personnel involved with the Manhattan Project had worked nonstop to build a nuclear bomb, and the blinding flash of light, intense burst of heat and deafening boom let them know they had succeeded. Any celebrations that took place after the first detonation were short-lived. The initial goal of the secret project was to build a bomb before Germany could, but World War II had officially ended in Europe on May 8, 1945, two months before the Trinity test. The decision to use the bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki instead confused many. Although some believed the device saved lives by ending ground combat and air strikes, others felt Japan was ready to surrender anyway -- the Soviet Union was about to join the U.S. by declaring war on the Japanese. The Franck Committee, headed by Nobel laureate James Franck, had even issued a report suggesting the power of the nuclear bomb should be demonstrated to the Japanese before its use on military or civilian targets. Advertisement The U.S. was equally conflicted about sharing atomic information with the Soviet Union. Many scientists, including Niels Bohr and Robert Oppenheimer, felt it best to allow a "free interchange of information" of atomic knowledge. Enough was known in the world of physics for the Russians to build a bomb eventually, with or without help from America. Also, withholding information might upset political ties between the two countries, both of which were coming out of World War II as major superpowers. On the other hand, a growing distrust of communism had already formed within many Americans by the end of the war, so some wanted to keep nuclear secrets out of Soviet hands. An American monopoly on nuclear weapons would make Russia more manageable from a political standpoint. It was this kind of tension that sparked a nuclear arms race, a frantic era in which several nations tested a myriad of nuclear technology and stockpiled thousands of nuclear warheads in an effort to get ahead of one another. Like the space race, whoever had the best technology had the most power, but this was a much more dangerous game -- the potential of an all-out nuclear war between nations always loomed, and the 20th century is littered with uneasy international policies and near catastrophes. To learn about the nuclear arms race and the people and organizations involved with it, read on. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - This Labor Day weekend, it seems like Mother Nature is packing a lot into her bag of tricks: Theres a chance for strong to severe storms to roll into parts of West Michigan tonight and early Monday. Gale Warnings have been issued for Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Superior. And forecasters are warning of high waves and dangerous currents on Lake Michigan later today and on Labor Day. Its not exactly the holiday beach forecast most of us were hoping for. While some showers are possible this morning and afternoon, the National Weather Service says stronger, scattered storms - some packing hail and high winds - could impact West Michigan later tonight and into Monday. The area for possible severe weather runs from roughly Frankfort south of St. Joseph along the Lakeshore, then inland by a county or two. Heres whats included in the NWS forecast: - Showers are possible with isolated storms Sunday morning and afternoon. - Strong to Severe storms possible Sunday Evening into late Sunday Night - Damaging winds and large hail possible Sunday Evening into Sunday Night - Storms may produce very heavy rainfall, could lead to localized flooding of streets and low-lying areas Along with these possibly severe storms and high wind gusts, waves will start building along Lake Michigan beaches today, and could top 8 feet by Labor Day. The NWS said its a recipe for dangerous currents and swim conditions. Large waves and strong currents are expected to develop today at West Michigan beaches and persist through most of Labor Day, NWS meteorologists from the Grand Rapids office said. These will be some of the most dangerous conditions we have seen this season. Water rescues were needed yesterday in South Haven in smaller waves and weaker currents than those expected today and tomorrow. Please observe the red no swimming flags at the beaches, and stay off of the piers as waves start to wash over them later today. You do not want to get swept into the water. Some of the most dangerous currents are located near piers! Heres what you need to know about the swimming conditions: - Waves and strong currents build beginning north of Holland Sunday afternoon, become dangerous to swimmers - Moderate to high swim risk early on Labor Day for all West Michigan beaches - Large waves may wash over piers, sweeping people into water - Waves will subside Monday afternoon into Monday evening. Large waves and strong currents are expected to develop today at West Michigan beaches and persist through most of Labor... Posted by US National Weather Service Grand Rapids Michigan on Sunday, September 6, 2020 An Illinois woman killed her boyfriend by hitting him with an SUV, when they had a fight. She was later charged with attempted murder. This unfortunate fellow was identified as business owner Thomas Brankin, who died from injuries when he was run over intentionally. His injuries were swelling, including his eye sockets, facial fractures, and his brain bed with swelling of his brainstem after he was struck by the suspect's SUV, reported Meaww. The suspect lives in Highland, Illinois, Raquel Mendoza McCormick, a 48-year-old woman with a spitfire temper, using her SUV to injure and kill Brankin on August 11, 2020. According to the police, the couple was amid a quarrel when the suspect used her car to hit the victim. When he fell from the SUVs impact, she was telling him to get up. Witnesses say that the victim was hurt badly, and the accused did not care. When Brankin got worse and died, the suspect was taken by the police. One paper, the Chicago Tribune reported that Bradley Carter, Lake County Prosecutor's office spokesman said that charges will be murder instead. This came about after the victim died and with the released autopsy report. Before, the charges against McCormick are attempting to intentionally kill someone. But changes in the charges came from the aggravated beating when it used a lethal weapon. Both have been going steady for three years, when on August 11 that she was so mad that she ran over him. She thought he was okay, when she returned to the scene later, cited The World News. Also read: Derange Teens Stab Man With Samurai Sword About 100 Times, Attempt to Decapitate Head While Rapping With Glee Witnesses told the police what happened. They said the SUV driven by the accused made a sharp U-Turn, and Brankin got hit in that direction when the hood of the car hit his hands. Next, the car back up and barreled forward fast, and thud with a crash. The woman left and returned later after what she did. In one report the Chicago Tribune told that the victim asked if she will hit him with his car, and she answered that she will do it. Later she was asked if the car did hit the man, and it was confirmed she did so. But he added that it was not a hard impact when the SUV hit. She also said that she saw the victim fall on the ground, returned later to check and call 911 afterward. The victim was unconscious when she got back to check, noted Popular Crime. Reports say if McCormick was told anything by her seriously hurt boyfriend when checking up on him. She just said that he said was moaning in pain, and she told him is this is how it was going to end. Soon after, the EMS arrived and checked on the already unconscious man. At some point, she told the working EMS that no assistance was needed anymore, despite the victim's condition. The woman did not care even for running over her boyfriend and even denying him medical care. Related article: Hartford Man Decapitates Roommate With Samurai Sword Over Heated Argument @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Supreme Court has sought a response from the government of Uttar Pradesh on a plea challenging orders amending the state law regarding the appointment of teaching staff in minority aided institutions. The Bench of Justice Ashok Bhushan on Thursday has issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and asked it to respond within 8 weeks. The top court was hearing an appeal of the Management Committee of National Inter College in Bulandshahar against an Allahabad High Court order which had upheld the governments action. The Bench has also refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order, saying The prayer for interim relief to stay the judgment dated April 22, 2020, is rejected. The state government order interferes with its right of management guaranteed under Article 30 of the Constitution and the amendment must, therefore, be declared ultra vires, the petition stated. The Uttar Pradesh government on March 12, 2018, had issued an order stating that the Governor had approved an amendment under the UP Intermediate Education Act and now the selection of teaching staff would be monitored by a private recruitment agency, through the Joint Director of Education (JDE) or the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), which would recommend five names for each vacancy to the college management, who would then conduct an interview and accordingly make the appointment. The government order specified that all application forms were to go through the JDE or DIOS depending on whether the selection was for the post of Headmaster of the institution or for a teacher respectively. It added that the agency would conduct a written test, or a screening test, constituting 90 marks of the evaluation while the interview process would be worth 10 per cent of the selection process. Vesting power of appointment in hands of an unidentified or undefined Private Recruitment Agency to conduct 90 per cent of the recruitment process while granting the management committee liberty to be involved with regard to only 10 per cent of the assessment encroaches upon the right to management available to minority institutions, added the plea. As the New Zealand space sector takes off, is now the time to bake in diversity, before traditional hiring patterns become entrenched? Spacebase, a company focussed on developing the space ecosystem in New Zealand, recently brought together a panel of entrepreneurs and academics to address the diversity question. Commercial basis of space industry poses diversity challenge According to a Deloitte report, the estimated revenue of the New Zealand space economy was $1.8 billion in 2018-19, representing 0.3 per cent of global space-economy revenues. While the report noted that the space economy supports about 12,000 full-time roles, it doesnt provide a breakdown in terms of gender and ethnicity. It does note that more than 60 per cent of respondents to its survey were commercial companies, which points to an industry funded primarily by business rather than government. Yen-Kai Chen, a New Zealand representative on the Space Generation Advisory Council, points out that diversity is hard to mandate in private companies. The New Zealand space sector is in its early phase, so we have a great opportunity to do it differently from traditional space countries. [It] is commercially led so while it is much easier for the public sector to execute gender and ethnic quotas and create jobs in rural regions, companies are not obliged to do this, he says. In August, 43% of the people who died from COVID-19 in Laredo were on ventilators about 50 people. Nationwide, the mortality rate of ventilated patients is around 36%, according to a Washington Post report. And at the start of the pandemic, hospitals around the country were utilizing ventilators more often. Now as doctors have learned more about the virus, many are delaying intubation for as long as possible. In fact, Doctors Hospital is using ventilators less frequently too. Dr. Rafael Deliz, pulmonologist and ICU medical director at the hospital, said they are now working with alternate methods that avoid intubation for COVID-19 patients, such as high-flow oxygen technology and prone positioning. Rehabilitation specialists utilize prone positioning techniques to increase oxygenation in COVID-19 patients. We utilize ventilators based on the patients medical condition and on a case-by-case basis. A COVID-19 patient placed on a ventilator is part of the treatment plan managed by the patients physician, Delize said in a statement to LMT. Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino said that the decision of whether or not to ventilate comes down to the doctor. But he confirmed that in general local physicians are trying not to ventilate their patients unless they have no other choice. The longer they stay on the ventilator, the worse the prognosis, Trevino said. READ MORE: Two more people die in Laredo, 69 more test positive for COVID-19 Longterm use of the ventilator can be detrimental and causes damage to the lung tissue, he said. There is another option for patients with low oxygen levels called high-pressure oxygen therapy that doesnt involve intubation and therefore isnt traumatic for their lungs. However, this treatment requires a special machine, which both hospitals have, but theyre scarce, Trevino said. Ventilators are most often used to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome, which is a lung injury where fluid leaks into the lungs making it difficult to breathe. The treatment forces air into and out of a patients lungs through a tracheal tube. But many doctors have become skeptical that this treatment should be used for COVID-19 patients at all. Dr. Francisco Cervantes, a pediatrician in Laredo, is one such doctor. At 76 years old, he became sick with COVID-19 around Fathers Day and remained ill for three weeks. Fortunately, the extent of his medical treatment was two Tylenol, he said. Cervantes looks to Monterrey and much of Mexico, where patients are less likely to be put on ventilators. Only 20% of the countrys COVID-19 patients who died were intubated, but only 26.6% of patients who are intubated survive, Forbes reported. Cervantes believes ventilators are exacerbating the problems for COVID-19 patients and making it harder for them to recover, even killing them. Intubated patients are often in the hospital for much longer, he said, and the longer theyre in the less likely they are to leave. Trevino, however, said that despite the problems they can cause, ventilators have saved the lives of many patients in Laredo. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc greets officials of the Defence Ministry and the General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army prior to the ceremony on September 5 (Photo: VNA) Reviewing the General Staffs development, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said its foundation on September 7, 1945 was a historic event, marking a step forward in the development of the VPA. Upon its establishment 75 years ago, the VPA General Staff gave advice and directed the implementation of urgent tasks to protect the young revolutionary administration and develop the peoples armed forces. During the resistance war against France, it directed armed forces to launch offensives to defeat the colonialists highest warfare efforts and march with the entire people to final triumph after a nine-year resistance war full of hardships, with the peak being the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. In the fight against the US, the General Staff submitted timely proposals to the Politburo, the Central Military Commission and the Defence Ministry, directed the change of methods of struggle in the south, built combating plans and opened strategic transportation routes to ensure timely support for the southern battlefield, according to the Government leader. PM Phuc also highlighted the General Staffs contributions to the victory of the wars to safeguard the nation along both the northern and southern borders, the Cambodian peoples win over the genocidal regime, and Laos victory over acts of sabotage by hostile forces to protect revolutionary achievements. He also spoke highly of the General Staffs performance in instructing the VPA in preventing and dealing with natural disasters and epidemics, search and rescue, building new-style rural areas, and especially combating against COVID-19, thereby helping to enhance the solidarity between the army and the people. On this occasion, he applauded the performance by the Vietnamese military delegation to the International Army Games 2020 and their gold medal in the Tank Biathlon at this event./. Vancouver, Sept. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BetterLife Pharma Inc. (BetterLife or the Company) (CSE: BETR / OTCQB: BETRF / FRA: NPAT), an emerging biotechnology company, today announced that Dr. Eleanor Fish will continue to play a key role as part of the Company's Scientific Advisory Board after having been appointed, in recognition of her expertise in infectious diseases, to the Canadian Governments COVID-19 Task Force. Dr. Fish is a world-renowned and accomplished scientist with a focus on interferon activity against a variety of viruses including SARS-CoV-2, SARS, Ebola and Zika. Dr. Fish will continue to guide the Companys current and future clinical programs including its research and development strategy for AP-003, a patent-pending interferon a2b (IFNa2b) inhalation formulation as a possible therapeutic against COVID-19. She is the principle author of a recent paper published on Friday May 15, 2020 in Frontiers of Immunology titled "Interferon-2b Treatment for COVID-19" . In that study, the authors examined the course of disease in a cohort of 77 individuals with confirmed COVID-19 admitted to Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China, between January 16 and February 20, 2020. To the knowledge of the authors, the findings presented in the study were the first to suggest therapeutic efficacy of IFN-a2b against COVID-19 disease. Dr. Ahmad Doroudian, CEO of BetterLife, said "We are excited to have Dr. Eleanor Fish on our Scientific Advisory Board. She brings valuable scientific and clinical experience in the study of interferon activity against COVID-19 as we prepare to begin Phase II clinical trials for AP-003, and eventually market that product after demonstrating its efficacy and safety." Upon initially joining the Advisory Board of BetterLife, Dr. Fish had commented "Based on the results of our preliminary study in Wuhan, China, and emerging data from around the globe, I would argue that the 2 leading candidates for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 are IFN-alpha2b and remdesivir." Dr. Fish is a Professor, Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Associate Chair, International Initiatives & Collaborations, University of Toronto and Emerita Scientist, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network. She received a B.Sc. from the University of Manchester, U.K., an M.Phil. from King's College, University of London, U.K. and a Ph.D. from the Institute of Medical Sciences at the University of Toronto, Canada. Dr. Fish is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiologists and a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences. Dr. Fish has received many international awards acknowledging her scientific achievements and has published more than 170 peer-reviewed scientific papers in international journals. Cautionary Note The Company is not making any express or implied claims that Altum's AP-003 or any other product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. About BetterLife Pharma Inc. BetterLife Pharma Inc. is an emerging biotechnology company engaged in the development and commercialization of therapeutic pharmaceuticals as well as drug delivery platform technologies. BetterLife is refining and developing drug candidates from a broad set of complementary interferon-based technologies which have the potential to engage the immune system to fight virus infections, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and human papillomavirus (HPV), and/or to directly inhibit tumours to treat specific types of cancer. For further information please visit www.blifetherapeutics.com. Contact Ahmad Doroudian, Chief Executive Officer Email: Ahmad.Doroudian@blifepharma.com Phone: 604-221-0595 Dost Mustaq, BDA International Investor Relations Contact Email: ir@blifepharma.com Phone: 646-679-4321 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information, the matters set forth above may be forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors. Reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, as they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the anticipated future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forward in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to obtain, on satisfactory terms or at all, the capital required for research, product development, operations and marketing; general economic, business and market conditions; our ability to successfully and timely complete clinical studies; product development delays and other uncertainties related to new product development; our ability to attract and retain business partners and key personnel; the risk of our inability to profitably commercialize our proposed products; the risk that our proposed clinical trials will not be launched in a timely manner (or at all) or if launched yield positive results or that we will not obtain regulatory market approvals for our products; the extent of any future losses; the risk of our inability to establish or manage manufacturing, development or marketing collaborations; the risk of delay of, or failure to obtain, necessary regulatory approvals and, ultimately, product launches; dependence on third parties for successful commercialization of our products; inability to obtain product and raw materials in sufficient quantity or at standards acceptable to health regulatory authorities to commence and complete clinical trials or to meet commercial demand; our ability to obtain patent protection and protect our intellectual property rights; commercialization limitations imposed by intellectual property rights owned or controlled by third parties; uncertainty related to intellectual property liability rights and liability claims asserted against us; the impact of competitive products and pricing; and future levels of government funding; additional risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The incident came to light after the district child welfare committee received a video from an anonymous source Guwahati: A doctor and his college principal wife who were accused of pouring hot water on their 12-year-old domestic help while he was asleep, were arrested from Nagaon on Saturday night, police said. Siddhi Prasad Deuri, a doctor of Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, and his wife Mitali Konwar, Principal of Moran College, have been on the run. Deuri allegedly had, in an inebriated state, poured hot water on the boy when he was sleeping in their house in Dibrugarh, while Konwar who was a witness to the incident was accused of not providing him with medical treatment. "The couple, wanted for causing burn injury to the minor domestic help in Dibrugarh, was been arrested from Nagaon," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) GP Singh said The incident came to light when the District Child Welfare Committee rescued the boy on 29 August after receiving a video from an anonymous source, and informed the police. He is now kept in a child care centre. The police recorded his statement and registered a case against the couple under various sections of the Child and Adolescent Labour Prohibition Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The police had gone to the residence of the couple to interrogate them but found that Deuri, a cancer patient, was being administered saline. They had asked the two to report to the local police station at the earliest. The couple, however, had fled and the police launched a search operation to arrest them. Police Recover Body of 2-Year-Old Rory Pope Days After His Disappearance The body of a 2-year-old Idaho boy who disappeared last week has been recovered, said officials in Ada County. The Ada County Sheriffs Office, in an update Saturday, confirmed the boys death. The search for missing 2-year-old Rory Pope is over. He was recovered from the pond behind N. Arena Ave. early this morning. Crews had spent all night pumping water out of the pond. He was found when the water level dropped, the department wrote on Twitter. The Ada County Sheriffs Office also wrote that it extends its condolences to the family of the boy. I, and every member of the Eagle Police Department, extend our deepest condolences to the family of Rory Pope, Eagle Police Chief Matt Clifford wrote. The last several days have been incredibly difficult for Rorys family. I cant imagine what it must feel like for them. Our hearts are all broken. I also know how difficult this has been for the residents of the Legacy subdivision, the citizens of Eagle, and everyone else in Ada County. We live in a community full of people who care deeply for each other. We all hoped for a different outcome. Today is a hard day. Rory Pope was last seen at around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday near Eagle, Idaho, officials said in a bulletin. The child was reportedly visiting his grandparents when he went missing. Its kind of a typical case where theyre doing things and packing and getting ready to go and Rorya very outgoing two-year-old like two-year-olds sometimes do, just takes off running, Clifford said on Friday, according to KTVB. And he was gone for a matter of moments out of sight of the parents. Officials told CBS2 that the boy was found in a pond nearby. He was recovered from the pond behind N. Arena Ave. early this morning. Crews had spent all night pumping water out of the pond. He was found when the water level dropped, Clifford said. Fireboats battling to extinguish a fire on the Panamanian-registered crude oil tanker New Diamond off Sri Lanka's eastern coast An international team of salvage experts arrived in Sri Lanka Sunday to assess damage to a fire-stricken oil tanker off the east coast, officials said, as fear mounted for an environmental disaster if there is a leak. The Panamanian-registered New Diamond, carrying over 270,000 tonnes of crude and diesel, was en route from Kuwait to the Indian port of Paradip when it issued a distress call Thursday after an engine room explosion that killed a Filipino crew member. The Sri Lankan navy and Indian coastguard got the blaze under control on Friday, preventing it from spreading to the flammable cargo. "Ten British and Netherlands professionals with expertise in rescue operations, disaster evaluation and legal consultation will be arriving in the island this morning," the navy said in a statement. Dutch firm Smit Salvage had commissioned the experts and was also sending two tug boats from Singapore and Mauritius, the navy added. The Indian coastguard, which has deployed numerous ships, an aircraft and a helicopter, added on Sunday that its pollution control vessel had arrived at the site in the Indian Ocean. The rescue vessels continued to douse the blaze with water Sunday as a large plume of smoke rose from the ship. The 330-metre (1,000-foot) vessel was Saturday towed to deeper waters some 75 kilometres (46 miles) away from the island's coast. Map locating a burning oil tanker off the coast of Sri Lanka The tanker had suffered a crack of its hull some 10 metres (33 feet) above the waterline as a result of intense heat from the fire, officials said. Authorities said there has been no oil slick and the crack was not considered a catastrophic structural failure. Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Agency has said that legal action could be taken against the owners, Liberian-registered Porto Emporios Shipping Inc, "should the worst happen and the ship breaks up". The vessel is larger than the Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio, which crashed into a reef in Mauritius in July leaking more than 1,000 tonnes of oil into the island nation's pristine waters. Explore further Blazing tanker sparks fears of a new Indian Ocean disaster 2020 AFP Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 03:50:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ALGIERS, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Algeria on Sunday reported 293 new COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total infections to 46,364 and the death toll to 1,556, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. Sunday's daily increase is the lowest since June 29, according to the statement. Meanwhile, 264 more patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 32,745, with 44 patients still in intensive care units. Algeria has resumed economic and commercial activities since June 7 as part of the efforts to return to normal life. On Feb. 25, Algeria recorded its first infection with COVID-19. China and Algeria have offered mutual help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In early February, Algeria sent medical donation to help China combat the coronavirus. In return, China has sent two batches of medical aid to Algeria on March 27 and April 15 respectively. A Chinese medical expert team arrived in Algeria on May 14 for a 15-day mission to help fight the coronavirus, through sharing China's experience in curbing the spread of the contagious disease. Enditem The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Sunday, said it impounded 8,345 commercial buses for non-adherence to safety protocols against the spread of COVID-19 in Anambra State. The Sector Commander in the state, Andrew Kumapayi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, that about 962 rickety trucks were also impounded between January and August. He said the arrests were made during the joint operations of the FRSC and the Anambra State Ministry of Transport. Following the lifting of the ban on interstate travels by the Federal Government, commercial transport operators were urged to adhere strictly to COVID-19 safety protocols to curb the spread of the disease in the state. Some of the safety protocols include the provision of hand washing facilities and hand sanitisers at motor parks. Others are the use of passengers manifest, compliance with physical distancing during loading of passengers and the wearing of face masks by drivers and passengers. However, according to Mr Kumapayi, the impounded vehicles flouted the safety protocols hence their seizure. With the resumption of activities at motor parks nationwide, safety is a basic need for every traveller and in times of COVID-19 pandemic. We impounded the commercial vehicles for disregarding COVID-19 safety protocols of physical distancing, face masks and other traffic offences. The State House of Assembly also passed a resolution that the corps should rid the state of menace of rickety vehicles, especially trucks, to reduce the rate of accidents. That decision led to the commencement of the clampdown on rickety vehicles like tippers on Anambra roads, the sector commander said. He advised motorists to drive safely during the ember months to avoid road traffic accidents. The FRSC will soon begin its ember months safety campaign and special patrol operations to allay fears associated with the period. He advised that people should avoid night travels, saying that it is safer to travel in the day so that in the event of any unforeseen circumstances, they can get help easily. According to him, strict compliance to traffic regulations, obedience to speed limits and consideration for other road users will guarantee a safer motoring environment and also reduce road traffic crashes this ember months season. Reliance Industries Ltd on Sunday released details related to carving out its oil-to-chemicals business into a separate entity, six months after it first announced the proposal as a precursor to a stake sale. According to the plan, RILs oil-to-chemicals assets, including its refining, petrochemicals, fuel retail (majority interest only) and bulk wholesale marketing businesses, along with its assets and liabilities, will be transferred to a new unit. In April, RIL approved an arrangement for transfer of its oil-to-chemicals (O2C) business to Reliance O2C Ltd as a going concern on slump sale basis. The separation of the assets was planned as part of RILs target to sell 20% in its refining and chemicals business to Saudi Aramco. The deal, however, has been delayed. Assets, including Reliance Ethane Holding Pte Ltd, Reliance Gas Pipelines Ltd, Gujarat Chemical Port Ltd, Reliance Corporate IT Park Ltd, Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd, among others, will not be part of the oil to chemicals undertaking. In a document on its website, RIL said it has been exploring options to bring in strategic investors in the O2C business. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics President of Iran Hassan Rouhani reprimanded countries with friendly relations with Iran for not standing up to the United States when it imposed sanctions on the country amid a pandemic. According to the tally by John Hopkins University, Iran has reported a total number of 384,666 cases with 22,154 casualties, making it one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic in the Middle East. The sanctions came after the US President, Donald Trump. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. Sanctions imposed against Iran President Rouhani reportedly said that no one has come to Irans help ever since the pandemic has hit the country. Talking about the sanctions he said that if the US had a bit of humanity and brain" then it would have offered to lift the sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rouhani called the US as heartless and evil. He added that not a single country supported Iran during this hardship and said that they will stand against the US. Read: Iran: 217 Injured In Explosion Of Chlorine Gas Cylinders, No Deaths Reported The United States Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on six companies for their alleged support to Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd., an entity earlier zeroed on by the department for doing business with Iran. The six companies designated by the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are based in Iran, UAE, and China. As per the US department, these companies were doing business with Triliance, a Hong Kong-based broker that was selling petrochemicals from Iran. Triliance, along with three other petrochemical and petroleum companies, was sanctioned by the United States in January this year for transferring hundreds of millions of dollars worth of exports from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the Islamic Republic's state-run oil company. Read: IAEA Finds Iran Increasing Its Enriched Uranium Stockpile, Cites Violation Of Nuclear Deal "The Iranian regime uses revenue from petrochemical sales to continue its financing of terrorism and destabilizing foreign agenda. The Trump administration remains committed to targeting those contributing to Irans attempts to evade U.S. sanctions by facilitating the illicit sale of Iranian petroleum products around the world," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a statement on September 3. The United States has also imposed sanctions on five other companies for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran. The sanctions of these entities were imposed by the US Department of State, which also sanctioned three individuals who are principal executive officers of the sanctioned entities. Read: US Sanctions Chinese, UAE Firms For Bypassing Embargo On Iran Oil Exports Also Read: Iran Denounces Charlie Hebdo's Republication Of Prophet Cartoon As Act Of 'provocation' (Image Credits: PTI) Uyghur American and rights advocate Rushan Abbas demand OIC and other Muslim countries to watch what Pakistan and China doing to Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. Uyghur American and rights advocate Rushan Abbas demand OIC and other Muslim countries to watch what Pakistan and China doing to Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. In a video statement, she said that the world continued to turn a blind eye to the genocide that the Chinese government was perpetrating against Uyghur Muslims. She said that the Uyghur pleas were dismissed and discredited, meanwhile, Chinas propaganda was met with blind faith. She added that by the virtue of faith, over 3 million Uyghurs were imprisoned in concentration camps, their religion was outlawed, their organs were harvested, their hair is sold, their children ripped from them, their women raped, forcibly married and sterilized. Rushan is the founder and executive director of the non-profit, Campaign for Uyghurs. She said that Uyghurs were forced to make Nike shoes, Zara dresses, Calvin Klein purses as slaves while forsaking their religion and ethnicity. She said that a promise for never again was made, but that promise was being broken. Also read: Over 15 lakh people returned under Vande Bharat mission: Puri Also read: Wont trust Trump alone on coronavirus vaccine: Kamala Harris The activist said that everyone hears the cries of agony from the millions facing genocide, from the children who scream out for their parents, the sobs of women who were raped, sterilized, and forced to abort, still, the most deafening was the silence from the world community, in particular from their Muslim brothers and sisters. She said that this pain was met with justifications made on behalf of the Chinese government. Rushan Abbas said that the Gulf states remained indifferent to the genocide because of Chinas Belt and Road initiative accompanied by short term economic benefits, but, in the end, China would be the only one who truly benefits. She said that it would do onto all Islamic countries what it is doing to East Turkistan; enforce atheist communist ideology and kill off Islam. The activist is unhappy with Pakistans failure to raise the Uyghur issue with China, its close ally. She said, Pakistan naively sees its ties to China as mutually beneficial. This is folly; it is becoming Chinas colony. As the Chinese language becomes required and the Chinese military is seen on the streets of Pakistan, it is clear what is developing. The CCP is turning Islamic countries into their puppets, with their mouths, eyes, and ears covered by Chinas blood money. The people of these nations are our Muslim brothers and sisters, and their silence stabs our hearts. Rushan said: Their fate may be the same as ours if they do not awaken soon! While the OIC has changed its position to support Chinas genocide, siding with these CCP bullies, we plead with the ummah to take up the cause of saving Uyghur lives, and concurrently protecting Islam from Chinas war on religion, as is our obligation as Muslims. This modern-day Genocide isnt just mass killings to the level of extermination; it means the obliteration of a people to extinction. It is our duty to make sure this genocide ends and it is Muslims duty to defend Islam, she said while concluding: Dont abandon your Muslim brothers and sisters. China has been accused of interning one million Uyghurs in re-education centers in Xinjiang. Uyghurs do not accept that Xinjiang is part of China, citing the evidence that Uyghur people lived in the area before the Chinese Han and Tang dynasties set up protectorates. Xinjiang, as it is now, came under the Chinese Qing dynasty rule in the 18th century, but there have been many times in its history when it was not under Chinese control. Also read: Rajnath Singh leaves for Tehran after 4-day Russia visit Delegates from Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and rival eastern-based parliament meet after ceasefire. Delegates from Libyas rival administrations met for talks in Morocco more than two weeks after the two sides announced a surprise ceasefire. The meeting, held on Sunday at the initiative of Morocco, which hosted peace talks in 2015 that led to the creation of a United Nations-recognised government for Libya, kicked off in the coastal town of Bouznika, south of Rabat. Dubbed Libyan Dialogue, the talks brought together five members of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and five from a parliament in the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk. The discussions were a prelude to a major meeting in Montreux, Switzerland, on Monday and Tuesday that brings together the leaders of rival Libyan groups. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in remarks before Sundays meeting got under way, said his country was offering Libyans space to discuss points of contention dividing them. The kingdom is ready to provide Libyans with a space to discuss [issues], according to their will, and will applaud them regardless of the outcome, Bourita said. Morocco has no agenda or initiative to submit to the two sides, Bourita added. A solution to Libyas crisis must be decided by the Libyans themselves under the auspices of the United Nations, he said, before delegates met behind closed doors. Beaten back Libya has endured about 10 years of violent chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi. The crisis worsened last year when renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar who backs the Tobruk parliament and is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia launched an offensive to seize the capital Tripoli from the GNA. Haftar was beaten back earlier this year by Turkish-backed GNA forces and fighting has now stalled around the Mediterranean city of Sirte, the gateway to Libyas eastern oilfields and export terminals. On August 22, the rival administrations announced separately they would cease all hostilities and hold nationwide elections, drawing praise from world powers. Peter Millett, a former British ambassador to Libya, said the rival sides talking was a good first step, but there is much work to do to achieve lasting peace. First of all, it needs the buy-in of broader group of political players tribal leaders, society leaders, municipal leaders. Secondly, it needs the buy-in from the military factions, particularly Haftar, and it has to be a genuine ceasefire, Millett told Al Jazeera. Thirdly, it needs the buy-in of the entire international community. Foreign players Mohamed Chtatou, a professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, said Sundays talks were historic in many ways and likely touched on possible appointees for a future government and key positions, including head of the Central Bank of Libya, chairman of the National Oil Corporation, and the prosecutor general. This meeting is good for the reunification of Libya and bringing the country back on its feet, Chtatou told Al Jazeera. Im sure the foreign players are not happy about what is happening because they all have their stakes in Libya. The Libyans want peace and its Libyans talking to Libyans so that is very important. 200120142328437 Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from Tripoli, said the fact that Haftar is not represented at the meeting does not mean he is excluded. In fact, the delegation representing the Tobruk-based parliament is considered in one way or another the political arm of Haftars forces on the ground. So the Tobruk-based parliament, which is affiliated to the warlord Khalifa Haftar, is now representing Haftars view in the meeting in Morocco, he said. Delegates from the two sides will also meet other factions, including political parties and remnants of Gaddafis regime, for talks brokered by the European Union and the UN mission (UNSMIL) in Switzerland starting on Monday. Sundays meeting in Morocco coincided with closed-door talks in Istanbul between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj, the Turkish presidency said. During the meeting, Erdogan stated Turkey will continue to stand in solidarity with Libyas UN-recognised legitimate government, and reiterated that Turkeys priority is to restore Libyas stability, without further delay, a statement said. Libyas peace and stability would benefit its neighbours and the entire region, starting with Europe, said Erdogan. The international community ought to assume a principled stance in that regard. Future settlement complicated At a January summit in Berlin, the main countries involved in the Libyan conflict agreed to respect an arms embargo and to stop interfering in Libyas domestic affairs. But on Wednesday, the interim UN envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams, denounced what she called blatant ongoing violations of the arms embargo in the North African country. According to an interim report from UN experts, the arms embargo remains totally ineffective and violations are extensive, blatant and with complete disregard for the sanctions. Williams said UNSMIL was also receiving reports of the large-scale presence of foreign mercenaries and operatives in Libya, adding this complicates chances of a future settlement. Tens of thousands of EU citizens resident in the UK including some of the heroes and heroines of the coronavirus crisis could be facing deportation because they have fallen through the cracks of the governments post-Brexit settled status scheme, a group of MPs has warned. The MPs have written to Boris Johnson, calling for a legal right to stay to provide reassurance to more than 3 million EU nationals who are believed to be living in the UK. Under the government scheme, nationals of the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who have been in the UK continuously for five years can apply for settled status allowing them to remain, while others who came to the country before the end of 2020 can get pre-settled status that can be upgraded once they reach the five-year mark. By the end of July, some 3.8 million applications had been made and 3.6 million concluded, with just over 2 million people, or 57 per cent of applicants being granted settled status, 1.5 million (42 per cent) granted pre-settled status and about 75,000 (2 per cent) classed as refused, withdrawn, void or invalid. Signatories to the letter said the figures showed that hundreds of thousands of people will be left for up to five years after the end of the Brexit transition period in December without knowing whether they will be able to stay long-term. And they said that even if the scheme was 98 or 99 per cent successful, the number without the right to remain at the end of 2020 could stretch into tens of thousands. The letter signed by the Scottish National Partys Westminster leader, Ian Blackford; the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson, Alistair Carmichael; the Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price; the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood; and Green MP Caroline Lucas noted that migrants make up a large proportion of the delivery drivers, agricultural workers, supermarket staff, nurses and care home workers who kept the country running during the coronavirus lockdown. It should be a matter of national shame that many of the heroes and heroines of the coronavirus crisis will have been made to feel so unwelcome in this country by the tone and content of our national debate on immigration, said the MPs. Millions of European migrants who live in the UK and who are now working in hospitals and supermarkets derive their right to be here from EU freedom of movement rules which the government is seeking to abolish. They are now being asked to apply for their right to stay in the UK via the settled status scheme, a process which is not guaranteed to be successful. Although settled status has now been granted to many EU citizens, we are extremely concerned at the prospect of some losing their status in the UK. With much of the government and third sector having been shut down by the coronavirus crisis, the applications system has been severely disrupted, as has the support system for applicants and public awareness campaigns. Unless the government acts, many thousands of people could fall through the cracks. They called on Mr Johnson to pass primary legislation to grant EU citizens a legal right to stay. Mr Blackford said: The UK government must confirm the rights of EU nationals to remain as a matter of urgency. "Many people risk falling through the cracks, causing uncertainty and distress for thousands of EU nationals who have made the UK their home. And Ms Lucas added: "The millions of EU citizens who have made their home in the UK are not just a statistic, or an economic asset they are our neighbours, friends and families. The idea that we could allow any one of them to lose their status here should fill us with shame. Yet that is inevitably what will happen to thousands of people unless the settled status system is fundamentally overhauled, even if the overwhelming majority do apply successfully. During the EU referendum, those campaigning for Leave said that Europeans living in the UK would have a right to stay, not a right to apply to a convoluted system which might reject them. Today, we are asking that this very basic promise be honoured. Alena Ivanova, an organiser for the Right to Stay and Another Europe is Possible campaigns, said that the UK government had so far failed to guarantee that absences from Britain during the coronavirus crisis when some EU nationals have been trapped abroad for lengthy periods would not count against an applicants claim to have been in the country for five unbroken years. While the Home Office paints a rosy picture of the success of the settlement scheme, there are still millions at risk of losing their rights in the coming years, she said. A system that asks you to apply to stay in your home - in some cases twice - is not what European nationals were promised. Even if we assume that 98 or 99 per cent of them apply successfully that would still mean tens of thousands of people facing deportation from the place they have made their home. Since coronavirus struck, we have had a plethora of reports of new issues which simply cannot be overcome in time from a lack of awareness and support in the application process to periods of absence from the UK during the crisis. It's time for the Home Office to re-assess the scheme and grant automatic status to all. A Home Office spokesperson said: The EU settlement scheme makes it easy for EU citizens and their family members who want to stay in the UK to get the immigration status they need. It provides them with secure evidence which they can use to demonstrate their right to work, study, housing and benefits. There have been more than 3.8 million applications to the EU settlement scheme already and more than 3.5 million grants of status. Peoples rights are secured in UK law whether they have pre-settled status or settled status. After a season like no other at Marineland, there was at least one familiar sight Sunday the Labour Day Weekend protest. With few exceptions, it has been a ritual at Marineland for decades. There have been crowds of more than 1,000 people, and crowds of just dozens. But the message against the Niagara Falls park hasnt changed. Because animals are suffering and Im just tired of it, said Kitcheners Melissa Rejesky, pointing a sign that said Captivity Kills: Dont Go In to drivers on Portage Road. Her sentiment was shared by about a hundred other protesters, as it has been for several years. Some urge the park to release its animals and convert to rides only. Others want it closed completely. Some, like Quebecs Melissa Hayward, just want people to be informed. Like many of us, I went to Marineland as a kid and fell in love with the whales there, she said. But once I learned the state of some of these parks and what the effects are on these whales in captivity, it obviously struck a chord. After attending protests for a few years, Hayward recently took over organizing them. I love the aspect of being able to educate people and especially patrons are who willing to go into Marineland and then turn around after a little chat with us. While recent protests havent drawn near the crowds they did in 2012 and 2013, after former employees spoke to the Toronto Star about conditions at the park, the anger is still there, said Hayward. Whether it be in person or through other means, its absolutely important to keep the pressure going, she said. I dont know what the future holds for Marineland, but well be continuing. The protests have had a dramatic effect on Marinelands exterior appearance. Where there was once open space is a huge fence with black tarp separating any protesters from the parking lot and entrance. As well, the large wooden Marineland sign which was near the area protesters gather in and took several photos with has been moved further up the road. Inside the park, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on operations. Since its delayed opening in late July, none of the parks numerous rides have been operating, as mandated by the province. It was also because of the pandemic that Welland-born director Nathalie Bibeaus documentary The Walrus and the Whistleblower couldnt be screened at this years Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. Instead, it found an even bigger audience when it was broadcast by CBC May 28. The film follows Chippawas Phil Demers and his long saga with Marineland, from former employee to angry activist, as well as his unique bond with the parks 17-year-old walrus Smooshi. The film is starting to hit theatres across North America. It will be available on video-on-demand Nov. 24. Bibeau filmed portions of the movie at previous protests and returned Sunday to thank many of the activists. This is the end of the road, for me, she said. This isnt my story (now), its their story. Ive had the privilege of documenting it, and I wanted to come thank them for that. On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... The Montgomery County School Board voted to beef up the districts student conduct policy last week. But at times during the meeting, some board members showed little patience for one another as their feelings about the pandemic continue to be debated. Things started out testy, with board member Penny Franklin criticizing a transportation plan that fell short of the number of school bus aides she had expected to enforce social distancing. Things escalated from there. About four hours later, Chairwoman Gunin Kiran had to bang her gavel to stop raised voices and literal finger pointing *between* board member Dana Partin and board member Sue Kass. In between, there were interruptions, accusations of lying and dust-ups between Kass and Superintendent Mark Miear all stemming from the ongoing debate over reopening schools on Sept. 8 as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the county. Partin was one of five members who voted for reopening the schools and Kass, a former county school teacher, was one of two to vote against the plan. Things grew heated when Partin accused Kass of caring more about teachers than about students, who, she said, need to come back to school. Thats a lie, Kass retorted. You go back and you listen, and I say students. Thats all I ever said, is staff and students. Kiran used the gavel to cut in. We have to not forget the respect, please, the chairwoman said. We are all in it together, and its not like were against one or the other. Partin further accused Kass of unfairly painting board members who voted for reopening as unfeeling. You make it sound like the ones who voted to go back dont care about our teachers, Partin said. You insinuate that every time. Thats what you say: I insinuate. I dont, Kass responded. Well, you know what, insinuate is a lot like assuming. You know what it means when you assume. Partin had a more civil back-and-forth with board member Mark Cherbaka, who voted for reopening but has since argued that the plan should be delayed in light of rising novel coronavirus infection rates. Were looking at each other like were so special, and we can take this risk. And I hope it works out, Cherbaka said. If cases continue to rise, at what point are we going to take action? Thats the question. That prompted Partin to ask Cherbaka: At what point would he consider it safe for school to resume? He cited benchmarks suggested by public health experts, including the World Health Organization. I would like to see cases decreasing for at least 14 days, Cherbaka said. And a positivity rate less than 5%. But cases have been going up. Virginia Tech reported 238 positive cases last week with a positivity rate of 19.8% after its most recent documented testing. And dozens of students including a fraternity with more than 100 members are in quarantine after being exposed to the virus. Partin argued that university cases have absolutely nothing to do with our school system. Kass and Cherbaka pushed back. They live in our town, Kass said. Theyre our neighbors, Cherbaka said. Kass also pointed out that student teachers from Tech and Radford University will be assigned to county schools. The increase in university cases was expected, and the New River Valley Public Health Task Force, made up of local public health and other officials, has assured the board that with mitigation strategies in place, schools could reopen safely. On that advice, in July the board approved a plan to let 50% of pre-K to 12th-grade students attend class on four half-days a week. Families may opt out and choose remote schooling. Still, some school board members are not reassured. Continued doubt over the reopening comes as other school districts in the state and region are reworking previously approved plans due to pressure from concerned families and teachers. Kass had earlier in the evening confronted Superintendent Miear with those concerns after he told the board that teachers were excited to be back in the buildings. I hear people here say teachers are so excited, but thats not necessarily true, Kass said. She insisted that some teachers have reached out to her to say they are afraid to tell Miear the truth: They are frightened to return to in-person classes. At another point, Kass cut Miear off when he tried to answer a question Kass had posed to Barbara Wickham, director of elementary education, about the need to bring primary students back to the classroom. I need to frame it for you, Miear said. I dont think you do, Kass said. You are not on the school board. I am on the school board. This is my school board meeting, and Im asking something. And I want her to answer me. Miear let Wickham field the question. Younger students, Wickham said, have no experience with the Google Chromebooks or Google Classroom software used in remote learning and need in-person training. In ending the discussion, Chairwoman Kiran reminded the board that under Gov. Ralph Northams Phase III reopening guidelines, schools may have in-person classes. She also pointed out that many families need their children to go back to school, so parents can go back to work. There are not enough people at home for their kids to do remote learning, Kiran said. The important thing is we have to be all together and do all the mitigation strategies. We cannot wait forever somehow we have to start and move on. Despite the rancor, the board conducted normal business, too. Members unanimously approved extensive changes to the student conduct policy, adding a range of responsibilities for parents, school counselors, nurses and administrators to address behavior and safety issues. The board also approved adding protections for gender identity and sexual orientation to the school systems equal educational opportunities policy. The change was mandated by the General Assembly, but schools were not required to enact it until next year. Miear recommended the board update the policy now. I think we ought to be the lead on this, he said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. - US President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen will be releasing a book revealing intimate details of his relationship Trump - Cohen reveals that back in 2018 when Trump made his "s**thole" country statement he also called Nelson Madela a bad leader and worse - His book is due for release later in September and is likely timed for maximum exposure due to the presidential elections this year Back in 2018 Donald Trump made international headlines when he allegedly called third-world countries "s**tholes". Many South Africans assumed Trump was talking about other countries and that SA was not included. It was and according to Trumps former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen, the US president went further and had not so nice things to say about former South African president Nelson Mandela. YEN.com.gh learned that in his tell-all book, titled Disloyal: A Memoir Cohen says that Trump had some choice words for Mandela, calling him a bad leader according to The Citizen. Upon his death in 2013, Cohen states that Trump said: Mandela f*cked the whole country up. Now its a sh*thole. F*ck Mandela. He was no leader. Trump also went further and allegedly said that all countries run by black presidents are "s**tholes" according to CNN. Tell me one country run by a black person that isnt a s***hole. They are all complete f***ing toilets. The book is due for release on 8 September. Cohen had said that during his time working with Trump he never heard him use the n-word despite the numerous alleged racist statements he previously made about black and Hispanic people. READ ALSO: Boity Thulo surprises her beautiful momma with lush birthday party Donald Trump has denied making any disparaging remarks about South American and African countries. Photo credit: Instagram/@realdonaldtrump Source: Instagram It was earlier reported that Donald Trump, President of the United States of America, has come hard on the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party Joe Biden with a few months to the country's 2020 presidential election, scheduled for November. Trump said Biden is being controlled by people from "the dark shadows": "People that you've never heard of, people that are in the dark shadows. People that you haven't heard of. They're people that are on the streets, they're people that are controlling the streets." In other news, As the Democratic Party heightened its efforts to return to the United States power seat, former president Barack Obama has called for massive support for Joe Biden, the opposition party's presidential hopeful. Speaking on Wednesday, August 19 on the third day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, which featured a must-see line-up of former and presidential hopefuls, Obama berated the administration of Trump for taking numerous unconscious approaches that pitched government against the people. Source: YEN.com.gh When you buy shares in a company, it's worth keeping in mind the possibility that it could fail, and you could lose your money. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. Long term American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) shareholders would be well aware of this, since the stock is up 176% in five years. Meanwhile the share price is 1.7% higher than it was a week ago. See our latest analysis for American Water Works Company While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. Over half a decade, American Water Works Company managed to grow its earnings per share at 6.9% a year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 22% per year, over the same period. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth. You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of American Water Works Company's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for American Water Works Company the TSR over the last 5 years was 204%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective American Water Works Company provided a TSR of 16% over the last twelve months. But that return falls short of the market. It's probably a good sign that the company has an even better long term track record, having provided shareholders with an annual TSR of 25% over five years. It's quite possible the business continues to execute with prowess, even as the share price gains are slowing. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for American Water Works Company (of which 1 doesn't sit too well with us!) you should know about. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. 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 Health Secretary has urged the public to stick to social distancing rules as the UK recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since May after 2,988 were reported in just 24 hours. The last time the UK's caseload was this high was May 23 - 15 weeks ago - when 2,959 people tested positive. On that day, 220 people died from Covid-19. Matt Hancock called the figures 'concerning', and admitted that there had been real terms rise even after taking into account the increase in testing. He also pleaded with 'predominantly' young people who make up the new cases toll to not pass the virus onto their grandparents for fear they could become seriously ill or die from it. The rise in the number of cases that we have seen today is concerning,' Mr Hancock told Sky News. The cases are predominantly among younger people but as we have seen in other countries across Europe, this sort of rise in cases amongst younger people leads to a rise across the population as a whole. The UK has recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since May after 2,988 were reported in just 24 hours A further two people died after testing positive for the bug today, bringing the UK's total death toll to 41,551 It is true that we are testing more people, but even the proportion that are testing positive is going up as well. So we are concerned about these figures. It doesnt matter how old you are or how affected you might be by this disease, you can pass the disease on to others including those for whom it can be very serious and lead to hospitalisations or worse or worse. I understand why people are concerned about figures like these, of course all workplaces are Covid secure and we have put a huge amount of work into making sure that they are, the same goes for schools. It is really important that we reopen the schools because of the impact on children of not getting an education. The workplaces that have reopened they are following Covid secure guidelines, but what really matters is that people follow the social distancing. When asked if another lockdown (nationwide) was still on the cards, Mr Hancock replied: 'We will take whatever action is necessary.' Today's death toll was significantly smaller. A further two people died after testing positive for the bug in the last 24 hours, bringing the UK's total death toll to 41,551. Yesterday saw 1,813 new coronavirus infections - 1,175 fewer cases than today - and 12 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the figures 'concerning', and admitted that there had been real terms rise even after taking into account the increase in testing Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales today reported no new deaths. Some 208 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland alone while Wales has reported 98 new cases. Northern Ireland reported 106. Experts believe that high case numbers combined with low death tolls could be due to coronavirus spreading in lower doses. Social distancing measures mean an infected person would only be able to pass on traces of Covid-19 to another person, therefore the virus's 'infectious dose' is lower. Because the newly-infected person would have a smaller amount of the virus, their symptoms would not be as serious - in a similar manner to chicken pox. While this would explain why a rise in cases has not lead to a rise in deaths, doctors have stressed that not enough is known about Covid-19 to determine whether it is dose-dependent. But other viruses, including SARS and MERS - the coronaviruses behind two previous pandemic outbreaks - follow this pattern. Cases of Covid-19 have been slowly creeping up in the UK since early July. Greater Manchester as a whole saw 220 confirmed cases on Tuesday followed by 262 on Wednesday. Thursday saw a drop to 67 Experts believe coronavirus spreading in lower doses means death tolls and hospital admissions remain low, while daily case totals are high. Pictured: Daily coronavirus cases in Cardiff Social distancing measures mean an infected person would only be able to pass on traces of Covid-19 to another person meaning the virus's 'infectious dose' is lower. Pictured: Daily coronavirus cases in Swansea Government risks jeopardising the test and trace system by urging workers to return to the office at the same time as reopening schools, expert warns Urging workers to return to the office at the same time as reopening schools is jeopardising the test and trace system's ability to cope, a leading public health expert has warned. Professor Devi Sridhar, from the University of Edinburgh, said she was concerned about the UK Government's campaign to encourage people back into offices coinciding with pupils' return because the testing system in Scotland struggled with a surge of demand when schools reopened. Ms Sridhar, who is an adviser to the Scottish Government, told Sky News that a fast, effective test and trace system was key to keeping the infection rate low and suppression of the virus was vital to enable economic recovery. 'I'm a little bit worried about the back to office push alongside the back to school push,' she said. 'What we've seen in Scotland over the past few weeks is the testing system has just been really having to race to catch up with the demand of all the children coming home with coughs and colds and fevers. 'If you add on top of that all the adults going back into offices and having those as well your testing system is really under strain. So you have to get ready and get your testing system going so people get the results fast enough and the tracing teams can get going.' Asked about coronavirus infection among young people in schools, and whether schools returning could trigger a spike in cases, Ms Sridhar said: 'It's really in our hands. 'We've seen variable experience in the world, from Denmark, which handled school returning exceptionally well, has kids back with very little bump in terms of their [infection] numbers, compared to Israel where numbers just skyrocketed because the testing and tracing was in place.' Mr Sridhar explained that all children were susceptible to contracting the same amount of the virus as adults, but younger children appeared to transmit the virus less than older ones. The height of children could be one possible reason for the difference, she suggested. 'Some of the hypotheses are about the social interactions of primary school kids, who they're around, they're more likely to be asymptomatic, which means coughing and sneezing is less likely so they're not infecting others,' she said. 'As well as that, primary school kids are shorter and so they're less likely to be exposing adults or others around them. 'So, there is a difference, but science has not confirmed yet which of those hypotheses it could be.' Ms Sridhar said she thought that another nationwide lockdown was 'unlikely' and added: 'When testing and tracing starts to break down, that's when you need your local restrictions, where you have restrictions on going to other people's homes or on pubs and hospitality or on riskier settings. Although Ms Sridhar praised the UK Government for 'moving towards a model of maximum suppression', she said that they should consider introducing testing at airports when people arrive and then another test between five and eight days later. She said: 'I think that UK Government, as a whole, have been behind the curve in terms of border control - one of the latest to put in border restrictions. 'When they have been put in place they are not really being monitored in terms of compliance with them, also it's also been quite a harsh measure for the aviation industry and creating uncertainty, so I think, yes, we definitely need a better approach.' Advertisement This may seem alarming, but it has not corresponded with an increase in the number of people dying from the virus. In the first week of July, the number of new Covid-19 infections hit a low of roughly 550-a-day across the UK. At that point there were about 150 people hospitalised with the virus every day in England alone and about 30 deaths. Since then, the number of new infections has steadily risen. Last week, saw about 1,500 positive test results a day. But the number of patients ending up in hospital and dying have continued to fall. In the week ending September 4, there were a total of 51 UK deaths. In England, there are about 450 patients in hospital with Covid-19 well below the 17,000 that were during the pandemic's peak in April. Even in the Midlands, where there was a significant wave of cases throughout July and a return to lockdown in Leicester, the number of people in hospital or on ventilation has continued to fall. There are now roughly seven patients in hospital in the Midlands NHS area on ventilators, from a peak of 485. Bolton was last night placed under tighter Covid-19 restrictions as the infection rate in the area became the highest in England. Bolton Council has asked for people in the town to avoid mixing with other households and to only use public transport for essential purposes. The town's infection rate recently increased to 99 cases per 100,000 people per week, the highest in England, the council said. Greater Manchester as a whole saw 220 confirmed cases on Tuesday followed by 262 on Wednesday. Thursday saw a drop to 67. Meanwhile, Leeds is teetering on the brink and has been added to Public Health England's list of areas of concern - while measures will be eased in swathes of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Leicester next week. The Yorkshire city, home to half a million people, has seen its infection rate rise to 32.4 new cases per 100,000 people, bringing it to the attention of authorities. London saw 228 cases on August 27, followed by 214 on August 28 and 130 on August 29. Bristol saw five cases on August 30, which climbed to eight on August 31 and 12 on September 1. The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board saw a spike of 18 cases in one day on August 29. Dr Elisabetta Groppelli, a virologist at St George's University of London, said: 'If you are exposed to a smaller amount of virus, fewer cells in your body get infected, so there's time for your immune system to mount a response. 'If you get lots of cells infected at once, you are already starting on the back foot. 'There is not particularly solid data for Covid-19 at the moment, but it's logical.' Many comparisons have been drawn between Covid-19 and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. A dose-dependent theory would offer an explanation for what happened then, too. A 2010 analysis showed the second wave hit poorer communities living in more crowded conditions. They got bigger infectious doses, and many thousands died. Dr Groppelli added: 'Age and other illnesses play a huge role. But if I had to be infected with this coronavirus, I'd like the smallest dose possible because that would mean a higher chance of my body getting the infection under control.' Professor Wendy Barclay, who's head of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, added: 'It's all about the size of the armies on each side of the battle,' she says. 'A very large virus army is difficult for our immune system's army to fight off. 'So standing further away from someone when they breathe or cough likely means fewer virus particles reach you, and then you get infected with a lower dose and get less ill.' On the other hand, there is the possibility that, thanks to distancing and, more importantly, natural pandemic patterns, levels are down to what they were before testing even started - and a rise could still be seen, other medics warn. Some point out that nothing has changed in the human immune system, so those who are vulnerable will remain so. And when those levels do rise past a certain point, possibly in a few months' time, the serious illness and death will follow. It comes amid concerns that parts of northern England could be in the midst of a coronavirus endemic, according to leaked Public Health England documents. Bristol saw five cases on August 30, which climbed to eight on August 31 and 12 on September 1. In Malton earlier this week, families attended a screening of The Greatest Showman at Castle Howard where they remained within their own groups - despite the inclement weather Cyclists on the Tour de France have been using face masks to reduce the risk of spreading the virus On August 29, fans socially distanced at the Amex Stadium in Brighton as the home team played a pre-season friendly against Chelsea In the Netherlands, guests cocooned in their own green houses while enjoying dinner at Mediamatic in Amsterdam The analysis claims areas in north-west England where local lockdowns have been put in force - including Bolton, Manchester and Rochdale - 'never really left the epidemic phase'. It says 90 per cent of Greater Manchester boroughs are 'currently experiencing an epidemic phase'. An epidemic refers to a disease infecting a large group of people whereas endemic is generally when a bug is constantly affecting a particular region. Parts of northern England could be in the midst of a coronavirus endemic, according to leaked Public Health England documents. Pictured: Members of the public wear masks as they walk through Bolton town centre on Tuesday It claims 90 per cent of Greater Manchester boroughs are 'currently experiencing an epidemic phase'. Pictured: People in Bolton this week The paper - marked 'official sensitive' and seen by The Observer - looked at areas with a high amount of Covid-19 cases and examined links between large caseloads, economic deprivation, over-crowded housing and larger BAME communitites. It suggests coronavirus is solidly in place in various areas meaning local lockdowns will hardly make any difference. While the document - which uses data up until August - does focus on northwestern regions which have been put back into partial lockdowns following a spike in coronavirus cases - it implies the its findings could be used on a national level. It reads: 'The overall analysis suggests Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale never really left the epidemic phase - and that nine of the 10 boroughs [of Greater Manchester] are currently experiencing an epidemic phase.' The new measures, which were announced on Saturday evening, will come into effect immediately. Pictured: Bolton town centre at the start of September It adds: 'If we accept the premise that in some areas the infection is now endemic - how does this change our strategy? 'If these areas were not able to attain near-zero-Covid status during full lockdown, how realistic is it that we can expect current restriction escalations to work?' Bolton was last night placed under tighter Covid-19 restrictions as the infection rate in the area becomes the highest in England with hundreds of thousands of people banned from mixing. Bolton Council has asked for people in the town to avoid mixing with other households and to only use public transport for essential purposes. It comes as the town's infection rate recently increased to 99 cases per 100,000 people per week, the highest in England, the council said. Locals slam Glasgow lockdown as confusing after different households can't meet at home but CAN go out for dinner Glasgow locals have slammed their local lockdown as confusing after rules state they can't meet at each other's homes but can go out for a meal together. Under the guidelines - which also apply to West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire - residents are no longer allowed to meet up with other households indoors from midnight on Tuesday. But restaurants, pubs and bars have all stayed open causing confusion among locals. Helen Smith, 45, told The Observer: 'I've followed all the rules since the start of this thing but I can't get my head round these latest ones 'We were told to avoid pubs and restaurants and large groups of different households. 'Now I can meet my own family in a pub or a gym with loads of other people but I can't privately go round to their house.' It came after the NHS regional board of Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported 66 cases of coronavirus in 24 hours - 43 per cent of Scotland's total cases on Tuesday. Officials say the spike appears to be mostly traced back to indoor gatherings, leading to the limited rules. Advertisement Just days earlier, Boris Johnson came under fire for 'mess after mess' in the coronavirus crisis after the government performed another embarrassing U-turn on lockdowns. Bolton and Trafford were among a series of areas in the North West due to see restrictions eased on Wednesday. But the move was abandoned at the 11th hour after a furious backlash from local politicians including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who said infection levels were still far too high. Councillors from both Bolton and Trafford warned of a spike in coronavirus cases - but a lockdown was not put in place until 12 hours after most locals understood that it was lifted. Local leaders have repeatedly felt exasperated by the national government throughout the pandemic as confusing 11th-hour rules have left constituents seeking clarity. Many councils have used volunteers or staff to take on community-lead virus control, focused on communication, the paper reports. Public health directors have slammed the current approach - where rules and guidance on local lockdowns comes from London - as making their job even more difficult. New lockdown rules were also enforced in Glasgow from midnight on Tuesday following a spike in coronavirus cases there. Under the guidelines - which also apply to West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire - residents are no longer allowed to meet up with other households indoors. Only essential hospital visits are permitted in the affected areas and anyone visiting a loved one in a care home must do so outside. The rules will be reviewed after a week but they are set to remain in place for 14 days in total. It comes after the NHS regional board of Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported 66 cases of coronavirus in 24 hours - 43 per cent of Scotland's total cases on Tuesday. Addressing the restrictions, Ms Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: 'I know how difficult this will be - I am a Glasgow resident so these rules apply to me too - but they are essential to, I hope, nip this in bud and avoid tougher restrictions.' The additional regulations in the three areas come after Aberdeen was thrust into lockdown again on August 5. The city's population of more than 200,000 were banned from travelling more than five miles from their homes and pubs, bars and restaurants were shut. The lockdown rules were then relaxed 18 days later. Coronavirus is not disappearing and will still be here in three years, a leading German virologist has warned. Professor Hendrik Streeck, the director of the Institute of Virology at the University of Bonn who led the response to Covid-19 in one of Germanys worst-hit regions, said spikes are inevitable and the public must adapt to a new way of living to avoid widespread outbreaks. This virus is not disappearing. It has now become part of our daily lives, he told Scottish tabloid the Sunday Mail. It will still be here in three years and we have to find a way to live with it. However, it is really important to stop superspreading events where many people gather together as those can cause large outbreaks. We know that social distancing, not gathering in big groups and covering your face can have a profound impact on the infection. These are simple measures that can help stop the spread if you have large levels of infection. Prof Streeck, who used the town of Gangelt in Heinsberg to study how Covid-19 spreads between households and how it can be contained, said the discovery of a vaccine was probable, but was cautious about being too optimistic on the timescale, adding that it may not be until at least next year. He also said that while the idea of herd immunity can sound terrible, it is likely to be essential in combatting the virus. Herd immunity is a terrible way to describe it as it sounds like youre forcing people together to get infected, Prof Streeck explained. But it is also something that really helps to slow down infections. Prof Streecks research, which involved 919 participants from 405 households, found that most infections occur in large gatherings and in homes. She is a successful actress and he is a blue-blooded aristocrat so its good to learn that Cressida Bonas and new hubby Harry Wentworth-Stanley can be just as frugal as the rest of us. The newlyweds shaved a bob or two off their dinner bill thanks to the Chancellors Eat Out To Help Out scheme. My exclusive snaps the first we have seen of the couple since their secret wedding in July show them enjoying a meal at trendy Granger & Co in Londons Notting Hill. Cressida Bonas may be an aristocrat and Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend, though she can be frugal Cressida Bonas and new hubby Harry Wentworth-Stanley can be just as frugal as the rest of us She and her husband, pictured, scaled back their wedding plans due to the Covid-19 pandemic At one stage, Cressida, a former girlfriend of Prince Harry, showed off some rather theatrical gestures. She recently revealed that she and Harry the son of Marchioness of Milford Haven were forced to scale back their wedding plans due to the pandemic. But with the holiday market in turmoil, at least they may be able to grab a honeymoon bargain! It's a dog day for Helena We all know that supermodel Helena Christensen is still in fabulous shape at 51 but Im not sure the same can be said for her two pet pooches. Helena posted this picture of herself lounging on a boat on a serene lake near her home in upstate New York, where she has been spending lockdown with her 20-year-old son Mingus and pets. A day on the lake just about does the trick, she told her 720,000 followers. Proof that this veteran of the 1990s supermodel troupe whose members famously would not get out of bed for less than $10,000 enjoys a simpler life these days. We all know that supermodel Helena Christensen is still in fabulous shape at 51 but Im not sure the same can be said for her two pet pooches It was one of the most exclusive selfie spots of all but Annabels nightclub has now banned members from snapping pouty poses in its powder rooms. The loos were the only area where guests were allowed to take pictures after a 55 million club makeover and 25,000 selfies were taken. But new rules forbid cameras anywhere in the club including bathrooms. In this Aug. 6, 2020 file photo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James takes a question at a news conference in New York. Kathy Willens/Associated Press New York's attorney general, Letitia James, announcd Saturday she would form a grand jury for the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died in March, days after Rochester police placed him in a "spit hood" and held him down. The seven Rochester police officers involved in Prude's death were suspended earlier this week, the mayor announced. The county's medical examiner ruled in an autopsy that Prude's death was a homicide caused by "complications of asphyxia" while physically restrained. A police union has defended the officers involved in the encounter, saying they were strictly following department training and protocols, including using the mesh hood. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. New York's attorney general on Saturday moved to form a grand jury to investigate the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after being hooded and held down by Rochester police in March. "The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish," Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement about Prude's death, which has sparked nightly protests and calls for reform. She said the grand jury would be part of an "exhaustive investigation." James' office has been investigating Prude's death since April. On Tuesday, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren announced that the seven police officers involved in Prude's death would be suspended. Prude's death after his brother called for help for his erratic behavior in March has roiled New York's third-largest city since video of the encounter was made public earlier this week, with protesters demanding more accountability for how it happened and legislation to change how authorities respond to mental health emergencies. "This is just the beginning," Ashley Gantt, a protest organizer, said by email after James' announcement. "We will not be stopped in our quest for truth and justice. It is always necessary to do what's right." Story continues Protests in Rochester, NY over the death of Daniel Prude continue, with thousands in the street and more police violence, September, 5th, 2020. Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images Another protest was planned for Saturday on the street where Prude was detained. Advocates for legislation say Prude's death and the actions of seven Rochester police officers including one who covered the Black man's head with a "spit hood" during the March encounter demonstrate how police are ill-equipped to deal with people suffering mental problems. Having police respond can be a "recipe for disaster," The National Alliance on Mental Illness said in a statement Friday. Prude's death "is yet another harrowing tragedy, but a story not unfamiliar to us," the advocacy group said. "People in crisis deserve help, not handcuffs." Stanley Martin, an organizer of Free the People Rochester, told reporters: "We do not need violent workers with guns to respond to mental health crises." This undated file photo, provided by Roth and Roth LLP, shows Daniel Prude. Roth and Roth LLP via Associated Press Activists have marched nightly in the city of 210,000 on Lake Ontario since police body camera videos of the encounter with Prude were released by his family Wednesday. Friday night's protest resulted in 11 arrests, police said. As they had the night before, officers doused activists at police headquarters with a chemical spray to drive them from barricades around the building. As the night wore on, demonstrators were pushed further back, as police fired what appeared to be pepper balls. Fireworks were shot off and a bus stop was set on fire. Prude's family has said he appeared to be spiraling into crisis in the hours before police handcuffed him on a street and pinned the naked man face down. In the video, police are also seen covering his head with the white "spit hood," designed to protect police from bodily fluids. "You're trying to kill me!" the 41-year-old man is heard saying. He died days later in what the medical examiner ruled was a homicide. A police union has defended the officers involved in the encounter, saying they were strictly following department training and protocols, including using the mesh hood. A medical examiner ruled in an autopsy report that Prude's death a homicide caused by "complications of asphyxia" while physically restrained. Read the original article on Insider Brisbane City Council has chartered a fleet of four mini catamarans to stand in for its ageing and suspended cross-river ferries, with the lord mayor blaming border restrictions for delays on starting the repairs. So far only one of the vessels, which have been dubbed "KittyCats" and can carry up to 60 passengers, has arrived in Brisbane from Sydney. The other three will soon be piloted up from New South Wales to undergo modifications for Brisbane River conditions before crews are trained. One of the KittyCats plies the Brisbane River at South Bank, while the others are yet to arrive from Sydney. Credit:Matt Dennien Commuters can expect the fleet to begin running the still-suspended routes from early November, when RiverCity Ferries takes over operation of the CityCat and ferry fleet. Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said the sleek ships would be a "very different look" compared to the older, mostly wooden-hulled ferries, some of which have been in service for more than 30 years. A woman has been charged with torturing and then killing a dog after a domestic dispute in Sydney's inner west. The 24-year-old woman allegedly tortured, beat and then killed Rocky on Cahill Place at Marrickville about 1.30am on Saturday. Rocky, a 13-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was found with cuts across its neck and was rushed to a nearby vet for surgery, but could not be saved. Police were initially called to the scene after the 24-year-old woman was involved in a dispute with a 44-year-old woman who was known to her inside a unit. A 24-year-old woman has been charged with torturing and then killing a dog after a domestic dispute at Cahill Place (pictured) in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west Rocky, a 13-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was found with cuts across its neck and was rushed to a nearby vet for surgery, but could not be saved (Stock image) The younger woman allegedly fled the scene of the attack in the aftermath. Officers began a search for the woman and eventually found her on Oxford Street, in Surry Hills, about 4.20pm the same day. She was taken to Surry Hills Police Station and charged with torture, beat and cause death of animal. She was also hit with two charges of stalk or intimidate, two counts of contravening an AVO, two counts of breaching her bail and one of using a carriage service to menace or harass. The woman is due to appear in Parramatta Bail Court on Sunday. Richard Leonard has rejected calls from his internal opponents to step down as leader of Scottish Labour, and said he will stay on until after the next set of Scottish Parliament elections. Mr Leonard said the party's current electoral woes were "part of a long-term trend" and pointed out that he had "inherited" the party in third place and that "it still is in third place". Asked whether he would step down, the party leader said: "No, Im not and I think that those people that have been calling this week for me to step down have underestimated both my resolve but also the mandate that I got." Figures from the right of the Labour party this week called on Mr Leonard, a left-winger, to quit, blaming him for the SNP riding high in the polls and his party's waning fortunes. Rachel Reeves, an English MP who returned to frontbench politics recently under Keir Starmer, this week called on Mr Leonard to look at the opinion polls and consider his position. But the Scottish Labour leader said that "there are some people who really never accepted the result when I was elected" by the party in 2017. "Prior to my election as the leader, just under three years ago, wed had five leaders of the Scottish Labour party in six years and so the mandate that I was given by the members when they convincingly elected me to be leader, was to campaign on a radical agenda but it was also to be the leader of the Scottish Labour party going into the May 2021 Scottish Parliament elections," he told the broadcaster. Scottish Labour has just one House of Commons seat, a figure it first arrived at in 2015 when the party lost 40 seats under the leadership of Blairite Jim Murphy. Despite a minor recovery in 2017 to seven seats, it lost them again at the 2019 Westminster election. At the Scottish parliament level the party has lost seats and votes in every election since the body was set up, starting on 56 MSPs in 1999 and falling to 24 in 2016. The latest opinion poll by ComRes has Labour on 17 per cent for the next Scottish elections, which are due to be held in May 2021. This would represent a slight fall from its 2016 result under former leader Kezia Dugdale, when the party first fell to third place. A psoriasis sufferer who once heard a lady in a shop comment to her husband that she was an acid attack victim when she saw her facial psoriasis, has claimed that a 8.50 shampoo helped to clear her skin condition after five washes. Nicola Jones, 33, from Buckinghamshire, who lives with partner Dan, 35, an electrical engineer, first developed scalp psoriasis when she went to university, aged 19. Despite trying several over-the-counter products, nothing seemed to work for Nicola - until she found an unlikely solution in the form of the Oregon Skincare shampoo and conditioner, which costs from 8.50. She claims it helped to dramatically improve the skin condition within approximately three weeks. Nicola Jones, 33, from Buckinghamshire, who lives with partner Dan, 35, an electrical engineer, first got scalp psoriasis when she went to university, aged 19. Pictured, at its worst The marketing consultant claimed she found an unlikely solution in the form of the Oregon Skincare shampoo and conditioner, which costs from 8.50. Pictured, after applying the product Nicola says she thought her psoriasis was dandruff at first and so she tried various over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos from the chemist, which she says made it much worse. 'I eventually went to a doctor after six months and was diagnosed with scalp psoriasis,' explained the marketing consultant. 'I was prescribed a steroid based scalp treatment but it was like putting acid on my scalp. It was so painful I couldn't bear to use it.' Nicola says she was 'very self-conscious' of her scalp psoriasis while she was at university. 'I felt like I always had dead skin on my clothes and I knew people could see it behind my ears so I never wore my hair up,' she explained. 'Being in a queue with people behind me would fill me with dread. Nicola claims she found an unlikely solution in the form of the Oregon Skincare shampoo and conditioner, which costs from 8.50 (pictured) 'I was worried they thought I was dirty because of all the flaky skin on my clothes and in my hair. 'People assume you have these things because you don't wash not because you have a skin condition.' Nicola never wore dark colours and got into the habit of regularly going to the bathroom to ping her clothes to flick all the dead skin off them. 'My psoriasis was only on my scalp until four years ago when my Dad was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer,' she said. 'I was living in Switzerland at the time.' 'The stress of being told my dad only had a few months to live obviously bought on a huge amount of emotional stress. 'As it turned out my dad was one of the rare people who survived his terminal diagnosis and he is still with us today, four years later.' 'But when I was told about my dad's cancer, the psoriasis on my scalp started to spread to my forehead and face, and it was the first time I noticed a patch on my back, too.' Over the space of a few years, psoriasis started breaking out on different parts of Nicola's body. 'I was getting a new patch of psoriasis about once a month. It started with a patch of strange dry skin on my back the size of an insect bite and spread to the size of a grapefruit,' she explained. 'I was prescribed yet more steroid creams for my skin but every single one of them, even though they were called different names, would soothe the skin and stop the dryness, but they never reduced the outbreaks.' 'The psoriasis on my scalp was worse still and had gone from being a few patches to virtually my whole scalp, with the area behind my ears being covered in scales.' Nicola told how she was worried people thought she was dirty because of all the flaky skin on her clothes and in her hair. Pictured, left before, and right, after Nicola said she thought the psoriasis was dandruff at first and so she tried various over the counter anti-dandruff shampoos from the chemist which made it much worse. Pictured, at its worst 'It was really itchy and it would feel like it was burning most of the time. Any treatment I put on it would feel like setting my scalp on fire.' What is Oregon Grape Root? A skin care range containing a plant extract called Oregon Grape Root (OGR), plus other helpful ingredients including caffeine, have been found in a UK trial to be highly effective in reducing the symptoms associated with the skin condition psoriasis. OGR is a native plant of North America and has been extensively examined as a treatment for psoriasis in several published studies. Studies have found that compounds isolated from extracts of OGR possess inhibitory activity against Lipoxygenase (an enzyme involved in psoriatic skin cell production). At the cellular level, OGR has been shown to guard against accelerated activity during the process of keratinocytes (skin cell production). Advertisement Nicola says that even when she used 'normal' shampoos, they would burn her scalp and make the flaking so much worse. 'The cold weather and dark days when I moved to Newcastle a few years ago made my scalp even worse,' she said. 'In winter I never saw the sun during the week for months on end as it was dark when I went into the office and dark when I left. Lack of sunlight can make psoriasis symptoms much worse.' Nicola went on to add that aside from the pain and discomfort of having psoriasis, it's the way it destroyed her self-confidence when people stared at her and made comments that really hurt. 'Once in M&S I was looking at some tops in the clothing section and a lady made a comment to her husband that I looked like an acid attack victim,' she recalled. 'I locked myself in the changing room and cried.' 'Another time I was in B&Q and I asked a store assistant where something was and she made a grimace and asked me what had happened to my face.' 'As I was hiding in the rug section waiting for my emotions to calm down from her comment, I put this story on Instagram to try and show people for real what it felt like living with psoriasis.' She continued: 'It's being caught unaware by personal comments made by complete strangers about my skin when I am going about my daily life that is the worst thing. I am never prepared for it.' 'Another time I was in the gym's pool which I go to every morning before work to exercise and de-stress before work.' 'A woman came up to me and told me I should not go swimming in the pool. At first I thought there was something wrong with the pool and she was warning me and then I realised she was talking about my skin. She said there were kids in the pool and I'd contaminate them.' About a year ago, Nicola began an Instagram account about her psoriasis (@betterskinbetterme) to document her skin condition, which she hoped would spread awareness, reduce stigma and encourage others into discussions about living with and managing the condition. Nicola explained that aside from the pain and discomfort of having psoriasis, it's the way it destroyed her self-confidence when people stared at her and made comments that really hurt. Pictured, the psoriasis behind her ear Nicola explained that within 5-6 washes she really noticed the size of her scalp psoriasis patches had started to reduce and the redness had hugely reduced. Pictured, the skin condition at its worst 'When I started up my Instagram I got trolled, with one troll telling me I was disgusting and should be drowned at birth,' she explained. 'But overall far more positive things come from my Instagram and being more open about my psoriasis and talking with other people about their psoriasis and sharing advice and experiences has really helped my confidence. It was through this that I heard about Oregon Skincare products.' She continued: 'On the first wash of using the Oregon Shampoo and Conditioner I noticed a very obvious calming effect on my scalp, which was a good sign.' WHAT IS PSORIASIS? Psoriasis is a recurrent skin condition that affects around 2% of the UK population. It is caused by an acceleration of skin cell production. Normally a skin cell matures in 21-28 days. Psoriatic cells, however, turn over in 2-3 days and in such profusion that the live cells reach the surface and accumulate with the dead cells still in visible layers (hence the plaques). Advertisement 'Within 5-6 washes I really noticed the size of my scalp psoriasis patches had started to reduce and the redness had hugely reduced.' Nicola says that after over fifteen years of trying to find something that helped her scalp psoriasis, she hardly dared believed she had finally found a solution - and kept thinking it was just a coincidence. 'After a month of using the Oregon hair products my scalp was about 80% improved,' she said. 'I still have some mild patches of psoriasis on my scalp and on my face but if you didn't know I had psoriasis you wouldn't see them. 'On zoom calls over lock down friends kept asking me what had happened to my skin as for all intents and purposes my facial psoriasis has gone. She added: 'I also started to use the Oregon Skin Serum on a really sore stubborn patch of psoriasis on my forearm, which has been there for years and of course, everyone used to stare at it. 'The same thing happened and over a month the patch reduced in size and went from a livid red to a pale brown colour. Before trying the Oregon Serum on it nothing had worked at reducing it in size or redness.' Now, Nicola says most people who don't know her can't really tell she has psoriasis on her face anymore. 'Today I do not use any other products for my psoriasis except for Oregon skincare and I have to say it has made one of the most fundamental changes to my psoriasis of any product I have ever tried,' she explained. 'It's better than any medications, prescriptions or anything I have tried from the chemist.' JERSEY CITY Two people were arrested Thursday after one struck a police officer with his car a few days prior, city spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. Marcus Bell, 26, is facing multiple charges of attempted aggravated assault including attempted aggravated assault on law enforcement one count of assault by auto, unlawful weapon possession and one count of certain persons to not have weapons, Wallace-Scalcione said. Jasmine Brown, 26, is charged with false police reports. On Aug. 30, three days prior to the arrests, police saw a person racking a gun, or preparing it to be fired, in a vehicle parked in front of 147 Custer Ave., Wallace-Scalcione said. As the officers approached the tinted Blue Subaru WRX, the vehicle fled, striking a police officer, she said. According to police radio transmissions, one of the occupants of the car pointed a gun at police officers. The Subaru was found on Armstrong Avenue minutes later, police said. The handgun was discarded during the pursuit, but police recovered it. The injured police officer was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released, Wallace-Scalcione said. The next morning, Bell and Brown reported to the JCPD that Bells Blue Subaru WRX was stolen the day before, which was when the Aug. 31 incident occurred, Wallace-Scalcione said. But Bell and Brown were arrested on Thursday after further investigation. A warrant has been issued for one other person, Wallace-Scalcione said. Nine expelled Congress leaders have written to party president Sonia Gandhi, asking her to "rise above the affinity for the family (parivaar ke moh)" and run the organisation by establishing mutual trust and restoring the constitutional and democratic values. The letter from the UP veterans comes days after 23 senior Congress leaders wrote to Gandhi, saying uncertainty over the party leadership has "demoralised Congress workers". They also said over-centralisation and micro-management have always proven counter-productive. In the letter dated September 2 and addressed to Gandhi, the nine Congress leaders, including former MP Santosh Singh and former minister Satyadev Tripathi, said Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi built the Congress and the country with democratic values. But it's ironical that for sometime, the way in which the party is being run, there is confusion ("asmanjas") and depression ("avsaad") among the ordinary Congress worker, they added. "At a time, when the country's democratic values and social fabric is lying scattered, the need of the country is that Congress remain alive, dynamic and strong. You please rise above the affinity for the family, and as per traditions, restore the expression of thoughts, constitutional and democratic values, and run the organisation by establishing communication and mutual trust," the leaders urged Gandhi. "If you deviate from your responsibility, then Congress will become a thing of the past," they said. "Today, the Congress is facing uncertainty, indecisiveness, lack of communication, and lack of expression of thoughts, and is passing through a difficult phase of existential crisis." They also said the "height of insensitivity" can be gauged from the fact that the party president does not know about the incidents taking place in the organisation or is keeping the eyes shut "despite knowing everything". Referring to their expulsion, the leaders said in the letter, "It is almost one year (since expulsion), but despite requests we were not given time by the (state unit of the) party. The party's central disciplinary committee is also not listening to anything. It seems the Congress office is locked." They claimed the disciplinary committee of the party's UP unit cannot expel them since they are members of the AICC. Singh and Tripathi were among the 10 senior leaders who were expelled from the primary membership of the Congress on November 24 last year for six years for allegedly tarnishing the party's image and opposing its leadership's decisions at public forums. The other expelled leaders who signed the letter are Siraj Mehdi (former MLC), Bhoodhar Narayan Mishra (former MLA), Vinod Chaudhary (former MLA), Nek Chandra Pandey (former MLA), Swayam Prakash Goswami (former chairman of Youth Congress), Rajendra Singh Solanki and Sanjeev Singh. UP Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh said, "The leaders were expelled last year for opposing the decisions of the party leadership at public forums and tarnishing the image of the party. A notice was also served to these leaders for unnecessarily opposing the party over the revamp of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee in October last year." "As far as writing letters to the Congress president is concerned, they are free to do so," he said. ALTON It may look a little different this year, but the show will go on with the 14th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival (MEF,) a celebration of the Mississippi River through art, music and conservation. Co-organized by Alton Main Street and the Sierra Club, this years modified event, occurring Saturday, Sept. 19, will be presented through socially-distanced activities due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic. While we will not be able to enjoy the big street festival atmosphere that everyone is used to, we are still committed to keeping the spirit of MEF alive in safe ways, with the goal of helping our community celebrate Illinois watersheds through education, recreation and conservation, said Alton Main Street Executive Director Sara McGibany. For this years free and family-friendly event, we have pivoted to creative options that people can participate in at a distance, such as a GPS-based scavenger hunt, an art exhibit, an outdoor movie, and a litter clean-up near the river. More Information If you go: What: Mississippi Earthtones Festival, presented by Alton Main Street and the Sierra Club When: Saturday, Sept. 19 Where: Downtown Alton Info: For more information, to register for activities or volunteer, visit downtownalton.com or the Mississippi Earthtones Festival Facebook page at facebook.com/EarthtonesFestival to stay up-to-date about event announcements. See More Collapse With activities scheduled in the morning, afternoon and evening the day of the event, attendees will be able to explore a textile art exhibit, participate in the scavenger hunt and attend a Carpool Concert soon after dusk. From 8 a.m. until noon, the Riverwork Project will be displayed at the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market. A textile art exhibit coordinated by Sun Smith-Foret, a large flowing fabric installation, is a collaboration of a number of regional artists exploring the relationship between the nations rivers, their environmental character and the arts. In the afternoon from 3 to 7 p.m., the free GPS-based scavenger hunt will be presented in partnership with letsroam.com. The hunt will lead participants in multiple challenges at stops throughout the Downtown area and is expected to take approximately two hours to complete. The first 50 people to finish the hunt will receive a festival T-shirt. Those looking to participate can register at downtownalton.com for a link to the app and a code for the hunt. An evening Carpool Concert, presented soon after dusk in the large parking lot at the corner of Landmarks Boulevard and Henry Street, in the same lot used for the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market, will allow festival goers to enjoy an outdoor movie on a large inflatable screen from the comfort of their vehicles. As a result of an online poll, the movie Woodstock: Three Days of Peace and Music received the most votes and selected for the event. The Directors Cut of the Oscar-winning documentary is rated R, with a running time of 225 minutes. The movie is about the three-day festival in 1969, including performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The movie is free and open to the public. Although food and beverage vendors will not be available on site, guests are welcome to bring their own refreshments. In case of inclement weather, the movie will be rescheduled. Also scheduled as part of Mississippi Earthtones festivities is a socially distanced litter cleanup in partnership with National Public Lands Day, to be held one week from the day of the event at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The cleanup will take place rain or shine. Unlike years past, there will be no snacks, water, or lunch provided due to enhanced safety measures. Participants are expected to bring their own gloves, water bottle and boots or sturdy shoes. Although several locations are listed for cleanup, participants must choose one of the following sites in order to receive a MEF T-shirt after the cleanup: Lincoln Shields Recreation Area, Clark Bridge, Piasa Park, or Clifton Terrace Park. To date, more than 43 tons of trash have been removed from the Mississippi River during MEF clean-ups, with more than 2,600 volunteer hours contributed. Participants can sign up by visiting greenwaynetwork.org/participate/national-public-lands-day-registration. A maximum number of volunteers will be allowed at each site as an additional safety measure. Volunteers looking to help with the logistics of the Carpool Concert and receive a free festival T-shirt can sign up at the MEF page of downtownalton.com, under the Events tab. The Mississippi Earthtones Festival is held annually as part of the state of Illinois Its Our River Day initiative celebrating Illinois watersheds through education, recreation and conservation. The Earthtones festival is free for the river community, sponsored by numerous local businesses and organizations, including Busey Bank, Meyer Jensen Law Firm, Chiro One, Madison County Planning and Development, Illinois Natural History Survey - Great Rivers Field Station, Illinois Environmental Council, Alton Parks and Recreation Department, The Telegraph, Riverbender.com, WBGZ Radio, and the AdVantage. For more information, to register for activities or volunteer, visit downtownalton.com or the Mississippi Earthtones Festival Facebook page at facebook.com/EarthtonesFestival to stay up-to-date about event announcements. As visceral as possible." Lucy Prebble's words ring in my ears as I watch Suzie (played by Billie Piper) sitting on the toilet, trying to calm herself down after it has been revealed that pictures of her giving oral sex to a man who is not her husband have been leaked all over the internet. Outside the door a make-up artist is clamouring to get her ready for a photo shoot. Suzie scrolls through her phone and the full horror of the violation becomes clear. She understands that in a few moments her husband will see her sucking what he later describes as "not my c**k". And then there is a sound effect perhaps never before heard on network television as terror-induced diarrhoea falls out of the star. "That scene was important because we wanted to make the actual emotional impact as real as possible," explains Prebble, the show's writer and Piper's close friend. "I was fascinated by the fact that you never hear what's going to happen next when a celebrity's photos are leaked. There's stuff in there to do with privacy and shame and the consequences, both personal and professional. "I have a very strong moral stance on someone stealing those images, which is deeply wrong and reflects more poorly on them. The person who leaks the photos is the arsehole." It's impossible to ignore the similarities between Suzie and Billie. Both are thirty-something former child stars who became fan favourites after starring in a cult sci-fi series. "I wouldn't be so insincere as to say it was all a coincidence. Because I know Billie very well; I also know the public perception of her. I grew up listening to people like her and Lily Allen, Charlotte Church and Britney Spears and I wanted to show a situation that the audience would quickly understand but it wasn't a reference to Billie's real life. In fact, there's more of me in there than her." Prebble is the woman of the moment in television. I Hate Suzie has been a sensation, and Succession, the other show on which she is a writer and executive producer, has been described as "era-defining" and "the best television of the last decade". It tells the story of a family whose patriarch is the biggest media mogul in the world. One of his sons sketches out the difference between traditional media and the rising tide of tech. "People don't want news," he says, "they want morsels. Juicy morsels." Given that little could be juicer than Suzie's nude photos, I wonder if Prebble sees the new media of viral infamy as more violating than the lurid headlines of Fleet Street's tabloid heyday. "I find it difficult to be nostalgic for a time when a billionaire with a political agenda and enough media power could define everything that a country thinks and has prime ministers under their thumb," Prebble responds. "Tech, particularly Twitter, has also been instrumental in producing a kind of authoritarian president in America and so it's galling that it's produced a similar reality. I don't think that we've come to terms with the horrors of everyone expressing their own reality in this short form but, as bad as it is, I think it's better than what came before." The tone of both shows hints at Prebble's background in theatre, her understanding of nostalgia and her feel for bleak humour. As a child growing up in Surrey, Prebble was obsessed with TV dialogue. Video of the Day "I used to steal a tape recorder that my dad had and put it by the TV. I used to record Star Trek and American sitcoms like Cheers and The Golden Girls and then I'd listen to them in bed, which I found very comforting. The punchline comes and it breaks over you like a wave, like music." She got into theatre while reading English at Sheffield University; she won the Most Promising Playwright award at the National Student Drama Festival in 2002, and an internship at London's Bush Theatre. "I never thought I could make a go of being a playwright," she recalls. "At university, I really wanted to get in with the cool kids. They were looking for new plays and so that was my opening. It was a bid for attention, I suppose. It wasn't until I was doing secretarial work at the National Theatre and there were plays lying around the place Most art that you're exposed to is finished or at a very late stage. This showed me that when things start out they're often quite shit." She wrote her first play, The Sugar Syndrome, about paedophile chat rooms, in 2004. There followed Secret Diary of a Call Girl, an adaptation of a blog - her first collaboration with Piper. The show was not received with quite the same raptures as Suzie, but she followed it up with ENRON, a hit play based on the financial scandal and collapse of the American energy corporation. It won her an Olivier award. Still, she was plagued by self-doubt and says she underwent therapy, which helped. "One of the things that it taught me was that writing was a way for me to be seen and heard - but only in the most controlled way - and that went back to my childhood." Her success this year and last has perhaps cast away any lingering self-doubt. There will, she says, be a third season of Succession and possibly a second one of Suzie, depending on conversations with Piper. More than anything it's humour that connects the two series. "I find bleak things very funny. I Hate Suzie doesn't have the same grand reach of Succession but it has a depth of feeling to it which is familiar from Greek tragedy - a woman destroyed beating her chest." All episodes of I Hate Suzie are available On Demand on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV FILE PHOTO: The company logo for pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is displayed on a screen on the floor at the NYSE in New York By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia will receive the first doses of an AstraZeneca and Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine in January 2021 if trials prove successful, after Canberra agreed a deal to purchase a second potential vaccine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will say on Monday. Australia said in August it had signed a preliminary agreement with AstraZeneca for enough doses for its population of nearly 26 million, which would be manufactured locally by pharmaceutical company CSL. That deal appeared in some doubt when CSL said its priority was manufacturing an alternative potential vaccine developed with the University of Queensland (UQ). Agreeing a deal to overcome the potential roadblock, Australia will now also buy 51 million doses of the UQ vaccine. It will take possession of the first 3.8 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in January and February 2021, and then receive a further 30 million doses, Morrison will say in extracts from an announcement sent to Reuters. AstraZenecas candidate is seen as a frontrunner in a global race to deliver an effective coronavirus vaccine. "Australians will be among the first in the world to receive a safe and effective vaccine, should it pass late stage testing," Morrison will say. Under the deal with UQ and CSL, Australia will buy 51 million doses of that tie-up's vaccine. The UQ and CSL candidate is scheduled to begin phase two trials in late 2020 and if all trials are successful it could be rolled out to Australians in mid-2021. Both deals will cost in total A$1.7 billion ($1.24 billion), Morrison will say. Should both vaccines prove successful, Australia has secured to right to donate or sell on without a mark-up. Health officials are discussing who will receive the first doses if trials are successful, Morrison will say. Vulnerable people, and front-line health care workers likely to be first in line, a source familiar with the details told Reuters. The supply agreements come as Australia grapples with a second wave of infections in its second most populous state, Victoria. Australia has recorded more than 26,000 infections and 753 deaths. (This story corrects to show announcement will be made on Monday not Tuesday) (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Frances Kerry) COLUMBIA More than 100,000 taxpayer-paid mobile hotspots are now in homes across South Carolina, enabling kindergartners through college students to do their classwork as schools open at least partly online. Behind the hardware, internet service providers have agreed to deep discounts through state contracts, sometimes up to half off entry-level market rates, hopefully helping students stay connected after the federal aid runs out. More than 180,000 homes statewide lack access to high-speed internet, either because the lines dont exist or residents cant afford whats available, according to the latest mapping by the state Office of Regulatory Staff, which represents the public in utility regulation. How that breaks down is not yet known. After the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on South Carolina's digital divide, the Legislature directed the regulatory agency in late June to provide Wi-Fi hotspots and pay monthly bills through December for eligible students. Contract talks centered on making rates affordable, keeping in mind that school districts could be left with the tab come January. We negotiated hard, said Nanette Edwards, executive director of the Office of Regulatory Staff. Internet providers "recognized theres a public need and they wanted to step up, realizing the public emergency we're in." Monthly service rates run from $15 to $26 for the 13 participating companies, according to data obtained by The Post and Courier through a Freedom of Information Act request. They include industry giants AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, as well as regional companies in rural areas, such as Comporium, OneTone, TruVista and WCTEL. The 100,395 mobile hotspots distributed to students across South Carolina cost about $8 million. Feeding the internet, either through Wi-Fi or fiber connections, to those devices will cost an additional $7.6 million through the end of the year under the agreed to terms, Edwards said. Those bills are funded by the $50 million legislators allocated from the federal CARES Act to get students online immediately and start to work on a long-term plan for blanketing the state with high-speed internet access. Legislators could direct more to the effort when they return later this month to spend the remaining $668 million in federal aid for COVID-19 expenses. Congress put a Dec. 31 deadline on spending that money. Legislators also have the option of putting some of its $861 million available surplus toward keeping students online. While the agency's rates are locked in for six months, they can easily be extended to the end of the school year, whether the state or local districts pay the tab, Edwards said. A hot spot doesn't actually create a cell signal. It provides one at whatever strength a cellphone can get at that location. For students in rural Abbeville, Anderson and McCormick counties, where the cell signal is too weak for a hot spot to do any good on its own, WCTEL is running fiber lines into households that provide enough bandwidth to handle streaming video, group chats and other teaching strategies, said the company's CEO, Jeff Wilson. The Abbeville-based company normally charges at least $40 a month for home internet service, but that's down to $25 under the state contract. We looked at it as a public service. Its a fair amount of work for us, but we wanted it to be a good experience for students, Wilson said. Weve invested heavily in our network architecture. Weve not had any issues with lag or slowdown. The state's most powerful legislator, Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, said he fully supports all efforts to extend broadband statewide. "If we miss this opportunity, I think South Carolina will be left behind for a long, long time," the Florence Republican said Thursday. "If we want to leave a legacy in this state, let's do it with broadband." Crystal Isham and her daughter Taylor are among 647 families in rural Allendale County, one of the state's poorest, to get one of the hot spots. Internet accessibility becomes a challenge in our area when families in certain areas of the county are denied access due to tower coverage, said Isham, whose daughter started eighth grade on Aug. 31 at Allendale-Fairfax Middle School. Taylor's enrolled in Allendale's virtual-online option, spending the school year at home and logging into the classroom. Even with their dedicated wireless internet connection, Crystal worries whether there's enough capacity to ensure seamless learning. But the remote option ensures Taylor can be safe from the coronavirus, she said. "I pray that it continues to all work out," Crystal said. The Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) have organised a COVID-19 quiz for children to ensure they are not left out of COVID-19 health education. This is the first of its kind in a series tailored towards educating children on the safety protocols of COVID-19. The quiz was to engage children to be ambassadors of health education and promotion and social marketing. The questions tapped into their knowledge on the COVID-19 safety protocols including frequent handwashing with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, good respiratory etiquette, the need for social distancing, and personal hygiene. The quiz, which was keenly contested, saw Nathan Nana Yaw Nyamekye, a seven-year-old pupil of the Tema Ridge International School emerging the winner among six contestants. Each participant received a variety of prizes. Dr Dacosta Aboagye, the Director of Health Promotion Division, GHS, said he believed children could play a pivotal role in COVID-19 education through knowledge sharing. He said he was happy with the brilliant performance exhibited by the children and the enthusiasm with which they responded to the questions. Dr Aboagye, also the leader of the National COVID-19 Risk Communication and Social Mobilization Team, admonished parents to help their children at home to gain more knowledge about COVID-19 and its preventive measures encouraged other stakeholders to support in the sensitisation process. The children expressed gratitude to the Division and AFENET for organising the quiz, which served as a learning opportunity for them. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Darcey and Stacey Silva have a brand-new series called Darcey & Stacey. The show is just getting started, and its already full of drama, especially surrounding Staceys fiance, Florian Sukaj, and some images he appeared in with another woman on social media. Darcey, Staceys sister, found the images online, and it doesnt seem like something Florian is going to be able to live down. This week, Florian goes with Stacey to meet up with her friends for a drink, and the drama only ends when he gets up and walks away. Read on to learn more. Darcey Silva finds pictures of Florian Sukaj and another woman Darcey Silva and Stacey Silva | Brad Barket/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc. Florian is a fitness model from Albania, and hes been with Stacey for about five years. They got engaged on their first trip together, and it seems like the relationship is strong. However, Darcey found some images of Florian online with another woman, and she isnt the only one who wants answers about it. This week, Staceys father speaks with Florian about the images as well, and it even comes up when Florian meets Staceys friends. Florian meets Staceys friends RELATED: Darcey & Stacey: What Happens When Stacey Silva Speaks With Florian Sukaj About the Pictures She Saw of Him and Another Woman? Stacey takes Florian to meet her best friends, Debbie and Reina. They all hug each other. Florian in the flesh is like so weird to me, Reina says to the cameras. Its been so long. I see Stacey so happy, but I definitely have concerns about the pictures of Florian with that girl. I hope Florians trustworthy. They welcome him to America, and hes asked about what he thinks so far and about the time difference. He says it isnt a problem. They talk about the differences between the two countries. Reina mentions that the pictures of them online together are awesome and they show a lot of love. However, she makes another comment addressing the elephant in the room. As long as Florian doesnt have any other pics with anybody else, she says. Then we will be good. After that comment, everyones mood seems to change. Stacey didnt know that they had seen the pictures, and she didnt know it was going to get brought up. Stacey says she chooses to believe him, but Reina says she wants to hear it from him. Listen to me, I understand, I understand this looks more than bad, Florian says. Nobody perfect, you understand? Florian walks away from Stacey and her friends Florian seems to be frustrated that everyone keeps asking him about these images. Just everybody, all they care just for like the pictures, Florian tells producers. First I talk conversation with Stacey. Then with Darcey, with Mike, the dad. I dont need like friends to question me for no reason. Stacey believed me. Reina says Florian needs to pass the friend test. He bangs his drink on the table, and shushes Reina. I hate the questions, he says. I dont f****** care for f****** answer, please. You dont know me, OK? Florian is clearly getting upset, and everyone is doing their best to defuse the situation. Theyre not attacking you, Stacey tells him. He suddenly gets up and walks away. Im not coming here blah blah blah, my goodness, he tells Stacey. Florian leaves the table to go outside, and its unclear where things stand. Can Stacey and Florian move on from the drama? Or will these problems continue to plague their relationship? Only time will tell. New Delhi: Dibrugarh police on Sunday seized one Pakistani flag which was found hoised in Brahmaputra sapori in Amargori. Police has also seized two black flags from the same location. JIHADI word was printed on the back of the two black flags. Assam Police stated that it was done by some miscreants who want to disturb the peaceful environment prevailing in the society. Earlier last month, UP Police had registered a case against a group of 60 people moving in a religious procession on charges of waving Pakistani flag and causing tension in Bisauli area in Badaun district. Dibrugarh police seizes Pakistani flag with Jihadi message Dibrugarh police seizes Pakistani flag with Jihadi message Dibrugarh police seizes Pakistani flag with Jihadi message Dibrugarh police seizes Pakistani flag with Jihadi message For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Attorney John Pierce said he would step back from the #Fightback Foundation to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest A lawyer representing 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse has resigned from his position with a defense fund that has raked in more than $700,000 to defend his client and conservative causes. Attorney John Pierce is defending Kyle Rittenhouse against intentional homicide charges for shooting two people to death and wounding a third during protests last month in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Pierce said he resigned from the #FightBack Foundation fund, which has raised money to defend Rittenhouse, to avoid any 'appearance of conflict,' USA Today reported. 'FYI, just stepped off official #FightBack Foundation board to 100% focus on freeing Kyle and avoid any appearance of $$ conflict. All good,' Pierce said in a tweet on Saturday. Pierce is part of the legal team defending Kyle Rittenhouse (left), who is charged with intentional homicide. Pierce's firm will receive money from the foundation, which has raised $700,000, for participating in his defense. Pierce remains on Rittnehouse's defense team Pierce and his firm, Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht, have been accused of defaulting on millions of dollars owed to investors, according to court documents. Pierce acknowledged in New York court documents earlier this year that he had failed to pay Karish Kapital $4 million for cash advances it had made to Pierce's firm, which also has a much large payment of $65 million looming for another investor, USA Today reported. According to a 2019 court filing made during a custody case and reported by the Daily Beast, Pierce has extensive personal debts. As of November 2019, Pierce claimed in those documents that he owed $850,000 to the IRS, along with an additional $200,000 in other taxes, the outlet reported. In total, Pierce claimed to pay nearly $20,000 in monthly payments on various debts. A spokesperson for the law firm did not immediately respond to an inquiry from DailyMail.com on Saturday seeking comment from the firm and Pierce. But in a tweet, Pierce denied that the firm had any debt problems. 'Total fake news. Pierce Bainbridge P.C. has zero debt. I have stepped off the #FightBack board to avoid any potential conflict. Of course the firm will have to be paid for some of its work and expenses so we can keep the lights on,' Pierce said. Pierce and Lin Wood, another attorney who has taken up high-profile cases championed by conservatives, started the fund in early August. The fund is described as a way to 'bring lawsuits to check the lies of the left.' Wood, now the foundation's controlling member, told USA Today that he had 'no concerns' about Pierce's financial issues, saying that they predate the foundation's formation and the attorney's association with Rittenhouse. He also said the foundation was nearing an agreement with an outside counsel as an additional safeguard on the foundation's operation. Kyle Rittenhouse faces intentional homicide charges for shooting two people to death and wounding a third during protests last month in Kenosha, Wisconsin. His attorneys say it is a clear-cut case of self-defense 'If everybody who needed a lawyer was forced to hire a pristine firm, nobody would ever be able to hire a lawyer,' said Wood. Pierce has argued that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he shot the three people on August 25 during a third night of protests over the police shooting of Jabob Blake two days earlier, which was captured on cellphone video and posted online. Blake, a black man, was left paralyzed from the waist down in the shooting. The Rittenhouse case has become a political flashpoint. During his Tuesday visit to Kenosha, President Donald Trump gave an account at odds with the one given by prosecutors, implying that the teenager only shot the men after he tripped and they attacked him. Two of the shootings, one fatal and one non-fatal, were captured on video, showing that Rittenhouse fired from the ground after tripping and being attacked by multiple people. A separate fatal shooting occurred before the widely-circulated video. Rittenhouse's attorneys insist that the first shooting, as well as the ones captured on video, were a clear-cut case of self-defense. Wood, who now controls the foundation, said Pierce would be reimbursed for his work defending Rittenhouse. Kesavananda Bharati, who filed the famous constitutional case leading to birth of the legal doctrine of Basic Structure, passed away on Sunday morning at his ashram, Sri Edneer Mutt ,in the Kasaragod district of north Kerala. Bharati, who had been suffering breathing and heart ailments, was 79. Over the years, the name of Bharati had become synonymous with constitutional law after a 13-judge bench of the Supreme Court on April 24, 1973 delivered its historic verdict in the case known as Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Keralam in which it was held that the powers of Parliament to amend the Constitution of India is circumscribed by what is known as Basic Structure of the Constitution. In other words, the court ruled that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, but such amendment cannot in any manner deface or distort the basic features of the charter such as democracy, federalism, supremacy of the Constitution, secularism, and separation of powers between legislature, executive and judiciary. Bharati took over as the pontiff of Sri Edneer Mutt, a Hindu monastic institution, when he was 19. Bharati was in his late 20s or early 30s when the mutts properties were sought to be acquired by the Kerala government, triggering the landmark case. He spent his entire life as a religious leader but he has left back for the country a legal doctrine which has endured to keep the country together in the face of a lot of autocratic governments with a huge majority, senior counsel Sanjay Hegde told HT. Very rarely does a litigant attain immortality for the cause he or she espoused and the redefining moment brought by the judgment. His Holiness Kesavananda will be to India, what (Oilver) Brown is to the US (judgment against racial segregation in public schools) and (May) Donoghue to the United Kingdom (judgment on negligence which empowered consumers). Swamiji may have departed, but the doctrine of Basic Structure will remain forever (hopefully), senior advocate KV Viswanathan told HT. Bharati was revered as a God-like figure. He treated everyone with much affection and care. My stay at the Mutt afforded me the opportunity to experience his hospitality and affection, said advocate Raghul Sudheesh, a Kerala high court lawyer who had visited the mutt in 2011 to interview Bharati. What did Bharati challenge? He initiated the case on March 21, 1970 challenging the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act 1969. Later, three constitutional amendments 24th, 25th and 29th were passed by the Parliament and they became a subject matter of challenge on the grounds that they violated his fundamental right to practice and propagate religion (Article 25), freedom of religious denomination to manage its religious affairs including managing and administering its property (Article 26) and right to property (Article 31) and right to acquire and hold property [Article 19(1)(f)]. He had mounted the challenge after the land reforms law enacted by the Kerala government threatened to strip his mutt of its property, which was the source of income for the ashram. His petition before the Supreme Court was part of his battle for survival of the mutt which he headed. The government was going to acquire the properties of the mutt which was its main source of income, Sudheesh said. Noted lawyer Nani Palkhivala appeared for Bharati before a 13-judge bench of the Supreme Court. However, it was senior counsel MK Nambiar, father of current attorney general KK Venugopal ,who managed the case on behalf of Bharati and who engaged lawyers in Delhi to argue the case. It marked the only instance in the Supreme Court when a bench of 13 judges (which was the full strength of the apex court at that point of time) sat to decide a case. The case remains the longest heard before the Supreme Court; it lasted for 69 days between October 31, 1972 and March 23, 1973. Significance of the case How did a property case become a watershed moment in the constitutional jurisprudence of the country? The case assumed significance due to the debate which started around 10 years prior to it relating to the extent of the power possessed by Parliament to amend the Constitution of India. Two Articles in the Constitution were at the centre of this debate Articles 13 and 368. Article 13 states that Parliament cannot make any law which violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution. Article 368 empowers Parliament to make amendments to the Constitution. The issue, which came up before the court as early as 1964 in the case of Sajjan Singh v. State of Rajasthan, was whether the word law under Article 13 included within its scope a constitutional amendment under Article 368. If a constitutional amendment under Article 368 is law within the meaning of Article 13, then it would automatically follow that Parliament cannot amend the Constitution to take away any fundamental right. In Sajjan Singh, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the word law in Article 13 does not include a constitutional amendment under Article 368. This meant Parliament has unfettered power to amend the Constitution. This position was overturned in 1967 by an 11-jugde bench of the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Golaknath v. State of Punjab. In this judgment, it was held that an amendment under Article 368 is law within the definition of Article 13. This was seen as a major erosion of Parliaments rights to implement the peoples mandate. The Indira Gandhi government saw this stance as a challenge to the will of the elected majority. In 1971, it enacted the Constitution (Twenty-Fourth Amendment) Act which expressly provided that the bar under Article 13 will not apply to any amendment made to the Constitution under Article 368. This meant that Parliament could amend any part of the Constitution, including fundamental rights. Later, by the 25th amendment to the Constitution, Parliament in 1972 curtailed the right to property under Article 31, which was a fundamental right back then (Article 31 was later removed from the list of fundamental rights). The 29th amendment put the Kerala land reforms law beyond the purview of judicial review Courts judgment The court upheld the validity of all the three constitutional amendments - 24th, 25th and 29th which were under challenge. It also overruled the judgment in Golaknath case and held that a constitutional amendment is not law within the meaning of Article 13. Thus, it was ruled that Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution. This seemed to be a victory for the government. However, it was not. The power to amend any part of the Constitution, which the court said that Parliament possessed, came with a rider -- it should not infringe upon the Basic Structure of the Constitution. Thus, the takeaway from the judgment was that Parliament could not do as it pleases with the Constitution. Any law made by it, including constitutional amendments, should not violate the ethos and basic features of the Constitution and the Supreme Court will be the final arbiter on whether there is any such transgression into the Basic Structure. The court also did not given any exhaustive list of what would constitute the Basic Structure of the Constitution. This was left open-ended and has been time and again used to strike down constitutional amendments that the Supreme Court felt distorted the Constitution. Consequences Kesavananda doctrine swung against the government by the narrowest of majorities of 7:6 with justice HR Khanna signing against the government in favour of the doctrine. It foreshadowed the coming of the Emergency because soon after the judgment, justices KS Hegde, AN Grover and JM Shelat were superseded for the post of Chief Justice of India and justice AN Ray who was junior to them was appointed to the post, Sanjay Hegde said. Justice Hegde, Shelat and Grover had ruled against the government while justice Ray had favoured the government. As for Bharati, the mutt lost its properties since the laws challenged by it were upheld. He believed that the outcome of the case was destiny and Gods decision. What concerned him most was that he mutt lost its source of income and had to depend on donations. He was, however, happy that the case became landmark judgment and felt good about fighting to protect the Mutt and its properties, Sudheesh said. A Carnatic and Hindustani vocalist, he wrote many devotional songs and plays and was also a patron of Kannada art and culture. The mutt manages many educational institutions. It also runs a Veda Pathasala which imparted lessons in Advaitha and Vedic lessons to many students. In 2018, Bharati was honoured with the justice V R Krishna Iyer award. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences. He was a revolutionary who made rich contributions in cultural and educational spheres, Vijayan said in a message. Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan tweeted that the nation will always remember his valuable contributions and teachings and they will continue to enlighten people. (K Ramesh Babu contributed to this story) Environmental charity announces new Autumn Clean Cymru campaign This article is old - Published: Sunday, Sep 6th, 2020 An environmental charity has announced a new campaign set to take place between 11-27 September. The campaign is called Autumn Clean Cymru and encourages the people of Wales to organise private clean-ups for households in their local area whilst pledging to do their own individual clean-up. The campaign organiser, Keep Wales Tidy, is an environmental charity that aims to protect the environment for now and for the future. Their Spring Clean Cymru campaign was cancelled in March due to the lockdown brought upon by COVID-19, but they are now excited to once again promote the protection of the environment. They say this campaign will be different from usual clean-ups. To make sure people stay safe and well, they are encouraging individuals and households to clean-up the streets, parks or beaches on their doorstep. Due to this new way of doing the campaign, individually, Keep Wales Tidy may not be able to supply rubbish bags, litter pickers and other kit in the usual way. This campaign is part of Keep Wales Tidys Great British September Clean, which will be happening across the entirety of the UK at the same time. Keep Wales Tidy said: Weve been overwhelmed by the support for our work over the past few months. It seems that, more than ever, people are recognising just how important a clean and safe environment is to their health and well-being. Theres also been a real sense of frustration at the increase in litter since restrictions have eased. Autumn Clean Cymru is a chance for us all to take a stand and declare that litter is not acceptable. Ways to get involved are: Organise a private clean-up for your household in your local area Pledge to do your own individual clean-up. They say whether walking the dog for five minutes or even five hours, every individual action can make a difference. Sign up for Autumn Clean Cymru here: www.keepwalestidy.cymru/forms/sign-up-for-autumn-clean-cymru By Jordan Adams Melbourne is considered one of the great music cities, with the most live venues in the world. But, says Patrick Donovan, the pandemic has revealed that this strength covers a serious weakness. The local music industry's dependence on live performance for most of its revenue goes in the column of "unfinished business" for Donovan, who has just announced he is to step down as chief executive officer of Music Victoria. A great decade: live music at The Tote in 2011 Credit:Justin McManus "It needs to break its dependence on live to buffer against future shocks like a pandemic," he said. "Who knows when a group can next jump in a van and tour the country, or fly overseas for an international tour? "We need to innovate and think outside the square to determine our future by developing our digital brand and global reach, and looking towards opportunities like augmented reality and immersive music installations." Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. This story has been updated. Sunday's unusually hot weather spiked consumer demand for the energy to keep air conditioners and fans running, and heat-related equipment issues caused scattered power outages across Southern California. State power grid managers called a Flex Alert from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., which calls on energy customers to cut back on demand and set air conditioners at 78 or higher. In a media call Sunday afternoon, the California Independent System Operator, which manages the power grid for most of the state's utilities, said it is anticipates running about 4,000 megawatts short of demand by the end of the day when demand spikes and solar energy falls off. That means it's possible that rolling outages could be requested of member utilities today starting around 4 p.m. Statewide, that could affect as many as three million customers. "At noon, we issued a warning, because we still have not been able to find enough energy to make up that [anticipated 4,000 MW] shortage," said John Phipps of CA ISO. Shortly after 4 p.m. he said they will declare a Stage 2 Emergency, which means the ISO has no further means to procure electricity and turns to neighboring power grids, like the one operated by LADWP, for extra power. A Stage 2 Emergency is also an urgent call for conservation to keep the state's utilities from running short of power, and a final step before calling for rolling outages, he said. Today is shaping up to be the most challenging day the ISO has had this year for supplying power to the statewide power grid, said Eric Schmitt, CAISO vice president. He said he expected the system demand to peak at 49,000 megawatts, which is about 2,000 MW higher than the year's previous high demand. During the Aug. 14-17 heatwave, when some rolling outages were imposed for the first time in 20 years, Californians conserving power on the final two days were able to close a power shortfall and avert the outages of the first two days. So enough conservation quickly enough could prevent shutdowns, Schmitt said. The statewide power grid has been losing transmission lines to fires. Shortly after 1 p.m., the system lost one line carrying about 600 MW of generation due to a fire located in Southern California. The website where CAISO displays its anticipated supply-and-demand is a snapshot of what they think they will have, but incidents such as fires and changes in the weather can change things quickly. HEAT RELATED EQUIPMENT OUTAGES As of about 1 p.m., about 10,000 DWP customers were without power, said spokesman Joseph Ramallo. The city utility's system still had power to spare, but the issue was equipment overheating and shutting down. Repairs for some customers could take 24 to 36 hours, he said. When some of DWP's aging equipment runs continuously without the usual overnight cooling-off, it can overheat and then shut down to prevent damage. It can take hours for the equipment to cool. And when there are scattered outages, it can take time to get work crews out to every problem area. Southern California Edison, which serves millions of customers outside the city of Los Angeles, also had scattered outages Sunday morning, affecting about 26,000 customers. About 2,500 customers were without power due to the Creek fire, burning in the Sierra National Forest in Fresno County. There is a strong chance for rolling blackouts beginning around 4 p.m., Edison spokesman Reggie Kumar said. The company assigns numbers to large blocks of customers to determine which ones are cut off at any given time. To see where you might fall on the rotation, check your account here. "Customers will find their rotating outage group number, and that number is [also] on their bill," Kumar said. "And then they can check to see if their neighborhood is in that group." SUPPLY CAN MEET POWER DEMAND FOR NOW For several hours Sunday morning, the California Independent System Operator, which manages the power grid for most of the state's utilities, projected that demand would outstrip the supply by a few thousand megawatts. (See daily power supply and demand projections here.) By noon, enough power had been arranged to supply more than 53,000 megawatts at the peak usage time of day, with a forecasted peak usage of 47,500 megawatts. But that's still cutting it close, because not all 53,000 megawatts can be delivered to customers. Plus, a fire in Southern California caused an interruption in some power generation, hence the prediction for a power shortfall. The situation was similarly dire on Saturday, when the California ISO issued a Stage 2 Emergency around 6 p.m.. That meant the power grid had procured just about all the energy it could and, if demand increased, rolling outages could occur. However, Saturday ended without rolling outages. WITHOUT POWER FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS DWP customer Albert Lopez lost power at his Mission Hills home around 9 p.m. Saturday. He was watching the Dodgers game and everything went dark. He called the utility, and its automated service line took his account number and callback number. He was initially advised the outage could last four to 12 hours. But by Sunday morning, the power was still out. "They did call, a robocall said, 'The repairs in your area are taking longer than usual, thank you for your patience,' and that was it," Lopez said. He's worried about the outage because he's training at home online for a new job handling unemployment claims for the state, and needs electricity and working Internet to complete the training. HOW YOU CAN SAVE ENERGY: New Delhi, Sep 6 : Fraudsters have been making phone calls to unsuspecting people to collect their personal details including bank account credentials to eventually dupe them of lakhs of rupees -- by luring them into the trap of the "KBC Lottery". The miscreants have been frauding people in a similar manner since long, and even as a small percentage of people fall prey to the trap, the fraudsters still end up duping thousands of people -- and many of them don't approach police to file an FIR. In March this year, three men were arrested from Bihar for allegedly duping in the name of "KBC lottery". In her complaint, a woman said she received a WhatsApp call from a Pakistani number and was told that she won Rs 25 lakh in the "KBC lottery". She was then asked to call another Pakistani number through Whatsapp and talk to Rana Pratap Singh, who would provide her the details of the prize money. The woman, who had no clue about the scam, fell into the trap. She was asked to deposit several lakhs of rupees towards "GST and processing fees" in multiple Indian bank accounts. Later, she was told the lottery amount has been increased to Rs 45 lakh, and again to Rs 75 lakh. Hence, she was instructed to deposit more money. The accused eventually duped her of around Rs 40-45 lakh. In 2018, the Mumbai Police, in response to a similar query tweeted: "Please do not share any sensitive details over a call and visit the nearest police station for further support." To give a dash of credibility to their work, the scamsters also use photographs of Amitabh Bachchan, the host of "Kaun Banega Crorepati" (KBC). The shooting of the 12th season of the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted show is currently underway in Mumbai with all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. New York (United Nations) 06 September 2020 (SPS)- The Representative of the Polisario Front at the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar, issued a statement today, marking the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the UN Mission to Western Sahara, MINURSO, stressing that what the Sahrawi people expect from the United Nations is to fulfil its obligations by enabling them to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The Sahrawi diplomat recalled that the ceasefire is only one component of the African UN peace plan, and cannot be considered as an arrangement separate from the peace plan or an end in itself, calling on the UN decision-making bodies to enable its mission in Western Sahara to monitor and report on human rights. Following is the complete text of the Press Release: PRESS RELEASE WHAT THE SAHRAWI PEOPLE EXPECT FROM THE UN IS TO ENABLE THEM TO EXERCISE THEIR INALIENABLE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND INDEPENDENCE [New York, 6 September 2020] Twenty-nine years have passed since the entry into force of the UN-supervised ceasefire in Western Sahara in accordance with the UN-OAU Settlement Plan that was accepted by both parties, the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, in August 1988 and approved by the Security Council in its resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991). However, the self-determination referendum provided for in the UN-OAU Settlement Plan has not been held because Morocco, the occupying power of Western Sahara, has repeatedly reneged on its commitments, and persisted in its efforts to undermine the foundations of the peace plan including the ceasefire and related military agreements.As a result, the entire UN peace process in Western Sahara has been completely paralysed. The Frente POLISARIO reaffirms that the ongoing ceasefire is an integral part of an integrated package deal, namely the UN-OAU Settlement Plan, which was accepted by both parties and approved by the Security Council in its relevant resolutions. The ceasefire, therefore, cannot be considered as a separate arrangement from the peace plan or an end in itself, but only as a means to create the necessary conditions for implementing the mandate for which the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established by the Security Council in 1991, which is the holding of the self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara. The Security Council has repeatedly called upon both parties to adhere fully to the military agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and to refrain from any actions that could undermine UN-facilitated negotiations or further destabilise the situation in Western Sahara. However, Morocco has been engaged with impunity in a series of destabilising and unlawful actions aimed to forcibly entrench and normalise its illegal occupation of parts of Western Sahara before the very eyes of the United Nations and its mission in the Territory. The inaction of the UN Secretariat and the Security Council in dealing strictly with Moroccos repeated transgressions has severely undermined the credibility and impartiality of the United Nations and its Mission in the eyes of the Sahrawi people. It is therefore imperative that the Security Council ensure full respect for the letter and spirit of the ceasefire and related military agreements. The Council should also ensure that MINURSO, in fulfilment of its mandate, operates in line with general principles applicable to UN peacekeeping operations including having a capacity to monitor human rights in the Mission area. It is unacceptable that MINURSO remains an exception at a time when the promotion and protection of human rights is becoming a priority in all UN peace operations. What the Sahrawi people now expect from the United Nations, after twenty-nine years of unfulfilled promises, is to see concrete actions that show genuine will to create the necessary conditions to enable our people to exercise freely and democratically their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with the UN-OAU Settlement Plan that underpins the mandate of MINURSO and the ongoing ceasefire. Dr Sidi M. Omar Ambassador, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations." (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) A Saudi court has sentenced three people to death for their involvement in an attack in Jeddah when two men blew themselves up after a shootout with police, state-run Al Ekhbariya television said on Sunday. In 2017, Saudi security forces surrounded a house in Jeddah and exchanged fire with two men with ties to Islamic State, who blew themselves up. The court convicted the three on terrorism-related charges including possessing explosives, Ekhbariya said. The ruling said the defendants supported Islamic State and planned to kill members of the security forces, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV reported. Sunni militants have carried out many shootings and bombings in Saudi Arabia since 2014, soon after then-Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi summoned Saudi supporters to mount attacks at home instead of abroad in wars in Syria and Iraq. Most of the attacks targeted minority Saudi Shia or state security officers and were carried out by people who had sworn allegiance to Islamic State or were claimed by the militant group in online postings, Saudi authorities said. Saudi Arabia had earlier barred its citizens from going to wage jihad (holy war) abroad, used its Sunni clergy to denounce Islamic State, imposed prison terms for supporting the group and joined U.S.-led air strikes against IS in Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), believed to be linked to COVID-19, damages the heart to such an extent that some children will need lifelong monitoring and interventions, said the senior author of a medical literature review published Sept. 4 in EClinicalMedicine, a journal of The Lancet. Case studies also show MIS-C can strike seemingly healthy children without warning three or four weeks after asymptomatic infections, said Alvaro Moreira, MD, MSc, of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Moreira, a neonatologist, is an assistant professor of pediatrics in the university's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. According to the literature, children did not need to exhibit the classic upper respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 to develop MIS-C, which is frightening. Children might have no symptoms, no one knew they had the disease, and a few weeks later, they may develop this exaggerated inflammation in the body." Dr. Alvaro Moreira, Neonatologist, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Results The team reviewed 662 MIS-C cases reported worldwide between Jan. 1 and July 25. Among the findings: 71% of the children were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). 60% presented with shock. Average length of stay in the hospital was 7.9 days. 100% had fever, 73.7% had abdominal pain or diarrhea, and 68.3% suffered vomiting. 90% had an echocardiogram (EKG) test and 54% of the results were abnormal. 22.2% of the children required mechanical ventilation. 4.4% required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). 11 children died. "This is a new childhood disease that is believed to be associated with SARS-CoV-2," Dr. Moreira said. "It can be lethal because it affects multiple organ systems. Whether it be the heart and the lungs, the gastrointestinal system or the neurologic system, it has so many different faces that initially it was challenging for clinicians to understand." The amount of inflammation in MIS-C surpasses two similar pediatric conditions, Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. "The saving grace is that treating these patients with therapies commonly used for Kawasaki - immunoglobulin and glucocorticosteroids - has been effective," Dr. Moreira said. Cardiac abnormalities Most of the 662 children suffered cardiac involvement as indicated by markers such as troponin, which is used with great accuracy in adults to diagnose heart attacks. "Almost 90% of the children (581) underwent an echocardiogram because they had such a significant cardiac manifestation of the disease," Dr. Moreira said. The damage included: Dilation of coronary blood vessels, a phenomenon also seen in Kawasaki disease. Depressed ejection fraction, indicating a reduced ability for the heart to pump oxygenated blood to the tissues of the body. Almost 10% of children had an aneurysm of a coronary vessel. "This is a localized stretching or ballooning of the blood vessel that can be measured on an ultrasound of the heart," Dr. Moreira said. Children with an aneurysm are at the most risk of a future event. "These are children who are going to require significant observation and follow-up with multiple ultrasounds to see if this is going to resolve or if this is something they will have for the rest of their lives," Dr. Moreira said. "And that's catastrophic to a parent who had a previously healthy child and then he/she is in the very small percentage of individuals who developed MIS-C after COVID-19 infection," he said. Another finding from the case studies: Almost half of patients who had MIS-C had an underlying medical condition, and of those, half of the individuals were obese or overweight. "Generally, in both adults and children, we are seeing that patients who are obese will have a worse outcome," Dr. Moreira said. When compared to the initial COVID-19 infection, inflammatory markers in MIS-C were far more abnormal. For instance, troponin, the marker used in adults to diagnose heart attacks, was 50 times its normal level in children with MIS-C. "Evidence suggests that children with MIS-C have immense inflammation and potential tissue injury to the heart, and we will need to follow these children closely to understand what implications they may have in the long term," Dr. Moreira said. Researchers at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Georgetown University, the National Institutes of Health and the University of Pennsylvania joined Dr. Moreira in conducting this literature review. The former Kielys of Donnybrook pub in Donnybrook Co Dublin is set to become a co-living space. Owners of the site, Westridge Real Estate have confirmed their application for permission to demolish the existing building. The real estate group has revealed plans to build a six-story shared living complex in the space. John-Mark McCafferty, CEO of housing charity Threshold, said the type of housing provided is not suitable for many renters seeking accommodation despite demand among young single people. "This wouldn't be regarded as a desirable option by people at any stage really in their life apart from the kind of models that you see for student accommodation. "There is a massive shortage of housing for single people and couples without children." However, Mr McCafferty said co-living does not work in the current housing climate and would not be part of a solution for Ireland's housing crisis. "Co-living is considered as a housing option in a normal functioning housing market. Co-living development provides a better return on investment. "We have been campaigning for over 40 years for housing of good quality and security of tenure. Co-living doe not appear to be a viable and genuine part of that solution." Gurugram, Sep 7 : A Haryana Police Inspector was shot in the shoulder by three unidentified assailants here on Sunday night, police said. The incident occurred in the Palam Vihar area at around 8 p.m. The injured Inspector was identified as Sonu Malik, who is posted at the commando wing of the state police at Karnal. Malik, who had gone to a property dealer's office in Palam Vihar with a relative, was leaving when he was attacked. "When he stepped outside the property dealer's office, three unidentified car-borne assailants shot him. The bullet hit Malik's right shoulder. Malik fired back on the attackers but the culprits managed to escape unhurt in their car," said an official. Malik was taken to Medanta hospital where he is being treated. He is said to be out of danger, the police said. Initial investigations have revealed that an old rivalry was behind the incident. Sources also claimed that the attackers had conducted a recce of the Inspector's movements before committing the crime. "The attackers were three in number. They also had all movement information of the Inspector," the police said. Earlier, Malik was posted at the Haryana Plice's Special Task Force (STF) at Bhondsi in Gurugram. No case has been registered so far. TORONTO, Aug. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INV Metals ("INV Metals" or "Company") (TSX: INV) provides an update on the 100% owned Loma Larga gold-copper-silver property (Loma Larga or Project), located in Ecuador. The Company has completed the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for the Loma Larga gold-copper-silver project and is currently working with the Ministry of Environment and Water to submit the EIS for review and comment. As stated previously, the EIS is the culmination of a collaboration of work by the Company, various consultants and local universities based on many years of baseline data collection and study. The Company is focused on the permitting and financing of the Project with the goal to commence the development of Loma Larga in 2021, and is advancing discussions with finance providers, including debt and stream providers. A comprehensive communication program within the local and Cuenca region has commenced and will be executed over the next few months, reconfirming our commitment to honest and transparent communication. Ms. Candace MacGibbon, CEO, stated, We are pleased to report that the Constitutional Court of Ecuador has once again denied the application to hold a referendum related to mining activities within the canton of Cuenca, in the province of Azuay. Ms. Candace MacGibbon stated, We are committed to the responsible and sustainable development of the Loma Larga mine for the benefit of our local communities, the region of Cuenca, the country of Ecuador, and our stakeholders. While there will be significant economic benefits realized as a result of the development of Loma Larga for our future employees, local entrepreneurs, industrial supply and service providers, contractors, and significant tax revenues for the government, we recognize and support the promotion of human rights, including the right to clean water. Mining development and more specifically, the development of Loma Larga, will support many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs recognize the right of all people to have access to decent work and economic growth, zero hunger, no poverty, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, clean water and sanitation, among other important goals. INV Metals is committed to advancing these goals in an impactful way within the province of Azuay. Story continues Ms. Candace MacGibbon stated, I wish to reiterate, INV Metals has focused its efforts to design the Loma Larga underground mine and related infrastructure in an environmentally responsible manner, with a project footprint of less than 65 hectares. The mine site is not near any lakes or rivers. The Loma Larga Project will not discharge any water within the canton of Cuenca. Treated water will meet stringent Ecuadorian standards and the Company expects the treated water to be of better quality than the water currently found downstream of the discharge point. The underground mine is designed to produce concentrates which do not use cyanide for processing and ~55% of the tailings will be placed underground using the paste backfill method. The remaining tailings will be filtered and pressed to remove water to be treated and recycled within the processing facilities and will be placed on a geotechnically stable lined tailings facility, which will be covered and revegetated upon closure. Referendum Application On August 28, 2020, the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court (the Constitutional Court) denied the request to hold a referendum related to mining activities within the canton of Cuenca, which was presented for consideration to the Court on August 3, 2020. This was the third such request by the Prefect of Azuay in his personal capacity which we believe was politically motivated in advance of the 2021 Presidential Elections. The Constitutional Court denied the request stating the standards and criteria previously established by the Constitutional Court to hold a referendum regarding mining activities were not met. We have been advised by our legal counsel that this and other previous rulings have set a precedent that any future referendum requests related to mining activities should not impact our legally granted mining concessions within Ecuador, and the related potential future exploration, development and mining activities on such concessions. If future referendum requests which meet the criteria previously set by the Constitutional Court are allowed to proceed, the potential impact should be related to future mineral rights not yet granted based on legally valid laws, rules and regulations. The Company and various stakeholders will also defend against any future requests. The Ecuadorian federal government remains supportive of mining to achieve its goal of sustainable and responsible development for the future. Our team is looking forward to this exciting phase of Loma Largas development where we engage with our many stakeholders to convey the benefits of Loma Larga and to clarify misinformation. Water Stewardship Loma Larga is the most environmentally researched project by academia within Ecuador as a result of INV Metals commitment to transparency and environmental responsibility by providing access to researchers to our site and technical information. INV Metals maintains 18 surface and groundwater monitoring stations to provide a deep understanding of the hydrology and hydrogeology at and around the site. As a result of our significant and comprehensive data collection, we have developed models which support the preservation and stewardship of the characteristics and volumes of the water resources without adverse environmental impacts. Past and ongoing Loma Larga research also includes 12 monitoring points as a result of the cooperation agreement with PROMAS University and ETAPA (the public utility company of the City of Cuenca), along with additional cooperation agreements with 11 national and international universities generating 60 undergraduate theses, 28 master theses, 43 scientific articles published internationally, and 7 scientific articles published at conferences. The Company has a Technical Cooperation Agreement in effect with ETAPA, the University of Cuenca, the University of Azuay, and the Ministry of Mining, whereby the Company works with the universities to carry out independent monitoring programs on the biodiversity of the area and prepare technical studies and reports related to water issues. Social Responsibility INV Metals has partnered with our local communities for over 15 years to support the people and communities where we operate in, most recently working side-by-side to combat the COVID-19 crisis to help provide food security and medical and personal protective equipment. Responsible exploration and development at Loma Larga are built upon cooperation, inclusion, equity, and above all, community participation. Our social responsibility programs are developed in conjunction with the local Management and Development Plans led by the parish or local governments based upon the cooperation model where the rights and privileges of the communities, INV Metals and Ecuador converge. We work together to promote the shared priorities of our local governments and INV Metals to support the self-determination of the communities and improve the quality of life for families. Historically, the Project has contributed to the improvement of living conditions of our communities by developing in partnership, inter-institutional agreements, aimed at training, health, recovery of traditions, promotion of local human talent, and promotion of innovative ventures and entrepreneur programs. These programs have supported and strengthened more than 70 local organizations, impacting hundreds of families. The development of Loma Larga is expected to provide substantial economic benefits to the future employees of INV Metals, our communities, and the local, provincial and federal governments of Ecuador. The development and operation of the Loma Larga mine will also provide numerous employment and business opportunities for the local communities and within the region. Various benefits are expected to include: continuation of the Companys numerous social programs; during the construction period of 18-24 months, an estimated direct employment of 875 people; when the mine is in operation, an estimated 450 permanent direct jobs; economic development and the creation of indirect jobs with local procurement initiatives and training opportunities; the Loma Larga underground mine is estimated to provide opportunities for local Ecuadorian businesses to supply goods and services of over $150 million during the construction phase and $571 million during the operations over the mine life; wages, social security and pension benefits are estimated at $15 million annually, for a total of $186 million over the mine life; employee profit sharing taxes (3%) are estimated at $34 million; taxes to the Government of Ecuador are estimated at: Corporate Income tax (25%) - $226 million State profit sharing tax (12%) - $135 million Employment taxes (35%) - $52 million VAT (12%) and import duties (0% - 5%) - $109 million Royalties (5%) - $120 million About INV Metals INV Metals is an international mineral resource company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of precious and base metal projects in Ecuador. Currently, INV Metals primary assets are: (1) its 100% interest in the Loma Larga gold exploration and development property in Ecuador, and (2) its 100% interests in exploration concessions in Ecuador, including the Tierras Coloradas, La Rebuscada and Carolina exploration projects. For further information, please contact: Sunny Lowe Chief Financial Officer Phone: (416) 703-8416 E-mail: slowe@invmetals.com Doug Flegg Capital Markets Advisor Phone: (416) 703-8416 E-mail: dflegg@invmetals.com Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the EIS, the timing to enter into the permitting and financing phase of the Project, the timing to development of the Project, future communication programs, the design and impact of the Project on the environment, the support of the Government of Ecuador, statements with respect to the Companys intentions with respect to any future referendum requests, and the benefits of the Project, including to future employees, local communities and various levels of government and the various employment and business opportunities. These statements are based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. In certain cases, forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, may, shall, will, or would. Forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on certain factors and assumptions made by management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to grade or recovery rates, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory, capitalization and liquidity risks. Please refer to the Companys Annual Information Form dated April 14, 2020 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for other risks that could materially affect the Company. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Companys forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that may be made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Sunday questioned actor Rhea Chakraborty in a drugs case linked to the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, even as her lawyer said she was ready for arrest as the probe appeared to be a witch-hunt against the 28-year-old. Chakraborty arrived at the NCBs office in the Ballard Estate area at noon and left shortly after 6pm. She was escorted by police personnel amid a heavy presence television camera crews. The investigation has not been completed due to her late arrival. We will summon her again tomorrow (Monday) and the investigation will continue, said Sameer Wankhede, zonal director of the NCB. Also read: Taapsee Pannu, Swara Bhasker react to Rhea Chakraborty being mobbed at NCB office: Witness our lowest, shameful witch hunt Hours before Chakrabortys questioning began, her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said: Rhea is ready for arrest as this is a witch hunt and if loving someone is a crime, she will face the consequences of her love. Being innocent, she has not approached any court for anticipatory bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar police now with CBI, ED and NCB. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, with investigators launching a probe into the possibility of suicide. On August 19, the Supreme Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to investigate the case related to the actors death, while holding that the FIR registered in Patna was legitimate. The agency has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and others in connection with the actors death after the Centre accepted the Bihar governments recommendation to transfer the probe in the matter from Patna. The Enforcement Directorate on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the actors death case after an FIR was filed by Rajputs father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. The NCB on Saturday arrested Dipesh Sawant, a member of actor Rajputs personal staff, as part of its investigation into allegations of drug abuse. Earlier on Saturday, Chakrabortys brother, Showik, and Rajputs house manager, Samuel Miranda, were remanded in NCB custody till September 9. On Sunday, the NCB arrested Khar resident Anuj Keshwani, the ninth person to be held in the case. Keshwani was arrested for allegedly supplying drugs to Kaizan Ibrahim, who was arrested in the case on Friday. During interrogation, Ibrahim confessed that he used to buy drugs from Keshwani. Now we will question him to trace the further link, said KPS Malhotra, deputy director of the NCB. The NCB on Friday arrested Showik, Miranda, and two Bandra residents Abdel Basit Parihar, 23, and Ibrahim. The other three arrested over charges of drug peddling are Zaid Vilatra, 20 (arrested on Thursday), Abbas Lakhani, and Karan Arora (arrested on August 27-28). (With inputs from PTI) Despite all of the shock and awe over House Speaker Nancy Pelosis recent trip to a San Francisco a salon to get her hair done, the truth is that such backdoor visits to salons, which are supposed to be closed to indoor service during the pandemic, are common and have been going in the city for months. Just ask the hairdressers. People are either working behind closed doors or going to the clients houses or setting up shop in their own homes, said Nicole, who works out of a Cow Hollow salon just a few blocks from where Pelosi made her infamous visit and didnt want her full name used. Ive even gone to peoples second homes outside of the city. Everyone has been getting their hair done. Its pretty obvious. Just take a look around. You can see that people, even public officials, have had their roots done, their nails done, Nicole said. Tracy, a second stylist who has 16 years of experience and who owns her own shop, said the backdoor appointments are set up via one-on-one texts or phone calls, just as Pelosi did. Sometimes I work with one client. Sometimes its a group of clients at someones home. Sometimes its just hair. Sometimes a nail person comes along as well, said Tracy, who also requested we not use her full name. The Chronicle granted the requests based on its anonymous source policy. And it is all done with masks and social distancing, Tracy said. We take 1,600 hours of classes to get our cosmetology licenses, so we know about how to keep things safe, Tracy said. Nicole and Tracy spoke on the condition of anonymity out of concern that admitting to breaking the health code imposed during the pandemic could cost them their licenses. Both said they were driven back to work after months of earning no income and what they saw as a growing inequity in what businesses were allowed to open and which had to stay closed. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Nicole said she stopped working completely for the first two months of the shutdown. Then I heard Gov. Gavin Newsom talking about issuing guidelines to allow churches to resume services, and I thought: If they can do that, I can start working too, she said. Nicole and Tracy said the citys guidelines make no sense. They allow for outdoor dining and drinking, so people are all over Chestnut Street eating and drinking with no masks and no distancing, but we cant operate a safe salon? Nicole said. Nicole and Tracy both said setting up shop on the sidewalk, which the city has allowed since Tuesday, doesnt work. The sidewalks are filthy, Tracy said. Thats not news to anyone whos taken a walk in the city the past few years. What the stylists want is to be able to reopen one customer at a time as some other Bay Area counties now allow. According to the state health department virus numbers, we have a red viral designation, so we should be able to open, Tracy said. City Hall, while sympathetic, isnt ready to allow the customers in. While the state sets general guidelines, ultimately decisions about how to safely reopen are made by local public health officials based on how that county is managing the virus, said Tyrone Jue, head of the Joint Information Center at the citys COVID Command Center. San Francisco still has a high case count, Jue said. We want to reopen safely so we dont see a spike in cases, forcing us to shut down again. As for the Pelosi incident, Nicole said that while she supports the speaker politically, she also understands the salon owners frustration and decision to go public to make the point that even public officials are skirting the same ban they are publicly promoting. She got played. Boy, didnt she, Nicole said of Pelosi. Her sympathy does not extend to Mayor London Breed. I bet she has had her hair done, Nicole said. Mayor Breed will take that as a compliment, since she has been doing her own hair for months, Breed spokesman Jeff Cretan said. Just the other day she was doing her hair in her office, and I had to plug in her curling iron while talking through issues about the Tenderloin. I dont think I count as a stylist, especially because I forgot to turn the curling iron on, Cretan said. Pssst: Word is the U.S. Attorneys Office will be announcing a new round of guilty pleas in its City Hall corruption investigation in the next week or so. No word on who will be copping a plea, but given the feds method of operation, the guilty pleas often are part of an agreement to cooperate further for a possible reduction in sentence. The investigation has already snared former Department of Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru and a number of local contractors. Nuru stands accused of taking favors in return for inside contracting information and of an alleged attempt to bribe a San Francisco airport commissioner. In recent months, the federal investigation has expanded into several city departments. In another twist, word is that businessman Walter Wong, who is cooperating with the attorneys office, kept a journal of his numerous dealings with city officials and others. Wongs attorney did not return requests for comment. If true, some city officials just had their Labor Day weekend ruined. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier Austin: Several boats participating in a pro-Trump parade on Saturday sank, the Travis County sheriffs office says. No one was seriously injured according to law enforcement officers who were at the lake. Boat parades, such as this one on Fort Loudon Lake in Tennessee have become a popular method for Americans wishing to demonstrate their support for Donald Trump. Credit:AP The lake, west of Austin, is known for being difficult to navigate at times, and large wakes could be seen during Saturday's boat parade in support of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign. We responded to multiple calls of boats in distress, several of them sank, but there are no reports of fatalities or injuries and investigators have not determined how many boats sank on the lake, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Kristen Dark. It feels a bit unnerving when Danny Healy-Rae is one of the few politicians who represents your views. He is a fellow who has some odd opinions on issues such as climate change and drink-driving. In the Dail last week he railed against Government-proposed legislation to allow gardai to close pubs that are in contravention of Covid-19 rules. With typical Healy-Rae hyperbole, he said: "I would have thought that I was in Russia or some other dictatorship with what's being proposed in this bill." Healy-Rae suggested gardai could walk into our homes to check we were in compliance with regulations. That idea was floated but dropped. The bill isn't all bad. Opening pubs will be easier if the State has an easy-to-wield stick to use against non-compliant publicans. But the bill does contain some crazy elements, such as forcing publicans to retain records for a month of what customers ate in the bar. I'm at a loss as to how that will help pubs that don't serve food open. Healy-Rae went on to complain that the Government, "after six months or more with rural pubs being closed... is suggesting that it's the publicans should bring forward the rules and ideas so they could open their pubs". He is right. In April, the Fine Gael government should have set up committees with public health officials and trade bodies to determine protocols that would facilitate the safe and early opening of businesses and social activity. Instead, huge stadia lie empty, pubs and theatres are empty, buses and trains are empty, and as a result, our cities and towns are empty. Unemployment remains high and a long-term downturn looks probable. The plaintive response is "but people are dying". That was true some months ago and the restrictions on people's movements then saved many lives. But the facts have changed, so it is time to change our minds as to the best way to deal with the disease. The problem for many in Government and Opposition is that they have been so committed to lockdown as the mechanism to deal with Covid-19 that the recent, slight uptick in cases causes even greater caution among Government and public health officials. But Covid-19 now almost looks like a different disease to the one that ravaged many western European countries in March and April. Despite the slight rise in the numbers of cases in the last fortnight, there have been almost no deaths due to Covid-19, and the number of hospitalisations is negligible. It looks like it will be much easier to live with the disease, even with cases circulating in the community. Young people might be allowed to interact more freely if they are more careful in their interactions with the vulnerable. Still, on the biggest question the country faces - the pace and direction of opening up with Covid-19 - the political system is caught in a consensus of caution. Whereas society across other countries has been bustling since May, ours languishes under the most restrictive countrywide regime remaining in Europe, with public health officials becoming increasingly moralistic about alcohol. Any attempt to ease restrictions is met with 'concern'. Sinn Fein - the main Opposition party, the one that was going to be "most effective Opposition in the history of the State" - does very little opposing. Its press statements are a litany of 'concern': 'concern at new Covid-19 cases', 'concern at hospital overcrowding', 'concern at school reopening'. The smaller Opposition parties are the same, incapable of thinking beyond lazy calls for more resources. There is no real difference between the Government and the Opposition. They might argue that this is too important an issue to be opposing the Government for the sake of it. Charles Haughey was frequently castigated for the positions he took in opposition on things like the Anglo-Irish Agreement. And he was frequently wrong. But in so doing, he at least articulated alternative arguments that forced the government to strengthen its position. Now it is only the Independents that are actually putting pressure on the Government by suggesting different approaches to the problem. They are the only ones who aren't afraid of dealing with the "but people are dying" response head on. The difficulty is many of us don't want to be associated with people like Danny Healy-Rae and so keep a safe distance. But maybe there is an Opposition leader whom we won't be ashamed to support. The Irish Independent reported on Thursday that Leo Varadkar told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that he could not understand why Ireland is the only country in which pubs aren't open and that if the restrictions are left in place, they will cause permanent damage. Now if we could only get this Varadkar fellow into Government. He sounds like change we could believe in. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 00:53:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) Commission on Saturday disclosed an urgent need to collect illicit weapons in possession of civilians in Africa as an estimated 40 million weapons presently under the possession of civilians across the continent. The statement was made by Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, in a statement issued in relation to the Africa Amnesty Month, which is the implementation of the AU theme of the year 2020 "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development". The Africa Amnesty Month, which is an integral aspect of the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa, was declared during the 29th summit of the AU that was held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia back in July 2017, which declared the month of September of each year as the Africa Amnesty Month for the surrender and collection of illicit arms. "We are currently undertaking the collection of illicit weapons in possession of civilians. The AU Peace and Security Commission, in partnership with Small Arms Survey, undertook a Mapping Study on Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa recently and one significant finding of the study, was the number of civilian-held weapons in the African continent, which was estimated at forty million as of 2017," the AU Peace and Security Commissioner said. According to the AU, the estimated 40 million civilian-held weapons in the African continent accounts for about 80 percent of all arms on the continent. "This includes private individuals, registered businesses such as private security companies, and non-state armed groups. This is as opposed to the estimate of the continent's armed forces and law enforcement agencies that hold less than 11 million arms," Chergui said. From the 40 million civilian-held weapons, about 5.8 million are recorded as being officially registered, while about 16 million are unregistered. The status of the remaining more than 18 million is unclear, according to the AU. "This is a cause for concern for all of us," Chergui said, as he emphasized that "we need to redouble our efforts to address this challenge, which in fact is a very serious threat to peace, governance and development." He also emphasized the need "to ask ourselves how many of these unregistered weapons have been collected, whether within the framework of the Amnesty Month, or through other national disarmament programs." The AU Peace and Security Commissioner also stressed that the conduct of the Africa Amnesty Month this September "is important in fulfilling the spirit of the 2013 Assembly Solemn Declaration to rid Africa of wars and usher in prosperity for the citizens." According to Chergui, the Africa Amnesty Month provides for the voluntary surrender by civilians of weapons in their illegal possession, on the condition of anonymity and immunity from prosecution. "This is an opportunity that every citizen of Africa should seize and utilize to contribute towards the realization of a peaceful, secure and prosperous continent," he added. The AU emphasized that the illegal possession of weapons by non-state actors, individuals and groups, is one of the contributing factors to armed violence that continues to plague Africa and its people. "Removing these illegal weapons from circulation and use is, therefore, central to realizing peace, security and stability in the continent. Indeed, the Amnesty Month contributes to efforts towards silencing the guns in Africa," according to the AU. Enditem NATO plans to redeploy another US military contingent to Poland in the near future, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told reporters on Saturday, TASS reports. According to Shoigu, manpower of NATO Allied Command Operations deployed to Eastern Europe has surpassed 10,000 troops. "In the near future additional American units are planned to be redeployed to Poland," Shoigu added. "Under the pretext of the need to strategically constrain Russia, the United States and other non-regional members of the alliance are bolstering their military presence in Eastern Europe," the minister continued. He said that the military build-up close to Russian borders take place despite NATO commitments not to deploy "considerable military forces" near the contact line, as it was stipulated in the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997. "The Allied Command Operations exercises near the Russian borders almost doubled in comparison with 2014. Their scenarios involve practicing the creation of large groups on the NATO eastern flank," the defense minister added. Pubs are sceptical about new plans that would see them reopen in just over a week, saying they have already seen previous repoening dates postponed three times. The government is set to allow them reopen provided the rate of Covid -19 in the country remains stable. But the Vintners Federation of Ireland yesterday said: "After reopening was postponed three times, reports that pubs are set to open 'within two weeks' will be greeted with some scepticism by our members. "Members are desperate to open. As the only country in Europe where pubs remain shut, Ireland is very much an outlier. "The evidence from the UK and Europe is that reopening bars doesn't have an adverse impact on the infection rate," the spokesperson said. The Licensed Vintners Association has demanded clear communication from the Government. As part of its preparation of a medium-term strategy to live with the virus, the Government will engage with publicans this week to try to finalise guidelines for reopening so-called 'wet pubs' - ones that do not serve food. These have been shut since March but pressure has been building after reopening was twice postponed in August. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting that publicans should be given a chance to show they can reopen safely while following the rules. A Government spokesperson cautioned against giving a date for pubs reopening. But it is expected that - provided the number of new cases remains stable - it can happen in the week beginning September 14 when the new Government Covid plan will be published. "This framework will be different to the last one: it won't have specific dates in it, it'll have conditions or situations that will allow for reopening of certain sectors," she said. Rep. Thomas Massie at a news conference on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, outside of the Capitol. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, defended accused Kenosha killer Kyle Rittenhouse in a radio interview earlier this week. Police say Rittenhouse, 17, shot three people during an August protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, killing two. Local authorities charged Rittenhouse with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a deadly weapon following the August 25 shooting. "I would not convict him of a single one of these charges," Massie said Thursday. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky in an interview Thursday defended Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of shooting three people and killing two of them, during an anti-racism protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in August. "He also exhibited incredible restraint and presence and situational awareness," Massie said in a radio interview with WVHU. "He didn't empty a magazine into a crowd. There were people around him who could have caused him harm, but as soon as they showed any sign of retreat or nonaggression, he did not shoot them. He exhibited more restraint than a lot of the police videos I've seen." Local authorities charged Rittenhouse with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a deadly weapon following the August 25 shooting. Rittenhouse, who previously attended a rally for the president and expressed support for Blue Lives Matter, reportedly shot the first victim after the man threw a plastic bag at him, according to the criminal complaint filed against the 17-year-old. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after killing two protesters in Kenshoa, Wisconsin. TikTok Following the first shooting, video of the incident shows a crowd chased a person believed to be Rittenhouse before an ensuing struggle that ended when Rittenhouse fired his semiautomatic weapon at two people in close range, fatally wounding one of them. Rittenhouse wouldn't be arrested until the following day. Story continues "He was fulfilling his obligation to retreat, and then he fell down, and these, one tried to attack him with a skateboard, another pulled a handgun on him, another tried to jump on him with his foot, and he responded in self-defense," Massie said in the interview with radio host Tom Roten. "I would not convict him of a single one of these charges," Massie added. As Insider previously noted, Rittenhouse told the conservative outlet The Daily Caller he traveled to Kenosha from Illinois to protect businesses amid chaotic anti-racism demonstrations in the city that occurred following the police shooting of 29-year-old Jacob Blake in the city. Massie also said Thursday that he was "not as aware of that situation" of Blake as he was as Rittenhouse, who was shot multiple times by police in the back on August 23, which sparked the events in Kenosha that lead up to the shootings two days later. "It needs to be reviewed, everybody gets a trial," Massie said of the police shooting of Blake. When asked about Rittenhouse and the president's refusal to condemn the actions of his supporters, like Rittenhouse, in an interview earlier this week, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said Trump was "on the side of law enforcement and the rule of law." On Monday, the president defended Rittenhouse at a press conference. As Insider's Kelly McLaughlin noted, experts have said the president's refusal to condemn the accused Kenosha killer could ratchet up tensions, as the right continues to view Rittenhouse as a symbol for their cause in favor of gun rights and against the anti-racism protests. "That was an interesting situation," Trump said on Monday. "He was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like, and he fell, and then they very violently attacked him." Read the original article on Business Insider Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews have revealed the name of their baby daughter, which has remained private until now. The Irish model and Made in Chelsea star welcomed their second child last month and already have a son, named Theodore, who was born in September 2018. Now, two weeks after the birth of their daughter, the couple has confirmed the new arrivals name: Gigi Margaux Matthews. Speaking to Hello! magazine about becoming parents for the second time, Matthews said: Life is just wonderful. There really couldnt be more love in our house right now. Williams opened up about the process of choosing a name, admitting they settled on the moniker ages ago. When we were discussing names I thought, I want to want her name, and I do. I just love it. I wish I was called it myself, she said. We decided on it ages ago and as soon as we saw her, we knew it suited her. She is so perfect. I am obsessed with her. Spencer added: I always really liked the name Margaux for a girl, spelt in the French way like the wine. When people ask what shes called I always say Gigi Margaux like my dad introduces me as Spencer George sometimes. It rolls off the tongue nicely. Williams went on to say that Gigi already has a fully-stocked wardrobe. Her wardrobe is already quite extensive, she joked. I hope nobody buys me any more baby clothes because weve definitely got enough until shes 18 months. I couldnt help myself. Spencer also commented on how naturally they are adapting to becoming a family of four and said his daughters arrival was a wonderful moment that Ill treasure. The whole thing was alarmingly unstressful. It felt like I was going out to get a coffee, he explained. Dont get me wrong, we share all sorts of wonderful moments where were just gazing at Gigi adoringly, but it does feel super smooth and straightforward this time. Recommended Usain Bolt shares first photos of baby daughter and reveals her name The couple announced the birth of their second child on Instagram last month. Alongside a selfie of them both at hospital, Williams wrote: Last night we became a family of four. Our beautiful daughter arrived safely and happily into the world. Matthews also shared the happy news with his followers on social media, writing: Wow, we officially have CHILDREN!! So much has happened in the last three years. Real positive change, a son and now a daughter. I couldnt be more thankful to my incredible wife @voguewilliams for all that you do for our family, in particular the laborious pregnancies which us men will never fully understand. I have always dreamt of being a great father and because of you, that is now achievable. Feel lucky every day to be married to you. The full interview in Hello! magazine, out now. September 6, 2020: In early August 2020 Israel revealed that it had prevented a hacker attack on one of its defense firms and prevented any damage. Earlier ClearSky, an Internet security firm, reported that the Lazarus Group, a major hacking organization associated with North Korea, had been conducting a major spear phishing (spear fishing) campaign directed at specific individuals in defense firms worldwide including Israel. This may be what alerted Israel to the threat. Using the attack profile provided by ClearSky Israel apparently detected one such Lazarus Group hack into an Israeli firm and disrupted this hacking effort. This ambitious and worldwide Lazarus campaign has been called Dream Job because it uses social engineering efforts against key people in defense firms to make them believe the Lazarus Group operators are recruiters representing major American defense firms seeking to fill very well-paying jobs that the target is somewhat qualified for. Lazarus Group put an impressive amount of work into this effort, which began in 2019 with gathering considerable current background information on the dozens of individuals targeted for the spearfishing and then updating that information while the victim was being cultivated. The Dream Job operation employed techniques that have become standard for similar large-scale attacks. The main element is not hacker software but the exploitation of human error. Despite widespread awareness of this approach, similar campaigns enjoy continued success with attacks via the Internet against specific civilian, military, and government individuals using psychology, rather than just technology. This sort of thing is often carried out in the form of official looking email, with a file attached, sent to people at a specific military or government organization. It is usually an email they weren't expecting but from someone they recognize. This is known in the trade as "spear fishing" (or "phishing"), which is a Cyber War technique that sends official looking email to specific individuals with an attachment which, if opened, secretly installs a program that sends files and information from the email recipient's PC to the spear fisher's computer. For the last few years an increasing number of military, government, and contractor personnel have received these official-looking emails with a PDF document attached and asking for prompt attention. Spear fishing still works if the hackers can compile a large amount of personal information on the targets and then use it effectively. The Dream Job effort was well designed because no job was ever actually offered and that gave the Lazarus Group operative a realistic opportunity to break contact without raising suspicions. Apparently, some Internet security analysts did detect the Dream Job attack pattern but not before it was active for nearly six months. The Dream Job campaign apparently began early in 2020 and it is still unclear how many firms got penetrated. The Dream Job script involved just sending an email to determine if the recipient was interested in the dream job. If not, that was the end of it. If there was interest there would be further discussions via email, WhatsApp or even phone calls and eventually documents would be sent, as email attachments. The first documents would be clean (no hidden malware included) so as not to alert any suspicion or detection from attachment screening systems many firms now use. Once the recruiter was seen as a trusted correspondent the attachment with the malware would be sent and this would be the key to penetrating the classified network of the firm the Dream Job applicant worked for. Such recruiting techniques are quite common in high-tech industries and most of the enquiries dont work out. The Dream Job social engineering plan had already prepared numerous plausible reasons for ultimately rejecting, or ending the recruiting effort for an individual. ClearSky did not reveal the details of how it detected Dream Job, but this often done by using software to seek specific information from clients that might reveal patterns indicating a possible spearfishing campaign. Being successful at this is one of the reasons so many Internet security companies are in business. These firms also collect a lot of useful information about hacking groups. The Lazarus Group is either a part of the North Korean Cyber War forces or is a China based hacker group that has done a lot of freelance hacking for North Korea, which is mainly interested in obtaining untraceable cash, not tech secrets. Nevertheless, earlier in 2020 the United States offered a $5 million reward for useful information on North Korean hackers and the North Korea hacking program in general. The North Korean hackers have been concentrating on raising cash for the North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs. Their favorite targets are banks and other financial organizations, including those that handle cryptocurrency. It is estimated that the program has taken about $2 billion so far. In the process North Korean hackers take control of PCs and local networks by infecting individual computers and having the infected machine mine new cryptocurrency when idle. Similar intrusion methods are used to encrypt hard drives and demand ransom to regain access to the data. For users without adequate backups they must either pay or remain unable to use their data. This is not the first time bounties have been offered to catch hackers. In late 2019 the U.S. imposed sanctions on Lazarus Group, Andariel, and Bluenoroff, three known North Korean hacker groups. The problem with catching these hackers is the lack of information on where these groups operate from and who the key personnel are. Thus, the new bounties program. Some individuals are known but these are non-North Koreans who have provided support services for the North Korean. These support individuals were often unable to identify North Korean hackers. To further complicate matters, most of the North Korean hackers operate from locations in China, where the Internet infrastructure is better suited for hacking targets around the world. The North Koreans pay Chinese police for protection and are not bothered by the secret police because the North Koreans supply the Chinese with useful information they have stolen from South Korea, Japan and other Asian and European nations. Sometimes North Korean hackers operate outside of China and information on where and who these hackers are would be very valuable. North Korea is aware of the danger, and the temptation for some of these hackers to flee. Each hacker group is assigned a security team whose main job is to keep the hackers from misbehaving or fleeing. The U.S. has experience in successfully using rewards to obtain key information on bad actors. The American rewards program has been in operation since 1984, and after 2001 the rewards for key Islamic terrorists got larger and larger. Since the 1980s the program has paid out nearly $150 million to over a hundred informants. These rewards were often accompanied by the relocation of the informant and family to safer locations, sometimes the United States. The larger rewards created a lot of new problems making the program work. The key problems were getting information about the rewards to potential informers and developing methods for making contact with potential informers, get the information and make arrangements for payment. Methods were developed and most were kept secret for obvious reasons. While it is difficult to reach known North Korean hackers in China, the U.S. has gained experience in this sort of thing while using the rewards program for known Islamic terrorists in Pakistan, or Afghan areas heavily guarded by the Taliban. More Pakistanis and Afghans began taking advantage of the reward program and living to spend the money because the Americans found ways to overcome the obstacles. That made the Taliban leadership, on both sides of the border, very uneasy. For example, the U.S. has given Pakistan's main intelligence agency; ISI (Inter Service Intelligence agency), tens of millions of dollars for rewards, since September 11, 2001. The money was a reward for the capture or killing of wanted Islamic terrorists. The live ones were turned over to the United States. Pakistan says it captured over 600 of these terrorists, but the actual number is believed to be greater. The U.S. did not look closely at exactly who got the reward money. By the late 1980s the United States was offering rewards of one to seven million dollars for information leading to the capture of terrorists, and lesser amounts to those who provided evidence against a terrorist or provided good information about a planned terrorist act. By September 11, 2001, five major terrorists had been captured because of this program. Over $6 million was been paid out in over 20 cases. Some 42 percent of the informants requested security protection and another 42 percent sought relocation for themselves and family members to another country or region to avoid retaliation. Since then, the number of high-value people captured with this program has more than tripled and the amount of money paid out has increased even more. However, one problem with the reward program is that it does not pay attention to the realities of international terrorism. Most major terrorists, like Osama bin Laden, are well protected and hidden. Sure, there are people who know where they are and can get in contact with people around the bad guy. But an operation to nab one of these men requires a getting the message out to those who have the information, and providing informants with a realistic way to call in and then collect. North Korea hackers and hackers, in general belong to a different culture, or many different cultures. To make a rewards program work, you must adapt to the culture potential informants live in. It is known that North Korea has over a thousand hackers based in China, accompanied by a large contingent of secret police to ensure that none of the hackers defects. So far that security system appears to have worked. Yet even North Korean secret policemen have been corrupted and more of them are taking bribes. So there is an opportunity here for a rewards program to work. Yet if it does it may be a long time, if ever, that the details become public knowledge. Expedition 64 backup crew members Mark Vande Hei of NASA and Oleg Novitskiy and Petr Dubrov of Roscosmos pose for crew portrait at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia. SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight. They include the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. (Newser) Kanye West's presidential run is no freebie. The Federal Election Commission says his campaign has spent nearly $6 million so far, mostly for getting on the November ballots. The rapper has loaned his campaign almost $6.8 million, received $11,000 in contributions, and spent $4.4 million on ballot-access expenses, the Washington Post reports. The big winners include Fortified Consulting ($1.5 million) and Atlas Strategy Group ($1.3 million), the latter run by prominent GOP operative Gregg Keller. But the highest paycheck goes to Millennial Strategies ($2.6 million), a communications company that worked on Pete Buttigieg's presidential bid. story continues below Other Kanye payouts go to "spiritual adviser" John Boyd ($25,000) and Isaac Ford ($25,000), per Politico; Ford is a son and brother to two former Democratic Congress members from Tennessee. West has also paid over $260,000 in legal costs to various companies as he files suits to get on state ballots. Seems he also paid Millennial Strategies $444,000 for polling, which Politico calls "an exorbitantly high amount for a fledgling campaign." West, who has supported President Trump, filed as an independent running for the "Birthday Party." (His campaign has been accused of using phony signatures to get on a state ballot.) The last COVID-19 patient was successfully recovered and discharged from the Almaty perinatal medicine centre and childrens cardiac surgery, Trend reports citing Kazinform. The woman was initially diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia and admitted to the centre. Now she feels well. The centre will proceed now to its routine work. Due to the pandemic the centre rolled out 25 provisional and 5 infectious diseases beds for patients with flu and COVID-19 symptoms. 118 patients underwent there treatment. The doctors welcomed 48 babies, 20 of them were delivered via cesarean section. No death from coronavirus infection was reported at the centre. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Days after he crossed the country to start college, Ryan Schmutz received a text message from Utah State University: COVID-19 had been detected at his dorm. Within 10 minutes, he dropped the crepes he was making and was whisked away by bus to a testing site. "We didnt even know they were testing," said Schmutz, who is 18 and from Omaha, Nebraska. "It all really happened fast." Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms last week, but not because of sickness reports or positive tests. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges across the nation - from New Mexico to Tennessee, Michigan to New York - are turning tests of waste into a public health tool. The work comes as institutions hunt for ways to keep campuses open despite vulnerabilities like students' close living arrangements and drive to socialize. The virus has already left its mark with outbreaks that have forced changes to remote learning at colleges around the country. The tests work by detecting genetic material from the virus, which can be recovered from the stools of about half of people with COVID-19, studies indicate. The concept has also been used to look for outbreaks of the polio virus. A laboratory assistant holds sewage samples collected from Utah State University dormitory's Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Sewage testing is especially valuable because it can evaluate people even if they arent feeling sick and can detect a few cases out of thousands of people, experts say. Another wastewater-flagged quarantine of around 300 students at the University of Arizona, for example, turned up two cases. Both were students who were asymptomatic, but they could potentially still have spread the virus. "Thats just tremendously valuable information when we think about the setting of a college dorm, and how quickly this disease can spread through that population," said Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation, which promotes studies of water and wastewater to ensure water quality and service. Wastewater tests also flagged the possible presence of the virus at University of Colorado residence halls. Utah has used the method more widely, including to track an outbreak at a meatpacking plant. The British, Italian and Dutch governments have also announced similar monitoring programs, and the Massachusetts-based company Biobot tests wastewater from cities around the country. The method remains imprecise, though. It can spot infection trends, but it cant yet pinpoint how many people have the virus or the stage of infection. That means it's not yet quite as useful on a larger scale in cities, which dont always have a universitys scientific resources or ability to require people to get tested. The technology is being closely studied, though, and it is evolving rapidly, Grevatt said, adding that it's best used along with other methods like contact tracing. It's not a panacea for colleges either. Utah State, for example, can only closely monitor sewage from the relatively small portion of students who live on campus - not the thousands of other people who come and go every day. The university has an enrollment of about 28,000. And this week, Utah State's positive wastewater test could be narrowed only as far as four residence halls that share the same sewer system. The test came back positive late Aug. 29, and the quarantine started the next day. Students were required to stay in their rooms, eating meals delivered by a "COVID care" team and barred from walking more than a few steps outside the residence hall. The buildings are laid out in apartment-style suites, and students were released from quarantine in small groups if every roommate in a suite tested negative. The tests had turned up four coronavirus cases as of Thursday. Schmutz, who tested negative along with his roommates, didn't miss much in-person class time during his four-day quarantine. But hes a little disconcerted that he and his family werent told about the sewage testing. "It felt like we were kind of out of the loop on everything. Its definitely hard to process," he said. Utah State has heard from parents and students similarly frustrated, though many others are grateful, spokeswoman Emilie Wheeler said. "They see it as a noninvasive early detection system," she said. The program is relatively inexpensive, too. The school takes samples daily to monitor several living areas, and the tests are run by a team of students. "Wastewater has a story to tell about the public health status of communities," Grevatt said. "Theres so many folks working on this right now. Its just remarkable to see how quickly it has moved forward." ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that the wastewater-flagged quarantine of around 300 students happened at the University of Arizona, not Arizona State University. A sewer manhole cover is shown near Davis Hall at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Dupont, Utah State University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, collects sewage samples from the dorms at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Dupont, Utah State University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, collects sewage samples from the dorms at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Schmutz looks from his dorm at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Schmutz looks from his dorm at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) A sign shows the dormitory's at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Davis Hall dorm's are shown at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) The doorway to Jones Hall is shown at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Schmutz looks from his dorm at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Schmutz looks from his dorm at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Dupont, Utah State University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, collects sewage samples from the dorms at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Dupont, Utah State University Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, collects sewage samples from the dorms at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. About 300 students are quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Ryan Schmutz looks from his dorm at Utah State University Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020, in Logan, Utah. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms this week, but not because anyone got sick or tested positive. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges around the country are monitoring wastewater in hopes of stopping coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand. Utah State became at least the second school to quarantine hundreds of students after sewage tests detected the virus. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) His boss escaped financial misconduct charges by fleeing the country, but another former executive is still awaiting trial in Japan: Greg Kelly. Kelly's trial in Tokyo District Court is to open September 15, nearly two years after his arrest, and the same day he turns 64. If convicted on charges related to underreporting Ghosn's income, Kelly could face up to a decade in prison. Even if acquitted, he has already paid a heavy price, unable to leave and go home to Tennessee while out on bail. He has yet to see his newborn grandchild. His wife got a student visa to stay with him in Tokyo. Kelly, like Ghosn, says he is innocent. Tokyo prosecutors say Kelly and Ghosn, the former chairman of Motor Co., violated financial laws by underreporting Ghosn's pay by about 9 billion yen (USD 85 million) from 2011 through 2018. Jamie Wareham, Kelly's lawyer in the US, says a compensation agreement was never finalised. He believes the real motive was a corporate coup to oust Ghosn by others at who feared he might engineer a takeover by its French alliance partner, Renault. The whole thing is a fraud, Wareham told The Associated Press by phone. Ghosn could have been a star witness for the defense. But he is gone, having fled to Lebanon late last year, hidden in a box aboard a private jet. He is frustrated. He is upset, Wareham said of Kelly. He has been abused from the beginning by the Japanese system. Nissan's US division hired Kelly, who has a law degree, in 1988. He became a representative director in 2012, the first American on Nissan's board. Kelly worked in legal counsel and human resources at the company. He was arrested in November 2018, upon his arrival from the US in Japan, thinking he was going to attend Nissan meetings. Kelly has not been charged with breach of trust allegations that Ghosn is facing, which center around suspected use of Nissan money for personal purposes, including fancy homes. Ghosn's lawyers have argued the properties were needed for work, and contend that such questions could have been raised internally at the company and did not require prosecution. Tokyo Deputy Chief Prosecutor Hiroshi Yamamoto said the preparations for Kelly's trial took a long time because of the massive amounts of evidence involved. We feel we have a solid case with ample evidence to win a guilty verdict, Yamamoto told reporters recently. Wareham, Kelly's counsel, said prosecutors have sent the equivalent of a billion pages of documents, mostly in English, that can only be examined on a computer at the Tokyo legal team's office. They have yet to hand over more than 70 7-inch-size boxes full of material marked as evidence, with only two weeks left before the trial opens. Kelly's treatment has been unfair, Wareham said. But he is confident Kelly will be vindicated because he is so obviously innocent, he said. Nissan was charged as a company, and Nissan and Kelly will be tried together. Nissan has acknowledged guilt and made changes to the statements on compensation. It was fined 2.4 billion yen (USD 22.6 million) but still faces related charges. In a trial likely to last about a year, Nissan employees, including former Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa, are expected to testify in support of the prosecutors. Saikawa replaced Ghosn but resigned last year over financial misconduct allegations of his own. He has not been charged. Separately, is seeking the extradition of two Americans, Michael Taylor and his son Peter Taylor, on charges of smuggling Ghosn out of US Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell issued a ruling Friday approving their extradition, but the final decision rests with the US State Department. They are being held in a Massachusetts jail without bail. Paul Kelly, an attorney for the Taylors, said they looked forward to presenting their arguments at the State Department, including the history of Michael Taylor, a former US Army Special Forces veteran, who has achieved stunning well documented victories over criminals and terrorists. Ghosn has repeatedly slammed Japan's court system, denouncing it as hostage justice. That is a widespread criticism given that the conviction rate is above 99 per cent. Suspects are routinely grilled by police or prosecutors without a lawyer present and held for months before trial, a practice that critics say leads to false confessions and lacks a presumption of innocence. At the heart of the whole Ghosn saga is the tendency for Japanese executives to be paid far less than their Western counterparts, while they work more as part of salaryman teams than as powerful leaders. In 2010, when Japan started requiring the public disclosure of individual executives' pay, Ghosn's USD 9.5 million annual salary raised eyebrows. Ghosn defended his higher than usual compensation as what he deserved for what he had achieved at Nissan, leading its turnaround from the brink of collapse after he was sent by Renault in 1999. Since Japan has no extradition treaty with Lebanon, it's unlikely Ghosn will ever face trial. But his legacy at Nissan is likely to overshadow Kelly's trial. My prayers go to Greg Kelly and his family who remain trapped by the Japanese Hostage Justice System, Ghosn said in a tweet earlier this year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON How strange that the Trump administration, which has been so adamant in opposing Iran, is facilitating the rise of another expansionist Islamic state seeking regional hegemony namely, Turkey. Turkey is the elephant in the room in U.S. foreign policy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan champions his own brand of Islamist fundamentalism. He embraces terrorists from Hamas. He threatens U.S. allies such as Greece, France and the United Arab Emirates. Yet, somehow, he gets away with it. Turkey and Iran obviously start from very different places. Turkey, for decades, has been a NATO partner and a bulwark against Soviet-Russian power. In the shadows, it was also Israels key strategic ally in the Muslim world. Iran, by contrast, has treated the United States as an implacable enemy since its 1979 revolution and has been Israels most strident foe. But Turkey has changed under Erdogan, and not just in its growing antipathy toward Israel. Today, the similarities with the ayatollahs Iran are eerie and the Trump administrations disparate treatment of the two countries is jarring. Both push radical versions of Islam at a time when moderate voices are rising in many Arab countries, such as the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Both have a backward-looking nostalgia for ancient glory, in the Ottoman and Persian empires. Both are exporting instability through proxy forces. And both delight in bashing America. Congress has become increasingly suspicious of Erdogan, and for the past two years key members have quietly frozen all major U.S. arms sales to Ankara, according to a recent story in Defense News. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is said to be increasingly peeved, tweeted this week that the United States will partially lift its arms embargo to Cyprus and increase security cooperation, a modest rebuff of Turkey. But the Trump administration remains Erdogans enabler. When James Jeffrey, the State Departments special envoy for Syria, visited Ankara last month, he said reassuringly that the United States remained a close ally of Turkey. We proved our value in many fields outside of Syria. Hey, wait a minute: How about Turkey proving its value to the United States? Erdogans secret is that he has assiduously stroked President Donald Trump. He places regular calls to the White House and plays to Trumps idea of personal diplomacy. Trump bragged last month that a top leader had asked him to call the Turkish president, saying: Youre the only one he respects ... . Youre the only one hell listen to. Erdogans team is loudly advertising its dislike of former Vice President Joe Biden. Pro-government media last month resurrected a comment Biden made to a New York Times roundtable last December that yielding to Erdogan and abandoning the Syrian Kurds (as Trump did last year) was the absolute last thing he would have done. Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin thundered last month that Bidens comments were based on pure ignorance, arrogance and hypocrisy and warned: The days of ordering Turkey around are over. That sounded close to taking sides in the U.S. presidential election. Thats unseemly, but what worries regional leaders even more is Erdogans Iran-like push to project military power. A graphic posted recently by the Turkish news agency TRT listed 12 foreign countries where Turkish troops are operating: Northern Cyprus, Syria, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Somalia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Albania, Lebanon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Sudan. That list doesnt include Libya, where Erdogan has sent thousands of Turkish-trained Syrian mercenaries to support the Tripoli government. Critics say Erdogan also uses the network of the Muslim Brotherhood to advance his cause. Erdogans regional ambitions reflect what analysts describe as a neo-Ottoman desire for hegemony beyond the Turkish borders drawn after World War I. Erdogan told a visiting U.S. diplomat several years ago that Turkeys sphere of influence should stretch from Aleppo in Syria to Mosul in Iraq. To accomplish just that, he now has what TRT estimates are 5,000 troops occupying a border strip in northern Syria and 2,500 in northern Iraq. As Erdogan seeks influence in the Muslim world, he is rivaling Iran as the loudest champion of the Palestinian cause. Last month, he met in Istanbul with two prominent Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri, both on the U.S. terrorist list. The State Department said it strongly objects but took no significant action. Erdogans backstop is that his country is a member of NATO. But the commitment is fraying. Last year, despite strenuous U.S. warnings, he bought the Russian S-400 air-defense system. And in recent weeks, he has challenged two NATO allies, Greece and France, in his push for drilling rights in the eastern Mediterranean. When the UAE sent four fighter jets to demonstrate support of Greece, a Turkish official threatened to shoot them down if they approached Turkish airspace. Trump doesnt seem to realize it, but two of his favorite Middle East partners the UAE and Erdogans Turkey are close to a shooting war. Trump regularly denounces former president Barack Obama for being soft on Iran. So why is he coddling a Turkey that threatens regional stability? This column appears courtesy of the Washington Post. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 One of downtown's most iconic buildings is going to get a major face-lift. A developer has a deal in place to buy the 10-story Terminal building at 10th and O streets and is proposing a redevelopment of the century-old structure that would turn much of it into condos. According to a plan submitted to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department, the redevelopment would involve extensive renovation of the first floor to restore much of the building's historical features, including ticket windows for the city's trolley system in the early 20th century. Urban Development Director Dan Marvin said the building got its name because it acted as the "terminal" location for that system. The first floor will also feature floor-to-ceiling windows, which were a fixture when the building opened in 1916, and awnings on the building's exterior will be restored. The first floor would continue to have restaurant and retail space, and there also would be a small amount of private office space. The plan is also to give the public access to the main atrium of the building. The second and third floors would be renovated and continue to have office space. The European Union 's lack of action over Belarus is undermining the credibility of its foreign policy, Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Linas Linkevicius told the Financial Times newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. The EU needs to encourage democracy and counter Russia's influence in Belarus, Linkevicius said in the interview, adding that the bloc should provide "concrete help" to Belarus' opposition. "Sometimes we react too late and our measures are fragmented and aren't making any impression on society or the people in power," Linkevicius said. "When we will not stand true on our national commitments, it will shatter our own foundation", he said. "Belarusian people should not feel deserted." Linkevicius said that he would have preferred the EU to wield sanctions, as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had done against President Alexander Lukashenko and 29 other Belarusian officials. Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya called on the United Nations on Friday to condemn the crackdown by Lukashenko on protesters who charge he rigged his re-election victory last month. Tsikhanouskaya also called on the international community to impose sanctions on the individuals responsible for electoral violations. The opposition leader spoke from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, where she fled after Lukashenko launched his crackdown. Lukashenko, in power for 26 years, has faced a wave of opposition protests since his Aug 9 election victory. He has denied accusations by the opposition and Western countries that the vote was rigged and has resisted demands to step down. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics 5th grade teacher Torie Layton, with students at Lower Gwynedd Elementary School, where the classrooms are arranged for 6 feet social distancing between students, in Ambler, Pa., Thursday, September 3, 2020. Read more Something extraordinary happened to start the month just a few miles beyond Philadelphia. Kids from kindergarten through fifth grade walked into actual brick-and-mortar classrooms on day one of the school year. This happened in an otherwise ordinary suburb called Ambler. It happened as districts both poor and affluent across our region bailed on in-school learning, instead feeding even their youngest students computer-only instruction with no sense of how those children, if at all, would or could be supported through it all. This feat in the Wissahickon School District is no half-in, half-out hybrid offering, even. Its the whole deal. Theyve opened their elementary school doors for five-day-a week, full instruction for all families who desire it. Others are receiving virtual instruction from home. Only higher grades, due to staffing shortages that have not yet been figured out, were given a virtual-only option. While coronavirus infection numbers could derail even this well-intended plan, it is nothing short of remarkable for debuting at all. Many other districts have punted rather than giving something like this a shot. This can be done. It is being done. And in a bona-fide, decent-size school district in our midst. Its going great so far, actually, Wissahickon Superintendent James Crisfield told me Thursday. I went to one of our elementary schools the first day and it looked like the normal first day: joy and anticipation and angst. Some kids were just racing into the building, couldnt wait to get in there. Some kids were walking parallel with their parents, nervous about their first day. We had our typical few criers. ... It had a first-day-of-school feel, Crisfield added, which was so welcoming after all of this summer agita. Six months after COVID-19 shut down schools, this should be the norm. It is not. And that is a disgrace. We have allowed our toxic, polarized politics, fanned by a chaos-adoring president, to prevail in hampering our pandemic response as it regards reopening schools. Kids and families are the greatest casualties of this extraordinary failure. READ MORE: At the elite Shipley school in Bryn Mawr, money is no object in coronavirus-reopening plans | Maria Panaritis I had heard about Wissahickon after a column I wrote last week about the inauspicious debut of virtual schooling. Readers stuffed my inbox with grateful emails. A silent majority of suffering Americans, and their children, felt heard and seen, finally. I just wanted to thank you for putting so many of our thoughts into a well written article, wrote a mother of at least one elementary-age student who began all-virtual in our region. I very much hope we can find a different solution for these kids soon. My heart breaks for them + the strain on families is so incredibly stressful. A father said this: Ive never written to a journalist to thank them for an online article. After reading your zoom and gloom article I felt compelled. I am a father of 4. Two children in elementary, one in preschool and the last is just over a month old. We are going through the same struggles that you and your family seem to be having. What do you think we can do to stop this nonsense and get the kids back to school? READ MORE: Zoom and gloom: Virtual schooling has begun, and it is unsustainable | Maria Panaritis Virtual learning, especially for our youngest kids, is unsustainable. It seeks to aim for zero transmission of the coronavirus in a school setting but at the as-yet unquantified expense of childrens mental health, their social health, their families economic well-being the list is very, very long. Computer instruction from home requires extraordinary time and effort of teachers. It exhausts children. Technology vastly limits what is taught and how its taught. And for every teacher at least one or more caregivers must be present, especially for younger students, to make sure they are not kicked off the computer, lost in thought, or just lost, period. Never mind the damage to families who must also somehow work to keep mortgages and rents paid, to keep food coming into the house. How many children will be left to fend for themselves instead of having attention for 35 or more hours a week of so-called instruction at home? Its scandalous that we even are left to contemplate this cruel, if unintended, consequence of abandoning in-school instruction. A major reason Wissahickon managed to reopen is the Montgomery County district has a strong, if also economically diverse, tax base. It serves 5,000 students in four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. It includes Ambler, Blue Bell, and other communities in Lower Gwynedd and Whitpain Townships. It had new-enough facilities, and ample-enough financial reserves, to gear up for the costly-beyond-budget, in-class plan now in place. Also key: Four out of 10 families in the district opted for all-virtual learning. This freed space in elementary schools for roughly six feet of social distancing per student. For an elementary school of 500, right there thats 200 of the kids, Crisfield said. So now we have that many fewer students to start. And weve hired 10 teachers, additional teachers, to help with distancing. With that many fewer students you have a few [extra] classrooms available so were able to spread out a little bit more than we ordinarily would. The superintendent prioritized bringing the youngest children back to school. The youngest are least able to be taught effectively, to be nurtured, to self-navigate and learn through tiny, eyesight-straining computer screens. Elementary teachers unable or unwilling to teach in school due to health concerns were assigned virtual-only classes. Extra staff was hired to fill in other gaps. Hiring additional teachers for middle school and high school vacancies, however, has proven more difficult since the supply of biology-certified teachers, for instance, is much smaller, Crisfield said. That puzzle is still being figured out. What can we learn, then? Schools need space to reopen safely. They need money for additional staff. They may need money for all of the above. The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate has refused to allocate the emergency funds to do this. Where, then, has the visible and loud lobbying been for both? Where are elected officials in Harrisburg, in Washington, in our counties and cities, pounding the drum? How about superintendents? School boards? Teacher union heads? Parents? READ MORE: Republicans must back a COVID-19 relief bill to rescue public schools. The alternative is calamity. | Maria Panaritis Instead, colossal districts in Philadelphia, Cherry Hill, Lower Merion, Central Bucks, Radnor, and beyond districts well-financed and starving of capital alike are opening their doors only virtually. We can do better. Its time to demand it. BJP veteran leader and former minister Shanta Kumar on Sunday shot off a letter to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding security for actress Kangana Ranaut. Shanta wrote that the brave daughter of Himachal was the only star who has been promoting nationalism in Bollywood. She recently wrote that her agenda was nationalism only. In the political spheres, Shiv Sena is the only nationalist party after BJP, wrote Shanta adding, So, I expect Shiv Sena to support and cooperate with Kangana. The veteran leader added that actor Sushant Singh Rajputs suicide and the facts that have come to light after his death have shocked the country. There are many dubious activities taking place in Bollywood on which Kangana has spoken with courage, said the 85-year-old leader. He said every citizen in India has freedom of speech and expression. However, some Shiv Sena leaders were issuing threats to Kangana over some comments. Kanganas family and the entire Himachal is concerned over her safety. As the CM, Thackeray should provide full security to the actress and also stop his party leaders from harming her, he wrote. He said Shiv Sena leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi is his old friend, and I have written to him to provide security to Kangana. Meanwhile, Shanta also talked to the actresss family and advised them that Kangana should not get involved in the controversy anymore. He has also urged Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur to immediately speak to his Maharashtra counterpart on the issue. More than a generation after Californians passed Proposition 209, a ban on affirmative action, the assumption behind it remains elusive. Society is neither colorblind nor merit-based. Systemic racism is pervasive. Women remain at a disadvantage in opportunities and advancement. To pretend otherwise is to ignore reality. Passage of Proposition 16 will not eliminate those entrenched inequities. Rather, it would restore the ability for state and local governments to consider and address barriers to equal opportunities in public education, public employment and public contracting. Two points must be emphasized. First, it does not mandate affirmative action; it merely allows it. Also, contrary to the talking points of the No on 16 campaign, it does not establish quotas. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its landmark 1978 Bakke decision involving UC Davis School of Medicine, held that race was a legitimate factor in college admissions, but quotas (Davis had set aside 16 of 100 spaces for qualified minorities) violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. One more point: Restoration of affirmative action would not result in unqualified, or even less-qualified, Californians to jump the line ahead of white males. One of the most intense areas of focus has been the University of California, where African Americans and Latinos remain underrepresented in admissions at the most selective schools, Berkeley and UCLA in particular. Advocates for No on 16 made the rather offensive argument that those are better matched in the less selective UC campuses, citing an uptick in graduation rates. But, again, its critical to note that Berkeley and UCLA have the luxury of choosing among qualified applicants, and the process is necessarily subjective. Its absolutely legitimate for those admissions officers to consider whether a cohort at least generally reflects the demographic composition of the state. In our editorial board meeting with opponents, it was asked whether they would concede that there may be roles in which it might be desirable to ensure that the background of the public servants have at least a semblance of reflection of the communities they serve. Schoolteachers come immediately to mind. Law enforcement is another. Ward Connerly, the driving force behind Prop. 209 as a UC regent in 1996, said there was a time when he thought policing might be one sector in which his measure might have gone too far. He has since changed his mind. Crime is colorblind, he said during a Zoom meeting with us last week. However, the national reckoning about systemic racism in the criminal justice system forced by the horrific deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and wounding of Jacob Blake at the hands of police has elevated concerns about the reality on the streets. Its absolutely legitimate for law enforcement to consider the life experience of men and women it is hiring to interface with the public. In recent years, concerns by some Asian American parents that their children might be disadvantaged by affirmative action had kept a repeal of Prop. 209 from reaching the ballot. However, Vincent Pan, director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, noted that Asian American businesses have been shortchanged in government contracting to the tune of $1 billion a year. As we said as the constitutional amendment behind Prop. 16 was making its way through the Legislature, much has changed in the 24 years since 54.5% of California voters passed Prop. 209, the inaptly named California Civil Rights Initiative. The states demographics have changed (53% white then, 36% now) and Republicans now account for less than 25% of registered voters. What has not changed is that people of color remain underrepresented in many of the critical indicators of opportunity. Latinos account for more than half of high-school students in a state that is facing an upcoming shortage of college-educated workers essential to keeping the economy rolling. Proposition 16 would finally lift the ban on affirmative action based on race-based or gender-based preferences again, not quotas from the California Constitution. In the private sector, many businesses have recognized the value of diversifying their workforce to compete in the 21st century. Californians who fund the government with their tax dollars deserve no less of a commitment to equal opportunity in the states interest. Vote yes on Prop. 16. 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. Editor's note: Ken Moak taught economic theory, public policy and globalization at the university level for 33 years. He co-authored a book "China's Economic Rise and Its Global Impact" in 2015. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said that President Donald Trump is looking to further restrict Chinese students and scholars studying and working in the U.S. The secretary's statement was made at the heels of the University of North Texas suspending relationship with Chinese government-funded scholars and programs over fears of Chinese spying and stealing U.S. technology. If follow through, the number of Chinese students allowed to study and scholars able to work or do research in the U.S. will be further reduced, adversely impacting China-U.S. relations, university programs, the quality and quantity of research, along with the U.S. economy, just to name a few. The academic communities in both countries are (and will likely continue to be) major players in fostering ties between them. Collaborations between Chinese and American universities and the established joint programs promote faculty and student exchanges. Studying and working together led to personal friendships and better understandings of each other's culture, values and ways of life, essential for networking and bridge building. Since today's students are tomorrow's political, military and business leaders, reducing their interactions undermine future networking or bridge building, unnecessarily increase distrust and hostility between the two countries. But the more immediate impact of restrictions would be the reductions in post-secondary education programs and quality of research. Making up almost 33 percent of the STEM post-graduate population, Chinese students are instrumental in enhancing the quantity and quality of research at American universities. Since large numbers of Chinese students work at universities and other institutions after graduation, they also play a major role in promoting and developing U.S.' technology, economic growth and improving the quality of its labor force. By paying higher tuition fees, Chinese students are, in fact, subsidizing local students and helping to finance the existing academic programs. The estimated 350,000 Chinese students contribute billions of dollars to American universities each year. Without that fund, and coupled with the declining funding that is largely attributed to the faltering economy and stiff competition for dwindling revenues from other government agencies, particularly those relating to national defense or internal security, many universities might have to cut program offerings and lower student enrollment. Chinese students are an important source of economic growth and stability in university cities across the U.S. The Institute of International Education estimated that foreign students spend nearly 45 billion U.S. dollars each year in these cities. They rent houses, buy groceries and other consumer goods and services that keep the local economies humming. For Chinese scholars and students, disruption in their education and work plan would exact psychological or emotional costs. Unsure of whether they will be barred from studying or working in the U.S., coupled with the racist environment that U.S. President Trump fostered by blaming China for everything, Chinese scholars and students would be emotionally scarred, thereby adversely affecting their lives, studies and work. However, unlike short-sighted and paranoid U.S. politicians and officials, other countries, such as Canada and the UK, welcome foreign students because they are a source of talent and revenue. Chinese students would have many alternatives if they seek education abroad.. Perhaps the mother of irony is that further restricting Chinese students and scholars might be a blessing in disguise for China. Exposing America's true color, Trump is doing China (and other countries) a favor by forcing them to become more self-sufficient. Trump's technology war against China, for example, prompted the Chinese government to expand its "Made in China 2025" industrial policy rather than abandon. This will give more funds to innovation research which could lead China to be self-sufficient in many sectors. Trump's anti-China policies, in fact, are already benefiting China. It is rapidly narrowing the technology gap and China has made inroads in some key technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. Thanks to the president's racist rants, more Chinese STEM professionals are returning home. And the government increased funding for education and innovation research, propelling China to become a technology hub. Further restricting Chinese students and scholars from the U.S. will have a similar effect. Chinese government would likely to increase funding for universities, expand research programs and hire well-known scholars and researchers. These efforts would attract the world's best and brightest minds as well as keeping China's own talented youths at home. Restricting Chinese students and scholars into the U.S. as with other anti-China policies gain nothing for America except economic decline and stagnation in technological developments. THE State is now facing a potential lawsuit for tortious assault and battery by a family that was tear-gassed by police while at the Queens Park Savannah in Port of Spain last Sunday. Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob has been given 28 days within which to provide specific pieces of information to attorneys representing the family or, in default, a civil claim will be filed at the High Court, the familys attorneys warned yesterday. Vice president, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is asking former President, John Dramani Mahama to be a gentleman and apologize to the people of Akyem for endorsing ethnocentric comments against the ethnic group. It comes after President Akufo Addo's criticism of Mr. Mahama, for allegedly fanning ethnocentric comments against the Akyems. Although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer has denied making such distasteful comment, Dr. Bawumia maintains that Mr. Mahamas comment is unfortunate. Speaking during his tour of Gusehgu in the Northern Region, Dr. Bawumia cautioned the 2020 election will be won based on competence and not on tribalism. We dont want a president who divides. We want a president who unites and so the recent utterance by John Mahama referring to Akyems as Sakawa boys; how do you take a whole tribe and say they are sakawa. You cannot win this Presidency with tribalism. Ghana has gone beyond tribalism. Come and show your competence in the delivery for the people of Ghana. But because you cannot show your competence. You are resorting to tribalism. We will not stand for tribalism and so we will continue to call on John Mahama to apologise unreservedly for what he has endorsed. This election is going to be fought on our record but not on tribalism. A post by the Bolgatanga Central MP, Isaac Adongo, describes elements from the New Patriotic Party as Akyem Sakawa Boys in relation to the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal. The article was shared on the Facebook page of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Mahama. Already, President Akufo-Addo has questioned the silence of senior citizens over the comment. Mahama must be reprimanded Meanwhile the President has said politicians who make distasteful comments must be called to order irrespective of social status or political affiliation. At a meeting with the leadership of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference on politics of insults which is gradually creeping into the country's body politic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo said those who matter in Ghana's political space should condemn the comments made by the (NDC) flagbearer. I am very disturbed about this remark made by the former President Mahama about Akyem people. I have not heard any senior citizen of this country lay, religious or civil society organization reprimand him for that thing. What can be the basis of such a remark? This is the kind of language we don't want in our politics. Nana Addo used the occasion to remind Ghanaians and leaders in politics that a goal of political discourses in the country is to obtain a sanitized public space where debates and national issues dominate and shape public life. For me, if a president opens his mouth to say something that is unacceptable, he should be reprimanded and in the same way, if opposition politicians should conduct themselves in their utterances in an unacceptable manner, they should be reprimanded, Nana Addo said. President Akufo-Addo also said he was disappointed at the lack of criticism towards those remarks from observers. Sometimes one would hope that when things come out, people will comment on them. The comment made by my opponent; Akyem Sakawa people, I have not heard any public figure in this country or anybody comment on it. If I was to get up to make a comment about northerners or Gonjas, you can imagine the uproar that will be in the country, the President lamented. He also noted that the government had become a punching bag on matters of free speech. If you criticize the government, no matter what you say, it is legitimate. If the government is to respond, that is somehow illegitimate. President Akufo-Addo thus stressed the need for a zero-tolerance approach to comments deemed unsavoury. citinewsroom After more than years of chronic uncertainty, Huron Central Railways short-line freight service between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury might finally derail. Genesee & Wyoming Canada Inc., HCRs Montreal-based parent company, announced this week that it will cease operations by the end of the year because it has not been able to secure $40 million in government funding to rehabilitate the 288-km line. Although this isnt the first time the company has anticipated closure, GWCI President Rick McLellan said that the formal process required to cease operations cannot be delayed any longer. The railway, which employs more than 40 people and services Algoma Steel, Domtars Espanola pulp and paper mill, and EACOMs Nairn Centre sawmill, could see its final train run sometime in December. Sault Ste. Maries Joe Fratesi, who was hired to lead a task force to secure government funding for the rail line, said that HCR is disappointed it has not been able to save this strategic asset, and he believes that no rail line will spell disaster for Domtar, the Town of Espanola and Nairn Centre. The pulp and paper mill, which employs more than 500 people, said it cannot operate without the line. The Domtar pulp and specialty paper mill in Espanola relies on rail service for inbound manufacturing chemicals and outbound finished product destined for customers. We are hopeful that the investment proposals put forward to the provincial and federal governments by the Huron Central Railway will be carefully considered and supported, said Bonny Skene, regional public affairs manager for the Espanola mill. In the meantime, we are making every effort to ensure our customers are not affected and we remain committed to doing our part to ensure sustainable rail service to the mill in Espanola. EACOM Timber Corporation, which owns the Nairn Centre sawmill about 55 km southwest of Sudbury, said the company has no specific comment on this issue. GWCI had originally planned to cease operations of the HCR in March, but due to COVID-19, the company extended the timeline. The supply route for the regions forestry and steel industries transports more than 12,000 carloads of freight annually. If the federal and provincial governments have something to offer the company by year end, then GWCI said it is prepared to return to the table. We know how important this transportation link is for many of Northern Ontarios largest employers and communities along the railway. Sadly, we have reached the point where further delay would be irresponsible, but we will remain at the table working until the very end to try and avoid the inevitable, Fratesi said. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Survivors of clergy sexual abuse are seeking permission from a federal bankruptcy judge to file lawsuits alleging the Archdiocese of Santa Fe engaged in a massive and fraudulent scheme to divert up to $246 million in assets to avoid bigger payouts to hundreds of victims. The request comes as efforts to mediate a resolution have stalled in the 18-month-old Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization of the states largest Catholic archdiocese. Rather than fulfilling its fiduciary duty to maximize the assets of the estate for the benefit of creditors, the Archdiocese of Santa Fes primary goal is to protect the asset protection scheme it designed and implemented to put its assets out of the reach of the Survivors, victims lawyers said in a court filing. Archdiocese attorneys deny any fraud in setting up two trusts in 2013 to hold millions of dollars in real estate and cash. They say the trusts support the religious, charitable and educational purposes of its 94 parishes, the archdiocese and related entities. The archdiocese calls the fraud allegations unfounded and says millions would be needlessly spent on attorney fees if the claimants were allowed to file the lawsuits. Because the case is in Bankruptcy Court, Judge David T. Thuma would have to allow the lawsuits to be filed. Lawyers for parishes say that could be devastating. Alex Myers, a Denver attorney representing the parishes, told the judge at an Aug. 28 hearing that if the victims get the green light to sue over the trusts assets, It would unleash chaos. As soon as these complaints are filed, each one of these parishes, each one of these parishioners at these parishes is going to be impacted. Discovery into the real estate and personal property records of each parish would commence, as well as the use of the property, Myers said. What will be lost if (the creditors committee) gets their way, is parish communities decimated and the Catholic Church in northern New Mexico will not just be substantially burdened, but will be in many ways, eliminated, Myers said. There would be a substantial burden on those individuals rights to free exercise (of religion), Myers told the judge. He said Thuma is being asked to ignore church autonomy issues and additional constitutional protections afforded religious parishes. Properties not selling The issue now before Thuma arises at a time when the parties are very substantially apart in reaching a settlement of claims despite four mediations and two mediators, said a victims attorney during the Aug. 28 hearing. Archdiocese lawyers in late 2018 said they hoped the reorganization could be resolved by this year, but attorneys for the 374 victims who are claimants in the bankruptcy say the archdiocese is dragging its feet. Can you please use the courts power in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe bankruptcy case to try and help the victims get closure, one unidentified person asked Thuma in a letter filed in the case in June. The archdiocese is among 25 archdioceses and religious orders nationwide that have filed for bankruptcy protection since 2004 to stem financial losses from clergy abuse claims. Of those, the Santa Fe Archdiocese reorganization ranks among the largest in the number of victim claimants. So far, the largest bankruptcy settlement involving an archdiocese came in 2018, when the Minneapolis-St. Paul archdiocese paid $210 million to about 450 victims after more than three years of negotiations. While insurance carriers may foot much of the ultimate bill in New Mexico, the archdiocese says it has been moving to sell real estate and other properties to help pay for deductibles, co-pays and claims that arent covered by insurance. Archdiocese attorney Ford Elsaesser told the bankruptcy judge at last months hearing that his clients want to return to the mediation process and are actively selling properties being offered by various parishes to resolve the case. Some of the real estate is adjacent to the parishes, he said. Those properties are not among those held in the trusts. The point of this is not to tell you that the parishes dont get that they are involved and to solve this problem they are going to have to sacrifice, Rob Charles, a Tucson attorney for the parishes, told Thuma. Theyre selling property; the (victims) committee knows that. Included in the property up for sale is the old St. Francis Cathedral School in Santa Fe, listed at $3.6 million, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Retreat and Conference Center in Santa Fe, listed at $7.8 million. James Stang, a Los Angeles lawyer for victims who have filed claims, countered, Those properties are not moving the way we hoped they would. I dont think during the course of this case, a single property has actually sold. Not one. We think that it is critical to the ultimate negotiation of the plan that the issue of property of the (archdiocese) estate be determined. Attorneys in the case declined Journal requests for comment last week. Restructuring of assets Faced with more than three dozen legal claims alleging sexual abuse by clergy, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in 2018. But victims attorneys say preparations for the filing began years earlier. As part of a restructuring initiated by the Archdiocese of Santa Fe beginning in 2012, most of the archdioceses financial and real estate assets were transferred to two trusts that are now controlled by Archbishop John C. Wester, victims attorneys allege. In filing for bankruptcy reorganization, the archdiocese has reported owning $49 million, of which about $31 million represents real estate. Adding the millions in cash and properties the archdiocese placed into the trusts could quintuple the estates assets, victims attorneys say in court filings. They are asking for the authority to file litigation against the two trusts, certain parishes, and the archdiocese. Allegations that church assets were moved to keep them beyond the reach of creditors have surfaced in other church bankruptcy cases. For instance, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee transferred $57 million to a cemetery trust several years before filing for reorganization in 2007. Victims seeking to recoup that money in a bankruptcy settlement won a favorable federal appeals court decision. But in the end, the 330 victims in the case received a total of $21 million after negotiations. In New Mexico, victims attorneys say the archdiocese restructuring was based on similar restructurings of other dioceses within the United States, which were all done in response to escalating sexual abuse claims and extended limitation periods for the Survivors to bring suit. But the archdiocese in court filings has said that decision to incorporate parishes and create the two trusts were part of a decade-long continual process to improve the structure of the archdiocese and the parishes. The archdiocese contends the trust assets are being held for its parishes, and fall outside the bankruptcy action. The Archdiocese affirmatively states that no assets of the Archdiocese were transferred to the Parishes, to the Real Estate Trust or the Deposit and Loan Fund. But victims attorneys in one court filing cited a deposition of a former archdiocese property manager, who said the restructuring was meant to protect the assets of the archdiocese. They have asked the archdiocese for information about the Deposit and Loan Fund trust one of the two that were set up including requesting the names of the 10 parishes holding the largest purported beneficial interests in that trust and their account balances. To date, that information hasnt been provided, said the victims attorneys said. Here, tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars of value are at issue, their filing says, noting that more than $246 million of asset transfers are at stake based on archdiocese valuations. Epicenter of sex abuse New Mexico has been described by one survivors attorney as the epicenter for clergy sexual abuse in the U.S. Catholic Church. Over the years, the archdiocese and its insurance carriers have paid an estimated $52 million to nearly 300 victims in confidential out-of-court settlements. Two decades ago, the archdiocese typically denied the allegations of abuse and cover-ups by church leaders. But more recently, under Archbishop John C. Wester, who came to New Mexico in 2015, the church has taken a more conciliatory tone and has published the names of 79 clergy and other religious members who have been credibly accused. Victims come first, Wester said in announcing the bankruptcy petition filed in late 2018. I deeply apologize for the pain that theyve experienced, and the church wishes to reach out to them in any way we can. This certainly is a very important way to offer financial compensation. After the nearly four-hour hearing Aug. 28 on whether creditors can file suit, Thuma said he would probably rule in 30 days. But he cautioned that his decision would likely be appealed, and that could postpone a final court ruling for years. Stang responded that Thumas decision could help determine the outcome of the negotiations. These men and women (survivors) have waited, in some cases, decades for accountability that they expect as a result of this Chapter 11 case. If they have to wait two more years, thats OK. Now does that mean they wont compromise if the law is going against them, no. Everyone has their own individual needs, but on a very macro perspective, theyve been waiting a lifetime. There is a conflation going around that religious intolerance is responsible for the violence and killings going on in Northern Nigeria especially. Nothing could be further from the truth. The killings in South Kaduna and elsewhere in Northern Nigeria, bar the North-East geopolitical region are not about religion. The only sect that ostensibly kills in furtherance of the Islamic religion in Nigeria is Boko Haram and its spin-offs. Their terrorist activities are mainly localized in the North-East region. The killings in Southern Kaduna and elsewhere in Nigeria are for territorial control and expansion of spheres of influence only. The expansionist Fulani are the sole aggressors as well as the land grabbers. The reason why the violence is spun by both sides to the conflict as religious killing is that most of the native victims are Christians. Necessarily and naturally there may be counter reprisals by native militia resisting Fulani incursions. But that is about as religious as it gets. It must be stressed that most of the hands-on masculine Fulani practitioners of violence in Nigeria are not practicing Muslims. They do not pray five times a day and majority have never seen the four corners of a mosque at the same time. Porting various charms and amulets, their mouths painted over with lipsticks, their eyelashes profiled with eyeliners, and their hands carrying AK-47 rifles and machetes, these male Fulani killers may be nominal Muslims in theory. In practice they are nothing but pagans, if the truth must be told. The expansionist Fulani Leaders who send these pagan shock-troops to kill for territory however are Muslims. It suits their purpose to introduce religion as a motive because that is the only way they can garner the support of Hausa and Yoruba Muslims. It should be noted that being historical land-owning tribes themselves, Hausa and Yoruba Muslims respect tribal boundaries and would ordinarily never kill to acquire the lands of other tribes. It is also convenient for the Christian South Kaduna natives on the receiving end of Fulani atrocities to characterize the conflict as religious persecution. That is the best way to garner support from the mainly Christian Southern Nigeria as well as international observers. So although the effect of expansionist Fulani-led killings quickly deteriorates and degenerates into a Muslim onslaught on indigenous Christians, the core agenda is to acquire territory, install Fulani emirs, ensure Fulani suzerainty, and expand Fulani access to political and topographic resources. This is a big difference that shows how sly and cunning the expansionist Fulani really are. In the realm of human manipulation, they are primus inter pares among all the African tribes. It suits the expansionist Fulani to propagate the religious dimension because the Fulani Sultan of Sokoto, wears two distinct caps interchangeably depending on circumstances. He is at once the titular Head of all Muslims in Nigeria and also at the same time the titular King of the Fulani ethnicity. Majority of the Emirs appointed by the Sultan to reign and rule over seized territory, the prized fruits of expansionism, are Fulani. This twinning and domiciliation of religious and traditional authority by the expansionist Fulani in the person of the Sultan is a clever win-win contraption which enables them to sustain their political influence as well as affords them the religious platform to mobilize brainwashed non-Fulani support whenever the need arises. How do you think they win elections even in areas where they are clearly in the minority? By controlling the hearts and minds of Muslim subjects via spiritual control and by curbing and controlling their ethno-nationalistic senses by serving as the same time as their traditional rulers, they force the conquered natives to behave like zombies in front of the ballot box. This is the reason why the Sunni sect-led Fulani are so ferociously opposed to and want to completely exterminate the Shiite sect in Nigeria, even though they are all Muslims. The Shiites in Nigeria who I suspect, admittedly without hard evidence, are predominantly Hausa, owe their allegiance not to the Sultan of Sokoto but to their own spiritual leader Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The latter of course with his wife, have been languishing in detention for almost 5 years on clearly trumped up charges. The Shiites dilute Fulani rule of Muslims in Nigeria and constitute a potential alternative center of religious and ethno-nationalistic power. And this is the core reason why the conflict in Southern Kaduna cannot end except and until the Fulani emirate systemic rule over conquered territories is abolished. Creating a Fulani emirate to exist side by side with an ages long native chieftaincy on indigenous, forcefully acquired territory is inherently unstable. Think about it for a minute. The Fulani will never be satisfied because they cannot have the sole traditional clout to influence the minds of the natives and determine the outcome of elections, in support of Fulani rule, at the grassroots, State and Federal levels. For their part the natives will never be satisfied. They would be perpetually resentful of Fulani settlers getting political appointments meant for their areas and at their expense at both State and Federal levels through Fulani nepotism. And in case you do not know, violence and nepotism are the twin necessary articles of faith for expansionism. You cannot expand your ethnic territory without the use or the threat of the use of force to subdue the natives. At the same time, you cannot maintain your dominance over the natives you have overrun without appointing your blood relations to lord it over them. Go back through History, everywhere there was expansionism there was also violence and nepotism. In Hitlers Third Reich there was war as Poland, France and other nations fell and there was nepotism as Jews were sent to the Gas Chambers while Teutonic German Aryanism as the super-race was emphasized. I hate to sound negative, but the various peace accords currently being signed between the Fulani settlers and natives in Southern Kaduna are not worth the price of the piece of paper they are written upon. The Peace Accords can only be meaningful if nepotism is discarded by the Fulani as an expansionist tool. And I assure you it is easier to dissuade a wayward person from practicing prostitution than to get the expansionist Fulani to abandon nepotism. Nepotism is their ingrained mode of life. In fact, it is the only way a minority can govern the majority. Now skill in human manipulation could be a measure of their social intelligence, but the expansionist Fulani lack the energy and stamina to put their hands to productive ventures or rigorous enterprise. As economic parasites they must necessarily be carried by others on their backs. Let us reiterate that not all Fulani are expansionist. Many progressive Fulani are some of the most sincere, most faithful, most honest, most brilliant and most hardworking Nigerians around. That being said, only stupid and idiotic Nigerian ethnicities will present their backs, their waterways and their adjourning lands through acceptance of the Water Resources Bill currently before the National Assembly, for the expansionist Fulani to mount in the name of One Nigeria. One Nigeria by itself is an idiotically fraudulent expression. How can you be one with expansionists who neither value human life nor respect property rights? I say this, knowing fully well that once the expansionist Fulani mount your back, they are impossible to dislodge without indiscriminate violence and they are impossible to live with because they want everything for themselves alone regardless of others needs. And you can take this to the bank. Once the expansionist Fulani place a saddle on your back, they will never dismount voluntarily. They will ride you to frightful death in the dust. The Waters Resources Bill to all intents and purposes is a Fulani saddle much like the failed and aborted Grazing Reserves, Cattle Colonies, and RUGA expansionist schemes. Time will tell if Nigerians will idiotically allow the placement of this new unitarist contraption on their backs, as a saddle. Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE. President Donald Trump went after the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Laurene Powell Jobs, as she owns a stake in The Atlantic magazine, which ran the story that said the president had called U.S. war soldiers and war dead 'losers' and 'suckers.' 'Steve Jobs would not be happy that his wife is wasting money he left her on a failing Radical Left Magazine that is run by a con man (Goldberg) and spews FAKE NEWS & HATE,' Trump tweeted early Sunday morning. 'Call her, write her, let her know how you feel!!!' Trump had shared a tweet from Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, a youth conservative activist, that claimed Jobs had donated 'at least $500,000 to Joe Biden's campaign this year.' President Trump continued to be outraged over The Atlantic's reporting that he disparaged American troops and war dead. On Sunday morning Trump went after Steve Jobs' widow over her financial stake in the magazine President Donald Trump sent an outraged tweet Sunday morning aimed at Laurene Powell Jobs, who owns a stake in The Atlantic, suggesting that her late husband would be disappointed she was 'wasting money he left her' on a 'Radical Left Magazine' Laurene Powell Jobs photographed at The Atlantic Festival in Washington, D.C. in September 2019 Laurene Powell Jobs (right) with her late husband Steve Jobs (left), the co-founder of Apple, at the Academy Awards in 2010 Recode reported in July that Jobs was among the Silicon Valley mega-donors who were giving the max donation, or close to it, of $620,600 to Biden's campaign. Earlier in the cycle she gave money to some of Biden's competitors, including Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang. A 70 per cent stake of The Atlantic was purchased by Jobs' Emerson Collective in 2017, according to Politico. Trump has been infuriated over Jeffrey Goldberg's story about him in The Atlantic, first addressing its contents Thursday night after returning to Joint Base Andrews from his Latrobe, Pennsylvania rally. He's continued to tweet about it through the weekend. Trump's attack comes after he spent lashed out at another woman in media - Fox News Channel's Jennifer Griffin, who used her own unnamed sources to back up chunks of the Atlantic's reporting. 'Jennifer Griffin should be fired for this kind of reporting. Never even called us for comment. @FoxNews is gone!' Trump tweeted late Friday. After Goldberg first reported anecdotes about Trump disparaging war dead and wounded veterans and not wanting to go to a military cemetery during a trip to France, Griffin matched must of his reporting. She confirmed that the president' did not want to drive to honor American war dead' at the Aisne-Marnce cemetery. Weather was the president's original excuse for not making the trek. An official also told Griffin that Trump used the word 'suckers' to describe those for fought in Vietnam. 'When the President spoke about the Vietnam War, he said, 'It was a stupid war. Anyone who went was a sucker,' Griffin was told by an unnamed official. 'It was a character flaw of the President. He could not understand why someone would die for their country, not worth it,' the source said. US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq on December 26, 2018 Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie joined a long list of officials to discredit the claims made in the Atlantic Article on Sunday. Wilkie discredited the claims to CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, saying the president described in the report by anonymous sources does not reflect the Donald Trump he knows. I would be offended, too, if I thought it was true, Wilkie said. I am very proud that this president has led to a renaissance in veterans affairs. So what I'm looking at is the Donald Trump that I know; the Donald Trump that has turned around Veterans Affairs from a place that in the Obama administration was 16 out of 17 in terms of best places to work, he said. We're now up to six. He added that the Obama administration had a 37 percent approval rating among veterans in 2014 and 2015, compared to 90 percent for President Trump. Wikie's rebuttal comes in the wake of 14 White House staffers, some of whom say they were with the president on the day the alleged comments were made, who also deny Trump has ever said anything disparaging about members of the military. Among them, was Former acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who accused Goldberg of entirely fabricating the report. As you all can probably imagine, I have seen more than my share of outrageous (and false) attacks on the President over the last few years. But this whole injured soldiers thing really, really pushes the envelope, Mulvaney tweeted Friday. Ive never heard the President disparage our war dead or wounded. In fact, the exact opposite is true. I was with him at the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy. As we flew over the beaches by helicopter he was outwardly in awe of the accomplishments of the Allied Forces, and the sacrifices they paid. Johnny DeStefano, the former counselor to the president, also vehemently denied theres any truth to the report, writing in a tweet: I was on this trip. The Atlantic bit is not true. Period. Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie (right) has joined a long list of officials in blasting a recent report in the Atlantic that claimed Trump has repeatedly made disparaging remarks about the US war dead, calling them suckers and losers' Wilkie discredited the claims to CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, saying the president described in the report by anonymous sources does not reflect the Donald Trump he knows Derek Lyons, staff secretary and counselor to the president, and Dan Walsh, former White House deputy chief of staff, have also both disputed the report. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany revealed Lyons and Walshs admonishment of the claims in a Friday press conference in which she read out statements on their behalf. I was with the president the morning after the scheduled visit. He was extremely disappointed that arrangements could not be made to get him to the site and that the trip had been cancelled, Lyons statement read. In all my time at the White House, I have never heard him utter a disparaging remark of any kind about our troops. In my view, he holds the brave men and women of our armed forces in the highest regard. McEnany then read out Walshs statement, which read: I can attest it to the fact that there was a bad weather called in France and that the helicopters were unable to safely make the flight. Overall, the presidents support and respect for our American troops past and present is unquestionable. Former national security adviser, John Bolton, who was with the president in France at the time and has shared a number of high profile fallouts with him Trump - also went on the record to dispute the Atlantics report. I didnt hear either of those comments or anything even resembling them, Bolton told Fox News. I was there at the point in time that morning when it was decided that he would not go Aisne-Marne cemetery It was entirely a weather-related decision, and I thought the proper thing to do. I never heard he made that kind of comment about another countrys forces either, no. Fox correspondent John Roberts, who conducted the Bolton interview, added that he has told him, if [Donald Trump] had said he didnt want to visit Aisne-Marne because the interred heroes were 'losers' and 'suckers,' he would have written an entire chapter about it in his book #TheRoomWhereItHappened. Former White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, meanwhile, has decried the report as total BS. I was actually there and one of the people part of the discussion - this never happened. I have sat in the room when our President called family members after their sons were killed in action and it was heart-wrenching I am disgusted by this false attack. Other protesting staffers include Former Deputy White House Press Secretary, Hogan Gidley, who called the report grotesque, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Dan Scavino, and Jordan Karem, Personal Aide to President Trump. This is not even close to being factually accurate, Karem wrote. Plain and simple, it just never happened. The rebuttals come as the articles author, and the Atlantic's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, has defended his decision to keep his sources anonymous and says he expects more information to come out in the coming days to corroborate his story about Trumps remarks The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg told CNN's Reliable Sources on Sunday that he expects more confirmation and new pieces of information to come out in the coming days and weeks that will corroborate about the alleged incendiary comments. Goldberg also addressed his use of anonymous sources, which has come under criticism from the president and others who believe that officials should not be allowed to launch bombshell allegations under the cloak of anonymity particularly in the build up to an election. These are not people who are anonymous to me, Goldberg told CNN. We all have to use anonymous sources especially in a climate in which the president of the United States tries to actively intimidate journalism organizations and people who provide information to journalism organizations. Goldberg said his decision to publish the article was made confidently, because of the number of sources he had, and their close ties to the president. The formula is simple, he continued. What you do is you have to say, does the public's right to know or need to know a particular piece of information outweigh the morally complicated and ambiguous qualities of anonymous sourcing. Most of us, most of the time, don't rely on anonymous sourcing for most things because there are difficulties there. But in this climate, with information that we judge the voters to need, we are going to use anonymous sources because we think the public has a right to know. Especially when you have four or five or six sources, primary sources, corroborating sources, telling you the same thing. Seoul/Tokyo: South Korea hunkered down as Typhoon Haishen travelled northwards along the country's east coast on Monday, a day after the powerful storm battered Japan's southern islands where four people are missing following a landslide. The storm, carrying top sustained winds of up to 112 kilometres per hour, cut power to more than 17,500 households in the southern tip of the Korean peninsula as it made landfall in the southern city of Ulsan, the country's weather agency said. An empty shopping arcade is seen in Fukuoka, Japan, ahead of Typhoon Haishen making landfall. Credit:Getty The wild weather uprooted trees and caused landslides near apartment buildings on Geoje Island, off the southeastern tip of the peninsula, according to footage sent by residents to local broadcaster KBS. At least one person was injured after their car overturned in strong winds in Busan, the country's second largest city, where there was also flooding, the safety ministry said in a statement. Donald Trump's children begged him to drop out of the 2016 presidential race after he made disparaging remarks about Hispanics during a speech announcing his candidacy, disgraced fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen's new book claims. In the book, Disloyal: A Memoir, Cohen recounts how Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka came to his office after their father's campaign announcement in 2015, during which he referred to people coming to the US from Mexico as drug dealers, rapists and murderers. Cohen claims they asked him to convince their father to drop out of the race, arguing his rhetoric was 'killing the company'. But, Trump was unconcerned with any harm to his businesses, Cohen says, quoting the future president as saying: 'Plus, I will never get the Hispanic vote. Like the blacks, they're too stupid to vote for Trump. They're not my people.' That incident was one of many examples of Trump's alleged racism laid out in Cohen's book, an advance copy of which was obtained by the Washington Post ahead of its publication on Tuesday. Donald Trump said Hispanics were 'like the blacks' and 'too stupid' to vote for him after he announced his presidential candidacy in 2015, Michael Cohen claims in his new book Cohen recounted how Don Jr, Eric and Ivanka (above with Trump in 2017) came to his office after Trump's campaign announcement and asked him to convince their father to drop out of the race, arguing his rhetoric was 'killing the company' In the book, Cohen reveals information about a variety of alleged Trump actions and statements that have made headlines since the former reality TV star ran for office. Cohen writes that he was 'one of Trump's bad guys,' while calling Trump - who he had previously defended to the hilt - 'a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man'. The disbarred lawyer - who is currently serving out a three-year federal prison sentence for tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations - also details Trump's 'hatred and contempt' of his predecessor, Barack Obama. Cohen's tell-all book, Disloyal: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump, is hitting the shelves on Tuesday Cohen claims that at some point in time, Trump hired a 'Faux-Bama' to star in a video, in which Trump 'ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him,' CNN reported Cohen as having written. The news organization, which also obtained a copy of the memoir, said that the actor who played Faux-Bama was not named and there's no hint of when or why the video was filmed. But, the book does include a color picture in which Trump can be seen sitting behind a desk opposite a besuited black man with graying hair and an American flag pin on his lapel. One of the books on Trump's desk reads 'Obama'. Over the years, Trump has been criticized for spreading 'birther' statements, which insinuated that Obama was unqualified to be president because he might not have been born in the US - an untrue theory. Among Cohen's book's claims was that Trump said the only reason why Obama had been admitted to Columbia University for undergrad and then Harvard Law School was because of 'f**king affirmative action.' Cohen also wrote that Trump's 'low opinion of all black folks' included him allegedly saying: 'Tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a s**thole. They are all complete f**king toilets.' Cohen wrote that Trump said the only reason why Barack Obama (pictured) got into Columbia University and Harvard Law was 'affirmative action' According to Cohen, Trump used the 's**thole' phrase again, when talking about South African President Nelson Mandela. When Mandela died in 2013, Cohen wrote that Trump didn't think Mandela 'was a real leader not the kind he respected'. Cohen claimed that Trump said 'Mandela f---ed the whole country up. Now it's a s**thole. F**k Mandela. He was no leader.' Cohen claimed that Trump said Nelson Mandela (pictured in 1996) had turned South Africa into a 's**thole' and that he 'was no leader' Mandela was a key figure in ending apartheid in South Africa, a practice which divided the country along racial lines. Trump was slammed in January 2018 after he allegedly said, during an Oval Office meeting about the visa lottery, 'Why do we want all these people from 's**thole countries' coming here?' while supposedly referring to Central American and African nations. He later denied making the 's**thole countries' remark. Despite all this, Cohen wrote that he never heard Trump utter the 'N-word'. In another anecdote that bites from headline-making news about Trump, Cohen wrote about a supposed 2013 visit Trump made to a Las Vegas strip club. Cohen wrote that Trump went to the strip club with Russian father-son oligarchs Aras and Emin Agalarov. During the visit, Cohen claimed that they watched as one of the strip club performers simulated urinating on another performer, who then pretended to drink it. According to Cohen, Trump reaction to what they saw on stage was 'disbelief and delight'. Cohen wrote that Trump allegedly said that his supporters would 'think it's cool that I slept with a porn star,' of the Stormy Daniels (in 2019) payoff scandal Cohen wrote Trump (center in 2013) visited a Las Vegas strip club with Russian oligarch Emin Agalarov (left) and Aras Agalarov (right), where they saw a simulated golden shower scene Cohen also said that while there was no collusion with Russia during the 2016 election, Trump (left) had cozied up with President Vladimir Putin (right) to help push along a future real estate development deal in Moscow In January 2017, word surfaced of a so-called 'pee tape', which was supposedly filmed at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Moscow in 2013, when Trump was attending the Miss Universe pageant there. In the alleged video - described in the Steele Dossier - Trump was said to have watched two prostitutes as they urinated on a bed Barack and Michelle Obama supposedly slept in. The tape was supposedly made because Russia's state security agency, the FSB, had the hotel under surveillance and had multiple microphones and hidden cameras in the room. Cohen wrote of the tape that 'this claim never occurred, to the best of my knowledge and investigations.' He did write that he was once approached by someone who claimed to have the tape in 2016, but that when Cohen asked to see a few seconds to determine it was real, the called demanded $20million and hung up. The person never reached out again, Cohen wrote. In discussing Trump's supposed admiration of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Cohen wrote that Trump admired Putin'complete control over the country, but that there was no collusion with Russia during the 2016 election. 'What appeared to be collusion was really a confluence of shared interests in harming Hillary Clinton in any way possible, up to and including interfering in the American election,' Cohen wrote, also claiming that Trump campaign officials were too disorganized to coordinate with Russia anyway. Cohen wrote that Trump hadn't expected to win the presidency and that his purpose in playing nice with Putin was an effort to make money off of a real estate development he was planning in Moscow post-election. Cohen also devoted portions of his book to Trump's alleged role in the Stormy Daniels hush money scandal, in which she claimed that she had an extramarital affair with Trump, but was paid $130,000 to keep her quiet prior to the 2016 election. Cohen admitted to using his own money to pay Daniels off, but said that Trump reimbursed him with 'fake legal fees,' according the AP, which also obtained an advance copy of the memoir. 'It never pays to settle these things, but many, many friends have advised me to pay,' Cohen wrote Trump said. 'If it comes out, I'm not sure how it would play with my supporters. But I bet they'd think it's cool that I slept with a porn star.' On a more personal note, Cohen included some alleged details about Trump's much discussed hairstyle. In the memoir, Cohen wrote that the distinctive hairdo is a 'three-step' combover, which was developed as a way to hide what Cohen called 'unsightly scars on his scalp from a failed hair-implant operation in the 1980s'. Cohen wrote that he once saw Trump post-shower, when his hair was down. According to Cohen, Trump's 'strands of dyed-golden hair reached below his shoulders along the right side of his head and on his back, like a balding Allman Brother or strung out old '60s hippie'. While making all these alleged revelations about his former client, Cohen also wrote: 'I care for Donald Trump, even to to this day. I had and still have a lot of affection for him.' While making all these alleged revelations about his former client, Cohen also wrote: 'I care for Donald Trump, even to to this day. I had and still have a lot of affection for him.' Trump and Cohen are pictured together at a dinner in 2011 Cohen wrote that his support of Trump for president was due to thinking 'Trump was a visionary with a no-nonsense attitude and the charisma to attract all kinds of voters', he writes. But, wrote that he really wanted Trump in the White House 'because I wanted the power that he would bring to me.' Cohen wrote in the memoir that things that Trump has been maligned for after he became president weren't obvious until after he was elected. 'Locking up your political enemies, criminalizing dissent, terrifying or bankrupting the free press through libel lawsuits -- Trump's all-encompassing vision wasn't evident to me before he began to run for president,' Cohen wrote. 'I honestly believe the most extreme ideas about power and its uses only really took shape as he began to seriously contemplate the implications of taking power and how he could leverage it to the absolute maximum level possible.' In a statement to the Washington Post Saturday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that 'Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies.' The White House, meanwhile told the AP that the memoir amounted to 'fan fiction.' Cohen 'readily admits to lying routinely but expects people to believe him now so that he can make money from book sales,' White House spokesman Brian Morgenstern said in a statement to the news agency. 'It's unfortunate that the media is exploiting this sad and desperate man to attack President Trump.' Actor-turned-MP and Biju Janata Dal deputy chief whip in Lok Sabha Anubhav Mohanty has landed in trouble after his wife Varsha Priyadarshini, a former actor in Odia films, accused him of physical and mental torture. In her petition filed in the court of Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate of Cuttack under section 12 of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, Priyadarshini alleged that her MP husband used to hit her after getting drunk. Accusing the MP of being a drunkard and his family members humiliating her, she levelled allegations of being treated like an insect. Mohanty and Priyadarshini, both leading actors of Odia film industry got married in 2014. The duo had acted in several movies together. He is a drunkard and womaniser. He uses vulgar language after getting drunk. After the last general election of 2019, the torture by Mohanty and his family members increased day by day which was beyond tolerance level, she alleged. She further alleged that for two months during the lockdown, she was left alone at her in-laws house in Cuttack and the MP did not take her to Delhi despite her pleading. After coming back from Delhi, my husband became violent and shouted at me. On June 7, my husband and his father rebuked me in filthy language for 2 hours. On June 11, my husband asked me to agree for mutual divorce and threatened me with dire consequences if I did not agree, Priyadarshini alleged in her petition. In her petition, she has demanded 15 crore compensation from Mohanty for the loss of her income as actor as well as medical expenses and monthly alimony of 70,000 towards house rent and maintenance. The case will come up for hearing in the court of SDJM on Monday. Priyadarshini has also filed a separate petition for restitution of conjugal rights under section 6 of Hindu Marriage Act in a family court of Cuttack. Mohanty, who was on a tour of his constituency Kendrapada today however, denied receiving any legal notice in the matter. I am yet to get any legal notice in the matter. I will let you know when I get it, said Mohanty who is also one of the national spokespersons of the BJD. Mumbai: A PIL in Bombay High Court has challenged an ordinance issued by the Union government restricting members of the public from depositing the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in Reserve Bank of India branches. The petition, filed recently by Congress leader Sachin Sawant, has sought quashing of the ordinance issued by the government on December 30 last year on the ground that it discriminates against people. The PIL says the impugned ordinance allows only a particular category of Indian citizens to exchange the banned notes. This concerns only those citizens who were outside the country from November 8 to December 30, when demonetisation had come into effect, as they could not exchange the banned currency with new notes in banks, it said. The public interest litigation, filed through lawyer Asim Sarode, is likely to come up for hearing in due course. The petition further alleged that the RBI had failed to follow its mandate of regulating the issuance of currency. The apex bank should be asked to clarify whether it was working under some pressure or is being overpowered by any politician, the PIL further contended. The PIL said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the people and a government notification on November 8 last year also said that if the citizens of the country were not able to deposit by December 30, 2016, the scrapped currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in the banks on account of any reason, they would get an opportunity to approach the specified offices of RBI by March 31, 2017. However, the Centres ordinance had given opportunity only to those citizens who were outside the country during the period November 8 to December 30 last year, to exchange the banned currency. This was against the assurance given by the PM in his address to the nation and hence, it constituted to a breach of trust, the petition argued. The petitioner, who is spokesman of Mumbai Congress unit, has also sought an interim stay on the impugned ordinance, pending hearing of the PIL in the high court. Paragraph 4 (i) of the ordinance creates discrimination between people who travelled outside India between November 8, 2016 to December 30, 2016 and people who were not travelling anywhere outside India for no valid reasons whatsoever, says the petition. The ordinance, dated December 30, 2016, is contrary to the earlier government notification of November 8, 2016, and hence people are facing many day-to-day problems and violation of their rights, the PIL alleged. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. SPRINGDALE, Utah Trish Jennings watched customers dining 6 feet apart outside her Bit & Spur Restaurant and Saloon on an evening in mid-August, missing the usual gregarious chatter of outdoor adventures. This small southwest Utah town sits just outside the gates of Zion National Park, and most of the restaurant's customers arrived after a day exploring the park's 2,000-foot-deep canyon. Jennings, 53, and her staff are accustomed to swapping hiking and camping stories with thousands of visitors every summer from all over the world, often forging new friendships. For many residents like Jennings, those daily exchanges were essential to the town's spirit, often making it seem bigger than a community of 660 people. But the COVID-19 pandemic along with Springdale's new social distancing measures and mask requirement have given the easygoing, sociable town a subdued feeling this summer. While tourists have steadily returned since the park reopened on May 13, there are still fewer than usual 449,518 recreational visitors in July, down from 629,802 the same time last year, with few, if any, coming from outside the country and the conversations in restaurants, shops and motels are shorter and more transactional. Many of the town's elderly residents are staying home, avoiding the crowds at the park. "We still try to talk to people as much as we can, but it's those connections, those heart connections, that you miss," said Jennings, who has co-owned the Bit & Spur for 26 years. "That's not happening like it used to." Image: (Mikayla Whitmore / for NBC News) As in many towns at the entrances to national parks, residents of Springdale have faced a dilemma during the pandemic: They need tourists to return with an influx of cash for local businesses, but they fear the virus those visitors could bring into their community. "It's like we're in the ultimate Catch-22, because we want them to return, but we also need people to play it safe," said Julie Gregoric, who has owned Springdale's Sol Foods Supermarket and Hoodoos General Store and Ice Cream Parlor for 20 years. Story continues Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Gregoric, 59, who described Sol Foods as catering to both the Cheez Whiz and Gouda crowds, misses joking with children about how many miles their parents made them hike or learning languages from the international visitors she can tell people how to get to the liquor store in French, Italian and Spanish. "It's hard to say when we'll be able to talk with people like that again," she said. Image: (Mikayla Whitmore / for NBC News) Springdale started as a farming community settled by Mormon pioneers in the late 1800s, but now the economy is almost entirely reliant on the more than 4 million tourists who visit Zion National Park every year. The hikers, backpackers and campers who stroll through the town from March to October are as much a part of Springdale's backdrop as the towering red and white sandstone canyon walls that encompass it. Springdale officials and residents knew the park's closure in early April would be financially devastating for many in town, but they still pleaded for it, to reduce the risk to residents. They worried that the virus could overwhelm the town's single private clinic, which had the capacity to splint sprains and stitch cuts but not treat people infected with a deadly virus. "The park was just getting really packed with people," Town Council member Suzanne Elger said. "So from a health and safety standpoint, it seemed like the best thing to do to protect the people who live here, work here and visit here." Town officials say that since March, there have been about a dozen coronavirus cases in Springdale and no deaths. After the park reopened in May following its six-week shutdown, Springdale officials enacted a mask mandate in July, requiring people to wear masks in retail and commercial establishments, while waiting to be seated and served at restaurants and at community gatherings. Utah is one of 16 states that do not have statewide mask mandates, and Springdale officials had to ask Gov. Gary Herbert, a Republican, for permission to enact the measure. Herbert agreed; he also allowed mask requirements in three other places in the state, including Grand County, home to Moab, just outside Arches and Canyonlands national parks. Elger noted that after Zion reopened, several Springdale businesses had to close temporarily because of potential coronavirus cases, but she said she has not heard of any more cases or business closures since the town enacted the mask mandate. Julie Gregoric, owner and operator of Sol Foods Supermarket and Hoodoos General Store. (Mikayla Whitmore / for NBC News) Most residents welcomed the new rules. Business owners who have already faced financial setbacks from the park's closure now face the urgency of earning the money they will need to stay afloat during the quieter winter, so several said they support safety regulations that will allow them to stay open. Gregoric began requiring masks inside her supermarket weeks before the town did so. Unlike other businesses that shut down after the park's closure, Gregoric kept her market open, because it's one of only two grocery stores in town. While she said most tourists abide by the rules, some refuse to wear masks, leading to tense discussions, including one that turned into a shouting match in August. "It's not something that happens around here very often," Gregoric said. "It doesn't feel good to have those conversations all the time, but it's what we need to do to keep everyone safe." Residents say they have noticed that most of the tourists who have come to Springdale this summer have driven from Nevada and Southern California. Some are first-time national park visitors, stir-crazy in their homes, hoping an outdoor trip would be safe. "I really didn't feel like there was much else to do right now," said Leah Cheshier, 26, who traveled from Houston to spend a week in the park with her fiance, Nick Mustachio, 35. It was the first vacation the couple had taken since the pandemic began in March. The pair, who both work for NASA, say they were not comfortable going to places where coronavirus cases were still surging, like Florida, nor did they want to go somewhere with many business closures. Cheshier said she noticed that visitors did not really interact with one another while in town, nor did anyone linger in the cafes or shops. "Most people just keep to themselves, and we did, too," she said. Zion National Park. (Mikayla Whitmore / for NBC News) Even with the partial return of tourism, some Springdale business owners remain uncertain about the future. Across the street from Gregoric's market is Under the Eaves Inn, a seven-room bed-and-breakfast in a green cottage with red trim. Mark Chambers, 59, and his husband, Joe Pitti, have owned and lived in it for about 11 years. Like many other local businesses, theirs was able to stay afloat this spring only when it received loans from federal coronavirus relief programs. "We just kept getting calls for cancellations, and we were returning deposits that we had counted on to make it through the previous winter," Chambers said. He said that usually by this time in the year, they are turning away customers because the inn is booked solid through September and October. But now, the couple say, reservations come in only about a week in advance. They have few walk-in guests, and many of their regular customers have canceled annual trips. "It's like we just have to wait and see what happens instead," Pitti, 59, said. Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak To make the inn safer, Chambers and Pitti shut down the main room, where they had invited guests to get coffee and watch goldfinches play in the birdbath in the front yard. The pair no longer greet guests as they come in, giving them a rundown of the town and getting to know them, which had been the couple's favorite part of being inn owners. They also miss conversations at the post office, where neighbors often ran into one another and stopped to discuss town happenings. Now, people just grab their mail and leave. "There is an absence of an energy that flows through the town in a much more kinetic way, because everyone is kind of in their own bubble," Pitti said. For now, he and Chambers are grateful to be in business this season. Pitti pointed to the sun shining down on the canyon peaks on a late August afternoon. "That right there, though," he said. "That's what keeps us going." BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 6 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Switzerland amounted to $902.2 million over first five months of 2020, compared to $1.1 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of Switzerland in total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at less than 2.6 percent during the reporting period compared to 3 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to Switzerland amounted to $831.4 million over the period from January through May 2020, compared to $1.06 billion during the same period of 2019. Switzerlands share in total volume of Kazakhstans export amounted to less than 3.7 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 4.5 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from Switzerland amounted to nearly $70.8 million over the reporting period, compared to $54.7 million during the same period of 2019. Switzerlands share in total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 0.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 0.4 percent during the same period of 2019. The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $34.9 billion over the period from Jan. through May 2020 which indicates a decrease from $37.5 billion during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export amounted to $22.3 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($23.6 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas import amounted to $12.6 billion ($13.9 billion in 2019). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh CLARIFICATION: The original version of this story included a photograph of a vacation rental that has fully complied with the city of Carlsbads short-term rental ordinance. Carlsbad plans to hire an outside company to help enforce a 2015 city law regulating vacation rentals in the coastal tourist town. The city is one of dozens across the states struggling to get a handle on short-term rentals, which have proliferated with the advent of websites like Airbnb and VRBO. Passing an ordinance is the first step; getting property owners to comply with it comes next. Of the more than 2,100 properties listed as vacation rentals in Carlsbad, only about 340 have obtained the required city permits, officials said. Advertisement Its been slow going, said Carlsbad Housing and Neighborhood Services Director Debbie Fountain. Without adequate resources to search out the non-compliant properties, many cities are turning to outside contractors like San Francisco-based Host Compliance. Founded in 2015 by Harvard MBA graduate Ulrik Binzer, the company uses online sources to help cities identify all short-term rentals, monitor registration and tax compliance, and uncover any fraudulent practices. Its sort of like we give the code enforcement staff a tool to make them more effective at their job, Binzer said in a phone interview Wednesday. He declined to discuss the exact process his company uses because its proprietary information. There is nothing sort of hocus pocus about it, he said. What we do is automate things that the city staff would otherwise have to do manually. The information obtained is all public, he said, and most property owners do the right thing and comply once somebody contacts them with information about permits and taxes. Host Compliance has contracts with about 15 jurisdictions in California, including Oceanside, Binzer said. All are tourist destinations struggling with the same issues, he said. As a result of the compliance work, the number of active vacation-rentals registered in Oceanside and paying transit occupancy tax to the city increased from 546 to 631, City Planner Jeff Hunt said Thursday. Some cities are taking a different approach to compliance. Earlier this month, Solana Beach approved a deal with Airbnb that requires Airbnb to automatically collect transient occupancy taxes on any bookings in the city and forward that money along. City officials said the move was an effort to boost compliance with the citys vacation-rental ordinance and increase with increase tax revenue. San Diego and Los Angeles have similar agreements with Airbnb, which is the largest of the online home-sharing services. Not every beach city has a short-term rental ordinance. Del Mar has essentially turned a blind eye to the rentals since the 1970s, until about two years when they became too widespread to ignore. Now, as the result of residents complaints about noise, trash and parking problems, the small coastal community is struggling to define where the rentals are allowed and what the rules for them should be. Enforcement in Carlsbad has been tough in part because the number of short-term vacation rentals has increased rapidly from about 400 when the city approved its ordinance, Fountain said. Officials estimate that of the 10 percent of Carlsbad owners that do have permits, only about 25 percent of those comply with all the operating conditions set under the citys ordinance. The Carlsbad City Council agreed unanimously Tuesday to spend $100,000 on a one-year pilot program using professional services for code enforcement and related compliance efforts. The city will advertise for bids from companies that want to provide the service, and hopes to have a program in place by summer, Fountain said. So far Carlsbads ordinance appears to be successful despite the low level of compliance, council members said. About 100 rentals have ceased that were operating in residential neighborhoods outside the permitted areas, and complaints have dwindled. The intent of the citys ordinance was to give us a tool to regulate bad actors, said Councilman Mark Packard, and that appears to be working. About five written notices have been sent to property owners where problems have been reported, a city staffer said. Tax revenue collected from the rentals is on the rise. Carlsbad collected almost $507,000 in transient occupancy tax from short-term rentals in fiscal 2015-16, which ended June 30, up from $372,000 the previous fiscal year. The city had collected more than $418,000 through February of the current fiscal year. In addition to hiring the compliance service, the city agreed Tuesday to several amendments and revisions to its short-term vacation rental ordinance. Anything less than 30 days is considered a short-term rental. A definition of bedroom needs to be added to prevent overcrowding, Fountain said. The ordinance limits the number of people per bedroom in a rental, and too often the owners try to include spaces such as living rooms and patios as bedrooms to increase the number of guests. Also, the city will add an impact response plan that requires owners to provide neighbors within 300 feet with contact information for someone to call if theres a problem such as a loud party or vehicles parked inappropriately. There is no plan to change the boundaries of the area where short-term rentals are allowed, she said. Carlsbad limits the rentals to neighborhoods in its coastal zone, which generally is west of El Camino Real and excludes parts of the downtown Village, most neighborhoods along Carlsbad Village Drive, and areas around McClellan-Palomar Airport. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl The much-awaited construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya will begin after September 17 when the 'Pitra Paksh' period ends. Pitra Paksh refers to the period when Hindus express gratitude to their ancestors and no auspicious work is done during this period. According to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary, Champat Rai, country's leading construction company Larsen and Toubro is all set to lay the foundation of the grand temple, which would come up in 12,879 square metre area on Ram Janmabhoomi campus. The company is carrying out construction without charging any fee. Around 1,200 pillars will be laid around 100 feet below the surface to prepare the temple's foundation. These pillars will be of stone and no iron will be used. Again, on these pillars, another layer of foundation will be laid. The construction company has sourced machines from Mumbai and is in the process of sourcing machines from Hyderabad. The Trust is expected to engage around 100 labourers to lay the foundation of the temple. All workers will be tested for the coronavirus and thermal-scanned before being allowed entry into the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. Last week, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) had approved two layouts -- one of Ram mandir and another of the entire Ram Janmabhoomi campus. The ADA also handed over the layouts to the Trust on September 4 after it deposited requisite fee in the development authority's bank account. The proposed Ram mandir will be 360 feet long, 235 feet wide and 161 feet high and will have five domes. According to the Trust, the temple's foundation will be laid by using modern techniques so that it could be preserved for over 1,500 years and its structure for 1,000 years. Experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee and IIT Madras have been roped in to make the temple's foundation strong so that it can withstand earthquakes and storms. Kesavananda Bharati, on whose petition the Supreme Court delivered the landmark judgment on the celebrated doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution, died in Kasaragod on Sunday. Photograph: Kind courtesy @ChouhanShivraj /Twitter Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among a host of leaders who condoled the demise of the 79-year old Kerala-based seer, saying he will be remembered for his service to the people. Police said Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru died at the Edaneer Mutt in Kasaragod due to age related ailments. "As per the information with us, he passed away at around 3.30 am on Sunday," police told PTI. People from all walks of life paid homage to the departed seer at the Edneer Mutt of which he became the head overfive decades ago. The case in which Bharati had challenged Kerala Land Reform laws nearly four decades ago set the principle that the Supreme Court is the guardian of the basic structure of the Constitution and the verdict involved 13 judges, the largest bench ever to sit in the apex court. While the seer did not get the relief he wanted, the case became significant for its landmark judgment which clipped the widest power of Parliament to amend the Constitution and simultaneously gave judiciary the authority to review any amendment. Former Judge of Madras high court Justice K Chandru told PTI: "The Kesavananda Bharati case is significant for its ruling that the Constitution can be amended but not the basic structure." Senior Advocate Arvind P Datar said when some parcels of land of the Edaneer Mutt were acquired under the land reform laws of Kerala, Bharati moved the Kerala high court against it and partially succeeded. However, when the 29th Constitutional Amendment was adopted by Parliament giving protection to Kerala laws, the seer moved the Supreme Court challenging it. The apex court ruled that the 29th Amendment is valid and held that the two Kerala land Acts that were included in the Ninth Schedule are entitled to the protection of Article 31B of the (validation of certain acts and regulations) Constitution. The verdict had held that though Parliament has power to amend under Article 368 of the Constitution, it did not have the power to emasculate its basic features. Besides Naidu and Modi, Union Minister V Muraleedharan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, BJP Kerala unit president K Surendran were among those who paid rich tributes to the seer. 'Kesavananda Bharati Swamiji, the seer of Edneer Mutt was a rare blend of philosopher, classical singer and a cultural icon. His patronage of Yakshagana was crucial in reviving this traditional theatre form in Karnataka. #KesavanandaBharati,' Naidu tweeted. The prime minister said on his twitter handle, 'We will always remember Pujya Kesavananda Bharati Ji for his contributions towards community service and empowering the downtrodden. He was deeply attached to India's rich culture and our great Constitution. He will continue to inspire generations. Om Shanti.' The case of Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala was heard for 68 days and continues to hold the top spot for the longest proceedings ever to have taken place in the top court. The hearing in the case commenced on October 31, 1972, and concluded on March 23, 1973 and it's the most referred to case name in Indian Constitutional law. After actor Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora too has tested positive for COVID-19, the actor announced on her Instagram handle. She added that she is asymptomatic and has quarantined at home. Her post read, "Today I have tested positive for coronavirus but I want to inform you all that I am feeling fine." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Malaika Arora (@malaikaaroraofficial) on Sep 6, 2020 at 10:54pm PDT She added, "I am asymptomatic and following all the required protocols and will be quarantined at home as instructed by my doctor and authorities. I request all of you to stay calm and safe. Thank you for all your support . Much love. Malaika Arora" On September 6, her beau actor Arjun Kapoor confirmed that he had tested positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic As reported by News18, the dance reality show India's Best Dancer had to shut down shoot as seven-to-eight unit members tested positive for COVID-19, a show where Malaika is a co-judge along with choreographers Geeta Kapoor and Terence Lewis. However, it is not yet confirmed whether she got infected on the sets or not. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Your browser does not support the video tag. Kesavananda Bharati, the seer who had initiated the constitutional case before the Supreme Court (SC) that had led to the birth of the legal doctrine of basic structure, passed away on Sunday morning in his ashram at Edneer in north Keralas Kasaragod district. He was 79 years old. Bharati had filed the case on March 21, 1970 challenging the Kerala Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1969 and the three Constitutional amendments --- 24, 25 and 29 -- on the ground that they violated his fundamental right to practice and propagate religion (Article 25); freedom of religious denomination, including managing and administering its property, (Article 26); and right to property (Article 31). He had challenged the law after the legislation regarding land reforms had threatened to strip his mutt of its property which was the only source of income for the ashram. Acclaimed lawyer Nani Palkhivala had appeared for Bharati before a 13- judge SC bench. It was the only time a bench of 13 judges, which was the full strength of the apex court at that point of time, had sat to decide a case. It was the longest heard case before the apex court, as the hearing went on for 69 days from October 31, 1972 to March 23, 1973. The SC ruling on the 24th amendment was crucial as far as Constitution and Parliaments powers were concerned. The 24th amendment empowered that Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution. The amendment, which was brought about in 1971, was done to overcome an earlier judgement of the SC in the Golaknath v. State of Punjab case. In the Golaknath case, the SC had held that Parliament cannot amend Constitution in a manner that it takes away or abridges the fundamental rights of the Constitution. That ruling was based on the interpretation of Articles 13 and 368 of the Constitution. Article 13 states that Parliament cannot make any law that violates fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution. Article 368 empowers Parliament to make amendments to the constitution. The issue before the court was whether the word law under Article 13 would include a constitutional amendment under Article 368. In the Golaknath judgement, it was held that an amendment under Article 368 was law within the ambit of the definition of Article 13. It had ruled that Parliament does not have the power to amend Part III of the Constitution. The 24th amendment had provided that the bar under Article 13 would not apply to any constitutional amendment made under Article 368. As a result, Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, including fundamental rights. The Bharati judgement by a majority of 7:6 had upheld this power. But it came with a powerful rider that such amendments should not alter the basic structure of the Constitution. However, the apex court did not give an exhaustive list of what would constitute basic structure of the Constitution. The interpretation was left open ended and has been time and again used to strike down laws that the SC felt distorted the Constitution. France, meanwhile, says sanctions against Ankara are on the table during European Council meeting later this month. Turkeys armed forces on Sunday began annual exercises in the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus an entity recognised only by Ankara as tensions continue to rise with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkeys hunt for gas and oil reserves in waters claimed by Greece has put a huge strain on the relationship between the two NATO members. As tensions run high, the Turkish military began its exercises called Mediterranean Storm with the Turkish Cypriot Security Command, Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Twitter. The security priorities of our country and the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] are indispensable, along with diplomatic solutions in the eastern Mediterranean, Oktay said. The Turkish defence ministry also tweeted the military exercises, which last until Thursday, continued successfully. Cyprus is divided between the Greek Cypriot-run south an EU member state and the Turkish Cypriot north. Turkey has stationed tens of thousands of troops in the north of the island since its 1974 invasion, which followed a coup engineered by military rulers in Greece. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Council President Charles Michel discussed developments in the eastern Mediterranean on Sunday during a phone call. The Turkish leader invited EU institutions and member states to be fair, impartial, and objective and to act responsibly on regional issues, particularly the eastern Mediterranean, the presidents office said in a statement. Michel said on Friday that European Union leaders will decide on a carrot and stick approach to Turkey when they meet on September 24-25, proposing a conference to defuse tensions. Meanwhile, Erdogan met Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Istanbul on Sunday to hold talks on the tensions in the Mediterranean among other issues. According to Turkeys Directorate of Communications, the leaders discussed the steps to protect the rights of Turkey and Libya in the Eastern Mediterranean and terms to strengthen the cooperation in the region under a deal signed between the two sides. In November 2019, Ankara and Tripoli signed an agreement covering their maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey sanctions Erdogan on Saturday raised the stakes by warning Greece: They will either understand the language of politics and diplomacy, or on the field through bitter experiences. France said Turkeys escalating conflict with Greece and Cyprus will be the main subject at this months European Council meeting, when sanctions will be considered against Ankara. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he and his counterparts in other EU countries had already discussed the range of reprisals we could take with regards to Turkey. Turkey embarked on a military-backed hydrocarbon exploration venture in waters between Greece and Cyprus on August 10, ratcheting up tensions in a strategic corridor of the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece responded with naval exercises to defend its maritime territory, which were later bolstered by the deployment of French frigates and fighter jets. Up to the Turks The dispute between NATO members has underscored the rising geopolitical risks in the area as Turkey pursues more aggressively nationalist policies under Erdogan. The European Unions diplomatic chief Josep Borrell has also raised the possibility of sanctions against Ankara, but so far Paris has been unable to persuade other EU nations to join its hardline response. Le Drian urged Erdogan to begin talks over its Eastern Mediterranean ambitions between now and the European Council meeting. Its up to the Turks to show that this matter can be discussed, he told France Inter radio. If so, we can create a virtuous circle for all the problems on the table. While he declined to specify the type of sanctions Ankara could face, he said there was an entire series of measures. We are not short of options and he knows that, said Le Drian referring to Erdogan. She's best known for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown. And, Vanessa Kirby looked chic in a monochrome ensemble as she attended a photocall for The World To Come at the 77th Venice Film Festival, in Italy, on Sunday. The Mission Impossible actress, 32, commanded attention on the grey carpet in a patterned pencil skirt and form fitting T-shirt both by Giorgio Armani. Elegant: Vanessa Kirby, 32, looked chic in a monochrome ensemble as she attended a photocall for The World To Come at the 77th Venice Film Festival, in Italy, on Sunday Vanessa's black tee featured a statement neckline which tied in perfectly with the black, white and grey pattern of her tailored skirt. The Me Before You star boosted her height with a classic pair of pointed stilettos, and sported an edgy black manicure. Her blonde tresses were parted in the centre and styled sleek and straight, while her natural beauty was enhanced with a smokey eye and full eyebrows. The star had fun on the grey carpet as she posed for solo shots, before donning a black face mask in order to have photographs taken with her co-stars. Sleek: The Mission Impossible actress commanded attention on the grey carpet in a patterned pencil skirt and form fitting T-shirt both by Giorgio Armani Stylish: Vanessa's black tee featured a statement neckline which tied in perfectly with the black, white and grey pattern of her tailored skirt Looking good: The Me Before You star boosted her height with a classic pair of pointed stilettos, and sported an edgy black manicure Beauty: Her blonde tresses were parted in the centre and styled sleek and straight, while her natural beauty was enhanced with a smokey eye and full eyebrows Fun times: The star had fun on the grey carpet as she posed for solo shots, before donning a black face mask in order to have photographs taken with her co-stars Katherine Waterston, 40, contrasted her outfit to Vanessa's, stepping out in all-white for the photocall. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them star teamed a subtly pleated A-line skirt with a zip-up collared shirt. The actress wore her raven locks in an understated half-up, half-down 'do and shielded her mouth and nose with a stark white face mask. Safety first: Vanessa shielded her mouth and nose with a black face mask Prim and proper: Katherine Waterston, 40, contrasted her outfit to Vanessa's, stepping out in all-white for the photocall Not just colleagues: The actresses proved their strong friendship as they held hands Safety first: The actress shielded her mouth and nose with a stark white face mask Caring: Katherine wrapped her arm around Vanessa's waist as they posed for photographs The duo were joined by Norwegian director Mona Fastvold, American producer Christine Vachon and actor Christopher Abbott, 34, for a group shot. The Sinner star rocked a quirky outfit, stepping out in white tracksuit bottoms and a collared jumper, which he teamed with a white tuxedo jacket. The actor wore black high-top trainers, a chain necklace and sported attention-grabbing blonde-tipped curls. The World To Come is set on the American East Coast in the mid-19th century, where two neighboring couples battle hardship and isolation, and is based upon Jim Shepard's novel of the same name Standing out: Christopher Abbott, 34, rocked a quirky outfit, stepping out in white tracksuit bottoms and a collared jumper, which he teamed with a white tuxedo jacket Group shot! The stars of the film were joined joined by Norwegian director Mona Fastvold (second left) and American producer Christine Vachon (second right) In an urban church near looted downtown buildings in Kenosha, Wis., Joe Biden told the diverse group in the pews that President Donald Trump was the accelerant for the country's burning racial divide. An hour later, in a leafy Milwaukee suburb that is 90 percent White, Biden discussed the challenges of going back to school when districts are struggling to reopen - a problem they wouldn't have, he said, if Trump hadn't bungled the coronavirus response. The next day, Biden said in a nationally televised speech that the nation's recovery would be racing ahead if not for one man, Trump, whose coronavirus response he said cratered the economy. Biden has been under intense pressure from allies to hasten his campaign pace - but from there the advice has diverged, with some favoring a strategy meant to attract some White working-class voters and others Black voters who are mobilizing and calling for racial justice. Amid the frenzy of recommendations, Biden has settled on a through line meant to appeal to everyone: Trump is the reason for all of America's most pressing ills, no matter which one matters most to a specific audience. A newly energized Biden campaign last week demonstrated its biggest burst of campaign activity in six months, as an internal debate over how to position Biden for the rush to November led to a far more aggressive candidate, a rewritten campaign message and a robust travel schedule. While the tension over responding to the nation's urban protests and Trump's new emphasis on "law and order" prompted adjustments last week, many Biden advisers say they still believe the election will be decided on Trump's response to the coronavirus, which has disrupted the economy and continues to be a major health crisis that is killing nearly 1,000 Americans each day. "This is foundational. ... This is where the public is, this is their focus, this is what they believe this election is about," said Mike Donilon, the campaign's top strategist. "The president tried to reformulate it as a law and order campaign. ... There was a lot of speculation that when he did that, that would work to his benefit and drive the electorate there." "That didn't happen," he added. "The public is still primarily focused on the central issue in their life, which is the virus. They're still very much focused on the fact that there's not really a plan that they see in place, that the death toll continues to rise, that the economy continues to suffer, that their kids can't really go back to school - and their lives are still upended. That is the fundamental truth of this election." The divisions over which voters Biden should seek out to win the White House stemmed not only from long-standing Democratic disputes but also from the quirks of Biden's own coalition. He eased to the nomination because of strong support among Black voters, particularly older ones, but also has long had more cachet than many other Democrats among White voters in suburbs and rural areas. The tension since this summer has rested on the question of whether those groups' goals had separated due to urban unrest or whether they would unify in a shared desire to defeat Trump. In the past week - besides the advice Biden heard from backers like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., both of whom demanded more attention to their state - two strains competed for prominence. Some worried that Biden has been talking too much about protests against police treatment of Black Americans, potentially alienating White voters. Concern grew not only as Trump focused on the lawlessness that arose from some of the protests, but amid polling signs that support was plummeting for Black Lives Matter protests, particularly in such states as Wisconsin and Minnesota. Then, after Biden released an new ad on Wednesday calling out lawlessness and looting, some top advisers heard complaints that it should not have relied so heavily on images of destroyed downtown buildings and clashes in the streets, lest it offend Black voters by distracting from the actions of police. "We're condemning violence and you have a problem with that?" an incredulous adviser responded, recounting the exchange on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Angela Rye, a Democratic strategist and former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, said Biden "should be focusing on a winning message of justice and equity rather than doubling down on Trump rhetoric." "Law-and-order messaging is dangerous and it is the very thing that has cost Black people their lives," said Rye, who has urged the campaign to focus instead on the peaceful nature of most protests. "Law and order means shoot to kill Black people." Trump's campaign, meanwhile, has delighted in forcing Biden to spend money to defend his position on the protests, after months of struggling to shift the campaign conversation away from the coronavirus pandemic. At campaign events, Trump continues to both attack Black Lives Matter protests and try to appeal to Black voters by boasting of his economic and criminal justice reform record. "Why did Joe Biden actually have to go out in public and say, 'Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters?' Because to most Americans, that's exactly what he is when he excuses the rioters and calls them 'peaceful protesters' and blames law enforcement for inciting the violence," Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said. "Voters in all communities can see that President Trump has stood for law and order, while Joe Biden is too weak to stand up to the radical, anti-police wing of his party." While some Biden aides wanted him to take on Trump's law and order message, others were upset, believing that he was allowing Trump to goad him and set the agenda. Biden himself on Friday ruminated over whether he should respond to the things that Trump says, worried that it could distract from his own agenda. "It's a conundrum," Biden said, amid a flurry of questions from reporters in which he was asked to respond to things that Trump had recently said or done. Biden's attempt to deliver an anti-Trump message to different audiences seems destined to continue when he travels on Wednesday to Michigan. Tentative plans include a stop in Detroit, where a low turnout of Black voters in 2016 helped defeat Hillary Clinton, and a meeting with autoworkers in suburban Macomb County. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich, has been urging Biden to come to the crucial swing county that twice voted for Barack Obama before Trump easily won it in 2016. On Friday, both Biden and Trump are scheduled to be in Shanksville, Pa., for the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The Biden team says the conventions and the burst of activity after them did little to change the dynamics of the race, stoking their optimistic view of their chances. The campaign raised a record-breaking $364.5 million in August - and brought in 1.5 million new donors - which has enabled it to outspend Trump's campaign. Biden's campaign has spent $22 million in Pennsylvania on TV and radio ads, compared with $10.3 million from Trump. Biden has also far outspent Trump in Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona. In Wisconsin, the campaign has 242 staffers, targeting women and rural voters. In Pennsylvania, it has 347 staffers trying to turn out Democrats in Philadelphia and swing voters in the surrounding counties who sided with the party in 2018 races. Minnesota, a state Democrats haven't lost since 1972, ranks as Biden's top defensive target, and the campaign is also eyeing typically Republican Georgia, where 112 staffers are aiming at an increasingly diverse electorate. "We understand that we are in for a fight to the very end. We have no illusion about how tough this race is and how tough it will be to the end," Donilon said. "But the truth is there has been a pretty consistent standing for the vice president in the most important states, in the battlegrounds." The campaign also is putting in place several voter-protection efforts, with hotlines in 15 battleground states to monitor any problems voters have in casting ballots. Campaign aides have declined to detail any plans to handle the time period directly after Nov. 3, when some Democrats fear results might not be clear from mail-in ballots and Trump could move to declare victory based on early results. "There are big states that will be called on election night. And there will be a significant amount of the vote that will be called on election night," said Jen O'Malley Dillon, the Biden campaign manager. "So at the end of the day, I think that for us, our job is to make sure we get the most votes." Biden's new more aggressively public strategy also culminates months of discussion inside his campaign over how to handle health concerns, an effort to both model what they think is responsible behavior but also to protect him from getting the coronavirus. It is not an idle concern for the oldest candidate to ever be nominated by a major party, one who at 77 is in the most at-risk age ground and who, until recently, was not being regularly tested for the virus. Those around him have long been fearful that he could catch the virus, which is one reason he spent months largely confined to the basement of his Wilmington, Del., home. But in recent weeks, the desire to insulate him has collided with the need to get on the campaign trail, leading advisers to recommend he take on a more robust schedule. Biden said he would not do any "irresponsible rallies," and his campaign is reviewing guidelines in various states to make sure they comply. Most events, advisers say, would be done in small group settings. If a state sees a spike in coronavirus cases, campaign events could be canceled. "What you'll see from our travel is that it will always put safety first. That will be fundamental," O'Malley Dillon said. "You'll never see the vice president with a big large crowd, without people with masks on, because it's just not safe and every expert in the country has said that." Biden's campaign has closely monitored the daily cases and deaths, and its says that in some places the virus has leveled off enough for him to travel. His campaign headquarters in Philadelphia is not likely to reopen; staffers are now spread around the country and some have given up the apartments where they once lived near the now-empty office. The small number of aides in regular contact with Biden, and who are allowed inside his home, are tested regularly. His medical advisers have also determined that he can fly on chartered planes, as long as they are sanitized properly. So far none of his trips have been overnight, which prevents the need to stay in a hotel. "The vice president has been trying to press the flesh for a while because that's what he's best at," said Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., co-chairman of Biden's campaign. "It's now apparent that we can do it in a safe and responsible manner and not put people at risk." "It's not all about his health - it's about the people who will come out, their health too. We're not going to put people's lives in jeopardy," Richmond added. "There are ways to campaign. Having a speech on the lawn of the White House with no one wearing masks is not the responsible way to do it." - - - The Washington Post's Michael Scherer contributed to this report. Nilanjana Chatterjee, a resident of the Anandapur area in south Kolkata, was injured when she risked her life on Saturday night to save a woman who was allegedly attacked in a running car by its driver. The incident happened on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. Chatterjee, who was returning home with her husband in their car, heard a woman sitting beside the driver of a Honda City behind them crying for help. Chatterjees husband, Deep Satpathy, stopped his car to block the path of the Honda. My wife got down and rushed towards the Honda. Its driver pushed the woman out of the car and tried to speed away. The car hit my wife and the driver drove over her leg. Her shin bone broke, Satpathy told the media. I frantically dialled the police emergency number. The police acted very promptly. A police team arrived at the spot and an ambulance too was rushed to take my wife to hospital. She will undergo surgery, Satpathy added. The Anandapur police station arrested Amitabha Basu, the driver of the Honda, on Sunday afternoon. The woman he allegedly attacked registered a complaint of molestation, said officers at the police station. The woman said in her complaint that she got acquainted with Basu less than a week ago and the two decided to go out on Saturday evening. The woman alleged that Basu attacked her and tore her clothes during an altercation. She alleged that she asked Basu to drop her home but he refused. The incident triggered a furore in Kolkata and prominent citizens spoke out. While on one hand the incident exposes the risk women face, it also shows how bravery can teach us a lesson. I salute this act of bravery, said noted thespian Debshankar Haldar. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Vietnamese Youths and Students' Association (VYSA) in Japan on September 5 arranged the VYSA School Fair 2020 on a virtual platform. Since 2015, the annual event has worked to support Vietnamese students who want to pursue further studies in Japan. This years edition saw the participation of 18 Japanese educational establishments, including 10 universities, four colleges and vocational schools. Vietnamese students at home and currently staying in Japan together with representatives of the establishments joined discussions on enrolment conditions, scholarships and other issues. The VYSA is working with the Embassy of Vietnam in Japan to roll out a scheme offering tuition fee support for outstanding Vietnamese students hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is covered by the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Application for the programme will be welcomed until September 30, according to the VYSA. Established in 2001, the VYSA is a non-profit organisation with 13 chapters across Japan. It hosted a number of activities for Vietnamese students in the country. VNA Daniel Andrews announced he has 'no time for politics' as he faced tough questions on his 'road map' out of coronavirus lockdown on Sunday. The Project host Lisa Wilkinson grilled the Victorian premier on the mental health risks of extending Victoria's lockdown by two weeks. 'How are you deciding the balance between the covid health risk and the mental health risk, particularly with today's extension of another two weeks?' Wilkinson asked. 'Because isn't there a real danger of the mental health cost of COVID leaving a much deeper scar for generations to come?' Disturbing footage of Victorians being arrested for rebelling against coronavirus restrictions - including of a pregnant woman who allegedly organised a protest on Facebook - has been uploaded in recent days. 'Freedom Day' protests broke out in Melbourne on Saturday and Premier Andrews was criticised when police cracked down on the anti-lockdown demonstrators because they had let thousands of people gather for Black Lives Matter rallies in June. Premier Andrews acknowledged lockdown trauma could exacerbate mental illness and said his government would 'double and redouble' its efforts to support people experiencing it for the first time because of lockdown stress. 'The need is greater because of the pressure of these last months,' he said. Earlier on Sunday Mr Andrews revealed the Stage Four coronavirus lockdown would be in place over metropolitan Melbourne until September 28, an extension of two weeks. Project host Lisa Wilkinson (left) grilled Victorian Daniel Andrews (right) on the mental health costs of extending the lockdown on a community that is clearly tiring of it After that, a four-step program out of restrictions would gradually reopen the state as daily new infection numbers fall. The Victorian Premier has been heavily criticised in recent weeks for his tough lockdown including by business lobby groups and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett. Mr Kennett called Premier Andrews 'a megalomaniac' who was 'destroying' Victoria's economy and urged independent senators to join the opposition to block legislation extending the State of Emergency, calling it a 'grab for dictatorial power'. The extension passed last Wednesday, however, giving Victoria's Parliament the power to enforce coronavirus restrictions without a Parliamentary vote for an extra six months. Ms Wilkinson said there had been 'strong and varied' reactions to the extended lockdown announcement, and asked why businesses that had covid-safe plans and no transmissions couldn't open. Premier Andrews said Victoria could not pretend the pandemic was over and simply reopen as that would doom the state to unnecessary future lockdowns. 'It's not so much whether a business has had a history of infections, we simply can't allow their customers out of their homes as if this virus didn't actually exist,' he said 'It's about how many customers, how many citizens, can we have moving freely throughout metropolitan Melbourne, throughout regional Victoria, and that point seems to have been missed. 'We can't ignore the reality we face. Just because we want this to be over, we can't pretend that it is. Peter Van Onselen (left) also pressed the Victorian Premier (right) on the tough issues, asking why NSW was so different to Victoria, and why the numbers hadn't fallen enough to open up 'There's a lot of pain out there, I understand that, but there'll be even more pain if we're open for just a few weeks and then shut down again for months.' Co-host Peter Van Onselen asked the Premier why his approach was so different from NSW, saying: 'If you were running NSW it would be locked down right now ... how do you explain the difference?' Premier Andrews said it was because Victoria had much more community transmission than NSW, and they had many mystery cases where tracers cannot work out how they got it or who they got it from. Victoria announced 63 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, while NSW reported 10 in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday. However Peter Van Onselen pressed the Premier on his covid performance, saying people had been mostly doing the right thing. Premier Daniel Andrews delivers the hard news about the extended lockdown and the four-week roadmap out of coronavirus restrictions on Sunday An empty shopping mall in Melbourne on Sunday. Business groups are among those who have criticised Victoria's premier in recent weeks as the lockdown cuts into the economy 'Why haven't the numbers gone down?' he asked. The Premier said they had. 'Well look, the numbers have come down from over 700 to some 63 cases today, that is a mighty effort,' Premier Andrews said. Mr Andrews said the virus was 'wildly infectious' and it was a 'dynamic environment', and that if people let frustration get the better of them, and demanded the state open too early, then repeated lockdowns next year would be the result. Poll Did Premier Daniel Andrews make the right call to extend the lockdown in Victoria? YES NO UNDECIDED Did Premier Daniel Andrews make the right call to extend the lockdown in Victoria? YES 217 votes NO 510 votes UNDECIDED 24 votes Now share your opinion 'If we all convince ourselves to pretend its over when it isnt, itll be back and itll be back with a vengeance,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt put out a joint statement on Sunday afternoon calling Premier Andrews' lockdown extension 'hard and crushing news' for Victoria. The trio said Victoria's contact tracing needed to be strengthened to the highest possible levels, saying that was what had helped the NSW Liberal government under Gladys Berejiklian to keep the state open while containing the virus. 'This is the way forward. Restrictions are not substitutes for strengthening health systems to cope with the virus, especially when community outbreak is brought under control,' they said. 'The most effective means of reducing community transmission must be an effective testing, tracing and quarantine system, bolstered by enhanced local health capacity and physical distancing. These are essential prerequisites to reduce the spread, save lives and manage the economic and job impacts.' The Project's Peter Van Onselen put the statement's implied criticism to Premier Andrews, who responded that he didn't want to politicise the virus. 'Oh, well you need to speak to the Prime Minister about the words he chooses in media releases, I spoke to him this morning before I made these announcements,' he told The Project's Peter Van Onselen. 'Our partnership is a very important one, theres no time for politics in this.' When pressed further, he dug in to his position. 'Prime Ministers and Premiers need to be focused on the job at hand - and thats not trying to interpret media releases, thats working together as closely as we can to get this job done and thats exactly what were doing.' The NSW government is raking in more than $40 million a year in fines from tens of thousands of people found to be driving unregistered vehicles. Scrapping car rego stickers saved the state government $575,000 in printing costs in 2013 and was sold to drivers as "making life easier". Kevin Ledley received a fine for having his car registration expire, a trap tens of thousands of people fall into each year. Credit:Janie Barrett But it also added millions in fines with 50,000 or more drivers busted in unregistered vehicles coughing up more than $250 million since 2013. At the end of 2010, about 34,000 people were fined $17.4 million for driving unregistered. In 2013, almost 59,000 drivers were fined $35.5 million. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is considering revising the Law on Environmental Protection which took effect in 2014. People in Hanoi gather recycled waste and exchange for presents as part of a campaign which encourages local community to classify waste at source (Photo: VNA) Three core topics set for amendment are removing required environmental licenses, assessing the environmental impacts of projects and the treatment of solid domestic waste. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said the five-year-old law needed updated to keep up with the changes of the country and of the world. Environmental problems have not been properly addressed. The biggest crisis is we have not found a sustainable development model. Its time to build a comprehensive and synchronised law to ensure it proves efficient in practice. The new law must create a revolutionary change in public behaviour towards the environment, he said. For the first time, the local community could be considered environmental protectors granted authority to monitor environmental protection activities and hold dialogues with lawmakers about the environment. While the current law on environmental protection encourages the public to take action to protect the environment, the revised law proposes the specific rights and obligations of communities, for example, the polluter-pays principle in which polluters must pay fees for the garbage they discharge based on weight and the amount of waste instead of a flat fee. The proposal will encourage people to classify waste at the source to reduce the amount of discharged waste by levying high fines for failing to do so. Under the proposed changes, waste collectors would have the right to refuse to collect garbage if the waste is not properly classified. According to the Vietnam Environment Administration, the production of domestic solid waste has been increasing in both quantity and composition, putting pressure on the environment. It is estimated the amount of domestic solid waste generated each day nationwide is about 60,000 tonnes, of which 60 percent is from urban areas. By 2025, the rate of domestic solid waste generation is forecast to increase by 10-16 percent year. To tackle this, the environmental protection bill regulates that the disposal of recyclable solid waste, if classified properly, will be free of waste collection, transportation and treatment fees. Households have to pay those fees if the solid waste is not recyclable or properly classified. After collecting opinions from National Assembly deputies, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has classified solid waste into three groups instead of five, namely recyclable solid waste, food waste and domestic solid waste. Experience from Japan shows Vietnam should emphasise the role and responsibility of producers in domestic solid waste management. Japanese consultant Hideki Wanda said more than half of domestic waste comes from businesses, meanwhile, in Tokyo it is more than two-thirds. Therefore, to minimise the amount of generated waste, it is necessary to take action on waste released by both households and businesses. Another big change in the draft revised law on environmental protection is the removal of more than 40 percent of environmental administrative procedures. Enterprises just need to apply for one license which covers seven sub-licenses that they used to have to apply for one by one./.VNS Vietnamese youth raise voices for a clean environment The International Youth Day celebration with the theme Vietnam we want in 2030: Youth act for clean environment was held on Wednesday in Hanoi by the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. Its Labor Day, a day to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Americas working men and women and the enormous contributions they have made to the nations strength nand prosperity. Labor Day is also the traditional start of the last leg of presidential campaigns. The year 2020 has been anything but traditional, yet the home stretch looks very much the same. The race is coming down to the wire. The final two months of a long campaign will produce a lot of excitement and more than a couple surprises. The re-set to the 2020 campaign, after several months in quarantine, came prior to the two partys unconventional national conventions. The major issues of the remaining campaign were set. The Democrats would focus on the China virus and animosity towards President Trump personally while the Republicans would center their message around rebuilding the economy and restoring law and order to riot-torn cities. The conventions helped to cement those messages. Democrats trotted out virtual speaker after speaker to bash Donald Trump. They blamed a worldwide pandemic on him, including trying to pin the downturn of an economy running at full speed prior to the lockdowns and shutdowns. Joe Biden failed to mention the violence and anarchy in our streets, somehow believing ignoring it wouldnt matter to voters. When it was the Republicans turn a very different picture emerged. Their convention featured real people with real stories. From Herschel Walker emotionally dispelling the myth of Trump racism to the heart-wrenching testimony of Ann Dorn, wife of a slain police officer, the Republican Convention undergirded the core Trump message. Within days Sleepy Joe woke up to then fact that pandering to the far-Left by ignoring the violence and rioting in the country was a political mistake. He finally got around to condemning it, even though he somehow managed to blame it all on Donald Trump. Expect that line of thinking not continue. No matter how convoluted or twisted the logic becomes, its always going to be Trumps fault. That plays to the far-left. It might also sound good to Bidens base. But it doesnt connect with the undecided and still persuadable voters that will decide who wins in November. Those voters will be looking for something more substantive. Theyll want to feel assured about who is best suited to lead the American comeback. Theyll want to known who has the plans and the ability to rejuvenate a once vibrant economy and who will restore domestic tranquillity and law and order to our streets. They will also want comfort in knowing the leader they elect has the physical and mental vitality to lead the free world for four years. Polls show a tightening race, meaning that the momentum is running in Donald Trumps favor. Some battleground state polls now show the race within the margins of error. Because Trump always outperforms the polls, thats very good news for the president and his re-election team. A Monmouth University poll released last week shows the race in Pennsylvania within the margin of error. Bidens four-point lead in that survey mirrors the results of other recent Pennsylvania polls. It stands in marked contrast with a similar poll published in July which showed Biden with a double-digit lead in the Keystone State. There are several reasons for Bidens slide in the polls and Trumps continued rise. First, Biden stands far to the left of where Democrats typically try to position themselves at this stage of the race. Ordinarily, once a candidate has captured their partys nomination they move as quickly as possible towards the center, doing what is necessary to add to their base by picking up undecided and persuadable voters. Not Joe. He lurched to the left, twisting himself into a pretzel to appease the far left of his party. His Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force, co-chaired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, followed by self-proclaimed socialist Bernie Sanders boasting his ideas, considered radical just four years ago, are now mainstream didnt help. Second, a dynamic and energetic campaign is always going to outperform a stagnant one. Trying to run a national campaign while sitting in your basement isnt going to auger well, especially when your opponent is criss-crossing the country doing as much in-person campaigning as possible. The next big decision-making event will be the first of three scheduled debates between President Trump and Joe Biden. Debates always attract huge viewing audiences and multiple surveys tell us that they are especially important to undecided voters. Some of Bidens top supporters are now suggesting that he duck the debates with President Trump. That would be a huge mistake. Actually debating President Trump might be even worse for him. Happy Labor Day! The race is on! Charlie Gerow is a Republican strategist and CEO of Quantum Communications. He a Democrat Mark Singel write opposite each other each week in PennLive. They can also be seen each Sunday morning at 8:30 on CBS 21s Face the State. Legislation must be introduced to limit the sale of nitrous oxide or laughing gas, Fine Gael TD Emer Higgins has said. The call comes as the HSE released data showing that one in four attendees at music festivals who used drugs last year, used nitrous oxide. Deputy Higgins has raised the issue of teenagers using nitrous oxide in the Dail with the Minister with Responsibility for Drugs, Frank Feighan, and with Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Deputy Higgins said: We need to protect our young people against potentially damaging, harmful and deadly side effects of nitrous oxide misuse. I am calling on Fine Gael in Government to explore the possibility of introducing legislation limiting the sale of these laughing gas canisters which are easily available to purchase online through a simple Google search. Recently, my local parks in Lucan, Clondalkin, Palmerstown and Rathcoole have become littered with strange, shiny, silver bullets. Teenagers inhale nitrous oxide laughing gas from these bullets to get high and the easy availability of nitrous oxide online really is shocking. I have raised this issue in the Dail and Minister Frank Feighan who recently confirmed to me that the HSE is gathering evidence on the abuse of nitrous oxide in Ireland, which is a welcome first step in tackling this scourge. Read More She has also called on Google to stop profiting from ads for selling nitrous oxide and asked for a HSE awareness campaign on the dangers of laughing gas. I have submitted a Parliamentary Question to my colleague, Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee for answer about the possibility of preventing the online sale of psychoactive substances, where it is clear from customers comments on websites that the substance is being acquired for human consumption. Nitrous oxide is freely available to purchase online from some Irish and foreign hosted websites at less than 2 per cannister. I know that some specialist users, such as bakeries or confectioners, use nitrous oxide for the purpose of whipping cream, however, vendors are selling these products through advertising on Google without any proper vetting before purchase. Google is showing search results clearly marked as sponsored when certain key words are used to search for the drug." There is no reason why we shouldnt agree to this request and therefore this is another one of their smoke grenades we have seen several of those during the last days and Im afraid there will be more in coming days, Maas told ARD public Television. Thousands of demonstrators marched through Minsk, Belarus, on September 6, continuing the opposition-led protests aimed at pressuring President Aleksandr Lukashenko to resign, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Video shows a large crowd of protesters, carrying the unofficial red-and-white Belarusian flag, being held by police on a main road in Minsk near the Palace of Independence in the city. RFE/RL reported that protests were also seen in the city of Hrodno, in western Belarus, and the southern city of Homel. Credit: Evgeniya Yakuta via Storyful The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 4 days. You can purchase shares before the 9th of September in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 30th of September. Travelers Companies's next dividend payment will be US$0.85 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$3.40 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Travelers Companies has a trailing yield of 2.9% on the current share price of $115.35. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing. Check out our latest analysis for Travelers Companies 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. That's why it's good to see Travelers Companies paying out a modest 47% of its earnings. Companies that pay out less in dividends than they earn in profits generally have more sustainable dividends. The lower the payout ratio, the more wiggle room the business has before it could be forced to cut the dividend. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. Travelers Companies's earnings per share have fallen at approximately 8.1% a year over the previous five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. In the past 10 years, Travelers Companies has increased its dividend at approximately 9.9% a year on average. Story continues The Bottom Line Has Travelers Companies got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Travelers Companies's earnings per share are down over the past five years, although it has the cushion of a low payout ratio, which would suggest a cut to the dividend is relatively unlikely. We're unconvinced on the company's merits, and think there might be better opportunities out there. If you want to look further into Travelers Companies, it's worth knowing the risks this business faces. To help with this, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Travelers Companies 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. Each year, the Oxford English Dictionary announces its Word of the Year, a word or expression that captures the prevailing mood and preoccupations of social life over the preceding 12 months. 'Fake news' and 'hashtag' have featured before, and if it weren't for all the talk of 'social distancing', and 'self-isolation', this year's word may well have been 'cancel culture'. Essentially, it's an updated version of 'PC gone mad', a catch-all phrase that's more harmful than the thing it's trying to criticise. On the opposite end of the spectrum - a spectrum that, admittedly, is more of a horseshoe shape, looping back around on itself, eventually leading to the same damaging conclusions - is 'stan culture'. If you know, you know; if you don't, then prepare to enter the world of fancams, Swifties, and develop newfound anxiety about 'doxxing'. Fandoms have always played a major role in the commercial success of pop artists. They're subcultural groups, usually made up of teenagers, who find community and a sense of belonging through a shared interest. It seems harmless, healthy even, for fans to gather online around their favourite artist. A teenager's passion for music - the obsession, the pain of that unrequited, parasocial adoration - is a pure and wholesome thing, something that many of us lose as we get older and more cynical. Fandoms provide community and shared interest for many who lack that kind of connection in their offline lives. A stan - so-called thanks to Eminem's 2000 hit of the same name - is the next step in this history of fandoms, referring to groups that harbour an unhealthy obsession with a pop star. The song chronicles a series of letters from a fan named Stan to the object of his obsession, Eminem. It ends with Stan killing himself and his pregnant girlfriend. The phrase lay low for a few years, then there was a reference to 'stans' in Nas's 2001 track Ether, and later a tweet by a Santigold fan is cited as the first use of the word as a verb: "I stan for Santigold". In recent years, however, Twitter has become a home for the ride-or-die stans who chronicle every movement and sighting of their idols on their feed; Ariana Grande's 'Arianators', Nikki Minaj's 'Barbs', and, of course, Taylor Swift's 'Swifties'. Expand Close Taylor Swift (Isabel Infantes/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taylor Swift (Isabel Infantes/PA) Stop-the-press event When Taylor Swift releases an new album, it's a stop-the-presses event. On July 23 this year, Swift took to Twitter to announce folklore just 16 hours before it was due to be released. That night, it hit streaming platforms across the world, and most publications had their four- and five-star reviews filed and published by morning. This is par for the course in pop music criticism these days - critics often have mere hours to file their first-reaction review. Across the critical divide, there was another group pulling an all-nighter for Swift's big release: Taylor Swift's legion of stans, the Swifties, who waited with bated breath for the critical reception which, as it happened, was overwhelmingly positive. Indie-rock tastemaker Pitchfork took a little more time to file its review of folklore, which was published on July 27. Jillian Mapes, senior editor at the publication, awarded the album an eight out of 10 - a high score by Pitchfork standards. Mapes's review benefited from taking more time with the record. It was a nuanced, primarily positive piece, comparing Swift to pop contemporaries Florence Welch and Lana Del Rey, as well as indie darling Sufjan Stevens. "At its best, folklore asserts something that has been true from the start of Swift's career," she wrote. "Her biggest strength is her storytelling, her well-honed songwriting craft meeting the vivid whimsy of her imagination; the music these stories are set to is subject to change, so long as it can be rooted in these traditions." However, the scoring was taken as a personal affront by many Swift stans, who flooded both Pitchfork's and Mapes's social media feeds with photos of Swift doctored to make her appear like some terrifying dark lord, and hexes written in runes which, when translated, read: "Anyone who comes after the Dark Queen, Taylor Swift, will die alone and burn forever." The satanic memes were the kind of over-the-top humour that is par for the course in fandom these days. But beyond the fun, there was a more sinister undertone to the stans' rage. For the crime of a less-than-perfect-score, Mapes was sent death threats, along with demands to revise her rating, with stans going so far as to 'dox' the reviewer. Doxxing - whereby a person or group collates personal information and releases it online with a view to causing fear, harassment and harm - is a tactic used often by hackers and the far right and left, politically. It is unusual, and frankly terrifying, to hear of it deployed against a music journalist for a review of a pop release. Video of the Day Jillian Mapes had her personal email, phone number, address and a photo of her home released on Twitter by a Taylor Swift stan, with the caption: "Just saw that folklore's rating dropped down from 94 to 89 and I'm about to doxx this bitch for real." "Contact info both old and current was leaked, down to a photo of my home," Mapes wrote on Twitter, where her account has since been set to private. "I've gotten too many emails saying some version of, 'you are an ugly fat bitch who is clearly jealous of Taylor, plz die' It sucks to be scared of every person milling about outside or feel like you can't answer the phone." This isn't the only instance in which stans have threatened music critics over pop reviews. Closer to home, there was a vicious response to a review of Dua Lipa's quarantine-album Future Nostalgia in The Irish Times earlier this year. However, it wasn't Dua Lipa fans who came for Irish pop critic Louise Bruton, but Lady Gaga's stans. who call themselves her 'Little Monsters'. Bruton opened her review by comparing the two pop stars: "Dua Lipa finds the sound that Lady Gaga has been chasing for years," she wrote. "Delivering bonafide pop bangers that are as sexy as they are abstract, Future Nostalgia is what would happen if St Vincent, Gloria Gaynor and Scissor Sisters broke the laws of science and teamed up to make a timeless pop record." The response to this, just one line in what was a considered, well-argued review of the record,was toxic. Bruton, like Pitchfork's Mapes, was forced to set her Twitter account to private and leave the platform temporarily. Later, when reviewing Gaga's album Chromatica for the same publication, Bruton wrote: "The last time I mentioned Lady Gaga in The Irish Times I experienced an onslaught of online abuse, including death threats, ableist slurs and suggestions to kill myself, from her fans, her Little Monsters." Personal identifiers The anonymity given to fans online, most of whom hide behind an avatar of their object of standom, with little-to-no personal identifiers, means that these threats are almost impossible to regulate. But music critics, whose personal Twitter accounts are, by necessity, open, enjoy no such anonymity. It is a risk for these writers to give anything less than a glowing review - even an eight out of 10 isn't enough to escape online threats. On the flip side, there are examples of stan culture being used as a tool for social justice activism. Earlier this year, fans of Korea's K-pop pop music scene, and some of the most active stans on social media, interfered with a police tip line, which was set up to identify and prosecute Black Lives Matter protesters in the city of Dallas, Texas. The stans flooded the tip app with fancams - close-ups of the pop groups, filmed by the audience during a live gig - of popular K-pop artists. The spam eventually led to the app being overrun, and the Dallas police department tweeting that it was experiencing technical difficulties and would be offline until fixed. K-pop stans continued to rally behind this cause when BTS, one of the few K-pop groups to break into America and the western music market, announced that they would be donating US$1m to the Black Lives Matter cause. In support, the BTS Army started a hashtag to match the donation, #MatchAMillion, which they easily surpassed. Throughout the protests, alt-right hashtags like #WhiteLivesMatter and #MAGA were derailed by the K-pop fandom, who flooded the feed with fancams, edits and photos of their pop idols. Editor and writer Laura Hudson wrote on Twitter: "K-pop fans are taking over M*GA and pro-police hashtags and crashing law enforcement snitch apps and it's beautiful." It's a moment of light in what has been a dark year for the stans, but we're not out of the woods yet. The folklore release has taught us that even a positive review can be met with threats and abuse, which begs the question: why bother critically engaging with pop music at all? It is up to artists, now, to condemn this behaviour, before pop critics are forced to close their doors on their work for good. Britain's rail companies will slash one in ten services as post-lockdown passenger numbers plummet. The new autumn train timetables will be phased in from today with services operating at 10 per cent below the levels before the pandemic. This will leave passengers with longer wait times and see trains that ran hourly cut to running every two hours. Britain's rail companies will slash one in ten services with the new autumn timetable as post-lockdown passenger numbers plummet Operators are focusing resources on commuter and school services, meaning evening and weekend trains will be hardest hit, according to The Sunday Times. GWR said it was focusing on providing trains for people getting back to the office, and Sundays will be hardest hit, operating at 76 per cent of the normal timetable. CrossCountry Trains, whose routes include Aberdeen to Penzance, will still be running at only 65% of pre-Covid levels. The Leeds to Chester route, which ran hourly via Manchester Victoria, will now run only every two hours according to Northern Trains. Some fast services on weekdays between Bristol and London are not being reinstated for now, being cut from six instead of eight. Rail operators have said services were unlikely to rise above 90 per cent until May next year, with few services being restored in the winter timetables. Operators are focusing resources on commuter and school services, meaning evening and weekend trains will be hardest hit Susie Homan, a director of the Rail Delivery Group, said they wanted passengers to 'travel with confidence' which means running a service that is 'more reliable than before'. The Department for Transport said that it was 'inaccurate and untrue' that they would agree to fewer services operating in the long term. Sudanese authorities and leaders from the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, initialled a historic peace agreement on August 31 in Juba The "final signing" of a peace agreement between Sudan's government and rebel groups is set for October 2 in the South Sudanese capital Juba, the talks' chief mediator announced Sunday. "The second of October is the date for the final signing of the peace agreement between the government and the 'parties to the peace process'," Tut Gatluak, head of the mediation team and South Sudan's presidential adviser on security affairs wrote on Twitter. Gatluak did not elaborate and further details were not immediately available. Sudanese authorities and leaders from the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), a coalition of rebel groups, initialled a historic peace agreement on August 31 in Juba aimed at ending nearly two decades of conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, particularly in western Darfur. Established in 2011, the SRF brings together rebels from the war-ravaged western Darfur region, as well as the southern states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan. Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok signed a separate agreement in Ethiopia with a faction of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), which had refused to agree to the deal struck in Juba, officials on both sides said on Friday. Reaching a peace accord with rebel groups has been a priority of Sudan's transitional government, which came to power after the April 2019 ouster of long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir following months of mass protests. The deal covers key issues around security, land ownership, transitional justice, power sharing and the return of people who fled their homes because of fighting. It also provides for the dismantling of rebel forces and the integration of their fighters into the national army. Fighting in Darfur alone left around 300,000 people dead after rebels took up arms in 2003. Conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile erupted in 2011 as South Sudan seceded from Sudan, resuming a war that had raged from 1983 to 2005. Search Keywords: Short link: Advertisement A series of incredible images casting a light on the lives of the defiant Brits who lived through The Blitz have been unearthed on the 80th anniversary of German bombing campaign. The black and white archive help retell the stories of strength and solidarity in the face of struggle and help show the stark contrast between the London of the Second World War and today. Among the fascinating examples is one of the former Prime Minister Winston Churchill inspecting the air raid damage in Battersea, London, while another shows the Royal Hospital Chelsea after it was bombed by German planes in 1940. The photographs come as the country commemorates the 80th anniversary of the start of the Blitz, which started on September 7, 1940, and ended in the capital on May 11, 1941. The Blitz, which comes from the German term Blitzkrieg or 'lightning war', saw London attacked 71 times and bombed by the Luftwaffe for 57 consecutive nights. More than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged, and more than 40,000 civilians were killed, almost half of them in London. Liverpool was the second most hit city and Bimingham third, while Plymouth was hit eight times, Bristol six, Glasgow five, Southampton four and Portsmouth three. Salvation Army workers provide early morning cups of tea and refreshments from their Mobile Canteen for people who had lost their homes after one of the worst Nazi attacks yet experienced, pictured on April 17, 1941 in London. The Blitz ended a month later. Throughout the Second World War the Salvation Army's Red Shield club canteens provided relief to civilians and armed forces in the UK and to armed forces abroad A widowed, elderly man sits in the rubble of his home after he went out to take his dog for a walk before finding his wife had died in his house when it was destroyed in a Blitz attack before his return. Around 13 Civil Defence workers sift through the wreckage in the background. The Civil Defence Service was a civilian voluntary organisation set up by the Home Office in 1935 Children line up in the street to watch as war time Prime Minister Winston Churchill walks through London to assess the damage caused by the raids in 1940. During The Blitz, Nazi Germany rained bombs down on Britain for over eight months - killing at least 40,000 people and destroying two-million homes. The German bombing campaign, which started on September 7, 1940, lasted for eight months and five days, with London bearing the brunt of most of the attacks Mrs Sarah Manson, 68, sits in the wreckage of her Liverpool home after she rescued her four grandchildren (pictured) when a bomb shattered her house on May 5, 1941. Other than London, Liverpool was the most heavily bombed area of the country due to it having the largest port on the west coast, along with Birkenhead, and being of significant importance to the British war effort Rows of houses lie destroyed on either side of the road in East Ham, east London, after an attack. Residents flocked into the streets to begin clearing the damage, as one man pushes a cart full of bagged debris. A policeman talks with one of the homeowners as people collect what remains of their belongings. East Ham South saw 89 high explosive bombs and eight parachute mines dropped during the Blitz, while East Ham Central saw 36 and 1 respectively Five firefighters attempt to put out flames on the roof of Royal Hospital Chelsea after it was bombed. One of the heaviest air raids of the Second World War occurred on April 16, 1941, and the hospital's Soane Infirmary was hit by an aerial mine that exploded and destroyed the East Wing. There were heavy casualties, including four nurses, the Wardmaster and eight Chelsea Pensioners killed and 37 others injured Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a small group of people inspect the air raid damage in Battersea, London, in September 1940, walking over fragments of broken brick and wood. On September 8, 1940, Battersea Power Station was shut down after a daylight attack on London the day before. An unused extension of Battersea was hit and destroyed during November but the station was not put out of action during the night attacks St Nicholas' Hospital staff, including five nurses, sweep the road, Tewson Road, Plumstead. The whole northern block of the hospital was completely demolished during one of many air-raids in the area during the Blitz. In 1945, the hospital was further damaged by a V1 flying bomb. The hospital was local to the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, which was London's main military-industrial establishment Seven members of rescue squad carry a man known as Mr Newman who was buried under a building wrecked by a Blitz attack in London for 14 hours on Armistice Day, November 11, 1940. Mr Newman only suffered light injuries in the attack but continued under to experience the effects of shock after the bomb, requiring a stretcher. After enduring 57 consecutive nights of bombing since the Blitz began, London went a night without being bombed eight days before on November 3 London transport workers try to retrieve a bus that had sunk into a hole when the road beneath it collapsed following a night of heavy bombing. The workers attach ropes and hooks to the top of the number 77 double-decker bus, which had fallen into a a whole in the road surrounded by rubble and an upturned. 'We can take it' became the catchphrase of Londoners during the Blitz, proving Hitler's belief he could terrorise the city from the air wrong Dozens of men, women and children celebrate a Christmas party at a London Underground station during the Blitz in 1940. Children pull crackers under paper decorations while jubilant adults smile for the camera at the back of the table, with Union Jack's hanging on the walls. Underground stations became a popular refuge for thousands seeking safety from the Blitz and full-time residents of the stations were able to get on well with passengers on the ongoing tube service Homeowners climb a ladder to salvage some of their possessions from a bombed house in London around Christmas, after the Germans stopped bombing for three days. Manchester suffered its worse attacks during Christmas time, with The heaviest raids occurring on the nights of December 22 and 23, 1940, killing an estimated 684 people and injuring more than 2,000 A bus driver cleans debris from an air raid up before reporting for work in Bexleyheath, Greater London. Defiant workers smile and pose for the picture despite the wreckage around them including wooden furniture, picture rails and skirting boards. A metal container is used to hold the debris. Bexley saw 1,296 bombs and 11 parachute mines dropped from October 7, 1940, to June, 6, 1941 Men of the Pioneer Corps sit around a fire and enjoy cups of tea during a pause in their labours on December 8, 1940. These men are engaged in the work of salvaging material from damaged buildings for use again. Soldier wearing Brodie helmets share a joke as they warm their hands and feet by the improvised fire. The Royal Pioneer Corps was a British Army combatant corps used for light engineering tasks formed in 1939 and amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps in 1993 St Paul's Cathedral in London emerges undamaged in full sunlight in the smoke and flames after a bombing raid on Sunday, December 29, 1940. The cathedral became a symbol of hope during the blitz after surviving raid after raid during 1940 even as surrounding buildings were reduced to rubble. During the Battle of Britain, on October 9, the dome of St Paul's was pierced, destroying the altar, but the rest of the cathedral remained intact. Civilian defense brigades, including the St. Pauls Fire Watch, protected the structure from fire, and at one point an unexploded bomb was removed at great risk from the roof of the cathedral Talk is cheap, but hubris could be costly. Such rational calculations seem lost on Global Times, a Chinese mouthpiece that saw it fit to declare that if a border war starts, India will have no chance of winning". The media outlet did call for peace, of course, asking for restraint on both sides of the Himalayan standoff. Be that as it may, all it needs is to dip into Cold War archives to remind itself of the unspoken pact that binds all nuclear-armed adversaries: mutually assured destruction. This being the underlying reality, its not just futile to forecast victory or defeat in absolute terms, it also sounds delusional. The K9 site is located on Da Chong hill, Ba Vi district, on the outskirts of Hanoi with the historical relic is associated with President Ho Chi Minh as it is where the great leader worked and his body was preserved. In May, 1957, President Ho Chi Minh visited a military training session at Da Chong Hill on the Da River. He stopped for lunch on the hilltop, where three sharp rocks pointed toward the sky. Approving the cool climate, terrain, and scenery, the President suggested this location be the provisional base of the government. Two years later, when American air attacks against north Vietnam appeared imminent, a military base called Construction Site No. 5 took shape at Da Chong. In March, 1960, a two-story stilt house called K9 became the venue for important meetings. Luu Thi Thuy Nga, a tour guide of the site, told VOV, President Ho Chi Minh chose the direction, erected the pillars, and modified the design himself. He replaced the hinged doors with sliding doors to make the meeting room airier. The corridor was enlarged to match the width of the house and stairs, making it easier to receive guests. The corridor was large enough for host and guest to walk side by side while talking. The K9 site served as a workplace for President Ho Chi Minh, the Politburo, and the Party Central Committee numerous times between 1960 and 1969. Here, President Ho once hosted the spouse of Chinas Premier Zhou Enlai, a Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, and a Soviet Union military delegation led by cosmonaut hero Gherman Titov. When President Ho Chi Minh passed away on September 2, 1969, his body was kept for a time at K9, where the government installed equipment to preserve the body, overseen by a joint Soviet UnionVietnam committee. Annual memorial services were held for Ho Chi Minh at K9 from 1969 to 1975. In July, 1975, a convoy carried his body from K9 to a mausoleum overlooking Ba Dinh square in Hanoi. In 1995, an altar for President Ho Chi Minh was installed at K9, which often receives large crowds, who come to pay tribute to President Ho and attend political events. A memorial house was inaugurated here on September 2, 2015 to promote the great leaders moral example and ideology, which are deemed vital to Vietnams national construction and defense. The altar is positioned at the center of the memorial house. On the altar is the Presidents bronze statue and behind it is the national flag and a carved quotation from his teaching. There are a pair of parallel sentences, which say that Vietnamese spirit and wisdom, which President Ho vividly embodied, shine from here throughout the Vietnamese sky, Nga added. Le Quoc Bao, a university student from Hanoi, said he was very grateful to President Ho Chi Minh for his enormous sacrifice for Vietnam. As a young man, he's inspired to study and work harder to contribute to Vietnams development. The K9 relic site has been preserved and repeatedly upgraded for six decades. It welcomes a steadily increasing number of visitors. Tributes to President Ho Chi Minh at K9 demonstrate the Vietnamese tradition of Drinking the water, remember the source. VOV Phu Quoc longs to become Vietnams first island city The island paradise of Phu Quoc has significant potential to develop into a leading tourist destination in Southeast Asia. Renowned freelance investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has described attempts by former President John Mahama to defend perceived tribalistic comments authored by Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central Isaac Adongo and shared by him(Mahama) on social media as weak and an irrational equalization, noting that John Mahama could have exercised better discretion and not descended that low because of his level in the Ghanaian society. John Mahama had shared an opinion piece by Isaac Adongo on the controversial Agyapa deal in which he which he described persons involved in it in terms deemed to be tribalistic and inappropriate. This comment was amplified by John Mahama on his Facebook page. President Nana Akufo Addo took offence of the comments and called out the former President for the comments. But Mr Mahama defended his sharing the comments, insisting that President Akufo-Addo has lost the moral high ground to be angered by such comments since he has always made similar or worse comments. But for Manasseh, his comments do not hold water: Mr. John Mahama should stop his weak defense and irrational equalization. He should have exercised better discretion. It was wrong to share an article with that heading. Even if you take out the Akyem from the heading of the article he shared, its still wrong to refer to those involved in the Agyapa deal as sakawa boys. He can be critical without descending that low because of who he is, he argued. He added that the comments by Isaac Adongo sought to cast a whole ethnic group in bad light, which is condemnable. The author of the article, Isaac Adongo, could have stalked about nepotism without bringing in the name of an ethnic group because not all Akyems approve of or are beneficiaries of the Agyapa deal, he maintained. I will be offended if Isaac Adongo and a group of politicians do something wrong or are involved in a deal and someone refers to them as the Frafra Mafia or Frafra Sakawa Boys, he illustrated. The comments by Isaac Adongo has split opinion; while some argue that his reference to Akyem is tribal bigotry, others insist it has nothing to do with the whole group and that the President and the ruling New Patriotic Party is merely exploiting the comments for political gain. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, an honest look at President Biden's press conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices By Sarah Sands for the Mail on Sunday Give them their due, Meghan and Harry appear to have played a blinder with their Netflix deal. We have wondered about the valuation they place on their celebrity: it turns out to be about 100 million, if reports are to be believed. No wonder they bet the 11 million, nine-bedroom, 17-bathroom Californian house on it. We dont know what audiences will make of their documentaries of hope and inspiration but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can afford to get professionals in to make the shows, plus a ton of liberal money is moving towards the causes they support. It might irritate their critics but wokeness is commercial. The exiled couple are a triumph of their own narrative. They have taken to heart the guidance of the self-help guru Brene Brown: You either walk into your story and own your truth, or you live outside of your story, hustling for your worthiness. Celebrity is an act of faith. The British tend to say: It is for other people to judge. Americans have been quicker to understand that a new world is ready to take them at their own estimation. Publicists and admirers and influential friends such as Oprah Winfrey are there to help the couple achieve what they want. To be virtuous and rich and private. Meghan has studied her role model Michelle Obama carefully and exhibits some of the same luminous charisma. I wonder if she would like to be on a political ticket if Michelle should ever change her mind about keeping out of politics. Or perhaps Brene Brown has a more audacious narrative: Michelle Obama as a supporter of Meghans presidential bid. Michelle and Meghan have both spoken about finding a voice. SARAH SANDS: Harry and Meghan (pictured earlier this year) appear to have played a blinder with their new Netflix deal which, if reports are to be believed, is worth over 100 million Meghans ordeal in Britain was, to her mind, the subjugation of her voice. A colleague who was at a broadcast by the Royal Familys short-lived Fab Four how poignant it is to recall the two couples looking so happy together remembers the microphone moving down the line: WilliamKateHarry Meghan, at the end of the line was disinclined to wait. Dont I have a voice? she asked, icily. At last, she can be heard, loud and clear. Its obvious that she feels delighted to be home again. Can California also feel like home for Harry? Three years ago, he guest edited an edition of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme and, as the regular editor, I spent some time with him. My first trip to Kensington Palace to discuss his plans for the show was just about this time of year. Wed had the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana and the gates to the palace looked like Lourdes a shrine of offerings to the wronged princess, piled high with photos and mementos of her life. I wonder... Could we one day see Meghan fighting for the White House? The Greek tragedy of a sons revenge for his mothers suffering could have been an irresistible theme. Instead, I thought how sane Prince Harry was to put aside the sanctification of Diana and the populist attempt to use her image to destroy the monarchy. But he was very down on the press and keen to crack on with his agenda of filtering out the cruelty of social media, of seeking out positive leadership, and of supporting British troops. As we discussed the running order of the programme, I slyly suggested that his address book was a lot fancier than mine. President Obama would return his calls. Prince Harry was organised and pragmatic. He was happy to make those calls. And he offered to do some of the interviews himself. He asked former President Obama about the direction of America, confronting Trumpism by implication. Sarah Sands, the outgoing editor of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, writes: We have wondered about the valuation Harry and Meghan place on their celebrity: it turns out to be about 100 million, if reports are to be believed And he added some cheeky quick fire questions, including asking Obama his opinion of his fiancees television drama, Suits. Obama sounded fatherly. Netflix will also want access to the Princes pulling power and they may have ideas about his interviews. During his Today guest edit, Harry suggested that the presenter should put a question to the Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. It was that oficers were doing a fine job under difficult circumstances. I winced that it was not really a question. Harry struck me as bursting with ideas and passion and needing only a restraining hand. I was happy that Meghan would be a savvy, cool-headed influence. She claimed that she didnt really know who he was when they first met. Perhaps I was naive, but I was so pleased that she was apparently unaware of the heartbreaking image of the small boy walking behind his mothers coffin, in perhaps the most televised funeral since President Kennedys. We interviewed Prince Harry at the end of the programme and he said how delighted he was that Meghan would join his relatives at Christmas, because she hadnt grown up with this kind of family unity. I remember smiling at his loving, reconciled expression as he spoke. How impressive that he could find such comfort in his own family, given its own, well-reported problems. NOBLE CAUSE: How Prince Harry might look building bridges with Scotland Last week I reflected on all this as I looked at the shrine building at Kensington Palace for the 23rd anniversary of Dianas death. Those of us who have been through divorce know that it is a state of flux. Lives are rebuilt and grievances resolved. Would Princess Diana who would now be 57 be the same vulnerable, beautiful, destructive force she was in 1997? Of course not. Would she have fled Britain, as she threatened to, to become a Hollywood humanitarian? Or might she have been drawn back to her Sloane Ranger roots, a doting Norfolk grandmother? This year I noticed that the anger of the crowd had subsided. The letters D-I-A-N-A were spelt out as if on a wedding cake. The photographs of her among the flowers were radiant rather than reproachful. A banner congratulated her sons on continuing her work. And there is work to be done. Harry is a prince and his country needs him. In the first of the punishments that he doled out on his family, he and Meghan turned down an invitation to Balmoral. Apparently a small thing at the time, its significance is magnified now. Nicola Sturgeon is calling for another referendum on Scottish independence, the polls north of the border are moving and the threat to the Union is graver this time than at the referendum in 2014. It was close enough then. Nature films are fine but theres a bigger prize to fight for: the UKs future I remember an urgent conversation between the then prime minister David Cameron and the London mayor Boris Johnson. It was at the opening of Prince Harrys Invictus Games on September 10, 2014, at the Olympic Park in East London. I was editing the Evening Standard at the time, and was a guest of Boriss at the ceremony. The referendum was the following week and Cameron stopped to talk before taking his seat. Boris asked him if it was going to be OK and Cameron replied that he thought so, but it was tense. I measured the popularity of the respective heads that evening by the welcome from the veterans and their families. Cameron got polite applause, Boris a great cheer, Prince Harry a deafening one. Prince Harry and Boris Johnson joshed together, bonded by optimism and a common touch. And patriotism. David Cameron won the Scottish referendum and divulged later that he had sought the Queens help, asking if she could raise an eyebrow about the Scots voting for independence. SARAH SANDS: We dont know what audiences will make of Harry and Meghan's documentaries of hope and inspiration but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can afford to get professionals in to make the shows Boris Johnson needs all the help he can get from the Royal Family this time. Downing Street has made the Union the priority. The reason that the Brexit negotiations are stuck firmly on fish is that the Scots (to whom the industry is worth about 600m a year) must see the benefits of leaving the EU. We need to nurture every union bond. We need more than the economy and common currency to hold things together. What of the emotional ties? What of the monarchy and the military? Prince Harry can evoke both. The monarchy embraces two important concepts, the Commonwealth and the Union. Weve got off to a bad start, for Harry and Meghan have undermined the Commonwealth by framing it is an instrument of oppression. Surely they cannot think the same of Scotland. What can Harry say now about the Union? Come on, Harry. Nature documentaries are fine and will pay the bills, but there is a bigger prize to fight for. The survival of the United Kingdom is at stake. You must evoke Shakespeares Henry V at Agincourt: By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,/ Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;/ It yearns me not if men my garments wear;/ Such outward things dwell not in my desires:/ But if it be a sin to covet honour,/ I am the most offending soul alive. Doesnt that sound a more stirring cause for a noble Prince than being just another West Coast Wokeness Warrior? Multinational tech giants keep getting bigger at the expense of domestic media and competitiveness. Defanging Big Tech is an ongoing series examining the challenge for governments, and how they should respond. OTTAWAIts language typically reserved for armed conflicts or natural disasters. This week, Canadas heritage minister used it for a regulatory spat in Australia. The Canadian government stands with our Australian partners and denounces any form of threats, Steven Guilbeault said in an emailed statement to the Stars Susan Delacourt. The threats Guilbeault referred to involved some of the worlds richest and most influential corporations, Facebook and Google, which have separately warned Canadas friends down under that they will suspend services in Australia or block media organizations from using their platforms if Canberra follows through with a law they dont like. That law would force these giants of the digital age companies that rake in tens of billions of dollars each year and control the infrastructure of the internets most-trafficked venues to negotiate payments to the journalism organizations that create the news content hosted on their platforms. Canada is working on its schemes to regulate these platforms, though the government is cagey about providing particulars. Guilbeault would not agree to speak with the Star on the record this week, offering instead to speak on background without being quoted or named. The Star declined, and Guilbeaults office provided a written statement in response to questions. There may be good reason why a politician would tread carefully on this terrain. Its proven to be tricky. Critics charge big multinational tech companies dont pay enough taxes and that this is unfair to domestic competitors. But when several countries, including Canada, floated proposals to create special taxes on revenue that these U.S.-based digital giants reap in their jurisdictions, the Americans threatened to impose tariffs a threat Canada knows too well to be credible with Donald Trump in the White House. Others want to see modernized rules in Canada to force companies like Netflix to showcase a minimum amount of Canadian content, just like radio and television stations. But when then-heritage minister Melanie Joly unveiled Canadas new cultural policy in 2017, she was roundly criticized because it did not create requirements for foreign players to support domestic productions. She was later shuffled to the tourism portfolio. Meanwhile, many news organizations are bleeding dollars as Facebook and Google gobble up the vast majority of all digital ad revenue in Canada, according to one dire report on the financial state of this countrys news media. Clearly theres a lot for the government to grapple with. The way University of Ottawa professor and Canada Research Chair in internet and E-Commerce Law Michael Geist sees it, Guilbeault could make decisions in several areas. The first involves taxation. Geist noted how the political will to go down this route has changed since 2015, when Stephen Harper, then prime minister, warned Canadians Justin Trudeau would impose a Netflix tax on their streaming subscriptions. What he was really talking about was the application of sales tax to these subscriptions, which wasnt collected because the service was provided to Canadians by a company not based in this country. Similarly, sales tax doesnt apply to ads purchased from foreign websites like Facebook and Google a key point of contention for groups like the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, which argue this unfairly disadvantages Canadian media. But while Trudeau steadfastly denied Harpers charge about the Netflix tax five years ago, things have changed. Quebec and Saskatchewan applied their provincial sales taxes to off-jurisdiction digital services in 2019. British Columbia plans to follow suit. And so does the Liberal government in Ottawa, which Guilbeault has said intends to collect federal sales tax so that foreign platforms will pay the same taxes as Canadian digital companies. However, as Geist explains, the Liberals also promised something else during the 2019 federal election. Their policy platform called for a special, three-per-cent tax on revenues that large foreign digital companies raise in Canada. The New Democrats, Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois promised similar taxes. But after taking power, the Liberals have suggested they wont act on this pledge without other countries doing the same. Guilbeaults office, for instance, pointed this week to a statement the minister posted on Twitter last December, in which he called the current tax situation unfair and said the government would address it in a fair, responsible manner as it works to build an international consensus on the issue. They actually flip-flopped, in terms of which tax they seemed to be willing to move forward on, said Geist, pointing to the willingness to move first with the sales tax. With sales taxes, its consumers paying the sales taxes, and its just the companies collecting and remitting, he said. Opposition parties also remain supportive of additional taxes for foreign digital services. NDP MP Charlie Angus told the Star this week that the government should make sure these companies pay their share. We see Facebook threatening Australia. They are not good corporate citizens, Angus said. They need to be paying tax. Its about fairness, because so much of the revenue comes from ads but theyre not paying tax back in. So its a simple, straightforward thing. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel also pointed to commitments from her partys new leader Erin OToole, who called for tax changes to ensure there are taxes on digital ads bought from foreign websites like Facebook and Google. Were probably overdue as a country at looking at ways to ensure that companies are paying their fair share... Were open to looking at that, she said. Google did not respond to a request for comment from the Star this week. Facebook, however, signalled in a background conversation with the Star that it is willing to pay more taxes in Canada. The second area where Geist sees potential for federal action is in response to calls for foreign digital players to pay for Canadian content. Here, Geist said its pretty clear (the government is) going to do something, given how Trudeau assigned Guilbeault to bring in legislation to modernize Canadas laws on broadcasting and telecommunications before the end of the year. In his offices statement to the Star, Guilbeault said the government is committed to a more equitable digital regulatory framework in Canada. It is about levelling the playing field, he said. Those who benefit from the Canadian ecosystem must also contribute to it, through the Canadian broadcasting sector or the fair remuneration for the use of news content. The Australian situation shows there are big risks for the Canadian government if it takes a similar path, Geist said. He said the removal of quality journalism from major digital platforms would leave users with potentially less credible sources of information, and questioned the assumption that news content which, on platforms like Facebook, is shared voluntarily by news organizations and social media users is worth significant amounts of money to digital giants. The idea that wed have Canadian news organizations shut out of large social media platforms sure isnt helping those Canadian media organizations, Geist said. In a written statement to the Star, Kevin Chan, global director and head of public policy at Facebook Canada said removing news in Australia is the companys last choice and that it wants to work with news organizations and governments to support the development of sustainable business models. In Canada, that has included putting almost $9 million toward initiatives such as a program to fund jobs with The Canadian Press, he said, adding that well continue to do more. Finally, Geist outlined how there are calls for Ottawa to do something around the proliferation of misinformation on social media platforms. Last year, the government earmarked $9 million for projects designed to educate people about online misinformation, and rolled out another $3.5 million to amplify the current efforts of organizations to help people assess health information online during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Rempel, its better to emphasize educational initiatives than to create a system where tech companies like Facebook have to police misinformation and decide what should be removed from their websites. It would also be problematic for governments to set parameters for those decisions, she said. She recognized the overall complexity of the issues facing Guilbeault and the government as they try to adapt to the realities of the 21st century digital economy and said she hopes the question of how to tax and regulate web giants figures prominently in the next federal election. I hope to see, and I think that some of these policies should be part of any sort of an election campaign or platform, because theyre really material to competitiveness and content-creation and tech innovation in our country, and we have to get it right, she said. Of course, this wouldnt be the first time these issues have figured in an election campaign. All parties agree that something should be done. Promises have been made. Yet the challenge remains. Read more about: Samvel Grigoryan, former Director of the Republican Center for AIDS Prevention of Armenia, wants to restore his violated labor rights in court. 168.am has learned about this from DataLex Judicial Information System. The aforesaid center and the Ministry of Health are the respondents in this lawsuit. Grigoryan demands to be reinstated in his abovementioned job and for the respondents to pay the amount of the forced outage. On February 26, it became known that by the order of the minister of health, Samvel Grigoryans employment contract as director of the Center was terminated on the grounds of improper performance of duties. Grigoryan, however, was on vacation at the time of his dismissal. And the deputy minister of health had hurried to introduce the acting director the center's staff. This new appointment by the health minister had caused dissatisfaction of the medical staff. In a conversation with the media, the staff of the AIDS prevention center had argued that all this was done without discussing it with them, and their professional opinions in this regard were ignored. Name: David Taylor United Way of McLean County pivoted after COVID-19 hit McLean County. Tell us how that happened and how Serving BN & Beyond organized? From the outset, we sensed the unique, far-reaching impacts of the pandemic and that a "siloed" approach wouldn't be effective to meet such widespread needs. We talked with a variety of local leaders in government, schools and nonprofits and knew that we needed a community-directed and led response. Deanna Frautschi, a well-known community leader, agreed to lead this broad coalition of stakeholders to provide recommendations and guidance to United Way of McLean County in how to use resources in the most effective ways. This advisory task force has met regularly to identify the key areas of need. Early on, they recognized masks as a critical element of the public health challenge and created a "Behind the Mask" social media push to promote mask usage and ask for mask donations. We had several thousand masks sewn and donated to the effort. We've built coalitions to address food access/insecurity, housing/utility assistance and child care/youth programming assistance. Each of these coalitions is chaired by volunteers. I'm thankful for their support, guidance and leadership in meeting the challenges and needs created by COVID-19. Their insight has been invaluable as things continue to evolve and change. When we spoke in June, United Way and its partner organizations had distributed nearly 75,000 meals and delivered nearly 1,200 food boxes. What are the latest numbers? Well, it all starts with outpouring of generosity from our community. Individuals and companies in McLean County donated nearly $400,000 to go with another $365,000 in state grants. Since the end of March, United Way's Feeding BN & Beyond coalition has served nearly 90.000 "grab and go" meals, provided over 1,600 pounds of fresh produce and, in partnership with the Tinervan Family Foundation, delivered nearly 4,000 boxes of food, each containing around 10 to 12 meals in them. All told, these efforts have provided over 130,000 meals to local individuals and families. How are those meals and food boxes delivered? A primary objective from the start was to create multiple benefits from the support provided by our donors and the community. We knew a lot of farmers and restaurants were hurting with the shelter-in-place orders. By working with Charlie Moore and the Chamber of Commerce, we identified restaurants that could handle the volume of up to 2,200 meals in a day and deliver them to sometimes as many as 24 sites over a few hours in an afternoon. The money we paid to these local farmers and business owners provided wages to their staff to provide a product, in this case, the grab and go meals or produce, that were then in turn provided to those individuals and families needing food. Serving BN & Beyond is turning its attention to housing assistance, child care and youth programming assistance. Give us an update on what is happening in those areas? Our board chair, Phani Aytam, has described what we face as "waves of need." We've addressed food access/insecurity with Feeding BN & Beyond and we've transitioned to a more sustainable approach for that wave of need with food boxes. While that wave has stabilized, we expect this fall could present a resurgence of some of the challenges we saw early on in March and April. Housing is a large wave that we anticipate peaking sometime in the fall. The moratorium on evictions has been extended into September but, at some point, it will be lifted, When it does, we anticipate a need as high as $2.7 million. To prepare for that, the housing coalition has created a uniform application and coordinated entry process to streamline the ability to get aid. Anyone who needs or anticipates needing assistance, we recommend you start by calling 211 and they can connect you with one of the coalition partners who can provide assistance. With District 87 and Unit 5 starting the year with remote learning, the child care/youth programming coalition is working with school administrators and service providers to identify gaps and resource needs. This wave of need is still evolving and we're seeking input from local families about what they and the students in their households need. Our goal here is to connect families and students with resources and support to help them be successful this school year. How can people apply for assistance or make a donation to support the effort? To be mindful of public health concerns, particularly in light of the recent surge in the positivity rate, we've been working remotely. If someone would like to send a check, they can mail it to United Way of McLean County, P.O. Box 1348, Bloomington IL 61701. Or donate online at uwmclean.org where you can also learn more about our work and find resources. Thanks to everyone in the community who has supported our efforts thus far, we need your help to continue to meet the needs of those in our county in the waves ahead. Contact Paul Swiech at 309-820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 21:07:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Sunday reported 655 new COVID-19 cases. The center said in a statement that it received a total of 2,756 suspected samples, of which 655 were tested positive, adding that 56 patients have newly recovered and 13 more died. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Libya so far is 17,749, including 2,081 recoveries and 285 deaths, the center confirmed. A series of precautionary measures against COVID-19 have been taken by the Libyan authorities since the first case was announced in March, which include closing the country's borders, shutting down schools and mosques, banning public gatherings and imposing a curfew. China donated medical aid to Libya in June to help the country's pandemic battle, including 834 nucleic acid diagnostic kits, 5,000 medical protective suits, 15,000 N95 face masks, 100,000 surgical masks, 5,000 pairs of goggles and 5,000 pairs of medical gloves. Enditem Air India has said the US government's plan to allow the airline to self-conduct ground handling operations at American airports is an "opportunity" and the airline will encash it in future "if there is ever such a need". The national carrier clarified it was not affected by the July 2019 decision of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to suspend the right of Air India to self-handle at the US airports. The airline's ground handling services at American airports have been contracted to another company. The USDOT on Friday announced that it plans to restore Air India's ability to self-conduct its ground handling operations at American airports. Ground handling services include loading and unloading of baggage in the aircraft, de-icing, check-in and ticketing. "Air India was not affected by this restriction by the US Department of Transportation to self handle at the US airports as Air India did not conduct any self-handling of its flights in USA," Air India told PTI. "However, the relaxation will give us an opportunity to self handle at US airports in future, if there is ever such a need," the carrier stated. The USDOT's announcement came a day after Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu had a conversation with US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Also Watch: "India and the US have partnered in Aviation sector during these difficult times," the ambassador tweeted. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said the Libyan people want to hear good news, and stressed that only dialogue can solve the Libyan conflict as talks in the Moroccan capital Rabat began on Sunday. Noting that stability in Libya would positively affect that of Morocco, Bourita said that dialogue between parties to the Libyan conflict represents the way to trust-building, maturation of ideas and reaching understandings. In a press statement, the Moroccan foreign ministry said that the Rabat talks aim to open negotiations to solve disagreements between the Libyan factions. The two major parties to the Libyan conflict are Khalifa Haftars Libyan National Army (LNA) and the troops of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Egypt, France, Russia and the United Arab Emirates back the LNAwhich is allied to the Tobruk-based House of Representativeswhile the GNA is backed by Qatar, Turkish troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries. In 22 August, both parties to the conflict declared a ceasefire that ended fears about possible GNA aggression against the port city of Sirte, 230 miles (370 kilometres) east of the capital Tripoli, and Al-Jufra, which has a major military airbase. GNA Premier Fayez Al-Sarraj announced on Facebook that he "issued instructions to all military forces to immediately cease fire and all combat operations in all Libyan territories." Speaker of the east-based parliament Aguila Saleh also announced a ceasefire, which was welcomed by world leaders. Both sides agreed to hold elections in March 2021. Search Keywords: Short link: In addition to the gatherings near Kays home, a group of more than 100 protesters marched from Arlington into Georgetown on Saturday, temporarily shutting down the Key Bridge along the way. They then walked east on M Street and met up with dozens more protesters in Dupont Circle calling for justice for Kay and the abolition of the police department. She gave an impeccable portrayal of Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of The Crown. And Vanessa Kirby made sure all eyes were on her once more as she attended the 77th Venice Film Festival on Sunday in a tailored black Giorgio Armani suit for the premiere of her upcoming movie, The World To Come. The actress, 32, set pulses racing as she went shirtless for her sophisticated yet sexy ensemble. Flawless: Vanessa Kirby made sure all eyes were on her on Sunday as she walked the red carpet at the 77th Venice Film Festival ahead of her new movie, The World To Come She displayed her statuesque frame in a structured black blazer with pointed shoulder pads and straight leg trousers. Vanessa showed some skin in the plunging blazer with no top underneath. The Mission Impossible actress opted for a plum lipstick and grey smokey eye as she posed up a storm on the red carpet. Risky! The Crown actress, 32, set pulses racing as she went shirtless for her sophisticated yet sexy ensemble She kept her blonde tresses in a half-up, half-down hairstyle and rounded off the outfit with a stylish pair of black sandal heels. Earlier on in the day, she attended a photocall for her upcoming movie and sported another monochromatic ensemble. The Crown starlet looked incredibly stylish on the grey carpet in a patterned pencil skirt and form fitting T-shirt. Fitted: She displayed her statuesque frame in a structured black blazer with pointed shoulder pads and straight leg trousers both by Giorgio Armani Revealing: Vanessa exposed some skin in the plunging blazer with no top underneath Chic: The Mission Impossible actress opted for a plum lipstick and grey smokey eye as she posed up a storm on the red carpet Vanessa's black tee featured a statement neckline which tied in perfectly with the black, white and grey pattern of her tailored skirt. The Me Before You star boosted her height with a classic pair of pointed stilettos, and sported an edgy black manicure. Her blonde tresses were parted in the centre and styled sleek and straight, while her natural beauty was enhanced with a smokey eye and full eyebrows. Finishing touches: She kept her blonde tresses in a half-up, half-down hairstyle and rounded off the outfit with a stylish pair of black sandal heels It's all in the details: The Mission Impossible actress accessorised with a mixture of silver rings and ensured she prioritised safety with a matching black face mask Co-stars: Vanessa was pictured alongside her co-stars such as Christopher Abbott (far left) Katherine Waterson (left) Alberto Barbera (far right) and director Mona Fastvold (centre) The star had fun on the grey carpet as she posed for solo shots, before donning a black face mask in order to have photographs taken with her co-stars. Katherine Waterston, 40, contrasted her outfit to Vanessa's, stepping out in all-white for the photocall. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them star teamed a subtly pleated A-line skirt with a zip-up collared shirt. The actress wore her raven locks in an understated half-up, half-down 'do and shielded her mouth and nose with a stark white face mask Catching the eye: Katherine, 40, turned heads in a fringed black dress, which highlighted her sensational figure Dare to be bold: The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them actress' number featured a racy thigh-high slit The duo were joined by Norwegian director Mona Fastvold, American producer Christine Vachon and actor Christopher Abbott, 34, for a group shot. The Sinner star rocked a quirky outfit, stepping out in white tracksuit bottoms and a collared jumper, which he teamed with a white tuxedo jacket. The actor wore black high-top trainers, a chain necklace and sported attention-grabbing blonde-tipped curls. The World To Come is set on the American East Coast in the mid-19th century, where two neighboring couples battle hardship and isolation, and is based upon Jim Shepard's novel of the same name Demure: Earlier on in the day, she attended a photocall for her upcoming movie and sported another monochromatic ensemble Yin and yang: Katherine contrasted her outfit to Vanessa's, stepping out in all-white for the photocall Media tycoon and former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who will celebrate his 84th birthday on September 29, revealed on Wednesday that he had tested positive for Covid. Initial reports both from Mr Berlusconi himself and from his close 'entourage' tended to play down the news. Addressing a rally for Forza Italia, the centre-right party he founded in 1994, he told his supporters in a telephone call on Thursday: "I would like to be with you today but as you all know, like a lot of Italians, I have contracted Covid. This is an illness whose importance I have never underestimated, nor indeed the risks it brings. But I don't have a fever any-more, nor pain and I want to reassure people that I am feeling pretty good." Mr Berlusconi assured his supporters that he would be playing as full a part as possible in the ongoing regional elections - the vote in seven regions takes place from September 20-21. This was typically optimistic, fighting stuff. However, on Friday it emerged that rather than battling Covid in isolation in his Villa San Martino in Arcore, Mr Berlusconi had been taken to Milan's San Raffaele hospital because of "early stage" pneumonia, something we have come to see as a flashing red light for Covid. On Friday, Professor Alberto Zangrillo, the chief physician at the San Raffaele and someone who also happens to be Mr Berlusconi's personal doctor, issued a reassuring assessment of the centre-right leader's condition. "It was necessary to hospitalise Silvio Berlusconi because, given his age and his medical history (including heart problems), he is considered to be 'at risk'. But the situation is calm and reassuring. He is not on a ventilator and he is breathing by himself," Prof Zangrillo said. As he himself said last week, Mr Berlusconi has not taken the Covid threat lightly. Media reports pointed out that visitors to his Villa Certosa in Sardinia last month were subject to a series of anti-Covid restrictions. Masks, gloves and two-metre social distancing was obligatory at all times, we were informed. No buffet meals were served, but rather only individual plates. The trappings and very size of the Berlusconi 'court', however, seem to have upset the best-laid anti-Covid plans. The August gossip pages were full of photos of Mr Berlusconi receiving guests at Villa Certosa, including Forza Italia parliamentarians, lifelong allies such as Adriano Galliani (ex-AC Milan CEO), former political aide Gianni Letta and his Sardinian neighbour, Flavio Briatore, owner of the Billionaire nightclub and former Benetton Formula One Team manager. There were also reports of a major mid-August summer party. The point is that in all these photos, there was not a mask nor pair of gloves in sight. The nub here is that, with the annual influx of summer tourists from all over Italy, Sardinia itself has become a centre of Covid outbreaks. People returning from Sardinia to Italy are now subject to obligatory Covid testing, in the wake of evidence that many of them, especially younger travellers, have returned with Covid. Mr Briatore, meanwhile, has contracted the virus, while his Billionaire nightclub has been forced to close. In my own village on the Lago di Bracciano in Lazio, there has been a sudden increase in the number of Covid cases, traceable to young people returning from Sardinian holidays. In that context, it seems probable that the constant comings and goings at the Berlusconi summer residence has created a 'cluster' of infection at Villa Certosa. Two of Berlusconi's own children, 36-year-old Barbara and 31-year-old Luigi, both guests last month and both very active socially, have also contracted with Covid. Media reports suggest papa Berlusconi was not pleased with his children, accusing them of not having been careful enough. Also on the Berlusconi villa 'sick list' is a new name, a certain Marta Fascina. For those unfamiliar with the latest developments in Mr Berlusconi's "sentimental" life, we should inform you that the 30-year-old Forza Italia deputy is his current companion, notwithstanding a 53-year-age gap. Blonde, good-looking and completely unknown in public or political life, Ms Fascina burst on to the scene at the 2018 general election as a mysterious candidate imposed in a safe Forza Italia seat in Naples by Mr Berlusconi. Ms Fascina is thus the latest in a long line of glamorous young women to play a prominent role in the media tycoon's life. From Ruby, the so-called Heart Stealer of 'Bunga, Bunga' dinner party fame, to call girl Patrizia D'Addario, to 18-year-old Noemi Letizia, to dental hygienist Nicole Minetti and to Ms Fascina's immediate predecessor, Francesca Pascale, the list is long. Then, too, there are Mr Berlusconi's two wives, Carla Elvira Dell'Oglio (marriage from 1965 to 1985) and Veronica Lario (marriage from 1990 to 2014), with whom he has five children - Marina and Pier Silvio from the first marriage and Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi from the second. Recently, the Milan daily, Corriere della Sera calculated that between divorce settlements, 'gifts', donations and handouts, in the last 10 years alone Mr Berlusconi may well have spent approx 75m on the ladies in his life. It has been reported this summer that, following her separation from Mr Berlusconi, 35-year-old Ms Pascale received a settlement of 20m in acknowledgement of her almost 10 years at his side. Those were 10 years when her role often seemed that of a thoroughly modern household governess brought in to contain the embarrassing excesses of an overactive Berlusconi. Widely released photos in the last month of Ms Pascale apparently involved in a gay relationship only confirmed the suspicion of some that her role in the Berlusconi entourage had less to do with sentimental attachment than with keeping the household in order. Mr Berlusconi, of course, can afford to pick up the tab for the women in his life. In 2018, Forbes magazine ranked him as the 190th richest man in the world with a net worth of $8 billion. His Fininvest empire controls important holdings not only in the TV broadcasting industry, but also in publishing, real estate, insurance, finance, cinema and, of course, sport. On Thursday, shares in his Mediaset TV company, notwithstanding an unfavourable ruling in the European Court of Justice on the same day, rallied by 7pc. Clearly, the stock market believes that, despite his age and now his Covid, the last word in the Berlusconi story has not yet been written. The stock market is probably right. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Photo Illustration by Kristen Hazzard/The Daily Beast/Photos Getty If you want to know who will win the presidency in 60 days, the real question may be this: What crazy story will dominate the news between now and then? In politics, the battle isnt just over which candidate you prefer. Often, that determination is downstream from a more urgent question: What issue are you thinking about when you go to the ballot box? This explains why October surprises' ' (think James Comey reopening his investigation into Hillarys e-mails) can be definitive (especially for swing voters), and it explains why politicians, at the risk of looking like phonies, parry questions and change the subject. Lets say its Nov. 3, and the question on everyones mind before voting is, Why are 1,000 people dying every day from COVID-19? In that scenario, Joe Biden is the clear favorite. But if the question is, Why is there so much left-wing rioting in liberal cities, then Donald Trump still has a chance. As you can see, a lot of what a campaign is about is fighting over which topic matters most. And while Joe Biden still has the edge, Trumps ability to drive media narratives and change the subject (and distract the public) means you can never count him out. Does Donald Trump Have an Invisible Army? Part of the problem for Biden may be that (for political purposes) COVID-19 happened too soon, while civil unrest is a newer development (and fresh on the minds of voters). The media coverage reflects this. As I write this, the above-the-scroll news stories on The New York Times website are about Joe Biden visiting Wisconsin, Facebook trying to limit election chaos in November, and Trump trying to reframe the election as being about law and order. (There is one opinion piece about Gerald Ford rushing out a vaccine.) See what I mean? COVID-19 is old news. They havent forgotten it, but this is not the screaming headlines we might expect. This invisible enemy is harder to photograph or capture on video than a city on fire (or a hurricane, for that matter). Story continues As Never Trumper Charlie Sykes recently pointed out on his Bulwark podcast, if a thousand people a day were dying in plane crashes, nobody would accept it as inevitable. We would freak-out. It would receive wall-to-wall coverage. Anyone accountable or responsible would be driven from office. Yet, amazingly, Trump (and the fast pace of modernity) has managed to inure us to the COVID-19 death count. It has been, to some degree, normalized. Baked in the cake. Fear of the virus seems to have declined, while fear of street violence has probably increased. Trump has changed the subject to civil unrestan important issue, to be sure, but an issue where the body count is significantly smaller. Aside from the potential of alienating his progressive base, this explains Joe Bidens reluctance to focus on law and order. Every day that Biden is talking about looting and violence, after all, is a day he is helping Trump change the subject from issues that Biden wins on (COVID-19 and the economy)to an issue that Trump has a chance to win on (civil unrest). This makes sense, and we do it in all realms of life. If youre single, it might even boil down to this: If youre looking for a guy whos 63, look elsewhere. But if youre looking for a guy whos funny, then Im your date. Or if youre in the job market, maybe its this: If theyre looking for someone with a prestigious degree, then Im not your guy. But if theyre looking for someone who will hustle and work long hours, then hire me. Youve probably heard about how smart candidates stay on message, but what makes it their message? One exercise for determining that is called the Leesburg Grid. Essentially, it trains you to put the issues that benefit you in one quadrant, while the issues that benefit your opponent go in another quadrant. Lets say you are George W. Bush, and its the year 2000. If you are discussing the issue of experience, you are losing. It doesnt matter what you say, if thats the questionif thats the issue voters care about on election dayyou lose. Conversely, if the question is about who will restore honor and integrity to the office of the White House, then Bush wins no matter what Gore says. (Its ironic that this time its Democrat Joe Biden who is arguing that hes the guy to restore honor and integrity in the White House.) Now, imagine its 2008. If a debate question is How can you bring about change? then Barack Obama is going to win. But if the debate moderator says, Talk about a time when you sacrificed for your country, then its difficult to imagine how John McCaina former P.O.W.could lose. This is why the question is usually more important than the answer, and its also why having a fair debate moderator is crucial. You can see how this will relate to the upcoming debates. Again, though, this isnt just about winning a given debate question. Its about winning the argument and, therefore, winning the election. So, the real question is: what are people going to care about on Nov. 3 (or in the weeks leading up to it, given the number of people voting early via mail)? I applauded Biden for forcefully and clearly condemning the looting and street violence, because it blocks what is essentially Trumps only argument. But there is a danger in getting too bogged down engaging in this debate and looking like hes responding to Trumps criticisms. Hes playing a road gamehe is playing on Trumps turf. Now, controlling the topic doesnt always work for Trump. We were probably talking endlessly about caravans of migrants heading toward the border in 2018, and that didnt stop Democrats from swamping Republicans in the midterms. So, its not a cure-all. But whoever can drive the narrative is, at the very least, formidable. By almost every logical metric, Joe Biden should win this race. But Donald Trump is a master of changing the subject, altering reality, and driving media narratives. The more you consider the importance of the candidate controlling the ballot question (here, I mean the question people are thinking about when they vote), the more seriously you will entertain the possibility that Trump may pull off another miracle. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. New Delhi: The head of the Edneer Mutt in Kasargod Swami Kesavananda Bharati passed away at the age of 79 on Sunday. He was a patron of education, culture and arts. He was the petitioner in Supreme Court`s noted judgement that parliament cannot alter the basic structure of the Constitution. He had challenged the Kerala government`s move to take over mutt property. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the demise saying that the seer will be remembered for his contributions towards community service and empowering the downtrodden. Taking to Twitter PM Mpdi wrote: "We will always remember Pujya Kesavananda Bharati Ji for his contributions towards community service and empowering the downtrodden. He was deeply attached to India`s rich culture and our great Constitution. He will continue to inspire generations. Om Shanti." We will always remember Pujya Kesavananda Bharati Ji for his contributions towards community service and empowering the downtrodden. He was deeply attached to Indias rich culture and our great Constitution. He will continue to inspire generations. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 6, 2020 While Union Minister Amit Shah called it an irreplacable loss for the country. He wrote: "Passing away of a great philosopher and revered seer, Swami Kesavananda Bharathi ji is an irreplaceable loss for the nation. He will always be remembered as an icon of Indian culture for his rich contribution to safeguard our tradition and ethos. My condolences with his followers." Passing away of a great philosopher and revered seer, Swami Kesavananda Bharathi ji is an irreplaceable loss for the nation. He will always be remembered as an icon of Indian culture for his rich contribution to safeguard our tradition & ethos. My condolences with his followers. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 6, 2020 The seer was the head of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Samsthanam Edneer Mutt. The mutt is known as a seat of art and Vedic learning that belongs to the Sankaracharya tradition. Portland police and Oregon State Patrol troopers work together to arrest two protesters in front of the Portland Police Bureau North Precinct on the 75th day of protests against racial injustice and police brutality on August 11, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Nathan Howard/Getty Images The ongoing Black Lives Matter movement has put law enforcement policies and police tactics under renewed scrutiny. Scroll down to see some of the controversial police tactics highlighted amid the Black Lives Matter movement. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The video of a white police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd, a Black man from Minneapolis, shocked millions around the world. It not only marked the death of another unarmed Black man at the hands of police but also placed renewed scrutiny on police brutality and law enforcement policies in America. From "spit hoods" to no-knock warrants, scroll down to see some of the controversial police tactics. 1. Chokeholds and neck restraints A still from a video that was taken of the arrest of George Floyd, who later died in custody. Darnella Frazier/Facebook A chokehold is a constriction technique used by law enforcement officials to force an uncooperative suspect to submit without causing death or injury. In many of the largest police departments across the country, policies regarding the use of neck restraints are imprecise, resulting in a lack of accountability. Since the killing of George Floyd in May, multiple police departments in states including California, Colorado, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, and Texas have said they will ban chokeholds and any other airway-restricting techniques. Washington DC has passed legislation to ban police chokeholds and accelerate the public release of police body-camera footage earlier this summer. 2. The use of spit hoods during arrests In this image taken from a police body camera video provided by Roth and Roth LLP, a Rochester police officer puts a hood over the head of Daniel Prude, on March 23, 2020, in Rochester, New York. Rochester Police via Roth and Roth LLP and the Associated Press Spit hoods are mesh bags used by police in the US and abroad to protect officers from a detainee's saliva. In recent years, the controversial devices have been linked to several in-custody deaths. The tactic came under renewed scrutiny after the death of Daniel Prude in March a Black man who was experiencing a mental health crisis and had wandered out of the house unclothed in Rochester, New York. Prude died of asphyxiation after a group of police officers put a white spit hood over his head, then pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes. He died seven days later. Story continues One officer later said that Prude was hooded because he was spitting and they were concerned about contracting the coronavirus, according to the Guardian. During the coronavirus pandemic, police departments have begun using the hoods more often because of heightened fears that the detainees might spread contaminated respiratory droplets during an arrest. The officers involved in Prude's death have been suspended, and activists and Prude's family are calling for them to be charged in his homicide. "The police have shown us over and over again that they are not equipped to handle individuals with mental health concerns," Ashley Gantt, a community organizer for Free the People Roc and the New York Civil Liberties Union, told the Democrat and Chronicle. "These officers are trained to kill, and not to de-escalate." 3. Injecting ketamine to sedate suspects Elijah McClain protesters come face to face with Aurora, Colorado police on June 27, 2020. Andy Cross/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Paramedics inject ketamine as a sedative, often at the orders of police who think suspects are acting out of control. There are no federal standards for police officers or medical personnel on the drug's use, according to the Associated Press. Policies relating to the drug vary depending on the state, so it is not clear how regularly it's used during police encounters and why. Ketamine was also injected into 23-year-old Elijah McClain in Denver last summer, who was stopped by officers responding to a 911 call about a suspicious person wearing a ski mask. His family later said McClain wore ski masks because he had a blood condition that made him feel cold. Police put the 23-year-old massage therapist in a chokehold twice and pressed their body weight into him. When the paramedics arrived, they injected him with ketamine, giving him more than 1.5 times the dose he should have received because they incorrectly estimated his weight. The coroner found that McClain's death was due to "undetermined causes" but did not rule out that the chokehold, in addition to the ketamine, might have contributed to his death. "Why anyone would be giving ketamine in that circumstance is beyond me," neuroscientist Carl Hart, who is also the chair of Columbia University's psychology department, told NBC. "The major problem here is we should never be ordering any medication, and no one should be taking or given it against their will." After McClain's death, Colorado's health department opened an investigation into the growing use of ketamine. 4. No-knock warrants A protestor confronts a police officer during a rally against the death of Breonna Taylor and other forms of racial injustices, in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., June 27, 2020 Bryan Woolston/Reuters No-knock warrants allow police or law enforcement officials to enter a property without alerting the residents beforehand. The warrant is usually handed down by a judge and issued in the belief that any evidence officials hope to find would be destroyed if they allowed suspects to be aware of the police plans to enter premises. The use of no-knock warrants had increased in recent years and featured in the police killings of Breonna Taylor, a Black woman from in Louisville, Kentucky, who was lying in bed when she was shot eight times during a no-knock drug raid in March. No-knock warrants have been controversial since their introduction under the Nixon administration in the 1970s. In response to the Black Lives Matter protests, the Louisville Metro Council voted unanimously to ban no-knock search warrants in June, according to the New York Times. They called it "Breonna's Law." The new law does not only require police officers to knock on the front door of a house before entering it but also asks them to have their body cameras on when conducting a search. 5. Use of tear gas to disperse crowds A protester grabs his bike as the police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd near the White House on June 1, 2020, in Washington, DC. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images The use of tear gas in many of the Black Lives Matter protests has sparked concerns about the legality of its use on large assemblies. Teargas is a nonlethal chemical irritant designed to disperse crowds. While it is technically nonlethal, it can still cause pain, difficulty breathing, and temporary blindness to those exposed to it. Critics of the tactic have said they are concerned about law enforcement's heavy reliance on it and claim that chemical gas is a weapon of war under the Geneva Conventions. This claim has been backed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who described tear gas to other lawmakers as "a chemical weapon that is used in war." Rapper Ice Cube, who has been very vocal during the protests, got more than 142,000 likes on a Tweet in which he said that tear gas is "actually illegal." There have been a handful of tear-gas-related deaths. 6. "Kettling" as a form of crowd control Demonstrators denouncing systemic racism in law enforcement face off with NYPD officers at barricades erected at the Barclay's Center minutes before a citywide curfew went into effect on June 4, 2020 in New York City. Scott Heins/Getty Images "Kettling" is a crowd control tactic used by law enforcement officials, which involves blocking and trapping people in a small space for an indefinite period. While not explicitly used during arrests, the much-disputed tactic has been used on several occasions during the Black Lives Matter protests. In June, protesters in New York City accused police officers of disrupting a peaceful demonstration after hundreds of people were trapped in downtown Brooklyn, causing fear and panic. "Kettling" has become even more problematic amid the coronavirus pandemic. People forced to crowd in a tight space can become a public health risk for a prolonged period. "The police tactics the kettling, the mass arrests, the use of chemical irritants those are completely opposed to public health recommendations," Malika Fair, director of public health initiatives at the Association of American Medical Colleges, told Politico. "They're causing protesters to violate the six-feet recommendation. The chemicals may make them have to remove their masks. This is all very dangerous." Read the original article on Business Insider Srinagar: Security forces have recovered the bodies of two local militants who drowned in a river while trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Sunday. Police along with the Army recovered the two bodies, besides arms and ammunition, from the Kishanganga river in Tulail area of Gurez sector in north Kashmir on Saturday, a police official said. He said the bodies were shifted to Gurez hospital for medical and legal formalities. Incriminating material, including four AK-47 magazines, 115 AK-47 rounds, 17 pistol-9mm rounds, a hand grenade, a wireless set, four wrist watches, a pouch, a jacket and matrix sheets were found, the official said. He said as per the documents recovered, one of them has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Dar, a resident of Dogripora area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district. As per police records, he was missing since May 2018 and had joined proscribed terror outfit HM (Hizbul Mujahideen) after crossing the LoC. While the identity of the other deceased is being ascertained, and their families have been called for their identification," the official said. He said the preliminary investigation revealed both of them were local militants and were active across the border. In a bid to infiltrate back onto this side, both of them have died due to drowning while crossing the river," he said. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, the official added. Meanwhile, the security forces have recovered a M-4 rifle from the site of an encounter with militants in Kupwara district of north Kashmir, the police official said. He said the security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the forest area of Dana Behak Hemli Top in Warnow Kupwara on Saturday after specific inputs about the presence of militants there. During the search operation, the hiding militants opened fire at the search party of the forces, which was retaliated leading to an encounter, the official said. He said some incriminating material, including one M-4 rifle and two rucksacks, have been recovered from the encounter site. The search operation is underway, the official said. After Section 377, can India change its law on marital rape? In 2018, alongside the landmark judgment on LGBQT+ rights, the Supreme Court also struck down the section on adultery in the Indian Penal Code. But the laws position on marital rape is yet to change In 2009, the Delhi High Court had ruled in favour of decriminalising section 377 - a decision which was overturned only to by a two-judge Supreme Court bench in 2013. Photo: Getty Images 2018 was a dramatic year for Indian constitutionalism. This was the year the Indian Supreme Court embraced sexuality as an integral part of citizenship. In Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India, the Court finally recognized the constitutional rights of equality, dignity, expression, life and liberty of LGBTQ Indians. In Indian Young Lawyers Association v. State of Kerala, better known as the Sabarimala decision, the Supreme Court found that it was constitutionally obligated to allow Hindu women of faith of a menstruating age to access the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, from which they had hitherto been excluded. Finally, in Joseph Shine v. Union of India, the Court struck down Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which enabled a husband to file a criminal complaint of adultery against his wifes male lover, because it was unconstitutional. advertisement advertisement This was also the year that the Supreme Court celebrated constitutional morality. The underlying logic of each of these decisions was that constitutional morality leads the Court to strike down laws that may be justified in the name of social convention, but social morality must bend before constitutional values of equality and dignity. In Johar, constitutional morality led the Court to strike down the sodomy law; in Sabarimala, it held that religious sentiment could not trump womens right to equality; in Shine, the Court held that constitutional morality would also govern marriage. advertisement advertisement Is marriage a private relationship or a public one? Marriage may be the most delicate and intimate of relationships, but it also enjoys social, political and economic functions. Any entry that the law may make into the matrimonial bond has been heavily contested. Recall B.R. Ambedkars resignation over opposition to the Hindu Code Bill, the continuing debate over the validity of the cruelty provisions under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and what might be thought of as the failure of the dowry prohibition law. Marital rape is an area of both matrimonial and criminal law that has remained stubbornly resistant to reform. Exception 1 to Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (the marital rape exception) provides that non-consensual sexual intercourse by a man upon his wife, when she is above the age of 15, is not a criminal offence. We argue that by extending the doctrine of constitutional morality to the marital relationship, Joseph Shine is a crucial stepping stone to striking down the marital rape exception. advertisement advertisement *** In Joseph Shine, the Court sought to ensure that marriage enters the domain of the application of constitutional dignity of each citizen, including those of wives. Many years ago, Menaka Guruswamy argued elsewhere that men and women alike possess equal citizenship rights under the Indian Constitution, and that the ability to withhold consent in the context of sex is a crucial ingredient of the constitutional self. The article details how India was an outlier when it came to the recognition of marital rape as a crime, and that countries as close as Nepal and Bhutan, along with 102 other countries from the global South and the global North, had criminalized marital rape. advertisement advertisement The Penal Code regulates marriage through a number of provisions, including the marital rape exception. Section 376, the rape law provision, excludes marital rape. It says sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape. Amendments to the Penal Code in 2013 made it an offence for a man to have non-consensual intercourse with his wife if they were legally separated (Section 376A IPC), but the marital rape exception under Section 375 IPC was left untouched. In Joseph Shine, the Supreme Court makes a preliminary case for the recognition of marital rape, implicit in the seeking to privilege the fidelity of women in a marriage, is the assumption that a woman contracts away her sexual agency when entering a marriage Curtailing the sexual autonomy of a woman or presuming lack of consent once she enters marriage is antithetical to constitutional values. Since the Court had decided Navtej Singh Johar before Shine, it could look at its own jurisprudence on sexual autonomy and consent from Johar, and rely on it. advertisement advertisement *** Shine establishes a firm foundation to recognize marital rape. No doubt the lack thus far of such recognition is a constitutional embarrassment. That a five-judge Bench grounds their reasoning along lines of female sexual autonomy is one of the most dramatic long-term jurisprudential implications of Joseph Shine. Sex and the Supreme Court, edited by Saurabh Kirpal, published by Hachette India (352 pages, 699 The Misra bench that decided Johar and Shine invoked another common theme, of the role of a constitutional court in unpacking colonial-era laws and the colonial morality that defines them. The Shine Bench, like the Bench did in Johar, responds to the call of precedent that binds us to colonial morality, with a stern call to look to transformative constitutionalism. It argues that the Victorian morality that inspired this penal provision is antithetical to constitutional guarantees of liberty, dignity and equality. And the Court emphasizes that the criminal law must be in consonance with constitutional morality. advertisement advertisement It is constitutional morality that leads to the constitutional court ruling against a 160-year-old sodomy law, or the similarly archaic adultery law or a temple entry ban on women. The rejection of constitutional morality would render the loss of a valuable instrument against social or popular morality or even legislative inaction to reform laws that are constitutionally untenable. Social morality may call for retention of the marital rape exception. Proponents of social morality seem to argue that allowing rape to happen in marriage preserves an aspect of the marital bond that is essential for our society and culture. They may point to a society that is feudal, poor and backward, where women have a subordinate position within the marital relationship; and argue that changing this dynamic will cause social upheaval and chaos. advertisement advertisement The doctrine of constitutional morality challenges this status quo. Constitutional morality requires that, when the law governs intimate relationships, it holds them to the standard of the Constitution ensuring equality and dignity. The doctrine enjoins the Court to play a counter-majoritarian role, protecting individuals and minorities against majoritarianism. Joseph Shine brings the doctrine of constitutional morality to bear in intimate relationships. Shine is a crucial step forward in that it holds that intimate relationships, even within the institution of marriage, must be tested against the standard of constitutional and not social morality. advertisement advertisement This is an edited excerpt from the essay, From adultery to Sexual Autonomy: The Constitutional Potential of Joseph Shine, included in Sex and the Supreme Court: How The Law is Upholding the Dignity of the Indian Citizen, edited by Saurabh Kirpal and published by Hachette India. A 19-year-old woman COVID-19 patient was allegedly raped by an ambulance driver while shifting her to a first line treatment centre near Pathanamthitta, police said on Sunday. Image used only for representation. Photograph: PTI Photo Taking note of it, the State Women's Commission registered a case on its own into the incident, which drew wide condemnation from the opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party, even as health minister K K Shailaja said strict instructions had been given to take strong action against the culprit. "This is an unfortunate incident. We have given strict directions to take strong action against the culprit," she said in Thiruvananthapuram. The ambulance driver Noufal, 29, was taken into custody on Sunday based on a complaint by the victim's mother to the hospital authorities and the police. He was dismissed from service, the Kanivu 108 Ambulance Services said in a release. According to police, the incident occurred at Aranmula on Saturday. "We were informed by the hospital authorities after the victim told them about the incident and we took him into custody. We will take the statement of the girl later as she is not a position to explain her ordeal," the Investigating Officer told PTI. The girl was admitted to a hospital at Adoor on Saturday after she and her mother tested positive for coronavirus. While she was being shifted to the First Line Treatment Centre (CFLTC) later, the driver took her to an empty plot and raped her. The Commission Chairperson M C Josephine they have offered all help to the woman. 'This issues hows that women patients need separate security measures. Besides taking strict action against the culprit, his driving license must also be cancelled. Strict background checks should be done before appointing drivers for ambulances,' she said in a press release. Pathanamthitta Superintendent of Police P K G Simon told reporters that they nabbed the culprit soon after being informed about the incident. "He is from Kayamkulam and is an accused in an earlier murder case. We are looking into the details. The incident was very unfortunate," Simon said. He said the driver raped the woman at an empty plot at Aranmula near Pathanamthitta. Meanwhile, Opposition Congress and the BJP lashed out at the state government over the incident and demanded a high level probe into the matter. Speaking to reporters in the state capital, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said the incident, which has shocked Kerala, was due to the 'lapses' of the state government. "The woman was sent alone in an ambulance with the culprit... Now police are saying that the culprit has a criminal background. Why was this not considered before he was appointed? We demand a high-level probe into it," he said. BJP state chief K Surendran, who also sought similar action, said the incident showed that the Kerala government was a 'failure'. "This shows that the Kerala government is a failure and we demand the resignation of the health minister. The patient was sent with the driver without following any protocol," Surendran later told reporters. Indian prisons have been housing more inmates than their capacity for decades now and this problem of overcrowded prisons is only getting worse, according to a report on prison statistics for 2019 released by the National Crime Records Bureau earlier this week. As on 31 December, 2019, there were 4,78,600 inmates lodged in different prisons in India while they had a collective capacity to house only about 4,03,700 inmates. This means the number of prisoners was 118.5% of the prison capacity, the highest since 2010. While this is only one percentage point more than the number in 2018, a state-wise analysis shows that the number of states and union territories reporting overcrowded prisons has increased from 18 in 2018 to 21 in 2019. Eleven states have reported overcrowded prisons for five consecutive years. Prisons in Delhi were the most overcrowded among all states and union territories there were about 17,500 prisoners lodged in jails with a collective capacity of about 10,000, which is a prison overcrowding rate of 175%. Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand followed next in overcrowding at 168% and 159% respectively. Overcrowded prisons are more of a concern at present as the Covid-19 infection continues to spread in the country with about 3.5 million confirmed cases reported by August 30. The infection has been reported to have spread in multiple prison premises as well. This is a matter of concern also because nearly every eighth prisoner in India is a person above the age of 50, the age group which is at a higher risk of developing severe complications and dying due to the Covid-19 infection. Its stupid but its not surprising, said Neha Singhal of the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy regarding the overcrowded prisons. Prisons are grossly overcrowded and they urgently need to be de-congested. Prisons are often difficult to manage as it is, but the current circumstances will make management an absolute nightmare, she said. Singhal said maintaining social distancing norms is impossible in an overcrowded prison. Theres no way for them to be physically far from each other because theres just not enough space. I have spoken to a lot of prisoners and they barely have any space when they are sleeping and are forced to share mattresses, she said. Prisoners are also at a high risk of getting infected with an infection because of continued movement of prisoners in and out of prison premises and the fact that prisoners getting admitted and released is a continuous process. In 2019, an average of over 12,000 inmates visited courts everyday while around 1,300 were moved out of prisons everyday for medical attendance. In 2019, an average of 4,100 undertrials and 11 convicts were released from prisons every day while around 5,200 people were admitted to prisons every day. These numbers would be lower this year because of various steps taken by prison authorities to prevent outbreak of the disease inside prisons. It is possible to release a section of prisoners, especially those who are undergoing trial, on bail or parole. In 2019, 69% of all prisoners were undertrials. This figure has increased slightly in the last four years. Prisons by design are not roomy spaces and when they are crowded the space for each prisoner becomes even less, said Leah Verghese, research manager at civil society group Daksh. Verghese said she was surprised that many states did not make concerted effort to decongest prisons. Releasing undertrials, those who are accused of less serious offences and those above the age of 60 seemed like an obvious solution to the overcrowding problem, she said. Every time an undertrial is admitted there is a risk that they will infect other inmates and staff, said Verghese. Undertrials and convicts share the same space thus putting everyones health at risk. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa Vijdan Mohammad Kawoosa was a data journalist at Hindustan Times. ...view detail 3 1 of 3 Contributed photo / Patrick Sikes / For Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Sunny weather continues on the unofficial final weekend of summer, and is expected to shine through Labor Day, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasts for Sunday show mostly sunny skies with highs in the upper 70s. An Ocean County man who went missing more than a week ago was found dead inside a car in a grocery store parking lot on Sunday, according to an attorney representing the family. The family is devastated as this was not the outcome that anyone expected. As no one plans to bury their 29 year old son, said lawyer Jef Henninger in a statement. Mauri Mendez, 29, disappeared on Aug. 27 after calling his mother from their Lakewood home to say he was driving to his sisters residence in Toms River about 10 minutes away. He never showed up to the house and calls to his cell phone went straight to voicemail, his family said. Police located Mendez early Sunday morning in the parking lot of the Wall Township Shoprite inside a tan 2000 Chevy Blazer, Henninger said. Mendez had borrowed the vehicle from his mothers boyfriend while his own car was being worked on. The death is under investigation, Henninger said. Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith confirmed Wall police located the vehicle Mendez was reported to have been using and found a deceased person inside the vehicle, but said the persons identity has not yet been confirmed. Mauri Mendez was driving this tan, 2000 Chevy Blazer with New Jersey license plate F62LZU when he went missing. Authorities did not find evidence to suggest foul play during a search of the vehicle and surrounding area, Staffordsmith said, but an autopsy being conducted to confirm identity and cause of death may prove otherwise, he said. We ask that you keep the Mendez family in your thoughts during this difficult time, Staffordsmith said in an email. Mendez had a learning disability and is very trusting of people, his sister Sabrina Loehwing told NJ Advance Media. He had also recently been telling his mother that he was scared, though he wouldnt tell his mother who or what he was afraid of. His mother found a note in her Bible on Friday that said Mendez wanted a fresh start and was going to Florida or Ecuador, where he has family, and that he would be leaving in late September. However, his family doesnt believe he intended to leave for either location on Aug. 27 because he didnt pack any clothes or belongings, his bank account hadnt been touched and he had made plans with a friend for that Saturday. My brother has a learning disability. Hes 29 but his mind is like a 15-year-old, Loehwing told NJ Advance Media. Hes vulnerable. Hes very trusting in people. Hes just a loving person. He thinks everyone he meets is his friend. I dont know if he was talking to someone and that person wasnt a good person. Anything is possible. Loehwing said Mendez also received a phone call at about 9:30 a.m. on the day he was last heard from, which lasted two to three minutes, but it traces back to a number that appears to be a prepaid cell phone. Police obtained a warrant Friday night to seize phone company records to review Mendezs text messages and use GPS data to determine where his phone traveled after he went missing. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo. According to the Broadband Readiness Index (BRI), Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand are faring better than other Indian states in all the criteria set by the Central government to analyse a states readiness to adopt the fixed line network, Hindustan Times has learnt. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is preparing the index. Economic policy think-tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) helped launch the BRI last year to further expand the broadband network across the country. The index also becomes significant in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement on August 15 that optical fibre will connect 600,000 villages across the country in 1,000 days. Also Read: Rs40 lakh incentive for mobile towers in select Uttarakhand border villages According to documents accessed by Hindustan Times, 24 states/UTs have already provided requisite data for the index, while Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have given partial data to date. Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have not contributed any data yet. DoT is sourcing material from secondary sources such as COAI, Telecom Service Providers and TAIPA for states that have not submitted data. DoT checked where states ranked on the index based on several criteria, including Right of Way (RoW) rules that were introduced last year to set up mobile towers and underground optical fibre, the national building code of 2016, provisions to make government infrastructure available to set up telecom towers, smart city implementation and the common duct policy. The original deadline to submit the information was March 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the department has extended the deadline to September. DoT secretary Anshu Prakash also wrote to the chief secretaries of all states in March to expedite the submission of documents. The report was supposed to be finalised by April 2020. According to DoT officials, the department is working to establish the 600,000 connections, of which 150,000 have already been completed. The aim is that at least four institutions, say a school, the panchayat, the health care centre, the police station and/or ration shop are connected with the fibre to provide a fixed line connection, said a senior DoT official. The official added that of 21 states analysed, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Puducherry, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh have emerged as the five best states on the BRI. The ranking is also contingent on the size and population density of the state, said the official. Also Read: Govt website for welfare funds logs out daily wagers As of April 2020, according to data by TRAI, there are 1.17 billion telecom connections in India, of which 1.15 billion are mobile connections. Of these, over 620 million are urban mobile connections and over 520 million are rural. However, there are only 20 million fixed line broadband connections. India has 1.34 fixed broadband subscribers per hundred population, whereas the global average is 14, said the above-mentioned official. But at the same time, data consumption is 10.4 GB per month per subscriber on mobile connections. Fibre and fixed line connections will help provide people with easier access, especially considering the pandemic and the need for quicker Internet, as even teaching and learning are taking place online, said a second official. The official added that the Department was working round the clock to meet the thousand day deadline and had already established over a lakh Bharatnet fixed line connections in the last six months. According to former DoT secretary Shyamal Ghosh, connections will only make a difference if there is proper utilisation of resources. A large number of villages have been connected, but there is a need to set up services and have a development model, otherwise the investment remains unutilised. Ghosh added that BRI is a good investment, but it will have to engage with states to ensure further application, especially in local languages. All State University of New York schools will post their coronavirus test results and caseloads on one website, starting today, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomos office. The Covid-19 case tracker will also include information on how many students are quarantined or in isolation, two steps taken to prevent the spread of the virus. The data will be updated daily, according to SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. The effort comes after some SUNY schools have seen rising cases. SUNY Oneonta sent students home during the second week of classes because of an outbreak. There, officials have found more than 500 cases. As coronavirus cases spring up on our college campuses, we are reviewing real-time case data around the clock, Malatras said in a news release. This data is crucial to helping SUNY make quick, smart decisions that contain COVID-19 and protect our campus communities. Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. Trump supporters Trump supporters enjoy a boat parade for the re-election of President Donald Trump on July 4, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Jeff Swensen/Getty Images Texas Republicans endangered themselves on Saturday by failing to safely hold a boat parade. "Multiple 911 calls have been made regarding boats being in distress, some sinking at the 'Trump Boat Parade' scheduled for Saturday afternoon on Lake Travis, according to the Travis County Sheriff's Office. TCSO confirmed with CBS Austin that multiple boats have been sinking and are in distress," CBS Austin reported Saturday. "The sheriff's office says calls have been made about boats along the entire route of the parade, some of the locations include: Paradise Cove, Emerald Point and West Beach." Photos from the scene showed rough waters. https://twitter.com/bobphoto/status/1302329264533114880 Here's some of what people were saying about the boat parade: https://twitter.com/bobphoto/status/1302324896475811840 https://twitter.com/thor_benson/status/1302322725869023232 https://twitter.com/TheRealHoarse/status/1302332356318179334 https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/1302331033006866432 https://twitter.com/grinnyy14/status/1302310479281500160 https://twitter.com/erinnneliz/status/1302326041650688000 https://twitter.com/kykrebs/status/1302310818151833601 https://twitter.com/kykrebs/status/1302319552211152896 https://twitter.com/MarkJacob16/status/1302334878432796673 https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/1302322768562786309 https://twitter.com/votecumby/status/1302297302720278528 https://twitter.com/NotHoodlum/status/1302342462015500293 https://twitter.com/Bitterwhiteguy/status/1302370075945701383 https://twitter.com/ResistThePres/status/1302326307875889152 https://twitter.com/andydvnn/status/1302322240520740865 Related Articles Editor: I imagine by now you have all read or heard about the shooting incident recently in Kenosha, Wis. I was born and raised about 200 miles from this small Wisconsin town and am shocked by the recent police activity that took place there. A recent video shows Jacob Blake leaving an altercation between two women. Reports say he was trying to calm them down. He walked unarmed to his vehicle giving officers plenty of time to subdue him but no! As he tried to get into the car, one of the officers grabbed him by his shirt and shot Mr. Blake seven times in the back in front of his children, who were in the car, thus endangering and traumatizing these young ones, probably for life. Now reports say there were extenuating circumstances, but that is no reason for this brutal police behavior. Mr. Blake was hospitalized & held in handcuffs in his hospital bed. What? He is paralyzed from the waist down and has now finally been un-cuffed after several days of that. Where was he going to go? Protests then started and destroyed areas of the little town of Kenosha. This led to two more deaths: protestors shot by a 17-year-old with a rifle. His mother had driven him across the Illinois/Wisconsin state line. He had a weapon; it is illegal for a 17-year-old to even have a gun in his possession. What was she thinking? This blatant over-the-top use of police force has got to end. What happened to conversation? Questioning? Peaceful actions and reactions? How about sending black officers into black neighborhoods? My final question is for you hunters: Would it take you seven shots to bring down your prey? Christine Spigarelli Rio Rancho Scarlett Johansson stars as Natasha Romanoff in "Black Widow," scheduled for a Nov. 6 release. Read more All dates subject to change. This is the disclaimer we routinely attach to the movie release dates in our seasonal Hollywood previews, more pertinent than ever as subject to change hangs like Damocles sword over every aspect of pandemic life. Movies are just now starting to return to theaters as lockdowns ease, but fears persist that were one sneezing superspreader away from public health setbacks and trepidatious studios pulling their product from theaters. Even as Tenet becomes the first would-be blockbuster to test the waters, earning $53 million around the world last weekend ahead of this weekends U.S. release, studios are juggling fall titles, second-guessing, moving releases from the fall schedule to 2021. Two weeks ago, The Kings Man, an installment in the Kingsman franchise with Ralph Fiennes, was supposed to be a big September release. Now its moved to next spring. Tom Hanks sci-fi drama Bios has moved to 2021 as well. Ditto The Hitmans Wifes Bodyguard with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek. READ MORE: Fall 2020 TV is happening. But it wont be the same. Heres what you can expect. Yet hope abides. In Wonder Woman 1984, scheduled as of this writing for early October, and in 007, with the anticipated November release of No Time To Die. Hollywood also appears determined to reignite the moviegoing habit between now and Thanksgiving with new DC and Marvel blockbusters. And of course streamers like Amazon and Netflix will provide some stay-at-home alternatives. Heres the tentative schedule. Subject to change. Tenet. In director Christopher Nolans mind-bender, a spy (John David Washington) contends with forces from the future who can bend time in different directions. Characters must know the physics of time forward and backward in order to know whether theyre coming or going. Robert Pattinson is also along for the ride. In theaters as of this weekend, where theaters are open. Mulan. A brave young woman poses as a man in order to take her fathers place in a battle against northern invaders in ancient China. Live-action remake directed by Niki Caro, starring Yifei Liu. Streaming on Disney+ as of this weekend. The Broken Hearts Gallery (Sept. 11). When a young woman (Geraldine Viswanathan) is ditched, she starts a popular art gallery where people leave relics from defunct relationships. Directed by Natalie Krinsky. The Devil All the Time (Streaming on Netflix Sept. 16). In rural Ohio, a young man (Tom Holland) contends with a variety of eccentric and sinister characters who threaten his family. With Robert Pattinson, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, and Sebastian Stan. All In: The Fight for Democracy (Streaming on Amazon Prime Sept. 18). Documentary about various tactics used to suppress voting. Directed by Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes, featuring Stacey Abrams. Antebellum (On streaming platforms Sept. 18). In this horror movie, Janelle Monae plays a modern woman whos written a self-help book, and also plays a pre-Civil War enslaved woman who endures horrific treatment on a Southern plantation. Kajillionaire (Sept. 25). Evan Rachel Wood has been raised by her grifter parents (Richard Jenkins, Debra Winger) to be an emotionless and pitiless huckster. The family dynamic changes when a new con man joins the group. Miranda July directs. Greenland (Sept. 25). As environmental apocalypse sets in, a family led by Gerard Butler attempts to reach the last habitable place on earth, Greenland. READ MORE: 10 big books for fall 2020 The Boys in the Band (Streaming on Netflix Sept. 30). Film version of the Mart Crowley play, about a group of gay men who attend a birthday party that is interrupted and disrupted by an unexpected guest. With Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, and Andrew Rannells. Wonder Woman 1984 (Oct. 2). Demigoddess Diana (Gal Gadot) runs afoul of scheming businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and an unbalanced archaeologist (Kristen Wiig) whose alter ego is Cheetah. The cast apparently includes Chris Pine, so maybe that zeppelin mishap in the original Wonder Woman wasnt as bad as it looked. The Forty-Year-Old Version (Streaming on Netflix Oct. 9). Radha Blanks semiautobiographical Sundance smash comedy about a Black female playwright struggling to succeed on the Great White Way and finding her voice in the hip-hop world at age 40, which comes with its own set of obstacles. The War with Grandpa (Oct. 9). A boy (Oakes Fegley) whos forced to surrender his room to his ornery grandfather (Robert De Niro) endeavors to oust the old-timer by hook or by crook. Time (Streaming on Amazon Oct. 9). Award-winning documentary about Fox Rich, a woman who has spent decades working to free her husband from a 60-year sentence stemming from a robbery conviction. Honest Thief (Oct. 9). When a small-town bank robber (Liam Neeson) falls in love (with Kate Walsh), he decides to go straight, but is double-crossed by crooked FBI agents. Trial of the Chicago 7 (Streaming on Netflix Oct. 16). Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed this drama about the conspiracy trial of activists charged with disrupting the 1968 Democratic National Convention. With Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mark Rylance. Candyman (Oct. 16). The evil spirit that haunted a defunct Chicago housing project has apparently survived gentrification, as an artist discovers when he says candyman into a mirror five times. Cowritten by Jordan Peele, directed by Nia DaCosta. Rebecca (Streaming on Netflix Oct. 21). New film version of the Alfred Hitchcock/Daphne du Maurier classic, this time starring Lily James as a young bride who finds sinister secrets lurking in the mansion of her new husband (Armie Hammer). With Kristin Scott Thomas. Death on the Nile (Oct. 23). Kenneth Branagh returns as Agatha Christie detective Hercule Poirot, this time investigating murder in Egypt. Cast includes Annette Bening, Russell Brand, and Armie Hammer. Connected (Oct. 23). Chris Miller and Phil Lord (The LEGO Movie) return with another animated tale, this one about a college-bound girl (Abbi Jacobson) whose cross-country trip with mom and dad (Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph) goes awry. Come Play (Oct. 30). Horror movie about a monster lurking inside a childs smartphone and laptop that appears IRL and causes everything to be awful. I think its called Facebook. Fatale (Oct. 30). A woman convinces a man to participate in a murder conspiracy. How is it that people who find themselves in Double Indemnity scenarios always behave as if theyve never seen Double Indemnity? With Michael Ealy, Hilary Swank. Black Widow (Nov. 6). Picks up where Captain America: Civil War left off. Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) rights wrongs incurred during her pre-Avengers career as a spy. Featuring Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz. Also starring David Harbour as Red Guardian. Let Him Go (Nov. 6). An ex-sheriff (Kevin Costner) and his wife (Diane Lane) are on a mission to recover their orphaned and abducted grandson, by any means necessary. Based on the Larry Watson novel. Deep Water (Nov. 13). Fatal Attraction director Adrian Lyne returns from a two-decade absence to direct this adaptation of a Patricia Highsmith novel about husband (Ben Affleck), at war with his wife (Ana De Armas). The Comeback Trail (Nov. 13). Indebted movie producers bankroll terrible Western and overinsure its aging star, hoping hell die during shooting. Starring old-timers and Oscar winners Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, and Tommy Lee Jones. No Time To Die (Nov. 20). Isnt that a spoiler? Long-delayed release of the latest Bond movie, with Daniel Craig reportedly passing the baton to a new 00, this one played by Lashana Lynch. Rami Malek is a bad guy, Christoph Waltz returns as Blofeld. Cowritten by Fleabags Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Soul (Nov. 20). New Pixar animated movie. When an accident causes the soul to detach from the body of an aspiring jazz musician (Jamie Foxx), he must spend time in limbo convincing a cynical spirit (Tina Fey) that life is worth living. Featuring the vocal talent of Questlove. The Happiest Season (Nov. 25). A woman (Kristen Stewart) meets the family of her girlfriend (Mackenzie Davis) over the holidays, but her plans to propose are complicated when she realizes her betrothed hasnt come out to her conservative parents. Victoria has recorded 41 new COVID-19 cases - the state's lowest daily count in since June 27 - and nine deaths. Premier Daniel Andrews has been blasted by politicians, small businesses and public figures over his decision to extend draconian stage four lockdown for another two weeks. Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said owners are struggling under the weight of costs, including rent, equipment leases, loans and an accumulation of worker entitlements. 'What small businesses are telling us is that they are giving up,' she told Nine's Today program on Monday. Premier Daniel Andrews has been blasted by politicians, small businesses and public figures over his decision to extend draconian stage four lockdown for another two weeks The lockdown will only lift on that date if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are fewer than five unknown source cases Victoria on Monday recorded 41 new COVID-19 cases - the state's lowest daily count in since June 27 'For many of them, they are not going to be open until the end of November.' Ms Carnell said the Victorian government needed to step up and pick up some of the more prohibitive costs such as break lease fees, because 'its not the business' fault that they can't open, it's the government's'. 'We are talking to the Victorian government and they will have to come to the party.' Scott Morrison also took aim at Mr Andrews for extending Melbourne's lockdown, claiming better health care trumps tough restrictions. 'The continued restrictions will have further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and and loss of livelihoods, as well as impacting mental health,' a statement from Mr Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt read. Mr Morrison said it is of 'critical importance' that Victoria's contact tracing is strengthened to the 'highest level possible'. 'In NSW, this has enabled the Berejiklian Government to respond to multiple outbreaks while permitting businesses and people to carry out their daily lives in a CovidSafe way,' the statement read. 'Restrictions are not substitutes for strengthening health systems to cope with the virus, especially when community outbreak is brought under control.' Mr Andrews unveiled his much-anticipated four-step plan to ease the nation's toughest coronavirus restrictions on Sunday. Melbourne's stage four restrictions will remain for another two weeks, although from September 14 the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am. People living alone will also be able to nominate a friend or family member who can visit, while two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including 'social interactions' such picnics in parks or reading books at the beach. Professor Catherine Bennett, head of epidemiology at Deakin University, said she was 'extremely disappointed' by Mr Andrews' decision. 'To base these threshold decisions on a generic model is really troubling to me, I don't know why we're not using our own data to get much more precise about what's going on in our community and we can safely open up,' she told the Herald Sun. Professor Jodie McVernon from the Doherty Institute also took issue with the government's 'disappointing' plan. Melbourne's stage four restrictions will remain for another two weeks, although from September 14 the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am All remaining restrictions will be removed when Victoria goes 28 days with no new cases, although masks will likely remain compulsory for some time 'There's very little detail of the model that was presented yesterday and I think that was very disappointing,' she told the ABC. 'Five is a very low threshold and five cases occurring in the home of a health care worker is not the same as five in the community which NSW is not currently achieving. The details of the modelling are really quite scanty.' The curfew won't be lifted until October 26, with people able to leave home for non-essential reasons. The lockdown will only lift on that date if the average number of new cases falls below five and there are fewer than five unknown source cases. Up to five visitors from a nominated household and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will also be allowed. 'We can't run out of lockdown. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown to find that COVID normal,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday. 'I want a Christmas that is as close to normal as possible and this is the only way, these steps are the only way that we will get to that point.' Scott Morrison also took aim at Mr Andrews for extending Melbourne 's lockdown, claiming better health care trumps tough restrictions The premier said the nominated 14-day average of five cases provided a 97 per cent chance of avoiding having to go back into lockdown. Victoria's average daily number of cases during the previous 14 days was about 100. 'If you open up at that level you are not open for long,' he said. The last step will come into effect from November 23, if Victoria goes 14 days with no new cases, allowing public gatherings up to 50 people and 20 home visitors at a time. All remaining restrictions will be removed when Victoria goes 28 days with no new cases, although masks will likely remain compulsory for some time. Regional Victoria, however, will be able to move to the third step of restrictions 'quite soon'. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra was among a chorus of business critics who said the plan did not do enough to protect struggling businesses. 'We were hoping for a road to recovery. Today we have been delivered a road to nowhere,' he said. MOXLEY VS. MJF AND MORE: COMPLETE AEW ALL OUT COVERAGE Welcome to PWInsider.com's coverage of AEW All Out 2020! All Out Red Carpet broadcast Part One Tony Schiavone and Dasha are the hosts. They down the PPV lineup. They went to a video package on the Broken Match tonight between Matt Hardy and Sammy Guevara. They brought Matt Hardy out on the red carpet. Hardy was asked why they are having a Broken Rules match. He said all the rules are broken and this was the environment his vendetta deserves to be in. Tony asked Matt about his health. He responded, "Don't I look well, Sammy?" He then said to "Tony" that his health is fine. Dasha asked him if he was worried about losing his AEW career. He said life is too short to live with regrets and in the past. He has to live in the now. In the future, all anyone will say is that Sammy's life was "too short." Outside of Daily's Place, Alex Abrahantes interviewed the arriving Dark Order. Evil Uno complained there was nothing to celebrate Brodie Lee and had someone else dethroned Cody, they would have banners for them. Stu Grayson said AEW hates them because they fear them but the Dark Order will take what they want. Abrahantes asked them if the Dark Order has the advantage in their eight man tag because they are a family. Uno said they have taken out the leader of the Nightmare Family and they are taking the rest. They inferred Abrahantes was down with the Dark Order. Tony and Dasha interviewed Brandi Rhodes. Rhodes said there is a sense of occasion tonight. The Rhodes family isn't going to let anyone down. She praised the Nightmare Family's members. She said everyone on their side of the eight man tag team have done the work and are prepared for the Dark Order. She doesn't know when Cody is coming back. She made it clear she was looking for Anna Jay tonight. Outside, NWA Women's Champion Thunder Rosa was interviewed by Alex Abrahantes. She is excited to show the world what they should have seen a long time ago. She said fans will see the best of the best in women's wrestling tonight. She's been wrestling for six years and fighting professionally for a year. Shida is in for a treat tonight and should be put on notice. She said she'd be a triple champion with her title in Japan and when she wins tonight, she'll take all the titles around the world and defend them. After a video package on Thunder Rosa, they went back to Abrahantes , who caught MJF and Wardlow exiting their car. He said after this past Wednesday, he's feeling confident going into his match with Jon Moxley. He said Moxley is a proficient brawler but isn't as good of a professional wrestler as MJF. He said Moxley's killshot was the Pradigm Shift and MJF has removed it. He said that when he wins, he's going to bring All Elite Wrestling, not gymnastics and brawling. He said that when he becomes the AEW Champion, the fans will only see great pro wrestling. Pointing out that both he and Moxley are undefeated, MJF was asked what would happen if he lost. He scoffed at that idea and said that no one is going to have to worry about that. Tony and Dasha ran down the lineup again and sent everyone over to TNT for the Countdown show! Following the Countdown to All Out special, AEW returned to streaming for... AEW All Out Red Carpet Part Two Tony Schiavone and Dasha talked up the PPV and promoted the lineup for the show. Alex Abrahantes interviewed AEW Tag Team Champion Kenny Omega. He talked about being FTR tonight. When asked about his relationship with Adam Page, Omega said that their relationship doesn't matter because they have a roadblock in being able to prove they are the best tag team in AEW. The FTR are all that is left. All that matters is that they are on the same page in the ring and they can raise their arms in victory. He said everything is absolutely fine between them. Dasha and Tony talked about the Mimosa Mayhem bout and broke down the rules - No DQ, No rope breaks, victory by pinfall, submission or being tossed into the Mimosa vat. Outside, Vickie Guerrero and Nyla Rose were outside. Rose said you would think they were most excited to see the Mimosa Match. Guerrero said she wanted to see those hot guys in FTR. Rosa said that perhaps she'll win the Casino Battle Royal again, then said she's been there, done that. Guerrero teased they were there to see what happens with Thunder Rosa vs. Hikaru Shida. Shaul Guerrero joined Dasha and Tony. She was "beyond honored" to ring announce the Women's Tag Team Cup. She is rooting her her fellow Latina sister Thunder Rosa tonight but pointed out that Shida has far more experience. They talked about the Tooth and Nail match. They ran a video piece on the rise of the Dark Order and Brodie Lee's TNT title win. Alex Abrahantes interviewed FTR and Tully Blanchard. It was their destiny to win the AEW Tag Team titles and redefine the tag team world. Tully said that if you want to be the best, you have to be the best and train harder and think more and plan more. He said he hopes Kenny and Page have a rift because when FTR step into the ring, they are going to be a well oiled machine. He declined to say the strategy tonight but said it would be something to behold tonight. FTR said they aren't on the same page and they don't have a gameplan and they aren't on FTR's level. AEW Champion Jon Moxley arrived and blew past Alex Abrahantes to enter the building. That conclues the Red Carpet coverage! AEW All Out Buy In Coverage on Page 2! If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! Back in August you may have read about the new novel A Little Rebellion Is a Good Thing by Duncan Clarke. Set 50 years ago in a small Virginia city just off Interstate 81, its a thinly fictionalized account of the retired professors time teaching at then-Radford College, a womens institution helmed by a dictatorial president, Charles Martin. That column certainly culled many memories from readers and former reporters of this newspaper. One concerns campus protests over the right to wear pants. Another involved a minor courtroom drama that could have been headlined The case of the orphaned iguana. Those were the exact years that I attended Radford and I have often told people that despite the fact that I am not Catholic, I got my college education at a convent, wrote Lynn Bryant of Roanoke County. I remember well so many of the things that Dr. Clarke told you about. One of my favorite memories was being kicked out of the administrative building by Dr. Martin himself when I was a senior (1970). Why? I was wearing slacks and ladies did not wear pants there! Bryant also recalled fire drills in womens dorms that Martin used to stage as a pretext to search student rooms for contraband such as alcohol. According to her, at least some students were wise to Martins tricks. One day we had heard that there might be a fire drill that evening. We had a bottle of some kind of prohibited alcohol in our room and knew we would get in trouble if it was found, so we took it outside and hid it in a cinderblock where they were doing some construction. We did have the fire drill, Bryant continued. The next morning we went to retrieve the bottle and it was gone. We figured it made some construction worker happy! One of my college roommates and I still laugh about that to this day. Jack Chamberlain covered education back then for the afternoon Roanoke World-News and wrote a lot of stories about the college and Martin. But his connections to the institution went beyond work. My wife Jo graduated from Radford, Chamberlain wrote. She hated it. Like a prison, she said. A series of civil rights lawsuits brought an end to Martins 20-year reign. The colleges board of visitors promoted Martin to chancellor and hired Donald Dedmon away from Marshall University in West Virginia. As president, he eliminated student curfews and relaxed some other rules, too. After Dedmon arrived, Jo and I were dating then and I invited her to a Radford Presidents reception. She was reluctant to go. She hated Radford so. She remembered students being kicked out for having beer on their breath. Jo was shocked when Dedmon offered her wine in a Radford wine glass. Dedmon saved Radford. Chamberlain added: My daughter went to Radford during the Dedmon era. She loved it. Carolyn Pillis of Salem was a freshman at Radford in 1969. I cant wait to read Clarkes book, she wrote. I remember protesting for the right to wear jeans to class instead of a skirt, while the guys at Tech were protesting Vietnam! It feels petty now but so much was going on at Radford. Randy Jones of Christiansburg graduated from Virginia Tech in 1969. Since Radford College was the source of most of the dates for the guys at Tech, there was always a steady stream of Tech men driving/riding to Radford for social life, he wrote. I remember being amazed, or maybe appalled is the better word, by the way the Radford students were treated by the administration. The women could not wear shorts without also wearing rain coats or similar long coats while on campus even on very warm or hot days. They had to sign out of the dorms for dates and to go home, and be back by certain times. But I was totally unaware of the fire drill scenarios until reading your column. Jones also recalled a run-in with Charles Martin, at a Radford campus dance. It was a warm evening and he demanded that I wear a dress jacket to the dance. I had heard he was a jerk, but had never experienced it until that evening. Luckily I knew some folks in Radford and was able to borrow a jacket for the evening. Another memory came from Doug Thompson, a journalist in Floyd County who began his career at the tender age of 11 in Farmville. By 19, Thompson was a full-time staffer for The Roanoke Times. He once ended up covering a Radford court case over an iguana. Its student owner left it with a [male] faculty member to take care of during her summer break when she went to Europe, Thompson recalled. But he apparently thought she had given it to him and he gave it to another student. The first student later took the second student to court in an effort to get her pet back. Bob Motley, who worked across the newsroom for the afternoon paper, and I got into a pun war in stories about the iguana fight. Bob called it the lizard at odds and I said there was a pet lizard at Radford who was saying Iguana go home. Our puns got so bad that Barton Morris, then the executive editor, came into the newsroom and told both of us that if either used anything that remotely resembled a pun on any story, both of us would be looking for another job. I later learned that [Charles] Martin did not like the puns and had complained to Morris. And what happened to Thompson? Well, he got fired. But that had nothing to do with puns, or Radford or an iguana. The editors hired Thompson on the condition that he enroll in college. So he did, at Roanoke College in Salem. Years later, in 2009, he grinned as he told me something like, They never said I had to attend class. And when they found out he wasnt, Thompson got the boot. He moved on to a newspaper in Illinois, then into careers as a Washington, D.C., power broker, political consultant and internet news visionary. He retired to Floyd with his wife, Amy, in 2004. Since then, his writing and photography have filled many pages of The Floyd Press. Thanks for all the memories, readers. Please keep those emails, letters and phone calls coming. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Centre on Saturday exhorted Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, accounting for about 46 per cent of active COVID-19 cases and 52 per cent of deaths in the last 24 hours, to focus on aggressive measures to break the chain of transmission and keep mortality rate below 1 per cent. The states have been advised to proactively ensure higher testing, effective clinical management along with efficient monitoring at various levels to lower fatality, the Union Health Ministry said. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka account for about 46 per cent of active cases reported nationally in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra alone accounts for 22 per cent of all active cases reported in a day, it said. "These three states also account for 52 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths reported across the country in a day. Maharashtra alone accounted for 35 per cent of all deaths registered in 24 hours," the ministry highlighted. The Union Home Ministry also highlighted districts in each of these states that raised concern. The need for effective containment and contact tracing was underlined for Pune, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Raigad, Jalgaon, Solapur, Satara and Palghar districts of Maharashtra. In Andhra Pradesh, Prakasam and Chittoor were highlighted as districts of concern and the need for daily monitoring of facility-wise deaths, strengthening of hospital facilities, increasing the number of ICU, oxygen beds and efficient clinical management were focused upon. For Karnataka, the highlighted districts of Koppal, Mysuru, Davangere and Bellari were advised to optimally utilize RT-PCR testing facilities, strengthen their door-to-door search for active cases and protect their healthcare workers, the ministry said. In cumulative terms, five states account for more than 60 per cent of the total active cases in the country, with Maharashtra contributing the maximum to the active caseload amounting to almost 25 per cent, followed by Andhra Pradesh 12.06 per cent, Karnataka 11.71 per cent, Uttar Pradesh 6.92 per cent and Tamil Nadu 6.10 per cent. Of these, three states -- Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka -- account for nearly 49 per cent of all active cases and more than 57 per cent of coronavirus-related deaths. Of the total deaths in the country, 70 per cent are recorded in just five states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh. Maharashtra alone accounts for 37.33 per cent of the total fatalities, the Health Ministry said. India's COVID-19 caseload mounted to 40,23,179 on Saturday, with a record 86,432 cases being reported in a day, while the death toll climbed to 69,561 with 1,089 people succumbing to the disease in 24 hours, the health ministry data updated at 8 am showed. Tran Van Mys family members receive the 70-year membership insignia. (Photo: VOV) Le Nho Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee in Laos presented the insignia to My during a ceremony held at Mys private house in Vientiane on August 21. My was born in 1930 in Quang Lien commune, Quang Trach district of the central Quang Binh province. He was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam in January, 1950 while performing international missions in Laos. During the past 70 years, he has worked hard to contribute to the growth of the Vietnam-Laos friendship. He has been honoured with various noble orders and medals of both Vietnam and Laos./. The COVID-19 virus and antibodies can coexist in young patients, finds Children's National Hospital researchers, who set out to improve the understanding of how long it takes paediatric patients with the virus to clear it from their systems and at what point they start to make antibodies that work against the coronavirus. The study has been published in the Journal of Pediatrics. "With most viruses, when you start to detect antibodies, you won't detect the virus anymore. But with COVID-19, we're seeing both," said Burak Bahar, MD, lead author of the study and director of Laboratory Informatics at Children's National."This means children still have the potential to transmit the virus even if antibodies are detected," added Bahar. She adds that the next phase of research will be to test if the virus that is present alongside the antibodies can be transmitted to other people. It also remains unknown if antibodies correlate with immunity, and how long antibodies and potential protection from reinfection last. The study also assessed the timing of viral clearance and immunologic response. It found the median time from viral positivity to negativity when the virus can no longer be detected, was 25 days. The median time to seropositivity, or the presence of antibodies in the blood, was 18 days, while the median time to reach adequate levels of neutralising antibodies was 36 days. Neutralizing antibodies are important in potentially protecting a person from re-infection of the same virus. This study used a retrospective analysis of 6,369 children tested for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and 215 patients who underwent antibody testing at Children's National between March 13, 2020, and June 21, 2020. Out of the 215 patients, 33 had co-testing for both the virus and antibodies during their disease course. Nine of the 33 showed the presence of antibodies in their blood while also later testing positive for the virus. Also of note, researchers found patients 6 through 15 years old took a longer time to clear the virus (median of 32 days) compared to patients 16 through 22 years old (median of 18 days). Females in the 6-15 age group also took longer to clear the virus than males (median of 44 days for females compared to a median of 25.5 days for males). Although there is emerging data regarding this timing in adults with COVID-19, there is far less data when it comes to the pediatric population. The findings being gathered by Children's National researchers and scientists around the world are critical to helping understand the unique impact on children and their role in viral transmission. "The takeaway here is that we can't let our guard down just because a child has antibodies or is no longer showing symptoms. The continued role of good hygiene and social distancing remains critical," said Dr Bahar. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! California Gov. Gavin Newsom discusses his revised 2020-2021 state budget during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Spending cuts are compounding for schools and state programs, reserve funds are dwindling, and some governors have begun proposing new taxes and fees to shore up state finances shaken by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more Spending cuts to schools, childhood vaccinations and job-training programs. New taxes on millionaires, cigarettes and legalized marijuana. Borrowing, drawing from rainy day funds and reducing government workers pay. These are some actions states are considering to shore up their finances amid a sharp drop in tax revenue caused by the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. With Congress deadlocked for months on a new coronavirus relief package, many states haven't had the luxury of waiting to see whether more money is on the way. Some that have delayed budget decisions are growing frustrated by the uncertainty. As the U.S. Senate returns to session Tuesday, some governors and state lawmakers are again urging action on proposals that could provide hundreds of billions of additional dollars to states and local governments. There is a lot at stake in the next federal stimulus package and, if its done wrong, I think it could be catastrophic for California, said Assemblyman Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco and chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee. The budget that Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed in June includes $11.1 billion in automatic spending cuts and deferrals that will kick in Oct. 15, unless Congress sends the state $14 billion in additional aid. California's public schools, colleges, universities and state workers' salaries all stand to be hit. In Michigan, schools are grappling with uncertainty as they begin classes because the state lacks a budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1. Ryan McLeod, superintendent of the Eastpointe school district near Detroit, said it is trying to reopen with in-person instruction, but the costs are tremendous" to provide a safe environment for students. The only answer, really, is to have federal assistance, McLeod said. Congress approved $150 billion for states and local governments in March. That money was targeted to cover coronavirus-related costs, not to offset declining revenue resulting from the recession. Some state officials, such as Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb of Indiana, are pushing for greater flexibility in spending the money they already received. Others, such as Republican Gov. Mike DeWine of Ohio, say more federal aid is needed, especially to help small businesses and emergency responders working for municipalities with strained budgets. In mid-May, the Democratic-led U.S. House voted to provide nearly $1 trillion of additional aid to states and local governments as part of a broad relief bill. But the legislation has stalled amid disagreements among President Donald Trump's administration, Republican Senate leaders and Democrats over the size, scope and necessity of another relief package. In general, Republicans want a smaller, less costly version. The prospects for a pre-election COVID-19 relief measure appear to be dimming, with aid to states and local governments one of the key areas of conflict. The bipartisan National Governors Association and Moody's Analytics have cited a need for about $500 billion in additional aid to states and local governments to avoid major damage to the economy. At least three-quarters of states have lowered their 2021 revenue projections, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. While Congress has been at loggerheads, many states have pressed forward with budget cuts. Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, recently announced $250 million of agonizing cuts that he described as just the tip of the iceberg in addressing a $1 billion budget shortfall caused by the coronavirus and declining revenue from coal and other natural resources. The cuts will reduce funding for childhood vaccinations and eliminate a program to help adults learn new job skills, among other things. It is not likely that these trends are going to turn around rapidly or as significantly as we would like, Gordon said. In August, Rhode Island Management and Budget Director Jonathan Womer sent a memo to state agencies instructing them to plan for a 15% cut in the fiscal year that starts next July. In some states, however, the financial outlook is not as dire as some had feared earlier this year. Previous federal legislation pumped money into the economy through business subsidies, larger unemployment benefits and $1,200 direct payments to individuals. The resulting consumer spending led to a rebound in sales tax revenue in some states. Many states also delayed their individual income tax deadlines from April to July, which led to a larger than usual influx of summer revenue from taxpayers' 2019 earnings. In Vermont, where lawmakers are expected to work on a budget next week, a deficit that some had feared could reach $400 million now is pegged around $55 million. A predicted $518 million shortfall in Arizona for the current fiscal year has been revised to just $62 million. Local governments in New Mexico said revenue has been propped up by surprisingly strong sales taxes. But "that sugar high from the federal stimulus will fall off, and our communities will be affected, said A.J. Forte, executive director of the New Mexico Municipal League. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, is urging the Legislature to legalize and tax recreational marijuana as a way to shore up state revenue. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf also wants the Legislature to legalize marijuana, with the tax revenue going toward grants for small businesses and criminal justice reforms. State tax revenue often lags economic trends because individuals' income losses aren't reflected on tax returns until months later. As a result, experts warn that states might experience the lagging effects of the recession well into their 2021 and 2022 budget years. The worst is still yet to come, said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. The 2021 fiscal year began July 1 in most states. But seven states have yet to enact a full-year budget, in some cases because they have been waiting for congressional action on another relief bill. One such state is New Jersey, which shifted the start of its budget year from July to October because of the coronavirus pandemic. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy recently proposed a budget that would slash about $1 billion in spending, take on $4 billion in debt and raise taxes on millionaires, businesses, yachts, cigarettes and health insurance plans. Murphy has said the initial federal aid didnt provide enough to deal with the variety of tsunamis that were facing. In New York, Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration estimates the state will receive about $8 billion less in tax revenue than once expected this fiscal year. Cuomo, who recently became chairman of the National Governors Association, wants Congress to provide an additional $30 billion to New York to plug budget holes that he warns will compound in coming years. There is no combination of savings, efficiencies, tax increases that could ever come near covering the deficit," Cuomo said, "and we need the federal government to assist in doing that. Period. ___ Associated Press writers Adam Beam in Sacramento, California; Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey; Bob Christie in Phoenix; Tom Davies in Indianapolis; David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan; Mead Gruver in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wilson Ring in Stowe, Vermont; Andrew Taylor in Washington; Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus, Ohio; and Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Police prepare to make dozens of arrests amid unrest in Manhattan, New York City, N.Y., on June 3, 2020. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) 8 People Arrested, $100,000 in Damage After Riots in Manhattan: Police At least eight people were charged with rioting after several storefronts were smashed on Friday in New York City. Police told CBS New York that more than $100,000 in damage was done in the incident. Several businesses, including the Starbucks at 21st Street and Madison in the Flatiron District, were damaged. A pharmacy and banks were also vandalized in the West Village, Lower Manhattan, and in the SoHo neighborhoods. Officials told ABC7 that five men and three women were arrested, and two of them were not from New York City. We are waiting on a more precise number of arrests, location for the arrests and a more precise number of businesses that were vandalized, officials told the station. A local Manhattan man, Jason Williams, told the CBS affiliate station that he was surprised riots were still going on in New York City. I feel like things have calmed down because after SoHo, you remember what happened in SoHo? That was crazy, he said. I didnt know they were still doing that. A Statue of Liberty painting is seen through a smashed Dolce and Gabbana store window in SoHo, N.Y., on June 1, 2020. (Mark Lennihan/AP Photo) A mannequin sits in a burned police vehicle in the Soho neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, N.Y., on June 1, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images) The protesters were shouting anti-police slogans and chanted black lives matter. Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground, the group was recorded chanting in one instance. Security footage obtained by NBC4 appeared to show a demonstrator in a balaclava using a tool to break windows at a shop. Other people are seen holding umbrellas to shield the person from view. We call on everyone who stood up during the #GeorgeFloyd uprising and all supporters to come out to say #DropTheCharges for all who have fought for our liberation! wrote one of the groups that allegedly organized the event, RAM NYC. Scientists have discovered a peculiar multi-star planetary system, different from the solar system with tilted rings and warped circumstellar disc around multiple stars. In research published by the University of Exeter on its website, an international team of experts, led by astronomers at the University of Exeter, found a unique stellar system with tilted, multiple stellar constellations quite similar to Star Wars Tatooine surrounded by inclined dust and gas rings. The findings were recorded on the European Southern Observatorys Very Large Telescope (VLT), Georgia State Universitys Center for High-Angular Resolution Astronomy telescope array (CHARA), and the Atacama Large Millimeter or the submillimeter Array (ALMA). The instruments observations gave new insights to the scientists about how stars and planets formation took place inside the rare rotating, circumstellar discs of dense dust and gas surrounding young stars. The findings were a part of a large program that intended to discover the stellar system using the infrared imager, called MIRC-X. The CHARA telescope array combined at least six telescopes observations that depicted intense lights. MIRC-X was designed by the Universities of Michigan and Exeter as part of a European Research Council-funded research project. An international team of experts, led by astronomers at the University of Exeter, has identified a stellar system where planet formation might take place in inclined dust and gas rings within a warped circumstellar disc around multiple stars. Read more: https://t.co/a8ctxUwWuB pic.twitter.com/5Lz8pOh4Qq University of Exeter (@UniofExeter) September 4, 2020 While the Solar System was previously known to be as flat, with the planets all orbiting in the same plane, the new findings proved that it was not always the case. The research found newly typed of planet-forming discs around multiple stars, similar to GW Orionis. Located just 1,200 light-years away in the constellation of Orion, the stellar system was observed to have only had three starts and a deformed, broken-apart disc surrounding them. Were really excited that our new MIRC-X imager has provided the sharpest view yet of this intriguing system and revealed the gravitational dance of the three stars in the system. Normally, planets form around a flat disc of swirling dust and gas yet our images reveal an extreme case where the disc is not flat at all," said Stefan Kraus, professor of astrophysics at the University of Exeter, who led the research published today in Science. Read: Scientists Calculate Earths Ice Age Temperature By Studying Glacial Cooling: Research Read: Scientists Detect First-ever Rare Black Holes Collision That Occurred 7 Billion Years Ago Further, he added, the system is warped and has a misaligned ring that has broken away from the disc. The misaligned ring is located in the inner part of the disc, close to the three stars. The effect is that the view of a potential planet within this ring looks remarkably like that of Tatooine, of Star Wars fame. The scientific team used the SPHERE instrument on ESOs VLT and with ALMA, to study the inner ring and find that they were misaligned, unlike our solar system. [Astronomers looked at GW Orionis with the ALMA telescope array (left, blue) and the SPHERE instrument on the Very Large Telescope (right, red), both in Chile. The ALMA observations revealed the disks tri-ringed structure and rings deformed shapes in detail. Credit: University Of Exeter] The team observed shadows that this ring casts on the rest of the disc. This helped them figure out the 3D shape of the rings and overall disc geometry, the research revealed. 30 Earth masses of dust It was also found that the inner ring of the planets consisted of over 30 Earth masses of dust, which could be enough to form newer planets.Since more than half of stars in the sky are born with one or more companions, this raises an exciting prospect: there could be an unknown population of exoplanets that orbit their stars on very inclined and distant orbits, Alexander Kreplin of the University of Exeter, said. Any planets formed within the misaligned ring will orbit the star on highly oblique orbits and we predict that many planets on oblique, wide-separation orbits will be discovered in future planet imaging surveys, he added. [ALMA, in which ESO is a partner, and the SPHERE instrument on ESOs Very Large Telescope have imaged GW Orionis, a triple star system with a peculiar inner region. Credit: Univ. Of Exeter] Read: Scientists Detect Gamma Ray 'heartbeat' Coming From Gas Cloud In Sync With Black Hole Read: Meteorite Discovered In Antarctica Offers Scientists Peek At Solar System, Mystery Of Life OTTAWA Puppy scams are a growing problem across the country as fraudsters look to take advantage of lonely animal lovers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Better Business Bureau. Canadians have lost about $300,000 so far this year after falling prey to fake breeders, compared to about $150,000 during all of 2019, the non-profit organization warns. The bureau and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre have received 364 pet-scam complaints combined, with more than 250 of those reporting money lost and August as the worst month since the outbreak. Theres people all over the country, from the Maritimes to B.C., that are getting scammed with this type of puppy fraud, said Jessie St-Cyr, a spokeswoman for the bureau. Red flags include low prices under $1,000 for a purebred puppy pressure to complete the purchase quickly and unsecured payment methods such as bitcoin, gift cards or Western Union. The last complaint I saw, from someone in Calgary who lost $2,225, the fake breeder asked the person to pay with Walmart gift cards, St-Cyr said. Another giveaway is repeated attempts to draw more money out of the buyer through expenses. They say, OK, you to need to pay $1,500 more to rent an electronic, temperature-controlled crate. Its going to be 95 per cent refundable. And then for vaccines, for insurance. Theyre going to ask for more and more money. Buyers can sniff out fraudsters by asking for several references including the vaccinating veterinarian checking the creation date of the website of the breeder and transport company, and holding off on payment until having seen the dog in person or by virtual meeting. The website who.is allows users to input a web address and view the date it was registered. A legitimate breeder, a legitimate delivery company, is going to have a website thats well-established for way longer than two weeks or even six months, St-Cyr said. Would-be dog owners can also take steps to confirm whether photos of their future family member are authentic by drag-and-dropping a picture into the Google Images search box. If you see that its coming up on different websites, on a lot of classified ads, thats a big red flag, St-Cyr said. She said scammers often cite the coronavirus as a reason to avoid in-person meetings and are trying to exploit people who are seeking companionship amid the isolation of the pandemic. People, because they are at home, are going to think, I have time to take care of a puppy. This is the best time to adopt one, she said. Some people are lonely when they are confined at home. Not everybody has the chance to have family and friends around. The scammers are really taking advantage of the situation. Waterloo Regional Police said Friday a 24-year-old woman had been arrested in Cambridge, Ont., in connection with a puppy scam that saw 10 victims respond to an online ad featuring baby French bulldogs. When the buyer requested to see the puppies in person, the seller allegedly stated that due to current COVID-19 and physical distancing restrictions, no viewings were allowed. The victims transferred the money, however never received their puppy, police said in a statement that announced several fraud-related charges. Customers searching for a purebred canine can check the Canadian Kennel Club to confirm the breeder is listed, said Marilyn Burleson. Demand for her Yorkshire terriers, which shes bred for 21 years, has surged over the past six months. Its ridiculous, she said. I probably get five phone calls a day, and thats not counting emails. Some dog seekers come to Burleson with nightmare stories of being defrauded of thousands of dollars. One woman phoned me, she said shes been scammed three times, said Burleson. A complaint filed to the Better Business Bureau on Aug. 13 stated a loss of $4,519. Another from July 9 claimed $3,500. While some victims hope for a new pup to play with, others are trying to fill the void of a recently deceased best friend. I know that people are lonely, Burleson said. The people that I feel sorry for are...just trying to replace their companion that theyve always had. In a shocking incident of domestic violence, a Zimbabwean woman sank her teeth into her husbands penis in anger after he refused to chase away a rat from their house. 52-year-old Abraham Musonda from Kitwe, Zimbabwe was allegedly attacked by his 40-year-old wife Mukupa following the rodent row, reports the Zambian Observer. The wife had returned home after drinking out with her friends and eventually got infuriated after being pestered by the rodent for quite some time. She claimed that she had ordered her husband to get rid of the rat from near her bed. An argument ensued, leading t0 to a scuffle between the two. The woman reportedly lost her calm and gnawed into his genitals causing a major tear". Musonda was immediately rushed to a Kitwe Teaching Hospital, where he was treated for the shocking injury, the Mirror reported. The couple had been separated and stay in two separate bedrooms in the same house, said Bothwell Namuswa, deputy police commissioner in Copperbelt Province in the report. In another case of domestic violence, an iron rod was allegedly pierced through a womans feet in Gujarats Vadodara after she asked for help from her husband in preparing dinner. The woman, in a complaint filed at the Gorwa police station, said that she was brutally thrashed when she asked her husband to chop vegetables for dinner as she was occupied with other chores. The police said the accused was so angered by the wifes request that he picked up an iron rod lying nearby and started assaulting her. The iron rod was also allegedly pierced through her foot. The local residents, who reached there after hearing her screams, rushed the woman to a private hospital, where she is undergoing treatment, an officer of Gorwa police station was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. The human rights center Viasna reported that in the capital alone, 158 detainees had already been confirmed. On Sunday, September 6, the March of Unity is being held in the cities of Belarus, the fourth to date, where activists demand a fair presidential election and contest what they believe was a rigged vote count on August 9 that secured a landslide win for incumbent president Alexander Lukashenko. According to the Baza Telegram channel, thousands took to the streets in Minsk. According to various sources, a total of nearly 100,000 protesters are taking part in today's rally. "The authorities blocked all approaches to the center," the report says. As of 20:15, the human rights center Viasna reported that in the capital alone, 158 detainees had already been confirmed. Among them are Olga Pavlova, a member of the Coordination Council, Irina Sukhiy, head of the Ecodom company, and Artem Sizintsov, a journalist with Radio Ratsya. Read alsoEU not to impose sanctions on Lukashenko mediaEyewitnesses in Brest, Baranovichi, Vitebsk, and Grodno report "brutal" detentions. According to the Telegram channel of Radio Liberty's Belarusian Service, several people were detained on Partizansky Avenue in Minsk. "Several hundred people walked along Partizansky Avenue. In the area of the motorcycle factory, they were stopped by uniformed security carrying riot shields ... At about 14:00, security officers pushed them out onto Chabataru Street. Some were surrendered, while the rest were seen fleeing through backyards. After that, the arrests began," the report says. Prior to that, Radio Liberty's Belarusian office reported that military hardware was being pulled toward Minsk center while the security forces have cordoned off Oktyabrskaya Square and Independence Square, and the Minsk Hero City stele was fenced with barbed wire. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus announced they would shut down Minsk avenues during the march. Protesters had been warned about measures to prevent "illegal actions." "The police are on high alert. The number of police and military has been increased for the safety of citizens. Also, special equipment of the police and internal troops was involved. In the daytime, the city's avenues will be closed," the ministry said. It is reported that police officers will take "all necessary measures to stop the rallies and prevent violations of public order." In the afternoon, law enforcers, as well as plain-clothed men armed with bats slammed down on protesters in various parts of Minsk, hunting down activists, beating, and detaining them. "On Pobediteley Avenue, unidentified masked persons armed with bats rushed at the people and started beating them. Including those who fell to the ground. The designated police officers did nothing," Radio Liberty's Belarusian service reports. "About 15 unidentified persons wearing caps and balaklavas, wielding truncheons, broke into the O'Petit cafe at the very beginning of Pobediteley Avenue. Demonstrators were hiding there. Unidentified persons smashed glass doors with truncheons and burst in. They dragged several people outside. None of the designated police officers did anything about it." Belarus interior ministry's spokesperson said she had no information on who the masked men were, and that the police would look into the incident. Belarus protests: background Eight militants have been confirmed dead as military planes struck a gathering of Taliban militants in Charbolak district of northern Balkh district on Saturday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Sunday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Taliban militants were gathered in Sabzikar area of the restive district to target security checkpoints, but the security forces in pre-emptive offensive launched air raids on the gathering Saturday, killing eight insurgents on the spot, forcing them to disperse, the official said. This is the second air attacks on the Taliban militants in northern region over the past couple of days. In the first airstrikes, two militants were killed and a Taliban command and control center was destroyed in Qaysar district of Faryab province on Friday. Etah: A woman suffered severe burn injuries after she was allegedly set on fire by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands in Imadpur village, police said on Sunday. The victim, Ramsakhi has alleged that her husband Alhilesh Kumar, mother-in-law Sudamdevi and other members of the family set her on fire on January 5. They were demanding a dowry of Rs 1.5 lakh from her for a long time, she alleged. Ramsakhi was admitted to hospital in Farrukhabad. Police are investigating the matter and no arrest has been made so far. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. British and Queensland-designed coronavirus vaccines could be available early next year under two deals struck by the federal government at a cost of $1.7 billion. Prime Minister Scott Morrison will on Monday announce a free COVID-19 vaccine would be made available progressively through 2021, should promising trials prove successful. The Oxford vaccine is slated to be available from early 2021 while the University of Queensland version is on track for midyear. It follows the government's initial "letter of intent" signed with the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca, and talks with the University of Queensland/CSL. The PM has said that a free coronavirus vaccine could be available as early as next year. Source: AAP Labor was critical of the earlier promises by the government, saying they did not amount to a fully fledged agreement that Australians could rely on. More than 84.8 million vaccine doses would be manufactured, primarily in Melbourne. "By securing the production and supply agreements, Australians will be among the first in the world to receive a safe and effective vaccine, should it pass late-stage testing," Mr Morrison said. "There are no guarantees that these vaccines will prove successful. However, the agreement puts Australia at the top of the queue, if our medical experts give the vaccines the green light." The first stage of the agreement would see 3.8 million doses of the University of Oxford vaccine delivered in January and February 2021. Scott Morrison has signed two deals worth $1.7 billion to secure a coronavirus vaccine for Australia. Health Minister Greg Hunt said it would not be mandatory but the government wanted to see as broad coverage of the population as possible. Both agreements will also allow for doses to be provided to Australia's partner countries in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. The University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is in the third phase of trials and is considered one of the best hopes in the world, with regulatory approval expected to be sought shortly. UQ has recently announced that pre-clinical testing showed the vaccine is promising and already effective in animal models. Experts believe the vaccination of at least two-thirds of the population will be required to have a chance of halting the spread of COVID-19. Story continues 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. El presidente @MartinVizcarraC supervisa el Hospital de Contingencia de Moquegua con el objetivo de verificar que se brinde una adecuada atencion a los pacientes con COVID-19 en las unidades de diagnostico, cuidados intensivos, entre otros. En vivo: https://t.co/ctanahs3ya The state government on Sunday released a barrage of information about the much-heralded road map out of lockdown, but what does it mean to us? Many questions remain about what Melburnians will be allowed and not allowed to do for the next few month. Weve attempted to answer a few. Do we still have to wear masks? Afraid so. The wearing of masks remains mandatory for Victorians in public, and no date has been set for the end of their use. Can I get my hair cut? Unruly, long grey hair may become a trend, because hairdressers cant open for another seven weeks after October 26, and only then, provided that the daily average number of COVID-19 cases, and the number of cases with an unknown source, descend to the government-set level for the restriction to ease. The U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence announced recently that the White House is still firm to send a second round of stimulus payments even if Congress failed. Sending the second round of stimulus payments is still the top priority of the White House. Vice President Mike Pence made this clear recently. He also said that Pres. Trump desires to send financial aids to millions of Americans to meet their daily needs and expenses. Pence said that the White House's position remains the same, and they will make sure to reach the agreement before the government operations shut down this October. Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is set to introduce the details of the new stimulus bill next week. Vice President Mike Pence also confirmed on Friday through CNBC that the White House assures that millions of Americans suffering from the global pandemic will receive their second stimulus payments even though Congress has so far failed to draft the bill. Pence said, "He [President Trump] said that we are going to spare no expense to help families and businesses, large and small, to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Nobody wants to give direct payments to American families more than President Donald Trump again." He also added We sent those checks to American families; it helped people through this tough time, we want to continue the Payment Protection Program. What we've made clear is that we're not going to allow Democrats in Congress to use a coronavirus relief bill to bail out poorly run Democratic states." It can be remembered that before the first round of stimulus payments expired under the CARES Act, Pres. Trump urged Congress to act. However, Congress failed to do their job and has led Pres. Trump signed and issued an executive order that extended the unemployment claims. Now, the same message the White House is conveying to the Congress. Pres. Trump could divert some unspent budget for another round of stimulus payments if Congress does not deliberate on the new stimulus bill. Earlier this week, the U.S. Treasury Secretary testified before the Congress subcommittee panel and expressed the need to have a new relief aid. He also said that Pres. Trump supports the next relief aid and will sign it as soon as it is on his table. Moreover, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin also explained during the panel hearing that Pres. Trump's power does not include federal spending, most especially on stimulus payments, but Congress has. For this reason, the White House is putting pressure on Congress, particularly to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It can be remembered that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi rejected the offered stimulus bill of the White House and Republican lawmakers multiple times. In fact, the White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows tried to have a meeting with her, but an aid told Meadows that Pelosi was at a meeting. Days after, Meadows personally called Pelosi and offered a $1.3 trillion overall package for the net round of stimulus bill. However, it was the fifth time that Pelosi rejected the relief aid offer of the White House. Check these out! As the school year approaches, the negative impacts of the provinces poorly resourced, back-to-school plan are becoming clear. Of greatest concern to parents, educators, doctors and the wider community are class sizes. With reports emerging of Grade 4/5/6 split classes with 32 students and kindergarten classes of 30 students, these concerns have intensified because the larger the class, the greater the chance of COVID-19 transmission in schools and the wider community. But what if we told you there is a feasible and affordable plan that could be implemented to reduce class sizes? This plan, developed by the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), has two components. First, it redeploys all elementary teachers to a full-time classroom. Second, it shortens the school day, for students only, by 48 minutes. The school day needs to be shortened because the largest proportion of redeployed teachers are specialty teachers who rotate between classes to teach 48-minute specialty classes (e.g. gym) while home room teachers prepare for the next day. Redeploying these specialty teachers means they are no longer available to teach during teachers preparation time. So, this plan moves teachers 48 minutes of preparation time to the end of the day and dismisses students 48 minutes early. The genius of this plan is that by redeploying existing staff, the number of teachers who must be hired to reduce class sizes to 15 or 20 students/class is markedly reduced. For example, the TDSB, with 174,000 elementary students, estimates that it could create class sizes of 15 students per class for kindergarten to Grade 3 and 20 students per class for Grades 4 to 8, by hiring only 200 new teachers, at a cost of $20 million. Scaled provincewide, this same plan could similarly reduce class sizes, for less than $200 million, as the province has only eight times the number of TDSB elementary students. Why hasnt this innovative and affordable plan been adopted across the province? Well, by late July, after previously entertaining innovative ideas, Minister Lecce was unwilling to shorten the school day by 48 minutes! He said he was worried about three things: that parents would be alarmed by the loss of instructional time, that redeploying specialty teachers would mean students would not have access to the full curriculum, and that the plan created a 48-minute gap between school and after-school care. As parents, we do not feel these issues supersede our concerns about class sizes. We are not concerned about the loss of 48 minutes of instructional time. Further, all elementary teachers are certified to deliver the full elementary curriculum, and the TDSB was investigating innovative ways to support core French. The TDSB was also in positive discussions with on-site child-care providers to extend after-school hours to cover the shortened school day. By August, as public pressure continued to reduce class sizes, the government conceded that boards could use their own reserve funds to self-finance smaller classes. But by insisting on the full 300-minute day, the cost to boards to self-finance smaller classes was too high since each new teacher for a smaller class now had to be a new hire. So, boards such as the TDSB, did what they could to reduce class sizes. The TDSB ended up self-funding a plan that cost twice as much ($38.8 million compared to $20 million) to reduce class sizes for only 80 out of its 473 elementary schools, all in areas with the highest risk for COVID-19. Thus, they spent substantially more to protect substantially fewer students, albeit the most vulnerable. In Toronto, we are two weeks away from the first day of school. With a feasible solution to reduce class sizes at hand, all we need is the political will to do so. We implore Premier Ford and Minister Lecce to use this innovative solution to reduce class sizes to protect our schools and our communities. Sue Gowans, PhD, is a TDSB parent. Yona Nestel is a senior education policy and advocacy adviser for a global childrens rights charity and a TDSB parent. Both are members of the group Ontario SAFE. Coronavirus patients admitted to hospital still suffer lung damage three months after they are sent home, a study found. Most people's conditions improve within six weeks but researchers found that some struggled with breathlessness and coughing for much longer. Researchers at different institutions in Austria's Tyrolean region asked coronavirus patients who had been admitted to hospital to come back for evaluation six, 12 and 24 weeks after being discharged. At the time of their first evaluation, more than half of the patients had at least one persistent symptom, predominantly breathlessness and coughing, and CT scans still showed lung damage in 88 per cent. Coronavirus patients admitted to hospital still suffer lung damage three months after they are sent home, a study found. Pictured: A computer screen shows a coronavirus patient's lung X-ray and virus' damage on the lungs at the Ankara City Hospital in Ankara, Turkey, in August But by the time of their next visit the symptoms had improved and lung damage was reduced to 56 per cent. It is too early to have results from the evaluations at 24 weeks. Dr Sabina Sahanic, a clinical PhD student at the University Clinic in Innsbruck and part of the team that carried out the study, said: 'The bad news is that people show lung impairment from Covid-19 weeks after discharge. the good news is that the impairment tends to ameliorate over time, which suggests the lungs have a mechanism for repairing themselves.' At the six-week visit, echocardiograms showed that 48 patients (58.5%) had dysfunction of the left ventricle of the heart at the point when it is relaxing and dilating (diastole). Most people's conditions improve within six weeks of first displaying coronavirus symptoms but researchers found that some struggled with breathlessness and coughing for much longer Biological indicators of heart damage, blood clots and inflammation were all significantly elevated. Dr Sahanic added: 'Fortunately, in the Innsbruck cohort, we did not observe any severe coronavirus-associated heart dysfunction in the post-acute phase. 'The diastolic dysfunction that we observed also tended to improve with time.' It comes as TV presenter Kate Garraway has said the heart of the family has been ripped out as her husband Derek Draper struggles to recover from coronavirus. TV presenter Kate Garraway (right) has said 'the heart of the family has been ripped out' as her husband Derek Draper (left) struggles to recover from coronavirus Her 53-year-old spouse was admitted to hospital in March after being diagnosed and remains seriously ill. Good Morning Britain presenter Miss Garraway, also 53, returned to work in July but said she is still 'consumed by fear' that his condition won't improve but has had to stay strong for her children's sake. 'We hope and believe he will come out of it, but we just don't know,' she told Mail On Sunday's You magazine. 'The heart of the family has been ripped out and we don't know if we will ever get it back.' What we have got to do in the next two months is to alert the American people about what that nightmarish scenario might, the Vermont senator tells Politico A time-honored tradition in the United States has been the peaceful transfer of power from one president to their successor every four or eight years. Former presidential hopeful and Sen. Bernie Sanders is convinced, however, that President Donald Trump is set to dishonor that tradition, should he lose his bid for re-election in November. In an interview with Politico, the Vermont independent stated that he believes there is a good chance that Trump will refuse to concede defeat if his opponent, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, is elected this fall. Then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., gives a sign during a campaign event, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020, in Boone, Iowa. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) READ MORE: Bernie Sanders on Joe Biden: Vast majority of my supporters will vote for him Sanders said this isnt just idle speculation, being that Trump said it himself. Trump was saying that the only way he could lose the election is if there was let me get the exact quote the only way they can take this election away from us is if this is a rigged election, Sanders said. Now, he is making that statement at a time when virtually every national poll has him behind. The only way they can take this election away from us, is if this is a rigged election. Donald Trump accuses the Democrats of stealing millions of votes ahead of the presidential election. Get more on the US election here: https://t.co/OVo2G4fZ3P pic.twitter.com/CSmCUjjKXP SkyNews (@SkyNews) August 24, 2020 The president has implied on several occasions that he may not accept the election results if Biden wins. In July, he tweeted that the election would be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history, due to mail-in voting. Story continues With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote??? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020 Journalist Chris Wallace asked Trump during an interview on Fox News Sunday if he would accept the results of the election. READ MORE: Trump out to build permission structure to win back voters I have to see. No, Im not going to just say yes, Trump told Wallace. Im not going to say no, and I didnt last time, either. Sanders is planning to deliver a speech and send an email to supporters to warn his followers of the possibility that Trump will not go quietly if he loses in November. What we have got to do in the next two months is to alert the American people about what that nightmarish scenario might look like in order to prepare them for that possibility and talk about what we do if that happens, Sanders told Politico. Biden in the past addressed the possibility of Trump refusing to vacate office with confidence. I promise you, Im absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch, the former vice president said. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Bernie Sanders is convinced Trump wont concede if he loses November election appeared first on TheGrio. A judge says its inappropriate to grant bond to Jacob Gordon Thompson, given the facts of the case SYLVANIA, Ga. (AP) A Georgia judge has denied bond for a former Georgia State Patrol trooper accused of murder in the August shooting death of a 60-year-old Black man who refused to stop for a broken tail light. Screven County Judge F. Gates Peed on Friday ruled that it would be inappropriate to grant bond at the moment for Jacob Gordon Thompson, given the facts of the case. Thompson, who is white, briefly chased Julian Lewis on Aug. 7 before forcing Lewis car into a ditch and fatally shooting Lewis in the head. Thompson wrote in his incident report that he feared for his life and fired one shot when Lewis revved his engine and turned his steering wheel as if he wanted to ram the trooper. Thompson was arrested a week later on a charge of felony murder and aggravated assault by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He remains in custody at the Screven County Jail, near the states South Carolina border. Attorney Francys Johnson, who is representing the Lewis family, said that Peeds denial of bond for Thompson is a positive sign for the current movement for racial equality in American policing. READ MORE: Georgia State Patrol trooper arrested for murder after shooting Black man during traffic stop The unprecedented pace of the investigation is a direct result of years of activism on these issues along with a sea-change in law enforcement leadership at the top of the GBI, Johnson said in a statement Friday. This case is not proceeding as business as usual. This jail booking photo from the Screven County Sheriffs Office show former Georgia state trooper Jacob Thompson, who was charged with felony murder for fatally shooting a driver who refused to pull over for a broken tail light Aug. 7, 2020. (Screven County Sheriffs Office via AP) The incident report Thompson filed says he spotted a Nissan Sentra driving with a broken tail light at about 9 p.m. and turned on his lights to initiate a traffic stop in rural Screven County. He said the driver flashed both his turn signals and motioned with a hand outside his window but made no effort to stop. Thomspon wrote that he followed the car at speeds up to 65 mph until the vehicle rolled through a stop sign. The trooper then performed a maneuver that forced the car into a ditch. Thompson said he pulled alongside the vehicle and drew his gun as he got out of his cruiser. Story continues Motorist Julian Lewis was fatally shot by a Georgia State trooper who has been charged with his murder. (Photo: Lewis family lawyer) At some point, I heard the engine on the violators vehicle revving at a high rate of speed, Thompson wrote in his report. I activated the light on my weapon and observed the violator with both hands on the steering wheel. I saw him wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back and forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle. READ MORE: Georgia lawmaker loses chairmanship after derogatory John Lewis comments He continued: It appeared to me that the violator was trying to use his vehicle to injure me. Being in fear for my life and safety, I discharged my weapon once. The troopers bullet hit Lewis in the forehead. Thompson wrote that he tried to render first aid until paramedics arrived. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Bond denied for Georgia trooper charged in fatal shooting of Black motorist appeared first on TheGrio. The planes "integrated with Ukrainian fighters," the official report reads. Three U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber aircraft from the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, flew over Ukrainian airspace, including to the de-facto border with the occupied Crimea and the contact line in the Donbas warzone on Friday, September 4. They conducted "vital integration training with Ukrainian fighters", says the report by US European Command (USEUCOM). According to The Drive outlet, the mission involved a number of U.S. aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets, as well as those from the United Kingdom, that were seen operating in the area at the time. The report noted a Tweet by Petri Makela who claimed: "This is the most intensive SIGINT [signals intelligence] bait I've seen in a while. At least two USAF RC-135V/W Rivet Joint SIGINT planes recording the Russian emissions (radar, comms etc.) from Crimea and Russia as a flight of B-52H bombers circle along the Azov coast in Ukrainian airspace." "In wartime, this information could help planners determine how to suppress or destroy Russian air-defenses in the region," Forbes wrote. EUCOM's official report says the B52 bombers' mission "provided partners valuable midair training." "In addition, the mission demonstrated how forward-located aircraft and crews, such as those in the B-52 units, enable collective defense capabilities and provide the U.S., NATO Allies and partners strategic and operational breadth to deter Russia and assure Allies and partners," the report reads. 2x #USAF Boeing B-52H Stratofortress entering the territory of Ukraine from Poland. JULIA51/61-0034 JULIA53/60-0044 pic.twitter.com/3euYH3Q6Fv Status-6 (@Archer83Able) September 4, 2020 More than 200 related missions have been conducted since the Bomber Task Force launched operations in the European theater two years ago, the U.S. European Command says. Air forces: other news In May 2020, two USAF heavy bombers conducted a flight over Ukraine in integration with Ukrainian fighter jets. "This marked the first time that a Bomber Task Force mission integrated with Ukrainian Su-27 Flankers and MiG-29 Fulcrums and Turkish KC-135s," the U.S. embassy reported. On August 28, Ukraine's Air Force held military exercises in Rivne region, involving landing and take-off of Su-27 fighter jets on the Kyiv-Chop highway. Skills worked out would "come in handy for war pilots in the event of a large-scale enemy invasion," Ukrainian media reported. Jacob Blake spoke from his hospital bed on Saturday about the pain he is experiencing since being shot seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. In a video, posted to Twitter by his attorney Ben Crump, Mr Blake says: I got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach ... every twenty-four hours it's pain, nothing but pain. He adds: It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side-to-side, it hurts to eat. Mr Blake was left paralysed from the waist down after being shot on 23 August by officer Rusten Sheskey, prompting anti-police brutality demonstrations across the country. Please, Im telling you, change your lives. Stick together, make some money, make everything easier for our people out there, man, because theres so much time thats been wasted," Mr Blake added. The video was posted a day after Mr Blake was seen for the first time since the shooting. The 29-year-old, father of three made a court appearance via video link, for charges not relating to the incident. Wearing a light blue shirt and a gold tie, Mr Blake sat up in bed to enter a not guilty plea through his lawyer, to charges of sexual assault, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. His lawyer, Patrick Cafferty, was seen seated at his side. Mr Blake was charged after an alleged incident on 3 May, and based on statements given by his ex-girlfriend and mother of his three children. She told police that Mr Blake broke into her home, and sexually assaulted her before stealing her truck and debit card. Mr Blake raised his hand to greet Loren Keating, a Kenosha County judicial court commissioner, when addressed, saying Yes sir, when asked if he could hear clearly and whether he understood the terms of his $10,000 signature bond. The state recognises that these are serious charges but also that the defendant has serious injuries and hes recovering at the hospital, said Zeke Wiedenfeld, a prosecutor. The court set the trial to begin on 9 November with jury selection. The complaint does not identify the ex-girlfriend by name. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation has launched an investigation into the shooting. Federal prosecutors and the FBI have opened a civil rights investigation into the incident. On Thursday, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden met with Mr Blakes family and spoke to him by phone. The witty and glib Hubie Schuze leads a busy life. Schuze owns a store in Old Town. He occasionally steals pots. He reads up on New Mexico historical figures. In his spare time he solves murders. Welcome back Hubie to J. Michael Orenduffs forthcoming The Pot Thief Who Studied the Woman at Otowi Crossing, the ninth breezy murder-mystery in the popular Pot Thief series. The unnamed woman in the title is Edith Warner, who worked at a freight station on a narrow-gauge railroad over the Rio Grande near Los Alamos, had a San Ildefonso Pueblo man as her companion and befriended top Manhattan Project scientists. As intriguing as Warner may be, she takes a back seat to Schuzes crime-solving and fast-moving events in his personal and professional life. As for the murder probe, amateur sleuth Schuze wants to learn more about how and why the man died. He especially wants to determine his identity so he can figure out how he and the dead man are related, a novel-long inquiry. There are interludes of lively conversations with his girlfriend Sharice about impending marriage and fatherhood, and cantina chats with Schuzes drinking buddy Susannah. On the professional side, Schuze is named interim head of the University of New Mexico Art Department. The appointment tests his handling of the academic bureaucracy, regulations, personalities and paperwork, topics Orenduff is familiar with; he is a former president of New Mexico State University. The author, however, overdoes name-dropping. The Frontier restaurant near UNM and Treasure House Books & Gifts in Old Town are destinations. But the name-dropping gets out of hand when Schuze tests his encyclopedia memory about present and former New Mexico murder-mystery authors whose books can be found on a shelf at Treasure House. Hubie identifies 15 writers, recalled alphabetically. Two pages later, Susannah points out that he missed some. She comes up with 12 more in-state murder-mystery writers. In between their recollections, Hubie cleverly squeezes in three more authors but not for their mystery writing the preeminent Tony Hillerman (for a class syllabus), his daughter Anne Hillerman (for a guide book with maps), and the recently deceased Rudolfo Anaya (for Bless Me, Asltima). Anaya did write a series of mysteries. n n Of the writers on Schuzes visualized bookshelf, one of them is Patricia Smith Wood of Albuquerque. Woods recent cozy mystery Murder at the Petroglyphs is the fourth in her Harrie McKinsey Mystery series. In this latest charming installment, Harrie short for Harriet and her sidekick Ginger are out to solve the murder of an unidentified man at Petroglyph National Monument on Albuquerques West Side. This pair of amateur detectives seems to have more on the ball than do local cops or federal agents. The women also have Harries prophetic dreams advising them. As Wood describes a recent dream, A crumpled body lay in a heap inside a circular structure, which seemed open to the air. How strangely coincidental; Nick Ellis, a ranger new to the monument, just discovered a body in the monuments small amphitheater. The book won first prize in the New Mexico Presswomens 2020 Communication Contest (adult division). Wood has begun writing the first chapters on a fifth book in the series, which she said may be set during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. n n Randy Shamlian isnt on Schuzes or Susannahs list of writers. The Albuquerque-based writer is the author of Deadly Recipe, the first book in his planned Murder in the Kitchen suspense-thriller series. Installment No. 1 is centered on an alluring, deadly young woman named Martha Marty Kittering. She has just killed a male culinary arts professor, she declares, partly out of rage, partly for the thrill of it. It wasnt the first murder Marty had committed and it wont be the last. Eight years before, she had caused the death of a female lover. That killing, Marty says, was so erotically pleasing. Like getting that first waft on the nose and then the taste of cherry on the tongue from a luscious Russian Valley Pinot Noir. Shamlians book is brimming with food and wine metaphors, sex and graphic descriptions of killings, including death by barbecue. Shamlian is also the author of an earlier culinary memoir A Slice of Apple Pie. He is a baker, pastry chef and business owner. Books of the week reviews Margaret Colburn Margaret Colburn, American voter [Courtesy of Margaret Colburn] Age: 54 Occupation: Teacher Residence: Jefferson County, Alabama Voted in 2016 for: Hillary Clinton Will vote in 2020 for: Joe Biden Top election issue: Equality and inclusiveness Will you vote? Why or why not? I have always voted, even though sometimes I question whether my vote counts, because I live in Alabama and we have the Electoral College. I had been a Republican my entire life It was really pre-2016, I feel like the cognitive dissonance that I was experiencing over the Republican Party, the GOP, and where my values stood was happening. But youre talking about a white cisgender female in Birmingham, Alabama, and we are raised to be Republican. This is just what you do. That is the party of Alabama. As I got into adulthood and as I got into my 30s, I started questioning I started getting my news more from exploring the internet versus watching TV and or reading the local news. And I started realising, Wait a minute, this is not lining up with what I believe.' But I always felt that it was important to vote. I always felt that you know, that that is our civic duty as Americans to vote, and we have the opportunity to vote. Now that being said, I do feel that they make voting difficult for many people. Theres so many different things that are happening in the United States that are deliberately designed to make it more difficult for people and often marginalised people to vote. And I feel that we need to make it easier for people to vote. We need to make it easier for people to exercise their civic duty. What is your number-one issue? As an adult, Im so very fortunate that I have many close friends from a diverse background. I have friends that are Muslim, I have friends that are Jewish. I have friends that are Black and friends that are LGBTQ and I feel that these friendships have given me an opportunity to see firsthand, and to, maybe not understand because I dont think I can fully understand as a white woman how difficult the process is, how being marginalised is, but to see even a small snippet of how the racism, the power, everything in the United States, it goes so completely against what our founding fathers meant for the United States to be: Everyone equal. My friends have had things happen to them and situations and events in their lives, which because of their colour, because of their faith, because of their gender choices, they have had a more difficult time. And I realised we should not have that. That should not even be part of the equation. To me honestly, my number one fault [with the US] is the fact that our administration, not only do they not support people that are, for lack of better words, different from them but also that they do things and say things that, in fact, sow division against these people. We cant have that. In this administration, every time our leader opens his mouth, its another divisive sentence of not supporting or even remotely understanding. They have zero empathy. Zero. None of them even try to listen to the other side. Who will you vote for? Joe Biden. Is there a main reason you chose your candidate? He best represents what our country needs. We need someone who is not divisive. We need someone who respects all walks of life and all people in the United States. He is someone, particularly, that will surround himself with people that are knowledgeable in his cabinet and in his administration and he will listen to them. I feel that is extremely important. He will listen. He will not sow hate. He will create areas where people can come together. I feel like thats so desperately needed right now. Personally, it is incredibly difficult because especially being in the Deep South and where I live weve turned into an us and them I feel like theres never been an administration that has done that, that has turned us into an us and a them. We need to turn into, We are an America together, and I think Biden will do that. Are you happy with the state of the country? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Im almost fearful every day to look online at news sources because every day, theres something else that happens, something else thats being said. I think, Could we not go any lower? And the answer is: Yes, we could. We could have something else happen. Recently, Trump commuted the sentence of [Roger] Stone. Im sorry, but you are the president of the United States. It is not your position to commute the sentence of a friend of yours or someone who worked personally with you. If that doesnt speak volumes as to not just his character, but his complete lack of respect for the office he has been elected to, I dont know what does. I cant even begin to tell you how disappointing it is where our country is right now. What would you like to see change? For one, to have a president who, when he speaks, he tries to bring people together. When the president speaks, that he shows empathy and shows respect for others that are different from him. That we try to enact legislation that supports people rather than tear[s] people down. I feel like we need to really investigate and decide what can we do as a country to support everybody, not just some people. I feel like we have to seriously look at what can we do, what can the legislature do? And what can the president do in order to, Im not saying give people things, but give them a sense of hope. Give them hope in that, Yes, I do have healthcare. Yes, I do have childcare.' Do you think the election will change anything? I hope. I guess thats the reason why Im voting for Biden. I have hope that it will. I cant honestly say for certain that I know that it will, but one thing I do know [is that] if we have four more years of Trump then our country as we know it will cease to exist. We are going down a very dark road. What is your biggest concern for the US? A multitude of things. Basically we have elected a man who has subverted authority, who has subverted the Constitution, and sows divisiveness. Hes becoming power hungry. He only thinks about himself and Im assuming his family. I feel like its just going to get worse the divisiveness, the lack of concern for the United States itself. Because [getting re-elected] is going to give him the go-ahead. Thats going to be the go-ahead to say, Oh, guess what? I can continue doing this. And we cant do that. We cant. We cant have that. If we do, then we are in very sad state. The Egyptian Administrative Prosecution Authority announced on Sunday that administrative prosecutor Noha El-Emam has been retired after assaulting a policeman in an incident that was filmed and circulated on social media. The two-minute video shows El-Emam, who has been referred to criminal court, engaged in a verbal altercation with the policeman at the Heliopolis courthouse complex. The officer is heard telling El-Emam that she must wear a protective facemask and asks for her ID. El-Emam refused to comply with the officers instructions and is heard saying that she works at the Administrative Prosecution and United Nations. After the officer threatened to arrest her and confiscated her mobile phone, she is seen tearing the rank insignia off the policemans shoulder. Another clip shows El-Emam resisting arrest. A few hours later, the prosecutor-general ordered an investigation into the incident, and El-Eman was released on EGP 2,000 bail after the prosecution learned from her place of employment that she is suffering from psychological distress. According to an official statement released by the prosecutor's office, the defendant faces charges of assaulting a police officer verbally and physically, which resulted in the officer's injury and the destruction of public property. The statement said that El-Emam assaulted the head of security at the Heliopolis courthouse complex after he told her to wear a facemask and stop filming court employees with her mobile phone. The prosecution said the defendant tore off the officer's rank insignia and smashed his walkie-talkie after he confiscated her mobile phone. Search Keywords: Short link: THE CEO of a migrants rights charity has called for the Direct Provision system to be dismantled following a number of recent Covid-19 outbreaks in facilities across the country, including a centre in Limerick. In a press conference last week, acting chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn told reporters that there were outbreaks in two Direct Provision centres, one in Bray and one in Limerick. At present, there are three Direct Provision accommodation facilities in Limerick, following the closure of Mount Trenchard in Foynes earlier this year. They are Hanrattys Hotel on Glentworth Street, an own-door family facility in Limerick city, and one city hotel which has been contracted to accommodate residents since July 2019. While Dr Glynn, the HSE and the Department of Justice did not confirm the exact facility, the Limerick Leader is aware of a letter that was issued to Hanrattys Hotel on August 1, alerting those involved in the centre of a positive case. Close sources to Direct Provision services have not reported any positive cases in the other two centres. An outbreak constitutes at least two cases in close confinement of a single location. John Lannon, CEO of Doras, a not-for-profit migrants rights organisation on OConnell Street, said the pandemic has highlighted how the most vulnerable have suffered the most. The problem with people living in for-profit Direct Provision centres is that they are sharing eating spaces, theyre sharing bathroom facilities, theyre sharing rooms with strangers, he said. He explained that for-profit centres are those that are not owned by the State. Beds are just a few metres apart in many cases, and you cant socially distance when you have to sleep and live with people that you dont know. And as a result, the Direct Provision centres are stillbecause it hasnt been addressedone of the locations where we are continuing to see outbreaks. He added: The programme for Government has said that the abolition will happen in the lifetime of the Government, but there are urgent measures that need to take place immediately to address the conditions that people are living in some places like Hanrattys. Mr Lannon said that people are left languishing in unfit, institutional settings for years which renders them vulnerable to Covid-19. It has a very damaging effect on mental health. In situations where there are families involved, it has significant negative impact on the development on the children as well. The system of Direct Provision essentially needs to be dismantled and replaced with something different. Mr Lannon noted that there has been a more progressive move to own-door, independent living, of which there is an example in Limerick. On March 23, the Department of Justice set up a new Direct Provision centre in the city. The contract with the proprietor is to last for 12 months. The Department would not release the cost of the contract for reasons of commercial sensitivity. The centre consists solely of own-door self-contained accommodation units for families, with 65 residents currently onsite, the spokesperson said. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said that reporting on outbreaks and confirmed cases is a matter for the HSE, but that the HSE does not provide details on affected Direct Provision centres. However, the spokesperson said measures are in place to address Covid-19 cases, should they arise. The established procedure across all Direct Provision centres where a person is confirmed as having the virus or is a close contact is that they are moved to a dedicated offsite self-isolation facility. Residents also have the option to self-isolate on-site if required, in line with public health advice. A spokesperson for the HSE said that Direct Provision is the responsibility of the Department of Justice and queries in relation to same should be directed to that government department. When asked about the positive cases at Hanrattys Hotel, the spokesperson said that it cannot comment on individual cases or outbreaks to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the people and businesses involved. The HSE cannot provide details on Direct Provision Centres affected by Covid or tests or results of residents of these centres. The spokesperson added that it is currently finalising a plan to mass test residents at centres to further control the risks to these residents. For more Limerick news click here Spanish Fort police say a man who fired up to 50 rounds at the Bass Pro Shops in Spanish Fort Saturday had eight firearms and was wearing body armor at the time he was taken into custody. Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber said Robert Smith, 38, of Grove Hill, was the man who fired the shots Saturday at around 12:30 p.m. A woman was also taken into custody at the time but it is not believed she was assisting the man. Police used a Taser to subdue Smith, who was hospitalized after for reasons unrelated to the incident. A police officer was also treated for minor injuries. A search warrant was executed at Smiths house Sunday. Barber said three of the recovered guns were assault rifles, one an AR pistol, one a shotgun, and one a 9mm short rifle. He also had two pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were also recovered. The incident is still under investigation, but police do not believe it was affiliated with any movement. On its Facebook page the Spanish Fort Police Department stated that acting quickly, employees locked the service entrance doors and began moving customers and other employees to the opposite end of the building. Smith discharged dozens of rounds into the building using one of his AR 15s, a 9mm pistol, and a 12 gauge shotgun, according to the Facebook post. Responding Spanish Fort officers encountered Smith wearing body armor as he was attempting to move to the main entrance of the store. Officers successfully deployed tasers and were able to take Smith into custody. During the arrest one of the Spanish Fort officers received injuries that required treatment at a local hospital. Barber in the Facebook post commended the responding Spanish Fort Officers: The exemplary actions of these Officers are truly represented by their bravery and dedication to the citizens of Spanish Fort. By remaining focused and implementing recalled training, a potentially life threatening situation was averted using with the minimal amount of force possible. I could not be more proud of the responding officers that ran to gunfire to save lives. Updated at 7:50 a.m. Sept. 7 with more information about the shooting New Delhi, Sep 6 : On September 7, for the first time ever, the world will join together to mark the UN's International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. The theme for 2020 is "Clean Air for All". In India, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar will be chairing a webinar on the occasion. Javadekar will also be reviewing the progress of the activities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) during the course of the webinar on Monday. In what can be seen as India's commitment to the cause, the webinar will be joined by Principal Secretaries of the Urban Development Department and Environment Department of 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Commissioners of 122 cities as identified in the NCAP programme, will also participate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address from the Red Fort on this Independence Day, had highlighted the need of "Holistic Improvement in Air quality" in 100 cities. The General Assembly of the UN on December 19, 2019 adopted a resolution to observe the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on September 7 every year starting from 2020. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier outlined why air pollution is a preventable risk. He called all to work together to build a better future with clean air forever. It is a catchphrase for creating an emotional and psychological gateway to help disenchanted voters feel comfortable voting for the president New York: Showcasing Black Americans at the Republican National Convention to allay white voters' fears that President Donald Trump is a racist. Sharing touching stories about the president's concern for the military. Painting Democrat Joe Biden as an unacceptable alternative that threatens the American way of life. It's all part of the Trump campaign's effort to construct a permission structure a clunky catchphrase for creating an emotional and psychological gateway to help disenchanted voters feel comfortable voting for the president again despite their reservations about him personally. Both the GOP convention and the president's recent law and order mantra have been aimed squarely at former Trump supporters who've grown unhappy with his inflammatory rhetoric and handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The goal is to humanise Trump and demonise Biden so that these voters, particularly women and suburbanites, feel that they can vote for Trump again anyway. Their new theme is that it's OK to support Trump even if you don't care for him, said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who advised Florida Senator Marco Rubio''s presidential bid four years ago. People don't like him because they think he is racist, sexist or doesn't care about average people. But their message now is ''Don't look at what he said, look at what he does.'' The phrase permission structure got a political cameo in 2013 when President Barack Obama advanced his theory that many congressional Republicans agreed with his proposals but withheld their support because of political considerations and the fear they would face challenges in GOP primaries. We' 're going to try to do everything we can to create a permission structure for them to be able to do what's going to be best for the country, Obama said then. But it''s going to take some time. Variations of the same phrase had been used in political circles and the marketing world long before then. In advertising, it's sometimes known as permission to believe, meaning that Madison Avenue needed to pitch a product be it laundry detergent or high-end vodka in a way that would help consumers justify spending the money on themselves. Donny Deutsch, an advertising executive, and former cable host said he has observed, in his own surveys, that some voters keep their support of Trump secret because it benefits their bottom lines. And he believes the president''s recent messaging on the unrest has been effective. We can all left-brain it as much we want: It's his America, it's his violence, how can he run as an outsider when he's president? said Deutsch, a vocal Trump critic. But it's a very primal thing. I think it works. Within months of Trump taking office, aides noticed he was beginning to lose support among women, particularly those in the suburbs, who were turned off by some of his callous behavior and bellicose tweets. The suburbs, and female voters, largely broke for Democrats during the 2018 midterm elections in which the GOP suffered massive losses in House races. The loss of support only accelerated this spring after the pandemic arrived. Many suburban voters and some seniors were unhappy with Trump's perceived lack of empathy for those affected by COVID-19 and those marching for racial justice after the death of George Floyd and other Black Americans. Much of the four-day Republican convention was meant to repair the damage and soften Trump's rough edges. There were testimonials from female staffers vouching for Trump''s caring side, as well as from minority staffers, elected officials, and friends. The campaign would like to improve Trump's standing with Black men, despite his reflexive support for law enforcement involved in the killing of Black men, as well as his at times racist rhetoric and the disproportionate loss of life to COVID-19 in communities of colour. But the campaign's message on race was largely aimed at a different audience. It was beamed at the suburbs, particularly college-educated suburban women: They don't want to vote for somebody viewed as a racist, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. A similar repair effort was launched this week after reports emerged that Trump had repeatedly disparaged American servicemembers who were killed or captured. The president denied the allegations and GOP allies rushed to share stories of the president''s caring attitude toward the military. House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy recounted how the president earlier this year cut short a rally in New Hampshire so he could meet families receiving fallen servicemen at Dover, Delaware. I watched the president walk out there, stand in the rain, accepting the bodies coming down with the family, McCarthy told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. Creating a permission structure for a voter to come home to Trump can be, at times, just as much about making the other candidate appear unacceptable as getting past reservations about the president. Sabato said the campaign is trying to make Trump an acceptable alternative again as they drive up fears of Biden. Trump has made a ferocious push to tear down Biden by asserting he is in thrall to left-wing radical forces that the Republican nominee has blamed for violence in cities like Portland, Oregon, and Kenosha, Wisconsin. The Biden campaign has notched some high-profile national security endorsements and believes it is currently winning nine percent of Trump's 2016 voters. And Democrats have celebrated the resources the president has needed to expend to win back Republicans. Attribute it to Covid-19 fear or transportation issue, Jharkhand recorded mere 37% attendance in the examinations for National Defense Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy, which were conducted at 47 centres in capital Ranchi with Covid precautions. As many as 20,680 examinees from across Jharkhand were supposed to take the examinations in Ranchi centres. The examinations held in two sittings. The first sitting recorded 37% attendance, said Moinuddin Khan, secretary to South Chotangpur commissioner. He said, Attendance remains around 50% in UPSC conducted examinations on normal days in Jharkhand. Ranchi sub-divisional officer (SDO) Lokesh Mishra, who visited the examination centres along with the Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) Chhavi Ranjan, said, We found attendance ratio between 35% and 40% in every centre we visited. Covid fear or transportation could be an issue behind the low attendance but we have to examine it before saying anything. However, many officials said JEE-Main exams could also be a reason for low attendance, as the JEE-Main examinations concluded on Sunday across nine centres of Jharkhand. The NDA examinations held in two sittings. The first sitting saw the paper of mathematics from 10am to 12.30pm, while the examinees took the paper of general ability in the second sitting from 2pm to 4.30pm. The students, who out of the examination halls, said that they papers were moderate neither easy nor tough. Ayush Yadav, 18, from Ranchis Bariatu area, said, Questions related to trigonometry and calculus were little tough. Rest questions were moderate. Yadav, who took his examination at Manan Vidyalaya centre, said there were 120 questions in mathematics. Another student Priyanshu Singh, who came from Jamshedpur, said, The arrangements were good in view of Covid pandemic. I was scared initially thinking about the precautions at centre. But, it was good. Singh reached the centre by his personal vehicle. Those who do not have personal vehicles faced problem to reach examination centres, as there is shortage of public vehicles on road. The NDA examinations passed off peacefully, which held with all Covid-19 precautions amid the pandemic. In all Ranchi centres, examinees were being aware of social distancing. Circles were also marked at several centres for maintaining social distance. The examinees also underwent thermal scanning and made to wear masks before entering the examination halls. Only one student was allowed in one bench. Ranchi deputy commissioner (DC) also inspected the preparations and precautions at the centre. He also appealed the parents and guardians to follow the Covid protocol and maintain social distance while picking up their children. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Detectives are searching the area in hopes of identifying any additional surveillance video that might show the suspect before or after he went into the store. Police also taped off portions of the block at North Wicker Park and North Wolcott Avenue into the afternoon. Global demand for plastics could peak in just seven years as countries impose bans and taxes to curb plastic pollution, putting billions of dollars of petrochemical investments along the Gulf Coast at risk, according to a new report. The annual increase in demand for plastics is expected to fall from 4 percent a year to less than 1 percent starting in 2027, according to a report released Friday by Carbon Tracker, a nonprofit financial think tank focused on the risk of climate change, and environmental services firm Systemiq. Remove the plastic pillar holding up the future of the oil industry, and the whole narrative of rising oil demand collapses, said Kingsmill Bond, a Carbon Tracker energy strategist and the reports lead author, in a statement. READ THE SERIES: Plastics trash crisis The report follows decisions by some oil majors to pull or delay investments in petrochemicals, particularly after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out global demand for crude and petroluem products. Saudi Aramco, the worlds biggest oil company, this week said it is abandoning plans to build a $20 billion crude-to-chemicals plant in Saudi Arabia, according to Bloomberg. And BP this summer announced a deal to sell its global petrochemicals business to British petrochemicals company INEOS for $5 billion. As we work to build a more focused, more integrated BP, we have other opportunities that are more aligned with our future direction, BP CEO Bernard Looney said in a statement announcing the deal in June. (The BP-INEOS) agreement is another deliberate step in building a BP that can compete and succeed through the energy transition. Nevertheless, BP said it expects petrochemicals to drive 95 percent of world oil demand growth in the coming years. At the same time, the International Energy Agency put that figure at 45 percent. To meet this expected demand, oil and gas companies are investing $400 billion to build new petrochemical plants, much of it along the Gulf Coast. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox The investments are big bets that increasing demand for petrochemicals, particularly plastics, will drive future crude demand as nations impose carbon emissions targets and renewables replace fossil fuels in a battle against climate change. Meanwhile, many countries are combatting plastics pollution with taxes and bans on plastics, including well-publicized bans on the use of single-use plastic bags and straws. Carbon Tracker estimates that 40 percent of plastic waste ends up polluting the environment, including 11 million tons into oceans every year. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi Russia first treated Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny for suspected poisoning, but doctors changed their minds after six hours when laboratory tests came back that found no traces of poison in his system, one of the doctors who treated him has said. A dispute over what caused 44-year-old Navalny to collapse on a domestic Russian flight last month is straining ties between Germany, where he is now being treated, and Russia, which denies Berlins accusation that he was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. The chief toxicologist at the Siberian hospital who was the ... Molinas Cantina is venturing into Fort Bend County, with a new restaurant open in Fulshear. The self-proclaimed oldest family-owned and -operated Tex-Mex restaurant in Houston, opened its third Houston-area restaurant at 6300 FM 1463 in Fulshear. It is part of the newly built Shoppes at Cross Creek. It is situated just off Westpark Tollway between Cinco Ranch and Cross Creek Ranch neighborhoods. Molinas Cantina was the first tenant to sign on to the project in 2018, according to a news release. The 5800-square-foot space includes a side patio and breezeway that protects from the sun for al fresco dining. BY THE NUMBERS: How the coronavirus pandemic has affected the restaurant industry Were excited to join this growing community between Fulshear and Katy, said Ricardo Molina who along with brothers Roberto and Raul Molina III represents the third generation to run the family business. There really arent many restaurant options where people can relax and enjoy great service. We hope to fill a void for full-service family dining. Both Ricardo and Roberto live nearby and are connected to the Fulshear community. The brothers decided not to renew their lease on their Washington Avenue location in 2017 and began searching for a space along the Katy-Fulshear corridor. It is their first foray in the area since Molinas Cantina on Highway 6 closed in 2006. The newest location joins the locations on Westheimer and in Bellaire. It seats 249 indoors, 107 of which are a mix of bar stools, high tops and tables in the roomy full-service bar area. The covered patio has room for 58 diners. The Fulshear space features a modern Western theme, complete with distressed wood details, studded tomato red and turquoise leather chairs, booths and barstools. FLAVOR: Hungry for restaurant reviews and recipes? Get the free, weekly Flavor newsletter delivered to your email. A matador mosaic that once graced the wall at Molinas former Beechnut location has found a second home here, and a hand-painted mural by artist Stylle Read pays tribute to Roberto Molinas lifelong relationship with the Tejas Vaqueros, the phrase Friends for Life providing an updated nod to Molinas original Good Neighbors motto, first seen in the signage and menus of their restaurant in the 1940s as a fond tribute to relations between Texas and its neighbors across the border, according to the news release. Anthony Brefo has been tapped as kitchen manager after working alongside his father, Johnny Brefo, kitchen manager and a 35-year Molinas veteran. For the first time, following in the family tradition they were raised, daughters of both Ricardo and Roberto Molina will join the family business as hostesses. Molinas Cantina-Fulshear will offer full-service lunch and dinner, with on-site dining at 50 percent capacity (adhering to current COVID-19 restrictions), Sunday-Monday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. For curbside takeaway, delivery and event catering, call 832-789-6450. For more information, visit molinascantina.com. rkent@hcnonline.com Huge crowds of Belarusian protesters on Sunday flooded the capital Minsk, urging strongman Alexander Lukashenko to quit power, defying the threat of arrest and a massive deployment of forces. More than 100,000 people are estimated to have taken to the streets of the capital Minsk over the past three weekends and AFP journalists said the crowds in Minsk might have been even larger on Sunday. Troops, water cannon, armoured personnel carriers and armoured reconnaissance vehicles were deployed to the city centre but protesters from all walks of life -- from parents with children to students and even priests-- rallied in a show of defiance. Around 250 people were arrested nationwide including 175 in Minsk, according to the Viasna rights group. An interior ministry spokesperson refused to confirm the figures. Many protesters held red-and-white flags and placards while a band beat drums and played other instruments. "Despite rain and pressure from the authorities, despite repression, many more people turned up in Minsk than last Sunday," top opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova told reporters. "I am convinced that protests will continue until we win." Unprecedented demonstrations broke out after Lukashenko, who has ruled the ex-Soviet state for 26 years, claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote on August 9. Opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya says she won the vote but Lukashenko's security forces have detained thousands of protesters, many of whom accused police of beatings and torture. Several people have died during the crackdown. Tikhanovskaya left Belarus under pressure from authorities and took shelter in EU member Lithuania. - 'Honest elections' - Belarusians have been demonstrating across the country for nearly a month even though the protest movement lacks a clear leader, with many activists jailed or forced out of the country. On Sunday, the protesters marched towards Lukashenko's residence at the Independence Palace where they chanted "Tribunal" and "How much are you getting paid?" Story continues One protester held a portrait of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who Germany says has been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent "Please only live," said the placard, referring to President Vladimir Putin's main political rival. Navalny has been in a coma for the past two weeks after he drank what his aides suspect was a cup of poisoned tea in Siberia. "Sasha, have some tea. It's Putin's treat," some protesters chanted, referring to Lukashenko by his diminutive name. Many say they will keep taking to the streets until Lukashenko quits. "Lukashenko must go," said Nikolai Dyatlov, a 32-year-old protester. Another protester, 40-year-old Anastasia Bazarevich, said: "Half of the village where my grandma lives comes out and protests every night." Russia has said it will respond to any Western attempts to "sway the situation" and Putin has raised the possibility of sending military support. As demonstrators gradually dispersed later Sunday, images showed hooded men in civilian clothes with batons chasing and beating demonstrators. - 'Tough nut' - Putin has been keen to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its recent offers of military aid with calls for tighter integration. Lukashenko has in the past ruled out outright unification and sought to play Moscow off against the West, but his options are now limited. On Thursday, Lukashenko hosted Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and said the two countries had managed to agree on issues they "could not agree earlier". The moustachioed leader said he planned to "dot all the i's" with Putin in Moscow in the next few weeks. Belarusian state television broadcast the "intercept" in which a Mike in Warsaw and Nick in Berlin discuss Navalny's materials and call Lukashenko a "tough nut to crack." Lukashenko also raised eyebrows last month when he brandished an assault rifle and had his 16-year-old son Nikolai appear next to him in a bulletproof vest while also wielding a weapon. tk-vk-as/har/jj San Francisco, Sep 6 : Facebook has unveiled a new prototype of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses that amplify what the wearer aims to hear and silence everything else around. According to a report in The Next Web, the AR headset gives users "perceptual superpowers". One prototype device is equipped with headphones and microphones that capture surrounding sounds. "It then tracks the movements of the user's head and eye movement to work out what they're trying to hear. This headset then enhances the sounds the user's focused on, and turns the volume down on everything else," according to the report. The social networking giant has renamed its augmented reality/virtual reality (AR-VR) team as Facebook Reality Labs as the company starts building the next-gen computing platform for deeper immersive experiences. Previously, Facebook Reality Labs was the name given to its research division, which had historically been known as Oculus Research. The company will organise its annual conference 'Facebook Connect' virtually on September 16 and will be free for everyone to attend. Facebook's work in AR/VR spans a number of breakthrough technologies like Oculus headsets that let people defy distance with cutting-edge VR hardware, while Portal helps friends and families stay connected and share the moments that matter in meaningful ways. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion in 2014. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the second edition of its 10 Hafte-10 Baje-10 Minute (10 weeks, 10 o clock, 10 minutes) campaign against dengue and other vector-borne diseases such as malaria and chikungunya on Sunday. Last year, two crore people of Delhi had joined hands to win a fight against dengue. In the next 10 weeks, we will do it again. I inspected my home on Sunday for places where stagnant water could accumulate. I urge you to do the same. Lets join hands to fight against dengue once again, the CM said. The people have been urged to inspect their homes for any possible sources of stagnant clean water that can lead to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which spread vector-borne diseases. In 2015, Delhi had recorded 15,867 cases of dengue and 60 deaths. The national capital had reported 2,036 cases of dengue and two deaths last year, the data shared by the Delhi government showed. On Sunday, all Delhi governments ministers, Rajya Sabha (RS) members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), lawmakers and other party leaders joined the drive. They posted photographs and short video clips on social media. Several volunteers and party supporters also joined the campaign and took to social media in a similar manner. One should not be complacent assuming that there is no place in a persons house, where clean water can accumulate. If you invest 10 minutes, you are most likely to come across some place that went unnoticed. I urge more people to participate in the campaign, tweeted Manish Sisodia, said deputy CM, Delhi. The participants, including CM Kejriwal, pledged that they would devote 10 minutes at 10 pm every Sunday for 10 weeks to inspect their house for stagnant clean water and clean it to avoid breeding of Aedes mosquitoes and prevent the spread of vector-borne diseases. In the coming weeks, doctors would be requested to endorse the campaign and more children would be encouraged to participate through homework assigned by schools. Government offices would also be asked to promote it, Satyendar Jain, minister for health, Delhi, told media persons. WEST CHESTER The two state constables arrested last summer on charges of improperly using their official positions while working as private security guards along the controversial Mariner East Pipeline project will have to face trial on those charges after their attempt to have the cases against them thrown out failed. Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Sommer denied the move by constables Kareem Johnson of Coatesville and Michael Robel of Northumberlnd County to have bribery and conflict of interest charge against them dismissed because they claimed that no actual crimes had been committed when they began working as security guards along the pipeline construction area in West Whiteland. The pair contended that that there is no law against constables working for private companies such as the Sunoco Pipeline firm, Energy Transfers Partners, outside the judicial system, and that neither man represented that they were working for any court while they patrolled the pipeline in West Whiteland, as the law prohibits. Although Sommers ruled against them, he did so not on the merits of their claims but because of rules of criminal procedure in Pennsylvania that he agreed did not allow such a pre-trial move. The judge accepted the position of Deputy District Attorney Thomas Ost-Prisco, who argued the case on Monday, that Johnson and Robel had given up their right to argue the quality of evidence against them at this stage in the process because they had waived their right to challenge the case at a preliminary hearing. The defendants are bound by the allegations set forth in the (criminal) information, filed in Common Pleas Court, Sommer, who is overseeing the case against them, wrote. Without a transcript of a preliminary hearing, there is simply no evidence before this court upon which the undersigned could make a determination. Sommer said that an attempt by attorneys for the two men to introduce a transcript of the preliminary hearings held in the case of the head of security for Energy Transfer Partners at which a magisterial judge threw out the charges to bolster their case was impermissible. Attorneys Casey D. White, for Johnson, and Guiseppe Rosselli, for Robel, cite no authority which would allow for the admission of such evidence at this state of the proceedings, the judge wrote. (Ost-Prisco) strongly opposed the courts consideration of (the transcript), a position with which Sommer said he agreed. The pairs trial is currently scheduled for Sept. 29. However, because of restrictions on criminal trials put in place by the courts due to the corona virus earlier this year, it is uncertain when any trial would be held. Both men remain free on bail, and continue to work as constables. They were arrested in August 2019 when Chester County Detective Ben Martin filed criminal complaints against them after witnessing them working as guards along the controversial pipeline project in West Whiteland, allegedly using their official badges and positions as state officials in doing so. Martins criminal complaint also said the two men did not report thousands of dollars in income they were paid by the private security firm that hired them as they are required to do under state ethics laws. The pair charged with counts of bribery in official matters, a third-degree felony; official oppression, a second-degree misdemeanor; and violations of the states Ethics Standards and Financial Disclosure statute, including conflict of interest, accepting improper influence, and failure to file notice of financial interest all ungraded felonies. According to the arrest affidavit included in Martins criminal complaint, Martin began looking into the use of state constables as security guards along the pipeline construction area, which runs from Elverson southeast through the county to Westtown as it makes its way to extraction terminals owned by Sunoco in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, after complaints from residents and an independent journalist. State constables are elected officials who work for the court system in the state. They serve subpoenas, transport prisoners to court proceedings, serve as courtroom security, and have the power to make arrests in limited circumstances, such as violations of a municipal ordinance. They are paid for by the court system with taxpayer funds, and as elected officials are required to file statements of financial interests, including any source of income of over $1,300. In his arrest affidavit, Martin said that on Jan. 20, 2019 he had gone to Lisa Drive to observe the sinkhole problems as it had developed. While parked there, he was approached by a man who identified himself as State Constable Mike Robel. The constable told him he would have to move his car down the street as he could not park there. Martin said Robel wore a firearm on his belt, and displayed his state constable badge. Robel allegedly told Martin he was employed by Sunoco and was a constable from Northumberland. Later, when Martin spoke with him again, Robel said he was employed by a subcontractor for Sunoco and not by the court system. He said Sunoco wanted certified constables in uniforms as private security for the project. The detective then started following up on other reports of contacts made with people identifying themselves as constables to West Whiteland police officers. Those included incidents on March 5 and March 24 in which officers met with Johnson, who told them he was working for Sunoco. In December 2019, the District Attornys Office filed charges including multiple counts of bribery, conspiracy, and dealing in unlawful proceeds stemming from the use of state constables on the pipeline against Frank Recknagel, 59, of Havertown, head of Energy Transfers security division, and four others Nicholas McKinnon, of Stafford, Va., senior security adviser for Tiger Swan LLC, an international security firm; Michael Boffo, of Jacksonville, N.C., site security manager of Tiger Swan; James Murphy, of Harrisburg, operator of Raven Knights LLC, a Harrisburg-area security firm; and Richard Lester, of Linglestown, registered owner of Raven Knights. Both Murphy and Lester are reportedly former state police troopers. The charges against Recknagel were dismissed by Magisterial District Judge John Bailey in June after his attorneys argued that the security chief had not made any arrangements concerning whether the men would use their uniforms or badges while working as security. Charges against Murphy and Lester were held for trial last month. A preliminary hearing for McKinnon and Boffo is pending. No decision has yet been announced by the D.A.s Office on whether refile the charges against Recknagel. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. A further 106 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Northern Ireland on Sunday, the Department of Health has said. It comes after 118 new cases were confirmed here on Saturday, September 5. There are now 7,727 cases of Covid-19 here. There are three patients in intensive care units in Northern Ireland hospitals, with 17 inpatients in total. Meanwhile, a Northern Ireland prisoner at Maghaberry has been separated from the rest of the prison population after testing positive for Covid-19. Read More It is the first time a prisoner here has tested positive for the virus. The man was remanded to Maghaberry Prison on Thursday and then received a positive test for Covid-19. He is now being cared for by staff from the South Eastern Trust. Read More And in Belfast, a licensed premises was closed after being served a prohibition notice connected with a breach of coronavirus regulations. It follows a visit by the Chief Constable Simon Byrne and the Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride to the premises on Saturday night. One of the Democrats more lunatic themes is their insistence that if President Trump loses the election, he likely will refuse to leave office, in effect staging a coup. Most recently the claim was made by Bernie Sanders. Politico headlined: Sanders: America must be prepared for when Trump refuses to leave office. To some extent, this may be projection. The Democrats themselves have been staging a slow-motion coup for nearly four years, trying by hook or by crook to force our duly-elected president out of office. And they are the ones who have vowed to count and recount ballots to the last ditch, with Hillary Clinton telling Joe Biden, do not concede under any circumstances. More significantly, I think the Democrats fantasizing about Trump illegally staying on in the White House is battlespace preparation for the election and for Trumps second term (assuming he wins the election). The Democrats are expecting a close election that may not have a clear winner. They have warned that Trump may appear to have won in a landslide on election night, and it may take weeks of ballot counting to give Joe Biden the victory. So we may well endure a post-election Hell of endless ballot judging and counting not just in one state (Florida in 2000), but potentially a dozen. Given the Democrats strategy of encouraging an unprecedented volume of voter fraud through voting by junk mail, the number of questionable ballots will be immense. It is quite possible that once again, the Supreme Court will be called on to sort out legal argumentsthis time, likely in multiple statesso as to determine the winner. Meanwhile, the Democrats will be howling at President Trump to concede the election, and accusing him of hanging on illegally when he refuses. What if this post-election process is not complete by the time the Electoral College meets? The ultimate recourse, I suppose, is to the Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution. If no candidate receives a majority of votes in the Electoral College, the House of Representatives elects the president, with each state getting one vote. The election is likely to be so beset with fraud, confusion and controversy that if President Trump wins, the Democrats will again allege (as they did in 2016) that his victory was illegitimate and he is not a real president. Instead, by virtue of refusing to concede, he will be staying in office despite really losing the election, just as they predicted. This is an appalling scenario, but not an unlikely one. She rose to fame on the 2016 series of Love Island. And Katie Salmon made sure she remained in the spotlight as she stepped out for dinner with friends at Menagerie Bar in Manchester on Saturday night. The reality star, 25, put on a busty display in a plunging black tracksuit-inspired dress which was cinched in at the waist with a black belt. Busty: Love Island's Katie Salmon showed off her ample assets in a plunging black belted dress for a night out with friends in Manchester on Saturday The brunette beauty flaunted her toned pins in a pair of suede black boots as she left the eatery. She accessorised with a black over-the-shoulder bag and a statement silver chocker for the night out with friends. Katie wore her dark tresses in two cute space buns and opted for a typically glamorous makeup look. Glam: She accessorised with a black over-the-shoulder bag and a statement silver chocker for the night out with friends Leggy: The brunette beauty flaunted her toned pins in a pair of suede black boots as she left the eatery with a pal Elsewhere in Manchester Adam Thomas was also out and about as he headed to dinner at Peter Street Kitchen. The soap star, 32, looked effortlessly cool in navy chinos, and a navy and beige jumper. Adam - who is best known for playing Adam Barton in Emmerdale - completed the going-out look with white trainers and a smart trench coat. Style: Elsewhere in Manchester Adam Thomas was also out and about as he headed to dinner at Peter Street Kitchen Trendy: The soap star, 32, looked effortlessly cool in navy chinos and a navy and beige jumper Katie is certainly no stranger to causing a stir after her Love Island 2016 appearance. She is best known to viewers of the ITV2 show for pairing up with the late Sophie Gradon on the reality dating series. Sophie was originally partnered with Tom Powell but later coupled up with Katie after he quit the show. However, Sophie later dumped Katie and bowed out of the show to be with Tom again, leading Katie to pair off with Adam Maxted. Their romance was short-lived, lasting just two weeks after the series drew to a close. Katie opened up about the abuse she received from the LGBT community, following her same-sex romance with late Love Island star Sophie. Speaking on the Victoria Derbyshire programme last year, Katie admitted she was the subject of much uproar after her relationship with Sophie, who was tragically found dead in June 2018 aged just 32. She said: 'In the villa I was so scared because I didn't know what the outside world was thinking, what my family was thinking, what my friends were thinking, so I was really upset that they'd not supported me from my own community.' A software engineer died after falling from his 11th-floor balcony of Cloud 9 society in Indirapuram (Ghaziabad), according to the police. Nearby residents have stated that the death was an accident as the iron-railing of the victim's balcony was rusty. The police have however not ruled out foul play yet. They are investigating all possibles angles including suicide, reports The Times of India. Sandeep Pandey, a resident of Cloud 9 society, explained that the deceased - 24-year-old Deepak Singh - was employed at a Noida-based company. Singh had been living in the society since December last year along with three friends. "The incident happened on Friday when Deepak was partying in his flat with his flatmates and two guests. His friends told us that at 11.45 pm, Deepak was leaning over the railing in the balcony and fell down. He rushed to the Fortis Hospital in Noida where he was declared brought dead," Pandey told the daily. Anshu Mishra, Circle Officer of Ghazaiabad's Indirapuram Zone, said that a forensic team has visited the deceased's flat. "Prima facie, it looks that he may have accidentally fallen after the railing of the balcony gave way," said Mishra. Residents of Cloud 9 society are blaming the builder for the alleged accident. They claim that the builder did not get the maintenance done. Sanjeev Jain, the developer of the building, while responding to the allegation said, "As a part of maintenance, we look after the common areas. It is the responsibility of owners to ensure timely maintenance of their flats. Also, we have been requesting the RWA to take over maintenance but they are yet to come forward with it". Also Read: Rajnath Singh likely to meet Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe in Moscow this evening Also Read: Daiichi-Ranbaxy case: Delhi Police summons Radha Soami Satsang chief Gurinder Singh Dhillon (Natural News) As government agencies look at ways to fast-track the deployment of a Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, one surprising voice has come out warning against the dangers of doing so. Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive officer of Pfizer has warned of the damage that pushing a vaccine before testing its guaranteed to be safe may cause the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry. Pfizer last year had its 170th anniversary. Its a long institution and I dont plan to reduce its reputation in a year or two, he said. Bourla acknowledged that people were skeptical about vaccines. They are skeptical because theres so much politicized science right now, he said in a press conference of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. This is the worst situation for society. Warnings come as US government moves to fast-track vaccines Bourlas comments come as the U.S. government is looking to fast-track vaccines in development in the country to be distributed ahead of the November presidential elections. Recently, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield has sent out a letter to state governors asking them to fast-track the approval of permits and licenses for new distribution sites for a vaccine. CDC urgently requests your assistance in expediting applications for these distribution facilities, and, if necessary, asks that you consider waiving requirements that would prevent these facilities from becoming fully operational by November 1, 2020. In his letter, Redfield reassured the governors that The requirements you may be asked to waive in order to expedite vaccine distribution will not compromise the safety or integrity of the products being distributed. Meanwhile, the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Stephen Hahn, stated that the agency was willing to give emergency authorization for a vaccine to be distributed even if it had yet to complete Phase III trials. It is up to the sponsor [vaccine developer] to apply for authorization or approval, and we make an adjudication of their application. If they do that before the end of Phase Three, we may find that appropriate. We may find that inappropriate, we will make a determination, said Hahn in an interview with Financial Times last Sunday. Hahn later clarified that this emergency authorization would not technically equate to full approval by the FDA. Our emergency use authorization is not the same as a full approval, he explained. The legal, medical and scientific standard for that is that the benefit outweighs the risk in a public health emergency. Others within the industry call for transparency At the same time that Bourla was warning against fast-tracking vaccine development, the U.S.-based trade group, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has called for more transparency when it comes to vaccine development. He warned that various parts of the population may react differently to a vaccine and those differences would only be revealed in larger, longer-term studies. In addition, BIO has also called on the FDA to maintain its historic independence and that politicians on both sides of the aisle put aside political considerations. As part of this, pharmaceutical firm Mercks chief executive Ken Frazier told the conference that it was unfortunate that institutions had suffered a loss of trust. It is important for our industry to restate our commitment to first do no harm. Of course, the latter depends on whether companies like Merck, which is developing its own coronavirus vaccine, resist the temptation to release it well before theyve completed testing, even if the government gives them a free pass. As for Pfizer, the company is currently already conducting Phase III trials for its own vaccine candidate that its developing in conjunction with its German partner BioNTech. This phase involves a large number of participants, and Pfizer has already enrolled 23,000 of the 30,000 it needs. The speed at which the trial results become clear, however, will depend on how many in the control group become infected and when this happens. That said, Bourla has promised that they will not send in their vaccine for authorization until theyre completely sure that its safe. Learn more about efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine at Vaccines.news. Sources include: FT.com LifeSiteNews.com In his third report to the General Assembly of the United Nations, Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman has said that he is alarmed and shocked by the violence used against protesters in Iran during the November 209 civil unrest. "The Special Rapporteur expresses his shock at the unprecedented use of excessive and lethal force by State security forces during the November 2019 protests, including by the police, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia," the report said, adding that according to credible sources, at least 304 people were killed between November 15-19 in 37 cities, including 23 children and 10 women. In his report, Rehman stressed that security forces shot to kill, aiming at protesters' heads, neck and chest at least in 112 cases. "The pattern of shooting at vital organs, established by eyewitness accounts, video footage and the documented causes of deaths, demonstrates that security forces were shooting to kill or with reckless disregard as to whether their actions caused death," Rehman said in the report. Rehman also criticized Iranian authorities for not announcing official death and injury figures, and said that the real death toll of the November protests may be much higher than the 304 that Amnesty International has been able to confirm. In a report in December 2019, Reuters quoted sources close to Khamenei's inner circle who claimed that 1,500 Iranians had been killed in the protests, based on information gathered from security forces, morgues, hospitals and coroners offices. At the time, Khamenei allegedly told the security forces in a public meeting to "do whatever is necessary to stop" the protests, the sources said. On May 30, 2020, nearly seven months after the protests, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli said for the first time that the death toll numbered around 200. On June 1, Mojtaba Zolnur (Zonnouri), the chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the previous parliament, claimed the death toll for the November protests at 230 people. In the report, Rehman also said that detained protesters faced torture and brutal treatment, with some receiving harsh sentences, including the death penalty, after unfair trials. SALT LAKE CITY - Days after he crossed the country to start college, Ryan Schmutz received a text message from Utah State University: COVID-19 had been detected at his dorm. Within 10 minutes, he dropped the crepes he was making and was whisked away by bus to a testing site. We didnt even know they were testing, said Schmutz, who is 18 and from Omaha, Nebraska. It all really happened fast. Schmutz was one of about 300 students quarantined to their rooms last week, but not because of sickness reports or positive tests. Instead, the warning bells came from the sewage. Colleges across the nation from New Mexico to Tennessee, Michigan to New York are turning tests of waste into a public health tool. The work comes as institutions hunt for ways to keep campuses open despite vulnerabilities like students close living arrangements and drive to socialize. The virus has already left its mark with outbreaks that have forced changes to remote learning at colleges around the country. The tests work by detecting genetic material from the virus, which can be recovered from the stools of about half of people with COVID-19, studies indicate. The concept has also been used to look for outbreaks of the polio virus. Sewage testing is especially valuable because it can evaluate people even if they arent feeling sick and can detect a few cases out of thousands of people, experts say. Another wastewater-flagged quarantine of around 300 students at the University of Arizona, for example, turned up two cases. Both were students who were asymptomatic, but they could potentially still have spread the virus. Thats just tremendously valuable information when we think about the setting of a college dorm, and how quickly this disease can spread through that population, said Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation, which promotes studies of water and wastewater to ensure water quality and service. Wastewater tests also flagged the possible presence of the virus at University of Colorado residence halls. Utah has used the method more widely, including to track an outbreak at a meatpacking plant. The British, Italian and Dutch governments have also announced similar monitoring programs, and the Massachusetts-based company Biobot tests wastewater from cities around the country. The method remains imprecise, though. It can spot infection trends, but it cant yet pinpoint how many people have the virus or the stage of infection. That means its not yet quite as useful on a larger scale in cities, which dont always have a universitys scientific resources or ability to require people to get tested. The technology is being closely studied, though, and it is evolving rapidly, Grevatt said, adding that its best used along with other methods like contact tracing. Its not a panacea for colleges either. Utah State, for example, can only closely monitor sewage from the relatively small portion of students who live on campus not the thousands of other people who come and go every day. The university has an enrolment of about 28,000. And this week, Utah States positive wastewater test could be narrowed only as far as four residence halls that share the same sewer system. The test came back positive late Aug. 29, and the quarantine started the next day. Students were required to stay in their rooms, eating meals delivered by a COVID care team and barred from walking more than a few steps outside the residence hall. The buildings are laid out in apartment-style suites, and students were released from quarantine in small groups if every roommate in a suite tested negative. The tests had turned up four coronavirus cases as of Thursday. Schmutz, who tested negative along with his roommates, didnt miss much in-person class time during his four-day quarantine. But hes a little disconcerted that he and his family werent told about the sewage testing. It felt like we were kind of out of the loop on everything. Its definitely hard to process, he said. Utah State has heard from parents and students similarly frustrated, though many others are grateful, spokeswoman Emilie Wheeler said. They see it as a noninvasive early detection system, she said. The program is relatively inexpensive, too. The school takes samples daily to monitor several living areas, and the tests are run by a team of students. Wastewater has a story to tell about the public health status of communities, Grevatt said. Theres so many folks working on this right now. Its just remarkable to see how quickly it has moved forward. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that the wastewater-flagged quarantine of around 300 students happened at the University of Arizona, not Arizona State University. I rarely come across fund managers who are truly enthusiastic about the work they do and are comfortable describing how they go about making money for investors. It's as if they want to keep their dark investment arts to themselves. Yes, Fundsmith's legendary investment manager Terry Smith is always a joy to interview although God help you if you then upset him in print while Doctor Mark Mobius of Templeton fame can rattle on about emerging markets all day and night (he now runs an emerging markets trust bearing his own name). But JO Hambro Capital Management's Christopher Lees gives them a good run for their money. 'My goal every time is to avoid the avalanches and come home safely', says JO Hambro Capital Management's Christopher Lees, who's keen mountaineer A few days ago, 53-year-old Lees explained to me how he manages 1.4billion investment fund JOHCM Global Select in such a way that he 'tilts the probability of success in favour of investors'. For an hour and 15 minutes, I was transfixed. Lees has been managing money for more than 30 years first at Baring Asset Management and since 2008 at JO Hambro and is determined to remain a fund manager for quite some time to come. It's obvious he cares passionately about what he does. He's the first manager in many an interview who kept talking about 'your readers'. He is acutely aware that what he does can make the difference between someone either enduring retirement or being able to enjoy it. He looks at everything through the eyes of investors. An approach that some of his better known rivals such as disgraced Neil Woodford failed to see any merit in for them, themselves first, investors a distant second. Lees has run the JOHCM Global Select fund since its launch in September 2008. He's been assisted from day one by Nudgem Richyal who is an important cog in the fund's wheel. They are 'Yin' and 'Yang'. Lees is good at identifying 'winners' stocks that will create profits for investors. Richyal is better at knowing when it is time to sell a stock. The fund is as much about eradicating losses as it is in generating profits. Says Lees: 'If we're both bullish on a stock, then we tend to make good money for investors if we buy it. If one of us is very bullish and the other is very bearish, then it's best for us to ignore the company. 'But if one of us is bullish and the other a tad indifferent in other words there is still scepticism in the room then we tend to make big money for investors if we invest. 'On the sell side, as soon as one of us is negative on a holding and the other is indifferent, we have to sell. We like to weed out losers early.' The investment process underpinning Global Select is meticulous and heavily numbers-based ('quantitative') although Lees says it is 'still evolving and improving'. It involves regularly ranking every company in the world that has shares liquid enough for the fund to buy. Companies are ranked on three key criteria. First, their business 'fundamentals' such as earnings and the strength of their balance sheet the more robust, the better. Second, their market valuation compared to the rest of the market and history is it under-valued (great) or over-valued (not so good)? Over the past one, three and five years, Global Select has delivered returns of 12 per cent, 42 per cent and 97 per cent Finally, is it a company operating in a growing business area (good) and a stable economy (again, good) or is it an 'idiosyncratic' business whose fortunes are not dependent upon the economy or the business sector it sits in (it's going to grow anyway, a big positive). Lees and Richyal then invest in those companies that are ranked among the highest on these three scores as well as those businesses that are rapidly moving up this league table. They do this in such a way that equal weighting is given to all holdings with regular rebalancing to take account of the distorting impact of share price moves. Currently, the fund has 39 holdings. The equal weighting approach, says Lees, is to prevent 'over confidence bias' going big on a stock, only for it to disappoint. He adds: 'It stops us taking on excess investment risk.' The portfolio flutters between 30 and 60 holdings although the 'sweet spot is 30 to 40 holdings'. When they think they have made a wrong investment, they cut their losses very quickly. 'I'm a keen mountaineer and skier,' says Lees. 'My goal every time is to avoid the avalanches and come home safely. Currently, the fund has 39 holdings 'Equally, as a fund manager, my goal is to ensure we avoid incurring big losses on any of our holdings thereby safeguarding investors' money. 'Yes, we make mistakes we're human. But we have stabilisers in place. We are not wrong for long and strip out any losers.' The resulting portfolio is dominated by companies that have rock solid balance sheets and which benefit from one of two key economic trends 'digitalisation' and 'decarbonisation'. Only one company mining giant Rio Tinto was jettisoned from the portfolio throughout the early stages of the pandemic with Lees and Richyal both working remotely. 'We took the decision to work from home on February 24, a month before official lockdown,' says Lees. 'It was imperative that if one of us got ill, the other could drive the bus.' Both continue to work from home. Positions were also built in a number of 'anti-fragile' stocks companies whose shares are resilient in a falling market. Gold companies such as Australian-listed Newcrest Mining and Japanese-based chemical giant Kao. These positions have since been trimmed with stakes added to in American semi-conductor businesses NVidia and ASML and internet giant Prosus. Global Select has some familiar names among its top 10 holdings the likes of Accenture, Microsoft and PayPal (all benefiting from digitalisation). It also includes lesser known companies such as Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems (a decarbonisation play). Yet there are plenty of stakes that stand it apart from other global funds and which Lees says will give it a performance edge in the years to come. These include the likes of New York-listed APTIV that has been successful in pivoting its car components business away from reliance on the internal combustion engine to a new focus on the electric car. 'A good company that is improving,' says Lees. Others include Danish energy giant Orsted, New Zealand milk producer A2 Milk and Japan-based Peptidream that helps discover and develop new drugs. Five other stand-out global funds RACY Fund: Scottish Mortgage Manager: James Anderson (Baillie Gifford) Size: 15billion Investment style: Growth businesses with 15% exposure to unquoteds Big holdings: Amazon (9.7%) and Illumina (6.1%) Annual charges: 0.36%. Performance: One year, +77%; five years, +277% Stock market ID code: BLDYK61 Fund: Baillie Gifford Global Discovery Manager: Douglas Brodie Size: 1.3billion Investment style: Growth companies Big holdings: Tesla (4.7) and Ocado (4.4) Annual charges: 0.79% Performance: One year, +45%; five years, +203% Stock market ID code: 0605922. Fund: Fundsmith Equity Manager: Terry Smith Size: 20.5billion Investment style: Concentrated portfolio of 29 stocks Big holdings: Microsoft and PayPal Annual charges: 0.95% Performance: One year, +9%; five years, +162% Stock market ID code: B41YBW7 INCOME AND GROWTH FOCUS Fund: Bankers Manager: Alex Crooke, (Janus Henderson) Size: 1.3billion Investment style: Capital and dividend growth Big holdings: Microsoft (2.8%) and Amazon (2.3%) Annual charges: 0.52% Performance: One year, +12%; five years, +101% Stock market ID code: 0076700 CONSERVATIVE Fund: Personal Assets Manager: Sebastian Lyon (Troy Asset Management) Size: 1.1billion Investment style: Broad spread of assets Big holdings: Equities (44%), US government bonds (30%) Annual charges: 0.9% Performance: One year, +7%; five years, +44% Stock market ID code: 0682754 Orsted used to generate all its energy from oil and gas, but is now focused on the production of clean energy via wind farms, waste and solar farms. A2 Milk specialises in the production of milk rich in beta-casein protein that is considered healthier than other brands. Lees says Peptidream may make the fund 'huge amounts of money'. He adds: 'I was sceptical when we bought into it while Nudgem was enthusiastic. On A2 Milk, I was bullish while Nudgem said 'whatever'. A recent disposal was Momo China's answer to dating app Tinder. It was sold primarily because of President Trump's increasing antagonism towards Chinese companies. The shares, listed in New York, have fallen sharply over the past year by more than 75 per cent. 'Momo's shares could fall to zero,' he says. 'We want to avoid any catastrophic share price falls.' For the record, the fund has not held a single UK retail bank or for that matter a European one since 2008. So, for the performance numbers. Over the past one, three and five years, Global Select has delivered returns of 12 per cent, 42 per cent and 97 per cent. Far better than the average global fund with respective returns of 8 per cent, 26 per cent and 81 per cent. But, of course, not as spectacular as global investment trust Scottish Mortgage which by taking big bets on companies such as electric car manufacturer Tesla and so-called FAANG stocks such as Facebook and Google has generated stratospheric returns of 77 per cent, 112 per cent and 277 per cent. Lees accepts that Global Select's performance pales into insignificance against the likes of Scottish Mortgage. But he believes the fund's ability to outperform most rival firms without investing in FAANGs is proof that the investment process underpinning it works. 'FAANG stocks will roll over at some stage,' he says. 'Trees do not grow to the sky. We are not a one- trick pony.' John Kay, a former board member of Scottish Mortgage, says the best funds to invest in are those with 'a well-argued investment philosophy that chimes with your own'. So, if you like investment risk, opt for the likes of Scottish Mortgage. But if you prefer a quieter ride still with the potential to make profits JOHCM Global Select may be more your cup of tea. Donald Trump has attacked Nancy Pelosi for her Monday trip to a San Francisco hair salon, where she was pictured breaking her own rules and not wearing a face mask. When the footage was leaked to Fox News, Pelosi said: 'It was clearly a set up.' On Saturday Trump, who has relished mocking the Democrat leader for being tricked, said it showed poor judgement and naivety. 'Nancy Pelosi said she got set up by the owner (a very good one) of a beauty parlor,' Trump tweeted. 'If so, how will she do in negotiations against President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia, or Kim Jong Un of North Korea. 'Not so well, I suspect, but far better than Joe Hiden (referencing the fact he claims Biden has been hiding during the election campaign) would do!' Nancy Pelosi's trip to the hairdresser on Monday has amused Donald Trump all week Donald Trump on Saturday resumed his mockery of the House Speaker for her haircut Erica Kious, the owner of the eSalon in San Francisco, insists she did not set the speaker up Pelosi, the House speaker, insists that she was set up by the owner of the salon, Erica Kious. Pelosi's stylist rang Kious to ask if she could come into the empty salon, and Kious agreed. San Francisco beauty parlors were not supposed to open until September 1, the day after the speaker had her treatment. Kious told Fox News: '[Pelosi] had called the stylist, or her assistant did, and had made the appointment so the appointment was already booked so there was no way I could have set that up. 'And I've had a camera system in there for five years, I mean I didn't go in there and turn cameras on as soon as she walked in and set her up so that's absolutely false.' Pelosi, 80, reacted with anger when the images were leaked, in what she saw as a bid to discredit her. She said that she was owed an apology by Kious. 'I take responsibility for trusting the word of a neighborhood salon I've been to over the years many times, and when they said we're able to accommodate people, one person at a time, and that we can set up that time, I trusted that,' she said. 'As it turns out, it was a setup. 'It was a set up, and I take responsibility for falling for a setup.' She then strongly criticized Kious, owner of the eSalon. 'I think that this salon owes me an apology, for setting me up,' she added. And she said she wasn't wearing a face mask because she just had her hair washed, asking the reporters questioning her if they wore a face mask when washing their hair. 'I just had my hair washed. I don't wear a mask when I'm washing my hair,' she said. 'Do you wear a mask when you're washing your hair? 'I always wear a mask. And that picture is when I just came out of the bowl.' Jonathan DeNardo, the San Francisco beautician and stylist who did Pelosi's hair before the city allowed salons to operate again, released a statement through his lawyer on Wednesday. 'The fact that Ms Kious is now objecting to Speaker Pelosi's presence at eSalon, and from a simple surface-level review of Ms Kious' political leanings, it appears Ms Kious is furthering a set-up of Speaker Pelosi for her own vain aspirations,' the statement read. 'Ultimately, Ms Kious authorized Mr DeNardo to proceed with Speaker Pelosi's appointment,' it added. The eSalon in San Francisco where the speaker had her hair washed and blown dry A GoFundMe campaign set up to help the Kious raised more than $115,000 in 24 hours. Kious said she has received death threats in the wake of exposing the House Speaker's trip to her business on Monday. After footage of the Democrat's trip went viral a day later Kious told Tucker Carlson Wednesday that her business was 'done'. A fundraiser - set up by former Nevada State GOP chairman Amy Tarkanian - had raised $115,125 as of Thursday evening to help Kious 'to pay off any debts from the business that she is forced to shut down, expenses to relocate and reopen in a new location'. On Thursday a tearful Kious again denied setting up Pelosi, adding: 'In fact, not only did I not set her up, her assertion that she is a victim and set up is totally false and outrageous.' Throughout the whole saga, Trump has enjoyed attacking Pelosi. On Wednesday, after the footage aired on Fox News, he tweeted: 'Crazy Nancy Pelosi is being decimated for having a beauty parlor opened, when all others are closed, and for not wearing a Mask - despite constantly lecturing everyone else. We will almost certainly take back the House, and send Nancy packing! 'The Beauty Parlor owner must really dislike Crazy Nancy Pelosi. Turning her in, on tape, is a really big deal. She probably treats him like she treats everyone else...' A day later, he returned to the theme. 'I want the salon owner to lead the House of Representatives,' he told a cheering crowd in Pennsylvania. 'She made a terrible mistake because you want people that can't be set up. 'She said "I was set up, I was set up by the salon owner, I was set up". 'I said "tell me she didn't say that."' Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, then played the footage of Pelosi at the salon during a press briefing. As I stroll past pavement cafes on my morning walk the ones I never used to think twice about stopping at for a cappuccino and slice of cake I do a small calculation: 5.50 for coffee and a hunk of lemon drizzle or 36p for a Nespresso pod back home and hold the cake (which is a habit Im better off without). Gosh, 5.14 saved and its still only 9am. How much more might I not spend by the end of the day in my new world of life watching the pennies? Vast numbers of us have been hit economically by Covid-19 and even the lucky few who havent been are worrying about whats going to come next, and, how, even if they do emerge relatively unscathed from the winter ahead, they will pay for the inevitable tax rises. So even for the still-comfortable, there has been a shift in attitude; a move to embrace the idea of saving rather than spending. Its almost become a badge of honour to be the nouveau pauvre. Linda Kelsey (pictured) revealed how her spending habits have changed since the pandemic, as she suggests there has been a shift for many towards saving While I do feel somewhat wistful about my extravagant, pre-Covid lifestyle, I have to say that posh pauperdom seems to be garnering a certain cachet among the middle classes. If the nouveau riche were notorious and got sneered at for flashing the cash, the nouveau pauvre are proving equally upfront about their diminished status. Theres even an element of competition about it. Take my pal Jenny, who decided to let her roots grow out during lockdown and has now determined never to go back to colouring her hair again. Certainly theres the relief of not having to spend hours and fortunes at the hairdresser every three weeks, but theres a show-offy element, too. She reckons shes saved 1,500 per annum on roots and highlights alone a sum shes magnanimously donating to her furloughed daughter. I decided to match her savings by getting my partner to home-dye my hair and asking my brother-in-law, a retired businessman who happens to be a dab hand with the scissors, to cut it for me. So who are you donating it to? she asked, smugly. The leaky roof, I countered, thus gaining some brownie points because I couldnt actually afford to give away the money saved. Im not oblivious to the real poverty inflicted by lockdown on those who were already stretched to the max. To be nouveau pauvre is merely a blow to our status, not a genuine affliction. The fact that I own a Nespresso machine and my own home is proof enough that I remain one of the privileged few. Its not exactly being on the breadline when you can still afford to buy your sourdough loaf every day, fresh from the bakery. On the other hand, as Ive discovered, its a wake-up call for those of us who have never had to count the pennies until now. Linda said she began examining her finances when her partner made a decision to stop working and was shocked to discover she probably spends a grand a year at Zara alone (file image) It was a week before lockdown when my partner, an osteopath, took the decision to stop working. What he was most worried about was catching the virus from a patient and then passing it on to other patients or to me, as I am on the vulnerable spectrum. Although in his 60s, he had no intention of retiring for a good many years, partly because he so enjoys his work, but also because he doesnt yet have a sufficient pension pot for retirement. As a freelance already drawing my pension and with some savings, my income was less affected by less work. But his went straight to zero. It was time for a big rethink. Looking at fixed costs gas, electricity, insurance, the car, all the usual stuff there was little I could do. But I noted my variable costs, other than for food, were entirely extraneous, rather than essential, and cost me about the same amount. Being a Zara-holic, for example, is more expensive than you might think. Just because you can buy a pretty blouse for 25 doesnt mean that doesnt soon mount up when youre buying stuff there every week. I was shocked to discover I was spending probably a grand a year at Zara alone. And thats before counting up all the other, rather more expensive, fashion stores I buy from. After going through my cupboards, I had to admit that, except for some holey socks and frayed underwear replacements, I could live off the clothes Ive got for the next three years without looking like a tramp. Linda revealed she's banned herself from buying more than one item a fortnight and is working her way through unread books on her shelves (file image) While some have simply swapped shopping in person for shopping online turning ordering on Amazon into almost a full-time occupation Ive banned myself from buying more than one item a fortnight. Instead of compulsively purchasing new books, I am working my way through the still-unread ones on my bookshelves. Ive even started re-reading some old favourites. Pre-lockdown, we thought nothing of spending 35 on Sunday brunch out an overpriced breakfast which boiled down to little more than scrambled eggs and roasted tomatoes and a couple of cups of coffee each in a trendy location. Dinner at a good restaurant could easily cost 80 for two, and rarely did a week go by without us going to one. The theatre, my big weakness, every couple of weeks, was costing me at least 1,500 a year. Ubers were less a luxury than a convenience. We had already booked holidays to Canada and Spain this summer. Both cancelled. At 50 a session, we could no longer afford the weekly personal Pilates trainer. Or the cleaner. And I had to ditch the manis and pedis and regular facials. All these had to go in any case because of lockdown. Whats happened now, though, is that the changes that were enforced by lockdown have become entrenched. To the point where Im finding it harder and harder to spend on anything other than real essentials. A kind of financial paralysis has set in. Linda said her friends can come round to her house instead of socialising at pricey restaurants (file image) What Ive come to appreciate is that while indiscriminate spending is fun when you have money to burn, living without those luxuries doesnt reduce the quality of your life. Once you stop relying on the fripperies and the pricey pastimes, which are at best distractions, whats important comes sharply into focus. When I was mourning the closure of theatres, I found myself leafing nostalgically through all the programmes Id collected over the past two years and I realised Id enjoyed fewer than half the plays Id seen. If I do go back to the theatre at some point in the future, Ill certainly have learned to pick my plays more carefully. Going to restaurants was always less about the food than enjoying the company of friends. Those friends havent gone away they can come round to my place instead. The pricey steaks on the barbecue and the champagne just because theres always something to celebrate, even if its only a Tuesday, may no longer be on offer, but Im making delicious aubergine curries and home-baking cakes instead. So far no one has complained. A lot of my entertaining in the past owed a lot to pricey ingredients of the kind suggested by fashionable cookbooks. Like fresh crab pasta as a starter or wild salmon rather than farmed. Linda said she's aware that the economy must be saved but she may not be the woman to get it back on its feet (file image) But being a generous hostess, Im discovering, is about the effort you put in not the rarity of the mushrooms or the vintage of the wine. With the easing of lockdown, seeing more of family is what has made my heart soar and what makes the lifting of restrictions feel so precious. Its certainly not the returned possibility of a weekend break at a luxury country retreat or a Michelin-starred dining experience. These days, to get my culture fix, I go online. I do virtual reality tours of galleries; I attend fascinating online lectures. Ive splurged precisely three times on non-essentials: a pedicure because a back injury means I cant reach my taloned-toes; a dental hygiene treatment because bright teeth and a big smile are one of my few remaining physical assets as I age; and a half-price dress in the Rixo sale (though I felt sick with guilt as I unwrapped it). Im fully aware that the economy must be saved. Eat Out To Help Out was a great idea of dishy Rishis, even if I didnt make use of it. We need our theatres not to be dark because culture matters and our theatre is the best in the world. Shops need to be bought from because they create jobs across manufacturing, distribution and retail, and people need jobs. But I may not be the woman to get the economy back on its feet. Even as my partner has returned to part-time work and, like lockdown, our financial straits are somewhat easing, I seem to have become not just poor, but parsimonious. As a fully paid-up member of the nouveau pauvre, Im finding, to my surprise, that life with less loot is no less fulfilling. Wahab Shittu, the counsel to the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said the Friday ruling by a British commercial court has proved that Mr Magu should be given a heroic commendation for the favourable judgement secured by the country. The commercial court presided over by Justice Ross Cranston granted Nigerias appeal for a stay of execution of the award of $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P&ID, a controversial British firm that secured a gas contract in Nigeria. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, had accused the suspended EFCC boss of failing to act promptly on the P&ID investigation. He said Mr Magus nonchalant attitude would have cost Nigeria to lose an estimated N47 billion ($85 million). These losses would be directly linked to the lack of response by the Acting Chairman or lack of coordination and the Acting Chairmans recalcitrant attitude to work, Mr Malami wrote. But a PREMIUM TIMES analysis on the UK Business & Property Courts (the Commercial Court), judgement, however, revealed that the EFCC investigations were instrumental in convincing the court to deliver Fridays judgement that was favourable to Nigeria. The court papers also showed that the EFCC almost immediately swung into action, invited the legal directors of the Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for interrogation into what it described as a conspiracy, abuse of office and misuse of public funds. From late February 2016 until 2 March 2016 these officials were interviewed and they provided the EFCC with documents relating to the GSPA and the arbitration, the British judge ruled. Magus reaction Mr Shittu, in a statement, on Sunday, described the UK court judgement as a monumental landmark achievement occasioned by Mr Magus hard work. The lawyer also quoted paragraphs 251, 253, 254 and page 260 of the judgment where the British court held that it was satisfied with the way and manner the EFCC carried out its investigation. The judgment has indeed greatly relived the country from the impending and disastrous effect the execution of the $9.6b judgment plus interest would have had on our fragile economy. The decision once more shows that rather than punish Mr. Magu over his handling of the investigation, he should be given a heroic commendation for saving the country in a huge way. Magu should be celebrated rather than be vilified. It is rather unfortunate that the handling of the P & ID investigation forms part of the allegations against him, Mr Shittu said. He added that many of the EFCC operatives including Mr Magu who had worked in favour of the country are currently on suspension without pay or transferred out of the agency. The public does not know that while this investigation was on going, the investigators and prosecutors including Magu used to close from work at 1am, 2am and resumed by 8am including Saturdays and Sundays. Unfortunately some of these men are currently on suspension without pay or transferred out of EFCC for doing nothing but working assiduously to save this country. They were not given any allegation or issued query. Contrariwise, the investigation against Mr Magu and the EFCC would have caused the country to lose the judgment. This is because P&ID used the petition by the AGF against Mr Magu to strengthen their case with Nigeria. Luckily, we have an upright English Judge who prudently appreciated the excellent and patriotic effort of the EFCC under Magu and the ineffectiveness of the AGFs complaint, he added. Mr Magu is currently being investigated by a panel headed by Ayo Salami, a former president of the Court of Appeal, over allegations of graft and insubordination levelled against him by Mr Malami. Abubakar Malami [Source The Guardian, Nigeria] Mr Magu was detained for 10 days before his appearance before the panel. After his arrest, allegations that he diverted billions of naira of recovered funds as well as the interests accruing from the funds circulated in the media. Mr Magu has repeatedly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless. Two eye hospital firms could be on the brink of changing hands for hundreds of millions of pounds. City sources said Eight Roads Ventures a private equity fund backed by Fidelity is working with advisers from William Blair on a potential sale of Optegra. Fidelity is one of the world's largest investment houses. Optegra's hospitals carry out laser eye surgery and also cataract removals Optegra's hospitals carry out laser eye surgery and also cataract removals in cities including Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester. The firm may be worth 100million. Meanwhile, City sources said Newmedica, another eye hospital firm, is working with advisers on a 'strategic review' that may lead to the sale of a stake in the business. Entrepreneur Darshak Shah, who co-founded the company in 2007, could be in line for a multi-million pound fortune after weighing 'strategic options' for his business. The firm runs eye hospitals across the country which carry out extensive work for the NHS. Shah set up the business along with Jeremy Diamond, a consultant ophthalmologist at Bristol Eye Hospital, to tackle long NHS waiting lists. Eight Roads Ventures did not return calls. Shah declined to comment. A 19-year-old coronavirus patient was allegedly raped by an ambulance driver on the way to a hospital in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. The 108-ambulance driver has now been arrested and a case has been registered against the accused. The incident took place on the night of September 5 when two COVID-19 patients, an elderly woman and a 19-year-old were being taken to two different COVID-19 treatment hospitals by a 108-ambulance driver. The driver, identified as 25-year-old Noufal, first dropped the elderly COVID-19 patients at a hospital. The ambulance was then supposed to go to another hospital to drop the 19-year-old COVID-19 patients, but instead, the driver took the patient to a deserted location near the Aranmula airport where he allegedly raped the 19-year-old COVID-19 patient, according to a complaint filed against the accused, India Today reported. After the crime, the driver dropped the patient off at the COVID-19 care centre. According to a police statement, the 19-year-old patient had been tested positive for coronavirus on Saturday. The driver was arrested on Sunday on the basis of the survivor's complaint and a case was registered against the alleged rapist on the charges of sexual assault and rape. Kerala Health Minister KK Shylaja on Sunday expressed shock over the incident and ordered the department concernen to immediately dismiss the rape accused from the 108-ambulance service. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has written to Kerala DGP for expediting the investigation and filing a chargesheet in the matter. The organisation wrote in a tweet, "NCW India has come across this report that an ambulance driver allegedly raped a 19-year-old COVID patient in Aranmula of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. Our Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to Kerala DGP for expediting investigation and filing of charge sheet in the matter." Also Read: Happiest Minds IPO: Rs 316 crore raised via anchor investors Also Read: Reopening of economy, increased testing, no mask use led to rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi: Experts Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo Do you feel lost? Like your life has been drained of meaning or purpose? During your work day, do you wander from task to task in a daze, just waiting to be released from this painful monotony? Yeah, well, guess what, your boss noticed and now shes hired a spiritual consultant. Firms like Ritualist and Ritual Design Lab there is also a robust selection of freelance consultants available, according to the quick and demoralizing Google I just did help corporations imbue the office space with what the New York Times calls some of the meaning that [people] used to derive from churches, temples, mosques, and the like. That sense of alignment with the divine, of guidance and belonging, of comfort and solidarity once provided by the act of congregation that maybe got soiled or complicated by things like child sexual abuse scandals or a religious community that struggled to incorporate cultural shifts like social justice movements can now be easily replaced by the same employer who recently refused to add dental to your health benefits. By promoting mindfulness and intention, by participating in group rituals, by making even routine tasks meaningful and soulful, employers can make the work day a kind of spiritual practice. To these consultancy organizations, I only want to say one thing: congratulations. You just invented the cult And to these consultancy organizations, I only want to say one thing: congratulations. You just invented the cult. This is just the next inevitable step in the secularization process that divides ancient tradition from its larger contexts or meanings. The ancient tradition of yoga is no longer a philosophical discipline, its about shapely buttocks; witchcraft is not about overthrowing your oppressors but instead about getting a raise at your job. Silicon Valley bros have been using the same psychedelics and mindfulness traditions once used to expand consciousness and pursue peace to increase productivity and come up with radical innovations like: what if we took the experience of being in a zen monastery and turned it into an app. This world truly can drain the beauty out of anything and then try to sell you the husk. Story continues One of the grifters behind this trend is Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual, who, when he discovered that many people now turn to things like SoulCycle to offer them a sense of belonging rooted in accountability, did not use it as an opportunity to realize we are in the middle of a profound crisis of hopelessness and despair, but instead decided to use that to charge a lot of money to workplaces to tell them to be more like SoulCycle. (An environment in which you are beaten down physically and emotionally by repetitive monotony, body dysmorphia, and being yelled at aggressively about how great you are doing but you should also be doing better: arent workplaces already too much like SoulCycle?) Of course, corporations have been behaving like religious institutions for a long time, demanding full obedience with the threat of excommunication. Religion is supposed to be about managing the relationship between the material world and the divine, but like all institutions, it got greedy for power. With the invention of monotheism came the notion that one god and one system could offer answers for all things, including things that were frankly none of its business. With this innovation, suddenly religions started telling everyone what to wear, what to eat, what to do with our sexual organs if we dont follow these nonsensical rules we risk being tossed out of Gods graces. Related: How employers tracking your health can cross the line and become Big Brother Similarly, large corporations and institutions try to pretend our co-workers are our family to manipulate us into devoting an ever-increasing amount of time and energy into making its top members wealthier. They suck up our leisure time with team-building exercises and retreats, happy hours and personal development that are totally not mandatory but youll be marked as antisocial if you try to avoid them. They track our health and exercise routines, disguising surveillance as care. Corporations like Google offer their employees things like transportation, laundry services and food. And now they want our souls, too. The goal is to make it all the harder to leave or ask for more money, and to enable a self-enforced sense of obedience. After all, if you drunk-tweet something off-color during the few hours you have to yourself and you get fired for it, its not just your income you will lose: security will come to escort you off the premises of your entire life. Our jobs are not supposed to bring us enlightenment. They are supposed to bring us money and stolen office supplies. The much-missed anthropologist and anarchist David Graeber revealed that 40% of us feel like our jobs are meaningless, that our employment means nothing to ourselves nor to the functioning of the world. Rather than panic at this notion and self-hypnotize ourselves into thinking this spreadsheet totally matters on this plane of existence and the next, we should acknowledge the meaninglessness and withhold our devotion. Let us not feel grateful for our exploitation, and let us not try to invite God into our Zoom call. Our spirits need tending, yes. But that is a task for when we are off the clock, and we will never be off the clock if we hand our souls over to our bosses. If we are going to perform any ritual at work, let it be to invite a demon into the sacred circle to smite our enemy, Liz in Human Resources. And if we have to play a spiritual role in front of our boss, let it be that of the heretic. A 44-year-old devotee, who walked for 29 days and covered around 1,000km to pay his respects at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, was finally able to undertake the yatra on Saturday. The man, who had not got himself registered as a pilgrim and did not have Covid certificate, was initially not allowed to visit the cave shrine nestled in the Trikuta hills.The devotee, Gore Lal, of Mainpuri in UP, had embarked on the pilgrimage on August 5 and reached Katra on September 2. In the wake of the pandemic, the shrine board has capped the number of pilgrims allowed to undertake the journey per day and has also made online registration and a recent Covid-19 negative report a requisite for undertaking the journey. Lal sought help from a local shopkeeper, who informed the deputy commissioner of his plight. Reasi district commissioner (DC) Indu Kanwal Chib said, This man, a staunch devotee of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, walked all the way from UP to reach Katra. He had to be quarantined for a few days, after which a Covid-19 test was conducted. Once he tested negative, he was allowed to proceed for the darshan. Lal has reached Ardhkuwari. The DC clarified that concessions were only made in this case because the man had undertaken a 29-day journey. She said, We cannot allow unregistered people to visit the shrine. Though, I am a stickler for rules, I relented in this case because the man walked for almost a month to reach here, she said. Now, 500 pilgrims from outside J&K can visit shrine each day With the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi yatra picking up pace, the administration has now increased the number of pilgrims from outside J&K allowed to visit the shrine to 500 per day. A total of 2,000 pilgrims can visit the cave shrine per day. The shrine re-opened on august 16 after a gap of five months. Shrine board CEO Ramesh Kumar said bookings for the Shradha Suman Vishesh Pooja (SSVP) have also commenced online. Accommodations at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu have also been opened for the pilgrims. The pilgrims can also avail facilities such as battery-operated vehicles, passenger ropeways and helicopter services. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A senior solicitor who has admitted trolling controversial loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson has been sacked from his post with a leading law firm. Colin McMenamin is also facing a libel action from Mr Bryson over a string of personally abusive tweets. Top Belfast firm Tughans has confirmed that Colin McMenamin, who was listed as one of its associate directors, left the company after a brief period of employment. Commercial law specialist McMenamin only joined Tughans in October 2019 and was dismissed in February this year. A company spokesman said Mr McMenamin had been dismissed prior to completing his probationary period. He had previously worked an international law firm which listed his legal specialities as reinsurance, health care, construction, aviation, transportation and shipping Tughans declined to explain the reasons for Mr McMenamin's departure. But a legal insider said his dismissal was directly linked to messages on his personal social media accounts. "When Tughans found out he had been using social media inappropriately they sacked him," said the source. There is no suggestion that any other Tughans employee was involved. It has now emerged that Mr Bryson is suing Mr McMenamim over multiple public messages made over an eight- month period. Many of the messages contained crude personal insults against the loyalist blogger who called in his legal advisors who are now seeking compensation and a public apology from Mr McMenamin. Mr Bryson said: "I can confirm that legal proceedings are being issued against Mr McMenamin. I do not want to comment any further on the specifics due to the ongoing nature of the proceedings." Mr McMenamin could not be contacted for comment. Tughan previously hit the headlines over the implication of one of its senior members in the Nama row, Its former managing partner Ian Coulter (49) is facing fraud charges. And Bryson gave evidence concerning Nama to a Stormont committee. But Mr McMenamin made no reference to Nama in his tweets about Bryson and there is no suggestion of any link between the matters. Coulter made an abrupt exit from Tughans in January 2015 following a dispute with the partnership over a 7m money transfer to an Isle of Man account which had been derived from work carried out on the sale of Nama's Northern Ireland loan book to Cerberus, a US investment company. Coulter has denied fraud offences linked to the sale of Nama's NI property loan book in 2014. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced last month that Mr Coulter (49) and businessman Frank Cushnahan (78) would face charges connected with the controversial sale. cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk "Getting to meet them, and hear their stories, is just something super special. I know from speaking with other people that they enjoyed our presence just as much as we enjoyed theirs, and they inspire us to be better." Cadet Second Lieutenant Alexis Nyce. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 21:47:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Electricity Company has so far fixed 107 power transmission centers in Syria's Aleppo province in 2020, state news agency SANA reported on Sunday. Another 1,250 centers had been fixed in Aleppo between 2016 and 2019, said the report. Citing Muhammad Saleh, the chief of the company, SANA said that fixing power stations continued despite all the difficulties and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim of doubling the electricity centers to feed the neighborhoods that had been freed from rebel groups. The Syrian army captured former rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo city in 2016. However, the eastern part of the city is largely in ruins with damaged infrastructure. In 2019, the Syrian Electricity Ministry estimated the losses in the electricity sector in the county at 4 billion U.S. dollars since the beginning of the Syrian war in 2011. Enditem HAMILTON Time for a do-over. The Hamilton Township Planning Board and a private developer reached a settlement earlier this summer paving the way for new homes to eventually be built near Greenwood Cemetery. The planning board in February rejected the housing plan after community residents voiced opposition, prompting TJC at Hamilton LLC to file a lawsuit in Mercer County Superior Court alleging the board had palpably abused their discretionary authority in an unconstitutional and wrongful manner. Now that both parties have reached a settlement, Assignment Judge Mary C. Jacobson on Aug. 21 ordered the matter to be remanded to the Hamilton Township Planning Board for further consideration. In accordance with the order, TJC on Sept. 10 is scheduled to present a revised application known as the Settlement Plan, which still proposes the construction of 44 single-family residential lots and one lot for a detention basin while calling for additional tree plantings and significantly lesser disruption to Fletcher Avenue. Jacobson is giving the planning board a 60-day deadline to review the Settlement Plan and adopt a resolution approving it. In the event that the Hamilton Township Planning Board is either unable or unwilling to approve the Settlement Plan within the stipulated time period or an appeal of the settlement approval is filed, the matter could potentially linger indefinitely in the courts pending final resolution. TJC is the contract purchaser of 381 Ward Ave., where the proposed new housing development is slated to be built if the Settlement Plan is adopted. The property is currently utilized for a house of worship and features outbuildings, a parking area and driveways. Like the original proposal from February, the so-called Settlement Plan calls for these existing structures at the site to be removed and replaced with 44 single-family residential lots. The 10-acre parcel of land and house of worship at 381 Ward Ave. is currently owned by New Testament Baptist Church. The property is located in an R-5 single-family residential district. Talk about sticker shock for Premier Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government. An Ontario court has ruled that Fords mandatory gas-pump decals attacking federal carbon-pricing measures are unconstitutional. In a major victory for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, Mr. Justice Edward Morgan of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that the stickers violated business owners freedom of expression. A government or political party can, in the words of Ontarios Minister of Energy (Greg Rickford), stick it to another tier of government of political party as a matter of free speech in an election campaign or otherwise, Morgan wrote in a 17-page decision released Friday. But a government cannot legislate a requirement that private retailers post a sticker designed to accomplish that task. The mandatory fuel pump sticker is an unconstitutional attempt to do just that, the judge continued. Rickford said in a statement that we respect the decision of the court, but our government will always stand up for the people of Ontario when it comes to matters that make everyday life more expensive for hardworking families. The federal carbon tax makes life more unaffordable and hits the wallets of Ontario families and small businesses hardest when it comes to gas prices and home-heating costs, said the minister, who did not say whether the government would appeal the ruling. NDP MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto Danforth) implored the Tories to abandon the stickers, which misleadingly ignored that the federal carbon-pricing regimen included rebates. Appealing this Superior Court decision would be another waste of money, another attack on Ontarios environment, and another attack on peoples constitutional rights, said Tabuns. Unveiled last year, the controversial Tory-blue stickers read the federal carbon tax will cost you. But the civil liberties association took the Ontario government to court, arguing the messages were a form of compelled political expression. The stickers have not been without their problems. There were adhesive issues that infuriated and embarrassed Ford, whose family runs a label business, though his firm did not print the decals. Initially, the Tories threatened scofflaws would fines of up to $10,000 a day for not abiding by the law. That led the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to renounce them as an example of unnecessary red tape. The Canadian Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, which represents gas stations, blasted the Tories heavy-handed approach and warned the decals were a bit partisan. While 25,000 were manufactured at a cost to taxpayers of $4,954 they are routinely vandalized. Green Leader Mike Schreiner countered with similar stickers that warned climate change would be far more costly than higher gasoline and natural gas prices. After the court ruling, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said on Twitter that Doug Fords stickers didnt stick and now a court has struck them down. Ford ripped up a plan to combat (the) climate crisis and replaced it with nothing, said Del Duca, referring to the Tories decision to remove Ontario from its cap-and-trade alliance with Quebec and California, which generated $2 billion annually for environmental initiatives. Greenpeaces Keith Stewart mockingly thanked Rickford for making it so easy in court. That was a reference to the ministers April 2019 comment that were going to stick it to the Liberals and remind the people of Ontario how much this job-killing regressive carbon tax costs. Stewart said the stickers were an incredibly dumb idea that never should have seen the light of day. No government should deliberately mislead the public about something as serious as the climate crisis, much less force businesses to do it for them with heavy-handed, unconstitutional legislation, he said. Its time to put the partisan games aside and get to work on protecting Ontarians against the greatest environmental threat our species has ever known. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: KIGALI, Rwanda - Rwandas president says that the man portrayed as a hero in the film Hotel Rwanda will stand trial for allegedly supporting rebel violence. President Paul Kagame, appearing on national television Sunday, did not explain how Paul Rusesabagina was brought to Rwanda where he has been held in custody for more than a week. Rusesabagina is credited with saving 1,200 lives during Rwandas 1994 genocide by letting people shelter in the hotel he was managing during the mass killings. Now he is accused of supporting rebel violence in Rwanda and his family and supporters complain that they have not been able to speak to him and that he has not had access to a lawyer. Rusesabagina heads a group of terrorists that have killed Rwandans. He will have to pay for these crimes., said Kagame on a broadcast in which he was asked questions by some local and foreign journalists and viewers. Rusesabagina has the blood of Rwandans on his hands. He said Rusesabaginas trial will be held openly and conducted fairly. We are obligated to do this, said Kagame. We want to do things in a right way. Kagame did not explain how Rusesabagina, who had lived outside Rwanda since 1996 and is a citizen of Belgium and has a U.S. permanent residence permit, turned up in Rwanda last week but suggested that he came of his own accord. What if someone told you that he brought himself even if he may not have intended it? You will be surprised how he got here. He was not kidnapped or hoodwinked. His coming to Rwanda has more to do with himself than anybody else, said Kagame. Kagame suggested that Rusesabagina was told a story that fit into his expectations and ended up in Rwanda. There was no kidnap in the process of bringing Rusesabagina here. It was actually flawless! said Kagame. When the time comes he will tell the story himself but he led himself here. Kagame said others were Rusesabaginas accomplices in alleged violent activities and have already been arrested and are facing trial in Kigali, Rwandas capital. Rusesabaginas family and supporters, however, say Rwandan authorities have denied him access to a lawyer nearly a week after the outspoken government critic was paraded in handcuffs and accused of terrorism. The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation said Rusesabagina has had no consular visits, and it rejected the Rwandan governments claim that it had talked to his sons about a potential visit as not true. Pauls wife has called the jail and has not been allowed to talk to him, it said on Saturday. The family has said they believe he was kidnapped during a visit to Dubai and that he would never knowingly have boarded a plane for Rwandas capital, Kigali. Rusesabagina was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005 for helping to save lives during Rwandas genocide in which some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. Rwandan authorities have not publicly shared any international arrest warrant. They have referred to international co-operation but given no details. Rwandan authorities granted what they called an exclusive interview with Rusesabagina to a Kenyan newspaper, The East African, in which he said he had been treated with kindness while in custody in Rwanda but did not discuss the accusations against him or how he was apprehended. It is not clear when Rusesabagina will appear in court. Rwandan law says a suspect can be in provisional detention for 15 days, renewable for up to 90 days. The Rwandan government has said it issued an arrest warrant for Rusesabagina to answer charges of serious crimes including terrorism, arson, kidnap, and murder perpetrated against unarmed civilians. Police called him the suspected founder, leader, sponsor and member of violent, armed, extremist terror outfits including the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change. Rwanda points to a video posted online in 2018 in which Rusesabagina says it is imperative that in 2019 we speed up the liberation struggle of the Rwandan people ... the time has come for us to use any means possible to bring about change in Rwanda, as all political means have been tried and failed. The MRCD has an armed wing, the National Liberation Front, that has been accused of attacks inside Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. Rwanda arrested NLF spokesman Callixte Nsabimana last year. Rusesabagina in the past has denied the charges that he financially supports Rwandan rebels, saying he is being targeted for criticizing the Kagame government over human rights abuses. Rusesabaginas detention has prompted concern among human rights activists that this was the latest example of the Rwandan government targeting critics beyond its borders. The U.S. government has said it expects the Rwandan government to provide humane treatment, adhere to the rule of law and provide a fair and transparent legal process for Rusesabagina. Actor Don Cheadle, who played Rusesabagina in the film, told the AP it is my sincere hope that Paul is being treated humanely and fairly, and that a transparent and just legal process designed to reveal the veracity of these charges is advanced in a timely manner. Prude died after police put a hood over his head and held him down during an arrest in Rochester, New York, in March. The attorney general for New York State has announced plans to form a grand jury to investigate the police killing of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of suffocation after officers put a hood over his head and held him down during an arrest. In a short statement released on Saturday, Letitia James said her office would move immediately to set up the grand jury as part of its probe into the incident, which took place in Rochester, New York, in March. The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish. My office will immediately move to empanel a grand jury as part of our exhaustive investigation into this matter, the statement reads. Prudes family on Wednesday released body camera footage that showed a group of officers putting a hood over Prudes head as he knelt on the ground, handcuffed and naked. The 41-year-old was in the middle of a mental health crisis when the incident occurred. He died seven days later after being taken off life support. His death comes amid an ongoing movement against racial injustice in the United States and growing demands for an end to police violence against Black people across the country. The release of the footage showing Prudes arrest prompted large-scale protests this week in Rochester, the third-largest city in New York State, where 1,000 demonstrators took to the streets on Friday to demand accountability for what happened. Seven police officers involved in Prudes death were suspended with pay on Thursday, but activists say more concrete action is needed. Prudes family has called for the officers involved to be charged. Mr Daniel Prude was failed by our police department, our mental healthcare system, our society, and he was failed by me, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren told reporters this week. We cannot continue to fail Black lives in this way. Rights groups also have said Prudes death raises critical questions about whether police should answer calls involving people experiencing mental health crises. Having police respond can be a recipe for disaster, The National Alliance on Mental Illness said in a statement on Friday. Prudes death is yet another harrowing tragedy, but a story not unfamiliar to us, the advocacy group said. People in crisis deserve help, not handcuffs. Sowell predicted unions were capable of as much, writing, Since teacher unions have millions of members and spend millions of dollars on political campaigns, they do not need logic or evidence to gain the support of elected officials who need campaign contributions to finance their re-election campaigns. Political action, not improved student learning, is behind union activity. The union chapters behind the National Day of Resistance on Aug. 3 that followed the AFTs announcement posted an agenda that included calls for police-free schools, canceling rents and mortgages, and providing direct cash assistance to those not able to work or who are unemployed, along with a massive infusion of federal money. Here, again, Sowell proved prescient. As he noted in his book, teacher unions embrace a slew of policies for which there are usually no educational benefits to students. Where does a childs education fall on their list of priorities? As Sowell observes, The plain and direct question that must be asked, again and again, is: How, specifically, is this going to make the education of children better? Protesters speak with Belarusian special police officers while opposition supporters rally to protest against disputed presidential elections results in Minsk on August 30, 2020. - | AFP | Getty Images Bundled into a police van, beaten and crammed into a cramped Belarusian cell with dozens of others, Aleksei V. hadn't realized it was possible to feel such fear. "I could never imagine being so scared in my life," Aleksei, 40, a marketing manager, recalled of his ordeal in the detention station after tens of thousands of protesters rejected the outcome of the Aug. 9 presidential election. Strongman Alexander Lukashenko, who has been pictured in a protective vest and carrying a rifle on several occasions, still clings to power after 26 years while the protests continue. Now, as pressure grows on Lukashenko at home and abroad more than three weeks after the election, personal accounts are emerging of the Belarusian regime's fervor in stopping the biggest show of discontent in the country's modern history. Aleksei and another man with whom NBC News spoke allege that they were subjected to police brutality after having been detained in the days following the election. Not every aspect of their stories could be verified, but they described similar conditions and treatment in custody beatings, cramped cells, little to no food or water for days. Similar allegations were reported by international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Aleksei, who has a young daughter and did not want his full name used for fear of retribution, spoke by phone from Minsk a week after his detention after having seen a psychologist because of a sudden stammer he said he developed while in custody. Riot police arrests a man in the streets of Minsk, Belarus, on August 11, 2020. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images Although he was later charged with attending an "unsanctioned mass gathering," he maintains that he was not there to protest but was instead out for a walk with a couple of friends, although he said he considered joining in if the rally was peaceful. Court documents seen by NBC News confirm that he was detained in a park the evening of Aug. 10, the day after the election, as protesters gathered in central Minsk. He said he was crammed in a police van with five other people and taken to the city's Okrestina detention center. After getting out of the vehicle, he said, he was hit with a baton on his back, a shoulder, his groin and his buttocks by masked men in uniforms. After that, Aleksei said, he and 79 other people, all men including several teenagers and journalists were crammed into a small prison cell, where he said they had to stand, with nowhere to sit, for nearly 30 hours. During the entire time, they were given a 2-liter bottle of water and a loaf of bread for all 80 people to share, he said. Toilet access and medical help were also limited, he said. The next day, he said, they heard people in other cells demanding food and water, after which they heard them being led out of their cells and harshly beaten. After hearing their screams and groans, Aleksei said, he and his cellmates huddled together, expecting that they would be next. "I could hear their hearts beating," he said. NBC News could not independently verify the details of his treatment, with Belarusian authorities not commenting on the treatment of individual detainees. Belarus special police troops detain a protester as opposition supporters rally to protest against disputed presidential elections results in Minsk on August 30, 2020. - | AFP | Getty Images But as personal accounts of detainees like Aleksei started to emerge, Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Barsukov said there had been no abuses at Okrestina. Aleksei's account was echoed in testimonies published by several human rights organizations. Citing a woman who said she had been detained, Human Rights Watch reported that police officers mistreated and humiliated people detained during the protests, viciously beating them and cramming them into small cells while depriving them of food, drinking water and medical aid. Amnesty International also collected testimonies from protesters who described being tortured or subjected to other ill treatment in detention centers, including being stripped naked, beaten and threatened with rape while listening to the screams of other victims. Aleksei said that around Aug. 13, he and half of his fellow detainees were transferred to a more spacious cell with running water, where they could stretch their legs and were given more food. On Aug. 14, he said, he was taken out of the detention center in a police van and released in Minsk with no explanation. Since he was released, Aleksei said, he has had trouble eating and sleeping. "I felt like I was some sort of animal," he said. "I really hope the people who beat and tormented us will be held accountable one day. I don't want to have to cross the street every time I see a police officer." He said he has since submitted a complaint about the treatment, but he is too scared to talk to the investigators in person out of fear that he might be detained again. Aleksander Luhanin, 36, a video game developer, was also detained the evening of Aug. 10 as he walked home through central Minsk, court documents show. He said he saw small groups of protesters chanting as riot police looked on. After he saw the police charge, he said, he ran toward a park, where he was surrounded and detained. He said he was crammed into a police van with six other people, some of whom already looked badly beaten, and was taken to Okrestina. He was put in a tiny prison cell with 67 other people, with no room to sit, for about 24 hours, he said. "No one could sleep in that position, so we took turns squatting by a wall for 15 minutes at a time so we could doze off," he said. Periodically, he said, they could hear groups of people being taken out of their cells and beaten. "It was creepy to stand there and have to hear it all," he said. "Everyone was paralyzed with fear and silent." NBC News could not independently verify the details of Luhanin's account, either, with Belarusian authorities not commenting on the treatment of detainees. He said they got water every two to three hours but had access to a toilet only twice in that time. Luhanin said he and 21 other men were eventually moved into a more spacious cell and given food. He said he and his cellmates were made to stand facing the wall for seven hours before they were transferred to another detention center, which turned out to be about 60 miles from Minsk. Riot police detain people participating in a protest against the results of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election. Natalia Fedosenko | TASS | Getty Images From there, he said, he was released Aug. 14 with no possessions. Luckily, he said, he was met by volunteers waiting outside, who gave him water, food and cigarettes. Holga Zalatar, 37, a mother of five, is one of hundreds of volunteers who have spent days, and sometimes nights, standing outside the walls of Okrestina waiting for detainees to emerge. Zalatar is in charge of keeping lists of those who have been released. She said it was a 24/7 operation, with a team of doctors, lawyers, psychologists, cooks and priests ready to help. Zalatar said that people would often come out disoriented and in a state of shock but that remarkably, many were in good spirits. "I am standing there shrinking from the horror of what they have lived through, and they smile back and say everything is OK," she said. "And that's when you understand that they have not been broken. That they are strong, and they did not succeed in intimidating them," she said. Aleksei and Luhanin were charged with taking part in an unsanctioned gathering, according to court papers a charge both men deny. Their court documents show that they were tried in special court hearings at Okrestina. Riot policemen arrests a boy in the streets of Minsk. There is a high presence of police, patrolling the city and arresting people after the claimed fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus on August 11, 2020 in Minsk, Belarus. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images Rochester, N.Y. -- A grand jury will hear a case against officers who made the fatal March arrest of a man in Rochester, according to the New York Attorney Generals Office. Video of Rochester police officers arresting Daniel Prude, 41, of Chicago, became public Wednesday, sparking outrage and protests across the city. Seven Rochester police officers were suspended Thursday by the citys mayor. The Prude family and the Rochester community have been through great pain and anguish, Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Saturday. Prude was arrested March 23 and apparently stopped breathing as police in Rochester restrained him. They placed Prude in a spit hood during the arrest. Prude died when he was taken off life support a week later. Video of the arrest only became public once it was arrested by an activist group called Free the People ROC. Activists have marched nightly in Rochester and called for increased police accountability. Theyve also called for Mayor Lovely Warren and Police Chief LaRon Singeltary to step down, and for more to be done to help those who need medical attention during an arrest. Michael Mazzeo, the Rochester police union president, said officers followed protocol throughout the arrest, according to the Associated Press. If theres a problem with that, lets change it, Mazzeo said to the AP. In the days before the arrest, Prude had shown signs of having trouble with his mental health, according to the Associated Press. He caused a disturbance on a train and was thrown off, then he was sent to the hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to the AP. That was was a distress call for help, his older brother, Joe Prude, said to the AP. He wanted somebody to grab him up and help him, not sit here and mock him and taunt him, laugh at him like a piece of meat. And thats what they did. Warren and Singletary denied trying to cover up the incident, saying they were waiting for the New York State Attorney Generals Office to investigate the case. But a report by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle pointed out the city and police department are not prohibited from doing internal investigations or taking temporary disciplinary action during the state investigation. 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. With Donald Trump's epic failures, the Black Lives Matter movement, and widening income inequality re-energizing liberalism, it is an opportune time to remember Walter Reuther's exemplary life. Reuther who died in a 1970 plane crash co-founded the United Auto Workers and provided the union with honest and enlightened leadership for 25 years. Time magazine included Reuther on its "100 Most Important People of the 20th Century" list, but he is little known today. This is unfortunate because Reuther can serve as a model for those working for economic and social justice. In his book "Once in a Great City," David Maraniss aptly described Reuther: "His idealism came naturally, yet he prided himself on pragmatic progressivism over purity, getting things done over making noise." Reuther showed remarkable courage while organizing auto workers during the 1930s and 1940s. Ford Motor Co. security guards savagely beat him and he survived two assassination attempts, including being shot at home in front of his wife and two daughters. Reuther won good wages and benefits for his members, but he was most passionate about achieving broader social change. He strongly supported Martin Luther King Jr., and the UAW provided significant funding for the civil rights movement. Reuther helped organize the 1963 March on Washington and spoke at the event shortly before King's "I Have a Dream" speech. He marched with King in Detroit, Selma, Birmingham, Montgomery and Jackson. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Reuther was a visionary leader who began advocating profit sharing in the 1950s. Unlike most union leaders of his time, he was an avid environmentalist and helped organize the first Earth Day in 1970. Reuther began urging automakers to build smaller cars in 1949. He secured President Johnson's support in 1964 to have the federal government and auto companies collaborate to produce a small car. With breathtaking short-sightedness, the companies rejected the idea because it came from Reuther. Bill Clinton's remarks when posthumously awarding Reuther the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 still ring true: "Walter Reuther was an American visionary so far ahead of his times that although he died a quarter of a century ago, our nation has yet to catch up to his dreams." William Hogan is an Albany writer. She's known for her youthful and primped persona as co-host of Seven's The Morning Show. And Kylie Gillies revealed to The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Sunday why she's hesitant to get plastic surgery. In favour of a 'try before you buy' approach, the 53-year-old said she's frightened of what the result may be. 'You're stuck looking at this mug': TV host Kylie Gillies (pictured), 53, revealed to The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Sunday why she's hesitant on getting plastic surgery When asked whether she would ever consider going under the knife, Kylie responded: 'Oh boy. Never say never... but I would be really frightened of how surgery would turn out. 'I don't even like getting items custom made such as dresses because I like to try before I buy. I feel this would be the same for my face. What happens if you hate the result?' She went on to reveal how she's debated fixing her short-sightedness with laser eye surgery, but is too nervous, joking: 'You're stuck looking at this mug. Sorry.' End result: When asked whether she would ever consider going under the knife, The Morning Show co-host responded: 'Oh boy. Never say never... but I would be really frightened of how surgery would turn out' Kylie spoke about ageing in an interview with WHO magazine in September last year. 'Here's the thing, I don't walk around stressing over whether I'm about to get another wrinkle,' she said. 'I'm at a stage in my life where I feel quite comfortable in my own skin. For every extra line or crow's foot... guess what? It comes with a bonus offer... of extra knowledge, empathy, wisdom.' Thoughts on ageing: Kylie told WHO magazine in September last year that she's at a stage in her life where she feels 'comfortable' in her own skin The journalist added that while she's grateful to have a hair and makeup team for her weekday job at Channel Seven, the 'real' Kylie emerges on the weekend. 'That's the Kylie that you'll see running up and down the sidelines taking photos of her kids' AFL game and it's the mum you're going to see in the aisles at Woolies doing her groceries,' she said. Kylie lives in Sydney with husband Tony Gillies. They share two teenage sons, Gus and Archie. News Washington, DC - Remarks by Ambassador OBrien, Ambassador Grenell, Senior Advisor Kushner, and Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: MS. MCENANY: Hello, everyone. Its another historic day here at the White House. And I have with me Ambassador Ric Grenell, National Security Advisor Robert OBrien, and Senior Advisor Jared Kushner to talk to you about the history that was made here at the White House today, and then theyll take a few of your questions. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Thank you, Kayleigh. Again, it was a great morning in the Oval Office with President Trump, President Vucic, and Prime Minister Hoti. We brought together through the hard work of great diplomats, primarily led by Ric Grenell, acting at the Presidents direction Serbia and Kosovo. And theyve normalized their economic relations. This is a the Serbia-Kosovo conflict has gone on for decades. Theyve been stuck, unable to move forward, for many, many years. And the President, sometime ago, decided that we try we needed to try something creative and try something new, break the deadlock and bring try to move forward with the peace process with Serbia and Kosovo. To have the Prime Minister of Kosovo and the President of Serbia together in the Oval Office was something given the history of those two countries, and given the history of the United States with respect to Serbia and the conflict in the Balkans, is something that is quite remarkable. And to have this happen just in the shadow a few days after Jared and I were on the flight from Ben Gurion Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport the first commercial flight between Israel and a Gulf Arab state it shows the sort of momentum thats coming. One of the side benefits of the normalization of economic ties between Serbia and Kosovo, was a the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kosovo, a majority-Muslim state, and the State of Israel. This is now the second time in less than a month that Israel has made peace with and has normalized its ties with a majority-Muslim country. Its again, its another really signal accomplishment of President Trump. The fact that this has happened on the heels of a peace agreement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, that its happened in response on the heels of last year, negotiating a peace a ceasefire between the Kurds and the Turks, youre seeing a pattern here of the President being a true peacemaker. And theres been plenty of criticism of the administration, but whats been interesting to me is: As the President has undertaken these historic initiatives and brought together a team to perform and deliver these accomplishments, others have even tried to take credit. I was just watching the Vice President without making a political comment the Vice President was welcoming these moves today. But these things could only happen under a Trump administration and under the Presidents leadership a peace through strength foreign policy and national security policy. He put the pieces in place. And now were reaping the peace dividend, and its happened in the Balkans, its happened in the Middle East, and we have more to come. Ill leave some of that to Senior Advisor Kushner to address in a moment. So, with those opening comments, I want to turn the time over to the Special Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo the Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo, Ambassador Ric Grenell. Hell have a few comments, and then well make ourselves available for some questions after Ric and Jared address you. Thank you very much. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Thanks, Robert. I know theres a lot of reporters who have worked a long time in your industry, and for any reporter that has been working for more than 10 years, you will know this story. There was a terrible war. And this story has been lingering for decades. And so I really want to appeal to you all as journalists to dig deep on this story. This is one of those good-news stories that Im not asking you to do anything but look at the facts and look at really whats been happening here. Weve been working very hard on this agreement for a long time. We had three agreements last year that went largely unnoticed by Washington reporters. And I just really have to say I think its a shame when we when we talk a lot about symbolism and we dont dig deep on these stories that last 21 years. What weve been able to accomplish here by pushing the two parties together is truly historic. The way that this came about is that the politics were stuck. Everybody knows that. Weve been fighting and talking about the same thing for decades. They have been fighting about the same symbolism, words, verbs, adjectives. Its been a nightmare. And what President Trump said to me was, Theyre fighting politically about everything. Why dont we give it a try to do something different and creative? Why not try to do economics first and let the politics fall follow the economics? That proved to actually be a formula that they were eager for. No one had been talking to them about this. We have an establishment foreign policy team in Washington, D.C., that literally keeps pounding the same meetings and issues over and over. Im telling you that the only way that this agreement could have happened is from an outsider. All of the insiders in Washington said, Youre not talking about recognition, youre not talking about this symbolic word. And what we tried to do is ignore that, and, from an outsider perspective, go in and dig deep. I ask you to look at this agreement and see all of the details that have been hard-fought negotiated that will move both economies and the entire region forward. This is economic normalization. Its a first step. I think the Europeans are going to be very happy. Weve been on the phone a couple of times with the national security advisor in Germany, the national security advisor in France to be to brief them. We briefed them on the strategy. And we are briefing them again today on the details of this agreement. This is something that I feel very strongly about. It will make Americans safer. Itll make American companies more prosperous. This is a region thats been largely shut out because of a perceived conflict. Whether or not theres been a conflict, there has been a perceived conflict. European businesses and American businesses largely have refused to go in and grow in these areas. Now we will be able to open this up, whether its in energy; water; construction of roads, railways, mines. These are all industries that are going to be opened up to European and, hopefully, American businesses to go in and help the people create an industry, which means creating jobs in the region, but also U.S. jobs jobs for Americans and American companies. The last thing Ill say before we turn it over to Jared: The people of Serbia and the people of Kosovo are ecstatic about this agreement and are very thankful that there was an outside administration to look at this situation and not do the typical political thing. If we would have done the typical political thing and listened to all of the really smart people at NGOs and think tanks here in Washington, D.C., we would not have this agreement. Take just a quick look at the criticism in the lead-up to this of what we should have been talking about and what we werent talking about. Its all been squarely in the same, old political dialogue that was stuck, and Im really thankful that President Trump challenged us to say, Think differently. Think from an outsiders perspective. And that was the key to the whole thing. So I really urge you to look at the details and see and talk to the leaders in Kosovo and Serbia. Ask them how this came about. Ask them how the process went. And I think youll see that this outsider perspective of doing things differently is what worked. MR. KUSHNER: Thank you, Ambassador Grenell, and incredible job working through this historic agreement, and Ambassador OBrien. This is just another chapter that this administration has been able to write towards making the world a safer and more peaceful place. President Trump, when he ran for politics, was not a politician. He sees things in a through a prism that not a lot of politicians look through, which is: How can I truly do things that will make peoples lives better, make people find common interests and opportunities, and figure out ways to resolve conflicts that, quite frankly, politicians have allowed to go on for far too long? Todays breakthrough really is historic. And we have had so many historic things this week that we shouldnt be minimizing the significance of all the different things that happened. I started the week with Ambassador OBrien in Jerusalem where we met with the Prime Minister and then took the first-ever flight commercial flight from Israel to United Arab Emirates. We broke that barrier, which brought a lot of hope to the Middle East. And for the last years, Ive been listening to a lot of people tell us and the administration all of the things we were doing wrong; why we were looking at this the wrong way. And what the President has done is hes reversed now 20 years of bad foreign policy in the Middle East where weve allowed our country to get trapped in a lot of these wars that, quite frankly, you know, dont do much for our country. We have to make sure that were keeping our country safe, and we need to figure out how we can get people in the Middle East and Europe to get along so that we can spend our resources and our treasure on building up our countries and building up our cities and helping our citizens. And what youve seen through President Trumps first three and a half years is hes ended hes trying to end a lot of these endless wars, hes making peace agreements, hes bringing people together, and hes bringing our troops back home to America, while figuring out how to get along with different countries and reducing the foreign threats that we have. Second, this week, obviously, we were in Saudi Arabia, and then Saudi Arabia announced the historic opening of their air space, which again brings people in the Middle East closer together. And then, yesterday, Bahrain announced the same thing: that theyll be opening up their air space, which again will allow flights and better commerce and interaction between peoples to happen in the Middle East in a much quicker way. Today, we announced another normalization with Israel, which, quite frankly, a lot of the divide between the anti-Semitism that we have in the world, the terrorism we have in the world comes from the notion that people are divided. And leaders will exploit divisions and religious differences to try and keep people divided, to cause conflict, often to maintain power for themselves that they mask in an ideological way. This breakthrough, again, brings people closer and shows people in the world that anything is possible if we push for it. And again, fundamentally, President Trump believes that no matter who you are, no matter where youre from, no matter what country youre in, all people want the same thing, which is they want the opportunity to live freely, live better lives, have economic opportunity, and live in peace. And today, again, is another historic step forward that politicians have spoken about for decades but havent been able to deliver on. And its another victory for this administration and, really, for the world. And so I want to give my congratulations to the people of Serbia and the people of Kosovo and to the people of Europe and also to the people of Israel who will, you know, reap tremendous benefits from this agreement. So, thank you. Q Ambassador OBrien, the U.S. government determined the Russians are seeking to, quote, undermine faith in the electoral process by spreading disinformation about the accuracy of voter data for expanded vote by mail. And President Trump has also said that states voter data is not accurate, and hes telling people to not trust that their mail-in ballots are counted. So is the President helping Russia spread disinformation? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Well, I think what we have with when it comes to elections and what the intelligence community has made very clear is that, first, you have China, which has the most massive program to influence the United States politically; you have Iran, and you have Russia. These are all three adversary countries that are seeking to disrupt our elections. Some of them prefer Biden. Some people say some of them prefer the President. My position is: It doesnt matter what these countries want; that any country that attempts to interfere with free and fair elections in the United States has to be stopped. Weve taken unprecedented action. The President has taken unprecedented action in funding the hardening of our election infrastructure, whether its cyber or otherwise. Obviously, there are tremendous concerns about mail-in ballots. In the news every night, there seems to be another picture of some apartment building in some city with thousands of ballots stacked up in the foyer of the apartment building and that sort of thing. So I think there are concerns about mail-in ballots. I think those concerns are very different than being concerned about foreign adversaries trying to influence our elections. And weve made a red line weve made it very clear to the Chinese, to the Russians, to the Iranians, and others that havent been publicly disclosed, that anyone who tries to attempt to or anyone that attempts to interfere with the American elections will face extraordinary consequences. Q But Russia said that AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Im sorry, go ahead. Q Ambassador OBrien, a question on Serbia and Kosovo, and then I just have a follow-up on that. In terms of the two parties agreeing to freeze the recognition and de-recognition campaigns, how long will that last? And how important is it to the administration that Serbia recognize Kosovos independence? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: So I think its a year freeze, so that and that the idea of that freeze is to give the parties time to negotiate some of the political issues that are between them. And our European partners theres a European special envoy Mr. Lajcak, who is involved in those talks. Were going to be supporting the Europeans in those political talks. There are a lot of issues involved there, whether its EU membership or mutual recognition. So there are a number of issues that the Serbs and Kosovars will address. Well support the Europeans as they address those issues. What we wanted to do in this agreement was create some breathing space for the parties to engage in those without the back-and-forth campaign of recognition and de-recognition. Whats striking though is that as part of that deal, Kosovo was allowed and I shouldnt say allowed that Kosovo did make the decision as a Muslim-majority country to normalize its relations with Israel, to recognize Israel, and to establish an embassy in Jerusalem, in the capital of Israel. And we appreciate the fact that the Serbs have not taken a position on that. So although we have were going to have a suspension on the de-recognition campaign and the recognition campaigns two sides of the same coin for the next year, we were able to achieve, with the courage and bravery of the leaders of President Vucic and Prime Minister Hoti and Prime Minister Netanyahu we were able to achieve this, you know, very remarkable breakthrough. Again, the second time in now a month. It took, I think, 40 years to have two Muslim-majority countries recognize Israel. Now weve had two Muslim-majority countries recognize Israel in less than a month. So its a remarkable achievement in the context of this this overall freeze that will give the parties space to negotiate a deal. Q Just to follow up on what Ben was asking you: Attorney General Barr said earlier this week that he feels China is being more aggressive in meddling in the election than Russia is. Do you agree with that assessment? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Yeah. I agree with him 100 percent. Q And then I just want to follow up on that, and then Ive also got a question about Israel. Can you just characterize, at this point, the extent and the level to which both China, Russia, and other foreign countries are, right now, trying to spread disinformation about the 2020 campaign? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Look, its hard to know, you know, what impact they can have or how theyre spreading things. I think some of our tech companies are doing a good job in trying to police whether its Facebook or Twitter or others theyre trying to police things in a way that they didnt before. Our intelligence community is doing a good job in trying to track these things. DHS, Department of Homeland Security, with increased funding from this administration, is doing a good job in hardening our infrastructure to make sure that whether its cyber infrastructure or physical infrastructure, to make sure that were not susceptible to having the choice that the American people make on Election Day changed by some foreign party. Theres always going to be propaganda; theres always going to be efforts to influence us. And again, we know that the Chinese have taken the most active role, but the Russians and the Iranians and other countries are involved as well. So were going to keep monitoring it, and were going to do everything we can to protect the sanctity of our election. Thats the foundation of our democracy; thats what makes us America. And were just not going to tolerate, you know, these other countries trying to get involved in our elections. Q In the Oval Office today an Israel question. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Sure. Quick follow-up on Israel. I want to make sure everyone gets a chance. Q Yeah. The President had said in the Oval Office earlier that there are other Arab countries that are also interested in following in the UAEs footsteps. Can you talk about where were at in that process, what countries are interested in AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: You know, I better send that over to Senior Advisor Kushner to Jared, who just returned from the region, and maybe hell give you some background there. MR. KUSHNER: Thank you. Im not going to give as much background. But bottom line is this: When we did the Israel-United Arab Emirates deal, that caught a lot of people by surprise because of the diplomacy that we were able to do was to keep things private. Obviously, we had some great discussions in the region. And we are hopeful that more people will want to move forward. I think a lot of the countries are quite envious of the opportunities that will now be available to the United Arab Emirates in terms of mutual investments, mutual tourism, investing in technology, security partnerships. So were seeing that peace agreement actually starting to really pick up a lot of momentum. And the delegations that traveled with Ambassador OBrien and myself had very, very fruitful discussions. I think both sides were surprised to see the eagerness of the other side to move forward, and the level of getting agreements adjudicated and completed is happening much quicker than people thought. Other countries, again, see the benefits of having a Middle East and thats united. And if you look at what President Trump did on his first foreign trip, he went to Saudi Arabia and he outlined, very clearly, what his strategy was going to be, what he saw as the challenges. And, again, if you just go from that snapshot to now three and a half years later, you have a Middle East where ISIS is defeated, Iran has been significantly rolled back. The proxies that theyve been funding, that have been spreading terror and instability throughout the region, are much shorter on cash than they were before. Hes brought the different sides together. And, you know, one story that I think doesnt get enough attention is the fact that, in the last election, a lot of what we were talking about was the spread of extremism through the Internet and then also the funding of terror groups. And President Trump, on that first trip, set up two different organizations in Saudi Arabia: one was the counterterror finance organization that unified a lot of the Middle Eastern systems with our Treasury Department, and we got more transparency than weve ever had. That significantly reduced the amount of funding thats gone to terror groups over the last three and a half years. The next thing we set up was the counter-extremism center, which has been fighting the ideological battle online and has been making really a tremendous amount of progress towards reducing the misinformation thats been used to pervert a lot of the youth. So were seeing a lot of progress in the Middle East, and I think a lot of countries at this point see it as an inevitability that theyre going to have normal relations with Israel and that in order for people to live better lives. Its not dissimilar to Serbia and Kosovo where, you know, their leaders are coming together to realize that while there are differences, you know, human beings want to get together, they want to have better lives and opportunity; and the more that the leaders in the Middle East, you know, put old differences behind, theyre creating a new opportunity for a new Middle East and a bright future where people can live securely, practice whatever religion they choose, respect each other, and have economic opportunity, which is critical towards people, you know, seeing a pathway to a better life. Q Thank you. This is actually for Jared. Two questions. Ill just combine them to make this easier. With the election coming up in two months, Im curious as to how you feel about what youve accomplished so far, but whether or not you feel pressured to get more done before November. And secondly, because I know you would have been part of these conversations in time, I do want to ask them about that Atlantic report that we saw today and how, in a 2018 planning meeting for a military parade, the President reportedly said he didnt want amputees there; he said, Nobody wants to see that. Have any of you, but particularly you, ever heard the President talk like that? MR. KUSHNER: The answer is no. Look, what I find in Washington is strange, is sometimes youll have a couple unnamed sources and the media treats that as a panacea. And then youll have, you know, 10 people on the record saying it didnt happen and you give no credence to that. That does not represent the way that Ive seen the President conduct himself. He has tremendous respect for the military, for our veterans. Hes you know, again, the media tries to ascribe a different way, but you have to look at his actions, and I think his actions have been incredible towards supporting the military, strengthening the military, and strengthening our veterans. But with regards to your question on timing: Look, deals deals happen when deals are ready. And I do think that, you know, you cant just come in, wave a magic wand, and make impossible deals happen, right? People, you know, describe peace in the Middle East as something thats so its less a deal and more of a saying for what is impossible. And its taken a lot of building blocks that had to be moved, a lot of untraditional moves. When the President moved the embassy to Jerusalem, when he recognized the Golan Heights, when he got out of the Iran deal, when we did our economic conference in Bahrain its probably 50 decisions that the President has made that allowed him to create a different course. And each one along the way, youve had people, like the magazine you mentioned before, criticizing his foreign policy, saying it wasnt strategic, it didnt have a plan. But again, you know, hes not a traditional Washington person. And the traditional Washington people have a track record of creating those wars that we have sent our soldiers to that have, you know, led to a lot of them getting, you know, killed or hurt. And President Trump has been ending those wars and bringing his soldiers back home. And so I would say deals happen when deals are ready. And the deal that you saw last week had nothing to do with the election. It had everything to do with the fact that, you know, its time for the President to start harvesting some of the accomplishments that he spent years building the foundation in order to achieve. And what I would say, too, is that if you look at, you know, the world, foreign policy is a big chess game, and you have a lot of pieces all over the board in different places. And the President has been masterful with the way that hes built different relationships, taken some pieces off the board, created different issues in other places. And I think that hes set the board up very, very well now to have continued successes in the years ahead. So, obviously, the voters will decide whether they give President Trump four more years. But if they do give him four more years, I think youll see that Iran is in a much weaker position than they were four years ago; North Korea, weve had obviously a much better situation than they had four years ago; Venezuela is in a different situation. The Middle East went from a place that you know, again, when President Trump got in, Libya was a mess, Syria was a mess, Yemen was a mess. All of our allies felt alienated. Iraq was a mess. And you see a much different Middle East today than we had three and a half years ago. And thats not an accident; thats because President Trump has had a good strategy and hes worked very hard to manifest that. So now were starting to see some of the fruits from his labor. But I do believe that well see even more and more of that as time goes on. So were set up for more successes hopefully in the weeks ahead, the months ahead, but definitely in the years ahead, to take President Trumps America First foreign policy, where hes making trade deals for the first time that are endorsed by our workers and our labor unions, that are bringing jobs back home. Hes representing our farmers, hes representing our ranchers, hes representing our manufacturers. And hes also ending these endless wars and figuring out how to bring our soldiers home and fighting the threats from overseas so that Americans can prosper here at home. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: And let me just weigh in for one second on your last question about the Atlantic article, which I thought was really a sad article for any magazine to have published. And while I wasnt in the meeting thats described there, Ive worked for this President for two and a half years, first as a hostage envoy and for the last year as his national security advisor. In both those jobs, Ive had to meet extensively with the President on military issues, whether its a hostage rescue mission or how were going to deploy our troops around the world. And, look, in my current job, I have the sad duty of having to call him, sometimes in the middle of the night, if we lose a soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine in combat, which hasnt fortunately hasnt happened since February, or on a training accident; weve had some of those recently. And I can tell you how hard those calls are for me to make but also for the President to receive. Ive spent a bunch of time with the President on numerous trips to Dover and seeing how hes been with the families of our fallen heroes for those dignified transfers. And I can tell you thats the toughest job any President has is to go up to Dover and bring our fallen heroes home, and mourn with their families and grieve with their families and comfort their families. And I think if you talk to any of them who had been there for the transfers when the President has been there, Ive seen him send me to Dover. Ive you know, when he couldnt go because of scheduling issues or him being overseas, asking me to represent him there. Ive been with him at Walter Reed, where weve seen our wounded heroes. And the interaction between the President and our wounded heroes at Walter Reed is something thats pretty incredible to see. I can tell you, when we discuss options and sometimes we have to discuss military options for some of the foreign policy and national security issues that we face the President will ask me, you know, Is there a way that we can do this without sending U.S. soldiers or sailors or Marines or airmen into harms way? If we have to send them into harms way, and its going to be a tough situation, like the Baghdadi raid, for example, how do we make sure we protect them to the maximum extent available? And if that means putting three or four levels of air power over them, it means doing that. And the President is unstinting in what hes willing to provide to our troops. Hes funded the military so that we can give them every tool necessary to accomplish our missions and come home safely. You know, so I think if you talk to any of us who work at the NSC, any of us who have worn the uniform before whether its Keith Kellogg or Matt Pottinger or myself, or Mark Milley over at the Pentagon, or those that spend a lot of time with the President, especially when military matters are discussed; when our current military personnel, our troops are discussed; our veterans are discussed youre not going to find, you know, anybody whos more sympathetic to their situation than the President of the United States. So I dont believe a word of what was in The Atlantic article because Ive had two and a half years of working side by side with the President, and Ive never seen anything like that. And I thought it was it was pretty disappointing that some magazine would write that. Q Ambassador OBrien, on the topic of service members first, thanks to all three of you for hosting this is the U.S. going to respond to Russias recent aggression toward U.S. forces in Syria? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Yeah, so one of the things that we do constantly is we respond to forces. You know, operational security, op-sec, is critical to us anywhere our soldiers, sailors, airmen, or Marines operate whether its in a maritime environment, on land, in the air. And we do see aggressive behavior from the Russians. Weve seen that with some of the intercepts that weve seen. Weve seen it over the past couple years in how theyve interacted with our naval vessels. Weve seen it in this current you know, in the current situation with the patrols coming across each other. But I can tell you that, you know, American forces have rules of engagement designed to protect them, to allow them to defend themselves. You know, there was an unfortunate incident when Russians purportedly Russian mercenaries attempted to overrun one of our forward operating bases in Syria a couple years ago. That didnt end too well for them. And because, again, President Trump gave our soldiers, in that instance, the ability to defend themselves, you know, with airpower, with long-range fires, with their own resources. So, you know, were going to make sure that everywhere we operate, whether its operating in a place thats in close proximity to the Russians, to any other adversary, that the men and women in uniform will be able to defend themselves and protect themselves. Q Has that warning been communicated to the Russian government? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Its been communicated to them very clearly. Q By you or by the President? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Its been communicated at the appropriate level. Q And to whom was it in Russia specifically? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Im not going to get into those details because we want to have those channels open, but they received a very strong message. Q Thank you. Q Thanks, Ambassador OBrien. I wanted to follow with a couple on China. Im wondering what specifically youre seeing from China that makes you believe that they have a bigger or harder-working electoral interference operation than Russia or other countries. And then based on that, or, you know, the litany of other concerns that youve described about China, if you could kind of tell us the status of efforts by the administration to either go after Chinese firms or imports or diplomatic issues with China. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Yeah, so let me talk about the China situation overall. So probably the biggest failure of American foreign policy over the past 40 years is how weve dealt with China. There was this mantra that somehow, as China became richer, as we turned a blind eye to Chinese malign activity whether its stealing our IP or engaging in unfair trade practices or bullying its neighbors if we just turned bullying its own people at Tiananmen Square if we would turn the other cheek, turn a blind eye, that China would become richer as it became more as it became richer and the middle class in China grew, theyd become more like us. And we always want to you know, we want to believe that everyone wants to become like us, that theyll become more Western, more democratic. In fact, all the opposite occurred: Chinas human rights violations have gotten worse and worse over the years, whether its the Uighurs or religious minorities, or their neighbors; the people who enjoyed democracy in Hong Kong until just recently; the bullying of Taiwan. So weve seen very malign Chinese activity. The theft of intellectual property has gotten so bad that Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, recently called it the greatest wealth transfer in human history was a theft by the Chinese of our intellectual property. Now, thats not just an abstract concept. Okay? Thats sweat equity; thats American innovators. Thats people that are putting their put their whole life into dreams; people who have invented things in their garages; people who built companies, whove done everything they can to create an idea and turn an idea into reality. And then what happens? That idea gets stolen by China. And its not just that theyve lost the economic value of their innovation or of their of their method of doing business. The Chinese have taken it, sometimes using slave labor but using cheaper labor; often manufacture products that compete at a lower price, and then put the original person who invented the technology out of business. And then kill the industry for the United States, and whole industries go to China; whole manufacturing plants go to China. I mean, its been really astounding. Chris Wray said that also said that the FBI is opening a new espionage case against the Chinese every 10 hours. The scope of Chinese activity against the United States is relentless. Its weve never seen anything like it. There was nothing like this in the Cold War with the Soviets. So this president, President Trump, stood up to the Chinese for the first time in 40 years. He put tariffs on the Chinese. We had a trade a phase one trade deal that partially addressed some of the unfair trade practices and was a huge step in the right direction. But as soon as that was signed, we ended up with the the President calls it the China plague or the COVID outbreak here, which made that, you know, somewhat irrelevant because of the tremendous losses we suffered, again, because the Chinese wouldnt share the virus samples with us early, wouldnt let CDC doctors come into China early to investigate, wouldnt let WHO doctors come into China to investigate, wouldnt restrict travel from China to overseas, especially to Europe, when they were restricting travel within China. So so again, you know, it, you know Q But specifically on the election. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: You know well, look, when it comes to the election, everything that theyre doing across the board, whether its political influence through the Confucius Institutes; whether its them trying to influence business leaders by saying, If you dont support us in the U.S., your companies wont have opportunities in China, and convey that to your governors and convey that to your political leaders; that the massive and Im not going to go into all the intelligence, but the massive activities of the Chinese in the cyber realm, its really an extraordinary thing that were facing. And again, this is the first President that stood up to the Chinese. I hope hes not going to be the last President who stands up to the Chinese. And as difficult as the problem is, let me tell you, Im confident in the United States of America. I believe, at the end of the day, were going to prevail. Weve got a peace through strength foreign policy, finally, that weve been missing for some time now. Were investing in our defense. Were taking strong action on the diplomatic front against the Chinese. Were taking strong action on the trade front. Were protecting our intellectual property. Were not going to weve called out the Communist Chinese Party. Were taking strong action and have massive sanctions on the Chinese for the first time because of their treatment of the Uighurs or their treatment of democrats in Hong Kong. I think, at the end of the day, our allies are going to follow us, which youve seen happening with 5G and Huawei; and were seeing many, many countries, including our closest allies, turning away from the Chinese, turning away from Huawei and going with trusted providers on 5G. So I think, at the end of the day, America is going to prevail. I think President Trumps vision of free markets and free women and free men is an attractive message, not just to our allies, but to even people within China. So, you know, Im confident in the future, but Ill tell you, this is a challenge. Its a heck of a challenge. But Im convinced that, under President Trumps leadership, the American people are up to the challenge. (Cross-talk.) I think well turn things over to if theres a Kosovo-Servia question, raise your hand. And otherwise, Im going to turn things over to Kayleigh. Q I do. Right here, Mr. Ambassador. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Back there. Q Thank you. Actually, I appreciate you calling on me, but this question may be more appropriate for Ric or Jared, in the sense that they deal with both policy and politics. And if I may: As you know, in 1992, President George H.W. Bush ran for reelection largely on his foreign policy successes, and Americans largely rejected him for a second term. What makes you think, based upon the announcement that you made today, regarding Kosovo and Serbia, the announcement that came out just a few weeks ago regarding Israel and the UAE, that Americans are more focused on foreign policy; that they care about foreign policy; and that these announcements mean something to them? MR. KUSHNER: Look, I think that these announcements are about President Trump keeping his promise to take on the hard fights, to end the endless wars, and to bring these troops home, and keep Americans safe. And I think that thats what it shows. It also shows that President Trump has a track record of continuing to get things done. You know, he really has a great track record for success. Our economy was going great until the until, obviously, the virus hit; we did a dip. People predicted wed be down to 25 percent unemployment and that we wouldnt get to single digits unemployment until early next year. And, obviously, we had a great jobs report that came out today and we have more coming. So the answer is, is people will vote for whoever they think will make their lives better. President Trump just happens to be doing a great job at foreign policy, delivering a lot of wins that had previously plagued the last administrations. And, quite frankly, the last administrations have had a lot of mistakes and a lot of adventurism that, you know, got us into these tough situations in these regions. And todays agreement and all the success this week just shows again that President Trump is getting things done and keeping Americans safe and keeping his promise to the American people. So but hes not running on his foreign policy. Hes running on his track record as the President who built the greatest economy in our country and somebody whos going to keep Americans safe and continue to get things done for them. Q Another follow-up on Kosovo, please? Q A question for Ambassador Grenell, please. Q Ambassador Grenell, clearly you were effective here as the special envoy to these talks between Serbia and Kosovo. But I wanted to ask you about another initiative you led. Last year, you kicked off the Trump administrations push to decriminalize homosexuality AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah, let me just talk about Kosovo and Serbia. I dont know if you can find it on a map. But this is atrocious. I have to tell you guys, you might be too young to understand what this issue is about. Maybe the older journalists should step up and say, This is a big deal. This is a big issue. Im astounded what happens in Washington, D.C., and especially in this room. I got to tell you, its substantive. Maybe its too complicated of an issue for you all. Q Ric, respectfully, this is the first time weve had the opportunity to speak with these individuals. There are a lot of questions to address. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Okay, but today is about Kosovo and Serbia. Lets take a little time and talk about this 21-year issue, Peter. I mean, 21 years. Were getting the same questions that are all politics. I dont you guys dont understand whats happening outside of Washington, D.C. People arent listening to you anymore. Its really a crisis in journalism. And I think its because people are too young to understand the issues like Kosovo and Serbia. Q All right, can I ask you a question AMBASSADOR GRENELL: How about a substantive question? Q about the deal, please? I dont think any of us came here for a lecture about our questioning. But the AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Well, I didnt come here to not talk about anything about Kosovo and Serbia. Q But the question I would like to ask you the question I would like to ask you is: Is it accurate to say that its full economic normalization? There was some ambiguity as to whether that is what the deal is about. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: What what do you mean by full? Q Well, thats the question for you. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, no, its a question for you. Whats your definition of full? This is economic normalization for whatever the two parties could bring together: a whole bunch on rail, a whole bunch on water, a whole bunch on a whole different industries. So Q So is it more accurate to say, Working towards economic normalization. Is that fair? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: No, I think its incredible economic normalization air, rail, motor, opening borders, a whole bunch of industries. So, again, I dont know whats missing. And I defer to you to say whats whats Q No, no. I wasnt the one who negotiated that. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: whats outside of economic normalization thats not included here. You tell me. Q Im genuinely asking so that we can write our stories accurately. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. Q Do we say that they AMBASSADOR GRENELL: I am saying economic normalization. Q have achieved an economic normalization deal? And then Q What changed from, you know, a few months ago when they pulled down the tariffs to today? What is the substantive difference? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Have you read the agreement? Q You havent put the agreement out. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Its out. A whole bunch a whole bunch has changed since the dropping of the tariffs. The tariffs were the political sticking point of why we couldnt have the parties come together. The Serb side was not going to even start negotiations when theres a 100 percent tariff from the Kosovars. Q Sure. So whats the substantive thing that changed today? Like the actual AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Theres Q like what is AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Theres a whole bunch of stuff that changed today in terms of economic development, in terms of identification for even some political problems that are going to be resolved. AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Licenses and diplomas. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. I would really refer you to look at the entire agreement. One sticking point that has been, for a long time, something that the two sides couldnt agree on was the recognition of diplomas. If you were trained as a nurse in Serbia and your degree was from a Serbian University, you couldnt get a job in Kosovo because you werent qualified; you didnt have the proper certificate. That now, with this agreement, goes away. I think thats economic normalization for people who have certificates in dental hygiene, in pharmacies pharmaceutical experts. There are a whole bunch of people who could not work simply because they didnt have the proper career credentials, and this agreement completely will recognize all diplomas from universities, from either side. Ill give you one more example: American companies were telling us they were pulling out, like rental car companies because if you rented a car in Kosovo, you couldnt drive over the border. You couldnt leave. So people who were wanting to go for tourist purposes or to visit the region, or to try to do business deals, they couldnt actually leave with that rental car. And so we had American businesses beginning to pull back to say, It just doesnt make sense. The Europeans were complaining just as much. There was a perceived conflict. And I think what we have now, with this historic air agreement, rail agreement, motor agreement all of the things that theyve committed to implement will create normalized commerce. And that is something that has never been tried. We have been stuck on literally verbs and symbolism in terms of negotiations on the politics. And were going to try something new. Q The president of Serbia said today to local reporters that I can read the quote: We have made a bilateral agreement with the U.S., not Kosovo. Can you clarify what that means? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah, well, first of all, I dont I would never try to clarify what President Vucic means when hes talking to the Serbian press. I can tell you what he said inside the Oval Office, which was that this was a historic agreement to normalize the region. He talked about the Mini Schengen Zone, which is now going to be an economic region. So I think it might have been lost in translation a little bit, but make no mistake that the agreement that they signed is definitely an agreement to expand commerce in the region. And theres no question that when you look at diplomas, for instance, or the one-year freeze on the recognition and de-recognition, on even the rail agreement theres a U.S. Department of Energy study that will take place on a lake that is largely in Kosovo; a portion is in Serbia. Were going to do a feasibility study to figure out what kind of jobs can be created in around the water. Theres no question that thats a shared agreement. Q But did they sign an agreement with each other, or did they sign an agreement with the United States? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: They signed an agreement to work with each other. Q They didnt AMBASSADOR GRENELL: They did not sign with the United States. Were not a signature. Q Well, President Trump signed something; we watched him. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. Correct. Q What did he sign? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: He signed a how would you describe it? A basically, a letter acknowledging that they are going to work together and do this agreement. Q Okay, maybe its easiest to ask this way: Can you just lay out very specifically what each gentleman signed today? What was that? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: They both signed agreements to work together to normalize their economic and commerce relationship. Q But the agreements are not the same, right? For both sides. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: They are 99.9 percent the same, but of course, theres Q Then what is what was different? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Theres one theres one point thats different at the very bottom, which is that Serbia is going to move its embassy by July of next year. Thats on the Serbian agreement. And for the Kosovo, their last point everything is identical until the last point. The last point for Kosovo is that they have a mutual recognition with Israel. Q And the infamous item 10 they were mentioning yesterday, thats taken out, right? I mean, thats what President Vucic was saying today. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. First of all, its wrong to say that that was item 10. None of these were numbered. So I dont know where that came from. Q I dont know why they just called it that. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: When we were negotiating, there were a whole bunch of issues on the table. A whole a lot of things were changed and edited, as you can imagine, in negotiations that this does. For someone to leak a partial sentence and pretend like this was the entire agreement, I think is typical politics. But nothing was numbered, certainly wasnt number 10. And nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. So something leaked out in terms of negotiation, but it was partial, and I think it was highlighted in a way that gave a false impression. Q Can I just ask one more thing? Maybe its semantics, but we have been having this dilemma for quite a while now. When you say Schengen, do you think Shenzhen, as in Chinas province, or Schengen, like in Europe? Because we AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Europe. Q couldnt figure it out. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Europe. Q So this just to clarify: What did President Trump sign? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: So were not a party to the agreement. And I guess this is super important to remember, is that we didnt come and theres a whole bunch of conspiracy theories out there about what we were coming to the table with. We were not forcing the two parties to do anything. This was a real chance for the two parties to talk. We didnt have any grand scheme. We didnt have any absolute demands. We certainly didnt have I dont even want to say the word of what some conspiracy theorists say about past agreements, with land. It was never discussed in my presence. What the two parties did was agree to move forward economically. What President Trump signed is as a witness to say: This is a great agreement, and the United States is happy for it. Right? Hes AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: He supports it. AMBASSADOR GRENELL: Yeah. Q Is that normal? Q Ambassador Grenell, the EU has tried and failed for the past 10 years to accomplish what your team is celebrating today. How confident, candidly, all of you how confident are you that leadership in the EU, leadership around the world is looking at this as a template for success? Or are is it going to take a whole generation of new leadership in order to kind of study what you have accomplished here and in the Middle East? AMBASSADOR GRENELL: So, I really have to own this to say I think we all failed for the last 10 years. I wouldnt just put this on the Europeans. I would say that its the establishment foreign policy thinking that has failed, both in Europe and here: Berlin, Paris, London, Washington, D.C. We had great support from the French and from the Germans to try this new way of economic development. And lets also be very clear: The Europeans have a lot of economic development that they can do and they will do. The team is meeting on Monday in Brussels. And so theres a whole new aspect to this. And let me also just say, on the question on this item 10, one of the reasons why we were willing to not talk about it here was because its on the agenda Monday in Europe. And were trying to team this with the Europeans to say, What can you do and what can we do to kind of move this forward? So, on Monday, that issue will be dealt with very much in detail in Brussels. And so I felt confident that we could kind of let and work with the Europeans on this issue. And so thats why it was taken out. But, at the end of the day, we need the Europeans. We need them to help on this issue. We will help them, but their calculus on the political side is a little bit different because both Kosovo and Serbia want EU membership. And so theyre looking at this very long path of how to get into the EU. Were supportive of our European partners on their process, but we are not making any demands. Were not a member of the EU, so we dont have a seat at that table, but we certainly will help in any way possible. But that is a separate political process, I think, that also complicates it because of the EU membership rules and regulations and processes. Q Can you talk about the economic pattern of this? AMBASSADOR OBRIEN: Thank you all very much. Have a great day, everyone. Thank you. MS. MCENANY: Thank you, guys, very much. So the President is bringing back the hottest economy in modern history. Todays job numbers are proof: There were 1.4 million jobs added in August, beating expectations; unemployment fell by 1.8 percent, also beating expectations. Now, nearly 50 percent of job losses since March have been reversed a clear V-shaped recovery. Also, I want to address what is quite clearly fake news: The story in The Atlantic has been categorically debunked by eyewitnesses and contemporaneous documents. The Atlantic claims, quote, When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, according to The Atlantic, sayingthe helicopter couldnt fly and that Secret Service wouldnt drive him there. Neither claim was true, says The Atlantic. That has been debunked. Behind me, you will see a e-mail from one of the Presidents military aides that clearly reads, We are a BAD [weather] call for todays lift. The Atlantic reporting is based on four cowardly anonymous sources who probably do not even exist. Meanwhile, within hours, 10 sources 10 went on the record debunking these lies. Eight with firsthand knowledge, stating on the record one common truth: that this story is false; it never happened. Adding to the eight that were previously counted, Im bringing you two new ones. One is from Derek Lyons, Staff Secretary and Counselor to the President, who says this: I was with the President the morning after the scheduled visit. He was extremely disappointed that arrangements could not be made to get him to the site and that the trip had been canceled. I have worked for the President for his entire administration. One of my responsibilities is working with him on the many letters he signs to the families of our nations fallen heroes. In all my time at the White House, Derek writes, I have never heard him utter a disparaging remark, of any kind, about our troops. In my view, he holds the brave men and women of our armed forces in the highest regard. I also bring to you today another quote from a former member of this administration, Dan Walsh, Deputy Chief of Staff former Deputy Chief of Staff, who is also a retired military officer. I got off the phone with Dan just before coming out here, and he wanted me to share with you all: I can attest to the fact that there was a bad weather call in France and that the helicopters were unable to safely make the flight. Overall, the Presidents support and respect for our American troops, past and present, is unquestionable. And Dan recounted to me several events he went on with the President, like a World War II veteran who flew with the President on the helicopter in Normandy; visits the President had with our wounded warriors; special ops teams who came to the Oval Office, including the team that got al Baghdadi and they brought along Conan, the dog, as well. He met with families at the Army-Navy game; he does this routinely. And at the World Series, when he got an opportunity to go watch the Nationals, he brought veterans with him. And I can tell you from what Ive seen from this President, I have heard him describe his visits to Walter Reed in detail, and the angst he has had, and the compassion he has had, and the hurt he has had viewing these warriors who have been absolutely injured in the line of duty and are courageous heroes. And Ive heard him recount how meaningful those visits are. Ive also seen him, just today, before this article came up, talk about there was rain and lightning popping around and he said, I want to go out there and I want to talk to our World War Two veterans. This is Americas greatest generation, and the President holds them in the highest of regards. So why would a publication abandon all journalistic integrity and publish this story? Its because the liberal activists at The Atlantic are uninterested in the truth, and they are only interested in peddling conspiracy-laden propaganda. Because here is the one truth: No one and I mean no one loves and cares for our servicemen and women as much as President Donald J. Trump. Thank you. A man carries belongings as he wades through of a flooded road in the town of Shaqilab, about (25 km) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) Sudanese authorities declared their country a natural disaster area and imposed a three-month state of emergency across the country after rising floodwaters and heavy rainfall killed around 100 people and inundated over 100,000 houses since late July. The announcement was made late Friday following a meeting of the country's Defense and Security Council which is headed by a top government official, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. Flooding caused by seasonal heavy rainfall, mostly in neighboring Ethiopia, led the Nile River to rise about 17.5 meters late in August, the highest level it has reached in about a century according to the Sudanese Irrigation Ministry. The ministry said water levels of the Blue Nile are higher than the 1988 flood levels that destroyed tens of thousands of homes in several parts of Sudan and displaced over one million people. Labor and Social Development Minister Lina al-Sheikh said the flooding had killed some 100 people, as well as injured at least 46 people and affected more than 500,000 people across the country. More than 100,000 houses across the country were totally or partly collapsed, she said. The U.N. humanitarian agency has warned that the situation is expected to get worse over the coming weeks, as above-average rains are forecast until the end of September. People walk on sandbags to reach their homes in the town of Shaqilab, about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) The capital of Khartoum was hit hard in the past two weeks. Residents in several districts of the city were seen erecting barricades and other shields as water from the Nile swept through several neighborhoods, in footage circulating online. The military deployed troops to help evacuate people and build barricades in Khartoum as well as distribute food, after flooding there cut roads and swept away houses and belongings. Earlier this week, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said access to clean water, which is critical amid the coronavirus pandemic, has also been reduced, with the floods knocking out or contaminating some 2,000 water sources. OCHA said last week that the flooding also damaged at least 43 schools and 2,671 health facilities across the country, and that large swaths of agricultural land across the country were also flooded in the middle of the harvest season. A man passes on the side of a flooded road in the town of Shaqilab, about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) A man wades through a flooded road in the town of Shaqilab, about 15 miles (25 km) southwest of the capital, Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali) The U.N. refugee agency, or UNHCR, said tens of thousands of refugees and internally displaced people were affected, particularly in North Darfur province, where 15 people have died and a further 23 have gone missing. OCHA urged wider support from the international community, as a $1.6 billion humanitarian plan for Sudan is less than 44% funded and aid stocks have been "depleted rapidly." Seasonal rains and flooding last year left a total of 78 people dead in 16 of Sudan's 18 provinces, between July and August, according to the U.N. Explore further At least 265 dead in floods, landslides as rains batter East Africa 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 00:47:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday met with the head of Libya's UN-recognized government behind closed doors in Istanbul. Erdogan received Fayez al-Serraj, prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), in Vahdettin Mansion on the Asian side of the city, the Turkish presidency announced on its website, without giving further details. A picture posted on the website showed Erdogan and Serraj, posing for the camera at the mansion. No statement was issued after the meeting. Libya has been torn by a raging civil war between the GNA based in the capital Tripoli and the Libyan National Army and its allies based in the east. Turkey supports the GNA both politically and militarily, deploying its troops in Libya to train and advise forces loyal to Serraj. Enditem The Madeleine McCann prime suspect has been linked to a sex attack on a 10-year-old girl on a beach in Portugal, a month before the British toddler vanished. A German woman, now 23, claims she recognised Christian Brueckner from TV as the man who grabbed her on Salema beach in April 2007. He masturbated in front of her before he was chased away by her brother and father who were unable to catch him. Prime suspect Christian Brueckner has been linked to a sex attack on a 10-year-old German girl on a beach in Portugal A German woman, now 23, claims she recognised Christian Brueckner from TV as the man who grabbed her on Salema beach in April 2007, just weeks before Madeleine McCann (pictured) was abducted The woman had been on a family holiday in Salema, Portugal, six miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine McCann vanished aged three. The sex attack happened just weeks before Madeleine disappeared on May 3. Prosecutors examining the disappearance of the British toddler have reopened the file on the woman's attack. According to The Sun, prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed the link between the two cases. 'The man currently in custody suspected of Madeleine McCann's abduction is also the suspect in a sex attack on a German girl,' he said. The British toddler disappeared from the Ocean Club apartments in Praia da Luz (pictured) on Portugals Algarve in May 2007 The convicted German paedophile Christian Brueckner, 43, is currently in prison in Kiel, Germany on a drugs conviction. Brueckner has numerous convictions for sex offences, including the sexual assault of children, and was found guilty of raping a 72-year-old American woman in 2005, close to where Madeleine vanished. German police identified Brueckner as the prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case earlier this year and claimed they have 'concrete evidence' the toddler is dead. However, his lawyer Friedrich Fulscher maintains his client is innocent in relation to Madeleine McCann's disappearance and 'has nothing to hide'. The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced the cancellation of its traditional anniversary celebration because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There would not be any cultural display, street partying, state banquet or any gathering of that sort, for the first time since the state was created on September 23, 1985. The state, which would be 33 this year, was carved out from the then Cross River State by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. The secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, said in a statement on Saturday, that Governor Udom Emmanuel has approved the cancellation of the anniversary celebration, in continuation of the fight against COVID-19. Mr Ekuwem said it would be difficult to enforce compliance with COVID-19 guidelines and protocols if there is a big state-wide celebration. This decision is taken in the interest of public health and safety of the citizens of Akwa Ibom State, he said. The health, lives and wellbeing of Akwa Ibomites must be prioritised over any celebrations. The governor, however, invites all citizens to deeply reflect on the historical struggle for the creation of our state and apply themselves to worthy causes that will continue to positively transform and uplift the name of our state, Mr Ekuwem added. The total confirmed number of cases of COVID-19 in Akwa Ibom is 280 as of September 5, according to data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. The total number of confirmed cases in Nigeria is currently at 54,905. Flight tickets booked between 25 Mar and 3 May will be 'fully refunded': Centre tells SC India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Sep 06: Supreme Court on Sunday was informed by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that tickets booked by passengers in domestic and international carriers for air travel between March 25 to May 3, 2020, which was the first two phases of lockdown, will be "fully refunded." "Non-refund of air tickets booked during lockdown and creation of involuntary credit shell by airlines is a violation of Civil Aviation Requirements and provisions of the Aircraft Rules of 1937," DGCA told SC, according to reports. Earlier, the top court had issued notices to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) seeking their replies on the plea which has alleged that airlines have failed to refund the ticket amount and are "illegally imposing" the mechanism of 'credit shell' on unwilling passengers. The plea, filed by Air Passengers Association of India, claimed that refusal to refund the amount is "arbitrary" and is in blatant violation of the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) as acceptance of 'credit shell' is at the sole discretion of the passengers. "It is submitted that the airlines are illegally imposing the mechanism of 'credit shell' on the unwilling passengers. The concept refers to a form of credit note which can be used to make a new booking with the same airline for a period so provided by the airline, usually of one year, as is being offered by most of the airlines," said the plea, filed through advocate Rohit Rathi. The plea said the office memorandum further directed that for ticket booked during the first lockdown period for travel during the second lockdown period from April 15 to May 3 and the passenger seeking refund on cancellation of ticket, the airline shall refund the full amount without levy of cancellation charges. It said the DGCA had issued a circular on April 19 directing the airlines to refrain from booking tickets for journeys to be undertaken with effect from May 4. The plea claimed that despite the directives of the ministry and the DGCA, the airlines have failed to refund the ticket amount. "The action on the part of airlines insofar they fail to refund the money of the passengers is in blatant violation of the CAR given that the acceptance of credit shell' is at the sole discretion of the passengers," it alleged. "It is submitted that the money lying in the credit shell' may not be of any avail to the passenger who had a specific reason for booking the tickets during the lockdown," the plea said. It said that in these "testing times", a passenger might require the money lying in 'credit shell' for immediate necessity. By PTI BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka on Sunday said Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi, arrested in a drug case, was never a member of the party and may have campaigned for it in the 2019 Assembly by-elections on her own. Seeking to distance itself from the actress a day after her arrest, the BJP said it was against any sort of, or any form of anti-social activity by anybody. "We disown Ragini Dwivedi. Hundreds of celebrities from different walks of life campaigned for the BJP 'voluntarily' during the 2019 bye-elections. Ragini Dwivedi may have been one among them," BJP spokesperson Captain Ganesh Karnik in a statement. He clarified that Dwivedi was neither a member of the BJP nor the BJP had assigned her the responsibility of electioneering. Stating that Dwivedi may have been involved in the campaign 'on her own', Karnik said the party is neither accountable nor answerable for Ragini Dwivedi's activities in her personal and professional life. "We have nothing to do with it and we maintain distance from it," he added. According to him, the BJP is totally against any sort of, any form of anti-social activity by anybody. "We will neither encourage nor support such activities. Hence, we disown Ragini Dwivedi for her involvement in the drug racket," he said. The actress was arrested on Friday after intense interrogation for many hours. She is among the 13 people booked so far in connection with drug abuse in the Kannada film industry. Dwivedi along with others has been charged with supplying drugs in rave parties through drug peddlers. Jacob G. Thompson, 27, was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in connection to the incident in Screven County A Georgia judge has denied bond for a former Georgia State Patrol trooper accused of murder in the August shooting death of a 60-year-old Black man who refused to stop for a broken tail light. Screven County Judge F. Gates Peed on Friday ruled that it would be inappropriate to grant bond at the moment for Jacob Gordon Thompson, given the facts of the case. Thompson, who is white, attempted to stop a Nissan Sentra driven by Julian Lewis on August 7 that had been driving on Stoney Pond Road with a broken tail light at around 9:20pm. Lewis refused to stop and the two engaged in a brief chase down several county roads. Reports indicate that Thompson used a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) and forced Lewis car into a ditch. The officer then fired one round at Lewis, fatally striking him in the head. On August 7, Thompson fatally shot 60-year-old Julian Lewis after trying to stop him for a broken tail light on Stoney Pond Road at around 9.20pm In an incident report obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Thompson wrote that he shot Lewis in the forehead because he thought that the man was going to run him over. 'At some point, I heard the engine on the violator's vehicle revving at a high rate of speed,' he stated. 'I saw him wrenching the steering wheel in an aggressive back and forth manner towards me and my patrol vehicle. It appeared to me that the violator was trying to use his vehicle to injure me. Being in fear for my life and safety, I discharged my weapon once.' Thompson was arrested a week later on a charge of felony murder and aggravated assault by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He remains in custody at the Screven County Jail, near the state's South Carolina border. Attorney Francys Johnson, who is representing the Lewis family, said that Peeds denial of bond for Thompson is a positive sign for the current movement for racial equality in American policing. The unprecedented pace of the investigation is a direct result of years of activism on these issues along with a sea-change in law enforcement leadership at the top of the GBI, Johnson said in a statement Friday. This case is not proceeding as business as usual. Thompson was arrested a week later on a charge of felony murder and aggravated assault by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. He remains in custody at the Screven County Jail, near the state's South Carolina border The incident report Thompson filed says he spotted a Nissan Sentra driving with a broken tail light at about 9pm. and turned on his lights to initiate a traffic stop in rural Screven County. He said the driver flashed both his turn signals and motioned with a hand outside his window but made no effort to stop. Thompson wrote that he followed the car at speeds up to 65 mph until the vehicle rolled through a stop sign. The trooper then performed a maneuver that forced the car into a ditch. Thompson said he pulled alongside the vehicle and drew his gun as he got out of his cruiser. The troopers bullet hit Lewis in the forehead. Thompson wrote that he tried to render first aid until paramedics arrived. Attorney Francys Johnson said he learned Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice had approved his request for the civil rights investigation into the incident. 'We got lots of messages from people in the community that the habit of ex-trooper Thompson was to racially profile and harass Black and brown people on the highway,' Johnson, former head of the Georgia NAACP, said. 'This was not shocking to them that this happened.' The Centre has given approval to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotechs coronavirus vaccine Covaxin to conduct phase 2 of clinical trials from September 7. The trials will be conducted on 380 volunteers, according to a letter issued to Bharat Biotech International by Dr S Eswara Reddy, the Joint Drugs Controller of India. In the first phase of the Covaxin trial, around 375 participants were studied across 12 sites. This is to inform you that the subject proposal was examined in consultation with SEC (Covid-19) experts held through virtual meeting on September 3, wherein the committee recommended for the conduct of Phase II part of clinical trials with 380 participants subject to the condition that time for screening the participants should be revised in 4 days, the Directorate General of Health Service said in a statement. In the first phase trial of the vaccine, the blood samples collected from the volunteers who received the vaccine were monitored for side effects. According to Dr E Venkata Rao, Principal Investigator of the trial at Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) and SUM Hospital, faculty of medical sciences, there were no side effects. IMS and SUM Hospital is one of the 12 medical centres in the country chosen by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting the human trial of the vaccine developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech. Covaxin is one of the frontrunners in the race for a Covid-19 vaccine in India. It is an inactivated vaccine it works by injecting doses of the virus that have been killed aiming to prompt the body to build antibodies against it without the virus posing a threat. Each stage of a vaccines clinical trial tests its safety and ability to develop an effective immune response. Phase 1 focuses on determining safety and dosage in a small group of healthy participants, while the second phase looks at the vaccines effectiveness. The third phase looks into these aspects in a much larger population that would represent a wider demographic. (with agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON And in perhaps the most startling example cited in the ruling, the FBI made a batch query of 16,000 people the size of a small town only seven of whom had an apparent link to criminal activity or foreign intelligence information. Some were U.S. citizens, though it is not known how many. The court did not say what the search was for. Cape Coast, 6th September 2020. On Friday 4th of September, 2020, president Akufo-Addo expressed his disappointment to the Catholic Bishops for not making any open as statement either as individuals or as a body about former president Mahama reference to Akyem people as 'Akyem Mafia' and 'Sakawa people'. Nana Addo-Danquah Akufo-Addo made these remarks to the Catholic Bishop because news had it that, the MP for Bawku Central, Isaac Adongo was the initiator of the reprehensible ethnocentric comments. Unfortunately, the same condemnable write up by Honourable Isaac Adongo was amplified on the official Facebook page of the President Mahama. Indeed, in an interview on the 4th of September on XYZ television, Mr Dramani Mahama is on record to have made statements that seem to suggest that he doesn't regret what was posted on his social media handle. It against this backdrop that Kandifo Institute has issued a statement condemning such ethnocentric comments and also encouraging the former president to move to a Level 5 leader. According to the statement, "The leadership that Ghana deserves is one of a level 5 leader. A level 5 leader according to Jim Collins, Good to Great book displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will. They are incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the cause, for their organisation they lead, their country and its purpose, not themselves". It further added that "Level 5 leaders develop Level 5 countries. They create opportunities other leaders dont. They create a legacy in what they do. People follow them because of who they are and what they represent. In other words, their leadership gains a positive reputation. As a result, Level 5 leaders often transcend their position, their country, and sometimes their industry or organisations". Ghana has more than seventy ethnic groups. The major ethnic groups in Ghana include the Akan at 47.5% of the population, the Mole-Dagbon at 16.6%, the Ewe at 13.9%, the Ga-Dangme at 7.4%, the Gurma at 5.7%, the Guang at 3.7%, the Grusi at 2.5%, the Kusaasi at 1.2%, and the Bikpakpaam a.k.a. Konkomba people at 3.5%. It is from these seventy ethnic groups that makes Ghana what it is today, the statement read in part. It continued that, the leadership of Kandifo Institute is taken aback by the comment made by Mr. John Dramani Mahama, the National Democratic Congress Candidate for the 2020 Presidential elections in bad taste to the entire polity of democracy. The statement concluded by the fact that "It is interesting to note that Nana Sir Ofori Atta 1(1881-1943), Okyehene or Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Nationalist, Educator, second African member of the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly and a founding member of Achimota School. Circa 1928 one of the largest and wealthiest kingdoms of the then Gold Coast Colony (now Ghana), one of the star politicians of the Gold Coast after his knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. Circa 1927 is from the ethnic group which Mr. Mahama describes in this unpleasant way". The statement was signed the Executive Director of Kandifo Institute in the person of Mr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah. A copy of the full statement is found below: SAKAWA, JOHN MAHAMA UNACCEPTABLE. Writer: PALGRAVE BOAKYE-DANQUAH (Executive Director, Kandifo Institute) The leadership that Ghana deserves is one of a level 5 leader. A level 5 leader according to Jim Collins, Good to Great book displays a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will. They are incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the cause, for their organisation they lead, their country and its purpose, not themselves. Harry S. Truman You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you do not mind who gets the credit. A level 5 leader is a disciplined person, disciplined in thought and disciplined in action. Ghana in her 63rd year going on to her 64th year onwards to her 70th by 2027 deserves a robust leadership style accredited as a level 5 leader. Such leadership asks questions of this nature; First whothen whatconfronting the brutal facts, hedgehog in concept, culturally disciplined (respects ethnic perspectives and balances) and technology accelerator. John C. Maxwell describes a level 5 leader as one who reaches the pinnacle. He explains it as the highest level of leadership and also the most challenging to attain. It requires longevity as well as intentionality. You simply cant reach Level 5 unless you are willing to invest your life into the lives of others for the long haul. But if you stick with it, if you continually focus on both growing yourself at every level, and developing leaders who are willing and able to develop other leaders, you may find yourself at the Pinnacle. The commitment to becoming a Pinnacle leader is sizeable, but so are the payoffs. Level 5 leaders develop Level 5 countries. They create opportunities other leaders dont. They create a legacy in what they do. People follow them because of who they are and what they represent. In other words, their leadership gains a positive reputation. As a result, Level 5 leaders often transcend their position, their country, and sometimes their industry or organisations. Theres so much more Id love to tell you, but let me leave you with this. Leadership is about growth for yourself, your relationships, your productivity, and your people. To lead well, you must embrace your need for continual improvement, and the 5 Levels provide a leadership GPS to help you with your journey. You must know where you are, to know where youre going. Otherwise, as the Cheshire Cat told Alice when you dont know where youre going, any road will get you there. Ghana has more than seventy ethnic groups. Major ethnic groups in Ghana include the Akan at 47.5% of the population, the Mole-Dagbon at 16.6%, the Ewe at 13.9%, the Ga-Dangme at 7.4%, the Gurma at 5.7%, the Guang at 3.7%, the Grusi at 2.5%, the Kusaasi at 1.2%, and the Bikpakpaam a.k.a. Konkomba people at 3.5%. This seventy ethnic groups, is what makes Ghana, Ghana. This is our identity and this identity has not divided us since independence. Ghana has had minimal or almost none of record a national chaos of ethnic battles and we believe that each of us from the various ethnic groups believe in the Ubuntu nature of one broom coming together with 1000s of broom strands to be a big broom to use for the development of the country. Sakawa is a Ghanaian term for illegal practices which combine modern Internet-based fraud with African traditionalist rituals. ... The rituals, which are mostly in the form of sacrifices, are intended to spiritually manipulate victims so that the scammer's fraud is successful. The leadership of Kandifo Institute is taken aback by the comment made by the Candidate for the 2020 Presidential elections of the New Democratic Congress, Mr. John Dramani Mahama in bad taste to the entire polity of democracy. No citizen in this country, nor ethnic group must be described in the manner in which Mr. Mahama, a candidate seeking votes from citizens and should understand leadership at the highest level to describe the good people of Akyem Abuakwa as sakawa. One would ask? Have we reduced our politicking to ethnic sentiments? Have we lowered the bar that low to move the conversations of issues to tribal commentary? Are we endorsing acts of sakawa which has swallowed some young people in this country, Ghana? Is sakawa now a term and word which should be accommodated by leaders who have represented Ghana at the highest level some years past? Is the awareness of sakawa by leaders one that should be encouraged or utterly eradicated from the vocabulary of national leaders? The 1994 Rwanda genocide which claimed many lives, destroyed many properties and brought to a standstill the economy of Rwanda started on tribal lines. As a leadership think tank, Kandifo Institute expects that Mr. John Mahama would desist from such ethnic sentiments in his bid to be at the pinnacle of leadership in this country. As that would not be a good foundation for the good people of Ghana. Rwanda has recovered from the 1994 Genocide and is today, Africas example of modern infrastructural economy. Ghana is not ready to have tribal wars and we should not have our language seasoned to welcome such. The people of Akyem Abuakwa and the rest of the ethnic groups in Ghana condemn the statement of Mr John Mahama. It is interesting to note that Nana Sir Ofori Atta I (1881-1943), Okyehene or Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, Nationalist, Educator, second African member of the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly and a founding member of Achimota School. Circa 1928 one of the largest and wealthiest kingdoms of the then Gold Coast Colony (now Ghana), one of the star politicians of the Gold Coast after his knighthood by Queen Elizabeth. Circa 1927 is from the ethnic group which Mr Mahama describes in this unpleasant way. Leadership is about service and service is about people. Let us build up Ghana and breakthrough our developments. The former US vice president is also adding senior officials who served under US President Barack Obama to his team. Joe Bidens United States presidential campaign has added former Democratic primary rival Pete Buttigieg, along with senior officials who served under President Barack Obama, to an expanded White House transition team. Biden added four new co-chairs to the team led by his longtime ally Ted Kaufman: New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, former Obama economic adviser Jeffrey Zients, Louisiana Representative Cedric Richmond and his campaign adviser, Anita Dunn. He also named Buttigieg, a military veteran and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, to the advisory board, together with former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, and Susan Rice, national security adviser to Obama who was on the shortlist to be Bidens running mate. Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has been added to Joe Bidens transition team [File: Richard W Rodriguez/AP] We are preparing for this transition amid the backdrop of a global health crisis and struggling economy, Kaufman said. This is a transition like no other, and the team being assembled will help Joe Biden meet the urgent challenges facing our country on day one. Kaufman said the expertise of advisory board members will help Biden respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which continues to ravage the US, and the economic recession. Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who has been advising Biden on the pandemic response, has also joined the transition team. Zients was tasked with taking over after the botched roll-out of the Obamacare enrollment website in 2013. Lujan Grisham has a background in health and aging and has led her states coronavirus response. Other new transition team members include Teresa Romero, president of the United Farm Workers; Lonnie Stephenson, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; and Tony Allen, president of the historically black Delaware State University. Jordana Brewster and her new boyfriend Mason Morfit have been making the most of their holiday weekend. The 40-year-old actress and her CEO boyfriend, 44, have been getting cozy in recent months after they were first spotted out in July. On Sunday the new couple were seen out in Santa Monica as the pair grabbed coffee and some colorful orchids from a local store. Official outing: Jordana Brewster, 40, and her new boyfriend ValueAct CEO Mason Morfit, 44, were seen out in Los Angeles over the holiday weekend as they grabbed coffee and orchids after becoming Instagram official on Saturday The pair seemed at ease for their outing as they dressed casually for the Los Angeles heat. Jordana showed off her toned legs in ripped jean shorts that she paired with a white short-sleeved button down that tied in the front, exposing a hint of her tan stomach. She wore her brunette locks down putting her shaggy bangs on display as she walked aside her boyfriend in a pair of casual red flip flops. The Fast and the Furious actress topped her look off with a colorful facemask and a pair of square shaped sunglasses. Orchids: The new couple who have taken their relationship to Instagram were seen picking up an assortment of orchids and iced coffee in Santa Monica The ValueAct CEO also dressed down for the afternoon as he wore a pair of navy shorts and a grey t-shirt, slipping on a pair of sandals and a mask as he kept cool. The couple were seen grabbing an iced coffee and some orchids from a local store on their romantic outing as Jordana carried her new house plants home. On Saturday the actress took their whirlwind relationship to Instagram as she posted a series of snaps from their day at the beach. Hand and hand: Jordana posted a photo of her and Mason for her 3.7M Instagram followers on Saturday. She solidified the new relationship posting a red heart as the caption Look of love: Jordana smiled in a white bathing suit top as she posed for the camera on Saturday as she and boyfriend Mason beat the LA heat at the beach The Brazilian-American actress posted their first official couples photo as the two walked hand and hand from the ocean. She captioned the comment with a red heart, as she looked over at her handsome man in the snap. Jordana also shared a second photograph of her looking stunning in a white bathing suit with scalloped detail as she smiled for the camera. The mother of two, Rowan, four, and Julian, six, shares her kids with her ex-husband of 13 years, A Quiet Place producer Andrew Form. Old flame: Jordana and her husband of 13 years producer Andrew Form recently started the divorce process after Jordana filed on July 1st. The former pair who share two kids together are seen out in Los Angeles last year; June 2019 Glam: Jordana posted a snap of her getting glam for a socially-distance photoshoot in late July as she slowly gets back to work amid the Pandemic All smiles: Mason Morfit, Jordana's new man is a venture-capitalist who is based in San Francisco. The CEO who has done huge deals with Microsoft has two kids with his ex Anna Ortiz According to documents, the actress filed for divorce from her husband on July 1st, just days before she was seen kissing her venture capital beau in public. The San Francisco based CEO and avid guitar player has kids of his own, three boys and one girl with his ex-wife Anna Ortiz who he married in 2004. Details are less clear about their split than that of Jordana's. In terms of acting projects, Jordana will be resuming her long standing role as Mia Toretto in the ninth instillation of Fast & Furious, F9, which is slated to be released in Spring 2021. Since quarantine the brunette stunner has been spending a lot of time with her two sons and new love at the beach and by her pool as she gears up to homeschool her two youngins now that it is officially fall. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, September 7 2020 Civil groups have criticized the Jakarta Police over the criminalization of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community following a recent raid on a private party in Kuningan, South Jakarta. On Aug. 29, police officers broke into an apartment where 56 males were holding a private gathering. The police later named nine people, who were the party organizers, as suspects, while the 47 attendees became witnesses in the case. Investigators charged the nine suspects under Article 296 of the Criminal Code, which is generally used to charge pimps. They also charged the suspects under Article 33 of the 2008 Pornography Law, which restricts people from funding or facilitating pornographic services, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Hong Kong: No target for virus test bookings Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip today said the Government will not set a target for the number of participants in the Universal Community Testing Programme. Mr Nip made the remarks at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning. He explained that the purpose of the programme is to identify asymptomatic cases in the community as early as possible and to enable those who wish to be tested to receive a free COVID-19 testing service. "This programme is voluntary. With these parametres, of course, we want as many as possible Hong Kong citizens to come forward to receive the test, and that would be helpful." Mr Nip noted the programme would provide useful data on the epidemic. "We would not set a target on the programme because I do not think it is realistic for us to do so. But no matter what, the programme would enable us to have some sort of reference value to understand the infection situation in the community and the number of asymptomatic cases in the community. "That would provide useful data and information for us to control the epidemic and also to pave the way for normalising our activities and economic activities in the future." This story has been published on: 2020-09-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This spring, as countries around the world told people to stay home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, doctors in neonatal intensive care units were noticing something strange: premature births were falling, in some cases drastically. It started with doctors in Ireland and Denmark. Each team, unaware of the others work, crunched the numbers from its own region or country and found that during the lockdowns, premature births especially the earliest, most dangerous cases had plummeted. When they shared their findings, they heard similar anecdotal reports from other countries. They dont know what caused the drop in premature births and can only speculate as to the factors in lockdown that might have contributed. But further research might help doctors, scientists and parents-to-be understand the causes of premature birth and ways to prevent it, which have been elusive until now. Their studies are not yet peer-reviewed and have been posted only on preprint servers. In some cases the changes amounted to only a few missing babies per hospital. But they represented significant reductions from the norm, and some experts in premature birth think the research is worthy of additional investigation. These results are compelling, says Dr Denise Jamieson, an obstetrician at Emory Universitys School of Medicine in Atlanta. About one in 10 US babies is born early. Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, and any delivery before 37 weeks is considered preterm. The costs to children and their families financially, emotionally and in long-term health effects can be great. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, babies born premature, especially before 32 weeks, are at higher risk of vision and hearing problems, cerebral palsy and death. The best way to avoid these costs would be to prevent early births in the first place, said Dr. Roy Philip, a neonatologist at University Maternity Hospital Limerick in Ireland. Philip had been vacationing abroad when his country entered lockdown March 12, and he noticed something unusual when he returned to work in late March. He asked why there had been no orders while he was gone for the breast milk-based fortifier that doctors feed to the hospitals tiniest preemies. The hospitals staff said that there had been no need because none of these babies had been born all month. Intrigued, Philip and his colleagues compared the hospitals births so far in 2020 with births between January and April in every year since 2001 more than 30,000 in all. They looked at birth weights, a useful proxy for very premature birth. Initially, I thought there is some mistake in the numbers, Philip says. Over the past two decades, babies under 3.3 pounds, classified as very low birth weight, accounted for about eight out of every 1,000 live births in the hospital, which serves a region of 473,000 people. In 2020, the rate was about one-quarter of that. The very tiniest infants, those under 2.2 pounds and considered extremely low birth weight, usually make up three per 1,000 births. There should have been at least a few born that spring but there had been none. The study period went through the end of April. By the end of June, with the national lockdown easing, Philip says there had still been very few early preemies born in his hospital. In two decades, he says, he had never seen anything like these numbers. By staying home, some pregnant women may have experienced less stress from work and commuting, gotten more sleep and received more support from their families While the Irish team was digging into its data, researchers in Denmark were doing the same thing, driven by curiosity over a nearly empty NICU. Dr Michael Christiansen of the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen and his colleagues used newborn screening data to compare births nationwide during the strictest lockdown period, March 12 to April 14, with births during the same period in the previous five years. The data set included more than 31,000 infants. The researchers found that during the lockdown, the rate of babies born before 28 weeks had dropped by a startling 90 per cent. Anecdotes from doctors at other hospitals around the world suggest the phenomenon may have been widespread, though not universal. Dr Belal Alshaikh, a neonatologist at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, said premature births across Calgary dropped by nearly half during the lockdown. The change was across the board, though it seemed more pronounced in the earliest babies, he says. At Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Dr Irwin Reiss, a neonatologist, saw a smaller drop-off in premature births. At Mercy Hospital for Women outside Melbourne, Australia, there were so few premature babies that administrators asked Dr Dan Casalaz, the hospitals director of pediatrics, to figure out what was going on. In the United States, Dr Stephen Patrick, a neonatologist at Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, estimated there were about 20 per cent fewer NICU babies at his hospital than usual in March. Although some sick full-term babies would stay in the NICU, Patrick says preterm babies usually made up most of the patients, and the drop-off seemed to have been driven by missing preemies. When Patrick shared his observation on Twitter, some US doctors shared similar stories. Others said their NICUs were as busy as ever. Some groups in other countries have said they didnt see a change, either. If lockdowns prevented early births in certain places but not others, that information could help reveal causes of premature birth. The researchers speculated about potential factors. The stress of unemployment and financial insecurity may have affected communities unevenly (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty Images) One could be rest. By staying home, some pregnant women may have experienced less stress from work and commuting, gotten more sleep and received more support from their families, the researchers said. Women staying at home also could have avoided infections in general, not just the new coronavirus. Some viruses, such as influenza, can raise the odds of premature birth. Air pollution, which has been linked to some early births, has also dropped during lockdowns as cars stayed off the roads. Jamieson says the observations were surprising because she would have expected to see more preterm births during the stress of the pandemic, not less. It seems like we have experienced tremendous stress in the US due to Covid, she says. But all pregnant women may not have experienced the lockdowns in the same way, she says, as different countries have different social safety nets in general, and the stress of unemployment and financial insecurity may have affected communities unevenly. Some later premature births also might have been avoided during lockdowns simply because doctors werent inducing mothers for reasons like high blood pressure, Jamieson says. But that wouldnt explain a change in very early preterm births, as the Danish and Irish authors found. The causes of preterm birth have been elusive for decades, and ways to prevent preterm births have been largely unsuccessful, Jamieson says. According to the CDC, premature births in the United States rose in 2018 for the fourth straight year. White women had about a 9 per cent risk of premature birth in 2018, while African American womens risk was 14 per cent. If the trends in the data are confirmed, the pandemic and lockdowns could be something like a natural experiment that might help researchers understand why premature birth happens and how to avoid it. Maybe some maternity leave should start before a mothers due date, for example. The Danish and Irish researchers have now teamed up and are building an international group of collaborators to study how Covid lockdowns affected early births. For years, nothing has advanced in this very important area, Christiansen says, and it seems it took a virus attack to help us get on track. The New York Times The two Asian giants have held several rounds of talks, mainly involving military commanders, without success. In a sign that the talks are now shifting to the political level, their defense ministers met in the Russian capital on Friday to try end the impasse. It was the first high-level direct contact between the sides since the standoff erupted in the Ladakh region four months ago. KAMPALA Uganda has registered 128 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, September 6, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. The new cases which raise the total confirmed infections to 3,667 are from tests done on September 5, 2020. Part of the new cases are 120 contacts and alerts. Kampala 95, Wakiso 13, Luweero 3, Nwoya 2, Amuru 1, Jinja 1, Kanungu 1, Manafwa 1, Maracha 1, Soroti 1 and Zombo 1, reads a statement from MOH. The ministry added that 7 health workers tested positive for coronavirus including 2 from Kampala, 2 from Lira, 2 from Wakiso and 1 from Mityana. Additionally, one Ugandan truck driver tested positive for coronavirus via Elegy border. One Rwandese truck driver tested positive for COVID-19 at Miramar Hills and his entry into the country was not permitted, reads an excerpt. The ministry has noted that two more people from Kampala and Jinja have died of COVID-19. This brings the total deaths to 41 while the recoveries stand at 1,608. Related The 100th consecutive night of protests in Portland quickly escalated into a riot Saturday as people hurled "multiple fire bombs, mortars, rocks and other items" at officers, police said. One of the homemade bombs caught a community member on fire. Medics offered treatment at the scene, and the injured individual was later taken to a hospital by a private vehicle, according to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau. "This criminal activity presented an extreme danger to life safety for all community members, and prompted a declaration of a riot," the law enforcement agency said in a statement early Sunday. More than 50 people were arrested overnight, including at least two who were clad in body armor. One individual was armed with a dagger while another had a knife, police said. The names of those arrested and their charges were not immediately released. PHOTO: Police advance on protesters to clear a street on the 100th consecutive night of protests against police violence and racial inequality, in Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 5, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) Video posted on social media shows what appears to be a Molotov cocktail being thrown into the middle of crowd and exploding into flames on a residential street. One person's legs appears to catch fire as they run away. The video shows police in riot gear using flash-bang grenades while making loudspeaker announcements, ordering people to disperse the area. Some demonstrators are seen setting off fireworks in the street as police advance. MORE: After Trump calls him 'a fool,' Portland mayor says support us or stay out of the way A sergeant was struck by a commercial-grade firework, which burned through his glove and injured his hand, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Several other law enforcement officers were hit by rocks in the head, arms, shoulders and feet, with only their protective gear preventing serious injury, police said. Meanwhile, an Oregon State Police vehicle was damaged by rocks, including broken windows and dents. PHOTO: A protester is helped by another to retreat after clashing with the police on the 100th consecutive night of protests against police violence and racial inequality, in Portland, Oregon, on September 5, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) The Portland Police Bureau said "it was clear that the intent of the crowd was not peaceful protest," as many people were carrying large shields and were dressed in protective gear, including helmets, gas masks and body armor. Story continues The unrest in Oregon's largest city erupted following the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed 46-year-old Black man who died in Minneapolis after a white police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck as three other officers watched. Protests in cities across the United States and around the world are calling for an end to police brutality and racial injustice. PHOTO: Flames rise from a street after a liquid had been spread and lit during protests in Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 5, 2020. (Andrew Selsky/AP) Many of the recent demonstrations in Portland have ended in arson, vandalism and violence. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested by authorities there since late May, according to The Associated Press. MORE: Portland suspect waited in garage before shooting pro-Trump protester Twenty-seven people were arrested following a march Friday night, according to police, who accused protesters of throwing rocks at officers and chanting "burn it down" outside the offices of the Portland Police Association. PHOTO: Police advance on protesters to clear a street on the 100th consecutive night of protests against police violence and racial inequality, in Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 5, 2020. (Carlos Barria/Reuters) Last weekend, a pro-Trump supporter was shot to death during dueling demonstrations in downtown Portland. The suspected gunman was killed during an encounter with authorities Thursday. Portland police declare riot on 100th straight night of protests as 'fire bombs' hurled at officers originally appeared on abcnews.go.com London Goheen announced she's expecting her first child with fiance Reece Hawkins on Wednesday, just weeks after getting engaged. And on Sunday, American model, 22, was spotted in public for the first time since her big announcement as she stepped out with Reece, 25, and his two children Saskia, four, and Wolf, five, on the Gold Coast. The foursome were spotting making their way from a parked car to a Broadbeach restaurant, where they later enjoyed an intimate Father's Day luncheon. Happy family! Pregnant London Goheen, 22, showed off her baby bump as she stepped out with Reece fiance, 25, and his two children Saskia, four, and Wolf, five, on the Gold Coast for Father's Day London was positively glowing as she strolled next to her future husband and step children in a tiny white mini-dress. The expectant mother unbuttoned her neckline to accommodate her surgically-enhanced assets, and accessorised her look with a tan leather handbag and Nike runners. She wore a pair of square-framed sunglasses and completed her look with understated gold jewellery and her $26,200 Tiffany engagement ring. Bumping along nicely! London was positively glowing as she strolled next to her future husband and children-in-law in a tiny white mini-dress Yummy mummy! The expectant mother unbuttoned her neckline to accommodate her surgically-enhanced assets, and accessorised her look with a tan leather handbag and Nike runners Dressed to impress: She wore a pair of square-framed sunglasses and completed her look with understated gold jewellery and her $26,200 Tiffany engagement ring. Instagram model Reece meanwhile dressed in a casual black T-shirt, matching jeans and sunglasses. The tattooed father doted upon his lookalike children, who he shares with ex-fiancee Tammy Hembrow, 26. Tammy and Reece split in 2018 after four years together and currently share custody over their two children. Doting daddy! Reece fawned over his lookalike children, who he shares with ex-fiance Tammy Hembrow, 26 Baby on board! London gently touched her belly as she chatted to Reece and his children London announced her pregnancy on Instagram last week by sharing a sweet image of herself kissing influencer husband-to-be Reece. 'Been busy growing a BABY in my belly with this one wbu?' London captioned the image. Reece also shared similar images of the pair, calling London his 'Baby Momma' and the 'love of my life'. Baby joy! London announced her pregnancy on Instagram last week, telling fans: 'Been busy growing a BABY in my belly with this one wbu?' 'Baby Momma alert. Having a baby with the love of my life and my best friend,' he wrote. On Wednesday, Texas-born London, who recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with Reece, also shared a lengthy statement on her Instagram story explaining that she'll be posting about her pregnancy journey on another platform, before linking to her OnlyFans account. 'I'm so excited that I can finally share with y'all the news that I'm PREGNANT!!!' London's post began. Family: Tammy and Reece split in 2018 after four years together. Pictured together in happier times She said she made the decision to post on OnlyFans because over the years she and Reece have been 'harassed to the point where we've had to seek legal action.' London said she'd be posting 'updates, gender reveal and more intimate photos of me and Reece' online. OnlyFans is a subscription-based adult website where content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie, all the way to hardcore pornography. London is charging fans $14.99 a month for content. With the central government is discussing ways to boost the manufacturing of Indian toys, artisans in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad are hopeful about their livelihood. One such artisan is Basheer Ahmed. Speaking to ANI, he said that the demand for wooden toys has increased significantly as more people are shifting towards indigenous toys after conflicts with China. He said, "Demand for these toys has increased amid conflict with China. People are looking for alternatives and supporting local products." READ | Uttar Pradesh Govt Issues 'Unlock 4' Guidelines; Weekend Restrictions To Continue Demand for indigenous toys has increased Basheer Ahmed said that earlier, due to Coronavirus, artisans were earning less, but after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for boosting the manufacturing units across the country, our incomes have steadily increased with the people getting inclined towards local products. While addressing the nation during Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi requested the citizens to be 'vocal for local' for the toy industry and team up for its production. Narendra Modi also shared the statistics of the global toy industry and India's insignificant share in it while requesting startups and new businesses to team up and work hard to help it grow. He also encouraged people to turn to traditional Indian toys made by local artisans as a part of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' mission. Had an extensive meeting on ways to boost toy manufacturing in India. Our focus would be to support the sector and create toys that ensure physical fitness and holistic personality development. https://t.co/5yvLU8Zx22 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 22, 2020 READ | On 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi Makes Strong 'vocal For Local' Pitch For Toy Industry In Mann Ki Baat, PM said, "There has been a rich tradition of local toys in our country. There are many talented and skilled artisans who possess expertise in making good toys. Toys are very important for the development of children. Even Rabindranath Tagore has spoken about the importance of toys. India has the talent and the ability to become a toy hub by making toys for the entire world." READ | Uttar Pradesh: Two Killed In Pratapgarh Road Crash India-China faceoff at LAC 20 Indian Army soldiers were martyred in a violent faceoff which took place on June 15 at Galwan Valley. As per Chinese media, the Chinese PLA also suffered casualties. Later on August 29 and 30, Chinese troops violated the consensus arrived at during military and diplomatic talk regarding LAC dispute. As per the official statement issued by the Defence Ministry, "Indian troops pre-empted this PLA activity on the Southern Bank of Pangong Tso Lake, undertook measures to strengthen our positions and thwart Chinese intentions to unilaterally change facts on the ground." READ | Uttar Pradesh: 13-year-old Gang-raped & Murdered, Police To Invoke NSA Against Accused While U.S. shale oil production may never recover fully to its pre-virus peak, there is still plenty of room for output to pick up from current depressed levels. In the seven shale basins covered by the Energy Information Administrations Drilling Productivity Report, there were still more than 7,600 drilled but uncompleted wells at the end of July, a number that has barely changed since February. That may reflect a lack of activity in the shale patch, but the wells provide a buffer from when demand picks up to the point that drilling crews return to the Permian and other shale basins. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured in London today) said Moscow had a 'case to answer' over the use of banned chemical weapon Novichok against Alexei Navalny Dominic Raab hit out at Russian 'gangsterism' today as he said it is 'difficult to believe' the state was not involved in poisoning a prominent opponent of Vladimir Putin. The Foreign Secretary said Moscow had a 'case to answer' over the use of banned chemical weapon Novichok against Alexei Navalny. The comments came as the UK pushes for a tough international response to the episode - which has echoes of the 2018 Salisbury attack on a former Russian spy. Mr Navalny, the most popular and prominent opponent of President Putin, is being treated in Germany, where the authorities have confirmed he was targeted with the nerve agent. The Kremlin has dismissed allegations it was involved, complaining that no evidence has been supplied by Germany. But on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today, Mr Raab pointed the finger squarely at the Russian authorities. Asked whether he thought the Russian state was involved, the Cabinet minister said: 'I think it's very difficult to come up with a plausible alternative explanation based on Russia's track record ... of using it - Salisbury - based on the difficulty of getting hold of, let alone deploying Novichok as it's such a dangerous substance. 'As I said, the case to answer is there for Russia and we need, I think, through the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), an investigation and Russia needs to co-operate fully. Mr Navalny (pictured at a rally in Moscow last year) fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on August 20 before being transferred to Berlin. The 44-year-old remains on a ventilator in intensive care Mr Navalny is regarded as the most popular and prominent opponent of President Vladimir Putin (pictured in Moscow yesterday) What is Novichok and how does it kill? The Novichok family of nerve agents were secretly developed over two decades at a research facility 50 miles outside the Russian capital. Many times more potent than other better known chemical weapons, Novichok agents can render gas masks and protective equipment useless. Sometimes described as 'gases' they are in fact liquid, intended to be delivered as a fine spray. A series of poisons, known as Novichok 5, 7, 8 and 9 to identify them, were produced amid conditions of complete secrecy. They all kill the same way. By inhibiting enzymes that control nerve receptors in the brain. One expert said victims simply 'forget to breathe'. A tiny drop, almost undetectable, placed on the skin or inhaled can cause death within minutes. Advertisement 'What's clear also is that it can't just say ''this is a domestic issue, it is just our internal affairs''. 'The use of chemical weapons in this kind of context is pure gangsterism and Russia does have responsibility never to use it as a government, and second of all to make sure no-one else can use it within its territory.' Corruption investigator Mr Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia on August 20 before being transferred to Berlin. The 44-year-old remains on a ventilator in intensive care. Last week German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Navalny was the victim of 'attempted murder by poisoning' with Novichok and added that the aim was to 'silence' an opponent of Mr Putin. However, Donald Trump hinted the US might take a softer line over the past few days, suggesting more evidence was needed. 'It's tragic. It's terrible, it shouldn't happen. We haven't had any proof yet, but I will take a look,' he said. The UK has long accused Russian operatives of using the Soviet-era poison on Sergei Skripal, the former double agent targeted in the 2018 attack in Salisbury, Wiltshire. As foreign secretary, Boris Johnson helped organise a wave of expulsions of Russian diplomats across the EU and US after Britain told 23 envoys to leave. Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia were two of five people exposed to the substance in Wiltshire, both spending weeks in hospital recovering. But Dawn Sturgess, 44, of Amesbury, Wiltshire, died in July that year after coming into contact with a perfume bottle thought to originally contain the poison, while her partner, Charlie Rowley, spent nearly three weeks in hospital. UP assembly polls will be about '80 per cent vs 20 per cent'; BJP will win: Yogi Adityanath UP: Former MLA dies during brawl over land dispute; son says he was beaten to death India oi-Deepika S Lakhimpur Kheri, Sep 06: A 75-year-old former MLA died here on Sunday after he fell on the ground during an altercation with a group of people over a land dispute, police said, even as the victim's son alleged that he was beaten to death. According to the police, Nirvendra Mishra, who was a legislator thrice, had a land dispute with one Radheyshyam Gupta and one Sameer Gupta under Sampoornanagar police station area. Radheyshyam Gupta had gone to the land along with some aides to dig it. As soon as Mishra came to know about it, he hurried to the spot with his supporters and an altercation ensued, a police official said. "During the altercation, Mishra fell on the ground and he was first rushed to Palia health centre and then to a clinic, where he was declared brought dead. No apparent injury was detected," Superintendent of Police Satendra Kumar Singh said. However, the former MLA's son Sanjiv alleged that dozens of people beat his father with heavy sticks which led to his death. Sajiv alleged that he too was injured in the attack. Later, Additional SP Arun Kumar Singh said, "On the complaint of Nirvendra Kumar Mishra's son, an FIR is being registered against the accused." The body has been sent for post mortem to ascertain the cause of death and efforts were being made to nab the accused, he said. Mishra had represented the Nighasan Assembly constituency, before delimitation, twice as Independent in 1989 and 1991, and on Samajwadi Party ticket in 1993. He is survived by a son and three daughters. The death of the former Uttar Pradesh MLA led to opposition parties asking the BJP government in the state to act tough on the matter. Senior Congress leader Jitin Prasada, in a tweet in Hindi, said, "Three-time MLA Nirvendra Kumar Mishra was murdered today in Lakhimpur Khiri. He got seriously injured and died before reaching the hospital. My condolences with the family." Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati tweeted, "The murder of Nirvendra Kumar Mishra is very sad and worrying. The government must act tough against the guilty so that such painful incidents can be stopped in the state." Condemning the incident, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in a tweet in Hindi, said, "The murder of three-time MLA in Lakhimpur Khiri in broad daylight and attack on his son has shaken the state. Tributes. Under BJP rule, the people of the state are not only worried about the law and order, but are also feeling threatened. Shameful." According to new research, people having selfish, deceitful, and aggressive personality traits are not likely to reach positions of power as much as those who are generous, trustworthy, and generally nice in the workplace. Thats the clear conclusion from research that tracked disagreeable people from college or graduate school to where they landed in their careers about 14 years later. The paper was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. I was surprised by the consistency of the findings. No matter the individual or the context, disagreeableness did not give people an advantage in the competition for power--even in more cutthroat, dog-eat-dog organizational cultures, said Berkeley Haas Prof. Cameron Anderson, who co-authored the study with Berkeley Psychology Prof. Oliver P. John, doctoral student Daron L. Sharps, and Assoc. Prof. Christopher J. Soto of Colby College. The researchers conducted two studies of people who had completed personality assessments as undergraduates or MBA students at three universities. They surveyed the same people more than a decade later, asking about their power and rank in their workplaces, as well as the culture of their organizations. They also asked their co-workers to rate the study participants rank and workplace behaviour. Across the board, they found those with selfish, deceitful, and aggressive personality traits were not more likely to have attained power than those who were generous, trustworthy, and generally nice. Thats not to say that jerks dont reach positions of power. Its just that they didnt get ahead faster than others, and being a jerk simply didnt help, Anderson said. Thats because any power boost they get from being intimidating is offset by their poor interpersonal relationships, the researchers found. In contrast, the researchers found that extroverts were the most likely to have advanced in their organizations, based on their sociability, energy, and assertiveness--backing up prior research. The bad news here is that organizations do place disagreeable individuals in charge just as often as agreeable people. In other words, they allow jerks to gain power at the same rate as anyone else, even though jerks in power can do serious damage to the organization, Anderson said.The age-old question of whether being aggressively Machiavellian helps people get ahead has long interested Anderson, who studies social status. Its a critical question for managers because ample research has shown that jerks in positions of power are abusive, prioritize their own self-interest, create corrupt cultures, and ultimately cause their organizations to fail. They also serve as toxic role models for society at large. While theres clearly no shortage of jerks in power, theres been little empirical research to settle the question of whether being disagreeable actually helped them get there, or is simply incidental to their success. Anderson and his co-authors set out to create a research design that would clear up the debate. What defines a jerk? The participants had all completed the Big Five Inventory (BFI), an assessment based on general consensus among psychologists of the five fundamental personality dimensions: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness. It was developed by Andersons co-author John, who directs the Berkeley Personality Lab. In addition, some of the participants also completed a second personality assessment, the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO PI-R). Disagreeableness is a relatively stable aspect of personality that involves the tendency to behave in quarrelsome, cold, callous, and selfish ways, the researchers explained. ...Disagreeable people tend to be hostile and abusive to others, deceive and manipulate others for their own gain, and ignore others concerns or welfare. In the first study, which involved 457 participants, the researchers found no relationship between power and disagreeableness, no matter whether the person had scored high or low on those traits. That was true regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, industry, or the cultural norms in the organization. The second study went deeper, looking at the four main ways people attain power: through dominant-aggressive behaviour, or using fear and intimidation; political behaviour, or building alliances with influential people; communal behaviour, or helping others; and competent behaviour, or being good at ones job. They also asked the subjects co-workers to rate their place in the hierarchy, as well as their workplace behaviour (interestingly, the co-workers ratings largely matched the subjects self-assessments). This allowed the researchers to better understand why disagreeable people do not get ahead faster than others. Even though jerks tend to engage in dominant behaviour, their lack of communal behaviour cancels out any advantage their aggressiveness gives them, they concluded. Anderson noted that the findings dont directly speak to whether disagreeableness helps or hurts people attain power in the realm of electoral politics, where the power dynamics are different than in organizations. But there are some likely parallels. Having a strong set of alliances is generally important to power in all areas of life. Disagreeable politicians might have more difficulty maintaining necessary alliances because of their toxic behaviour, Anderson said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mali's ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was ousted in a coup last month, has left the country. Mr Keita, 75, flew to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday for medical treatment after suffering a minor stroke, military officials said. The junta is currently in talks with opposition and civil society groups about a transition to civilian rule. It says it will step down in two years, but West African leaders want a quicker transfer of power. Mr Keita was overthrown on 18 August following mass protests against his rule over corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and a dispute over legislative elections. The coup sparked international condemnation, but it was welcomed by many Malians. Mr Keita was detained by the military but later freed. 'Regional deal over departure' On Thursday, he left a hospital in the capital, Bamako, after a two-day stay during which he was treated for a minor stroke, AFP news agency reported. His former chief of staff said he could be away for up to 15 days. Mr Keita left for the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, after representatives of the regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), and the United Nations (UN) held talks with the coup leaders, BBC West Africa reporter Seydina Alioune Djigo says. Ecowas gave an undertaking to the junta that Mr Keita would return if he is wanted for any crimes allegedly committed during his seven-year rule, our reporter adds. It is the fourth coup in the West African state since it gained independence from France in 1960. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video On September 28, 1961, Syrian military officers led by Abdul Karim al-Nahlawi altered the course of Syrian and Arab history. With a military coup, they ended the political union between Egypt and Syria known as the United Arab Republic (UAR). Enacted in early 1958, the UAR had been the first step towards the ultimate Arab nationalist dream: the unification of Arab countries into a single state after Ottoman occupation and European colonial division. The 1961 coup ended that dream on a practical level; never again would anyone seriously attempt to unite two major Arab countries. The move also upended the political consensus that had governed Syria since the earliest days after independence in 1946: the desire to create a pan-Arab state. But one other aspect of this coup lives on in Syria to this day, reflected in the political maneuverings that followed the coup. The coups success was short-lived, and after the Baath Party took over the country in its own coup in 1963, one of the plotters, Haydar al-Kuzbari, was put on trial. During the trial, Fareed Aqeel, the presiding judge, questioned al-Kuzbaris motives for participating in the coup. Aqeel accused him of wanting to put his cousin, former prime minister Mamoun al-Kuzbari, into power, and that therefore al-Kuzbaris motives were family ambition, not patriotism. Al-Kuzbari responded that he had intended to put well-known Arab nationalists in power, not his cousin Mamoun. He named Abdul Salam al-Ojeili, Jalal Sayyid, and Abdul Karim al-Fayad as potential candidates. Aqeel responded by asking al-Kuzbari what evidence there was that al-Ojeili was even Arab, by which of course he meant an Arab nationalist. Al-Ojeili read about his own supposed candidacy in the newspapers and had no relation to the coup. He would mention this incident a number of times in essays he wrote. He did indeed join a subsequent government in 1962 as minister of culture, foreign affairs, and media, which was in itself controversial for an Arab nationalist, as those participating had their Arab credentials questioned by joining a government perceived as opposing Arab unity. Al-Ojeili recounted the incident always with a funny anecdote of mistaken identity, and ended with the plea, tongue-in-cheek: I wish that Fareed Aqeel would prove to me that I am not an Arab, so that I can rest from all these concerns, and I will give him whatever he wants! Story continues While al-Ojeilis reaction to the incident is interesting enough on its own, Aqeels is of greater interest here. It is indicative, unfortunately, of a strong trend within Syrian politics to treat ones opponent as outside the body politic simply because of their opinions, sparing not even an avid Arab nationalist like al-Ojeili. It isnt just al-Ojeilis political affiliation at question or his loyalty to the Arab cause, but rather his entire identity as an Arab. If he takes the wrong position, Aqeel feels he can write him out of his Arabness altogether. You dont have to dig very deep into Syrian history to see that Syrian politics indeed has always been a zero-sum game: me or my opponent, and only one will survive. But Aqeels accusation shows an intellectual foundation lurking behind the practicalities of power politics. The practice of the zero-sum game of Syrian politics well predates the Baathist takeover of the country. For example, Syrias first president, Shukri al-Quwatli, died in exile in Beirut. The second president, Hosni al-Zaim (who ended al-Quwatlis first term with a coup), was executed just after he himself was ousted in a coup led by Sami al-Hinawi. Al-Hinawi was ousted in a coup led by Adib al-Shishakli, Syrias third coup during the year of 1949, and al-Hinawi was assassinated on the streets of Beirut where he was in exile. Al-Shishakli launched another coup in 1951 to further solidify his power, instituted military rule, and lasted until 1954, but was eventually ousted in a coup, fled to Brazil, was sentenced to death in absentia. He was assassinated on the streets of Ceres, Brazil, by a Syrian named Nawaf Ghazaleh, who was resentful of al-Shishaklis treatment of the Druze minority. This unfortunate trend of coups and counter coups plagued Syria until 1970, when Hafez al-Assads rule replaced the chaos of early Syrian independence with dictatorship and totalitarianism. He avoided the fate of his predecessors, holding onto power until his death in 2000. But while the zero-sum game of Syrian politics is quite obvious in practice, Aqeels accusation against al-Ojeili, that he was not really an Arab because of his political views, hints at the ideological foundations of this game. It is not just played by politicians but also by intellectuals. In 2001, Syrian writer Turki Ali al-Rabius Trial and Terrorism (al-muhakama w al-irhab) argued convincingly that Arab intellectual life has been afflicted by takhween. Better known among English-language readers is the term takfeer, applied by radical jihadists, which means to excommunicate someone from the Islamic community, literally to make them an infidel (kafir). Takhween is the secular version of that: to declare someone a traitor (khain) to the nation. Al-Rabius book demonstrates that this idea of takhween among intellectuals, writing any opposition out of the body politic, has been as destructive to pluralism in the Arab world as political actions taken against opponents. It has undermined the ability of Arab countries to establish diversity of thought and ideas, and therefore the foundations needed for a democratic consensus. He lays out this thesis succinctly in the books first paragraph: One following the contemporary Arab cultural movement will notice, especially in the final third of the century that has just passed, that there is a tendency in this movement to put the other on trial, then to exile and evict him. It can be said that the distinguishing mark of the culture and rhetoric of the end of the century is the culture of trial, the culture of putting the other in a chamber to be studied, in a court or prison, with the goal of disciplining and prosecuting him. Al-Rabiu puts the primary blame for this situation on the intellectual elites and the dictatorial regimes that have often served the elites interests. He believes that 20th-century political violence in the Middle East stemmed from both Islamist political movements and from Arab states, but also that the Islamist violence was a reaction to state violence. Islamist movements of the 19th century, he says, were largely peaceful. Only in the 20th century did they learn the language of political violence from their secular counterparts. This is the center of a major debate in both the Arab world and the West: Is Islamist violence inherent to the movement or is it reactionary? But as much as the struggle is ideological, al-Rabiu says, it is also a struggle between the rural, religious majority and the urban, secular elite. The latter have maintained control of the state in most Arab countries, and have used state power to oppress the rural majority. The oppressed majority, meanwhile, is excluded from the state and prepared to do violence in any form, which is what the Arab street has seen for the last few decades of the twentieth century. . . . From here we see that the germ of violence originated in the authoritarian state and grew. In doing so it created an environment for a counter violence to spread. And thus, has it provided all the necessary ingredients for a coming civil war? Al-Rabiu was writing in 2001, but might as well have been writing in 2011, when Syria was indeed devolving into civil war. Al-Rabiu placed the blame for this violence on the Arab states, the regimes governing countries such as Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. But he recognized the potential for violence on the other side as well. We will never know how al-Rabiu would have seen the Syrian revolution, as he died in 2007. But he certainly was aware that the seeds of a civil war had been planted, in part by Arab rhetoric that rejects intellectual pluralism. If war is the continuation of politics by other means, the ongoing Syrian war has certainly been the continuation of Syrian politics by other means. Syrias modern political history did not begin in 2011 when the uprising began, nor in 1970 when the Assad family came to power, nor in 1963 when the Baath Party came to power. Syrias democracy arguably lasted only three years, from its independence from France in 1946 to the first military coup that ended civilian rule in the country, carried out by Hosni al-Zaim on March 30, 1949. The next 20 years, as we saw, brought a dizzying string of coups until Hafez al-Assad figured out how to do something no one else had done: maintain steady power after the coup. Launching a successful coup seemed to be relatively easy; staying in power, not so. Al-Assad helped plot the Baath Partys rise to power in 1963; he helped plan the ouster of the partys civilian leadership, replacing it with the military wing of the party of which he was a founder; and finally he eliminated his military rivals and established himself as sole holder of power in the party and the country. Upon his death in 2000, Hafez al-Assads son Bashar took over as president of Syria. With Bashar still in power, the Assads have run the country for 50 years. The family has governed for most of the independence period, as the pre-Assad era lasted only 24 years from independence in 1946 to Hafezs coup in 1970. Their rule has not been without internal threat, most notably during the Muslim Brotherhood uprising of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and of course the civil war that started in 2011 and which will likely continue for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, the Assads remain in power. Hafez built a state and regime resistant to these internal and external threats, even if it meant destroying much of the country in the process. The Assads have won the zero-sum game. But a close look at Syrian politics since 2011 shows that their opponents, almost without exception, have been playing by the same rules. In 2011 the Syrian regime faced an existential threat in the form of the popular protests that called for freedom and dignity, and for the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. There was not a unified political plan to rally behind, nor always a cohesive or coherent movement. But the protests seriously threatened the regimes hold on power for the first time since the 1980s. The transition from peaceful protests to armed insurgency is widely debated and poorly understood in its full dimensions. The result, however, was a fragmentation of the country into at least four major zones of control: the Syrian government, still led by Bashar al-Assad; rebel armed groups that ranged from moderate to extreme (but whose members transitioned easily between groups and were not necessarily motivated by a coherent ideology); the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS); and the Kurdish-led YPG, which later formed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with other allied groups. ISIS has since been eliminated from holding territory, now reduced to carrying out guerilla attacks, but the three others remain. The government controls the major cities and most of the countrys geographical territory. Turkish-backed rebels, and some not backed by Turkey, control swathes of the northwest and north-central parts of the country. The Western-backed SDF still controls most of the territory northeast of the Euphrates River, though Turkeys October 2019 invasion took a large chunk out of their territory. These competing zones of control have taken on divergent political dynamics to the point of essentially functioning as separate countries. In government-controlled areas, the Syrian army and the dictatorial state remain in control. In opposition-held areas, including those with a Turkish presence, armed groups have enacted one form or another of Islamic law. In areas under the control of the SDF, Russian and American troops compete for territory, and the Arabization of the Baath Party has been replaced with an official ethnic pluralism that is new to Syria since its independence an explicit rejection of Arab nationalism. The economy is destroyed in all regions, a victim of corruption, civil war, foreign sanctions, and now the coronavirus. These factors brought down the Syrian currency, the pound or lira. The country is now on the verge of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, as mass starvation becomes a real possibility. But it is not just the economic and humanitarian disaster that unites these otherwise divergent areas of control. It is also the unwillingness to accept a pluralism of ideas, as Turki Ali al-Rabius described. To a large extent this is a practical necessity. Nascent political projects with little power could scarcely afford to allow those trying to undermine their authority to operate freely in areas under their control. If your opponent is playing a zero-sum game, it is suicidal not to play one as well. This also meant, however, that no group was actively working towards an intellectual or political pluralism, despite claims to the contrary. The Syrian government under the Assad family has always been an authoritarian regime, but it became even more difficult for critics to operate within government territory after the war began. For example, the writer Yassin al-Haj Saleh was a political prisoner from 1980 to 1996 in government prisons, and emerged as an important intellectual in Syria after he was released. He remained in Syria, and rightly criticized his peers for writing about the country from abroad, primarily Europe, before the war. When the uprising began in 2011, however, and he supported the protest movement, his position became untenable and he hid with his wife in rebel-held territory in the Damascus suburbs. The slight opening for limited criticism of the regime, starting more or less when Bashar al-Assad took over in 2000, had ended. Al-Haj Saleh eventually went to his native Raqqa in 2013 and finally left the country, sensing that he was in danger, but his wife Samira Khalil was detained along with three other activists by jihadist rebels in the group Jaysh al-Islam after he left. Their fate is unknown. One of the alleged perpetrators was arrested in France earlier this year, where he was living on a student visa. Which brings us to the opposition. There was never a coherent structure to either the military or civilian components of the Syrian opposition after 2011. But one characteristic that encompasses all the areas that fell under their control is, like other areas, the unwillingness to tolerate dissenters. Samira Khalil is a good example. She was not alone among former political prisoners, who were then targeted by groups that also opposed the Syrian government and claimed to support freedom and dignity, as the slogans went. It became practically impossible for non-Sunnis to live in opposition areas, a few exceptions notwithstanding. But to take a representative example, a friend of mine from Raqqa who asked not to be named was a political prisoner in the 2000s for a year and locally was well-known as a critic of the Syrian government. After the government withdrew from Raqqa in March 2013, he was immediately threatened, largely because he is not Sunni. Despite being known in Raqqa as a government critic, he had to slip out of the city and eventually ended up in government-controlled areas, where he lives today. The regime that imprisoned him was a safer bet than the opposition, even before ISIS finally eliminated its rivals and took sole control over the city. Slogans demanding freedom did not equate to democratic governance when the government left. Then came ISIS. The terror groups actions are well-known and need no elaboration here. They were really a caricature of the intolerance of modern Syrian politics combined with modern jihadist intolerance. No dissent was allowed, even within their own ranks. Had al-Rabiu lived to see the group, he might have considered them part of the phenomenon he identified: the violent Islamist reaction to state oppression. Of course, a wide range of thinkers have rejected this view that ISISs violence is reactionary. Al-Rabiu himself was responding in his book to Nabil Abdul Fatah, an Egyptian thinker who contended that modern Islamists violence is imbedded in their rhetoric, and is not merely a reaction to state violence. But whether or not ISISs violence is reactionary, those opposed to their rule had limited choices: fight, flee, or endure. It was easiest to endure if you were Sunni Arab and therefore avoided suspicion based on identity alone. But even some others, such as a few Christians in Raqqa, were able to put their heads down, follow the strict rules imposed on them, and survive ISISs rule. They were the exception, however, not the rule. There was little room for those opposed to the caliphate to live in areas under ISIS control, and those who remained did so only because they knew that the group would not last. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led by the Kurdish YPG, still control a large swathe of Syrias northeast. The areas beyond the Euphrates are historically known as al-Jazira, and have always been more ethnically diverse than the rest of Syria. The SDFs coalition of Arabs, Kurds, Syriac and Assyrian Christians, and other minority groups is a testament to the areas diversity. The SDF has certainly fostered a pluralism of religion and ethnicity that does not exist elsewhere in the country (the government has maintained religious diversity while rejecting ethnic diversity; the pan-Islamists of the opposition and ISIS have allowed ethnic diversity without religious diversity). On a political level, however, the SDF too have oppressed those opposed to their project. The dominant Kurdish political party, the PYD, initially marginalized the pro-opposition Kurdish National Council, for example, and prevented them from working in areas under SDF control. Recently, under American stewardship, the PYD has signed an understanding with the Kurdish National Council to allow them to resume activity in the area, which would be an important step toward enacting true political pluralism. Likewise, the dominant Christian party in the area, the Syriac Union Party, has made overtures of reconciliation with opposition parties such as the Assyrian Democratic Organization. If these overtures are met, Syrias northeast could finally see a form of political pluralism not yet seen anywhere in the country. It is too early to judge the results. Even before this agreement, however, the areas under SDF control have had significantly more openness and diversity than other areas government, opposition, and ISIS but political opponents have nonetheless been targeted and the area cannot be considered truly democratic. We dont know yet whether they are on a path to a more inclusive form of governance, which is possible, or if they will slide back into the authoritarian politics and the zero-sum game characteristic of Syrias history since independence. Writing in 2004 in his history of the Iraqi Baath Party, Lebanese writer Hazem Saghieh wondered about how democracy could be enacted in the region. The American invasion of Iraq in 2003 was painful for many Arabs, a stark reminder of just how weak their people had become. Even those who had no love for Saddam Hussein couldnt help but feel uncomfortable with how easily a foreign power removed an Arab leader. But Saghieh blamed the regions people, saying it was the regional failure to get rid of the regime of mass graves that opened the door for a foreign power to do so. The saying is true that democracy cannot be imposed from above, Saghieh wrote, but this prompts a bigger problem than it solves: have the correct, serious expressions appeared among us to demand democracy from below? The Arab Spring was the first real test of that question after the Iraq invasion. If Syria is any indication, the answer must be no. Nearly ten years ago, almost everyone following the news had a sense of hope that change was finally coming to countries like Syria. Now, it is hard to imagine even a return to the status quo antebellum, let alone forward progress on a path to democracy or some other form of better governance. In retrospect, the origins of the current intolerance were quite obvious (at least for readers of Turki Ali al-Rabiu and other Syrian intellectuals). When the revolution started in 2011, the voices anticipating positive change drowned out the naysayers. But for now, the naysayers have been largely vindicated. For Syrians who want to resolve the conflict and move forward, the solution is so simple, yet so evasive: build an intellectual and political environment where dissent is tolerated and respected. It must necessarily start with the notion that it is not treasonous to have an opinion outside the mainstream. The Syrian government may be the worst violator of this principle, but is certainly not alone. For outsiders who want to help the country, as many did in 2011, closer scrutiny of both rhetoric and action might prevent destabilizing interventions on behalf of political actors who chant freedom without demanding that they clarify whether that freedom applies to their opponents as well. More from National Review A Bangladeshi man has been shot dead after Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired from a pump action gun to thwart a smuggling bid along the India-Bangladesh international border in West Bengal, the force said Sunday. A BSF jawan also suffered minor injury on his ear after he was attacked by a smuggler with a 'dah' (a cleaver like chopper), it said. "A suspected Bangladeshi smuggler has been killed in the Indian territory while he was trying to smuggle Phensedyl," the force said in a statement. The incident took place around 10 PM Saturday when the troops of the 24th battalion were scanning the area near Gopalnagar post in Malda district for a cross-border smuggling attempt. The BSF said a group of 10-12 Bangladeshi and Indian smugglers were noticed moving close to the border fence on either side and as soon as the troops challenged them, those on the Indian side fled after throwing a cache of Phensedyl bottles "on the fence". The consignment got "entangled" in the fence and some Bangaldeshi men rushed to collect it, it said. While some Bangaldeshi men started running away noticing BSF presence, one of them attacked a jawan, the force said. "The BSF jawan while exercising the right of self-defence fired one round of non-lethal weapon called pump action gun to disperse the Bangladeshi smugglers.If he would not have fired, the jawan may have been killed by the group of Bangladeshi smugglers," the BSF's south Bengal frontier said. The body has been handed over to the local police. Phensedyl is a codeine-based cough syrup and abused as an intoxicant in the neighbouring country that follows liquor prohibition. It is abused by youngsters and is "consumed in large quantity against the recommended small dose to get a kick", according to a recent BSF report. The force said it is carrying out a 'zero trafficking' campaign along this front in West Bengal and it is "determined and committed" to this task. (Image Credits:PTI) A man who was arrested in London on suspicion of war crimes during the Liberian civil wars has been released under investigation. The man was arrested in south east London on Thursday by the Metropolitan Police war crimes team at around 7.20am. Scotland Yard said the alleged offences relate to the first and second civil wars in Liberia between 1989 and 2003. Officers questioned the suspect at a central London police station before releasing him on Friday. Police have also finished searching an address in south-east London and the inquiry continues. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001. The Liberian civil war raged from 1989 when minister Charles Taylor started an uprising in a bid to topple the government. Backed by a rebel group, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), he gained control of large areas of the country and rose to become one of Africas most prominent warlords. The NPFL has been accused of a wide range of human rights abuses and the large numbers of deaths during the conflict eventually led to the involvement of the UN and the Economic Community of West African States. A final peace agreement led to the election of Taylor as president of Liberia in 1997. A second civil war broke out in 1999 and Taylor was forced into exile in 2003. He was later jailed for committing war crimes in neighbouring Sierra Leone. CLEVELAND, Ohio Its tough to make it in the art world, even for young artists credentialed with art school degrees. Despite a market flooded with glitzy art fairs and fat cat collectors, a national study published in 2014 by the art collective BFAMFAPhD, reported that of 2 million arts graduates in the U.S., only 10 percent, or 200,000, were making their primary earnings as working artists. The study also found that getting an arts degree might not be necessary. Of 1.4 million working artists identified in the report, only 16 percent had an arts-related bachelors degree. Meghana Karnik, a Cleveland native and independent curator, artist, and arts administrator, has been reflecting on such realities while working as an associate curator for the FRONT International: Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art and as an associate director of EFA Project Space in New York. Her ruminations have resulted in Title TBD,' a provocative and engaging exhibition at the Cleveland Institute of Art that explores survival modes developed by six individual artists and three groups working their way through two recessions and a global pandemic. Its no joke, and no question; its a difficult, financially precarious field, Karnik said in an interview about the trials of becoming an artist. The exhibitions title can be read in two ways: It refers to artists whose futures are still evolving, and to the grit and determination required for success in any field. Karnik said she organized the show after talking to numerous young artists before and during the pandemic about how theyre trying to maintain their generative reserves, that sense of creativity or cradle-to-grave love that brings them into the field, and how they continue to foster that as they start to navigate the art world, which involves so many different kinds of social relationships, non-standard career trajectories, unclear forms of etiquette, and different class levels mixing in a certain context. Part motivational event, part cultural survey, part manifesto, the exhibition documents a sense of precariousness in the daily lives of young artists, and shows how theyre meeting their challenges in ways that go beyond standard painting and sculpture. While intended for an audience of undergrads at CIA, anyone can relate to the show. It mourns the loss of physical and social interactions made unsafe by the coronavirus. It laments historical injustices such as the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. And it offers a snapshot of todays uneasy zeitgeist with artistic testimony ranging from esoteric to eloquent, and from poignant to profound. On view are works with a kooky utopian twist, such as the blobby, biomorphic sculptures of New York artist Thomas Barger, which double as shelves for storage and display. One such piece resembles an abstraction of a cows body, sliced in half, with cozy-looking cavities hollowed out for holding books or swatches of fabric. - Thomas Barger's "I Never Had a Closet Closet,'' 2018, which resembles half a cow sliced open and turned into a piece of furniture, is on view the Cleveland Institute of Art exhibition "Title TBD.'' Steven Litt, Cleveland.comSteven Litt, Cleveland.com In Bargers case, the survival strategy appears to be that of making unique, collectible objects that flout the homogeneity of mass-produced furnishings. Another strategy that of anchoring a career in teaching is embodied in the research-based works of Jeff Kasper, a New York-based artist and educator with gigs at Fordham University, the New School and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Kasper studies proxemics, the science of how much space people need between each other to feel comfortable. The poignant note in the show is that his works, including an exercise matt designed to enable a touching game, may now only be displayed and not used, because the pandemic renders touching off limits. The key thematic piece contributed by Kasper is a laser-etched acrylic trophy incised with the words how long do I practice before I become?' which sums up the point that having a bachelor of fine arts degree does not necessarily an artist make. Karnik said the show, originally scheduled for the previous academic year at CIA, had to be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. It continued to evolve as artists responded with works keyed to the moment. Especially notable in this context is Lukaza Branfman-Verissimos Touch,' a 3-minute video in which the camera focuses on the artists lips, colored with blue lipstick, as she recites the word touch as something to be celebrated as part of being human, but which must also be deferred until it is safe to enjoy again. Interestingly, all a viewer can see of Branfman-Verissimos face as she recites her incantatory homage to touch is her mouth and nose the very features that must now be masked in public to slow the spread of the virus. The shows big anchor is a rave-worthy, 32-minute 2018 video by the Brussels-based artist-actress Ariane Loze. Its worth donning a mask and getting your temperature checked at CIA just to see this piece. Entitled LArchipel du moi,' or, in English, The Archipelago of Me,' the work is an elegantly restrained drama in French, with English subtitles in which a young woman visits a factory where a female sales agent shows off models of various young women whose identities the customer may wish to acquire. Loze plays every part in the video, creating an illusion of multiple aspects of herself interacting seamlessly with each other in real time and space. One scene explores a factory floor in which newly produced models' line up as if they just popped off an assembly line. In another, a model who has been returned to the factory for redressage,' or straightening,' has her brain cleaned by a long tube attached to an exhaust hood placed over her head. Impressive, isnt it?' the sales agent says to her potential client. Dont worry, its absolutely painless. Lozes superb acting, photography and editing create an atmosphere thats tense, surreal and humorous. The video is packed with references to fashion, modernist design and contemporary artists such as Cindy Sherman, whose photo-based work explores how identity is constructed through appearance. Its also easy to imagine that Loze is an admirer of Charlie Chaplins hapless factory worker in Modern Times.' Her theme of exploring the mutability of the self is awash in anxiety, yet the video adopts a tone of cool precision, which creates an admirable and delicious tension. Lozes survival mode as an artist is clear. All she needs to do is keep working at the level shes achieved in her video, and shell find an audience. Excellence is always the best strategy. REVIEW Whats up: Title TBD,' group exhibition on survival journeys of artists navigating a precarious arts ecosystem. Venue: Cleveland Institute of Art Reinberger Gallery. Where: 11610 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. When: Through Sunday, Oct. 4. Admission: Free, by appointment. Face coverings required. Call 216-421-7407 or go to cia.edu/exhibitions. Dhaka, Sep 7 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said it is necessary to verify whether mosques across the country have been constructed after prior approval from the appropriate authorities and with proper designs, so that incidents like Narayanganj mosque blast don't happen again. She told the parliament that the concerned authorities have been asked to find out the reasons behind the deadly blast in the mosque on Friday night that caused multiple deaths and injuries. "Experts have visited the place of occurrence and samples are being collected to this end," she said. Calling the incident "extremely tragic", she said air-conditioners are sometimes being installed in mosques in an unplanned way and some mosques are built without proper plans. "It's absolutely essential to make sure if the place is suitable for construction of a structure or permission has been taken from appropriate authorities and design has been made properly. Otherwise, such incidents like mosque blast/fire might happen any time," Hasina told the parliament. "I directed the cabinet secretary and other authorities concerned to find out the reason behind the blast in a mosque of Naraganganj," she told the Jatiya Sangsad while taking part in a discussion on an obituary motion. "Six air conditioners were installed at such a small place (mosque). Besides, the mosque has been said to be built on a gas pipe line. Usually, no construction on a gas pipe line is allowed. Has RAJUK given permission? None can give such permission having all time risk of happening such an incident. It is being investigated now," she said. The premier asked the authorities concerned to look into the matter whether air conditioners are being connected at mosques across the country in an unplanned way or the mosques are being built at unauthorized places. Describing the explosion in a mosque as a matter of sorrow, Hasina said that her government has taken every possible measure to provide better treatment to the burn injured people, adding that she is exchanging messages about the updates of the injured people with Dr Samanta Lal Sen, chief coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute. In his Mann ki Baat radio address last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the role dogs have played over the years in protecting national security. Around the same time, the ground was already being laid for strengthening dog squads of security forces across the country. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) recently issued guidelines asking the Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) to undertake large-scale breeding of Police Service K9s, or PSKs, not only to meet their own requirements but also for other central/state police forces. The three paramilitary forces, which have well-established dog breeding and training centres (DB&TCs) and specialized veterinary officers, have been asked to diversify PSKs by introducing breeds like the Springer Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Working Line German Shepherd, Beagle, Dutch Shepherd, Blood Hound and other breeds in Indian K9 units. They have been given permission to procure quality K9 breeding stock from the open market or import it, if necessary, to meet the requirement of security forces, according to the guidelines reviewed by HT. According to official government data, state police forces had 1,470 sniffer dogs and 790 tracker dogs and the central armed police forces (or paramilitary forces) 1,702 sniffer dogs and 407 tracker dogs in 2019. BSF, which guards Indias borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, had the highest number of 108 tracker dogs and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) had the most number of 445 sniffer dogs to check for explosives at airports, metro stations and other sensitive installations. The army has over 1,200 trained dogs. The number of trained dogs in Indian armed forces and police departments for internal security duties, counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir, states where Maoist rebels are active, the northeast and border areas is very low, experts say. Former CRPF director general K Durga Prasad said :Its an undisputed fact that dogs do excellent jobs in anti-sabotage checks, camp security and sniffing explosives. Yet there is a huge shortage of dogs in all the forces as well as states police which needs to be fulfilled through scientific breeding. MHA has ordered that the procurement of pops as young as three months should not be allowed. Currently, the pups are procured at the age of three months, which the ministry feels is too young an age for evaluating their aptitude for police duties. Pups should be reared by DB&TCs till they become young adult when their behaviours and personalities could be evaluated to ascertain the levels of prerequisite traits needed for preparing proficient PSKs, the MHA guidelines say. For young adult dogs, known as Green Dogs, screening is mandatory to ascertain their suitability for training as proficient PSKs, it adds. Green Dogs sold to other forces must be given basic/tactical obedience training between the ages of six and months and must be environmentally stable and affable enough to perform police duties, according to the MHA. The guidelines add that the K9 Behaviour Assessment Test (BAT) will be one of the criteria in determining their Estimated Breeding Value (EBVs) to plan and undertake future breeding programmes based on scientific principles of animal breeding and genetics. DB&TCs have been asked to prepare strategies for PSK breeding to meet the requirement of security organizations. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which has a full-fledged DB&TC as well, will continue breeding of pups, especially Belgian Malinois, to meet its own requirements. The decision is aimed at increasing the role of canines in armed forces and police and to provide best genetic quality, trainable dogs for all forces deployed in different terrains or states, said an officer at one of the DB&TCs, requesting anonymity German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas attends a press conference at the Foreign Ministry in Berlin on Sept. 2, 2020. (Stefanie Loos/Pool via AP) Germany Ups Pressure on Russia in Navalny Poisoning Probe BERLINGermany on Sunday increased pressure on Russia over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, warning that a lack of support by Moscow in the investigation could force Germany to rethink the fate of a German-Russian gas pipeline project. I hope the Russians wont force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told weekly Bild am Sonntag. Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny takes part in a rally to mark the 5th anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsovs murder and to protest against proposed amendments to the countrys constitution, in Moscow, on Feb. 29, 2020. (Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters) Maas also said that if there wont be an contributions from the Russian side regarding the investigation in the coming days, we will have to consult with our partners. He did not exclude possible punishments against Russia, telling the newspaper that if we think about sanctions, they should be pinpointed effectively. However, Maas also admitted that halting the building of the nearly completed gas pipeline would harm German and European companies. Whoever demands this has to be aware of the consequences, he said. More than 100 companies from 12 European countries are involved (in the construction), about half of them from Germany. A stretcher is taken from special aircraft with the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on board at Tegel Airport in Berlin on Aug. 22, 2020. ( Michael Kappeler/dpa via AP) The German government has come under growing pressure to use the joint German-Russian pipeline project as leverage in getting Russia to provide answers on Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea when completed, bypassing Ukraine. Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow last month and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital since he was flown to Germany for treatment on Aug. 22. German authorities have said that tests showed that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities previously identified the nerve agent, developed during the Soviet era, as the poison used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018. We have high expectations from the Russians to bring light into this severe crime, Maas said. If they have nothing to do with this attack then its in their own interest to put the facts on the table. President Vladimir Putins spokesman has brushed off allegations that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning Navalny and said last week that Germany hadnt provided Moscow with any evidence about the politicians condition. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalnys poisoning an attempted murder that aimed to silence one of Putins fiercest critics and called for a full investigation. Merkel personally offered the countrys assistance in treating Navalny. Hes now in stable condition at Berlins Charite hospital, but doctors expect a long recovery and havent ruled out that the 44-year-old could face long-term effects to his health. Merkel has previously rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The U.S. has long opposed the project, which has been increasingly a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. In early August, three Republican senators threatened sanctions against an operator of a Baltic Sea port located in Merkels parliamentary constituency over its part in Nord Stream 2. The Mukran port is a key staging post for ships involved in its construction. The U.S. argues the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas. Its also opposed by Ukraine and Poland, which will be bypassed by the pipeline under the Baltic, as well as some other European nations. By Kirsten Grieshaber 06.09.2020 LISTEN Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has said President Akufo Addo is quick to react to 'social media political jabs', than the peace and security of the country. The President during a meeting with the Catholic Bishop Conference lamented over a Facebook post shared by Presidential Candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama which allegedly contain enthocentric comment. The President in his statement described the post as unacceptable. "The comment made by my opponent 'Akyem Sakawa people, I've not heard any public figure, independent, yourself or anybody comment on it, and I think this is unacceptable," the president lamented. But Sammy Gyamfi, in a Facebook post, questioned the integrity of the president for ignoring 'the state-sponsored ethnocentric harassment against Ewes and northerners at Banda, Ketu South, Ahafo Ano North' among others, during the recent voter registration exercise and rather respond to social media jabs. "So President Akufo Addo is actually alive to social media political jabs, whilst he pretends not to see nor hear about any of the state-sponsored acts that have threatened and continue to threaten the peace and cohesion of this country? "So President Akufo Addo has not heard about the state-sponsored ethnocentric harassment against Ewes and northerners at Banda, Ketu South, Ahafo Ano North among others, during the recent voter registration exercise?" he quizzes. According to him, the president has rather exhibited an ethnocentric attitude with deliberate misuse of state security agencies against 'particular ethnic groups during the voter registration exercise. In his view, "It is now obvious that President Akufo Addo and the NPP's obsession with the name "Mahama" can no longer be discounted. Indeed, for those who had time to count, President Mahama's name is said to have received over 1000 mentions during the NPP's recent manifesto launch, far more than any policy proposition the NPP presented to the Ghanaian people." Mumbai: Reminiscing about fond memories on the sets of comedy-drama `Chhichhore`, actor Shraddha Kapoor on Sunday celebrated the one-year anniversary of the film `in loving memory` of Sushant Singh Rajput. The `Street Dancer 3D` actor took a walk down the memory lane and paid an emotional tribute to Sushant as the movie clocked one year. The clip posted on social media chronicles some behind the screen pictures and short clips featuring the cast and crew of the film and some immemorable moments with Sushant. The emotional video starts with the song `Woh Din` from the movie playing in the backdrop, as the frame shows an album with the star cast of the film opening--that read, "Woh din bhi kya din the." As the album opens up--it shows Sushant sitting in a taxi which later shows his bond with the team members featuring Shraddha, Varun Sharma and some candid moments with the other cast members. The video also shows some snippets from a movie promotion and some of the most cherished memories from the film set while shooting it. The short clip also shows a glimpse of the bonding scenes between the star cast and the film director and producer. It ends with a crowd shouting `Chhichhore` as Sushant waves his hands in the air. Along with the post, the `Stree` actor noted: "In loving memory...#1YearOfChhichhore." Apart from Sushant and Shraddha, the college drama also stars Varun Sharma, Tahir Raj Bhasin, Naveen Polishetty, Saharsh Kumar Shukla and Tushar Pandey in pivotal roles. Varun Sharma also paid an emotional tribute to Sushant as he shared a black post and remembered the late actor`s role in the film and noted, "Kamli," along with a red heart and a star emoji. `Chhichhore` is full of nostalgia and plays on the themes of friendship and college life. The film revolves around Anni (played by Sushant) and his college buddies. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and had hit the big screens on September 6, 2019. A crowded street corner on Wednesday night in Wuhan, capital of Central Chinas Hubei Province. As the city has lifted the lockdown for nearly two months, life has slowly returned to normal. Photo: IC Chinese society is at its most stable period in recent years. The prestige of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as its long-term ruling party has been consolidated. The outside world, especially Washington, should not misjudge China's political situation, for the following reasons: First, China has put the coronavirus epidemic under tight control. When most countries such as the US and India fall prey to the global pandemic, Chinese society is returning to normal with full momentum. This great achievement has brought change to people's fundamental understanding of China's system. This understanding has melted people's queries into the "flawed" Chinese system at the early stage of coronavirus in Wuhan. People now believe that their country's system is able to cope with all kinds of extreme challenges. Those seemingly impossible missions could be achieved under the leadership of the CPC. China is surrounded by the pandemic across the world, but it can prevent the epidemic from erupting again. China can bring the number of newly confirmed cases to zero, and can find and effectively control imported cases. China has done so well that it has formed a whole set of experience in coping with the epidemic. Second, the image of the US is falling apart in the eyes of the Chinese people. In the past, the Chinese people looked up to the US where they viewed as a paradise, and where they went either for immigration or study or to make a fortune. Even Hong Kong and Taiwan were lands of prosperity for mainland people. Nonetheless, as Chinese cities develop fast, the improvement in living standards is reshaping people's minds. The US-led trade war against China has made the Chinese people better understand the US. The Chinese people find that the US political elite are unreasonable, narrow-minded, and simply lying. Since the eruption of the pandemic, it is even more shocking to many Chinese that the US pays no heed to science. We just find the true face of the US which we admired so much. Third, the Chinese government serves the people, unlike the US government that serves capital. China still faces many problems, and the epidemic has affected the economy. But the Chinese people have realized that at key moments, people can count on the CPC to reverse the tide. The epidemic in Wuhan proved this, and the loss of control in many parts of the world, including the US, serves as a foil to it. In the face of tough times, the lives and health of the people, rather than capital and interests, are prioritized. When people's sufferings are exposed on the internet, the government will swiftly respond. While in the US, as many people died from the epidemic, the president and his team just show indifference. Despite the highly developed media, the misery of the Americans hardly catches any attention, or triggers sympathy from the upper class. More than 180,000 people have died, and over 6 million are infected, while support for the US government remains unaffected. How twisted is the US value system? China has its own problems, such as bureaucracy and formalism. The people are aware of these, and quite vocal about them. Wiping out these chronic problems is a long-term challenge for China. Compared to other countries, China is more politically united. China will march forward and solve its problems. Those who try to drive a wedge between the CPC and the Chinese people are just dreaming to move the Himalayas from Asia to America. New Delhi, Sep 6 : The Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha (IPICOL), a state government agency, has said that there seem to be an "incongruency" in the results, as the state recorded a dismal performance in the Centre's Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) rankings with its performance worsening as per the data. In a statement, IPICOL has said that it will seek further details and clarification on the evaluation methodology from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). "There seems to be an incongruency in the results as states/UTs which have implemented no/much lower number of reforms have been ranked higher than states which have implemented significant reforms. Further details and clarifications on the evaluation methodology will be sought from DPIIT, Government of India, on the results announced," it said. As per the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) rankings for 2019 released on Saturday, Odisha dropped 15 positions to the 29th spot. The statement also said that these are dated rankings for reforms implemented by various states in 2018 and over the past two years, a significant number of reforms has been implemented by various government departments of Odisha. "The conducive business environment in the state is also reflected in the investments received by the state during the past two years. During the period of April-September 2019, Odisha became the top investment destination in the country by attracting the highest amount of investment (18 per cent of total investment in India)," it said. The state had implemented 180 out of 187 reform action points recommended by DPIIT, it said, adding that the evidence of implementation was submitted by the state and the evidence for all 180 reforms was also approved by DPIIT. The statement contended that the survey agency appointed by DPIIT could not complete the feedback survey with the industries and MSMEs in the state and therefore, the reforms implemented by the state could not be accounted for. As per IPICOL, even during the ongoing pandemic, the state received more than 200 investment proposals. "Thus, these rankings do not reflect the current business environment in the state and do not incorporate the recent reform initiatives implemented by the state," it said. The Centre on Saturday conferred Andhra Pradesh the title of the best performing state in terms of implementing business reforms. The 'State Business Reform Action Plan 2019' is aimed at improving the business environment by streamlining regulatory structures and simplifying procedures, digitisation of information and easing the compliance burden. It aspires to create an investor-friendly business climate by cutting down red tape. As per the latest ranking, Uttar Pradesh stood second and Telangana was the third-best state in implementing business reforms in 2019. China contacted Vietnam last week to let us know it was planning to open one of its dams to ease rising water levels. And on August 21 it did indeed send water rushing into what becomes the Red River in Vietnam. It didnt say how much was released, which is bad given the Red River Delta is prone to flash flooding from tropical storms, like the recent Higos, which killed seven people, injured four, destroyed 1,000 houses, and damaged more than 1,600ha of crops. The setting of the sun in Y Ty Commune. VNS Photos by Cao Huong Bat Xat, the westernmost district in Lao Cai Province, is where the Red River starts. Damage has been moderate, though, as the river cuts through remote mountains with isolated communities. This part of Bat Xat has long been on must-see lists for the northwest, boasting magnificent mountains, clean air, and colourful ethnic minorities. By two or four wheels, distant mountains, misty jungle, and oddly-shaped white clouds count among the jaw-dropping scenery. Now is harvest time, and tourists and photographers descend upon the mountains to admire and capture the local beauty, try some new rice, and breathe in fresh air and rice aroma. But Bat Xat is beautiful all year round. In spring, wild peach and plum flowers in bloom make for a beautiful panorama of mountain slopes blanketed in pink and white. The blanket changes to green in summer, of rice plants in terraced fields. Autumn, which is now, is harvest time, when the ground becomes bare, while winter cold is subdued by heat from wood fires and local maize liquor. Climb high Two mountains around Bat Xat can be found on the list of Vietnams ten highest peaks: Nhiu Co San and, higher still, Ky Quan San, in the top five. Nhiu Co San means buffalo horns in the Ha Nhi language. In Sang Ma Sao Commune and 2,965 metres above sea level, Nhiu Co San is largely untouched, with primeval jungle and challenging terrain catching the eye of trekkers and climbers alike. Ky Quan San, meanwhile, runs along the border between Bat Xat and Phong Tho District, and climbers have put Bach Moc Luong Tu height at 3,046m above sea level in the mountain range. According to amateur climbing clubs, climbers first reached this peak only recently, in 2013. There are two ways up from Sang Ma Sao Commune, which is as far as a vehicle can take you, or from Chi Sang Commune in neighbouring Lai Chau Province, which is difficult to reach by any means of transport. Its most definitely only for experienced climbers. When a cable car made Mt Phan Xi Pang (Fansipan), Vietnams highest peak at 3143m, accessible to nearly everyone in 2016, many climbers began to seek other challenges, especially mountains that had yet to be conquered. And while the Bach Moc Luong Tu peak is a particularly challenging place to trek, its also among the most rewarding because of its spectacular scenery. Another new trekking path has opened up in recent years, called the Pavi ancient stone path a branch of an ancient tea route that connected tea producing regions in Vietnam, China, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and India. If youre up to it, try the 200-km trekking loop from Ban Vuoc to Muong Hum, Den Sang, and Y Ty, turn around at Ngai Thau, then A Lu, A Mu Sung, and Trinh Tuong communes. You wont be disappointed. Starting from Ban Vuoc Commune, the route cuts through tea plantations and passes by ethnic Dao women carrying the morning tea harvest on their backs. Youll also pass through traditional villages of the ethnic Dao Do and Giay, where you can admire the wooden architecture of their houses and their traditional folk songs, silversmithing craft in Seo Po Ho hamlet, and famed alcohol distilled from rice buds, called San Lung. Youre certain to come across a few charming yet chilly streams and springs along the way, and be ready to pass under waterfalls with names like Red, Dragon and Bee. You then leave Den Sang for Y Ty, where you can explore the life and culture of the Ha Nhi. Just where the loop starts to close is a newly discovered cave, in A Lu Commune. Reaching the 100-metre-long cave involves passing through a hundred-year-old bamboo forest in Khoa San Chai hamlet, about 1,200m above sea level. Arriving afterwards in A Mu Sung Commune, visitors greet the Lung Po flagpole, the point where the Red River begins in Vietnams territory. Ethnic life and colours Adding to the beautiful natural landscapes of Bat Xat, the people who call the land home make local life and culture a voyage of discovery. The Ha Nhi, Gisy, Dao, and Mong live next to each other but maintain their own traditions and customs. The Giay honour their terraced rice field rituals, the Ha Nhi worship their jungles, the Dao preserve their sacred fire dancing myths, and the Mong perform their traditional pan-pipe dance the pride of any Mong man. If you venture up anywhere in the mountains, try not to miss a market fair, where local life is on display amid vibrant colours and get-togethers. This is where local farm and forest produce is brought on the back of horses or of people. Local people also open their doors to visitors, in community tourism programmes where tourists get to live the life of real mountain people. Authorities at all levels have invested in upgrading the road network and assisted in designing, packaging and marketing local products. Sustainability reigns above all for local governments, businesses and tour operators. Recommended treks: 1. Sa Pa - Ban Xeo - Muong Hum - Sang Ma Sao - Den Sang - Y Ty - A Mu Sung - Lao Cai, and return. 2. Lao Cai - Bat Xat - Muong Vi - Ban Xeo - Muong Hum - Ban Khoang - Ta Giang Phing - Sa Pa, and return. 3. Sa Pa - Ban Xeo - Muong Hum - Y Ty - A Lu - A Mu Sung - Trinh Tuong - Lao Cai, and return. 4. Sa Pa - Ban Xeo - Muong Hum - Khu Chu Phin - Phong Tho - Lai Chau, and return. VNS Vietnam tourism launches sustainable travel showcase online Foreign travellers dreaming of their next vacation in Vietnam can now find the countrys best sustainable tourism options in one online destination. The front porch of a home near downtown Mechanicsburg, decorated in support of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Democrats have made gains in Cumberland County. Read more MECHANICSBURG, Pa. Sara Agerton is the only Democrat on the seven-person borough council in Mechanicsburg and the only woman. She won her seat in this small city outside Harrisburg by just 16 votes last year. On her way to council meetings on Tuesday nights, she drives past lawn after lawn displaying Trump signs. But Agerton sees cracks in the Republican foundation of her hometown, and in surrounding Cumberland County. Mechanicsburg is a Republican town, but its getting closer, Agerton, 40, said this week. Youre seeing other towns on the outskirts taking a dive into the moderate-to-left views. Am I predicting a landslide? Absolutely not. But were taking back a little at a time. In nearby Carlisle, Democrats swept elections for borough council in 2019. Newly formed Democratic clubs keep popping up in other Harrisburg suburbs like Camp Hill, Upper Allen Township, and Silver Spring Township. And a congressional race in a district that includes Cumberland is seen as one of the most competitive in the country. The county is starting to look more like Pennsylvania as a whole, with rural areas solidly Republican, while smaller cities and more affluent suburbs are starting to trend more Democratic. Cumberland County is also one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. Housing developments are sprouting, forcing school districts to expand. This area on the west shore of the Susquehanna River is still overwhelmingly Republican. But Democrats are slowly growing their ranks, with a net gain of 8,500 registered voters since 2016. Republicans added 6,600 in that time period. Independent and third-party voters increased by about 5,000. READ MORE: Republicans are trying to survive an anti-Trump wave in the Philly suburbs: A lot of Democrats vote for me Suburban voters are getting a lot of attention in 2020. Democrats are hoping big turnout for Joe Biden in the suburbs, where Donald Trumps presidency has soured even Republicans on their party, could overcome the presidents growing advantage in rural areas and small towns. Trump is hoping to revive his dwindling suburban support with a law-and-order message. In Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia suburbs have become an epicenter of the Democratic Party. But the suburbs of central Pennsylvania are also seeing smaller gains, which could have an important impact in November and signal where Democrats can expand their party in the years to come. Shifts similar to Cumberland Countys are underway in neighboring Dauphin County to the east and in nearby Lancaster County. Like in the Philadelphia suburbs, much of the Democratic energy has been fueled by women volunteering or running for office themselves after Trumps election. As I remind people, there are suburbs besides the ones in Philadelphia, said Harrisburg-based GOP strategist Christopher Nicholas. Allentown has suburbs, Harrisburg has suburbs, Erie has suburbs, and Democrats are excited about that because theyve gone from being an afterthought to at least having a pulse. Cumberland County has attracted younger families and some retirees. Parts of it have become somewhat more diverse, though the west shore is whiter and wealthier than the state overall. I think its the suburban shift of wanting to live in town, or near Harrisburg, people coming back with higher levels of education, and really getting involved in their communities, Agerton said. We have refugee neighbors, theres a Spanish-speaking church behind my house, and yet, youll still see Confederate flags in Cumberland County. Trump won the county by 19 points, and despite some competitive races in 2018, no Democrats represent it in the state legislature. On the other hand, Gov. Tom Wolf and Sen. Bob Casey, both Democrats, carried the county on their way to reelection that year. While Biden is highly unlikely to win here, even cutting into Trumps margin could be significant in a state that was decided by less than 1% of the vote in 2016. Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,000 votes. He won Cumberland County by 22,000. I think the key in an election like this is the townships which are traditionally red and have held red, could you start getting those margins smaller? said Sean Crampsie, a Democrat on the Carlisle borough council. If you can keep chipping away and Biden ... loses by 10 points ... you dont have to be completely dependent on the more traditionally blue counties. READ MORE: Meet 24 Pennsylvania voters who will help inform our 2020 election coverage One sign of the growing Democratic strength is the race for the 10th Congressional District. Eugene DePasquale describes the district as a microcosm of the country. DePasquale, the Democratic state auditor general, is running to unseat Republican Rep. Scott Perry. The district includes all of Dauphin County (home to Harrisburg) and parts of Cumberland and York Counties. Youve got Harrisburg and York. ... You have real inner-ring suburbs, outer-ring suburbs, and then some rural parts of the district, DePasquale said. So we kind of have it all here. DePasquale is running as a moderate with an independent streak, touting his work as the states fiscal watchdog as evidence he can take on either party. Perry, a longtime conservative, has been an ardent defender of Trump whose reelection campaign messaging has closely mirrored Trumps. He said hes not worried about slight Democratic gains in places like Cumberland. Those votes are kind of up for grabs. People at the end of the day still want a safe neighborhood, peace of mind of knowing they can walk on the streets safely, Perry said Monday. You gotta go out and let them know what your position is, like whether you stand with law enforcement and kind of a civilized society or more on the side of anarchists and people protesting in the streets. At a Rotary Club meeting Wednesday, Perry appeared to dismiss the existence of systemic racism in the United States. On Thursday, the former head of the York County GOP responded by backing DePasquale. I think theres starting to be some shifts in mind-set. Im really seeing it this year. said Jean Foschi, the lone Democrat on Cumberland Countys Board of Commissioners (she holds the one seat set aside for the minority party). Foschi said she thinks some independents and Republicans have been turned off by Republican opposition to coronavirus precautions. In May, several state lawmakers pushed the county commissioners to ignore Wolfs mandate and reopen businesses. Foschi said she heard from constituents of all political persuasions. Theyre very, very Republican and they appeal to their base, but people were really angered by that, Foschi said. READ MORE: Trumps path to winning Pa. runs through small Rust Belt towns like one near Bidens hometown Republicans long outnumbered Democrats and independents combined in Cumberland. Now the county has about 89,000 Republicans, 62,000 Democrats, and 30,000 voters with third- or no-party affiliations. Republicans largely downplay the Democratic gains. I think the big story in Cumberland County is independents, said Republican State Rep. Greg Rothman. As someone running for office, Im trying to figure out who are the independents? Rothman suspects some are state government workers who dont want to be identified by a party and others are just fed up with the toxicity of politics. Rothman said that while Democrats are running more candidates than in the past, they havent had much luck. In 2019, the Democrats had more signs than theyd ever had and less votes, Rothman said. Or as Nicholas, the Republican strategist, put it: When you look at the things that normally tell you change is coming, they havent happened yet. Theres no statehouse seat, no row officer. Shanna Danielson is hoping to change that. On her porch in Dillsburg (just outside Cumberland in York County), Danielson, a music teacher, sorted postcards for volunteers helping her campaign for state Senate. Her 6-year-old son checked in periodically from inside, where he was playing Mario Kart. Danielson first ran for state representative in 2018 a decision she made on the spot at an Indivisible meeting shortly after moving to the district. Her campaign wasnt very organized then. She said this time feels different. Shes running for a seat that Democrats havent held since 1976. Theres a lot more enthusiasm and its all happened after 2018, Danielson said. Were coming out of the woodwork. Were organizing. It just seems like certain people are a bit louder in their beliefs, she added. I dont feel like were drowning in red. Danielson has the backing of progressive groups, but her pitch to Republicans and independents in the district, which includes most of Cumberland, is more about local issues. READ MORE: A Pennsylvania county voted for Obama twice. But its Trump Country now. At a borough council meeting Tuesday back in Mechanicsburg, Agerton talked with colleagues about street sweeping and how to safely hold trick-or-treating this year given the pandemic. There was no sign of political discord among the lawmakers, who went about the citys business wearing face masks. Leanne Clark attended the meeting. Clark recently moved back to the area after some time away following her husbands death. She said feeling like the political underdog in a key election is motivating. As an example, she pulled up a photo on her phone: Someone had stuck a Trump 2020 sticker on her Black Lives Matter sign. I cant tell you how ped I was, Clarke said. I hope he doesnt win here again. But, you know, that makes you fight harder. And theres more of us out here than you think. A researcher displays the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the Nikolai Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Moscow in this August file photo provided by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). / Xinhua-Yonhap RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev A family of circus performers who were wrongly accused of depraved sex crimes against children have opened up about their 206-day ordeal - and hit out at the police tactics used to incriminate them. Seven members of the Cook family - who ran a Blue Mountains-based troupe in Katoomba west of Sydney - were in 2018 arrested and charged with 127 offences related to an alleged child sex ring at their circus school. Therese Cook-Williams, 60, her 54-year-old brother Paul Cook, her daughters Yyani, 35, and Clarissa, 25, their relatives Lachie and Lucy and one other woman were all cleared of any wrongdoing in Penrith Local Court two years later in February 2020. The completely baseless allegations included rape, assault, kidnapping, participation in bizarre 'blood rituals' as well as false claims Therese bit down into the penis of one of the boys before using her teeth to pick him off the ground. Members of the family were kept in custody for as long as 206 days before being granted bail. Clarissa Meredith on Sunday night revealed New South Wales Police went to such lengths to find evidence against her they even enlisted a detective who she had dated to try and get a confession. Therese Cook-Williams was told she could be facing 25 years to life behind bars after being falsely accused with being the ringleader of a child sex ring Therese's daughter Yyani-Rose Cook-Williams, 35, was falsely accused of 'inciting' a boy to rape another little boy The junior policeman was wearing a wire and Clarissa said she had no idea her conversations with him were being recorded. 'I think a month had passed or so without any contact between me and him and then out of nowhere I get this text [saying] "can we start seeing each other again",' she told 60 Minutes. 'I thought it would be fine. The police would not stoop to this level of getting a cop who used to date me to interrogate me - that wouldn't happen.' Clarissa denied involvement in any sex crimes against children when questioned by the informant. 'I did like him and I did trust him - it just adds an extra level of betrayal. The entire night was wired,' she said. The family on Sunday also addressed footage police used to falsely allege they were running a paedophile ring. What seemed like innocent handheld video was used by police to argue falsely the family were sexually abusing young children Clarissa Meredith on Sunday night revealed the extreme lengths police went to in a bid to get her to confess to offences she did not commit One short and seemingly innocent handheld video showed two young children enjoying themselves with Yyani and Therese on a set of playground equipment. Even though the clip showed nothing untoward, police wrongly alleged that on the same day the footage was filmed Yyani forced the children to perform sexual acts on each other. 'I didn't understand how they could see the boys so happy and normal and believe they've just gone through these really horrific experiences,' Yyani said. Yyani Cook-Williams was granted bail in August 2018 following her arrest in February of that year In March 2019, one of the boys who claimed he was a victim of the family wrote a letter to his mother admitting he had lied about being sexually assaulted. But by that point the three women had spent seven months in prison - with Therese told she could be facing 25 years to life behind bars. For Clarissa, three weeks of her incarceration were in a cold solitary confinement cell where the lights always stayed on. 'You couldn't sleep. It was freezing. And you can hear the guards talking about you. They call you names and threaten you: "you're going to be raped in here. You're going to be bashed'',' she said. Therese, who was the wrongly accused ringleader, said her greatest distress were the death threats. 'I was scared of being killed,' she said. 'I was just told when I was arrested that I'd be in prison for 25 years to life.' All allegations against the family were false, with the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrawing all 127 charges, but the family was forced to hear them in court as the case played out in the public eye. Yyani Cook-Williams pictured left after she was released on bail from Silverwater Correctional Facility in August 2018 'I still get scared. Very, very scared,' Ms Cook said. 'I dont think Im broken. I think Im different. I want to be resilient. I dont know how my life will be. I still get scared very, very scared.' In a statement, NSW Police stood firm in their prosecution of the family and criticised the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for deciding there were 'no reasonable prospects' of safe convictions. 'As this position was strongly opposed by the NSW Police Force, Strike Force Baillieu investigators remain ready for the matter to proceed through court should the decision be made to prosecute,' a police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. Yyani was wrongly accused of inciting two of the boys to have sex with each other. She explained how she repeatedly insisted she was innocent during an initial police interview for 'what felt like an hour'. 'I would rather be accused of murder,' she said. Therese Cook is pictured after an accident The family's relative Lachie said police raided his home in 2019 saying 'You know why were here, you know why were here' despite him having no idea what they were talking about Paul Cook said he still carries 'pain, sadness, some days despair' and added his reputation has been 'destroyed' despite all charges being dropped. He said in prison officers called him an 'animal'. 'I was in an empty courtyard. It was away from the other cells. And one of the officers said to me, "Youre an animal. Youre just an animal, you are, and you belong in a cage, and thats where Im taking you now. Get in there. And this is the sound that I love, the locking of the door."' Lachie also spoke of the harrowing moment police raided his home in September 2017 on a warrant that prompted police to closely monitor the family for the next five months. 'They strip-searched me,' he said. 'And they kept saying, "You know why were here, you know why were here." And I had no idea.' This dilapidated home was wrongly alleged to have been involved in the child sex abuse ring Pictured: The family's relative Lucy who was also wrongly accused of taking part in child sex abuse After all charges were dismissed, the family's defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said the prosecution's case was weak. 'Crucial evidence had been overlooked and the police had no leg to stand on,' he said at the time. The family are now considering suing NSW Police for compensation. Mr Wrench reiterated his clients' innocence, and said he was pleased they could finally be reunited after were separated for the length of the court case as part of their bail conditions. 'Not one piece of evidence that said our clients were guilty,' he said. 'There was just nothing there. The family (pictured) all maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal and were finally vindicated after nearly two years of hell The family's lawyer Bryan Wrench leaves the Penrith Local Court in February 2018. 'Not one piece of evidence that said our clients were guilty,' he said 'Theres one word were looking for, and its "sorry". And to date, its been two years, and we havent heard those words. 'The public has a right to expect that police will investigate both sides of the story, and if they did that, we wouldnt be sitting here today.' Police falsely alleged in court Therese Cook was the ringleader and organised the 'systemic rape and detention of the boys'. The family-run Katoomba circus school is pictured She was charged with 43 offences, including aggravated assault of a child, sexual intercourse with a child under 10 and holding children against their will. All charges were dropped. Paul Cook was wrongly accused of filming at least one encounter on his mobile phone and three counts of aggravated sexual assault in company. Meredith, Cook's adopted daughter, was charged with rape, assaulting two of the boys and depriving a boy of his liberty. They all maintained their innocence throughout the ordeal and were finally vindicated after nearly two years of hell. NSW Police called for a review of the decision to withdraw the charges earlier this year, but it was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Timeline of events leading to dismissal of all charges February 5, 2018: All seven members of the Cook family were arrested on a property in Katoomba, in the Blue Mountains, falsely accused of sexually assaulting three boys under the age of eight. February 9, 2018: Accused enter pleas of not guilty. Mid-August, 2018: Therese Ann Cook, her daughter Yyani Cook-Williams and Clarissa Meredith were all granted bail. They were not allowed to contact each other or other members of the family during court proceedings. March 8, 2019: One of the boys who claimed he was a victim of the family wrote a letter to his mother admitting he had lied about being sexually assaulted. Defence solicitor Bryan Wrench told the court the boy had written a letter saying: 'Mum I'm really sorry I've been lying about the whole thing. Nobody hurt me, I've been lying to you.' He claimed the boy's mother had hidden the note from investigators. February 14, 2020: All charges against each of the seven members of the family were dropped. They had maintained their innocence throughout the court process. September 13, 2020: The family broke their silence to appear on 60 Minutes and discuss the trauma of the false accusations and wrong charges. Advertisement Community leaders and citizens gathered Sunday at the Charleston site where nine Black worshippers were massacred by a white supremacist to sound a renewed call for passage of a state hate crime law to protect against persecution. More than three dozen people assembled at Emanuel AME Church before making a journey to Orangeburg and the Statehouse in Columbia under the heading Caravan of Love (Not Hate). They vowed to keep pushing until the General Assembly approves legislation that would create harsher penalties for anyone who commits crimes based on race, faith, ethnicity or sexual orientation. South Carolina is one of three states without a hate crime statute at the state level. Arkansas and Wyoming are the only other states without hate crime laws. State Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, said bipartisan support is growing for such a measure, which has been years in the making. He said a hate crime law would show South Carolina has zero tolerance for bias and allow the state to better track and document acts of intolerance. "We are on a mission and we are not going to stop," Gilliard said. "It can be done, and we are going to make sure it does get done." An assortment of vintage Corvettes, Slingshot three-wheelers and other eye-catching rides assembled for the trip in the parking lot of Emanuel, just feet from the spot where nine Black worshippers were gunned down in June 2015 during a Bible study. Later, the caravan planned to pass by the site where three civil rights protesters were shot to death in 1968 during the Orangeburg Masssacre. The crowd was expected to swell to 100 or more by the time the procession reached the Statehouse later in the day. Perry Bradley, director of Building Better Communities, said a hate crime law would serve as a powerful deterrent against persecution. One bill that advanced in May to the House Judiciary Committee called for an added 15-year sentence and $10,000 fine for anyone convicted of a labeled hate crime. Key to any planned hate crimes legislation, proponents contend, is statewide data collection and mandatory reporting requirements by law enforcement agencies to the U.S. Department of Justice. Currently, thats voluntary. Tyler Gadson, a Columbia high school student and runner, said he often thinks on his runs about Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was shot to death while jogging this year by armed White residents near Brunswick, Ga. Gadson, who is Black, said a hate crime law would help safeguard against such intolerance. Charleston Police Chief Luther Reynolds said such legislation is overdue, and "it's the right thing to do for so many reasons." North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess noted that a law in Nazi Germany once barred people from coming to the aid of Jewish citizens. A hate crime bill would be a repudiation of such thinking, he said. "It's time for us to flip it over," he said. "Let's create a law that helps everbody." A lot of car rental clients in Detroit dont seem to be aware of the age-old rule, though, to the point where car loaner coordinators and used car dealers have an increasingly tough time explaining the policy to pot-smokers and vapers.It seems that it all started after December 2018, when the state of Michigan legalized the use of marijuana. Ever since, a multitude of metro Detroit car dealers say that the vehicles they rent out and service have started to smell like rolling ashtrays or worse.The main problem is apparently related to the increased use of the recreational drug, which leaves a poignant smell that is harder to be removed from the cars."My rental car coordinator said to a customer, 'You cant smoke pot in the car.' The customer said, 'I can smoke it, weed is legal.' My rental car coordinator said, 'Well, so is drinking, but you cant drink and drive,' " said Paul Zimmermann , vice president and partner at Matick Automotive, a rental car dealer with a fleet of 244 vehicles in Detroit.Pot smell is as difficult to get out as cigarette smoke and it can sometimes render a dealers loaner car completely unusable. Trade-in cars values are obviously also diminished if their interiors smell like a college dorm room.Most used car and rental car dealers now impose an extra contract on customers where they have to agree not to smoke or vape in a loaner car or they will face a cleaning fee that can go up to $250.Many say that if it continues like this, they will need to choose between increasing their no-smoking fines or increase their margins substantially in order to cover the climbing cleaning expenses. Here is a statistical analysis that should keep Democrats up at night: Joe Biden could win the popular vote by two to three percentage points and his chances of becoming the next president would be just 46%. In a narrow election a Biden plurality over President Trump of less than one percentage point in the popular vote he would have a 6% chance of being inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021. Could there be a more compelling argument against the anachronistic Electoral College system and its potential to thwart the will of the people? The possibility of a 2016 replay in which Hillary Clinton prevailed by two percentage points in the nationwide vote, but lost the Electoral College, 227 to 304 is very real. Nate Silver, the statistics whiz and editor in chief of the website FiveThirtyEight, laid it out in a recent tweet. Youll sometimes see people say stuff like Biden MUST win the popular vote by 3 points or hes toast, Silver tweeted Wednesday. Not true; at 3-4 points, the Electoral College is a tossup, not necessarily a Trump win ... (on the other hand) the Electoral College is not really *safe* for Biden unless he wins by 5+. And to think Trump complains about the prospect of a rigged election. In truth, the nations Founding Fathers created the Electoral College in 1787 out of the regional sensitivities of the day, rather than to advance any particular candidate or ideology. One of their concerns was whether the 4 million voters in 13 states along 1,000 miles of Eastern Seaboard would have sufficient access to information about candidates from distant points; another more insidious motivation was deference to Southern states that feared domination by the North (as reflected in the compromise that counted a nonvoting slave as three-fifths of a person for congressional representation). Alex Wong/Getty Images The system endured through the centuries because it so rarely produced a conflict between the popular vote and the ultimate winner just three times between the founding and 1888. Now the candidate with the votes of more Americans has lost two of the past five elections (Clinton in 2016, preceded by Al Gore to George W. Bush in 2000). Would yet another anomaly finally force Americans to demand change? It should, but it wont. The straightforward approach would be an amendment to the Constitution, which would require a two-thirds vote in each house of Congress, followed by ratification by 38 states. Republicans would be unlikely to cede their Electoral College advantage. Small states would be unwilling to give up their outsize clout in a system that provides a baseline of three electors (reflecting one House member, two senators). As a result, a Wyoming vote is worth 3 times a California vote in a presidential election. Not that the major party campaigns will spend any time or money in solidly Republican Wyoming or solidly Democratic California. Losing by winning? New analysis by FiveThirtyEight shows the distinct advantage President Trump enjoys in the Electoral College. Joe Biden's chances of winning the electoral college if he wins the popular vote by these margins: 6% If Biden's margin is 0-1 points 22% If Biden's margin is 1-2 points 46% If Biden's margin is 2-3 points 74% If Biden's margin is 3-4 points 89% If Biden's margin is 4-5 points 98% If Biden's margin is 5-6 points 99% If Biden's margin is 6-7 points See More Collapse The even greater distortion of democracy is the way the Electoral College reduces the selection of a leader for nearly 330 million people to a handful of potentially competitive states. The battleground has shifted slightly from 2016 with Arizona, Georgia and Texas coming into play, joining with perennials such as Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin but most of the rest of the nation will be taken for granted by the campaigns. A shortcut to establishment of the one person, one vote principle in presidential elections would be the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact being pushed by some reformers. Heres how it would work: States would essentially pledge to award their electors to whichever candidate who received the most votes nationwide, regardless of the results of their individual states. The compact would take effect once it assembled enough states to reach the magic 270 electoral votes to decide the winner. So far, 15 states (including California) and the District of Columbia 196 electoral votes have signed on to the deal. It wont be a factor in 2020. My issue with the compact is that it merely replaces one convoluted system with another. Also, it almost certainly would produce a legal challenge. The Supreme Court recently affirmed the right of states to require electors to vote in accordance with their states outcome, thus preventing faithless electors from becoming free agents after an election. But that left open the question of whether a state could order its electors to vote against state voters wishes to comply with the compact. The last thing Americans should want is another presidential election decided by the Supreme Court, as we saw in 2000, when the justices ruled 5-to-4 to halt the Florida recount. Its far better to do the hard work for a constitutional amendment that settles it once and for all: The candidate with the most votes wins. Full stop. John Diaz is The San Francisco Chronicles editorial page editor. Email: jdiaz@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnDiazChron But the Geisel's bled red, white, and blue (three colors Seuss would often experience when being chased by brick-wielding bullies). To prove this, a 14-year-old Seuss started selling war bonds through his scout troop. His biggest customer was his own granddad, who spent $1,000 (which, in 1918 money, could buy you a lot of cocaine) to convince their neighbors their house wasn't worth firebombing. The tactic paid off: Seuss became one of the ten top salesboys to get a medal from none other than former President Teddy Roosevelt, cartoonish alligator wrestler and hero to every young boy in the country. Continue Reading Below Advertisement While George Seuss indubitably had been looking forward to his (almost) namesake pinning a medal for being the Best American on his scrawny chest, the event took a turn for the worst. When the 60-year-old T.D. reached lil' Seuss, he no longer had any medals to give out -- one may have gotten lost inside of his massive jowls. Roosevelt, a calm and measured man, immediately thought the boy had either been put there by mistake or snuck onto the stage. Not bothering with other scenarios than think one or think two, the walking symbol of hyper-Americanism demanded that the only German-American boy be removed from the stage. "What's this little boy doing here," thundered Roosevelt, the humiliating heckle flecking his stache with spit. Flexigroup, an Australian-listed financial services company which owns the buy-now-pay-later lender Flexifi in Ireland, has reported lending to around 40,000 Irish consumers over its 2020 financial year, up from 17,000 the previous year. In the Australian-headquartered company's results for the year ended June 2020, the company revealed its transaction volume in Ireland increased to A$73m (44.9m), up from A$46m (28.2m) last year. It also secured 322 new retail partners over the financial year, bringing the total to 832, including Samsung, Audi and makeup brand Inglot. Flexifi Ireland, the Irish subsidiary of the Australian company, gives retailers the opportunity to offer instalment payment plans to customers. It allows customers to buy products and then pay for them in instalments later. Speaking with the Sunday Independent, PJ Byrne, who is the chief executive officer of Flexifi in Ireland, said he was delighted with the company's performance in Ireland over what had been a challenging year. "While the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was largely unforeseen we refused to allow its impact or deter our plans," he said. "The agility of our business model, and indeed our employees, meant we could move fast to capture the digital and online space which helped us reach our target. "As retailers pivoted their operations to online during lockdown we recorded a substantial up-tick in new partners joining us from right across a number of retail sectors to include fashion, homewares and technology. They were keen to avail of our digital consumer finance products which helped enhance their cart sales and consequently their bottom line". Byrne also revealed that Flexifi is continuing to explore the possibility of entering the UK market. "Having demonstrated the company's resilience we are now embarking on a whole new chapter," he said. "We have exciting plans, as we scope out further opportunities both in Ireland and further afield. We are currently carrying out meaningful due diligence of the British market with the expectation we will launch there in the near future. "As a result of this, we are currently reviewing our human resource requirement and we aim to attract the best fintech talent through our fantastic benefits scheme". Byrne was unable to confirm how many jobs could be created in Ireland as a result of any expansion into the UK market. In a call with analysts regarding the most recent financial results, Rebecca James, the chief executive officer of Flexigroup, said the company had been excited by the results in Ireland. She also spoke of the opportunity for expansion into the UK, as many of Flexigroup's Irish customers were also present in the UK retail market. Last year, it was reported that Flexifi Ireland had aborted an effort to launch in the UK, which would have created "hundreds" of jobs in Ireland. The company, which had already invested a substantial amount of money preparing for the UK launch, including being ready to submit an application to the UK's financial watchdog the Financial Conduct Authority, blamed Brexit for aborting the plan. According to Flexigroup's financial results for the 2020 financial year, the company's buy-now-and-pay-later and interest-free finance operations, which also operate across Australia and New Zealand, had transaction volume of A$2.1bn, up from $1.8bn. Flexigroup also grew the number of customers to 2.1 million and the number of retail partners to 56,700. The company's results also show that, across its markets, it has tripled the number of transactions and has doubled its number of retail partners since 2018. During the analyst call, Flexigroup also confirmed it will be rebranding its buy-now-pay-later brands to 'Humm'. Flexigroup is set to raise A$115m at a 12.6pc discount to its stock price in a bid to bolster the new 'Humm' brand. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M Lakshmana said that Sandalwood actor Ragini Dwivedi, who was arrested in connection with a narcotics case, is a BJP ambassador. She had campaigned for BJP candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In a press conference, Lakshmana said, Ragini had campaigned for a BJP candidate for Karnataka Lok Sabha election at Chikkamagaluru Assembly segment, represented by Tourism, Kannada and Culture Minister C T Ravi. B Y Vijayendra, also son of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan had also participated in the campaign. Lakshmana also displayed a few photographs of the campaign. Film director Indrajit Lankesh has given a list of 15 actors, who are linked to a drug scam to the Bengaluru City Crime Branch. A majority of the actors are linked with BJP, he alleged. Lakshmana also alleged that the state government is projecting the drug scam to hide its failures, he said. Developers are exploiting planning laws to convert empty shops, banks and barbers into tiny high street flats. The new developments have sparked concerns that UK high streets are turning into modern slums. The impact of the coronavirus on high-street businesses have resulted in a rush to transform them into residences under permitted development rights (PDRs). Chloe Gray, a 20-year-old resident of one of the flats, said it felt like 'living in a pod'. Converted flats on Shirley Road pictured above Floor plan of the six studio flats at 106 Shirley Road are pictured above PDRs were until recently mainly used to convert office spaces but are now being used to transform former businesses into small flats. Since 2013, they have allowed developers to skip the requirement to apply for planning permission when turning office blocks into flats. They were extended to shops and launderettes in 2016, before also including fast food outlets last year. PDR flats are not bound by the minimum space standard, which says studios have to be at least 400 square feet, or 37 square metres. PDRs were until recently mainly used to convert office spaces but are now being used to transform former businesses into small flats. The building plans for 106 Shirley Road in Southampton are pictured above In Southampton, the Open Fire Centre, a store which sold electric and gas fires, has been converted into six studio flats, the smallest measuring just 160 square feet. In five out of six of the flats on Shirley Road, the only external light comes from a sidelight next to the door. Chloe Gray, a 20-year-old resident of one of the flats, said it felt like 'living in a pod'. 'I have been here for about a year now but I will be moving out in October as it is just too small,' she told the Sunday Times. She pays 525 per month in rent, which works out at about 33 a square metre. In Southampton, the Open Fire Centre (pictured above) has been converted into six studio flats, the smallest measuring just 160 square feet Robert Webb, 43, who runs a barber next door to the flats, told the publication: 'The flats are tiny. 'I have a friend who lives not far away in the New Forest, and the kennel for his two dogs is bigger than these flats next door.' Tom Copley, London's deputy mayor for housing and residential development, said of the new developments: 'The solution to the housing crisis is not to create new slums out of old offices and shops, but the delivery of high-quality, well-planned, affordable homes. 'If lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic should teach us anything about housing, it is the importance of minimum space standards, both internal and external.' Australia's major banks have continued to cut into deposit interest rates as the banking system is flooded with cheap money, prompting warnings that retail investors are being pushed into higher-risk assets in their search for returns. As banks find themselves awash with low-cost funding, including through an expanded $200 billion facility from the Reserve Bank, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth and Westpac have all cut interest rates on types of deposits since the start of last month. Bank deposit rates have been cut as lenders have tapped into cheap funding, including from the RBA. Credit:Josh Robenstone In the latest cuts, banking giant Westpac on Friday lowered a series of introductory rates on its savings accounts by between 0.15 and 0.20 percentage points, after it has trimmed term deposits in recent months. NAB last month cut one, two and three-month term deposits by between 0.5 and 0.15 percentage points last month, while CBA also lopped 0.05 percentage points off its best offer in the market. Flash Pro-government fighters on Saturday ambushed five Islamic State (IS) militants in the countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, a war monitor reported. The IS militants were in disguise, wearing uniforms of pro-government fighters when they were ambushed in the city of al-Mayadeen, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog group said that the IS militants were buying supplies and food from the city when they were discovered and rounded up by the pro-government fighters. This comes as battles have been raging between the Syrian forces and the IS militants in the desert region of Deir al-Zour. Scores had been killed from both sides in the desert battles, according to the observatory. After losing key areas in northern and northeastern Syria, the IS militants have hidden in the desert region and waged attacks on Syrian positions. Sitharaman blaming gods for failure of economy: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut India pti-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Sep 6: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday alleged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was blaming gods for failure of India's economy. In his weekly column Rokhthok in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Raut also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks on all issues, but refuses to touch the issue of "failing economy" and related issues. Sitharaman last month 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. As SC orders CBI probe into death of Sushant Singh Rajput, this is what Sanjay Raut said "If gods are pronounced culprits, in which court should the trial be conducted?" Raut wrote, responding to Sitharaman's remarks. "From demonetisation to lockdown, the economy is completely paralysed. But the Union finance minister directly blamed gods for it. This is an insult of Hindutva. What kind of Hindutva is this?" he asked. Raut said the minister's comments did not suit India which calls itself an emerging economic superpower. He said the country's economy was crumbling even before the COVID-19 pandemic. "In the first quarter of the current financial year, the GDP has come down by 23.9 per cent and this is due to human error and careless attitude," he said. "Coronavirus pandemic and crumbled economy is god's will. Then what is the need for government and military. God will see to everything," he said. Raut said in legal terms, an act of god is a natural catastrophe which no one can prevent, such as an earthquake, a tidal wave, a volcanic eruption, a hurricane or a tornado, "Acts of god are legal excuse for delay or failure in fulfilling an obligation or to complete a construction project," he said. Upon being elected president of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2013, Hassan Rouhani was heralded by Western leaders and the media as a harbinger of a new era. White House press secretary Jay Carney said that his election represented a call by the Iranian people for change. The Washington Post called Rouhani a moderate cleric whose ascension delivered an unmistakable rebuke to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The New York Times described Rouhani as mild-mannered and took his advocacy of greater personal freedoms at face value. Others saw Rouhanis less ostentatiously hostile presentation for what it was: a smokescreen. Though he was far less bombastic and prone to saber-rattling than his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his track record should have made it obvious that Rouhani was not going to turn Iran into a less troublesome actor in the region or a bastion of human rights. He was the same man who had chaired the Supreme National Security Council the body responsible for setting Iranian nuclear policy and believed to be responsible for the planning of terrorist attacks from Buenos Aires to Saudi Arabia from 1989 until 2005. To Rouhani, Israel is the great Zionist Satan that can never feel that it is in a safe place, and the beautiful cry of Death to America unites his country. In a 2004 speech, Rouhani boasted that nuclear negotiations he was holding with Britain, France, and Germany bought time that allowed engineers to install equipment in parts of the [nuclear conversion] facility in Isfahan. By creating a calm environment, we were able to complete the work there, he explained. Seeing through the Rouhani administrations charm offensive in November 2013, Senator Marco Rubio wrote to advocate harsher sanctions, noting that, his moderate label aside, Rouhani was the president of a government that is a notorious abuser of its people and the leading global sponsor of terrorism. Rubio has been vindicated not only by Irans flagrant violations of the nuclear deal it agreed to in 2015 but also by its continued support of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the destabilizing activity of the Quds Force the terrorist arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, previously led by General Qasem Soleimani throughout the region. Story continues It should come as no surprise, then, that Rouhani has failed to live up to his reputation as a reformer at home as well as abroad. During his original campaign in 2013, Rouhani ran on a platform of freeing political prisoners and curbing the power of the morality police. A horrifying new Amnesty International report on the Iranian governments response to widespread protests in November 2019 shows that this was empty campaign rhetoric. The report, appropriately titled Trampling Humanity, was put together after Amnesty conducted interviews with 76 individuals, 60 of whom were subjected to arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture, and other ill treatment. During and in the aftermath of the protests, thousands of Iranians were arrested by security forces in the vast majority of cases, for merely showing up to the protests. In Bebahan, a small city of fewer than 125,000 people, over 1,000 were arrested. Children as young as ten years old were taken into custody. Moreover, the heightened security atmosphere was used as a pretext . . . to arbitrarily arrest and detain members of ethnic minority groups such as Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, and Kurds, even when they had not taken part in the protests. Iranian authorities have not released exact figures on how many were arrested, nor the fate of those who were. Instead, officials have tendentiously claimed that some have been referred to courts while a considerable number have been released. Punishments doled out to those tried for their roles in the protests included being forced to wash corpses in morgues, researching the topic of the Islamic hijab and writing by hand a 90-page paper on it, and being forcibly conscripted into the paramilitary Basij force. Many of those arrested disappeared for weeks and even months. Family members who inquired as to their status were often subjected to harassment [and] intimidation. Some who vanished were taken to jail, others to unofficial secret detention facilities, where even the minimal protections afforded to prisoners in regular facilities are ignored and various forms of torture could be carried out more easily. Torture was used not only to force the confessions of individuals unlawful behavior, but also about their alleged associations with opposition groups outside Iran. Among the methods used by authorities to elicit such confessions were beatings, prolonged stays in solitary confinement, stress positions and suspension, electric shocks, mock executions, and sexual violence and humiliation, including forced nakedness, invasive body searches intended to humiliate the victims, sustained sexual verbal abuse, pepper spraying the genital area, and administering electric shocks to the testicles. Allegations have also been made that interrogators raped some detainees, but it is very difficult to get interviewees to talk about such experiences because of the psychological, social, legal, and institutional barriers to reporting rape and serious concerns around reprisal. Trials held were rife with injustices, as defendants were frequently denied legal counsel, a fair and public hearing, an independent and impartial tribunal, or the right to a meaningful appeal. They were also tried before both criminal courts and Revolutionary Courts, the latter of which charged them with vague infractions such as spreading propaganda against the system and gathering and colluding to commit crimes against national security. The story of Amirhossein Moradi paints a full, ugly picture of the Iranian regimes response to protests under Rouhani. Moradi was arrested in November and was held in solitary confinement with only intermittent interrogation and torture interrupting it. He eventually confessed to being involved in the protests after his interrogators promised to provide him with medical treatment for the injuries he sustained under torture, which they later denied him. Since then, Moradi and two other young men have been sentenced to death for arson, and their fate has been rubber-stamped by Irans Supreme Court. Only one more review process is left, and a decision is forthcoming. Jay Carney was right that Hassan Rouhanis election in 2013 reflected the will of the Iranian people for detente with the West and an expansion of their own rights and freedoms. But the Obama administration, the Post, and the Times were wrong to believe that Rouhani was well suited to achieve those aims. Supreme Leader Khamenei effectively decides who is even able to run for office by way of a Guardian Council run by hardline clerics. If Rouhani were truly an unmistakable rebuke to Khamenei, he would never have become president. If Rouhani was determined to act in the best interest of his people, reading Amnesty Internationals report would not have been so heartbreaking. More from National Review Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (September 6) refused to apologise to actress Kangana Ranaut and said that Kangana should apologise to Maharashtra and then he will think of doing the same to the Bollywood actress. "If that girl (Kangana) will apologise to Maharashtra then I will think about apologising.""She has called Mumbai mini Pakistan. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad?" asked Raut. Earlier on Thursday, the actress took to Twitter claiming, "Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai. After Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir?" "After a major star has been killed I spoke about drug and movie mafia racket, I don`t trust Mumbai Police because they ignored SSR`s complaints. He told everyone they will kill him yet he was killed. If I feel unsafe, does that mean I hate the industry and Mumbai?" she said in another tweet. Kangana's tweets did not go down well with Raut, who accused the actress of lying and said, "Mumbai gave a lot to Kangana and she is now working to discredit the name of Mumbai and Mumbai Police all over the world." "We don't give threats to anyone, we believe in taking action. Those who are making comparisons with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), don't know anything about Pok. We will not tolerate anything demeaning about Mumbai and Maharashtra," he added. It is to be noted that Kangana has been targeting several big Bollywood celebrities for fanning nepotism and recently in the drug conspiracy related to Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput case. While issues around the Edo and Ondo governorship elections continue to dominate Nigerias political space, the Supreme Court on Monday affirmed the re-election of Yahaya Bello of the APC as Kogi state governor. Nigerias apex court dismissed the allegations levelled against the incumbent governor by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Musa Wada, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Natasha Akpoti. It declared Mr Bello the winner of the November 2019 election in the state. The apex court said the petitioners failed to prove the allegations of violence which characterised the election. To prevent violence in the September 19 Edo governorship election, the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, cautioned politicians and their supporters against actions that could mar the election. Aligning with Mr Adamus concerns as well as the growing worries among the electorate, the Oba of Benin, Eheneden Erediauwa (Ewuare II), at a separate meeting held on Wednesday with the APC governorship candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Godwin Obaseki of the PDP alongside key players from the two parties, also sued for a peaceful election in the state. However, other governorship candidates expressed dissatisfaction with their exclusion from the meeting called by the Benin monarch. READ ALSO: I think the way they disseminated the information was not proper. I had to call other governorship candidates if they were aware of the peace pact at the palace, they said no. Agreed maybe because of the fracas they (PDP and APC) have been having recently, but the truth is that other stakeholders ought to have been involved. If his Royal Majesty wants to address candidates, we should be included, Tracy Agol, the governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) had told this newspaper. INEC also refuted allegations of favouritism and plot to rig the election in favour of the PDP. Though 2023 may seem a little far away, the push for President Muhammadu Buharis successor coming from southeast has continued to make headlines as political leaders from the region continue to express their view. In his reaction, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, said the zoning will be on a party by party basis, not tribe by tribe basis. APC, PDP exchange words over hike in fuel price, electricity tariff The recent hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff once again caused the ruling APC and the main opposition party, PDP, to take swipes at each other. The APC defended the price increases while the PDP accused the ruling party of inflicting Nigerians with pains and hardship. Our party asserts that by increasing the price of fuel from the N87 per litre it sold under the PDP to an excruciating N151 while at the same time allowing the hike in electricity tariff from N30.23 per kwh to over N66, the APC has left no one in doubt that its agenda is to inflict pain and hardship on Nigerians to satisfy their selfish interests, Kola Ologbodinyan, the PDP spokesperson said. In a counter-statement, the APC argued that the increment in petrol price was as a result of the removal of subsidy which would eventually benefit Nigerians. A LIMERICK man is flying on air after his pigeon came first in his province in a prestigious racing contest. Frank Purcell from Norwood Park took part in the annual Taoiseachs Cup pigeon racing competition, with his bird named Mac. The competition so named because it was once sponsored by Jack Lynch is widely considered the Grand National of pigeon racing, Frank said. Taking place this year in Fraserburgh, Scotland, Frank took part in the competition alongside 300 other pigeon handlers from across Ireland. He set his bird which he reared from when he bought it at a Milford Care Centre charity auction two years ago free on a northward journey into the Scottish air, with the loyal pigeon returning 26 hours later having completed a 430-mile round trip. The longest pigeon race of the year, Frank was understandably delighted as Mac was the first pigeon from the Munster province to arrive back. This for me is like Aidan OBrien winning the Grand National. The bird will probably never achieve it again over that distance. Every pigeon flyer in the country wants to win this. When youre at the top of your game, youre a winner, Frank told the Limerick Leader. Frank had already taken Mac the pigeon on a few dry-runs in Scotland, where he had completed 3400 mile round trips. He would be classed as a greyhound pigeon slow but steady, the trainer said, But this year, hes flown over 800 miles. Its very seldom a pigeon would do that. Its flown to Scotland for four times in four weeks, he explained. Every time a pigeon is set free to fly or liberated he admits there is often a fear it wont return. Without a doubt, he says when asked if he worries about that, You could lose a certain amount of pigeons each year to this. Well done to Mac. Jamie Doran announced his intention to sue Channel Ten over his negative portrayal on Bachelor in Paradise in July. And on Thursday, the reality star looked to be letting off some steam while holidaying in Port Douglas, Queensland with pal Jackson Brown. Dressed in a black muscle tank and matching shorts, the 40-year-old worked on his core strength by utilising a Captain's Chair in a local park. Letting off some steam? Bachelor in Paradise star Jamie Doran (left), 40, holidayed in Port Douglas, Queensland on Thursday with pal Jackson Brown (right), after revealing plans to sue Channel Ten Jamie kept light on his feet in black flip flops, and concealed his gaze behind dark sunglasses and a purple cap. When not breaking out into a sweat, the firefighter-turned-FIFO worker strolled the streets of the coastal town with his shirtless pal, Jackson. On July 29, Jamie announced he would be taking legal action against Channel Ten and Warner Bros. over his portrayal on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Breaking a sweat: Dressed in a black muscle tank and matching shorts, the reality star worked on his core strength by utilising a Captain's Chair in a local park Jamie shared a statement to Instagram, explaining why he had decided to call in his lawyers. He wrote: 'This is not the news I wanted to post, but I feel I owe this to at least my family, friends, and also fans of The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. 'After lengthy consideration, I've decided to begin legal proceedings against Network 10 and Warner Bros. Australia. Not happy: On July 29, the firefighter-turned-FIFO worker announced he would be taking legal action against Channel Ten and Warner Bros. over his portrayal on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. Pictured on Paradise Online: 'After lengthy consideration, I've decided to begin legal proceedings against Network 10 and Warner Bros. Australia,' Jamie told his Instagram followers 'I'm not going to comment on this any further for the time being and would appreciate it if people would respect my privacy.' In response to Jamie's legal threat, a network spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on July 29: 'Channel 10 has not received any papers regarding this claim.' Jamie was portrayed as a 'stage-five clinger' on Bachelor in Paradise this season, and received a similar edit on The Bachelorette last year. Gulf lenders are keen to expand their market share in Egypt, the Arab worlds most populous country First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) plans to restart talks to buy the Egyptian business of Lebanons Bank Audi, two sources familiar with the matter said. FAB, the United Arab Emirates biggest lender, will have an internal meeting this week to decide on a way to resume negotiations and put in a final bid, said one of the sources, declining to be named as the matter is not public. A second source said FAB planned to restart negotiations within two weeks. FAB declined to comment. Bank Audi did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FAB put talks on hold in May due to difficult market conditions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic A source familiar with the matter said then that the deal was worth around $700 million.. Gulf lenders are keen to expand their market share in Egypt, the Arab worlds most populous country. Some Lebanese lenders are trying to divest non-core assets to fulfil a requirement from Lebanons central bank to increase their equity. Emirates NBD, Dubais largest lender, is currently in talks to buy the Egyptian unit of Lebanons Blom Bank. Search Keywords: Short link: Hong Kong government has recorded nearly 978,000 people registering for the COVID-19 mass testing programme, the Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit said on Saturday, September 5. According to a government press release, around 656,000 people have been tested and about 284,800 samples from the community tests have been processed by labs as of 8 pm Friday evening. It added the people testing COVID-19 positive will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health for confirmatory tests. The confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection. READ: China Rebukes UN Experts For Raising Concerns Over Security Law In Hong Kong Online booking system UCTP According to Hong Kong authorities, about 1 million persons have made appointments since August 29 as the online booking system opened. However, there have been 166 cases of one's personal data being used by others for online booking under the UCTP. Upon examination, 93 of the cases were found to involve suspected fraudulent use of others' personal data for booking and they have been referred to the Hong Kong Police. A Hong Kong Government spokesman stated that the UCTP aims to identify asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in the community as early as possible for early treatment and thereby stop further infections with the disease. "We urge all citizens to participate in the testing programme, for the sake of themselves as well as that of other people, and work together to cut the virus transmission chain, so as to facilitate gradual resumption of our normal daily lives and economic activities," said Hong Kong Government spokesman. READ: China's Security Law In Hong Kong Breaches International Obligations: UN According to international media reports, Hong Kong will extend the programme at most of its testing centres up to September 11. Earlier, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam had said that the government has no set target for total testing numbers. The free universal COVID-19 tests provided by the authorities started on September 1. Despite strict social distancing norms and other restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, Hong Kong has seen a recent rise in COVID-19 cases. Given this situation, Hong Kong authorities launched the mass COVID-19 testing programme for the city residents in an effort to understand how the infection is spreading. READ: Hong Kong Democracy Activists Urge German Action On China READ: Coral Reefs To Be Restored Using 3D Printed Tiles Designed By Hong Kong Marine Scientists Over 600 candidates took the entrance examination for various postgraduate courses in Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar on Sunday. However, 300 applicants were absent, university registrar BR Kamboj said. The university is conducting the entrance examinations in four phases. The other dates when the rest of the phases have been scheduled are September 9, September 12 and September 16. Kamboj said the examination for admission to postgraduate programmes is being conducted as per instructions issued by the central and state governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said all examination centres were sanitised and special attention was taken regarding social distancing norms and the wearing of masks. Besides this, the university administration provided water bottles and face masks to the candidates after sanitising their hands at the entrance of examination centre, he said in a statement. The exam was conducted from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. Four examination centres have been set up to conduct these examinations keeping in view the number of students and the guidelines issued by central and state governments. Kamboj, along with University Vice-Chancellor Professor Samar Singh, visited the examination centres and took stock of all exam-related preparations. Pending final year examinations of state government-aided colleges and universities in Haryana will also be conducted by the end of September. The decision was taken recently at a meeting attended by vice-chancellors and controllers of examination of all government-run universities in the state. According to a Tweet released by NavyLookout on September 6, 2020, British Navy HMS Argyll F231 Type 23 Duke-class frigate has conducted naval training with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer Takanami in the Gulf of Aden this week. The HMS Argyll is the longest-serving Type 23 Frigate in the British Navy. According to a Tweet released by NavyLookout on September 6, 2020, British Navy HMS Argyll F231 Type 23 Duke-class frigate has conducted naval training with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer Takanami in the Gulf of Aden this week. The HMS Argyll is the longest-serving Type 23 Frigate in the British Navy. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link British Navy HMS Argyll F231 Type 23 Duke-class frigate has conducted naval training with Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer Takanami in the Gulf of Aden. (Picture source Twitter account Navy Lookout) The British Navy HMS Argyll was laid down in March 1987 by Yarrow Shipbuilders at Glasgow, and launched in 1989 by Lady Wendy Levene, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Paviors. She was commissioned in May 1991. Argyll is currently based at Devonport Dockyard. The HMS Argyll was deployed on Operations for much of 2018 and 2019 to the Far East and Arabian Gulf as the first Sea Ceptor Missile fitted Warship. On her return through the Bay of Biscay Argyll rescued 27 Mariners from the burning Ship MV Grande America leading to the award of a Queens Gallantry Medal and a Queens Commendation for Bravery in the Operational Honours list for 2 members of the Ships Company. HMS Argyll was also named Hero Overseas Unit at the Sun Military Awards (Millies) for 2020. The Type 23 frigate or Duke-class is a class of frigates built for the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy's Type 23 frigates have proven their versatility in warfighting, peacekeeping and maritime security operations around the globe. Thirteen Type 23 frigates remain in service with the Royal Navy, with three vessels having been sold to the Chilean Navy. The HMS Argyll is armed with 32-cell Sea Wolf GWS.26 VLS canisters for 32 Sea Wolf (range 110 km) or Sea Ceptor missiles, two quad Harpoon launchers anti-ship missiles, two twin 12.75 in (324 mm) Sting Ray torpedo tubes, one BAE 4.5 inch Mk 8 naval gun, two 30 mm DS30M Mk2 automatic cannons, two miniguns and four General-purpose machine guns. The Takanami is a class of destroyer built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and IHI Corporation between 2000 and 2004 and serving with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Citing Naval-Technology website, the Takanami Class destroyers are fit with an Mk48 VLS (vertical launching system) for Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles. The Mk41 VLS installed on the ship can fire RUM-139 VL ASROC (anti-submarine rockets). The ship has also two triple-mount Type 68 anti-submarine torpedo tubes, firing six Mk46 ASW torpedoes. The Takanami destroyer also has an Oto Melara 3 (now Oto Breda) 127mm, 54 caliber, compact gun fitted forward. The close-in air defense is provided by two Phalanx 20mm close-in weapons system (CIWS) mounted on the vessel. The Phalanx CIWS is used to defend incoming anti-ship missiles and low flying aircraft. "Its just crazy," said David Strange, owner and operator of the large Metung Hotel in East Gippsland. "In the whole 20,000 square kilometres of East Gippsland, theres been one case of COVID-19 in six months. I dont know if the Victorian government and Dan Andrews have a clue how we operate out here, but this so-called plan is killing us." Mr Strange said he had hoped the "road map to recovery" for regional Victoria would allow his establishment, which employs 38 staff, to return to serving customers who were each allowed a space of four square metres, as occurred earlier this year. But the road map announced on Sunday held no chance of a rapid return to any form of indoor dining, and offered no guarantee it would be permitted for months. A group of migrants crammed onto a small boat for the dangerous journey across the Channel have been rescued by UK Border Force after their engine cut out. The nine asylum seekers were pictured being brought ashore at Dover by a patrol boat just a day after the police clashed with far-right anti-immigrant protesters near the Kent port. The Home Office has been contacted for further information. It comes just a day after ten people were arrested following demonstrations in Dover on Saturday, which brought a dual carriageway to a standstill. Rival protests between anti-immigrant and anti-racism campaigners took place in the Kent town just days after a record 416 migrants made it to the UK after crossing the English Channel. A number of far-right groups were identified at the protest including Britain First and former English Defence League (EDL) supporters, as reported by The Guardian. A group of nine asylum seekers were rescued from the English Channel today after their engine failed leaving them drifting in the busy shipping lane The nine asylum seekers were pictured being brought ashore at Dover by a patrol boat just a day after the police clashed with far-right anti-immigrant protesters nearby At least 5,600 migrants have now made it to British shores by boat in 2020. The Home Office, which has come under fire for its attacks on "activist lawyers", has insisted that it will make the sea route "unviable". Following days of bad weather, a flurry of migrant boats managed to cross the busy shipping lanes of the Dover strait to the UK on Wednesday. On board the more than two dozen boats were at least 416 migrants, a single-day record. Large numbers were seen being brought into Dover, packed aboard Border Force patrol vessels and sitting on the front of lifeboats. A small dinghy was so packed with people that three of the men had to have their legs having over the side On Thursday senior Home Office and immigration figures appeared before the Home Affairs Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into migrant crossings. Chairwoman Yvette Cooper pressed them for answers on whether the Home Office will have any legal authority to return migrants to countries like France after December 31. However she did not receive a full answer to the question, which she said she was "really surprised" about. Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, asked the Home Office's new clandestine Channel threat commander Dan O'Mahoney about suggestions made by a French politician that migrants come to the UK because it is easier to work illegally and "live undercover". A man draped in the English flag stands in front of a line of police officers during the protest in Dover on Saturday A demonstrator holds a stop the invasion banner during a protest against asylum seekers in Dover yesterday Mr Loughton said: "It would appear that French members of parliament are party to putting around these misconceptions about how they are actually going to be looked after if they do make it to the UK. "That's part of the problem, isn't it, that people are coming here on a false premise?" Mr O'Mahoney replied: "I think that's absolutely correct." Later the same day, Home Secretary Priti Patel used Twitter to hail the deportation of 11 Syrian nationals to Spain. She also continued her attacks on "activist lawyers" which she says are frustrating the removal of migrants. Amanda Pinto QC, chair of the Bar Council, said that lawyers should not be political targets for simply doing their jobs. Concerns were raised over the deportation of the 11 Syrians when it emerged that they had been left "confused and distressed" when they ended up alone on the streets of Madrid. Hundreds of campaigners were confronted by groups of pro-migrant protesters in a counter-demonstration (some demonstrators pictured) following the arrival of 5,600 refugees in small boats this year When their UK Government-chartered flight touched down in Spain authorities declined responsibility for them, and they were left alone until an aid group picked them up. With tensions over the continuing migrant crisis running high there were fears that planned protests in Dover on Saturday would lead to violence. From 11am, anti-racism activists gathered to stand in solidarity with people making the dangerous Channel crossing. Addressing a crowd of about 100, Peter Keenan from Kent Refugee Help said that when society sees people who are fleeing war and turns them away "that says something about the state of your society". Later, dozens of far-right anti-migrant protesters marched from the seafront to the A20, blocking the dual carriageway for more than an hour. There were sporadic clashes with police, including one incident where several officers were seen restraining a person and pinning them to the ground. At least 10 people were arrested, including for racially aggravated public order, violent disorder and assaulting an emergency worker. A boat taking part in a Trump support parade sinks in Lake Travis, Texas, on Sept. 5 2020. (Courtesy of Bob Daemmrich) 5 Boats Sink During Texas Parade for Trump, No Casualties: Sheriff Five boats sank in a Texas lake during a nautical parade in support of President Donald Trump, but no one was injured or killed, officials said Sunday. Deputies responded to 15 distress calls and received three other reports of boats taking on water, after the boat parade got underway on Lake Travis, west of Austin, on Saturday, according to Kristen Dark of the Travis County Sheriffs Office. The event attracted hundreds of watercraft of all sizes. Dark said that weather on the roughly 19,000-acre lake was calm, but that the tightly packed boats created large waves in areas. Deputies have found no evidence of foul play, she said. Boaters flying flags honoring President Donald Trump crowd Lake Travis in Lakeway, Texas, during a boat parade that attracted hundreds of watercraft of all sizes, on Sept. 5, 2020. (Bob Daemmrich via AP) The first call for help came at 12:15 p.m., and later distress calls were for boats taking on water, stalled engines, and capsizing, Dark said. Three of the boats that sank were towed to shore, while the other two were still at the bottom of the lake, she said. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services received no calls for service related to the parade, a spokeswoman said. Lake Travis is an impoundment about 12 miles northwest of Austin. TDT |Manama A 42-year-old expatriate man is the latest casualty to Bahrains COVID -19 battle. His death was announced by Bahrains Ministry of Health on its twitter handle. The fatality also raised Bahrain's overall toll to 196, yesterday. Ministry officials tweeted condolences to the family of the deceased. There are currently 89 patients who are receiving treatment for COVID-19, of which 30 people are in Critical care. Some 3,930 active cases are there in Bahrain, out of which 3,900 cases are stable. The Ministry announced carrying out 10,075 COVID-19 tests yesterday raising the overall tests carried out in the Kingdom to 1,162,349. New 676 cases were also detected, of which 84 are expatriate workers, 590 are contacts of active cases, and two are travel related. Bahrain also recorded 322 recoveries yesterday, taking the number of people cured of their infections to 50,645. The ministry also tweeted that it is still accepting volunteers for the phase III clinical trial of the COVID-19 vaccine. Volunteers are requested to head to (Hall 4) at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. The centre, MoH said, will be receiving volunteers daily from 8 am to 8 pm. If you still think the coronavirus is a hoax or perhaps not as devastating as 190,000 American fatalities might imply this is the weekend you can let your freak flag fly. Holidays are made for COVID, so have at it. Just stay away from the people you actually like. And everyone else, for that matter. That was the lesson gained from the two previous summer celebrations: Both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July triggered infection surges across the country, and as Dr. Anthony Fauci put it last week, If were careless about it, then we could wind up with a surge following Labor Day it really depends on how we behave as a country. So before you make plans for Mondays holiday, the experts would like to remind you of this immutable truth: It is only after we pay the price of vigilance, self-restraint, and empathy can we reap the benefits of normalcy. That is true in New Jersey. The national numbers are steady but daunting, with 40,000 new cases a day, but transmission has actually increased in our state in the past week, says Dr. Perry Halkitis, the Dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. So from a local perspective, its a time of concern right now especially on a holiday weekend, which we know is followed by spikes, Halkitis said. Consider the factors: You have the last holiday of the summer, so people will feel like theyre facing a lockup the rest of the year human behavior, as we know, doesnt change. Second, some schools and campuses are reopening. Third, the opening of restaurants and other businesses. These things dont additively increase (a viral spread). They exponentially increase it. They work together, and its more multiplicative. And thats a problem. Every day, there are cautionary tales that support that scenario. Consider that wedding on August 7, in the idyllic community of Millinocket, Maine, which had had zero COVID cases. The reception violated the state law on indoor gatherings social distancing was not observed, servers were not masked, etc. and what followed was an outbreak that the states CDC director called a powder keg. Through Saturday, the wedding has been traced to 147 coronavirus cases. Only 56 of the cases involved people who attended the event. But the outbreak reached a nursing home 100 miles away, and infected 16 people; and it reached a county jail 220 miles away, infecting 72 more. Three are dead. If you have plans to attend a #LaborDay event or gathering, choose outdoor activities and stay in your local area. #WearAMask, stay at least 6 feet apart, and wash your hands often to help you and others stay healthy. Be sure to drink lots of water too! https://t.co/L54PUk1lmu. pic.twitter.com/zKSElwpqFi CDC (@CDCgov) September 4, 2020 Then there are the campus outbreaks: There have been more than 1,000 cases at the University of Alabama since school opened on August 19th, there have been 880 cases at the University of Kentucky, and surges at the University of North Carolina and Notre Dame forced suspension of in-person classes. We will someday emerge from this pandemic smarter, hopefully but only if we listen to scientists. And heres the message of a scientist as we celebrate the last holiday of this beastly summer: Its time for some genuine altruism. Where people are altruistic and show genuine concern for each other, you get results, Halkitis says. Remember, the masks you wear dont only protect you, they protect the weakest and most vulnerable in society. I wear a mask because of my commitment to my brother, who has MS I dont need my baby brother to get sick and die. Just think of the one person in your life who is most vulnerable to this disease, wear a mask, wash your hands, and follow all appropriate behaviors for that person to stay safe. Amen. President @realDonaldTrump asks Americans to apply common sense during #LaborDay weekend: Stay socially distanced, wear a mask when distancing is not possible, and wash your hands! pic.twitter.com/UIYb6aH23t Team Trump (Text VOTE to 88022) (@TeamTrump) September 4, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Nilanjana Chatterjee, a resident of the Anandapur area in south Kolkata, was seriously injured when she risked her life on Saturday night to save another woman who was allegedly attacked inside a running car by its driver. The incident happened around 11.50 pm on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. Chatterjee, who was returning home with her husband in their car, heard a woman sitting beside the driver of a Honda City behind them crying for help. Chatterjees husband, Deep Satpathy, stopped his car to block the path of the Honda City. My wife got down and rushed towards the car. Its driver pushed the woman out of the car and tried to speed away. The car hit my wife and the driver drove over her leg. Her shin bone broke, Satpathy told the media. I frantically dialled the police emergency number. The police acted very promptly. A police team arrived at the spot and an ambulance too was rushed to take my wife to the hospital. She will undergo a surgery, Satpathy added. Till Sunday evening, officers of the Anandapur police station were trying to trace the driver of the Honda City who, according to the assaulted woman, had identified himself to her as Amitabha Basu. This was being verified as the police suspect that the accused might have concealed his real name. A man was initially detained on the basis of suspicion but he turned out to be innocent. Also read: Ratan Tata would have been this if he was not heading Tata Group The woman registered a complaint of molestation, said officers at the police station. Since the woman could not provide the registration number of the Honda City, the police were trying to identify the car from a security camera footage. We are verifying the footage and the complainants statements. I cannot say anything more right now, an officer of Anandapur police station said on condition of anonymity on Sunday night. The woman said in her complaint that she got acquainted with the accused less than a week ago and the two decided to go out on Saturday evening. The woman alleged that he attacked her and tore her clothes during an altercation. She alleged that she asked him to drop her home but he refused. The incident triggered a furore in Kolkata and many citizens spoke out on the issue, While on one hand the incident exposes the risk women face, it also shows how bravery can teach us a lesson. I salute this act of bravery, said noted thespian Debshankar Haldar. After three months of dodging spoilers and hearing international critics laud I May Destroy You as one of the best shows of the year, Australians have finally been able to catch up. The BBC and HBO 12-part comedy-drama, which swelled into a cultural sensation after it premiered in the UK and US in June, landed on streaming service Binge on Wednesday. It's a show that musician Janelle Monae told Variety gave "me and so many the bravery to walk in our [truth]", while singer Adele wrote she'd "never felt so many emotions at once", and actor Seth Rogen declared, "holy s--t it's good". I May Destroy You was almost destined to capture the zeitgeist, seamlessly blending together the knotty themes of sexual assault, consent, race, youth culture, friendship, career and social media, with careful nuance and somehow razor-sharp humour. A Zimbabwean soldier was allegedly disarmed and gunned down while another one is in serious condition at a hospital after they were attacked Saturday by an unknown assailant in Chivhu, Mashonaland East province. In a dispatch sent to state security agents, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) said the two soldiers were shot at Chicken Inn Police Base. The deceased soldier was identified in the CID security dispatch as 30-year-old Lorance Mupanganyama of the 21 Reserve Force, Mount Darwin. His colleague, who is said to have sustained life-threatening injuries, was identified as Peter Zvirevo of the same Reserve Force. Mapanganyama allegedly exchanged harsh words with one of the assailants before the suspected gunman opened fire inside the police base. Police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi was unreachable as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. The Zimbabwe National Army was also unreachable for comment. Nyathi told the state-controlled Sunday Mail that the assailant disappeared with two AK47 rifles. We have an incident which occurred this afternoon (yesterday) at a police post close to the Chicken Inn food outlet in Chivhu, where two service officers were shot by an unknown assailant. A suspect, who is yet to be identified, entered the police post and requested to speak to a service member stationed at the post as part of the teams that are enforcing COVID-19 regulations. The suspect then took two service arms from the deceased and the injured servicemen before fleeing the scene. More information on the incident will be released in due course. The CID noted that the unknown male adult suspect was wearing a green COVID-19 face mask, a black bomber jacket, tattered blue jean trousers and black safety shoes. Did you develop an interest in photography during the past lockdown? Did you photograph everything in your 2km? Ireland's Wiki Loves Monuments competitiohn is now open and is looking for pictures of a host of Leitrim monuments from bridges, to churches to canal locks and much more. This stunning picture of the Cavan Burren by Oliver Gargan this week won a prize in Irelands first Wiki Loves Earth competition. Wiki Loves Monuments is an annual international photographic event which takes place every September around the world. The competition aims to bring together people who value their local historic environment, calling on amateur and professional photographers alike to capture images of the worlds historic monuments. Irelands list is compiled from sites that are either publicly owned or are available to visit, and are listed by either the National Monuments Service and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Visit the interactive map to see all 6000+ eligible monuments here. The photos are then shared under a free licence via Wikimedia Commons, a free media repository which along with other things provides most of the images for Wikipedia. Deadline is September 30. Entries can be images taken specially for the competition, or photographs you have taken in the past. Winners will be notified by email and announced on this website, on Facebook, Twitter and the Wikimedia Community Ireland mailing list. Prizes: 1st Prize: 250 Amazon voucher 2nd Prize: 125 Amazon voucher 3rd Prize: 75 Amazon voucher Highly Commended: 40 Amazon voucher In 2020, we will also award 5 special prizes: Most challenging or obscure monument photograph uploaded for the first time: 25 Amazon voucher In each province, for photograph of a monument previously missing from Commons: 25 Amazon voucher each Log onto: http://wikimedia.ie/programme/wiki-loves-monuments-2017/ Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz From Car and Driver Reports of the death of the sedan have been greatly exaggerated. Or, at least, thats what Adam Chamberlain, Mercedes-Benz USAs vice president of sales and product management, told us before the launch of the new S-class. Now, were not so naive as to think that a VP of sales at Mercedes would actually tell us if he thought the brand-new S-class was doomed to fail, but when your flagship is a sedan in an SUV world, there are obvious questions. Chamberlain acknowledged that Mercedes U.S. sales have shifted from roughly 60 percent cars to roughly 60 percent SUVs in the last five years. And, yes, plenty of C- and E-class buyers are moving happily from those cars into the active-lifestyle-friendly GLC and GLE. But even in the face of sliding sales in 201912,528 S-classes found homes last year, a 16 percent year-over-year slipand continued pressure from competitors like Teslas Model S, Chamberlain and Mercedes have reason to believe. For starters, the S-class is not supposed to be a volume seller. No car in this price range is. Chamberlain insists that Mercedes plans for lower sales volumes as one S-class generation fades and customers anticipate the next model, which could explain at least part of the recent sales slump. Also, S-classes are more likely to be leased than most other Mercedes models, and automakers can aggressive lease deals offered at strategic points in a vehicles lifecycle to ensure a glut of customers will return to the dealer just in time to purchase (or lease) the new car. Mercedes has every reason to believe that those customers will lease S-classes again: around 70 percent of U.S. S-class customers come back for seconds. Loyalty does not mean monogamy in the S-class world. The average S-class customer in the States is wealthy$375,000-a-year wealthyand has several vehicles. In many cases, more than one of those vehicles is a Mercedes. So while the brands more bourgeois clientele may be forced to choose between a C-class and a GLC, many S-class customers need make no such decision between the flagship sedan and a GLS. They can have both. Story continues Theres a plan to combat Tesla, too. Next fall, an electric sedan called the EQS will join the Benz family. Details are scarce, but Chamberlain promises real range from this S-class of electric vehicles. Anyone who has spent time in both the Model S and the S-class knows that while Teslas powertrains are revolutionary and its autonomous driving capabilities paradigm-shifting, to refer to a Model S as a luxury car on the order of even the meanest Mercedes is an exaggeration bordering on a lie. If Mercedes can deliver on the electric powertrain technology and hold to its own high standards for fit and finish, it'll have a better car than Tesla has ever built. Thats still an if, though, and if the Porsche Taycan is any guide, the EQS could end up costing a lot more than the chintzier Tesla. Plus, no amount of technology can give 94-year-old Mercedes Teslas brand capital among young-rich, early-adopter types. Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz The S-classs real saving grace may not be in its customers multi-car garages or planned EV variants, but in the Chinese market. China is the largest global market for the S-class (followed by the United States and then South Korea). Mercedes sold a record 694,200 vehicles there last year even as the Chinese auto market dipped by 8.2 percent. And despite the fact that Chinese consumers are increasingly interested in SUVs and crossovers, too, the Maybach limousine version of the S-class set records in China in 2019, with more than 8400 sales. Bean counters can come up with any number of reasons that Mercedes continued investment in the S-class makes sense. But the real reason its likely to last as a flagship is that Mercedes decided it should. Cadillac took the opposite approach when the design and technology elements from a gorgeous, slinky sedan concept finally made it to market in the decidedly not-slinky 2021 Escalade. The S-class has been the place for Mercedes to showcase innovations in safety, technology, and luxury for decades. Its a goal for entry-level buyers to aspire to and an elegant four-seater for high-income customers whose garages also include two- and seven-seaters. Even if sales continue to slide, Mercedes believes the S-class brand is worth maintaining. It means a lot for the company. It means a lot for the dealers And it's a big deal for customers, Chamberlain says. It is the heartbeat for our company. You Might Also Like BEIRUT: The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday warned Israel that his organization has missiles capable of striking the city of Tel Aviv, Israels commercial and cultural center, and areas beyond it. Ismail Haniyehs comments during a visit to Lebanon followed an escalation in recent weeks in which Hamas-affiliated groups fired rockets into Israel and Israeli warplanes struck areas in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by Hamas. Hamas announced last week that international mediators had brokered a new set of understandings with Israel, halting the latest round of fighting for the time being in exchange for an easing of Israeli restrictions on the Gaza Strip. Haniyeh gave a speech in the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh near the southern port city of Sidon, where he received a heros welcome by armed men who carried him on their shoulders. Haniyeh and a Hamas delegation met earlier with the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, during which they discussed the situation in the Middle East and the recent normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, a Hezbollah statement said. Our missiles had a range of several kilometers (miles) from the border with Gaza, Haniyeh said. Today the resistance in Gaza has missiles that can hit Tel Aviv and beyond Tel Aviv. Hamas rockets have reached Tel Aviv and beyond in previous rounds of fighting, but such launches are rare and considered a serious escalation by Israel. The seaside metropolis is located some 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Gaza. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and several smaller battles over the last 13 years. Neither side is believed to be seeking war, but any casualties could ignite a wider conflict. In recent weeks, groups affiliated with Hamas launched incendiary balloons into Israel, igniting farmland in a bid to pressure Israel to ease the blockade it imposed on Gaza when Hamas seized power in 2007. The group had also fired rockets into Israel in recent weeks, which was seen as a significant escalation. Haniyeh was criticized during his visit by some in Lebanon on social media. One post sarcastically asked whether it would be better for him to threaten Israel from the West Bank, which is ruled by the Palestinian Authority and with whom Hamas has a longstanding feud. Another post said Lebanon has enough problems at the moment, and doesnt need Hamas on top of that. Lebanon is grappling with its worst economic and financial crisis in decades, and the capital Beirut was devastated one month ago by a massive explosion, the result of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrates igniting at the port. The blast killed more than 190 and injured thousands. 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 Its become increasingly apparent that the Jeffrey Goldberg piece claiming that Donald Trump viciously disrespected American troops (going back to World War I) was a remarkably dishonest bit of fake news. The moment it hit the airwaves, Democrats were ready with advertisements, speeches, and articles, suggesting strong coordination. Even with a heads-up, though, Occupy Democrats managed to mess up it stole Bobby Henlines image to make its post attacking President Trump. Bobby Henline has a long and honorable military history. He first enlisted in the Army in 1989 when he was only 17. He remained in the military through 1992, a stint that included fighting in the Gulf War. After the 9/11 attacks, though, Henline re-enlisted and ended up serving three tours in Iraq. On his third tour, the Humvee in which Henline was riding hit an IED. Henline was the only man in the Humvee to survive, but he suffered terrible injuries. He had severe burns over 38% of his body, with a concentration around his head. Both his face and the back of his head were burned down to the skull in areas. He also lost part of his left arm. After a two-week-long medically induced coma, he had six months of in-hospital treatment. To date, Henline has had 48 surgeries, including skin grafts and reconstructions. The same spirit that saw him reenlist also saw Henline recover. Hes a funny guy and became a stand-up comedian: Henline discovered on Saturday that Occupy Democrats was using his image without his permission as part of a political campaign: Seeing his face used for political purposes irked Henline, so he made a short little video to complain: In response to Henlines complaint, Occupy Democrats removed the photo, which is good. (The above screengrab no longer exists on the Occupy Democrats page or on the Henline page). Still, the focus of this post remains the same: Using that photo was a tacky, unkind thing to do in the first place. As much as anything, Occupy Democrats casual use of Henlines image highlights that, to Democrats, military personnel arent people, theyre props. When Democrats oppose war, the troops are propped up as evil baby killers. And when Democrats want to attack Trumps standing with the military, those same troops and vets get dragged out, once again, to stand as props in the lefts endless anti-Trump passion play. Image: Screengrab of Occupy Democrats publicly available Facebook homepage. In 2017, Los Angeles started its eco-friendly project by buying a hundred electric-BMW vehicles for its police department. However, after a few months, police officers' issues using the car for their private usage were reported. Now, the state government was allegedly selling the cars batch-per-batch for very rip-off prices on online stores. Here's how much to buy one. LAPD sells police cars to auction online? LAPD adds 100 BMW i3 EVs to its non-emergency fleet pic.twitter.com/rR9f531fU2 Klaudia Boorn (@lvoadd1) June 8, 2016 LA Mayor Eric Garcetti planned to make a more eco-friendly neighborhood for all Los Angeles citizens. By purchasing electric BMWs for its police officers in LAPD, they began the project. Electrek reported that the city spent an estimated $10.2 million to finish the project, including the charging station facilities. "It's all a part of saving the Earth, going green ... quite frankly, to try and save money for the community and the taxpayers," said LAPD Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas in 2017. However, as per recent times, these cars were reportedly being sold online for lower prices. Business Insider reported that several local news found LAPD's 2017 version of BMWs being sold online. All of them range their prices starting at $15,000 up to as low as $18,000. Originally, these car models are priced at more than $43,000. So, that is actually considered very rip-off prices. Of course, compared to newer models of electric BMWs, these cars were already three-year-old, had low-mileage CPO while some had only 9,000 miles on them. Business Insider asked the dealership representative on the said websites were the cars were seen. They claim that the store's first shipment of BMW i3s contained exactly 28 vehicles. Impressively, all of them were sold in just four days. Another shipment was said to be coming over next month, and the dealer estimated that these cars will be sold instantly as the demand remains high. If you want to have your own LAPD BMW i3 car, the store won't be accepting online orders, so you need to physically go in the shop and buy for a first-come, first-basis protocol. LAPD denies the sell-out of vehicles Though the dealer already confirmed the LAPD units found in the store, the police department denied the said allegations about the sell-out. Instead, they explained that the car leases had expired, and that's why the leasing company is reselling them. "The 50 vehicles were turned in by us at the end of the leasing period per the contract," the spokesperson said. This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Jamie Pancho 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Badr Al Olama, Head of the Organising Committee, Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit, GMIS, has highlighted the urgent need for a global dialogue to shape the future of the industrial sector in light of the coronavirus, Covid-19, crisis. In a speech on the sidelines of the first day of the #GMIS2020 Virtual Summit, Al Olama said the manufacturing community meets again in very different circumstances to the previous gatherings in Abu Dhabi and the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. "Despite being unable to convene physically, there is a sense of urgency about holding conversations that shape the future of manufacturing," he said. Al Olama commented, "The coronavirus has, unfortunately, hijacked our world. Practically no aspect of our lives has been left unscathed. The health and safety of every individual has become a primary concern. And in the process of protecting public health, immeasurable damage has been inflicted on our economies." "All of society needs to take a deep breath and give serious consideration about the way forward. Radical transformation must take place within every aspect of industry and at every level of society, and the manufacturing sector is by no means an exception." "Trade has, in many ways, become the backbone of the global economy. It is what keeps society going and what binds the nations and regions together," he emphasised. Al Olama stated: "In a very short space of time, consumer needs have changed, forcing manufacturers to adjust their products and services beyond the distortions that have already been imposed on them by the pandemic. "The crisis has turned our attention from distant horizons to closer surroundings, serving as a timely reminder of the importance of cultivating local and regional markets, and most definitely magnifying the need for more agile, more responsive and more resilient value chains." "As challenging as this new reality may seem for most of us in the manufacturing sector, coupled with the geopolitical shifts and protectionist sentiments that have overwhelmed us in recent years, we must strike a sensible balance between having efficient and competitive supply chains whilst also securing necessary and flexible local capacity," he said. "Overcoming these challenges requires a paradigm shift towards "collaborative management" between stakeholders. Private sector companies should take the lead and accelerate the next evolution of digital capabilities, while governments should focus on providing the right policies and frameworks to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution. "We hold our destiny in our own hands. The decisions we take in the coming years will define our future and that of future generations. We owe it to them to plan for tomorrow rather than acting in the narrow self-interest of today. Let us work together and charter a new course towards a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world for all," he said in conclusion.TradeArabia News Service Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 4, 2020. Han declared the opening of the CIFTIS 2020 in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng has said that he hoped exhibitors attending the 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services would actively explore China's market and share business opportunities. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when he inspected the exhibition hall and talked with exhibitors before the Global Trade in Services Summit of 2020 China International Fair for Trade in Services kicked off on Friday. China owns a super-large domestic market consisting of its 1.4 billion population, Han said. A new development pattern featuring dual circulation, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows domestic and foreign markets boost each other, is forming in China, he noted. In this regard, Han hoped exhibitors would seize opportunities in China's new development stage to achieve growth as well as contribute more to the stable and sound development of China's economy. The ongoing services trade fair, held in Beijing from Sept. 4 to 9, was themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity." With a total of 18,000 enterprises and institutions from 148 countries and regions registering to attend, the fair presented an opportunity to strengthen open cooperation in the service sector and invigorate global economic recovery. The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann case is being investigated over a sex attack on a 10-year-old girl a month before the British toddler disappeared. Christian Brueckner, now 43, is alleged to have exposed himself to the German child on a beach while she was on holiday with her family on the Algarve in Portugal in early April 2007. The incident is said to have taken place in Salema, about six miles away from the scene of Madeleines disappearance in Praia de Luz. German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters confirmed the link to Brueckner in an interview with Portuguese TV station RTP on Friday. He said details of the case were handed over by authorities in Portugal after German police requested information about any sexual crimes at around the time Madeleine disappeared. German magazine Spiegel reported that the victim, now 23, was interviewed more than a year ago but the case was closed due to lack of evidence. However she later told police that she recognised Brueckner from TV reports about the Madeleine McCann suspect in June, it is claimed. Mr Wolters told Sky News that Brueckners lawyer had been sent the case files but added that "there is no direct connection to the Madeleine case except that the suspect is Christian B". In this case of 2007 he is suspected of showing himself in a sexual, offensive way in front of a 10-year-old German child on a beach, he said. I cannot say exactly if he was masturbating in front of the child or if he has just shown himself naked. In Germany that is a sexual abuse of a child and that's why we are investigating. Brueckner is currently in prison in Kiel, Germany, where he is serving sentences for drug trafficking and the 2005 rape of a 72-year-old American woman in Portugal. His lawyer Friedrich Fulscher said he denies any involvement in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. It is interesting to me when people are vehemently opposed to a person burning the American flag in protest, but appear to be quite comfortable with the Thin Blue Line alteration of the flag. The entire flag is turned black with a blue strip through it, purportedly to show support for police. Both the burning and the discoloration are defacement of the United States flag. I personally dont see a difference between these two acts of defacement as signs of protest. But, wow, they sure can mean a lot to hyper-sensitized individuals on opposing sides of an argument about who is patriotic and who is not. Personally, I find President Donald Trumps constant hugs, kisses and apparent humping of the American flag to be equally disgusting and blatant as burning or discoloring the flag. And, yet, Republicans dont seem all that put out by this base form of defacement and disrespect. Interesting. James V. Gruber, Washington (Warren County) Support Hobokens historic Big Oil lawsuit Concerning N.J. city makes history, is 1st to sue oil giants for climate change damages: Hoboken has filed a lawsuit against the largest oil companies for allegedly violating New Jerseys Consumer Fraud Act. The filing includes documents indicating that ExxonMobil and other oil companies have known since the 1970s that their product harms the environment; yet, they kept this information from the public and promoted more fossil fuel use. Hoboken is the first city in New Jersey to file this kind of suit, but similar ones are being filed by cities and states across the country. Why now? Maybe its because, as environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote in The New Yorker, after a decade of relentless campaigning by activists, Big Oil is no longer quite as big. The tide of public opinion has turned. New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the United States. Our three biggest climate-related issues are sea-level rise, coastal and river flooding, and more numerous and intense hurricanes. Burning fossil fuels has exacerbated each of these problems. Big Oil must pay for mitigation. At the national level we need carbon pricing, which would raise the price of fossil fuels to reflect their true cost as compared to renewable energy sources. Until we get that action from Congress, the courts are our best hope. Carolyn Dorflinger, Chatham 58 ways to leave your diner This headline from a website says it all: (Gov. Phil) Murphy issued 58 rules for reopening indoor dining, as restaurants, indoor performance venues and movie theaters were set to restart on Friday (Sept. 4). The arrogance of this governor has gotten out of hand. Steve Schneider, Monmouth Junction Bidens mandate, unmasked Joe Biden says that if hes elected president hell invoke a mandatory national mask-wearing edict. Fat chance. He cant even get Nancy Pelosi to wear one. Walter Goldeski, East Brunswick Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By Trend A group of 122 Iranian citizens have been returned to the country today (September 5), as a result of cooperation with the Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani officials, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Seyed Ali Mousavi wrote his on his Twitter page, Trend reports. According to the Mousavi, Iranian citizens crossed from the Astara border checkpoint. The ambassador added that thus, the number of Iranian citizens returning to Iran from Azerbaijan has reached 1,501 within 11 groups since the spread of the coronavirus began. Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 384,600 people have been infected, and 22,154 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 332,100 have reportedly recovered from the disease. The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease. The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Guy Faulconbridge and Gabriela Baczynska LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain will not blink first in Brexit trade negotiations with the European Union and is not scared of a no-deal exit at the end of the year, the country's top Brexit negotiator warned the bloc on Sunday. Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal for when a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December. "We came in after a government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our word seriously," negotiator David Frost told the Mail on Sunday. "So a lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realise that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously," he was quoted as saying. Talks are due to resume in London on Tuesday but they have stalled over Britain's insistence that it have full autonomy over state aid and its demands over fishing. Britain says the EU is dragging its feet in talks and has failed to fully accept that it is now an independent country. "We are not going to be a client state. We are not going to compromise on the fundamentals of having control over our own laws," Frost told the Mail. "We are not going to accept level playing field provisions that lock us in to the way the EU do things." "That's what being an independent country is about, that's what the British people voted for and that's what will happen at the end of the year, come what may," Frost said. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the week ahead would be a wake-up call for the EU. "We've got to a position where there's only two points really that are holding us back," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme. UK fisheries had been "pretty much decimated" as a result of EU membership, he said, and the bloc wanted to keep British access to its waters "permanently low". Story continues "That can't be right," he said. On state aid, Raab said Britain had led the charge against government intervention since the 1980s, but the issue was "an absolutely critical element of policy making". At heart, Britain is pressing one of the EUs most sensitive buttons the fear that a post-Brexit Britain could become a much more agile, deregulated free-market competitor on its border by using selective state aid. "More and more people have come to the conclusion that Brexit ideology trumps Brexit pragmatism in the UK government," said one EU diplomat. "If the UK really wanted to jump off the Brexit cliff edge for ideological reasons, there would be no way for the EU to stop this," the diplomat said. "If, on the other hand, the UKs approach became more pragmatic and realistic, there would probably be a good chance to save the negotiations and agree on a deal." Frost said a lot of preparation had been done for a possible exit without a trade deal. "I don't think that we are scared of this at all," Frost said. "If we can reach an agreement that regulates trade like Canada's, great. If we can't, it will be an Australian-like trading agreement and we are fully ready for that." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Sandle in London and Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by William Schomberg and Mark Potter) An airplane landed safely at Honolulus Daniel K Inouye airport in Hawaii on Saturday night, September 5, after turning around when eyewitnesses on the ground and passengers in the air reported flames or the sound of explosions. According to local reports, emergency services rushed to the runway to meet the flight. The situation was being assessed by authorities on the ground, the same report said. Hawaii News Now reported the flight was a chartered military flight heading to Guam and that it experienced a mechanical failure. There were no reported injuries. Richard Estrada, who took this video, said he heard booms outside and went to investigate. "When we walked onto the patio, we saw the plane shooting fire out of the engines. The plane appeared to immediately turn towards the ocean and slow down, " he said. They turned back towards the airport and we lost sight of it. Credit: Richard Estrada via Storyful Find all of the most important pandemic education news on Educating N.J., a special resource guide created for parents, students and educators. The states Pandemic Relief Fund has equipped Trenton Public Schools with 1,200 wi-fi hotspot devices for students who have poor or no broadband internet access. The citys school system bought 5,000 Chromebooks in the spring when classes suddenly shifted online due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the district has identified 1,200 students who need a better connection to access instruction. Trenton Public Schools are starting online this fall. Families will receive a T-Mobile hotspot and one year of wi-fi service, which typically costs about $20 per month, a payment many underprivileged families in Trenton cannot afford, Trenton Schools Interim Superintendent Ronald Lee said. He said the district is extremely grateful for the funds donations, and they will help close the so-called, digital divide. Keep up with the latest in N.J. schools coverage. Sign up your email here: The Trenton donations are part of broader effort by the Pandemic Relief Fund to close the divide and they plan to announce support for additional districts in the coming weeks, the fund said in a statement. The digital divide is a real issue in New Jersey and while this donation to the Trenton district doesnt begin to address the needs statewide, we hope it inspires others to consider donating to the fund so we can ensure every student in the state is able to access learning, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, the founding chair of the Pandemic Relief Fund, said. Several organizations donated to the fund specifically for the Trenton hotspots, including the TD Bank Foundation, NJM Insurance, Gwendolyn and Joseph Straus Charitable Fund Inc. and PNC Bank. Other donors included the Smith Family Foundation of New Jersey, the organization started by the Smith family of Trenton, who won $429 million playing the Powerball in 2016. Personally (the Smith Family), as graduates of Trenton Public Schools, it is truly a blessing to be in a position to provide funding to help close the digital divide for children in the city of Trenton, Katherine N. Nunnally, the executive director of the Smith Family Foundation, said in a statement. The partnership with New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund will afford all Trenton youth the opportunity to receive the remote education they deserve. As schools reopen across N.J., we want to know what is and isnt working. Tell us about it here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis said on Saturday that scientific and tourism relations between his country and Iran should be developed in post-coronavirus era, Trend reports citing IRNA. He made the remarks in a meeting with Isfahan Governor General Abbas Rezaei late on Saturday. "Tomorrow in Tehran, in an official meeting, we will celebrate the centenary of joint diplomatic activities between Iran and Switzerland," Cassis said. Relations between the two countries are 100 years old and have continued since the late 19th century with the signing of the peace and trade agreement between Tehran and Bern, he said, noting that peace and trade are two important factors in the development of countries, and "we are here today to say that Switzerland has always sought peace and tranquility". Referring to Switzerland's mediating role between Iran and the US, Cassis said that Switzerland is trying to provide the minimum for dialogue between the two countries. "Prior to visiting Tehran to hold an official meeting with the Iranian president and foreign minister, I wanted to visit Mr. Zarif's hometown, and today I watched a glimpse of the beauties of this city," he said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday that the official schedule of the Swiss foreign minister will begin on Sunday in Tehran after a short stop in Isfahan, the most important of which is the meeting on the 100th anniversary of the start of relations between the two countries. The Swiss foreign minister is slated to hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Sunday and Monday, Khatibzadeh said. Our city deputy privatized the dead. Those who vote for United Russia will be voting for the funeral mafia that rips off poor, weeping people, Navalny said outside a Novosibirsk funeral parlor. I could tell you a story like that about every deputy, but there are 50 of them and believe me, theyre all the same. An Austrian man has beaten his own record for the longest full body contact with ice cubes. Sportsman Josef Koeberl managed to stay for two hours, 30 minutes and 57 seconds inside a custom-made glass box filled up to his shoulders with ice cubes. More than 200 kilograms of ice cubes were needed to fill up the box, after Mr Koeberl stepped inside wearing nothing but swimming trunks. Sportsman Josef Koeberl managed to stay for two hours, 30 minutes and 57 seconds inside a custom-made glass box filled up to his shoulders with ice cubes Koeberl celebrates after setting a new world record on 'Longest Duration Full Body Contact With Ice' in Melk, some 90 kilometers (56 miles) west of Austrian capital Vienna Josef Koeberl stands in a glass box as it is filled with ice as he attempts to break the world record for the longest duration full body contact with ice In order to fight the 'wave of pain' caused by the freezing temperatures, Mr Koeberl says he was trying to focus on positive emotions. 'I'm fighting the pain by visualising and drawing on positive emotions so I can dampen this wave of pain,' Mr Koeberl told reporters. 'That way I can endure.' A small crowd of people watched on as Mr Koeberl beat his own record from 2019 by 30 minutes on the town square of Melk in Lower Austria. Kids dressed in traditional clothes dance as Austrian sportsman Josef Koeberl stands still in an ice-filled glass cabin trying to set a World Record of staying in ice, in Melk, Austria, on Saturday Austrian sportsman Josef Koeberl stands still in an ice-filled glass cabin as he tries to set a World Record of staying in ice Austrian ice swimmer Josef Koeberl during a medical check ahead of his world record attempt After being taken out of the ice box by helpers he said that the sun felt 'really great' on his back. Mr Koeberl is planning to beat his own record one more time next year in Los Angeles. His team said that his personal record is also the current world record when it comes to exposing the body to ice for as long as possible. Guilderland is growing, and it looks like it'll be Albany residents who'll feel the growing pains. Albany and Guilderland are at loggerheads over planned projects to build a Costco warehouse and a 222-unit apartment and town house development in the town. The projects will pump up the traffic volume on already-busy Rapp Road. Albany suggests a bypass to keep cars out of the city's Rapp Road neighborhood. Guilderland doesn't want that, and has floated other options which Albany says won't ease traffic. The city is right to protect Albany residents from the effects of Guilderland's development decisions. Rapp Road is already a rush-hour headache; residents say it's a nightmare to get out of their driveways. They've been pushing to reduce traffic for years. Note, too, that the Rapp Road community is on the National Register of Historic Places, developed in the 1920s by Black families who came to Albany from Mississippi during the Great Migration. This is an opportunity not to add another bad planning decision to the decades-long string of urban planning choices that have adversely affected Black neighborhoods including the Rapp Road community, half of which was taken by eminent domain in the early 1970s during the construction of Washington Avenue Extension. Good for you, Albany, for digging in. Near-perfect mess This kind of near-perfection deserves our attention and alarm: 99 percent of people who have applied for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program have been rejected. The program, created in 2007, was meant to encourage college graduates to take jobs in teaching, nursing, nonprofits and other community service fields jobs that may not pay as well as the private sector, but that we all rely on and benefit from. People paid down their education loans and stuck with their jobs for 10 years with the understanding that the rest of their loans would be forgiven. Then they were told they don't qualify. Critics say the program is rife with administrative errors, confusing instructions, poor communication to borrowers and poor program implementation by the loan servicer. The U.S. Education Department has been too slow to make fixes. More Information To comment: tuletters@timesunion.com See More Collapse Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is calling for an overhaul. Good for her. If this public health crisis has taught us anything, it's that those who devote their careers to the community deserve our support, not broken promises. A partial fix Airbnb has reached a deal to collect room taxes for Washington County, one of 30 New York counties that have made such agreements with the online platform, on which people offer short-term rentals of rooms or entire homes. In one sense, that's good for county residents: Hotels and traditional bed-and-breakfasts pay taxes, so why shouldn't Airbnb? But in another sense, it's only a stopgap measure. Tax experts have expressed concerns that this approach to taxation erodes transparency and the rule of law. And there are other issues raised by the Airbnb business model, which operates outside of zoning laws and other regulations and can drive up local rents. At some point, governments must face the larger issues the so-called "sharing economy" presents. Meanwhile, Airbnb rentals need to pay their fair share. As several links to maps and indexes herein demonstrate, there is overwhelming evidence of an inverse relationship between divisive diversity mandates and happiness, the pursuit of which is one of our unalienable rights. As evidenced at the big tent RNC, diversity is laudable when there is broad compliance with core convictions -- and necessary in our vibrant country. Some of the most telling testimonials were delivered by minorities who appreciate our munificence and want to keep America -- America. By contrast, radical leftist multiculturalism, adorned with diversity platitudes, eviscerates our foundational principles, erodes trust, and engenders unhappiness. When there is no consent on our unifying ideals, social cohesion unravels and law and order is usurped by a might makes right brutal state of nature. Something the otherwise dumb street mobs appreciate instinctively. While magnanimous Republicans are reaching out to minorities who share their exceptional Americanism, so-called progressives are reverting to regressive segregation under the guise of diversity. Many institutions that ostensibly offer inclusiveness, even incorporating platitudes into their mission statements, actually exclude whites (and sometimes Asians) from events -- especially on campuses. The resultant discord may partly explain why unhappiness envelops our campuses-cum-indoctrination camps. Todays college students struggle with mental equanimity, long before COVID-19 invaded us from China. Misguided constructs like intersectionality and Critical Race Theory are inherently racist, ensnaring the weak-minded progressives in a constant state of outrage. Unhappiness is further induced by diversity imperatives like those in the City of Seattle which coerce workers to attend seminars on white privilege and macroaggressions, all under the egregious aegis of some diversity coordinator probably trying to justify her exorbitant salary. Even white male executives working at the Sandia National Labs have to suffer the indignity of mandatory diversity training that ridicules "white male culture. Forget about eggshells, as the PC policies presume privilege these poor chumps must feel like theyre walking over hot coals. Suspicion and distrust are key components of unhappiness. As the editor of the annual World Happiness Report puts it, happy people trust each other and care about each other, and thats what fundamentally makes for a better life. Not just in America, but beyond our borders the upside-down relationship between diversity and happiness is dreadfully demonstrable. Lets take a closer look at this report. Th e top five happiest nations, effective 2017-2019, are, in descending order: Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway. Its noteworthy that the Nordic nations tend to be more homogenous societies. Indeed, witness the correspondence between the happiest nations and ethnically/culturally less diverse nations. Clearly, countries that perennially score high on happiness are all in the bottom quartile of most diverse countries Conversely, countries that are the most diverse are in happiness reverse. In most indexes that compile happiness rankings, African despondence is preponderant; coincidentally, they are also the most diverse. In fact, when combining language, religion, and ethnicity as indicators, the most diverse countries are Liberia, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Cameroon, Chad, and Kenya. Unsurprisingly, these countries also lag in various happiness indexes. Want more corroboration? Compare this world happiness map to this map revealing rankings of diversity -- the dark contrasts are stark. Admittedly, life is complex and other factors contribute, such as wealth. Abundance sure helps, but it is not the sole contributor to happiness; in America, for example, happiness has declined even as GDP has increased. No wonder the U.S. doesnt achieve higher happiness rankings. Democracy tends to be more vibrant in countries with more homogeneous happiness because there is underlying agreement about their foundational principles. Disagreements may occur over specific methods to achieve societal ambitions, rather than the nature of society itself. Importantly, those with different views are not labelled as evil by the woke crowd, which brings us back to America. Watershed research by renowned social scientist Robert Putnam lends much credence to the conclusion that more diverse communities beget suspicion and distrust. Famous for Bowling Alone. The Collapse and Revival of American Community, his 2000 book on declining civic engagement, Putnam reluctantly discovered (he couldnt believe his own vast data, at first) that the greater the diversity in a community, the fewer people vote and the less they volunteer, the less they give to charity and work on community projects. In the most diverse communities, neighbors trust one another about half as much as they do in the most homogenous settings. Interestingly, some of Putnams measures comprise the definition of the pursuit of happiness as proffered by our Founders. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy described what happiness meant to our Founders: happiness meant that feeling of self-worth and dignity you acquire by contributing to your community and to its civic life. But then again, our founders dared to champion E Pluribus Unum in order to form a more perfect union. Thats so uplifting compared to the fractious factions who elevate multiculturalism over assimilation, and who want to cancel our culture and topple our history. For all of Americas supposed warts (few compared to most nations), weve laid the precepts to pursue our unalienable rights; weve long been the shining city on a hill, emitting luminescence to a dark world of suffering, wretched masses. If you want to be happy in America, follow the examples set by the inspirational speakers at the RNC. If they can rise from various depths to the pinnacle, from cotton to Congress, as Senator Tim Scott testified, so can you! But if you fall short, youll still be higher -- and happier -- than the dismal liberals would prefer. God bless America! Image: Pixabay Hundreds attend 'sacred assembly' in Ohio town; mayor wants Jesus to 'rule Supreme' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Hundreds of residents in a small city in Ohio gathered for a night of prayer and repentance at what was dubbed a sacred assembly in response to the coronavirus lockdowns. Community members from multiple denominations in Ashland, located about 60 miles southwest of Cleveland, attended the assembly that took place at Freer Field on Aug. 23 in which the mayor called for Jesus to reign Supreme over the town. Twenty-five churches associated with the Ashland County Ministerial Association collaborated with local elected officials to put on the event, which featured speakers like Mayor Matt Miller, State Rep. Darrell Kick and County Commissioner Emmitt Justice. In an interview with The Christian Post this week, Pastor Dave McNeely of Ashlands New Life Community Church explained that the sacred assembly was a response to the novel coronavirus and the church closures that came from pandemic gathering restrictions. We really felt at the Ministerial Association that it was time to do something to bring the community together and Scripture teaches us that the best way to do that is to get people to pray together, he said. It was a wonderful, prayerful evening for our community, McNeely recalled. Were going to make it an annual event. Were going to at least do it once a year. In addition to praying and asking for forgiveness, attendees of the assembly professed their love for Christ. As I stand before you tonight, in the bright light of His son, to the extent that I am able, I give this city of Ashland to the LORD Jesus Christ, Miller proclaimed as he spoke at the event, according to Front Line Ohio. The mayor expressed hope that the roughly 20,000 residents of the town would experience Christs love firsthand. May this be a land where He rules supreme, Miller was quoted as saying. May this be a land where His love is genuinely felt by believers and nonbelievers alike. During his remarks, Miller declared that the heart of this city is seeking God. I believe with all my heart that is why God has protected the city of Ashland during one of the most tumultuous times in my lifetime and the citys history, Miller stated. According to The Times-Gazette, Pastor John Bouquet of Bethel Baptist Church in Savannah said that the Old Testament passage of Joel 1:13-14 calls for repentance from our sins and consecration unto God. Because Hes our healer. Hes the reconciler of all human relationships that go wrong. Hes the answer for every question that we have, Bouquet was quoted as saying. And faith is to replace fear. And thats what this event is. McNeely said that Ashland had been spared from the worst of the coronavirus. Ashland County has been pretty blessed, the pastor explained. Weve had very little impact from COVID. ... As of last week, there were no active cases. McNeely told CP that at his church, there was a low impact on job loss due to coronavirus. The church did not see too much of a drop off in offerings. People were mailing in their offerings and doing electronic giving, he added. While McNeely and town leaders see the relatively small impact of COVID-19 as evidence that Gods hand is upon their community, the pastor argued that we are seeing a lot of great God activity in our community. We are having an opportunity where we have five school districts in Ashland County and all five school superintendents and school districts are asking for the Ministerial Association to assist them to get an accredited Bible class back into all of the schools, he said. As of right now, Ohio has a law on the books that allows high school students to receive credit for Bible classes that take place outside of school. LifeWise Academy, a ministry that teaches an accredited Bible class and curriculum, is part of a three-way partnership with the Ashland County Ministerial Association and the school district in Ashland County working to enable students to attend Bible classes during the school day. In a majority of those school districts, we have churches very close to the schools, McNeely explained. And almost all of those churches are willing to open up to allow students to come over and to have their class and then to go back to school. McNeely hopes that the new initiative, which will likely start with the elementary schools first, will be in place at the beginning of the 2021-'22 school year. Immigration activists rally outside the Supreme Court as the justices hear arguments over the Trump administration's plan to ask about citizenship on the 2020 census, in Washington. The U.S. Census Bureau has spent much of the past year defending itself against allegations that its duties have been overtaken by politics. Read more ORLANDO, Fla. The U.S. Census Bureau for now must stop following a plan that would have it winding down operations in order to finish the 2020 census at the end of September, according to a federal judges order. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, issued a temporary restraining order late Saturday against the Census Bureau and the Commerce Department, which oversees the agency. The order stops the Census Bureau from winding down operations until a court hearing is held on Sept. 17. The once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident helps determine how $1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed and how many congressional seats each state gets in a process known as apportionment. The temporary restraining order was requested by a coalition of cities, counties and civil rights groups that had sued the Census Bureau, demanding it restore its previous plan for finishing the census at the end of October, instead of using a revised plan to end operations at the end of September. The coalition had argued the earlier deadline would cause the Census Bureau to overlook minority communities in the census, leading to an inaccurate count. Because of the pandemic, the Census Bureau pushed back ending the count from the end of July to the end of October and asked Congress to extend the deadline for turning in the apportionment numbers from December, as required by law, into next spring. When the Republican-controlled Senate failed to take up the request, the bureau was forced to create a revised schedule that had the census ending in September, according to the statistical agency. The lawsuit contends the Census Bureau changed the schedule to accommodate a directive from President Donald Trump to exclude people in the country illegally from the numbers used in redrawing congressional districts. The revised plan would have the Census Bureau handing in the apportionment numbers at the end of December, under the control of the Trump administration, no matter who wins the election in November. More than a half dozen other lawsuits have been filed in tandem across the country, challenging Trumps memorandum as unconstitutional and an attempt to limit the power of Latinos and immigrants of color during apportionment. The court rightfully recognized the Trump administrations attempted short-circuiting of our nations census as an imminent threat to the completion of a fair and accurate process, said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, one of the groups that brought the San Jose lawsuit. In her order, Koh wrote that previous court cases had concluded that its in the public interest that Congress be fairly apportioned and that the federal funds be distributed using an accurate census. Thus, the balance of the hardships and public interest tip sharply in Plaintiffs favor, Koh said. Neither the White House nor the Commerce Department had immediate comment. In a message emailed to regional offices and headquarters late Saturday, the Census Bureau said the statistical agency and the Commerce Department are obligated to comply with the Courts Order and are taking immediate steps to do so. Further guidance would be provided later, the bureau said. A top Census Bureau official said in court papers filed late Friday that the bureau wouldnt be able to meet its deadline to turn in apportionment numbers at the end of December if the head count were extended an extra month. Associate director Al Fontenot said it would be difficult to bring back census takers who had been laid off if the bureau was forced to go back to the plan that has the head count ending in October, and that the current crop of census takers had been much more efficient than in past decades, allowing the count to end on the faster timetable. As of Saturday, more than 86% of households have been counted. More than 65% of households were counted from self-reponses online, by mail or by telephone, and 21% of households were counted by census takers who went to households that hadnt yet answered the questionnaire. Some census takers have been laid off and operations wound down as 85% of households in an area have been counted in what is known as the closeout phase, and starting Sept. 11, it will be up to the supervisors to wind down operations in an area even if it hasnt achieved the 85% threshold, Fontenot said. Some steps also have been eliminated in the processing phase that will take place between when the count ends and when the apportionment numbers must be turned in, increasing the risk for errors, but the Census Bureau is confident that it can achieve a complete and accurate census and report apportionment counts, Fontenot said in the court papers. ___ AP White House reporter Darlene Superville contributed to this report. A lesser-known example of unethical practice during the British rule has come to light as part of initiatives to decolonise public spaces and perspectives sparked by the Black Lives Matter campaign when a major museum in Scotland revised texts related to colonial India. According to the new Victoria & Albert Museum in Dundee, Scotland, Turkey red a colour used to dye cotton and export huge volumes of fabric to India to be used for saris and shawls was produced using a substance that was against the religious beliefs of consumers, but the fact was not disclosed. The revelation, as part of decolonising Scotlands design history, provides another dimension to the economic impact on colonial India of British rule which included crippling Indias textile industry and flooding the Indian market with British cloth. Examples of the Turkey red dye and other colonial items, with revised textual descriptions to reflect the exploitation of enslaved and colonised people around the world, are now on display at V&A Dundee, 90 kilometres from Edinburgh, which is part of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Also read: 1 killed, 7 injured in stabbings in UKs Birmingham Scotland became a centre of cloth dyeing from the 17th century onwards after the Europeans discovered the secret of long-lasting colour of fabrics imported from India and the east. The museum showcases several examples of fabric dyed in Turkey red with Indian motifs, with revised description agreed in consultation with experts. Another item with a revised description is the Scottish Glengarry cap with Indian embroidery. Original version This cap was probably modelled on a Glengarry bonnet, traditional Scottish headgear that became associated with the dress of Scottish regiments of the British army from the 1850s. Scottish regiments were deployed across India, and in 1848 the Ludhiana Sikh Regiment adopted the Glengarry as its uniform cap. It features Kashmir shawl motifs that are now better known as Paisley patterns. Revised version The Indian embroidery and buta patterns on this cap, as well as its form resembling a Scottish Glengarry bonnet, suggest it might have been made by a Punjabi craftsperson to sell to Scottish soldiers. At this time Scottish regiments were deployed across India to maintain British rule. Following British victory in the First Anglo-Sikh War, the newly formed Regiment of Ludhiana, which included colonised Indian soldiers, adopted the Glengarry as its uniform cap. Is this a sign of cultural exchange or subjugation? Scottish Glengarry bonnet (Victoria & Albert Museum) Kashmiri shawls with the droplet-shaped motif, which became popular in Britain when they were imported from India during the early 19th century, led to a major imitation industry springing up in the Scottish town of Paisley. The museum presents sketches of the Paisely shawl with a revised text. Also read: We wont blink first - UK warns EU on Brexit Original version The 19th-century demand for imported soft woollen Kashmir shawls led Paisley weavers and manufacturers to develop British imitations. These shawls have complex designs that could only be produced on mechanical Jacquard looms controlled by a sequence of punched cards dictating the pattern. Designing and weaving became two separate professions, the design process encompassing several stages from a sketch to a point paper before being woven on the loom. Revised version This sketch and point paper show how a pattern design was developed before being woven on the loom. The design process had several stages, each managed by a different person with different skills. Once the design was complete, preparatory work for weaving was carried out by winders, warpers, dyers and beamers. Draw-boys or draw-girls worked with the weaver to operate the loom. Finishing was done by clippers, sewers, fringers, washers, pickers and dressers, many of whom were women. By the mid-19th century, French Jacquard looms were introduced, and the Paisley shawl industry became so highly organised that it overtook competitors in Edinburgh and Norwich. As a new design museum, we have no excuse for omitting and misrepresenting this history in our galleriesThe first step weve taken in this process is to re-write a number of object labels in our galleries so that they reflect a decolonial and transnational approach to Scotlands design history, says Meredith More, curator at V&A Dundee. Some of these original labels omitted important details about the colonial context for the objects creation, while others unwittingly misrepresented the facts. To re-write them we worked with a group of experts from the Transnational Scotland Network, she adds. The decolonisation project is the latest initiative of the 80 million museum housed in a unique design inspired by the eastern cliff edges of Scotland and created by the prominent Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, drawing a large number of visitors this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The BJP on Sunday accused Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut of defaming" Gujarat by calling Ahmedabad a mini-Pakistan" and demanded that he apologise to the people of Gujarat and Ahmedabad. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai earlier in the day,Raut asked whether actress Kangana Ranaut had the courage to compare Ahmedabad to mini-Pakistan the way she equated Mumbai with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Raut and Ranaut have been locked in a bitter war of words since the actress termed Mumbai unsafe after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. If that girl apologises to Mumbai and Maharashtra for calling Mumbai a mini Pakistan, then I will think about it. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad?" the Sena MP had asked. Taking umbrage at Rauts remarks, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the Sena leader insulted the state by calling Ahmedabad a mini-Pakistan. He should apologise to Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Amdavadis," he stated. Pandya said the Sena should stop using any opportunity to defame Gujarat, Gujaratis and leaders from Gujarat by targeting them out of jealousy, hatred and malice". This is the Gujarat of Gandhiji and Sardar Patel. Sardar Patel has strengthened the unity and integrity of India by uniting 562 kingdoms. Junagadh and Hyderabad were prevented from going to Pakistan and made to stay in India due to his guts and strength," he said. Pandya added that Patels dream of making Kashmir an integral part of India by revoking Article 370 has been fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who are from Gujarat. Therefore, Gujarats contribution to Indias unity and integrity in the past and present should be remembered," he said. Business owners have slammed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for extending the COVID-19 lockdown, claiming the move will completely destroy the retail industry. Premier Andrews announced the state's strict lockdown would be extended by two weeks, with the earliest possible lessening of restrictions to come on September 13. But for hospitality and retail businesses the lessening of restrictions do not start until 'step three', which the government is hoping will be reached by October 26. At this step groups of up to 10 will be able to dine out together, retail stores will re-open and there will be no limits on how many people from each household can do any essential shopping. But business owners on Chapel Street - one of Melbourne's most famous shopping and retail strips - claim the roadmap out of COVID-19 is too little too late for already struggling business owners. Business owners have slammed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for extending the COVID-19 lockdown, claiming the move will completely destroy the already-crippled retail industry Premier Andrews (pictured) announced the state's strict lockdown would be extended by two weeks, with the earliest possible lessening of restrictions to come on September 13 'Some of our businesses haven't made revenue since the first lockdown,' Chrissie Maus, general manager of Chapel Street Precinct Association, said. 'They have been on borrowed time. It's black and white now, the cure is much worse than the cold. 'I'm now most concerned about the long term damage to our business owners mental health and our communities well-being.' Ms Maus said she believes that nursing homes and the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, need to be protected. 'We definitely should be putting an iron-clad protective shield around our elderly and nursing homes, and doing everything we can to protect our health care workers, but we need to sandbag high-risk areas and get everything else open.,' she said. 'Unemployment is soaring and our businesses are living in a sense of hopelessness. 'We are exhausted and need more fiscal support and not this savage plan. Every day we remain shut, the economic recovery compounds and it's snowballing fast now.' As he outlined his roadmap out of lockdown on Sunday, Mr Andrews said a raft of measures were being considered to help retail and hospitality businesses. One of them is to move more diners at cafes and restaurants outside the venue, by adding more tables to the footpath area. 'We will have more support to businesses, we will have more to say on that soon,' Mr Andrews said. Chrissie Maus, general manager of Chapel Street Precinct Association - one of Melbourne's busiest retail precincts - said the 'cure is worse than the cough' Mr Andrews promised that plans were in place to help business strips who have suffered under the COVID-19 lockdown (Pictured is a deserted Toorak Road on Sunday) 'We are looking at all about was that we have had some consultations with industry and they would prefer to have everybody back inside. That is not possible in the first instance. 'We may move a significant amount of activity outside the venue (eventually) but it will still be able to happen. And I think we can make that work.' Chapel Street precinct's chairperson Justin O'Donnell said the experience had been 'painful' for business owners because of its length. 'This long, slow and painful pathway shows the approach to business lockdowns has been utterly colour blind from Daniel Andrews,' Mr O'Donnell said. Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien was equally critical, saying Mr Andrews had 'betrayed' his state. 'Today Daniel Andrews has betrayed Victorians - denying us hope, ripping the heart out of small business and taking a wrecking ball to our economy,' he tweeted. 'Victorians have done the right thing. We deserve so much better than this.' The South African National Research Network (SANReN) is building out a fibre network that is capable of speeds in excess of 9,600 gigabits per second (Gbps). This massive network serves South Africas academic and scientific community and will be an essential component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) when it is fully built in the latter half of the decade. SANReNs group lead for network engineering, Siju Mammen, told MyBroadband that the MeerKAT radio telescope currently requires peak speeds of 20Gbps. These bandwidth demands will only increase in the coming years. MeerKAT will continue to expand as part of the first phase of the SKA project, and will eventually require as much as 10 terabits per second (Tbps) of bandwidth. That is five hundred times the bandwidth it currently uses, or 10,000Gbps. Since the SKA will be comprised of teams around the world and will have sensors in South Africa and Australia, the data from MeerKAT will have to be sent over international links so that researchers across the globe can collaborate on the project. Mammen explained that to optimise the amount of international bandwidth required by MeerKAT, the data it captures will first be processed by a correlator. This will reduce the bandwidth requirements of the SKAs international link down to 100Gbps. When the second phase of the SKA comes online it will generate an order of magnitude more data than SKA1, Mammen said. SANReN, therefore, has to design its network knowing that in ten years, it will have to handle at least ten-times the amount of traffic from the SKA. Its international bandwidth needs are also expected to increase tenfold, up to 1Tbps. Building a terabit per second network To get the bandwidth it needs to support South African academic and scientific institutions, SANReN has commissioned several high-capacity national and regional fibre links in South Africa. It currently has a total pool of 890Gbps of capacity that it can aggregate on its network around South Africa. For its international capacity needs, SANReN has made deals with various undersea cable providers. The director of SANReN, Leon Staphorst explained to MyBroadband that in 2011, the Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa (TENET) bought 10Gbps of capacity on SEACOM through a complex financing deal with the Industrial Development Corporation. State-owned entity Broadband Infraco bought capacity in the West African Cable System (WACS) in 2013 and currently owns 11.4% of the capacity on the cable. Of that, 65% is owned by SANReN. SANReN has also participated in the 2014 and 2018 upgrades of WACS, allowing it to increase the amount of capacity it owns on the cable. In total, SANReN has 260Gbps of international capacity, but almost all of this is concentrated in WACS. To diversify the international routes connecting SANReN to the rest of the world, Staphorst said they did several swap deals through TENET. They have swapped some of their capacity on WACS for 50Gbps on SEACOM, 20Gbps on SAT-3, and 20Gbps on EASSy. We now have four subsea cables connecting the national research network, Staphorst said. In addition to the like-for-like international capacity swaps, SANReN has also swapped WACS bandwidth for 10Gbps of overland national backhaul capacity. The journey to 10Tbps Staphorst said that for the last few years, SANReNs focus has been the upgrade of its core and national backbone to cope with the demands of South Africas research community, especially the SKA. A major part of its network upgrade has been the rollout of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) technology which can provide 100Gbps of bandwidth for each wavelength of light, or channel, that the fibre cable carries. SANReNs network currently supports 96 channels per fibre cable, giving it a design capacity of 9.6Tbps in its backbone. In addition to deploying DWDM, SANReN has also done a significant amount of work to extend its backbone to rural areas and upgrade the capacity in outlying areas to 10Gbps. It is currently in the procurement stages of building the missing piece of its network between Beaufort West and Carnarvon to connect the SKA with its backbone. Because of how remote the SKA is, the build between Carnarvon and Beaufort West is challenging. Staphorst explained that some of the fibre will be run in trenches that must be dug along a gravel road, while some of the cables will need to be hung overhead on poles. Once the build between Beaufort West and Carnarvon is completed, this will give SANReN a redundant cable route from the Square Kilometre Array into its core network. Now read: MeerKAT radio telescope inaugurated with clearest image of the centre of our galaxy Childless employees of tech companies have been demanding that they be given the same benefits extended to parents during the pandemic. Workers at Facebook, Twitter and Salesforce have all complained about discrimination, The New York Times reported on Saturday. In March, Facebook offered up to 10 weeks of paid time off for employees if they had to care for a child whose school or day care facility had closed, or for an older relative whose nursing home was not open. Google, Twiiter, Microsoft and many of tech firms extended similar paid leave to employees dealing with children at home or a sick relative. But many employees complained that they were not receiving the same treatment simply because they had chosen not to have children. One Facebook staff member called the policies 'unfair', while at Twitter an employee accused a coworker and parent of not pulling their weight on an internal forum. Parents have hit back, however. 'The time off that parents are getting isn't a vacation,' one pointed out. Tech companies have been among the most generous to parents - sparking a backlash Facebook offered 10 weeks of paid time off for employees whose child couldn't attend school Tech firms were among the first to pivot to working from home, and among the first to roll out policies to help working parents. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive and a father of two, announced that the company would not be conducting its usual employee assessments for the first half of 2020 because there was 'so much change in our lives and our work.' Every Facebook employee would receive bonus amounts usually reserved for very good performance scores. That angered some employees without children, who felt that if they worked more they should be paid more. On August 20 Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, hosted a videoconference for the entire staff, and more than 2,000 employees voted to ask her what more Facebook could do to support those without children, since its other policies had benefited parents. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, said the policies benefit all staff Online, the Times article sparked fierce debate, with parents saying it was not a vacation The question elicited fierce debate on the message board beneath the videoconference screen. One employee said it was 'unfair' that non-parents could not take the additional 10 weeks off, and another said it was 'easy breezy' for parents to be granted leave, but hard for all others. A parent hit back, saying the question to Sandberg was 'harmful'. Another parent wrote, in screenshots seen by The New York Times: 'Please don't make me and other parents at Facebook the outlet for your understandable frustration, exhaustion and anger in response to the hardships you're experiencing due to Covid-19.' Sandberg said she 'disagreed with the premise of the question' - denying that the 10 weeks additional leave and freeze on performance ratings were primarily benefiting parents. She added that larger-than-normal bonuses had been given to all employees and that everyone had received a $1,000 stipend to buy equipment for working from home. She said that Facebook has tried to design its leave policies to be 'inclusive.' 'I do believe parents have certain challenges,' she said. 'But everyone has challenges, and those challenges are very, very real.' Following the discussion, chats about the subject have been shut down, three employees told the paper. Facebook said in August that the leave policy would remain in place through June 2021 and that employees who had already taken some leave this year would be afforded another 10 weeks next year. Facebook said all employees could take up to three days to cope with physical or mental health issues without a doctor's note. It separately offers 30 days of emergency leave for all employees if they need to care for a sick family member. All Facebook employees receive an unlimited number of sick days and receive at least 21 vacation days a year. 'We've added more support for all of our employees and encourage everyone to have open discussions about the challenges they're facing,' said Liz Bourgeois, a company spokeswoman. 'In too many workplaces, trying to hide the added difficulties of caregiving or well-being is yet another burden people have to carry, and we don't want that to be the case at Facebook.' Online, people debated The New York Times article, with one pointing out that many of those complaining could take multiple cigarette breaks during the day. The New York Times article sparked a fierce debate online about the challenges of 'WFH' Parents point out that juggling the demands of childcare with working from home is intense Salesforce has also seen its policies for childcare leave questioned by childless employees At Twitter, one employee who did not have children accused another who did of not pulling their weight. A row escalated on the internal messaging board, with many springing to the defense of the parent. Twitter provides its staff with unlimited time off, to take as they see fit provided they get their job done - one person then accused parents of taking more time off. And at Salesforce, where parents were offered six weeks of paid time off, two childless employees complained that the policy seemed to put parents' needs ahead of theirs. Erin Kelly, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Business, who studies workplace policies and management practices, told the paper that companies should do a better job of explaining how the policies benefit all. 'A question that we might ask the employees who are feeling some frustration about their co-workers being on leave is what do you think is going to happen if that person quits?' she said. 'You're going to actually be stretched further.' Melinda Gates tweeted in May that finding a workable solution was now a priority for all companies. 'America's caregiving system was already broken,' she said. 'Now it's threatening our country's ability to safely reopen. 'To ensure a fast and inclusive recovery, governments, business leaders, and investors need to act.' A Congress consultative committee, headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, mandated to meet every day to discuss and formulate the partys stand on current issues, has not met for over two months, people familiar with the matter said. The last meeting of the 11-member panel was held in July, a Congress functionary said on condition of anonymity. That day, the panel discussed the Chinese transgressions in eastern Ladakh and deliberated on the partys stand on the border standoff, said the functionary. There were some differences among the members on how the party should articulate its stand on the issue, he added. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had on April 18, in the midst of the lockdown ordered to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), constituted the group to deliberate on issues related to the pandemic and other current matters. Apart from the former Prime Minister, the group comprises former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, the partys chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, general secretary in-charge of the organisation, KC Venugopal, and former union ministers P Chidambaram, Manish Tewari and Jairam Ramesh. Other members of the group are Praveen Chakravarty, Gaurav Vallabh, Supriya Shrinate and Rohan Gupta. Surjewala is also the convenor of the group. In a press release, the party had then said the consultative committee will meet virtually every day to deliberate on matters of current concern and formulate the partys stand on various issues. The panel was also supposed to give suggestions to the government on health and economic challenges in the wake of the outbreak of Covid-19. In the past, the group discussed the revival of micro, small and medium enterprises, crop procurement, issues related to migrant workers, the lockdown exit strategy and the state of the economy. A member of the committee said on condition of anonymity that the panel could not meet after July as the party kept discussing issues through other forums. This panel was formed to strategise the partys response to current issues during the Covid-19 times, he added. Meanwhile, the Congress would formulate its strategy for the monsoon session of Parliament, beginning September 14, at a meeting on Tuesday. The meeting will be attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh, Manickam Tagore and Ravneet Singh Bittu. This will be the first time that some of the 23 signatories to a letter to the party president seeking a complete overhaul of the organisation will come face-to-face with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi after the stormy Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on August 24. Four out of the 23 signatories who are CWC members Azad, Sharma, Mukul Wasnik and Jitin Prasada came under fire from other colleagues at the meeting for writing the letter. After chairing the meeting, Sonia Gandhi, who is also the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP), is likely to travel abroad for a routine health check-up, a party leader said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW HAVEN House Democrats spoke out against social media posts regarding one of their colleagues in a news release Saturday, describing the messages from gun advocates as sexist and racist. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, cited a post on the page of Jonathan Hardy, an official with the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, saying that it was part of a pattern of harassment against Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, from gun activists. The post cited shows a woman with Gilchrests superimposed face sitting on her couch. Above her stand four Black men in tight clothing, labeled government policies, media bias, ANTIFA BLM and COVID-19. Gov. Ned Lamont is also pictured holding a fist labeled socialism. Hardy said he had posted the meme, which he did not create, to his personal page, then removed it after receiving complaints. It had nothing to do with the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, he said. Aresimowicz and Ritteer called on the CCDL to disavow the post and stand against racism and sexism in both joint and individual statements. The images being manufactured and shared on social media about State Representative Jillian Gilchrest are both sexist and racist. As we strive to see more women in elected office, it is not lost on us that Representative Gilchrest experiences frequent attacks that criticize her physical appearance and that are sexual in nature, Ritter and Aresimowicz said in a joint statement in the release. The fight for womens equality is far from over. The House Democrats denounce this behavior and call on everyone, Democrat and Republican, to do the same. CCDL needs to repudiate this harassment by one of its trainers and publicly stand against racism and sexism. Running for office and serving our community is a responsibility each of us take very seriously, said Aresimowicz in the releasse. We know that we will face opposition and are open to criticism. But, the sexist, disgusting attacks against one of our members is unacceptable. We are living in dangerous times when political discourse is increasingly being replaced by hate and violence, Ritter said. A difference of opinion does not give someone the right to harass and intimidate. Holly Sullivan, president of the CCDL, said Sunday that the offensive and highly inappropriate meme was not associated with the organization in any way, shape or manner, and we repudiate its content and offensive nature. As a woman, I am personally appalled by the implicit racial and sexual content of the meme directed at Representative Jillian Gilchrest. Our organization is dedicated to protecting the respect and civil rights of all people regardless of sex, race, age, or other human characteristics. CCDL rejects and condemns the post as being in direct conflict with the views and values of our organization, Sullivan said in a statement. We regret any offense this incident has caused Representative Gilchrest and others, and will work to avoid any future such occurrences. Hardy said that, while he could understand why some might find the imagery objectionable, it was inappropriate to make the argument into a political discussion and focus only on conservative-leaning posts and speech. Both liberals and conservatives regularly share similar images and engage in similar speech as part of meme culture, he said. Thats the hypocrisy of it, said Hardy. Hardy also disputed the notion that he was focused solely on guns, noting that he has testified regarding criminal justice issues, among other topics, and engages in charitable work and volunteers for disaster relief, among other issues. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Renown scion of the Royal Eletu Odibo Family of Lagos, Prince Waheed Eletu Odibo, has stated that he has not being declared wanted by EFCC. In a statement issued at the weekend, Prince Eletu Odibo wrote: My attention has been drawn to reports that I was declared wanted by a Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja. This allegation is untrue and the reports are fake news. The allegations as being reported on the Internet and Social Media are untrue, he stressed. Prince Eletu Odibo cautioned the public to ignore such reports as they are fake news being spread by my enemies with a view to tarnishing my image and that of the Royal Eletu Odibo Family. Mr Patrick Ononenyi Okonwo does not own 250,000 hectares of land on Eletu Royal Family land he said. Pakistan's powerful generals have for decades cited political corruption as a leading problem in the country that justified the toppling of governments through repeated coups and the military's manipulation of power. But a recent report about the vast family business of a former army general who is a senior government adviser has prompted debate about alleged corruption among military elites and the apparent impunity they enjoy in contrast to civilian elites -- both of which have taken turns ruling the country during its 73-year history. Just days after independent journalist Ahmad Noorani published his August 27 article linking Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa's rise through the military to his family's estimated $100 million fortune, Pakistani officials were scrambling to come up with a response amid public pressure. Bajwa immediately dismissed the report as "propaganda" and government supporters and former army officers have called it a conspiracy against their country and the Chinese investments that Bajwa oversees. Late on September 3, Bajwa issued a detailed press release to counter Noorani's report. In the response on Twitter, Bajwa said the report was "incorrect and false." He denied that his wife was a shareholder in the family business or that the family's business was linked to his rise in the military ranks. "If one were to look at the actual figures, the inescapable conclusion would be that the news item has been spread with a view to malign my reputation," he wrote in the four-page release. Noorani, a fellow at the Missouri School of Journalism, says the wealth of Bajwa's family grew "unbelievably" after he joined the staff of military dictator Pervez Musharraf in 2002 and later headed the military's public-relations wing. He eventually led troops in the restive southwestern Balochistan Province until retiring in September 2019. "The narrative about corruption is changing in Pakistan after my investigation came to light," Noorani told RFE/RL's Gandhara website. "The corruption debate was limited only to graft allegations about politicians, but now people are discussing this issue in relation to the military and its powerful officers." Noorani says he hopes his expose will break the atmosphere of fear in Pakistan, where the military is frequently accused of blanket censorship and severe intimidation of activists and journalists. "My story proves that while [the military does] not allow anyone to investigate their dealings and most of their dealings are not part of the public domain, it is possible many similar stories are out there," he said. He argues that the financial dealings of officers should be made public. "You can bar reporting on some [sensitive] national-security issues but allow the press and government accountability organizations to look into the financial dealings of top officers," he said. "It will establish transparency." Above Corruption? But Pakistan's current accountability laws exclude the military and the judiciary. Senior military figures have maintained they do not need external oversight because they have internal accountability mechanisms. They point to the many firings and punishment of officers as evidence of the system's effectiveness. Author Ayesha Siddiqa, a research associate at London's School of Oriental and African Studies, says Noorani's investigation is the first of its kind to attempt to undo a decades-old narrative about corruption in public life in Pakistan. "What this story has done is at least partly puncture the myth that military generals are honest and that they shouldn't be accountable," she told Gandhara. "There is a case to be made for their accountability." Siddiqas 2007 book, Military Inc: Inside Pakistan's Military Economy, argues that decades of political dominance have turned Pakistani generals into a privileged class with the lion's share of power, wealth, and privileges. She says corruption and anti-corruption have dominated politics ever since military dictator General Zia ul-Haq dissolved a civilian government over corruption allegations in 1988. In the 1990s, the two leading political parties -- the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) -- accused each other of graft and targeted each other's leaders over the issue. Corruption allegations figured prominently in General Pervez Musharraf's military coup in 1999. He later formed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), an antigraft body focused on politicians and civil bureaucrats. "In recent years, the main political rhetoric has been that there is no left-wing or right-wing ideology and the main struggle is over corruption and anti-corruption," she noted. "The [Pakistan Tehreek-e Isnaf party] took benefit of this and made it to power," she said, referring to Prime Minister Imran Khan's PTI party, which campaigned against alleged corruption by the PPP and PML-N to eventually win parliamentary elections in July 2018 by incorporating many turncoat leaders from the two parties. Opposition leaders blamed the military for orchestrating the PTI's win through rigging and manipulation. 'Face The Allegations' As chairman of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority and Khan's media adviser, Bajwa holds an important position within Khans administration. "My advice to Bajwa would be to come forward and make a clarification," Information Minister Shibli Faraz told journalists on August 31. "I dont think what is being said about him is right." But minutes after Noorani's story was posted on his website, Factfocus.com, Bajwa rejected the report. "A malicious propaganda story published on an unknown site, against me and my family, (just uploaded on social media) is strongly rebutted," he tweeted. Amjad Shoaib, a former army general, declared the expose a conspiracy against Pakistan hatched by Islamabad's archrival, India, and others. "Has Noorani conducted any investigative story about many megacorruption cases in this country?" he asked. As a leading investigative reporter, Noorani has distinguished himself by probing sensitive stories. He says his reporting led to years of harassment by the military, which culminated in a violent attack by unknown men in October 2017 that left him with head injuries. In a statement on September 1, the global media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists condemned threats against Noorani after he published his report. Opposition politicians stung by the government's accountability drive through NAB cases are gradually raising questions about Bajwa's alleged fortune. "Allegations have been made against him [Bajwa] and he should answer them," PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz said. Nawaz is seen as the heir apparent to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In July 2017, the Supreme Court ousted him from office over undeclared assets. But Sharif insisted his removal was part of an effort to undermine democracy and civilian supremacy. "If you have been appointed to a government post on taxpayers' money and allegations are made against you and evidence is presented, you should face them," she said. The PPP has also called for a probe of the alleged wealth of Bajwa's family. On September 1, a Pakistani court gave Sharif a "chance to surrender" if he returned home within 10 days or else risk being declared a fugitive from justice. The court wants him to appear for a corruption hearing. Sharif has been in London since being allowed by the court in November 2019 to fly there for medical treatment. Erik Vega said his brother was unarmed when he was shot by an officer, and countered information police have released about the shooting. Chicago police have said Vega was shot after officers were fired upon as they got out of their unmarked car about 10:45 p.m. Monday. Officers had been responding to a call of a suspicious person when they noticed a group of five people standing on the sidewalk, the department has said. Two cops were injured while 12 people were arrested as thousands took part in an anti-government demonstration in "Police in is responding to an unauthorised protest. Protesters have broken the police cordon. Two officers have sustained injuries," Israeli Police said in a release, according to Sputnik. According to Times of report, the demonstrations, which have also focused on the government's failure to handle the coronavirus crisis, have become a weekly flashpoint between protesters and police since they began to gain steam in June. The demonstrators carried Israeli flags and signs calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ouster over corruption scandals. According to Sputnik report, in Israel, a notorious corruption case, known as Case 3000, which implicates high-ranking officials from the Netanyahu government in the illegal soliciting of multi-million-dollar state contracts on nuclear submarines for German company Thyssenkrupp, has been underway since 2018. Several individuals close to the Prime Minister were indicted in the case on various corruption-related charges. According to the report, Netanyahu himself was indicted in several other cases on charges of illegal lobbying for positive media coverage, corruption and bribery, among other things. The next hearing in his cases is scheduled to take place later this year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Joe Biden's campaign is seizing on new accusations about President Trump insulting veterans, investing heavily in ads to sway voters around military bases in five swing states. Driving the news: "Protect Our Troops," an ad that debuted earlier this year highlighting Biden's family connections to the U.S. military and plans to support troops, will relaunch this week as part of a $47 million ad buy across TV, digital and radio. Voters living near bases like Fort McCoy in Wisconsin or Fort Bragg in North Carolina will see the ad on Facebook and Instagram. The campaign is targeting households in a 50-mile radius of military bases in those two swing states, as well as Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida. Why it matters: The ad follows an explosive report in The Atlantic that cites multiple unnamed sources and alleges Trump privately referred to American soldiers who've died in war as "suckers" and "losers." Trump and several current and former aides on the record have denied the report, while some news outlets report confirming portions of it. Biden blasted Trump's alleged comments as "disgusting" and "deplorable" in a Friday speech from Delaware and urged the president to apologize. The big picture: Trump's support with active-duty troops appeared to be sliding before the report, per a Military Times poll of over 1,000 service members from late July and early August. Andrew Cuomo can relax. President Trumps theatrical threat to defund New York and other jurisdictions wracked by rioting isnt going to amount to much. In the middle of an intense feud with Cuomo, the president signed a memorandum last week purporting to punish select cities for their ineffectual response to disorder. The spirit of the memorandum runs counter to the Constitution, which gives Congress the spending power, although the letter of the memo is limited to the point of meaninglessness. Addressed to Attorney General William Barr and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Russell Vought, the memorandum orders a review of federal funding sent to state and local governments that are, as the memorandum puts it, permitting anarchy, violence, and destruction in American cities. Specifically, Trump admonishes the leadership in Seattle, Portland, New York City, and Washington, D.C., for their failure to reestablish order within their respective jurisdictions, resulting in persistent and outrageous acts of violence and destruction. Trump directs the attorney general to compile this list by evaluating whether local officials have stopped their police force from intervening to restore order, withdrawn law enforcement protection from a geographical area or structure, disempower[ed] or defund[ed] police departments, or unreasonably refus[ed] to accept offers of law enforcement assistance from the Federal Government. States and localities places on the list are deemed anarchist jurisdictions. The director of the OMB is to then use the attorney generals determinations to make some of his own. He must issue guidance to the heads of agencies on restricting eligibility of or otherwise disfavoring, to the maximum extent permitted by law, anarchist jurisdictions in the receipt of Federal grants that the agency has sufficient lawful discretion to restrict or otherwise disfavor anarchist jurisdictions from receiving. Story continues The key phrases are to the maximum extent permitted by law, and sufficient lawful discretion, which will, if followed, prevent any wholesale defunding of the cities in question. The administrations attempted defunding of disorderly cities will probably follow the course of its attempted defunding of sanctuary cities. The administration found that there wasnt much funding it could plausibly try to cut off. Even the relatively minor grants it targeted have been caught up in the courts, which have often ruled that the executive cant put conditions on funding that Congress hasnt already written into law. If the memorandum ends up being only a glorified press release, thats better than the alternative, but itd be even better if the president didnt purport to have powers that he doesnt. More from National Review The World Health Organisations independent panel for pandemic response has appointed Indias former health secretary Preeti Sudan as one of its 11 panellists from across the world. However, the decision by the panels head, former New Zealand PM Helen Clarke and former Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, received a subdued response from India. It is said that India recommended former foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale for this position. In a meeting of the Chairs last week, Helen Clarke reportedly said that Sudans experience as the head of leading Indias pandemic response makes her much more suited for the job. Member states including India were invited to nominate their candidates for the post but the chairs were allowed to pick their desired candidate as they did with Sudan. READ | WHO Review Panel On COVID-19 Pandemic Response To Submit Its Report Next Year While the panel reviewed more than 120 people, it made the final appointments based on skills (including expertise in outbreak response, managing national health systems, leadership in youth and community engagement, socio-economic analytical capabilities), knowledge about the international system including WHO and experience from similar international processes, a press release dated September 3 said. All panel members will serve in their individual capacity and will not represent either their government nor specific organisational interests, it added. Their first meeting of the panel members will be held on September 17 and in May next year, the panel is expected to address how the pandemic emerged and why countries were caught unprepared. READ | WHO Chief Urges Nations To Denounce Vaccine Nationalism, Reiterates Effective Use Gokhale's nomination to the WHO panel According to a senior government official, Gokhale was even referred by the Prime Ministers Office for a number of reasons, including that Gokhale has served as ambassador to China, and was an expert on multi-lateral issues due to his experience as the foreign secretary. India is among 62 nations that have demanded a probe into the origins of Coronavirus. US President Donald Trump led the charge, accusing China of concealing information about the virus. Preeti Sudan said on Saturday that she does not know about the background of her appointment. Sudan did not apply for the position, her appointment was pushed by Clarke who worked with the Indian officer on the board of The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. READ | COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Not Before Mid 2021, Says WHO Chief Scientist Swaminathan READ | WHO 'strongly Recommends' Steroids For Critically ill Coronavirus Patients 1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up. 2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed. 3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms. 4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually. 5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings. Vote View Results Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese citizens return home Close to 1,000 Vietnamese citizens were safely flown home on repatriation flights on September 4 and September 5. Vietnamese citizens queue to check-in at Sydney Airport in Australia before flying home on September 4. VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Minh Specifically, on September 4, nearly 350 Vietnamese people were repatriated from Australia and New Zealand on a flight which was conducted under a joint effort of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, Vietnamese authorities, representative missions of Vietnam in Australia and New Zealand and the two countries' authorities. The passengers included children aged under 18, the elderly, people with sickness, workers whose visas or labour contracts expired, students with no residences due to dormitory closures and those in extremely difficult circumstances. Given that travel restrictions continue to be in place in Australia and New Zealand in response to COVID-19, Vietnamese missions in the two countries have worked with local authorities to facilitate travel of Vietnamese expats to pickup points at airports in Sydney and Melbourne (Australia). Vietnamese diplomats were also sent there to assist the citizens with procedures until they boarded the flight. Upon landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City, all the flight crew and passengers were given heath checkups and put into compulsory quarantine in accordance with regulations. Meanwhile, on September 5, the repatriation flight from Singapore operated by Vietjet Air carried over 240 passengers, all of whom were in particularly disadvantaged circumstances, and 405 passengers were on the flight from the RoK, operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. Upon the Vietjet flights arrival at Can Tho International Airport and the Vietnam Airlines flights arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, those on board received medical check-ups and were sent to concentrated quarantine sites in line with regulations. Security, safety and hygiene measures were carried out throughout the flights to protect passengers health and prevent the spread of COVID-19. More overseas Vietnamese with disadvantages are set to be brought home in the time ahead basing on their aspirations, the pandemics developments and local quarantine capacity. Also on September 5, as reported by the Treatment Sub-Committee of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Control and Prevention, 19 patients have been given all clear, including six patients at a Nang Lung Hospital, nine at Hoa Vang District Medical Centre and four at Quang Nam Central General Hospital. The total recoveries in Vietnam now reach 805. "I am thrilled to be joining back up with a team I have had phenomenal working relationships with in the past!" says Bryan. Bryan will be joining Juncture Wealth Strategies from Edward Jones where he served as a Financial Advisor in the Scottsdale, Arizona. His extensive experience in financial planning will help grow the firms presence with High Net Worth and Ultra High Net Worth families across the country. Additionally, Bryans background and experience include: 16-years as both a Scottsdale resident and Financial Services professional. Expertise of building strategies for complex financial goals through asset allocation, risk management and legacy planning. "I am thrilled to be joining back up with a team I have had phenomenal working relationships with in the past!" says Bryan. "Each and every one on this team at Juncture Wealth Strategies presents themselves in the highest level of professionalism, knowledge and integrity; something I continuously focus on and try to achieve every day." I am elated to have Bryan join the team of Juncture Wealth Strategies! In working with Bryan at a prior firm, his passion as an advisor and unwavering care for his client was always so impressive! says Barry Rhonemus, Managing Partner and Founder of Juncture. Bryan has the ability to not just navigate the complexities around ones financial life, but to deeply connect with clients on a personal level, building lasting relationships as a trusted advisor and friend. Bryan is a welcomed addition to our Scottsdale Office as we continue to grow our practice! An American military convoy stops near the town of Tel Tamr, Syria. (Associated Press) To the editor: The real problem for the near future with regard to U.S. involvement in Syria is when Joe Biden becomes president. ("An end to 'endless wars'? Don't believe it," Opinion, Aug. 31) As far as Andrew Bacevich is concerned, Biden's rhetoric leading up to the elections is that President Trump is soft on the leaders of our adversaries, mainly Russia and China. It won't be the first time a Democrat takes us to war or keeps us in one. The last thing we need is to have a military showdown with Russia or China. I can only wonder what the pushback against Biden will be when he takes us into war. The Democratic Party platform calls for an end to "forever wars." Let's hope that holds true. Benny Wasserman, La Palma .. To the editor: Bacevich makes what at first blush is a persuasive case to get out of Syria. But in acknowledging the U.S. achieved "partial success" in destroying Islamic State as a territorial entity, he concedes that thousands of insurgents remain at large. The question remains whether walking out "a prompt military departure" from Syria and, by implication, the broader jihadi landscape is prudent. Bacevich's answer is yes, while U.S. intelligence reports that Islamic State as well as Al Qaeda remain intent on striking the United States. Wounded as these movements are today due to U.S. military action, their aspirations may be fanciful. Keeping them fanciful must be Washington's aim. As the U.S.' very modest military presence remains a lynchpin to Kurdish efforts to keep the thousands of terrorists at bay in Syria, is the exit Bacevich proposes really as prudent as he suggests? Bennett Ramberg, Los Angeles The writer was a foreign affairs officer in the State Department's Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs in the George H.W. Bush administration. .. To the editor: Once again, Bacevich has hit the nail squarely on the head. While the specific subject of this article is Syria, one constant of American foreign policy since the end of World War II is repeating the same strategy, over and over and over again. Story continues While the current White House occupant has "diminished" our role in Syria (mostly for his own political advantage at home), if Joe Biden becomes the next president, no doubt the United States of America will reinsert itself in that quagmire. Ultimately, it is the curse of all empires to maintain the status quo in both foreign policy and military matters. Sustaining your superpower persona overrides all other considerations. It is what it is. Bob Teigan, Santa Susana Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a 'very fruitful' meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed ways to bolster bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including the situation in Afghanistan. IMAGE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami to discuss bilateral ties between the two countries during his visit to Tehran. Photograph: Kind courtesy @rajnathsingh/Twitter Singh reached Tehran from Moscow on Saturday on a transit halt after concluding his three-day visit to Russia where he attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers. He also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Russia, China and the Central Asian countries. 'Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation,' Singh said in a tweet. 'Both the Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan,' Singh's office said in a separate tweet on the meeting held at the request of the Iranian defence minister. The meeting between the two ministers took place in a 'cordial and warm atmosphere', it said, adding that the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran. Iranian Defence Minister Hatami and his Indian counterpart Singh held talks in Tehran on international, regional and bilateral issues, Iran's official Irna news agency reported on Sunday. Visit of Singh is the first travel of a top Indian official to Iran since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in December 2019, it noted. Iran and India enjoy traditional friendly ties. Iranian and Indian officials hold regular consultations on close cooperation to ensure regional peace and security, the report added. Singh's visit to Iran, a major regional player, is considered to be significant as it came after he voiced India's deep concern about the situation in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. India has been keenly following the evolving political situation in the strife-torn Afghanistan after the US signed a peace deal with the Taliban in February. The deal provided for the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, effectively drawing curtains to Washington's 18-year war in the country. In his address at the combined meeting of defence ministers of the SCO on Friday, in the Russian capital, Singh said that the security situation in Afghanistan remains a concern. According to a recent UN report, as many as 533 Afghan civilians - including more than 150 children - were killed in war-torn Afghanistan due to fighting. At the SCO meeting, Singh said: 'India will continue to support the efforts of the people and government of Afghanistan for an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled inclusive peace process.' India has been a key stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. It has been supporting a national peace and reconciliation process. New Delhi has also been maintaining that care should be taken to ensure that any such process does not lead to any 'ungoverned spaces' where terrorists and their proxies can relocate. There have been global concerns over Pakistan's support to the Taliban and other terror groups operating in Afghanistan. At the SCO meeting, Singh had also voiced India's concern over the situation in the Gulf region, vital for the country's energy needs. A series of incidents in the Persian Gulf involving Iran and the US in recent months have flared up tension in the region. "We are deeply concerned about the situation in the Persian Gulf," Singh said in his address at the SCO meeting on Friday. "We call upon countries in the region - all of which are dear and friendly to India, to resolve differences by dialogue based on mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of each other," Singh said. Iran has threatened to disrupt oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz if the US, which has already imposed crippling sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, tries to strangle its economy. India and Iran have strong commercial, energy, cultural and people-to-people links. India-Iran commercial ties were traditionally dominated by Indian import of Iranian crude oil. In 2018-19 India imported USD 12.11 billion worth of crude oil from Iran. However, following the end of the Significant Reduction Exemption period on May 2, 2019, India has suspended importing crude from Iran, according to the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The US had asked countries, including India, to cut oil imports from Iran down to 'zero' by November 6, 2019 or face sanctions. The bilateral trade during 2019-20 was $4.77 billion, a decrease of 71.99 per cent as compared to the trade of $17.03 billion 2018-19. What is significant is that Indian exports to Iran between 2011-12 and 2019-20 have grown by 45.60 per cent, according to the website of the mission. The education of the young is quite rightly a serious concern to parents, teachers, and everyone else who believes that what children get from school is a major factor in their success in life and their commitment to making a positive contribution to society as adults. But the purpose of education today seems very different from what it was when I was a child in the 1950s and 60s, and this change has been imposed by radical progressive liberal-Left educational experts. Schooling used to be about equipping pupils to succeed in life. These days (with very few exceptions) it is about politicizing them so that as many as possible are indoctrinated into the radical progressive left ideology, thus blighting their adult lives with discontent and grievances, mostly as result of being conditioned to view all lifes set-backs as a form of oppression. The most pressing problems facing most schoolchildren used to be how to avoid being bullied (becoming part of a mutually protective friendship group works best) and how to find some way of making classes enjoyable (by learning to attend to lessons and/or being the class clown). These days they have to worry about having the right opinions and not upsetting those who have minority privileges in case denunciation or worse follows. In the old days, children (and parents) relied on the teachers to teach something interesting and useful, and to inspire their pupils to become worthwhile members of society, whatever their attainments. Today its fashionable to blame our supposedly racist white patriarchal capitalist society for every disaffection felt by those lacking sufficient self-respect to do something worthwhile with their lives. In fact, the blame rightly lies with those who have ruined the education system by abandoning the traditional syllabus and teaching methods in favor of an educational culture that denigrates Western civilization and the Christian values and moral principles on which it was built. The reason why so many young people today feel rootless and aimless is because they have never learned to respect the achievements of their ancestors (whose legacy they carelessly squander) or developed sufficient self-respect to aspire to leave a legacy that will in turn inspire others. Even if what children were taught in the 1950s and 60s didnt seem that useful to them at the time, they were still expected to leave school equipped to get a job and knowing how to behave properly when in polite society. If they were high achievers, they might be lucky enough to enter higher education. The aim remained the same: to be able compete in the real world. And whilst in school they were expected to learn self-discipline, self-reliance, resourcefulness, and self-responsibility, rather than blame their misfortunes and setbacks on others. In other words, they were expected to start growing up, to accept that no one is perfect and that not getting what one wants happens to almost everyone, and its better to acquire wisdom than collect grievances. These days schoolchildren are referred to as students, which implies they are capable of taking far more responsibility for their lives and educational progress than is often the case, but their teachers take pride in being experts who know best. The contradiction is laid bare when a child who fails to learn what is expected is termed a victim of society, or as having a problem that requires psychological and/or medical intervention, or -- as is increasingly the case is deemed to require an additional dose of ideological indoctrination. What is not permitted is any consideration of the right of the child (or parents) to reject this political indoctrination. The lack of such consideration demonstrates how intellectually malformed and morally-underdeveloped are the people inflicting this child-abuse, because thats precisely what it is. In America there have always been some political issues about schooling (such as racial integration), and racial tensions have been common, but the idea that the classroom itself should be politicized is a fairly recent idea. Traditionally, politics was supposed to be kept out of classrooms. But today radical progressive left political indoctrination is now an integral part of schooling, which means that all dissenting opinions must be suppressed. All education imparts a worldview, but in the days of traditional schooling, it was expected that the parents would take responsibility for shaping their childrens worldview so that some worldly wisdom influenced learning. Wise parents still do this, but they also have to undo the stupefying indoctrination imposed at school. This is complicated by schools trying to turn children into enforcers of political correctness, so that they are likely to become alienated from their parents unless the parents assent to what is being done. This was exactly the technique used in Hitlers Germany, Stalins USSR, and Maos China to ensure that all dissent was detected and destroyed. For much of the past sixty years, taking control of the education systems in the West has been the goal of the radical progressive left, and theyve almost completely won. In most schools, children are being subjected to constant neo-Marxist propaganda designed to turn them into anti-Western, anti-white, anti-male, anti-heterosexual, anti-capitalist, anti-Christian, anti-individualist, anti-free speech political robots. Much that is essential to learning how to live a fulfilling, productive, prosocial, and spiritually uplifting life is now absent from many schools. Sixty years ago, the standard method of instruction in childrens education in the West was to impart information that had to be learned to enter the world of work, and to deliver training in mental skills and prosocial conduct that would ensure social acceptability. Reading, writing, and reckoning were all learned by rote, and strict school discipline helped instill respect for authority. Its no accident that the first student revolts occurred in universities in the 1960s, because these were the first institutions infiltrated by Marxist ideologues in sufficiently large numbers to instill political disaffection and revolutionary fervor in their students. From there it filtered down to the colleges and schools and has now reached early-years classes. Only home-schooling can guarantee avoidance of this, which is why the home-schooling movement is booming. We should blame radical progressive left education experts for ruining the education system, because they are responsible for the millions of disaffected young people in the West who now either live with no hope of a fulfilling life, or who react to their misguided sense of grievance by becoming activists for the radical progressive left, working for the very people who abuse(d) them as children. There needs to be a new term to designate this, because Stockholm syndrome doesnt quite fully capture what is going on here, but the pathological irrationality is much the same. Image credit: Pixabay Wen Wryte is the pseudonym of a retired teacher of philosophy who likes a quiet life. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Ten years ago, when Michigan State University opened the Secchia Center, the $90 million home for its College of Human Medicine, it was seen as a seminal moment for Grand Rapids. Opening a medical school here would not only bring hundreds of students to the city, it would also help attract top-notch doctors, increase research, promote innovation in medicine and elevate the regions life sciences sector, the thinking went. The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced September 18th to 25th as the period slated for the exhibition of the newly compiled voters register. Making the announcement, Director of Elections for the Commission, Dr. Serebour Quarcoo also urged Ghanaians who registered to partake in the exhibition exercise. This is a new compilation so there is the need for everybody to go and check his or her particulars. All should go to the centre, get a request form and show your voters identification card, he added. Mr Quarcoo further explained that individuals who identify errors in their details will be given the opportunity to make changes or alter them. He also added that a platform will be made available for Ghanaians to object suspicious names in the voters register. The compilation of new voters register by the Electoral Commission commenced on June 30, 2020, and ended on August 6, 2020, after countless protests from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and some Civil Society Organisation. Although the EC had projected registering 15 million eligible voters, the Chairperson for the Commission, Jean Mensa revealed that some 16,663,669 people were registered onto the new electoral roll. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will not blink first in Brexit trade negotiations with the European Union and is not scared of a no-deal exit, the country's top Brexit negotiator warned the bloc on Sunday. Britain left the EU on Jan. 31 but talks have so far made little headway on agreeing a new trade deal with the bloc by the time a status-quo transition arrangement ends in December. "We came in after a government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our word seriously," negotiator David ... Rome, Sep 6 : Pandemic deniers held a protest in the Italian capital, drawing a few thousand people near the Circus Maximus in the historic center. Organisers included the far-right Forza Nuova (FN) party, the anti-vax movement, and virus-denying civic groups, which complained about all precautionary measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 in the country, Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday. None of the protesters at the demonstration was seen wearing a face mask. The rally sparked condemnation by authorities. "Today we have people gathering in Rome, who think the pandemic does not exist," Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said during an annual event in Rome broadcast live online. "We answered them with figures: more than 274,000 people infected, and over 35,000 dead. Period." Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Rome mayor Virginia Raggi were among the other political leaders condemning the protest. The event came amid concerns for a limited but constant rise in coronavirus infections registered in the last five weeks, as official data and the latest monitoring report by Italy's National Health Institute (ISS) showed. In the daily statistical update late on Saturday, the Health Ministry confirmed 276,338 coronavirus cases in the country overall, with an increase of 1,695 cases over the last 24 hours, and 35,534 fatalities. Meanwhile, doctors at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan said 83-year-old former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was admitted to the hospital late on Thursday after being tested positive for the coronavirus, was in stable condition. "His clinical conditions remain stable," Alberto Zangrillo, head of the general and cardiovascular intensive care unit, said in a bulletin. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A number of people were stabbed in the United Kingdoms Birmingham early on Sunday, police said declaring it a major incident. West Midlands Police said officials are at the crime scene in the Arcadian and Snowhill areas of Birmingham from where reports of stabbing are coming in. Emergency services are working together to provide medical care to the injured, they said. According to the police, they were informed about the stabbing incidents in Birmingham city centre around 12:30am and a number of other stabbings were repored in the area shortly after. We are aware of a number of injured people, but at the moment we are not in a position to say how many or how serious. However, all emergency services are working together at the scene, and making sure that those who are injured receive medical care, the department tweeted. People have been asked to stay away from the area, they said without divulging more details. Our officers are on the scene and were asking people to stay away from the area until further notice. More info as we get it, it added in another tweet. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ALBANY The 64-campus State University of New York system posted an online dashboard Sunday afternoon that promises up-to-date data on cases across the state and information on testing and quarantine. The online tracker was announced jointly by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras. "As we ask everyone to rise to the challenge and act responsibly, we owe students, faculty, staff, and surrounding communities transparent, easily-accessible, up-to-date case information," Malatras said in a written statement. "If we are all informed and resolve to work together to make data-driven decisions in the interest of public safety, we can keep COVID-19 cases down and have a successful semester." An examination by the Times Union published Sunday showed inconsistencies in testing and health and safety procedures for colleges and universities across the state and within the SUNY system. UAlbany, for instance, required its students to demonstrate a negative COVID-19 test before arriving on campus, while Oneonta did not. Now there's an outbreak at Oneonta with hundreds infected and students have been sent home for the semester. As of Sunday afternoon, the new dashboard said that SUNY has administered 36,292 tests with 2,217 positives. With the numbers presented that works out to just over 6 percent testing positive - six times more than the overall statewide percentage, which has been below 1 percent for the last 30 days. However, this percentage is misleading, a SUNY spokewswoman said, because the number of positive test results reported on the dashboard includes testing that was also done outside the SUNY system, while the number of tests listed on the dashboard is just those administered by the SUNY system. Malatras began a tour of individual SUNY campuses to promote a surveillance testing program developed by SUNY Upstate Medical University shortly after he took over as chancellor late last month. The Times Union had questions about the availability of testing throughout the system; SUNY sent a news release shortly thereafter announcing that the program would be available to everyone within the system. SUNY's online COVID-19 dashboard will be updated daily, the news release said, and it will include numbers of infected, tests administered, hospitalizations and spaces for quarantine or isolation. In the video, two women come into the store with a small child. While one of the women asks for help, the other women move around the store. Police said another woman then went into a storeroom and stole the phones. Last weeks poll shows that Asus has a potential hit on its hands with the Zenfone 7 and Zenfone 7 Pro. Over 80% of people cast a positive vote with most of those who voted against did so because Asus took away the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Of the positive votes, many think that the prices are too high. The vanilla model costs 700 in Europe, the Pro is 800. For comparison, the two previous models (Zenfone 5z and 6) both launched at 500, despite also packing the top Snapdragon chipset of their day. There are no plans for a North American launch, currently, no word on when the phones will arrive in India either. Even though the Zenfone 7 Pro is 100 more expensive, it was still the more popular model of the two it won the popularity race with a 2:1 advantage. It gets the faster Snapdragon 865+ chipset with more RAM/storage as well as OIS for its wide and tele cameras. For many, that completely justifies the 100 premium. By the way, since starting the poll, we completed our review of the Pro model. You can see how it performs against the its gaming sibling, the ROG Phone 3 and the quality of the new camera setup. We also have a video review up. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Latest released the research study by Market Research Future (MRFR) on Pacemaker Market share by company offers a detailed overview of the factors influencing the global business scope. Global Pacemaker Market Research Report: Information by Implantability (Implantable Pacemakers and External Pacemaker), Technology (Dual-Chamber Pacemakers, Single-Chamber Pacemakers and Biventricular/CRT Pacemakers), Type (MRI Compatible Pacemakers and Conventional Pacemakers), End User (Hospitals & Cardiac Centers and Ambulatory Surgical Centers) and Region (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East & Africa) Forecast till 2025 Market Analysis The global pacemaker market is predicted to grow at a 6.5% CAGR over the forecast period (20182023), states the latest Market Research Future (MRFR) report. A pacemaker, simply put, is a small device that is battery-operated. It senses when the heart beats too slowly or irregularly and sends a signal to the heart, which makes the heart beat at an accurate pace. This device can help to relieve some symptoms of arrhythmia, such as fainting and fatigue. It also assists people with abnormal heart rhythms in resuming an active lifestyle. Physicians generally suggest pacemakers for a couple of reasons of which the most common include heart block, bradycardia, people having heart transplants, and specific forms of congenital heart disease. Various factors are propelling the pacemaker market growth. Some of these factors, according to the Market Research Future report, include rising incidences of cardiac diseases, rising geriatric population, growing awareness regarding cardiovascular disorders, various technological advancements, and rise in medical expenses. Additional factors pushing market growth include favorable and strong reimbursement policies, cost-effective steps undertaken by the government, advanced diagnostics, and increasing research and development investments for pacemakers. Also Read - https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/covid19-analysis-telemedicine-market-outlook-2020-industry-size-trends-demand-global-growth-by-top-companies-by-service-type-component-deployment-application-and-end-user-2020-08-27 Market Segmentation The MRFR report offers a wide segmental analysis of the pacemaker market on the basis of application, product type, implant approach, and end user. Based on product type, the pacemaker market is segmented into external and implantable. Of these, the implantable segment will lead the market over the forecast period. This is owing to increasing preference for such pacemakers based on their advantages over the external counterparts and rising prevalence of CVDs. Based on application, the pacemaker market is segmented into syncope, cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic, heart failure, bradycardia, and others. The bradycardia segment is again segmented into AV block and sinus node dysfunction. Based on implant approach, the pacemaker market is segmented into the epicardial approach and endocardial approach. Based on end user, the pacemaker market is segmented into research and academic institutes, ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals and clinics, and others. Of these, hospitals and clinics will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period. Access the full report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pacemaker-market-1587 Regional Analysis By region, the pacemaker market report covers the latest trends and growth opportunities across the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, the Americas will spearhead the market over the forecast period. This is owing to technological advancements and the presence of a robust healthcare sector in the region. Moreover, the presence of several medical device manufacturers, rising cases of cardiovascular disorders, and new pacemakers getting approval from the FDA are also pushing market growth. The pacemaker market in Europe is predicted to have the second-largest share in the market over the forecast period. This is owing to growing support from the government in the form of research and development grants, increasing presence of key players, high healthcare expenditure, and rising incidences of cardiovascular diseases. Key Players Leading players profiled in the pacemaker market report include Vitatron, Cook, Edwards Lifesciences, Sorin Group, Medtronic Plc, Pacetronix, General Electric Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik GmbH & Co. KG, St. Jude Medical Inc., MEDICO S.p.A, Cordis, Inc., and ZOLL Medical Corporation. About Market Research Future: MRFR team has supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country-level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Contact: www.marketresearchfuture.com DC Correspondent Hyderabad: The new Secretariat complex coming up in Hyderabad will have a temple, two mosques and a church. The temple and two mosques are meant to be like-for-like atonements for religious emotions hurt by the razing of religious structures within the old Secretariat complex two months ago. A church has been added to make Christians happy as well. This, chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao told a Muslim delegation that called on him on Saturday to press their case for mosques in the new Secretariat, is what the Ganga Jamuna tehzeeb is all about: give every religion what it wants. The delegation was led by home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and included All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi. The delegation was told that the foundation stone for the three religious structures would be laid down, by the chief minister himself, on one day after the monsoon session of the Telangana Assembly is done with. The two mosques would be reconstructed at the same place where they stood before the demolition. All expenses will be borne by the Telangana tax-payer. The chief minister proclaimed, Telangana is a symbol of Ganga Jamuna Tehzeeb. Hence, new places of worship will be constructed in the new Secretariat for all religions. The temple will be built over 1,500 square yards of land and the mosques of 750 square yards each with imams quarters as an annexe. After construction, they will be handed over to the Enowments Department and the Wakf Board respectively. Chandrashekar Rao gave several other assurances to the Muslim delegation. One was that funds will be released to finish the construction of a Muslim orphanage, the Anees-ul-Gurbah. Its 80 per cent built and the rest of the work will be speeded up. Similarly, construction of the proposed Islamic Centre, delayed due to COVID-19, will now be speeded up. The chief minister also promised to allot land for new burial places for the Muslim community in Hyderabad. Some 150-200 acres of land woul be allocated to these burial places, and the district collectors of Ranga Reddy and Medchal Malkajgiri have been told to find such land. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 02:33:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close AMMAN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday met visiting Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) Saeb Erekat over the latest developments of the Palestinian cause. During the meeting, they discussed the efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. They also underlined the necessity of stopping all Israeli illegal measures, notably the annexation of land and the expansion of settlements that undermine the two-state solution and all peace opportunities. Erekat also lauded King Abdullah II of Jordan's support for the Palestinians' legitimate rights, mainly freedom and statehood on their national land. Enditem Donald Trump has told Baltimore to be smart and elect Kim Klacik to Congress, insisting the city is currently the worst in the nation and asserted his belief that she can fix it, and fast. The presidents latest public endorsement of Klacik, the second in a week, was made in a thread of tweets Sunday morning discussing the current levels of violence and crime in the Maryland city. Be smart Baltimore! You have been ripped off for years by the Democrats, & gotten nothing but poverty & crime, Trump wrote. It will only get worse UNLESS YOU ELECT KIMBERLY KLACIK TO CONGRESS. She brings with her the power & ECONOMIC STRENGTH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Trump continued by crediting Klaciks work ethic, saying he believes she could help drive crime way down while simultaneously helping money and jobs to pour in. Life will be MUCH better because Kimberly really cares. The Dems have had 100 years and they gave you nothing but heartache. Baltimore is the WORST IN NATION, Kimberly will fix it, and fast, Trump said. As I have often said, Baltimore is last in everything, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE! Kimberly is fully Endorsed by me, something I do not do lightly. Take advantage of it and MAKE BALTIMORE GREAT! Donald Trump has instructed Baltimore to be smart by electing Kim Klacik (right) to Congress, insisting the city is currently the worst in the nation and asserted his belief that she can fix it, and fast Klacik, described as a rising GOP star, is running again for the Maryland 7th District seat left vacant by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings after she lost the special election in April by 48.7 points. The 7th District, which has not elected a Republican candidate to the U.S. House of Representatives in nearly 70 years, encompasses much of Baltimore City as well as a section of Baltimore County and the majority of Howard County. Cummings held the seat for 23 years. Trump repeatedly attacked Cummings before his death in October 2019, and called Baltimore 'rat and rodent infested' and 'very dangerous and filthy.' Last month, Trump praised Klacik after she shared a campaign ad, titled Black Lives Dont Matter To Democrats, that showed abandoned homes and neighborhoods overrun by poverty and crime in the Democrat-run city. In the clip, Klacik claimed to walk the real Baltimore to show the reality for black people in the historic town. She also took aim at the citys Democratic leaders who she said had let Baltimore descend into 'abandoned homes, poverty and crime'. 'Do you care about black lives? The people that run Baltimore don't. I can prove it. Walk with me, she says at the beginning of the clip. 'Democrats think black people are stupid. They think they can control us forever, that we won't demand better and that we'll keep voting for them forever, despite what they've done to our families and our communities,' she says. 'All black lives matter. Our communities matter. Baltimore Matters. Black people don't have to vote Democrat,' Klacik concludes. Last month, Trump praised Klacik after she shared a campaign ad, titled Black Lives Dont Matter To Democrats, that showed abandoned homes and neighborhoods overrun by poverty and crime in the Democrat-run city In the clip, Klacik claimed to walk the real Baltimore to show the reality for black people in the historic town Democrats dont want you to see this. Theyre scared that Im exposing what life is like in Democrat run cities. Thats why Im running for Congress Because All Black Lives Matter Baltimore Matters And black people dont have to vote Democrat Help us win https://t.co/CSOjc9aQlS pic.twitter.com/XnEDTaDDIG Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) August 17, 2020 Klacik then later made an appearance at the Republican National Convention, in which she claimed that Democrats take the black vote for granted and said she believes Democratic nominee Joe Biden believes black people cant think for ourselves. Joe Biden believes we can't think for ourselves, that the color of someone's skin dictates their political views, she said. 'We're not buying the lies anymore, you and your party have ignored us for too long, Klacik said. And yet, the Democrats still assume that black people will vote for them, no matter how much they let us down and take us for granted. Nope, we're sick of it and not going to take it anymore. The days of blindly supporting the Democrats are coming to an end. Last week, the president voiced his vote of confidence in Klacik once again, writing she had his Complete & Total Endorsement! Kimberly Klacik is really working hard to help the people of Baltimore. She is running for Congress as a Republican, & if she wins she will be an inspiration to all, the president wrote. Klacik said she was honoured to receive the presidents endorsement, adding that Black Americans no longer blindly trust the Democrats. Republicans will REVIVE Americas inner-cities. She later fired back at critics who argued that Trump had only endorsed her because shes black by referencing Joe Bidens vice presidential selection process. My favorite part about getting Trumps endorsement is reading the comments claiming Trump only did it because I am black, she tweeted. As if we didnt spend 3 weeks watching modern day overseer @JoeBiden play Duck Duck Goose w/three black women to pick a VP solely based on complexion. Klacik, described as a rising GOP star, is running again for the Maryland 7th District seat left vacant by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings after she lost the special election in April Last week, the president endorsed Klacik again, writing she had his Complete & Total Endorsement' Klacik, 38, is married to 54-year-old strip club manager and accountant Jeffrey Klacik, and lives in Middle River, in Baltimore County. She was born and brought up in Accokeek in southern Maryland and has never lived in Baltimore itself. She is a member of the Baltimore County Republican party and has a Facebook page for a small non-profit to 'provide disadvantaged women with the tools needed to obtain a career and gain financial independence.' In the upcoming election, she is attempting to un-seat Rep. Kweisi Mfume, 71, a former president of the NAACP who beat her in the special election to fill Cummings' seat after his death last year. She lost the election by almost 49 points. She won the GOP primary in early June to challenge Mfume again. She hopes to achieve an upset in November despite her loss earlier this year in the majority black district. Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than 4-1 in the district, which includes a significant portion of the city of Baltimore and parts of Baltimore and Howard counties. The diverse district includes areas of Baltimore that struggle with poverty and violent crime, and more affluent areas and such landmarks as Johns Hopkins Hospital. A 10-year-old girl was on Friday night mysteriously murdered in her room at Sun City, a suburb of Adjei-Kojo, in the Tema West Municipality. The girl had returned home alone at about 2130 hours from the roadside where her mother sold food. The body of the girl had since been deposited at the Tema General Hospital morgue by the Sun City Police. The Ghana News Agency gathered that Ms Salomy Terkpertey, mother of the girl, returned home after 2230 hours to find her daughter murdered with her throat and abdomen cut and parts of her intestines taken away. According to co-tenants, they were inside their rooms watching television and, therefore, did not hear any scream or unusual noise until at about 2300 hours when they heard the victims mother screaming. They said, they rushed out to the scene only to see the girl's lifeless body in a pool of blood with her stomach and throat slashed, a situation they described as shocking and scary. How the perpetrators managed to carry out such a heinous crime remained a mystery to the mourning community. Mr Frederick Nartey, father, said he resided at Kade in the Eastern Region where he farmed, indicating that he woke up to a number of missed calls from his wife and some friends at about 0030 hours on Saturday, and returned the call only to be told that his daughter had been murdered. Mr Nartey revealed that it was normal practice for the mother to ask the girl to return home before her, adding that, before her death, the victims mother asked her to go home and sleep while she continued selling. Mr Ali Issifu, landlord, said he was at home early Saturday morning when one of his tenants accompanied by a police officer informed him about the incident. Mr Issifu expressed shock and appealed to the police to unravel the mystery behind the murder as residents were now living in fear. 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 PLEASANT PRAIRIE Electronics repair franchise uBreakiFix is now open in Pleasant Prairie at 9755 76th St., Suite 750. The new store joins existing locations in Vernon Hills, Ill., and Oak Creek plus many more through the Milwaukee and Chicago areas. For many, the pandemic has increased screen time as a means of staying connected to work, school, loved ones and more while distancing, said Katie Ryan Pluer, co-owner of uBreakiFix Kenosha. Technology has been a lifeline, and we know that a broken phone, tablet, or laptop is more than just inconvenient right now. Were open and ready to serve, with stringent measures in place to keep the experience as safe and seamless as possible. Health and safety measures include high-frequency handwashing and cleaning of all workspaces, minimal person-to-person contact, limited store capacity to align with social distancing recommendations, and thorough sanitation of all devices upon receipt and return. While common devices include smartphones, tablets, and computers, uBreakiFix offers repair service on anything with a power button, including drones, hoverboards, game consoles, and everything in between. The store offers support for most technical problems on any electronic device, regardless of make or model. The uBreakiFix Kenosha site is owned by Pluer and business partners Kristen Pfeifer and Shannon Lopez. The trio also owns uBreakiFix locations in Oak Creek and Greenfield and plans to continue expanding throughout the area. Our services are more critical than ever beforeand also more rewarding, Pluer said. It has always been gratifying to help get a customers day back on track after a cracked screen or other tech issue, but we know the stakes are higher right now while people are even more reliant on their devices. Theres enough to stress about these days; a broken phone shouldnt compound that. The uBreakiFix franchise was founded in 2009 by millennial entrepreneurs Justin Wetherill and David Reiff to fill a gap in the market for affordable, high-quality phone repair. The duo soon partnered with Eddie Trujillo to transition their Internet-based repair brand to a brick-and-mortar model; uBreakiFix began franchising in 2013 and currently operates more than 585 locations across the U.S. and Canada. At uBreakiFix, our story has been shaped by an unwavering commitment to continually improving the repair experience for customers, Wetherill said. We founded this company to fill a need for high-quality, convenient repair with great service at a fair price. We always say were a customer service company first, and a tech company second. As we grow our Wisconsin presence, we look forward to sharing the care and credibility that define the uBreakiFix experience. For more information and to view a service menu, visit ubreakifix.com/locations/kenosha.uBreakiFix Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sometimes, there are no warning signs. Thats what Lara Harrison says when she thinks about her son Benjamin, a senior at Cleveland High School when he took his own life Oct. 3, 2019. Looking back through her tears as she recalled the worst night of her life, the recent death of one of his friends may have led to Bens sadness and decision to end it all. She bears no guilt, nor should she: The family provided the best they could, and a couple months before had enjoyed a tropical vacation. He had been depressed, she knew, but not to the extent of comedian/actor Robin Williams, who took his own life. Ben was smart and had a terrific sense of humor. He had friends that cared about him; he dated; he fit right in. I saw him that day in class while we were building a set, recalled CHS technical director for fine arts Keith Abrahamson. He had a power tool in his hand, which was the usual for him a purpose and he told me he was doing fine when I asked him; (there was) no sign of anything unusual at all, even though at the time he knew exactly what he was about to do: a permanent solution for a temporary problem. What happened, Lara Harrison was asked. Well I dont know, she said, a packet of Kleenex nearby. Ben was a very pleasant person and he suffered from depression. I think he probably had a tendency toward depression he was very melancholy. The family became aware of Bens depression when his behavior changed after going on medication to clear up acne. The dermatologist took him off the drug, which could cause depression as a side effect. He also started seeing a counselor in February 2019. He saw the counselor once a month thats all they thought he needed. We were not privy to the conversations they had, because he was over 16, Harrison said. Ben was slated to see the counselor for the final time shortly before his death. I relied on the fact that a professional was treating him and that if he was depressed and he needed medication or something, that she would have talked to us and recommended that, she said. He wasnt happy about seeing a counselor, but he went every month He always seemed older than he was, and along with that mindset, he thought he should be in control of everything, she said, laughing at that memory. He was a teenager; we didnt have any issues with him as far as his behavior, except he would argue with us about things. He actually was pretty much a homebody; he did most of his socializing online. He and his friends had a chat room and he would be online all night, talking with them or playing games with them, she said. He was very private about his personal life. A pretty quiet life After he got into high school, we really didnt know his friends, Harrison said, although after her sons death, she discovered he had a wealth of friends who came to their home. He would talk about them, and wed say, Why dont you have your friends come over and play games? He was not like that; he said, I have different friends and they dont all get along and its easier not to do that.' At CHS, he excelled in his favorite classes: theater tech and Chinese. Descriptions picture him as a typical teen, although he really didnt want anyone to know he was a Boy Scout, because that was an embarrassment, she said. Probably a month after he had gone to counseling, he left us a note, Im feeling suicidal and Im going away tonight; and dont worry about me, Im fine, Im not going to do anything, I just need to be alone. My husband texted him and said, If you dont get back home right now, Im going to call the police, so he came home, she recalled. He didnt take his car; he just took a backpack and went out there (to a nearby park). Harrison had talked with her son about suicide and about a friend of hers taking his own life while they were in high school. I had always told my kids about that, how horrible it is, she said. We had lots of conversations about suicide. I let them know how horrible that is and how selfish it is and thats never your option. So, of course, we sat down and talked to him when he came back (from the park). He was feeling lost and had just broken up with his girlfriend. Before that, Ben had denied having a girlfriend. Later, at the end of May, he had another girlfriend. They kind of dated through the summer, but they didnt see each other very often. In August, we went to Hawaii. We decided, This is our chance and had a great family vacation, Harrison recalled. Ben broke up with that girl soon after, and one of his friends from Boy Scouts died in mid-September. A broken promise I said, Promise me youll never do anything like this, Harrison said. We sat around the table every night, for dinner, and talked about issues. He told (his late friends mother), No, I will never do that. A week later, he did. He had planned to do it that day. The family found a three-page letter Ben had written about how he was feeling and it wasnt our fault, and all the things wrong with us, and he was mentally ill and he had to do this. He dated (the letter) the day (his friend) died. He told us exactly what he was going to do; I dont know how he got the gun out of our gun safe, but he did, and he sat in his car and he drove out by the armory and shot himself. He told us where he was gonna be. It had been a typical Harrison night. Ben gave Harrisons husband, Todd, a long good-night hug before bed. He told his mother he loved her, and she said she loved him. That set the stage for Ben allegedly going to get gas for the car. We gave him 15 minutes and he wasnt back, so Todd tried calling him and texting him, and nothing, so we went in his room and found on his screen that he had written this letter. We called the police immediately and they went out there and it was too late, she said. But he had gone and bought gas first; he had a receipt. He filled up his tank for nothing. I just couldnt believe it I always felt like he felt like that was not an option for him, just because of our conversations. He wasnt excited about graduating from high school; he didnt know what he wanted to do. I think he felt a lot of pressure about what comes next. He just felt that the expectations that we placed on him, and others, were too high, she reasoned. I felt my job as a parent was to make sure he got good grades and that was his job; your job as a teenager is to go to school and do well. She doesnt feel guilty about pushing her son to do well in school and doesnt know what she could have done differently. Suicide plans a secret When his friends began gathering at their home, Harrison said, They were all just shocked; nobody knew he was planning this. The lack of warning signs still bothers Bens parents. He wasnt talking to people as much, and he was withdrawn, she said. There were literally no signs that he was planning anything. We had no idea at all. Thats the worst thing; I have no advice to give to parents, as far as how to help your child. We helped ours the best way we could. Looking back now, I think he was clinically depressed and he probably needed medication, Harrison said. After her sons death, Harrison called the counselor, hoping she and Todd could attend what would have been Bens final appointment. We met with the counselor and her boss, and the counselor was beside herself. Shed been doing this for 25 years and nobody had ever done that, and that all indications (didnt show suicide as a possibility). She thought that he was OK, Harrison said. After obtaining the notes from the sessions, Harrison said, She had written on there that he was depressed, but it was more like teenaged depression. He had highs and lows, so she didnt have any idea that he was going to do something like that, either. And now The couples other son, Nick, is a CHS sophomore. Hes doing very well. Hes getting away with a lot of stuff, she said, laughing, and hoping for the best. The things that we have learned from this experience is those little things are not important like what your grades are, or if you didnt turn in an assignment or didnt do your chores. Following Bens death, neighbors planted a tree and flowers in the familys back yard while Harrison was at work to remember Ben. And CHSs theater tech class offered a scholarship to a student from its program, after the Harrisons turned over the $2,020 people had gifted them after their son died. One of the good things about all this is: Isnt it amazing how many good people are out there? All of the love that we have felt from people, and the support, it was overwhelming, she said. Another good thing was that several of her friends talked with their children about suicide. (Ben) is missed, obviously, Abrahamson said. We started to build a shadow box in his memory when all of this (pandemic) started; well complete it upon our return and mount it in our Scene Shop.' Harrison would be happy if she never has to tell someone, asking how her sons are doing, about Bens tragic demise. The (Office of the Medical Investigator) offered us free counseling, and our counselor has been wonderful, she said, focusing on the future while never forgetting the past. It really is a living hell, she said. I believe Ben is at peace and with God. I am just overwhelmed with his loss, for our family and friends and what could have been. City of Melbourne deputy mayor Arron Wood says he will be the underdog in his bid to become the next lord mayor. But he promised to be a louder voice for ratepayers and business owners than current mayor Sally Capp. Melbourne deputy mayor Arron Wood: Considers himself the underdog in the mayoral race. Credit:Joe Armao On Sunday, confirming his decision to run, Cr Wood said two main factors convinced him to have a tilt at the top job after eight years as a councillor. One was every hour Im being contacted by another small business thats struggling or actually going under, and I felt like if I walked away, Id be leaving them in the lurch. On Friday, Russell Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, issued an order: All federal offices and agencies must immediately stop anti-white, race-based, critical race theory seminars. Left-leaning journalists couldnt be bothered to investigate what these seminars actually are. Instead, they used the order as a springboard for reiterating their claim that Trump is a white supremacist. We know about the seminars, especially the ones at Sandia National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility, because whistleblowers have been photographing the material theyre forced to learn. You can see and learn about the material here, here, and here. White employees were made to liken themselves to the KKK and white supremacists and were told that MAGA hats are a form of white supremacy. If we had an honest mainstream media, the media would inform people about these seminars, as part of its reporting on the order. We dont have such media, though. Traditional outlets are no longer in the business of news. They trade only in fact-free propaganda. Thus, the APs reporting does little more than summarize the order and then attack Trump as a white supremacist: The memo comes as the nation has faced a reckoning this summer over racial injustice in policing and other spheres of American life. Trump has spent much of the summer defending the display of the Confederate battle flag and monuments of Civil War rebels from protesters seeking their removal, in what he has called a culture war ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Meanwhile, he has rejected comments from Democratic nominee Joe Biden and others that there is systemic racism in policing and American culture that must be addressed. At The New York Times, Maggie Haberman got around the obligation to inform the public about the seminars by criticizing Voughts order because it repeatedly referred to press reports, not government documents. Haberman, like the AP, has no interest in investigating the seminars and learning about the documents herself. Having impugned Voughts credibility, Haberman also makes the case that Trump is banning the seminars because hes a white supremacist: The memo comes at a time of a national discussion about race, in which Mr. Trump has been firmly against systemic changes in policing and government. The president has been a vocal opponent of the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality that have been held across the nation since late May, calling the movement a symbol of hate. He has criticized so-called cancel culture, defended the Confederate flag and military bases named for Confederate generals, and accused people of trying to erase American history. The Washington Post, relying on two reporters not just one, also wrote an anti-Trump propaganda piece. The first half of the article briefly summarizes the orders contents, touches upon Trumps tweets about the order, and provides a one-line quote from Christopher Rufo, the man who has been diligently revealing whats going on within federal agencies. At this point, the article as all the depth of a high school paper by a C student. Having done something less than the bare minimum, these two crack reporters then throw up their hands and say (and Im quoting), It could not immediately be learned what training sessions Vought was referring to in the memo. Apparently, the five minutes of research, including outreach to Rufo or just checking his Twitter feed, to discover information about the training sessions was too much for them. The reporters think, though, that the order might have something to do with a Fox News segment. Theyre right: As I told @TuckerCarlson tonight: I call on President @realDonaldTrump to immediately issue an executive order abolishing critical race theory from the federal government. There is no place for this toxic, divisive, pseudoscientific ideology in our public institutions. pic.twitter.com/78J0CwNjfh Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) September 2, 2020 The articles second half is dedicated to reciting how important critical race theory is to remedy old wrongs and to say that Trump is a racist: Other experts say racial and diversity awareness trainings are essential steps in helping rectify the pervasive racial inequities in American society, including those perpetuated by the federal government. Several studies have found federal contracts are disproportionately awarded to white-owned businesses. [snip] Racial awareness trainings can help officials realize unconscious bias in the awarding of contracts from the federal government, the countrys largest employer, said M.E. Hart, an attorney who has given hundreds of diversity training sessions for businesses and the federal government for more than 20 years. [Sounds like someones losing a profitable gig.] [snip] The memo comes after Trump has put himself at the center of intense national debates about race, police tactics, the Civil War and the Confederate flag. Democrats have long taken aim at Trumps comments about race, including his false assertion that former president Barack Obama was not born in the United States. And this year, as numerous Black Lives Matter protests occurred around the country after police officers killed or shot Black Americans, Trump has sharply criticized social justice protesters and called for law enforcement to crack down. Ben Rhodes, the failed novelist who became Obamas brain, was dangerously wrong about everything except for his statement that reporters literally know nothing. Its actually worse than that. Reporters are deliberately ignorant, lest acquired knowledge forces them to change their minds about Trump. That embrace of ignorance from people the public looks to for information is very close to evil. Image: Woman reading with a blindfold on, modified on Pixlr; Pikrepo image, free for commercial use. Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh has made a mark in the Hindi film industry with unconventional picks like Udta Punjab, Soorma and his latest blockbuster Good Newwz. Following this trend, the actor signed on Shaad Alis next film, titled Papa Ji Pet Se Hai. The film deals with yet another taboo, male pregnancy. Reports suggested that Diljit loved the script and was to come down from San Francisco to begin shooting. Pre-production on the was on in full swing when a source close to the filmmaker revealed that Diljit has stopped responding to calls and may be having second thoughts about the film. The source revealed, Diljit Dosanjh doesnt seem to be interested in doing the film anymore. Hes not responding to the calls of the director and producer. Shaad Ali was all geared up to shoot for the film but they are now stranded and dont know what to do. Hence, the shoot has now been indefinitely delayed. It seems like Diljit has developed cold feet. Maybe, he fears doing a film on such a taboo topic will invite backlash from his fans. Speaking further about the film being a remake of a Punjabi flick, Munda Hi Chahida, the source revealed, Papa Ji Pet Se Hai is not a remake of this movie. In Munda Hi Chahida, the protagonist is not pregnant and just pretends to be one. Papa Ji Pet Se Hais concept is quite different and hence even more unconventional and taboo. 'Just by looking at me she can tell that I have a "restless spirit" but also that I will settle and be married by 35' The eyes may be the window to the soul, but what do other features reveal about your personality and even your prospects? Lucy Holden, above, consults a face-reading master to find out I have a meaty nose. Meaty? I say. Oh dear. No, its a good thing! the woman reading my face says. It means wealth and good marriage prospects. To prove it she tells me a story about a woman who had plastic surgery to reduce the size of her nose then found herself divorced and penniless. Its almost Biblical. Face-reading is the new palmistry, and on the back of Netflixs Indian Matchmaking series, which launched in July and documented how the phenomenon can be used to romantically pair potential suitors, its having a resurgence in the UK. Linked to astrology (experts also consult birth charts), it is essentially a study of facial features and their distance from each other, every inch apparently revealing personality traits as well as health, wealth and romantic prospects. Priya Sher, a London-based face-reading master whos been studying the ancient Chinese art form since 2005, is in charge of finding my fate in my forehead, as well as my special eyes, meaty nose, biggish chin, powerful cheekbones and promiscuous eyebrows. Women with high cheekbones and strong features like yours usually have a lot of relationships in their 20s because men often dont know how to handle you, and I can see you have a restless spirit thats meant you havent settled, she explains, as I wonder whether I can reply with no comment. Ive certainly jumped around romantically and geographically in the past decade. But in the next few years your relationships will become more long-term, she predicts. Youll be married by 35 [Im 30], and if youd got married in your 20s, youd already be divorced, she adds, making me immediately grateful that I didnt marry one of the two men I easily could have in the past five years. Priya usually charges 180 for 45 minutes. Because of social distancing, my consultation takes place by phone and the evening before I send her photos of my face. She also asks the date, location and time of birth for astrological help that will make up for not meeting in person. Normally, she would feel a face in the way blind people do in Hollywood films. What she gathers from my birth is that there is fame and fire in the timing, and along with my face that tells her I will one day present a political satire on television and have significantly more cash by 40 (thank God). Theres no Mystic Meg vagueness here. In short, the practice divides the face into three main areas. Our age is represented in cascading order, which allows face-readers to predict future events, they say. Forehead to eyebrows is relevant to early life (15 to 30); the eyebrows to the tip of the nose illustrating what we might face between 31 and 50, and the tip of nose to the chin hinting at what is to come after that. If you have a big chin (big equals good in face-reading, providing everything is in proportion) then later life will be kind, according to Priya. If youre thinking it sounds a little like quackery, youre not the only one, but she does see some of my personality traits with ease. Priya, whose previously diverse career path spanned hotel management, consultancy and working in an auction house, came to face-reading after studying feng shui and then astrology with grand master Chan Kun Wah, a Hong Kong expert who settled in Edinburgh in the 1960s. Its an ancient oriental practice thats been passed down from the imperial courts of China from a long lineage of masters, she explains. You can only become a face-reader by studying with a master, and Priya offers courses around six times a year. A three-to-four-day course costs around 600. In London, classes are held in venues as glamorous as The Ritz. Its main aim is to provide direction to those that might need help understanding personal traits, health issues, romantic prospects and what the future may hold. It reminds me of the scenes in BBCs Sherlock when Benedict Cumberbatchs character analyses everything about a person in the split seconds after meeting them and astounds them with his reading. But Priya says she manages to switch off in public in order not to stare at fellow passengers on a train, say. You can tell so much about someone from their face, she adds, and people dont just want to know about their own. In the two months since Indian Matchmaking came out, Ive had a lot of enquiries from people who wanted to ask about their relationships. Women often want me to look at a photo of their boyfriend and tell them whether they are compatible. Next year, she plans to launch a face-reading dating agency for over-30s to help people find a match that would most suit them. The beginners guide to face reading Organised Long, neat eyebrows with hair growing in one direction Focused, non-darting eyes Disorganised Short, messy eyebrows with hair growing in both directions Restless eyes Laid back Eyes quite far apart Uptight Eyes closer together Generous Larger, open eyes Nostrils slightly visible Eyebrows further apart and distance between eyes to eyebrows greater (if eyes are large but eyebrows thin, someone may be too generous and could be taken advantage of proportion in all areas is key) Frugal Big, thick nose with hidden nostrils, tip of nose comes down Thin lips Eyes and eyebrows closer together Positive in outlook Ears are higher H The mouth is straight or pointing upwards when resting Eyes are straight or pointing up at the sides Negative Low ears Mouth turns downwards Eyes and eyebrows come down in depressive look Prone to gossip Buck-teeth which allow information to leak out (in face-reading this is known as watermelon mouth) Relationship issues for women Big forehead, high cheekbones (representing power that men may struggle to handle) Advertisement Given that my reading has been fairly ego-boosting (Are your lips real? Theyre great. I can tell from the way they go up at the sides that people like listening to you talk), I ask whether shed tell me if she saw something very bad in my face and she assures me she would, if it would help. Ive seen the death of peoples children in their face, she says, horror movie-style. Or you might see the death of a spouse, fertility problems, divorce. Priya explains the loss of a child can be seen in a combination of factors, such as two deep vertical lines under the eyes running onto the cheeks. There might also be a dark aura on the face. It sounds dramatic, but Priya is quick to point out that it doesnt mean youll lose a child, it can just be an indicator everything needs to be seen in conjunction with the other features. It doesnt necessarily always help to know if you cant do anything about it, but if I saw something dangerous, like heart problems, I would of course suggest someone saw a doctor. You can make recommendations that will guide people. That reminds me: do you always have that red tip on your nose? she asks. Oh my God, my future children are going to die, I think, then remember that I got sunburnt at Studland Bay a week ago, and tell her that. OK. That patch relates to digestion so it may be something to watch if it doesnt go away. And the puffiness under your eyes, is that soft or hard? Its soft. That can go, then if you drink less, she adds. Shes already noticed on my forehead that I partied a fair bit in my 20s (which ended only six months ago) and I apparently have good travel lines, which sounds to me like a euphemism for wrinkles. So, back to my fame and fortune, I say. Anything else to add about that? For more information about Priyas work as a master face-reader, visit priyasher.com In a continual escalation of arrests, Portland police arrested 59 people Saturday night and Sunday morning, by far the most arrests from a single event since the beginning of the protests against police violence and anti-Black racism 101 days ago. The arrests were almost all on low-level misdemeanors, as well as the felony charge of riot. Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has said that he will dismiss charges for riot and many common misdemeanors if they dont involve deliberate' property damage, theft or force against another person or threats of force. Oregon State Police arrested 16 of the 59. The state police have not released the names or charges for those 16. The arrests follow a night in which a riot was declared and tear gas almost immediately deployed after three Molotov cocktails were thrown from the protesters and one person was burned. Police, citing the clothing of protesters and that some carried shields, said that they decided the protest would not be peaceful and so blocked protesters from marching to Portland Police Bureaus East Precinct. Protesters were scattered by tear gas and police pushes in different directions. During the night, police rounded up several protesters at a time for arrest, creating the sight of seven people with hands ziptied sitting on a curb, waiting for transportation to the county jail -- an unusual one for the protests so far. Of the 43 people whom Portland police arrested, eight were charged with crimes Schmidt has not already committed to dismissing. The vast majority of protesters were charged with interfering with a peace officer, a misdemeanor so vague that it could apply to almost any action a protester takes that does not exactly comply with police orders. Interfering with a peace officer continues to be the most common charge at Portland protests, despite a state work group looking at whether it should be tweaked or eliminated from law. Three in four of all protesters arrested have been charged with interfering with a peace officer. The charge of disorderly conduct in the second degree is nearly as common. Nearly 10% of people arrested by Portland police Saturday night were charged with interfering alone. Only two people of the 43 were not charged with the crime. Portland police have steadily increased their use of arrests in the last several weeks of protests. Saturdays count far outstrips any night since the first week of protests, when 48 people were arrested on two different nights. As of Aug. 27, city police officers had arrested that month nearly three times the number of people they arrested in all of July, according to an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Of the 217 arrests, half of those were during one week. Since then, arrest numbers have remained high. Police Chief Chuck Lovell has maintained that police make good arrests and that the nightly protests attract a couple hundred criminals. Even with the increase in arrests, most nights charges closely mirror Saturdays. Portland police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger More than 600 people have been arrested during the course of the recent Extinction Rebellion protests in London, with the government said to be considering new measures that could curb the ability of the group to cause disruption to critical national infrastructure. In a series of daily actions, environmental protesters marched on Parliament Square, blocked roads, staged sit-ins and glued themselves to the ground - after months of inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic. Activists also staged a blockade outside two newspaper printing plants on Friday night, preventing the overnight deliveries of The Sun, the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and The Times. Prime minister Boris Johnson condemned the demonstration as completely unacceptable, while home secretary Priti Patel said it was was an attack on our free press, society and democracy. Other ministers described the activists as idiotic and an intolerant minority. The government is now set to crack down on the demonstrators, according to reports, with Whitehall officials asked to re-examine how the group is classified under law. The Sunday Times claims that the Johnson administration is considering a new subversion power that would help protect critical national infrastructure which is regularly targeted by Extinction Rebellion, including printing plants. A government source told the newspaper: It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press. In response to the recent protests, Metropolitan Police imposed conditions on where the demonstrations could take place, while protesters were warned they risked a large fine if they failed to comply with coronavirus rules banning gatherings of more than 30 people. Scotland Yard said on Saturday that 20 people had been reported for consideration of a 10,000 Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for holding regulation-breaching gatherings representing a range of different causes. Police said the FPN reports related to demonstrations called "Resist the Government", "Move One Million", "The Ivory Coast Protest", "Citizens' Assembly Extinction Rebellion" and "The Lightship Greta procession". One penalty report relates to an anti-Government demonstration which took place in Trafalgar Square on August 30, the Met said. Commander Kyle Gordon, Gold Commander for the weekend's policing operation, said protests had caused "serious disruption to local communities" in the past week. 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. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A killer whale (orca in the fjord of Skjervoy, northern Norway AFP/Getty He added: "Throughout this period we have become increasingly concerned the organisers of these events have not always taken all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of coronavirus, thereby posing a risk, not only to those involved, but the wider public and communities of London. "We remain in the middle of a pandemic and we all need to play our part in keeping each other and our communities safe." He said officers sought to enforce coronavirus legislation "as a last resort" and had proactively told event organisers of their "public health risk". Mr Gordon added: "I would appeal to anyone planning on organising a gathering to consider your responsibilities under the regulations, and to do all you can to help keep our communities safe." On Saturday afternoon, an XR "Citizens Assemble!" gathering was dispersed by police in Trafalgar Square. During the peaceful protest outside the National Gallery, activists sat on the ground and listened to speeches while surrounded by a large police presence. Officers asked the group to move on, with most dispersing by around 2.30pm. Some that refused to leave the area were carried or led away by police, including one man in handcuffs. Officers asked the group to move on, with most dispersing by around 2.30pm.Some that refused to leave the area were carried or led away by police, including one man in handcuffs. Activists had chained themselves to bamboo structures and used vans and a boat to obstruct the roads to the two printing factories. XR apologised to newsagents for the disruption, which left shelves empty in some parts of the country, but claimed the right wing media is a barrier to the truth. The group also called on Rupert Murdoch, the owner of The Sun and The Times, to stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create. The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) said the protests had hit home delivery operations, including for the elderly and vulnerable, and that members were having to deal with angry customers. Experts believe coronavirus spreading in lower doses is keeping death tolls and hospital admissions low but daily case totals high. Social distancing measures mean an infected person would only be able to pass on traces of Covid-19 to another person, therefore the virus's 'infectious dose' is lower. Because the newly-infected person would have a smaller amount of the virus, their symptoms would not be as serious - in a similar manner to chicken pox. While this would explain why a rise in cases has not lead to a rise in deaths, doctors have stressed that not enough is known about Covid-19 to determine whether it is dose-dependent. But other viruses, including SARS and MERS - the coronaviruses behind two previous pandemic outbreaks - follow this pattern. Cases of Covid-19 have been slowly creeping up in the UK since early July. Greater Manchester as a whole saw 220 confirmed cases on Tuesday followed by 262 on Wednesday. Thursday saw a drop to 67 Experts believe coronavirus spreading in lower doses means death tolls and hospital admissions remain low, while daily case totals are high. Pictured: Daily coronavirus cases in Cardiff Social distancing measures mean an infected person would only be able to pass on traces of Covid-19 to another person meaning the virus's 'infectious dose' is lower. Pictured: Daily coronavirus cases in Swansea Government risks jeopardising the test and trace system by urging workers to return to the office at the same time as reopening schools, expert warns Urging workers to return to the office at the same time as reopening schools is jeopardising the test and trace system's ability to cope, a leading public health expert has warned. Professor Devi Sridhar, from the University of Edinburgh, said she was concerned about the UK Government's campaign to encourage people back into offices coinciding with pupils' return because the testing system in Scotland struggled with a surge of demand when schools reopened. Ms Sridhar, who is an adviser to the Scottish Government, told Sky News that a fast, effective test and trace system was key to keeping the infection rate low and suppression of the virus was vital to enable economic recovery. 'I'm a little bit worried about the back to office push alongside the back to school push,' she said. 'What we've seen in Scotland over the past few weeks is the testing system has just been really having to race to catch up with the demand of all the children coming home with coughs and colds and fevers. 'If you add on top of that all the adults going back into offices and having those as well your testing system is really under strain. So you have to get ready and get your testing system going so people get the results fast enough and the tracing teams can get going.' Asked about coronavirus infection among young people in schools, and whether schools returning could trigger a spike in cases, Ms Sridhar said: 'It's really in our hands. 'We've seen variable experience in the world, from Denmark, which handled school returning exceptionally well, has kids back with very little bump in terms of their [infection] numbers, compared to Israel where numbers just skyrocketed because the testing and tracing was in place.' Mr Sridhar explained that all children were susceptible to contracting the same amount of the virus as adults, but younger children appeared to transmit the virus less than older ones. The height of children could be one possible reason for the difference, she suggested. 'Some of the hypotheses are about the social interactions of primary school kids, who they're around, they're more likely to be asymptomatic, which means coughing and sneezing is less likely so they're not infecting others,' she said. 'As well as that, primary school kids are shorter and so they're less likely to be exposing adults or others around them. 'So, there is a difference, but science has not confirmed yet which of those hypotheses it could be.' Ms Sridhar said she thought that another nationwide lockdown was 'unlikely' and added: 'When testing and tracing starts to break down, that's when you need your local restrictions, where you have restrictions on going to other people's homes or on pubs and hospitality or on riskier settings. Although Ms Sridhar praised the UK Government for 'moving towards a model of maximum suppression', she said that they should consider introducing testing at airports when people arrive and then another test between five and eight days later. She said: 'I think that UK Government, as a whole, have been behind the curve in terms of border control - one of the latest to put in border restrictions. 'When they have been put in place they are not really being monitored in terms of compliance with them, also it's also been quite a harsh measure for the aviation industry and creating uncertainty, so I think, yes, we definitely need a better approach.' Advertisement This may seem alarming, but it has not corresponded with an increase in the number of people dying from the virus. In the first week of July, the number of new Covid-19 infections hit a low of roughly 550-a-day across the UK. At that point there were about 150 people hospitalised with the virus every day in England alone and about 30 deaths. Since then, the number of new infections has steadily risen. Last week, saw about 1,500 positive test results a day. But the number of patients ending up in hospital and dying have continued to fall. In the week ending September 4, there were a total of 51 UK deaths. In England, there are about 450 patients in hospital with Covid-19 well below the 17,000 that were during the pandemic's peak in April. Even in the Midlands, where there was a significant wave of cases throughout July and a return to lockdown in Leicester, the number of people in hospital or on ventilation has continued to fall. There are now roughly seven patients in hospital in the Midlands NHS area on ventilators, from a peak of 485. Bolton was last night placed under tighter Covid-19 restrictions as the infection rate in the area became the highest in England. Bolton Council has asked for people in the town to avoid mixing with other households and to only use public transport for essential purposes. The town's infection rate recently increased to 99 cases per 100,000 people per week, the highest in England, the council said. Greater Manchester as a whole saw 220 confirmed cases on Tuesday followed by 262 on Wednesday. Thursday saw a drop to 67. Meanwhile, Leeds is teetering on the brink and has been added to Public Health England's list of areas of concern - while measures will be eased in swathes of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Leicester next week. The Yorkshire city, home to half a million people, has seen its infection rate rise to 32.4 new cases per 100,000 people, bringing it to the attention of authorities. London saw 228 cases on August 27, followed by 214 on August 28 and 130 on August 29. Bristol saw five cases on August 30, which climbed to eight on August 31 and 12 on September 1. The Cardiff and Vale University Health Board saw a spike of 18 cases in one day on August 29. Dr Elisabetta Groppelli, a virologist at St George's University of London, said: 'If you are exposed to a smaller amount of virus, fewer cells in your body get infected, so there's time for your immune system to mount a response. 'If you get lots of cells infected at once, you are already starting on the back foot. 'There is not particularly solid data for Covid-19 at the moment, but it's logical.' Many comparisons have been drawn between Covid-19 and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. A dose-dependent theory would offer an explanation for what happened then, too. A 2010 analysis showed the second wave hit poorer communities living in more crowded conditions. They got bigger infectious doses, and many thousands died. Dr Groppelli added: 'Age and other illnesses play a huge role. But if I had to be infected with this coronavirus, I'd like the smallest dose possible because that would mean a higher chance of my body getting the infection under control.' Professor Wendy Barclay, who's head of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, added: 'It's all about the size of the armies on each side of the battle,' she says. 'A very large virus army is difficult for our immune system's army to fight off. 'So standing further away from someone when they breathe or cough likely means fewer virus particles reach you, and then you get infected with a lower dose and get less ill.' On the other hand, there is the possibility that, thanks to distancing and, more importantly, natural pandemic patterns, levels are down to what they were before testing even started - and a rise could still be seen, other medics warn. Some point out that nothing has changed in the human immune system, so those who are vulnerable will remain so. And when those levels do rise past a certain point, possibly in a few months' time, the serious illness and death will follow. It comes amid concerns that parts of northern England could be in the midst of a coronavirus endemic, according to leaked Public Health England documents. Bristol saw five cases on August 30, which climbed to eight on August 31 and 12 on September 1. In Malton earlier this week, families attended a screening of The Greatest Showman at Castle Howard where they remained within their own groups - despite the inclement weather Cyclists on the Tour de France have been using face masks to reduce the risk of spreading the virus On August 29, fans socially distanced at the Amex Stadium in Brighton as the home team played a pre-season friendly against Chelsea In the Netherlands, guests cocooned in their own green houses while enjoying dinner at Mediamatic in Amsterdam The analysis claims areas in north-west England where local lockdowns have been put in force - including Bolton, Manchester and Rochdale - 'never really left the epidemic phase'. It says 90 per cent of Greater Manchester boroughs are 'currently experiencing an epidemic phase'. An epidemic refers to a disease infecting a large group of people whereas endemic is generally when a bug is constantly affecting a particular region. Parts of northern England could be in the midst of a coronavirus endemic, according to leaked Public Health England documents. Pictured: Members of the public wear masks as they walk through Bolton town centre on Tuesday The analysis claims areas in north-west England where local lockdowns have been put in force - including Bolton (people pictured in Bolton this week), Manchester and Rochdale - 'never really left the epidemic phase' It claims 90 per cent of Greater Manchester boroughs are 'currently experiencing an epidemic phase'. Pictured: People in Bolton this week The paper - marked 'official sensitive' and seen by The Observer - looked at areas with a high amount of Covid-19 cases and examined links between large caseloads, economic deprivation, over-crowded housing and larger BAME communitites. It suggests coronavirus is solidly in place in various areas meaning local lockdowns will hardly make any difference. While the document - which uses data up until August - does focus on northwestern regions which have been put back into partial lockdowns following a spike in coronavirus cases - it implies the its findings could be used on a national level. It reads: 'The overall analysis suggests Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale never really left the epidemic phase - and that nine of the 10 boroughs [of Greater Manchester] are currently experiencing an epidemic phase.' The new measures, which were announced on Saturday evening, will come into effect immediately. Pictured: Bolton town centre at the start of September People should only use public transport to travel to education, work or for essential appointments in Bolton. Pictured: a trace testing centre on Thursday It adds: 'If we accept the premise that in some areas the infection is now endemic - how does this change our strategy? 'If these areas were not able to attain near-zero-Covid status during full lockdown, how realistic is it that we can expect current restriction escalations to work?' Bolton was last night placed under tighter Covid-19 restrictions as the infection rate in the area becomes the highest in England with hundreds of thousands of people banned from mixing. Bolton Council has asked for people in the town to avoid mixing with other households and to only use public transport for essential purposes. It comes as the town's infection rate recently increased to 99 cases per 100,000 people per week, the highest in England, the council said. Locals slam Glasgow lockdown as confusing after different households can't meet at home but CAN go out for dinner Glasgow locals have slammed their local lockdown as confusing after rules state they can't meet at each other's homes but can go out for a meal together. Under the guidelines - which also apply to West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire - residents are no longer allowed to meet up with other households indoors from midnight on Tuesday. But restaurants, pubs and bars have all stayed open causing confusion among locals. Helen Smith, 45, told The Observer: 'I've followed all the rules since the start of this thing but I can't get my head round these latest ones 'We were told to avoid pubs and restaurants and large groups of different households. 'Now I can meet my own family in a pub or a gym with loads of other people but I can't privately go round to their house.' It came after the NHS regional board of Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported 66 cases of coronavirus in 24 hours - 43 per cent of Scotland's total cases on Tuesday. Officials say the spike appears to be mostly traced back to indoor gatherings, leading to the limited rules. Advertisement Just days earlier, Boris Johnson came under fire for 'mess after mess' in the coronavirus crisis after the government performed another embarrassing U-turn on lockdowns. Bolton and Trafford were among a series of areas in the North West due to see restrictions eased on Wednesday. But the move was abandoned at the 11th hour after a furious backlash from local politicians including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who said infection levels were still far too high. Councillors from both Bolton and Trafford warned of a spike in coronavirus cases - but a lockdown was not put in place until 12 hours after most locals understood that it was lifted. Local leaders have repeatedly felt exasperated by the national government throughout the pandemic as confusing 11th-hour rules have left constituents seeking clarity. Many councils have used volunteers or staff to take on community-lead virus control, focused on communication, the paper reports. Public health directors have slammed the current approach - where rules and guidance on local lockdowns comes from London - as making their job even more difficult. New lockdown rules were also enforced in Glasgow from midnight on Tuesday following a spike in coronavirus cases there. Under the guidelines - which also apply to West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire - residents are no longer allowed to meet up with other households indoors. Only essential hospital visits are permitted in the affected areas and anyone visiting a loved one in a care home must do so outside. The rules will be reviewed after a week but they are set to remain in place for 14 days in total. It comes after the NHS regional board of Greater Glasgow and Clyde reported 66 cases of coronavirus in 24 hours - 43 per cent of Scotland's total cases on Tuesday. Addressing the restrictions, Ms Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: 'I know how difficult this will be - I am a Glasgow resident so these rules apply to me too - but they are essential to, I hope, nip this in bud and avoid tougher restrictions.' The additional regulations in the three areas come after Aberdeen was thrust into lockdown again on August 5. The city's population of more than 200,000 were banned from travelling more than five miles from their homes and pubs, bars and restaurants were shut. The lockdown rules were then relaxed 18 days later. As Covid cases climb, why you shouldn't panic... yet Cases of Covid-19 have been slowly creeping up in the UK since early July. This may seem alarming, but it has not corresponded with an increase in the number of people dying from the virus. This can be seen in the graph, top right. The yellow wave shows the number of people who tested positive for Covid-19, while the red wave denotes deaths. In April, at the height of the pandemic in the UK, as the number of cases rose steeply, the number of deaths did too. But now, despite a rise in cases, the number of deaths barely registers. In fact, on August 30, when 1,715 cases were reported, there was just one Covid-19 death. On September 4 there were 1,940 positive tests and ten deaths. Changes in the testing regime will account for some of the most recent rise as only those who were hospitalised were It's important to note there have been significant changes in who is being tested. At the start of the pandemic, only patients taken to hospital with suspected Covid-19 were tested. Anyone who was self-isolating at home could not get a test. But since April, the Government began widening testing, allowing anyone with Covid symptoms to book a slot at a drive-in or walk-in centre. The number being tested has risen steadily since then. The increase in cases is now in the community hospital numbers continue to dwindle. And the rise in cases corresponds, broadly, with an increase in tests being done. The more you test, the more positive results you pick up. In France and Spain the rise in cases is more marked. As the graphs show, the number of confirmed positive tests have soared in recent weeks. France had 8,975 new cases on September 4 and 18 Covid-19 deaths. Spain reported 10,476 new cases on the same day, more than it did at the height of the pandemic and 184 deaths. Back in April, at its peak, 1,198 people died in one day. Increased testing means we have a more accurate picture of what is going on. But while cases are increasing, there's no need for panic just yet. Advertisement The great Covid conundrum: Why are death rates so low when cases are soaring and could Chicken pox provide an answer? By Dr Ellie Cannon for The Mail on Sunday Dreadfully itchy, blistering red spots usually in clusters and possibly a fever. One grizzly, over-tired toddler; one rather fed up but vaguely concerned parent. The diagnosis? Chicken pox. It's one of the most common illnesses I see in surgery, week in, week out. And I'm always glad to reassure mums and dads that this viral infection also known as varicella is a mild illness for most children. A bit of calamine lotion to reduce the itching and most are back to normal in a week. My other standard bit of advice often comes as a surprise, though. I always warn them that if there are siblings at home, they'll get it within a couple of weeks but it'll probably be much worse. Dr Ellie Cannon, pictured, has been advising people to use face coverings to help to stop the spread of Covid-19. Now she believes the policy of social distancing is working The reason? Basically, the first child to get it usually catches it from another kid they've had fleeting contact with in the playground. They get a small dose of the virus enough to make them unwell. They then go back home to their siblings, who they hug, fight, share food and bedrooms and baths with, and the sustained contact means they pass on a much bigger dose of the virus. I was taught this as a junior doctor, and I've since seen it play out endlessly in patients, in my own two kids and in friends' children. So why, you may ask, am I telling you about this. Well, there's a question that's been perplexing me and just about every other person I've spoken to over the past few weeks. And, fascinatingly, the chicken pox phenomenon I've described might just give us an answer to it. We all know cases of Covid-19 are on the rise, here and on the continent. And yet no one, it appears, is very ill. Last week, Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed 'a second wave was rolling across Europe' and that 'we must do everything in our power to protect the UK'. But, right now, not many people are ending up in hospital. Very few are dying, either here or in other European countries. During the pandemic, social media was awash with people reporting that they were horribly unwell and stuck at home. That's all gone silent, too. Why is this happening? Well, part of the reason is due to increased testing. Last week this newspaper revealed how screening programmes have been quietly rolled out across the UK over the past few months, and thanks to this approach it was highly likely that mild or even asymptomatic cases were being picked up in large numbers. Whether or not many of these people are even infectious, and, therefore, the point of testing them at all, has rightly been questioned by some experts. And, until the Government start publishing how many cases are picked up that are asymptomatic, we won't have a very clear picture of what's really going on. But even then, it won't properly explain why people are still getting the infection in large numbers but not getting sick any more. Various ideas have been floated. Some say the virus is becoming 'less nasty' or 'fizzling out'. But it's a theory that seems to get instantly shot down by scientists actually studying the thing. There's just no hard evidence to suggest this is true. Others say it's because younger people are getting it now. We know many older and at-risk Britons are still being very careful, and even staying at home despite the easing of restrictions. And, as we also know, younger people are less likely to get ill with Covid-19. But it doesn't quite add up. Face masks help prevent the transmission of the virus After all, we did see many middle-aged people, especially men, getting sick during the early days of the pandemic, and they're not all still shielding. Or, at least, not in my local pub they're not. And local outbreaks over the past couple of months have hit predominantly Asian communities a group at higher risk of suffering severe Covid-19. Still, in these areas, serious illness and deaths continue to fall. Might it also be that the infection is being passed around, but at a low dose because we're keeping our distance, washing our hands, wearing masks and all that stuff? So, in a similar way to that first child with chicken pox, the amount of virus inside people's bodies could mean they suffer a very mild illness, or no symptoms at all, but still test positive. I have been speaking to a number of virologist colleagues who said that might just be the case. But before we hear from them, let's look at the numbers. It makes startling reading. In the first week of July, the number of new Covid-19 infections hit a low of roughly 550-a-day across the UK. At that point there were about 150 people hospitalised with the virus every day in England alone and about 30 deaths. Since then, the number of new infections has steadily risen. Last week, saw about 1,500 positive test results a day. But the number of patients ending up in hospital and dying have continued to fall. In the week ending September 4, there were a total of 51 UK deaths. And looking at England right now, there are about 450 patients in hospital with Covid-19 well below the 17,000 that were during the pandemic's peak in April. Even in the Midlands, where there was a significant wave of cases throughout July and a return to lockdown in Leicester, the number of people in hospital or on ventilation has fallen and fallen. There are now roughly seven patients in hospital in the Midlands NHS area on ventilators, from a peak of 485. If rising cases were leading to death or serious illness, we would have seen it by now. A similar picture can be seen on the continent. In France, at the end of August, with thousands of positive cases being discovered every day over the previous six weeks, the number of people in hospital remained well below that at the peak of the pandemic. In Italy, throughout August, there were 600 or so cases a day, but on the whole, deaths have remained in single figures. In Spain there was a second peak of infections in early August that almost matched levels they had in March. But deaths have stayed low on average 30 per day by the end of August. When I look at all this, my first thought is: long may it continue. But I am constantly reminded of my chicken pox patients. So what's the science behind this theory? Well, the medical term for the amount of virus you take in when you first get infected is infectious dose, or inoculation dose. Imagine you sit next to someone fleetingly on a park bench, who is infected with Covid-19. They would have the tiny viral particles in their breath, but by logic you'd not take in much, if at all. Now, imagine that person then visited a doctor for an eye test, or a dentist. If the medic was not wearing full PPE, the closeness would mean they'd be breathing in large amounts of the virus a much bigger infectious dose. This could be compounded if they then went on to see other patients who also carried the virus. Indeed, this is one reason, it's believed, that young and otherwise fit doctors have fallen ill and died with Covid-19. They ended up being given a bigger dose just like the second child in a house to catch chicken pox. Like so much with Covid-19, we just don't know yet whether the illness is dose-dependant the more virus you get, the worse the illness. But this is not just seen in chicken pox. Other viruses, including SARS and MERS, the coronaviruses behind two previous pandemic outbreaks, follow this pattern. I spoke to virologist Dr Elisabetta Groppelli, at St George's University of London, who thinks we might be on to something. She says: 'If you are exposed to a smaller amount of virus, fewer cells in your body get infected, so there's time for your immune system to mount a response. 'If you get lots of cells infected at once, you are already starting on the back foot. 'There is not particularly solid data for Covid-19 at the moment, but it's logical.' Many comparisons have been drawn between Covid-19 and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 and, interestingly, this theory would offer an explanation for what happened then, too. It's believed, that young and otherwise fit doctors have fallen ill and died with Covid-19. They ended up being given a bigger dose just like the second child in a house to catch chicken pox A 2010 analysis showed the second wave hit poorer communities living in more crowded conditions. They got bigger infectious doses, and many thousands died. Dr Groppelli adds: 'Age and other illnesses play a huge role. But if I had to be infected with this coronavirus, I'd like the smallest dose possible because that would mean a higher chance of my body getting the infection under control.' As has been said many times, this virus isn't going anywhere, so we're going to have to learn to live with it as normally as possible. It's either that or stay locked in our homes, decontaminating food deliveries and quarantining the post until a vaccine arrives and when that'll happen, we still don't know. I've managed to get through all this thanks to a heavily optimistic outlook, and I like to think that we can live alongside something that causes only mild illness. We should continue the mitigation behaviours to keep infectious doses down social distancing, washing hands and covering our faces but life can carry on. Professor Wendy Barclay, who's head of the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, agrees. 'It's all about the size of the armies on each side of the battle,' she says. 'A very large virus army is difficult for our immune system's army to fight off. 'So standing further away from someone when they breathe or cough likely means fewer virus particles reach you, and then you get infected with a lower dose and get less ill.' Of course, there are valid counter-arguments to all of this. There's the possibility that, thanks to distancing and, more importantly, natural pandemic patterns, levels are down to what they were back in, say, January, before testing even started. And we could yet see a massive rise. Others point out that nothing has changed in the human immune system, so those who are vulnerable will remain so. And when those levels do rise past a certain point, possibly in a few months' time, the serious illness and death will follow. In my quiet moments, when I'm feeling a bit less optimistic, this thought spooks me. But then I look at it rationally. Yes, our immune systems are unchanged, but things couldn't be more different now. Take ten people in a room. One of them has the virus. Before the pandemic, they were all standing close together, coughing all over each other, talking, maybe shaking hands or hugging, even kissing. No handwashing. Covid-19 would have spread like wildfire. Statistically speaking, today, two of them will have had it, so will probably be immune and won't get infected. One of them, maybe, is a child under ten and we don't even know if they really get it. One of them is probably still shielding. The rest are distancing, most wearing masks, being generally more hygienic and washing their hands more often. It just makes sense that the virus is less likely to circulate in that room now. We're in a different place than we were in March, even with more than 1,000 new cases a day. And as long as we stick to the plan, I believe we've got little to fear this winter. Sophie Hermann stepped out in London on Saturday night for a private event - after being linked to Hollywood megastar Johnny Depp earlier in the week. The blonde, 33, looked chic in a black and white animal print dress which flaunted her lithe pins. Made In Chelsea star Sophie's silky ensemble was nipped in at her tiny waist with a ribbon tie, designed by Copenhagen=based fashion brand Rotate Birger Christensen. Sophie Hermann stepped out in London on Saturday night for a private event - after being linked to Hollywood megastar Johnny Depp earlier in the week The model added black and white polka dot heels to the look to complement the colour of the garment, which she accessorised with a a black clutch. She wore her honeyed locks in a plait and highlighted her featured with a bronzed pallet of make-up and a red lip. Sophie looked glam as she headed into Loulou's on London's Hertford Street. This comes after whisperings that Depp, 57, is seeing the fashionista, having reportedly met her at swish London hotel, The Corinthia. The blonde, 33, looked chic in a black and white animal print dress which flaunted her lithe pins Dalliance? Depp has been romantically linked to German model The actor - who only joined Instagram this year - also follows Sophie, despite only following 115 people. According to sources, Johnny and Sophie - who lives in London and has appeared on Made In Chelsea on and off since 2013 - first came into contact earlier this year. Various German publications have reported that, 'Sophie left her phone number on a piece of paper and slid it between the strings of his guitar,' after which the couple, 'spoke on the phone a lot'. MailOnline has approached reps for both Johnny and Sophie for comment. Bombshell Sophie first appeared on the London-based structured reality series on E4 during its sixth season. Chance meeting: The Hollywood actor, 57, is rumoured to be seeing the fashionista, 33, having reportedly met her at swish London hotel, The Corinthia [pictured in July] According to sources: Johnny and Sophie - who lives in London and has appeared on Made In Chelsea on and off since 2013 - first came into contact earlier this year Despite taking a break from the show for two years, she is currently a main cast member, seen mostly in scenes with co-stars Ollie Locke, Olivia Bentley and Fredrik Ferrier. Over the years, Sophie and Fredrik were romantically linked, but the pair are merely good friends. Sophie otherwise keeps her love life off-screen. Meanwhile, actor Depp is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard and The Sun, which has played out publicly at the High Court in London over the summer. The sensational showdown has seen the Pirates Of The Caribbean star sue the newspaper for libel, with his actress ex, 34, giving evidence as part of The Sun's defence against Depp's claim over a December 2018 article it published that referred to him as a 'wife-beater'. Courtroom drama! Meanwhile, actor Depp is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard and The Sun, which has played out publicly at the High Court in London over the summer [pictured in 2015] Sassy: Bombshell Sophie first appeared on the London-based structured reality series on E4 during its sixth season The three-week hearing delved into details of their relationship, including that Depp branded her 'Amber T***' because he believed that she had soiled the marital bed after a row at her 30th birthday party. She denied the claim. It was also alleged that Depp who is expected to begin filming on the second instalment of JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts franchise in London next month used his damaged finger to write 'I love you' on a mirror after it was severed during a clash with Heard in 2015. Depp's barrister David Sherborne described the actress as a 'compulsive liar' who had 'tailored her story to meet the evidence'. Sensational showdown! The Pirates Of The Caribbean star has sued The Sun newspaper for libel, with his actress ex, 34, giving evidence as part of the defence She is now bracing herself for a second bruising court battle with her ex-husband, according to reports. The libel case is expected to reach a verdict any day, and Heard's legal team are said to be preparing for a potential fresh clash in the American courts, thanks to her claims on the stand. The Mail On Sunday were informed that Heard's lawyers expect Depp to serve papers in America that could result in her once more giving evidence in court about their marriage and contested allegations that she suffered three years of domestic abuse at his hands. Depp denies the claims and says his ex-wife was violent towards him. Gearing up: Heard [pictured in July] is bracing herself for a second bruising court battle with her ex-husband Depp Back to work:Depp is expected to begin filming on the second instalment of JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts franchise in London next month [pictured in the second film with co-star Zoe Kravitz] Depp, who gave days of vivid evidence at London's High Court in July, is already taking action against the 34-year-old actress in the US state of Virginia over a column that she wrote for the Washington Post newspaper in December 2018. While the article did not mention Depp by name, she described herself as becoming 'a public figure representing domestic abuse' which his lawyers argue had the effect of falsely portraying him as violent. A source close to the actress said: 'Amber's team are super nervous about him suing again, this time in the States. It seems that he will stop at nothing to ruin her. 'No matter what the outcome [of Depp's case against The Sun], Amber is preparing for round two, but if Johnny wins his case against The Sun then that's it, he will go and go. This could go on for years to come.' Professor Joeffrey Calimag, president of Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea (CAPK), gives a speech at the 2019 ASEAN-Korea Academic Conference in Seoul, Aug. 28, 2019. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre Professors' group from ASEAN nations in Korea tries to boost cooperation, understanding By Park Han-sol Professors from ASEAN countries working here can help enhance Koreans' understanding of their countries and promote stronger multilateral partnerships through the lens of education, said Joeffrey Maddatu Calimag, a Filipino professor at the University of Ulsan. Calimag is the president of the Council of ASEAN Professors in Korea (CAPK), which was launched last year at the initiative of ASEAN-Korea Centre in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Korea relations. As an advisory committee with more than 50 academics from ASEAN countries working in Korea, its mission lies in enhancing awareness of Southeast Asian countries among Koreans and playing a constructive role in ASEAN-Korea ties through members' positions in higher education institutions. The council's membership consists of professors and researchers from a wide range of disciplines early childhood development, accounting and finance, IT, engineering, among many others. "Most Koreans perceive ASEAN nationals to work in factories. Symbolically, by informing the public about ASEAN professionals in South Korea, our presence elevates the status of Southeast Asians in the country," Calimag told The Korea Times in a recent email interview. Despite the short time since its inception, the council has already engaged in various projects to facilitate closer ASEAN-Korea cooperation. These activities included holding a seminar for academics, participating as judges and advisors in programs organized by the ASEAN-Korea Centre and connecting with Korean government agencies including the Ministry of Education. A Filipino, Calimag first came to Korea in 2002 as a global ambassador fellowship recipient at the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. "Most of my friends were very skeptical of my decision to come because Korea as a country and its export products were not popular at that time," he recounted. But he believed the situation could become an opportunity for him to become one of the first students to explore a rather new rising nation, he said. He later went on to earn his Ph.D. in Korean studies at Hanyang University in 2014, and also studied in the Philippines, Finland, and the U.S. He is currently a professor at the University of Ulsan teaching international business, trade and global management as well as Korean economy and conglomerates. "During the time I was at KDI School, I saw endless unexplored opportunities and decided to become a Koreanist (an expert on Korea), utilizing my skills and background. I believe that I am slowly living as one." CAPK members pose for a photo at the ASEAN-Korea Centre, Seoul, during a seminar on advancing research opportunities for ASEAN professors in Korea, June 1, 2019. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre Calimag said cooperation between ASEAN and Korea is now more important than ever given the very volatile economic and geopolitical relations with other powerful countries. He said the regional powers which used to have a greater role in Korean Peninsula issues are not being helpful in the peace process, and that gives "more reason to look for the neutral but very significant trading partner which is the ASEAN." According to the professor, President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy, declared in 2017, paved the way for a great leap toward more strengthened cooperation between Korea and Southeast Asian member states. "Even before the New Southern Policy, South Korea and ASEAN member countries have been good partners for development. The difference is that it is being emphasized now," he stressed. Despite the short history of the policy, it has achieved development: as of October 2019, trade increased more than 20-fold since the establishment of ASEAN-Korea relations 30 years ago and exchanges of human resources and humanitarian aids in times of natural disasters have also considerably risen, he said. Calimag said Korean businessmen and organizations acknowledge the importance of ASEAN as an economic and trade partner, and ASEAN countries have generally positive image of Korea due to its development assistance, products and pop culture. However, Calimag also pointed out that there is great disparity in Korea's perception of ASEAN as an economic trade partner and its people as foreign workers. Although Korea is becoming a multicultural society with 4.9 percent of the total population being foreign residents as of 2019 according to the Ministry of Justice, Korean society still lacks inclusiveness and has a different approach toward those from Western countries and those from less developed countries including ASEAN nations, the Filipino professor said. "While the Korean society is becoming diverse in terms of the number of nationalities residing in the country, it has not reached its minimum potential to become an inclusive society. Danilminjok (homogeneous or monoethnic) is how Korean people believe their race should be. It is ingrained in their national pride that they have one race, making their closed society difficult to penetrate." Calimag believes that some of the Korean government's programs supposedly fostering multiculturalism are misguided and in fact simply pursue cultural assimilation. He gave the integration initiatives for foreign wives from ASEAN that turn them into "perfect Koreanized wives of Korean husbands" as a case in point. He said although Korea is short of manpower amid a decrease in population, its employment system for migrant workers is mainly designed for preventing the workers from applying for permanent residency. These phenomenon show how Korea "is torn between the perceived future negative consequences by retaining these productive foreigners and endangering their one race society," Calimag explained. ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Lee Hyuk, right, presents a plaque commemorating the inauguration of the CAPK to Professor Joeffrey Calimag at the 2019 ASEAN-Korea Academic Conference in Seoul, Aug. 28, 2019. / Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre Two months late, and with a hoard of precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, entrance tests for admissions to Delhi University began on Sunday, across 24 cities. The test (DUET) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admissions to nine undergraduate courses and all postgraduate and MPhil and PhD programmes in the Delhi University. Around 220,000 candidates are expected to appear in the examinations, which will be on till September 11, and DU officials said around 70% of expected candidates turned up on the first day. Candidates were, on day one, welcomed by a unique examination experience, even as cases in the city continued to creep up. For one, examination slots were staggered, to avoid crowds. Upon entering centres, candidates were asked to dispose of their face masks and handed fresh ones. Komal Chaudhary, 20, who travelled from Gurugram to Kalkaji in a taxi for the Zoology MSc entrance exam, said she was satisfied with the protocols followed at her examination centre. I was initially scared for my safety, wondering if social distancing guidelines would be followed during the exam. Officials at the centre checked my temperature and asked that I sanitise my hands before entering the hall. There was a quick registration process, before we were given our room numbers, she said. We were made to sit on alternate seats and keep our masks on. After we finished the test, we were asked to leave the room one-at-a-time and were told to sanitise our hands before leaving the centre as well, Chaudhary added. Entrance exams for 37 courses were held on Sunday in three slots 8am to 10am, 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 6pm. Despite the protocols, the fear of health risks persisted among aspirants across the country, some of whom skipped the tests entirely. Shalini, 23, a resident of Naraina, said, Initially, I had decided to skip the exams because of the prevailing [Covid-19] situation. But my father insisted I appear in the entrance exam. I am still scared, and will isolate myself for a few days now. Gaurav Rajput, 21, a resident of Uttam Nagar, said he had to return home before he reached the centre after developing a mild fever. I had to appear for the MA political science entrance exam at the Mundka centre. I had a slight fever since Saturday night, and my temperature rose while I was on the way to the centre. Our admit cards said students with fever would not be allowed at the exam centres. I had to get off the bus mid-way. In normal circumstances, students with slight fever are allowed at the exam centres, but things are different amid the pandemic. I have informed my college teachers and will also write to the DU administration about my situation, he said. Arpitha, a resident of Kozhikode in Kerala, had to appear for the LLM entrance test in Thiruvananthapuram nearly 400km away, but had to give the exam a miss because of scant public transport options in the state due to the pandemic. Four of my friends also decided not to appear in the exam on Sunday for the same reason. We were really scared because Covid-19 cases in Thiruvananthapuram are increasing with every passing day. We could not take the risk of travelling there, she said. DU dean (admissions) Shobha Bagai said the number of examination centres was increased this year in view of the pandemic. While there were exam centres in 18 cities last year, this year we had centres in 24 cities. The NTA also shifted many students centres at their requests. At least 65% to 70% of students appeared in the DUET on the first day, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Donald Trump demanded the removal of the UKs ambassador to the US after leaked cables showed the diplomat criticising him, according to former US national security advisor John Bolton. Mr Trump ordered that Kim Darroch be made to leave Washington, Mr Bolton claims. Trump called me and said get him out of here, Mr Bolton told The Daily Telegraph. I mean at like seven in the morning or six in the morning. Early. I was at the office but even for Trump that was early. In a subsequent phone call with Sir Mark Sedwill, the UKs top civil servant, Mr Bolton told him: Things are going to get worse unless you can figure out how to get him out. Just three days later, Lord Darroch quit the post. The row exploded in July last year after leaked diplomatic cables showed Lord Darroch had written memos to officials in London describing Mr Trump as incompetent, inept and radiating insecurity, and labelling his administration as uniquely dysfunctional. Mr Bolton, White House national security adviser from 2018 to 2019, said: The hardest US-UK issue really was when some of the cables back from the UK ambassador became public. I called [Sir Mark] Sedwill. It was out in the press in Britain, obviously everybody knew about it. I said This isnt going to end well, youve got to pull him out. He didnt want to do it obviously. And I said, I understand why you dont want to do it. Im just saying were at a point here where things are going to get worse unless you can figure out how to get him out. So that dragged on for a couple of days until I think they finally figured this was not a plus for anybody and then withdrew him. Mr Trumps stance, as described by former US officials, is said to have been that it was unacceptable and insulting for Lord Darroch to remain in post after his critical comments. The diplomats resignation came soon after Boris Johnson, then the frontrunner in the Tory leadership race, declined to say whether he would keep him as ambassador if he won. Shortly after quitting, he was made a peer. Neither Lord Darroch nor the White House has commented on Mr Boltons version of events. Germany, the current head of the European Union, has threatened to call for sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, unless the Kremlin provides an explanation of its role in the use of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok against the opposition politician. Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Navalny fell ill on a flight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital before being evacuated to Berlin. Germany said last week there was "unequivocal evidence" that President Vladimir Putin's top foe had been poisoned using the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok. "We have high expectations of the Russian government to solve this serious crime," Berlin's foreign minister Heiko Maas told German daily Bild. "If the government has nothing to do with the attack, then it is in its own interest to back this up with facts." If Russia does not help clarify what happened "in the coming days", Germany will be compelled to "discuss a response with our allies," Maas said. Violation of chemical weapons law The crime against Navalny was a violation of the international Chemical Weapons Convention and there must be an appropriate response, he said. "When we think about sanctions, they should be as targeted as possible." Western leaders and many Russians have expressed horror at what Navalny's allies say is the first known use of chemical weapons against a high-profile opposition leader on Russian soil. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Germany is yet to share any findings with Moscow's prosecutors. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Sunday accused Germany of stalling efforts to probe the Navalny case. London adds diplomatic pressure Britain on Sunday said Russia had "a very serious set of questions to answer" about the poisoning of Navalny, suggesting some form of state involvement in the high-profile case. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was "clear" the Kremlin critic was poisoned with Novichok, which was previously used in an attack against a Russian former double agent in Salisbury, southwest England, in 2018. Victorias extended stage four lockdown is tipped to send the states unemployment rate soaring past 10 per cent and cost its economy billions of dollars, with some business groups demanding a faster path back to full economic activity. Premier Daniel Andrews said about 100,000 workers would be getting back to their jobs in the construction, manufacturing and distributions sectors on September 28 when caps on the number of workers allowed on-site are substantially lifted. The opening of childcare centres to non-essential workers that day will free up extra capacity in the labour force, with more to follow when school children return to their classrooms in October, while gardening, landscaping and garden maintenance businesses will also be allowed to get back to work. But a two-step opening up of the retail industry as part of the governments road map, with all shops not back in business until late October, was greeted with dismay by business while the federal government warned the extended restrictions would hit the national economy, cost jobs and businesses and erode mental health. No matter how you measure it, The Beatles enjoyed the most commercial success of any band in history. Maybe Elvis Presley came close among solo acts, but no group has ever outperformed the Fab Four. In the U.S. alone, The Beatles have over 180 million records (LPs) shipped. But while the bands success now seems like it was inevitable, things didnt get off to a great start on the U.S. market. Just check the date of the Beatles historic Ed Sullivan performance and subsequent British Invasion. That invasion happened in February 1964. By then, the Fab Four had racked up three No. 1 singles and two chart-topping LPs on the U.K. market. In brief, they were a wild success in their home country but remained virtually unknown in America as of late 63. Indeed, the first Beatles singles were flops, starting with the release of future hit Please Please Me on the Vee Jay record label in Feb. 63. The single barely registered at all with radio listeners and the music-buying public. The Beatles debut US single went out on the small Vee Jay label Album cover for Introducing The Beatles released by Vee Jay on January 10, 1964 | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images RELATED: The Early Beatles Hit John Lennon Said Was His Crack at a Roy Orbison Song The story begins with some bad calls made by a big U.S. record label (Capitol) and continues with a bad call by EMI, the company which controlled the Beatles Parlophone label. For starters, Capitol declined the option to release the U.K. hit Please Please Me in America. From there, EMI went hunting for a label that would put the record out. It found a taker in Vee Jay, a small label based in Chicago that had just had a hit with Sherry by the Four Seasons. It turned out to be a terrible fit for The Beatles. First, the single featured a careless mistake on the label: Buyers of the 7 record found themselves in possession of a new release by The Beattles. Worse, Vee Jay invested very little in the marketing of their hot new U.K. group. According to dermon.com, the record only attracted notice in the Chicago market, where it made the top 40 of a major radio station. Nationally, Please Please Me didnt enter the Billboard Hot 100 or crack the other two major charts. Sales reflected that. Please Please Me sold just 7,310 copies for Vee Jay in 1963 The Beatles promote the release of their album Please Please Me in March 1963. | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images If you take a small record label, add in limited airplay, and finish it off with zero notice outside of the Midwest, you have the formula for a recording industry flop. Thats the only way to describe the performance of Please Please Me on the American market. According to the figures cited by Beatles Bizhat, the Feb. 63 release of Please Please Me generated 7,310 sales. But it didnt end there with Vee Jay. After Capitols decision to pass on the Fab Fours U.S. distribution, Vee Jay got the first crack at the second Beatles hit from overseas. The record was From Me to You, which represented the first true U.K. No. 1 for The Beatles in April 63. Vee Jay basically followed the Please Please Me model (i.e., little promotion) for a second time. Yet they did spell the band name correctly, so it was a small improvement. Technically, From Me to You sold three times as well as Please Please Me. Unfortunately, that only amounted to 21,126 units (via Beatle Bizhat). The following year, Vee Jay eventually did sell millions of Beatles singles via new releases. It just took a second try to get it right. (Natural News) The following editorial is written by a retired Chief of Police and current staff writer for Law Enforcement Today (Article by Pat Droney republished from LawEnforcementToday.com) NEW YORK, NY- From the same rag that brought us the 1619 project, we now have the New York Times making the claim that showing up to the door of a 13-year-old girl with a pack of condoms is apparently acceptable conduct, which they apparently believe does not warrant any legal consequences for the pervert. Seriously. Conservatives have warned for some time that the end game for liberals is basically anything goes, good time rock and roll. Weve reported on these pages of some in academia making the argument that pedophilia should be treated as a psychological illness and not prosecuted as a crime. The New York Times, which basically denied the Holocaust ever existed is now making the case that pedophilia is really not all that big a deal. In 2014, the opinion pages of the paper had an article by Margo Kaplan, who was a law professor at Rutgers School of Law in Camden, who made just that claim. Pedophilia is a disorder, not a crime. Kaplan made the claim in the piece that pedophilia is not the same as child molestation. If you are interested in examining that mindset, we invite you to read the piece. Suffice it to say, Kaplan said that one can live with pedophilia and not act on it. The claim is that pedophilia is a status and not an act. According to the Post Millennial, quoting from the Times piece, in referring to the above sting, where a man indeed did show up at the home of what he believed was a 13-year-old, it reads: Was this an elaborate game? Again she claimed to be 13. The photo seemed to tell a different story and the gaming chair she was seated in looked too expensive for a kid. She used slang a 13-year-old probably wouldnt know, like FTPfuck the policethat originated in 80s hip-hop. The vulgarities and snide tone seemed too adult. Her texts were full of lols. Was she an immature teenager? Or a sly adult? It was a 20-minute drive to the house in suburban Vancouver. After stopping for condoms, he arrived at 7 p.m., three and a half hours after their first emails. She came to the door just as shed said, in torn jeans and gray sweatshirt, as beautiful as her photo. She didnt look 13 at all, more like she was in her 20s. According to the Times Magazine article, the suspect was referred to as Jace Hambrick, who is apparently claiming he is innocent. That is because most perverts show up to a home where they believe a 13-year-old is waiting, while he is packing condoms. Hambricks mommy started a blog in his defense, with both claiming he did nothing wrong, even though the undercover officer told him numerous times that she was 13, and he still bought condoms obviously with the intent of using them on said 13-year-old, and drove to the address he was given, the Post Millennial noted. Hambrick seems to be like your typical cellar-dwelling millennial living in moms basement. He apparently spent a lot of time online, playing video games. To read the Times piece, Hambrick was just like the basement-dwelling boy next door. People liked him; he made them laugh, the article gushed. Hambrick was referred to as a nerd, with his mother saying that he was introverted, sensitive, immature, coddled, nerdy. Hambrick apparently wasnt a go to a bar and pickup a date kind of guy. Online was his gig. He typically used Craigslist in order to pickup women and had some luck but not much. In 2017, he came across a so-called Casual Encounters w4m (woman searching for man) post that caught his attention. It appeared to come from gamer gurl. They engaged in online conversation during which time Hambrick revealed he was 20, to which she replied she was 13. Confused how she was able to get on Craigslist being only 13, they exchanged cell phone numbers and started texting and sending pictures. Some of the texts turned to sex with some banter back and forth. Arrangements were made for Hambrick to go to the girls house to meet with her. Since he stopped for condoms on the way, he clearly intended to have sex with someone whom he believed to be 13. Thats clear. He drove 20 minutes to the girls home in suburban Vancouver. The young girl came to the door and invited him in. Once inside, she disappeared down a hallway, at which time two police officers appeared from the back room and placed him under arrest. Hambrick didnt seem to understand why he was under arrest, to which the officers explained he would be told in just a moment. At this point, the 20-year-old man asked to speak to his mom. His request was refused, at least for the moment. The article continues that the conviction rate for cases which go to trial is 95 percent, although most cases dont go to trial. They noted that a majority of such defendants plead guilty rather than go before a jury. They complain that five such suspects have committed suicide. The program conducted in Washington State is called Operation Net Nanny. The state police point to the conviction rate of the program as an endorsement of its success, saying the numbers confirm that it is a well run operation that is legally and structurally sound, while also being very effective in apprehending and prosecuting those intent on causing harm to children. The Times goes on to justify the actions of the wanna-be pedophiles, with one source in the article who is a member of the Washington State sex-offender policy board saying they were simply pathetic, lonely people. The member, Dr. Michael OConnell said, Some are in marriages where things arent going great. Theyre socially inept but this is the way of having sex and building a relationship. Theyre just stupid and making not very well thought out decisions. They werent out looking for kids, but there was this one that caught their attention. Then, further justification comes about by claiming that many of those arrested in the stings are in their late teens or early 20s, and may, according to current scientific research, exercise poor judgment because the regions of the brain that control risk taking are not yet fully developed. Ah, there you have ittheir brains are not yet fully developed. In Hambricks case, the article wails that he lost both of his jobs, and that while awaiting trial he hardly ever left the house. In 2018, Hambrick had a bench trial, and was found guilty on both countsattempted rape of a child in the second degree and communication with a minor for immoral purposes. The judge found that based on the emails and texts the defendant clearly expressed by words and conduct that he intended to have sex with a 13-year-old. Hambrick was released this past January. The entire piece was a puff piece on how those caught up in sex offender stings are somehow getting a bad rap. The funny thing is these stings have been well publicized for years. We guarantee that there are many out there who are glad that police departments have such operations. If even one girl is protected from a perverted pedophile, it is worth it. For men such as Mr. Hambrick who get caught with their hands in the cookie jar? Two wordsbuyer beware. Want to make sure you never miss a story from Law Enforcement Today? With so much stuff happening in the world on social media, its easy for things to get lost. Make sure you click following and then click see first so you dont miss a thing! (See image below.) Thanks for being a part of the LET family! Read more at: LawEnforcementToday.com Operational integrity has long been a focus for Permian Basin oil and gas operators. But as they react to the industrys current economic reality, they are urged not to lose sight of that focus. If prudent operators follow their (operational integrity) guidelines, they minimize the risk of an environmental event or safety hazard, Dan Welch, co-owner and chief executive officer of WDS Global Partners, said in a phone interview. Those operators also will set the stage for more effective operations as the economy improves and oil and gas activity begins to increase again, he said. Welch listed three critical components of operational integrity: --systems and equipment: ensuring they are correctly designed, properly maintained and operated and critical safety systems are also maintained. --processes: ensuring companies have the proper processes and procedures in place and prioritized and that their staff understand those procedures and their importance. --people making sure they are competent and properly trained to be proficient at their jobs and understand how the company wants them to operate and follow those procedures. Welch said people and training should be the top priority and that, in a downturn, safety and training budgets should never be cut. A lot of times, in my experience, once you get to the approval level, those managers dont fully understand procedures and what the operations people need. They just say to cut X amount of dollars, and people are reluctant to challenge that in times of layoffs or cutbacks, Welch said. Management should foster an environment that encourages personnel to challenge those cuts, he said, or to point out small incidents that could build up into one large incident. Managers cant manage if theyre not aware of issues, he said. Operational integrity means brand reputation, environmental safety, worker safety and health, he said. One incident could cost brand reputation and you suffer financial disaster as a result. No one, he said, can afford a blowout, an environmental disaster or personnel injury. He recommends regular audits preferably unannounced performed either by company personnel who understand the critical needs of the company or a third party such as WDS Global. The way we do an audit is we focus on the people are they competent and accountable, and the equipment and facilities, procedures and processes, and safety. We also look at emergency response, incident response, investigation and follow-up, he said. If a company changes operating plans or a piece of equipment, did the technical people approve that change? Hazard evaluation and management is also reviewed, he said to see if a company has discussed all hazards and what to do if those hazards actually occur and if their personnel understand the hazards of their job. Its all about people, Welch said, His concern is what is known as the big turnover, where industry veterans with decades of experience are retiring or being laid off, leaving the industry with a significant experience gap. Now you have people drilling shale wells that have never experienced drilling high-temperature, high- pressure wells, he said. Amid that experience gap, he said, the only thing you can depend on is good policies, good procedures, good training and good mentorship. Without that, youre reinventing the wheel. That brings us back to operational integrity. Christian Horner and Cyril Abiteboul have revived their old feud at Monza. Renault boss Abiteboul started it when he said former customer Red Bull "missed a trick of modern Formula 1" by not getting into a much closer engine collaboration with a partner. "He's basically saying we can't win as long as we don't build our own engine," Red Bull chief Horner hit back, according to De Telegraaf. "But our partnership with Honda is similar to how a factory team works with an engine division. We're working closer together than we ever did with Renault in the V6 era," he added. In fact, he thinks Red Bull and Honda may even have a closer relationship than Enstone-based Renault has with its French engine operations. "Don't forget that Honda has a factory around the corner from us," Horner said. "They are therefore much closer to us than is the case with Renault." (GMM) Ministry of Finance said that there is no restriction or ban on filling up of posts in Government of India. Normal recruitments through government agencies like Staff Selection Commission, UPSC, Railway Recruitment Board, etc will continue as usual without any curbs. There is no restriction or ban on filling up of posts in Government of India. Normal recruitments through government agencies like Staff Selection Commission, UPSC, Railway Recruitment Board, etc will continue as usual without any curbs, said Ministry of Finance. The Ministry has also stated that the Department of Expenditure circular dated 04 September 2020 deals with the internal procedure for creation of posts and doesnt in any way affect or curtail recruitment. Ministrys Office Memorandum read under Administrative expenditure that all Ministries/Departments including Attached offices/subordinate offices and autonomous bodies should observe the following instructions for curtailing administrative expenditureNo printing/publishing of books, publications, documents, etc. would be done on imported paper, except where printing was done abroad by Indian Missions, etc. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Rhea Chakraborty summoned by NCB, asked to join investigation today Also read: Apart from borders, Indias security to be maintained in extended neighbourhood: Gen Rawat It added that the expenditure on functions such as celebrations of Foundation Day, etc. should be discouraged or if felt necessary be appropriately curtailed in any case, travel for such functions and provision of bags or mementoes should be avoided. Creation of posts: There will be a ban on creation of new posts, except with the approval of Department of Expenditure, in Ministries/Departments, Attached Offices, Subordinate Offices, Statutory Bodies and Autonomous Bodies. The Memorandum read that the ban would cover all creation of posts under powers which had been delegated to any organisation regardless of the source of such authority or power. It added that secretaries of the Ministries/Departments, being the Chief Accounting Authorities as per Rule 70 of GFR, should be fully charged with the responsibility of ensuring compliance of the above instructions. Also read: Need to work with both josh and patience: Army Chief to jawans at LAC It was a busy Saturday night for Police around the Western Bay of Plenty. Incidents attended included vehicle collisions, pursuits, searches with Police dogs, and road checkpoints. There was a two-car crash on Cambridge Rd near SH2 at around 7pm. No injuries were reported. Later a driver was arrested in Waihi. Police report there was a disqualified driver seen driving in Waihi at around 8.12pm. One person was later taken into custody, says a Police spokesperson. Police signalled for the driver to stop but they failed to do so and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle was located on Connell St and the person was taken into custody. SunLive readers reported seeing Police dog handlers looking around the Allan McBride Reserve area in Rimu St in Gate Pa around 10pm, following a car crashing there. Police report that one person has not yet been located following a Police pursuit in the Gate Pa area. The pursuit through Gate Pa ended on Rimu St. A stolen vehicle was seen driving in the Gate Pa area, says a Police spokesperson. A Police unit signalled for it to stop, when it didn't a short pursuit was initiated but was quickly abandoned around the Gate Pa Park area. The vehicle was abandoned and the offender fled on foot. Cordons were set up at St George/Cameron Rd and Pohutukawa/Watling St. Dogs were involved in a search for the person but they were not located, says a Police spokesperson. Other incidents last night included a Police road checkpoint set up near Bell Rd and the Te Puke Highway. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 23:53:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HEFEI, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A freight train on Saturday left Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, for Dourges in France, marking the launch of a new rail cargo service between Hefei and Europe. The train, carrying refrigerators and freezers worth 630,000 U.S. dollars, is expected to arrive in the French port city after a journey of 16 days. The goods will be distributed from Dourges to other European cities. Anhui operates 24 China-Europe freight train routes. In the first eight months of this year, Hefei saw a total of 309 inbound and outbound China-Europe freight trains, a year-on-year increase of 8 percent. Enditem By Trend The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, who is on a working visit to Moscow, has met with the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, General Nadeem Raza on September 5, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The parties expressed satisfaction with the development of traditional friendship and mutual trust between the peoples of the two countries, including Azerbaijani-Pakistani relations, as well as the level of strategic partnership. Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan spoke about the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and thanked Pakistan for the support of Azerbaijan's fair position in resolving this issue within international organizations. The meeting discussed issues of expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the field of security, in the military, military-technical and military-educational spheres, in the fight against terrorism, including the development of relations between the naval and air forces of the two countries, as well as conducting joint military exercises. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By PTI CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Saturday announced distribution of free food packets to poor families who do not want to get themselves tested for coronavirus for fear of isolation impacting their meagre earnings. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to encourage COVID-19 testing amid rising number of cases and deaths due to the disease in the state, a government release said here. He said the distribution of free food packets would encourage poor families to go for early testing, which was imperative to check the spread of the pandemic and control the increasing fatality rate in Punjab. The programme will start from Patiala, one of the worst affected districts, he said. The chief minister also directed other districts to make similar arrangements for poor coronavirus patients in home isolation so that they get motivated to come out for testing and do not live in fear of losing their earnings during isolation, the release said. Accepting the suggestion of Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, Singh said District Congress Committees (DCCs) and local MLAs will help the district administration in the distribution of such packets. He was chairing a virtual meeting with elected representatives, including state ministers and MLAs, as well as senior officials. This is the first of such meetings the CM plans to hold to fight the malicious propaganda being spread over COVID-19 in villages. Noting that people were also scared of hospitalisation, Singh said his government was encouraging home isolation to combat this fear and had also decided to remove posters or stickers from outside the homes of patients to end the stigma attached to their isolation. The senior Congress leader also asked the ministers to visit hospitals in the districts represented by them, and urged them to encourage party leaders and workers to be more active in combating the pandemic. Stating that nobody knew how long the pandemic would last, he stressed the need to be prepared for a tough and long-drawn battle. Singh assured that despite the financial crunch, all necessary funds would be made available by his government to fight the pandemic. Punjab's COVID-19 tally stands at 61,527 cases with 1,808 deaths. Australian high school students who sit the International Baccalaureate diploma develop significantly higher critical thinking skills than those taking a state-based equivalent such as the HSC. New research conducted by the University of Oxford shows the difference in critical thinking was more pronounced for students in year 12 than in year 11, suggesting skills increase over the IB's two-year duration. Cranbrook year 10 student John Coleman is torn between the HSC and IB, but his classmate Max Lindley is looking forward to the new course. Credit:Louie Douvis Founded in Switzerland in 1968, the IB diploma is a globally recognised senior school credential offered as an alternative to the Higher School Certificate in about 20 NSW independent schools. It has slowly expanded its footprint over the past 30 years, with Cranbrook becoming the latest Sydney school to offer the IB diploma from next year. Sandip Ssingh Shares WhatApp Chats With Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister, Asks 'Is It My Fault To Help A Grieving Sister Alone In This City?' The coronavirus pandemic is threatening the survival of general practitioner clinics in Victoria, as vast numbers of people avoid visiting their local doctor out of fear of catching coronavirus. Some GPs say they are only seeing a fraction of their usual patients amid the lockdown, although the public has been encouraged not to skip medical appointments. GP Dr Todd Cameron is warning that some doctors' surgeries could be forced to close due to financial stress caused by the pandemic. Credit:Jason South Revenue for some clinics has fallen by more than 30 per cent, forcing doctors to join other small businesses in applying for JobKeeper payments to keep themselves and their staff employed. While federal funding for telephone and video consultations has kept many practices afloat, that funding is due to end on September 30, with no word on whether it will be extended. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, the Albany Human Relations Commission met via videoconference due to state social distancing requirements. The board is tasked with strengthening connections within Albanys diverse community and recommending programs, ordinances and initiatives to the City Council. City Councilor Alex Johnson II spoke about a peaceful protest held in June in the wake of George Floyds death. The councilor, who is Black, said he was brought to his knees on the street in tears at the story of a young white boy who stood on the courthouse steps shouting, Black lives matter. The boy told Johnson he was afraid the only father he had ever known a Black man would be killed. Johnson spoke of his own property being vandalized, emails crammed with curses and phone calls carrying death threats. When he completed his presentation, board member Jo Rae Perkins, who is white, asked to speak. The hate stuff that you get and the hate stuff that I get, theyre different but theyre the same, she said. My son was physically assaulted and his face broken here in Albany and the police never followed up, and it was a hate crime. My life has been threatened. I understand what its like as a white woman. I understand. There is no place for hate. We all want to love and be loved, we want people to care about us. The statement highlighted the ambiguity at the heart of the HRC: how to foster diversity when the boards seven members disagree on the definition of the word. Perkins appointment to the board, she said, was an effort to add a conservative voice an illustration of the larger nationwide divide between the right and the left at the intersection of politics and human rights. Dissenting opinions Perkins, who is running for U.S. Senate, told the board that night that she was live on Facebook during the march in Albany and bragged about the gathering all over the state. But a review of her Facebook page showed no videos from the rally. On Aug. 28, in response to questions from the Democrat-Herald, Perkins said the videos might have been deleted by Facebook, then said they had been on her private timeline unlike other videos of rallies to reopen the state and videos that framed Black Lives Matter protests in Portland as lawlessness, which were posted to her public timeline. The Albany rally videos were later posted to her public timeline as well, after a request from the Democrat-Herald to view them. They show Perkins attending the rally, talking with participants and cheering speakers, including Johnson. Prior to Aug. 28, the first mention of the rally on Perkins' public timeline was in a video posted June 8 in which she mentions the event in passing after speaking about Black Lives Matter, saying that Black Lives Matter only cares some of the time. In that video, she says she spoke to young adults at the Albany demonstration asking if they were pro-choice and telling them Planned Parenthood was founded to get rid of the Black population. Black lives matter when its convenient for a group of people, she said. Let me state it again because I know what I just said will be taken completely out of context. Black lives matter, brown lives matter, your life matters, my life matters, every life is important. As a member of the HRC a board she said she questioned the need for Perkins has pushed for an all cultures celebration instead of Festival Latino or LGBTQ pride events and said there is only one race: the human race. During the course of a 90-minute interview with the Democrat-Herald in August, Perkins made a number of statements that seem to run counter to the HRC's mission of promoting diversity. She said the practice of prohibiting families of color from obtaining mortgages or moving into certain neighborhoods known as redlining was not responsible for the generational wealth gap between Black and white families but that a government mandate to remove Black fathers from the home to receive welfare funds was the culprit; that people who identify as LGBTQ are making a lifestyle choice and that George Floyd, the Black man killed when a police officer pressed his knee into his neck for eight minutes, may have died from fentanyl in his system. Posts on her social media accounts warn that donating to Black Lives Matter through ACTBLUE an online third party fundraising entity means the money goes to Democratic candidates, a claim that has been debunked; and argue that referring to racism points out differences between races that do not exist. Perkins was appointed to the HRC in 2019. Her appointment to the board made by Councilor Bill Coburn falls under what the city describes as "diversity of thought." Beyond and independent of democratic principles, diversity leads to strength, said City Manager Peter Troedsson. Without this diversity, there is a risk of developing group think. This uniformity of opinion cant provide the diverse perspectives that generate sound policy decisions, and often leads to failures associated with a lack of critical thinking. Born in controversy The HRC was established by the Albany City Council in 2007 following a controversial attempt to create a Hispanic-themed "Plaza las Americas" at Timber-Linn Park. That effort sparked a debate about celebrating one culture and not others. In letters to the Democrat-Herald, proponents argued that the plaza would celebrate diversity. Those against the project said it was unreasonable to construct a plaza to honor one culture, it threatened their identity and it forced Mexican culture on those who didnt share it. An oral history of the time shows that the council opted to create the HRC but a scuffle broke out over its name. Some wanted to call it the Human Rights Commission, but that suggestion was eventually shot down by the council and the Human Relations Commission was born. The whole reason the Albany Human Relations Commission was established was to create a harmonious community with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, said HRC Chair Stephanie Newton, adding that she was speaking for herself and not the HRC as a whole. But when the board was first formed, its mission was even muddier than it is now. In 2017, 10 years after its founding, members of the HRC came before the City Council with a request to clarify the boards charter by adding three words: equity, diversity and inclusion. Some thought those terms were unnecessary. Theyre buzzwords that are out there now, said Councilor Rich Kellum. Theyre used with some folks with great intention. Theyre also used by Black Lives Matter who, some of them, beat you up if you voted for the wrong guy. What I object to is that there are some of these organizations that act this way using that language specifically. You can say something very plainly, Councilor Bessie Johnson added. That will cover things for years. But if you put a buzzword and all of the sudden theres another buzzword, you have to change it again. I think the way it is is just fine. The words, members of the HRC said, already existed in other city statements. Councilors Mike Sykes, Bessie Johnson and Kellum voted against the change. The words were eventually added to the HRCs charter at a work session later that year. Redefining diversity Members of the HRC are appointed by the city councilor in their ward standard city protocol for all advisory boards. Currently, there is one person of color that sits on the board Daniel Ropp, who noted during his first meeting that he was adopted from Korea. Ropp was appointed in 2019. On his social media, he has several memes speaking out against the recognition of transgender people, including one that states: "If I had a dollar for every gender, Id have two dollars and a couple of counterfeits." When contacted earlier this month about the posts and his understanding of the HRCs purpose, Ropp said he identifies as Christian but that his beliefs do not influence his position on the board. Im a Christian. I believe the Bible and personally believe theres two genders, he said. Youre a male or female. Thats just my personal opinion. I dont expect people to accept it. I expect them to respect it. I believe in treating people the way you would want to be treated no matter their race, their sex, no matter what. Kellum appointed Ropp to the HRC. Hes Asian, hes not some generic white guy, Kellum said. He knows what its like to have someone discriminate against him because he has a head on his shoulders. I know this diversity of thought is all about having a lot of different thoughts coming together. I have not seen what is on his Facebook page, if he agrees or disagrees with the homosexual community or trans groups. Im a guy who says there are exactly two sexes. If you have a question about that, drop your pants, and if you have a outtie youre a guy and if you have an innie youre a girl. Thats a legitimate perspective. There are people that say if you dont believe as we do, youre racist or homophobic. Im saying, if you want a lot of diversity, lets have everything talked about. A dangerous concept? The HRC's intention surrounding what it means by diversity is ambiguous at best and, as a reckoning of the nations relation to race grows, questions are being raised as to whether a board built to strengthen the bonds of a diverse community can afford to amplify voices that, at times, run counter to traditionally held definitions of diversity and racial equity. Adam Schwartz is an associate professor of language, culture and society at Oregon State University with a Ph.D in language, reading and culture. Race itself is a social construction, but the consequences of that construction are real, he said. Theyre real consequences and lived realities. And that stuff is exemplified in whats being pointed out here (with the HRC). The concept of diversity of thought is really dangerous. The implication here is that perspectives that uphold racist ideals, oppressive ideals, are just as good to be heard out and understood as those that represent voices of the marginalized in society. Angel Harris is the president of the local chapter of the NAACP. "The mission of the HRC is clear," she said, quoting the group's mission statement. "How does a board that does not represent the city's diverse racial community fulfill such a mission? There is not one Black or brown person on this 'diverse' board. ... The mission first needs to start with the board." But Troedsson said it's not reasonable for any one group or political party to claim the high ground on morality. Democracy is messy, he said. And it takes time. If youre going to do it right, youre going to have to be patient. In our democratic and representative form of government, there are many people who make up our communities each with a right to be heard and represented." Troedsson added that any board or commission benefits from diversity of thought. Thats the bigger issue here, Schwartz said of the HRC operating under the umbrella of the city. How does change get made then? If were talking about a systemic issue, this is systemic racism. The fact that you have city officials defending these appointments, this is how systemic racism gets enacted. The relationship between the city and the current makeup of the HRC stands in contrast, he said, to the way South Albany High School arrived at RedHawks as the school's new mascot. Schwartz said he worked with people in the district who were involved in the process of changing the name of the school's old mascot, the Rebels imagery soaked in racist, Confederate history. Within the same racist architecture, the high school that assigned this mascot, change is still possible within the architecture, he said. But change is never going to come from top down, its always going to come from the citizenry. The ways in which these individuals simply have the right to not only make and defend these statements, but the right to sit on this particular board, is indicative of a larger problem. Pushing back on pride During one of Perkins' first meetings at the HRC, she asked about the boards calendar of events. The board traditionally has supported Festival Latino and LGBTQ events. Im politically incorrect, she said at the February 2020 meeting, referring to the groups support of an LGBTQ march. I dont really care if thats what someone is. Were not doing a straight pride march, why are we promoting this stuff? Because were segregating, and Im anti-segregation. Perkins also noted she would never go to the LGBTQ march and hadnt been to the Festival Latino. They (HRC) focus on what people do with their lifestyle. It is their choice, Perkins said during her August interview with the Democrat-Herald. I dont run around saying, 'Look at me, Im a straight female.' I dont need a parade to say, 'Hey, look at me, I have straight pride.' I talked about it for years what if I had a straight pride parade? People would flip out because they would say Im bigoted. Perkins noted that she was not anti-LGBTQ but that the issue simply wasnt her business and that the group didn't need to be "highlighted." This resistance isnt new, Schwartz said. "These (LBGTQ) parades are the evolution of that struggle. Whiteness doesnt need to struggle in that way. It is celebrated at every turn and breath of what defines our nation-state, what it means to be in school, what it means to be successful. Whiteness defines the way in which we are intelligent, the ways in which we speak, and so we dont need, as white people, any special representation for that to be seen. Keith Kolkow, who identifies as a gay man, is currently running for City Council the body that appoints members to the HRC. He is the founder and organizer of the local LGBTQ pride event. "(The comments) highlight exactly why there is a need for events like Albany Pride for our youth," he said. "At least one day a year, these kids have a day to fully celebrate themselves and be a priority. I understand it may be out of (Perkins') experience to realize how difficult it is for the youth in our community, since she likely has never had to hide an entire part of her identity from her family and friends. Those who claim identifying as LGBTQ+ is a 'lifestyle choice' should ask themselves why anyone would want to make the choice to possibly be kicked out of their home, targeted for harassment and, up until this year, possibly fired from their job for identifying as LGBTQ+." Reconciling the diversity of thought on the board, Newton said, can be difficult in relation to its mission. "When you have people with viewpoints that don't align with the original intention or mission of what your commission is set out to accomplish, it can lead to complications," Newton said. "Members of the commission are appointed by a city councilor, and it would make sense to appoint a member of the community that aligns with the mission of the commission, but that is not always the case." Diversity of thought Over the course of six days in August, Albany reported two separate hate crimes. On Aug. 10, three cars were tagged in an apartment complex one with the N-word and two others with swastikas. The car spray-painted with the N-word was parked near a Black familys apartment. The car with the swastika belonged to a gay man. Six days later, several cars were splashed with white paint and had the letters WLM drawn on them, signifying "white lives matter" a phrase often used to discredit the Black Lives Matter movement. Theres no excuse for that, Perkins said of the crimes. And I wouldnt try to come up with an excuse. Perkins said she thought the first crime was most likely committed by a young person and said she hoped they were caught. But she stopped short of calling it a hate crime. They need to be taught some decorum and respect for other people. I dont know that, how do I say this, the inkling is people are going to want to tar and feather who it was and take them to diversity training, she said. No, they need to learn some respect." Perkins said she thinks most people in Albany already treat other residents fairly and that she hopes to focus on homelessness during her time on the HRC. Your sexuality, thats your business, that has nothing to do with me, she said. But when I see homeless veterans and homeless people on the street, that affects all of us. But the NAACP's Harris said the residents of Albany deserve better than the current makeup of the board. "We are living in times when we are seeing the murders of Black and brown bodies in full view," she said. "We just celebrated the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington. We are now in 2020 addressing the same racist systems and barriers. "Now is the time to make a change. Now is the time to lead not only in words on paper but in real action that backs up those powerful words. "In the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 'The time is always right to do what is right.' Leaders of Albany, your community is watching and demanding that you lead with justice." Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 PM deemed the stunt as 'completely unacceptable', saying a 'free press is vital' It follows over 100 demonstrators blocking roads outside Newsprinters works Review could lead to the movement being treated as an organised crime group Priti Patel wants to take 'fresh look' at how XR is classified under law, say sources Extinction Rebellion protestors could be classified as an 'organised crime group' as Boris Johnson promises to clamp down on climate anarchists with tough new laws. Some newsagents' shelves were left empty on Saturday morning after Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters targeted Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking the day's papers from leaving the depots. Sources confirmed that Home Secretary Priti Patel now wants to take a 'fresh look' at how the climate change group is classified under law after a stunt Boris Johnson deemed 'completely unacceptable'. A man is arrested as police cite Covid 'gatherings' rules and a request from Westminster Council to say the protest is unsafe at Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning The review could lead to XR being treated as an organised crime group, sources said, as part of a clampdown on its activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads, and by disrupting public transport. Under additional proposals, Parliament, courts and the press could be given special status in regard to the key role they play in democracy, with the potential for police to be handed beefed-up powers to stop demonstrators entering designated areas outside such premises. 'It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press,' said a Government source. It comes after more than 100 demonstrators used vehicles and bamboo lock-ons to block roads outside the Newsprinters works on Friday evening, with both protests continuing until Saturday afternoon. Extinction Rebellion protestors block access of a printing house in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, leaving some newsagents' shelves empty on Saturday morning The blockade prevented delivery vans from leaving presses which publish the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp's titles including the Daily Mail, the Mail On Sunday, The Sun, The Times, The Sun On Sunday and The Sunday Times, as well as The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) said the protests had hit home delivery operations, including for the 'elderly and vulnerable', with its members having to deal with 'angry customers'. Sources confirmed that Priti Patel, above, wants to take a 'fresh look' at how the climate change group is classified under law Merseyside Police said they had arrested 30 people, while Hertfordshire Police said they had taken 50 people into custody. XR apologised to newsagents for the disruption but added it would not apologise to Mr Murdoch, calling on him to 'stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create'. Responding to criticism from Ms Patel that their actions were an 'attack on our free press', XR said: 'Our free press, society and democracy is under attack - from a failing government that lies to us consistently, is becoming increasingly authoritarian, and is leading us towards 4 degrees of warming.' Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden condemned XR's actions as 'idiotic', while Cabinet colleagues, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, urged people to buy a paper to support the industry, which has been badly hit by a decline in advertising revenue during the pandemic. Jo Stevens, Labour's shadow culture secretary, said: 'A free press is vital for our democracy. People have the right to read the newspapers they want. The Prime Minister labelled the action by Extinction Rebellion (XR) a 'completely unacceptable' attempt to 'limit the public's access' to a 'vital' free press 'Stopping them from being distributed and printers from doing their jobs is wrong.' But in a now-deleted tweet, Labour MP Dawn Butler appeared to praise XR, writing: 'Bravo #ExtinctionRebellion. Excellent work...' Police said no arrests were made after XR protesters held a demonstration near Motherwell aimed at disrupting the distribution of Saturday's Scottish Sun newspaper. There was a large police presence in central London on Saturday as XR staged further protests. Peter Strzok's new book, COMPROMISED, is published next week. In an interview with Politico, the former FBI agent says it's unlikely the FBI was able to do a thorough and complete counterintelligence investigation into Donald Trump's widely reported business links to the Russian government and Russian organized crime, and that those financial mysteries, like Trump's tax returns, are yet to be revealed. Strzok is the former FBI agent who started the 2016 probe into Russian election interference. He also says Trump remains a "clear and present danger" to U.S. national security. Politico got an advance copy of Strzok's new book, and he has a lot to say. Excerpt: After nearly two years, Mueller released his final report in April 2019. It outlined the Trump's campaign's extensive contacts with Kremlin-linked actors before, during, and after the election, and led to dozens of indictments and multiple guilty pleas and convictions, including of Manafort. But the report showed no signs of a holistic examination of Trump's decades in the business world, including his company's myriad real estate transactions with several Russians suspected of ties to organized crime and the many opaque deals, masked through shell companies, that helped Trump's companies stay afloat throughout the years. "I personally don't see how they could have done [the counterintelligence investigation] because I don't know how you do that without getting tax records, financial records, and doing things that would become public," Strzok said of Mueller's team. "Had they done it, I would have expected to see litigation and screaming from Trump. And the absence of that makes me think it didn't occur." Would it be occurring now? He's doubtful. "With an attorney general who now says there was no basis to open this investigation at all," Strzok said, it's unlikely FBI Director Chris Wray and his deputy have been pushing the issue. "I'm sure the senior levels of the FBI were more than happy to have it off their plate, and just say, 'Mueller's got this.'" More at Politico: Peter Strzok would like to clear a few things up Peter Strzok, a former FBI agent at the center of the Russia investigation who was fired for sending anti-Trump texts, reveals details in his new book about the bureau's internal debate over investigating President Trump https://t.co/Cj5QCJNIZp NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) September 5, 2020 My interview with Peter Strzok, the FBI agent who led investigations into Clinton's email and the Trump campaign's links to Russia. His book, COMPROMISED, is published next week. https://t.co/UfoeTUJ96F Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) September 4, 2020 The Rivers State Government has said it would be illegal for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to hold a protest in the state. The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement, on Saturday, that workers are going to hold a rally on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, against the state government over a lingering industrial dispute which has led to the sealing of the NLC secretariat in Port Harcourt. Mr Wabba in the statement, however, accused the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, of plotting to disrupt the rally. We have received very credible information that the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has mobilised two local government councils around Port Harcourt metropolis to engage armed thugs under the guise of putting up a counter-protest to the workers protest billed for Tuesday, September 8, 2020 in Port Harcourt, Mr Wabba said in the statement. READ ALSO: NLC president accuses Wike of planning to attack Rivers workers The plan is to unleash violence on workers during our protest. The NLC president said the dispute between the state government and the Rivers workers centres on non-payment of salary arrears to the workers, especially teachers and healthcare workers, the non-payment of promotion arrears since 2015, and the non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired workers since 2015, as well as negotiation for consequential wages adjustment arising from the new national minimum wage. The Rivers government, in a response by the Attorney-General, Zacchaeus Adangor, however, said there was a subsisting court order which restrained the NLC from protesting in the state. The NLC president is a defendant in the suit which was filed at the National Industrial Court, Lagos, by the Rivers government, the attorney-general, Mr Adangor, said in the statement. The case of the Government of Rivers State before the National Industrial Court is that the organized labour cannot declare a strike action in Rivers State without strict compliance with the conditions precedent prescribed in the Trade Disputes Act, Cap, T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Trade Unions Act, Cap. T14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the Rivers government said in its press statement. Our commitment to the enthronement of the rule of law in our State rather than rule by force, informed our decision to seek judicial redress against the organized labour. The Government of Rivers State will not engage in any act of illegality in confronting the monster of lawlessness which the organized labour now appears to epitomize, the official added. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04872694f0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04872c0298)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04872694f0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04872c0298)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0487253250)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04872c0298)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04872c0298)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04861ed580)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04870e51f0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04870e51f0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 The disease expert told former mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg that there are several states that are at risk for surging American physician, immunologist, and infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci has been cautioning the public about the greater effects of COVID-19most recently warning that if Americans are careless then infection numbers will increase this fall. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in a conversation with former mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg, there are several states that are at risk for surging. Read More: Long-term effects of COVID-19 really troublesome for young people, Fauci says He especially emphasized North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois because these states have seen upticks in COVID-19 cases. Fauci insisted residents take additional measures as they go about to limit the spread of the virus during the holiday weekend The number of Americans contracting coronavirus continues to increase daily. Statistics show the number of people contracting the virus has slowed down significantly in certain areas, but according to Fauci, coronavirus cases could spike if effective precautions are not taken. CDC head Dr. Anthony Fauci. (Photo by Al Drago Pool/Getty Images) Those states are starting to see an increase in the percent positive of their testing; that is generally predictive that theres going to be a problem, Fauci SAID in an interview. At the beginning of the summer, some states saw an increase in the spread of the virus. Reports showed 10,420 new cases per day in July, as primary school students across the nation begin in-person socially-distanced teaching. The American death toll has reached around 1,000 people per day, the Washington Post reported. If were careless about it, then we could wind up with a surge following Labor Day. It really depends on how we behave as a country, Fauci continued. Vice President Mike Pence and Fauci have cautioned governors to enforce COVID-19 precautions for fear of spikes in cases similar to earlier summer holidays. In total, there have been 6 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and over 185,000 people have died. Story continues Read More: Fauci requests security for daughters as family gets death threats According to Forbes, Americas Midwestern region has become a high-risk zone for the spread of the virus. The two most highly recommended measures to avoid spreading coronavirus are to wear a mask and social distance. To Americas betterment these precautions also help to curb the spread of the common flu. Have you subscribed to theGrios new podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Fauci warns these 7 states could see COVID uptick during Labor Day appeared first on TheGrio. Police launch hunt for killer of Shaheena Shaheen, a PTV talk show host and editor, with her husband being a suspect. Police in southwest Pakistan have launched a hunt for the killer of a female journalist who was shot at her home, an official said, with her husband being one of the suspects. We have registered a case and started a search for the killer of the female journalist, Siraj Ahmad, investigating officer on the case from Turbat district of Balochistan, said on Sunday. Shaheena Shaheen, a talk show host at state-owned broadcaster Pakistan Television and editor of a local magazine, was shot dead at her home in Turbat on Saturday evening. Ahmad said Shaheens family suspected her husband of the murder. Shaheen had a court marriage about six months ago and was living with her husband, according to the police. A journalist, an anchorperson, an art lover brutally murdered in Balochistan today. 2nd woman journalist killed in Pakistan in last 10 months. Strongly condemned this cold blooded murder of Shaheena in a place where we already have dearth of women journalists. #JusticeForShahina pic.twitter.com/SNJ2YBP3TW Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) September 5, 2020 Mohsin said Shaheen was dropped off at a hospital in critical condition by two men who then left as doctors tried to save her life. Police later learned that one of those men was the womans husband, Nawabzada Mahrab. They said raids were being carried out to find and arrest the husband after being alerted by the womans uncle of his involvement. Pakistan is considered to be one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. Rights group Reporters Without Borders ranked Pakistan 145th out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index. Since 1992, at least 61 Pakistani journalists have been killed in connection with their work, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In November, another man was accused of killing his journalist wife, Arooj Iqbal, in the eastern city of Lahore. Pakistan fares badly on global gender indices. In 2019, it ranked 164 out of 167 countries on the Women, Peace and Security Index, only above Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen. Back in the strange, still, early days of lockdown, when the sun beat down endlessly from a blue and silent sky and I was woken up early every morning by the unnatural quiet: there was a sort of underlying frenzy that acted in contrast to the inertia of the days. It was the incessant sound of pings and beeps as our phones and computers went mad with WhatsApp messages and Zoom invitations. Zoom fatigue set in after a few weeks, and I got more discerning about who I wanted to communicate with. Credit:iStock Trapped at home, with only immediate family for company (if we were lucky), the need to communicate with our wider networks became, for a time, incredibly urgent. This compulsion manifested itself in surprising, and sometimes delightful ways my husband got up at 4.30 in the morning one day to dial into a Zoom check-in with two of his best buddies from university, one in Oregon, the other in Hong Kong; while a previously sporadic WhatsApp group with my oldest group of school friends morphed into a weekly Zoom hangout where we drank wine and competed on whose life had become the most boring. Zoom fatigue set in after a few weeks, and I got more discerning about who I wanted to communicate with. Some interactions, like my school-pal chats, were genuinely life-affirming events that I looked forward to; others highlighted the fact that real life acquaintances do not always pass the screen test. I was struck by how little I missed some people, and how much I came to rely on regular check-ins with others. INSTEAD of the annual foot procession known as Walk with Mary, a Visita Maria Motorcade will be held for this years celebration of the birth anniversary of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. John Taniola, president of the Children of Mary Vincentian Marian Youth (COMVMY) of the Archdiocesan Council of Cebu, said they have devised activities in lieu of the Walk with Mary to celebrate the occasion as safe and meaningful as possible amid the current public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus. Taniola said they partnered with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of the Asilo de la Milagrosa for this years activity. We have agreed with our spiritual advisers to avoid mass gathering, he said in a mix of Cebuano and English. Last year, not less than 9,000 Marian devotees joined the procession of the images of the Blessed Virgin Mary on her birthday. The procession left the Fuente Osmena Circle at 4 a.m. and it ended at the Plaza Independencia, where a mass was celebrated. For this year, Taniola said the blessed image of the Miraculous Medal will also be paraded during the Visita Maria Motorcade after the 6 a.m. mass that will be celebrated at the Asilo de la Milagrosa Chapel on Gorordo Ave. Taniola declined to announce the route of the motorcade so as to avoid attracting devotees. However, the entire motorcade will be live-streamed on the official Facebook pages of Asilo de la Milagrosa and COMVMY. He said the younger sisters and, possibly, some of their beneficiaries of the Asilo chapel will join the motorcade. At 11 a.m., the national council of COMVMY will also offer a mass for its 152nd founding anniversary. This will also be streamed live on the COMVMYs official Facebook page. Another mass intended for the nativity of the Blessed Mother Mary will be celebrated at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph in Mandaue City at 5:30 p.m. This will be officiated by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cebu Rev. Midyphil Billones. Story continues After the mass, a video with Cebu Archbishop Jose Palmas message of encouragement will be played. Taniola said he hopes the faith of the people remain and their trust in the intercession of the prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary will continue. Even in these toughest times of our country, we must never forget that our Blessed Mother will always be with us, he said. Other activities that will culminate on Sept. 8, he said, include their Be Like Mary activity where members, especially children age nine to 12, of the COMVMYs sub-units in parishes and schools can dress up and portray the message of one of Marys apparitions, in a respectful way. They will also hold a logo-making contest for their association in line with the upcoming celebration of the 500th year of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021. He said they have partnered with some of the healthcare facilities in Cebu so they can distribute miraculous medals to frontliners and other civilian workers on Marys birthday anniversary. (WBS) Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- The General Staff of the Vietnam Peoples Army received the first-class Fatherland Defense Order and celebrated its 75th founding anniversary at a ceremony in Hanoi on Saturday, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- Vietnam did not record any novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on Saturday. The countrys tally stands at 1,049, with 805 having recovered and 35 fatalities. -- A 50-year-old woman in the northern province of Thai Nguyen died after having her back pain treated with an electrotherapy machine at the KAO Vietnam Medical Equipment Company on Friday afternoon, a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper source confirmed on Saturday. -- Police in the northern province of Bac Ninh have summoned a man for using a rubber bullet gun to threaten a truck driver over a conflict that broke out while they were traveling along a local road on Saturday. -- A seven-seater automobile crashed into a substation on a local street in the north-central province of Quang Binh on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a power outage affecting more than 1,000 households. -- A chairman of the Peoples Committee in Vu Lac Commune, located in the northern province of Thai Binh, has been suspended from work after being caught red-handed gambling at the house of a local police officer. -- Authorities in Da Nang on Saturday suggested that the Ministry of Transport restore interprovincial railway and air routes between the city and other localities in the country, as the COVID-19 epidemic has been put under control. Business -- The central province of Quang Nam allowed karaoke shops, massage parlors, discos, lottery sale, and passenger transport to resume operations, as well as beginning to welcome visitors again from 6:00 am on Sunday, after the COVID-19 epidemic has been controlled in the province. -- Fees for take-off and landing and aircraft operating services for domestic flights will continue to be cut by 50 percent for the next six months to support airlines affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Ministry of Transport circular. World News -- Over 27 million people have been infected with the novel coronavirus while more than 19.1 million patients have recovered from COVID-19 around the world, according the Vietnamese Ministry of Health's statistics. Above 883,000 people have died of the disease globally. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 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: A Black woman speaking at a community event with Joe Biden in Kenosha, Wisconsin, exposed the Democratic presidential candidate by saying she would not go off a paper she was provided by his campaign. THE FACTS: Porsche Bennett, the woman speaking, was given the paper to read by her organization, not by Bidens campaign. On Thursday when Biden visited Kenosha social media users circulated a video clip of Bennett speaking at Grace Lutheran Church in Kenosha. In the video, Bennett appears to go off script during a question and answer period, saying: Im just going to be honest, Mr. Biden, I was told to go off this paper, but I cant. We need the truth and I am a part of the truth. Bennett told reporters after speaking that she was given the paper by Black Lives Activists Kenosha (BLAK), where she is an organizer. Bidens campaign told the AP that when Bennett said she was going off script, she was referring to prewritten questions given to her by her organization. The campaign said it did not provide any scripts or written material for participants to read. The Trump War Room, an official Twitter account for the presidents campaign, tweeted the video of Bennett on Thursday, stating: Woman at Biden event in Kenosha says she was given a paper telling her what to say. The tweet was retweeted thousands of times and the clip of Bennett making the comment was widely shared across Facebook and Twitter. AMERICA EXPOSES BIDEN @JoeBiden & his Dem handlers give out questions to constituents to ask ONLY what THEY wrote down. Porsche Bennett was not having that!, said one tweet. Biden visited Kenosha in response to protests and unrest that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer on Aug. 23. At the event, Bennett said her community was angry over the shooting of Blake, and demanded change. Associated Press writer Beatrice Dupuy reported this item from New York. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel helped an unconscious pregnant woman to get immediate medical assistance in Malkangiri district of Odisha on Saturday, September 5. The woman later gave birth in the ambulance. BSF troops in Dyke-III of Malkangiri district spotted a motorboat at the ferry point near the dam with the pregnant woman Purnima Hantal who was in an unconscious state. The patient was accompanied by her relatives and an ASHA worker in the boat. Without any further delay, BSF personnel troops called for ambulance assistance and sent Hantal to the District hospital of Malkangiri. She delivered inside the ambulance, the BSF said. The BSF team also provided essential items like a mosquito net, bed sheet, hand towel and cotton cloth to the woman. READ | BSF seizes Hilsa fish worth Rs 2.4 lakh near Bangladesh border READ | BSF men save lives of four persons in Bengal's Murshidabad BSF Rescues Woman Near Indo-Bangla Border In another incident on the same day, BSF personnel rescued a Bangladeshi woman who was allegedly trafficked to India, and apprehended one person in this connection from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, close to the international border, an official statement by the paramilitary force said. The border guards nabbed the man based on a tip-off as he was on his way to Basirhat town on his motorcycle from Ghojadanga, with the woman riding a pillion. The man tried to run away after being stopped at the check post, but was caught by the BSF men, the statement said. The accused has been identified as Mostafejur Sardar, a resident of Kazipara village in the district, . Both Sardar and the woman were handed over to Basirhat police station, the statement added. Earlier in the week on Tuesday, BSF personnel also came to the rescue of four persons in two separate incidents in Bengal's Murshidabad district, near the India-Bangladesh border. READ | Bangaldeshi smuggler killed along India-Bangladesh border in WB: BSF READ | BSF rescues woman near Indo-Bangla border; one apprehended (With inputs from ANI) Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu of Edo State on Friday reassured the people of the state that incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki is convinced that he has covenant of a better Edo State in terms of development, human capital development and the overall standard of living of all resident of the state. National Daily gathered that Deputy Governor Shaibu in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on media, Benjamin Atu, has remarked that the state is fortunate to have competent people in leadership under the supervision of Obaseki. Comrade Shaibu had declared: Edo State is fortunate to have people of Character and competence who are able and ready to strike the necessary alliance to orchestrate a truly reformatory government and a morally reinvigorated Society. Governor Obaseki has a covenant of better Edo State with the people. A better Edo State, not in the vulgar sense of it but as already been demonstrated by the administrations discipline in the prudent management of the state resources for the benefit of the masses. We need a genuine transformation of Edo State from the hands of charlatans; a bunch of iniquitous men who are seeking for opportunity to victimized us in our fathers land. The Deputy Governor further said: the incumbent administration has a covenant with the people to break away from the prevailing political culture of equerry. A culture that encourages the public to worship poor leadership and making a monster out of an act. Governor Godwin Obaseki has a contract with the people of Edo State to provide the needed leadership that will sharpen and encourage entrepreneurship as a culture in order to crush poverty through entrepreneurship. Poverty is man-made and can also be extinguished by man through appropriate policy framework like the ones already put in place by the current administration. Poverty was created by recklessness of previous administrations. Comrade Shaibu decried that poverty destroys human dignity and encourages vulnerability. He said that the Obaseki administration is determine to develop more effective framework to eliminate poverty in his second term and butter the bread of citizens in the state. Shaibu maintained that Governor Obaseki is committed to move Edo State forward which can be perceived in his strong will backed up policies of sustainable goals and verifiable actions on a consistent basis. The deputy governor appealed to the people for massive support at the polls. He enjoined the people of Edo State to reject those parading simple agenda, adding that the social system of Edo State will suffocate and consume the simple agenda and its contents, saying that simple agenda is a thoughtless and absentminded approach to governance. Shaibu reiterated that the September 19 Governorship election in Edo State is a call to duty for the perfect candidate. It is a call for an angelic politician who has no corruption tag in his name, he declared. PV: 13 If you were concerned that federal agents might play fast and loose with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's Section 702 while gathering data, your worries were well-founded. The Washington Post reports that Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Judge James Boasberg ruled the FBI and NSA committed multiple violations of either the law or privacy-minded court orders when collecting data from phone and tech companies. The opinion was issued in December 2019, but only published on September 4th. The violations were sometimes unintentional, but still meant investigators were overstepping measures meant to protect the privacy of US residents. The FBI was supposed to honor a rule limiting to gathering data when it was reasonably likely to collect foreign intelligence info, but there were widespread instances where there focuses were US persons. FBI staff searched for info on a police officer job candidate, college students, possible sources, and a crime victim. It even sifted through the data of 16,000 people, only seven of which had possible links to crime or foreign intelligence info despite FBI claims to the contrary. That last query was the result of a flawed system, an FBI official said in a briefing. Info appeared in a preview pane in such a way that workers were searching without realizing they were sifting through data they werent supposed to see. The FBI took steps to prevent that from happening again, the official said, although it wasnt clear what those were. The NSA, meanwhile, ignored a procedure preventing the collection of entirely domestic communications in 2019 because they felt it was no longer needed after the agency stopped using a troublesome data gathering method. Personnel didnt gather any domestic conversations with this violation, according to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, but it wiped the data regardless. However, Boasberg stopped short of demanding more corrective steps. He determined that 2019-era certifications, or rules governing surveillance, would be enough to curb the violations. Much of the rule-breaking happened before the new safeguards took effect, the judge said. While that suggests there might be fewer violations going forward, it also assumes the governments position is accurate and complete. Whether or not it is, the findings also underscore a pattern of illegal data gathering at these organizations. Outlets like the FBI and NSA have repeatedly searched for intelligence that was primarily or exclusively focused on Americans, and its not clear the recent protections will completely stop those practices. Harris Says She Wont Trust Trumps Word on Any Vaccine Released Before Election Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) told CNNs State of the Union on Saturday that she would not believe anything President Donald Trump says about a new CCP virus vaccine, agreeing with concerns from media speculation, as reported by The Washington Post, that the president is looking to use the vaccine for political capital in the upcoming election. Instead, Harris said she will continue to look to health experts for information on the efficacy of a potential vaccine. If Trump were to announce that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) for a vaccine, she would not take his word for it and would have to look to a credible source of information. I will say that I would not trust Donald Trump and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever hes talking about. she said. Trump on Thursday said a vaccine could potentially be released by the end of October. It will be delivered before the end of the year, in my opinion, before the end of the year, but it really might even be delivered before the end of October, he told reporters at the White House while talking about the all-of-government push under Operation Warp Speed to do whatever is possible to advance the creation and delivery of a suitable vaccine or therapeutic for emergency use by those who opt to do so. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the White House in Washington on Sept. 4, 2020. (Leah Millis/Reuters) Phase 3 Trials Can Be Ended Early: Fauci Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, told Kaiser Health News that in vaccine research, Phase Three of clinical trials can be ended early by members of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board if it finds the interim results of a clinical trial overwhelmingly positive or negative. He said that if data showed a COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective, researchers would have a moral obligation to end the trial early and accelerate the wider distribution of the vaccine beyond the trial population. Fauci added that he was not concerned about political pressure swaying the decision of the board memberstypically experts in vaccine science and biostatisticswho are independent as they are not government employees. Commissioner Stephen Hahn echoed Faucis position on Monday night during an interview with CBS, saying that the legal, medical, and scientific standard for granting emergency use for vaccines is not that Phase Three trials are completed, but that the benefits outweigh the risk. Our emergency use authorization is not the same thing as full approval, he added. As to accusations that the FDA is bowing to pressure from Trump to use the vaccine as political capital ahead of the general election, Hahn said, We have a convergence of the COVID-19 pandemic with the political season, and were just going to have to get through that and stick to our core principles, according to the Financial Times. This is going to be a science, medicine, data decision. This is not going to be a political decision. The agency has promised it wont grant an EUA unless the vaccine shows more than 50 percent efficacy in phase three trialsa higher bar than required by law. Trump has denied that government pressure for faster vaccine distribution is related to the upcoming elections, pushing back against criticism from his political opponents. Its not because of the election, Trump said of his hopes for a potential release of a vaccine by October. Itd be nice because we want to save people. Extremely Unlikely Despite Trumps hopeful comments, the head of the administrations Operation Warp Speed program, Moncef Slaoui, told NPR on Thursday it is extremely unlikely a vaccine will be approved before the election as the data from late-stage clinical trials will not be processed. There is a very, very low chance that the trials that are running as we speak could [be completed] before the end of October and therefore there could beif all other conditions required for an Emergency Use Authorization are metan approval, he said. I think its extremely unlikely but not impossible, and therefore its the right thing to do to be prepared, in case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructed states on Wednesday to start preparing logistics for the widespread distribution of a vaccine by Nov. 1. The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, the pathogen that causes the COVID-19 disease, has so far killed around 188,000 Americans as of Saturday. Last month, Trump accused the FDA of delaying the rollout of a vaccine before Nov. 3. So far, the government has spent more than $10 billion on preparing for the rollout of eight vaccine candidates. A nurse shows a COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese company Sinovac Biotech at the Sao Lucas Hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on Aug. 8, 2020. (Silvio Avila/AFP via Getty Images) Resistance to Vaccines However, vaccine deployment faces another challenge, in that, according to a PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, one in three Americans will opt out of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden said on Wednesday, Why do we thinkGod willingwhen we get a vaccine that is good, [that] works why do we think the public is gonna line up to be willing to take the injection? Weve lost so much confidence, the American people, in whats said [by the Trump administration]. The poll showed that 71 percent of Democrats would likely get vaccinated, while only 48 percent of Republicans would opt in. For independent voters, 61 percent of those covered by the poll said they would get vaccinated. An independent expert vaccine advisory committee is scheduled to meet with the FDA to discuss COVID-19 vaccines on Oct. 22. Tom Ozimek and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. LEH : Amid ongoing tensions at the India-China border, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has almost finished work on the third road, also known as the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road. This road will give strategic connectivity to security forces as it will be untraceable for the neighbouring countries. The two other roads-- Srinagar-Kargil-Leh and Manali Sarchu-Leh roads-- are exposed as they are close to the International Border which makes it easy for the enemy to keep a watch on them. Further, this road will also save a lot of time as the old ones took almost 12-14 hours to reach Leh from Manali, but on the new road it will take only 6-7 hours. One of the most important aspects of this road is that unlike others it can remain open almost throughout the year, whereas, the two other roads used to stay open for only 6-7 months and were usually closed for a six-month period from November. BRO engineers said this road is functional now and is ready for heavy vehicles weighing multiple tonnes. "This road is ready except for a 30-kilometre stretch. Now the Army can use this road. The importance of this road is that the Army can save almost 5-6 hours in transit from Manali to Leh. Also, because this road is untraceable by other countries, Army movement can happen without much security risk. This road is not close to any border," superintendent engineer, Commander 16 BRTF, MK Jain said. "Moreover, as this road is at low altitudes, it can be opened for almost 10-11 months for vehicle movement. This road is 258 kilometres long. We have given connectivity by diverting and connecting it to a different road as 30-kilometre stretch is yet to be completed," he added. The route mainly used for transportation of goods and personnel is the one from Zojila, which passes through the Drass-Kargil axis to Leh. The same route was targeted heavily by the Pakistanis during the Kargil war in 1999 and was subjected to frequent bombarding and shelling by their troops from positions in high altitude mountains alongside the road. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. NEW DELHI: In an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have proposed that passengers who booked their air tickets before March 25 would be entitled to a full refund by the airline within 15 days. The proposal by the Centre states that if any airline is in financial distress then the fare amount shall be saved in a credit shell which would be availed by the passenger for travel by the same airline on any route of his/her choice before March 31, 2021. If a passenger does not wish to travel, the credit shell can be transferred to any person. If the amount is unused, interest will accrue every month on this amount and the same is to be refunded in full after March 31, 2021. The Centre said there shall be an incentive mechanism to compensate the passenger if there is a delay in consuming the credit shell - from the date of cancellation up to June 30, 2020, the value of credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.5 per cent of the face value (the amount of fare collected) for every month or part thereof between the date of cancellation and 30th June, 2020. "Thereafter, the value of the credit shell shall be enhanced by 0.75 per cent of the face value per month, up to March 2021. The credit shell shall be transferable. Passengers can transfer the credit shell to any person, and the airline shall honour such a transfer. The airlines shall devise a mechanism to facilitate such a transfer. By the end of March 2021, the airline shall refund cash to the holder of the credit shell", said the affidavit. The Centre said this solution is workable, as it balances the interests of both passengers as well as airlines, and urged the top court to pass a suitable order for its implementation. California hasnt had a racial majority since 2000, according to census data. But you wouldnt know it from looking in boardrooms. Of the 662 publicly traded companies in the state, 233 have all-white boards, according to the Latino Corporate Directors Association. Those numbers could change dramatically if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a bill, AB979, recently passed by the Legislature. The bill would mandate public companies headquartered in California have at least one director from an underrepresented community by the end of next year, and more for larger companies with larger boards. Supporters say its impact could go beyond boardrooms, prompting wider searches for people with diverse talents and backgrounds to lead companies, while critics say its the wrong way to solve broader societal problems. The bill defines a person from an underrepresented community as someone who self-identifies as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Alaska Native, or who self-identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. AB979s supporters believe it is an important step toward equality in the corporate setting. Some researchers believe it oversimplifies a complex problem. The bill would add desperately needed perspective to boardrooms that remain overwhelmingly white, said Esther Aguilera, CEO of the Latino Corporate Directors Association. More diverse boards and voices lead to better-informed decisions and decision-making and also produce better results for the company, Aguilera said. You can still have groupthink among a diverse set of individuals, said Vincent Intintoli, an associate professor of finance at Clemson Universitys College of Business who has studied another California law, SB826, which requires women in boardrooms. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images 2012 More important is if those members are independent of the board CEO, Intintoli said, noting that a chief executive could appoint board members from underrepresented groups merely to avoid the $100,000 to $300,000 fines set out in the bill, without shifting the perspective of the group and thereby benefiting the company and its shareholders. Benefits could include attracting employees who increasingly care about the makeup of company leadership and being able to cater more meaningfully to customers from a variety of backgrounds, Aguilera said. You need to have folks across the employment spectrum (who) know how to connect and relate with your customers, she added, noting the large and growing Latino consumer base in California. Thats true also in the boardroom. Some research, including one study from McKinsey & Company in 2017, has shown that companies with more ethnically diverse executive groups do better in terms of profitability than those with less diverse leadership. While that research shows a correlation between diversity and profit, it doesnt establish that one caused the other, said Kathy Kahle, a professor at the University of Arizona who co-authored the study on Californias law on women in the boardroom with Intintoli and Daniel Greene, also at Clemson. Kahle said AB979 could also disproportionately affect smaller businesses with smaller boards, potentially forcing them to add board members at not inconsiderable expense. Given widespread protests over racial inequality across the U.S. this summer, many companies are not waiting to see if Newsom signs the bill to focus on diversity and inclusion. Investment giant Goldman Sachs said it would only take firms public with at least one diverse board member. Other institutional investors including State Street Global Advisors and BlackRock have made statements about the need for diversity in the companies they invest in. In June, online news discussion site Reddit named Michael Seibel, the CEO of Bay Area startup incubator Y Combinator, who is Black, to its board. He joined after co-founder Alexis Ohanian stepped down, asking that the company make room for a person of color. And some large corporations in California already have at least one person of color on their boards, including Facebook, Tesla, Google parent Alphabet, Salesforce, Wells Fargo and others. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes AB979 could touch off change in the makeup of boardrooms beyond the letter of the legislation, according to Shannon Gordon, CEO of online talent marketplace theBoardlist, which connects women and underrepresented communities with board opportunities. Gordon said SB826, the law requiring women in boardrooms, had a halo effect that led to more women entering leadership positions across the state, and that AB979 could do the same. Similarities between the two pieces of legislation could also lead to similar legal challenges. The Pacific Legal Foundation is challenging the gender diversity law in court. Anastasia Boden, a senior attorney at the organization, said it would consider bringing or supporting a legal challenge over the bill if it becomes law. Nobodys opportunities should be determined by the color of their skin or their sex or sexual orientation, Boden said. The purpose of the ongoing lawsuit is not to deny discrimination or disparities exist, she said: Its to say that racial quotas are the most pernicious way to go about resolving those problems. Boden and others have also criticized legally mandated quotas as superficially solving the diversity problem without getting to root causes. Aguilera of the Latino Corporate Directors Association said such requirements galvanize companies to search more broadly for talent. When you talk about quotas its ... extra incentive to see whos out there from diverse communities, she said. Until then they arent looking around. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse may have spied on more employees under its former chief executive Tidjane Thiam, Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung reported on Sunday, citing evidence of two further instances that had previously been undisclosed. Switzerland's market watchdog, FINMA, opened an enforcement case on Wednesday over the spying scandal to examine the bank's culture and governance and whether management control failures allowed snooping on former executive board members. Revelations of corporate espionage had rocked the discreet world of Swiss banking last year when it emerged that Credit Suisse had been spying on former wealth management boss Iqbal Khan, who was leaving for rival UBS , and former human resources head Peter Goerke. The bank had hoped that the departure of Thiam over the scandal and his replacement with Thomas Gottstein, a Credit Suisse veteran, would draw a line under the affair. SonntagsZeitung, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, said that two further instances had come to light. One was connected with an employee in Asia, who had made threats against other bank employees; and one was connected with a former high-level manager and an employee with whom the manager may have had intimate relations in the United States, SonntagsZeitung reported. The paper cited one source as saying neither the bank's executive committee nor board of directors had been aware of the two instances. A Credit Suisse spokesman declined to comment on the SonntagsZeitung report, referring to the bank's statement from Wednesday which said it was cooperating with FINMA and seeking to "incorporate lessons learned". It reiterated that spying was not part of its culture. FINMA declined to comment on ongoing proceedings, referring to its statement from Wednesday, in which it said it will pursue indications of violations of supervisory law and, in particular, the question of how these activities were documented and controlled. Story continues Gottstein, who stepped in after Thiam left his role at the head of Switzerland's second-biggest bank in February, had said FINMA's ramp-up of proceedings had been expected after an auditor visited the bank in recent months. Credit Suisse had tried to remove the FINMA-appointed auditor, Thomas Werlen, because his law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan had been involved in legal cases against it. Its appeal of a lower court decision backing his appointment is pending in the Swiss Federal Supreme Court. (Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, editing by Louise Heavens) If you have any children in your life, imagine for a moment that they don't look anything like their parents, they don't eat anything humans normally eat, and they're active only while adults sleep. While that might sound like an idea from a work of surreal fiction, it's actually the norm rather than the exception in the animal kingdom. Most animals go through what biologists call a complex life cycle, starting as larvae that often have little, if anything, in common with their parents. To become adults, they have to go through a process known as metamorphosis, which is one of nature's most remarkable feats. During this process, the larval bodies of many animal species undergo dramatic changes that turn them into adults that have little, if any resemblance with their juvenile stage. Butterflies may be the most familiar example of this. Yet, despite complex lifecycles being widespread, surprisingly little is known about how they evolve, specifically the extent to which evolution in one life stage impacts the others. To better understand the evolutionary consequences of a complex life cycle across a large group of related species, University of Arizona biologists studied another familiar example: frogs and their tadpoles. Tung Phung, Joao C. S. Nascimento and John J. Wiens of the UArizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology took a closer look at the evolution of body size across 542 frog species belonging to 42 families, most of which have a tadpole stage. The study, which was co-authored by Alexander Novarro of The Nature Conservancy, is published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. "We wanted to know, do large frogs have large tadpoles and small frogs small tadpoles, or are the sizes between the two decoupled?'" Wiens said, alluding to a prevailing hypothesis in evolutionary biology that states that larvae and adults should evolve rather independently, especially in species in which the two life stages have very different lifestyles. If larval and adult stages evolve completely independently of each other, there should be little correlation between larval size and adult size among species. In other words, big frogs could have little tadpoles, and big tadpoles could become small frogs, with no relationship between the size of frogs and tadpoles. The team scoured the scientific literature for data on the sizes of tadpoles and adult frogs for each species, assembled an evolutionary tree among the species, and applied statistical analytical tools. The team discovered that while there is a striking amount of variability among frog families, the association is not completely random. Across frogs as a group, larval and adult body sizes are significantly and positively related. It's not just 'anything goes'. We included almost every family of frogs that has a tadpole stage, and we did find there is constraint. In some cases, it's really strong; adult size strongly predicts larval size in many of the families we looked at." John J. Wiens, UArizona Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology In other families included in the study, the researchers found the relationship to be much more variable. For example, in the spadefoot toad (Scaphiopodidae) family, species with large adults have small tadpoles and species with small adults have large tadpoles. There was also variation in the relative size of adults and tadpoles among families. For example, the paradox frog, Pseudis paradoxa, is a species with normal-sized adults that develop from giant tadpoles that are three to four times bigger than the adult. On the other end of the spectrum are some giant South American toads, whose tadpoles are about a tenth the size of the adult. "Overall, the size of tadpoles relative to adults changes widely across frogs, but why, we don't know," Wiens said. The authors also compared the rates of evolution in body sizes between tadpoles and adults. These were found to be clearly decoupled. For example, in glass frogs, the tadpole stage runs a broad gamut of sizes, indicating it has been evolving very quickly, while the adults vary much less in size. Other groups, such as the true toads, have fast evolutionary rates in both stages, while yet others, such as the African bullfrogs, show the opposite pattern, with adults evolving fast and tadpoles changing slowly. Once tadpoles, which are confined to water, morph into frogs that spend most of their time hopping around on land, their bodies undergo an extreme makeover: The tissues that make up their powerful tail, used to propel them underwater, are recycled into other tissues; appendages begin sprouting beginning with the legs, then the arms, and they lose their feeding apparatus. This feeding system usually consists of a big beak, bordered by five or more rows of tiny teeth, which themselves are surrounded by a ring of short, fleshy tentacles. Inside, a filter system uses streams of slime to extract food from the water. Some tadpoles seem to use the teeth and beak to scrape algae off of rocks. Others suck up decaying organic matter from the bottoms of their freshwater habitats. But some tadpoles are carnivorous and may even be cannibalistic. "Their feeding mechanism is so weird that people still don't know exactly how it works or even what most tadpoles eat," Wiens said. "In adult frogs, the mouthparts are completely different, so they have to take this whole system down and rebuild during metamorphosis." While the huge variability in tadpole size relative to adults makes frogs especially interesting to Wiens and his research team, he said another reason for choosing frogs for this study was their status as endangered animals that are highly beneficial to the natural environment. Of the more than 7,200 frog species that have been described, most live in the tropics, and many have been disappearing at an alarming rate, Wiens said. This is worrisome as they play critical roles in ecosystems across the globe - for example, acting as a natural pest control. "Many of them eat insects that destroy crops, so they are really useful that way," he said. While the current study is limited to amphibians, it does open up questions for other groups of animals, said the paper's first author, Tung Phung, a first-year doctoral student in Wiens' lab who did most of the work while still an undergraduate. "Our study is the first to address evolutionary rates of larval and adult life stages at a large scale," he said. By Trend Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has watched the final stage of the "Tank Biathlon" contest, which took place on September 5 at the Alabino range in the Moscow region, Trend reports referring to the ministry. Azerbaijani tank crews, who competed in the first division with teams from Russia, Belarus and China, successfully performed in the final stage. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Republicans, Pelosi Agree to Resolution to Avoid Shutdown: Mnuchin Deal to fund government could last until December, he says The White House and top Democrats have agreed to a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at the end of this month, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said, although he stressed that it wont be linked to a pandemic relief package, after negotiations stalled. Were going to move forward with a clean CR [continuing resolution], hopefully, through the beginning of December, Mnuchin told reporters at the White House. Mnuchin said on Sept. 6 that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) agreed to the resolution. I hope by the end of the week we can begin moving forward on that, he said in a televised interview with Fox News. The government funding bill would keep U.S. agencies operating but would be separate from a parallel effort to provide another batch of financial aid amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Negotiations between top Democrats and the White House broke down in early August, and Pelosi later said she wont accept a stimulus package of less than about $2.5 trillion. Meanwhile, Republican officials have said they wont pass a deal for that amount, opting for a lower sum. But Mnuchin, later in the Fox News interview, said both he and President Donald Trump want to pass another stimulus package. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows (R) and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrive at the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the Capitol in Washington on Aug. 1, 2020. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo) The president and I believe we should do more stimulus, he said. We have about 7 1/2 million jobs we need to get back until were back to where we were, and we want to help small businesses, we want to help businesses that are particularly impacted by this and well continue to work on proposed new legislation. Pelosi, he said, has refused to sit down and negotiate unless we agree to something like a $2.5 trillion deal in advance. He expects Senate Republicans to move ahead with a smaller relief bill in the next week. Mnuchin on Sept. 6 said he was willing to sit down with Pelosi to further discuss those efforts. Im willing to sit down with her anytime to negotiate, no conditions. But right now, she wont do that unless we make a large commitment up front, he told reporters, reiterating that Senate Republicans would move ahead with their own stimulus legislation. Our current plan is to keep the coronavirus discussion separate, Mnuchin said, adding that there might be one or two technical areas of overlap with the government funding bill. Reuters contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Sept. 4 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The value of trade turnover between Kazakhstan and South Korea amounted to $2.61 billion over 1H2020, compared to $2.68 billion during the same period of 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstans Statistics Committee. The share of South Korea in the total value of Kazakhstans trade turnover stood at 6.2 percent during the reporting period compared to 5.8 percent during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export to South Korea amounted to $673.9 million over the period from January through June 2020, compared to $1.4 billion during the same period of 2019. South Koreas share in the total volume of Kazakhstans export also amounted to 2.6 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 5 percent during the same period of 2019. In turn, Kazakhstans imports from South Korea stood at about $1.9 billion over the reporting period, compared to $1.2 billion during the same period of 2019. South Koreas share in the total volume of Kazakhstans import amounted to 11.8 percent during the reporting period of 2020 compared to 7.2 percent during the same period of 2019. The total volume of Kazakhstans trade turnover amounted to $42.5 billion over the period from Jan. through June 2020 which indicates a decrease from $46.1 billion during the same period of 2019. Kazakhstans export amounted to $26 billion during the reporting period of 2020 ($28.6 billion in the same period of 2019), whereas imports amounted to $16.5 billion ($17.5 billion in 2019). --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Many would not believe that a day would come that a traditional Fulani woman, who carries her calabash full of nono and fura, would use an electronic blender to mash the delicacy instead of the manual method normally used. It is common sight to see a Fulani woman with her calabash on her head or sitting beside her calabash, selling the popular delicacy called fura da nono. The nono, which the woman carries in the calabash is a meal for many people in the afternoon. In many Northern Nigerian cities and villages, fura da nono is also used to welcome visitors at home and even prepared during celebrations like Sallah, weddings and naming ceremonies. Nono is locally fermented milk with a consistency that is not quite as thick as the popular yoghurt sold at superstores. While the fura is millet flour moulded into balls. It is usually mashed into the nono just before serving. The process of mashing involves pouring some quantity of nono into a medium size calabash with the moulded fura and mashing it with a giant spoon. Sugar is then added at the end before serving. READ ALSO: The tradition of preparing fura da nono is known to have existed for centuries among the Fulani people. Electronic blending Binta, a Fulani woman who sells fura da nono in Kaduna State, Nigeria, told PREMIUM TIMES reporter how she now uses an electronic blender to mash the fura and nono at any point where she sells her delicacy. The shy Binta, assisted by her young daughter, said she always has her electronic blender with her and an extension cable which she uses to connect to a power source and blend the delicacy for buyers. It is something I do always and I discover that it works for me. I always stay here close to this shop and connect my blender to the shop and sell my delicacy. Asked if she still uses the calabash to mash the fura da nono, Binta said, yes I do that, I have them around me and can do any. She also said people patronise her a lot more because it is faster to serve hungry customers when using a blender. The traditional way of fura da Nono mashing. [Photo By Mohammed Lere] Fulani woman using blender to mash fura da Nono. [Photo By Mohammed Lere] While it will take me a minimum of two to three minutes to mash the fura and nono, with the blender it takes less than a minute to prepare and serve your customer. Binta travels 40 kilometres from a village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State to sell fura da nono in the Kaduna metropolis. The delicacy is popular in major cities, where it is now being sold in shops, with yoghurt or milk mashed with the fura using an electric blender. While a lot of people buy from the shops, many wait to buy from the local vendors who travel every day from their villages to sell in major towns. Olivia Sindel, 24, (pictured) allegedly tortured, beat and slashed the throat of her ex-lover's English Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rocky A woman who allegedly tortured and slashed the throat of her ex-lover's dog was suffering from 'significant issues' related to gender re-assignment treatment, a court has heard. Olivia Sindel, 24, has been charged with torturing, beating and causing the animal's death in the alleged attack at a home on Cahill Place in Marrickville in Sydney's inner-west at 1.30am on Saturday. The 13-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier called Rocky died despite being rushed to a vet and the attempts of his owner, 44, to save him - while Sindel was arrested by police on Oxford Street in Surry Hills about 4.20pm that day. Sindel on Sunday faced Parramatta Bail Court where magistrates heard she had been slamming her head and needed to be sedated by paramedics when police tracked her down. The 24-year-old woman has been charged with torturing and then killing a dog after a domestic dispute at Cahill Place (pictured) in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner west Mental health experts advised the accused animal killer be kept under supervision to prevent her from harming herself, the court heard. She showed a red mark on her head to the court during the bail hearing, which ended with the 24-year-old being detained for her psychological care. The accused stroked her hair and rocked backwards and forwards during her appearance,The Daily Telegraph reported. Sindel's address was listed as an Ultimo hotel. 'There are significant issues because of the gender reassignment treatment,' Sindel's Legal Aid lawyer said. 'First thing she said to me was that she wanted me to kill her.' Rocky, a 13-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was rushed to a nearby vet for surgery, but could not be saved (stock image) The young woman is also accused of harassing someone in Armidale in northern New South Wales using a landline on the same day as the alleged attack. Sindel was taken to Surry Hills Police Station after her arrest and charged with torture, beat and cause death of animal. She was also hit with two charges of stalk or intimidate, two counts of contravening an AVO, two counts of breaching her bail and one of using a carriage service to menace or harass. New Delhi: The war of words between Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut took a fresh turn with the latter stating that the leader doesn't represent entire Maharashtra while confirming that she will return to Mumbai on September 9. Accusing Raut of "empowering those who exploit women" in the country, the Bollywood actor said that the daughters of India will never forgive him for his alleged abusive statement. "Sanjay Raut ji, you called me 'haramkhor.' It shows your mindset...If I criticise Mumbai Police or if I criticise you, then you can't say I am insulting Maharashtra. You are not Maharashtra. Your people are threatening me, still I will come to Mumbai on September 9," Ranaut says in the video she put out on her official Twitter handle. "Your people are saying they will break my jaw, they will kill me. Kill me, but this country's soil is enriched with the blood of those who sacrificed for its dignity and we too will do the same," she added. Ranaut also raised the issue of "inaction" by Mumbai Police during the Palghar lynching, and it refusing to register a case on the request of the father of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's in connection with his death, to state why she had turned out to be its critic. Earlier today, Refusing to apologise to actress Kangana Ranaut, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said that Kangana should apologise to Maharashtra. On being asked whether he will apologise to Kangana, MP Raut said, "If that girl (Kangana) will apologise to Maharashtra then I will think about apologising.""She has called Mumbai mini Pakistan. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad?" asked Raut. Earlier on Thursday, the actress took to Twitter claiming, "Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai. After Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir?" "After a major star has been killed I spoke about drugs and movie mafia racket, I don't trust Mumbai Police because they ignored SSR's complaints. He told everyone they will kill him yet he was killed. If I feel unsafe, does that mean I hate the industry and Mumbai?" she said in another tweet. Hitting back at Ranaut, the Shiv Sena MP accused her of lying and said, "Mumbai gave a lot to Kangana and she is now working to discredit the name of Mumbai and Mumbai Police all over the world." The comments came after Kangana's statements in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics By AFP BIRMINGHAM: One man was killed and two people were critically injured during a "random" stabbing attack lasting several hours in Britain's second city of Birmingham, police said on Sunday. Detectives said they were hunting one suspect after being called to reports of stabbings at four separate locations in the city centre between 12:30 am (2330 GMT Saturday) and 2:30 am. But they ruled out hate crime, gang violence and terrorism. "It does appear to be random in terms of the people that were attacked," said Chief Superintendent Steve Graham of West Midlands Police, adding that it was being treated as homicide. Britain has been on high alert after two mass stabbings in London in the last year, which saw both perpetrators -- convicted Islamic extremists released early from prison -- shot dead by armed officers. In June, a man was charged with murder after three people were killed in a park in Reading, west of London, in an attack investigated by counter-terrorism police. Six people were then injured, including a police officer, at a hotel housing asylum seekers in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Armed police shot dead the suspected attacker. The latest incident comes amid concern about levels of knife crime in Britain, particularly in the capital, London. The number of stabbings in England and Wales increased six percent in the year to the end of March, according to the Office for National Statistics. Birmingham is one of Britain's most ethnically diverse cities with a population of more than one million, and has had an explosive recent history of gang violence. In January 2003, one gang opened fire with an illegal semi-automatic sub-machine gun at a rival group. Two teenage girls who were bystanders were killed in the hail of bullets. No details were immediately released about the identity of the victims other than the two people critically injured were a man and a woman. Five other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, as police declared a "major incident" and said the incidents were linked. Eyewitnesses earlier told AFP about violence in one of the four locations, in and around the Arcadian Centre, a popular venue filled with restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Cara Curran, a nightclub promoter who was working at the Arcadian Centre on Saturday night said she saw "groups upon groups" of people fighting in and around the venue and heard the use of "racial slurs". "I had seen a lot of tensions building through the night, which wasn't quite like what I've seen before," she said. "I had left with my boyfriend. I heard a commotion and saw multiple police coming towards our direction. I headed towards where I saw them coming and it all just unfurled in front of me. "It was quite a street fight. It didn't really look like fighting. It was just multiple people on top of each other, not one on one." She added: "There was every ethnicity there, there was Asian, black, white. It wasn't just this ethnicity against this ethnicity, it was a group of ethnicities with another group, and they sort of just went at it." Shabana Mahmood, who represents the area in the UK parliament for the main opposition Labour Party, described the events as "deeply concerning". Local councillor Yvonne Mosquito, also of Labour, said the violence was "traumatic" for everyone involved. Mosquito, a former city lord mayor, praised police for tackling so-called "black on black" violence in Birmingham in the early 2000s. But she said there remained a real issue with social exclusion among younger people, including "county lines" drug dealing. The Arcadian centre, where Birmingham Gay Village and Chinese Quarter meet, was vibrant and popular although there had been "a bit of trouble" previously, she told AFP Video above: My son is optimistic about future, Blake's father says. Jacob Blake recorded a message from his bed at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The message was posted on Ben Crump's Twitter account on Saturday. Crump is Blake's attorney. "There's a lot more life to live," Blake said in the one-minute message. "Your life, and your legs, something you need to move around and move forward in life can be taken from you like this." A Kenosha police officer fired seven times at Blake's back on Aug. 23 after he walked away from the officer and two others who were trying to arrest him. The officer, Rusten Sheskey, opened fire after Blake opened his own SUV's driver-side door and leaned into the vehicle. The shooting was captured on video and posted online, sparking several nights of protests and unrest in Kenosha, a city of about 100,000 between Milwaukee and Chicago. Sheskey and the other officers who were at the scene were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. None of them have been charged. The state Justice Department has said a knife was recovered from Blake's vehicle, but it has not said whether he was holding it when officers tried to arrest him. In the video from Blake's hospital room, he says he is in constant pain from the shooting. Doctors fear it could leave him paralyzed from the waist down. This is the second time Blake has been seen since the shooting. He appeared virtually in a Kenosha County courtroom on Friday for previous charges. The Associated Press contributed to this report. When we were honorably discharged from the United States Army we were hailed as heroes and as saviors of our country... Now, though only a few months have passed, we are denounced as deserters, as traitors to our city and as violators of our oath of office. The first men to raise the cry were those who have always been opposed to giving labor a living wage... Among us are men who have gone against spitting machine guns single-handed, and captured them, volunteering for the job. Among us are men who have ridden with dispatches through shell fire so dense that four men fell and only the fifth got through. Not one man of us ever disgraced the flag or his service. It is bitter to come home and be called deserters and traitors. We are the same men that were on the French front. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 22:05:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. and Turkish forces on Sunday brought in new military reinforcements to their bases in the northeastern province of Hasakah, state news agency SANA reported. The U.S. forces on Sunday brought military and logistic reinforcement from their bases in Iraq through the al-Walid crossing east of Hasakah province to the base in the northern countryside of Hasakah, said SANA. On Friday, the U.S. forces sent 50 military vehicles from Iraq into Syria through the al-Walid crossing, the report added. Over the past few hours, the Turkish forces brought large amounts of military gears from Turkey through the Ras al-Ayn and al-Sukkariyah crossings in northern Hasakah countryside heading toward their bases in the villages of Bab al-Khir, Daoudia, and Eineq al-Hawa. SANA said the entry of military gears by both powers is "a violation of international laws." It said throughout the past few months, the U.S. and Turkish forces have sent thousands of military vehicles to reinforce their "illegitimate" bases in northern Syria. The Syrian government completely condemns the presence of Turkish and U.S. forces on Syria soil as both powers entered the country illegally and supported various groups against the Syrian government. Enditem The states high court Saturday rejected an effort by state and national Republicans to remove 44 Libertarian Party candidates from the ballot for failing to pay candidate filing fees. $3,125 Filing fee in Texas to run for the U.S. House The Texas Supreme Court said in a 12-page opinion that it could not grant the declaration of ineligibility sought by Republicans because the particular statute they invoked regarding the applications of the Libertarian candidates did not apply to them because the Libertarian Party nominates candidates through a convention. Were pleased the court did the right thing, Whitney Bilyeu, chair of Libertarian Party of Texas, said of the ruling. The court said the ruling did not mean the filing fee requirement was unenforceable. Had the Republicans filed a petition of ineligibility by the Aug. 21 deadline, the challenged candidates could potentially have been removed from the ballot, according to the opinion. Republicans filed the petition on the day of the deadline. The 3rd Court of Appeals dismissed it as moot, saying it was no longer timely because of the Aug. 21 deadline to declare a candidate ineligible. Republicans claimed a later deadline applied to their petition under the statute they invoked, which said an application for a place on the ballot cant be challenged after the day before any ballot to be voted by mail is mailed. This year, that date will be Sept. 18, they said. Libertarians had said their candidates chose not to pay the fee for various reasons, including some who took a personal stand against a law they believed to be unconstitutional and others who did not have the funds. The filing fees in Texas are $3,125 for the U.S. House, $1,250 for the Texas Senate and $750 for the Texas House. A lawyer representing the Republican Party did not immediately return a request for comment. Libertarians generally are seen as receiving votes that otherwise would go to Republicans, while Green Party candidates do the same for Democrats. Bilyeu said the real fight is taking place in federal court, where the party is challenging the candidate filing fee as unconstitutional, and in state court, where a separate challenge by Libertarian candidates is pending at the 14th Court of Appeals. The state challenge resulted in a District Court order finding the fee unconstitutional, but that ruling is on hold while the appeal continues. The lawyer in that case, Kathie Glass, the Libertarian candidate for governor in 2010 and 2014, said the law passed in 2019 is not just unconstitutional, its impractical and unworkable. The Democrats very cleverly seized on it to get rid of their Green Party opponents, said Glass, who practices law under her maiden name, Katherine Youngblood. The Republicans were scrambling to try and catch up, she said. They tried this Hail Mary, and the Supreme Court did the right thing. Before the Legislature passed House Bill 2504 in 2019, political parties that choose candidates at a convention such as the Green and Libertarian parties did not have to pay filing fees like Republicans and Democrats. Now, candidates of all parties must pay a fee or collect petition signatures, including $5,000 or 5,000 signatures to run for the U.S. Senate or $3,125 or 500 signatures for the U.S. House. Taylor Goldenstein contributed to this report, which also contains material from the Associated Press. alejandro.serrano@chron.com The Kaduna State Chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), said it has resolved to bury its differences with other tribes and work towards the return of peace in Southern part of the state. MACBAN said this in a communique at the end of a peace summit in Kafanchan on Sunday. The communique was jointly signed by the States Chairman of the association, Malam Hassan Tugga, Southern Kaduna Zonal Chairman; Malam Abdulhamid Musa; Zonal Secretary, Malam Shuaibu Usman, and Director Media and Publicity, Malam Ibrahim Zango. We have agreed to revert to our olden days relationship with our neighbouring communities in Southern Kaduna. We have resolved to be our brothers keeper henceforth in order to foster growth and development in the region. We call on our people to stop allowing underage children from rearing cattle in order to prevent further destruction of the farm produce within the area. In the same vein, we call on farmers to desist from blocking cattle routes both local and international, it added The association said it would expose all trouble makers and criminals in its midst and make them face the full wrath of the law. We have advised our people to be vigilant and hand over suspected criminals to security agencies that may be found within our communities. The summit also commended the efforts of security agencies during and after the crisis in maintaining law and order, especially operation safe haven and the police, it said The association urged the Federal and State Governments to compensate victims of communal clashes in the area, who had lost cows and other valuables in order to ameliorate their sufferings. It also called for the establishment of the community-based security committee, with membership from m all tribes in the area. The peace summit was attended by MACBAN members and other stakeholders in Southern Kaduna including security agencies and government officials. NAN By PTI KOLKATA: The West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission intervened to reduce the bill of a dead COVID-19 woman and urged the city-based private hospital which treated her to allow her family members to pay the dues in instalments, an official said on Saturday. The Commission urged that the woman's family be allowed to pay Rs 5,000 over two years to pay the bill, he said. Acting on a complaint lodged by a family member of the octogenarian woman of being overcharged and threatened by the authorities of the hospital where she was admitted in July for treatment, the Commission has asked it to reconsider the bill and reduce an amount of Rs 1.7 lakh. We went through the hospital bill and found that it had charged for medicines, which the family had already paid for while procuring it from the hospital pharmacy. We also found that the family is from an economically weak background but had gone to the private hospital at the suggestion of others, Justice (Retired) Ashim Kumar Banerjee said. The woman's family members had paid Rs 2.2 lakh at the time of admission and purchased medicines for her separately. But the hospital had reportedly charged them Rs 6.2 lakh. The Commission has also registered a suo motu complaint against six private hospitals in the city on the basis of a report published in the media that they were yet to put up on display boards rate charts and treatment costs as per the advisory issued by it. The matter will be heard on September 25, an official of the Commission said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the second edition of the 10 Hafte-10 Baje-10 Minute (10 weeks, 10 oclock, 10 minutes) campaign against dengue and other vector-borne diseases on Sunday. He said, Last year, two crore people of Delhi joined hands to win a fight against dengue. In the next 10 weeks, we shall do it again. I inspected my home today for places where stagnant water could accumulate. I urge you to do the same. Lets join hands to fight against dengue once again. The CM also urged religious organisations, cultural groups and resident welfare associations (RWA) to endorse the campaign. The first edition of the campaign was held last year which, said Kejriwal, help bring down the number of dengue cases and deaths. The campaign urges people to inspect their homes for any possible sources of stagnant clean water, which can lead to the breeding of Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes that spread dengue. In 2015, Delhi recorded 15,867 cases of dengue and 60 deaths. In 2019, the Capital recorded 2,036 cases and the number of deaths dropped to two, data shared by the Delhi government shows. On Sunday, all cabinet ministers in Delhi, Rajya Sabha MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), MLAs and other party leaders joined the drive, as they posted photographs on social media. Several volunteers and supporters of the party also joined the citizen campaign and posted their photos and videos on social media. One should not be complacent assuming that there is no place in her house where clean water accumulate. If you invest 10 minutes, you are most likely to come across some place which went unnoticed. I urge more people to participate, said deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in a tweet. The participants, including the chief minister, pledged that they would devote 10 minutes at 10 am every Sunday for 10 weeks to inspect their residence for stagnant clean water and clean it to avoid breeding of mosquitoes and prevent the spread of diseases such as dengue, malaria and chikungunya. In the coming weeks, doctors would be requested to endorse the campaign and more children would be encouraged to participate through homework assigned by schools. Government offices would also be asked to promote it, Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain said. BS Vohra, president of an umbrella group of RWAs in east Delhi said, We shall endorse this campaign. It significantly contributes to generating awareness about fighting dengue. At this juncture, the government should consider designing a similar campaign to generate more awareness on sanitisation, social distancing and respiratory etiquettes in the light of the spike in Covid-19 cases. We have been embarking on a pretty aggressive effort to reach out to those families that we know are hard to engage, Jackson said. ... We started with the families who did not engage in remote learning in the spring. We also identified students from vulnerable populations, justice-involved youth. Weve reached out to tens of thousands of families to make sure that they know that the first day of school is next Tuesday, to also see if there are any barriers that will preclude them from coming to school. Im a Harley guy. Im bearded. I dont have a gun I have an armory, said one retired Wise County resident who wears a mask over his long gray beard and spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his privacy. Macho, to me, is a word. It will get you nowhere, except probably into trouble. So if theres some way or some minute possibility of taking care of yourself, whats the harm in doing it? I mean, I dont want to be laying there in the hospital with both lungs clogged up with this crap saying, I wish Id done that. I feel no schadenfreude for the grim future awaiting a young woman named Clara Kraebber, though I do hope for the sake of the rest of us that she ends up in prison. Far too many people, many of them young, college educated, and from affluent backgrounds, have become intoxicated from the brainwashing they received in the course of their higher education, and feel free to unleash their inner-Shiva by allegedly engaging in destructive riots, somehow in the cause of racial harmony, or maybe sheer revolution. Young Ms. Kraebber is no dummy. She is a student at Rice University, one of the most selective schools (a mere 9% of applicants were admitted in 2019) in the country and is a graduate of Hunter College High School on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, whose students score in the top one-quarter of one percent of students based on test scores. Her parents are members of the nations academic elite her father is a psychiatrist on the faculty of Columbia University, while her mother is the principal of an architectural firm bearing her name whose clients include Columbia and NYU. Her family lives in the Upper East Side in an apartment for which they paid $1.8 million 4 years ago, and also boasts a house in Connecticut with 4 fireplaces. On Friday, young Clara was arrested for allegedly participating in a 3-hour rampage that did an estimated $100,000 in damage, smashing store windows and doing other damage to lower Manhattan. NBC screen grab via UK Daily Mail The New York Post reports: Every city, every town, burn the precinct to the ground! the group chanted as it moved up Lafayette Street while busting the plate glass facades of banks, Starbucks and Duane-Reades. The protest was organized by groups calling themselves the New Afrikan Black Panther Party and the Revolutionary Abolitionist Movement. Rioters all over the country have inflicted terrible harm on innocent people, many of them minority small business owners. That a person of above average raw intelligence would engage in this form of wanton destruction is evidence that evil people have warped her young mind. And apparently she has eagerly adopted the worldview and engaged in destruction for pleasure. The only way to prevent this poison from spreading and reverse it is to hold those responsible to the maximum punishment that the law allows. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. is a notorious leftist, currently notable for seeking to subpoena Donald Trumps income tax records, so his offices treatment of young Clara Kraebber must be strictly scrutinized. On no account should the wealth and influence of her family be allowed to garner lenient treatment. Justice for Black defendants doing time for inflicting $100k in damage demands that she receive equal if not harsher treatment to ensure that others are not seduced into violent revolutionary activity, as she apparently was. She and her parents ought to be directing their anger not at the justice system that ought to punish her, but at the armchair academic radicals that convinced her to engage in an orgy of destruction. On Saturday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami. The Indian Defence Minister was on a transit halt in Tehran en route from Moscow to New Delhi. Rajnath Singh had earlier also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Russia, China and the Central Asian countries. Both the leaders emphasized upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between India and Iran. They discussed ways to take bilateral cooperation forward and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Defence Minister @rajnathsingh holds meeting with Iran's Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, in Tehran Discussions between the two leaders centered on issues of regional security including Afghanistan and bilateral cooperation Read: https://t.co/uC46PpFnQA pic.twitter.com/D09NopLZ6Y PIB India (@PIB_India) September 6, 2020 READ: Chinese mouthpiece provokes within 24 hours of China-Rajnath meeting; Swamy lashes out READ: Iran President Rouhani says 'friends should have defied US sanctions' during COVID-19 Rajnath Singh meets Defence Minister of Tajikistan Rajnath Singh met his Tajikistan counterpart in Moscow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Rajnath Singh and the Defence Minister of Tajikistan, Colonel-General Sherali Mirzo discussed India-Tajikistan Defence relations. Singh tweeted pictures from the event and called it 'an extremely fruitful meeting'. He also met the Defence Ministers of other Central Asian countries during the SCO summit to boost the defence cooperation. India and Tajikistan are on friendly terms since the beginning and share great cultural as well as strategic and military ties aside from bilateral trade cooperation. India's first overseas military base has been built in Farkhor, Tajikistan. India has trained 35 Tajik cadets and 67 young officers at the National Defence Academy, Pune and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and other training bases to induct them in the Tajik forces. India has also set up a military hospital in Tajikistan. READ: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leaves Russia for Iran READ: Rajnath Singh meets Defence Minister of Tajikistan, calls it a 'fruitful meeting' (Image credits: @PIB_India) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 22:21:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of the novel coronavirus cases officially confirmed in Iran rose on Sunday to 386,658, after an overnight registration of 1,992 patients. Sima Sadat Lari, the spokeswoman for the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, said at her daily briefing 139 people died in Iran from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. The figure takes the total death toll to 22,293 so far in Iran. The number of daily deaths had been declining for several weeks to a minimum of 101 on Sept. 1. Meanwhile, 333,900 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals while 3,722 remain in critical condition in intensive care units, said the spokeswoman. And 13 Iranian provinces out of 31 present a high risk of infection, and 15 others remain on alert for the spread of the virus, according to Sadat Lari's briefing. Iran announced its first cases of COVID-19 on Feb. 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 Feb. 29, a five-member Chinese medical team visited Iran for a month-long mission to help Iran fight the pandemic. Enditem Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The Himachal Pradesh government is considering a request to provide security to Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, Chief Minister Jairam Thakur has said. The CM said the state government is considering to provide security to Kangana for her Mumbai visit on September 9. Thakur told PTI that Kanganas sister called him on Saturday and her father too formally wrote to the Himachal police, requesting security for his daughter. He didnt comment on Kanganas recent remarks on actor Sushant Singh Rajputs suicide case or the alleged threats given by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut to the actor. The war of words between Raut and the Bollywood actor took a fresh turn with the latter stating that the leader doesnt represent entire Maharashtra while confirming that she will return to Mumbai on September 9. Accusing Raut of empowering those who exploit women in the country, Kangana said that the daughters of India will never forgive him for his alleged abusive statement. Sanjay Raut ji, you called me haramkhor. It shows your mindset...If I criticise Mumbai Police or if I criticise you, then you cant say I am insulting Maharashtra. You are not Maharashtra. Your people are threatening me, still I will come to Mumbai on September 9, Ranaut said in the video. Your people are saying they will break my jaw, they will kill me. Kill me, but this countrys soil is enriched with the blood of those who sacrificed for its dignity and we too will do the same, she added. Earlier today, refusing to apologise to actress Kangana Ranaut, MP Raut said, If that girl (Kangana) will apologise to Maharashtra then I will think about apologising. She has called Mumbai mini Pakistan. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad? asked Raut. Earlier on Thursday, the actress took to Twitter claiming, Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader has given me an open threat and asked me not to come back to Mumbai. After Aazadi graffitis in Mumbai streets and now open threats, why Mumbai is feeling like Pakistan occupied Kashmir? After a major star has been killed I spoke about drugs and movie mafia racket, I dont trust Mumbai Police because they ignored SSRs complaints. He told everyone they will kill him yet he was killed. If I feel unsafe, does that mean I hate the industry and Mumbai? she said in another tweet. Hitting back at Ranaut, the Shiv Sena MP accused her of lying and said, Mumbai gave a lot to Kangana and she is now working to discredit the name of Mumbai and Mumbai Police all over the world. The comments came after Kanganas statements in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajputs death, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jill Adams walks around Silver Beach County Park almost every morning. Its a walk shes been doing for the last 19 years, ever since she started working for Berrien County. When I came to Berrien County for the job interview in 2001, I toured the area and went to Silver Beach before the interview, she said. New Delhi, Sep 7 : The special staff of Delhi Police has solved the murder mystery of a 25-year-old blind man in 10 hours and arrested the accused. The South East Delhi police swung into action after Sani Dayal (25) was stabbed to death by two unknown boys in a deserted forest area of Aali Vihar in Sarita Vihar on September 5. During investigation, it was learned that the mobile phone and SIM of the deceased was missing and switched off. The team of special staff located the phone of the deceased in Gautam Puri, Badarpur, through surveillance. The team further collected and minutely analysed the call detail records (CDR) of the mobile phone. It revealed that the deceased was in constant touch with mobile number registered in the name of Pankaj, a resident of Phase 1, Gautampuri, Delhi. The police team further succeeded to trace the usage of the mobile number to Arjun Kumar on the basis of a WhatsApp display picture. The user Arjun Kumar told that his phone was used by Sumit on September 5, 2020. The police apprehended Sumit and conducted sustained interrogation. During interrogation, he confessed his involvement along with Kartik in the murder case of Sani Dayal. Kartik was also arrested. The accused further confessed that he came into contact with the deceased on the telephone through a Gay Dating app namely 'BLUED'. Both the accused persons took the deceased on a scooty to the isolated forest of Aali Vihar. "The accused persons asked deceased Sani Dayal to hand over his mobile. On refusal, the accused persons robbed him on knifepoint and stabbed him. The victim succumbed to his injury in the hospital," said DCP South East RP Meena. A case was registered under section 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). News Washington, DC - Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) partnered together to host Recovery at Work: Celebrating Connections in recognition of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. The White House officially commemorated Recovery Month with a Proclamation issued by President Trump on August 31, 2020. The First Lady was joined by ONDCP Director Jim Carroll, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow, First Lady of North Dakota Kathryn Burgum, and recovery-friendly employers and their employees. The First Lady opened the roundtable by thanking ONDCP, and those in attendance, for recognizing all Americans in recovery and the incredible organizations that support them. Mrs. Trump emphasized that today, we are here to highlight two important things in recovery: the power of recovery tools and resources in the workplace, and the role personal connection to others plays in achieving sobriety. The First Ladys Be Best initiative expands upon these themes by promoting healthy relationships and strong families, and by supporting the people and programs in communities that give children their best chance to succeed. Following the First Ladys remarks, National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow shared his personal story of recovery and his path towards sobriety, followed by Surgeon General Adams who described how gainful employment is an important part of getting and staying healthy. First Lady of North Dakota Kathryn Burgum then shared her journey, including the factors that played a role in her recovery. The participants also heard stories from individuals in recovery from substance use disorder, as well as the employers who help empower their success. Mrs. Trump encouraged more employers to eliminate stigma by creating work environments that enhance the mental and physical well-being of employees. The First Lady noted that, in my time as First Lady, I have traveled to hospitals and rehabilitation centers around the county and have seen the devastating results of drug abuse and addiction. I have learned that addiction and drug abuse are universal issues that do not discriminate based on income, age, race, or wherever you live. I believe that promoting education and awareness on this issue is critical to overcoming this terrible trend, which is why I am joining you here today. A woman journalist was shot dead at her home in Turbat area of Balochistans Kech district on Saturday evening allegedly by her husband, police said. This is the latest incident in a series of gruesome examples of domestic violence in Pakistan. The victim - Shaheena Shaheen, was a local anchorperson at PTV and editor of a local magazine. She was also a student of fine arts at the University Of Balochistan. It is believed her husband killed Shaheen because she was becoming famous in her area, a conservative part of Balochistan. In a report compiled in 2018, it was estimated that 50 people, including 30 women, had been killed in the name of honour in Balochistan. The report was compiled by The Aurat Foundation a non-governmental organisation working for protection of the rights of women and shared with the public at a press conference in Quetta, the provincial capital. According to programme officer Muhammad Ashfaq Mengal, the victims were mostly killed by close relatives, including husbands, brothers and other relatives in the name of so-called honour and small family feuds. This seems to be the case behind the death of Shaheen as well. The killing was the result of domestic violence, Kech superintendent of police Najeebullah Pandrani said, adding that police were investigating the murder. He said no arrests had been made so far. However, Shaheens family lodged a first information report (FIR) against her husband, whom she married five months ago. Her body was shifted to her residence for burial, police said. For those who remember militant trade unionists laying siege to newspaper offices in the 1980s, the scenes outside printing plants in Hertfordshire and on Merseyside on Friday night and Saturday morning brought back bad memories. Only this time it wasnt trade unions stifling a free Press by blocking the distribution of newspapers. The culprits were Extinction Rebellion activists usually middle-class types who are uninterested in debate and have no respect for democracy. Police are pictured outside the printing works in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. Indeed, although any attempt to suppress newspapers is chilling because it evokes communist or fascist regimes, interference in the lives of ordinary people is probably worse because of the sheer extent of the disturbance. How does society cope with such people? The extremists are not peaceful protesters making a point, as is their right. They are prepared to bring a great city such as London to a halt, causing inconvenience to hundreds of thousands of blameless individuals. Indeed, although any attempt to suppress newspapers is chilling because it evokes communist or fascist regimes, interference in the lives of ordinary people is probably worse because of the sheer extent of the disturbance. Extinction Rebellion (XR) succeeded in April 2019 and again last October in immobilising the nations capital. Bridges and roads were blocked, public transport suspended. Other cities suffered similar upheavals, if on a smaller scale. Together the protests set back the Metropolitan Police at least 37million. Contrast its annual budget of just 15million for a violent crime taskforce operating in London. How does society cope with such people? The extremists are not peaceful protesters making a point, as is their right The financial burden of the disruption on businesses and shops, although impossible to calculate precisely, may have been even greater. One estimate is that just two days of malarkey cost companies in the West End 12million, with footfall and spending down a quarter. Other protest groups in the fairly recent past such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament or the women of Greenham Common seem reasonable, moderate and considerate compared to the often destructive Extinction Rebellion. So I think the Government is correct to view this organisation, which has apparently been infiltrated by several Far Left groups, as unusually ruthless and dangerous. But it doesnt follow that XR should be reclassified as an organised crime group, as is reportedly one option being contemplated by the Government. The thinking is this would enable the authorities to hand out much more severe sentences. The trouble is that Extinction Rebellion cant accurately be described as an organised crime group, which is defined by the Crown Prosecution Service as having at its purpose, or one of its purposes, the carrying on of criminal activities. However obnoxious some of Extinction Rebellions activists may be, and however ready they are to break the law, the organisation as a whole is plainly not engaged in a criminal conspiracy. To reclassify it in such terms would be to risk making martyrs of its misguided leaders. More seriously still, it might be seen to create a precedent that, when the Government disapproves of people exercising their right of free speech, they can be redesignated as criminals. No, lets not treat XR in that way. There is no need to. For there are already enough existing laws in the polices armoury, if only they had the gumption to apply them. Unfortunately, on Friday night and Saturday morning the police were slow to act. At the printing plants in Hertfordshire and on Merseyside, they failed to start clearing Extinction Rebellion protesters for more than six hours. In the end, there were 80 arrests. Their relaxed attitude recalls the laid-back behaviour of the some of the police during the demonstrations in London last year. Absurdly, officers were filmed raving with protesters, while one policeman was spotted skateboarding on Waterloo Bridge. Have ordinary police officers gone soft? Or is it just their timorous, politically correct bosses? There is a new tendency to try to make common cause with protesters, as evidenced by officers taking the knee in Black Lives Matter demonstrations in June. No one could be a more enthusiastic believer than I am in the concept of policing by consent, but that does not comprise doing nothing when existing laws are clearly being broken. Not for the first time, Labour MP and former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was mistaken when she asserted yesterday that blockading newspaper printing plants was a legal tactic Isnt obstructing the Queens highway against the law? The 1980 Highways Act states that if a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway, he is guilty of an offence. What about the law of aggravated trespass? Trespassing while at the same time intentionally obstructing, disrupting or intimidating others from carrying out lawful activities is a criminal offence. Not for the first time, Labour MP and former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was mistaken when she asserted yesterday that blockading newspaper printing plants was a legal tactic. In an article in todays Mail, Home Secretary Priti Patel hints at new laws. There has been speculation that these could protect judges, MPs and even journalists going about their normal business. Well, conceivably, if it proves necessary. But we should beware of laws aimed at Extinction Rebellion and certainly avoid treating it as a criminal organisation. Lets use existing legislation, which safeguards free speech on the one hand, and doesnt allow bullies to destroy livelihoods on the other. All we need then is a robust and sensible police force that is determined to enforce the law. It was just a matter of what would she want me to do? She was my right-hand person, she was right there helping me. I heard from her, Come on mom, do this for Elgin, Howery said. ISTANBUL: President Tayyip Erdogan told European Council President Charles Michel on Sunday the EUs stance towards the East Mediterranean would be a test of its sincerity, calling on it to take an impartial stance in Turkeys row with Greece. NATO allies Turkey and Greece have been locked in a dispute over hydrocarbon exploration in the seas disputed waters and the extent of their continental shelves. Provocative comments and steps by European politicians on regional matters would not help achieve a solution, Erdogan was cited as saying by his office. President Erdogan said the attitude shown by the EU in the Eastern Mediterranean will be a test of sincerity from the perspective of international law and regional peace," the statement said. President Erdogan called on EU institutions and member countries to behave responsibly and remain just, impartial and objective on all regional issues, notably the Eastern Mediterranean," it added. Michel had said on Friday that European Union leaders will decide on a carrot and stick" approach to Turkey when they meet on Sept. 24-25, proposing a conference to defuse tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Last month Turkey sent a seismic survey vessel for hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters in the region after a maritime deal between Greece and Egypt. On Thursday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Greece and Turkey had agreed to start technical talks to avoid accidental clashes in the region. The following day, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece would start talks with Turkey to resolve a dispute in the Eastern Mediterranean once Turkish provocations" ceased. 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 Rhea Chakraborty, on Sunday, appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for questioning in the drugs case linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Rhea Chakraborty's lawyer Satish Maneshinde has called the Sushant Singh Rajput case a "witch hunt." He added that the actor is prepared for an arrest and has not applied for anticipatory bail. Chakraborty on Sunday, 6 September, appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for questioning in the drugs case linked to the death of her Sushant Singh Rajput. Advocate Maneshinde, who represents Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, said in a statement, Rhea Chakraborty is ready for arrest as this is a witch hunt and if loving someone is a crime she will face the consequences of her love. Being innocent, she has not approached any court for Anticipatory Bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar Police now with CBI, ED and NCB." Check out the tweet here #NewsAlert NCB starts questioning Rhea on the drugs angle. @Herman_Gomes reports from outside the NCB Office. Join the broadcast with @vandanaseb. #RheaDrugsLink pic.twitter.com/5xRsMujrjh CNNNews18 (@CNNnews18) September 6, 2020 A team led by NCB joint director Sameer Wankhede had visited Rhea's house located in Mumbai accompanied by local police and some women personnel. The agency has said it also wants to confront Rhea with Showik, Miranda and Sawant in order to ascertain their individual roles in this alleged drug racket after it obtained mobile phone chat records and other electronic data that suggested some banned drugs were allegedly being procured by these people. Rhea, in interviews given to multiple TV news channels, has said that she has never consumed drugs herself. She had, however, claimed that the late actor used to consume marijuana. The NCB, over the last two days, has arrested her younger brother Showik Chakraborty (24), Rajput's house manager Samuel Miranda (33) and Dipesh Sawant, a member of the actor's personal staff, in this case. It is claimed that Miranda told NCB investigators that he used to procure bud or curated marijuana for the late actor's household. Sawant was arrested on Saturday and he is expected to be produced by the agency before a local court on Sunday for seeking his custody. A total of 8 people have been arrested till now by the NCB with six being directly linked to this probe while two were arrested by it when the probe was launched under criminal sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. When the probe in the case began, the agency had arrested two men, Abbas Lakhani and Karan Arora, for alleged drug peddling and officials have claimed that through them they reached Zaid Vilatra and Abdel Basit Parihar who are allegedly linked to this drugs case as they were in touch with Miranda. Miranda, they had said, used to allegedly procure drugs from them on the purported instructions of Showik, agency officials said. Both Lakhani and Arora have been granted bail. The NCB had said it recovered 59 grams of cannabis from them. The NCB, while seeking remand of one of the accused in this case a few days back, had told a local court that it was looking into "the drug citadel in Mumbai, and especially Bollywood" in this probe. This case has given the NCB an "inkling" into the narcotics network and its penetration in Bollywood or Hindi movie industry, NCB Deputy Director General Mutha Ashok Jain told reporters on Saturday. Various angles surrounding the death of the 34-year-old actor are being probed by three federal agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The NCB initiated a drug angle probe in this case after the ED shared with it a report following the cloning of two mobile phones of Rhea. Rajput was found dead at his flat in suburban Bandra area on 14 June. (With inputs from Press Trust of India) * A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022 2754 6669 Dhaka, Sept 6 (UNI) Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad on Sunday unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief over the death of former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and other departed souls including two lawmakers of the present parliament. Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion and it was adopted in the house following a brief discussion among the lawmakers. Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also took part in the discussions regarding the condolence motion. Participating in the discussion, the lawmakers dubbed the former Indian President as a true friend of Bangladesh and expressed their deep respect to him, late Mukherjee was the first Bengali president of India. 84 year old Mukherjee had served as the 13th President of India, breathed his last on August 31due to brain hemorrhage, he was also found to be COVID-19 positive and was undergoing treatment at the Sena Hospital in New Delhi. The House also adopted the obituary motion over the death of two current lawmakers Advocate Shahara Khatun representing Dhaka-18 constituency and Israfil Alam representing Naogaon-6 constituency. Advocate Shahara, the former Home and Post and Telecommunication Minister, died on July 9 while she was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Thailand at the age of over 77 years. A 54-year old Alam died of deadly COVID-19 infection at a city hospital on July 27. The parliament also expressed condolence over the deaths of several elite personalities in home and abroad including the casualties triggered by air-conditioner blast in the mosque in Narayanganj. UNI MAZ RKM More than 1 million Hong Kong residents have pre-registered for the ongoing mass testing program of COVID-19 by noon of Saturday as Hong Kong is striving to stop the spread of the virus. Patrick Nip, secretary for the civil service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, revealed the figure on Saturday and called for the active participation of residents to cut transmission chains in communities. The government has decided to extend the week-long program launched on Tuesday by another four days to next Friday. Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection on Saturday reported seven new cases of COVID-19, including two found in the universal testing program, taking the total tally in Hong Kong to 4,857. There are currently 236 patients hospitalized, with 23 in critical condition. Filmmaker says new movie The Trump I Know humanizes the president, highlights his faith and family Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The upcoming film, The Trump I Know, aims to give viewers a look into the faith and family life of President Donald Trump, as told from the perspective of the women in his family and those who've worked with him in the White House. Producer Joe Knopp is gearing up for his latest film release set to premiere in October. In this new film, Knopp gives viewers a glimpse behind the scenes into the life of the 45th president of the United States from the perspective of those who know him best. The documentary was born after Knopp struck up a friendship with Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law, while premiering his pro-life film, UnPlanned, for the White House staff. Lara Trump then introduced the filmmaker to other women in the Trump family, as well as those who work in his administration and for his reelection campaign. Knopp said each person provided him with insights into a side of the president that the world has yet to see. My passion for this story began when I met Lara Trump and she shared stories of the first family that I never heard before, Knopp told The Christian Post in an interview on Wednesday. Instantly, those stories humanized the family for me and I feel God wanted me to share the why behind their stories. God takes us on journeys usually in preparation for future events. When I listened to Lara, I began to understand why God placed their family in the White House during the most critical years our country has faced in decades, if not a century, the Christian filmmaker continued. The documentary is shown through the lens of the conversations Knopp had with Lara Trump, Kellyanne Conway, Mercedes Schlapp, Katrina Pierson, Paula White Cain, head of the White House's Faith and Opportunity Initiative, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, as well as the president himself and his sons, Don Jr. and Eric Trump. The movie was in production for months but all filming was kept secret. Those featured in the documentary were interviewed by Knopp about what it's like to work for Trump, and discussed the importance of their faith and prayer, as well as what it's like for them being working moms at the White House. There is definitely a thread of faith that organically became part of these stories. Almost every woman interviewed began her own story, humbly thanking God for leading her to the White House. Most give God the credit for them enduring the hardest aspects of their jobs, Knopp told CP. The women spoke of their reliance on God. It was more than just words, the women were able to reflect on their journeys and highlight Gods direction in their own lives, he added. McEnany shared in the film that the president has stood for religious freedom for all Americans, regardless of the faith or denomination. And on the pro-life issue, hes been an unashamed voice for the pro-life movement. Trump's spiritual advisor, Paula White recounts in the film a conversation she had with Trump before he ran for president. He said, I want you to pray. I said, About what? He said, Im thinking about running for president. I really need to hear from God. Ive got to make a pretty big decision. Can you bring some people around to pray? So we brought about 20 pastors. We went there to Trump Tower. We prayed for six hours, White recalled. Knopp maintained that people cannot dispute the real-life accounts of others. You cant argue with the truth, that is what I have found with storytelling. The problem in politics is everyone distorts the truth, he said. This documentary highlights over a dozen stories by women of the Trump administration, campaign and organization, that know the President well, and all have great respect and appreciation for him. I truly believe the audience will gain an admiration and emotional connection to these women and begin rooting for them all, Knopp ended. The audience will recognize what President Trump values in his staff and applaud the President on his selection of these inspiring, God-fearing women that are mothers and leaders of this administration. Directed by Matthew Thayer, the Wolf Rock Pictures film will be available on Oct. 1. Other producers of the film include Daryl Lefever and Joy Thayer. For more information, visit www.thetrumpiknow.com Tunisian forces have shot dead three suspected Islamic militants who rammed their vehicle into security officers and attacked them with knives, killing one and injuring another in the coastal resort town of Sousse. Sousse was the site of Tunisia's deadliest extremist attack in 2015, when a massacre killed 38 people, most of them British tourists. An Interior Ministry statement said the assailants took refuge in a school after the attack and died in a shootout with security forces. Policemen secure the site of an attack on Tunisian National Guard officers in Sousse, south of Tunis, on Sunday Tunisian forensic police investigates the site of the terrorist attack on Tunisian National Guard officers in Sousse Tunisian Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi speaks to media at the site of an attack on Tunisian National Guard officers in Sousse todazy. Tunisian forces shot dead three suspected Islamic militants who rammed their vehicle into security officers and attacked them with knives The North African nation's prime minister, Hicham Mechichi, appeared to suggest that the assailants' planning may have been faulty. Speaking in Sousse, at the site of the attack, he announced the arrest of a fourth suspect who had been aboard the vehicle that rammed the National Guard officers. 'These terrorist groups wanted to signal their presence,' he said. 'But they got the wrong address this time. The clearest proof of that is that the authors of this attack were eliminated in a few minutes.' Tunisian forensic police investigate the site of an attack on Tunisian National Guard officers on September 6, above and below The North African nation's prime minister, Hicham Mechichi, appeared to suggest that the assailants' planning may have been faulty He added that 'these microbes must fear the Tunisians because lions are protecting the country'. Hatem Zargouni, director of security for Sousse, said the assailants stabbed the officers and then fled with their weapons. The injured officer was admitted to hospital. The previous attack in Sousse on June 26, 2015 dealt a heavy blow to Tunisia's tourism sector, a pillar of its economy. Tunisian forensic police investigate the site of an attack on Tunisian National Guard officers on September 6 So-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for that attack. Aymen Rezgui, a Tunisian student who trained with Libyan militants, walked on to the beach of the Imperial Hotel and used an assault rifle to shoot at tourists in lounge chairs. He then continued on to the hotel pool before throwing a grenade into the hotel, and was later killed by police. WHEN Zimbabwes founding leader Robert Mugabe died exactly a year ago today, for many it was unimaginable any leader who comes after him would repeat his mistakes. Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe for nearly 40 years, carved a legacy of being a strongman. For years he brutally crushed dissent and his track record in managing the economy was disastrous. It was on that basis that many Zimbabweans supported a military coup that toppled him in 2017 and propelled his protege President Emmerson Mnangagwa into power. Mnangagwas ascendancy sparked optimism about Zimbabwes renaissance, but on the eve of Mugabes death anniversary the new government fuelled debate on who was the better leader between the two. The governments decision to allow foreign white farmers to return to their properties led to some critics to suggest that Mnangagwa was now reversing one of Mugabes signature policies, which they said made him worse than his mentor. A careful perusal of the regimes statement on land shows beyond reasonable doubt that the regime is now in the process of reversal of the land reform programme, former Finance minister Tendai Biti said. This conscious process started with the land for land compensation Regulations SI 62 2020, then the Global Compensation Deed. Biti questioned where the government would get the US$3,5 billion it has pledged to pay the white former commercial farmers Norton MP and Mnangagwa ally Temba Mliswa also made the same claims, accusing the Zanu PF leader of wanting to reverse the land reform programme. Exiled former Zanu PF commissar Saviour Kasukuwere said the land issue was an emotive one, which needed wide consultations A process like this should be driven through the party, Zanu PF, which started it, Kasukuwere warned. Comparing Mnangagwa and Mugabe, Kasukuwere said the past two years under the Zanu PF leader had shown that the two leaders were miles apart. At least we knew what he (Mugabe) stood for, he said. He was clear about that. May his soul rest in peace. Jealousy Mawarire, National Patriotic Front spokesperson, the party made up of mainly Mugabe loyalists, said the long-serving Zanu PF leader would not have approved of the new policies on land. The issue of land was always dear to his heart, almost every conversation would ultimately lead to the need for land to remain in the hands of blacks, and it is an ideal he held on until his last breath, he said. Former MDC-T vice-president Obert Gutu said Mugabe, though imperfect, would be remembered for his strong stance against neo-imperialism and colonialism. If he believed in something, he would stick to that like glue, Gutu said. He will be remembered by generations to come for his strong stance in repossessing land. Yes, the land reform programme had a knockdown effect on food security, but 50 years from now, and onwards, Mugabe will be remembered by all future generations for this move. Political analyst Alexander Rusero said it was a paradox that people now missed Mugabe just a year after his death. The greatest folly of Mnangagwa is that he has failed to level up to Mugabe in terms of political brilliance, eloquence, benevolence and true statesmanship, Rusero said. On things we remember badly about Mugabe, Mnangagwa has perfectly succeeded in outdoing Mugabe by being worse. You talk of human rights abuses, narrowing of democratic space, ruthlessness and the sort of I-do-not-care attitude on issues critical to the necessities of citizens lives. He added: Put simply, we were never supposed to miss Mugabe as he remains the architect of all miseries we find ourselves in, but reality is that as opposed to the false alternative parachuted on Zimbabwe by the military in the form of Mnangagwa, we dearly miss the old man may his soul rest in peace. University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said the developments around the land reform programme raised questions on whether Mugabe and Mnangagwa ever shared the same principles. Most think, perhaps, Mnangagwa was never seriously into it and he is now showing his true colours, Masunungure said. The huge amounts of money in the compensation deal and the claims that we are fulfilling constitutional obligations, one wonders, how many constitutional obligations are yet to be fulfilled and why the rush on this one? Why going all the distance on something lying in the very heart of Zanu PF? There is a feeling the current regime is selling out. Zanu PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi promised to issue a statement on Mugabe, which had not been done by the time of going to print last night.Standard Students take turns to be disinfected and have their temperatures screened by a teacher before attending the opening ceremony. For the 2020-2021 school year, Quang Nam has more than 131,600 students entering elementary schools. But only first graders attended the opening ceremony in full, the remaining grades sent two to five students to represent their classes. The co-president of the USR-PLUS Alliance, Dacian Ciolos, declared on Sunday, in Sibiu, that pupils should be able to go to school under safe health conditions, and the local and central authorities had time to prepare for the opening of the new school year. "Normally there should be no reason for school not to start on time. And I say it very directly, I hope the Government does not play politically also this story with the opening or postponing the opening of the school, because the local authorities have a responsibility in preparing the infrastructure to be ready to receive pupils and the ministry must prepare everything related to the teaching side. They had time to do it. The mandate of the mayors was extended. They knew very well that they had to prepare the beginning of the school year because elections will only be at the end of September at best. So, it is a topic we cannot play with," Dacian Ciolos told a news conference.Ciolos says that the politicization of the education system is a problem that should be solved."As we have been talking a lot about health since spring, and we have seen how the systemic, structural problems that we have not solved in health in recent years (...) have exploded in front of us, now, in a crisis situation. The same way now we see Romania's other big problem, education, the education system. We have politicized it to the teeth. (...) So, yes, I think that schools should be opened. Obviously there are risks, but that is why we have authorities: to reduce those risks", said Dacian Ciolos.According to Ciolos, the authorities should be prepared for pupils to take online courses as well, but this would only be a backup solution."If we are to be prepared for what is to come, we should also be prepared for this backup situation, the online school, but where possible (...) we should also start the physical school," added Dacian Ciolos.Ciolos was present in Sibiu on Sunday to support USR PLUS candidates for the local elections. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486bde0e8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0486b3f5e8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486bde0e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0486b3f5e8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0486be0988)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0486b3f5e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0486b3f5e8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04861ec850)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0486af5790)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0486af5790)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 As Bihar heads for assembly polls next month, political parties are using local and national issues for the election pitch. Recently, the art and culture wing of the BJP has released posters with the image of Sushant Singh Rajput and text seeking justice for Rajput. The Bollywood actor was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai on June 14 and since then his death has been a controversy and it is currently being investigated by the CBI. Rajput hails from Purnia in Bihar. Even though the party has made it clear that the death is not an election issue, however, the cultural wing of the BJP has issued posters, marches and stickers with photograph of the actor, said a report in Indian Express. The culture wing has said that the murder of Sushant Singh Rajput has been an emotional, not a political matter for the party and therefore it has been running online and offline campaigns seeking justice for the actors death. According to a report, the cultural wing has printed 30,000 masks, 25,000 car stickers and conducting meetings in Patna from the first week of July. The posters released by the party read, Na bhule hain, na bhulne denge. (We have neither forgotten nor will let one forget Sushant). The stickers are also attributed as Kala evam Sanskriti Prakosth(cultural department) , BJP (Bihar). The party is planning to release a two-episode video of Sushants life and work. We have been part of justice for Sushant campaign since the beginning and had been instrumental in getting top BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sushil Kumar Modi and Ram Kripal Yadav meet Sushants father in July, Varun Kumar Singh, art and culture wing convenor of the BJP in Bihar told Indian Express. Rajputs death witnessed a tussle between the Bihar and Maharashtra police over the investigation. Bihar police had registered an FIR based on allegations made by Rajputs father KK Singh against Rajputs girlfriend Rhea Chakraborthy and her family. Later, the case was handed to the CBI. IFA 2020 wasn't held in its traditional format, but you wouldn't be able to tell going by the number of announcements this week. Granted many of those didn't come from the showfloors in Berlin, companies choosing to have online-only events instead, but at the end of the day we still have a ton of new hardware to feast our eyes upon. So much so in fact that we felt we needed to sum it up and make sure you haven't missed anything. There were over twenty new devices, so the fairest way to do it is to go alphabetically by manufacturer. Honor The brand had a lot to share with us, but well stick to the truly mobile devices. Initially launched in China, and now hitting the global scene are two affordable tablets - Honor Tab 6 and Honor Tab X6. They provide big displays, Android 10, and while Honor did not reveal the price we expect them to be quite affordable. Honor Watch GS Pro & Honor Watch ES Honor is trying to diversify its portfolio and thats why we saw two entirely new smartwatches - the Honor Watch ES with a rectangular display and the rugged Watch GS Pro for the adventuroustypes. They both have the Kirin A1 chipset that promises a long battery life, with the GS Pro supposed to live 25 days on a single charge, or at least 48 hours with the GPS turned on. Huawei Huawei was present at IFA 2020, but it used its keynote to reiterate its commitment to the Europen market, despite its recent troubles. However, the company unveiled two new phones in China - Enjoy 20 Plus 5G and Enjoy 20 5G. The first one mimics the Mate 30 design but comes with a pop-up selfie camera, three shooters on the back, and a price of CNY2,299 ($335) in China. The non-Plus version brings more simplicity in the design and the specs sheet, and costs just CNY1,699 ($250), but you get a huge 5,000 mAh battery in return. Lenovo Lenovo gave us the Tab P11 Pro tablet for grown-ups and Tab M10, targeted at children. The first one comes with an OLED screen, Snapdragon 730 chipset as well as support for optional keyboard and Lenovo Precision Pen 2 stylus. The whole package will cost $500 for the United States and 700 for Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The kid-friendly slate, priced at $160/130 relies heavily on the Kids Space feature from Google. It has a simple 10.1 LCD with 720p resolution and a basic MediaTek P22T chipset. It has pogo pins on one side, and Lenovo said therell be a solution where it can be used as a screen on a stand when your kid gets tired of holding it and needs to go to sleep while watching his favorite Peppa Pig episode. Lenovo Tab P11 Pro & Lenovo Tab M10 HD Gen 2 Motorola The Motorola One 5G is a completely new smartphone in the US market, but fans from the rest of the world will recognize the phone as Moto G 5G Plus. It comes with a 6.7 LCD screen with Full HD+ resolution and a tall 21:9 ratio. While pricing wasnt announced, we know it will be offered by AT&T and Verizon. Oppo The Oppo F17 series comes with a 4,000 mAh battery, VOOC 4.0 support, and the Oppo F17 Pro can get you two hours of YouTube playback with a single five-minute charge. It can also provide one hour of TikTok or 36 minutes of PUBG, although these two are banned in India and we were baffled why is the local division even advertising it. While we have all the key info on the Oppo F17 Pro in our hands-on review, the company did not reveal the vanilla F17s price or release details. At least we know it has a Snapdragon 662 chipset, up to 8 GB RAM, and 64/128 GB storage. Realme Realme had its first keynote at IFA 2020, but used that to talk about its product strategy and tease a bunch of upcoming devices. Instead the company held two events in the days leading up to the show, giving us five new phones. The Chinese branch unveiled the Realme X7, Realme X7 Pro, and the affordable Realme V3 5G - they all had something unique about them. The vanilla X7 is the first phone with a Dimensity 800U chipset, the X7 Pro is the one heavily advertised with the Dare to Leap logo on the back, while the Realme V3 5G is the most affordable 5G smartphone up to date. It starts from CNY999 (thats about $150) and comes with Dimensity 720 chipset from Mediatek. Two days later we saw the arrival of Realme 7 and Realme 7 Pro. They come as an upgrade over the Realme 6 lineup with improved cameras, bigger batteries, and 65W SuperDart charging. Samsung Samsung detailed the Galaxy Z Fold2 this week, but that one was technically announced at the Unpacked event last month. However, the Galaxy A42 5G is brand new and exciting for being the maker's most affordable 5G phone to date. A Galaxy Tab A7 was also unveiled alongside it. Samsung Galaxy A42 5G The Samsung Galaxy M51 jumped the gun and debuted a few days earlier. It has a massive 7,000 mAh battery - one of the biggest in a smartphone ever produced. Other specs include a big 6.7 Super AMOLED (the FP scanner is on the side, though), a 64MP quad-camera on the back, and a 360 price tag in Europe. It will arrive in India as well, and speculations are pointing at a price of around INR25,000 ($350/285). TCL TCL kicked off the party in Berlin with two tablets - TABMAX and TABMID. As you can guess from the name, the Tabmax is the slate with more premium features like an 8,000 mAh battery, support for a stylus, and a big 10.36 LCD. The Tabmid is a midranger device with Snapdragon 665 chipset, Kids Mode, and a regular 8 LCD with Full HD resolution. TCL TABMAX & TCL TABMID The announcement also included a smartwatch with a designated SOS button and TWS earbuds - something that all manufacturers are now making, trying to lure more customers into their own ecosystem. Tecno Tecno is a sister company of Infinix and Itel and it has released its latest Camon lineup. Company execs said there will be three phones - Tecno 16, Tecno 16 Pro, and Tecno 16 Premier, but only the last one was truly unveiled with specs and pricing. It has a Helio G90T chipset, a big 6.89 screen, four cameras, and a 4,500 mAh battery with 33W fast-charging. The company also unveiled the Spark Go 2020 - it runs Android 10 (Go Edition) OS on a Helio A20 chipset with 2 GB RAM. The price is INR6,499 ($90/75) in India and will start selling next week. Wiko We got two more phone announcements from Wiko - View5 and View5 Plus. The Wiko5 has a Helio A25 chipset, 3 GB RAM, and 64 gigs of storage. The Plus variant comes with a slightly older Helio P35 platform which should be a bit more powerful on paper. The Wiko5 and Wiko5 Plus share the same screen - 6.55 LCD; the same 48 MP quad-cam setup on the back, and a fingerprint scanner to keep the shooters' company. The vanilla variant costs 170, while the Plus option is 200. ZTE The Axon 20 5G wraps this list up on a high. It is the first phone on the market with an actual working under-display front-facing camera. ZTE claims to have solved the problem with light distortion by applying a special highly transmissive and transparent film that removes glare and fixes color. The pixel arrangement is also reworked to allow the shooter to remain hidden while the whole screen is being used. On the inside, it is a pretty regular midranger with Snapdragon 765G chipset, 6/8 GB RAM, and up to 256 GB storage. It has a 4,220 mAh battery with 30W fast charging and will cost CNY2,198 ($322) in China. Theres no word whether the phone will be available internationally. A war of words has erupted after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab slammed Labour's Diane Abbott this morning for defending Extinction Rebellion activists who blockaded newspaper printing presses on Friday. Ms Abbott compared Extinction Rebellion to the Suffragettes and criticised the government's plans to reclassify the activists as an organised crime gang. She also described the protest as a 'legal tactic'. Her comments come after a public outcry following XR action on Friday which saw protesters targeting Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, blocking the day's newspapers from leaving the depots. However, Mr Raab has criticised Ms Abbott and slammed XR's actions. He told Sky's Sophy Ridge: 'I'm astounded at Diane Abbott's remarks. The idea that it is right to damage property or intervene with a free press in the name of progressive protest is, I think, perverse. 'Actually, I think it is damaging to the cause of climate change. 'I respect the right of peaceful protest but hijacking that with a militant agenda to disrupt the very heart of democratic debate, which is through a free media, is just totally wrong and we're against it, and I think law enforcement action should be taken to preserve our wider freedoms, and they do include a free media.' Ms Abbott earlier defended the protest, saying direct action is a 'legal tactic' and adding that it would be 'ridiculous' for the Government to reclassify Extinction Rebellion. She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: 'They're not criminals, they're protesters and activists in the tradition of the Suffragettes and the hunger marches of the 1930s.' Following the stunt, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she wants to take a 'fresh look' at how XR is classified under law, while Boris Johnson deemed the act 'completely unacceptable'. A potential review could lead to XR being treated as an organised crime group, sources said, as part of a clampdown on its activities, which have included bringing cities across the UK to a standstill by forming human barriers along major roads, and by disrupting public transport. Twenty-six people have been charged with aggravated trespass following the protest at the News International premises in Knowsley, Merseyside Police said today. Dominic Raab slammed Labour's Diane Abbott for defending Extinction Rebellion activists who blockaded newspaper printing presses Labour's Diane Abbott defended the protest, saying direct action is a 'legal tactic' and adding that it would be 'ridiculous' for the Government to reclassify Extinction Rebellion Extinction Rebellion protesters blockaded the entrance to Newsprinters in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, meaning some national newspapers did not reach stands today Police said the 26 people charged, aged between 19 and 60, will appear at Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates' Court, and St Helens Magistrates' Court on January 8 and 13 next year. They have all been granted bail under the condition that they do not enter Merseyside or contact any News International employees, police said. Ms Abbott's words were also criticised by Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats. He said Extinction Rebellion protesters were 'shooting themselves in the foot' following their blockade of newspaper printing presses on Friday evening. Asked on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme whether he agreed with Ms Abbott's assessment that the demonstrations had been legitimate, he said: 'No ... I think we need to bring the country together to realise we have a climate emergency alongside the Covid health and economic emergency. 'My concern with what we saw was that it actually divides people, it can undermine the message about the climate emergency. 'I fear that when you damage the free press in particular, that is shooting yourself in the foot. 'There was an interview with David Attenborough in one of those newspapers that didn't get distributed - David Attenborough is the environmentalist par excellence, he has a lot to say about climate change and how we protect our environment. Why Extinction Rebellion has blocked the printing presses Extinction Rebellion (XR) claimed last night that it was using the disruption to 'expose' newspapers 'failure to report on the climate and ecological emergency'. They alleged: 'Coverage in many of the newspapers printed here is polluting national debate on climate change, immigration policy, the rights and treatment of minority groups, and on dozens of other issues.' This morning the group apologised on Twitter for the disruption caused to newsagents but said it was not apologising to Murdoch for disrupting his 'agenda'. Responding to the home secretary's criticism, they accused the press of stirring 'division and hate'. There have been fears in recent weeks that XR has been taken over by a cabal of hard-left groups hell-bent on driving their own agenda. Politicians lined up to criticise the group this morning, saying they thought this may damage support for the cause at a critical time. Labour shadow international trade secretary Emily Thornberry said: 'I really don't know what it is that is expected to be achieved. 'I know that for many older listeners it's very much part of their daily life, getting their paper delivered in the morning, and I just think it's wrong.' Criticism has been levelled at the group for disrupting the distribution of newspapers during the global pandemic. Advertisement 'I think stopping people reading David Attenborough is not a good message.' Under additional proposals, Parliament, courts and the press could be given special status in regard to the key role they play in democracy, with the potential for police to be handed beefed-up powers to stop demonstrators entering designated areas outside such premises. 'It would be illegal to stop MPs going to vote or judges getting to court and it would also protect a free press,' a Government source said. It comes after more than 100 demonstrators used vehicles and bamboo lock-ons to block roads outside the Newsprinters works on Friday evening, with both protests continuing until Saturday afternoon. The blockade prevented delivery vans from leaving presses which publish the Rupert Murdoch-owned News Corp's titles including The Sun, The Times, The Sun On Sunday and The Sunday Times. Other publications including The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday were also affected. The Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN) said the protests had hit home delivery operations, including for the 'elderly and vulnerable', with its members having to deal with 'angry customers'. Merseyside Police said they had arrested 30 people, while Hertfordshire Police said they had taken 50 people into custody. XR apologised to newsagents for the disruption but added it would not apologise to Mr Murdoch, calling on him to 'stop suppressing the truth about the climate crisis and profiting from the division your papers create'. Responding to criticism from Ms Patel that their actions were an 'attack on our free press', XR said: 'Our free press, society and democracy is under attack - from a failing government that lies to us consistently, is becoming increasingly authoritarian, and is leading us towards 4 degrees of warming.' Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden condemned XR's actions as 'idiotic', while Cabinet colleagues, including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, urged people to buy a paper to support the industry, which has been badly hit by a decline in advertising revenue during the pandemic. Jo Stevens, Labour's shadow culture secretary, said: 'A free press is vital for our democracy. People have the right to read the newspapers they want. More than 30 arrests have been made following the blockades. A second was set up in Knowsley, near Liverpool 'Stopping them from being distributed and printers from doing their jobs is wrong.' But in a now-deleted tweet, Labour MP Dawn Butler appeared to praise XR, writing: 'Bravo ExtinctionRebellion. Excellent work...' Police said no arrests were made after XR protesters held a demonstration near Motherwell aimed at disrupting the distribution of Saturday's Scottish Sun newspaper. There was a large police presence in central London on Saturday as XR staged further protests. The public inquiry in NSW into the operations of Crown Resorts is testing the reputation of one of Australia's top 100 listed companies and its licence to operate in Sydney's Barangaroo as a high-roller casino. But while Crowns management has come under the most intense scrutiny so far at the NSW gaming commission's probe, some of the actions of the company's star-studded board are now under question. The scrutiny relate to the board's decision on July 31, 2019 to place a full-page advertisement in News Corp newspapers that sought to deny a series of stories in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes. Crown's Sydney development at Barangaroo. Credit:Rhett Wyman Those reports revealed how Crowns lax controls of its high-roller casino operations enabled and facilitated organised crime and money laundering, which in turn empowered the drug and sex traffickers associated with some of those high-roller operations or "junkets". The company's advertisement claimed that the stories were full of unsubstantiated allegations ... and outright falsehoods. The board's message was also filed with the ASX, which requires it to be accurate under continuous disclosure requirements. Sept 5 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said it has banned foreign sales of seeds in the United States after thousands of Americans received unsolicited packages of seeds in their mailboxes, mostly postmarked from China. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in July identified more than a dozen plant species ranging from morning glories to mustard in the bags of unsolicited seeds. It warned Americans not to plant the seeds. According to plant experts, seeds from other parts of the world could be non-native varieties that harm commodity crops. "Moving forward, we are only permitting the sale of seeds by sellers who are based in the U.S.," Amazon said in an emailed statement on Saturday. The company changed its policy on seed sales on Wednesday. The policy change was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The company added that sellers who do not follow its guidelines will be subject to action, including potential removal of their accounts. According to Amazon's policy web page, the ban extends to plants and plant products. The USDA in July said the packages were most likely part of a "brushing" scam, in which people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false positive customer reviews to boost sales. In an update on Aug. 11, Osama El-Lissy, a deputy administrator for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), said the experts analyzing some of the seeds from China found very few problems. El-Lissy added that the two countries were working jointly on the investigation. (Reporting by Shubham Kalia; editing by Jonathan Oatis) Much of the message Harris has been delivering at appearances during her first few weeks as former vice president Joe Bidens running mate has centered on encouraging various groups within the Democratic coalition to make plans to vote and mobilize others to do the same. On calls with Black organizers, Asian American groups, Latino small-business owners and young people, Harris has emphasized the need for voters to understand and take advantage of all their voting options. Before covid, all of the emphasis of the discussion was to persuade employers that work was capable of being done from home, said Irelands Esther Lynch, deputy general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, an organization that represents labor union interests in Brussels. Now with covid, we are beginning to see a growing concern among workers that they wont be able to go back to the workplace, but that the new normal will be that the employer will like the idea of working from home, mostly as a way of saving money. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 13:50:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday evening outside the racecourse where the 146th Kentucky Derby was held in Louisville in the U.S. state of Kentucky to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, an African-American woman killed by police. Protesters stood outside the racetrack fences, calling for justice for the shooting death of Taylor during a police raid and for the Derby to be canceled. A plane dragging a banner saying "arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor" flew overhead just a few minutes before the Derby race was set to begin, local media reported. Protesters left the racecourse and continued their march shortly after the Derby ended. Earlier Saturday, armed counter-protesters confronted a group of demonstrators downtown. Then the group engaged another one coming from Jefferson Square. Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) officers worked to separate the two groups of protesters and ease the tensions, police official account tweeted. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer warned on twitter Saturday that the Louisville police department "has a plan and is ready for Kentucky Derby day." Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron tweeted Saturday: "Today, while we honor a KY tradition with the running of the Derby, we remain cognizant of the community's desire for answers in the investigation into the death of Ms. Breonna Taylor," adding that "we continue to move forward with our investigation, reviewing each fact to reach the truth." Taylor, 26, was fatally shot by several LMPD officers on March 13 when they were executing a "no-knock" search warrant at her apartment, and gunfire broke out after her boyfriend fired a warning shot because he thought the plainclothes officers were intruders. Kentucky Derby is one of the three legs of the American Triple Crown, open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The race is traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, but the 2020 running was rescheduled to Saturday, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ran without spectators. Enditem Biden presided over hearings in which Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Back when Joe Biden first announced his run for the presidency, Anita Hill said she could not support his candidacy. Today, despite their troubled history, she has had a change of heart. 28 years ago, Biden, then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee presided over the confirmation hearings in which Hill accused Clarence Thomas, nominee to the Supreme Court, of sexual harassment during the time they worked together at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Anita Hill endorses Joe Biden for President. pic.twitter.com/GdQE7AZ4c0 Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 5, 2020 Biden was criticized for doing little to stop the all-white, all-male members of the committee from attacking Hill during the hearings. Critics also claimed that Bidens own questioning of Hill was unfair and set an accusing, skeptical tone. READ MORE: Anita Hill says she could vote for Joe Biden if he becomes the nominee in 2020 But given todays contentious political climate, Hill is not only going to vote for the democratic nominee, she has also vowed to work with him on gender issues if he becomes president. Not withstanding all of his limitations in the past, and the mistakes that he made in the past, not withstanding those at this point, between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, I think Joe Biden is the person who should be elected in November, Hill told CNNs Gloria Borger. Hill stated that those 1991 hearing altered her life. One of the impacts of 1991 was my desire not to really work with the government in any way. I always said, I think I can be more effective as an outsider as opposed to an insider. And now, Im willing to evolve myself, to work for change inside, Hill said. Story continues Anita Hill speaks onstage as Audible presents: In Love and Struggle at Audibles Minetta Lane Theater on February 29, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Audible) Defending the criticism he has received regarding Hills treatment at the during the hearings, Biden told CNN in an exclusive 90-minute interview in July, I believed her story from the beginning. I wish I could have protected her more. I did get in shouting matches, as you remember, with some of the witnesses who were saying things that were off the wall. The two spoke briefly on the phone shortly before Biden launched his campaign in April 2019, and Biden said he apologized to Hill during the call. Hill called the conversation unsatisfying and would not characterize Bidens words as an apology. After the call, Biden told ABC Good Morning America that he acknowledged his role as chairman in Hills treatment. READ MORE: Biden: I take responsibility for treatment of Anita Hill during Thomas hearings As the committee chairman, I take responsibility that she did not get treated well, he told ABC. Apparently Hill was listening, and she now says that she believes that Biden has evolved. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Anita Hill pledges to vote for Joe Biden and work with him on gender issues appeared first on TheGrio. A scientist leading Germany's fight against Covid-19 has warned that house parties could be banned for three years because the virus 'is not disappearing'. Professor Hendrik Streeck believes that regional spikes seen in Scotland and North-West England could continue into 2023 without a vaccine. As a result, the virologist says that parties and other large gatherings will need to stop completely in order to lower infections. 'This virus is not disappearing. It has now become part of our daily lives,' he told the Daily Record. 'It will still be here in three years and we have to find a way to live with it.' A scientist leading Germany's fight against Covid-19 has warned that house parties could be banned for three years because the virus 'is not disappearing' (stock photo) He added that one of the most important ways to keep the virus under control would be stopping 'super-spreading events' like house parties or illegal raves. 'We know that social distancing, not gathering in big groups and covering your face can have a profound impact on the infection. These are simple measure that can help stop the spread if you have large levels of infection.' Prof Streek is part of a team leading the pandemic response in Heinsberg, one of Germany's worst-hit regions for coronavirus near the Dutch border. Professor Streeck said a vaccine being developed for the virus was 'probable' - but there were doubts over how long it would take to be available. Professor Hendrik Streeck (pictured) believes that regional spikes seen in Scotland and North-West England could continue into 2023 without a vaccine 'A vaccine may be the answer but we don't know. It's probable that we will have a vaccine but it may be next year or longer,' he added. Police forces in England have been given new powers to slap organisers of illegal gatherings with hefty fines in a bid to clamp down on rule-breaking. The organiser of one house party in Wiltshire was given the maximum 10,000 fine after police arrived to find between 80 and 100 people breaking covid rules. Officers first requested for the event on Wick Lane, Devizes, to be shut down, but their pleas were ignored. As a result, the organiser was issued the hefty fine and party-goers were dispersed. Police forces in England have been given new powers to slap organisers of illegal gatherings with hefty fines in a bid to clamp down on rule-breaking (stock photo) The UK recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 cases since May today, after 2,988 were reported in just 24 hours. The last time the UK's caseload was this high was May 23 - 15 weeks ago - when 2,959 people tested positive. A tighter local lockdown was introduced in Bolton last night due to a spike in Covid-19 cases. People were told to avoid mixing with other households anywhere and to use public transport only if essential. And new lockdown rules have been enforced in Glasgow since Wednesday following a spike in coronavirus cases there. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told weekly newspaper Bild am Sonntag: I hope the Russians wont force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea. Mr Maas also said that if there wont be any contributions from the Russian side regarding the investigation in the coming days, we will have to consult with our partners. He did not exclude possible punishments against Russia, telling the paper that if we think about sanctions, they should be pinpointed effectively. However, Mr Maas also admitted that halting the building of the nearly completed gas pipeline would harm German and European companies. Whoever demands this has to be aware of the consequences, he said. More than 100 companies from 12 European countries are involved (in the construction), about half of them from Germany. Advertisement The German government has come under growing pressure to use the joint German-Russian pipeline project as leverage in getting Russia to provide answers on Mr Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea when completed, bypassing Ukraine. Mr Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow last month and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital since he was flown to Germany for treatment on August 22. German authorities have said that tests showed he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities previously identified the nerve agent, developed during the Soviet era, as the poison used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 2018. Mr Maas said: We have high expectations from the Russians to bring light into this severe crime. If they have nothing to do with this attack then its in their own interest to put the facts on the table. President Vladimir Putins spokesman has brushed off allegations that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning Mr Navalny and said last week that Germany had not provided Moscow with any evidence about the politicians condition. Advertisement German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Mr Navalnys poisoning was an attempted murder that aimed to silence one of Mr Putins fiercest critics, and called for a full investigation. Mrs Merkel personally offered the countrys assistance in treating Mr Navalny. He is now in a stable condition at Berlins Charite hospital, but doctors expect a long recovery and have not ruled out that the 44-year-old could face long-term effects to his health. Mrs Merkel has previously rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The US has long opposed the project, which has been increasingly a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. In early August, three Republican senators threatened sanctions against an operator of a Baltic Sea port located in Mrs Merkels parliamentary constituency over its part in Nord Stream 2. The Mukran port is a key staging post for ships involved in its construction. The US argues that the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas. It is also opposed by the Ukraine and Poland, which will be bypassed by the pipeline under the Baltic, as well as some other European nations. In addition to the security concerns, the US also wants to sell more of its own liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Europe. As a child of first-generation Indian immigrants, I am aware of the weight a name carries and the connection to ones identity. Recently, Fox News Tucker Carlson repeatedly mispronounced Kamala Harriss name, replying whatever to a guest who corrected him. That TV moment triggered many of us of Asian descent. We know that when a public personality unapologetically mispronounces a name and then voices their offence when asked to open up their world view, our own experiences are painfully dredged up. Remarks like those from Carlson bring us back to the countless times when we acquiesced to someone who was too bothered to learn how to say our names. In fact, there is a presumptive, albeit unfair, notion that the majority of Americans never learn how to say seemingly complex non-Anglo names. So, we pre-empt conversations by anglicizing our names (Ajay becomes AJ, Shailaja becomes Shelly). We trade in arguably the largest part of our identity to fabricate comfort for others, and in doing so acknowledge our otherness. My husband, also Indian, abbreviated his name from Nikhil to Nik when growing up in New Jersey. His high school guidance counsellor convinced him that no one would read a resumee from a Nikhil. Some teachers would call him Ni-Hi. To avoid embarrassment, at roll call, he would cut those teachers off with just call me Nik. Today, he still recounts with remorse and anxiety the times he had to choose between his given name and the name that would allow him to fit in. Swap Nikhil with Ashoka, Malini or Anjali and youll hear the same story. Whats in a name? Everything. Names are bound in genealogy, aspirations, virtues. Names carry great weight in many communities, including the Indian community. Many Hindu names are chosen with careful deliberation as zodiac and genealogy charts are consulted by high priests, and naming ceremonies are considered sacred. As Kamala Harris took the stage at the Democratic National Convention, she reminded us of three things. She catapulted to the national stage the name of a relatively unknown figure, Shyamala Gopalan. In recalling the influence of her South Indian-born mother, she reminded us that identity and platform cannot be separated. She also boldly claimed her biracial Jamaican and Indian heritage, not succumbing to the pressure to choose one over the other, demonstrating to us that America does not have to choose either. And finally, she has proven to us that anyone can be taught. Indeed, as I hear Kamalas name (KUM-ah-lah) pronounced correctly by former presidents, I hear my mothers voice, as she used to say, if people can pronounce Schwarzenegger, they can surely say your name. Often the smallest gestures are the most meaningful. The effort to correctly pronounce a given name is a starting point to engender trust and remove the stigma of otherness. It is my honor to have been appointed to the citizens committee for renaming Robert E. Lee High School. I am politically conservative, a person of deep faith, middle-aged and white. I say that because it hasnt always been easy or natural for me to be sensitive to issues of race. Whether we want it to be or not, the renaming of Robert E. Lee High School is, at its very core, a racial issue. I dont believe that we are dealing with the same kind of overt racial attitudes that led to the naming of Lee High School in the first place. I dont believe that people who want to keep the Lee name are racists. However, I do think it is wishful thinking to retain any form of the Lee name and believe that we havent communicated something powerfully racial to ourselves and to the world. This much should be perfectly clear. Whatever we believe about the man himself, Robert E. Lee and icons of the confederacy such as the confederate flag, Rebels and the song Dixie, are not quaint reminders of the Antebellum South. Instead, they have become symbols of the brutality and cruelty of slavery and the Jim Crow era. We cannot separate these icons from this reality. Words and symbols are powerfulthey mean something. We do not have the option to determine what a symbol means. Symbols are messages that communicate something specific. I was in Brazil once and I gave a friend of mine the OK sign with my hand. He turned pale and grabbed my hand and said, That is one of most vulgar things you can do here. It did not matter that I didnt mean to say something offensive. It did not matter that, in my mind, I was communicating approval. It did not matter that for my entire life the OK sign meant something positive. What mattered is what that symbol meant in that place and for that time. Words and symbols mean what they mean in their place and time. Lets agree that, regardless of what we mean by it, for most people Lee and the symbols of the confederacy represent racism and slavery. Even if we dont mean them that way, we cant change reality no matter how badly we want to. More to the heart and hurt of the matter, for many of our citizens of color, those symbols perpetuate the message of the past even if we dont mean them to. The only reason we have been asked to suggest possibilities for renaming this school is because the name Lee symbolizes something we dont want to be part of anymore. Some have said that we should listen to our students for this decision. While I am glad that we have students on our committee who are part of this conversation, and their input is important, I will point out that a student vote helped get us in this mess in 1960. Adults have the benefit of the perspective of time. This should be an adult decision. Many of the adults I know who are in favor of a complete name change didnt have any problem with it when they were teenagers. I dont know anyone who has matured in the opposite direction. Finally, I want to point out that sometimes doing the right thing means going against the majority opinion. The voting rights act of 1964 would not have passed through a national vote. It took the courage and sacrifice of a few to lead the nation to the right conclusion. I think the easy thing would be to keep some form of the name Lee. I think most of those associated with Midland Lee would vote in favor of keeping the name. My guess is that Midland Lee will be the highest ranked suggestion coming out of this committee. I believe the committee has enough votes to present the school board with naming options that will only include some version of the name Lee. But I dont think keeping the Lee name is the right thing to do. White people who want to keep things the same have the power of the majority. That doesnt mean we should use it. I say white people because if you pay attention, the majority of those who are asking us to change it are people of color. Keeping any form of the name Lee isnt a compromise; its a cram down. We have the chance to do something we will be proud of for generations. This issue wont go away with half measures. We have the chance to do something once and for all to put this behind us. That is why my nomination for the name was anything that doesnt include the name Lee. What can you do? Call, text, or email your school board representative and tell them you are supporting them to courageously lead Midland into a new future. Tell them we want to send a different message to the world than we did 60 years ago. Dozens of communities have found a way through this. Lets not be one of the last cities in America to come to our senses. We are better than that. on Sunday increased pressure on over the poisoning of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, warning that a lack of support by Moscow in the investigation could force to rethink the fate of a German-Russian gas pipeline project. I hope the Russians won't force us to change our position regarding the Nord Stream 2" pipeline being built under the Baltic Sea, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told weekly Bild am Sonntag. Maas also said, If there won't be an contributions from the Russian side regarding the investigation in the coming days, we will have to consult with our partners. He did not exclude possible punishments against Russia, telling the newspaper that if we think about sanctions, they should be pinpointed effectively". However, Maas also admitted that halting the building of the nearly completed gas pipeline would harm German and European companies. Whoever demands this has to be aware of the consequences, he said. More than 100 companies from 12 European countries are involved (in the construction), about half of them from The German government has come under growing pressure to use the joint German-Russian pipeline project as leverage in getting to provide answers on Navalny. The Nord Stream 2 project would deliver Russian gas directly to Germany under the Baltic Sea when completed, bypassing Ukraine. Navalny, a Kremlin critic and corruption investigator, fell ill on a flight to Moscow last month and was taken to a hospital in the Siberian city of Omsk. He has been in an induced coma in a Berlin hospital since he was flown to Germany for treatment on August 22. German authorities have said that tests showed that he had been poisoned with a chemical nerve agent from the Novichok group. British authorities previously identified the nerve agent, developed during the Soviet era, as the poison used on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in 2018. We have high expectations from the Russians to bring light into this severe crime, Maas said. If they have nothing to do with this attack then it's in their own interest to put the facts on the table. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman has brushed off allegations that the Kremlin was involved in poisoning Navalny and said last week that Germany hadn't provided Moscow with any evidence about the politician's condition. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalny's poisoning an attempted murder that aimed to silence one of Putin's fiercest critics and called for a full investigation. Merkel personally offered the country's assistance in treating Navalny. He's now in stable condition at Berlin's Charite hospital, but doctors expect a long recovery and haven't ruled out that the 44-year-old could face long-term effects to his health. Merkel has previously rejected the idea that the Navalny case should be linked to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The US has long opposed the project, which has been increasingly a source of friction between Berlin and Washington. In early August, three Republican senators threatened sanctions against an operator of a Baltic Sea port located in Merkel's parliamentary constituency over its part in Nord Stream 2. The Mukran port is a key staging post for ships involved in its construction. The US argues the project will endanger European security by making Germany overly dependent on Russian gas. It's also opposed by Ukraine and Poland, which will be bypassed by the pipeline under the Baltic, as well as some other European nations. In addition to the security concerns, the US also wants to sell more of its own liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to Europe. A lawyer representing a 17-year-old charged with shooting three people during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has resigned from his position with a defense fund that has raked in more than $700,000 to defend his client and conservative causes. Attorney John Pierce is defending Kyle Rittenhouse against intentional homicide charges for shooting two people to death and wounding a third during a night of unrest last month over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was left paralyzed from the waist down. Pierce said he resigned from the #FightBack Foundation fund, which has raised money to defend Rittenhouse, to avoid any appearance of conflict," USA Today reported. Pierce and his firm, Pierce Bainbridge Beck Price & Hecht, have been accused of defaulting on millions of dollars owed to investors, according to court documents. Pierce acknowledged in New York court documents earlier this year that he had failed to pay Karish Kapital $4 million for cash advances it had made to Pierce's firm, which also has a much large payment of $65 million looming for another investor, the newspaper reported. Pierce and Lin Wood, another attorney who has taken up high-profile cases championed by conservatives, started the fund in early August. The fund is described as a way to bring lawsuits to check the lies of the left. Pierce has argued that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he shot the three people on Aug. 25 during a third night of protests over the shooting of Blake two days earlier, which was captured on cellphone video and posted online. The Rittenhouse case has become a political flashpoint. During his Tuesday visit to Kenosha, President Donald Trump gave an account at odds with the one given by prosecutors, falsely implying that the teenager only shot the men after he tripped and they attacked him. Wood, who now controls the foundation, said Pierce would be reimbursed for his work defending Rittenhouse. Greg Harbut, one of few Black owners in horse racing, said theres no way he could skip the race and not bring awareness to Black contributions to the sport Greg Harbut 35, an African-American horse owner participating in the 146th Kentucky Derby, was asked by civil rights activists to withdraw from Saturdays race to protest the police killing of Breonna Taylor. Harbut is one of the industrys few Black owners, and Louisville activists said that the festive atmosphere of the famed horse race was inappropriate at a time when its residents were still hurting from Taylors death and calling for justice. Taylor, 26 was fatally shot by Louisville Metro Police Department in March when they stormed her apartment while executing a no-knock search warrant. Thinking the plainclothes officers were intruders, Taylors boyfriend fired a warning shot, and gunfire broke out. Taylor, who was unarmed, was killed during the exchange of gunfire. Activists who organized demonstrations in Louisville since Taylors death had called for the Kentucky Derby to be cancelled and for Harbut to skip the race. Read More: Opposing groups confront each other at Kentucky Derby protest Harbut told CNN he was asked to sit out the race, but added that despite supporting the protestors cause, he was not willing to give in to their demands, and preferred to use the event as a platform. Greg Harbut (via website) I stand with Black Lives Matter, and I stand for justice for Breonna Taylor, Harbut said. But as an African American man involved in an industry thats not very inclusive to people who look like me, theres no way that I could sit out on one of the largest race days in the U.S. and not bring awareness to the contributions that African Americans have given to horse racing. Although the Kentucky Derby has never been postponed or cancelled due to bad weather, this years race was held without spectators in the stands because of the coronavirus pandemic. Story continues Read More: Black in the saddle: The history of African-American jockeys in the Kentucky Derby As theGrio previously reported on September 5, opposing protest groups took to the streets of Louisville on the day of the race. One group demanded justice for Breonna Taylor, while the other group showed support for law enforcement. Dressed in riot gear, police broke up a skirmish between the two groups. Harbut comes from a family long associated with horse racing for nearly a century. Obviously, its extremely emotional because this is a race my grandfather participated in in 1962 and he was not allowed to be listed nor attend that Derby, Harbut said. I dont know how many non-African Americans have had multi-family lineage participate in ownership, but I would think that is a rarity among us as African Americans. So that is something I am very proud of. Im extremely emotional and happy to be able to take on the legacy of my family at this time. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Why one African-American horse owner refused to boycott Kentucky Derby for Breonna Taylor appeared first on TheGrio. The aid includes a large quantity of food and medical supplies as well as rain-resistant tents Egypt sent a new batch of humanitarian aid to Sudan on Sunday to help the country amid the heavy flooding that has killed at least 100 people and destroyed 100,000 homes. According to a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces, two military cargo planes carrying humanitarian aid took off on Sunday from East Cairo as per President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis orders. The aid includes a large quantity of food and medical supplies as well as rain-resistant tents, the statement read. The statement added that Sudanese officials have expressed their appreciation to the Egyptian people for their support of the Sudanese people during this crisis. Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 02:42:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIRANA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Next parliamentary elections in Albania will take place on April 25, 2021 according to a presidential decree, the press office of the president said Sunday in a statement. The decree respects the amendments of the Electoral Code, which sets two deadlines on the future general elections in the country, respectively from April 15 to May 15 or from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15. The leaders of the opposition parties in Albania have been demanding that the elections be held as soon as possible. On Friday, Meta held meetings with representatives of Albanian main political parties, including the leaders of the Socialist Party as well as Prime Minister Edi Rama, Lulzim Basha of the Democratic Party, and Monika Kryemadhi of the Socialist Movement for Integration party. The last parliamentary elections in Albania took place on June 25, 2017, in which the ruling Socialist Party won 48.33 percent of the votes and garnered 74 seats in the 140-seat parliament, while the DP received 28.81 percent of the votes, or 43 seats. At that time, 1.6 million eligible voters participated in the elections, according to the Central Election Commission. Enditem COVID-19 test results come back within 24 hours or even faster. Hotels have been transformed into quarantine units. Scientists are racing to develop a cutting-edge, low-cost ventilator. This isn't the pandemic response in South Korea, New Zealand or another country held up as a model of coronavirus containment success. It's Senegal, a west African country with a fragile health care system, a scarcity of hospital beds and about seven doctors for every 100,000 people. And yet Senegal, with a population of 16 million, has tackled COVID-19 aggressively and, so far, effectively. More than six months into the pandemic, the country has about 14,000 cases and 284 deaths. "You see Senegal moving out on all fronts: following science, acting quickly, working the communication side of the equation, and then thinking about innovation," said Judd Devermont, director of the Africa program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan foreign policy think tank. Senegal deserves "to be in the pantheon of countries that have ... responded well to this crisis, even given its low resource base," Devermont said. A Red Cross worker sprays a pupil with a disinfectant at the entrance of a school in Dakar on June 25, 2020, on the opening day of the classes for the students in the examination class in Senegal. Senegal snagged the No. 2 slot in a recent analysis looking at how 36 countries have handled the pandemic. The United States landed near the bottom: 31st of the 36 countries examined by Foreign Policy magazine, which included a mix of wealthy, middle income and developing nations. Senegal received strong marks for "a high degree of preparedness and a reliance on facts and science," while the U.S. was dinged for poor public health messaging, limited testing and other shortcomings. Devermont and others say Senegal's quiet success is due to a combination of quick action, clear communication and its experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. During that health crisis, Senegal confirmed its first case on Aug. 29; officials immediately identified 74 other people the patient had been in contact with and began monitoring and testing them. Story continues "Testing was prompt and reliable; all results were negative," the World Health Organization said in declaring the outbreak over just a few months later. "With outbreaks raging just across its borders, Senegal was well-prepared, with a detailed response plan in place as early as March." When the novel coronavirus emerged, Dr. Abdoulaye Bousso, director of Senegals Health Emergency Operation Center, said the government began drawing up a contingency plan as soon as the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency on Jan. 30. When the country had its first positive case two months later, President Macky Sall immediately imposed a curfew and restricted travel between Senegals 14 regions. The country ramped up testing capacity quickly, creating mobile labs that can return results within 24 hours or as quickly as two hours in some cases, Bousso said. Salls government also made a dramatic promise: Every person who tested positive would have a treatment bed, whether they had symptoms or not. That kept patients away from home, where they might transmit the virus to family members. We saw at the beginning that if you do that, we can very rapidly stop the transmission, Bousso said. Senegalese Red Cross volunteers distribute food to people who are under a 14-day quarantine because they had been in contact with confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, at a hotel that has been taken over as a quarantine center, in Dakar, Senegal Sunday, April 19, 2020. Another small but significant step: Every day, an official from the health ministry delivers a grim update, disclosing the number of new infections, how many people have been cured and how many have died. If we have six people who died, we say it. If we have one person, we say it, Bousso said. The aim is to be fully transparent, to keep people mobilized and to counter any suggestion that the virus is not a serious threat, he explained. Shannon Underwood, an immigration lawyer from Seattle who moved to Senegal with her family two years ago, said the government's response has been impressive, if not perfect. Underwood said it's been "bizarre" to watch the U.S. response from afar, adding that she would much rather be living in Dakar. "There hasn't been a moment where my family was thinking, 'Oh, we should have evacuated. We always felt being here was the better choice," Underwood said. Her Senegalese friends are flabbergasted that Americans are arguing over whether to wear masks and that some are questioning the severity of the virus. "People here ask us, 'This isn't true, right?'" Underwood said. "The way the society and the culture is here ... it's unimaginable that a person would reject wearing a mask to protect the people around them." She and others have gotten used to the new norm in Senegal, which includes getting temperature checks and a squirt of hand sanitizer whenever they venture out for food or other necessities. At every grocery store, restaurant, and other facility, "there's a security guard standing at the door with a thermal forehead thermometer and a bottle of sanitizer," she said. Everyone complies without a fuss, she said, working "together as a community ... to keep each other healthy." Coronavirus: Trump goes maskless in Kenosha, and urges others to do so despite COVID-19 order Devermont said Senegal's success in tackling Ebola gave them a blueprint to respond to COVID "right out of the gate." And he noted that Sall enjoys high confidence across Senegal, ensuring that people take his warnings and the government restrictions seriously. He noted that Sall has also led by example, deciding to self-isolate after being exposed to the virus, even though he tested negative. "Senegal is not out of the woods," Devermont said, noting there may be gaps in testing and other uncertainties about how the virus will progress there. But so far, the country has shown that it doesn't take a world-class health system and gobs of money to keep the virus in check. "Your level of preparedness is incredibly important, and the resource base that you have is important," Devermont said. "But leadership trumps all of that. ... And I think Macky Sall and his government have shown extraordinary leadership." Bousso agreed Senegal cannot say yet that it has the virus under control. "But we are optimistic that if we continue on our way, we can stop this outbreak in the country," he added. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID 19: Why Senegal is outpacing the US in tackling pandemic Hong Kong: Inmates to get virus test (To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today said it is discussing with the Security Bureau arranging COVID-19 tests for all persons in custody after a detainee and an inmate were confirmed to have contracted the virus. The centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan made the announcement at a press briefing this afternoon, noting that deep throat saliva tests will be arranged for the more than 7,000 inmates in all institutions. Concerning one of the cases involving a detainee transferred from Pik Uk Prison to Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC), Dr Chuang said he may have caught the virus either at the prison or Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre as he had stayed in both. He had also worked at the prison's laundry complex. "I think (the detainee) might have got infected in Pik Uk Prison or even at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, it depends. Because he was asymptomatic we cannot determine when he became infected. "But I do not think the laundry is the source. Usually it is (transmitted) from human to human, so there may be a silent transmission in Pik Uk or Lai Chi Kok. We have to test all the inmates as well as the staff to see whether there are any linked cases." She added that some of the inmates who had close contact with the patient will have to be quarantined on site. "For the CIC close contacts, they have been sent to the quarantine centre. For those other prisoners they have to be quarantined on site. "If there is not enough space, we have been discussing with the Security Bureau and the Correctional Services Department to maybe find a nearby prison to quarantine them, because it is not appropriate to quarantine them in a normal quarantine centre. They have to be quarantined in a prison." Including this case and another inmate, the CHP is investigating a total of 21 new COVID-19 cases. Among them, 15 are locally transmitted while six are imported. Of the local cases, eight are related to previous ones and the remaining seven are those with unknown sources of infection. Dr Chuang noted that it is too early to determine whether there is an increasing trend in infections. "We have 21 cases today and five of them were (detected through) the Universal Community Testing Programme, so that explains a few, but not all the cases. "But we do have some fluctuation day by day in the number of cases, so we have to observe for a few days more to see whether there is an increasing trend or not." For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2020-09-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. On Monday 7 September, hearings for the extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States will resume in the UK for at least three weeks. The International Federation of Journalists(IFJ) once again denounces the unrelenting judicial and political harassment. Since April 2019, Julian Assange has been behind bars in the British prison of Belmarsh, in the east of London. Images of an emaciated man with shaggy hair, being forcibly removed by the British police from the Ecuadorian embassy where he had spent six years, will remain seared in the minds of many. Initially placed in solitary confinement without any decision justifying it, Julian Assange is still in detention and will therefore begin his third round of hearings on Monday 7 September, after those of February and June. These next three weeks will be crucial for the founder of Wikileaks, a member of IFJ Australian affiliate MEAA and holder of the IFJ International Press Card. Assange, who faces 175 years in prison if extradited to the US and convicted , is accused by the Americans of encouraging whistleblower Chelsea Manning in 2010 to break into the government's computer system to provide information containing clear evidence of war crimes, including the publication of the video Collateral murders . The video showed ,via an onboard camera on a US Apache helicopter in Iraq, the deliberate shooting on 12 July 2007 in Baghdad of civilians by the US military. At least 18 people were killed in the incident, including two journalists from the Reuters agency. "Even though Assange was able to meet his relatives at the end of August, including his children, his health is still very worrying and no measures are being taken to improve it," said Anthony Bellanger, IFJ General Secretary, who is in regular contact with Assange's father, John Shipton. "The situation is also critical from a judicial point of view as British courts will have to rule on the extradition of Julien Assange to the US, opening the door to a life sentence for the founder of Wikileaks. The IFJ continues to work with freedom of expression groups and reminds members of the Council of Europe and the international community that the UK is holding without shame a man who has made public information of public interest. When the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by then-President Nixon in 1972, its intent was to protect endangered species with the intention of helping them recover and removing them from the list. It was not some prolonged protection but to get the species healthy, recovered and off the list, said Chris Kearney, who serves the Permian Basin Petroleum Association as a consultant on endangered species involving the Permian Basin, including the dunes sagebrush lizard and the lesser prairie chicken. But over the years, the act has become weaponized by groups whose real motivation is to shut down industrial activity, said Kearney, who addressed the act during the weekly Oilfield Strong webinar presented by OTA Compression, OTA Environmental, Kimark and the PBPA. There is no question there are conservation groups and environmental groups that sincerely have preservation of species as their motivation and also understand the need for economic activity, he told the Reporter-Telegram by telephone following the webinar. But there are some groups that have weaponized the act by seizing on its requirement that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service respond within 60 days to a petition to list a species. They know full well the service cant respond given the backlog, Kearney said. That 60-day deadline is no longer a reflection of the demand on FWS personnel or the regulatory landscape, he said. Ben Shepperd, president of the PBPA, said, If theyre truly interested in species, they should prioritize conservation of the species and go to the Fish and Wildlife Service and say, We recognize you dont have the manpower or resources to list every species. So lets cooperate on prioritizing the most endangered species, not file petition after petition, knowing the service wouldnt meet the deadline. For some groups, no compromise is enough, so they use the courts to try to limit oil and gas activity, Shepperd said. We try to work with them within those parameters, he said. Kearney praised the proactive efforts of organizations such as the PBPA to put together conservation plans to preserve endangered species while allowing oil and gas activity to continue. The PBPAs work on crafting Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances for species such as the lizard and the lesser prairie chicken can offer roadmaps for private-public partnerships to protect species, while providing tangible, measurable results, he said. Shepperd pointed to the PBPAs work on crafting a CCAA for the lesser prairie chicken that has the participation of over 170 oil and gas companies and over 6 million acres across multiple states under conservation. Participants, primarily oil and gas companies, have contributed $65 million in conservation funds for the chicken, Shepperd said, far more than the government could pony up. Those funds go to landowners, farmers and ranchers to pay them to implement conservation measures on their property. Its a win for the bird, whose population has grown from 18,000 to over 40,000, and for businesses that get to continue their operations. Thats why were engaged on several fronts the lizard, the chicken, said Shepperd. Any conservation plan needs to be updated, he said, and in the case of the lizard, the rise of frac sand mining operations in West Texas, primarily in the lizards habitat prompted the need for an updated and improved plan. Following a petition to list the lizard, the FWS agreed the lizard may warrant listing and took public comments on a proposed CCAA that would be administered by Canyon Environmental. If implemented, the CCAA would serve as rules of the road to allow businesses to operate while conserving species, Kearney and Shepperd said. Kearney said concerns about possible species listings have an impact on economic activity, citing as an example a utility abandoning plans to build wind turbines to provide electricity and another utility modifying where it built turbines just on the potential of a dune sagebrush lizard listing. The point is, there are industries and entities that make decisions on what actions to take when it comes to habitat that are not in the public square, Kearney said. Whats at stake for us, because of the weaponization of the act, (is) the goal of some to halt all oil and gas and other actions on land. That could be devastating to the Permian Basin and other areas. The PBPA and its members take the issue seriously, said Shepperd, adding that he hopes CCAAs protecting the lizard and the lesser prairie chicken will be durable enough to protect those species while also protecting the right of oil and gas and other industries to continue their operations. My name is Millie, though sometimes I am called Millie Moo or Mookser, but my favourite is Millie Moo. I am a Jack Russell in the autumn of my life. I was plucked from obscurity some 13 years ago as the only girl in a family of boys, in an outhouse bed of straw in Scartaglin, Co Kerry. Thankfully, I have never seen straw since, or want to, as I now live a velvet life of pillows, duvets and soft furnishings. Most of my life was spent in the coastal village of Ballyheigue in the Kingdom of Kerry. I explored every scent on beautiful Banna Beach, often with my aunt Mary and my best canine friend and cousin, Poppy, a vivacious white Bichon five years my junior. Many a happy hour we spent chasing the ever-elusive birds there. I have been a well-travelled lady since that first car ride from Scartaglin and became an accomplished back-seat passenger on every road trip from Beara to Bundoran and from Tralee to Thurles. More recently, I have used my Dog Passport and accumulated doggy air miles as I now live in Vancouver, Canada, and travelled the 4,447-mile journey in my carrier cot on an Airbus A330 from Dublin. I felt like a star with all the attention I got before we took off! While apprehensive, I am proud to say I only barked twice on the whole nine-hour ride. Thankfully, I got reassuring and frequent pats from P and Fin. They say I am totally spoilt and, reluctantly, I have to agree. But sure, they have to spoil someone so it may as well be me. Vancouver has opened up a totally new chapter in the twilight of my life, with a plethora of fresh scents and a teasing supply of squirrels, rabbits and even raccoons as I explore Vancouver's beaches and parks. I still haven't lost my hunter instincts and can put any good leash to the test. Where next for me, who knows, but as long as I get my walks, my treats and my belly rubs, I am very content and happy to live this dog's life. Name: Millie Finest hour: Bravely flying to Vancouver without a whimper Likes: The rustle of shopping bags - the sure prospect of a new treat Dislikes: Being told 'we won't be long' when I know very well, they will If you would like your pet featured in this column please send a story of 440 words and a photograph to snews@independent.ie clearly labelled MY PET THE FORUM Lockdown extension folly The extension of the lockdown and the ongoing closure of businesses is folly while two contributing factors to ongoing COVID-19 infections remain unaddressed. That is, the contact tracing team is insufficiently resourced, creating delays in the follow-up of new cases and thus enabling infection spread before intervention is made. Secondly, hospital and nursing home staff continue to work multiple jobs and sites, unintentionally spreading the virus. Dan Andrews has worked non-stop for months, perhaps it is time for him to take a back seat and let others take the pressure so that in time he can provide clearer strategic direction. Peter Cameron, Surrey Hills Stay the course Massachusetts and Victoria are of similar size and density and population. It is sobering to note the COVID-19 statistics for Massachusetts are 122,000 cases and more than 9100 deaths. To our fellow Australians who are enduring a hard lockdown in Victoria, I suggest that you hang in there a bit longer and listen to the health advice. Selfishly, I for one am anxious to visit family and friends in Victoria and want you safe and well. Don Neil, Peregian Springs, Qld Road to nowhere The Premiers road map for recovery, which he outlined yesterday, leads to a dead end. On the DHHS website COVID Normal will arrive only with total elimination of the virus. When there are no new cases for 28 days and no active cases (statewide) and no outbreaks of concern in other States and Territories. I am 81 and still in good health, but realistically have just a few active years left. I would like to meet my grandchildren only 12kilometres away but am unlikely to do that until next year at the earliest. I would like to renew friendships after six weeks of lockdown, but no. Why not a program to seriously address the situation instead of blanket lockdowns? Peter Evans, Bentleigh East Anger management We now know how much longer we will have to endure lockdown and the meagre bones thrown our way to assuage our anger. Anger not at having to adopt measures to prevent a third wave and to protect our aged citizens and healthcare workers who appear to be bearing the brunt of coronavirus. Anger at the lack of accountability and paternalism of the Premier, his ministers and the bureaucrats who mismanaged us into the second wave. Anger at the absence of information about the parameters of models to predict our fate, by medical experts with well remunerated positions and meaningful tasks that cushion them from the four grey walks of apathy, despair, meaninglessness and financial despair. Its not enough to make decisions in the context of a deadly virus but the modelling should account for the enormous detrimental impact on mental health, welfare and trust, all being systematically eroded. Ramesh Rajan, Canterbury Quite the role model Among other former American presidents; Washington, Grant, Truman, Eisenhower, H.W. Bush and Kennedy, it can be said they all sacrificed for their country. By President Trumps definition they were all suckers to have served in uniform. When as an aspirant to be president of the US, Donald Trump was asked what sacrifices he had made for his country. He replied: I built buildings. A builder of casinos? Quite a role model. Ken Feldman, Sandringham Missing connection What have I missed here? To listen to the federal government and a host of commentators, we cant begin on an economic recovery until the borders are open. Maybe our economy is largely dependent upon the tourism industry but all the other industries dont necessarily require open borders. Distribution, transport, retail and manufacturing are all capable of rebounding without open borders. Even hospitality can make great strides without interstate tourists. So why isnt the government putting its efforts into stimulating the areas it can influence rather than expending energy with little return? Rob Smith, Rye Abbott will make it worse It is just as well that Tony Abbott is not negotiating trade agreements on behalf of the Chinese government. Can you imagine the apoplectic howls from the China is very, very bad lobby if such were the case. Fortunately, our former prime minister has been hired to betray the interests of his country in the service of the UK. We can rest assured that this is the right kind of foreign influence, and we should not worry. Tony has no experience in trade matters and can be relied upon to bring these manifest skills to bear in assisting the UK. We can be confident that Our Tony will only make a bad situation worse. Ken Richards, Elwood Team penalty A suggestion to stop off-field AFL problems, as demonstrated by the two Richmond players, is that the suspension would apply to both the player and the team. If a player gets a three-week suspension they dont play for those three weeks but the team loses a player for the same three weeks and can put only 17 players on the ground. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill Courageous truth-telling Alan Davies should be praised and respected for his courageous truth-telling about his abusive childhood in his memoir (The darkness that haunts Alan Davies, 5/9). Survivors of abuse like his deserve sensitivity and kindness in the face of their revelations and their choice of how to reveal them. The interviewer, however, was judgmental and insensitive considering his reticence to speak about the abuse. As we agitate for legislative change to give victims their voice in Victoria, I hope everyone can learn to listen respectfully and non-judgmentally to those who come forward about their abuse in whatever form they choose. Amber McQueen, East Brunswick Outdated model Is the consumer model the only one possible while we emerge from the pandemic? Building pyramids seemed to work in ancient Egypt but wouldnt work so well today. Something more relevant such as rolling out a nationwide program of tree planting would not only provide employment on a large scale but also prove of great benefit to the environment. Among other things, it would contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improve air quality, help restore habitat and upgrade the water table. It has become obvious that the consumer model is short-sighted and the continuation with business as usual will perpetuate global warming. This is a great opportunity to rethink what is happening and modify policies that are failing. The problem is that if the federal government doesnt have policies to modify, we are stuck until those in power can use reason, science and imagination to extract us from this predicament. Chris Durie, Hawthorn East Agency plan applauded I commend the Morrison governments plan (New federal agency mooted for emergencies, 6/9). We can learn so much from the communication and planning problems that bushfires and pandemics have exposed. Its crucially important to have a well co-ordinated agency so that all Commonwealth resources could be quickly mobilised. The new body will have to be well-funded and properly resourced with ready-to-go action plans. My main concern is that its proposed to be under the Department of Home Affairs. As Professor Blaxland advises, it should not be hidden within Home Affairs. The track records of the department secretary and Minister raise concerns about their capacity for the flexibility and adaptability that national emergencies demand. Fr Kevin Burke, Sandringham Focus on jobs for all With reference to David Crowes piece (Business urges $10 billion in tax cuts to spur investment, 5/9), higher incomes benefiting tax cuts are the last thing we need to boost our economic recovery. Direct massive but targeted government investment in a Jobs for All Guarantee program is whats needed. This can be achieved through deficit financing. Australia as a sovereign nation and issuer of its own currency can and must through the government-controlled Federal Treasury take the jobs creating investment initiative, with or without the issuance of treasury notes or bonds. There is a huge resource capacity waiting to be activated in the post-COVID economy and the focus should be on the creation of well-paying jobs in private industry and public enterprises. Henk van Leeuwen, Elwood Revoke Gold Pass Having accepted appointment as an agent of a foreign government to lobby on its behalf, Tony Abbotts entitlement to a Life Gold Pass (free unlimited travel); an office and two office staff for life; and the diplomatic status of his Australian passport; should all be revoked. Merv Keehn, South Melbourne Reduce the lag Ask any control systems engineer what is one of the hardest tasks to control on a project and they will tell you it is lag (between action and reaction). The system of PCR testing for COVID-19 has too much lag. There are several days of an infectious period before symptoms appear. These symptomatic people might leave it a few more days to get tested. Non-symptomatic people wont know to get tested until they become a case of contact tracing to someone who has become symptomatic from being infected by the original person. This may take weeks. Imagine the unintended spread during this time. The easiest solution is to reduce the lag. Are any government bodies looking at rapid, at-home, relatively cheap antigen testing? This could be a good adjunct to PCR testing. This will reduce lag, catch the non-symptomatic people and give us half a chance of maintaining COVID Normal. Lou Piscopo, Ascot Vale AND ANOTHER THING ... Credit: Coronavirus Stay the course, Dan. The grateful majority are with you. Graham Cadd, Dromana Je suis Moe. Masks on everyone. Andrew Smith, Leongatha Protesters If those protesting COVID-19 lockdowns as a civil liberty issue become infected will they refuse medical or hospital treatment? Mary Cole, Richmond For those protesting the restrictions you can always leave, oh thats right, you cant, no one wants us because you cant stick to the rules. Mary Wise, Ringwood Tony Abbott Didnt it occur to the Tories that if Abbott was such an asset, why nobody else had snapped him up? Ralph Frank, Malvern East Tony Abbott heads to the UK as an unpaid adviser to the UK Board of Trade. If hes so desperate to keep busy perhaps he could have stayed here and volunteered delivering parcels for Australia Post. Sharon Allan, Castlemaine That well-known saying that you get what you pay for is proved by Abbotts appointment. Alan Inchley, Frankston Hard to know which is more misguided: Boris Johnsons ringing endorsement of Abbotts new role, or Scott Morrisons claim that it could benefit Australia. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale Police blocked hundreds of demonstrators from marching to a Southeast Portland police precinct Saturday night, then quickly declared the gathering a riot after people threw at least three incendiary devices toward officers. Police used tear gas for the first time in September and arrested 59 people. The clashes played out for hours in the neighborhoods surrounding Ventura Park, where people initially gathered to protest police violence and anti-Black racism. Protesters tried repeatedly over the course of the night to find a path to the precinct. Police blocked the way every time. Tensions remained high throughout the night and into early Sunday morning. It was the second straight night that state troopers helped Portland police. Police arrested the most people on any single night of the protests so far. Almost all were charged with low-level misdemeanors and crimes that Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt previously committed to dismissing. In recent weeks, nightly protests have often culminated in damage such as graffiti, broken windows and small fires outside law enforcement buildings. A few of those demonstrations happened at East Precinct. Demonstrators planned to return there Saturday. But just as more than 400 people started to leave Ventura Park around 9 p.m., police told the crowd they could not march to the precinct, for the safety of city employees, community members and nearby residents. An officer using a loudspeaker said the march was not permitted, and said police have the authority to place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on this event. The officer did not explain the rule, but a spokesperson for Portland police later pointed to part of the city code that gives police the power to shut areas in cases of emergencies. The announcement caught marchers at Ventura Park off guard. The gathering had started as a peaceful rally led by a series of Black and Indigenous speakers, who urged protesters to continue pressing for police reforms. Police never let the crowd get close to the precinct. Dozens of officers arrived to block the march at Stark Street near 113th Avenue around 9:20 p.m. Some people reacted by throwing Molotov cocktail-like devices toward the police lines. Another person lit a firework. The devices exploded in Stark Street, several feet away from the police line. But one person was injured after their shoes and pants caught fire. Police immediately declared the gathering a riot and ordered people to leave. Police forced the crowd east and released tear gas onto the crowd within minutes. Officers detained at least one person. Police sometimes stopped and faced off with protesters. Then after a few minutes, officers advanced again. The pattern repeated itself throughout the night. Protesters split into smaller groups amid the confusion. The groups navigated around area residential streets. City and state police periodically arrived to intercept them. Officers arrested several people at 117th Avenue and Taylor Street, a residential area. At least one resident emerged and yelled at protesters hiding on his property to leave. Most protesters started to reunite on 122nd Avenue, nearly 15 blocks from the original destination. The combined group of hundreds of people marched back to Ventura Park. Lines of officers moved in to force people east soon after the march arrived. The advance stopped at 117th and Stark, where another face off ensued. Police stood in the street, ordering people to stay on the sidewalk and helping traffic pass through. Officers sometimes released smoke into the air to break up the crowd. The canisters landed at the feet of protesters and journalists. People responded by throwing water bottles and paint-filled balloons. Police eventually forced the crowd north on 117th Avenue, a mostly residential street, arresting more people as they went. Protesters shouted at police. The push by police stopped at Burnside Street, where the MAX line divides the roadway. Police retreated south on 117th in clouds of smoke. Protesters followed them. The face offs continued at various points along the street for more than 45 minutes. Police sometimes rushed in to arrest specific people in the crowd. At the same time, a second, larger group of marchers formed on 122nd Avenue. The march eventually made its way back to Ventura Park. Police rushed toward people and set off smoke devices. The crowd ended up at Burnside Avenue. Officers tried to find one person who threw something toward them. When they could not, one officer yelled, Hiding in the press like a coward toward the unidentified person. Police retreated after several minutes, deployed stun grenades and releasing some sort of irritant into the air as they left. Many people coughed for several minutes. By then, it was past 1 a.m. More than 100 protesters remained in the area. When protesters returned once more to Ventura Park, police ordered them to leave. Then, officers started running through the park to press people away. Police told the crowd the park was closed since city parks close at midnight. The tense night came after two peaceful sit-ins earlier in the day to mark the 101st day of protests in Portland. Read more: Dave Killen, Beth Nakamura and Mark Graves of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. -- Samantha Swindler A 38-year-old patient, who was undergoing treatment at a Covid care centre in Palghar, tried to end his life on Sunday morning. He was rushed to Mumbais Nair Hospital after sustaining major injuries. The patient a resident of Jambivli, Bhiwandi, and was admitted to the Covid care centre at Wada. After his condition worsened, he was shifted to a centre at Vikramgadh on Saturday night, where he tried to end his life the next morning. He has been shifted to Nair Hospital for specialised treatment. We are probing the reason behind the step, said a police officer. The victim, who was alert and bleeding from his right arm, told officers he and a friend had just pulled in the lot after the two, with another group of people, left a 45th Street bar in Griffith, Banasiak said. As he was getting out of the car, Banasiak said, he heard a man call out his name, then turned to see a man dressed in black holding a gun before he shot him. Dr. John Glenn Ramon, AP chemistry teacher at Hightower High School, has always sought to form a deep bond with his students. A former winner of Teacher of the Year at the Fort Bend ISD school, Ramon creates an environment in which students feel free to speak to him about issues that go beyond the curriculum. So when classes went online in March, it was natural for him to not only keep in touch with his students, but to also give them the guidance and support they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ramon video chatted with his students, asking them to describe what they felt during quarantine. Using Mentimeter, an online software that allows classrooms to use slideshows and polls, he asked his students to share the words that came to them when they thought of the past few weeks. I did a word cloud. The biggest ones were: its confusing, its disappointing, annoying and different. Those were the things the students were saying to me, he said. But Ramon knew the seniors, isolated and feeling down about canceled prom and graduation, wouldnt always feel this way. I said to my seniors, 20, 30 years from now they will look at this from a different perspective. Hey, this is our badge, said Ramon. Ramon found his calling as a teacher when he was a university student in his home country of the Philippines. He found his way to the U.S. after he applied to a Ph.D. program in chemistry at the University of Houston. In 2007, he landed his first and only full-time job as a teacher in America. I started my career at Hightower High School, where I still am, because I love that school so much, he said. I fell in love with the culture there and the students. Its a very diverse high school. Ramon believes teaching isnt just a career, but a vocation the thing hes meant to do. Though classes end at 2:45 p.m., he stays in his classroom until 5 p.m. My students know if they need to stay somewhere, they can just hang around my classroom. Thats my opportunity to hang and chat with them. Thats how I build my relationships, he said. I open my classroom. They choose to have lunch in my room, to avoid the crowd or just to hang around. I break the ice by asking, How was your day? Especially if a student is quiet. While his job is teaching the curriculum of AP chemistry, in the era of Google and YouTube, students can find most of those answers on the internet, Ramon said. Students can easily google what you teach them. What tech isnt able to teach is wisdom, he said. But wisdom can only come from building relationships. Ramon posts videos on YouTube, in which he shares his thoughts on managing life during the COVID-19 crisis. In one video, titled Finding Strength in the Unlikeliest Places, he shared a story about his struggles after the death of a student and how his pain illustrated how special, and how much of an effect, the student had. In this way, Ramon who still maintains open, virtual office hours every day serves as an anchor and mentor for his students during hard times. The 2020 seniors went through so much. Theyre the only batch who had two major interruptions. For their first and second year, there was Hurricane Harvey. Every school was interrupted for two weeks. We were catching up the whole year. I had to cut corners just to fit the curriculum. Then, again, the school year got interrupted, he said. But they were able to overcome it. Thats what I was telling them. You will look at this and say, This is unique to us. Were the only batch to say weve overcome so much. Cawthorn, Davis swap charges on character, white nationalism, military service The Republican and Democratic nominees for the open 11th Congressional District seat swapped charges on character, military service, health care, gun control and more Friday night during a debate streamed live on Facebook. Madison Cawthorn, a Hendersonville native, and Moe Davis, a Shelby native who moved with his wife to Asheville after he retired from the military and other service, faced off at the Biltmore Park campus of Western Carolina University in the forum hosted by Blue Ridge Public Radio, the Smoky Mountain News and Mountain Xpress. Conservative talk radio host Pete Kaliner brought up remarks Davis had made of Cawthorn online, including allegations of being a white supremacist and Nazi-sympathizer. (Various media outlets have reported that Cawthorn has been photographed with symbols associated with white nationalists and that he described a visit to Hitlers summer retreat as a bucket list achievement.) Kaliner also noted Daviss negative opinions on President Trump and the Rev. Franklin Graham, the evangelical leader and strong supporter of Trump. Kaliner asked how Davis could represent all the people of WNC, many of who are Republicans, with that mindset. My perspective is that I am running to represent this entire district, that is why I was criticized on the right for going to Black Lives Matter marches and I was criticized by the left for going to Back the Blue marche, Davis responded. My response was if youre running to represent the district, you are running to represent the entire district, not just the people that like you. Im proud of my record, Davis said. I spent seven years in the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) community, Ive had a record as a judgeIts a public record, you can go and look at itwhere I have fought to be fair, to call it like I see it, whether it is employers or employees, to make sure the rules are applied fairly. My commitment is to work for everyone in this district to make life better. They gave Mark Meadows four terms, Im asking for 22 months to make things better in Western North Carolina. Cawthorn responded: If another liberal lawyer in Washington, D.C., is what we needed to be able to solve all the major problems facing our country they wouldve been solved very long ago. Unfortunately, my opponent is a member of the DC swamp. A member of the revolving door of working in public service and trying to pull the wool over the eyes of good and honest voters. I dont believe he really wants to talk about his positions, Cawthorn said. When he gave his answer he didnt really answer any part of the question from Mr. Kaliner, which was asking him, why did you call a Franklin Graham rally a Klan rally? It is very clear that my opponent is not from here. He is from Shelby, North Carolina, and he is coming here as a pseudo-carpetbagger, because in this district we revere the Graham family. Davis responded: Well, I spent 25-years in uniform defending your right to say what you want and to practice your religion the way that you want. To me it is not very Christian to attack another Christians faith. I am not a fan of Franklin Graham. I was a big believer in Billy Graham, Ive got his books at home at my house and I have read them and I respect him greatly. Franklin Graham has made himself one of the richest 1%, taking $1 million a year off the top from money people have given to do the lords work. Thats not the bible I grew up with. So, no, I am no fan of Franklin Graham, but I am a firm believer in religious conviction and religious faith and I defend the right of everyone to practice the way that they believe. Next was a question on treating people equitably and allegations that made unwanted sexual advances in high school. Aisha Adams of the Asheville View asked Cawthorn how women, black people and LGBT and other marginalized communities know that they can trust him, given the allegations of sexual assault and white nationalism that have been leveled at him. Additionally, she asked what experiences he had creating equitable policies. I have been accused of sexual assault and I wont lie to you, in high school and after, I did try to kiss a girl, he said. I have kissed many girls in high school and some of my attempts failed. But I believe there is a large difference in a failed attempt versus sexual assault. If I have a daughter, Cawthorn said, I want her to grow up in a world where people will have to ask permission to touch her. I think that would have made my high school experience much less awkward if I knew that was a question that could generally be asked. But also, if I have a son, I want him to grow up in a world where he is not accused of being a sexual predator just because he wants to kiss a girl. Moving on to the accusations of being a white nationalist, this is something I categorically reject. I have spoken out many times against racism in both my party and the county as a whole. You know, I am engaged to a bi-racial young woman and to accuse me of hating my fiancee and hating my future bi-racial children, I believe is an insult to most thinking people in Western North Carolina. Even CNN and the anti-defamation league said there is really no basis for this attack. Davis said: I am proud to be endorsed but the National Organization for Women, by equality North Carolina, and I have got a record of having fought for equal rights for everyone. I believe that everyone in this county has the right to be treated equally. Equal opportunity doesnt mean equal outcome, but it means you should have an equal shot at pursuing your dream. My opponent had accused me of following orders from Nancy Pelosi and that this is some kind of Democratic playbook, trying to smear his name. Ive never met, had any contact with, or anything with any of the women that have accused him of sexual misconduct. Trying to associate me with that is trying to deflect blame, which my opponent is quite good at. Being in the military, one of the two things you learn, one is that integrity matters and number two is accepting responsibility. Daviss military service, Cawthorns statements on Naval Academy nomination Commenting on Daviss military career, Cawthorn said: If youd like to tout your military experience, I would like to read a quote from someone who supervised you. Col. Kelly Wheaton told Davis that he was denied the medal that he was requesting because his service has not been honorable. Cawthorn then read a quote from Wheaton, I wrote in my recommendation for disapproval that you quit your position when needed because you did not want to be supervised by a superior officer with whom you had a difference of opinion. Cawthorn also said that Davis was fired from the Congressional Research Service because he broke their rules which were very clearly outlined. And then, when he was fired, he was sued by the Congressional Research Service. So, I believe that my opponent has put himself above service very often. Davis responded: Mr. Cawthorn, there were folks standing down on the corner, had Stolen Valor signs they were holding out by the side of the road. He continued, The midshipmen honor concept said, Midshipmen are persons of integrity. They tell the truth and ensure the truth is known. I guess it is a good thing you didnt go to the Naval Academy, because you seem to play fast and loose with the truth. The truth is, my car is parked out back, youll see it has got a Legion of Merit tag on the back. I earned that at the end of my career after serving as chief prosecutor at Guantanamo bay. Yes, there was one person, that you read from, who didnt think highly of my service. But the Judge Advocate General, the three star general, presented me with the Legion of Merit when I retired and I am pretty proud of that. The Congressional Research Service, did not sue me. I sued them and won because they violated my First Amendment right to free speech. Davis continued: Last week, on Maria Bartiromos Show, she said I want to thank you for your service to the country. Thats something you say to a veteran. You sat there and said nothing. So if you were waiting on your acceptance then you committed perjury because in your deposition, you said under oath, that you had been notified by the Naval Academy that you had been rejected prior to your spring break accident. Again, I just think you have a hard time with the truth. You also testified that you were going to be going to Harvard, that youd been accepted there. Then later, you have to come back and say thats not really true. Cawthorn said, To touch on the allegations that I am somehow dishonest, when it came to my nomination to the United States Naval Academy, after I had received a letter saying that I had not been accepted, I contacted Congressman Meadows office and he said there must have been something wrong with my nomination and that he would work on it. So, I was still awaiting my acceptance at the time of my accident. Also, to say that I did not get accepted to Harvard, I believe, is just a misunderstanding. I was accepted to Harvards online school and that is what I had to come back and fix. VIENNA (Reuters) - Iran has let the U.N. nuclear watchdog inspect one of the two sites it agreed last week to grant access to after a protracted standoff, while Tehran's stockpile of enriched uranium has risen further, quarterly reports by the agency said on Friday. The International Atomic Energy Agency inspected one of the sites and took environmental samples there, one of the two reports obtained by Reuters said, referring to samples aimed at detecting traces of nuclear material that may have been present. The agency's inspectors will visit the other site "later in September 2020 on a date already agreed with Iran, to take environmental samples", the report said. The other report said that Iran's stock of low-enriched uranium (LEU) rose by 534 kg in the most recent quarter, roughly the same amount as in the previous three months, to 2,105.4 kg. That is more than 10 times the 202.8 kg limit set by Iran's 2015 nuclear accord with big powers, which Iran has been breaching in response to Washington's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and reimposition of sanctions against Tehran. The stockpile, however, remains far below the many tonnes of enriched uranium Iran had accumulated before the 2015 deal. Tehran is enriching up to a fissile purity of 4.5%, which while above the deal's 3.67% limit is still far short of the 20% level it achieved before the deal. Roughly 90% purity is considered weapons-grade, suitable for an atomic bomb. Iran agreed on Aug. 26, during the first visit to Tehran by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, to allow access for U.N. inspectors to two sites suspected of once hosting covert uranium conversion and nuclear testing activities. While the IAEA says it has the right to examine such sites without permission, Iran objected because at least some of the information about them came from a trove of documents on its past activities that Tehran's main Middle East adversary, Israel, says it seized inside Iran. (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Northeastern University says it has dismissed 11 students who gathered in a hotel room in violation of the school's coronavirus policies and will not refund their tuition, marking one of the most severe punishments college students have faced for breaking pandemic rules. University staff members found the first-year students hanging out last week in a room at a Westin Hotel in downtown Boston, which Northeastern is using as a temporary dorm for about 800 students, according to a university statement. Officials instructed them to take a coronavirus test, then leave campus within 24 hours. The students, who were part of a study-abroad program that was held in Boston this semester, will not be reimbursed for their $36,500 tuition payments, according to the university. They will be allowed back on campus in the spring. In the meantime, the university said, they can appeal the punishment in an expedited hearing. The dismissal underscores the steps that universities nationwide are taking to deter behavior that could accelerate the spread of the novel coronavirus on campuses. "Cooperation and compliance with public health guidelines is absolutely essential," Madeleine Estabrook, senior vice chancellor for student affairs at Northeastern, said in a statement Friday. "Those people who do not follow the guidelines - including wearing masks, avoiding parties and other gatherings, practicing healthy distancing, washing your hands, and getting tested - are putting everyone else at risk." But public health experts have cautioned that such actions by universities may do more harm than good. Intense punishments could create a chilling effect, discouraging students from participating in contact tracing or reporting their symptoms and making it harder to track and contain infections, said Julia Marcus, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at Harvard University. "The greater the punishment, the less likely it is the students are going to comply with any public health efforts," Marcus told The Washington Post. "Using a punitive approach doesn't address the problem, which is that students have unmet needs for social contacts. That's not going to go away if you throw students off campus." Marcus cited the outdoor gathering space that the University of Notre Dame set up for students as an example of what universities could do to help students mingle in an environment in which transmission is less likely. The school converted a tract of lawn at the center of campus into an outdoor lounge, with Adirondack chairs, fire pits, a stage and an open area to play games. "I feel like what Northeastern did was extreme," Marcus said. "Universities need to be more compassionate and more creative in providing safer alternatives for students to socialize." Nearly every major university that has resumed in-person learning in recent weeks has reported coronavirus clusters among students and staff members. Some large universities, including James Madison University and North Carolina State, have pivoted to online classes after outbreaks emerged. Health experts have warned that Americans appear to be letting their guards down when it comes to protecting themselves and others from the virus. That could spell trouble going into the fall as people spend more time indoors in close quarters and cooler weather facilitates the spread of the virus. "People are exhausted," Gottlieb told CNN's "Face the Nation." "I think that people's willingness to comply with the simple things that we know can reduce spread is going to start to fray as we head into the fall and the winter, and that's another challenge, trying to keep up our vigilance at a time when we know that this can spread more aggressively." The rolling average for daily new cases in the United States dipped by a marginal 2.7% over the past week, according to The Post's analysis of state health data. Southern states hit hard by a summer surge in infections continued to report progress in controlling their outbreaks, but the virus was on the rise in several Midwestern states - particularly North Dakota and South Dakota, where new infections have more than doubled in the past month. Local officials and health experts cautioned that Labor Day weekend festivities could fuel a spike in cases similar to the wave of infections that began after Memorial Day, when large gatherings caused virus clusters to emerge nationwide. At the end of May, the country was tallying about 22,000 infections daily. The country's average daily caseload now stands at nearly twice that number, according to The Post's tracking. On Friday, the United States added more than 50,000 cases for the first time since Aug. 15. Although drug companies remain under pressure to produce an effective vaccine, some of the Trump administration's actions in recent days have fueled worry that development is being inappropriately fast-tracked so a vaccine will be ready by Election Day on Nov. 3. About two-thirds of U.S. voters think a vaccine probably would have been rushed without enough testing if it were approved this year, according to a CBS News poll released Sunday. Just over 2 in 10, 21% of voters, said they would get a vaccine as soon as possible, down from 32% in late July. Gottlieb and Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific adviser for the Trump administration's effort to accelerate vaccine production, have said that a vaccine is "extremely" unlikely to be widely available this year. Trump, however, said Friday that a vaccine probably will be available in October. Federal officials have promised not to consider political factors in vaccine production. - - - The Washington Post's Emily Guskin contributed to this report. Kolkata: A person was arrested from a village near the Sunderban forest in West Bengal's South 24 Paraganas district on Saturday after around 13 kg of deer meat was recovered from his possession, an official said. Acting on a tip-off, the forest personnel raided the house of the person at Baikunthapur village in Kultali, Chief Wildlife Warden Vinod Kumar Yadav told reporters. The man, identified as Manindranath Das, was arrested from his residence and 13 kg of deer meat was found in his possession. Forty snares were also seized during the raid, the senior forest official said. The poacher was in the custody of Maipith Coastal police station and being interrogated, he said. "We will continue with such raids taking the help of police," Yadav said. Russia announced Thursday it has resumed international flights to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives Flights between Cairo and Moscow will resume mid-September, a statement by flagship airliner EgyptAir read Saturday, a few days after Russia announced the resumption of flights to several countries. According to the statement, flights operated by EgyptAir and Russian Aeroflot between Cairo and Moscow have been given the green light after a six-month suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. The statement said coordination is underway between the two airliners and civil aviation authorities to finalise necessary preparations for the re-operation of flights. Russia has resumed international flights to Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives, according to a government order Thursday. The government said it had authorised three flights a week to Cairo, as well as two flights a week to Dubai and to the Maldives's Velana International Airport. Russia halted all regular and charter international flights with other countries at the end of March in the wake of the worldwide Covid-19 outbreak, allowing only repatriation trips. Egypt began 1 July a gradual resumption of regular international flights with countries that have reopened their airports after halting all international flights on 19 March in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Foreign tourists in tour groups have been allowed entry into the three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country. Egypt has required travellers arriving in the country to present a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) lab test result certificate for the novel coronavirus starting 1 September. However, travelers entering Egypt at any of four airports in the Red Sea governorate and South Sinai can take a coronavirus test upon arrival. Egypt hopes that the resumption of regular flights will boost its coronavirus-hit tourism sector, an essential source of foreign currency. Search Keywords: Short link: After the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)s decision to mandate institutional quarantine for Covid-19 patients above the age of 50 drew criticism, the decision has now been revoked. Patients in the age group of 50-60 can be permitted home quarantine. However, the earlier decision to institutionally quarantine patients over the age of 60 will still prevail. The decision was made in a state review meeting headed by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday. A circular issued by BMCs health department on August 20 said that Covid-19 patients over 50 or anyone with co-morbidities, irrespective of their age, will now have to go to Covid Care Centre 2 facilities (institutional quarantine) for treatment and isolation. Till then, the earlier guidelines allowed home isolation for asymptomatic patients below 60 with no co-morbidities and those having separate toilet facilities in their homes. However, the amendment to the earlier guideline led to criticism as patients above 50 who showed no symptoms and could have been home quarantined still had to be admitted to institutional quarantine. This issue was brought up in the state review meeting wherein directions to revoke the quarantine rules were given. Even though the decision has been revoked, BMC has now decided to consult the family physicians of patients above 50 who test positive. Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, said, Our ward war rooms will now collect additional details from these patients about their family physicians who will be consulted with on a daily basis. Patients over 50 will be institutionally quarantined after their family doctors opine or if their condition worsens. Kakani added that this is to ensure that the patients over 50 get immediate medical attention when needed. The current average Covid-19 mortality rate of Mumbai is stagnant at 5.0%; it is way above than the national mortality rate at 1.8% and state average mortality rate at 2.97%. Germany on September 6 said it will be offering India 330,000 coronavirus testing kits and 600,000 pieces of personal protective equipment worth a total of $17.8 million, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle reported. German Development Minister Gerd Muller said the country is expanding its aid programme in India considering the soaring number of COVID-19 cases here, the report stated. Germany's Development Ministry is also providing short-term loans to India, DW reported. "This way, we are working together to ensure that food can be distributed to 800 million people and that bridging aid can be given to 320 million people who have lost their jobs during the coronavirus crisis," Muller said, adding that the aid programme is "one of the largest coronavirus support measures in the world." Muller, according to the report, said the aim is to slow down 'further spread' of the disease in India. 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 Reporting over 90,000 cases on September 5, India surpassed 41 lakh overall cases, and is widely expected to surpass Brazil's overall COVID tally to become the second worst-affected country in the world, only behind the United States, which has reported over 63 lakh cases. Jen Berrys life is one of superlatives. Most parents stop after two or three children. She has 10. Seven are adopted. Most bring in a covered dish for a classroom event. She brought international night to every Easton Area School District school. Hundreds of kids, parents and even neighbors attend the annual events. When she was asked to recruit Parent Teacher Association parents, she doubled the membership. So its fitting that the 50-year-old from Palmer Township won Parent Teacher Association recognition not just from Easton, but from the statewide organization. She was named the 2020 PTA volunteer of the year for Pennsylvania. The award comes at a time she definitely could use a boost. Shes battling a heart condition stemming from COVID-19 that has slowed her down for the past four months. I have to nap every day. I get chest pains where Im in bed all day long, she said Tuesday. Shes not looking for sympathy. She just wants others to know how important it is to social distance and wear masks. People need to know that if somebody they know has been affected to really take it seriously, Berry said. Its hard to keep Berry down. A new medication has brought back some energy, which she gladly puts toward her volunteer work and raising her family. One reason she has so many children is that years ago doctors told her she would never have any. There was just no way they were going to tell us we couldnt, Berry said. Her first daughter, Melissa, now 36, was adopted by the Berrys when the girl turned 15. Melissa was their neighbor when they used to live in Bangor. Jen often cared for the girl to help out the struggling mother. One weekend her mother didnt come back, Berry said. The Berrys would go on to adopt six children from Guatemala. We went to Guatemala and saw the conditions and we just couldnt say no. she said. When in vitro fertilization was covered under her husbands medical plan, they added three biological children. Shes from Nebraska and her husband is from England. With their families so far away, they have built a colony for themselves in the Easton area. What else could you want to do with your life? she asked. It might not surprise readers to learn the Berrys have two washers and two dryers for all those clothes. Six of the children have moved out, but the four children still living at home all contracted COVID-19 along with Berry and her husband. They got it in May. Theyre not sure how. No one was affected as seriously as Jen Berry. Now that shes back on her feet, she cant wait to dig into this falls PTA fundraiser. When it comes to PTA, Berry cant stop helping, according to former Easton PTA council President Michelle Robertson. She leads by example through hard work and a sense of humor. Her contagious enthusiasm and strong work ethic, encourages both members and first-time folks to get involved, Robertson wrote in the award nomination petition. Berry used superhero costumes and a photo booth to help get 150 parents signed up for PTA, doubling the membership. Easton Area Middle School held its third annual International Holiday Festival on Nov. 15, 2019.Courtesy photo But shes best known for her international nights. They started as a classroom event for her daughter, Kate. Gradually Berry expanded them into districtwide events attended by hundreds of people to see children in ethnic costumes, check out displays in every school hallway and eat dozens of donated ethnic dishes. Jen Berry and company (aka, her awesome family) have unselfishly devoted so much time and effort to enable our children to explore, share, and celebrate the rich diversity of our school district family, said sixth-grade principal Charlene Symia. Berry said she just had to light the fuse for the events to prompt an explosion of volunteer help. People we had never seen or talked to before came in and got involved, she said. Berry says the international nights are a great opportunity to get to know parents of your childrens friends. Shes always encouraged her Guatemalan children to embrace their heritage. Their differences make them special and international nights celebrate their background. The nights have encouraged some of her shyer children to become more social. Where some parents hoard shoes or handbags, Berry says her affliction is collecting childrens cultural costumes. She has 120 of them stored in a room in her home so she can hand them out to children to wear to the international nights. Berry is invited to the state PTA convention to accept her award on Oct. 3. The ceremony might go virtual, in which case she was asked to send in a video message. She said she didnt volunteer to win awards and hopes her story inspires others to get involved. Honestly this (award) could have gone to dozens of others, she said. The Berry Bunch Jennifer and Matthew Berry have 10 children. All of them have attended or graduated from Easton Area schools: Melissa, 36, adopted when she was 15 when the Berrys lived in Bangor. She is married, has three children, a masters in special education and is pursuing a Ph.D. Libby, 26, from Guatemala. She also has three kids. Tess, 25, Libbys biological sister from Guatemala. Alex, 26, from Guatemala Ethan, 21, from Guatemala Wil, 20, from Guatemala. He and his brother, Ethan, share an apartment near their parents home. Kate, 19, from Guatemala is taking online classes at Northampton Community College Twins, Ian and Ava, 14, are Jen and Matthew Berrys biological children Emily, 12, is their biological daughter Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. For most of us, a presidential election is a great spectator sport. We turn on the tube and watch as the states go to one candidate or the other. In 2012, the states fell like clockwork to Barack Obama, just as the polls predicted. In 2016, Donald Trump shocked the experts by picking up states that were supposed to go Democrat. Either way, the results were in by the early morning hours. Thats not likely this year, at least not according to a Washington lawyer whos got as much experience as anyone in the field. The reason is the national push to replace the traditional machine tally with mail voting. Its going to be Bush v. Gore on steroids, David B. Rivkin told me. Its going to be horrible. Rivkin knows a thing or two about that 2020 election fiasco. He was on the Bush staff at the time. This time around, he said, there could be as many as a dozen states still undecided when the sun rises on Nov. 4. In 2000 there was just one state. The fight in Florida got down to individual ballots. Both sides had high-priced legal teams watching over every decision made by election officials as they tried to figure out the true intent of a voter. With vote-by-mail, those problems are greatly magnified. But the process has to come to an end by Dec. 8. Thats the date when a states slate of electors must be certified. There are all sorts of nightmare scenarios along that line, the worst culminating in the decision going to the House of Representatives on Jan. 6. New Jersey is not likely to be one of the states at issue. Democrat Joe Biden is expected to win comfortably here. Nonetheless, we already gave the nation an object lesson in how long this sort of thing can drag on. That came in the July 7 primary election for the Republican nomination to run against incumbent U.S. Sen. Cory Booker. Though the turnout in the race was relatively small at a mere 407,325 votes, the counting went on for 31 days before Rik Mehta was declared the winner. Imagine how long the counting will go on in the general election in New Jersey now that Gov. Phil Murphy has decreed that every voter must receive a mail ballot. About 3.6 million mail votes are expected, with each one to be counted by hand. Thats a nightmare scenario for Jamie Sheehan-Willis, regardless of who wins. Sheehan-Willis, who is chairwoman of the Bergen County Board of Elections, recently told her Assembly representatives how ill-prepared the county election boards are for the all-mail voting system imposed by the governor. When the traditional voting machines were in use, she told me, the machine tallies were simply fed into a computer and recorded shortly after 8 p.m. on Election Day. But this year Sheehan-Willis said she expects to have to tally about 450,000 paper ballots in Bergen alone. Some wont come in until days after the polls close. She said she expects about 50,000 mail ballots to arrive during the week after the general election Nov. 3. We have to certify the results by November 20, she said. My full-time staff is seven, and smaller counties have as low as four staffers. The Murphy administration argues that vote-by-mail is essential because of the threat of Covid-19. (Although other states such as Ohio have figured out how to safely have in-person voting.) State Sen. Mike Testa of Cape May County disagrees with the administration. Think of the fact youre able to go to Home Depot, Lowes and Costco or stand in line for hours at the Motor Vehicle Commission, said the Republican who has joined in a suit to overturn Murphys edict. Why cant we exercise our right as American citizens to go to the polls? Rivkin said the reason is politics, not public health. The Democrats have traditionally done better on mail balloting, while the Republicans are more likely to vote by machine. He said key Democrats are already warning against a red mirage, in which Donald Trump would be ahead on election night but the Democrats could claim victory weeks later. This is the last thing we need at this time, he said. I hope Trump wins, but if Biden wins I hope this ends quickly. Of course, we already had a system that decided these things quickly. I suspect that by the second week in November a lot of people will want to bring it back. In recent days, experts have become increasingly convinced and alarmed that President Trump is pushing to cut corners and rush the release of a COVID-19 vaccine before Nov. 3 to improve his chances in the election. According to administration officials who spoke to the Washington Post, the president is so fixated on finding a vaccine... that in meetings about the U.S. pandemic response, little else captures his attention. On Friday, Trump predicted there would be a vaccine before the end of the year and maybe even before Nov. 1, adding I think we can probably have it sometime in October. Privately, Trump campaign advisers have called a pre-election vaccine the holy grail. But imagine, for a moment, if Trump did the opposite. What if he pledged to wait until Nov. 4 at the earliest that is, the day after the election to announce that a COVID-19 vaccine had been authorized for public use? What if he pledged to wait to take politics off the table regardless of whether he had the power to make the announcement a few days earlier? Vowing not to unveil a vaccine on the eve of the election might seem politically counterproductive to the president, which is why he probably wont do it. But it would almost certainly be better for the American people, and it could even be better for Trump. The reason has as much to do with trust as with medicine. Reports suggest that Trump has long hoped, with his accelerated Operation Warp Speed vaccine program, to turn the COVID-19 vaccine into an October surprise a last-minute plot twist with the potential to sway voters. In April, the Department of Health and Human Services told the White House that America should aim to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible. The proposed deadline? Enable broad access to the public by October 2020, read the first slide in the presentation. The date was in bold. According to the New York Times, it escaped no one that the proposed deadline also intersected nicely with President Trumps need to curb the virus before the election in November. Story continues There are a lot of people on the inside of this process who are very nervous about whether the administration is going to reach their hand into the Warp Speed bucket, pull out one or two or three vaccines, and say, Weve tested it on a few thousand people, it looks safe, and now we are going to roll it out, Dr. Paul Offit of the University of Pennsylvania, a member of the Food and Drug Administrations vaccine advisory committee, told the Times. They are really worried about that. And they should be. Developments this week have only deepened those concerns. On Aug. 30, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn confirmed that he could clear a coronavirus vaccine before the completion of late-stage clinical trials if he believes the benefits of rushing one into production outweigh the risks. To do so, Hahn would simply have to issue a so-called emergency use authorization (EUA). A few days later, various outlets reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had notified public health officials in all 50 states and five large cities to prepare to distribute a coronavirus vaccine to health care workers and other high-risk groups by late October or early November. At the same time, CDC Director Robert Redfield sent an urgent letter to governors asking them to bypass regulations in order to open vaccine distribution sites by Nov. 1 two days before the election. President Trump speaks on Aug. 27, during the Republican National Convention, from the South Lawn of the White House. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Meanwhile, Trump promised in his Republican National Convention speech that America will produce a vaccine before the end of the year, or maybe even sooner. The maybe even sooner line was delivered dramatically, with the verbal equivalent of a wink and a nod. Finally, as if on cue, U.S. drugmaker Pfizer announced Thursday it should know by the end of October whether its candidate vaccine is successful adding that it will submit for approval immediately if thats the case. The same day, top Operation Warp Speed adviser Moncef Slaoui acknowledged that the CDC is eyeing the Pfizer vaccine for fast-track approval, along with one by Moderna. Both are currently undergoing phase III trials. Experts have raised all kinds of red flags about the medical complexities of an October or early November release. Phase III trials pit the vaccine against a placebo by giving both to thousands of people who then go about their daily lives. If after a long time the vaccinated group shows no dangerous side effects and turns out to be less likely to get sick than the placebo group (in a statistically significant way), the vaccine is deemed safe and effective. To date, Moderna and Pfizer have enrolled more than half of the 30,000 participants required for each of their trials. But they still need to enroll tens of thousands more. Usually, the FDA waits for the trials to finish with full enrollment before spending months reviewing the data and determining whether a vaccine is safe and effective. An EUA would not only prematurely end that process; it would also open the door, theoretically, to a looser standard of safety and effectiveness. According to the 2004 law that created the EUA system, authorization merely requires that it is reasonable to believe that the product may be effective. Also, the FDA recognizes that there could be rare adverse events not detected in a trial of 15, 000 to 20,000 patients, which is why the agency typically continues to watch for side effects over a much longer period. This has proved to be a problem before. In the run-up to the 1976 election, President Gerald Ford rushed out a swine flu vaccine. It was only after 45 million people were vaccinated that authorities discovered that about 450 of them one in 100,000 had developed a paralyzing neurological condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome. Of those, more than 30 died. Perversely, an EUA could also make it harder to develop other, potentially superior vaccines. Once people are sure they can get the initial EUA vaccine, they will be reluctant to enroll in new trials and risk getting a placebo. That could prevent a better drug thats still in the pipeline from ever securing approval. In short, there are reasons why no civilian vaccine has ever received emergency authorization before, and why, said an op-ed in the New York Times, no vaccine since the 1950s has been approved and licensed without completing large, prospective, placebo-controlled studies of safety and effectiveness. This does not mean the FDA will authorize an unsafe or ineffective vaccine just to satisfy Trump. The agency has promised it wont issue an EUA for any vaccine that shows less than 50 percent efficacy in phase III trials, a higher bar than prescribed by law; it also has to follow standard protocols for authorization, including allowing an independent board to assess the data at specified intervals. Luciana Borio, a former acting chief scientist at the FDA, says the agency should go further by consult[ing] its advisory committee before taking regulatory action and putting in place a strong pharmacovigilance program to monitor for safety signals; a plan to collect additional data (e.g., duration of immunity); clarity as to who should receive [the] vaccine first (some vaccines may not be appropriate for everyone); clear, consistent and truthful communications; and a competent system to manage one of the most complex vaccine distribution programs in public health history. If followed, those procedures probably mean that a vaccine would arrive in November or December, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told CNN on Thursday. Yet Fauci added that it is conceivable that you can have it by October if strong signals on safety and efficacy prompt drug developers to decide that a vaccine works sooner. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (Erin Scott-Pool/Getty Images) I do think there is a possibility that the clinical trials albeit very low, as I said before, extremely low but there is a possibility that the trials read out before the end of October, Slaoui, the Operation Warp Speed adviser, said the same day. It would be irresponsible not to be ready if that was the case. And so its possible that the administration checks every box and delivers a safe and effective vaccine before Election Day. The hitch is that even if that happens, it will be much harder to convince the American public that the decision was made without taking politics into account if the announcement comes at the moment of maximum political impact that Trump is clearly pushing for. Which is why, medical considerations aside, Trump should vow to wait. Understandably, the presidents supporters will disagree. Why shouldnt Trump get credit for Operation Warp Speed before voters decide whether he deserves a second term? they would argue. It would be political malpractice to delay. Even Slaoui disagrees. I have to say, maybe even despite my personal political views, that I don't think that's right, because 1,000 people die every day [from COVID-19], he told Science this week. If a vaccine [had evidence of safety and efficacy] on 25 October, [an EUA] should be [requested] on 25 October. If it's 17 November, it should be 17 November. If it's 31 December, it should be 31 December. Slaoui added that he would immediately resign if there is undue interference in this process. But theres a counterargument too. Requesting an EUA before the election is one thing. Announcing and campaigning on its approval is another. On the extremely low chance the EUA request comes before Nov. 3, it would likely be coming right before Nov. 3. The supply chain is already being set in motion. The number of actual vaccinations likely to be delayed by hitting pause until the appearance of political influence passes would be very small. Meanwhile, promising to hold the announcement for what is unlikely to amount to more than a few days could actually turn out to be a smarter political strategy for Trump than dropping a vaccine during the final hours of the campaign. Voters already expect him to rush-release a vaccine as a campaign stunt; no minds will change, either way, if he does. Rick Wilson, a strategist who helps run the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans airing advertisements aimed at defeating him, told the Washington Post Friday that the groups internal polling data suggests many voters would not trust whatever breakthroughs Trump proclaims. We think Trumps lying is priced-in with a lot of people, Wilson said. So if he could say tomorrow, Weve cured it, its done, many people, even some of his supporters, will say, Thats just Donald being Donald. Announcing in advance, however, that he will take politics out of the equation something he could do by pledging not to announce until after Nov. 3 could be just the sort of surprising gesture of public-spiritedness that swing voters would weigh when deciding how to vote. And of course Trump would still be free to tout the progress Operation Warp Speed has made. Hed just avoid tainting its success at the last minute. Waiting could also save far more lives than rushing. Trump may view the vaccine as his accomplishment, but its a different kind of accomplishment than, say, killing a terrorist leader. The latter is an event; the former is a process. Developing the drug is only half of that process. The other half is making sure hundreds of millions of Americans the 60 to 80 percent of the population that experts believe is needed to achieve herd immunity actually get vaccinated. Thats where public trust comes in and right now, that trust is lacking. The FDA and CDC have already appeared to cave to political pressure from the White House on multiple occasions: when they authorized clearance for Trumps favorite antimalarial drug, hydroxychloroquine (a decision that was revoked after studies showed the drug was harmful, not helpful); when they allowed the administration to hype convalescent plasma as a game-changing breakthrough hours before the Republican National Convention (even though it was merely an incremental advance); and when they abruptly stopped recommending testing, against all expert advice, for people who think theyve been exposed to the virus but have yet to experience any symptoms (a shift that happened to align with Trumps oft-stated desire to reduce testing). Mend Urgent Care workers conducting COVID-19 testing for students and faculty at Woodbury University in Burbank, Calif. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) The public now believes that similar pressures are influencing Operation Warp Speed. According to a new survey from STAT and the Harris Poll, 78 percent of Americans worry that the vaccine approval process is being driven more by politics than science. Predictably, the overwhelming majority of Democrats (82 percent) expressed that fear. But even 72 percent of Republicans agreed. Likewise, a senior administration official told the Washington Post that some West Wing staffers are nervous about potential politicization and Americans not trusting the vaccine because they conclude the process was rushed. To get a sense of how corrosive such bipartisan perceptions can be, consider these findings from the July 30 Yahoo News/YouGov poll. Overall, just 42 percent of Americans said they planned to get vaccinated for COVID-19 the smallest share to that date. More than two-thirds (69 percent) said they were very or somewhat concerned about the safety of fast-tracked vaccines; those numbers were identical among Democrats, Republicans and independents. Only 26 percent of those who intend to vote for Trump said they trust experts such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health authorities to judge the risks of vaccines. And every time a realistic caveat was added to the question about whether people planned to get vaccinated Would you take a vaccine if it caused side effects such as fever and headaches in one-third of recipients? Would you take a vaccine if it was only 60 percent effective at preventing COVID-19 infection? Would you take a vaccine if it required multiple doses over a couple of weeks? Would you take a vaccine if it required waiting in line for hours at a time or scheduling an appointment weeks in advance? the number who said yes declined. In other words, this could go either way. Thanks to the anti-vax movement, trust in vaccines is generally more fragile than it used to be; trust in a fast-tracked vaccine for a novel virus is more fragile still. Most Americans are at least open to getting inoculated, which is something that most of them will have to do if the U.S. hopes to stop the pandemic anytime soon. Theyre also ready to flee at the first sign of funny business. By reversing course and refusing to unveil any vaccine before Election Day, Trump has the power to depoliticize whatever drug eventually emerges to reassure the public that no corners were cut to help him stay in office. He should consider using that power. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Protests, now in their 11th week, come as Israel is coping with coronavirus infections and a death toll hitting 1,000. Thousands of Israelis protested outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night and into early Sunday, pressing ahead with a monthslong campaign demanding that the embattled Israeli leader resign. The protests, now in their 11th week, came as Israel is coping with record levels of coronavirus infections. Demonstrators have been protesting Netanyahus handling of the coronavirus crisis, which has led to soaring unemployment, and they say he should step down while on trial for corruption charges. Protesters held banners reading Revolution and Get out of here and held blue-and-white Israeli flags. A sign aimed at the prime minister was projected on a building reading in Hebrew: Enough with you. Smaller crowds gathered on bridges and at intersections across the country, also calling for Netanyahu to step down. The government moved quickly to contain the coronavirus last spring, but bungled the reopening of the economy and now finds itself dealing with a stronger outbreak. The death toll has surpassed 1,000 people, and the country is considering a new lockdown to stop the rapid spike in daily infections. Israel currently has over 26,000 active COVID-19 cases. Although the demonstrations have largely been peaceful in recent weeks, protesters scuffled with police in several locations. At least 13 arrests were made, including that of a man who police said was dressed up as a woman in a provocative way. Police also said two officers were lightly injured when a crowd burst through a police blockade. Netanyahu has vowed to remain in office amid mounting protests and despite being charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations [Ariel Schalit/AP] Netanyahu has dismissed the protesters as leftists and anarchists. But his tough talk and even a series of foreign policy accomplishments have done nothing to deter the crowds. On Friday, Serbia and Kosovo gave Israel a diplomatic boost as Serbia announced it will move its embassy to Jerusalem and Kosovo said it will establish ties with Israel with an embassy in Jerusalem. The announcements, making the countries the third and fourth to move their embassies to contested Jerusalem, follow Israels historic agreement last month to establish diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu has vowed to remain in office despite being charged last year with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three long-running corruption investigations. He has denied the allegations, calling them a witch-hunt and lashing out at the judiciary, law enforcement and media. The Mandatory Provident Fund, the compulsory pension scheme that covers almost 3 million people in Hong Kong, hit the HK$1 trillion (US$129 billion) mark for the first time at the end of July, according to the head of the pension regulator. The MPF, which turns 20 in December, has recorded a 15 per cent surge in asset values in the four months since April, bypassing HK$1 trillion for the first time since its foundation in the year 2000. It puts MPF on course to join the top 20 pension funds worldwide. At US$129 billion, the MPF is now roughly the size of Denmark's equivalent pension fund as of the end of last year, and is the eighth largest in Asia, behind two pension schemes in Japan and one in each of South Korea, mainland China, Singapore, Malaysia and India, according to data from pension consultant Willis Towers Watson. "Some people were worried about their MPF investment because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the financial markets," said David Wong Yau-kar, chairman of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, in his Chinese language blog on Sunday. The strong recovery after a sharp fall in the first quarter reflects "the resilience and stability of the MPF system", Wong said. He urged the roughly 3 million people covered by the scheme to take a long-term view and not to be overly concerned about the short-term volatility of the market. At the current level, each member on average has about HK$333,333 in their MPF account, but some have a much larger share. At the end of last year the number of MPF accounts with more than HK$1 million stood at 62,900, up 40 per cent from a year earlier, Wong said. "MPF scheme members should manage their MPF accounts properly because it provides savings for basic retirement protection after years of accumulation in the MPF system," he said. The authority had introduced various measures to enhance the transparency of the scheme to help members to choose their investment funds, he added. Story continues The MPF requires employers and employees each to contribute 5 per cent of the salary, or up to HK$$3,000 per month, to the MPF, which is run by providers such as banks, insurance companies and fund houses. The members can choose how to invest their contribution in different investment funds. A one-stop MPF platform introduced last year to enable members to compare fees and the performance of their MPF investment funds added competition and led to more than 40 of the 414 funds lowering their fees. The authority has also required MPF providers to offer information to members about the risk levels of the funds. "The risk class function will allow scheme members to select the funds that meet with their personal needs," Wong said. The scheme has often been criticised for being insufficient to fulfil people's retirement needs in such a famously expensive city. Simon Wong, who will turn 65 this month and cash in his MPF for around HK$300,000, said the sum is far from enough to see him through retirement. "The living standard in Hong Kong is so high that I believe my MPF will soon be used up. The government needs to provide more support for the retirees besides the MPF," Wong said. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Venice, Italy Sun, September 6, 2020 19:02 501 e22cd4161040e111d73a5626c42fd33a 2 Entertainment Greta-Thunberg,documentary,activist,Sweden,climate,Venice-Film-Festival,Nathan-Grossman Free A documentary following Greta Thunberg and her journey from Swedish schoolgirl to global climate activist accurately portrays her as a "shy nerd", the teenager said as the film premiered at the Venice film festival. Director Nathan Grossman recorded Thunberg's everyday life for a year, chronicling her rise to fame from the beginning of her school strike outside the Swedish parliament in August 2018 to her trips around the world demanding that political leaders take action to fight climate change. When he began filming, Grossman had no idea that Thunberg, who was 15 when she started her protest, would quickly become the figurehead for the global climate crisis campaign. "I think we have seen a lot of her in the news media, she has been doing so many interviews and I wanted to bring the viewer closer to her, how does it feel to go from nothing to become this very famous climate activist," Grossman told Reuters in an interview on Saturday. "I was also thinking like 'Jesus, everything is going so quickly. What a weird kind of rush ... this is' in a sense that we are standing here with the pope and just like eight, nine months ago she started the school strike," he said. Thunberg, who appeared by video link on Friday at the Venice festival where the film, I Am Greta, has been screened out of competition, said she was pleased with how she was portrayed. Read also: Film reveals Greta Thunberg as steely, funny and a secret dancer "You did succeed in framing me as myself and not the person that the media frames me to be, not the angry, naive child who sits in the United Nations General Assembly screaming at world leaders. Because that's not the person I am," she said. "So, I think he definitely made me seem like a more shy, nerdy person which is the person that I am." She also said the documentary debunked some of the accusations of critics who say she is being manipulated by others. "Some people say that, they spread conspiracy theories ... that I don't think for myself or I don't speak for myself or someone else writes my speeches ... In the movie you can see that that is not actually true and that I do of course speak for myself and I decide everything for myself." Thunberg, who last month returned to school, said the fight against climate change, which has been overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic, should remain a priority. The Venice film festival ends on Sept. 12. LONDON: Russia must explain how Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with what Germany says was the Novichok nerve agent, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday. What is clear right now is that the Russian government has a very serious set of questions to answer," he told Sky News. Whether the incident involved a state actor or not, Russia had obligations to make sure that chemical weapons cannot be used on its soil, Raab said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor The scooter engines snort out, and Sara el-Sayed swings herself down to the pavement outside the third damaged building she has visited this afternoon, two carpenters in tow. Upstairs, a womans blown-apart doors need fixing. Cigarettes and mobile phone in one hand, pen and paper in the other, el-Sayed jots down dimensions as the carpenters measure empty door frames and shattered windows. She has taken this up as her job now: volunteering to hammer together as much of the splintered city as she can before leaving it hopefully for good. Six days after the explosion that crushed much of Beirut, a Spanish masters degree programme in interior design notified el-Sayed that she had been accepted, a long-held dream come true. When she leaves, she will be done with all of this, she hopes: a government whose incompetence appears to have led to the blast; a corrupt political system young Lebanese people blame for aborting their futures; a country where the middle class is sinking into poverty as the politicians slow-walk economic reforms, and where the only way to survive seems to be a second passport, a job or a graduate programme somewhere else. Many Lebanese people were already looking for such escape hatches before the 4 August explosion. An exodus now seems inevitable. But el-Sayed cannot think about leaving quite yet. Im not running away, says el-Sayed, 30, a Palestinian-Lebanese architect with a small custom furniture business who used to live in Gemmayzeh, one of the worst-hit neighbourhoods. I want to at least have Beirut on its feet before I go. As Beirut reckons with the destruction, thousands of Lebanese people in their teens, twenties and thirties rather than government personnel have shown up to put the most damaged neighbourhoods back in order, shovelling, sweeping, feeding, fixing. Many of the volunteers have been protesting against the political system since last autumn; if anyone believes Lebanon can change, it is them. Yet few say they want to stay to see whether it will. Since the explosion, countries like Canada have been hit by a wave of applications from young Lebanese people seeking to emigrate, officials say. I used to call people sissies for leaving the country, because youre afraid of doing the change and everything, says Mohammed Serhan, 30, a political organiser and clean-up volunteer who protested for months. But the explosion has altered his calculus. Yesterday I woke up thinking, I can go to the airport immediately, tell them Im not coming to work. Go to the airport, fly to Turkey, see what happens. He sighed. Its a little emotional. I still want to win this fight. El-Sayed, who has just assessed Serhans damaged doors and windows, jumps in. Really, were fighting, she says. They will both keep protesting, they agree. But I dont have hope, el-Sayed says. Ive always wanted just to leave. Like young people across the Arab world, their generation is well educated yet underemployed. While some of their friends and cousins left for masters degrees and jobs in Dubai and the west, volunteers like el-Sayed and Serhan stayed because they wanted to or had to, hoping to change their country even as it skidded towards economic ruin. People who are outside love the country but dont want to come back in, and people who are inside hate the country but they dont want to leave, says Zein Freiha, 21, a college student who went door to door after the explosion with a plastic broom. We hope that we have a country to come back to. But the more we discuss it, were all just looking at each other like, OK, there really is no more hope. For them, the clean-up is personal. Many of the volunteers used to live, work or socialise in the half-demolished neighbourhoods of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, drawn to their cocktails, clubs, cafes, galleries and studios. Their Beirut is now in ruins. El-Sayeds former apartment was destroyed in the blast, along with friends homes, workplaces and cars. Doors around east Beirut were ripped from their frames. When looters slipped into the neighbourhood, she began sealing off apartments. Nearly three weeks after the explosion, she had raised enough money via GoFundMe to replace about 90 doors. One elderly couple slept in their foyer with a heavy sewing machine pushed up against their splintered front door, fearing thieves. Others who called her have been quoted hundreds of dollars to replace their doors at a time when banks are rationing access to dollars and the Lebanese currency has lost 80 per cent of its value. Beyond fixing apartments and clearing broken glass and debris, the volunteers have assessed damaged buildings, searched for missing pets, delivered hot meals and nappies and even compiled what amounts to the incidents only centraliced database of missing people. (The government has not released any official data on the missing.) While civilian volunteers go to work, soldiers sit on street corners, rifles dangling from their shoulders and cigarettes from their lips. Only about two weeks after the explosion did government personnel begin distributing food boxes and assessing damages, residents say. A day after the blast, Hussein Kazoun, 28, an organic farmer, took over an abandoned gas station in Geitawi and started handing out vegetables. A week later, the station, which he christened Nation Station, buzzed with about 200 young volunteers. Its not my job to do this, says Josephine Abou Abdo, 29, an architect and designer-turned-volunteer who has been coordinating food donations. But if I dont get up, people wont get fed. Using the data volunteers collected from residents, Kazouns younger sister is mapping out the most underserved areas. Nearby sits 20 donated rolls of plastic, used to seal broken windows. As he and the volunteers have expanded Nation Stations scope, Kazoun has also tried to persuade people to stay. We need you in this country, he says he was telling friends. If its left to the old generation, things will stay the same. Abou Abdo listens with conflicting impulses. Sometimes I think, Enough, she says. I just want to live in a Scandinavian country and pay taxes and live my life, you know? On the question of whether reform is even possible, she, like other volunteers, is caught between idealism and despair. Neither months of mass anti-government protests nor the explosion appears to have greatly weakened the ruling class, whom many Lebanese still turn to for protection and patronage despite growing consensus that they bear responsibility for the countrys problems. At one apartment that volunteers are sweeping up, Hala Youssef, 49, who lives there, says she waited 11 days after the explosion for government aid before giving up and accepting volunteer help. Nobody even came to say, Thank God for your safety, she says of the government, using the phrase Beirutis greeted each other within the days after the blast. At the Nation Station, Joe Youssef, 39, drops off his daily donation, a truckload of vegetables and fruits that several young women are sorting into plastic bags. Youssef says he prefers donating to Nation Station over an aid group, because like many Lebanese people, he is suspicious of anything that might be tainted by the countrys favour-bartering class of sectarian political leaders. We dont trust anyone in this country, he says. They could be tied to some gang. Disgusted with Lebanons corruption and seeing no future at home, he moved years ago to Dubai, where he worked in sales before returning on holiday last month. But, he says, When I saw the people, the crowd not the government, not the police or anything Im proud to be Lebanese now, to be honest. New improvements materialise at the gas station over the course of the day. Someone welds together a metal rack to dispense the plastic rolls. Two tons of fresh vegetables are distributed. Sarah Barakat, 21, an architecture student overseeing the vegetables, says that she, too, plans to leave Lebanon for graduate studies. But Im coming back as soon as I finish my masters, she says. Who else is going to rebuild this city? The New York Times Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 17:10:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Amid regular COVID-19 control, China is powering ahead in bringing business and life back on track. The following are the latest facts and figures of the week: -- Middle and primary schools in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have begun their classes in different batches from Sunday. Universities in the region will also stagger their opening starting Sept. 10. -- Xinjiang from Wednesday started to reopen outdoor scenic spots to visitors and resumed trans-provincial tours. To boost the recovery of tourism, scenic areas in Altay Prefecture, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, the Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin, and other places in Xinjiang are rolling out preferential tourism policies. -- Beijing has begun resuming on-site job fairs from Tuesday following months of suspension due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The return of on-site job fairs comes as Beijing continues to speed up work resumption and bring its economy back on track. -- Beijing has been gradually resuming direct inbound flights to the city from eight countries, including Cambodia, Greece, Denmark, Thailand, Austria and Canada, starting Thursday. Priority will be given to flights from countries with low risk of cross-border infection, where nucleic acid tests have been conducted. Negative COVID-19 test results before boarding will be prerequisite for passengers of Beijing-bound flights. -- The construction of the Universal Beijing Resort's main buildings has been completed. The resort will include the highly anticipated Universal Studios Beijing theme park, the Universal CityWalk and two hotels. Construction of the iconic globe model at the entrance of the park is expected to be completed by the end of September. -- An economic and technological development area in Beijing's Daxing District has launched a "cloud" platform to help local hi-tech companies recruit professionals from around the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the recruitment platform, 104 companies in Yizhuang, also known as E-Town, will hire more than 1,000 professionals from around the globe to fill various vacancies including key technicians and department heads and those of higher levels. Enditem Faith and family have been constants for Westfields James F. Shea, seeing him through every twist and turn in what he says is the short ride of life. As a 5-year-old child stricken with polio in the 1940s, the now 81-year-old Shea says it was the diligent daily massaging of one of his legs by his mother that helped work away a limp that came after the diagnosis and his short hospitalization during that epidemic. He escaped treatment by iron lung that he saw one boy endure. His mothers love and care back then was largely responsible for his recovery, Shea says. Its something hes thought of often during this worldwide pandemic of the 21st century. The Shea family of today including his five children and 17 grandchildren who are spread across the country stays in close and constant touch during the time of COVID-19. Texts, telephone calls and Zoom reunions are regular events. They know well how different life is now, and how health and safety concerns mean they cant always be together in the same place at the same time, Jim Shea says. So it will be this Sept. 11. The week ahead will mark 19 years since the life of the Shea family was torn apart by the terror attacks on America. Thirty-year-old Tara Shea Creamer daughter, sister, aunt, mother and best friend was aboard American Airlines Flight 11, the first hijacked airliner to fly into the twin towers of the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Were it not for this pandemic, Jim Shea and other family members would have gathered this coming Friday as they have for every Sept. 11 for more than a decade at Westfields Irish club, the Sons of Erin, to remember Tara and the two other children of Westfield, Brian J. Murphy and Daniel P. Trant, who perished that day at the trade center. Murphy and Trant both worked for the finance firm Cantor Fitzgerald in the North Tower, losing their lives as the building collapsed. With heartfelt regret, the Sons of Erin canceled this years ceremony because of COVID-19 restrictions. In this photo from 2011, Patrick Murphy, who designed the 9/11 Memorial for the Sons of Erin, stands next to the memorial at the Irish club on Williams Street in Westfield. We talked about it, the families were all in favor and say they understand, explains Patrick Murphy, the bricklayer and mason responsible for building the clubs memorial to Creamer, Murphy and Trant. It was kind of tough, but all of us are accepting of whats happened because of the virus. Murphy says anyone who wishes to stop by the memorial throughout the day on Friday to remember the lost, reflect or say a prayer is welcome to do so. We will never forget, he adds. Soon after Murphy posted the announcement on Facebook about three weeks ago, Sally Trant, one Dan Trants sisters, wrote: Were so sad to hear that but totally understand. We know Westfield always remembers and we so appreciate that. Thanks Pat Murphy and all of Westfield. Brian Murphys sister, Ann Murphy, who recently turned 65, says she understands the wise decision and knows it did not come easily for the club. Our family truly appreciates all that the Sons of Erin members have done to keep the memories alive, she says, adding that shell likely stop by the memorial on Friday nonetheless for a personal moment to reflect on her brothers life. It is what it is, says Jim Shea. For this nation, I just hope with so much medical talent that we can stem this thing, he adds, noting that the vaccine for polio arrived soon after his own bout with it in childhood. I think well get something, and I hope its not too much longer before we do. For this 19th anniversary of his familys loss, Shea knows there will be an exchange of texts and photos that morning as they remember Tara. And, I will say a little prayer. Thats what we have to do this year, he says. Already, Sheas received notification that even the commemoration at the national 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City will be different, too, with limitations on the numbers of people allowed into the museum and a recorded reading of the names of the lost rather than the in-person event of every year since that day. Well get down there next year, Shea says. In the meantime, the Sons of Erins carefully manicured memorial is regularly a place he finds solace. We just keep going. Its all we can do. My god is my god, and hes been with me, and I got through this. I know some people take it different ways, but its a short ride through life for all of us. Taras children are now young adults. Her son, who was just 4 in 2001, recently earned his masters degree at Merrimack College, while her daughter, then 14 months old, is a sophomore at Plymouth State University. Brian Murphys two daughters, likewise, are now young adults, most recently teaching and working abroad, according to their aunt. One completed a year as a Fulbright scholar in Morocco, while the other taught at an international baccalaureate school in Tunisia. I think (Brian) would be bursting with pride at the people theyve become, Ann Murphy says. He was the adventurous one in our family who loved travel and to explore, and they are very much like him. They are good, compassionate people. This Friday, she adds, I will miss seeing all the wonderful people who keep Brians memory alive. They made a prudent decision due to the pandemic when the health of our citizens and all people is most important. I hope for the 20th (anniversary), it will be back in full force. Thats my fondest wish. Cynthia G. Simison is executive editor of The Republican. She may be reached by email to csimison@repub.com. By PTI KOLKATA: The number of containment zone in Kolkata has come down to one, according to the latest list released by the West Bengal government. The previous list of August 23 had 17 containment zones for Covid-19 prevalence in the city. The city at present has only one containment zone at Umesh Datta Lane in Girish Park area of north Kolkata, according to the list released on Saturday. The area falls under Kolkata Municipal Corporation Ward 26 of Borough 4 of the city, it said. Containment zones in the city have come down gradually from as high as 338 on May 11. The neighbouring district of Howrah has 74 containment zones, spread over Howrah Sadar and Uluberia sub-divisions. The other two districts sharing borders with Kolkata - South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas have 54 and 31 containment zones respectively, as per the list released by the government. The Covid-19 death toll in West Bengal crossed the 3,500 mark to reach 3,510 on Saturday after 58 more people succumbed to the disease, according to a state health department bulletin. It said that 3,042 fresh cases of the contagion took the tally to 1,77,701 on Saturday. North 24 Parganas district reported the highest number of new infections at 559 while Kolkata recorded 548 fresh cases. MINSK -- Tens of thousands of Belarusians have marched through central Minsk as part of the continuing opposition-led effort to pressure President Alyaksandr Lukashenka to resign. Scenes from the Belarusian capital on September 6 showed massive crowds marching through the city center chanting "Long live Belarus!" and "Shame!", and carrying red-and-white flags and banners, a symbol of the opposition that has been banned by the authorities. Shortly after nightfall, journalists were reporting that the 29th-straight day of demonstrations was over, with defenses removed and traffic resuming in front of the Independence Palace. Police manning the cordon in front of Lukashenka's residence reportedly used tear gas on demonstrators, and at least 20 protesters at the site were detained. A live blog of the "March of Unity" by RFE/RL's Belarus Service reported that dozens of protesters had been detained in Minsk, and that confrontations between police and demonstrators had taken place in the the western city of Hrodna, and to the east in Mahilyou. The Belarusian rights group Vyasna placed the number of detentions of protesters in Minsk at more than 180, with a further three dozen detained in Brest, and other detentions recorded in Baranavichy and Hrodna. The Belarusian Association of Journalists reported on its Telegram channel that two journalists were detained. Protests were also reported in the southern city of Homel. Earlier in the day, riot police were seen stringing barbed wire around several government buildings and monuments in central Minsk, and helmeted police were spotted outside several subway stations. Videos posted to several Telegram channels appeared to show armored vehicles being staged in several locations in the city. Ahead of the march, security services warned of a crackdown against those who decided to participate in the unsanctioned demonstration. Lukashenka, who has ruled the country for 26 years, has refused to hold talks with his opponents, and rebuffed calls to hold new elections. He claims to have won the August 9 elections with over 80 percent of the vote, something his opponents and outside observers say is false. Opposition groups are also calling for the release of political prisoners and for an independent investigation of the police crackdown that swept up thousands in the days after the election. Meanwhile, the country's leading opposition figure, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said her country was in "deep political crisis." "Belarusians have changed, they have woken up," she said in a live stream on September 5 from Vilnius, where she fled in the days after the vote. The people of Belarus "don't believe in the current government anymore." She said that it was "impossible to force people to back down." The postelection demonstrations are the greatest challenge to date for Lukashenka. On September 5, two unsanctioned rallies organized separately by university students and women's groups took place in Minsk. News agencies reported that dozens of students were dragged from the streets and pushed into vans by masked security agents. Interfax quoted a police representative as saying that 25 students were later released, while nine others remained in detention. 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 protests have not been limited to Minsk. Several hundred people rallied in the southern city of Homel on September 5, and police detained at least two protest participants. Tsikhanouskaya was scheduled to visit Warsaw this week to hold meetings with top Polish officials. A top Tsikhanouskaya aide told reporters in Warsaw on September 5 that she had been forced to leave Belarus by authorities. Volha Kovalkova said she was made to lie down on the floor of an intelligence service car driving her to the border, where she was released. She managed to board a Polish bus after the driver recognized her. "Everything that happened these past days and weeks I consider as torture. They threatened me with lengthy detention several times," Kovalkova said. With reporting by Current Time, Reuters, Interfax, and AFP The ceasefire regime had lasted for 42 days. Russian occupation forces today, September 6, violated the ceasefire agreement enforced on August 27 by employing an easel-mounted grenade launcher to fire VOG-17 rounds at the Joint Forces' defense positions near Krasnohorivka. That's according to an update by the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters, posted on Facebook. "The Joint Forces Command reports that on September 6, on the 42nd day of full and comprehensive ceasefire, Russian Federation's armed groups violated the agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group and carried out targeted shelling of Ukrainian positions. The enemy brazenly opened fire using an automatic grenade launcher, firing three VOG-17 rounds at a Joint Forces' unit in the area of the village of Krasnohorivka," the report reads. A Ukrainian military serviceman, who was engaged in wildfire response work, was wounded in the shelling, the report reads. It is noted that the soldier was promptly provided with first aid before being evacuated to a hospital. Read alsoFokin's "compromise." Why Ukraine should forget about forgiving enemy in Donbas"Such brazen action by the enemy indicates that the Russian armed groups are purposefully going for disrupting the agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group on July 22, 2020. Today's shelling proves once again that the so-called leadership of the occupied areas does not aim to achieve peace," reads the statement. At the same time, it is noted that the Joint Forces give another chance to the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" to fulfill the requirements designated by the Trilateral Contact Group on July 22 to observe full and comprehensive ceasefire. Otherwise, the next shelling of Ukrainian positions will lead to the Joint Forces providing an adequate rebuff employing all forces and means available, the headquarters said. UPDATE: On Sunday evening, the JFO Command reported another attack by enemy forces in Donbas. Near Prychipilovka, Luhansk region, the enemy opened gun fire, killing a Ukrainian soldier. Ukrainian troops delivered an adequate rebuff to the attack, employing weapons available. Enemy casualties are being verified. Donbas ceasefire: background ROUTE OF THE HIAWATHA BIKE TRAIL It's easy to miss the tomb of the unknown gandy dancer. You and your bike arent quite six miles down the 15-mile Hiawatha trail on the Idaho side. Off to your right is yet another panoramic view of a deep, steep and unseasonably green Idaho mountain valley. The metal cross, embedded in rock and concrete, is to the left below the trail. A nearby interpretive sign, The Big Blowup, relates the bones of the crosss sad tale. Its from August 1910, when these mountains and the towns within them were consumed by deadly walls of flame. Old time railroaders tell the story about one man who died when he panicked and leaped off another rescue train. The train continued on to Tunnel 20 and the rest of the passengers survived. After the fire passed over, the other passengers buried him next to the tracks. He is assumed to have been a railroad laborer known as a gandy-dancer. His death may be the only fatality from the 1910 fire in the Loop Creek drainage. "Gandy dancer" is the informal term for a railroad section hand, probably deriving from the hand tool he used to move rails into place and the unified motion he and fellow "dancers" used often while singing or chanting to do it. Its a quandary for the traveler of any historic road: Do you keep going and enjoy the ride or stop and meet the ghosts? The Hiawatha trail is a temptress for both. The parking lot at the East Portal was almost full by early afternoon on the last Tuesday of August. It was 110 years and one day after a wet snow fell on the Bitterroots, helping douse the devastating fires that blew up on Aug. 20 and 21. Rescue trains had barged through flames in attempts to save settlers, miners and railroad workers along the same trail hundreds of bicyclists of almost all ages take leisurely rides every day of the summer today. Bike-toting vehicles with license plates from 15 states had pulled in from the Taft Exit of Interstate 90. Washington, Idaho, Utah and Montana were well-represented in the parking lot, but there were vehicles from Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas and Texas as well. Ghosts or no ghosts, the Hiawatha is a draw. The Hiawatha is administered by Lookout Pass Ski Area in Idaho, five miles above the Taft exit. Lookout Pass general manager Brian Bessel said ridership went up 71% in the four years before this one, culminating in a record of almost 60,000 visitors in 2019. It's on pace to smash that mark this year before the final day on Sept. 20 after a dry and smoke-free summer. "We're up between 11 and 12% year to date, and it looks good that we'll continue on that pace," Matt Sawyer, Lookout Pass director of marketing, said last week. "We should finish with 67,000 to 68,000 visits, possibly more." The Tunnel 20 on that Big Blowup sign is known these days as Taft Tunnel, or "the big one." It's 1.66 miles of mud and darkness from the East Portal in Montana into Idaho. Roland, the first of four ghost towns on the way, awaits beyond the West Portal. Adair is seven miles below, near where the abandoned rail bed turns you west alongside Loop Creek. Youve crossed your last trestle and passed through all but one of the nine tunnels when you get to whats left (not much) of historic Falcon. Then its four miles to Pearson, where a yellow bus awaits to shuttle you back up to Roland. Or you can turn your handlebars back up. Its an easier grade to climb than it looks, with more time to stop and ponder. The ghosts are where you find them. They are world leaders and station agents, forest rangers and inebriated bears. Theyre harmless, of course, but their stories as related on the panels along the way are inscribed in history and part of what makes the Hiawatha Scenic Bike Trail unique. High on the trail expect to encounter a soot-faced Johnson. His first name will go unknown, but he was the contractor hired by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Co. in 1908 to blast through the rock face next to the Barnes Creek trestle. Blasters chiseled out five coyote holes, stuffed them with 25,000 pounds of blasting powder, and touched it off, says a sign 5 miles down the trail. In a fraction of a second, a gigantic blast threw tons of rock and car-sized boulders down the slope and onto Excavation Camp #1 below. No one was killed or seriously injured, but most of the camp was smashed, a local report said. Across the valley some of those huge boulders can still be seen scattered on the hillside below the tall rock cliff face that quickly became known as Johnsons Big Cut. Joseph Stalin's apparition could appear anywhere along the trail, crying in his borscht. The Soviet Union's Communist leader, all 5-foot-5 of him, never came to this part of the world, but after World War II he ordered 20 huge electric locomotives from General Electric. They were built in Erie, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of Soviet specialists. As the Cold War heated up, the United States said "nyet" to the deal, and in 1950 the Milwaukee Road snapped up a dozen of them for $1 million for its electrified line through the mountains between Avery, Idaho, and Harlowton. They quickly became known as Little Joes, a sign along the Hiawatha trail says. The 5,530 horse-power engines were the most powerful and efficient single unit electric engines used on the Milwaukee Road. In one authoritys opinion, it was the greatest machine any railroad ever coupled onto a train." One Little Joe was saved from the scrap heap when the railroad ended its electric operation in June 1974. Milwaukee E70 is on static display at the Old Prison Museum in Deer Lodge, 200 miles to the east. Youre not likely to encounter a bear along the busy trail, so bear ghosts will have to do. When a grain train upset near Falcon, the beasts took a liking to the spillage. A sign titled Rough Roads and Wrecks tells the story: The ruined grain eventually fermented and the bears, always in search of an easy meal, ate the intoxicating grain and became either a little too friendly when drunk or really cranky the morning after with a bear of a hangover." As you pedal through rainbow-shaped Tunnel 27 in the last five miles of the trail, give a shout-out to engineer Johnnie Mackedons ghost. It wont tell you this, but Johnnie was a hero. On the night of Aug. 20, 1910, Mackedon, the living flesh version, was returning from a trip to St. Paul Pass. As Mackedon approached the siding at Falcon, flames licking on all sides of his steam locomotive, he found more than 100 terrified people waiting for a train. Most had fled from the doomed town of Grand Forks across the creek. He coupled to a flatcar on the adjoining siding and everyone scrambled on board for a harrowing ride to the safety of Tunnel 27 three-quarters of a mile back up the track, the sign at Falcon says. Said Mackedon: Why, all that you could see of a bridge was a wall of flame, but we crossed it. I hooked her up, threw her wide open, and then we lay down on the deck to protect ourselves from the heat. A total of 168 people spent an agonizing night in the 470 foot-long tunnel while their homes burned, but all came out alive. Warren Harding nods at you sadly from the Falcon station. The 29th president of the United States was in fine fettle when he came through here from Montana aboard a special train on July 2, 1923, on his so-called Voyage of Understanding. President Harding for half an hour or so today came into realization of his boyhood ambition to become a locomotive engineer, an Associated Press correspondent reported. It was not one of the steam locomotives, spuming smoke and cinders, that he drove, but an electric engine on the system of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway. The presidential train stopped at Falcon. Harding shook hands with engineer Arthur Blundell, who invited the president into the cab. Soon the train moved off down the west slope of the Bitter Root Mountains with the hand of the chief executive on the controller, news reports said. Around sharp curves, through tunnels and along canyon sides the president guided the heavy twelve-car train until it reached Avery, a total distance of about 15 miles. Then it was on to Spokane, to Seattle, and to Alaska, where the 57-year-old president was clearly ailing. By the time he returned to the states and San Francisco, Harding lay on his death bed. One month to the day after he drove the Milwaukee train, Harding became the sixth of eight presidents so far to die in office, probably of congestive heart failure. Stanley Johnson (1928-2019) was the stepson of a conductor on the Olympian Hiawatha, and the Milwaukee Road was in his blood. Johnson was a psychology professor emeritus in 1997 when his memoir, The Milwaukee Road Revisited, came out. It includes this passage: Do you hear that? he asked in a hushed voice. Listen! Its the wind from up around Adair blowing down the valley and through the tunnel. You can almost always hear it here, particularly in the summer. Some say it sounds like a dying mans cry for help, a ghost from the big fire. Feeling the hair rise on my head, I held my breath and listened. I could hear it, a soft expressive wavering sound, a sighing sound as low and melancholy as a dirge sung by a monastery choir. It made me uncomfortable. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. While COVID stalls blockbusters, Mulan makes it through If there were ever a week where Hollywood had to decide whether to be pessimistic or optimistic, it was this week. Hot on the heels of Tenet performing well at box offices in countries where cinemas have reopened came the news that Dwayne Johnson and Robert Pattinson had tested positive to COVID-19 temporarily suspending the productions they were working on including the blockbuster The Batman. World-Entertainment By David Griffiths Sunday 6 September 2020, 12:10PM Yifei Liu is Mulan in the Disney 2020 remake. Image: Courtesy of Disney It would be enough to make any Hollywood producer wonder whether or not they should just give up on 2020 completely. One thing that happened this week was probably enough to make them realise there was still hope though that was the smile on Yifei Lius face as she fronted the media about her new film Mulan. It was obvious from that smile that Liu doesnt mind the fact that the Disney epic is opening in cinemas in some countries and on Disney+ in others. She is just happy that a film that she is incredibly proud of is finally going to be enjoyed by film lovers right around the world. After all isnt that why a film is made in the first place? I wanted to see how much more I could do as an actress, the young Chinese star says when she is asked why she wanted to play Mulan in a film destined to become one of this years highest earners. I wanted to see what my abilities were and I wanted to discover more and more and more. I wanted to learn more skills and I wanted to feel more. And I knew that she is facing extreme circumstances that not everybody every day could experience. I really did think I had the passion to explore that. From the trailers that had been shown to cinema goers over the past 12 months it was obvious that Disney alongside director Niki Caro wanted to expand on the originally animated version of Mulan and make this film an action spectacular with a solid character journey. That is something that Liu agrees with. She is on a journey... she is discovering herself, explains Liu going more in-depth about the title character. That is not really on the surface, that is deep inside. She thinks that the perfect her in other peoples eyes might be that way, but you do eventually realise that you can be that and you can be more than that. Of course alongside Liu in the film are some of the biggest names in Asian cinema including Donnie Yen and Jet Li, both of whom Liu says were a joy to work with. I think everybody was perfect for their role, she says smiling. I have to say that Jet, I worked with him 10 maybe 12 years ago and it was so good to see him again. He was perfect to play the Emperor and Li Gong oh my God she is my Goddess I am such a fan. I could not believe that I got this opportunity to work with her. So I was just so excited and on set I just wanted to always chat to her but I had to remind myself that I had to focus on my work. Whether you are lucky enough to watch Mulan on the big screen or whether you get to watch it in the comfort of your own lounge it is obvious talking to the cast and crew that this is a film that has been made with complete dedication and love and that is what we need from cinema right now. Mulan is rated G and currently showing in Phuket. David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus Other coalitions will be announced in the near future, he said. During the past month, the committee sent mailers to city residents soliciting potential interest and support, is placing signs in businesses and yards, buying advertising and taking other steps to promote its message. Our project is really intended to be a catalyst for further industry development and jobs and businesses in our region, Eige said. If its just a resort casino, we think its going to be highly successful in bringing jobs over 2,000 local, direct jobs, $16 million to $21 million in new tax revenue, 4 million tourists, billions of dollars in economic impact for our region. But what we really hope is it helps grow other industries, attract other businesses that may start off servicing our resort and eventually stay on their own and create new industries and new clientele completely unrelated to our resort casino, he said. The project is forecast to generate between $15 million and $20 million annually in new tax revenues for the city and other revenues for Southwest Virginia, Kent said. BEIRUT, Lebanon Rescue workers who had spent days searching for a possible survivor in a building destroyed by a huge explosion last month all but gave up hope on Saturday, saying they had no new indications that anyone was alive under the rubble. The search had captivated Lebanon since a sniffer dog named Flash drew rescue workers to the building, providing a dramatic glimmer of hope a month after the blast tore through Beirut, devastating residential neighborhoods and killing more than 190 people. But that hope has since faded, as rescue workers dug day and night through piles of rubble in a historic house destroyed by the blast, finding nothing. Technically speaking, there are no signs of life, Francisco Lermanda, the coordinator of Topos, a rescue group from Chile, told reporters Sunday night. Washington: President Donald Trump was on the defensive on Sunday over his attitude toward the US military following media reports that he had disparaged fallen veterans, which could harm his campaign for re-election on November 3. Democratic and Republican opponents alike over the weekend seized on the reports which said that Trump had called US soldiers buried in Europe "losers" to attack his record on the military on news shows and in political ads. "It breaks your heart," US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of the reported comments in an interview on MSNBC on Sunday. Former Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel, a Republican, told ABC's This Week that the remarks, if true, were "despicable." The accident occurred near Kesarpura on Saturday night when the victims were on their way to Bhilwara from Kota Jaipur: Seven people were killed after their van collided head-on with a trailer in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan, police said on Sunday. The accident occurred near Kesarpura, which comes under the jurisdiction of Bijolia police station, on Saturday night when the victims were on their way to Bhilwara from Kota, they said. The deceased were identified as Umesh (40), Mukesh (23), Jamna (45), Amar Chand (32), Raju (21), Radheshyam (56)and Shivlal (40). The bodies were shifted to a local hospital and would be handed over to family members after postmortem, they added. Joey Gibson, leader of the Patriot Prayer, joins other right-wing groups in a rally called United Against Hate in Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 5, 2020. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images) Facebook Removes Accounts of Patriot Prayer, Groups Leader Facebook took down the accounts of the conservative Patriot Prayer group as well as Joey Gibson, the groups leader, and several supporters. They were removed as part of our ongoing efforts to remove Violent Social Militias from our platform, Sally Aldous, a Facebook spokesperson, told The Epoch Times via email. Meanwhile, in a statement on Parler, Gibson said: Antifa groups murdered my friend while he was walking home, and instead of the multibillion dollar company [Facebook] banning Portland antifa pages they ban Patriot Prayer, Joey Gibson, and several other grandmas that are admins. An alternative to Twitter, Parler is a social networking platform that has a significant user base of Trump supporters and conservatives. Antifa member Michael Reinoehl was identified as a suspect in the Aug. 29 killing of Patriot Prayer supporter Aaron Danielson before being fatally shot by law enforcement officers who sought to apprehend him last week. Facebooks decision showed a very serious demonstration of the unchecked power of electronic oligarchs to control information, Gibsons lawyer, Angus Lee, told The Oregonian. Obviously, Mr. Gibson is very upset right now and feels as though there is an effort to silence him, Lee added. Aaron Jay Danielson in an undated photograph. He was shot dead in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 29, 2020. (Danielson family via AP) Aldous pointed to Facebook removing groups, pages, and ads related to Antifa as part of a mass action taken last month. At the time, the company said it was taking action against accounts tied to offline anarchist groups that support violent acts amidst protests, US-based militia organizations, and QAnon, a movement that advances a number of claims, including that members of the worlds social, economic, and political elites have engaged in child sex trafficking, abuse, and cannibalism. Some of the accounts may identify as Antifa, the company stated. Gibson and others linked to Patriot Prayer took part in a pro-President Donald Trump rally on the day Danielson was shot dead. According to police officials, the event had concluded before the shooting. Danielson was a resident of Portland, Oregon, Gibson said last week, explaining why he was still in the city when he was shot. Joey Gibson, leader of Patriot Prayer, arrives at the scene of a shooting in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 29, 2020. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Reuters) Gibson denounced smears of his friend, saying people calling him a racist or other negative terms didnt know him. The only thing that they can never do to Jay is call him a racist because he lived an amazing life. So they cant talk about specific examples of who he was and what he did, quotes of him saying hateful things because there is nothing. They cant show him being violent because he wasnt violent. They cant show anything on him, except just claim that hes some sort of white supremacist, Gibson said. Patriot Prayer has engaged in violent clashes with Antifa and other groups in the past, primarily in Portland. Gibson was one of six people charged with inciting a riot on May 1, 2019, between his group and Antifa. Video footage showed him pushing a woman who was with Antifa, police said in an affidavit (pdf). He has pleaded not guilty. Two men entered pleas and were sentenced. Christopher Ryan Ponte, 38, pleaded no contest to felony riot and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, three years of probation, and banned from protests. Ponte, who police said was associated with Patriot Prayer, started a group called Oregon Cop Block that seeks to film police officers while they do their jobs. Later in 2019, Ponte was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records. A man waves an American flag during the national anthem as members and supporters of Patriot Prayer gather in Esther Short Park for a memorial for Aaron Danielson in Vancouver, Wash., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images) Matthew Demetrius Cooper, 24, another man linked to Patriot Prayer, pleaded guilty to felony riot and was given three years probation and banned from protests. During the mayhem, a Patriot Prayer member, Ian Kramer, knocked an Antifa-linked woman unconscious, according to an affidavit. Gibsons lawyer previously accused the Mulntomah District Attorneys Office of selective prosecution because the office didnt dismiss the riot charge following its announcement last month that prosecutors would presumptively decline to pursue charges against people arrested for certain crimes during protests. We got the policy that day and said, Whoa, if he can do this for them, hes got to do this for everybody,' attorney James Buchal told The Oregonian. Brad Kaulbaugh, a deputy district attorney, responded by saying the new policy is not retroactive. Gibson said during an appearance on Fox News @ Night last week that he stopped organizing events in Portland because there are so many people showing up who are hateful, causing problems. Asked what Patriot Prayers mission is, he said: The last few years, what weve been doing is going around in areas outside of Portland, trying to help people who are victims to government overreach, like CPS and the lockdowns, Second Amendment. Tom Ozimek contributed to the report. Laura Lester is executive director of Alabama Food Banks The Alabama Food Bank Association is comprised of the four food banks and four distribution centers that partner with Feeding America to serve Alabama residents across the state. Our members and their more than 1,600 partner agencies are hard at work assisting hungry Alabamians financially impacted by Covid-19. Even before the pandemic, residents throughout Alabama have had to make difficult decisions to avoid hunger in their homes. In central Alabama, a 2019 study by the Community Food Bank showed that people who sought their help have had to sacrifice medical care, rent, utilities, and other essentials just to eat. In 2020, job loss and other pandemic-related problems have only exacerbated that situation, and our food banks desperately require financial support to meet the rising needs. The state of Alabama has the power to alleviate our food banks most immediate funding concerns through grant money provided by the CARES ACT. It is our sincere hope that Governor Kay Ivey will recognize the importance of these food banks and allocate sufficient funds to our efforts. CARES Act grants are distributed at the discretion of the state, and only $15,000 is available per non-profit. In Alabama, each individual food bank must apply for CARES support, and many non-profits are all competing for the funding at a time when we are already overwhelmed by an unprecedented need. In Alabama, as many as 400,000 children count on their schools for at least one meal per day. When school is not in session, the Alabama Food Bank Association typically provides much needed meals for students through the Summer Meals Program. This service ensures children 18 years and younger are properly fed when school lunches are not available. Last year, we were able to serve more than 68,000 lunch meals for over 4,000 children in communities throughout the state. As Alabamas school systems moved to virtual schooling in the spring, our summer feeding programs stepped up to ensure children in Alabama were fed. For the first time in Alabama history the Summer Meals Program operated for more than 20 weeks. ALFBAs program reached more than 10,000 children and served nearly $1 million worth of meals. As the pandemic has persisted into the summer, weve seen an increase in need, yet a decrease in income sources. Community efforts like our annual galas and fundraisers couldnt be held this year for public safety concerns, and that has interrupted much-needed funding opportunities that weve counted on year after year, at a time when the money is most directly needed. Feeding the Gulf Coast, the food bank covering lower Alabama, faced a 30 percent increase in need across their community, and theyre expected to see that need remain or even rise to 38 percent through the rest of the year. That 30 percent spike translates to about 8,378,000 additional meals. The Community Food Bank of Central Alabama reports that they spent more on food in one month and a half in 2020 that they paid in all of 2019. Theyre currently seeking support for their Summer Hunger Challenge, with the goal of providing 500,000 meals in Birmingham and other central Alabama communities. To further complicate the challenges we face this year, our work has also been slowed by the necessary precautions we must take to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and the people we serve. Most local food banks have had to alter their operations due to safety concerns in limiting the spread of COVID-19. This could mean fewer people on hand to process donations and distribute meals. Some sites have adopted a mobile food component or no-touch model distribution pick-up system to adapt to the ongoing circumstances. Food banks have also had to purchase additional PPE, and those extra costs have cut notably into their available funds. Our four locations across the state count on retailers for up to 50 percent of our stock, and this years food supply shortages have caused a drop in donations from these grocery stores. Months after the shutdown, its still hard to stock up on staples like canned vegetables. Even as our non-profits must petition and compete for limited financial support in Alabama, we have seen that other states allocate higher amounts directly for their food banks. In Tennessee, the state has designated the Second Harvest Food Bank to directly distribute funds to food banks for Emergency Food Assistance, and in Mississippi, $8 million in CARES money has been allocated for non-profits, with half of that specifically designated for food banks. In Florida, Brevard County alone set aside $4 million to help food banks care for their population of 500,000 people. New Jersey used a portion of their CARES funds to distribute $20 million across five food banks within the state. The $15,000 available to a single Alabama food bank would be quickly depleted during normal operations, and clearly wouldnt stretch as far as we need it under these difficult circumstances. The funds that our food banks received earlier this spring were prompt and much appreciated, but we can plainly see that we will need renewed support and broader access to CARES funding. Providing food to those in need is an essential service. During a pandemic, the need for proper support for our food banks has only been heightened. We are grateful for those who donate food items and funds to our banks, and for the groups and religious institutions that provide much-needed help, but we will require greater support from the state itself to continue fighting hunger in the midst of this crisis. Show your support of Alabama Food Banks, and follow us at alfba.org. US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has revealed that Trump hired a lookalike of former President Barack Obama and 'belittled' him, going to the extent of firing him in a video stunt. Trump, Cohen has revealed in a new book, titled 'Disloyalty: A Memoir', the excerpts from which were published in CNN and The Washington Post, also said South African leader Nelson Mandela was 'no leader'. The excerpts suggest that Trump would make casually racist remarks, including the time, according to Cohen, when his ex-boss said, "tell me one country run by a black person that isn't a s---hole." Cohen has described Trump, who is seeking a re-election, as "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man." According to the CNN extract, Trump had hired a "Faux-Bama" to participate in a video where "ritualistically belittled the first black president and then fired him." Although Cohen doesn't specify the date, he has included a picture of the incident in his book, reproduced by CNN. According to Cohen, Trump went on to call Obama a "Manchurian candidate" who got his Ivy League degrees by the way of affirmative actions. Cohen has also included other racist barbs and jibes which Trump allegedly made, including when he told Cohen in 2015 that blacks and Latinos are 'not my people'. "Like the blacks, they're too stupid to vote for Trump. They're not my people," Trump said, according to Cohen. The White House has responded to Cohen's claims, stating that Cohen is a "disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer, who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies." Cohen was convicted last year for crimes including tax evasion, lying to Congress, among others. For more than four decades, SSL (Solid State Logic) mixing consoles have powered legendary recordings, from Rushs Moving Pictures to Tupac Shakurs All Eyez On Me. More platinum albums have been recorded on SSL equipment than on all other mixing consoles combined, and they can be found at world-famous facilities like Hit Factory and Abbey Road Studios. We spoke to James Gordon, CEO of Audiotonix, to find out how the company keeps an eye on SSL's incredible past, while always looking to the future. For music lovers who are not gear-heads, can you explain how one recording console is different from another? For an audio engineer, their mixing console is their instrument. It is how they manage and control the musicians individual instruments and ultimately balance what the listener hears. This connection with the engineer means how the console sounds, combined with the accuracy and feel of the controls, is critical to the end result. This interaction and the physical layout of the console become part of your muscle memory and engineers instinctively know where to reach to get the result and sound they are looking for. This means engineers are very connected to their preferred brand and its physical layout. Related: These $55 Wireless Earbuds Play Longer Than AirPods As CEO of Audiotonix, how do you balance the legacy of a brand like SSL while continuing to change and innovate? Part of the legacy of SSL is innovation, so in fact, it is in the DNA of the R&D team to constantly look for new ways of doing things or adding to what is possible. The hardest job is prioritizing the ideas they have and turning them into real products. We recently had this with the SSL 2 and SSL 2+ USB interfaces, where we were aiming to introduce the brand to the next generation of musicians and engineers. The team wanted to hold their audio values and give the true SSL experience, all of which had to be engineered to the right price point. They did an amazing job and we now have a rapidly growing number of people experiencing what it means to have that quality at the start of creating their music. What is the process for new product development? We spend a lot of time with our clients, listening to their challenges or aspirations drives much of our development. We then have a comprehensive think tank process where all the technical leaders in Audiotonix come together to evaluate the development challenges and commercial viability. It sounds a pretty intensive process, but I think all the design teams would say the products always get refined for the better. The brands in the group are very focused on their specific core market and the customer base they are working with are therefore very close to the sales and product teams. This unrivaled connection and single focus on the market and products means we are able to react and often drive the next trend. Related: Pharrell and Jay-Z Drop Single Celebrating Black Entrepreneurship How do you see music recording changing in the coming years? What are the trends you see musicians embracing? There seems to be a collaboration trend now returning to music, where musicians want to work closer together to create. This is more of a classic approach and I think this trend will contribute to the success of ORIGIN, as it is a console you can sit around and create together. Covid-19 has also played its part as musicians are starting to collaborate through online platforms, which has really boosted the acceptance our ACP (Audio Creation Products) like SSL2 and SSL2+. Related: If the Black Crowes Adapted to Ecommerce During the Pandemic, So Can You How is the music community coping during these difficult times? As a company we are trying to support our complete supply chain in the best way we can, this is both our clients and suppliers, some of whom are having very challenging times. We are actively involved in a number of campaigns worldwide to highlight the challenge for our industry and the magnitude of freelancers that work in it and are in a frightening number of cases falling through the gaps. If readers would like some awareness on this, please look at the work being done by #WeMakeEvents and #LetTheMusicPlay. There are many others, but these highlight the challenges and the reason we are trying to get local governments to consider extended support. Related: What do Tupac and Dave Matthews Have in Common? Become a Digital Artist for Just $35 Using Only Your Mac Lights, Camera, Disinfectant! Creating Great Content With Kevin Hart, Demi Lovato and Blake Griffin in the Age of Covid-19. Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today John Gaddy saw something on Facebook that didnt ring true. It was a post by a friend about the schools in St. Louis. Gaddy, who works for the state government, lives in Jefferson City, but he reads the Post-Dispatch and pays attention to things here. The post said that the superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, Kelvin Adams, was going to pawn shops in the city to buy Chromebooks intended for virtual learning sold by parents who had taken them from their children. Its not true. But more on that later. Gaddy, frustrated by the amount of disinformation he sees on social media, decided to do something about this post. He traced it to a Facebook page from a man named Gary Leggans in Potosi. Leggans, who says on his Facebook page that he grew up in Carbondale and founded a couple of Christian ministries, is a full-on member of MAGA nation. His Facebook posts are constantly updated with the latest pro-President Donald Trump memes put out by the OAN network, Breitbart or Gateway Pundit. There are racist posts about Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, and posts condoning the violence of Kyle Rittenhouse, the alleged 17-year-old vigilante shooter in Kenosha, Wisconsin, who has been charged with murder. Predictably, the people who responded to the post about St. Louis schools, on Leggans' feed, included all sorts of racist assumptions about Black parents and their children. Worse, the post got shared more than 5,000 times after Leggans shared it. In all, the inaccurate post was shared more than 30,000 times, shared by various networks. This is the reality of actual fake news in the Facebook era. As the old saying goes, a lie goes halfway around the world before the truth has put on its shoes. Gaddy asked Leggans where he got his information and didnt get much of an answer. So he emailed the school district, and me. Gaddy got a quick answer. The post wasnt true. In fact, SLPS Director of Communications Meredith Pierce wrote in an email, the school district doesnt even use Chromebooks. High school students in the St. Louis Public Schools receive Dell laptops; elementary and middle school students receive iPads. This is not factual, Pierce wrote. Thats not to say there isnt a problem in the citys public schools related to technology in the time of COVID-19. Indeed, the district, like many districts across the country, faced a shortage of the various mobile devices and hasnt yet procured enough for every student this quarter. Then there is the reality of living in the district, where the majority of the children are Black and living in poverty, and some dont have access to Wi-Fi, and they face violence and other trauma in their neighborhoods. The children in the city, and their parents, face enough challenges. They dont need fake rumors being passed around by people on Facebook with little regard for the truth. This is why Gaddy, a guy who just believes that misinformation is dangerous, got involved. To his credit, when I called Leggans and told him that the post was inaccurate, he took it down and posted a note on his Facebook page apologizing. He showed me the Twitter feed where he first saw the post. That was from a Black woman who lives in north St. Louis County named Tiarra Banks, who also professes on her social media to be a member of MAGA nation, and regularly shares posts from the right-wing disinformation factory. Banks told me she got the post from a parent in the St. Louis Public Schools. That woman didnt respond to a request for comment. Like so many Facebook posts, there was just a sliver of truth, which helped it spread. In August, an administrator at a school in the city did call pawn shops looking for mobile devices as some of them hadnt been returned after the spring COVID-19 shutdown. It wasnt student technology but staff laptops that the administrator was looking for. She found one laptop at one pawn shop. It isnt often I go down the rabbit hole of trying to disprove the lies that get perpetrated on social media, though people send me information on such posts nearly daily. Frankly, its exhausting, and depressing, but its particularly worrisome, it seems to me, when such posts get shared about our local schools, as has happened where I live with a group of west St. Louis County parents angry with the Rockwood School District over deciding to conduct virtual school in the first quarter to limit the spread of COVID-19. Gaddy wasnt the only person to speak up on Facebook, when the false post about nonexistent Chromebooks started making its rounds. Some folks recognized that it was highly unlikely that pawn shops would buy such devices when they are marked as owned by local schools. They, too, asked for sourcing and information, a good strategy in the era of disinformation, but never got any. So the lie spread, and spread, and spread, with just enough of a spark of truth to turn it into a racist wildfire. From City Hall to the Capitol, metro columnist Tony Messenger shines light on what public officials are doing, tells stories of the disaffected, and brings voice to the issues that matter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Speaking about the attempts to rewrite the history of the Second World War, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that they should not prove anything to anyone, but should do everything possible to ensure that the truth about this was is not forgotten, RIA Novosti reported. "And we must oppose it [the rewriting] through objective information which we have enough of (), which () will not allow anyone to distort that history carryout some momentary political objectives, we must not allow harm to memory of our people, our fathers, grandfathers who fought against Nazism at the cost of their lives," Putin said on the air of Russia 1 television. And speaking about those who try to rewrite history, the Russian president said that they consider themselves "special." Right on time for the long Labor Day weekend, the Bergen County Zoo is reopening to visitors hoping to catch glimpses of their animal friends after a long lapse due to the coronavirus pandemic. On Saturday, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that the Bergen County Zoo in Paramus Van Saun County Park was reopened, with health and safety protocols to allow people to visit while still enforcing social distancing. The zoo, which has been closed since March when the first cases of the coronavirus hit New Jersey, will have hand sanitizing dispensers, barriers for viewing exhibits at the zoo and signage to remind visitors to adhere to Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the statement said. The Bergen County Zoo is one of the most cherished attractions in our parks system bringing joy to thousands of families each and every year, Tedesco said in the statement. I understand how hard it has been for parents and families to find activities in the time COVID-19 and I am glad to announce that the Bergen County Zoo will reopen just in time for Labor Day. Along with enhanced health and safety protocols installed in the zoo, visitors will be required to wear face masks at all times and must buy tickets in advance for morning or afternoon sessions at the zoos website, bergencountyzoo.com. Each day, the zoo will close between 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. for cleaning, the statement said. Visitors must also buy tickets in advance online for the zoos train and carousel. The zoos daily operating hours are: Morning Session - 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Closed for cleaning - 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Afternoon Session - 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The zoo will close at 4:30 p.m. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted societal change on a dizzying scale. Now a coalition of social service organizations and anti-poverty groups is calling on Ottawa and Queens Park to continue that radical reimagining and plan for a recovery that works for all. Just Recovery Ontario says the pandemic laid bare systemic inequalities that were already working against homeless and low-income Ontarians; precarious and migrant workers; Indigenous, Black and racialized residents; students and seniors, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. The pandemic has amplified the social inequities in Ontario and around the world, said Carrie Sinkowski, a community developer with the Community Legal Clinic of Brant Haldimand Norfolk. This is a time to rethink and recreate the ways in which we operate as a society. According to Just Recovery Ontario, an equitable post-pandemic society hinges on providing adequate income support; decent work at safe workplaces, with fair pay and benefits; access to affordable housing; investments in basic services like transportation, child and eldercare, and internet connectivity; and tax policies that ensure the wealthiest earners pay their fair share. Our system continues to take from the most vulnerable and put it in the pockets of the people who have financial power, said Maria Antelo, a community developer with the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic. The pandemic is giving us a chance to slow down and think, Where are we doing things wrong? Antelo said Hamilton is experiencing a huge crisis in housing availability as low-income residents are priced out of the city by real estate investment trusts buying up property. Rents are rising in an enormous way, to the point that someone who is gainfully employed cannot afford an apartment, she said. That puts pressure on housing markets further afield, such as in Haldimand-Norfolk. Its not just in big cities that people are struggling and getting left behind, Sinkowski said. We see folks without adequate housing in small towns and rural areas getting hit hard by the pandemic and having to seek shelter on trails and in abandoned farm buildings, or be put up in empty motels just to stay safe. Thats not a long-term plan. Just Recovery Ontario is asking residents to contact their provincial and federal representatives and endorse the groups five-point plan to strengthen the provinces safety net, as described at JustRecoveryOntario.ca. The campaign is supported by legal aid clinics, labour associations, tenants advocates, the Canadian Mental Health Association and other groups across the province. Antelo noted that governments managed to quickly implement a form of universal basic income, overhaul workplace safety standards and find housing for those in need because of the threat posed by the coronavirus, proving that speedy change is possible if the will exists. She sees the crisis as a chance to not only change policies, but mindsets. We have a chance to start something fresh, because the pandemic is showing us that things were not right, and things will not be right if we continue the same models, Antelo said. This is an opportunity that we cannot miss. J.P. Antonacci s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. The funding allows him to report on stories about the regions of Haldimand and Norfolk. Planning for a just recovery Just Recovery Ontario says governments need to act on the following points to ensure an equitable post-pandemic society. Income support: Boost monthly disability and unemployment benefits to $2,000 to match CERB. Decent work: Set minimum wage at $15 or more and mandate employers to provide 10 paid sick days for all workers. Housing: Establish rent control, maintain and create new affordable housing units including transitional housing for people leaving homelessness and expand cooperative housing. Basic services: Put more money into guaranteeing accessible, reliable and affordable child care, eldercare, transportation and internet access for all Ontarians. Tax reform: Close tax loopholes and target offshore tax havens and digital giants like Facebook and Amazon to ensure the highest earners pay their fair share of taxes. NEW DELHI: A new document accessed by security agencies confirms links of a terror proxy with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). As per the agencies, the letter certifies Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin as 'bona fide' official of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. This matter is likely to muddy the waters as Pakistan's performance in the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan comes up for review in October this year. The FATF is an international watchdog against money laundering and financing of terrorism. It is only after the approval of that millions of dollars in grants and aid are given to countries combating terrorism. Salahuddin, who also heads United Jihad Council (UJC), a terrorist organisation formed by the Pakistan Army for unified command and control over anti-Indian militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir, has security clearance in Pakistan, as per the letter. According to this, Salahuddin would not be stopped unnecessarily at any security checkpoint. Documents accessed by security agencies show that the letter is valid until December 31, 2020, and nails Pakistan's lies about acting against terrorism, showing its continuing support for terror-related activities. Salahuddin has been instrumental in carrying out anti-India propaganda and terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir. He has time and again accepted Pakistans role in funding terrorist activities in Kashmir and has vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict. He is listed on the 'Most Wanted List of India's National Investigation Agency.' He is named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department Of State. Pakistan has been on FATF's grey list for the last 2 years even as it has been given a number of deadlines to fulfil its commitment to improve transparency in financial dealings and take action on the financing of terrorism. The Paris-based body will meet in October and on the agenda will be future actions related to Pakistan's listing. After last year's meeting, the grouping had called on Pakistan to "demonstrate" effective implementation of financial sanctions against all United Nation's 1267 committee designated international terrorists, among other things. The list includes Pulwama attack mastermind Masood Azhar and 1993 Mumbai blast mastermind Dawood Ibrahim. According to estimates by the Pakistani government, the FATF grey listing of Pakistan is causing damage of around USD 10 billion annually to the country. The UK government has been formally warned for threatening press freedom after it blacklisted a group of investigative journalists and denied them access to information. The Council of Europe issued the Level 2 "media freedom alert" after Ministry of Defence press officers refused to deal with Declassified UK, a website focusing on foreign and defence policy stories. The intervention by the Council ironically comes as Boris Johnson and his ministers condemned environmental activists as a threat to press freedom for blockading printing plants in protest at newspapers' climate coverage. Britain has been a founding member of the Council of Europe since it was set up in 1949 under the Treaty of London. It monitors human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe and is responsible for overseeing the European Convention of Human Rights. The organisation's media freedom alert system catalogues threats to media freedom such as attacks on the physical safety of journalists, harassment and intimidation, detention and imprisonment. The new alert, issued by the organisation on Friday, was classified by the watchdog as an "act having a chilling effect on media freedom" and put under the "state" category because the British state was the source of the threat. The UK joins Russia, which had an alert issued this week after an blogger critical of the government was hospitalised by two unknown assailants, and Turkey, where a former TV presenter was arrested and charged with membership of a terrorist organisation. The International Press Institute (IPI) wrote to the Ministry of Defence on Friday urging the government to rethink its crackdown said the move appeared to be taken because of the outlet's critical editor line. "IPI is concerned this sudden decision to exclude Declassified UK from a MoD comment, and the subsequent lack of communication on the matter, appears to have been taken in retaliation for its previous critical reporting and editorial stance on the UK armed forces," IPIs Deputy Director Scott Griffen said. "It goes without saying that the exclusion of a media publication by a government ministry due to its investigative reporting would undermine press freedom and set a worrying precedent for other journalists whose job it is to report in the public interest on the British military. Criticism should be no reason to discriminate against a media publication. "In contrast, tough journalism by outlets such as Declassified UK on matters such as the UKs foreign and military affairs, uncomfortable though it often may be for those in power, is crucial for a transparent and functioning democracy." The Council of Europe's media freedom alert says the journalist at Declassified UK was denied a response to a question about the war in Yemen after being asked What sort of angle have you taken on the war in Yemen? and then later told by a press officer at the department that we no longer deal with your publication. The last time the UK was issued with a state-focused media freedom alert was in May this year, when an OpenDemocracy journalists was banned from asking questions as the UK government's daily coronavirus press conference. 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. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty UK news in pictures 28 November 2021 Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City battles for possession with Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United during a match at the Etihad during snow Manchester City/Getty UK news in pictures 27 November 2021 Residents clear branches from a fallen tree in Birkenhead, north west England as Storm Arwen triggered a rare red weather warning AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 26 November 2021 A killer whale (orca in the fjord of Skjervoy, northern Norway AFP/Getty The government was also criticised in February after Downing Street excluded some outlets, including The Independent, from technical briefing, with an official telling excluded journalist: We are welcome to brief whoever we want whenever we want. Hours after the latest media freedom alert was issues, the prime minister Mr Johnson said: "A free press is vital in holding the government and other powerful institutions to account on issues critical for the future of our country, including the fight against climate change. It is completely unacceptable to seek to limit the publics access to news in this way." Mr Johnson was referring to blockades of printing plants for the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, The Sun, and The Times by Extinction Rebellion activists. Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, issued a similar message, warning the protesters that their "attack on our free press, society and democracy is completely unacceptable". The Council allows states identified in media freedom alerts a right of reply, but says it has not yet received one from the British government. The Ministry of Defence press office was not available for comment when contacted by The Independent on Saturday afternoon. People carry out the coffin of a victim of the gas pipeline explosion, at a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Al-emrun Garjon/AP) The death toll from a gas pipeline explosion in a mosque outside Bangladeshs capital rose to 24 on Sunday while authorities were examining how a leakage caused the accident during evening prayers. A seven-year-old boy who went to pray with his father in the Narayanganj district was among the dead. The father is in a critical condition. Expand Close A boy holds a photograph of his father who was killed in the explosion (Al-emrun Garjon/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A boy holds a photograph of his father who was killed in the explosion (Al-emrun Garjon/AP) The series of explosions triggered a fire as worshippers were finishing their prayers on Friday night. At least 37 people were admitted to a burns unit in a state-run hospital in Dhaka, where 24 subsequently died. Doctors said the others were critical after suffering burns on up to 90% of their bodies. Expand Close A man stands by the bodies of victims at a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Al-emrun Garjon/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man stands by the bodies of victims at a hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Al-emrun Garjon/AP) Officials said the impact of the blast caused at least six air conditioners to also explode as the fire rapidly spread through the packed mosque. Authorities said they suspected gas had accumulated inside the mosque from a leak in the underground pipeline. The windows were shut because of the air conditioners. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 15:03:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Agricultural Bank of China, one of the country's largest commercial lenders, saw its net profit slide 10.8 percent year on year in the first half of this year (H1). The bank raked in 109.19 billion yuan (about 15.97 billion U.S. dollars) in net profit in the first six months of 2020, down 13.18 billion yuan from the same period last year, its H1 report showed. During the period, the operating income of the bank amounted to 339.17 billion yuan, up 1.6 billion yuan from a year earlier, according to the report. As of the end of June, its outstanding non-performing loans stood at 207.75 billion yuan, with the non-performing loan ratio at 1.43 percent, an increase of 0.03 percentage points from the previous year-end. Meanwhile, the newly-added loans for the real economy came in at 1.17 trillion yuan in H1, 225.9 billion yuan more than the same period last year. Enditem For Tara Raghuveer, 'Every Eviction Is an Act of Violence' " If you think about it one way, we're in the midst of the biggest rent strike in national history," Tara Raghuveer, director of the KC Tenants union, told me over Zoom: "There's massive noncompliance from inability to pay the rent, and hundreds of thousands of people are politicizing that inability, as they should." We've been curious about this talking point from KC Tenants throughout 2020 and NOW, thanks to AWESOME readers, we have an answer about the alleged brutality of landlords trying to collect rent that was contractually agreed to by renters.Read more: The Sept. 3 issue of The Norwalk Hour featured a commentary by state Sen. Bob Duff, delineating his experience with some members of the Norwalk Police, similar to that experienced by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and his family after the Democratic National Convention. Both events serve to underscore the trend toward decreased law enforcement by calls for defunding, and reductions toward, police law enforcement. The current movement Black Lives Matter, as do any others as well, has been and will continue going forward. It appears that Mr. Duff is attempting to capitalize on the current state of affairs. Dominic Raab accused the EU of 'double standards' today as he warned that the UK will walk away from post-Brexit trade talks rather than back down. The Foreign Secretary said a deal was 'there for the taking', but insisted Brussels must recognise that discussions this week are a 'moment of reckoning'. He pledged that the government will not 'haggle away' fishing rights or agree to be bound by EU rules just to get an agreement across the line. The tough stance came after the UK's chief negotiator Lord Frost cautioned counterpart Michel Barnier that the UK will not 'blink' this time, unlike when Theresa May was in No10. In an exclusive interview with The Mail on Sunday, Lord Frost said there was no prospect of forcing Britain to become a 'client state' of Brussels. The comments will heighten gloom about a breakthrough, with Downing Street insiders now putting the chance of an agreement at just 30-40 per cent. Speaking to Sky News this morning, Mr Raab said the government wanted to strike a deal with the EU, but it could not be based on 'double standards'. Foreign Secretary said a deal was 'there for the taking', but insisted Brussels must recognise that discussions this week are a 'moment of reckoning' The tough stance came after the UK's chief negotiator Lord Frost (pictured left at a previous round of talks in Brussels) cautioned counterpart Michel Barnier (right) that the UK will not 'blink' this time, unlike when Theresa May was in No10 'All the UK is asking for it to be treated like any other country in free trade negotiations,' he said. 'No other country would accept being bound by or controlled by the EU's rules.' Mr Raab said there were 'really only two bones of contention left' - on fishing rights and whether the UK had to bow to Brussels edicts. 'We hope that the EU as a whole will really understand that this week is the moment of reckoning,' Mr Raab said. 'There is a deal to be done. We are only asking to be treated just as the EU would expect. 'We can't allow, as we leave the EU, for the EU to control our rules.' He added: 'The only question is why we should be treated with such double standards.' 'There is a good deal there for the EU, we'd love to do that free trade agreement and if not we'll fall back on Australian-style rules. 'I think this week is an important moment for the EU to really effectively recognise that those two point of principles are not something we can just haggle away they are the very reasons we are leaving the EU, but we want a positive relationship and the arm of friendship and goodwill is extended.' Mr Barnier is due to arrive in London for the crunch round of talks on Tuesday. The two sides have just weeks to finalise any legally binding agreement that needs to be in force by December 31 if a No Deal Brexit is to be avoided. In the interview his first since being appointed in January Lord Frost said the EU needed to realise that Mr Johnson's Government was adopting a more steely and determined approach than Mrs May's. He said: 'We came in after a Government and negotiating team that had blinked and had its bluff called at critical moments and the EU had learned not to take our word seriously. Boris Johnson, pictured on a visit to an HS2 site in Solihull on Friday, has insisted he will not compromise sovereignty to get a deal 'So a lot of what we are trying to do this year is to get them to realise that we mean what we say and they should take our position seriously.' To demonstrate the Government's readiness to accept No Deal, the Prime Minister has created a No 10 Transition Hub, with officials across key departments said to be 'working at pace' to prepare to trade without arrangements in place. The unit, boasting 'handpicked' officials from across Whitehall, will work with Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, who has led the Government's work on No Deal preparations since last year. Lord Frost's remarks drew immediate anger from allies of Mrs May. Gavin Barwell, who was chief of staff in No10, tweeted that the peer had 'some brass neck'. 'Given the Withdrawal Agreement & Political Declaration David Frost negotiated last autumn were 95% the work of his predecessors - and the 5% that was new involved giving in to the EU's key demand (for some customs processes when goods move GB to NI) - that quote's some brass neck,' he wrote. Ltd (CSL), which has embarked on a 10-year strategy to position itself as a leading global shipyard, is eying opportunities in inland, coastal, fishing and special vessels segments besides aspiring to spin off a dedicated vertical for fishing vessels, according to its CMD Madhu S Nair. The state-owned company is constructing a yard at its 100 per cent subsidiary Hooghly in Kolkata as a dedicated facility for construction of such vessels and has already delivered eight vessels to the Authority of India (IWAI) during COVID-19. It has also delivered 11 out of the 16 fishing vessels contracted for the Tamil Nadu beneficiaries and remaining five are ready for delivery. "The long-term business strategy road map worked out firmly points out the necessity of pro-active marketing efforts on both commercial and defence sectors. The main focus segments on the commercial front would include coastal, inland, fishing, specialised vessels etc," Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Madhu S Nair said in the company's annual report. CSL said fishing vessels have high potential and it has started the work to tap the immense opportunities therein. "Sensing the high potential in this arena for good quality safe and technologically advanced vessels, CSL aspires to spin off a dedicated vertical which will enable production of these vessels to cater to the high demand volume envisaged," Nair said. Towards this, CSL had submitted a resolution plan for TEBMA Shipyard Ltd (TSL), which was listed under the Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and succeeded in obtaining favourable orders for taking over the facility. Physical activities on the project are likely to be commenced soon. As part of CSL's long-term strategy - "CRUISE 2030", "CSL aspires to achieve 6x-8x growth by 2030" and towards this the company has identified deep sea fishing vessel as one of the several opportunities. Since fishing vessel segment calls for a dedicated facility so as to cater to the large volume of business different from the conventional shipbuilding process, CSL was in search of a suitable facility to enter into this segment and bid for TSL, Malpe which was undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016, the annual report said. Accordingly, CSL submitted its resolution plan which was approved by NCLT and CSL is in the process of implementing the plan. The eight Ro-Pax vessels contracted for IWAI for operations in Waterway 1 & Waterway 2 were delivered amid the COVID-19 lockdown and sailed off to Kolkata, he said. is today at a very crucial juncture of growth and development, Nair said and added while strengthening its core competencies in shipbuilding and ship repair, the company is looking at new avenues, facilities and business opportunities. While focusing on the defence and large shipbuilding orders, CSL had also taken up small ships in the fishing segment and the segment, taking into consideration its vital requirement in the strategic interests of the nation, he said. With a multi-locational operation and strategic depth, the company hopes to sustain its growth in the coming years by overcoming the challenges on production loss and cash flow caused by the pandemic, through hard work, focussed marketing & innovative business models, he said. Stating that CSL is presently in an extremely challenging and competitive business environment, Nair said while strengthening its core competencies in shipbuilding and ship repair, the company is poised for expected growth and development in the coming years. Incorporated in 1972 as a fully-owned government company, CSL in the three decades has emerged as a forerunner in the Indian shipbuilding & ship repair industry. This yard can build and repair the largest vessels in India. It can build ships up to 1,10,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT )and repair ships up to 1,25,000 DWT. The yard has delivered two of India's largest double hull Aframax tankers each of 95,000 DWT . CSL has secured shipbuilding orders from internationally renowned companies from Europe and the Middle East and is nominated to build the country's first indigenous Air Defence Ship. The shipyard commenced ship repair operations in 1982 and has undertaken repairs of all types of ships including upgradation of ships of oil exploration industry as well as periodical lay-up repairs and life extension of ships of Navy, Coast Guard, Fisheries and Port Trust besides merchant ships of Shipping Corporation of India and ONGC. (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.) Following the demise of the former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, Maldives ex-President Dr Mohamed Waheed on September 6 paid his respects by signing the condolences book at the Indian High Commission in the Maldives. Earlier, Waheed had condoled the death of Pranab Mukherjee, who passed away on August 31, by admitting that he was very sad by the news. He had also sent his condolences to his family, Government of India and to all Indians as well. Former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed visits the High Commission of India to sign the condolence book & pay his respects to the Former President Shri Pranab Mukherjee.@DrWaheedH @ProgressPartyMV @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/jCfkUsHn9r India in Maldives (@HCIMaldives) September 6, 2020 Very sad to receive the news of the passing of Fmr. Indian President Shri Pranab Mukherjee. My condolences to his family, to the government and people of India. @HCIMaldives @PMOIndia Mohamed Waheed (@DrWaheedH) August 31, 2020 READ: Nepal Foreign Minister Signs Book Of Condolences For Pranab Mukherjee Pranab Mukherjee passes away Former President Dr Pranab Mukherjee passed away on August 31 after being put in a coma post a successful brain surgery at Army Hospital (R&R) in New Delhi. The news was confirmed by his son - Abhijit Mukherjee, who thanked the hospital staff and doctors for their efforts. The 84-year-old was hospitalised on August 10 to undergo brain surgery for the removal of a clot and had tested positive for Coronavirus. READ: Sri Lankan PM Condoles Pranab Mukherjee's Death, Hails His 'benevolent Leadership' Since August 10, regular reports from the Army Hospital stated that the former President was in a deep coma and on ventilator support, remaining haemodynamically stable while being treated for a lung infection. While he had been operated for removal of a clot in the brain, he had also developed a lung infection and had a renal dysfunction apart from being infected with COVID-19 at the time of admission. He leaves behind a rich legacy with his stint as India's finance, commerce, defence minister, India's President and veteran Congress leader. Known to be close to late former PM Indira Gandhi, he was elected to the Rajya Sabha first in 1969 and then subsequently in 1975, 1981, 1993 and 1999. While he was a thorough Congressman serving in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for 23 years, his multiple stints as Finance minister ushered several major economic reforms boosting the Indian economy. READ: Bangladesh Foreign Minister Says Entire Nation Indebted To Pranab Mukherjee READ: Karnataka Congress Netas Raise Late Pranab Mukherjee's RSS Visit At His Condolence Meet The author Mark Twain was a lot of things to a lot of people: cigar-chomping social critic, curmudgeon, knee-slapping loose cannon who would have frowned at -- and mocked -- the phrase politically correct. A decision by a Nevada state panel sheds light on another descriptor for the American man of letters held by many, even today: racist. The Nevada State Board on Geographic Names has voted to delay a decision on whether to name a cove on Lake Tahoe for Samuel Clemens, Twains real name, after a local tribe complained that the author held demeaning views of Native Americans. The panel put off the vote until at least September after a member of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, whose ancestral land includes Lake Tahoe -- a name derived from the Washoe word da ow for lake -- object to the naming on behalf of the tribe. Advertisement Darrel Cruz, the tribes cultural resource director, told the Los Angeles Times that he sent a letter to the board and then showed up on the night of the vote. I am obligated to the tribal membership, he said. Cruz said he did some Internet research on Twain after learning of the bid to rename a scenic cove on the lakes northeast shore near Incline Village, Nev., where some scholars believe Twain camped and accidentally started a fire as he cooked dinner in September 1861. Others say the incident happened on the California side of the lake. I read some of his book The Noble Red Man, Cruz said. Thats where you can read some of his hard words on Native American people. Cruz told The Times he also objected to a Twain quote about Lake Tahoe in which he refers to the Washoe as the digger tribe. The phrase applied to some area tribes that dug roots for food. He was opposed to naming the lake Tahoe, Cruz said. And then turn around and include his name on the lake that was named for Native Americans just didnt make sense. Jeff Kintop, chairman of the states naming board, told The Times that postponing the vote included a debate about the politics of naming present-day sites after people whose views have come to be considered controversial. We talked about whether we should change the places named after Washington and Jefferson, who were slave-holders, he said. One member wanted to know how long it took before a harsh judgment on any historical figure starts to lessen. Supporters of the name change say the move is a small gesture to honor one of the nations best-loved authors whose book, Roughing It, helped popularize Nevada. In 2011, Twains legacy received a similar knock when the U.S. Board on Geographic Names rejected a similar name change after officials decided Twains influence on the Sierra Nevada lake was minimal and that the honor should go to another historical figure. Kintop said the state board was ready to approve the new name before hearing from Cruz. He said the panel is seeking further clarification from several historians before the next vote. Obviously, Mark Twain was a man of his times who reported on things as he saw them, he said. He ridiculed and made fun of everybody, indiscriminate in his criticisms. I mean, he wrote these things 150 years ago, at a time when this was how most people thought. Twain wrote to be funny and controversial, like the comedians of our era who routinely insult audiences. He was the Lenny Bruce of his day. Cruz didnt buy that argument. That doesnt make his words hurt any less, he said. That doesnt make it right. James Hulse, a history professor emeritus at the University of Nevada, Reno, said he has been contacted by several members of the state naming board for guidance. It seems reasonable to name something up there after Twain -- he made so many lovely descriptions of the place, Hulse, 84, said. The Washoe may think he was racist, but so was everyone else at that time. He called Twain a misanthrope who cultivated his insults as part of his character. You can call Huckleberry Finn a racist book, he added, but you can also see it as one of the noble tributes to a runaway slave as youre ever going to find. UN in the Kyrgyz Republic released a statement calling on political parties to exercise caution and avoid spread of COVID-19, Trend reports citing Kabar. "The start of campaigning period ahead of the 4 October Parliamentary Election has been officially announced. While recognizing that it is an important time whereby political parties reach out to voters so that they can make informed choices, we also acknowledge that COVID-19 has not gone away, even though the spread of the coronavirus, as evidenced by the official statistics, has fallen since its peak in July 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major global issue, negatively affecting thousands of people everyday globally. Therefore, we call on the political parties taking part in the parliamentary election to maintain all the necessary sanitary and epidemiological measures, including social distancing, wearing mask, washing or sanitizing hands, as recommended by the Government and WHO, while organizing meetings with the population. It is the obligation of the political parties to ensure that all the risks of potential spread of COVID-19 at their public meetings and gatherings are addressed in an adequate manner to avoid health issues and deaths among the population due to COVID-19. We also call on the Central Election Commission to insist with political parties that they show sufficient regard to the potential risks of infection of COVID-19 during political party campaigns. If we all physically distance, clean our hands regularly, wear masks, and keep informed, we can collectively break the chains of transmission, especially as countries are getting ready for colder months with flu season," the statement said. Yesterday, Honor announced that it's holding an event on September 16 in China and the start of the show would be the gaming-centric notebook - the Honor Hunter. Two new smartwatches will join the event as well. The gaming laptop has been rumored for a while now, so it will be interesting to see how the company will expand its portfolio of notebooks whereas the smartwatches are going to be new only for China. During this year's IFA, Honor unveiled the Honor Watch GS Pro and Watch ES and we have a good idea of what's to come on September 16. We hope to get some info regarding global availability for the Honor Hunter during the event too. Source RICHMOND, Va. - Justice Department prosecutors have urged a federal appeals court to uphold a prison sentence of more than 13 years for a former Coast Guard officer accused of plotting a terrorist attack inspired by infamous mass murderers and far-right extremists. The arguments from federal prosecutors in Maryland came in a court filing Friday, about three months after attorneys for Christopher Hasson asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to let him withdraw his guilty plea or else throw out his sentence. The main area of contention in the appeal case is whether a federal judge in Maryland properly applied a terrorism enhancement to the sentence of the former lieutenant, who was not charged or convicted of a terrorism-related offence. Hassons attorney in the appeal argued that the defendants 160-month prison term was roughly four times longer than sentencing guidelines would have called for if U.S. District Judge George Hazel had not mistakenly applied the terrorism enhancement to the sentence. Federal prosecutors on Friday countered that Hazel properly applied the enhancement. Prosecutors wrote that by the plain wording of the sentencing guidelines, there is no requirement that the defendant have committed a federal crime of terrorism. All that is required is that the offence involved or was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism. Hasson, 51, pleaded guilty in October to possessing unregistered and unserialized silencers, being a drug addict in possession of firearms and illegal possession of tramadol, an opioid painkiller. He is serving his sentence at a medium-security federal correctional facility in North Carolina. Federal prosecutors have described Hasson as a domestic terrorist and self-described white nationalist. In an earlier court filing, prosecutors said Hasson appeared to be planning attacks inspired by the manifesto of Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian far-right terrorist who killed 77 people in a 2011 bomb-and-shooting rampage. Prosecutors also said Hasson drew up what appeared to be a computer spreadsheet hit list naming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic presidential hopefuls, including Elizabeth Warren. He also mentioned several network TV journalists, including MSNBCs Chris Hayes and Joe Scarborough and CNNs Chris Cuomo and Van Jones. Investigators found 15 guns, including seven rifles, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, when they searched Hassons basement apartment in Silver Spring. Hasson had faced a maximum prison sentence of 31 years at sentencing. Hazel said he believes the officer was preparing to carry out a mass casualty assault as a way to act out his white nationalist views. Flutter, the Irish-headquartered gambling group once known as Paddy Power Betfair, has said it expects to receive a 13.7m (15.4m) Vat refund from HMRC, the UK's tax authority. The company, headed up by Peter Jackson, revealed it expects to receive the refund in its recent interim results for 2020. It said HMRC had confirmed it wouldn't appeal a ruling in a UK Court which found it had incorrectly applied Vat to revenue earned from certain gaming machines before 2013. In Flutter's interim results, the company confirmed it has submitted claims for the period and is in the process of formally requesting repayment from HMRC. It is also engaging with HMRC on the amount of the payment and the timing of the refund. The company has recognised a third-party cost of 2m with the refunds, as well as 1.4m recorded as cost of sales. These charges will bring the total booked by Flutter to 10.3m. Rank Group PLC and Done Brothers Ltd, which trades as Betfred, a UK betting firm, initially took the case against HMRC, securing the judgement regarding the application of Vat on gaming machines. In May, The Guardian revealed that gambling groups William Hill and GVC, which includes brands like Ladbrokes, expected to reclaim up to 350m from HMRC. Attackers with knives killed a Tunisian National Guard officer and wounded another on Sunday before three assailants were shot dead, the National Guard said, labelling it a terrorist attack. The attack took place in the tourist city of Sousse, the site of the worst of several jihadist attacks in recent years, where 38 people, most of them Britons, were killed in a 2015 beachside shooting. A patrol of two National Guard officers was attacked with a knife in the centre of Sousse, 140 kilometres (80 miles) south of the capital Tunis, said National Guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebali. One died as a martyr and the other was wounded and is hospitalised, he said, adding that this was a terrorist attack. Security forces pursued the assailants, who had taken the officers guns and vehicle, through the citys tourist area of El-Kantaoui, said Jebali, adding that in a firefight three terrorists were killed. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Reports that 90 percent of Vietnamese people are eating dirty rice are wrong, the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) affirmed on Saturday afternoon. The ungrounded information became widespread on social media on Saturday. The claim was reportedly made by Pham Thai Binh, general director of Trung An Hi-Technology Agriculture JSC based in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, during a livestreamed program on Thursday, according to Phu Nu (Women) online newspaper. I would like to affirm that 90 percent of Vietnamese people are eating dirty rice, perhaps it is modest to say 90 percent Many people think that eating dirty rice does not lead to death, and in fact, no one in Vietnam or the world has died right after eating dirty rice. However, in recent years, the rate of people suffering from cancer, diabetes, ... has been increasing, with reasons including the contribution of dirty rice, plant protection drugs accumulating in rice, Phu Nu quoted Binh as saying, without providing reference data. Nguyen Nhu Cuong, head of the Department of Crop Production, disproved Binhs statement during an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday afternoon. All of [Vietnams] medium markets such as the Philippines and Africa or high-end markets such as Europe, the U.S., and Japan have very strict requirements on technical standards, especially food safety and plant protection drug residues. Our products have all passed these markets requirements, and Vietnamese rice has been accepted by these countries. How [can someone] say Vietnamese rice is 'dirty rice'? Cuong said. Cuong affirmed that there is no such thing as an area in Vietnam that is specialized in producing rice for either export or domestic consumption only, or that Vietnams rice is substandard and Vietnamese people are eating dirty rice. According to Cuong, comments on such an important industry to farmers as rice production must be given based on accurate and scientific data rather than subjective opinions. This will affect the success and dynamic development of Vietnams rice industry in recent years, damaging the Vietnamese rices reputation in the agriculture sector that businesses and farmers have built throughout the past several years, Cuong said. According to him, the agriculture sector has invested heavily in science and technology in the field of rice production in recent years. Vietnam currently has a very good set of rice varieties, with rice quality having not only improved but also overcoming its shortcoming of seasonal factor, the crop production departments head said. Farmers are also fully aware of safe farming techniques, while the MARD, research institutes, and the National Center for Agricultural Extension have been working to hand over technical packages to farmers with the goal of lowering input costs, reducing the quantity of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and saving water, while still increasing productivity, quality, and prices. Thanks to these changes, the rice production industry of Vietnam has made great strides, Cuong said. The annual rice cultivation area of the country has reached about 7.3 million hectares, producing up to 43.5 million metric tons of rice per year, not only enough for the domestic consumption of nearly 100 million people but also for export, according to Cuong. Vietnam exports 6.5 to 6.7 million metric tons of rice to markets in different segments each year, he said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Age is not an obstacle to do good work for society to a 19-year-old girl, living in the Naxal-affected areas of Bihar's Nawada district. At the age of 15, having seen the menstrual pains of a poor girl, she had bought some packets of sanitary napkins with her friends from a nearby market with pocket money and gifted them among girls of poor families of her village. Since then, she has distributed more than 4000 pads of sanitary napkins among girls and women of localities free and at some cost through Sanitary Napkin Banks (SNBs). When she turned 19, she succeeded in setting up such SNBs at 27 places across the 16 panchayats of the Naxal-affected Rajauli block. Mausam Kumari of Hardiya village in Nawada district had to face plethora of objections from family and others of locality in doing so but later, realising importance of services, her father Chhote Lal Singh - a truck driver, came forward and supported her. And now she has become a torchbearer and a household name to other girls and women of villages on menstrual and family loaning issues. While she is pursuing graduation from KLS College in History, she is scripting history of social reforms by services. During the last three months of COVID-19 lockdown, she with her team members-all girls of school and college-going, has distributed more than 600 napkin pads free among the women and girls of poor families in addition to making it available through SNBs at Rs 30 per packet. "In 2015, having seen a poor girl in menstrual pain, I moved with an idea to set up a SNB. One day, I discussed this with my two neighbourhood girls namely Sweetly Kumari and Sania Kumari.We collected money from own pockets and started it at my home," she said. She has formed a group of more than 16 girls, who are spreading menstrual hygiene education and supporting other women and girls in running banks in their areas. "I, then set up the first Sanitary Napkin Bank with a box and a register at my home. Upon knowing about it, local women and girls of my village started buying it. Gradually with profit earned from selling pads, I brought pads in bulk for sale and some times free to extremely poor girls," she said. When the shopkeeper at Rajauli market knew about it, he gave her discounts on the packets of pads. It helped her a lot in increasing number of pads with profit money. "In 2017, a woman activist, working as cluster coordinator of Population Foundation India helped me. Now, the Gram Nirman Mandal of Shekho Das Ashram-set up by JP Narayan in 1952 has also come ahead and helping me besides the Population Foundation India," she said. Delhi-based woman activist Neha Singh, who runs an NGO "Bleeding Blues" for supporting, educating and advocating for sexual reproductive, menstrual health and hygiene, provides 100 pieces of sanitary napkins free per month to Mausam. "In the last three months of COVID-19 lockdown, more than 600 sanitary pads have been distributed free among women and girls of poor families in localities. She also educates women and girls of areas on family planning and provided them kits of family planning free with the help of local ASHA workers. Initially, when we went to houses of other women educating them on family planning or giving napkin, they used to shut the doors passing criticism on us," she said. But now those who then rebuked and criticise her have started appreciating and helping. At her request, made to health minister, one 'Yuva Clinic' has been opened at block headquarter of Rajauli with a lady and a male doctors to counsel the girls and boys of their health related problems. She said that she covers some times 8 to 10 kms of distance for meeting women and girls by foots, some tines by bicycles or some times by auto rickshaw. "We dont have a scooty or other vehicle to move across the areas but we are continuing to make new healthy generation," she said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a "very fruitful" discussion with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed regional security situation including Afghanistan and issues of bilateral cooperation. Tehran [Iran], September 6 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a very fruitful discussion with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed regional security situation including Afghanistan and issues of bilateral cooperation. Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation, Rajnath Singh said in a tweet. The meeting between the two Ministers took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere. Both the leaders emphasized upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilizational ties between India and Iran, the Defence Ministers office said in a tweet. The Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Also read: Uyghur activist approaches Islamic community against Chinese oppression Also read: Over 15 lakh people returned under Vande Bharat mission: Puri Singh had held bilateral meeting on September 5 with Irans Minister of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics, Brigadier General Amir Hatami, at the latters request, according to the office of the Defence Minister. Singh had arrived in Tehran on a transit halt to New Delhi from Moscow, after concluding a three day visit to Russia for the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers that took place on Friday. On Saturday, Singh met his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and deliberated on ways to give greater thrust to defence cooperation between India and the Central Asian countries. On Friday, Singh had a meeting with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe during which the two sides discussed military standoff along the Line of Actual Control. (ANI) Also read: Multiple stabbings in UKs Birmingham, police marks it as major incident Tom Baca became hypnotized by helicopters when he was a child in the 1950s and sat glued to the television series Whirlybirds, the adventures of a charter helicopter company that performed a variety of sometimes harrowing tasks for clients. Tom would say, Im going to be a helicopter pilot someday, and thats exactly what he did, said his identical twin brother, Jim Baca, a former Albuquerque mayor and state land commissioner. One week after graduating from St. Pius X High School in 1963, 17-year-old Thomas Delfin Baca joined the U.S. Army, where he became an aircraft mechanic before being accepted to flight school and going on to become a highly decorated helicopter pilot. One of his daring rescues of pinned-down soldiers during his first tour of duty in Vietnam became the subject of a 2009 documentary, Helicopter Wars: Vietnam Firefight, which aired on the Smithsonian and National Geographic television channels. Baca died Aug. 30 after a six-month battle with cancer, and just one week before his 75th birthday. The heroic helicopter rescue occurred in May 1967. At the time, Baca was ferrying an Army chaplain to various bases in south-central Vietnam when a call came in that a company of about 120 South Vietnamese soldiers and American special operations forces were pinned down by about 600 North Vietnamese soldiers in a bamboo forest along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The only armaments Baca and co-pilot Larry Liss of Philadelphia had on the aircraft were their rifles and pistols. Using the rotating blades of their Huey helicopter like a lawn mower, Baca cut into the 25-foot-tall bamboo, clearing a patch of ground for a landing site. He was quickly joined by another Huey coincidentally piloted by New Mexican Jack Swickard. Over the course of the next 11 hours, and under constant fire, the two helicopters each made about a half-dozen trips to get the soldiers to safety. On the last trip, Tom took out so many people that they couldnt all get in the aircraft and they were standing on the skids holding on to the door frame, said Swickard, who lives in Roswell. More than 40 were wounded, and a dozen were killed. Swickard and the Baca brothers became close friends over the years. When I got the call telling me that Tom had died, my stomach just dropped, Swickard said. Swickard had been a police reporter at the now-closed Albuquerque Tribune back in the 1960s and had gotten to know Jim Baca, who was a reporter for a local TV station. He entered the Army and wound up in flight school, training as a helicopter pilot. So, when I got to Vietnam, I went to the Officers Club that first night and saw a familiar face. I walked over to him and said, Jim, what are you doing here? He said, Im not Jim. Im Tom, his twin brother. Thats how I met Tom. That was in February 1967. I didnt even know Jim had an identical twin brother. Ironically, Swickard also had an identical twin brother. Tom and I became very good friends and went back to Vietnam multiple times after the war was over, he said. Swickard called Baca extremely generous, and pointed to a time in recent years when they went out for breakfast and saw two police officers in the restaurant. He called the waitress over and said, Give me their tickets. I want to pay for their meals. He did stuff like that all the time. Baca also had a dry sense of humor and a great mind, Swickard said. He had been a mechanic before he went to flight school, and I used to joke that he could remember how many pounds of torque hed put on each bolt on a helicopter. After four years in the Army, Swickard returned to New Mexico and a career in the news business. Baca remained in the Army, retiring in 1983 with the rank of major and many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, the Soldiers Medal, the Air Medal with 37 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster. In civilian life, Baca continued flying various types of aircraft, working as a pilot for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, the Galles Racing Team, Ross Aviation and NetJets. He also was aviation director at the New Mexico Department of Transportation from July 2004 until his retirement in October 2009. Another longtime friend, former state Rep. Tom Horan, grew up with the Baca brothers and attended first grade through high school with them. I was stunned, he said upon learning of his friends death. Just two or three days before, we were talking about going on a helicopter ride and taking his daughters up. He wasnt planning on letting this thing beat him. Hed been receiving different treatments for the cancer, and I thought it was under control. He was very stoic and didnt complain about it or let anybody know, said Horan, who is godfather to one of Tom Bacas daughters. My brother was a very decent guy, said Jim Baca, who was born two minutes after his brother. The two lived about a mile apart, and we saw each other just about every day. It sounds hokey, but as a twin you always just sensed when you needed to call each other. One time when he got shot down in Vietnam, I was in Air Force basic training and in the middle of the night I woke up in a hot sweat in the barracks. It turned out to be about the same time hed been shot down. I didnt know what was wrong. I thought it was anxiety or something. The next morning, I get a telegram from him saying, I got shot down, but Im OK. In addition to his brother Jim and Jims wife, Bobbi, Tom Baca is survived by his wife of 51 years, Janet Baca of Albuquerque; daughters Sara Reeves (Jason Reeves) of Hamilton, Montana, and Stephanie Baca of Los Angeles; sister Maria Carlota Baca of Santa Fe; four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. An interment and ceremony will take place at the Veterans Cemetery in Angel Fire later this month. Australian actor Hugh Sheridan broke down in tears as he was released from hotel quarantine on Saturday. The Packed To The Rafters star, 35, was very emotional as he reunited with his sister Zoe with a warm embrace. Just one week after returning a false-positive test for the virus, Hugh wrapped his arms around his sibling as he wept happy tears. Heartwarming: Hugh Sheridan broke down in tears as he left hotel quarantine on Saturday following his emotional false-positive coronavirus test result this month Reunited: The Packed To The Rafters star was very emotional as he embraced his sister Zoe, who waited for Hugh outside the front of the hotel Hugh wore a yellow T-shirt, blue jeans, a matching denim jacket, black hat and black sneakers. The Australian actor held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and his suitcase with the other as he walked out of the hotel. Last month, Hugh travelled from Los Angeles to Australia to begin filming the Packed To The Rafters reboot. Emotional: Hugh wrapped his arms around Zoe as he prepared to return home, one week after initially returning a positive test for the virus Home time: The Australian actor held a bouquet of flowers in one hand and his suitcase with the other as he walked out of the hotel On Friday, he revealed he had tested negative for COVID-19 after initially returning a positive test for the virus. The actor explained the doctors told him on Thursday night his result was actually a 'false positive'. The star described the whole ordeal as a 'rollercoaster of emotions' and incredibly confusing. Casual: Hugh wore a yellow T-shirt, blue jeans, a matching denim jacket, black hat and black sneakers False alarm: On Friday, Hugh revealed he has now tested negative for COVID-19, after initially returning a positive test for the virus last week The actor had previously revealed he had tested positive and that he'd somehow caught the deadly virus in transit from Los Angeles to Australia. 'I've been quiet for the last few days because I've been feeling all the varied emotions about my positive Covid test. I haven't felt like talking to anyone much yet,' he wrote. Hugh had jetted into Australia from Los Angeles in mid-August, and at the time was forced to undergo a mandatory 14-day stint at a quarantine hotel. Healthy: The actor explained the doctors told him on Thursday his result was actually a 'false positive' Back home: Hugh had jetted into Australia from Los Angeles in mid-August, and at the time was forced to undergo a mandatory 14-day stint at a quarantine hotel 'I had a negative result when I arrived [in Australia]. I now know all my friends including [those] who took me to LAX airport are all negative so it's been confusing for me. It's scary, frustrating and lonely,' he said. 'I am SO LUCKY & I keep reminding myself to count each blessing 1 by 1. To everyone: this virus is seriously clever. Knowing now that no one I saw back home overseas has it means I got it in a very short space of time (in transit or a surface) while I had minimal human contact,' he wrote. At the time he admitted his mental health had suffered as a result of the diagnosis. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has been inoculated with the country's covid vaccine , Sputnik News reported, citing the Defence Ministry. The defence minister has said that he feels good after being inoculated with the coronavirus vaccine and experiences no side effects, news reports said. He joins some top leaders of the country who got themselves inoculated with Sputnik V covid vaccine. Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia Vladimir Zhirinovsky has been injected with the covid vaccine developed in Russia, a party leader told TASS. Sputnik News also reported that Russian Trade Minister Denis Manturov had been inoculated with the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. Russia licensed the two-shot jab for domestic use in August, the first country to do so and before any data had been published or a large-scale trial begun. Russian President Vladimir Putin had claimed that one of his daughters had been inoculated with the vaccine. On August 11, Russia became the first country to license a COVID-19 vaccine, calling it "Sputnik V" in homage to the world's first satellite, launched by the Soviet Union. But western experts have warned against its use until all internationally approved testing and regulatory steps have been taken. The vaccine is undergoing Phase 3 trials. Russia's "Sputnik-V" COVID-19 vaccine produced an antibody response in all participants in early-stage trials, according to results published on Friday by The Lancet medical journal that were hailed by Moscow as an answer to its critics. The results of the two trials, conducted in June-July this year and involving 76 participants, showed 100% of participants developing antibodies to the new coronavirus and no serious side effects, The Lancet said. Russia licensed the two-shot jab for domestic use in August, the first country to do so and before any data had been published or a large-scale trial begun. (With Agency Inputs) Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! After Dia Mirza, actor Ranvir Shorey has also condemned the remarks made by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut against actor Kangana Ranaut. Taking to Twitter, Ranbir called it utterly deplorable. Ranvir retweeted a video news clip of Sanjay, as he called Kangana haramkhor. The video showed Sanjay criticising Kangana for disrespecting Maharashtra and Shivaji Maharaj. The language used here by this local Maharashtra politician for @KanganaTeam, the heartthrob of millions around the country, is utterly deplorable, whatever the provocation!, he wrote in his tweet. The language used here by this local Maharashtra politician for @KanganaTeam, the heartthrob of millions around the country, is utterly deplorable, whatever the provocation! https://t.co/LSzZz5leMs Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) September 5, 2020 Kangana had alleged on Twitter that Sanjay had threatened her openly and asked her not to return to Mumbai for her comments against the Mumbai Police and comparing Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. She said that he even used abusive slurs against her. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Sanjay didnt name the actor but said that instead of playing on Twitter, one should approach the police and government with proof. Strongly condemn the word haramkhor used by @rautsanjay61. Sir you have every right to express your displeasure for what Kangana has said but you must apologise for using such language. https://t.co/6uY3AObCcw Dia Mirza (@deespeak) September 5, 2020 On Saturday, Dia took to Twitter to express her disappointment in reaction to Sanjays comments. Dia tweeted, Strongly condemn the word haramkhor used by @rautsanjay61 . Sir you have every right to express your displeasure for what Kangana has said but you must apologise for using such language. Also read: Dia Mirza comes out in support of Kangana Ranaut who was called haramkhor by Sanjay Raut, asks him to apologise Dia further wrote in another tweet, The last few months have seen an unprecedented rise in name calling and personal abuse. It is something that undermines every effort made to build a safe/equal society for women. Unfortunately many women are also perpetuating this culture. This must stop. Lets stand together! Kangana had tweeted against those asking her not to enter Mumbai that she will be arriving back on September 9 from her hometown Manali. She even challenged others to try to stop her. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A testing site in Son Tra District - PHOTOS: HA MY Tanya Greyling, who is from South Africa, made a V-sign when posing for a photo last week. Greyling was attending one of the sessions where samples are taken from expatriates in the coastal city of Danang in central Vietnam for Covid-19 testing. Greyling, currently teaching English in Son Tra District in Danang, said in a short interview with the Saigon Times that she appreciated the Danang government for the way it was handling the Covid-19 pandemic in the city. The government wonderfully treated the infected cases and paid due attention to the expat communities in Danang, she said. Greyling also expressed her gratitude and said she felt safe when her samples were taken. The Danang authorities were doing whatever it takes to protect residents and expatriates, she added. Greyling was at one of the testing sites hosted by Danang authorities. These sessions of sample-taking took place in two phases with the first from August 21-25 for expatriates in Son Tra District and the second from August 26-28 for foreigners in Hai Chau District. Up to 2,180 expatriates in Son Tra and about 1,000 from Hai Chau joined the testing. Tanya Greyling, one of the expatriates joining the testing sessions in Son Tra District Expatriates filling testing forms Authorities said the massive testing aimed to help expatriates feel assured and confident when they are remaining in Danang. At the testing sites, health workers strictly followed the steps required of pandemic prevention. Meanwhile, participants had to conform to social distancing measures. All have to have their temperature taken, wear a face mask and wash their hands. The health workers were assisted by volunteers who spoke English or some other foreign languages. Health workers taking a sample form an expatriate According to Phan Minh Tam, a member of the Health Center of Son Tra District, during the sample-taking process, she encountered some difficulties. For instance, expatriates were from different countries, and many of whom could not speak English. This problem was solved by voluntary interpreters who spoke Korean, Thai and Chinese. Explaining the testing, Nguyen Dac Xung, vice chairman of Son Tra District, said it was organized not only to detect and contain new infections to prevent them from spreading in communities but also help expatriates feel more assured when they were in Danang. Following Son Tra and Hai Chau, the testing would be continued in other parts of Danang. The first new case of Covid-19 was detected in Danang on July 26, after 99 days of no community transmission. Social distancing measures were immediately imposed on the entire city from July 28 and was to be effective for 14 days. On August 12, the social distancing regulations have been extended until there is a new notification. By 8:30a.m. August 28, Danang had recorded 392 infected cases of Covid-19. Of them, 178 recovered and 26 died. Totally, Vietnam had 1,036 infected cases, of whom 637 recovered and 30 died. SGT With its energy deficit rising every year, several experts are advising Vietnam to reconsider the shelved nuclear power program. Nuclear energy is one of the recommendations made by experts as the Industry and Trade Ministry (MoIT) gathers public inputs for its 2021-2030 National Energy Master Plan (with orientation towards 2050). Tran Xuan Hoa, Chairman of the Vietnam Mining Technology Association, said that as Vietnams net energy imports continue to rise, it is getting harder and harder to find sources that would allow the country to access stable energy sources to meet its socio-economic development goals. A restart of the nuclear development program should be included in the national master plan, he said, adding that compared to other types of energy currently available, nuclear energy was "still relatively safer and low-priced". This is the first time that Vietnam is working on a comprehensive national energy master plan. Prior to this, energy plans were made on a piecemeal basis, that is, for each individual energy sector. Hoa said Vietnam had in 2016 approved a nuclear power development plan which would build two plants with a designed capacity of 4,000 MW per year in the southern province of Ninh Thuan. Work on the plants was set to start the same year. However, in November 2016, the National Assembly decided to suspend all nuclear development until 2030, saying it wanted to allocate capital for coal and gas, modernizing infrastructure to boost socio-economic development and adapting to climate change. Nuclear energy is mentioned in the draft master plan released for receiving feedback, but it envisages development of this energy to begin after 2035. The draft envisages national nuclear power capacity reaching 1,000 MW by 2040 and 5,000 MW by 2045. "We have halted nuclear production for many reasons, but a restart should now be considered. Unfortunately, in the short term, the national energy plan has not mentioned anything about nuclear development," Hoa said. Nguyen Anh Duc of the MoITs Institute of Petroleum said tapping alternative sources of energy should be a key consideration as coal, oil and gas reserves get depleted. Since 2015, Vietnam has shifted from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy. Imports of coal, and oil and gas, two sources of raw materials that account for a major proportion the countrys primary energy supply, has been rising steadily during this period, an MoIT report has said. While Vietnam targets extraction of 50-56 million tons of coal per year, the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) has only been able to achieve 45 million tons per year as it is having to dig deeper and deeper to access the mineral. The rest is imported to ensure sufficient supply for electricity development, consumption and production needs. Vietnam has spent around $2.6 billion on importing 36.5 million tons of coal in the first seven months of this year, up 50 percent in volume year-on-year, according to Vietnam Customs. As for gas, currently most 2020 targets have been met or exceeded, save for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) production, at only 50 percent; while processing, storage and distribution providers have only been able to meet 25 percent of the countrys petrochemical processing demand this year, Duc said. Production is currently at around 9-10 billion cubic meters, but this is expected to decrease after 2023 when output declines at most oil and gas fields being exploited now. To resolve this, the government needs to find ways to ease bottlenecks for investment in gas exploitation. "Procedures, legal corridors, and policy mechanisms for the oil and gas sub-sector need to be set out in detail in this comprehensive energy plan to attract investment in exploration in deep and remote waters," Duc said. Vietnam will have to import 1-4 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas a year in 2021-2025 to meet growing power demand, the MoIT assessed in a report released last year. Renewables, market price mechanism Hoa said that two years ago, the solar power feed-in-tariff (FIT) was very attractive at a fixed 9.35 cents a kWh. Now, it has decreased to 7.09-8.38 cents per kWh, depending on the type of investment. Given falling renewable energy prices, the national master plan should promote the development of this type of energy over others, he added. Data released by national utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) shows that as of June-end this year, 5,482 MW of solar power capacity had been installed, accounting for 9.5 percent of the countrys power sources. By mid-August, there were nearly 45,300 rooftop solar power projects operating with a total capacity of 1,029 MWp, an output of about 500,692 MWh. According to Tai Anh, Deputy General Director of EVN, as long as renewable energy accounts for less than 20 percent of national capacity, the power grid will not need additional investment. But if it does, then the system will require many new solutions such as additional storage batteries to maintain balance, and money would have to be set aside to deal with environmental impacts when renewable energy machinery expires, inflating costs, he said. "If Vietnam wants to raise its renewable energy capacity, how much we can afford to subsidize and how much the economy can withstand are factors needed to be considered carefully before making an appropriate choice," he said. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Hung of the MoITs Institute of Energy said Vietnams new comprehensive national energy plan also needs to set up clear incentivizing mechanisms, especially in terms of energy prices, if the country wants to attract private sector investment. "Most businesses dare not invest in coal mines, deeming the risks too great," he said. Nguyen Thuong Lang of the MoITs Institute of Commerce said energy prices are set by the Ministry of Finance, and unless businesses are allowed to set prices according to market forces, it would be very difficult to make effective feasibility appraisals of potential energy projects. So far, no market price mechanism has been mentioned in the MoITs draft energy master plan, he noted. Lang said that the roles of the state and the private sector will have to be redefined and the market allowed to decide prices, which will be more efficient. As Vietnams economy transforms rapidly, prices should be allowed to match changes in the countrys economic structure, he added. Pointing to the fact that no truly large-scale energy project has been started in the last five years, Hoa said that the reason why businesses do not dare to invest is the lack of a market mechanism, with many energy sectors still having prices set by the Ministry of Finance. "Therefore, it is necessary to get the energy sub-sectors to coordinate with the Government, localities and enterprises to resolve this issue," Hoa said. Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung had said at the Vietnam Energy Summit 2020 in July that Vietnam needs another 5,000 MW in power plant capacity by 2025, which will cost it around $7-10 billion each year. Vietnam currently relies largely on hydropower and thermal power for its electricity needs, but its hydropower potential is almost fully exploited and oil and gas reserves are running low. Coal-powered plants accounted for 36.1 percent of electricity supply last year, followed by hydropower at 30.8 percent, according to the Vietnam Energy Association. The MoIT plans to incorporate feedback on the draft National Energy Master Plan and submit its final version to the Government by the end of this year. Which is worse: Trumps America or Bidens America? Editorial cartoonists crystallize the argument in this weeks gallery. As protests and counter-protests continue to rock U.S. cities, President Donald Trump portrayed himself as the law and order candidate and accused his opponent, Democrat Joe Biden, of being soft on rioters. In his closing speech at the Republican National Convention, the president said, You will never be safe in Bidens America. Biden hit back last week, recounting the death toll from the coronavirus and Trumps refusal to condemn violence and racism. Do you really feel safer under Donald Trump? the former vice president asked. Both candidates visited Kenosha, Wisconsin. On Aug. 23, Kenosha police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back, leaving Blake paralyzed. Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was charged with shooting to death two people during the protests that followed. Cartoonists also commented on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to a San Francisco hair salon, in apparent violation of the citys coronavirus guidelines. Pelosi has been critical of Trump for resisting wearing a mask. Other topics in the news include: the halting return of indoor dining amid the pandemic, which is still banned in New York City; Trumps call to supporters to vote by mail and in person, which is illegal; and the death of legendary New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver. Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate. View more editorial cartoon galleries. New Delhi A deradicalisation programme launched by the Pakistan Army for surrendered militants in the restive Balochistan province has an Islamist overhang, with leaders of hardline groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami being part of the training courses, according to documents accessed by Hindustan Times. The deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme, started in 2018 by Lt Gen (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa, also appeared to be aimed more at replacing the ethnic Baloch identity of the militants with one that emphasises religio-patriotism, the confidential documents show. Bajwa, who was recently at the centre of a controversy after a Pakistani news website reported that his family had created a business empire of 99 companies in four countries, including a pizza franchise worth nearly $40 million, appears to have been the guiding force behind the programme that was launched while he was head of the Pakistan Armys southern command. An existing deradicalisation centre in Quetta named Umeed-e-Nau was expanded and renamed Darepsh, a Balochi word meaning ujala (light), to implement the programme. The documents show that the programme has so far handled at least two batches of surrendered militants 50 fighters who were part of a course from December 2018 to March 2019, and 128 fighters who attended a course during April-July 2019. While the programme does make an effort to rope in both army and civilian psychologists to deal with the psychological and social training of the surrendered Baloch fighters, almost 20% or a fifth of training modules are devoted to a religio-patriotism programme, and guest speakers for this included Abdul Haq Hashmi, the provincial president of Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jamaat-e-Islami established deep links with jihadi groups during the war against Soviet occupation forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s and was also active in the early years of the militant movement in Jammu and Kashmir, having close ties with the Hizbul Mujahideen. The Jamaat also has close ties with the Pakistani military. The documents show that while the surrendered fighters are taught rejection of extremism during the religio-patriotism programme, they are also trained in jihad, morality,patriotism. The documents also highlight the mismatch between the overall number of surrendered fighters and the number of those who have completed the deradicalisation programme. According to a brief history of the programme included in the documents, more than 2,500 fighters surrendered in 2018 as a result of effect-based selected operations in Balochistan along with efforts in non-kinetic domain that isolated terrorists/Baloch sub-nationalists. However, only 178 surrendered fighters were part of the two deradicalisation and rehabilitation courses conducted so far. Most of these fighters were drawn from the Dera Bugti, Sibi and Kohlu regions of Balochistan. People familiar with developments also pointed to the similarity between the deradicalisation camps being run in Balochistan and the so-called re-education camps run by Chinese authorities for Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The objectives, layout and vocational training module closely align with those of the camps in Xinjiang. One of the key aims seems to be to remove of all traces of ethnic identity and nationalism, said one of the people cited above. Significantly, a slide that is part of the documents contains a reference to one of the key issues raised by civil society and human rights groups regarding the activities of Pakistani security and intelligence agencies in Balochistan the issue of missing persons or the victims of enforced disappearances. The slide on some nine points raised by the surrendered Baloch fighters during the deradicalisation programme includes in the first place Missing Pers whereabouts be pursued. The surrendered fighters also called for financial assistance to be paid to some fighters who hadnt received the aid when they laid down arms. In recent years, the bodies of scores of victims of enforced disappearances have been found dumped on roadsides, many of them with marks of torture. Sameer Patil, fellow for international security studies at Gateway House, said it was strange that the Jamaat-e-Islami, described by some as the mother organisation for most jihadis, was part of such a deradicalisation programme. This programme also shows the misplaced priorities of the Pakistan Army such a programme should focus on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or Punjab, where deadly groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are based. But then the groups that dont indulge in activities against the Pakistani state have always received preferential treatment, he said. The Pakistan Army appears to be using its own version of Islam to crush groups with an identity and form of Islam that doesnt suit them, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The US government has seized control of Iraqi news sites affiliated with Iran-backed militias in the country. The seizure follows the United States also taking over the websites of energy companies that allegedly facilitated a deal to deliver Iranian fuel to Venezuela. On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice announced that the United States seized the websites Aletejahtv.com and Aletejahtv.org. Clicking on both website addresses now brings up a page reading, This website has been seized above the US Department of Commerce emblem. The Department of Justice said the websites are affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, which is an Iran-backed militia in Iraq that the United States designates as a terrorist organization. The government was able to gain control of the websites because federal law prohibits designated terrorist organizations from utilizing services in the United States without a license from the Department of the Treasury. The seized domain names are owned and operated by a company based in Arizona, the Department of Justice said in a press release. A Department of Justice spokesperson told Al-Monitor that the US Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia carried out the seizure. The office did not respond to a request for comment. There are several web services companies in Scottsdale, Arizona, where the government said the business hosting Aletejahtv.com is based. Aletejah TV appears to have connections to Kataib Hezbollah. In January, the network broadcast a message from the militia warning Iraqi security forces to stay away from US military positions in Iraq. The United States had just killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani via an airstrike in Baghdad. This followed an attack on the US Embassy there by Kataib Hezbollah supporters. Iran bombed US military targets in Iraq days after Kataib Hezbollahs announcement. Aletejahs Facebook page is also down. Its Twitter account remains active and is posting news content. The US has upped efforts to pressure the Iranian government and its allies in Iraq since leaving the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The United States accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Irans militia allies in Iraq also often attack US military positions in the country in an effort to get the United States to withdraw. Washington has focused its recent efforts on extending a weapons embargo on Iran and reimposing UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The UN has so far rejected these moves, in part because the United States is no longer party to the Iran nuclear deal. The seizure of Aletejahs websites follows the US government taking over websites of energy companies that allegedly facilitated an oil deal between Iran and Venezuela. In late August, the Department of Justice announced the seizure of websites for Mobin International, Sohar Fuel and Oman Fuel. The fuel shipment violated harsh sanctions the US places on both countries. Aletejahs web domain names were owned by a company in the United States, according to the Department of Justice. This makes it clear how the government justified its seizure. In the case of the energy companies, Mobin International is based in the United Arab Emirates, Oman Fuel is registered in the UK and Sohar Fuel is registered in Oman, according to Reuters. The Department of Justice said the seizure warrant for the Mobin International, Oman Fuel and Sohar Fuel websites is under seal. The department alleged that the fuel shipment came from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is also a designated terrorist organization and subject to such actions. The Department of Justice, when asked about the three companies, said it can take websites that use infrastructure based in the United States. US authorities are able to seize domains, including ones that utilize US-based infrastructure, a department spokesperson told Al-Monitor. The department declined to comment on whether the UAE or other governments assisted in seizing the websites. Photograph: Eric Paul Zamora/AP More than 200 people have been airlifted to safety after a fast-moving wildfire trapped them in a popular camping area in California. The wildfires sent people fleeing as a brutal heatwave pushed temperatures into triple digits in many parts of the state. Were completely trapped. Theres fire on all sides, all around us, said Jeremy Remington, as he stood on a beach surrounded by fire in the Mammoth Pool Reservoir in a video posted on Twitter. Remington was later airlifted to safety, local news reported. The fire trapped campers Saturday at a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest. The blaze was 0% contained on Sunday afternoon, while nearly 15,000 firefighters were battling some two dozen fires across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Incredible #PyroCB (pyrocumulonimbus) cloud generated by the intense heat of the #CreekFire in California. Tops occasionally reached 8 or 9 miles high, with updrafts strong enough to push overshooting tops into the stratosphere. https://t.co/RPx0k8UTRP NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) September 6, 2020 The California Office of Emergency Services said Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for the rescues that began late Saturday and continued overnight. At least two people were severely injured and 10 more suffered moderate injuries. The wildfire burning near Shaver Lake broke out Friday evening. Crews worked through the night, but by Saturday morning authorities issued evacuation orders for lakeside communities and urged people seeking relief from the Labor Day weekend heat to stay away from the popular lake. Adjust your Labor Day weekend plans. Access to Shaver Lake is completely closed to the public due to the #CreekFire, the Fresno County sheriffs office tweeted after announcing evacuation orders for campsites and communities by the lake. Story continues The blaze exploded on Saturday, jumped a river and compromised the only road into the Mammoth Pool Campground, national forest spokesman Dan Tune said. Related: What is California's wildfire smoke doing to our health? Scientists paint a bleak picture Tune said the campers were told to shelter in place until fire crews, aided by water-dropping aircraft, could gain access to the site. Tune said he didnt know how close the fire was burning to the campsite. All our resources are working to make that escape route nice and safe for them, he said. The lake is surrounded by thick pine forests and is a popular destination for boating and fishing. Bone-dry conditions and the hot weather fueled the flames. Once the fire gets going, it creates its own weather, adding wind to increase the spread, Tune said. Meanwhile in southern California, fire in the foothills of Yucaipa east of Los Angeles prompted evacuation orders for eastern portions of the city of 54,000 along with several communities, including Oak Glen, Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls. A firefighter works on hotspot at a wildfire in Yucaipa, California. Photograph: Ringo HW Chiu/AP And in eastern San Diego County, fire officials warned a fire near Alpine was burning at a dangerous rate of speed. The San Diego county sheriffs department issued a voluntary evacuation order on Sunday afternoon as the Valley Fire raged unchecked. The fresh blazes come as the state, which has been dealing with weeks-long wildfires, faced record-high temperatures over the Labor Day weekend. The temperature reached 121 degrees F (49 C) on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles County, a record for the National Weather Service office that covers the metropolitan area. This is a very dangerous situation. Heat can really creep up on you quickly, said Eric Boldt, an NWS meteorologist in California, on Twitter. Here we go, this is where it gets real. The heat really starts to ramp up today where there will be widespread triple digit heat away from the beaches. PLEASE take caution and stay inside with AC if you can! This heat can be DEADLY! #CAwx #LAheat #heatwave pic.twitter.com/GmbbWzckVy NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) September 5, 2020 Cal Fire said nearly 12,500 firefighters were battling 22 major fires in the state. Despite the heat, firefighters were able to contain two major fires in coastal Monterey County. California has seen 900 new wildfires since 15 August, many of them started by an intense series of thousands of lightning strikes. The blazes have burned more than 1.5m acres (2,343sq miles). There have been eight fire deaths and nearly 3,300 structures destroyed. The heat wave was expected to spread triple-digit temperatures over much of California through Monday. Officials urged people to conserve electricity to ease the strain on the states power grid. Pacific Gas & Electric, the states largest utility, warned customers Saturday that it might cut power starting Tuesday because of expected high winds and heat that could create even greater fire danger. Some of the states largest and deadliest fires in recent years have been sparked by downed power lines and other utility equipment. The NWS is recommending that people stay inside where there is air conditioning during the hottest times of the day, but the pandemic has forced many places that offer the relief of air conditioning, including malls and public libraries, to close. Cooling centers have opened around Los Angeles to provide the public with places to avoid the heat with social distancing requirements and capacity limits. Temperatures in California have been rising over the last decade, with deadly consequences that many experts link to the global climate crisis. Air quality in the state is some of the worst in the country as heat leads to increased smog, which can damage lungs and increases respiratory and heart diseases. Heatwaves also lead to serious cases of dehydration, heatstroke and heart attacks, which can ultimately lead to death. During an extreme heatwave last month, so many people cranked up their air conditioning to try to stay cool that the state agency that oversees much of the power grid turned off power for hundreds of thousands of customers. Forensics officers are seen near the scene of reported stabbings in Birmingham, Britain, September 6, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble A massive manhunt is under way for a lone knifeman who went on a 90-minute rampage in Birmingham city centre overnight, killing a man and injuring seven other people. West Midlands Police declared a major incident after being called to reports of a stabbing just after midnight on Sunday, before more calls came in of further attacks. Detectives are now racing to catch a male suspect who managed to evade capture last night, with significant resources now deployed, said senior police officers. Chief Superintendent Steve Graham, of West Midlands Police, said the incidents appeared to be random, with no suggestion the nights events were linked to terrorism. He said: A man has tragically died. Another man and a woman have suffered serious injuries and five others have also been injured, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. The forces police and crime commissioner David Jamieson labelled the assaults disturbing, with the violence enfolding as revellers had been enjoying the night. Speaking at a press conference at the forces headquarters, itself only yards from where the initial attacks unfolded, Mr Graham said there was also nothing suggesting it was a hate crime or connected to city gang violence. He also moved to end speculation the violence was linked to people squabbling over tables. On Twitter, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the emergency services. He tweeted: All my thoughts are with those affected by the terrible incident in Birmingham last night. Home Secretary Priti Patel also said all her thoughts were with people affected by the shocking incident in the city. Expand Close A police officer and vehicles at a cordon in Irving Street (Jacob King/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A police officer and vehicles at a cordon in Irving Street (Jacob King/PA) Our emergency services are working hard to find whoever is responsible and bring them to justice, she tweeted. Mr Graham said initial calls were to reports of a stabbing in Constitution Hill around 12.30am, and then at the nearby Livery Street next to Snow Hill railway station. Paramedics said they responded to first reports of a call in Livery Street, in the north of the city centre, at about 12.40am. The attacker then moved north to south through the city centre, said Mr Graham, into the heart of the citys Gay Village quarter. However, it was over an hour between the Livery Street violence and the next attack, reported in Irving Street, across the city, at 1.52am. Shortly afterwards, the emergency services were called to another knife assault in Hurst Street at 2am. David Nash, a bar manager at The Village Inn, The Nightingale Inn and The Loft Lounge, said he came within 10 metres of a hooded suspect, spotted running from the scene of the stabbings, in Hurst Street. He said: I was on the street around 2.20am and we heard somebody shout down the street stop him, hes just stabbed somebody. Initially it was a guy with a black hoodie on with the hood pulled up over his head, who was walking relatively casually. As soon as somebody shouted stop him thats when he ran off into the area of Sherlock Street. Mr Nash said the person was calm and walking unhurriedly, until someone shouted the alarm. Praising the emergency services swift response, he described later witnessing paramedics treating a casualty for what appeared to be a neck wound. Mr Graham said the wounds of those targeted were consistent with people being attacked by knives with no suggestion of gunshots, despite initial reports gunfire had been heard. Asked as to a possible motive, Mr Graham said: At this stage we cant find a particular motive but it does appear to be random in terms of the selection of people who were attacked. He added: We dont know who the subject is. Mr Graham warned people coming to the city to give anyone suspicious a wide berth, as a trawl through vast amounts of CCTV begins to track the suspects movements. He added: What we are not saying at the moment is that Birmingham is not a safe place to be. Asked how he could assert the city was safe with the attacker still at large, Mr Graham said the force had a significant presence of officers, armed and unarmed, if the suspect was sighted. People should be assured we have got a significant hunt for that subject, ongoing, he added. Mr Graham confirmed there had, as yet, been no arrests. Asked how the knifeman was able to move through the city centre for more than two hours without being caught, Mr Graham described the suspects route through Birmingham as relatively unusual. He added: There was no suggestion people had seen him running out, area searches were being made at the time, unfortunately the subject wasnt caught. West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) said it sent a large number of resources in response to the stabbings, including 14 ambulances. A team of St John Ambulance volunteers based at the Arcadian nightspot was also involved in treating casualties. Seven patients were treated by ambulance staff five of whom were taken to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Three of the five taken to the major trauma centre had critical injuries and one man was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, WMAS said. An eighth patient with minor injuries did not receive treatment. There remained a heavy police presence in the city centre on Sunday, with armed officers, patrols, riot vans and squad cars visible among the citys visitors and weekend workers. What appeared to be used sterilised bandage wrappers could be seen next to a dark patch on the footpath, beneath a small blue forensics tent, in Barwick Street. Just a few dozen yards away another blue tent could be seen in Livery Street, with armed police officers nearby. Around the corner was a trail of what appeared to be dried blood spots along Newhall Street and Colmore Row, a grim reminder of the nights shocking violence. In Edmund Street, drain covers were being lifted and at one stage a black-handled serrated kitchen knife was removed from the muck and debris and carefully bagged as evidence. Mr Graham said it was too early to linked the knife find to the attacks. He appealed to any witnesses, anyone with social media videos and photos or CCTV of the incidents to urgently contact police. The fire on a large oil tanker off Sri Lanka's coast has been brought under control. Four tug boats, three Sri Lankan navy ships and four Indian ships have been battling the fire on the MT New Diamond since Thursday (Sept 3). Two more Indian ships joined the effort Saturday (Sept. 5) evening. (Image: Special Arrangement) TOKYO The Japanese authorities on Sunday ordered more than a million residents of western Japan to seek shelter as a major storm lashed the coast with high winds and threatened record-breaking flooding. As of 7 a.m. Monday, the storm, Typhoon Haishen, had led to more than 448,000 homes in Kyushu losing power as it blew down trees and power lines, according to Kyushu Electric Power. At least 52 people were injured, according to the Kyodo news agency. The storm had sat off the coast of the western island of Kyushu gathering power and creating chaos in the region, where it also disrupted flights and trains. Local officials ordered 1.8 million people to evacuate seven prefectures across the region and had recommended that 5.8 million others across 11 prefectures seek shelter ahead of the storm. The orders remained in place on Monday morning as the storm passed by Japan and made landfall in the Korean Peninsula, South Koreas Yonhap News Agency reported. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 22:24:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- The Sanjiangyuan National Park is scheduled to be officially established this year. -- The pilot national park, with a total area of 123,100 square km, covers two prefectures, four counties and 53 villages, and harbors more than 70,000 herdsmen. -- It is one of China's 10 national pilot parks under construction. The 10 parks involve 12 provinces, with a total area exceeding 220,000 square km. XINING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- As the high-altitude winds make for a brisk morning, Tibetans in Goyang Village offer the ceremonial hada scarves at a monument erected beside streams that flow into a major origin of China's Yellow River. The village, which is located in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China's Qinghai Province, is in the pilot Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source) National Park. The pilot project started in 2016 and the park is scheduled to be officially established this year. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 26, 2020 shows the Tongtian River, the major source of the Yangtze River, meandering past Yeqing Village in Zhiduo County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Li Linhai) BENEFITING HUMAN AND NATURE Sanjiangyuan, meaning the "source of three rivers," is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. The pilot national park, with a total area of 123,100 square km, covers two prefectures, four counties and 53 villages, and harbors more than 70,000 herdsmen. It is one of the country's 10 national pilot parks under construction. The 10 parks involve 12 provinces, with a total area exceeding 220,000 square km. Since the pilot construction of the park, authorities have assembled a comprehensive law enforcement team, integrated the protected areas under a new management system, and established a database which contains information of natural resources and wildlife in the region. Photo taken on Aug. 27, 2020 shows a stone tablet of Yoigilangleb protection zone in Qumalai County of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Li Linhai) Soso, a 33-year-old Tibetan herdsman, has lived a nomadic life like most of his peers, residing beside the Gyaring Lake in the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is a source area of the Yellow River, China's second longest after the Yangtze River. "Though it's always better for herdsmen to have more yaks and goats, it would lead to the degeneration of grassland, and ultimately the animals won't survive," Soso said. As the construction on the national park continues, government aid has emerged as a feasible way out of the dilemma. "After the park went into trial operation, more than 17,000 herdsmen have been employed as ecological protectors, with each earning more than 20,000 yuan (about 2,900 U.S. dollars) per year," said Kata with the park's administration. "With more protection measures, now the water has become clearer, the grass has grown taller, and the birds that had disappeared since my childhood have flown back," Soso said. Due to the construction of the park, a more comprehensive patrol and protection mechanism for wildlife has been adopted. Located at the origin of the Lancang River, the Namse Township of Zadoi County in Yushu, is now inhabited by a wide range of animal species. Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2020 shows Namse Omo inside a newly-built tourist reception spot in Zadoi County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Li Linhai) So far, through consistent efforts as part of the park project, local authorities have monitored 45 snow leopards, a species under top-level protection in China, and many other rare species in the township. Cewang Dorje, from the township government, said the improving environment and thriving tourism have benefited herdsmen as they were allowed to run businesses in their hometown. "What tourists like most is watching wildlife like snow leopards," said Namse Omo, a local herdsman, whose homestay received the first batch of tourists to the park in 2018. Around 10 percent of her income from tourism has been utilized to support wildlife protection projects. PARK CONSTRUCTION AT FULL TILT According to a meeting of the central authorities held late last month, China aims to build the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau into a national and even international highland in ecological progress. In the past four years, governments at all levels have invested a total of 780 million yuan in improving the environment and solving various ecological problems in Sanjiangyuan, such as land desertification and grassland damage by marmots, said He Wancheng, director of the park's administration. Another 940 million yuan has been spent on the construction of roads in a bid to create a patrol road network that could safeguard the region. Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2020 shows the grassland scenery in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Li Linhai) "The construction of the park will eventually realize the authenticity and integrity of natural ecosystem protection and leave precious natural assets for future generations," said Liu Tao, deputy governor of Qinghai Province. Technological innovation has been introduced to the park as well. At the ecological information monitoring center of the park administration, visuals of the construction sites, highways and even migration of Tibetan antelopes in Hoh Xil can be projected on a big screen to alert the staff in case of any emergencies, poaching activities, or violations of regulations. "Even if it's dark, we are equipped with real-time online monitoring via infrared technology," said Cao Jun, director of the ecological information monitoring center of the park administration. He added that the system is able to retrieve data from more than 900 stations. The construction of national parks means more systematic and effective protection of biodiversity, said Yang Rui, director of the Institute for National Parks of Tsinghua University in Beijing. "China is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity and has the conditions and ability to achieve revolutionary changes in biodiversity conservation," Yang said. (Reporting by Zhao Jiasong, Lyu Xueli and Li Linhai; Video reporter: Li Linhai; Video editor: Peng Ying) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Sunday (September 6) summoned a senior diplomat from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad and registered its protest over the alleged ceasefire violations by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC). In a statement, the Foreign Office said that a civilian sustained serious injuries due to indiscriminate and unprovoked firing in the Rakhchikri Sector of the LoC on Saturday. A statement from Pakistan Foreign Office read that Indian forces along the LoC and the Working Boundary (WB) have continuously been targeting civilian populated areas with artillery fire, heavy-caliber mortars and automatic weapons. It claimed that this year alone, 17 people have been killed and 168 others injured in a total 2,158 incidents of ceasefire violations at the LoC. The Indian side was called upon to respect the 2003 Ceasefire Understanding; investigate this and other such incidents of ceasefire violations and maintain peace along the LoC and the WB, it added. The Bengaluru police have registered an FIR against 12 people following investigations into the Sandalwood drug racket. On Friday the police had raided the residence and subsequently arrested Kannada actor Ragini Dwivedi. Shivaprakash who reportedly produced a few movies, in which Ragini had acted as the heroine has been named as the prime accused. Viren Khanna who was arrested in Delhi and flown to Bengaluru on Friday night has also been named as one of the 12 accused. The other people named in the FIR registered in Cottonpet police station include, Prashant Ranka, Vaibhav Jain, Aditya Alva, Simon, Prashant Babu, Ashwin, Rahul Tonse, Vinay apart from a Sengalese national Loum Pepper. The Sengalese national is said to have been the main supplier of drugs. They have been charged under various sections of IPC including 120b (criminal conspiracy) and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances act of 1985 under sections 21, 21C, 27A, 27B and section 29. However interestingly neither Ravishankar a government RTO (regional transport office) employee said to be close to Ragini nor Rahul Shetty a real estate businessmen who have been detained have been named in the FIR. Police sources told HT that interrogation of both of them are ongoing and there are many layers to this. The bail plea of Ragini is scheduled for Monday. Her mother had tried in vain to meet her at a womens remand home and claimed that her daughter was innocent of all charges. Meanwhile in several unrelated incidents Karnataka police continued their sweep across the state against drug peddlers. In the first case, the anti-narcotics branch of Central Crime Branch of Bangalore, police arrested three people Shejin, Vidhus and Subramani an inter-state gang for peddling drugs on Saturday. Police also seized 2.1 kg of hashish and 2 kg of ganja. Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant said that this was one of the larger seizures particularly of hashish, in the recent past. All the three arrested are from Kerala and are said to have been selling drugs across all the southern states. Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Crime said that the trio would fill coconut oil boxes with hashish and ship them. Vidhus one of the arrested holds a masters degree in computer science from a college in the UK, Patil disclosed. In a separate incident, Athani police on Saturday arrested Sagar Kattikar and Gurulinga Dhole both said to be residents of Sangli, Maharashtra and seized 2 kg of marijuana. Police have registered a case and investigations are on. Terrance Space, who had been dating Lehlanis mother since February, has been charged with first-degree murder in the childs killing. Space was allegedly the only person watching the child at his home in the Austin neighborhood from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday when the injuries were inflicted, prosecutors said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-05 17:33:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A lady washes hands using a foot-pressing water supply system in Gutaurare village, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, on August 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Shaun Jusa) The COVID-19 pandemic has presented growth opportunities for Zimbabwe's health and Information, Communication Technology sectors, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. HARARE, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 pandemic has presented growth opportunities for Zimbabwe's health and Information, Communication Technology (ICT) sectors, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. He said despite posing development challenges, the pandemic had ushered in opportunities for innovation and self reliance, particularly in the health sector. "Besides causing challenges to our development, COVID-19 has also provided opportunities for growth towards self-reliance, particularly in the health sector. As stated in my last address to you, our universities and tertiary institutions have led in this regard with most personal protective equipment (PPE) now being manufactured locally," Mnangagwa said on Friday. He was addressing a principal executive meeting of the political actors dialogue, a forum created by Mnangagwa that brings together leaders of political parties that contested in the 2018 national elections to discuss challenges facing the nation and chart the way forward. A medical personnel is seen at Wilkins Hospital in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, on April 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Shaun Jusa) Mnangagwa said the local industry had been forthcoming and supportive, leaving the country to only import high-level PPEs for use in highly infectious environments. He said the restrictions imposed by the requirement for social distancing had also given rise to inventions in the technology sector. This has seen the country's Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services launching the Glue Virtual platform which has become Africa's first virtual communications and collaboration platform. The platform was jointly conceived and developed by Zimbabweans in South Africa and Zimbabwe. "The platform is expected to reduce the continent's dependence on platforms developed elsewhere. Various locally-developed software are also at various levels of development and testing in government," Mnangagwa said. He said although there had been a worrisome spike in the number of locally transmitted infections, there has been a corresponding rise in the recovery rate now at 80 percent. As of Thursday, Zimbabwe had recorded 6,678 COVID-19 cases including 5,263 recoveries and 206 deaths. "The loss of 206 people to date is regrettable. Every effort is being made to ensure that all citizens are safe hence the need to continuously vary the lockdown measures," Mnangagwa said. He stressed that the country was still under lockdown and that enforcement measures will continue to be streamlined in line with the level of the COVID-19 threat. "Government continues to urge citizens to strictly adhere to the set requirements to guarantee their safety," he said. /* custom css */ .tdi_75_f2c.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_75_f2c .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_75_f2c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_75_f2c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_75_f2c.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Advertisement His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bauchi state, Senator Bala Abdulkadir today commissioned JIBWIS Jumaat Mosque at Kasuwar Shanu, Ibrahim Babangida Square Bauchi. The Governor expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for giving the state government under his leadership, the will, to construct the mosque. He said the administration will continue to support religious groups because of their roles in societal development. /* custom css */ .tdi_74_4cb.td-a-rec{ text-align: center; }.tdi_74_4cb .td-element-style{ z-index: -1; }.tdi_74_4cb.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_74_4cb.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; }@media (max-width: 767px) { .tdi_74_4cb.td-a-rec-img { text-align: center; } } Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, National Chairman, Council of Ulamas of JIBWIS, expressed gratitude to Governor Bala for the gesture and prayed Almighty Allah to reward him abundantly. Governor Bala was accompanied by top government officials including the Deputy Governor, Deputy Speaker, SSG and Chief of Staff. Kanye Wests long-shot presidential bid continues to unfold before American citizens very eyes. The billionaire musician and entrepreneur has flirted with the idea of running for president for several years and has now finally begun taking the steps to make it a reality. West initially announced his plans to run for president in July 2020, and since then has been working with numerous political consultancies to get on the ballot in each state. Although he has been getting mixed results from his efforts, he continues to push forward with his presidential bid and has spent just shy of $6 million on his campaign. Kanye West announced his presidential campaign in July 2020 RELATED: Kanye Wests Presidential Run Might Not be a Total Loss, New Polls Suggest Kanye West initially hinted at running for president at the end of the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, when he said And yes, as you probably could have guessed by this moment, I have decided in 2020, to run for President. West also alluded to his political aspirations on several records, including the Facts Charlie Heat remix from his 2016 album The Life of Pablo. On the song, he simply states: 2020, Ima run the whole election, yah! Only July 4, Kanye West announced to the world that he plans to run in the 2020 November election, claiming that he will run as a representative of the Birthday Party, according to CNN. Since the announcement, hes made several public appearances to promote his candidacy, the most notable being a rally he held in South Carolina. During the bizarre event, he claimed that Harriet Tubman never actually freed slaves and that he and his wife Kim Kardashian-West had considered aborting his first child, North West. Numerous political officials believe Wests campaign is merely a distraction Although West has clear intentions to win the election, many political pundits believe his bid is merely a distraction from the elections primary candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Officials believe that Wests campaign has the power to influence the outcome of the election, as he may be siphoning votes away from Democratic candidate Biden. West did not deny this reality in a recent interview with Forbes. Im not denying it, I just told you, West said. To say that the Black vote is Democratic is a form of racism and white supremacy. Advocates working in the mental health sector also believe the campaign is unscrupulous due to the fact that West recently revealed he has bipolar disorder. Bassey Ikpi, an author living with bipolar disorder, claims: Thats what theyre doing with Kanye. Theyre not considering him a human being. Theyre considering him a pawn. West has spent millions on his campaign thus far Despite the naysayers, West continues to push forward. He has spent $5.86 million on his campaign thus far, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The bulk of that money has gone to consultants and fees, although the campaign currently has debts of more than $1.2 million. West himself has loaned $6.7 million to his campaign, and hes received several miniscule donations from regular citizens. At this point, several political officials confirm that its mathematically impossible for West to win the election in November. Hes currently only registered for the ballot in 10 states and has been blocked from the ballot in Virginia and Arizona. Still, West seems undeterred, claiming Im not going to argue with you. Jesus is King. My name is Chris, I live in New Hampshire, and Im one of the growing number of average citizens whove found themselves targeted in the progressive attacks on the streets of America. You may have seen me. Millions of people have viewed the viral video of anti-Trump activists circling me, screaming insults and profanity, as I walked down a D.C. sidewalk. Who am I? In one sense, Im nobody. In another Im everybody. Im a Republican National Committeeman who was fortunate enough to get invited to watch President Trumps RNC acceptance speech live at the White House. When it was over, a friend and I walked back to our cars or tried to, anyway. Thats when a group of 30 or so antifa and Black Lives Matter activists began their screaming assault, following us for blocks. Someone in the mob even knew my name. Imagine how unnerving that could be. The good news is we eventually made it to our parking garage, and the mob moved on. Unbeknown to me, some of their colleagues were simultaneously attempting to assault Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican. Afterward, he thanked the police for literally saving our lives from a crazed mob. I had the pleasure of meeting Sen. Paul at the White House event earlier that day and even took a selfie with him. Hes a well-known senator. What happened to him that night was wrong. Political violence should not be tolerated, as Joe Biden has just recently (finally?) started saying himself. But its the viral videos showing anonymous Americans like me being abused that I believe are more dangerous: A woman trying to eat a quiet meal at a D.C. diner, beset upon by an angry crowd demanding that she declare support for Black Lives Matter. A high school kid in a MAGA hat, targeted for a viral video moment by politically savvy activists. A customer at a Massachusetts restaurant banned from the establishment by a woke waiter who overheard his criticism of the Black Lives Matter movement. These arent people whove entered the political fray. Theyre just citizens going about their lives, who suddenly find themselves swept up in a political tide, examples to all Americans watching what can happen to you simply for not being part of the progressive cause. The tactics of these mostly peaceful protesters are classic: Fear and intimidation. Burn, loot, scream obscenities, march on peoples homes make anyone whos not openly on their side aware that they could be the next target. Im not a political strategist, but I dont believe its working. Two of my registered Democratic friends recently told me they are voting Trump in 2020. They voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. When asked why, they responded, Those people are nuts, referring to the BLM/antifa activists who are destroying our cities and harassing innocent people. I disagree with my friends. These people arent just nuts, they are a Democratic Party-inspired, highly coordinated and well-funded intimidation effort. Their goal is to defeat Trump and push America to accept policies most voters dont support. For months, Ive watched as the press has tried to paper over the violence, and liberal politicians have invented a distance between protests and violence that doesnt exist. Democrats once appeared to believe they could control the mobs and create just enough disorder to undermine the Trump presidency, but not so much that it hurt the progressive cause. They were wrong. As I stood there on a sidewalk in our nations capital, surrounded by mask-wearing activists screaming the worst profanities imaginable, I thought to myself, nobody Republican, Democratic, independent, Black, White, Brown, gay, devoutly religious should fear walking down a public street in America. I believe what I experienced, and what Americans are seeing on streets from coast to coast, is an orchestrated attempt at extortion of our coming election. Joe Biden has said it himself: The violence wont end as long as Trump is in office. The subtext: Vote him out or else. Ive experienced the or else. And I refuse to be intimidated. I support Trump for many reasons, from his handling of the economy to his support for conservative causes like the Second Amendment and religious freedom. I understand that others dont share my views. But its wrong for Trumps opponents to suggest that violence is inevitable if I vote for the candidate who supports the causes I believe in. Joe Biden should be better than that. The Democratic Party should be better than that. We must protect our families and property, not by appeasement but with the resolve that this lawlessness will not be tolerated. We must protect our nation. No matter how much intimidation I face between now and November, Im proudly voting for Donald Trump. Chris Ager is a New Hampshire Republican National Committeeman. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ROCHESTER, N.Y. Only days ago, the homicide of Daniel Prude became public. The news sparked anger. It sparked peaceful protests mixed with scattered vandalism. It sparked finger-pointing among public officials. While the protests and public dialogue may lead to reforms, the video of Prude's restraint and the subsequent autopsy likely will be the centerpiece of decisions about whether police acted criminally with his death. And there is much in the video and the autopsy, even with its granular medical detail, that will surely be questioned and challenged. What happened: How Daniel Prude suffocated as Rochester police restrained him The latest: New York to empanel grand jury to investigate the death of Daniel Prude Among the questions: Did the police use restraint techniques that were accepted within law enforcement circles, or instead was it dangerous and even deadly for mentally troubled or drug-using individuals held in a prone position? Does the use of the term " excited delirium " both by emergency workers who responded to the scene and again in the autopsy stand as a rationale for the police restraint? Or is "excited delirium" a term that lacks medical foundation, used as an explanation and excuse for the deaths of civilians at the hands of police? Was Prude's erratic behavior he was naked and ranting, while not acting violently clear proof that mental health professionals should have been summoned immediately? Or, instead, did police think he was too medically and mentally fragile for such an intervention, and medical workers needed to be the first to be called? Previously: 'Excited delirium' cited as factor in many fatal police restraint cases. Some say it's bogus. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network, spoke to current and retired medical examiners and pathologists, lawyers, mental health experts, former police officers, and former city officials for insight into these questions. Many spoke on the record, while some chose not to do so. Story continues Even some of those often hesitant to question police actions acknowledge that they are disturbed by the public revelations thus far. "This is the worst video I have ever seen," said Linda Kingsley, who served as Rochester Corporation Counsel for 12 years and now teaches local and state government law at the Albany Law School. "The basic concept of the law and training of every police department in this country is you only use the necessary force and you de-escalate when possible," she said. Was restraint needed? When police encountered Daniel Prude, 41, in the early morning hours of March 23, he was naked and wandering Jefferson Avenue. Earlier, his brother tried to have him admitted to Strong Memorial Hospital for mental health purposes, but he was not held overnight. The hospital has said it acted properly; Prude's brother, Joe, has questioned why he was not kept there. Videos show Prude largely complying with police as he is handcuffed, and he lies and sits on the street, continuing to rant, often incoherently. He also is bleeding from apparently breaking a window or windows on the street. At some point, Prude said he had coronavirus; police later covered his head with a hood, commonly known as a "spit hood," to protect officers should he spit toward them. At one point, awaiting medical workers, at least three officers physically restrain him, pinning him to the ground. The autopsy clearly attributes Prude's death a week later to the loss of oxygen he suffered; the death was ruled a homicide. Linda Kingsley "You can see in that video his voice changes, his breathing change ... and they still don't get off him," Kingsley said. There is a wealth of research showing the hazards of restraining individuals in a prone position who may be undergoing physical or drug-induced trauma. Prude also had the hallucinogen phencyclidine, or PCP, in his system. PCP can bring on violent responses, but Prude did not display any hint of physical aggression in the video. While handcuffed, he asked for a gun repeatedly. He also asked for mace, gloves, $70 and an undefined "it." "When asphyxia is put down as a cause of death, it means that the body was deprived of oxygen, and that could cause unconsciousness and death," said Dr. Homer Venters, a physician, epidemiologist and the former chief medical officer of the New York City Correctional Health Services. "We have decades of evidence that physical restraint and use of physical force can cause asphyxia and deaths from asphyxia. "One of the things I've seen in cases that I investigated is that officers may engage with somebody who doesnt follow their command and at some point the (police) response is a response that should be reserved for a real safety threat to their lives or the lives of another person." Dr. Mary Jumbelic Dr. Mary Jumbelic, a former Onondaga County medical examiner, said the spit hood may have obscured what the police could see about Prude's worsening condition during restraint. "He had a 'spit cover' on, which allows respiration but doesnt allow the officers to see his face for assessing his well being," she said. "The prone position itself can cause limitation of air movement into the lungs and then, when you add physical restraint in, makes a person vulnerable to asphyxiation. "He vomited and that tells me he may have aspirated causing further irritation of the airway and (another) reason for hypoxia," which is the deprivation of needed oxygen, Jumbelic said. Also, she said, the PCP could have exacerbated the likelihood of asphyxiation, which the autopsy also notes. "With people that use drugs like that, I've seen multiple circumstances when they are vulnerable to asphyxia and they're vulnerable when being put in a prone position." In 1995, the Department of Justice warned about the dangers of what is known as "positional asphyxiation," which most often happens when an individual is restrained in a prone position, said Keith Taylor, a former supervisor of the New York City Police Special Weapons And Tactics, or SWAT, unit. "Prone restraint, due to the health challenges involved, is not advisable to do," said Taylor, who now is an adjunct assistant professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "There may be circumstances where it's unavoidable and the officers have no other choice. "Once the person is restrained, once they are cuffed ... put them on their side." Union defends restraint method At a news conference Friday, Rochester Police Locust Club Union President Mike Mazzeo said the officers restraining Prude appeared to adhere to training procedures, and that an internal police investigation had not raised any red flags about the restraint methods. That investigation, conducted by police criminal investigators, was halted when the Attorney General's Office took over in mid-April. An executive order from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandates that the Attorney General investigate incidents in which unarmed civilians die at the hands of police. Attorney general: New York to empanel grand jury in Daniel Prude death; officers have 'not been made available' to investigators "An officer doesn't have the ability to go off-script," Mazzeo said. "They have to follow protocol and do what they are trained to do. "To me, it looks like (the officers) watched training and followed it step by step. If there's a problem with that (procedure), let's change it." Former Rochester Corporation Counsel Kingsley questioned how any training would include the restraint of a naked man who posed no threat, and why more attention was not paid to his condition. The police policy tells officers to closely monitor individuals who are restrained and appear to be emotionally disturbed or under the influence of drugs. The restraint and force should be based on the risk to officers or the individual or property. "This guy wasn't a criminal," Kingsley said. "Yes, apparently he broke a few windows. But they were looking for him because he was an EDP (emotionally disturbed person). ... He was naked and he was unarmed and he was cuffed without any resistance." Kingsley said she thought the officers, for the first minute shown on the video, handled Prude with respect and concerns for his well-being. But then the responses from some devolved into jokes and a lack of attention once he was handcuffed and hooded. The ambulance workers also at first discuss Prude's condition with police, she said. "They're chatting rather than seeing if they can help while this guy is clearly in respiratory arrest." 'Excited delirium' and death Prude's autopsy says he showed signs of "excited delirium," which has been a term for a combination of mental and physiological actions and symptoms, including agitation, aggressive behavior, profuse sweating, and claims of bouts of unusual strength. But that term, which many critics say is not a medical diagnosis, has become controversial in recent years. Dr. Venters, who headed the medical care operations for the New York City jails, said that many of the fatalities in which "excited delirium" is highlighted occur at the hands of police or with inmates in confrontations with corrections workers. Dr. Homer Venters Disproportionately, he said, people of color and people with mental illness are the victims in those cases. "My grave concern is that this term, 'excited delirium,' is used to absolve law enforcement of responsibility" with the deaths, he said. With the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a homicide that triggered national protests against police brutality of Black citizens, a police officer can be heard on video saying, "I am worried about excited delirium or whatever." The police and a paramedic at the Prude incident also talk of "excited delirium." Geoff Henley Dallas, Texas attorney Geoff Henley represents the family of a man who died at the hands of police in 2016 in circumstances similar to Prude's and Floyd's deaths. "Excited delirium, number one, is a term that has multiple definitions," Henley said. "Excited delirium simply just means a description manifested by conduct of someone in an agitated mental state," he said. "The cops like to assert ... that it is a cause of death, that the excited delirium is what killed them. They like to claim that they are, in essence, killing themselves because of excited delirium." But former City Corporation Counsel Kingsley said, whether excited delirium is legitimate or not, the signs that an individual may be in that state is a further indication of the need for cautious and medically sensitive restraint. "You can't have it both ways," she said. Former Onondaga Medical Examiner Jumbelic said that "excited delirium as a term isn't very helpful." Instead, she said, the focus should be on the effects of the restraint, the PCP presence, and other possible contributors to the death. 'Change your lives out there': Jacob Blake speaks from his hospital bed Need for mental health assistance When police sought out Daniel Prude on March 23, his mercurial mental state was no secret. His brother called police and told them of Daniel's strange actions. But, while Prude was handcuffed and restrained, there was no apparent effort to reach out for mental health assistance. On Thursday, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren suspended seven officers who were at the scene and said she wants to bolster mental health responses to similar incidents. Critics of the mayor have challenged her claims that she did not know that Prude was a homicide victim until August, and that her staff and the police kept her in the dark for the months after the fatality. Calls to "defund the police" have coincided with a push for police to utilize mental health professionals. The movement in part maintains that public funds for law enforcement could be better used if shifted toward mental health treatment. USA TODAY Explains: What does 'defund the police' mean and why some say 'reform' is not enough Former New York City SWAT supervisor Taylor said that police interactions with mentally troubled people has long been a law enforcement trouble spot. "There's not a uniform way to address it," he said. "I think it has to be addressed at the national level, to have training requirements." The Rochester Police Department, like many, has some officers who undergo "crisis intervention" training to help them deal with mentally ill individuals. But the problems persist at most law enforcement agencies, Taylor said. "The normal (police) processes don't work" in confrontations with mentally troubled people, he said. "They're not going to listen to your commands. They may be physically compromised. Their health status may result in a negative outcome." Taylor pointed to 2015 research from the nonprofit Treatment Advocacy Center showing that people with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed during a police encounter than other civilians approached or stopped by law enforcement. "Thats screaming for intelligent responses by the mental health community in cooperation with law enforcement agencies," he said. Still, Taylor said, "you can't take mental health professionals into every situation, particularly where there may be violence involved." With Daniel Prude, police may have determined that a quick medical response was more necessary than an attempted mental health intervention. Dr. Sarah Vinson "One of the things that this case highlights is police should not be making mental health calls," said Dr. Sarah Vinson, an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine. "It looks like he had broken a window or something but he clearly was not presenting an acute risk to someone's health. He was most at risk. "They werent the appropriate people to respond, and that was demonstrated by them laughing at him. The actions they took the use of force when it clearly wasn't necessary just emphasizes the root issue that we should not have police responding to mental health calls." People of color, if struggling with mental health issues, are more likely to find themselves confronting an arrest instead of needed treatment, Vinson said. "We know that behaviors by certain people are more likely to be criminalized," she said. And, she cautioned, even a supposedly well-intentioned treatment program can be racist in operation. Court diversion programs, which try to route addicts and the mentally ill into treatment, have shown a propensity to accept more white people than Black people, Vinson said. "Whenever you superimpose something on a racist system, it's not going to fix the problem," she said. Society has too often looked to police as the answer for problems they are not well trained or suited to resolve, Kingsley said. "There is not a cop on the street who has not dealt with a ton of mentally disturbed people," she said. Kingsley, who was the city's lead lawyer under former Mayor Bill Johnson, said she hopes there is some way something positive can come from the tragedy of Daniel Prude's homicide. "I've lived in this city for 26 years. I love this place. "And now we have become a national spectacle." Follow reporter Gary Craig on Twitter: @gcraig1 Exclusive: Exclusive: More Americans predict Trump will win the presidential debates than Biden, USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll shows Ex- GOP Sen. and Defense Secretary Hagel: Trump reportedly calling troops 'losers' is 'despicable,' fits pattern This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Daniel Prude death: Video, autopsy could decide if police are charged While cashback is considered a strong method to encourage cashless payments, numerous websites and apps are taking advantage of uninformed consumers with untransparent and illegal multi-level marketing models. Consumers beware of e-swindlers preying on fledgling cashback apps - illustration photo The increasing number of internet users, rising internet penetration, and steady increase of the share of e-commerce in total retail sales in Vietnam make it a core and high-potential market for modern cashback applications attempting to succeed in the digital space, with large marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, and Sendo already experiencing record-breaking growth in the past year. However, the Vietnam Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (VCCA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade has warned about scam activities on numerous cashback websites and apps after police in the southern province of Binh Phuoc uncovered violations. According to a police report in the province, there has been an increase in Facebook accounts posting statuses and sharing videos related to consumer rewards app MyAladdinz, encouraging people to install the programme on their smartphones. One person in the province even organised a conference to introduce the app. MyAladdinz offers to pay electricity and water bills, tuition, and insurance fees, as well as buy houses and cars on a hire purchase plan. The highlight of the app is that users can earn up to 80 per cent cashback for bills and payment. The more people who use the app regularly, the more cashback rewards they can enjoy. However, in order to enjoy these incentives, users are forced to place at least $100 into the account and share their private information. The money is converted into gems, each one costing $1. The cashback rewards after each transaction are only calculated with gems instead of real money. Simultaneously, if users invite other people to install this app, they will enjoy commission similar to multi-level marketing models. According to Binh Phuoc Police, this app has yet to be licensed by any state agencies. MyAladdinz does not conduct any trading or manufacturing activities to create products and services. In reality, the model uses the money put in by latter participants to pay commission for previous ones. Once there are no more new participants, the system is prime for collapse. In addition to that, users face the risk of their personal data being used for illegal purposes. In order to prevent an increase in such scams, the VCCA has warned customers about cashback-related programmes. Users are asked to seriously consider the possible outcomes before installing apps that offer rewards equivalent to 80-100 per cent of each purchase they make, as usually rewards are mostly presented in points and users receive only a tiny fraction of the reward in cash. Besides that, the points used by some cashback websites and apps are related to certain types of cryptocurrency or e-wallets such as Gem, CBP, Silling, USDT, and VNDC, which are not recognised by Vietnamese laws. Therefore, consumers will not be protected by the laws if any disputes arise. Meanwhile, the cashback playground has attracted more legitimate players from overseas in the shape of startups and banks. In early August, leading rewards and discovery platform ShopBack debuted its cashback website and app. Accordingly, online shoppers in Vietnam can now earn up to 25 per cent cashback from the groups Vietnamese roster of over 150 merchants. According to Jacky Ha, commercial director of ShopBack Vietnam, the biggest challenge since day one has been consumer education as the cashback concept has existed for decades in other countries but is still relatively new in Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, consumers in this region tend to be more conservative and can be wary about being paid to shop online, even though it is completely free of charge to create an account and use ShopBack, Ha explained. It is an uphill task to first capture consumers attention in the crowded online retail scene and educate them about ShopBacks service and credibility before we can persuade them to embrace and use the service. At the end of the day, Ha added, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers should exercise caution when faced with such a situation, he added. Shopback is affiliated with merchants that reward commission for referring customers to shop on their sites. Shopback then shares a portion of that commission with the consumer. Vietnam has the third-largest population in Southeast Asia and has a sizable and young consumer base with growing disposable income 70 per cent of the population is under 35 years of age and its emerging middle-class is expected to reach 26 per cent of the population by 2026. With the potential reach for bright new startups as well as unscrupulous fraudsters, consumers are being urged to carry out research and exercise caution and common sense when dealing with unknown and dubious sites promising to reward cashback. Van Oanh By Giuseppe Fonte and Valentina Za ROME (Reuters) - Italy's Treasury wants to find a buyer for Monte dei Paschi di Siena by the end of the year to help the bailed-out bank to clean up its remaining problem loans, two sources familiar with the matter said. The government rescued Monte dei Paschi in 2017, taking a 68% stake for 5.4 billion euros ($6.4 billion), but must sell its holding next year to meet the terms of the bailout negotiated at the time with European Union competition authorities. To attract buyers, Monte dei Paschi plans to offload 8.1 billion euros in impaired loans to state-owned bad loan manager AMCO. The deal would cut the ratio of Monte dei Paschi's problem loans to 4% of total lending, below the industry average and down from peaks of more than 40% before the bailout and 12% currently. But the European Central Bank has set strict conditions for the deal, which would deplete the bank's capital buffers. To comply with ECB demands, Monte dei Paschi last week issued 300 million euros in second-tier capital, offering an 8.5% return. It now needs to issue 'Additional Tier 1' (AT1) capital to rebuild its reserves as it transfers the loans to AMCO with a portion of its equity capital. Sources have said the AT1 issue could total 750 million euros, which some analysts say the loss-making Tuscan lender cannot afford. The Treasury hopes to avoid the AT1 issue by finding a buyer that will help it shed the bad loans as part of an acquisition, said the sources, who declined to be named because discussions are confidential. The Treasury declined to comment on the matter. One of the sources said that the government sees Banco BPM as a good partner for Monte dei Paschi despite the Milan-based bank having strongly denied any interest. A spokeswoman for Banco BPM said nothing had changed in that respect. Banco BPM has said it remains on alert for further industry consolidation after rival UBI was snapped up by heavyweight Intesa Sanpaolo and a third source familiar with the matter said that its CEO Giuseppe Castagna was looking to move quickly on a potential deal. Story continues Monte dei Paschi, laid low by years of mismanagement, faces 10 billion euros in legal claims from disgruntled investors, seen as a major hurdle to a merger. Carla Ruocco, a member of the ruling 5-Star Movement who heads a parliamentary inquiry into banks, on Saturday urged the government not to sell Monte dei Paschi, currently worth just 1.6 billion euros. The government will soon approve a decree paving the way for the sale of its stake. ($1 = 0.8447 euros) (Additional reporting by Cristina Carlevaro; editing by Louise Heavens) Tech giant Amazon said it has banned foreign sales of seeds in the US after thousands of Americans received unsolicited packages of seeds in their mailboxes, mostly postmarked from China. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) in July identified more than a dozen plant species ranging from morning glories to mustard in the bags of unsolicited seeds. It warned Americans not to plant the seeds. According to plant experts, seeds from other parts of the world could be non-native varieties that harm commodity crops. Packages have been mailed to addresses in all 50 states as well as to locations across Canada. Many of the packages had shipping information printed in Chinese characters on the bags, some of which were misprinted and described objects like bracelets or rings. Most of the packets appear according to the address labels to have come from the Chinese cities of Suzhou. In a statement on Saturday, Amazon wrote: Moving forward, we are only permitting the sale of seeds by sellers who are based in the US." The policy change on seeds was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The company said that sellers who do not follow its guidelines will be subject to action, including potential removal of their accounts. According to Amazons policy web page, the ban extends to plants and plant products. The USDA in July said the packages were most likely part of a brushing scam, in which people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false positive customer reviews to boost sales. In an update on 11 August, Osama El-Lissy, a deputy administrator for the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), said the experts analysing some of the seeds from China found very few problems. El-Lissy added that the two countries were working jointly on the investigation. Reuters contributed to this report Parineeti says upcoming films with Sooraj Barjatya, Sandeep Reddy Vanga are as amazing as her upcoming reality show A team of Japanese experts is expected to arrive in Vietnam later this month to facilitate the construction of metro route No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Six Japanese experts will land in Vietnam on September 18 and undergo 14-day quarantine following their arrival, the Ho Chi Minh City Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) confirmed on Thursday. These pundits are in charge of carrying our preparations for the import of the first train of the citys metro route No. 1. Two South Korean experts had previously arrived in the southern metropolis and begun working on the construction site of the metro line on August 24, after completing the government-mandated quarantine period. The two experts are in charge of installing the roof of Tan Cang Station, which is expected to be completed by the end of October. As foreign experts are now allowed to enter Vietnam, the implementation of metro route No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City will be expedited, according to the MAUR. The agency will continue working with relevant agencies to bring other foregin experts into Vietnam to work on the construction site. More than 100 foreign personnel who play important roles in the construction of the metro system were previously unable to enter Vietnam due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Metro route No. 1, which runs from Ben Thanh in District 1 to Suoi Tien in District 9, is 19.7 kilometers long, including 2.6 kilometers running underground and 17.1 kilometers of elevated railways. The project includes three underground stations and 11 stations above the ground. The construction started in August 2012, and about 72 percent of the work has been finished as of September 2020. About 85 percent of the project is expected to have been completed by the end of this year, and the metro will come on stream in late 2021. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! EDITORS NOTE: Staten Islands cultural institutions and non-profit organizations have always been there for us. In this series, well take a look at the how they are faring as the coronavirus pandemic continues to paralyze much of our community -- and America. This is the third story in a weeks-long series. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For Staten Islands poor and vulnerable populations, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has made just getting by even harder. New Delhi: Amid the ongoing border row between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the Indian and Chinese militaries on Sunday held another round of brigade commander-level talks in an attempt to calm down the escalating tensions. Though, the nearly four-hour interaction could not produce any tangible outcome. According to sources, the Indian Army has been on a very high level of alert and is ready to deal with any eventuality in the area as the situation remains "delicate" with both sides bringing in additional troops and weapons following last week's confrontations. The two sides held extensive talks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, each lasting over six hours, but no concrete result emerged from the negotiations. Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe that China should work with India for complete disengagement at Line of Actual Control (LAC). It was made clear that attempts by Chinese troops to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC were in violation of the bilateral agreements and Beijing should work with New Delhi for complete disengagement from all friction areas including Pangong Tso. According to an official statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two ministers had frank and in-depth discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as on the relations between the two nations. "The Defence Minister emphasised that the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing of large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements," the statement read. The sides have engaged in bilateral talks for the last three months including five Lieutenant general-level talks but have failed to yield any results. Tensions escalated in the region after India thwarted an attempt by the Chinese army to transgress into Indian areas near the southern bank of Pangong Tso near Chushul in Ladakh on the intervening night of August 29 and 30. The two countries have been engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas including Finger area, Galwan valley, Hot springs and Kongrung Nala. The situation worsened after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops in Galwan valley in June. UPDATE at 7:45 PM: Probe ordered The cabinet which met on Sunday, has expressed its concerns over the alleged phone call made to threaten to blow up Matoshree with a bomb and the cabinet has also condemned such act. The nature of such threat being serious in nature should be immediately picked up by the central govt and should punish the culprits behind this act, said the cabinet. Meanwhile, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered a probe in the matter to be conducted by the crime branch In a shocking development, sources reported that a man claiming to be gangster Dawood Ibrahim's aide had allegedly threatened to blow up the Thackeray residence - Matoshree on Sunday. Sources report that two such threatening calls were made from Dubai on Thackerays landline number, as confirmed by the Mumbai police. Security has been beefed up outside the Thackeray residence. CM Uddhav Thackeray has preferred to reside in his family home 'Matoshree' rather than occupying the official CM residence - Varsha Bungalow. Pakistan court sends three aides of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed to 5-year jail term Mayor Pednekar slams 'threat' Reacting to the 'threat' to the Shiv Sena Supremo, Mumbai Mayor & Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar said, "I condemn this and as a Shiv Sainik, 'Matoshree' has been the gift of Balasaheb and Maa. It is a symbol where Shiv Sena was born and grew. Anyone seeing Matoshree with evil eyes, we will gather an army of Shiv Sainiks to protect it. I have complete faith in the Mumbai police and I hope PM Modi also pays special attention to this." "If this is an attempt to trouble Uddhav Thackeray as the party chief or CM, then he will not lose focus as he is a mature and decisive leader. A leader who has worked so focused during the pandemic cannot be bothered by such threats. We Shiv Sainiks and police are there to protect him". 'Happy Birthday Boss': Youth celebrates Dawood Ibrahim's b'day; detained by Mumbai cops Dawood 'fan' detained In December 2019, a Mumbaikar named Shera Chikna - a fan of underworld gangster Dawood Ibrahim shared a post on Facebook of a cake that had 'Happy Birthday Boss' on its icing. Pictures of five cakes and several file photos of Dawood were shared by Chikna, tagging three other friends on Dawood's birthday 26 December. Chikna, whose profile reads 'Work at D Company' and 'Lives in Dubai', educated in Dubai has run afoul the Mumbai police who detained him for interrogation. Police have revealed that Chikna posted the photos as he wanted to get maximum number of followers on Facebook and Instagram. BJP demands Pakistan to 'hand over Dawood' after Imran govt reveals gangster's address Pakistan imposes sanctions on Dawood, Azhar and Saeed Meanwhile, Pakistan on August 18, imposed sanctions on 88 terrorists complying to the new UNSC's list- finally admitted to sheltering gangster Dawood Ibrahim, revealing his Karachi address. The order revealed Dawood's three Karachi-based addresses including his residence named 'White House'. Apart from Dawood, Pakistan has listed Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, ordering the seizure of all of their properties and freezing of bank accounts. Pakistan reveals Dawood Ibrahim's Karachi home 'White House'; 88 terrorists sanctioned According to the diplomat, blocking the Nord Stream 2 project would not be enough. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andrij Melnyk has called for a three-month embargo on oil and gas supplies from Russia in response to the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. "The time has come to finally hit the gentlemen in the Kremlin with a tough response," the Ukrainian ambassador told dpa agency, according to Deutsche Welle. In his opinion, the termination of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project required by a number of German politicians would not be enough. Read alsoFM Kuleba voices Ukraine's position on Navalny poisoningPutin's regime "should be deprived of a major source of income for its aggressive policies." The Ukrainian diplomat also demanded to put all European investments in the Russian economy to a halt. "The insidious attempt to poison Navalny with a chemical weapon of mass destruction is not only an overt death threat to all Putin critics. It's a blow to the face of the [German] chancellor, the federal government, and the German public, who were deliberately humiliated," Melnyk stressed. In his opinion, Putin has already clearly demonstrated he was not affected by Berlin's reaction to his previous actions. Navalny poisoning: background For Parliament's young fathers, an unexpected silver lining in the pandemic has been spending more time with their children while doing the notoriously family-unfriendly job. Greens leader Adam Bandt wants the government to give all new fathers the chance to do the same by increasing the amount of use it or lose it parental leave on offer to dads and supporting partners. Greens leader Adam Bandt, here with his wife Claudia and children Wren and Elke, wants to increase the amount of parental leave on offer to new fathers. Credit:Justin McManus At the moment, mothers have 18 weeks parental leave paid at the minimum wage while their partners get two weeks. But while more than 158,500 women used this entitlement in 2017/18, only 81,500 men did. Mr Bandt points to international experience showing increasing the daddy quota of leave leads to more fathers actually taking it. He wants it to become the normal thing to do. Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson speaks in Vancouver, Wash., at a memorial Saturday for slain follower Aaron "Jay" Danielson. (Richard Read / Los Angeles Times) As social justice activists prepared Saturday for the 100th consecutive day of protests in Portland, Ore., the leader of a far-right organization called on the city's mayor to apologize for "a culture of lawlessness" that he said resulted in the death of one of his followers last weekend. Joey Gibson, founder of Patriot Prayer, a local group considered an extremist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center, spoke at a memorial gathering just north of Portland in Vancouver, Wash., for Aaron "Jay" Danielson, who died in a shooting Aug. 29. Gibson also called on Oregon's governor to apologize for calling Danielson a white supremacist. Michael Forest Reinoehl, a self-described antifascist who had been providing security for protesters who have gathered nightly since the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25, was accused of shooting Danielson, 39. Reinoehl, who had a Black Lives Matter raised-fist tattoo on his neck, died Thursday in a hail of gunfire as members of a federal fugitive task force confronted him in Lacey, Wash. Court documents seeking his arrest described both Danielson and Reinoehl as carrying firearms at the time of the shooting in Portland. On Saturday night, in apparent reference to federal agents killing of Reinoehl, President Trump, who earlier offered excuses for the actions of the firearm-toting 17-year-old accused of killing of two Black Lives Matters protesters during a demonstration in Kenosha, Wis., tweeted, Congratulations to the U.S. Marshals on a job well done in Portland. LAW & ORDER! The marshals actually shot Reinoehl dead 120 miles north of Portland, near the Washington town of Lacey. On Thursday night, in a tweet apparently sent after the suspect was killed, Trump tweeted criticism of Portland police for not arresting him. Everybody knows who this thug is, Trump wrote. No wonder Portland is going to hell! Meanwhile, on Saturday night, Portland officers blocked hundreds of protesters who tried to march to demonstrate at a police precinct building, ordering them to return to a city park where they had initially assembled. Saying that protesters had thrown fire bombs at them, police declared the assembly a riot and unleashed tear gas and impact munitions, to be met with volleys of commercial fireworks. Story continues Gibson spoke earlier Saturday as activists prepared for their nightly rally and march. Members of Black Lives Matter and other groups demand deep cuts or dissolution of the Portland Police Bureau; the City Council has trimmed the budget and instituted limited reforms. Months of clashes between protesters and police and for a time, federal agents blamed by city and state officials for making the violence worse have outraged Trump and his followers who say Portland has descended into anarchy. Trump supporters organized a caravan of trucks Aug. 29, some of which drove into the city's downtown, their occupants firing paintballs and mace at left-wing protesters, who threw objects back at them and tried to block vehicles. The shooting took place on a largely quiet street in the wake of the protest and counterprotest. Gibson told more than 300 people, some standing by with assault rifles, who gathered at the memorial beneath tall cedars in a Vancouver city park that he didn't want to see anyone commit violence in retribution for Danielson's death. But Gibson had blunt words regarding Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, both Democrats. "Because of his policies, Jay was murdered," he said of Wheeler, adding that city leaders had failed to crack down on protesters. "He's built a city of lawlessness; they've built a culture of lawlessness; they've allowed them to get away with whatever they want." He said of Brown: "The way that she talked about Jay is a million times harder than anything that she ever said about the people rioting in Portland every single day." Asked for a response, Tim Becker, a spokesman for Wheeler, said in a statement that "lawlessness has never been acceptable in our city. We cannot truly move on together and make the positive changes we want to see until the violence is stopped." In a statement Friday, Brown called for an end to the violence in Portland. The only way through this is if we all work together, she said. In Portland, south across the Columbia River from the Vancouver memorial, Black Lives Matter activists and supporters gathered in a city park Saturday afternoon for talks and music. Among them was John Sullivan, 39, an activist from Salt Lake City who said he had come to take part in a few days of demonstrations including the 100th nightly protest. Weve got to support each other in different regions to push a larger message, that is to stop the brutality and killing of unarmed Black people, he said. Thats how you bring change nationally. Sullivan, who is Black, said he had started a group called Insurgents USA, some of whose 150 members openly carry semiautomatic rifles at rallies in Utah just as members of far-right organizations do. Youre now carrying a gun, and you can speak their language, Sullivan said. And theyre less likely to shoot at you, because you can shoot back. Sullivan added that he had not brought his AR-15 to Oregon, and said that while he had worn his protective vest, he left its ceramic armor plates at home because they would have been too heavy to carry on the flight to Portland. Hyderabad, Sep 6 : After more than five months, the Hyderabad Metro Rail is set to resume its operations in a phased manner from Monday, putting in place all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. These include checking of body temperatures of visitors/passengers, sanitisation and social distancing through markings at stations and alternate seating arrangements in trains. No person showing COVID-like symptoms will be allowed to enter the Metro stations or board trains. It will be mandatory for all passengers to wear face masks. On Monday, Metro services will resume only on Miyapur to LB Nagar corridor. Trains will be operated from 7 am to 12 noon and from 4 pm to 9 pm. Nagole to Raidurg stretch will be made operational from Tuesday with the same timings. From September 9, Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) corridor will also re-open, with services available from 7 am to 9 pm. Frequency of trains will be around five minutes. It will be improved or decreased based on passenger traffic and to avoid crowding, said Reddy. Gandhi Hospital, Bharat Nagar, Moosapet, Musheerabad and Yusufguda, the five stations which fall in containment zones, will remain closed. Security personnel deployed at the entry points to the Metro stations will check the body temperatures of all entrants with hand-held thermal guns. In case a visitor has high temperature or shows any other medical symptom, he will be taken to the isolation room at the station and provided medical assistance, said Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) officials. HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy appealed to the people with COVID-like symptoms like fever, cold, and cough to avoid travel on the Metro. Authorities have also made elaborate arrangements for sanitisation, putting pedal-operated sanitiser dispensers at entry points. Sanitisation points have also been created for luggage before it passes through the x-ray machines. The HMRL officials also appealed to prospective passengers to carry minimum luggage and not carry metal objects to make the frisking process hassle-free. Passengers have also been advised to carry sanitiser bottles/dispensers with them. Those entering the stations will also be advised to download the Aarogya Setu app. Coins will not be accepted for sale of tickets. The authorities will encourage use of smart cards and mobile QR tickets with cashless/online transactions. Reddy said that social distancing would be monitored through CCTVs, station controllers, and train operators. Waiting time for trains at the Metro stations has been increased from 20 seconds to 30 seconds to ensure passengers don't come in contact while boarding or de-boarding. Following the Unlock 4.0 guidelines issued by the Centre and the permission accorded by the state government, the HMRL decided to resume services in a phased manner. The Hyderabad Metro suspended its commercial operations from March 22. It was operating 55 trains that ferried about 4.5 lakh passengers every day before the lockdown. The 73-km elevated Metro is the biggest such project in the world in public private partnership (PPP) model built at a total cost of Rs 20,000 crore. L&T MRHL, the private partner in the project, is estimated to have suffered Rs 300 crore loss during the last five-and-a-half months. In February, with the launch of the 11-km stretch from JBS to MGBS, the Hyderabad Metro Rail become the second largest metro rail network in the country after Delhi, covering a distance of 69.2 km. Barring the 3.78 km stretch from MGBS to Falaknuma, the famous palace in the old city, the entire project has been completed. Statesville was not spared from proposed road project delays this past week. Included in a long list of proposed North Carolina Department of Transportation road project delays was the planned improvements to the interchange of US-21 and US-64, or the Five Points interchange. The latest information I received from NCDOT is that the proposed roundabout at the five point intersection has been delayed due to the departments lack of funding, Statesville planning director Sherry Ashley said. It is my understanding that the construction has been delayed five years, to 2026. NCDOT division project director Michael L. Poe confirmed the proposed change, stating that the project was originally intended to begin construction in 2022. With the delay, it will now likely not be completed until 2027. The project was proposed three years ago as part of the NCDOT's 10-year transportation improvement plan. The lack of funding at the NCDOT is reportedly being caused by a combination of a $300 million budget shortfall due to the lack of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a $742 million budget overspend during the 2019 fiscal year. Sony SABs popular sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has been going through a number of changes with respect to its ensemble cast ever since the long-running series returned post lockdown. And now, actor Ghanshyam Nayak who plays Nattu Kaka wont be resuming work for the show anytime soon as the senior actor is reported to be hospitalized for surgery. According to a Times of India report, Ghanshyam will not be seen on the show for some time as he will be undergoing surgery after he was detected with a lump in his neck. He has been advised by the doctor to take a break to recuperate and not shoot as he is also above the age of 65. A source close to the development revealed, A few days ago, Ghanshyam sir was detected with a lump in his neck, and the doctor advised surgery. He will recuperate soon and return back to the show. Nattu kaka is one of the interesting characters in the show and people love watching him. He is a senior actor and masses enjoy his comic timing. Nattu Kaka had also expressed his wish to continue working when the government barred 65 years of age from visiting sets. The production house has extended their support to the senior actor, but it will be some time before he returns to the show. Here's wishing the actor a speedy recovery, added the source. ALSO READ: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Jennifer Bids Goodbye To Neha & Gurucharan With A Touching Note ALSO READ: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: Did Neha Mehta Quit The Show Due To Issues From Production Side? The California Office of Emergency Services said Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters were used for the rescues that began late Saturday and continued into Sunday morning at Mammoth Pool Reservoir. At least two people were severely injured and 10 more suffered moderate injuries. Two campers refused rescue and stayed behind, the Madera County sheriffs office said, and there was no immediate word on their fates. The death toll from a gas explosion that tore through a Bangladesh mosque has risen to 24, officials said Sunday, as rescuers described how survivors jumped into a nearby open sewer to escape the flames. Worshippers were at Friday evening prayers when the blast sent a ball of fire through the mosque in the central district of Narayanganj near the capital Dhaka, emergency services said. Eight more people -- including the mosque's imam and muezzin, who led prayers -- died overnight taking the toll to 24, said Samanta Lal Sen, a spokesman for a specialist burns hospital in Dhaka. "The conditions of 13 injured people were critical. Bodies of some of the injured were 70-80 percent burnt," he told AFP, adding there were fears the toll could climb higher. "It is tough to survive if anyone has more than 30 percent of his body burnt." Forty-five people in total were injured, police said. Mohammad Salim said he rushed to the mosque after the explosion, adding the blast's shock waves shook the neighbourhood. He said burnt worshippers threw themselves into an open sewer next to the mosque. "They wailed 'save, save us' as they rolled in the sewer water to cool their burnt bodies. Their faces were charred and were beyond recognition," Salim, who lost two cousins and a brother-in-law in the explosion, told AFP. "I lifted three of them out of water. As I touched them, their skin peeled out from their bodies. We took them to a hospital on rickshaws." There has been growing anger over the incident after the committee running the mosque alleged the state-run gas transmission firm had earlier demanded a bribe to fix the leaks quickly. "A probe body is looking into how the explosion occurred and whether there was any negligence on our part," the company's managing director Ali Mohammad Al Mamun told AFP. Investigators suspected a spark from an air conditioner -- which came on after a power cut -- started the blaze. The committee's president Abdul Gafur told AFP the mosque started experiencing problems with the gas pipes a few days earlier. Local fire chief Abdullah al Arefin, who is part of the team investigating the explosion, told AFP the committee said they had smelt gas for the past seven days. "But they did not have any idea that this could lead to such a big fire," he said. Bangladesh's energy minister Nasrul Hamid, who has visited the site, has ordered a probe into the committee's allegations, a spokesman for his ministry, Mir Aslam, said. In Bangladesh, safety regulations are often flouted. Hundreds are killed each year in fires in the nation of 168 million people. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics When interviewing with the Star-Herald, Cooper said he wasnt looking to reform Gering schools or make any big changes. He said hes more interested in building on the districts progress and ensuring that the new, more permanent superintendent has a strong foundation to begin their tenure. He metaphorically described this process as building a bridge. For Cooper, his role as interim exists in a sort of middle place between the future and the past. His job as he puts it is to build the bridge between the future leadership and the past leadership of Gering Public Schools. What youre trying to do is keep that traffic flow, Cooper said. You are just kind of supporting what is taking place in the district at the time. Youre not trying to come in and make any big changes. In the past, Gering set four goals for itself to achieve as written in its strategic plan: Improve community partnerships and facilities by 2021, and increase pre-kindergarten enrollment and improve the grading and reporting system by 2024. Naturally, this year is different because COVID-19 has just dominated and I mean dominated the education scene, Cooper said. It created a lot of anxiety and uncertainty for everyone. As Scott noted earlier, boaters across the country turned out yesterday in parades to show support for President Trump. Hundreds of boats paraded on Lake Minnetonka, West of the Twin Cities. This video captures some of the action: More: This one shows more of the action on the St. Croix: Given the number of lakes here in Minnesota, and the strong support for President Trump in the areas that are most boat-intensive, I am sure there were others as well. I didnt participate in yesterdays parade, but a couple of weekends ago I did cruise on Lake Minnetonka with a conservative group, and we flew Trump flags. Contrary to what you might infer from the newspapers, Trump supporters are everywhere: As far as I know, the only place where any boats sank yesterday was Austin, Texas. Trust the Star Tribune to single that event out for a report, rather than those much, much closer to home! By the way, I am happy to lead a group of Minnesotans down to Lake Travis to give Texas Republicans some boating lessons. All we ask in return is a couple of free beers at the Oasis. UPDATE: Friends are sending me photos and videos of yesterdays parades. This drone shot shows the extent of the boat parade on the St. Croix: This one took place last weekend on Lake Carlos near Alexandria, in northern Minnesota, an area that Trump will sweep: These aerial shots are a reminder of what a great place Minnesota could be, if we ever got our taxes down. MORE: This Alpha News videowith music!provides an excellent overview of the Lake Minnetonka boat parade. Note all of the people on bridges supporting the demonstration: Express News Service By NEW DELHI: People from Delhi who recently visited two popular eateries in Murthal where a large number of staff have been found to be COVID-19 positive, should immediately self-isolate and get themselves tested after a couple of days, officials said on Friday. Sixty-five workers at Amrik-Sukhdev Dhaba and 10 at Garam Dharam dhaba on the highway had tested positive for coronavirus infection, following which both the eateries were sealed on Thursday till further orders, Sonipat's Deputy Commissioner Shyam Lal Punia said. Both eateries are located in Sonipat's Murthal and nearly 50 km away from Delhi, and on regular days a large number of people from the national capital visit these joints for 'parathas' and other delicacies. A senior official of Delhi government said the people who went to these outlets by the highway should immediately self-isolate and go for testing. "Highway dhabas are dangerous places to go to as of now, as customers can go to any city from that point. So, its also a logistical nightmare for the surveillance team," the official said. "The best is families should not go out as much as possible. This is still a heath emergency and people should not be complacent, and venture out only if really necessary," he said. Contact tracing will be done by the surveillance team given the constrains in this case, the help of apps might be taken, another official said. Last Monday, the University of Washington, based in Seattle, sent an email to about 500 of its researchers telling them to be wary of suspicious packages and saying that virus researchers elsewhere had been targeted. We have received unfortunate reports from our contacts at the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) that threatening mail has been sent to COVID-19 researchers on the east coast of the United States, said the email, which was first reported by BuzzFeed News on Saturday. The BuzzFeed News article quoted an F.B.I. spokesman saying that the bureau, along with our local law enforcement partners, responded to a suspicious package sent to a few university researchers and that preliminary testing has indicated there is no threat to public safety in connection with this mailing. A University of Washington spokeswoman, Susan Gregg, provided a copy of the universitys email to The New York Times and said no suspicious packages had been reported so far. The email warned researchers to be on the lookout for signs of suspicious mail, including an address with misspelled words, no return address, oily stains, discoloration or a strange odor. Any mail that raised concerns, the email said, should be left unopened and reported to the police by calling 911. Research at the University of Washington includes 16 clinical studies related to the virus and a prominent but sometimes criticized forecasting model. The model estimated last week that Covid-19 would kill about 410,000 people in the United States by the end of the year, more than double the current death toll, drawing skepticism from experts who said predictions about the course of the pandemic months into the future are too uncertain to be useful. The report of threats to researchers follows earlier signs of the risks faced by public health officials and others involved in the pandemic response. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of President Trumps virus task force and the nations leading expert on infectious diseases, received additional security in April after threats, and he said the security was also expanded to his daughters. Local and state health officials have also been targeted by those challenging public health measures. The race for the coronavirus vaccine has triggered an intelligence war where spies from China, Russia and Iran target American biotech companies and research universities in a bid to steal data, according to a new report. American and British intelligence services have tracked efforts from several nations trying to spy on vaccine research as COVID-19 has infected more than 26million across the globe. Chinese intelligence hackers tried to steal information from the University of North Carolina and other schools focusing on COVID-19 research, because their data protections are less robust than pharmaceutical companies, according to the New York Times. Russian spies tried to get vaccine data from American universities and agencies in Canada and Britain, according to espionage efforts detected by British electronic surveillance agency G.C.H.Q. monitoring international fiber optic cables. Iran also drastically amped up action to steal vaccine research and the increased threats forced the US to increase its espionage tracking efforts. The race for the coronavirus vaccine has triggered an intelligence war where spies from China, Russia and Iran target American biotech companies and research universities in a bid to steal data, according to a new report Some of the targeted American biotech companies include Gilead Sciences, Novavax and Moderna. So far no corporation or university has announced any data thefts from publicly identified hacking efforts, officials say. But some hacking attempts succeeded in penetrating defenses to get inside computer networks, according to one American government official. Only two teams of hackers, one each from Russia and China, have been publicly identified. Intelligence officials say Chinese and Russian hackers are testing weaknesses everyday. Now the US is raising protections of universities and corporations doing advanced vaccine work and NATO, which usually tracks Russian tank movement and terrorist cells, is scrutinizing Kremlin moves to steal vaccine research, a Western official briefed on the intelligence said. 'It would be surprising if they were not trying to steal the most valuable biomedical research going on right now,' top Justice Department official John C Demers said of China last month at an event held by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A lab technician sorts blood samples for a COVID-19 vaccination study at the Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida on August 13 'Valuable from a financial point of view and invaluable from a geopolitical point of view,' he added. The race for the vaccine for the virus that has infected more than 6million and killed more than 188,000 in the US alone is not so different to the Space Race where the Soviet Union and the United States depended on spies to catch up in their race to the moon. American intelligence learned about Chinas hacking efforts in early February, according to current and former American officials. China has been tracked using information from the World Health Organization to guide vaccine spying attempts in the US and Europe and tried hacking into the University of North Carolina and other universities. The FBI warned UNC officials in recent weeks about hacking attempts, two people familiar with the matter said. The Chinese hackers tried to break into the computer networks of the schools epidemiology department but did not infiltrate them. The efforts are only escalating as researchers share more vaccine candidates and antiviral treatments for peer review, a government official says. UNC spokeswoman Leslie Minton says the school was invested in 'around-the-clock monitoring' to guard against 'persistent threat attacks from state sponsored organizations.' In response to the hacking efforts the US has bolstered security for research university and agencies doing vaccine research. In the US more than 6million have been infected with COVID-19 and more than 188,000 have died China conducted 'multiple intrusions' more than what the Justice Department revealed in a July indictment, which accused two hackers of working on behalf of Chinas Ministry of State Security spy service for vaccine information and research from American biotechnology companies. Some experts warn that Chinese intelligence in the US and elsewhere have tried to collect information from researchers themselves, and could try to take advantage of research partnerships between American universities and Chinese institutions. On July 22 the Trump administration ordered China to close its consulate in Houston after Chinese operatives used it as an outpost to target medical experts in the city. British electronic surveillance agency G.C.H.Q. discovered the Russian hacking effort as American intelligence learned of Chinese spy efforts. In July the UK, US and Canada intelligence agencies said Russian group known as Cozy Bear was focused on gathering research from Oxford University and its pharmaceutical corporate partner AstraZeneca. Its a collection of a hackers affiliated with S.V.R. Cozy Bear the one of the groups that broke into Democratic computer servers in 2016. 'It is really a race against time for good guys to find the vulnerabilities and get them patched, get those patches deployed before the adversary finds them and exploits them. The race is tighter than every,' Bryan S Ware, the assistant director of cybersecurity for the Homeland Security Departments Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said. On August 11 Russia announced it approved a vaccine but their early success aroused suspicion that its scientists were aided by spy work and stolen research. American officials say the nations spy services are defensive and intelligence agencies have not been ordered to steal coronavirus research. Hacking is dangerous for American research because in extracting data it could damage research systems and disrupt networks. Some officials have raised concern that Russia and China may be trying to sow distrust in an actual vaccine from Western countries as both countries have already spread disinformation about the virus, where it came from and the US' response to it. Some experts say the hacking is no surprise with Russia's history. 'This case seems to be a throwback to the old Soviet Union. Russia and the Chinese have been out there on disinformation campaigns. How better to create confusion and weaken the U.S. further than to whip up the antivax movement? But you make sure all your guys are vaccinated,' Fiona Hill, the former National Security Council official and Russia expert who testified in the impeachment hearings against President Trump, said to the Times. Were confident most local Trump supporters wont take the bait, run out this fall and vote for Trump once by mail, then again in person, notwithstanding the presidents advice to supporters in North Carolina and Pennsylvania last week. While most folks we know who support Trumps re-election are content to overlook his constitutional transgressions and astounding legal arguments elevating him above the federal and state laws the rest of us must honor, they like most Biden supporters respect the rule of law. Then again, one wonders about zealots emboldened by the presidents fiery talk to do everything from refusing in the name of liberty to wear facial coverings in a pandemic costing lives to taking up arms and heading for demonstrations. One must lament not only the level to which this presidential campaign has sunk but the degree to which other partisan public servants fail in their oaths to the Constitution when a president arguing against mail-in ballots becomes so frantic and so twisted in his unfounded rationale as to finally suggest his supporters vote by mail and, just to be sure their votes are counted, vote again in person. When Attorney General William Barr was subsequently asked about this prescription for anarchy, he cravenly followed the pattern of so many spineless latter-day Republicans: He dodged the question rather than risk correcting the president and irking Trump disciples. At one point, Barr said he wasnt sure all states forbade voting twice in the same election. Can you imagine a state in America that informs residents: Hey, folks, here you can vote twice in the same election three times if youre feeling frisky! GREENSBORO A Greensboro man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in an assault that occurred on Saturday, according to a news release from Greensboro police. Jairo Alberto Lopez Gonzalez, 21, is accused of killing 22-year-old Darwin Adonis Martinez-Hernandez of Greensboro, police said. The assault occurred in the 2300 block of Randleman Road and the investigation is ongoing. Further details were not immediately available. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. Citizens can also download the mobile P3tips app for Apple or Android phones to submit a mobile tip, or go to P3tips.com to submit a web tip. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. New Delhi, Sep 7 : An inter-state gang involved in large-scale theft of aviation oil from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) pipelines was busted by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch, police said on Sunday. Six persons identified as Sanjay Dhawan, Mukesh Kumar, Samay Pal, Avlesh, Himanshu and Sanjay have been arrested. A tanker used for transportation of stolen aviation oil from IOCL pipelines, 1,100 litres of aviation oil, instruments used for making a hole in IOCL pipelines, a car used in the crime, Rs 60,000 cash, a generator and an oil pipe were recovered from their possession. After many complaints about a gang committing theft of petrol, diesel, aviation oil from the supply pipelines of the IOC in the Delhi-NCR area, the Crime Branch mounted active surveillance to check the crime. On September 5, acting on a tip-off, that members of the gang were coming in the Nihal Vihar area to sell the stolen fuel in a tanker and a car, police laid a trap and arrested the gang members. According to police, gang members Samay Singh and Mukesh Kumar had good knowledge of the locations of IOC supply pipelines. They were committing this crime since last more than one and half years. First of all, they choose the area where a tanker could easily reach the pipeline, preferably in a field of fullly-grown crops, to conceal themselves from passing public as well as IOC security. The gang always performed their operations at night, with Avlesh and Himanshu digging to the pipeline, while two members of the gang were deployed to keep watch for any person or vehicle coming toward them. After digging down to the pipeline, they fitted a valve on it with the help of clamp, punctured the pipeline with the help of a specially-made hand run drill machine through the valve, fitted a pipe on the valve and put its other end in the tanker. On opening or releasing the valve, oil flowed into the tanker through the present pressure in the pipeline. After filling the tanker, they closed the valve, left it there, covered up the hole and left the place. "All the work related to digging and extracting the oil was done at midnight. They used to sell the oil at various places in Delhi to the persons who further sold it in retail illegally to various users," said DCP Crime, Bhisham Singh. (Natural News) The results of the 2020 election are already locked in: Trump wins, and he goes on to dismantle the corrupt, criminal Democrat party that tried (and failed) to destroy America and replace it with a communist regime of left-wing authoritarian tyrants. How does Trump accomplish this? President Trump has a secret weapon that Ive been talking about for several months in Health Ranger Report podcasts on Brighteon.com. Until recently, I didnt know the exact nature of the secret weapon but was told by highly reliable sources that plans were already in place for Trump to defeat the Democrats and protect America from left-wing efforts to destroy this nation. Now weve been able to confirm the content of this secret weapon that will be invoked to save America. Its the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. How the Fourteenth Amendment grants Trump the power to strip power away from treasonous domestic enemies The Fourteenth Amendment see the full text here speaks directly to the powers of the federal government in dealing with officials, individuals and states that are engaged in rebellion against the United States of America. Specifically, the Fourteenth Amendment grants the U.S. President the power to: Arrest and indefinitely hold all public officials including mayors, governors, state legislators, federal judges and law enforcement officials who support rebellion against the United States or who have given aid or comfort to the enemies of America. (Section 3) and law enforcement officials who support rebellion against the United States or who have given aid or comfort to the enemies of America. (Section 3) Eliminate House of Representatives positions for California and other states which are engaged in supporting Big Tech censorship platforms that are supporting rebellion against the United States of America and abridging the right of voting-aged citizens to participate in elections (via censorship). This implies that Electoral College votes would also be proportionally reduced in these states. (Section 2) It would also apply to states like Oregon which are reportedly funding war encampment installations that house insurrectionists who are unleashed each night to attack federal buildings and federal law enforcement officers. Eliminate all federal financial support for cities and states which are engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States. Section 3 specifically states that all such claims of federal money obligations to the states shall be held illegal and void. (Section 4) In essence, the Fourteenth Amendment grants American citizens equal protection under law, but for public officials or states which are engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States, those equal protections are revoked. The Democrats already know all this, which is why they are pursuing a plan of election chaos, hoping to throw the entire election process into mass confusion, from which they plan to attempt an illegal coup to eliminate Trump from office and claim political power over the nation. Many Democrat-run states are already in open rebellion, aiding and comforting illegal insurrectionists who are attempting to overthrow the United States government It should be rather obvious that at this very moment, California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Illinois and many other states are engaged in open rebellion against the United States, and that thousands of public officials within those states mayors, governors, state legislators, police chiefs, etc. are granting aid or comfort to the rebellion. Under the Fourteenth Amendment, Trump merely needs to declare an insurrection, then he can have Mayor Lightfoot (Chicago), Mayor Wheeler (Portland), Mayor Durkan (Seattle) and even de Blasio (NYC) arrested and removed from office for violating their oaths of office. All those mayors (and many more) have taken an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, but they have violated their oaths, and under the Fourteenth Amendment that means they have nullified their own right to equal protection under the law. Because they violated the U.S. Constitution and actively engaged in rebellion against the United States, in other words, they no longer enjoy the benefits of protections under the Constitution. In addition, President Trump can eliminate congressional House seats for states that support rebellion, reducing their apportionment in the House. This means the states Electoral College votes are also reduced, since those numbers are based on the number of House + Senate representatives for each state. This is based on the fact that these states are aiding the efforts of Big Teach to deny the rights of conservatives to participate in elections and voting, via politically-targeted censorship and voter suppression tactics now routinely used by Google, Facebook and other tech giants. Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment specifically addresses voter suppression. It says that states which support the suppression of the ability of citizens to participate in voting will lose a portion of their own seats in Congress as well as Electoral College representation. Right now, the most overt and obvious voter suppression is being carried out by Big Tech platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter and YouTube, but similar censorship is also being undertaken by Microsoft, Apple, Vimeo and other tech giants. These companies are granted aid and comfort by numerous left-wing cities and states which often grant these companies property tax deferments and legal protections against legitimate investigations or prosecutions. In other words, states like California are actively protecting the Big Tech platforms that are suppressing voter participation via politically-targeted censorship. And this puts California in violation of Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment. Furthermore, President Trump can arrest and imprison all state and federal judges who have granted aid or comfort to insurrectionists by, for example, releasing them without charge after they were arrested for participating in riots or assaulting law enforcement officers. This means all Soros-funded District Attorneys and anti-America judges who have supported the insurrection can now be arrested and removed from office in one fell swoop. Remember that Democrat officials in Oregon, Washington, California, New York, Illinois and other states have overtly granted protections and in some cases, actual funding to Black Lives Matter terrorists. This means these officials are complicit in rebellion against the United States. Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment states that they cannot hold any public office, civil or military. Heres the language: (emphasis added) No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. Finally, Section 4 of the Fourteenth Amendment says, neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States. This means that cities and states which are suffering extreme economic losses due to their support for rioting and insurrection such as Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, etc.) cannot make any claim to federal money to reimburse them for their losses. Their losses have been incurred as a result of their support for acts of insurrection and rebellion against the United States, and thus the United States has no obligation to reimburse them for such losses. All this explains why Nancy Pelosi recently declared President Trump and the GOP to be enemies of the state. This is the kind of language that would only be used by the Speaker of the House if they intend to attempt a violent coup followed by mass exterminations of their political opponents: To initiate all this, Trump merely needs to officially declare an insurrection is under way The reason Democrats went insane when Trump won the 2016 election is because holding the office of the presidency grants that person access to all the powers that the U.S. Constitution (and subsequent law) confers to the president. One of those powers is the power to declare an insurrection against the government. Such a declaration unleashes enormous powers of government which are then directed by the president against the domestic enemies which are waging war against the United States. It is now rather obvious that we are already in that war, which is being waged by radical, extreme left-wing terrorists on a nightly basis. That war is supported and aided by the tech giants who censor all critics of the insurrectionists while aiding their acts of treason by allowing their platforms to be used to coordinate attacks against America. Left-wing mayors, governors, judges, state representatives and other oath-swearing officials are also openly engaged in insurrection against the United States, and Trumps declaration of an open insurrection will enable them all to be arrested and removed from power. This is what Trump must do to save America. It is unlikely that he will declare an insurrection before the election, however. This action seems likely to occur after the election. Why Trump should declare an insurrection the day before the election Strategically speaking, we urge President Trump to declare the insurrection before the election, because this would allow him to challenge the Electoral College votes from states which are supporting open rebellion against the United States (for all the reasons noted above). Even if Trump declares the insurrection just one day before the election, this grants him a basis from which he may challenge the Electoral College votes from insurrectionist states like California. It also grants Trump the opportunity to arrest all the corrupt, left-wing officials the day after the election, shutting down their criminal attempts to counterfeit ballots after the fact that try to win by cheating in the weeks following the election itself. Trump can largely shut down that effort by simply declaring an insurrection and arresting all these treasonous actors the day after the election. They cannot counterfeit more ballots, after all, if theyre sitting in jail. This action would, of course, cause the radical Left to ignite an attempted nationwide kinetic war against the government, but at that point Trump is free to issue escalated engagement orders for federal law enforcement while even bringing in the U.S. military to halt all domestic enemies of the United States who are engaged in acts of treason or warfare against America (deploying the military to defeat domestic enemies of America does not violate Posse Comitatus). Remember when I told you a year ago that when martial law comes to America, you will beg for it? Now you understand why. When the radical Left unleashes yet more violence, arson, looting, property destruction and anarchy across America, most reasonable Americans will fully support temporarily martial law and even military action on the streets of America to clean out the insurrectionists and restore civility to this nation. Trump also has the NDAA, signed into law by Obama to imprison Americans who opposed the Clinton regime The Fourteenth Amendment is the key to all this. But alongside it, dont forget that Barack Obama signed into law the NDAA which was intended to be handed over to Hillary Clinton as a weapon against patriots and conservatives. Now, that government weapon is in the hands of Trump, and he can deploy it against communist sympathizers and treasonous insurrectionists. In fact, some of the FEMA camp activity being widely reported now, I believe, is actually all about gearing up these camps to house left-wing traitors who are arrested en masse in the coming months. These irrational, insane, lawless lunatics cannot be rehabilitated to rejoin civil society. At best, the nation will have to warehouse them in prison camps for an extended period of time. In the same way that you cant teach a pigeon to play chess, and you cant teach a pig to sing, you cant teach a Leftist how to function in civil society. They no longer operate in the realms of reason, civility, fairness or freedom. All they know us authoritarianism and violence, which explains why they will have to be isolated from society for the rest of their lives. This is what their parents, school teachers and college professors taught them, of course: How to be crybullies and terrorists, not how to function as reasonable citizens in a free society. Why Democrats will fail to destroy America, but succeed in destroying their own cities and states Despite their best efforts to bring this nation to its knees, Democrats are going to fail in their attempts to destroy America. They will succeed, however, in gutting their own cities and causing an economic implosion that will see most of Americas left-wing cities plunged into Third World status over the next five years. California can barely even keep the lights on as it is. Just wait until they come up $100 billion short for this years budget and cant force Trump to bail them out with federal money. The mass government layoffs and pension slashing efforts are about to begin in Democrat-run states like New York and California. It will be brutal, and any income earner who has the ability to flee such states is already in the process of bugging out, leaving behind ghost town cities filled with criminals, homeless people, left-wing terrorists and impoverished welfare recipients. Ultimately, Democrats will end up imploding and destroying their own future. After the failed insurrection attempt, the Democrat party will be disbanded, and thousands of former Democrat officials will either be dead or imprisoned. This is the fate they have chosen, since they refuse to live in peace with people who have different political views. (Exactly when did coexist become kill all Republicans?) Trump is in charge, and he has numerous secret weapons to deploy against the treasonous Dems, as I explain in this important podcast: Brighteon.com/ae41783d-4d33-496d-badc-b0dae52507d4 How to survive the escalating civil war The war for Novembers election is just one small chapter in the much larger war against America and humanity. In addition to the war to destroy America, there is a global war to exterminate the human race and depopulate the planet. This war is tied into the COVID-19 vaccines, which are being engineered to achieve global depopulation through infertility and death. I have two online resources to help people prepare for the escalation of all this. First, Ive posted a free nine-hour audio book called the Global Reset Survival Guide. You can download it for free, right now, along with a printable PDF transcript of the full audio book, at GlobalReset.news. Secondly, Im posting practical survival videos and podcast each day at PrepWithMike.com, which also lists in-stock preparedness items from the Health Ranger Store. This page brings you how-to videos on choosing the correct firearms, deploying firearms in self-defense, bugging out of the cities, living off-grid and surviving the food shortages yet to come. In one video, I teach you how to clean and lubricate firearms with coconut oil. See new videos and podcasts each day at PrepWithMike.com. Just because Trump wins doesnt mean the Democrats wont make our lives a living hell for as long as they can. Expect nationwide attacks on the power grid, food supplies, fuel infrastructure and telecommunications in the months ahead. Plus, the treasonous tech giants will continue to escalate their illegal censorship efforts to silence all pro-America voices while amplifying voices of terrorism and communism. Things are about to get real interesting. Get prepared or you wont survive it. If you thought 2020 was bad so far, this party has only just begun, folks. The first service member died on the spot while the second one sustained serious injuries. The suspect then took two service arms from the deceased and the injured servicemen before fleeing the scene. Duncan Bendall and his wife Fiona Bendall - David Benett/Getty An Australian businessman has been awarded a payout of more than 100,000 after winning a racial discrimination case against his British wife who said she hated his country's "mentality", a tribunal has ruled. Duncan Bendall took his wife, Fiona, and their company The Female Social Network (TFSN) to an employment tribunal claiming he was discriminated against because he is a man and due to his nationality when he was pushed out of the firm. He also claimed unfair dismissal after she ousted him following the breakdown of their marriage. An employment judge awarded him more than 100,000 for race discrimination and unfair dismissal, but rejected his claims he was fired due to his gender. The tribunal heard Mr Bendall received an email from his wife three months before he was sacked in August last year in which she said: "I hate Australian mentality and you have it [in] droves just sh**And DO NOT say you are a founder in MY business MY efforts ever again You Leech - you don't even believe in women or have ever stuck your neck out." Mr Bendall claimed he was dismissed as a result of his gender and nationality, and told the panel his wife "kept treating Australia as an inferior race" despite the couple living there for 15 years. He told the hearing: "It just made me feel small and like she was putting me down. It seemed she was only saying all this because now she was back in England. "The board had clearly chosen to back an English female and remove an Australian male." The tribunal heard Mr Bendall and his ex-wife, 42, set up a company called Bendalls in Australia in 2004, before setting up The Female Social Network in 2016. It then became a global company and the couple have been pictured with Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York at the UK launch last June. The couple were pictured with Sarah Ferguson at the launch of their business - David Benett/Getty Mrs Bendall, who is British, began running the UK company in London and her husband came to join her in around April last year. But upon his arrival, the couple were experiencing relationship problems and as their marriage broke down, Mr Bendall told the tribunal he was harassed and victimised by his wife and the board in a bid to erase his contribution as a founder of the firm. Story continues He said it began when the board forced through a shift in the share holdings, from 50/50 to 51/49 in favour of Mrs Bendall. The claimant alleged this was so his wife could say the company was female-owned to boost investment as a feminist company. He then found he had been locked out of the company bank accounts and told he was no longer a director of the firm, without any indication of why this was happening, he said. Mr Bendall alleged his digital signature was used to authorise the share transfer, which Mrs Bendall denies, claiming this was so the company would look better to investors and clients interested in female-led brands. He told the tribunal: "Fiona was running around London and New York basically saying she was a majority owned female business and it was believed the optics were better to have a female-led business and Fiona told them [the board] that I would be compliant as long as the investment comes in. "I believe the optics were not as good as introducing a male founder to prospective investors, especially one as a plain-talking Australian, compared to an English woman." Mr Bendall was dismissed in August. The court heard the company had a valuation of 170million before it went into voluntary liquidation this January with around 2m in the bank and a long client list. Neither Mrs Bendall nor a company representative attended the hearing, but in a witness statement submitted to the court the respondent denied the allegations. TFSN and Mrs Bendall denied claims the shares were changed and said Mr Bendall even agreed to it. It said: "The claimant was behaving increasingly erratic and abusive towards Mrs Bendall. "In particular he bombarded Mrs Bendall with text messages, emails and voice messages knowing that his actions would provoke her into responding angrily." The judge found the claimant had been discriminated on the basis he was Australian in relation to one email in particular, but ruled there was no sex discrimination. Judge David Khan said: "I do find that statement in relation to 'Australian mentality' is self-evidently related to nationality and I find it was unwanted and I accept Mrs Bendall harassed you because of your race." Judge Khan awarded Mr Bendall a total of 102,954.86, made up of 88,444 for loss of earnings, a basic award of 4,000 and 2,000 for "injury to feelings" for the harassment allegation. Related video: Indigenous teen violently arrested by Australian police An interview with author Robert R. Reilly America is in crisis. Beyond the trials and tribulations associated with COVID-19, there is rioting in the streets and calls for the rebranding of the United States in terms of identity politics. These are times in which the very history of America is being questioned and in which heroes, such as those who founded the nation, are being demonized and derided. The very meaning of what it is to be an American is being questioned. In the shadow of these attacks on the integrity of the United States, a leading scholar and former special assistant to the president has stepped forward to defend the American founding. Seeing the founding principles of the United States as part of natural law tradition, dating from the ancient Greeks, Robert R. Reilly has shown how the Founding Fathers saw themselves and the nation they were creating as part of the living tradition of Western civilization. Robert R. Reilly has worked in the government for 25 years. (Courtesy of Robert R. Reilly) Robert Reilly is uniquely qualified to comment on the current crisis. He is the director of the Westminster Institute, established in 2009 to promote individual dignity and freedom for people throughout the world. He also has 25 years of government service. Reilly has served as director of Voice of America, was senior adviser for information strategy to the secretary of defense, and has taught at National Defense University. He has written and published widely on American politics and foreign policy. His books include The Closing of the Muslim Mind: How Intellectual Suicide Created the Modern Islamist Crisis. In the following exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Mr. Reilly, author of America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding, addresses, by email, the issues that have been ripping the nation apart. Joseph Pearce: Mr. Reilly, your book has been published at a time when many people are questioning the very foundations of the United States. How would you respond to those who see nothing worth celebrating on the Fourth of July? Robert R. Reilly: I would respond that they are committing colossal acts of ingratitude and impiety. By what standard of worth would they find nothing worth celebrating in the very thing that provides them with their freedom? Mr. Pearce: At a time when statues are toppling, including statues of the Founding Fathers and of former presidents of the United States, how can we make a reasoned defense of the founders and of the founding principles of our nation? Mr. Reilly: You cannot make a reasoned defense against those who have abandoned reason. The American founding was based on the primacy of reason as against the primacy of will and power. However, when the primacy of reason is being threatened, sometimes it must employ force in order to protect itselfas in federal officers being sent to keep violent mobs from burning down federal court buildings. Mr. Pearce: Much of the identity crisis that many Americans are experiencing is due to the acceptance and embrace of relativism and the demands for radical self-autonomy, which is a logical consequence of relativism. What do the Founding Fathers say about relativism? Mr. Reilly: Moral relativism is antithetical to the American founding, which relies on transcendent, immutable truths as in the Laws of Nature and of Natures Godfor its justification. That all men are created equal is articulated as a moral principle in the Declaration of Independence. Either that is true universally, at all times, for all peoples, and you can therefore have something like the American Republic, or its not, and you get something like Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, or communist China. Mr. Pearce: How would you respond to Justice Anthony Kennedys statement in Planned Parenthood versus Casey (1992) that at the heart of liberty is the right to define ones own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life? Can Justice Kennedys understanding of liberty be reconciled with the concept of liberty expressed in the Constitution? Mr. Reilly: The founders would have found completely objectionable Justice Kennedys misunderstanding of freedom. The idea of freedom as contentless choice was totally alien to them, as would be the idea that liberty is the right to define ones own meaning of the universe. For them, the meaning of the universe originates not in ourselves but in the Laws of Nature and of Natures God. Mans obligation is to conform himself to those laws. That is what leading a moral life means. The Founding Fathers were unanimous in saying that the success of the American Republic was wholly dependent on the virtue of the American people, and that it could not survive without it. Much less could it endure the erasure of the distinction between virtue and vice, which is what Justice Kennedys nonsensical statement achieves. Mr. Pearce: You write that the whole crisis is based on two opposing conceptions of reality, whether its constituted by reason or by will. Whats the difference between these two conceptions and why is it so important? Mr. Reilly: Primacy of reason means that what is right flows from objective sources in nature and the transcendent, from what is, as Plato said. Primacy of will, on the other hand, means that what is right flows from power, that will is a law unto itself. In other words, right is the rule of the stronger. The key issue, including in theology, is: Does the will follow reason, or does reason follow the will? Everything hinges on the answer to this question. Either the intellect directs the will, and the will then acts in accord with reason, or the will is in charge and reason becomes the servant of the will. There are huge political ramifications to this issue. As French writer Bertrand de Juvenal said, The man who finds in God before all else will and power, will be disposed to the same view of human government. If reason is primary, you get things like natural law and the rule of law as reason. If the will is primary, you get things like tyranny. Robert R. Reillys latest book. Mr. Pearce: You quote Robert Bellarmine as saying that a bad law is not a valid law. If this is so, what constitutes a good law? How is the validity of the law to be judged? Mr. Reilly: The validity of law is judged in accordance with its conformity to natural law. Another way to state this is that a bad law is not reasonable. Let me expand upon this from my answer to the preceding question. If God in his essence is Logos or Reason, then one must have reasons for law because law is Reason at the very source of creation. Therefore, the constitutive element of law is not will, but reason. Reason is obligatory in mans behavior and in his laws because it exists in natures order and as the law of Gods essence. Thats why bad laws are defined as unreasonable. Bad laws are a reflection of the primacy of the will over reason. Mr. Pearce: John Locke, who was a major influence on the founders, stated that the taking away of God, even if only in thought, dissolves all. What did he mean by this? How important is it that the United States remains one nation under God? Mr. Reilly: In the Second Treatise, Locke wanted to demonstrate the inviolability of the human person as Gods property. For men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property, whose workmanship they are, made to last during His, not one anothers pleasure. Like his predecessors, Locke believed that human life is sacrosanct because of its provenance. Obviously, mans life cannot be sacred unless there is a God to sanctify it, which is why Locke was so adamantly insistent on Gods existence. This also helps explain Lockes revulsion at atheism: Those are not at all to be tolerated who deny the being of God. Promises, covenants, and oaths, which are the bonds of human society, can have no hold upon or sanctity for an atheist. Locke maintained that the belief of a deity is not to be reckoned amongst purely speculative opinions, for it being the foundation of all morality, and that which influences the whole life and actions of man, without which a man is to be counted no other than one of the most dangerous sorts of wild beasts and so incapable of all society. The infinitely wise Maker is also the guarantor of mans equality, as no one is any less the workmanship of God than anyone else. This is the sacred basis of equality in Locke, as well as in the Declaration of Independence. I would only add that the Declaration mentions God four times. It is no exaggeration to say that American independence was based on dependence on God. When I mentioned that the American founders were unanimous on the necessity of virtue, I should have also said that they all agreed that religion was the principal source of virtue. Should Americans today think that they are autonomous, no longer dependent on God, then they should prepare for what prior attempts at total human autonomy have produced: the Great Terror of the French Revolution and the charnel houses of the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, and communist China. Mr. Pearce: You claim that failure is written into the DNA of the modern project. What do you mean by this, and why is it a cause for hope? Mr. Reilly: Radical modernity and its project for mans total self-sufficiency is parasitic. It will fail to the extent to which it succeeds. It cannot survive its own erasure of natural law and Christianity. Paradoxically, the loss of faith and reason is a cause for hope. It proved the downfall of the Soviet empire, which imploded from its own hollowness. The Wests moral, social, and political implosion proceeds apace for similar reasons. Yet we can avoid the cataclysm anytime we choose to, by returning to reality, to reason, to the Laws of Nature and of Natures God. Reality is resilient because, as Plato said, it is what isnot whatever one fancies. Logos wins in the end. America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding Robert R. Reilly Ignatius Press 384 pages, hardcover Joseph Pearce is the author of Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile (Ignatius Press). (Bloomberg Opinion) -- As the summer driving season fades in the rearview mirror, oil markets are taking on a distinctly chilly air. The recovery in demand has officially stalled, just as the OPEC+ countries are starting to taper their record output cuts. With spare capacity rife throughout the supply chain and huge stockpiles of crude and refined products, it may be some while yet before oil prices resume their upward path. After a strong initial rebound from the depths of the pandemic-induced slump, the comeback in demand slowed dramatically, as Ive written here and here. This is most obvious in those countries that publish detailed data at high frequency, such as the U.S., the U.K. and some other European nations. That oil demand in India remains muted is particularly bad news for those wishing oil prices higher. Before Covid-19 struck, it had joined China as one of the major centers of growth in liquid fuel consumption. Sales of transport fuels by the countrys three biggest fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. were still down year-on-year by more than 20% in July and August. The one potential bright spot is China, which may yet prove a lifeline for the flagging demand. Julys apparent oil use in the worlds biggest importer was up by a whopping 19.5% year on year, according to Bloomberg calculations on data from the nations Customs General Administration. Air travel in the countrys vast domestic market is picking up. Passenger numbers for Chinas biggest airlines Air China Ltd., China Eastern Airlines Corp. and China Southern Airlines Co. were up by about 25% month on month in July. Travel analytics company ForwardKeys predicts air travel in China will fully recover this month. But Chinas already got plenty of oil on hand. It took advantage of rock-bottom prices in March and April to make purchases, leaving the countrys stockpiles brimming, both on land and in tankers anchored off its coast. The volume in so-called floating storage is coming down, but there are still some 50 million barrels of crude that have been in tankers off Chinas Shandong province for more than 15 days, according to London-based consultants Energy Aspects. Story continues Even when demand does begin to pick up again, in China or elsewhere, there may be little immediate impact on crude prices. The devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic has left ample spare capacity throughout the oil supply chain. Take the U.S., for example. Refinery utilization was running at about 81% of operable capacity before Hurricane Laura tore through Louisiana. That compares with about 95% at the same time last year. The difference represents about 2.6 million barrels a day of idle refinery capacity in the U.S. alone. Plants in Europe may be running at even lower levels. When it comes to getting oil out of the ground, the spare capacity may be even bigger. While U.S. shale oil production may never recover fully to its pre-virus peak, there is still plenty of room for output to pick up from current depressed levels. In the seven shale basins covered by the Energy Information Administrations Drilling Productivity Report, there were still more than 7,600 drilled but uncompleted wells at the end of July, a number that has barely changed since February. That may reflect a lack of activity in the shale patch, but the wells provide a buffer from when demand picks up to the point that drilling crews return to the Permian and other shale basins. But the greatest concentration of spare crude production capacity lies far away in the Persian Gulf and beneath the tundra of northern Russia. The OPEC+ group of 23 countries had reduced their collective production by 9.7 million barrels a day as of May. Theyve since begun easing back on those cuts, raising the combined output target by 2 million barrels a day from the start of August. Some of that should initially be offset by several countries commitments to additional reductions after failing to meet their obligations in full in the early months of the deal. More oil will also be consumed domestically in the Persian Gulf countries to meet soaring summer electricity demand. But neither of those factors will constrain supply for long. Saudi Arabias hard line towards OPECs perennial quota cheats succeeded in eliciting promises to make up for earlier shortcomings, but Iraq, the biggest over-producer, is seeking to reduce the severity of its compensatory cuts by extending their duration. And Persian Gulf electricity demand will soon retreat from summer peaks, as temperatures come down, freeing up more of the extra production to be exported. The chill of approaching autumn may yet make itself felt through oil markets before they rebalance. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. --Covering a 358,000-square km expanse, the Yangtze River Delta, consisting of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui, is one of the most populated and urbanized city clusters in China. -- A spate of measures has been rolled out by local authorities in the delta region to support domestic sales of export products after the State Council released a guideline in late June. -- The four regions in the Yangtze River Delta are teaming up to further integrate their industrial chains to meet diversified domestic demands. HEFEI, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Instead of shuttling across exhibition venues around the world as before, Pan Bin, general manager of Anhui San Cunguang Reflective Material Co., Ltd. was busy promoting products to the domestic market through e-commerce platforms. "We used to export reflective materials to Southeast Asian and European countries, but the overseas orders were all canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we turned our focus to tapping the domestic market," said Pan. The company was one of the trailblazers in the Yangtze River Delta to make its foray into China's new development pattern known as "dual circulation" that takes the domestic market as the mainstay and allows the domestic and foreign markets to boost each other. An electric vehicle at the 2020 International (Hefei) Energy Conservation and New Energy Automobile Exhibition in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Sept. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan) First introduced in May this year, the new development pattern has been placed high on the authorities' agenda. The top leadership of China has recently urged the delta region to take the lead in forming this new development pattern based on its various advantages. Covering a 358,000-square km expanse, the Yangtze River Delta, consisting of Shanghai and the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, is one of the most populated and urbanized city clusters in China, contributing one-fourth of the country's gross domestic product. INCREASING DOMESTIC SALES Sales of quality export products at home can further enrich the country's market supply and take full advantage of its super-large market size and demand potential, China's commerce ministry said in late June. Pan's company has benefited from the vibrant domestic market after selling products at home. "We launched seven online shops on several major e-commerce platforms, including Tmall and JD.com, and our total sales have surpassed 6 million yuan (about 877,200 U.S. dollars) as of July," he said. To better meet the growing domestic demand, the company has employed more staff and expanded production while developing new products. The company's successful transformation was possible thanks to the local government's support. "The local government has given us financial support and helped us to open up new sales channels," he said. A spate of measures has been rolled out by local authorities in the delta region to support domestic sales of export products after the State Council released a guideline in late June. Jiangsu Province adopted 12 new measures, including streamlining the certification process for the domestic sale of export products and reducing certification fees to promote the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, according to a circular released by the provincial government. Anhui provided financial support to encourage export enterprises to sell their products to domestic customers via online exhibitions organized by the provincial department of commerce. STABILIZING THE INDUSTRIAL CHAIN Building a modern and stable industrial chain to supply quality products is one of the key forces in developing the "dual circulation" pattern, said Chen Wen, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has participated in national-level planning of the delta region. From small chips to big planes, and from cloud computing to the Internet of Things, the four provincial-level regions in the Yangtze River Delta are teaming up to further integrate their industrial chains to meet diversified domestic demands. Anhui Shenghuabo Auto Electric Co., Ltd., a company that specializes in manufacturing windscreen wipers, is a participant and beneficiary of the increasingly integrated development within the Yangtze River Delta region. With its manufacturing base located in Anhui, the company's R&D center is based in Shanghai, and its mold processing is conducted in Zhejiang Province. "Regional integration has brought us new opportunities as we can tap the best potential of each place and share resources within the region. Our clients have expanded from domestic brands to joint ventures," said Zhang Weixing, vice general manager of the company. "As time goes by, the region is becoming increasingly dynamic and appealing. Geographic proximity and similar cultures have nurtured friendship among cities. At the same time, cities in the region can also complement each other in terms of industrial chains," said Xu Xianping, a professor at Guanghua School of Management, Peking University. "The region will explore a high-level regional integration model for the country to achieve high-quality development," said Xu. DEEPENING OPENING-UP While the potential of the domestic market is being emphasized, China will not shut the door on the world. Instead, it will further open up its economy. Contributing to about one-third of China's foreign trade and investment, the Yangtze River Delta has the advantage of serving as a bridge between domestic and international markets. Statistics showed that in the first half of this year, Zhejiang Province achieved a total import and export volume of 1.47 trillion yuan, up by 4.2 percent year on year while that of Anhui totaled 244.16 billion yuan, up by 9 percent from last year. The deepening opening-up is reflected in the busy production lines at LCFC (Hefei) Electronics Technology Co., Ltd., the largest personal computer research and development and manufacturing base of the Chinese tech giant Lenovo. In the company's workshop, based in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, workers are putting in extra hours in production. The lifestyle of stay-at-home and work-from-home amid the epidemic has spurred the booming global demand for computers and tablets, and in the first half of the year, LCFC exported 4.05 million computers, an increase of 15.9 percent from the previous year. "By participating in global competition, the enterprise can speed up technological innovation and industrial upgrades, which can, in turn, boost sales in the domestic market," said Bai Peng, CEO of LCFC. According to Bai, the enterprise is continuing to innovate new products to meet both domestic and global demands. "For example, as the ultrabook is popular in the domestic market, we launched new product lines including Xiaoxin and Yoga to keep up with demands of customers," Bai said, adding that they also offer customized products and services. China's development cannot be segregated from the world. By developing an efficient "dual circulation" pattern, China's economy can be more resilient and open up wider, said Ma Jiantang, a senior official at the Development Research Center of the State Council. BUDAPEST Nearly 100 students have occupied a key building of a prestigious Hungarian university for the past week to protest what they see as a takeover of their school by the autocratic government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a demonstration that has become a symbol of resistance to the countrys nationalist leadership. The protest, at the University for Theater and Film Arts in central Budapest, has drawn shows of support from theater groups, students, actors and university faculties in Hungary and around Europe since dozens of students began the effort on Monday. On Sunday, thousands of demonstrators joined the students in forming a human chain stretching from the barricaded university building to the steps of Parliament, a distance of five kilometers, or about three miles. The protesters passed down the line a document declaring the universitys autonomy, and its arrival at the Parliament steps caused jubilation among the demonstrators. It is everyones constitutional right to receive an education regardless of their political affiliation, said Panni Szurdi, a 22-year-old student at the university, which has about 500 students. By PTI GUWAHATI: A young IPS officer is winning hearts in Assam by treating people during the coronavirus pandemic while donning the khaki uniform, thanks to his medical background. Barpeta Superintendent of Police (SP) Robin Kumar is performing the dual duties of a corona warrior -- a police officer and a doctor -- as the district is witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases. Kumar, a 2013 batch IPS officer, is a specialist in medicine (MBBS, MD) which has helped him respond to the call of duty and provide treatment to the needy during the ongoing medical emergency. Besides heading the district's police department, Kumar is currently running a 50-bedded Covid care centre with four ICUs in Barpeta Police Reserve for police personnel and their families and is also planning to hold health camps for women and elderly people. "I find myself fortune to dedicate myself in both the roles of district police chief and a doctor. It gives me immense satisfaction," Kumar told PTI over phone. The SP has also held a health camp for those police personnel who are 50 years or above in Barpeta. After joining Assam Police, Kumar, a native of Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, first organised a health check-up camp at Tezpur during his previous posting in Sonitpur district a few years ago. "When the pandemic struck, I took permission of Assam DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta to open a Covid care centre for the police personnel in Barpeta. Now, we are running the centre smoothly," he said. The Covid care centre has four ICUs, 32 general beds and 14 after care beds. Kumar's service earned laurels from different quarters. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal described the SP's act as "great gesture of service to humanity". "An Assam Police warrior in the truest sense. Great gesture of service to humanity by Barpeta SP Dr Robin Kumar, utilising his skills to help doctors and healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19," Sonowal said. The IPS Association, a body which represents the Indian Police Service officers across the country, said Kumar has set an example by leading from the front. "First Line Of Defence! Dr. Robin Kumar, SP, @Barpeta_Police, set an example by leading from the front. In the nation's fight against coronavirus, Dr. Kumar, MD (Medicine), personally convened a health camp," it tweeted. Kumar's IPS colleagues also appreciated his dual role of an SP and a doctor after his photos in full police uniform treating police personnel with a stethoscope went viral on social media. Renuka Mishra, ADG in UP Police, tweeted: "So heartwarming to see. #GoodJobCop Great Job Doc. Thank you Robin". SP in the National Investigation Agency, Sanjukta Parashar, tweeted: "Thank you Robin! May you shine even more in the service!" Kumar, who did his MBBS and MD from Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College in Meerut, said he had never expected such encouraging response from police fraternity and common people. As many as 76 police personnel in Barpeta were infected by the coronavirus in past few months and Kumar personally took care of everyone of them. "Fortunately all of them have recovered and returned to duties," he said. The SP said he has ensured that those police personnel who have problems of hypertension, diabetes or other health issues are given desk jobs rather than field duties so that they are not exposed to the virus. The Barpeta police had also run a community kitchen for poor and destitute for about 40 days when the countrywide lockdown was first announced in March. Asked why he decided to appear for the civil services examination despite being a specialist doctor, Kumar, who was a district topper in class 10 and 12 examinations and also got selected for engineering before he chose to study MBBS, said he contracted dengue in 2011 when he was working at Delhi's GTB hospital and then developed interest in going into the policy making side of the governance. "As a doctor, we are one part of the picture, that is curative. What about the prevention? As a civil servant I am performing both the roles," he said. After years of waiting, Shenmue fans crowdfunded a new game last year, and now the story of Ryo Hazuki will be told through a new anime series. Announced during the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo, the show will be a co-production between Crunchyroll and Adult Swim, with Shenmue creator Yu Suzuki executive producing. Theyre promising more info on the show tomorrow during an industry panel session at noon ET (perhaps including a teaser trailer?), but for viewers in the US, youll be able to see the show when it airs on Adult Swim. It will also stream everywhere outside of Japan and mainland China via Crunchyroll. All we have to see so far is a single image, but One Punch Man director Sakurai Chikara will helm this series, and production is being handled by Telecom Animation Film. Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who has been lodged at a prison in London since his arrest in March last year, is set to appear via videolink for the second leg of his extradition trial at a UK court on Monday. The 49-year-old jeweller is fighting extradition charges related to the estimated $2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case brought by the Indian government, being represented at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In line with the coronavirus lockdown restrictions, District Judge Samuel Goozee has directed Modi's appearance from a room in Wandsworth Prison in south-west London with social distancing norms in place for the part-remote setting for the five-day hearing scheduled to conclude on Friday. Justice Goozee had presided over the first leg of the extradition in May, during which the CPS sought to establish a prima facie case of fraud and money laundering against Modi. The upcoming hearings are ear-marked to complete those arguments after the Indian government had submitted additional "corroboratory evidence". It will then go on to deal with the additional extradition request, made by the Indian authorities and certified by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel earlier this year, which add on the charges of "causing the disappearance of evidence" and intimidating witnesses or "criminal intimidation to cause death" against Modi. Goozee has already said that the different extradition requests are inextricably linked, and he would therefore be handing down his judgment at the end of hearing all the arguments. Additional hearings scheduled for November 3, for the judge to rule on the admissibility of the evidence that will be presented before him, and December 1, when both sides will make their final submissions, mean his ruling on whether Modi has a case to answer before the Indian courts is expected only after the final hearing in December. The charges against the diamond merchant centre around his firms Diamonds R Us, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamonds making fraudulent use of a credit facility offered by PNB, known as "letters of undertaking" (LoUs). The CPS, appearing on behalf of India, had told the court that a number of PNB staff conspired with Modi to ensure LoUs were issued to his companies without ensuring they were subject to the required credit check, without recording the issuance of the LoUs and without charging the required commission upon the transactions. Modi's team has sought to counter allegations of fraud by deposing witnesses to establish the volatility of the gems trade and that the LoUs were standard practice. Modi has made repeated attempts at bail over the past year, each of which were turned down as he is deemed a flight risk. The jeweller was arrested on March 19, 2019, on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard. At a case management hearing ahead of the trial last week, Modi's barrister Clare Montgomery had told the judge that she may be seeking a partial reporting ban on the proceedings following allegations of "party political bias" against one of their expert witnesses from India - retired Indian High Court judge Abhay Thipsay. "We may have to put in an application for reporting restrictions around the reporting of his [Thipsay] evidence to avoid further public commentary on it," she said. Also Read: Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi case: ED brings back Rs 1,350 cr of diamonds, pearls from Hong Kong Also Read: Nirav Modi's assets worth Rs 330 crore seized, include flats in Mumbai, London, UAE The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the economy around the world, but bakery owner Janice Jucker thinks Houston-area businesses are facing some uniquely daunting challenges. I call it a disaster sandwich, said Jucker, who owns Houstons Three Brothers Bakery with her husband. We had Harvey and then the pandemic and then the drop in the price of oil. Some business owners who were only now, three years after Hurricane Harvey, getting back on an even keel got walloped again. And as bad as Harvey was, I think the pandemic is worse, Jucker said. The thing about a normal disaster is that there is a beginning and an end. Theres still no end. You have this incredibly high unemployment, which impacts your sales, and we just dont know how long it will last. Jucker said her three stores have fared better than a lot of other small businesses because the operation is like a grocery store and people still had needed bread, pies, cakes and other offerings during the pandemic. The bakery has managed to keep its 40 full-time and 20 part-time employees at work, but she knows plenty of other owners struggling to stay afloat without knowing how long they will have to tread water. Annie Spilman, Texas director for the National Federation of Independent Business, told the editorial board that uncertainty is weighing on many of her groups 20,000 members, including 1,500 small businesses in Harris County. Our business owners wake up every day wondering if this will be it, she said. Is this the day that they have to lay someone off? The day they have to close their doors? Much of this doubt and insecurity is caused by a lack of action by Congress, which essentially abandoned negotiations on a fourth phase of COVID relief when it recessed for most of August. The wreckage left behind includes the drying up of low-interest Paycheck Protection Program loans designed to help small businesses keep workers on the payroll and the end of a $600 weekly boost in unemployment benefits. When the House and Senate return this week, they must act quickly to restore these programs at some level before even more long-term damage is done. The Democratic-controlled House has already passed a $3.4 trillion bill while Senate Republicans were bickering over a $1 trillion counter-proposal. Perhaps it will motivate members to take action before dispersing again for much of October, if they know that voters are watching and will hold them accountable in the Nov. 3 election. The Paycheck Protection Program is essential for keeping people working, businesses open and money flowing through the economy. It was a lifeline for many owners and operators, but that cash has run dry while Congress was away and the economy is lumbering back in fits and starts. Republicans are pushing for a skinny version of PPP that would tighten restrictions on who could apply for a second loan. That may seem financially responsible now, but lawmakers must remember that the economy will need a landscape of thriving businesses in place when the pandemic is finally tamed. Businesses that are barely surviving will be slower to grow and expand when the nation will need new jobs to fuel the recovery. Congress must also streamline the program and make the rules clear so businesses can know which parts of the loans must be repaid and which are eligible for forgiveness. Some business owners complained that the $600 unemployment enhancement was too generous and discouraged workers from returning, but its clear that some boost is needed to help people catch up on growing debt. The Republican offer of $300 seems reasonable. An estimated 29 million Americans are claiming unemployment, including more than 3 million in Texas. About 20 percent of small businesses that existed before the pandemic are now closed. The threat is widespread. Hotels in Texas saw a 64 percent drop in revenues during the second quarter of 2020, with the occupancy rate in Houston at an anemic 36.8 percent. The break-even point for most hotels is 50 percent. The restaurant industry has been particularly hard-hit. Texas Restaurant Association president and CEO Emily Williams Knight estimated that about 15 percent of restaurants in the state have closed for good and the final loss could exceed 30 percent. For independent restaurants, she said, that number could be more than half. There are almost 3 million small businesses in Texas, employing almost 5 million people, or about half of the states private workforce. Those businesses need customers and workers. Customers and workers need income to patronize businesses. And communities need all of this commerce to hold everything together. Jucker, whose Three Brothers Bakery has been through four floods, a fire, a hurricane and now this pandemic, said she has learned what it takes to get through a disaster. It happens with a lot of teamwork. She and her husband decided to cancel a long-planned vacation when Hurricane Harvey began to loom off the Texas coast. It just didnt seem right to go. Because when you leave your people, your team, they lose faith in you, she said. So, my question is, Why did Congress go on recess? Were their team. Small business, were the economic engine of America. We employ half of America. We are their team. They need to make sure that we are secure and surviving. Politicians like to campaign on taking care of Main Street, helping Mom and Pop operations and praising small businesses as the backbone of America. Now is the time to back that talk with action. Pass a new COVID-19 relief bill. Amid the growing volatility on the Line of Actual Control with China and nefarious Pakistans regular attempts of intrusion, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday that India's security would not only be maintained on International Border, Line of Control or the Line of Actual Control but also in the strategic space of the "extended neighbourhood" and the "strategic frontier". Addressing a symposium on 'emerging defence exports', he said India values its growing relationship with the US and also cherishes its traditional relationship with Russia. He said India shares "a mature and robust defence and security framework" with the two powers. The CDS said the armed forces will have to work through the budgetary constraints by finding the best solutions through new acquisitions and optimisation considering the macro-economic parameters. READ | CDS Gen Rawat Warns Pakistan Of Trying To Take Advantage Amid LAC Faceoff With China READ | 'Nation Can Count On Us': Gen. Naravane Exudes Confidence In Indian Army Amid Border Row 'Threat from disruptive technologies' He referred to the proposed reforms in the military structure and said the Chief of Defence Staff and the theatre commanders would "conjointly" provide "unity of command" while the service headquarters and the "component commanders" could provide "unity of effort". In a major reform in the military framework, India is working on setting up of a number of theatre commands, integrating some of the commands of the three services, to deal with future security challenges that will be faced by the country. "In the emerging security paradigm, India's security would be maintained not, as hitherto, on the IB, LC or the LAC alone, but in the strategic space of the ''extended neighbourhood'' and the 'strategic frontier'," he said without elaborating further. His statement seemed to be in reference to India's evolving security relations with a number of countries in its extended neighbourhood like Indonesia, Singapore and several countries in the Gulf region in the last few years. The CDS also said the disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, big data analytics, drone technology, the militarization of space, quantum communications, along with manipulation of social media are the factors that are leading to new threats and further complicating the security environment. He said the advantages created by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being seen as opportunities by the non-state actors, adding future defence systems must be qualitatively and quantitatively capable of dealing with the new threats. "In this era of multidimensional technology, we must focus on constant innovations and modern technological solutions, to keep ourselves ahead of the adversaries," he said. (With inputs from Agencies) READ | 'Army Prepared For Any Challenges': COAS Naravane Takes Stock Of Situation In Ladakh READ | India China Standoff: RKS Bhadauria Visits Eastern Air Bases, General Naravane In Ladakh Antonia Kidman joined her sister Nicole Kidman to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday. The 50-year-old took along her brood to the Lavender Bay apartment of her 53-year-old Hollywood star sister. Among Nicole's many luxurious properties, the sprawling apartment is located in the harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney. All together: Antonia Kidman joined her sister Nicole Kidman to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday. The 50-year-old took along her brood to the Lavender Bay apartment of her 53-year-old Hollywood star sister Antonia was surrounded by her very large family, including her six children. In tow were daughters Lucia, 22, Sybella, 13, and sons Hamish, 19, James, 9, Nicholas, 10, Alexander, 8. The TV and media personality was also accompanied by her second husband Craig Marran. An army: Antonia was surrounded by her very large family, including her six children Kids: In tow were daughters, Lucia, 22, Sybella, 13, sons, Hamish, 19, James, 9, Nicholas, 10, Alexander, 8 Dad duty: The TV and media personality was also accompanied by her second husband Craig Marran Say cheese: The large family stopped outside for photos before entering the residence for the shindig The large family stopped outside for photos before entering the residence for the shindig. Missing from the line up was one of her daughters, Sybella, who was graciously taking photos. Alongside Antonia was her older daughter Lucia, who bears a stunning resemblance to her mum. Snapper: Missing from the line up was one of her daughters, Sybella, who was graciously taking photos Similar: Alongside Antonia was her older daughter Lucia, who bears a stunning resemblance to her mum A look: Antonia looked stunning in a pair of wide-legged pants with a checked pattern in black and white Antonia looked stunning in a pair of wide-legged pants with a checked pattern in black and white. She added a black shirt over which she wore a dark denim jacket, as well as covering up her eyes with sunglasses. Antonia wore her hair off her face and opted for soft makeup, completing the look with black shoes. Floral display: She carried a bunch of flowers, perhaps for the lady of the house, and seemed in good spirits Cheers: The brood of eight were all smiling and laughing as they entered the home Normal: Casually dressed, the relaxed group looked just like any other family gathering for a family party She carried a bunch of flowers, perhaps for the lady of the house, and seemed in good spirits. The brood of eight were all smiling and laughing as they entered the home on what was a sunny Sydney day. Casually dressed, the relaxed group looked just like any other family gathering for a family party. New Delhi: Adding to Congress' woes, nine expelled leaders have written to party's interim president Sonia Gandhi, asking her to "rise above the affinity for the family. "Parivaar ke moh se utho" the four-page letter sent by expelled party leaders to Sonia read. Addressed to Sonia Gandhi, the letter also attacked Uttar Pradesh Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. In the letter, the nine Congress leaders, including former MP Santosh Singh and former minister Satyadev Tripathi, former MLAs Vinod Chaudhary, Bhudhar Narayan Mishra, Nekchand Pandey, Prakash Goswami and Sanjeev Singh said that the Congress is going through its worst phase in Uttar Pradesh. The letter reads, 'rise above the temptation of the family' and re-establish the party's democratic traditions. The letter urges Sonia to run the organisation by establishing mutual trust and restoring the constitutional and democratic values of the party. "If you deviate from your responsibilities, then Congress will become a thing of the past," they said. "Today, Congress is facing uncertainty, indecisiveness, lack of communication, and lack of expression of thoughts, and is passing through a difficult phase of existential crisis." The letter invoked the democratic values with which Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi had built the Congress party and the country. The letter stated that it was ironical that the way in which the party is being run, there is confusion and depression among ordinary Congress workers, they added. "At a time, when the country's democratic values and social fabric is lying scattered, the need of the country is that Congress remain alive, dynamic and strong. You please rise above the affinity for the family, and as per tradition, restore the expression of thoughts, constitutional and democratic values, and run the organisation by establishing communication and mutual trust," the leaders urged Gandhi. This letter written by veterans Congress leaders from UP, comes just days after a similar letter was written by 23 senior Congress leaders to Sonia. That letter had stated that the uncertainty regarding party's leadership has "demoralised Congress workers". They also said over-centralisation and micro-management have always proven counter-productive. After nearly four-straight months of protests in the U.S., prospects for federal legislation have evaporated WASHINGTON (AP) Memorial Day brought the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police, prompting hundreds of thousands of Americans to take to the streets in protest. President Donald Trump called Floyds death a disgrace and momentum built around policing reform. But by Labor Day, the prospects for federal legislation have evaporated. And Trump is seeking to leverage the violence that has erupted around some of the protests to scare white, suburban voters and encourage them to back his reelection campaign. The three-month stretch between the symbolic kickoff and close of Americas summer has both galvanized broad public support for the racial justice movement and exposed the obstacles to turning that support into concrete political and policy changes. It has also clarified the choice for voters in the presidential race between Trump, who rarely mentions Floyd or other Black Americans killed by police anymore, and Democrat Joe Biden, who argues that the summer of protests can become a catalyst for tackling systemic racism. Polls show Biden has an advantage among Americans when it comes to which candidate can manage the country better through the protests. An ABC News/Ipsos poll out Friday showed that 55% of Americans believe Trump is aggravating the situation. When it comes to reducing violence, Americans favor Biden to Trump, 59% to 39%. No matter what he says or what he claims, you are not safer in Donald Trumps America, Biden said Friday. READ MORE: Over 93 percent of summer protests were peaceful: report Yet, Trumps campaign also sees an opportunity to appeal to some voters who may be turned off by scenes of violence cropping up around some of the protests, including in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where police shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times last month. The president has openly directed his appeals at the suburban housewives of America especially white housewives casting his reelection as the only thing preventing violence in cities from spilling into their neighborhoods. Story continues In this June 3, 2020, file photo demonstrators take part in a protest in downtown Los Angeles, sparked by the death of George Floyd, who died May 25 after he was restrained by Minneapolis police. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File) Trump traveled to Kenosha this past week, thanked law enforcement for their efforts and met with people whose businesses were destroyed in fires. He did not meet with Blakes family. Biden did, on Thursday, while on a visit to the city. I think that there was a lot of optimism surrounding the protests this summer in the wake of George Floyd because for the first time, we were starting to see all of these white people in the United States pay a great deal of attention to police brutality and racial injustice, said Ashley Jardina, assistant professor of political science at Duke University, and author of the book White Identity Politics. But white Americans have always had a low tolerance for protests and unrest around race in the U.S., and thats particularly true when they think that protests become violent or involve the destruction of property, Jardina added. The majority of racial justice protests have been peaceful. But some, including in Kenosha and Minneapolis, saw vandalism and violence. A Trump supporter is charged with homicide in the shooting death of two protesters, and an anti-fascist shot and killed a right-wing protester in Portland, Oregon, and was later killed during his arrest by law enforcement. READ MORE: World alarmed by violence in US; thousands march in London(Opens in a new browser tab) Trump has also tried to link the protests to local increases in shootings, murders and other crimes in cities, including Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit, Chicago and New York, even though criminal justice experts say the spike defies easy explanation in a year when with historic unemployment and a pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 people. Crime overall remains lower than it has been in years past and criminologists also caution against a focus on crime statistics over a short time frame, such as week-to-week or month-to-month. In this June 1, 2020, file photo a demonstrator raises his fist during a protest over the death of George Floyd, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Dan Cooper, a white 51-year-old software engineer in Portland, remains supportive of the protests and the Black Lives Matter movement but fears the vandalism is playing into the rights hands. A few months ago they started off in a more BLM-focused way. It does seem like theyve lost their way a little bit, Cooper said of the protests. Steve DeFeo, a white 49-year-old manager at an insurance company in Edgewater, Florida, shares that concern. He said that while he supports the protests and the Black Lives Matter movement, he worries that violent protesters allow others to inaccurately portray the movement as dangerous. That message gets amplified when you go out and spray-paint and throw rocks and light fires, he said. When you see a burnt building, that is helping the wrong side of the narrative. Its not as effective for the BLM movement and keeping their message for what it should be. In this June 3, 2020, file photo demonstrators protest the death of George Floyd as they gather on the East side of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Black Lives Matter leaders have never asked for, encouraged or condoned looting or fighting with law enforcement or police supporters on the streets, because they are protesting the violent harm done to their communities. Thenjiwe McHarris, a strategist with the Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of more than 150 organizations, said Trumps effort was a desperate tactic to paint our movement a particular kind of way to stoke fear in communities across the country and to try to steal this election. Federal police reform stalled on Capitol Hill after an initial burst of movement. Nationwide, since late May, there have been at least 450 pieces of policing reform proposals introduced in 31 states, according to a count by the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many states had finished their normal legislative session at the time of Floyds death and are planning to address police accountability next year. In this June 2, 2020, file photo people rally to protest the death of George Floyd in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) Breanna Wright, 24, of Louisville participated in more than 20 demonstrations in her hometown, where Breonna Taylor, a Black woman, was killed by police in March. Wright says she remains focused on turning the protests into action. Everyone is putting Black Lives Matter on the street, Black Lives Matter in their windows, she said. That changes nothing for me because next week theyll murder me on your Black Lives Matter decorated street. I mean, its cute, youve tried thank you! Its touching that youve done that! but the system has to change. ___ Stafford reported from Detroit and Rico from Atlanta. Associated Press writer Emily Swanson contributed to this report. Have you subscribed to theGrios podcast Dear Culture? Download our newest episodes now! The post Summer of protest: Chance for change, but obstacles exposed appeared first on TheGrio. Protests against strongman Lukashenko intensify as 100,000 take to the streets of Minsk following disputed re-election. Tens of thousands of people marched through Minsk on Sunday calling on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to step down in mass demonstrations that showed no sign of abating nearly a month after an election his opponents say was rigged. Columns of protesters defied a government warning not to march, waving red-and-white opposition flags and shouting go away and youre a rat. Protests also took place in major cities throughout Belarus, said interior ministry spokeswoman Olga Chemodanova. Crowd sizes for those protests were not immediately reported, but Ales Bialiatski, head of the Viasna human rights organisation, said the demonstration in Minsk attracted more than 100,000 people. The interior ministry said at least 100 people were arrested. Russias Interfax news agency reported several people were injured when police broke up a protest outside a state-run tractor factory. Video footage shown by local media outlet TUT.BY showed women shouting shame at masked members of the security forces who dragged people away into detention. Troops, water cannon, armoured personnel carriers were deployed to the city centre ahead of the march. This sea of people cannot be stopped by military equipment, water cannons, propaganda and arrests. Most Belarusians want a peaceful change of power and we will not get tired of demanding this, said Maria Kolesnikova, a leader of the Coordination Council set up by the opposition to try to arrange a dialogue with the 66-year-old Lukashenko about a transition of power. Opposition supporters speak with Belarusian troops during a rally to protest the disputed August 9 election [TUT.BY via AFP] Daragh McDowell, principal analyst at the global consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft, said economic factors are playing a signifcant role in the demonstrations with the country rapidly running out of money. The IT sector has been repeatedly undermined with the internet shutdowns to disrupt the protesters. Weve also seen a lot of strikes in the state-owned sector as well. So the Belarussian economy is really on the brink, McDowell told Al Jazeera. The people have lost their fear of Lukashenko, hes lost a lot of his authority. No matter how many riot police hes deployed to the streets, it just hasnt stopped people from continuing to come out. Beatings and torture Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and, buoyed by a show of support from traditional ally Russia, has rejected calls for new elections. Unprecedented protests broke out after Lukashenko claimed re-election with 80 percent of the vote on August 9. Opposition rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said she won the election, but Lukashenkos security forces have arrested thousands of protesters, many of whom accused police of beatings and torture. Several people have died in the crackdown, but Belarusians have been demonstrating across the country for nearly a month, with more than 100,000 people flooding the streets of the capital, Minsk, for four straight weekends. Dozens of people, including student protesters and journalists covering rallies were arrested this week. The interior ministry said in a statement that 91 protesters had been detained on Saturday, and said it would beef up security and take take all necessary measures to suppress such actions and prevent violations of public order on Sunday. Tikhanovskaya, who will travel to Warsaw to meet the Polish prime minister next week, said in a video address on Saturday the momentum of the protests was irreversible. Belarusians have already changed, they have awakened and it is impossible to push them back into the former mindset. Remember we are strong as long as we are united, Tikhanovskaya said. Tikhanovskaya contested the election after her blogger husband was jailed and barred from running along with several other prominent Lukashenko critics. She left Belarus under pressure from authorities and took shelter in EU member Lithuania. On Friday, Tikhanovskaya addressed a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by video link, calling for sanctions against those responsible for the alleged electoral fraud and rights violations. The Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have blacklisted Lukashenko and 29 high-ranking officials in his administration, but other European Union members appear reluctant to target the Belarus strongman personally. Flowers lie on a barbed-wire fence in front of a police line towards the Independence Palace, residence of the President Alexander Lukashenko [TUT.BY via AP] React too late In an interview published in the Financial Times on Sunday, Lithuanias foreign minister urged the European Union to impose sanctions on Belarus and counter Russias influence or risk undermining the credibility of its foreign policy. Sometimes we react too late and our measures are fragmented and arent making any impression on society or the people in power, Linas Linkevicius said. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have imposed travel bans on Lukashenko and 29 other Belarusian officials without waiting for the rest of the EU to act, signalling impatience with the Wests cautious approach. Russia has said it will respond to any Western attempts to sway the situation, and President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of sending military support. Putin has been eager to unify Russia and Belarus, and Moscow has accompanied its recent offers of economic and military aid with calls for tighter integration. Lukashenko has in the past ruled out outright unification and sought to play Moscow against the West, but his options now are limited. On Thursday, Lukashenko hosted Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and replaced the chief of the KGB security service in what some analysts said might have been done under pressure from Moscow. The embattled leader said Russia and Belarus had agreed on issues they could not agree earlier, and he planned to dot all the is with Putin in Moscow in the next few weeks. Last year, New York State joined 38 other states in allowing early voting. Proponents have long touted convenience, reduced stress and better options. To its great credit, Erie County has led the state, offering 37 places to vote early, 30 more than the minimum of seven mandated by the state as a function of the countys population. Unfortunately, Erie County was alone in Western New York in going beyond the minimum requirement. Worse, in a high-stress year, it appears Erie County will once again be alone. The regions other counties Niagara, Genesee, Allegany, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua should do better. The law allows it and a commitment to democracy means doing more than the minimum. Jacob Neiheisel is associate professor of political science at the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. He observed that early voting is not particularly effective in making voting more convenient. The evidence that we have to date suggests that turnout doesnt really go up with early voting like it does with other reforms such as election day registration, he said. That is to say, the option mainly draws those who were going to vote, anyway. Nevertheless, in the midst of a pandemic, that can reduce congestion at polling places. What is more, it doesnt risk the confusion that plagued voting by mail in the states June primary election and could again in November. A sunny Sunday in Melbourne saw hundreds of revellers flock to the sand at St Kilda Beach, just hours after Daniel Andrews announced lockdown restrictions would be extended. Pictures showed locals walking their dogs, rollerskating and splashing in the shallows in the balmy conditions while wearing face masks amid strict stage four coronavirus restrictions on Father's Day. The images come after Premier Andrews on Sunday announced Melbourne will remain under coronavirus lockdown until at least October 26, with some restrictions to be eased from midnight next Sunday. Mr Andrews' lockdown extension has been criticised by fed-up residents, business owners and politicians alike, who blasted the Premier for his disappointing road map out of strict COVID-19 sanctions. Melburnians flocked to St Kilda Beach on Sunday afternoon hours after Premier Daniel Andrews announced lockdown restrictions would be extended Locals wearing face masks wave at the photographer on the board walk at St Kilda on Sunday afternoon. Face masks will stay compulsory under easing restrictions Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Paul Guerra said Mr Andrews' plan was a 'kick in the guts' for businesses across the state. 'Today we have been delivered a road to nowhere,' he said. 'This does not deliver for the thousands of businesses that are trying to keep this state going and trying to keep their doors open. 'We can't continue to let business and jobs be decimated on the way to controlling the spread of the virus. This has to end. Business needs hope.' Mr Guerra said the COVID recovery plan wasn't good enough and would leave thousands of employees out of work. 'The heartbreak for members, and in fact business owners today is the realisation that many of them who have been desperately hanging on for months will see their businesses fold and they will have to look their employees in the eye and tell them that they no longer have a job,' he said. 'We need to get the virus under control. We are lock-step with both the federal and state governments on that aim. But we can't just let business and jobs be sacrificed on the way.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison, federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and minister for health Greg Hunt released a joint statement after Mr Andrews' announcement. Melbourne residents take to the board walk at St Kilda Beach for their daily hour of exercise on Sunday A woman wearing a face mask splashes with her pet dog in the shallows at St Kilda Beach Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) announced on Sunday strict lockdown sanctions would continue Masks will remain compulsory Mr Andrews ruled masks will remain compulsory and said he has a 'pretty conservative view' on the effectiveness of masks. 'There is a likelihood that at a point in the future we don't need to have compulsory masks or we alter the settings in which you need to use them,' he said. 'Yes, it's a pain, no-one enjoys it. But compared to being locked at home, compared to people becoming gravely ill or becoming ill and not being able to shake this, and that is presenting in lots of people these days, think masks are we should continue to do. 'We will follow advice, of course, but I have been pretty conservative view on masks.' Advertisement 'Today's announcement from the Victorian government to extend lockdown arrangements will be hard and crushing news for the people of Victoria,' the trio said. 'The proposed road map will come at a further economic cost. While this needs to be weighed up against mitigating the risk of further community outbreak, it is also true that the continued restrictions will have further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and loss of livelihoods, as well as impacting on mental health. 'Of course the federal government would like to see restrictions in Victoria lifted as soon as it is safe to do so, but at the end of the day these are decisions solely for the Victorian Government to determine and the road map released today is a Victorian government plan.' Victorian opposition leader Michael O'Brien called Mr Andrews' plan 'illogical'. 'Why is it that you can go to the local park and have a jog around with your mate, but if that mate is a personal trainer, sorry, you are both breaking the law,' he said. 'There is no logic to it. There are so many ridiculous, illogical inclusions.' Social media lit up with furious Melburnians forced to spend another seven weeks trapped in lockdown after Mr Andrews' announcement. 'Another two weeks of tyranny,' one post reads. Two men observe social distancing measures and wear face masks in conversation on the sand at St Kilda Warm springtime weather brought a steady stream of residents to St Kilda Beach boardwalk to enjoy the sunshine on Sunday 'Daniel Andrews road map out is a cul-de-sac,' another tweet reads. 'This megalomaniac is out of control, the abuse of power has killed more people by suicide than the virus itself ever will,' another comment reads. 'I'm disgusted in both Daniel Andrews and Professor Brett Sutton who do not follow their own advise regarding the science.' Mr Andrews on Sunday outlined a four-step plan for the state to return to normality if case numbers continue to fall. From September 14, the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm and run until 5am. People living alone can nominate a friend or family member who can visit them and two hours of daily exercise will be allowed, including 'social interactions' such as having a picnic at a local park or reading a book at the beach. Further restrictions could be eased from September 28 and the government will consider lifting the curfew entirely from October 26, depending on case numbers. A couple sit on the beach at St Kilda wearing face masks amid stage four coronavirus restrictions in the city on Sunday 'We can't run out of lockdown. We have to take steady and safe steps out of lockdown to find that COVID normal,' Mr Andrews said on Sunday. Under Mr Andrews' road map out of lockdown, residents will have to wait until November 23 for all retail stores to reopen. Mr Andrews stressed the importance of easing slowly into normal life to avoid a dreaded third wave. 'If we open up too fast then we have a very high likelihood that we are not really opening up at all,' he said. 'We would all like to open up as quickly as possible. We would all like to find that COVID normal or go back to actual normal as soon as possible. 'But that is not the nature of this virus. It is wicked in many ways.' Victoria recorded 63 new cases of coronavirus and five more deaths on Sunday. This takes the state's total fatalities to 666 and the national death toll to 753. Britain lags behind most of Europe when it comes to re-opening the skies, damning figures reveal. Passenger numbers were down by 73 per cent year-on-year in August, according to data from Airports Council International seen by the Daily Mail. This compares unfavourably to data from countries where airport testing regimes have been put in place. Figures show Frankfurt airport in Germany and Charles de Gaulle in Paris carried more passengers over the past few months than Heathrow (pictured) for the first time in history In France, passenger numbers were down by only 60 per cent and in Italy by 62 per cent. Most countries in eastern Europe were down by 68 per cent and in southern Europe, including Spain and Portugal, by 65 per cent. Airport bosses said the figures prove the UK is trailing behind dozens of other countries which offer or accept Covid tests at airports. In another blow to Britains status as an aviation heavyweight, figures show Frankfurt airport and Charles de Gaulle in Paris carried more passengers over the past few months than Heathrow for the first time in history. Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, told the Mail: There is no surprise that, with quarantine measures constantly changing, and no sign of a testing regime, UK aviation has suffered through its worst summer in a generation. The Government needs to work quickly with the industry to ensure further, irreparable damage to our once world-leading aviation sector does not occur. A robust testing regime for international travellers is one solution which could help secure the restart of UK aviation and UK PLC. Airport bosses said the figures prove the UK is trailing behind dozens of other countries which offer or accept Covid tests at airports. An empty looking Heathrow Airport is seen above Aviation bosses backing the Mails Get Britain Flying campaign have warned we will lose our status as a global trading superpower unless ministers take urgent action. Writing in the Mail last week, Heathrow boss John Holland-Kaye warned: If the Government doesnt get a grip and reopen our borders safely, Britain will fall behind. If EU airports thrive, while the UKs hub declines, then Brexit Britain will rely on European hubs to get their global goods to market... Britain will become a vassal state of the EU, just after we have left. Kesavananda Bharati, seer hailed as Constitutions saviour, dies India oi-Deepika S Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 06: Kesavananda Bharati, a petitioner in a case that led to the Supreme Court evolving the celebrated doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution, died here on Sunday. Police said the 79-year old Kerala-based seer Kesavananda Bharati Sripadagalvaru died at the Edaneer Mutt here due to age related ailments. "As per the information with us, he passed away at around 3.30 AM on Sunday," police told PTI. The case in which Bharati had challenged a Kerala Land Reform Act nearly four decades ago set the principle that the Supreme Court is the guardian of the basic structure of the Constitution and the verdict involved 13 judges the largest bench ever to sit in the apex court. The case of Kesavananda Bharati vs State of Kerala was heard for 68 days and continues to hold the top spot for the longest proceedings ever to have taken place in the top court. The hearing in the case commenced on October 31, 1972, and concluded on March 23, 1973 and it's the most referred to case name in Indian Constitutional law. When asked about the importance of the verdict, former Judge of Madras High Court Justice K Chandru told PTI: "The Kesavananda Bharati case is significant for its ruling that the Constitution can be amended but not the basic structure." with PTI inputs At 9 a.m., the weather service said a severe thunderstorm watch that had earlier been in effect was allowed to expire, suggesting the morning system wasnt going to have much of an effect on area residents. Meteorologists are to monitor the degree of clearing and warming to determine how significantly afternoon or early evening storms could affect the area, saying, The risk for severe storms will return for northern Illinois. Kanye West has spent nearly $6million of his own money on his 2020 presidential campaign since July, records show. Financial filings with the Federal Election Commission, obtained by Politico, show that West personally loaned his campaign - which kicked off on July 19 - nearly $6.8million. The filings cover the period from July 15 to August 30. New filings show that Kanye West has spent nearly $6million on his presidential campaign run. He is picture at the campaign's launch event on July 19, crying as he discussed nearly aborting his first child after learning now-wife Kim Kardashian was pregnant So far, West has reported spending $5.9million on the campaign and has over $1.2million in outstanding debt, which is owed to consultants. The filing also indicated that he has received about $11,000 in outside contributions to the campaign. Most of the campaign expenses - amounting to $4.4million - were reported to have been spent on trying to get West onto ballots across the country. West, who is running as a third-party candidate with the 'Birthday Party,' is currently on ballots in 10 states, among them potential battlegrounds like Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota, CNN reported. The bulk of the money West's campaign has spent has been on consultants and legal fees while trying to get onto state ballots He is said to have litigation pending in other states. At the moment, though, even if he carried the states in which he is on the ballot, he would not have enough electoral college votes to win. The bulk of West's other expenses were reported to be paid to consulting firms. His campaign said that they had paid nearly $1.3million to Atlas Strategy Group, run by Republican Gregg Keller, who worked on campaigns for Republicans including President George W. Bush and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley. An additional $2.6million is being paid to Millennial Strategies, which says it worked with Democrats including Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign and New York City public advocate Jumaane Williams' campaign. The campaign said that it was spending $444,000 with the company for polling. West's campaign is also spending about $1.5million with Fortified Consulting in Arizona, which Politico said has the same mailing address as Lincoln Strategy Group's Arizona headquarters. Lincoln Strategy Group worked on President Trumps 2016 campaign, in addition with other Republicans, the news outlet reported. West was reported to have spent more than $260,000 in legal fees while trying to get onto state ballots. Among his legal efforts is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to reverse the ruling that keeps him off the state's ballot. West is a registered Republican and is therefore not allowed to be on the ballot as Donald Trump, the Hollywood Reporter said. Smaller sums were paid to individuals. John Boyd, once described as West's 'spiritual adviser,' was paid $25,000. Another $25,000 was paid to Isaac Ford, who reportedly helped West get onto Tennessee's ballot - Ford's brother and father, also of Tennessee, were Democratic members of Congress. West's campaign said that it has spent $95,000 on charter jet company flights so far. West made headlines after he cried as he told people at his South Carolina campaign launch event that he and wife Kim Kardashian discussed aborting their first child after learning Kardashian was pregnant. Many Canadians consider Labour Day weekend to be a timely break with family before the start of the school year. For labour advocates, it is a day to gather, organize, educate and experience joy together, while re-energizing for the work ahead. During this new frontier for workers rights, this day of reflection and resistance is that much more important. Labour Day parades are a tradition across Canada going back nearly 150 years. In 2020, to adhere to pandemic social distancing requirements, they are going digital. In small towns and big cities across the country, these parades have commemorated people who pooled their individual power to stand as one collective and fight for their rights (and the rights of people they would never meet) in precedent-setting actions throughout labour movement history. As the daughter of a proud Auto Worker and Unifor member, I grew up with a keen appreciation for the mutual support provided through unionized efforts, and the power in collective action to raise the standard of living for families. Labour advocates fought, won and continue to fight for fair pay, safety measures in workplaces, appropriate paid sick leave, accommodations for differently abled workers, and have played a crucial role in powering social justice movements. This includes construction workers who build our cities, health-care workers who care for and mend our bodies, workers ensuring food makes it from farms to our tables, and the people cleaning our buildings and safeguarding millions of Canadians. Unfortunately, employers exploiting workers and purposely disregarding their rights are popping up like weeds, and far faster than anyone can pull them up from their roots. Like the title of the popular book and television series, there are Little Fires Everywhere, and especially factoring in the tragic pandemic experiences of migrant workers, some very big ones. The Ontario government led by Premier Doug Ford needs to do a far better job treating union advocates like trusted partners working toward the shared aim of creating safe working environments. Teachers unions shouldnt have needed to file complaints with the provinces labour board with allegations of workplace safety law violations, as they were forced to do this past week. A temporary raise for essential workers during COVID-19 is not progress; progress is that temporary raise becoming the new norm. While Fords recent commitment to creating 15,000 free training opportunities is a step in the right direction, it is far too small a pilot and should be expanded with a long-term strategy for the post-pandemic era. What is the point of creating training opportunities when the premier is consistently touting his commitment to rolling back hard-fought protections for workers in the name of reducing red tape? By negotiating in the media and disparaging union advocates, instead of meaningfully responding and bringing leaders together, Ford is missing the point. Union leaders are treating these issues like they are the difference between life and death, because they are. Lives and livelihoods are at stake, and the people most negatively impacted are women and people of colour. Like every organization, labour groups themselves are grappling with internal issues of racial justice. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists has played a central role in challenging forms of systemic racism within the labour movement itself. This summer, several nooses were left in construction job sites across Toronto. This is a shocking reminder that there is still a long way to go in proactively combating anti-Black racism, and properly prioritizing issues of racism in collective advocacy efforts. As the economy reopens, there is far too high a concentration of people of colour performing underpaid, precarious essential work, serving as canaries in the mine entering unsafe workplaces. When politicians and pundits talk about disparities in outcomes, what they are really talking about is death, with some people more at risk of facing it than others. Zadie Smith said it best, Perhaps to act well politically it helps to remember what an actual single being is what a universe each and every human contains. Remembering that might help when the big decisions get made. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that the millions of workers represented by these labour organizations are millions of individual souls, each one worth fighting for. They span the muddy waters from which Winnipeg derives its name. They connect neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Theyre a fundamental feature of our city. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 6/9/2020 (501 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. They span the muddy waters from which Winnipeg derives its name. They connect neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Theyre a fundamental feature of our city. Winnipeg has a reputation as a "River City," but many dont know the stories behind the bridges they use every day. While a bridge may seem to be a boring piece of basic infrastructure, many of Winnipegs have fascinating histories that go back more than 100 years. Norwood Bridge (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Norwood Bridge The gateway to the heart of the city, the current Norwood Bridge is actually the third to exist in the location just south of the Red and Assiniboines confluence at The Forks. The most well-known and photographed feature of the Norwood Bridge is the River Arch, which stands proudly between the two spans and looms over the area as a 15-metre-tall sentinel. Floodwaters cover the approach to the second version of Norwood Bridge. The original opened in 1890, the second in 1931 and the current one in 1999. (Winnipeg Free Press files) The River Arch was designed by Pittsburgh-born artist Catherine Widgery and "reflects the dynamic, modern Winnipeg in harmony with its past traditions and the natural world," explains the CCCA Canadian Art Database. Its a Prairie-inspired piece, through and through: the pair of concrete columns have bison bases and the torches that the arch cuts through are topped with gold-leafed wheat sheaves. The pixelated scene on the arch itself is taken from a photo of a harvested field. There was a Norwood Bridge for more than 100 years before the Archs installation in 1999, however. Frugal Winnipeggers would bristle at the thought of paying a toll to enter or exit downtown, but thats just what folks had to do to cross its first incarnation. Privately constructed by the Norwood Improvement Co. and Norwood Bridge Co., it was built as part of a suburb erected on 400 acres of land the companies purchased in the Town of St. Boniface, says a Jan. 20, 1891, edition of the Manitoba Daily Free Press. The Town of St. Boniface purchased the bridge in 1904 and made it free to cross in 1909. A low bridge, it was often rocked by ice floes during spring floods. Take for example the harrowing scene described in the Manitoba Free Press on April 25, 1905. "On Saturday night some spectators, who had crowded onto one of the bridges, had a narrow escape from serious injury. A huge floe was coming down on the surface of the stream, and when under the bridge collided with another large piece of ice this brought the jagged apex into violent collision with the planking of the bridge. Half a dozen planks were driven upwards, and the serrated ice projected some feet over the wooden flooring." That caused a mass exodus of rubberneckers. In August 1929, the bridge was receiving heavier traffic than it could handle and was deemed unsafe, with streetcar service over it discontinued. In 1931 as the Great Depression was just beginning construction began on a brand new Norwood Bridge, built by the Dominion Bridge Co. as part of a government unemployment relief project. By September 1931, construction was nearing completion, and a Manitoba Free Press insert waxed poetic about the new steel spans beauty: the "splendid width of roadway," the "graceful curve," its "ample underclearance," and its "quiet but dignified appearance." It opened in early November of the same year at a final price of $590,000, and stood until it was replaced by the current Norwood Bridge, which came in at $116 million and officially opened on Oct. 19, 1999. Like many projects, the newest Norwood Bridge was over budget by $13 million and motorists complained about the traffic tie-ups construction caused. Even the River Arch, now well-liked and well-photographed, received a scathing review from art reviewer Scott Barham. "We all will be haunted by River Arch with a persistence which will make broken bones seem like mere pinpricks," he wrote in the Free Press, calling it a "piece of Steamboat Willie Boosterism" and "an example of low-ball public art where the artist, hence the art is removed from the piece." Harry Lazarenko Bridge, formerly the Redwood Bridge (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Harry Lazarenko Bridge (Redwood Bridge) Spanning the Red River and connecting William Whyte to Elmwood, the Harry Lazarenko Bridge formerly and perhaps still better known as the Redwood Bridge is the bridge thats been continuously open to traffic the longest, at 111 years straight. The then-Redwood Bridge central-swing span opens to allow ship passage in 1969. (Winnipeg Free Press files) The early 1900s was a different time in the construction industry, it seemed. City engineer Henry Ruttan didnt bother getting approval from the Federal Minister of Marine before work on the truss bridge began in January 1907, nor did the plan for the bridge take seasonal ice floes or river traffic into account, according to the Manitoba Historical Society. The world was different but people were the same: some complained. Two months after construction got underway, ship owners who used the Red as a commercial waterway submitted a petition demanding work stop immediately, as they were concerned the 73-foot distance between central piers was too narrow to navigate. But the bridge was a necessity Elmwood had joined the City of Winnipeg in 1906, land sales in the area were booming and the residents wanted easy access to Main Street. So plans were revamped to include 27 more feet between piers, and work continued. Construction was slowed yet again by a wage dispute the workers were upset they were getting paid between 15-and-a-half and 17 cents per hour instead of the 20 cents outlined in their fair wage clause but eventually, the bridge was completed. It used 740 tons of steel in all and opened on Jan. 12, 1909. The Redwood Bridge remained the Redwood Bridge for 102 years before it was renamed the Harry Lazarenko Bridge in October 2014, in honour of the city councillor who served the Mynarski Ward from 1973-77 and 1983-2010. Elm Park Bridge (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press) Elm Park Bridge Believe it or not, the Elm Park Bridge wasnt built so people could amble across the river on warm summer evenings while enjoying creamy concoctions from the Bridge Drive-In. The bridge has become iconic as the backdrop for aesthetic photos of people posed with Peach Velvets and Googs. But back in the early 1900s, R.F. McWilliams just wanted a bridge to boost land values. McWilliams owned Elm Park, which was where Kingston Row and Kingston Crescent are. Like any developer worth his salt, McWilliams wanted to make his land as attractive as possible to buyers, and that included a bridge better than the pontoon bridge that provided access to Elm Park and the dance hall, merry-go-round, roller coaster, and other attractions it held since 1891. The Elm Park Bridge opened in 1914. Workers paint it in 1958. (Winnipeg Free Press files) The Elm Park Co. "for many years had tried to get the city to co-operate with it in building a bridge across the Red River, but without success," a Free Press piece from November 1912 notes. So McWilliams decided to build one of his own. The RM of St. Vital council tried to get it built closer to Pembina Street, now Pembina Highway and even made a recommendation in December 1912 that it be moved but McWilliams plans ultimately won out. The steel truss span opened to traffic in 1914 and collected tolls to offset the $125,000 it cost to construct: five cents for pedestrians, 10 cents for cars, and 25 cents for trucks. Perhaps if the Elm Park Co. spent a bit more, it could have made its bridge a little bit wider. The deck was only 16 feet wide and barely managed to accommodate the oversized autos of the 1940s and 50s. As Brad Neirick, a city of Winnipeg bridge engineer, said in 2010: "most vehicles were about eight feet wide, so it was probably just wide enough for two cars to pass, but youd probably take each others mirrors off as you were passing each other." In November 1945, the municipality of St. Vital purchased the bridge for $5,000, with the City of Winnipeg chipping in one-third of that and promising to cover one-third of ongoing maintenance costs. Did it ever need maintenance: in August of the same year, it was closed to all vehicular traffic "as a result of the unsafe driveway," with the Elm Park Co. unable to say when or whether itd be repaired and reopened. In 1946, the new owners spent $12,000 on a much-needed repair job and eliminated the toll. It remained free to cross until it was closed to vehicular traffic in 1974. The BDI, meanwhile, established its spot on Jubilee in 1957. In the mid 1990s, the BDI was in danger of losing the bridge it had named the ice cream shop after. In the spring of 1996, the Free Press reported that the bridge could collapse if high water and ice from spring flooding overturned the eroding concrete piers. The city played with the idea of tearing it down but decided not to after learning it would cost a million dollars. Instead, the city invested $300,000 to fix the piers in 2010, leaving it open as an active transportation option and for BDI customers to enjoy as an accoutrement to their sweet treats. The city celebrated the bridges 100th birthday in 2014, and of course, free ice cream was part of the festivities. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Louise Bridge Louise Bridge Without the Louise Bridge, Winnipeg might not be the city of 700,000 plus it is today. With much talk in recent years of relocating rail lines and railyards outside city limits, its tough to imagine an era where a city actually wanted to attract rail development, but thats just what the Louise Bridge named after Queen Victorias daughter Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll was designed to do. The Louise Bridge was built in 1881 to attract the railway and then rebuilt in 1911. (Winnipeg Free Press files) Built in 1881, the bridge spanning the Red in Point Douglas was a come-on for the Canadian Pacific Railway, which was laying tracks for Canadas first transcontinental railway from sea to shining sea. Mayor Alexander Logan led this initiative to get the CPR to abandon their plan to cross the Red in Selkirk. Not only did city council pay $300,000 for the bridges construction, it also offered the CPR $200,000, land to build a railway station, and tax exemptions. While the reporter didnt find any record of Winnipeggers being against spending on such a project, he did find some letters to the editor in the Aug. 11, 1880, edition of the Free Press, taking umbrage with the groundbreaking ceremony that went off the rails. It seems the crowds imbibed liquor meant for city councillors and became drunk and disorderly: "I was astonished to see a place fitted up like a bar-room from which were freely dispensed for every one, young and old, free, intoxicating liquors," one citizen wrote. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A. Ratepayer expressed a similar sentiment the same day. "Did you act honestly and in the best interest of citizens when you (City Council) voted to spend five hundred dollars of the peoples money in providing intoxicating liquors on the auspicious occasion of the laying of the corner stone of the Louise Bridge?" they wrote. "I trust, gentlemen, that if you will not resign, as suggested, you will at least rise and explain to an outraged community the reasons which indeed you so betray the trust reposed to you by your fellow citizens, and show good reasons for squandering the money of a city already overburdened with debt?" he continued. Back to the bridge, whether it was a bribe to the railway or an investment in Winnipegs future is subjective. Regardless, it might have been the best money spent in the citys history. The bridge, which did dual duty as a rail and traffic span, finally linked eastern and western Canada by rail. Thanks to its central location, Winnipeg became an important transportation hub and a massive influx of immigrants seeking employment arrived in the years to follow. Winnipegs population was just 7,900 when the bridge was built, but by 1921, it was 179,000. An October 1881 notice in the Manitoba Free Press reported that in the prior year, 251 single buggies, 168 single wagons, 43 double buggies, 105 single horses, and 108 cattle made the crossing until 1904, when the CNR discontinued use. In 1911, it was rebuilt. The citys 2011 transportation master plan called for the Louise Bridge to be replaced with a brand-new four-lane structure by 2016, but that didnt come to pass as it was leapfrogged by other large-scale projects. Eighty-one years after its namesake died, the two-lane bridge lives on. Palestinians will not accept a future in any country other than Palestine, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Sunday during his visit to Ain El Helwe, a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. "We will not accept naturalization, immigration to any other country and the Deal of the Century will not be achieved," Haniyeh was quoted as saying by Lebanese news website Elnashra. "We will be guests in Lebanon until we manage to return to our country," Haniyeh said. Haniyeh's visit to Lebanon is his first in 27 years. Search Keywords: Short link: Marlie Meranville just got a raise as the Connecticut minimum wage jumped from $11 to $12 on Sept. 1. On top of that, a new ruling by the state Department of Labor could eventually mean a huge pay hike for all the workers at the state-owned service plaza in Darien, where Meranville pulls a late shift at Sbarro. But youll have to forgive the 23-year-old Stamford resident for not celebrating on this Labor Day. Whatever gains she and millions of other low-wage workers made before COVID have faded to a pre-pandemic memory. Even with a slightly higher hourly wage, her hours are way down, from 35 or more a week to 22. And her workload is higher, with coronavirus cleaning duties on top of the regular tasks of a fast-food worker. During and after her nearly three-month layoff, Meranville was delivering food and medicine for Uber Eats and other services, but her 2007 Jeep conked out. And so just recently, she had to give up the apartment she took in Bridgeport last summer with friends. She moved back in with her mother, who works with her at Sbarro. Im doing more work but getting paid less, Meranville said Friday not exactly correct, as she did get a 50-cent raise, courtesy of Connecticuts second large jump in a five-year plan to reach $15. Still, as most of us take a day off for the holiday set aside to recognize workers, her comment reflects her valid view of the employment world. In another universe, one without COVID, this might have been a year when low-wage workers would have something to celebrate. Unemployment was hovering just over 3 percent as 2020 started and even some low-wage workers were seeing gains, though not nearly as hefty as those at the top of the pay scale. But coronavirus has hit Meranville hard, just as it has other front-line service workers, especially in fast food, and especially those who are Black or Latinx. Among 238,000 Connecticut residents who filed for continuing unemployment benefits in a recent week, 105,000 had incomes under $20,000 in the prior year, said Patrick Flaherty, economist at the state Department of Labor. Thats 44 percent. Usually, Flaherty said, the under $20,000 group is maybe a third. I cant stay still Nationally, analysis of federal data by the Economic Policy Institute shows that Black women saw a slightly smaller increase in unemployment in April compared with February, but the rate was higher 16.9 percent compared with 15.8 percent because it started out higher for Black women. Latinas saw a much higher jump in unemployment than white women, and have been slower to regain work. Meranville did receive unemployment benefits during the spring layoff. But she told me she didnt collect the $600-a-week federal bump-up more than a few times. That might be because she took up the delivery work. She tried to get answers from the Department of Labor but couldnt get through, like thousands of others, as state residents have filed more than 800,000 claims in six months. I was looking for jobs even when I was on unemployment, she said. Why do that? I asked. Her state and federal benefits would have outpaced any work she might have found, by a long shot. I cant stay still, I have to do something, Meranville said. You have to make money. Even last weeks raise was a mixed blessing. I was assuming it was going to be a dollar, she said because the minimum went up by a dollar. Instead it was only 50 cents an hour, to $12 from $11.50. Meranville, who was born in Haiti, had worked her way beyond the minimum wage as a shift lead at Sbarro, and now shes back on the bottom. Shes seen others making $1 or $2 an hour over the minimum for heading a shift. It took them like a year to give me a 50-cent raise, she said. I was mad. Im still mad. Long-term low-wage Mad workers are not usually conscientious workers and even though Meranville did look for work during the layoff, against her own interests, she admitted she could be working harder at Sbarro. Im not putting my heart into it, she told me, because Im not getting paid to put effort into it. She gets that this is not the ideal attitude. But shes been there for five years, since graduating from Stamford High School in 2015, and doesnt feel shes moving ahead. It was my first job, of course I was supposed to be happy about that, but Ive got bills to pay, she said. Her dream is to be a psychiatrist and she said she briefly took some classes at Norwalk Community College, but stopped. She is, after five years, in the large group of long-term earners at or just above the minimum wage. Shed like to buy a tiny, one-bedroom house but thats way out of reach in Fairfield County. Connecticut in 2018 had about 129,000 residents working at the minimum wage or less, research from the Department of Labor showed. Thats probably higher now that the wage has gone up from $10.10 to $12, Flaherty said. Many of us assume a rise in the minimum wage is good for workers like Meranville. Thats true on the surface, but its not a slam-dunk safe conclusion. Republicans who oppose the increases say hours are curtailed and jobs become more scarce as the minimum rises. Now, with COVID sinking the nation into a deep recession, we cant know whos right in that debate. More than in previous recessions, especially the Great Recession of 2008-09, lower-wage workers have paid a price, with or without a rising minimum wage even in health care, Flaherty said. Not a lot of doctors got laid off but a lot of administrative support folks in dental offices got laid off. Not much bargaining power Meranville doesnt need to study the data to understand that she has little bargaining power right now which is why the state ordered the minimum wage increase in the first place. Shes one of about 33,000 fast food and food counter workers in Connecticut, one of the lowest paid occupations with a median wage of $12.25 an hour early in 2020, according to data from the state Department of Labor. Two factors could help matters. First, the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, which largely represents janitors and other building service workers, is trying to organize nearly 1,000 fast-food workers at the state-owned service plazas. Meranville supports that effort. And as part of that organizing, SEIU 32BJ petitioned the state for so-called standard wages for many of those workers. That would mean theyre treated like state vendors, in effect, with mandatory benefits or a bump-up of about $3 an hour. Last week the Department of Labor announced it had ruled for the standard wage at three McDonalds outlets in the plazas giving workers back pay totaling $870,000. The downside: Workers with low skills, for example cashiers who dont speak English, could be crowded out of these jobs if the union wins big victories for them. Meranville ought to be able to demand more money as a shift lead, pushing herself back over the minimum wage. But she feels she cant. Maybe its the COVID recession. Maybe its the psychology of the low-wage work, which keeps her from giving her all, and leaves her unable to afford a car right now. Maybe, like the Republicans say, its the rising minimum wage that keeps everyone close to a flat rate. Were falling behind. Were still falling behind. she said. Im trying to get a job that pays more but ... Her voice trails off. dhaar@hearstmediact.com Basmati exporters based in Punjab are uncertain over the purchase of the aromatic rice variety from the state as the Centres new ordinance for agriculture marketing, allowing farmers to directly sell their produce to exporters, has created a parallel system even as the Punjab government has opposed it. The Punjab rice millers and exporters association have raised the contentious issue with the state government through representations to clarify its stand on the new ordinance as the neighbouring states, particularly Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, have accepted the central ordinance. The Association feels that since the new paddy crop of 1509 variety will start arriving in the mandis by September 15, the issue of the 2% market fees and 2% rural development fund (RDF) levied by the state Mandi board remained unresolved as the new ordinance gives exemption of these two levies, provided the crop is purchased directly from the farmers or is procured from a private market area as envisaged in the new act. This year, basmati was grown over 17.5 lakh acres and arrival of the aromatic produce has started in some parts. Demanding rationalisation of the mandi fee and RDF, the exporters said they will like to purchase levy-free basmati as per the ordinance and buy paddy either directly from the farmers or from other states which offer exemptions. It is important to add that the basmati growing states of Haryana, UP, Uttrakhand and Jammu and Kashmir have notified that they will be levying only 1% user charges on the produce brought to their mandi yards while adhering to the new norms under the ordinance which would definitely make the Punjab paddy costly, with 4% fees and fund being levied by the state, said association director Ashok Sethi. He led a delegation of rice exporters from state to meet cabinet minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa on Sunday for clarity over the matter. Sethi said Bajwa assured the exporters that the state government would come to the rescue of the rice millers by bringing parity in taxes, allowing the industry to grow further while giving better rates to the farmers. According to Bajwa, agro processing ventures are an important segment and he will apprise the Punjab CM for a possible way out. Top officers in the mandi board revealed that the matter was under consideration of the top brass in the state and a statement will be issued shortly. According to rice exporters, the taxes imposed by Punjab government will leave their trade uneconomical and render their rice export unviable as they cant compete with the exporters based in Haryana, UP and Delhi as the disparity of taxes would lead to financial crisis. The rice exports had a phenomenal growth during last three years with exports from state touching Rs 14,000 crore, out of the total countrys export of Rs 34,000 crore as per the latest figures released by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The association claimed that it remained at the forefront in educating basmati growers to use minimal pesticides and other agro-chemicals so that the produce is accepted worldwide. In 2017, the basmati consignments faced rejection from European countries and Saudi Arabia due to presence of fungicide higher than permissible limits. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ochoa, who organized another rally back in June in Ashburn, said the demonstration was designed to create an alliance with her south suburban neighbors in an effort to get justice for those who have been wronged by the system. The intention was always to do so peacefully. The decision to do away with Question Hour indicates that the government has no answers A Parliament session without Question Hour is like a forest without trees. The BJPs decision to scrap Question Hour in the forthcoming parliament session is worrisome and opportunistic. The BJP may be in power right now, but surely it must remember its days in the opposition, and not lose sight of the fact that it could be there again. In democracy and in life nothing ever remains unchanged. Ghalibs immortal words comes to mind: Har bulundi ke naseebon mein hai pasti ek din: It is in the destiny of every pinnacle to hit the dust sometime. If the BJP were in the opposition today, would it have welcomed a parliamentary session without the opportunity to put the government on the mat? Especially if there were burning issues to discuss as there are today: the economic crisis, the corona pandemic and Chinese aggression on the border? The reasons being touted against holding Question Hour are hardly convincing. Democratic governments function on the basis of accountability. Within the hallowed precincts of Parliament, the nations highest democratic forum, Question Hour is the one institution where government ministers can be directly questioned. Nothing else can substitute this interrogatory interaction, which compels the government to explain and defend its actions and policies. Let us examine the ruling dispensation's arguments against holding Question Hour. Firstly, it is being said that even in the absence of Question Hour, written answers can be provided to questions provided in advance. My experience of being in Parliament compels me to unhesitatingly throw this argument out of the window. There are two categories of questions that can be asked in Parliament, unstarred and starred. The first merit only written replies. This incorporates the art of drafting a reply, that mostly says as little as possible, while fulfilling the perfunctory requirement of answering the question. As a diplomat-bureaucrat before joining politics, I have been on the other side of the fence of drafting replies to unstarred questions. The achievement lay in hiding the full truth, and revealing only what is unavoidably necessary, playing on words, and using the loopholes in the question itself many of which are badly drafted to get off the hook. The answers are circulated in Parliament, and mostly forgotten, except as a written record of what little the government had to say when asked a straightforward question. Starred questions, on the other hand, come up in Question Hour. The concerned minister, and sometimes the Prime Minister himself, has to physically answer the question. Each question allows for a minimum of three supplementary questions related to the original question. This requires the minister to prepare himself fully. It gives the Opposition a much-needed opportunity to hold the government accountable in a much more direct way than the anonymity of a written reply. If the minister prevaricates, or seeks to evade the questions asked, the Chair can pull him up, and if she does not have the answers it becomes an embarrassment for the government. In other words, if Parliaments principal purpose is to provide a democratic forum for holding the government accountable, this is the hour when it happens best. The argument that starred questions require the minister to be accompanied by a number of officials from the ministry concerned since, depending on the question asked, they can quickly send across from the officials gallery briefing notes or facts to the minister, is fallacious. If even MPs will now be able to enter Parliament only with a negative certificate on corona, why cant each ministry identify a few selected officials required to be present on question day, to do the same? The argument that Question Hour can be substituted by Zero Hour or by special leave mentions, is fallacious too. Both are usually about urgent but localised issues, and do not allow for the range of interrogation that Question Hour does. Short-duration discussions on specific subjects, or call attention motions, are difficult to schedule, and do not allow the exercise of accountability to be exercised on a daily basis as happens during question hour. The fact that some state Assemblies have dispensed with question hour, should be no reason why Parliament, the apex legislature where national issues need to be discussed, has to do the same. Similarly, for the BJP to argue that because question hour has frequently been disrupted by the Opposition, question hour itself can be dispensed with, is hardly tenable. Unfortunately, disruptions do take place in Parliament. But, the BJP when in Opposition perfected the art of such disruptions. Would it have then agreed that as a result of its behaviour question hour should be scrapped? It is true that these are not normal times. The Corona pandemic has led to modifications in the working of institutions. It is for this reason that the session of Parliament is taking place after a prolonged hiatus, and for a truncated period. Parliament cannot only be a mechanical institution for a ruling party with a brute majority in the Lok Sabha, and a usually managed majority in the Rajya Sabha, to pass legislation. A government has to be held accountable. It is hoped that the BJPs own professed commitment to democracy will prompt it to rescind its decision to do away with question hour. Candidates running temperature in excess of 99.4F will also be allowed to appear in the upcoming UP State Entrance Examination (UPSEE) to be conducted by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) on September 20 for admission in engineering colleges across the state. Normal human body temperature is in range between 97F and 99F on an average. The candidates, whose body temperature will be more than 99.4F in thermal scanning at the examination centre, will be re-scanned after 15 minutes. If their temperature again turns out to be more than 99.4F, they will have to take the exam in the isolation room, said UPSEE coordinator Prof Vineet Kansal. Kansal said it was mandatory to make Isolation rooms at all examination centres. He said it would also be mandatory for all supervisors working in the isolation room to be in PPE kit. These decisions were taken in the second meeting of the central exam committee of UPSEE -2020 held recently under AKTU vice chancellor Prof Vinay Kumar Pathak. In the meeting, the standard operating procedure (SOP) was also determined for the examination centres to ensure prevention from Covid-19. Under this, it was decided to carry out thermal scanning of all the candidates at the examination centres with proper sanitisation and social distancing. More than 1.60 lakh candidates will appear in the examination which will be held at 206 centres, including 187 in UP and 19 others outside UP. The centres outside the state include Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Patna, Mumbai, Bhopal, Jaipur, Ranchi, Roorkee and Calcutta. The offline examination will be held in three shifts. The first shift is between 9 am and 11am, second from 12 noon to 3 pm and third shift from 3.45 pm to 6.15 pm, said Pathak. To maintain social distancing at the examination centres, there is a gap of one hour between each shift. The candidates will have to report at the centre one hour before the start of the exam. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala came down heavily on the LDF government and the health minister KK Shailaja over the Aranmula incident, where a 19-year-old COVID-19 patient was raped by the ambulance driver inside the vehicle. Expressing shock at the incident, Chennithala demanded a comprehensive probe into the Aranmula incident. He said the rape incident has brought shame Kerala, which has been a failure from the part of the health department. "Who had appointed the murder suspect as an ambulance driver? The health minister should explain how this happened. Why was the girl not accompanied by a health worker other than the ambulance driver? The LDF Government and the health department owe an explanation on this gruesome incident," said Chennithala. He also demanded stringent action against the concerned official who had appointed the murder suspect as an ambulance driver. Drug Case The Opposition leader alleged that Pinarayi Vijayan is shying away from ordering a probe into the Bengaluru drug case for fear of the involvement of CPM secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and his son, Bineesh Kodiyeri. He claimed the state has become a den for drug mafia. On Sunday, 500 kilos of marijuana were seized at Attingal by Kerala Excise Enforcement Squad (SEES). Kerala has been grappled by the drug mafia. It is high time the State Government takes steps to curb the drug mafia. The CPM secretary and his son are helping the drug mafia in the State. Why is the State Government keeping mum," asked Chennithala. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 11:05:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting to commend role models in China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Beijing. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will present medals to outstanding individuals, and deliver a speech at the meeting, which will be held at the Great Hall of the People at 10 a.m. Tuesday. The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group and on xinhuanet.com. It will also be rebroadcast simultaneously on major news websites including people.com.cn, cctv.com and china.com.cn, as well as on news apps run by the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. Enditem By Kirsty Needham CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia is standing up to China. Watch closely: It may be a harbinger of things to come, as the world's smaller countries respond to the increasingly coercive Asian economic superpower. For years, the Australian political and business establishment had a paramount goal: protect and expand this natural resource powerhouse's booming exports to fast-growing China. Iron ore, coal, natural gas, wine and more: Until COVID-19 struck, Australia had a 29-year run without a single recession as it sent its signature goods to the world's voracious No. 2 economy. Canberra's diplomacy came to focus on balancing the Chinese trade relationship with the nation's equally important defense alliance with the United States. But the paradigm through which the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison now views China has shifted dramatically, people inside his government told Reuters. The relationship is no longer shaped just by trade, but by a stark view emerging widely inside this continent-spanning country that Beijing poses a threat to Australia's democracy and national sovereignty. Discussions about China inside Morrison's cabinet now revolve around the need to preserve sovereignty and fend off Chinese efforts to sway Australian politics, two government sources told Reuters. Recent steps taken by the prime minister appear to reflect this thinking. He has warned the Australian public about a significant increase in cyber attacks, introduced a national security test for foreign investments, and announced a dramatic jump in defense spending focused on the Indo-Pacific region. Morrison didn't name China when announcing these moves, but government officials said they came in response to Beijing's actions. Australia has also voiced concerns in recent weeks about what it sees as Chinese disinformation campaigns that seek to undermine democracies; suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong over China's imposition of a draconian security law in the city; and filed a declaration with the United Nations rejecting China's maritime claims in the South China Sea. Story continues Of all the actions taken by Australia in recent months, though, it's the government's lobbying of world leaders in April for an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that has most enraged Beijing. The world lined up behind the move, with 137 nations co-sponsoring a resolution at the World Health Assembly for an investigation into the pandemic, which first emerged in Wuhan. Beijing also ultimately backed the resolution. An independent panel, headed by former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, will deliver an interim report in November. Beijing lashed out angrily, imposing trade sanctions on Australia after the pandemic inquiry move. It suspended some beef imports on a technicality and effectively blocked a $439 million trade in barley by slapping tariffs of 80.5% on the Australian import. China has also launched an anti-dumping probe into Australian wine imports. In August, a Chinese diplomat drew on Roman history to blast Canberra, comparing Australia's call for an inquiry to the betrayal of Julius Caesar by the assassin Brutus. China's foreign ministry said Beijing had never interfered in Australia or used coercion against it. Responding to questions from Reuters, the ministry also called on Australia to "abandon the Cold War mentality," do more to "enhance mutual trust" and not "provoke trouble on issues involving China's core interests." A stable relationship, it said, was in the interests of both countries. Reuters spoke to 19 current and former Australian government officials and two former prime ministers in examining how relations with China have deteriorated. They provided the first comprehensive account of how the government came to adopt its view that Australia must "speak up," as several ministers have said, about Beijing's actions. This shift in Australia's position on China began in 2017, the interviews show, before the sharp deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington, which threatens to trigger a new Cold War. The change has been led in part by a coterie of Australian officials, some with security and intelligence backgrounds, who hold deeply skeptical views of the Chinese leadership and its global ambitions. In one sign of the times, a bipartisan group of anti-China hawks has formed in the Australian parliament, who dub themselves "the Wolverines." Asked about this shift, Morrison couched his moves with diplomatic care. In a written response to questions from Reuters, he said his government's approach to China has been consistent. "As with any bilateral relationship, Australia's approach is based on our values and principles, and on a clear-eyed assessment of Australia's national interest," he wrote. "We place great store on our relationship with China and we have not sought to put that relationship at risk." Australia had been a great beneficiary of China's economic growth, Morrison said, but "as countries develop they have a responsibility to uphold a stable, prosperous strategic balance in our region." Trade with China remains vitally important to Australia. The stakes are high: Australia has a $172 billion trading relationship with China, and a $51 billion surplus. It's an uneasy balancing act. In response to Australia's push for a pandemic inquiry, Beijing accused Canberra of "dancing to the tune" of Washington. In June, after a fresh threat from Beijing on trade, Morrison said Australia wouldn't yield to "coercion." A visit Morrison paid to Beijing in 2017, when he was Treasurer, set the stage for his stance in the current feud. He came away from the trip convinced his country's trade with the world's second largest economy had two-way benefit. He'd heard from Chinese officials, he told a small group of reporters in Beijing at the time, that Australia's exports of iron ore, which the country produces in vast volumes and high quality, put it in a "unique position." This conviction, that China needs Australia's iron ore, is now buttressing his government's position. "It is a mutually beneficial relationship," Morrison said in his comments to Reuters. "Chinas economy is stronger because they have access to high quality energy, resources, agricultural goods and increasingly services from Australia. And our economy is stronger because we have access to high quality manufactured goods from China." So far, China hasn't mentioned iron ore as a potential target for reprisal. For good reason: Australia makes up 60% of China's imports of iron ore, crucial for powering an economy Beijing is trying to get back to full capacity after it was shuttered by the virus. Despite China's "bluster," it needs Australia, says former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, whose relationship with Beijing became increasingly icy during his tenure from 2015 to 2018. "If China suddenly came across a huge supply of iron ore, at appropriate grades, that they could extract at competitive prices, that was closer to them, they would be all over it - but there's not," he told Reuters. "Chinese companies do not buy Australian commodities, goods or services because they want to do this struggling little island nation a favor - they do it because it's good value, good quality." Responding to a question about its iron ore imports from Australia, China's foreign ministry said trade between the two nations was long established and based on market principles of supply and demand. China hopes Australia will "do more" that is "conducive to friendly exchanges and cooperation," the ministry said. It remains to be seen whether Australia's tougher stance provides a broader model for other mid-sized powers reliant on exports to China, however. Australia's iron ore would be hard for China to replace; other nations may lack such leverage. One former Australian leader, while supporting a firm position on China, questions the government's handling of the relationship. Former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said China is difficult to deal with and respects strength, but he is critical of the Morrison government's "rolling crises" with Beijing. Being "hairy chested on China" has become a competition for advancement in Morrison's Liberal Party, Rudd told Reuters. "China is never going to impose any economic measures against Australia which damage its own interests," said Rudd, a fluent Mandarin speaker and former diplomat in the Beijing embassy. But, he adds, Australia has vulnerabilities: Australian exports beyond iron ore that aren't essential to China could be targeted by Beijing, quickly adding up to an expensive toll. "The atmosphere in Australia does not lend itself to a reasoned discussion on the China relationship, because you are automatically defined as either a hawk or a panda hugger," Rudd said in an interview. SOURED SENTIMENT When the pandemic hit, Australia had already decided it was dealing with a more authoritarian and assertive Chinese government under Xi Jinping, and in the long-term needed to reduce its trade reliance on Beijing, diplomats and government officials told Reuters. The pandemic brought tensions into the open like never before, however. In previous bouts of friction, too, Beijing took punitive economic measures against Australia. But those penalties, such as holding up coal shipments or wine at its ports, were cloaked as customs technicalities. This time, China's ambassador to Canberra, Cheng Jingye, was unequivocal, threatening in an April 27 newspaper interview that in response to Australia's call for an inquiry, the Chinese public could boycott Australian wine, beef and tourism. Beijing then cautioned its students against choosing Australian universities, threatening a $27.5 billion market for educating foreign students. Morrison fired back with his strongest language on China since becoming prime minister. "We are an open-trading nation, mate, but I'm never going to trade our values in response to coercion from wherever it comes," he told Sydney radio station 2GB in June. Public sentiment toward China has soured. An annual poll by the Lowy Institute, a foreign policy research group, found that trust in China among Australians had plummeted to 23%, compared with 52% in 2018. The survey, released in June, found that 94% of respondents supported reducing economic reliance on China. The government's approach of working with other nations in the region to deal with China enjoys bipartisan support. "In our relationship with China, as with any country, we must always assert our values and our interests including transparency and sovereignty," the opposition Labor Party's foreign affairs spokeswoman, Senator Penny Wong, told Reuters. The United States is Australia's major security ally. But with the election of Donald Trump on an "America First" platform, the officials who have pushed a tougher line on China have also called for Australia to begin seeking wider alliances with so-called middle powers countries like Japan, India and Indonesia. "America under Trump is being seen as erratic, less reliable, and he has the habit of turning on allies from time to time," said Turnbull, who endured a tense call with Trump after the president took office in 2017. Trump grew irate when Turnbull asked if Trump planned to honor an agreement with predecessor Barack Obama to accept 1,250 refugees held in Australian detention centers on Pacific islands. The U.S. Embassy in Canberra declined to comment. THE ERA OF WIN-WIN Australia established diplomatic ties with Communist China in 1972, seven years before the United States fully recognized the People's Republic of China. Trade links with Beijing grew as Australia shipped iron ore, coal and liquefied natural gas to China, fueling the Chinese boom. The economic relationship peaked with the signing of a free trade agreement at the end of 2015 that lowered Chinese tariffs on agriculture, dairy and wine, and promised to open the door for Australian banking and other professional services to China's restricted market. But Australia was jolted within months of the signing when Beijing refused to recognise a 2016 international court ruling that China had no historical claim over disputed islands in the South China Sea. The Turnbull government joined Washington in rebuking China. Canberra was also becoming concerned by growing Chinese attempts at influence in Australia, particularly through political donations from Chinese businessmen to local politicians that had come to light. In December 2017, Turnbull introduced foreign interference laws to parliament. Among the activities the law aimed to curb were the Chinese Communist Party's covert influence over Chinese students on university campuses, interference by Beijing in local Chinese-language media, and attempts by China to shape decisions by Australian politicians, from local councils to federal members of parliament. A report on these and other Chinese activities prepared by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the country's national security agency, had "galvanized us to take action," Turnbull said at the time. Beijing reacted furiously to the foreign interference legislation and responded by freezing diplomatic visits. This included an end to annual leaders' visits. After the 2017 report by ASIO, defense and security agencies took over running China policy, along with key advisers in then-Prime Minister Turnbull's office, three former diplomats said. The foreign ministry, which preferred a lower-key approach, was sidelined. Cyber intrusions were becoming a major concern. Alastair MacGibbon, Turnbull's special adviser on cyber security and former head of the Australian Cyber Security Centre, told Reuters that China was probing companies to gather intelligence about resources or investment areas to benefit its state-owned enterprises. "China has very significant capability, and was making strategic grabs of what competitors, friends and foes were doing," said MacGibbon, who is now the chief strategy officer at CyberCX, a private cyber security firm. China's foreign ministry said cyber attacks are hard to trace and Australia needed to show evidence of Beijing's involvement. "In the absence of evidence, it is very irresponsible to unilaterally hype up cyber attack issues against other countries," the ministry said. RISE OF THE CHINA HAWKS In August 2018, Australia became the first country to effectively ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from its next-generation 5G telecom network on national security grounds. Turnbull, who co-founded Australia's first major internet service provider, explained the logic behind the move. "If Huawei were to provide your 5G network, or a large portion, does that give Huawei the capability to disrupt large parts of your economy? The answer is yes," Turnbull told Reuters. "Do you want to give a foreign state whose attitude to you may not always be benign the capability to inflict harm? The answer is no." Mike Burgess, then the head of the nation's technology intelligence agency, the Australian Signals Directorate, had advised Turnbull that the technology risk posed by Huawei couldn't be mitigated, Turnbull said. Burgess previously had worked at the defense intelligence base Pine Gap, a top secret U.S. satellite tracking and missile launch detection station in the Australian desert. Burgess declined to comment. Australian security officials raised their concerns about Huawei with Washington, which followed Canberra's lead, imposing a ban on the Chinese firm in May last year. Officials also traveled to Britain to explain Australia's position. The British were focused on Russian interference, MacGibbon said, but the Australian officials argued they also needed to understand the risk from China. Having initially decided Huawei would be allowed a limited role in its 5G network, the UK government reversed course in July, announcing it would ban the company from the country's 5G network by ordering telecom firms to remove its equipment by 2027. Huawei Australia said it did not engage in any efforts to interfere in the country's telecommunication networks and was taken by surprise when Turnbull moved against the company. "Up until that point we were in the process of competing for 5G business with all Australian network operators," Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei Australia's chief corporate affairs officer, told Reuters. China's foreign ministry said the Australian government banned Huawei "under the pretext of national security without any factual basis." One of the officials engaged with London over Huawei was Andrew Shearer, who moved from the Office of National Intelligence to be Morrison's cabinet secretary last year. He has become a powerful voice on China policy in the prime minister's inner circle and has urged closer engagement with Japan and India, government sources told Reuters. In June, Australia sealed a strategic partnership with India that granted the two countries access to each other's military bases and allowed for Australia to provide India with rare earths, metals that are crucial to defense and space programs. Shearer worked in Washington at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), an influential defense and security think tank, between 2016 and 2018. It was a time when attitudes towards Beijing were hardening among U.S. Republicans and Democrats, said CSIS senior vice president for Asia, Michael Green. Appearing before the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services in 2017, Shearer told members China was intent on undermining the liberal world order and the institutions that underpinned it. Shearer worked on issues including China's "gray zone" interference in the East and South China Seas - aggressive moves that stopped short of war, such as erecting and fortifying artificial islands. "We were looking for ways to harness alliances and partnerships to deter Beijing from escalating further," said Green, who formerly served on the U.S. National Security Council. That thinking was evident in Morrison's recent announcement that Australia will boost defense spending by 40% over the next decade. Morrison said his defense strategy would bolster Australia's ability to respond to "operations in the 'gray zone' - falling below the threshold of traditional armed conflict." Shearer declined to comment for this story. Richard Maude, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, led the government's 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, a major rethink of a world where China and the United States were more likely to clash. "Working with other middle powers, in our own region and globally, makes a lot of sense for Australia in the current environment. It helps show China we are not alone in our concerns," said Maude, a former intelligence agency director-general, who left the department of foreign affairs last year. "It is also a helpful rebuttal of China's narrative that Australia simply does what the United States asks of us." The sharpest public criticism of China has come from a bipartisan group of parliamentarians who call themselves the Wolverines, inspired by a group of teenagers who resist a Soviet invasion in the 1980s movie Red Dawn. The group, none of whom are in the cabinet, coalesced in 2019. The most prominent Wolverine is former special forces soldier and Liberal Party lawmaker Andrew Hastie, who chairs parliament's intelligence oversight committee. In August last year, Hastie compared the West's approach to an authoritarian China to the failure of France to stop the advance of Nazi Germany. China's foreign ministry said that some Australian politicians and think tanks had for some time been "spreading rumors to discredit China and severely poisoning the atmosphere of bilateral relations." Australia has pushed back against Chinese diplomats who object to public criticism of Beijing. Chinese envoys have been told by their Australian counterparts that domestic political debate and the media are beyond the control of the government in a democratic political system. 'AN AWAKENING' When China threatened economic retaliation over Australia's call for a coronavirus investigation in April, the phones started ringing in Trade Minister Simon Birmingham's office as industry heads called to express concern. But publicly, Australian business leaders stayed largely quiet. Iron ore miners have also been largely restrained, as they continued to ship Australia's most valuable resource, extracted from the red, dry dirt of the Western Australian Pilbara region, to Chinese steel makers. In June, Australian iron ore shipments hit a record AU$9.9 billion ($7.2 billion), pushing annual exports past AU$100 billion ($73.2 billion) for the first time, as the only rival supplier, Brazil's Vale, suffered COVID-19 shutdowns. "China needs our commodities - we do have some of the best iron ore in the world. It does mean Australia comes from a position of strength," Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia chief executive Paul Everingham told Reuters. At the same time, he added, the iron ore industry is uncomfortable with the newly "adversarial climate." In the wake of the 2018 diplomatic freeze, the national security agency and the ministry of foreign affairs held briefings for executives in industries exposed to China. The executives have been told that complaining would provide ammunition to Beijing for propaganda against the Australian government, said an agriculture industry source. Companies were advised instead to work with Australian officials to comply with the minutiae of Chinese red tape and expose Beijing's trade retaliation for what it was. The government also told industry it was seeking alternative markets for Australian goods, had negotiated access to Indonesia, and was in talks with Britain, Europe and India. The muted response from the business community is in contrast to 2018, when chief executives complained loudly that the Turnbull government's dispute with China risked damaging trade, and implored him to fly to Beijing to fix it. "So much of the Australian business community, faced with criticism or a difference of opinion between Australia and China, will side with China," Turnbull recalls of the situation he faced as prime minister. But, he adds, "there has been an awakening." (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Canberra. Edited by Peter Hirschberg.) Rick Thorburn, who is serving a life sentence for murdering his 12-year-old foster daughter Tiahleigh Palmer in 2015, will spend the night in hospital after being found "unresponsive" in his cell on Saturday morning. The prisoner was found in his one-person cell at Wolston Correctional Centre in Wacol in Brisbane's outer south-west and was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Rick Thorburn was arrested on September 20, 2016, and charged with the murder of Logan schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer, 11 months after she disappeared. Credit:Jorge Branco - Brisbane Times A Queensland Corrective Services spokeswoman said the prisoner was taken to hospital by paramedics after he was found during morning checks. By Monday night, a Metro South Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman confirmed Mr Thorburn remained in a critical but stable condition in the PA Hospital. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 18:05:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAABONG, Uganda, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Behind the misty rugged mount ranges in north eastern Uganda lays Kidepo Valley National Park. Kidepo, which ranks among Africa's finest wildernesses, shares a border with South Sudan and northwestern Kenya. The animals move back and forth across the borders with no hindrances as the 1,442 square km tree savannah stretches out to the horizon. The valley has two main rivers, Narus and Kidepo, which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife. During the dry season, tourists can drive through the dry river beds. In the wet season, the story is different. The rivers can quickly fill to their banks in just hours, as they carry excess water from up the hills that ring the park. The Ik, a hunter-gatherer ethnic group, whose survival is threatened and the Karamojong, a pastoral tribe are among the local communities near the park. Before the park was gazetted back in 1962, a story is told of how the elders were the deciders of when hunting of wild animals should take place. It is this regulated hunting that ensured the survival of the animals before the onset of poaching in later years, according to Francis Wacal, a warden at the park. Visitors to Kidepo have to brave a 700 km journey from the capital Kampala to enjoy the beauty of the flora and fauna of the park. One can also take a chartered flight to the park from Entebbe, 40 km south of Kampala. Besides the breathtaking scenery, you get to enjoy the sights of about 80 mammal species ranging from elephants, lions, cheetahs and over 400 bird species. Lions and Ostriches are a major highlight on a trip to Kidepo. After a three to four hour game drive, visitors retreat to the exquisite hotels in the park. These accommodation facilities range from luxury to budget, where one gets to swim and also enjoy a night camp fire as they listen to folk stories. At the Apoka Rest Camp, there is a resident elephant named Bull Bull. The giant animal loves alcohol and can smell it kilometers away, according to guides at the park. Great care however has to be taken because when it gets drunk, it can be destructive. The fire place is a great place to be before one heads to bed. The folk stories there are endless. Uganda reopened its savannah national parks in June after some three months of closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in the country on March 21. The country's tourism revenue dropped drastically, with government predicting that it may lose all the over 1.6 million U.S. dollars the country earns from the sector annually. After putting in place the standard operating procedures, government agreed to the reopening of the parks. All tourists must adhere to the procedures if they are to visit any park. While the country's Entebbe International Airport remains closed because of fear of importing COVID-19 cases, domestic tourism is on the rise. Taddeo Rusoke, founder of Inside Africa Safaris-Uganda, told Xinhua in a recent interview that his firm has resorted to online campaigns to attract domestic tourists to destinations like Kidepo. The managers of the park say that since the country started easing COVID-19 restrictions, many Ugandans are thronging the park unlike before when foreign tourists contributed a big percent of arrivals. To boost the arrivals, Uganda Wildlife Authority, a state owned wildlife conservation agency, reduced the tariff rates to all parks in the country. Enditem S ilvio Berlusconi, the former Italian Prime Minister, is in the most delicate phase of Covid-19 treatment after being diagnosed with the virus this week, his doctor has said. Mr Berlusconi, 83, is responding "optimally" to treatment but is at high risk from the virus because of his age, the doctor added. Dr Alberto Zangrillo, head of intensive care at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, said despite the risks he was cautiously optimistic about the three-time Prime Minister's recovery. The patient is responding optimally to treatment, he said. This doesnt mean we can claim victory because, as you know, he belongs to the most fragile category given his age, he added. The San Raffaele clinic in Milan / Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images Dr Zangrillo also suggested Mr Berlusconi would not be released anytime soon, recalling that the virus requires adequate treatment and takes its time. Mr Berlusconi has had a history of heart problems and was fitted with a pacemaker several years ago. He checked into San Raffaele on Friday, when Dr Zangrillo said he had the early stages of a lung infection. Mr Berlusconi is believed to be in a VIP ward of the clinic Mr Berlusconi in 2019 / AFP via Getty Images Men aged 80-87 have the highest Covid-19 death rate among all cases in Italy, at 47 per cent, according to data from Italys Superior Institute of Health. Mr Berlusconi spent some of his summer holiday at his seaside villa on Sardinias Emerald Coast where many of Italys recent cases of Covid-19 have been traced to. Dr Zangrillo, Mr Berlusconis longtime doctor, was criticised for asserting at the end of May that clinically speaking the virus doesnt exist anymore. He has since acknowledged that statement was too strong and off-key and was based merely on observing that fewer patients required intensive care at the time. (Natural News) Once upon a time, the billionaire Koch Brothers were reliable funders of Republican causes but that appears to have changed now that the head of the party is a fellow billionaire the bros did not choose. In other words, the Koch Brothers never were conservatives or constitutionalists: They are and have always been elitist establishment RINOs who are no different from Left-wing billionaires in that they do what is necessary to protect their own fiefdoms. As Big League Politics reports, the bros are actually siding with Antifa, which is linked to Marxist-anarchy of the sort that George Soros has been pushing, and perhaps even funding, the chaos on Americas streets. The Koch-funded Reason Magazine has published an article claiming that its not really necessary for the federal government to investigate whether or if Antifa is being funded: Reason writer Robby Soave wrote his pro-ANTIFA article after a mob of domestic terrorists attacked Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and his wife outside of the Republican National Convention last week. After the attack, Paul and others called for Antifas funding to be investigated at the federal level. My question is: Who are these people? Who paid for their hotel rooms? Who flew them in? Law enforcement needs to look at the funding of violent criminal activity like this, Paul said in an interview after the horrific incident. And national Democrats need to confront it. Its organized. Its paid for. Its violent. Its not about Black lives or any lives; its about anarchy and destruction. The American people are starting to catch on and grow tired of it, Paul continued. Other Republicans have also demanded that funding sources for the Leftist anarchists be investigated as well, including Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado. The Justice Department needs to open an investigation into who is funding these violent riots, he wrote on Twitter Aug. 30. The Justice Department needs to open an investigation into who is funding these violent riots. Congressman Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) August 30, 2020 But Soave claimed that its not the federal governments job to protect our homeland from domestic terrorists like Antifa. He argued that the notion that the violent protests cropping up in U.S. cities are funded by a secret, shadowy cabal is a myth. People engaged in militant, far-left activism may travel from city to city, and they may be loosely connected with other activists in a semi-organized fashion, but they probably arent sitting on some secret pile of money, Soave wrote. Probably. So how would Soave know? Does he have deep State Department, Justice Department, and FBI contacts? Is he privy to intelligence briefings? Does he have some otherworldly telepathic capability not possessed by any other human? Because for one, Attorney General William Barr would disagree with him that theres no outside influence helping to foment the protests. (Related: BOMBSHELL: Organization funding BLM, Antifa terrorism linked to Biden campaign.) In fact, he said way back in June that foreign entities were involved. And in fact, Barr called out Antifa by name. ABC News reported June 4: Attorney General William Barr said Thursday that the the federal government has evidence that the radical left-wing antifa movement as well as other extremist groups have hijacked legitimate protests around the country to incite violence, and said certain foreign actors are seizing on the unrest to sow discord in the U.S. While many have peacefully expressed their anger and grief, others have hijacked protests to engage in lawlessness, violent rioting, arson, looting of businesses, and public property assaults on law enforcement officers and innocent people, and even the murder of a federal agent, Barr said. We have evidence that Antifa and other similar extremist groups, as well as actors of a variety of different political persuasions have been involved in instigating and participating in the violent activity. But the Koch Bros appear to be turning into Bernie Bros; one of their preferred media outlets is trying to claim that what Barr himself has said is nothing but a tinfoil hat conspiracy. Pathetic. Sources include: BigLeaguePolitics.com ABCNews.com NaturalNews.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 23:24:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A coal mine collapsed in a county in Iran's southwestern province of Kerman on Sunday, killing at least four miners and injuring another, IRIB state TV reported. The Tunnel 2 of the Hojedk coal mine, located in Kuhsaran district of Ravar county in northern Kerman, collapsed at about 11:30 a.m. local time (0700 GMT), IRIB quoted Malek Azhdari, governor of Ravar, as saying. At first, rescue units found one corpse and took one injured miner out of the tunnel, hours before three more dead workers were found, Azhdari added. "The inspection team of the General Department of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare in Kerman Province is investigating the reasons of the incident, the outcome of which will be announced later," the governor said. Enditem Inside Hook One of the more unexpected aspects of pandemic-era popular culture has been the increasing popularity of drive-in movie theaters. Its not that strange when you think about it: people do enjoy going to the movies, and drive-ins provide a risk-free way of seeing both first-run movies and old favorites on the big screen. As it turn out, the United States isnt the only country embracing drive-ins. And in the UK, a high-profile drive-in is coming to a storied location with a royal pedigree literally. Queen Elizabeths home, the Sandringham Estate, is set to host a number of screenings beginning in late September. As Alexandra Del Rosario writes in an article for Deadline, the screenings are a subset of a larger group of events held on the estate that are open to the public including apple-picking and a Christmas fair. Once a role model in the fight against Covid-19, Israel decided Sunday to partially lock down several cities to slow the fast-spreading contagion as the government faces harsh criticism over the crisis. The government's ministerial committee on coronavirus decided to impose "a nightly closure" on 40 cities and towns with the highest infection rates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. He said "educational institutions" would be closed with the exception of special education centres, and gatherings limited to 10 people in closed spaces and 20 outdoors. "I know these limitations are not easy, but in the current situation, there's no way to avoid them," Netanyahu said of the restrictions set to begin on Monday. Israel passed the milestone of 1,000 novel coronavirus deaths this weekend after the toll tripled over the summer, fuelling regular protests against Netanyahu's management of the health crisis and associated economic downturn. The dead were commemorated by Yediot Aharonot, Israel's top-selling daily newspaper, which covered its front page with the names of the victims and called out the "shameful failure of the management of the crisis since May". Israel was seen as an early success story in stemming coronavirus infections, but new lockdown restriction are expected to be declared after a surge of cases / AFP According to data collected by AFP, the Jewish state has risen to be ranked fifth in the world for the number of infections per capita over the past two weeks, ahead of hard-hit countries Brazil and the United States. On Wednesday, the country with a population of under nine million confirmed a record 3,141 new infections in a single day. The ballooning cases stood in contrast to the low number of infections recorded in the early stages of the pandemic. - 'In the red' - Many Israelis have observed restrictions to stop coronavirus spreading, including ensuring people keep their distance as they pray, but cases continue to grow / AFP When the first virus cases emerged in March, the government took swift action, cancelling almost all international flights, shutting down non-essential businesses and placing the country under lockdown for weeks. By mid-May, after zero cases were recorded for two consecutive days, the government moved to expedite the reopening of schools, bars, eateries and places of worship, as well as allowing weddings under limitations. Infection numbers began rising within days of loosening restrictions and since July the number of cases have risen to more than 130,000. Some said the increase was due to lifting measures too quickly, coupled with insufficient economic assistance that pushed people back into work. Others blamed disorganisation in the healthcare system. As part of efforts to control the public health crisis, the government divided the country's cities and towns into four colour-coded categories -- green, yellow, orange and red -- based on infection rates. The 40 cities and towns subject to the closure were the "red" ones. "If the closure is in our interest and to not spread the disease further among people, then there is no problem, even if there is suffering due to the closure", said Imad, a resident of the Muslim quarter in Jerusalem's Old City. Israel's army will deploy 7,000 reserve troops to bolster police forces in "red" cities. "We must put an end to indifference and disregard" for protocols, said Ronni Gamzu, chief doctor in the Covid-19 fight. Gamzu highlighted a need in particular for vigilance in ultra-Orthodox and Arab communities, where case numbers have been notably high and adherence to health protocols patchy. Mayors of four major ultra-Orthodox cities expressed outrage over the intention to lock down their cities in a harshly-worded letter to Netanyahu, saying they will not cooperate with authorities. In an attempt to assuage their anger, Netanyahu denied discriminating against their cities. "A 'red' city is not designated as such out of malice or arbitrarily, it's designated based on scientific data -- the number of sick people, the infection rate," he said in a video. "Currently the focus is in Arab and ultra-Orthodox locales." Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz called on Sunday for sweeping lockdown measures, saying on public radio that "with 3,000 cases a day, there are no 'green' cities". Israeli comedians, wearing masks bearing the portraits of leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stage a fake cabinet meeting protesting the government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic / AFP "There is no choice but to close everything, it is better to lock down the whole country for two weeks and become a 'green' country again than to stay in the red for months," he added. But other key figures in Netanyahu's unity government fear the economic repercussions of locking down the whole country. On top of that, the government could face pressure not to impose nationwide restrictions from the ultra-Orthodox community. It is opposed to measures that would close places of worship ahead of the Jewish festivals of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur later in September. There are 8,62,320 active cases of COVID-19 in the country accounting for only 20.96 percent of the total caseload, the health ministry highlighted. With a record 73,642 patients having recuperated in a day, India's COVID-19 recoveries have surged to nearly 32 lakh, pushing the recovery rate to 77.32 percent while the case fatality rate, one of the lowest globally, has further dropped to 1.72 percent as on date, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. There are 8,62,320 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country accounting for only 20.96 percent of the total caseload, it highlighted. "The spike in the daily recovered COVID-19 patients continues in the country. For the second successive day, India has clocked a record recovery of more than 70,000 patients in a single day," the ministry said. The rise in the recovery rate comes as metro rail services in Delhi and Bengaluru prepare to partially resume services from Monday. The Delhi Metro will resume services in three stages from Monday, even as it appealed to people to use the rapid transport only if urgently needed. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd too will resume its services from Monday in a phased manner, after remaining suspended for almost 6 months in view of national lockdown imposed due to coronavirus pandemic. The total coronavirus cases mounted to 41,13,811, while the death toll climbed to 70,626 with the novel coronavirus virus claiming 1,065 lives in a span of 24 hours in the country, the data updated at 8 am showed. A record 90,632 people were infected by the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Centre has asked all states and Union Territories to ensure necessary follow up of its updated advisory on COVID-19 testing strategy, allowing 'testing on-demand', to achieve a higher number of examination with greater flexibility and simplicity. The 'Advisory on Strategy for COVID-19 Testing in India' (version VI) lists the scope for testing in containment zones, non-containment areas, in hospitals, and also for the first time provides for testing on-demand with simplified modalities to be decided by the states and Union Territories. It also indicates the choice of testing in order of priority for each of the settings. Five states, one UT asked to scale up testing The Centre has asked 5 states and one UT from where 35 districts have been reporting high active COVID-19 caseload and fatality rate to strengthen containment measures and scale up testing to bring down positivity rate below five per cent. These 35 districts comprise all 11 districts in Delhi, Kolkata, Howrah, North 24 Parganas and 24 South Parganas in West Bengal; Pune, Nagpur, Thane, Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Kolhapur, Sangli, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Raigad, Jalgaon, Solapur, Satara, Palghar, Aurangabad, Dhule and Nanded in Maharashtra; Surat in Gujarat; Pondicherry in Puducherry and East Singhbhum in Jharkhand. In a review meeting held on Saturday, they were asked to ensure strict perimeter control, strengthen the active case search focusing on comorbids and elderly population, early identification by ramping up testing and optional utilization of RT-PCR testing capacity to break the chain of transmission of the disease, the Health ministry said on Sunday. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan held the review meeting through video conference (VC) with health secretaries of five states and one UT on the containment and management of COVID-19 in 35 districts under their jurisdiction. The district collectors and other functionaries were advised to prepare and update district specific plans to continue their efforts to manage the pandemic. The states were also advised to effectively monitor home isolation cases and early hospitalisation in case of disease progression, seamless hospitalisation and early admission for patients requiring medical support, especially in cases of comorbid and elderly population, besides following effective infection control measures in hospitals to safeguard healthcare workers from contracting the infection. Metro services to resume in Delhi, Bengaluru After being closed for over five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi Metro is all set to resume services from Monday. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) authorities on Sunday reiterated that stations located in containment zones, as per the status on the day of journey, will remain closed. Officials of the urban transporter had earlier cautioned that "trains may not stop at some of the stations" if social distancing norms are not adhered to by passengers. The Delhi Metro services will be resumed in a staggered manner in three stages from 7-12 September, with the Yellow Line or Line 2 connecting Samyapur Bali in Delhi to HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon and the Rapid Metro to be the first ones to be made operational on 7 September. Trains will operate in batches of four-hour each from 7-11 am in the morning and 4-8 pm in the evening in the first stage, officials said. The Bangalore Metro will also resume its services from Monday in a phased manner. The first run will start on the Purple Line from Monday while the trains on Green Line will operate from 9 September. In the Purple Line, the trains will run for six hours till 10 September only during the peak hours three hours in the morning from 8 am to 11 am and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm. In the Green Line, the trains will operate for two days only during peak hours three hours in the morning and three in the evening. From 11 September onwards, the trains will ply on both the lines from 7 am to 9 pm. "The number of commuters allowed in each train is limited to 400 passengers to ensure social distancing norms," a BMRCL official said. According to BMRCL, the dwell time in each station will be 60 seconds so that passengers shall maintain social distancing while boarding and deboarding. At the Kempe Gowda interchange station, the dwell time will be 75 seconds. State-wise figures Of the 1,065 fresh deaths, 312 are from Maharashtra, 128 from Karnataka, 81 from Uttar Pradesh, 71 from Andhra Pradesh, 69 from Punjab, 61 from Tamil Nadu, 58 from West Bengal, 34 from Bihar, 30 from Madhya Pradesh, 25 from Delhi, 22 from Haryana, 19 from Chhattisgarh, 18 each from Puducherry and Uttarakhand, 15 each from Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand. Fourteen fatalities have been reported from Rajasthan, 11 from Kerala, nine each from Goa and Telangana, eight from Tripura, seven each from Assam and Odisha, four from Himachal Pradesh while Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Manipur and Meghalaya have registered one fatality each. Of the total 70,626 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 26,276 followed by 7,748 in Tamil Nadu, 6,298 in Karnataka, 4,538 in Delhi, 4,347 in Andhra Pradesh, 3,843 in Uttar Pradesh, 3,510 in West Bengal, 3,091 in Gujarat and 1,808 in Punjab. So far, 1,543 people have died of COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh, 1,122 in Rajasthan, 886 in Telangana, 781 in Haryana, 770 in Jammu and Kashmir, 735 in Bihar, 538 in Odisha, 462 in Jharkhand, 356 in Chhattisgarh, 352 in Assam, 337 in Kerala and 330 in Uttarakhand. Puducherry has registered 298 fatalities, Goa 229, Tripura 144, Chandigarh 69, Himachal Pradesh 54, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 50, Manipur 36, Ladakh 35, Meghalaya 15, Nagaland 10, Arunachal Pradesh eight, Sikkim five and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two. Kerala finance minister tests positive Kerala Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac tested COVID-19 positive on Sunday. Isaac was tested positive in an antigen test done on Sunday evening. He is the first minister in the cabinet to test positive for the virus. His office staff also underwent antigen test and are found to be COVID negative. Those who came in direct contact with the minister were asked to go in quarantine. His office will be disinfected on Monday. With inputs from agencies Sept 6 (Reuters) - The Canadian government will extend its coronavirus rent-relief program for small businesses into September, the Globe and Mail reported late on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the policy discussions. Officials in the government are also working on options to reform the program, the website reported, adding that the extension of the program was meant to be an interim measure. No-one was immediately available to verify the report. The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance Program offered loans to landlords of entrepreneurs worth half the tenant's rent from April through August, if tenants pay a quarter and the landlord absorbs the remaining quarter. However, the program requires landlords to apply, which has prompted low uptake and left many tenants powerless to get relief as their landlords refuse to make applications. Canada had also rolled out the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to offer broad support to the millions of Canadians who lost their jobs amid coronavirus shutdowns. The government put the CERB program in place because the traditional employment insurance (EI) system could not handle the rapid influx of new applicants as millions of people were laid off, or lost work hours, due to COVID-19. Many people also did not qualify for traditional EI. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 16:20:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines has so far secured a total of 8.83 billion U.S. dollars in borrowings, loans and grant assistance for the government's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) response efforts from its development partners and the commercial markets, the country's Department of Finance (DOF) said on Sunday. Of the total amount, the DOF said 5.98 billion U.S. dollars is budget support financing from the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the French Development Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. A total of 2.35 billion U.S. dollars was sourced from the government's latest global bond offering that fetched its lowest ever coupon in the U.S. dollar market, the DOF added. The DOF said the remaining 496.36 million U.S. dollars is from grant and loan financing from the Philippines' development partners for various COVID-19 specific projects. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that total government borrowings for 2020 and 2021 are projected to reach 3 trillion pesos (roughly 61.7 billion U.S. dollars) to support priority expenditures necessary for the country's swift recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and public investments in infrastructure and social services. Dominguez added that borrowings are expected to settle at 2.3 trillion pesos (roughly 47.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2022, with funding in favor of domestic sources. He said the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio is projected to settle at 54 percent this year, 58 percent in 2021, and 60 percent in 2022. Dominguez added that these projections are still lower when compared to the country's all-time high debt level of 71.6 percent of GDP in 2004. In 2019, he said the debt-to-GDP ratio fell to a historic low at 39.6 percent, "owing to President Rodrigo Duterte's prudent cash and debt management policy backed by steady economic growth." COVID-19, however, forced the government to impose the necessary lockdowns to save lives and protect communities, which, expectedly, led to nationwide work stoppages and a subsequent drastic contraction of the economy that overturned most of the economic gains, he said. The lockdowns severely curtailed economic activities and muted the government's revenue-generation capacity, with total revenue collection reaching only 1.7 trillion pesos (roughly 35 billion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of 2020, or 7 percent lower than the revenue take in the same period last year, with 85 percent of the revenues coming from tax collections, and equivalent to a negative growth of 12 percent. Increased government spending amid lower revenue collection pushed the fiscal deficit to 700.6 billion pesos (roughly 14.4 billion U.S. dollars) in the first seven months of the year, which is six times higher compared to that in the same period in 2019. "The effects of this pandemic would have been much worse had it caught us in a weak fiscal position. Fortunately, when it hit us, we had sufficient means to fight the battle and ramp up public spending," Dominguez said. The Philippines now has 237,365 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 184,687 recoveries and 3,875 deaths. Enditem Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar was on Saturday caught off guard by private school teachers who asked him to buy homemade noodles. The teachers have not been paid their salaries since the beginning of the lockdown period and survived on doing several odd jobs, including noodle-making. They decided to observe Teachers Day as a black day and protested against the state government for failing to safeguard their interests. When Kumar arrived at the Shikshakara Sadana on KG Road to take part in the Teachers' Day celebrations, the protesting teachers wished him on the occasion and asked him to buy homemade noodles to support their livelihood. A protesting teacher told DH, Noodle-making helped us to survive for a few months. The school management did not pay our salaries and the government, too, did not come to our rescue. A few (teachers) even made pickle, pappad, and condiments to survive in the last five to six months. So, we confronted the minister with the reality by attempting to sell noodles, the teacher added. Problems will be solved by the evening: Minister Addressing the teachers, the minister assured that he would solve their issues by the evening. Accordingly, the state government issued orders to all the DDPIs, BEOs, and schools to complete the students' admission process by September 30. The order also asked schools not to charge the students more than what was paid last year. Meanwhile, hundreds of teachers and management representatives of private schools led by the Associated Management of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) staged protests across the state asking for the state governments intervention to safeguard the interests of private teachers. They also asked the government to release the pending dues to the schools under the RTE Act. Tony OBrien said that those that need or have been offered a flu vaccine should avail of it. Photo: Doug O'Connor FORMER HSE director general Tony OBrien has said if the Covid-19 figures increase in Irish hospitals, the country would be facing a catastrophic winter. Mr OBrien called for the Government to provide all the necessary funding the HSE asks for during the winter period to ensure the system is able to cope. The former HSE chief spoke in the aftermath of three wards being closed at Beaumont Hospital due to Covid-19 outbreaks. Read More Mr OBrien made it clear that bed blocking could not be allowed while he warned overcrowding could not be tolerated during a pandemic when social distancing is vital. Mr OBrien said if the figures increased in hospitals: We would be looking at a catastrophic winter - its really important the HSE is given all the resources it needs from the Government. If the health system isn't sustainable, the social and economic implications are enormous. Covid-19 isnt going to go away anytime soon. The reason our shutdown had to be so quick was to keep the curve down, we know the challenges of the health service to cope is even greater. Hopefully within a week, a winter plan will be agreed for additional beds, rehab beds, community respiratory assessment hubs, more diagnostic ability... so there's no financial barrier to moving on to nursing homes or home care. Mr OBrien told RTE Radio 1 that hospital beds are for those who only really need them. Imagine overcrowding when we are trying to keep 2m apart, it would be unacceptable. What the HSE needs to improve its situation, it needs to be given, for the sake of all of us. Mr OBrien said the public had to continue being highly vigilant to help protect the health system and communities. This meant there had to be the consistent wearing of masks, maintaining social distance, hand hygiene and coughs in elbows, he said. And he warned if there was to be a bad flu season this would also be enormously challenging". This will help to prevent influenza , if we had a bad inf season it would be enormously challenging for the HSE. We all need to be really conscious of all the things weve been focused on to an even greater extent. Those that need or have been offered a flu vaccine should avail of it, Mr OBrien added, to assist in taking the strain off the health system. And he added that every member of the public should look after their health this winter, to help the system cope through the winter. The flu vaccine is very important in how we look after ourselves, he added. Mr OBrien said he always availed of the flu vaccine and said those who are immunosuppressed and have other health conditions leaving them more likely to be vulnerable to flu, should get the injection. Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised former President John Mahama for presiding over a government that wasted taxpayers' funds in implementing the development agenda under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised former President John Mahama for presiding over a government that wasted taxpayers' funds in implementing the development agenda under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). He expressed regret at the manner in which the previous government, led by former President Mahama, exploited the poor people of the north and wasted millions of dollars in the guise of developing the northern parts of the country. SADA was a governments agency responsible for coordinating a comprehensive development agenda for the Savannah ecological zones. Addressing a durbar in his honour by the chiefs and people of Tatale Traditional Area, Dr Bawumia described the SADA as "a monumental and inexplicable waste of taxpayer resources," asking; "Where is the legacy of SADA?" "They said they have invested in tree planting. We say where are the trees? They say they have all been burnt by fire." Vice President Bawumia said unlike former President Mahama, President Akufo-Addo had proven to be a leader who truly cared about development for all, saying; "President Akufo-Addo is a leader who talks development and does development". "This is why you're seeing all these projects across Tatale Sanguli and other parts of the north," he said. Dr Bawumia said the Akufo-Addo Administration had performed better within three and half years than what the Mahama-led government did in eight years. He, therefore, urged the chiefs and people to continue to support President Akufo-Addo to develop the north and change their fortunes for the better. "Former President Mahama failed you and he is now telling you to give him another chance as against someone who is already doing the job," Dr Bawumia said, and, thus, urged them not to allow themselves to be deceived by the juicy promises by the National Democratic Congress Flagbearer. 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 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Hundreds of Staten Island children and families from the Clifton area and surrounding communities received book bags and supplies for the new school year during the Back to School Bash on Friday. Between buildings 185 and 225 Park Avenue, NYC Cops and Kids, Empowerment Zone Inc., and Youth Strategies Division sponsored the Back to School Bash. Families received 300 donated school bags and supplies from Melissa Adkins of Emblem Health and face masks from the Central Family Life Centers YouthBuild SI and True to Life programs. Simon Harris said he intends to give more powers to the Higher Education Authority to strengthen their role in overseeing the implementation of the frameworks in each institution, to make consent classes available to everyone, as well as a public awareness campaign (stock photo) The president of University College Dublin, Andrew Deeks, has apologised to assistant professor Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain and has pledged a major shake-up of how bullying and harassment is dealt with on the campus after she publicly described her ordeal at the college. Dr Ni Shuilleabhain, a broadcaster and lecturer, spoke about her two-year ordeal of sexual harassment at UCD in an interview with The Irish Times in which she detailed a number of disturbing interactions between herself and a male professor between 2015 and 2017. The professor was subsequently charged with harassment and barred from contacting Dr Ni Shuilleabhain for five years. He no longer works at the college. Expand Close SORRY: President of UCD Andrew Deeks has apologised to Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain over harassment at the college / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp SORRY: President of UCD Andrew Deeks has apologised to Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain over harassment at the college In a statement released to the Sunday Independent last night, Mr Deeks said he was "greatly saddened" by Dr Ni Shuilleabhain's experience and said: "I apologise to Aoibhinn on behalf of UCD." He added: "I also apologise to other colleagues and students who have suffered such experiences while in our care." Mr Deeks said he is now undertaking "a core procedural shift" which means the university will have the authority to instigate an investigation without ever receiving a formal complaint going forward. Currently the university can only investigate when there is a formal complaint made. Other measures Mr Deeks is proposing include "clarifying" the relationship between informal and formal internal complaints and complaints to An Garda Siochana. The university will also introduce bystander intervention training, which will form a key part of orientation for all new undergraduate students later this month. Expand Close Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain. Photo: Conor McKeown / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain. Photo: Conor McKeown Mr Deeks said: "The university is committed to learning from the experience both of staff and students." He said it is his wish to make the university "a safe, respectful and inclusive place for all". Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris said there must be zero-tolerance approach to sexual violence and harassment in all third level institutions. Mr Harris said he had met with Dr Ni Shuilleabhain and she has his complete and utter respect and gratitude for what she has done by speaking out publicly. "She shouldn't have had to endure what she endured. And we need to make sure it never happens again," said the minister in a live stream on Twitter. He acknowledged that sexual harassment is not a problem confined to third level colleges, but that he wants the sector to lead the way by adopting a "zero-tolerance approach". "So let me be clear. If there are any old dinosaurs out there in the system, your day is gone. Third level, the higher education sector, the further education sector, is to be an environment of respect, inclusion, tolerance and safety." Mr Harris stated he has written to the president of every university and higher education institution in Ireland asking them to produce an action plan on tackling sexual violence and harassment at their institutions. He said he intends to give more powers to the Higher Education Authority to strengthen their role in overseeing the implementation of the frameworks in each institution, to make consent classes available to everyone, as well as a public awareness campaign. Dr Ni Shuilleabhain told The Irish Times that, as a result of the harassment by the professor, she had been frightened of being alone on campus and unnerved almost to the point of abandoning her successful academic career. She said she decided to speak out about her experience in order to draw attention to the harassment of female university academics and students on university campuses in Ireland. She said it is vital that victims of harassment are encouraged to report their experiences. The incidents she experienced included the professor turning up to her office in an agitated state, repeatedly asking her out on dates, phoning her persistently and sending her unsolicited emails. A patient who has recovered from COVID-19 greets doctors at Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Aug 19, which was Medical Workers' Day. ZHAO JUN/FOR CHINA DAILY BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting to commend role models in China's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning in Beijing. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will present medals to outstanding individuals, and deliver a speech at the meeting, which will be held at the Great Hall of the People at 10 am Tuesday. The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group and on xinhuanet.com. It will also be rebroadcast simultaneously on major news websites including people.com.cn, cctv.com and china.com.cn, as well as on news apps run by the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and China Central Television. But there are ways to limit the potential chaos strategies that many states still have not adopted. One is to allow state officials to begin processing absentee ballots before Election Day. Many states do not permit election workers even to begin checking voter signatures on absentee ballot envelopes, a laborious step, before Election Day. The legislature in key battleground Pennsylvania where the number of mail-in ballots jumped by 18 times in its primary this year, relative to four years before is advancing a bill that would allow officials to begin conducting the initial pre-canvassing three days before Nov. 3. This is encouraging not only because the change might reduce the delay in a crucial swing state but also because Republicans control Pennsylvanias legislature. Maybe, unlike so many other voting issues, this one does not have to be a partisan question. Officials say overthrown leader detained by military rulers who unseated him is visiting UAE for medical treatment. Malis overthrown President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has left the country seeking medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates, officials have said, as talks over a transition to civilian rule after last months military coup got off to a chaotic start. Keita, 75, was hospitalised in the capital Bamako on Tuesday, six days after he was released from detention by the military rulers, who seized power on August 18. His former chief of staff, Mamadou Camara, told the Reuters news agency Keita left Bamako on Saturday evening on a plane chartered by the UAE at the request of Malis military rulers. It is a medical visit of between 10 and 15 days, Camara said. 200830123003087 Meanwhile, a diplomat who asked to stay anonymous, told The Associated Press news agency Keita left Mali with his wife, Aminata Maiga Keita, an attache, two doctors and four security agents. Keitas health has been in question since he was hospitalised following his detention for 10 days by the army. His current medical condition is unclear. He had a benign tumour removed from his neck in 2016. Keita, who was first elected in 2013, had three years left in his term when mutinous soldiers detained him at his residence after firing shots outside the house. Hours later, he appeared in a midnight broadcast on state television, telling Malians he would resign immediately so no blood would be shed for him to stay in power. Talks commenced West African leaders, fearing the coup could set a precedent that would undermine their power and an international fight against rebels in the wider Sahel region, initially insisted Keita be restored to power. However, they have since dropped that demand and are now calling for elections within a year: A timeline the military government, the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), has not committed to. Talks over the shape of the transition period opened on Saturday with hundreds of representatives from the military government, political parties and civil society groups attending an opening ceremony in Bamako. 200905144249430 However, less than an hour after it began, supporters of the M5-RFP coalition, which led mass demonstrations against Keita before the coup, began to protest, accusing the military rulers of excluding them from most working groups. M5-RFP supporters in the conference hall shouted down the moderator onstage, bringing proceedings to a halt. The moderator later announced the M5-RFP would be able to participate in all of the working groups, which calmed the coalitions supporters and allowed the event to resume. The talks, which are also being held in regional capitals across Mali, are scheduled to continue on Sunday and then resume again late next week. European banks have grown wary of financing commodity traders, raising borrowing costs and endangering smaller firms in the market for raw materials. ABN Amro Bank NV is pulling out of trade and commodity finance altogether. ING Groep NV will likely enforce stricter monitoring and control over commodity deals it finances to reduce risks, said a person familiar with the matter. BNP Paribas SA, formerly a powerhouse in commodity-trade finance, is scaling back, a person familiar with the company said. Banks are responding to the rout in oil prices, a spate of alleged frauds, a drift into riskier forms of lending and investor pressure over climate change. Their retreat is likely to concentrate the business of transporting oil, metal and grain in the hands of large traders that still have access to cheap funding. View Full Image Commodity trade finance Smaller traders, in contrast, are finding it increasingly difficult to borrow from banks, prompting some of them to seek out new sources of financing. That could come from their larger rivals or from trade-finance funds. Some will be pushed out of business altogether, according to industry executives, bankers and lawyers. The biggest impact will be on smaller players," said Jarek Kozlowski, chief financial officer at power-and-gas trader TrailStone Group. They will have difficulty finding funding." Banks fund traders through traditional forms of trade finance such as letters of credita payment guarantee to suppliersas well as revolving-credit and borrowing-base facilities. In doing so, they grease the supply chains that ship oil, metal and grain from producers to consumers. Trading houses rely on borrowed money because the cargoes they handle can be worth tens of millions of dollars. Higher funding costs pose a danger because they run on thin margins. Commodity trading is already dominated by a clutch of global players, including European traders Vitol Group, Trafigura Group Pte. Ltd. and Mercuria Energy Group Ltd., and U.S. agricultural giants Archer Daniels Midland Co., Bunge Ltd. and Cargill Inc. Banks will keep competing to lend to large traders, preventing a large rise in their borrowing costs, said Philip Prowse, a partner who specializes in commodities trade finance at law firm HFW in London. View Full Image Crude oil prices this year The big traders are very resilient and will always be well-supplied by the big banks," said Mr. Prowse. There will be very little left for the traders beneath that very large size." A drop in competition could help boost margins at the largest traders by enabling them to charge more from oil refiners, copper smelters and other customers while paying less for commodities, said Craig Pirrong, a finance professor at the University of Houston. Doing so could raise prices for end consumers and put more pressure on commodity producers, such as miners and energy companies. Smaller traders are more exposed. Banks have become more cautious about lending to them since a series of blowups earlier this year, said Marie-Christine Olive, Citigroups head of natural resources for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Theres a flight to quality," said Ms. Olive. How many [commodity traders] will be left?" Singapore energy trader Hin Leong Trading Pte. Ltd. was placed under judicial management in April, owing $3.5 billion, mostly to banks. Founder Lim Oon Kuin was charged with abetment of forgery in August. Other traders to hit financial trouble include GP Global Group, a trading, refining and logistics company in the United Arab Emirates. In July, GP said it would restructure after finding itself unable to get full support from a few financial institutions" despite constantly seeking credit lines to fund its trading activity. An external restructuring officer at FTI Consulting is hopeful that an agreement with creditors will be reached, a GP spokesperson said. Several of this years implosionsincluding those of Hontop Energy (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and ZenRock Commodities Trading Pte. Ltd.have taken place in Singapore. That has raised concern about the city-states oversight of trading firms. Regulations designed to make the financial system safer after the 2007-2009 crisis have made low-risk, high-volume trade finance less attractive, according to John MacNamara, chief executive of consulting firm Carshalton Commodities Ltd. This prompted banks to take greater risks by lending on an unsecured basis, skimping on due diligence, and insuring a smaller portion of their loans. Banks have rather dropped their trousers to get new business in terms of trade finance," Mr. MacNamara said. The unintended consequence of Basel III was we took more risks." The threat of sanctions has also prompted banks to retreat, said Mr. Prowse. BNP Paribas shrank its business after pleading guilty to crimes of violating U.S. sanctions in 2014. Commodity-trade finance isnt the money spinner it once was. Revenue has slid over the past five years, and the coronavirus pandemic dealt another blow. Turnover from commodity-trade finance dropped to $1.7 billion in the first half of 2020, down almost a third from the same period last year, according to Coalition, which tracks data on banks. Then there is pressure from investors on European banks to reduce the amount they lend to carbon-intensive industries, a particular issue for companies that earn most of their money from coal. Natixis SA, for example, in May said it would withdraw from the thermal-coal sector in members of the European Union and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development by 2030. Societe Generale SA remains committed to the business of financing natural resources, but it is consolidating in Asia to serve key clients from Hong Kong, said a person familiar with the matter. The move was earlier reported by Bloomberg News. ING is likely to raise borrowing costs and reconsider lending in the absence of collateral, the person familiar with its planning said. A spokesman said the Dutch lender currently has no plans to exit from the business. Margot Patrick and Julie Steinberg contributed to this article. Write to Joe Wallace at Joe.Wallace@wsj.com Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics WACO - Long, long ago, Papa would climb into his faded blue 52 pickup and putter down the Dallas Highway to stay with us for a few days before heading back to the Hill County farm where he lived all alone. Occasionally during his visits, he seemed to develop a rasping, little cough that kept him - and us - awake at night. Despite being a lifelong teetotaler - because, according to family lore, his father had not been - the only cure for the cough was a medication he called a hot toddy. Hot water, sugar, a squeeze of lemon and Jack Daniels, it smelled really good when Mom heated it up on the stove. So, my grandfather wasnt a drinker - of alcohol, that is - but he did have a liquid addiction: Dr Pepper. And hes not the only one Ive met over the years who cant get along without their daily DP pick-me-up (maybe even at 10, 2 and 4, as the old ad slogan encouraged). I think of Joe Graham, the late Texas A&M-Kingsville anthropologist I got to know on field trips to a Mexican village 50 miles south of Presidio/Ojinaga. Joe was a Mormon who abstained from alcohol and tobacco, but every one of his trips along rutted gravel roads deep into rugged, rural Chihuahua was fueled by Dr Pepper. Im not saying Dr Peppers secret ingredients include an addictive substance; I am saying that Wacos most prominent export, the oldest major soft drink in America, has long enjoyed a loyal following. (Big Red is another Waco product that inspires loyalty, but nothing like Dr Pepper). Imagine the consternation of hardcore Pepper Uppers around the country when their drink suddenly became hard to get recently. From what Ive read, an aluminum-can shortage, not an actual soft-drink shortage, was at the core of the problem. Preparing for the pandemic in the spring, we cleared out grocery-store shelves of canned drinks, and the beverage industry, including Dr Pepper, struggled to keep up. "We know its harder to find Dr Pepper these days. Were working on it - hang tight," Dr Peppers parent company, Plano-based Keurig Dr Pepper, tweeted. "We're doing everything we can to get it back into your hands. That means working with our distribution partners to keep shelves stocked nationwide, while ensuring the safety of our employees." In the old days, back in 1885 when the drink that became Dr Pepper was invented - one year before Coca Cola - it was a bit easier. All you had to do was stroll into Morrisons Old Corner Drug Store at Fourth St. and Austin Ave. in downtown Waco, seat yourself on a stool at the soda fountain and allow yourself to be a guinea pig for the experimental flavor concoctions of a smart, young pharmacist named Charles Courtice Alderton. Alderton, who had grown up in England and had studied medicine at the University of Texas, spent most of his time concocting medicinal remedies for coughs, colds, queasiness and other ailments that afflicted Wacoans, but in his spare time he liked to experiment with flavors. He believed that the spices, herbs, extracts and fruit syrups he had in stock made the whole pharmacy smell good. He also sensed that fountain customers were tiring of the traditional sarsaparilla, lemon-based and vanilla-flavored drinks most soda fountains offered. Alderton kept a journal, sort of a recipe book of ingredients for various soft drinks, including a popular item that customers simply called a Waco. Shoot me a Waco! they would say, and Alderton would serve up the carbonated concoction that became Dr Pepper. (A 1950s ad campaign nixed the period.) In the beginning, the precise mixture of Dr Peppers 23 blended flavors was a mystery known only to Alderton and to pharmacy owner Wade B. Morrison. One hundred thirty-five years later, the ingredients are still a closely kept secret, known only to those who have access to a locked vault at company headquarters in Plano or to the vaults of two Dallas banks. (Despite hoary rumors to the contrary, the ingredients do not include prune juice, the company insists. A rival salesman back in the 30s allegedly concocted the prune-juice calumny.) The origin of the name also is a mystery. The Dr Pepper Museum & Enterprise Institute in Waco has collected more than a dozen different origin stories. Perhaps the most common is that Morrisons first employer, back in Rural Retreat, Va., was a Dr. Pepper and that the young Morrison asked Pepper for his daughters hand in marriage. The father said no, so the heartbroken 19-year-old left Virginia for Austin and then Waco. Texas Monthly a few years ago reported that the girl Morrison longed to marry was only 8 when he headed for Texas, so that part of the story doesnt add up, although a Dr. Pepper was indeed Morrisons first employer. Probably he attached his Virginia mentors name to the drink, knowing also that a pharmacy-produced drink with Dr. in the name would suggest health benefits to all who consumed. It wasnt long before Dr Pepper was so popular that other soda fountain operators in and around Waco began buying the syrup from the Old Corner Drug Store. Morrison and Alderton couldnt keep up with demand. Joy Summar-Smith, the museums resident expert on Dr Pepper history, told me that Alderton decided early on he wanted to remain a pharmacist instead of going into the soft drink business. He suggested that Morrison team up with Robert Sherman Lazenby, a young beverage chemist they both knew. Lazenby had started his own Waco-based soft-drink enterprise, the Circle A Ginger Ale Co., when he was 18. He agreed to produce Dr Pepper syrup in his bottling plant. (Alderton remained a distinguished Waco pharmacist until his death in 1941. Summar-Smith said shes never heard anything about whether he regretted his Dr Pepper decision.) In 1891, Morrison and Lazenby founded the Artesian Mfg. & Bottling Company, which later became the Dr Pepper Company. Lazenby and his son-in-law, J.B. OHara, moved the company to Dallas in 1923. Its now a component of Keurig Dr Pepper, a huge beverage and food products company based in Burlington, Mass. In 1904, Lazenby and OHara took Dr Pepper to the Worlds Fair Exposition in St. Louis, introducing the drink to close to 20 million people. Fairgoers also were the first to eat hamburgers and frankfurters on buns. Perhaps many washed down the novelty items with a Dr Pepper. Much of what I know about Dr Pepper Ive learned from occasional visits to the museum, housed in the companys original headquarters in downtown Waco. Unlike Chip and Joanna Gaines wildly popular and ever-expanding Magnolia empire just a few blocks away, the museum feels a bit dated, although its still worth a visit. My granddad has been gone for a long time, but if he were still with us, wed have to take the tour. Hed be happy to know that a free Dr Pepper comes with the $10 ticket. ($8 for a senior like himself) djholley10@gmail.com Twitter: holleynews The famous phrase, Big brother is watching you, is taken from George Orwells famous novel, 1984: A dystopian novel that depicts a society under constant surveillance of an authoritarian regime. The citizens of Oceania are constantly being watched through telescreens. This novel was first published in 1949. Fast-forward to 2020, we are slowly seeing the world evolving into an Orwellian society. Big tech is watching you In April 2019, NBC news reported that Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg oversaw plans to consolidate the social media networks power and control competitors by treating its users data as bargaining chips. It was reported that Zuckerberg along with his board, found ways to tap Facebooks data- including information about friends, relationships and photos- as leverage over companies it partnered with. In some cases, Facebook rewarded favored companies by giving them access to the data of its users. This kind of behavior is not common to Facebook. In May 2019, it was reported that Snapchat employees were using the app to obtain vital information from users without their consent. Harvard business professor, Shoshana Zuboff once wrote, once we searched Google. Now, Google searches us. It seems like no one is safe from the prying eyes of big tech. Big tech is literally watching you. The rise of the Thought Police Over the past couple of months, Facebook and other social media networks have banned Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos and other extremists. On July 28th 2020, Twitter suspended Donald Trump Jr. for posting a video of medical doctors affirming the use of Hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19. Big tech further went on to take down the video, tagging it, misleading and potentially harmful information. For several days, left-leaning media continually smeared the names of these doctors and even tagged one of them as insane. They ignored the hundreds of research published by various medical journals affirming that Hydroxychloroquine works. In an article titled, The key to defeating COVID-19 already exists, Harvey A. Risch, professor of Epidemiology, Yale University clearly stated that when administered early, Hydroxychloroquine works. So why has big tech and the media discredited and debased anyone that dares to speak the facts concerning this drug that has been used for decades? On August 5th, 2020, Facebook and Twitter removed a video posted by President Donald Trump in which he said children are almost immune from this disease. Conservatives in particular have been on the receiving end of big techs regulation of free speech. We live in a society that is becoming increasingly polarized so harmful information may be healthy information to another and vise-versa. Thought Police In George Orwells 1984, the Thought Police are the secret police of the state who discover and punish thought crimes. I dare to say that big tech is playing the role of the Thought Police in todays world. We live in a world where tech companies are more powerful than government of nations so censoring free speech is a big deal and we must kick against it. In my opinion, big tech companies are slowly becoming the fascists of today. Comedian Ricky Gervais, a self-proclaimed, old fashioned liberal lefty, champagne socialist typed of guy, recently described the cancel culture as a kind of strange fascism. He further stated, There is a new kind of strange fascism of people who think they know what you can say and what you cannot and that is really a strange thing. Just because youre offended doesnt mean youre right. One of the reasons I believe big techs censorship is very dangerous is because it destroys the culture of healthy debates. Its wrong to cancel someone because you disagree with him/her. Disagreeing with people has been a part of human culture for ages and anytime a small percentage of individuals have stifled the freedom of speech of the masses, it has resulted in negative circumstances. When we disagree with people, the rational human response has always been to counter their opinions through healthy debates and not to debase them or cancel them. If human civilization is to progress, all sides of the political spectrum must be heard and respected. We must all learn to remove the logs from our eyes before we attempt to remove the speck in the eyes of others. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. HOUSTON (AP) A federal judge ordered the Trump administration on Friday to stop detaining immigrant children in hotels before expelling them from the United States, saying the much-criticized practice skirted fundamental humanitarian protections." U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee ruled that the use of hotels as long-term detention spaces violates a two-decade-old settlement governing the treatment of immigrant children in custody. She ordered border agencies to stop placing children in hotels by Sept. 15 and to remove children from hotels as soon as possible. Immigration agencies since March have expelled 148,000 people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border under an emergency declaration citing the pandemic. The Trump administration says people crossing the border without authorization threaten public health and must quickly be forced out of the country. Advocates for immigrants argue the administration is using the pandemic as a pretext to sidestep federal anti-trafficking laws and asylum protections. To prevent them from being allowed to stay in the U.S., the Trump administration has taken at least 577 unaccompanied children to hotels since March, where they are detained and then typically placed on deportation flights. Most of the children have been placed in Hampton Inn & Suites hotels two in Texas, one in Arizona. That's instead of sending them to shelters operated by the Department of Health and Human Services, where minors receive legal services, education, and the chance to be placed with relatives living in the U.S. Those facilities are licensed by the states where they are located. More than 13,000 beds in HHS facilities are currently empty. Gee's order directs the Trump administration to resume sending unaccompanied children to HHS, and it also applies to children with parents who crossed the border without authorization. It also gives lawyers who work with immigrant youths access to the children that the government is trying to expel under the emergency declaration. Separately, legal groups have sued the U.S. to prevent the expulsions of immigrant children altogether. Story continues The government cannot seriously argue in good faith that flouting their contractual obligation to place minors in licensed programs is necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Gee wrote. Hotels can still be used for one- or two-night stays as part of travel between different places, she said. The Justice Department did not immediately comment Friday, but government lawyers indicated that they would consider an appeal. Private contractors at the hotels monitor detained children and families around the clock and generally dont allow people to leave their rooms. Families that have been detained in the hotels have told The Associated Press that they are served regular meals, but that the telephones have been removed from their rooms. One father from Haiti alleged that before his family was taken from their room, a contractor gave him and his wife ice to swallow and to feed to their infant daughter, in case their temperatures were checked before boarding a flight. They were expelled to Haiti without the chance to request asylum. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied using ice as an artificial cooling measure. It has described the contractors from MVM Inc., as transportation specialists who ensure each minor remains safe and secure while in this temporary housing. The Trump administration has argued that Gee doesn't have the authority to stop the use of hotels because the children it is expelling fall outside a longstanding court settlement known as the Flores agreement. It has previously appealed several of Gee's rulings targeting detention practices. Leecia Welch, an attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, called the ruling a resounding victory for immigrant children. The governments attempt to use the pandemic as a subterfuge to carry out its ruthless immigration agenda clearly violates the rule of law and human decency, Welch said. Skye Wheatley paid tribute to partner Lachlan Waugh for Father's Day on Sunday. However, the 26-year-old did so in a rather strange way - by outing his chronic flatulence. Alongside a photo collage of the pair together, the former Big Brother star wrote: 'Happy Father's Day to my best friend full of gas (been coping [sic] about 3-4 farts in the space of an hour from this guy). What? Skye Wheatley paid tribute to partner Lachlan Waugh for Father's Day on Sunday. Alongside a photo collage of the pair, she wrote: ' Happy Father's Day to my best friend full of gas (been coping [sic] about 3-4 farts in the space of an hour from this guy).' Both pictured 'And to most adoring, loving and caring father. Watching you be the best daddaaa to forest warms my heart. 'Thanks for making an effort to put the washing machine on even though you've stained all my whites with a direct hit of softener, cleaning the kitchen when I'm too exhausted and making sure Forest is never in a wet nappy. 'I love you stinky man. Time to get mine and Forest's name tattooed on that sexy dad bod,' she concluded. Happy family: Skye shared a second set of photos of the pair with their son, Forest, one, enjoying a 'staycation' at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast for Father's Day Love: After sharing what she called 'banter' regarding flatulence, Skye also said Lachlan is 'the most adoring, loving and caring father' The blonde beauty went on to insist the comments were just 'banter' and fans should not be upset by them. Skye shared a second set of photos of the pair with their son, Forest, one, enjoying a 'staycation' at the Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort on the Gold Coast for Father's Day. The influencer welcomed her first child Forest with boyfriend Lachlan in December 2018. Mama: The influencer welcomed her first child Forest with boyfriend Lachlan in December 2018. In July, Skye hinted the Gold Coast-based couple, who met on Tinder, are planning to expand their brood In July, Skye hinted the Gold Coast-based couple, who met on Tinder, are planning to expand their brood. Skye posed alongside Lachlan and their son Forest in a mirror selfie, showing off her trim physique in a pink crop top and high-waisted jeans. 'I asked Forest if he wanted or sister or a brother and he said "yes",' she wrote in the accompanying caption. Two Nigerians have been arrested by the police for their involvement in a major multi-million Euro scam bordering on procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). According to the Nigeria police spokesperson, Frank Mba, the arrest was carried out in conjunction with the INTERPOL and the National Central Bureau, Abuja. Those arrested are Babatunde Adesanya, a 50-year old graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Akinpelu Hassan Abass, the Managing Director Musterpoint Investment Nig. Ltd. The two are suspected members of a sophisticated transnational criminal network that cloned the corporate website of ILBN Holdings BV, Holland to transact with and defraud one Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn, a representative of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The arrest was made as a sequel to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) received by the central bureau from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice conveying a request from the German government for investigations into a fraudulent transaction on the procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment linked to a Nigerian-based bank account. Discrete investigations by INTERPOL Nigeria revealed that the suspects and their Holland-based cohorts, one Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder, specialise in identity theft, cyber-stalking, cloning of corporate websites, amongst other cybercrimes, the spokesperson stated. Citing an instance, Mr Mba said the suspects fraudulently obtained 1.5 million euro and another 880,000 euro as advanced payment for the supply of COVID-19 PPEs valued at 14.7 million euro from Mr Hahn. Disturbed by the non-arrival of the PPEs, Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn eventually visited the corporate office of ILBN Holdings BV in Holland to inquire reasons for the delay in supplying the items only to find out that the company never did business with him and that the transaction was a scam. According to him, the fraudsters cloned the companys website and falsely presented themselves as representatives of the company before subsequently executing the fraudulent transaction. Consequently, he reported the case of fraud to the police in Holland and this led to the arrest of Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder in Holland and investigations extended to Nigeria. Further Investigation by INTERPOL Nigeria revealed that Mr Adesanya received 498,000 Euro from Eduardus Boomstra and Geradiu Maulder through his Citibank London account and transferred same to an account number domiciled with a Lagos branch of a leading commercial bank in Nigeria belonging to Musterpoint Investment Nig. Ltd. Mr Mba announced that the two suspects will be arraigned before a competent court of law soon Police officers stand near the scene of reported stabbings in Birmingham, Britain, on Sunday. / REUTERS-Yonhap One man was killed and two people were critically injured during a "random" stabbing attack lasting several hours in Britain's second city of Birmingham, police said on Sunday. Detectives said they were hunting one suspect after being called to reports of stabbings at four separate locations in the city center between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. But they ruled out hate crime, gang violence and terrorism. "It does appear to be random in terms of the people that were attacked," said Chief Superintendent Steve Graham of West Midlands Police, adding that it was being treated as homicide. Britain has been on high alert after two mass stabbings in London in the last year, which saw both perpetrators convicted Islamic extremists released early from prison shot dead by armed officers. In June, a man was charged with murder after three people were killed in a park in Reading, west of London, in an attack investigated by counter-terrorism police. Six people were then injured, including a police officer, at a hotel housing asylum seekers in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Armed police shot dead the suspected attacker. The latest incident comes amid concern about levels of knife crime in Britain, particularly in the capital, London. The number of stabbings in England and Wales increased six percent in the year to the end of March, according to the Office for National Statistics. Birmingham is one of Britain's most ethnically diverse cities with a population of more than one million, and has had an explosive recent history of gang violence. In January 2003, one gang opened fire with an illegal semi-automatic sub-machine gun at a rival group. Two teenage girls who were bystanders were killed in the hail of bullets. No details were immediately released about the identity of the victims other than the two people critically injured were a man and a woman. Five other people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, as police declared a "major incident" and said the incidents were linked. Eyewitnesses earlier told AFP about violence in one of the four locations, in and around the Arcadian Centre, a popular venue filled with restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Cara Curran, a nightclub promoter who was working at the Arcadian Centre on Saturday night said she saw "groups upon groups" of people fighting in and around the venue and heard the use of "racial slurs". "I had seen a lot of tensions building through the night, which wasn't quite like what I've seen before," she said. "I had left with my boyfriend. I heard a commotion and saw multiple police coming towards our direction. I headed towards where I saw them coming and it all just unfurled in front of me. "It was quite a street fight. It didn't really look like fighting. It was just multiple people on top of each other, not one on one." She added: "There was every ethnicity there, there was Asian, black, white. It wasn't just this ethnicity against this ethnicity, it was a group of ethnicities with another group, and they sort of just went at it." Shabana Mahmood, who represents the area in the UK parliament for the main opposition Labour Party, described the events as "deeply concerning". Local councilor Yvonne Mosquito, also of Labour, said the violence was "traumatic" for everyone involved. Mosquito, a former city lord mayor, praised police for tackling so-called "black on black" violence in Birmingham in the early 2000s. But she said there remained a real issue with social exclusion among younger people, including "county lines" drug dealing. The Arcadian center, where Birmingham Gay Village and Chinese Quarter meet, was vibrant and popular although there had been "a bit of trouble" previously, she told AFP. (AFP) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last month announced she was directing $65 million in federal funding toward Michigan schools with more than 50% economically disadvantaged students and other education entities. Of that $60 million goes toward school districts and the funding provides an extra $86.62 per student. The money comes from the Governors Education Emergency Relief Fund and is comprised of federal dollars allocated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available A coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient was allegedly sexually assaulted by an ambulance driver in central Keralas Pathanamthitta district on the way to a hospital on Saturday night, officials said. Police said the suspect was arrested within hours of the crime, which has triggered an outrage and a political bickering in the Left-ruled state. Two women from a family tested Covid-19 positive on Saturday evening and they were taken to a health facility in an ambulance, police said. There were no family members in the vehicle in accordance with protocols laid down by the Kerala government. While one of them was admitted to a dedicated Covid-19 facility, authorities advised the ambulance driver to take the second woman to another hospital --- just around 4km away. But the driver took a detour and drove about 18km. On the way, he stopped the ambulance at a desolate place and raped the 22-year-old patient inside the vehicle, police said. The driver threatened the woman with dire consequences if she spoke up. The woman told doctors about the incident upon being admitted to a hospital. Later, a medical examination confirmed the sexual assault. State health and family welfare minister KK Shailaja called the incident inhuman and said it should not have been happened. Police found that the 29-year-old suspect was involved in several criminal cases in the past, including a murder attempt. Health officials said he was recruited on a temporary basis and that they were investigating how he got the job despite his criminal records. Officials in the health ministry said the department will order a probe. It appears to be a planned crime. The driver took a circuitous routeWe have collected all the evidence. We will fast-track the trial to hand out stringent punishment to the accused, KG Simon, superintendent of police, Pathanamthitta, said. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the incident brought shame to the state. We want the health minister to quit owning responsibility, BJP state president K Surendran said. The accused, who is in quarantine, will be produced in a court through a virtual mode on Monday, police said. In the wake of the incident, health authorities gave strict instructions that every ambulance should have at least two employees and special care should be taken if there were women patients on board. They also sought the help of police to verify antecedents of all drivers. It is a shocking incident. The ministry has taken measures to avoid such incidents. More health workers will be deployed in ambulances, said Veena George, who represents Arnamula constituency and is a leader of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BOSTON Marcus Wilson, the 24-year-old outfielder who the Boston Red Sox acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Blake Swihart in April 2019, has been added to the 60-player pool. Hell report to the alternate training site in Pawtucket. Wilson and pitcher Yoan Aybar were the only two members of the 40-man roster who the Red Sox did not initially select for the 60-player pool. Aybar, a 23-year-old lefty who hasnt pitched above High A, remains the only 40-man roster player still not part of the 60-player pool. The Red Sox also announced before Sundays game against the Blue Jays that they have recalled lefty Matt Hall from Pawtucket and optioned righty Robert Stock to the alternate site. Wilson, a 6-foot-2 right-handed hitter with raw power, struggled at Double-A Portland after the trade last year. He was demoted to High-A Salem, but he later returned to Portland where he posted a .250/.325/.486/.811 line, seven homers, 13 doubles and 20 RBIs in 43 games. He then slashed .333/.412/.467/.878 with one homer, one double and eight RBIs in 34 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. I was trying to do too much, Wilson said during spring training. And I found I myself doing that early. And then I couldnt keep up. So they brought me down. And I kind of got my feet up under me. It was really just kind of a slight adjustment. It wasnt even anything drastic. Hall, a 27-year-old, has allowed eight runs, all earned, seven hits (one homer) and four walks while striking out five in two outings (one start) for Boston this year. Related Content Boston Red Soxs Marcus Wilson (prospect with raw power acquired in Blake Swihart trade) worked hard after tough demotion, was rewarded with 40-man roster spot Yoan Aybar, Boston Red Sox reliever with mid-to-upper 90s fastball, motivated by dad who died from lung issue; I know how much he wanted me to make it Alex Verdugo, Rafael Devers not in Boston Red Sox lineup vs. Blue Jays; Ron Roenicke considered Christian Vazquez to lead off Christian Vazquezs stolen base sets up Boston Red Sox walkoff win; Did the catcher steal second on his own? Boston Red Sox have discussed promoting starting pitcher, position player from Pawtucket (potentially this week) Next Boston Red Sox prospect or minor leaguer to be promoted? C.J. Chatham? Jeter Downs? Christian Arroyo? Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox top prospect, recently realized, Wow, I actually do look like Joey Votto Boston Red Sox prospect Jay Groome hurls 5 scoreless innings, new catcher Deivy Grullon homers at Pawtucket Phillips Valdez watched videos of Boston Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez, emulates Hall of Famers changeup New Delhi/Tehran, Sep 6 (UNI) India and Iran have discussed ways to take forward the bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. Brigadier Hatami had requested for a meeting with Mr Singh while he was on a transit halt in Tehran enroute from Moscow to New Delhi. The meeting between the two leaders took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere, the defence ministry said. Both the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran. During the combined meeting of defence ministers of the SCO, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the Commonwealth of Independent States member states, Mr Singh had called for greater dialogue between the countries in the Persian Gulf. India has vital interests and links of civilisation and culture with all States in the [Persian] Gulf, he had said. We call upon countries in the region all of which are dear and friendly to India, to resolve differences by dialogue based on mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of each other, he added. Iran is an observer country of the SCO grouping. Mr Singhs visit to Iran is significant in view of India considering the country as part of its extended neighbourhood and it also has wide-ranging interests from energy to security to connectivity. While Iran has recently signed a mega-deal with China, Tehran and Delhi continue to cooperate in strategically located Chabahar Ports and are trying to expedite the conclusion of Preferential Trade Agreement to enhance business ties. The Chabahar port project where India has berths provides connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. This was also the first visit to Iran by any Indian minister since the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's Qasem Soleimani by American earlier this year. Iran remains Indias gateway to Central Asia, Afghanistan and Eurasia. UNI ASH RHK1241 French health authorities have put seven more departments, which include key hubs like Lille, Strasbourg and Dijon, on high alert as Covid-19 infections continue to rise nationwide. Of France's 101 mainland and overseas departments, 28 are now considered "red zones" where authorities will be able to impose exceptional measures to slow the number of new coronavirus cases. The move comes as France reported a record of nearly 9,000 daily cases on Friday, and a further 8,550 cases in the last 24 hours to Saturday, when the nationwide test positivity rate increased to 4.7 percent. Paris and the Bouches-du-Rhone department encompassing the southeastern city of Lyon were the first to be placed on high alert by the government on August 14 after infection rates began to climb. That prompted local officials to require face masks in all public spaces to slow the virus's spread, in hope of avoiding a spike in cases that could again overwhelm hospitals as autumn approaches. The Sante Publique France health agency, which has warned of "exponential" caseload increases, said Saturday that 53 new outbreak clusters had been discovered in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total number under investigation to 484. Twelve more Covid-19 deaths were reported, for an overall toll of 30,698 since the pandemic flared last March. Concerns over infection risks have already prompted officials to close 22 schools after cases were detected just days after students returned from the summer break last week, and dozens of individual classes have also been suspended. On Sunday, the government said pre-school teachers as well as those with deaf students would soon be given transparent masks to facilitate comprehension at a crucial education stage for young children. "More than 100,000 of these masks will be produced by the end of this month," the state secretary in charge of people with disabilities, Sophie Cluzel, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. (with AFP) By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: BJP national president JP Nadda on Saturday exhorted party workers to strive hard to form the next government in Odisha. Addressing the partys State executive meeting from Delhi on digital platform, Nadda said, The days are not far when we will form government in Odisha. Extolling the steady but swift growth of the BJP in Odisha, Nadda said the party which received 18 per cent of the popular mandate in 2014 Assembly election increased its tally to 32 pc in 2019 election. While the party posted an impressive show in the last Lok Sabha election by cornering one crore votes, its long political fight paid a rich dividend after BJP got the recognition of principal opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Our spirited cadre is the reason behind the steady rise of the party in the State. We must take a vow to further increase our vote share 50 pc in next election to form the government, he said. Lauding Narendra Modi-led governments effort in containing the spread of the coronavirus, Nadda said, More than 10 lakh tests are being conducted every day in the country. Moreover, free rations are being provided to the denizens ensuring food for all. Highlighting the series of initiatives taken by the Prime Minister to boost economy and provide employment to migrants, the BJP president called upon party workers to take the pro-poor initiatives of Modi Government to the people. Nadda urged the party workers to ensure that the Atmanirbhar Bharat package announced by the Prime Minister reached the intended beneficiaries. Taking a dig at the BJD Government for its reluctance to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Odisha, Nadda said the State has deprived over 2.4 crore people of availing free medical treatment. Describing the new education policy as historic, he appealed party workers to go through the policy and enlighten the people how the new policy will bring a paradigm shift in the education system. The meeting chaired by State BJP president Samir Mohanty was also addressed by two Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi. Last May, the city of Portland held its mayoral primary in a world different than the one we know today. George Floyd was still alive. Our own beautiful ShaiIndia Harris was still alive. The people of Portland hadnt yet assembled in the streets for over 100 days, facing tear gas, flashbangs and rubber bullets fired first from the citys own militarized police bureau, then by a paramilitary federal force. And now, even as the world has changed so dramatically, we are left with the same establishment politicians on the ballot. These candidates cannot meet this moment. Thats why Im asking you to write in Teressa Raiford for mayor, and show the nation that Portland is a leader in understanding that all Black Lives Matter. Teressa embodies the values of the Portland we want. She is a fourth-generation Portlander who has lived the experience of Black people in Portland that many have only recently woken up to. Long before the primary, Teressa has been uniting and empowering Portlanders of all colors and identities to work together. Ted Wheeler and others have demonstrated they do not have the political will, the plan or the experience necessary to lead our city through this time of great crisis and great opportunity. Instead, they attempt PR stunts and deflect by attacking Donald Trump. Its funny, people like to dismiss write-in candidates as a protest vote, but after the events of May, we are all protesters now. We cannot allow an establishment politician or any other savior to co-opt this movement. If you believe in a movement that centers Black voices and believe it is time for Portland to start making profound change, it is time to elect Portlands first Black mayor by writing in Teressa Raiford. Token Rose, Portland Rose is a political scientist and community organizer. Correction: An earlier version of this post misspelled ShaiIndia Harris name. The Mankhurd police on Saturday arrested a 52-year-old scrap dealer for allegedly kidnapping and molesting a 5-year-old girl. According to the police, incident took place on September 4 at around 7pm when the survivor was playing outside her house. The survivors mother in her statement, said, My daughter was playing when someone kidnapped her. We found her after an hour. She later said narrated the ordeal and pointed towards her uncle. An officer from Mankhurd police station said, The family later caught him and brought him to police station. While questioning he confessed his crime. Police booked the accused under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) , 354D (stalking) 366A (procuration of minor girl) of Indian Penal Code and section 8 (punishment for sexual assault) and 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) of Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act. At least 18 were arrested in the incident. (Western Australia Police) Police Arrest 18 Alleged Members of Pedophile Ring in Australia Police have arrested 18 men across Western Australia as part of an operation to catch online sexual predators targeting young girls. Members of the alleged predator ring are accused of grooming up to 140 teenage girls, some as young as 13, on Facebook and Instagram, officials said, reported Perth Now. The operation was uncovered via months of surveillance under the Operation Timing Belt task force. The 18 men were between the ages of 18 and 41 with 214 offenses. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Matt Daly told the outlet that the men allegedly contacted the girls to ultimately abuse them. At least 18 accused people have been arrested (Western Australia Police) The majority of offenses are non-physical communication via popular social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and via mobile phones, he said. Brad Royce, the assistant commissioner, told News.com.au that the arrests should act as a warning for parents and offenders alike. Mobile phones and the ongoing rise of social media platforms provides offenders with new ways to reach out to youths in order to commit crimes and were working hard to crackdown on this behavior, Daly also said. Police seized computer equipment as evidence alongside the arrests (West Australia Police) These are adult men, for the most part, that arent much older (than the girls), he said. But theyre old enough to know better. Royce said he believes some of the suspects worked together. The grooming is usually planned, careful and it takes some time, he said. Sandy Husar doesn't remember the details of signing a petition in February seeking to put a ballot initiative before voters this November capping payday loan interest rates at 36%. If she signed it, Husar rationalized, she probably supported it. But when a woman knocked on the door of her home in Oakland late last month, Husar said she heard a different side of the story that made her reconsider whether to leave her name on the petition. "A lady that owns a paycheck advance said if (the ballot initiative) went through, she'd have to close her business because she couldn't charge enough to stay open," Husar said. "We had enough businesses closing, and all I had to do was sign my name." According to an affidavit filed with Lancaster County District Court last week, Husar was among 188 people who requested their names be taken off the petition drive that gathered some 120,000 signatures this year. In a lawsuit filed against Secretary of State Bob Evnen, as well as the measure's sponsors, Brian Chaney, an Omaha man who has worked in the payday lending industry, said circulators failed to read the object of the petition to voters before they signed. Because the signatures "were obtained through legally insufficient means," the petition did not collect 5% of signatures in 38 counties as required by state law for getting on the ballot. Husar, who in her affidavit indicated she signed the petition Feb. 1, said she put her name on several measures aiming to get on the November general election ballot at the same time, including the medical marijuana ballot initiative. "I don't think I would have signed it if I didn't know what it was," she said. But after the conversation with the business owner Aug. 22, Husar said she must have misunderstood its purpose. Opponents to the petition drive sought signers in 10 counties, court records show, in a coordinated effort that took place between Aug. 19-27. In some cases, multiple canvassers knocked on doors in the same neighborhoods to ask voters about their experience signing the petition drive and imploring them to reconsider, according to residents who spoke with the Journal Star. A spreadsheet included with Chaney's court filing outlines just how many people needed to sign a notarized affidavit in order for the county to drop below the 5% threshold of registered voters. Twenty-seven voters were needed to remove their signatures from the petition drive in Burt County, where Husar has lived for 27 years, in order for it to fall below 5%. The campaign to remove signatures from the rolls also sought to turn 29 people in Butler County; 23 in Garfield County; 21 in Stanton County; 15 each in Keya Paha and Hooker counties; 13 in Rock and Wheeler counties; eight in Grant County; and six in Loup County. Ultimately, the effort netted 34 registered voters in Butler County; 31 in Burt; 23 in Garfield; 26 in Stanton; 15 in Keya Paha; 16 in Hooker and Rock; 13 in Wheeler; eight in Grant; and six in Loup. Marvel M. Forgey said her great-granddaughter was the first to spy two people coming up the front walk of her Springview house Aug. 20. They would ask her if she wanted to remove her name from the petition drive. "They said it was entirely up to me if I wanted my name to stay there, fine," recalled Forgey, who said she'll turn 83 next month. "If not, all I had to do was sign with them." Forgey said she did not remember her reason for signing the petition drive in February, so she opted to sign the affidavit "rather than leave (her signature) on something that I'm not sure when I did it." A spokeswoman for the Secretary of State's Office said it's uncommon for registered voters who initially backed ballot initiatives to ask for their names to be removed from the petition. Even more uncommon is for those affidavits to be filed with the state. Usually, they are submitted to the county election office, which is asked to verify the signatures submitted to the secretary of state. Evnen, who will be overseeing his first general election cycle as secretary of state this fall, said it appears the affidavits themselves did not meet muster as outlined in state statute. "Any person may remove his or her name from a petition by an affidavit signed and sworn to by such person before the election commission, the county clerk, or a notary public," reads Nebraska Revised Statute 32-632. The affidavit, however, must be presented to the secretary of state, election commissioner or county clerk "prior to or on the day the petition is filed for verification with the election commissioner or county clerk." Chaney's lawsuit was filed Aug. 31 in Lancaster County District Court by Omaha attorney Scott Lautenbaugh. The ballot initiative asking voters to lower the payday loan interest rate from 400% to 36% was certified for the ballot earlier in August. "This appears to be beyond the time the statute permits," Evnen said, "but that's an issue the court will have to determine." Chaney asked the court for a temporary injunction to prevent Evnen from placing the initiative on the November ballot. His motion is scheduled for a 1 p.m. hearing Tuesday in Lancaster County District Court. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Jerri-Lynn here. Dear patient readers: Please recall that our comments major domo Jules is on holiday, and so Yves will be moderating comments. But as Yves indicated yesterday, she seldom faces the day before mid-PM, so please cut us some slack if your contribution gets snagged by our moderation tripwires. We will also have some scheduled site maintenance late tonight. The site will NOT go down but it is likely to be very sluggish. Why experts are overwhelmingly skeptical of online voting Ars Technica Dont Steal This Book Matt Taibbi (UserFriendly) We Are Witnessing the End of Independent Central Banks Der Spiegel (re Silc) The Mathematical Model of Modern Monetary Theory 3 Professor Steve Keen (UserFriendly) The worlds loneliest elephant is finally cleared to find a new home WaPo #COVID-19 Brexit Countdown to endgame on a Brexit deal RTE (vlad) Big Brother IS Watching You Watch With the courts striking down the NSAs mass surveillance programs and crediting the 2013 revelations, And new laws having been written to curb abuse both at home and abroad, As people around the country and members of Congress call for pardon, How long should charges stand? Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 4, 2020 Julian Assange Black Injustice Tipping Point THREAD: After more than 6 months of watching people get scammed by the #QAnon phenomena, Im going to make the below thread to explain to you exactly why it is an intelligence agency-backed psyop, what techniques are being used, and why you need to stop people falling for it. Suzie Dawson (@Suzi3D) May 25, 2018 Class Warfare California Burning Trump Transition California neoliberals are so debased, a slumlord like Trump can outflank them on the evictions issue. https://t.co/ujoY1XhfYo Yasha Levine (@yashalevine) September 3, 2020 Russia Lifting Embargo on American Non-Lethal Arms to Cyprus Is Aimed Against Russia Antiwar (The Rev Kev) India China? Iran looks to China as US sanctions bite FT 2020 If youre used to voting Republican, years from now your grandkids will ask what you did in this moment and you will have to tell them if you were a John McCain Republican or Donald Trump Republican. You cant be both. The choice is yours. pic.twitter.com/q18qWHERYZ Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) September 5, 2020 Antidote du Jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. They recently spent some quality time together in Venice. And Penny Lancaster looked sensational as she marked her return to the UK with a trip to Zuma in London with her husband Rod Stewart. The beauty, 49, put on a very leggy display as she donned a stylish floral mini dress for the dinner out on Saturday night. Stunning: Penny Lancaster looked sensational in a floral mini dress as she enjoyed dinner at Zuma in London with her husband Rod Stewart on Saturday night Penny exuded glamour as she wore her long blonde locks down and let them cascade over her shoulders. She added some extra height to her frame with a pair of blush pink heels and let her long sleeved dress do all the talking by keeping her accessories to a minimum. Meanwhile Rod also dressed up for the trip to the high-end Modern Japanese restaurant, rocking a white suit and patterned shirt. The couple also appeared to be joined by one of their sons, who smiled for a snap alongside Rod in their white leather interior car. Night out: Rocker Rod also appeared to be in good spirits as he donned a white suit and patterned shirt Penny and Rod are parents to Alistair, 14, and Aiden, nine. The couple married in 2007 and have been spending lockdown at their homes in Florida and London. Rock star Rod has eight children in total, with the singing sensation sharing Sean, 39, and Kimberely, 40, with his first wife Alana Stewart. He has Ruby, 32, with model ex Kelly Emberg, as well as Renee, 26, and son Liam, 24, from his second marriage with Rachel Hunter. Rod also has first child - Sarah Streeter, 55, from his romance with then-art student Susannah Boffey - who was given up for adoption after he fathered her at age 18. Family trip: The couple also appeared to be joined by one of their sons, who smiled for a snap alongside Rod in their white leather interior car Their dinner outing comes after Penny spoke about her experience of menopause during lockdown, revealing when she first experienced symptoms. The TV star admitted she has found the past few months extra tough because of her symptoms, but gushed that her husband and sons have been very understanding. Speaking from her home, she told her Loose Women co-stars: 'Rod and I have a very close and intimate, open relationship about all sorts of things. Blondes have more fun: Rod leaned against his leggy wife Penny as the pair soaked up the setting sun during their romantic boat trip in Venice last month 'I talk to him about how I'm feeling in the lead up to my period, feeling a little down or sad or I always say, "Darling give me space today, it's the time of the month." 'I've explained to them [my family] about the hormones I'm experiencing since March, my last period. 'I've been having the really hot sweats, and then freezing cold my body temperature is fluctuating all over the place. It affects your mood swings, I've been putting on more weight.' (CNN) Hundreds of people narrowly escaped a fast-moving wildfire in Northern California when rescue crews airlifted them to safety. At least 224 people were rescued from the Mammoth Pool Reservoir area after the Creek Fire blocked the only road out of the popular recreation site, Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said Sunday. About 20 evacuees had injuries ranging from broken bones to burns. Two people had to be carried on a stretcher, Pogue said. "The situation only can be described as just hellish conditions out there for those poor people," the sheriff said. Juliana Park was outside the Mammoth Pool Reservoir area when she had to flee in a car surrounded by flames. She posted video of the harrowing escape. "A backpacking trip cut short by unforeseen thunder, ash rain, and having to drive through literal fire to evacuate #SierraNationalForest in time," Park tweeted. "Grateful to the SNF ranger who led us down... wish we ... got her name." The inferno quickly exploded in size since it started Friday evening in the Sierra National Forest, US Forest Service spokesman Dan Tune said. It started in the forest south of Yosemite National Park and grew to 36,000 acres in just one day. The cause of the inferno is under investigation. On Saturday, campers at the Mammoth Pool Reservoir were asked to shelter in place after the Creek Fire blocked the only way out of the area. The group at the lake received the warning from a helicopter's public address system. "Fire runs uphill, as does the road out," Tune said. "We did not want to put campers attempting to caravan through an area where fire is likely." By Sunday morning, Pogue said he believed everyone had been rescued from the area. But officials plan to keep looking Sunday for others who might be stranded in the remote wilderness. About 450 firefighters are battling the blaze, along with three helicopters and three air tankers, according to the Forest Service. The conditions have made firefighting exceptionally challenging. There have been a few instances of limited visibility due to the smoke, but firefighters have been able to battle the blaze from the air, Tune said. "The column on a fire like this can be quite dangerous," he said. "So the aircraft has had to back off for a time, and go back again once conditions change." Another major challenge: the soaring heat in California this holiday weekend. Temperatures in the area are approaching 100 degrees, Tune said. On top of that, "this is in a river canyon, so in the afternoon you get up canyon winds," Tune said. Sustained wind speeds are about 10 to 15 miles per hour. Fire crews have a grueling task ahead, as the Creek Fire is 0% contained. This story was first published on CNN.com, "224 people escape by helicopter from the 'hellish' Creek Fire in Northern California" TDT | Manama This years Bahrain Visions Forum, to be held virtually on 29th this month, will explore ways to confront the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with the World Health Organisation (WHO). HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa will address the forum which would discuss the importance of collective international action in facing the crisis, said Shaikh Hussam bin Isa Al Khalifa in a statement. HRH the Premiers message, he said, will explore ways to mobilise international efforts to continue promoting sustainable development efforts and assisting needy countries and communities. Bahrain Visions Forum: Shared Vision for a Successful Future is organised annually by the court of HRH the Premier with the cooperation of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The forum, this year, also coincides with the UN General Assembly 75th meeting. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, welcomed the forum in an official letter to HRH the Premier. WHOs participation, Shaikh Hussam said, confirms the agencys solid cooperation with the Kingdom in developing its health sector and at the international level. This years meeting, themed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Post-COVID-19 Period, will discuss ways to overcome the repercussion of the pandemic and strengthen Bahrains cooperation in facing the global challenge. Participating will be several high-level personalities and senior officials of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation. The forum, Sheikh Hussam explained, reflects the increasing interest of HRH Premier in supporting international efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through collective action. Achieving sustainable development goals in the post-COVID-19 phase is the most urgent challenge facing the global economy, said Shaikh Hussam, citing the huge impact the pandemic had on health, economic and environmental of global nations. He also stressed the need to review the 2030 sustainable development agenda to cope with the current challenges. Founded in 1998, Wust El-Balad, one of the pioneers of the independent music scene in Egypt, are returning to performances after months of the Covid-19 shutdown Famous Egyptian band Wust El-Balad are performing at the Cairo Opera House on Friday, 25 September, after a long absence due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The concert marks the first appearance at the newly-founded Fountain Theatre for the pioneers of the independent music current in Egypt, which many name the underground." "We miss you. Our first concert after this absence must be in Cairo," stated the band through social media, urging fans to attend their first big public event since the country's coronavirus shutdown started in March. Wust El-Balad, who released their latest single 'Or'os Ma'a El-Donia' ("Dance With the World") in April, three month after 'Talamizna' ("Our Students"), will sing a selection of their memorable repertoire, including songs not included on their four albums 'Wust El-Balad' (2007), 'Rubabekya' (2011), 'Karakib' (2014) and 'Bantalony El-Jeans' (2018). The concert will feature musician and actor Hany Adel, who stars many films and TV series, as the main vocal and rhythm guitarist alongside old guards Ahmed Omran (oud), Ahmed Omar (bass), Asaad Nessim (guitar), Ehab Abdel Hameed (Bob) and Mohammed Gamal Al-Din (Mizo) (percussion) with the latest members Wael El-Said and Mounir Maher. Adham El-Said will miss the concert as he is abroad. Played at the Cairo Jazz Club this week, Wust El-Balad was among the few bands who performed online, streaming no-attendance concerts during the shutdown as part of the WE music festival in the holy month of Ramadan. Wust El-Balad played a key role in shaping Egypts underground scene with their success in the 2000s, remaining dynamic after changes in their lineup. Cultural events and activities in Egypt resumed in July as part of the country's gradual reopening after the Covid-19 shutdown. All events are being held under strict measures that include social distancing, wearing face masks, and sanitisation. The recently founded open-air Cairo Opera arena, Fountain Theatre, is hosting music activities in September including three concerts by Omar Khairat. Programme: Friday 25 September Fountain Theatre, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: A former head of the health service warned the Taoiseach last year that the new children's hospital is too big, half its outpatient rooms will remain empty and its operating theatres will be underused. Professor Brendan Drumm, a paediatrician, former chief executive of the HSE and a former member of the development board for the children's hospital, warned the controversial new facility will incur enormous running costs. These will have a major impact on funding for other areas of children's healthcare, he added. In a previously unpublished letter to Leo Varadkar when the Fine Gael leader was Taoiseach, Prof Drumm said the decision to proceed with the hospital at its current capacity will be viewed as "reckless" in years to come. He said he supported the location of the hospital, currently under construction beside St James's Hospital in Dublin, but described its scale as "inexplicable", with 6,100 rooms and extending to 145,000 sq m. This is "unparalleled" in size internationally, Prof Drumm wrote. Expand Close Brendan Drumm. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brendan Drumm. Photo: Gerry Mooney If the hospital proceeds as planned, he said a significant volume of facilities in the new hospital will be idle. The hospital's own projections of its activity for operating theatres and outpatients' departments "confirm that a large amount of these facilities" will be "redundant", the letter added. He urged Mr Varadkar to commission a "straightforward independent audit/review" of the hospital's required capacity. Prof Drumm has publicly questioned the size of the new children's hospital in the past, but he goes significantly further in his private letter to Mr Varadkar. The letter was obtained by the Sunday Independent under the Freedom of Information Act. He told Mr Varadkar that he did not engage in public debate about the size of the hospital because he "feared" his input "could be used to undermine the development of the new hospital". Expand Close An artist's impression of a room in the hospital / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An artist's impression of a room in the hospital However, he said he could not "in good conscience" ignore what was being proposed. He was in the minority on the development board for the hospital when he expressed his view that the scale of the facility was "excessive". Mr Drumm's intervention is likely to add to the debate about the hospital project, which has been dogged by controversy over its location, and later by the sharply escalating costs. Initial projected costs of 637m have since soared to 1.7bn. The final costs are expected to rise to more than 2bn. A report by PwC consultants, commissioned following a public and political outcry over the costs, found that the original building budget had been underestimated in the first place, resulting in the escalating costs. Construction on the site was halted in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic. When the restrictions were lifted, a dispute between the main contractor, BAM, and the hospital board resulted in a further delay. The new children's hospital will have 470 beds, including 380 in-patient single ensuite rooms, 93 day beds, 122 outpatient rooms and 22 operating theatres. Expand Close Leo Varadkar. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar. Photo: Colin Keegan, Collins Prof Drumm claimed there is a "fundamental error" in how bed capacity was calculated in a report on required capacity by the Children's Hospital Group. He said that half of the 122 outpatient rooms will be "empty throughout a nine-hour working day", basing his figures on the hospital's maximum projections of nine patients a day for each of the 122 outpatients' rooms. He said many operating theatres will have throughput of "approximately two cases per day" and using Children's Health Ireland's own data, the hospital "will have significant surplus theatre capacity which will be expensive to operate or will have to be left idle but maintained". Based on the hospital's projected attendances at the emergency department, there will be "four and a half attendances" in each of the 56 assessment rooms and 24 beds over 24 hours. Prof Drumm has questioned this. "Is there a hospital anywhere in the world with this low level of activity per operating theatre, outpatient room or emergency room space?" he wrote. "We can, of course, proceed to build one of the largest children's hospitals in the world in recent times without performing an independent audit of the capacity plan," he added. Prof Drumm said that when the "enormous running costs are realised", this "will be seen at best to have been reckless". "There will be a negative reputational impact on all of us who have been involved in this project since its inception if capacity assessments are not independently validated," he said. The Department of Health replied to Prof Drumm, defending the capacity requirements of the children's hospital. Children's Hospital Ireland (CHI), which is overseeing the hospital's construction, said it has done extensive healthcare planning modelling for the hospital over a number of years, including an external review. This is to ensure that the facilities would be built to the appropriate specification and capacity. The reviews "support the designed facilities currently being developed", the statement said. Expand Close An artist's impression of the hospital's exterior / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An artist's impression of the hospital's exterior CHI said it reviewed all activity in children's hospital services in 2016, updated a report on projected capacity in 2017 and carried out further reviews last year "to identify if patterns of activity" had changed and found "no material difference". The next annual review of activity will take place in 2022. Professor Drumm declined to comment when contacted by the Sunday Independent. New Delhi: The MT New Diamond oil tanker that has been ablaze since Thursday afternoon, is currently being held in position 42 miles by tug from the Sri Lankan Coast. This is being done to prevent the drifting of the vessel towards the shore and to facilitate fire-fighting operations with logistical ease. Six vessels from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), their embarked helicopters, two Dornier aircraft and one warship of the Indian Navy are on location to undertake this mammoth effort. No oil spill has been so far reported and the fire is localised. Response ship Samudra Paheredar arrived at the scene of the incident on Sunday afternoon and joined the fire fighting operation. The ship is equipped with Ocean Boom, 4 Oil Skimmers and Oil Spill Dispersant to handle pollution response in event of an oil slick. ICG Ships Sujay, Shaurya, Sarang and Pollution Response Vessel Samudra Paheredar are continuously engaged in fire fighting operation on rotation using specialised external fire fighting systems. ICG Fast Patrol vessels Ameya and Abheek embarked with aqueous film forming foam concentrate (AFFF), Dry Chemical Powder and Oil Spill Dispersants are in close vicinity to render assistance as required. Besides this, Sri Lankan Ships Samudra, Udara, SLCGS Samaraksha, SLCGS Samudra Raksha, SLN FACs P 462 and 464 alongwith INS Sahyadri are in the area. The Indian Coast Guard Dornier aircraft are performing morning and evening sorties from Mattala International Airport, Sri Lanka, for aerial assessment. Coast Guard helicopters that are embarked on the ships are also being launched regularly for aerial assessment, planning the further course of action. Aerial recce is also being conducted by Sri Lankan Air Force Beachcraft and water spraying via Bambi Bucket is being carried out by Sri Lankan Air Force MI-17 helicopter. The inertness of cargo is being maintained with sustained fire fighting operations. While no oil spill has been reported, fire remains localised and the cargo hold is reported to be safe. The fire appears to be doused and no flame and smoke are visible. Continuous boundary cooling is in progress using AFFF and water spraying. No further increase in the crack or any significant change in trim or list has been observed. The Indian authorities are maintaining continuous liaison and co-ordination with Sri Lankan Navy/Coast Guard and other authorities for augmentation and effective response. This very large crude carrier- MT New Diamond is a Greek-owned vessel, under charter by Indian Oil Cooperation. The vessel has been ablaze following a major explosion in the engine room while transiting Sri Lankas Exclusive Economic Zone. The first information about the vessel being on fire was received at Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai. MT New Diamond is reportedly carrying more than 2.7 lakh MT Kuwait export crude oil that was destined for Paradip, Odisha. According to Marinetraffic.com, MT New Diamond is a 20-year old Crude oil tanker that is 333 meters long and 60 meters wide. By Express News Service MUMBAI: The security at Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerays private residence Matoshree has been beefed up after an anonymous threatening call was received from Dubai on Sunday. The caller from Dubai claimed that he is a member of the underworld and fugitive don Dawood Ibrahim gang. After receiving threatening phone calls, police increased the security arrangements at Matoshree. Special security has been provided to Matoshree residence and the vehicles in this area are also being checked. Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab who is close to Thackeray confirmed the threat call to Matoshree. He said an anonymous call was received on the landline phone and the person who was speaking claimed that he is a member of the Dawood gang. ALSO READ | Shiv Sena not afraid of threats, even Dawood can't harm Matoshree: Eknath Shinde The police have been informed about the anonymous call and they are investigating who made the call and for what purpose, whether it was Dawood Gang's accomplice etc. No one has ever dared to threaten Matoshree. If anyone makes such a threat, he will not escape the clutches of the Mumbai police," Parab said. Matoshree, residence of Thackeray, is located at Bandra Kalanagar. The threat call was made at least three to four times from 11 am onwards. Minister of State for Home Shambhuraj Desai said, "Matoshree is the place of worship for Shiv Sainiks. If anyone looks at this residence with a crooked eye, it will not be tolerated. The call would be probed and the caller would be taught a lesson. Japan informs the U.S. that it prefers to arm with missile destroyers to defend against Chinese ballistic missile. This is the statement released by the Japanese government as it arms against Chinese aggression. This is one of the options that the Japanese Defense Force could opt for other than the U.S.-developed Aegis Ashore systems which are less mobile because it is land-based. One of the advantages of ship-based missile systems is that it is mobile, meaning it can be moved anywhere. Otherwise, it offers the JDF more options for defensive purposes, reports Kyodo News. The statement given explains that after deliberation it can determine that the missile defense system can be used for offensive purposes as well. As much as the earlier land-based system was almost opted for other considerations were other threats. Such threats as submarines and jet fighters were another dimension that prompted rethinking on how to defend Japan. Ballistic missiles were only part of the puzzle to consider. Due to the influence of the outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with others, they formulated the response to missile defense by the middle of September last year. One of the more controversial ideas on acquiring these missile systems is the ability to mount counter strikes on enemy installations. One reason is China acquiring missiles for attack, Tokyo is not confident its purely defensive stance, noted Japan Times. Abe is in the process of leaving his post as current prime minister because of ill-health when he finally steps down and his successor will expand on the acquisition of ships and other systems. Also read: Japan Defense Chief Told Chinese Military to Back Off From Senkakus Getting the missile defense system that would have been deployed in the Akita, including the Yamaguchi prefectures were discontinued. One of the reasons why it was abruptly shut down is the extra expenses needed for updates. According to the Abe administration, the installation of the Aegis Ashore was a means to counter North Korean missiles till changes in priorities were taken in for adjustments, cited The Strategist. Another logic of the decision is the land-based systems would not task Japanese ships that would eventually carry the system and the crews of the Maritime Self-Defense Force. This move drew opposing moves from local residents in these suggest sites. Present plans have evolved to construct ships that will not be canceled by local consent. It also minimize fees if the project does not push through for the equipment needed. This kinds of equipment include the SPY-7 radar system made by Lockheed Martin that will be fitted to such vessels. Sources close to the government said the offshore aegis system was almost the unanimous, until they rethink about it. The government's initial idea to shift the missile system to mobile maritime platforms is the strict need to get consent from residents. Increased North Korean missile launches have alarmed Tokyo to secure Japan from missile attacks. In doing so, he stressed the need to upgrade defense against such threats. But there is concern about Japanese options to attack foreign nations which the Aegis Ashore deployment got stopped temporarily. Japanese thinking is shifting as evidenced by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, believing striking back is needed for ICBMs. Related article: Japanese Subs Will Blunt Chinese Excursions in Japanese Waters @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WAR veterans have thrown their weight behind President Mnangagwa over the move to compensate white farmers for improvements they had made on farms they lost during the land reform programme and returning farms that were protected under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs). In July, the Government signed a US$3.5 billion compensation agreement with former white commercial farmers. The Government added that farms that were protected under BIPPAs will be returned to the owners while those indigenous people who were resettled at the farms will be resettled on alternative land. Farms protected under BIPPAs are 37, according to the Government. Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman Cde Christopher Mutsvangwa told Sunday News on the sidelines of the Zanu-PF Provincial Coordination Committee in Gweru yesterday that it was time to mend relations and regularise some of the problems that resulted from the land reform. We strongly support the initiative because we are doing it for goodwill. We have been viewed as being cruel to former white farmers by expropriating land without compensation. We also lost foreign direct investment. So, we are hoping that once we have established good relations, we will get foreign direct investment. We have also been given sanctions based on the issue of land. So, America and other countries that had imposed sanctions on us based on the land issue will not have any reason for continuing to impose the sanctions on us. Earlier on while addressing the meeting, Cde Mutsvangwa said the liberation struggle was waged against a colonial system not against the white race. Cde Mutsvangwa said the freedom fighters fought a non-racial war and therefore there should not be any racial discrimination in the country. He also implored freedom fighters and the people at large to respect the Constitution. We fought a non-racial war against a racial system. Its been 40 years after independence. The white people who remained in Zimbabwe are now Zimbabweans. We should not stigmatise them and do racial discrimination in the country. President Mnangagwa wants a united nation regardless of race, creed, religion and gender. We did not fight a racial war. We were supported by the some whites people during the war. Let us not recycle racism in the country, he said. Addressing the same meeting, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda said the re-allocation of the 37 farms to former farm owners was a constitutional provision. The issuing of tenure documents and 99-year leases as well as compensation of former owners are entitled by the Constitution. There are companies and individuals who were given land by Government to come and farm in Zimbabwe. In terms of our constitution and international law, President Mnangagwa said let us allow these 37 farms to be given back. There is no excuse now that the international community would have to say we do not respect our own constitution, he said. Meanwhile, Zanu-PF Secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Paul Mangwana said according to the partys estimates, less than one percent of resettled farmers will be affected by the possible return of foreign white farmers whose properties were covered under BIPPAs. There are very few farmers that are going to be affected by BIPPAs but those that are affected will be given alternative farms. From our own calculations, it will affect less than one percent of the people that were resettled so its a very a small group that will be affected, he told a Zanu-PF Matabeleland South Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting in Gwanda yesterday. Cde Mangwana added that alternative farms would be found for those that would be affected. During land reform sometimes, we were not discriminating on which farms were protected by BIPPAs and which ones were not. So, a few of the farms that people took over and were resettled there, were protected by BIPPAs. It is those few farms that Government is saying we will take two approaches. If we resettled a lot of people on one farm, we will pay full compensation to that farmer. For such a farmer we pay for both the land and for the improvements as a Government. But where it is possible to relocate our own people to another farm, so that we are seen internationally as people who respect agreements, we can return that farm to the former owner whose property was protected by BIPPAs, he said. In addition, the responsibility to compensate former white farmers who Government recently undertook to compensate for improvements made on farms will be met by the Government and not individual farmers. Government is going to look for resources to pay for the improvements made on those farms. Government has said, it is not going to say, for example, Mr Ncube we gave you a farm where there are boreholes, please pay for the boreholes. No, Government has said we are going to look for resources to compensate the former white farmers because they had taken us to the international court to say that the Government of Zimbabwe is not complying with provisions of its own constitution, he said. Cde Mangwana said the Government was only complying with measures of the Zimbabwes constitution, proving to potential investors that it respected the rule of law and therefore the country was an ideal investment destination. The 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and related meetings will be held from September 9-12 in the form of video conference, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) Within the framework of the event, the meeting of the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ), the 27th meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) 10 1 Sessions with ASEAN's Dialogue Partners, the 21st ASEAN 3 Foreign Ministers Meeting, the 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers Meeting, the 27th ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Coordinating Councils special session on sub-regional development, the ASEAN ministerial-level dialogue on strengthening womens role in sustainable peace and security, and a dialogue between ASEAN Foreign Ministers and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights will be held. Representing ASEAN Chair 2020, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will chair the meetings./.VNA Made by Maddie was created by childrens programming veteran Paula Rosenthal and is the third Nickelodeon project from Silvergate. Earlier this week, the studio said that the series employs a diverse production team and voice cast and has been in the works for the past five years. (Script excerpts, character descriptions and drafted illustrations provided to The Times to support these claims dated back only to September 2017 one month after Hair Loves illustration-filled Kickstarter campaign was funded at more than three times its original goal). Following the dissipation of Omar, the Atlantic basin is picking up right where it left off in this record-setting season, as two new tropical storms formed on Monday. "The eastern Atlantic is going to become quite active during the next few days," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said this past weekend. By Monday evening, Paulette, and Rene were churning across the open ocean. This view of the Atlantic Ocean shows Tropical Storm Paulette and Tropical Storm Rene along with one other possible areas of development on Monday morning, Sept. 7, 2020. (AccuWeather) One area that AccuWeather meteorologists have been monitoring became Tropical Depression 17 roughly midway between the Cabo Verde Islands and Lesser Antilles on Sunday night. This depression quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Paulette over the central tropical Atlantic on Monday morning. Paulette had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was barely moving to the northwest at a speed of 6 mph. As of 11 p.m. EDT, Paulette was located about 1,330 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Paulette, the 16th named storm of the 2020 season, set another record for the basin. This is the earliest on record that a "P" named storm has developed, according to Colorado State University Meteorologist Phil Klotzbach. The previous record was set by Philippe, which formed on Sept. 17, 2005. The system will track generally to the west-northwest across the Atlantic and should pass just north of the Lesser Antilles late in the week. "All residents and interests of the Lesser Antilles, especially the Leeward Islands should closely monitor the progression of this evolving tropical system," Kottlowski said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Another robust tropical wave that emerged off the coast of western Africa on Sunday quickly organized into Tropical Depression 18 early Monday morning, which was later upgraded to Tropical Storm Rene late Monday afternoon. Story continues Tropical Storm Rene had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and was moving to the west at 15 mph as of 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday. Rene, the 17th named storm of the 2020 season, set yet another record for the basin. This is the earliest on record than an "R" storm has developed, according to Klotzbach. Rita, which formed on Sept. 18, 2005, was the previous record holder for the earliest "R" named storm on record. It should be noted that the letter "Q" was skipped. This is because there are not enough names that begin with that letter to reuse a name beginning with "Q" every six years. The same names for each letter are reused every six years, unless a storm is particularly historic or deadly. In such cases, the name is retired and the World Meteorological Organization votes on a new name to take its place. The same holds true for the letters U, X, Y and Z. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cabo Verde Islands. "The heaviest rain will fall along and just to the north of the storm's track where 2-4 inches is expected, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax rainfall of 6 inches across the Cabo Verde Islands," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said. The strongest winds, on the order of 40- to 55-mph gusts with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 65 mph, are expected along and just to the north of the storm's track, which will put the central and northern islands at the greatest risk for impacts. Due to these impacts, Tropical Storm Rene is less than one on the AccuWeather RealImpact Scale for Hurricanes in the Cabo Verde Islands. "Beyond the Cabo Verde Islands, Tropical Storm Rene is expected to become a hurricane while continuing to the northwest across the open waters of the central Atlantic," Douty said. Another strong tropical wave is projected to emerge from the African Coast late in the week. Farther west, a weak tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea is not expected to develop, but could bring an uptick in showers and thunderstorms across southern Hispaniola and Jamaica over the next few days. Another area being monitored is a bit closer to the United States. "An area of low pressure currently to the southeast of Bermuda will track to the west early this week," Douty said. "Atmospheric conditions are only marginally favorable for development through this time and there is only a low chance for development," Douty added. However, if the storm's forward progression slows down, the wind shear in the area could decrease and allow the storm to become more organized. Interests along the Southeast coast should pay close attention to this feature, regardless of development, as it could bring an uptick in drenching showers and thunderstorms, as well as rough surf and rip currents, toward the middle and latter part of the week. The next tropical storm names on the list for 2020 in the Atlantic are Sally and Teddy. As was the case with Paulette and Rene, there is a significant chance more early formation records will fall and join Cristobal, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana and Omar as top of the list for early formation for their respective letters. Early this summer, AccuWeather meteorologists predicted a hyperactive peak hurricane season, which is now underway. AccuWeather meteorologists are calling for up to 24 tropical storms and up to 11 hurricanes in total this season. These numbers mean that the Greek alphabet will have to be utilized for tropical storm names, which was only done in one other season: 2005. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. By PTI NEW DELHI: A plea seeking investigation by multiple agencies in an alleged "franchise racket" has been filed in the Supreme Court. The petition filed by 38 individuals has alleged they have been cheated and duped by 'Westland Trade Private Limited' which floated bogus companies Hyper Supermarket, Hyper Mart etc. It has sought an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) & SFIO (Serious Fraud Investigation Office) or by a Special Investigation Team to investigate various offences including money laundering and black money hoarding by directors & beneficiaries of the company. The plea alleged that the company collected franchise fees of Rs three lakh and assured certain payouts and attracted 500 investors. However, the company defaulted in the payment during the lockdown and sent an email in May saying it was enforcing Force Majure (unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract) clause listed in the agreement, according to the plea. "The injury is large because under a well planned conspiracy, directors, sleeping partners and employees deceived the petitioners by fraudulently and dishonestly inducing them to deliver their hard earned money," the plea alleged. A man was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Noida in August in connection with a 'franchise fraud' in which scores of people have been allegedly duped to the tune of around Rs 30 crore. According to police, a group of people in the National Capital Region (NCR) had floated a company, "Hypermart", registered in Sector 63 of Noida, and five-six more such firms to target people with offer of giving them a "franchise store" of the firm in their city. The Nigerian Air Force is to commence air-dropping of food relief to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in difficult to reach locations of Borno State, an official has said. The Minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, Sadiya Farouq, mentioned this on Saturday in Maiduguri, Borno State, while supervising the commencement of food and condiments distribution to 152,402 internally displaced persons. The minister arrived at Maiduguri international airport late Saturday evening where she inspected the fleet of Air Force cargo planes that would be air dropping the food items. The minister also watched a simulated air drop of food from an air force helicopter before she departed the airport for a meeting with the Borno State governor. Precious Amadi, an air commodore, who was in charge of the simulation exercise said the Nigeria Air Force is capable of dropping food and non-food aid material to IDPs in remote locations identified by the state government. Speaking to journalists, Ms Farouq said the latest deployment of food to IDPs was in response to recent restriction of movement to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic and inaccessibility of communities due to floods and insecurity. She said, vulnerable persons, especially the IDPs, may require further support in terms of necessities, including food from the Federal Government of Nigeria. The minister listed the food items brought to the state to comprise 26,067 bags of 12.5kg parboiled rice, 26,067 bags of 25kg beans, 26,067 bags of 12.5kg maize/millet, 1,304 bags of 20kg iodized salt, 2,607 20L kegs of vegetable oil, 4,345 cartons of seasoning cubes and 2,173 tinned tomato cartons. The minister said the food items are meant to cater for 26,067 households with a total population of 156,402. The Nigerian government had in September outlined the challenges faced by NGOs operating in the North-east to include insecurity, floods or terrain, which it said could be mitigated with the support of the security services. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-06 21:27:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Most of the capital goods monitored by the government posted higher prices in late August compared with the previous 10 days, official data showed. Of the 50 major goods monitored by the government, including seamless steel tubes, gasoline, coal, fertilizer and some chemicals, 28 saw their prices increase from Aug. 21 to 31, while 14 posted lower prices, and the prices of eight were unchanged, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The price of live pigs went up 0.3 percent, while that of liquefied petroleum gas dropped 2.3 percent during the period. The reading, released every 10 days, is based on a survey of nearly 2,000 wholesalers and distributors in 31 provincial-level regions. Enditem One is a former paratrooper, another a 22-year-old birth-striker who vows she will never have children for the sake of the planet. They were among the ragtag and rather middle-class band of printworks rebels who attempted to blockade free speech on Friday night. Others included a failed would-be MP (who notably works for the Independent news website) and a retired taxman. All eight featured here marched on newspaper printers to impose their views and suppress all others. Extinction Rebellions protests led to a night of chaos and 81 arrests in Knowsley, Merseyside, and Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. Almost 80 people were charged yesterday but currently none faces prison sentences of more than three months if convicted. Student activist Katie Ritchie-Moulin was among the ragtag and rather middle-class band of printworks rebels who attempted to blockade free speech by trying to halt several major national newspapers from going to print on Friday night 1. Katie Ritchie-Moulin, 21 A veteran of direct action climate protests, the student grew up in a prosperous Birmingham suburb. Her psychologist father Lawrence Moulin, 63, has overseen mental health policies across the West Midlands while her mother, Fiona Ritchie, 55, has a health and social care consultancy with experience of managing multi-million pound budgets. Miss Ritchie-Moulin was pictured chained to railings outside Leeds Civic Hall in January with a bike lock around her neck and a placard reading Airport expansion is ecocide! in an Extinction Rebellion die-in against plans to expand Leeds-Bradford Airport. At the time Miss Ritchie-Moulin, who is studying medical science at the University of Leeds, admitted feeling very cold and agreed that chaining herself to railings could be seen as drastic. But she insisted expanding the airport would be pretty drastic too. There was no one home yesterday at the familys 730,000 three-storey red brick house in the wealthy suburb of Moseley. She was charged with aggravated trespass over the blockade in Knowsley. 2. Donnachadh McCarthy, 61 Former Parliamentary candidate and Independent columnist Donnachadh McCarthy The deputy chairman of the Liberal Democrats from 2000 to 2003 stood unsuccessfully against Labours Harriet Harman as an MP in Peckham in 2001. He attended the Broxbourne protest as a spokesman for XR, and is not believed to have been among those arrested. Originally from Cork, he told the Mail he works as an eco-auditor who helps businesses be more environmentally friendly. He said: We wanted people to wake up on Saturday morning and go to buy their paper and ask, Why isnt it here? They may be angry, but in a few weeks time they may start paying attention to the warnings. We dont want to be arrested, most of the people are lovely people. The police say they love coming to our protests because theres never trouble. Mr McCarthy was arrested during the Occupy London protests in 2014. He claims his house in Camberwell was Londons first carbon-negative home, with solar hot water and electricity, a wind turbine and a rain-harvester. He is also notably a columnist for the Independent news website, where he writes about environmental issues and planning policy. 3. Lydia Dibben, 22 Student Lydia Dibben with a bike D-lock around her neck at an XR protest The student from Surrey is a self-declared birth-striker, saying she will never have children for the sake of the environment. She vowed at a rally last year: How could I bring up a child in a world that doesnt care about their future? I declare that I will not bear children, but I will continue the fight for climate justice, and hope that our actions will improve the future for all the children, of every species, that are already living on this beautiful planet. Expressing her support for mass, non-violent, civil disobedience, the red-haired Leeds University zoology student said her objective was to wake up the passive masses that are sleep-walking towards extinction. When she joined Extinction Rebellion, her mother Stefanie posted online: I cant express how proud of her I am. Miss Dibben lives with her mother and jewellery designer father Jon, 53, in a 350,000 house in a village near Horsham. She was charged with aggravated trespass over the blockade in Knowsley. 4. Gully Bujak, 27 A self-styled actress, model and extra, she was seen sprawled on a blow-up mattress atop a bus during the Hertfordshire protest. When she was arrested and led away by a WPC, she gushed about her extraordinary fellow protesters as if they were cast members in a hit West End show. The activist said: The climate emergency is an existential threat to humanity. Instead of publishing this on the front page every day as it deserves, much of our media ignores the issue and some actively sow seeds of climate denial. 'To these papers we say this: you will not come between us anymore. 5. Robert Possnett, 58 Former Paratrooper Robert Possnett calls himself a literary snob and real ale lover The former Paratrooper loves beer, good books and causing disruption. Mr Possnett describes himself as a literary snob and real ale lover on social media and boasted on Twitter of joining Friday nights protest at the Broxbourne plant. He has previously been convicted over his attendance at an XR protest. Yesterday one of his sons told the Mail that he was a very passionate climate change protester. The family live in a large chalet-style home in leafy Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The property is full of books with the windows used as bookshelves. One neighbour said: Roberts been campaigning for a long time now. Hes a lovely bloke who loves his beer but Im sure a few people round here were upset this morning when they could not get their newspapers. 6. Jon Fuller, 62 An ex-civil servant at HM Revenue and Customs, he is a veteran campaigner who was arrested by the pink boat in Oxford Circus in last years Extinction Rebellion protests. He stood for Parliament as a Green Party candidate in Southend in 2015, coming fifth. At Broxbourne, he told the Mail: We beg the media to now tell the truth. Were out of time. 7. Donald Bell, 64 Former infantryman Donald Bell As a young infantryman in the British Army, he was hit by shrapnel from an IRA car bomb that killed two other soldiers in Stewartstown in 1974. Mr Bell completed four tours of duty with the Royal Anglian Regiment. These days, he is fighting climate change. In February, he was seen digging up the lawn at Cambridges Trinity College and was later arrested after gluing himself to a police van, telling reporters he had been writing letters to the Government for nearly 50 years but was always ignored. He said: We had to be more disruptive. I just felt compelled to do something for my children and grandchildren. 8. Richard Hallewell, 49 The father of four from Thurston, Suffolk, is the director of two tech companies including a software firm. He held the banner that blocked the road at Broxbourne, and said: We have tried all the nice things, we have written to our MPs, we have done all those things and nothing happens. Tech company director and father of four Richard Hallewell Eco zealots could face FIVE YEARS in jail: Priti Patel threatens to change law to make Extinction Rebellion a criminal gang so tougher sentences can be handed out ByJason Groves Political Editor For The Daily Mail Extinction Rebellion protesters who attack our way of life should face jail, Priti Patel warns today. The Home Secretary has ordered a review of the law aimed at toughening sentences for the environmental extremists after they blockaded newspaper print works in a bid to stifle free speech. Options being considered include designating the group as an organised crime gang, which would leave militants open to the threat of up to five years in jail. Writing in the Daily Mail today, Miss Patel says the activists should face the full force of the law for pursuing guerrilla tactics... that seek to undermine and cause damage to our society. Around 100 protesters who targeted Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, in a bid to stifle free speech have been warned they could face jail time after a change to the law is mooted Home Secretary Priti Patel has ordered a review of the law aimed at toughening sentences for the environmental extremists One of the protesters from the bamboo lock-ons is lead away by a police officer outside the Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire She adds: I am committed to ensuring that the police have powers required to tackle the disruption caused by groups such as Extinction Rebellion. 'We must defend ourselves against this attack on capitalism, our way of life and ultimately our freedoms. A Home Office source confirmed that Miss Patel wants to see harsher sentences against the ringleaders of a group whose actions seem designed to maximise economic damage and disruption. We want to see some people banged up instead of escaping with a fine they can pay from their trust fund, the source said. Extinction Rebellion protestors block access of a printing house in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, leaving some newsagents' shelves empty on Saturday morning 'Friday nights blockade of print facilities in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, Merseyside, disrupted the distribution of 1.5million newspapers, including the Daily Mail, the Sun, the Times and the Telegraph. Miss Patels intervention came as: Ministers ordered police to ensure there was no repeat, with Boris Johnson personally ringing the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. Sir Keir Starmer faced pressure to condemn Labours former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who likened the XR protesters to the suffragettes. Police chiefs faced criticism for their softly-softly approach to the protests. Extinction Rebellion was forced to deny it has been infiltrated by far-Left militants such as the Socialist Workers Party. Friday nights blockades drew condemnation from across government, with the Prime Minister saying that it was completely unacceptable to seek to limit the publics access to news in this way. Police and fire services outside the Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire The blockades were the latest in a string of direct action protests that have seen the Metropolitan Police issue 20 fixed penalty notices of 10,000 each under the coronavirus regulations. Last night Government sources said Miss Patel and the PM had asked officials to conduct a rapid review of the law. Labours Abbott compares them to suffragettes Labours Diane Abbott sparked outrage yesterday as she defended the Extinction Rebellion activists who blockaded newspaper printing presses. Miss Abbott criticised Government plans to reclassify them as an organised crime gang, describing the protests as a legal tactic. She said: Theyre not criminals, theyre protesters and activists in the tradition of the suffragettes and the hunger marches of the 1930s. The former shadow home secretary told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday: I think its important to remind ourselves that direct action which is what those actions were is actually legal. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: Im astounded at Diane Abbotts remarks. The idea that it is right to damage property or intervene with a free press in the name of progressive protest is, I think, perverse. Advertisement Options include using the 2015 Serious Crime Act to designate the group as an organised crime gang potentially leaving activists open to jail terms of up to five years. Ministers are also looking at new powers under the Public Order Act to protect critical national infrastructure and tenets of democracy. This could make it illegal for protesters to blockade sites such as Parliament, the courts or newspaper printing plants. Extinction Rebellion has caused widespread disruption to people and businesses in a string of direct action protests. A Government source said: The fact is that they do organise to commit crimes. Richard Walton, former head of counter-terrorism at the Met, said the group was an extremist organisation whose methods needed to be confronted and challenged. Mr Walton, now a senior fellow at the Policy Exchange think-tank, said there was ample justification for the police to use intrusive surveillance against the group. Extinction Rebellion said it would be ridiculous to classify the group as an organised crime gang. In a statement last night, the group said: According to the Governments own strategy organised crime is characterised by violence or the threat of violence and by the use of bribery and corruption. That is hardly an accurate description of the thousands of ordinary people who take part in Extinction Rebellions non-violent protests. The group claimed its targeting of print works was designed to force newspapers to give more coverage to climate change. But the action led to many Sun readers missing an interview with Sir David Attenborough on the subject. Academic studies suggest newspaper coverage of climate issues has been rising in recent years. STEPHEN GLOVER: How to beat the eco warrior bullies? Apply the law! For those who remember militant trade unionists laying siege to newspaper offices in the 1980s, the scenes outside printing plants in Hertfordshire and on Merseyside on Friday night and Saturday morning brought back bad memories. Only this time it wasnt trade unions stifling a free Press by blocking the distribution of newspapers. The culprits were Extinction Rebellion activists usually middle-class types who are uninterested in debate and have no respect for democracy. How does society cope with such people? The extremists are not peaceful protesters making a point, as is their right. They are prepared to bring a great city such as London to a halt, causing inconvenience to hundreds of thousands of blameless individuals. Indeed, although any attempt to suppress newspapers is chilling because it evokes communist or fascist regimes, interference in the lives of ordinary people is probably worse because of the sheer extent of the disturbance. For those who remember militant trade unionists laying siege to newspaper offices in the 1980s, the scenes outside printing plants in Hertfordshire and on Merseyside on Friday night and Saturday morning brought back bad memories. Pictured: Mounted officers hold back striking print workers outside News International's Wapping Plant Extinction Rebellion (XR) succeeded in April 2019 and again last October in immobilising the nations capital. Bridges and roads were blocked, public transport suspended. Other cities suffered similar upheavals, if on a smaller scale. Together the protests set back the Metropolitan Police at least 37million. Contrast its annual budget of just 15million for a violent crime taskforce operating in London. The financial burden of the disruption on businesses and shops, although impossible to calculate precisely, may have been even greater. One estimate is that just two days of malarkey cost companies in the West End 12million, with footfall and spending down a quarter. Other protest groups in the fairly recent past such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament or the women of Greenham Common seem reasonable, moderate and considerate compared to the often destructive Extinction Rebellion. Extinction Rebellion (XR) succeeded in April 2019 and again last October in immobilising the nations capital. Bridges and roads were blocked, public transport suspended So I think the Government is correct to view this organisation, which has apparently been infiltrated by several Far Left groups, as unusually ruthless and dangerous. But it doesnt follow that XR should be reclassified as an organised crime group, as is reportedly one option being contemplated by the Government. The thinking is this would enable the authorities to hand out much more severe sentences. The trouble is that Extinction Rebellion cant accurately be described as an organised crime group, which is defined by the Crown Prosecution Service as having at its purpose, or one of its purposes, the carrying on of criminal activities. However obnoxious some of Extinction Rebellions activists may be, and however ready they are to break the law, the organisation as a whole is plainly not engaged in a criminal conspiracy. To reclassify it in such terms would be to risk making martyrs of its misguided leaders. More seriously still, it might be seen to create a precedent that, when the Government disapproves of people exercising their right of free speech, they can be redesignated as criminals. No, lets not treat XR in that way. There is no need to. For there are already enough existing laws in the polices armoury, if only they had the gumption to apply them. Unfortunately, on Friday night and Saturday morning the police were slow to act. At the printing plants in Hertfordshire and on Merseyside, they failed to start clearing Extinction Rebellion protesters for more than six hours. In the end, there were 80 arrests. Their relaxed attitude recalls the laid-back behaviour of the some of the police during the demonstrations in London last year. Absurdly, officers were filmed raving with protesters, while one policeman was spotted skateboarding on Waterloo Bridge. Labour's Diane Abbott defended the protest, saying direct action is a 'legal tactic' and adding that it would be 'ridiculous' for the Government to reclassify Extinction Rebellion Have ordinary police officers gone soft? Or is it just their timorous, politically correct bosses? There is a new tendency to try to make common cause with protesters, as evidenced by officers taking the knee in Black Lives Matter demonstrations in June. No one could be a more enthusiastic believer than I am in the concept of policing by consent, but that does not comprise doing nothing when existing laws are clearly being broken. Isnt obstructing the Queens highway against the law? The 1980 Highways Act states that if a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway, he is guilty of an offence. What about the law of aggravated trespass? Trespassing while at the same time intentionally obstructing, disrupting or intimidating others from carrying out lawful activities is a criminal offence. Not for the first time, Labour MP and former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott was mistaken when she asserted yesterday that blockading newspaper printing plants was a legal tactic. In an article in todays Mail, Home Secretary Priti Patel hints at new laws. There has been speculation that these could protect judges, MPs and even journalists going about their normal business. Well, conceivably, if it proves necessary. But we should beware of laws aimed at Extinction Rebellion and certainly avoid treating it as a criminal organisation. Lets use existing legislation, which safeguards free speech on the one hand, and doesnt allow bullies to destroy livelihoods on the other. All we need then is a robust and sensible police force that is determined to enforce the law. New York: Jacob Blake, the black man who was shot in the back by a white police officer in Wisconsin last month, spoke out for the first time from his hospital bed as duelling demonstrations over racial justice and policing continued to roil US cities. In a video posted on Twitter, Blake, dressed in a green hospital gown, described being in constant pain after the shooting that left him paralysed from the waist down. Jacob Blake, speaking from his hospital bed. "I got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach," he said in the video posted by his attorney, Ben Crump, late on Saturday. "It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side to side, it hurts to eat." The August 23 shooting of Blake, 29, reignited protests over racism and police brutality that have swept the United States since May when another black man, George Floyd, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Jockey John Velazquez riding Authentic (R) crosses the finish line to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo) Authentic Wins Kentucky Derby; Baffert Notches 6th Victory LOUISVILLE, Ky.Bob Baffert endured the lowest of lows and highest of highs within minutes in the Kentucky Derby. He was bummed before the horses left the paddock after Thousand Words reared up and fell on its side, getting disqualified and injuring Bafferts assistant trainer. That emotion was quickly replaced by Authentics front-running victory that gave Baffert a record-tying sixth Derby win. Then Baffert found himself down again, literally, getting knocked to the grass by a skittish Authentic in the winners circle. This is the craziest year ever, he said. Authentic kicked away from heavy favorite Tiz the Law in the stretch on Saturday, winning the 146th Derby by 1 1/4 lengths without the usual crowd of 150,000 on hand at Churchill Downs for the first time because of the coronavirus pandemic. The bay colt ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.61 under John Velazquez, who won his third Derby. Ive had some great Derby rides, but what that guy did, Baffert said, gesturing toward Velazquez, who stood socially distanced in the infield winners circle. Johnny V. gave him an incredible ride. Trainer Bob Baffert holds the trophy after John Velazquez (L) rode Authentic to victory in the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo) Baffert tied Ben Jones (193852) for the most wins by a trainer. His other victories came in 1997, 1998, 2002, 2015 with eventual Triple Crown winner Justify and 2018. Bob, hes got the magic touch, said Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable, owner of Tiz the Law. He had this horse ready at the right time and he beat us. Hopefully, well get some more shots at him and well turn the table on him. Sent off at 3-5 as the biggest Derby favorite in 31 years and part of a smaller field than usual, Tiz the Law settled into fourth while Authentic ran unopposed in front. With a quarter-mile to go, Tiz the Law pulled alongside Authentic and the two hit the top of the stretch together. Under Manny Franco, Tiz the Law briefly struck his head in front only to have Authentic fight right back and spurt clear of the Belmont winner, who came in 4 for 4 this year. Yes! Yes! Baffert shouted in the paddock, where he watched on the video screen. Jockey John Velazquez riding Authentic (18) crosses the finish line ahead of Jockey Manny Franco riding Tiz the Law to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo) Thousand Words acted up in the paddock, reared up and fell shortly before post time. Baffert said his assistant, Jim Barnes, broke his arm trying to get the saddle on the unruly colt. Thousand Words wasnt injured, according to the on-call veterinarian. In the winners circle, the long ribbons hanging off the garland of red roses kept hitting Authentics hind leg, agitating him, and in turn he knocked the white-haired trainer to the ground. He spun around and he was like a bowling ball. He just spun us all around, Baffert said. The turf course is pretty soft here, so it wasnt too bad. I was probably more embarrassed than anything when I hit the ground. Trainer Bob Baffert attempts to get out of the way as Jockey John Velazquez tries to control Authentic in the winners circle after winning the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo) Its been that kind of year for Baffert. The Hall of Fame trainer was loaded with promising 3-year-olds early on. Then Nadal got hurt and had to be retired and Charlatan went on the shelf with a minor injury. Authentic had issues, so Baffert gave him an extended break. In between, Charlatan and another of Bafferts horses had positive drug tests in Arkansas. Baffert is appealing his resulting 15-day suspension. The trainer mourned the death of Arrogate, North Americas all-time earnings leader, this summer. Its been a roller-coaster year, but thankfully its the love of the horses that keeps me going, said Baffert, his voice breaking. Theyre the best therapy a human can have. I love being around them. John Velazquez celebrates after riding Authentic to victory in the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Jeff Roberson/AP Photo) Baffert was especially pleased to help deliver a first-time Derby victory to B. Wayne Hughes. Hughes, the 86-year-old founder of Public Storage, races as Spendthrift Farm and co-owns Thousand Words. Also part of Authentics ownership is MyRaceHorse Stable, whose 4,600 participants include Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler and former Olympic skier Bode Miller. They paid about $206 each for a share. Authentic paid $18.80, $6 and $5 at 8-1 odds. Tiz the Law returned $3.40 and $3.20. Mr. Big News was another two lengths back in third and paid $16.80 to show at 46-1. Wagering from all sources on the Derby was $79.4 million, compared with $165.5 million on last years race. Churchill Downs officials attributed the decline to the absence of on-track wagering, less than a full field of 20 horses in the race and Tiz the Law being a prohibitive favorite. Tiz the Law had already won the Belmont, the kickoff to the reconfigured Triple Crown that was run in June at a shorter distance. He followed that up with an easy win in the Travers, setting himself up as the dominant horse heading into the Derby. But Velazquez hustled Authentic out of the far outside post and to the lead. Tiz the Law took up not far behind, positioning himself to pounce in his usual style. But he couldnt get past Authentic. Jockey John Velazquez riding Authentic heads to the finish line to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., on Sept. 5, 2020. (Darron Cummings/AP Photo) Tiz has been able to pass horses all year and today he ran into one he couldnt get by, Knowlton said. Credit Authentic. He came from the far outside and managed to get to the lead and just ran a great race. No shame on our part. Following Bafferts instructions, Velazquez used a left-handed whip in the stretch to keep the skittish Authentics mind on business. The colt needs ear plugs when he runs. Hes a little flighty, Baffert said. Hes a gentle horse, but hes a little high-strung. Without fashionably dressed fans sipping mint juleps and waiting in line at the betting windows, this Derby was unlike any other. Jockeys chirping at their horses and whips striking flesh in the stretch drivesounds typically drowned out by raucous fansechoed across the swath of empty seats under the Twin Spires. Bugler Steve Buttleman played My Old Kentucky Home in place of the absent University of Louisville marching band. The field of 15 horses was the smallest since 1998. Honor A. P. was fourth, followed by Max Player, Storm the Court, Enforceable, Ny Traffic, Necker Island, Major Fed, Sole Volante, Winning Impression, Money Moves, Attachment Rate and South Bend. By Beth Harris The white George Washington University professor who confessed to lying about being black was spotted for the first time since the bombshell controversy as family members revealed they were outraged by the news. According to her sister-in-law, Jessica Krug is 'white as snow white' and the family only discovered the masquerade after being contacted by the media. Krug appeared downcast on Saturday night while returning to her East Harlem apartment building after a tumultuous week. Jessica Krug, a former African and Latin American studies professor at George Washington University, was spotted for the first time since the scandal broke Sister-in-law: 'We had no clue, we are shocked right now and hurt. Our name is ruined' While dressed in a pink blouse, jeans and sunglasses, Krug kept a bag slung over her shoulders as she attempted to keep a low-profile. Students, colleagues and others who've encountered Krug have expressed their utter shock over the admission. But according to her sister-in-law, her family was blindsided, too. The sister-in-law, who wished to remain anonymous, told CNN that 'there's no way she's Black.' 'I can tell you that, there's no member of the family that is Black,' she said. The sister-in-law said that her husband has been estranged from Krug for two decades. She confirmed that her husband and Krug are Jewish and grew up in Kansas. Krug (pictured): 'For the better part of my adult life, every move I've made, every relationship I've formed, has been rooted in the napalm toxic soil of lies' 'Our last name is tarnished, and all my husband and I want to do is cry our eyes out right now. I can only imagine my father-in-law rolling around in his grave,' she said. She claimed that the family was completely unaware of Krug's deceit until they received a phone call on Thursday from a reporter. 'We had no clue, we are shocked right now and hurt. Our name is ruined,' the sister-in-law said. 'It hurts because she slapped everyone in the face, not only her family, she slapped every Black woman in the face.' The sister-in-law said she has not met Krug, and she's not welcome in their home. The sister-in-law of Krug (pictured) said they only learned of the deception after they were contacted by a reporter on Thursday In her blog post, titled 'The Truth, and the Anti-Black Violence of My Lies', she went into detail about the deceptions that rooted in all aspects of her life. 'For the better part of my adult life, every move I've made, every relationship I've formed, has been rooted in the napalm toxic soil of lies,' she wrote. 'To an escalating degree over my adult life, I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim: first North African Blackness, then US rooted Blackness, then Caribbean rooted Bronx Blackness.' 'To an escalating degree over my adult life, I have eschewed my lived experience as a white Jewish child in suburban Kansas City under various assumed identities within a Blackness that I had no right to claim: first North African Blackness, then US rooted Blackness, then Caribbean rooted Bronx Blackness. ' Pictured: The book Fugitive Modernities written by Krug Her confession is reminiscent of Rachel Dolezal, a former NAACP leader from Washington state who was exposed as a white woman pretending to be black in 2015. In her blog post, Krug said she has battled 'unaddressed mental health demons' her entire life and that she first assumed a false identity as a child. She wrote that her mental health issues could never explain or justify why she pretended to be black. 'When I was a teenager fleeing trauma, I could just run away to a new place and become a new person. But this isn't trauma that anyone imposed on me, this is harm that I have enacted onto so many others. There is nowhere to run. I have ended the life I had no right to live in the first place,' she said. In a video posted online in June of this year under her activist pseudonym, Jessica La Bombalera, Krug denounced 'all these white New Yorkers who waited four hours with us to be able to speak and then did not yield their time for Black and Brown indigenous New Yorkers'. She adds: 'Much power to all my siblings who were standing up, my black and brown siblings who were standing.' Krug has been teaching classes on African American history at George Washington University since 2012. Her biography page on the university website says she also specializes in subjects including Latin America, Africa, imperialism and colonialism. Krug has been teaching classes on African history at GWU since 2012. She is pictured above during a panel discussion last year on African studies at Columbia University She has a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to the GWU page. Krug has also written several books and essays on blackness and black culture. Some of the outlets who have published her work started deleting the posts on Thursday after the revelations. She has taken financial support from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The Guardian reports. In 2009 she is understood to have been award as Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship. Her book Fugitive Modernities includes the acknowledgement: 'My ancestors, unknown, unnamed, who bled life into a future they had no reason to believe could or should exist...Those whose names I cannot say for their own safety, whether in my barrio, in Angola, or in Brazil.' DailyMail.com exclusively revealed how Krug went to the exclusive Barstow school in Kansas City where she was described as 'very political' and is said to have identified as a white, Jewish girl. One classmate said no one heard of Krug, who identified as a white, Jewish girl at school One of Krug's former peers, who did not want to be named, said she boycotted prom and planned a flag burning while at the school from where she graduated in 1999. In an online bio Krug had described herself as an 'unrepentant and unreformed child of the hood'. Krug went to the exclusive Barstow school in Kansas City. She is pictured in her yearbook Her current neighbor in the Bronx, Anna Anderson, told the DailyMail.com that Krug would call her 'white trash' and tell Anderson she was 'gentrifying' the neighborhood by going running. Following a dispute over their bikes Anderson said Krug asked her: 'Do you know what the police do to black people like me?' Anderson told DailyMail.com: 'She called me white trash, which is ironic.' Following the revelations in her post, Krug has since been slammed on Twitter by several black writers and scholars who she had contact with throughout her career. Hari Ziyad, a black author and screenwriter, claimed that she had only penned the post because she had been 'found out'. Another Tiwtter user, Neal Davidson, says he 'started grad school in history at UW-Madison around the same time as Jessica Krug. Everyone I knew suspected she was full of sh*t, but no one was sure what to do about it.' In a series of scathing tweets, Ziyad said he considered Krug to be a friend until she called him a few hours prior to the Medium post being published to confess. Hari Ziyad, a black author and screenwriter, claimed that she had only penned the post because she had been 'found out' 'Jess Krug... is someone I called a friend up until this morning when she gave me a call admitting to everything written here. She didn't do it out of benevolence. She did it because she had been found out,' Ziyad tweeted. 'For years I defended her work, and her from her own self-loathing. I did it despite warnings from Black friends, from those who said she wasn't Black enough even if they could accept that she was Black, and from my own mind and body. 'I always knew there was something off. It was in her persistent negativity and jealousy, her always needing to prove her authenticity at the expense of everything else. 'I kept her at arm's length, but still close enough that she could harm Black people around me. I owe so many people apologies.' Unlike Passover, with its tradition of at-home Seders that translated well to Zoom in the spring, the Jewish High Holy Days have a strong emphasis on hours spent inside of a synagogue. You might be wondering whether you belong to a synagogue year-round or scrambled each fall to find a temporary one how you can observe Rosh Hashana (which starts the night of Sept. 18) and Yom Kippur (the night of Sept. 27) from home. Good news: Because of the pandemic, conservative, reform and nontraditional synagogues are streaming services available free, and to nonmembers from their mostly empty sanctuaries. But if formal prayer isnt your thing, there are plenty of other ways, some of them virus-inspired, to celebrate safely. Crisis is painful, but I think were seeing the Jewish community reconfigure, says Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish group in North America. People can really take the resources and shape something that feels personally meaningful. Here are some options. Follow a digital service. First, about those services: If youre not a fan of whatever local synagogue you attended in the past (maybe because its real appeal was free High Holy Day tickets), this year you can go global. Rabbi Jacobs said many Jews have been tapping into Shabbat services in Israel during the pandemic or tuning in to a temple in whatever time zone better fits the time of day they want to pray. For some, mathematics is surely something that can put their minds to a spin. But some truly enjoy the challenge and end up being good at it. However, there are some for whom all this is rather effortless. We came across one such individual, who has defied odds at a very young age. Meet Tathagat Avatar Tulsi, Indias child prodigy. BCCL Defying odds in academics Tulsi was born on September 9th, 1987, in Patna, Bihar. Son of Supreme Court advocate Tulsi Narayan Prasad, his parents noticed his pace of learning at a very early age. He was in fact one of the youngest to ever complete his high-school, graduation, masters and PhD. He reportedly completed his high school when he was just 9 years old -- an age when kids are barely done with multiplication. In just a year, he completed his BSc followed by Masters in Science from Patna Science College at the age of 12. Speaking about his skills, he told TOI, "I believe I have a gift. When I was young and while my friends were struggling to solve mathematical problems, I would solve those easily." Completing his PhD from IISc Bengaluru In August 2009, he got his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore at the age of 22. Here, his Ph.D. thesis was on "Generalizations of the Quantum Search Algorithm". He co-authored an unpublished research manuscript ("A New Algorithm for Fixed-point Quantum Search") with Lov Grover, the inventor of a quantum search algorithm that goes by his name. The research paper was just 35 pages long, yet he felt it had immense potential. He said in an interview with TOI, "Despite the short length, the thesis is innovative enough to qualify as a PhD work. I was always interested in quantum computers and would like to develop software for it. Quantum computers will take us one step ahead in changing the world for the better." Gulf News Winning awards and accolades from an early age Tulsi has been in the limelight since a very young age. In 2001, he was shortlisted by the Indian Government's Department of Science and Technology (DST) to participate in a Nobel laureates conference in Germany. He has been even regarded as one of the seven most gifted Asian youngsters by TIME magazine in 2003, mentioned as "Superteen" by Science Magazine, while also being invited by Italian billionaire Luciano Benetton for a dinner in honor of Al Gore on 14 June 2007 in Milano, Italy. Assistant Professor on contract at IIT Bombay In 2010, after completing his PhD, he was offered a role to teach students at the prestigious IIT Bombay, when he was barely 23 years old. Facebook: Tathgat Avtar Tulsi He continued this role for eight years, only to be sacked by the institution in the year 2019, reportedly as he was inattentive due to health issues throughout 2018. He did request to be transferred to IIT Delhi, but that request was quashed. Mr. Anthony Paa Kwesi Sackey, the Central Regional Manager of Micro-Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) has panned the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Mahama over Akyem Mafia, Sakawa boys statement. Speaking on The Platform programme on Peace FM, he said: "The sad aspect of this whole saga is for the former President to stoop so low and refer to the President as Akyem Sakawa grandpa. This is how low we have reduced our presidencywe have a former president seeking the mandate of Ghanaians boldly describing a whole ethnic group as sakawa; my goodness!!! The former President has been facing backlash over what the ruling NPP has described as an endorsement of a tribal comment made by the MP.Isaac Adongo reacting to the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal said the agreement was fraudulent adding 'the Akyem Sakawa boys and grandpas must go'.President Akufo-Addo has expressed his disappointment in this remark.According to him, sometimes, one would hope when things come out, people will comment on them. The comment made by my opponent: Akyem Sakawa people, I have not heard any public figure in this country or anybody comment on it. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Photo: Richmond RCMP The Richmond RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in locating a high risk missing male. Ulrich Hartmann was last seen at approximately 7:00 pm on Saturday, in the 9500 block of Saunders Rd in Richmond. He has not been seen or heard from since. Hartmann is described as a 88 year old Caucasian male, 6 feet tall, slim built, and bald with hair on the sides. He was last seen wearing black pants, a dark coloured shirt, with a vest. He suffers from a medical condition and police and family are concerned for his health and well-being. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hartmann person is asked to contact the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca, quoting file number 2020-24160. New Delhi: Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday during his visit to Iran met teh country's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran while returning from Moscow. Several important issues related to bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed. Singh said that the issue of regional security was also discussed in the meeting which included the issue of restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: "Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation." In this meeting, the two leaders stressed on strengthening the cultural, linguistic and social relations between India and Iran. During this time, ways to take the relationship of the two countries to the next level were also discussed. "Both the Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan," Singh's office said in a separate tweet on the meeting held at the request of the Iranian defence minister. Iranian Defence Minister Hatami and his Indian counterpart Singh held talks in Tehran on international, regional and bilateral issues, Iran's official Irna news agency reported on Sunday. Singh's visit is the first travel of a top Indian official to Iran since the coronavirus outbreak. Singh's visit to Iran, a major regional player, is considered to be significant as it came after he voiced India's deep concern about the situation in Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf. Notably, Singh was on a two-day visit to Moscow to attend the SCO meeting, where China's Defense Minister Wei Fanghe requested for a meet. At that meeting, Singh told the Chinese to restore the old status-quo in Ladakh. Jacob Blake, the Black man who was shot in the back by a white police officer in Wisconsin last month, spoke out for the first time from his hospital bed as dueling demonstrations over racial justice and policing continued to roil U.S. cities. In a video posted on Twitter, Blake, dressed in a green hospital gown, described being in constant pain after the shooting that left him paralyzed from the waist down. "I got staples in my back, staples in my damn stomach," he said in the video posted by his attorney, Ben Crump, late on Saturday. "It hurts to breathe, it hurts to sleep, it hurts to move from side to side, it hurts to eat." The Aug. 23 shooting of Blake, 29, reignited protests over racism and police brutality that have swept the United States since May when another Black man, George Floyd, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The demonstrations have coincided with widespread upheaval over the social and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly 190,000 people in the United States, the highest death toll in the world. The protests have also moved to the forefront of President Donald Trump's campaign to be re-elected on Nov. 3. At the start of the three-day Labor Day weekend, police in Rochester, New York, used tear gas to disperse some 2,000 protesters in the fourth night of unrest over the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after an encounter with police in March. Nine people were arrested and three police officers were treated at local hospitals for injuries sustained during the clashes, the Rochester police department said on Sunday. In Louisville, Kentucky, armed supporters of the police squared off with Black Lives Matter demonstrators before the famed Kentucky Derby horse race on Saturday. Louisville has emerged as a flashpoint because of outrage over the death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman killed in March by police who burst into her apartment using a so-called "no-knock" arrest warrant that did not require them to announce themselves. Violent clashes also rocked the city of Portland, Oregon, for the 100th day overnight. Demonstrators threw rocks and fire bombs at police who in turn used tear gas, leaving at least one person injured and leading to more than 50 arrests. The Pacific northwestern city has remained another hotspot partly, according to some civic leaders, due to the deployment of federal troops there in July. Search Keywords: Short link: WTF?! AMDs decision to diversify their product portfolio comes hot on the heels of Nvidias announcement of the ground-breaking RTX 3000 series. Is AMD admitting defeat and surrendering the GPU market? (thats a joke hopefully) In addition to their main website detailing their processors, AMD operates a special fan store that sells AMD-themed merchandise. Mostly hats, shirts, water bottles, and the like. And from now on: bicycles, for some reason. The two bicycles on offer are the AMD Custom Cruiser Bike and the AMD Custom Mountain Bike. Both are available for the surprisingly reasonable price of $299 and cost only $50 to ship to anywhere in America, but they wont ship anywhere else. Both come in black and white frames with orange accents and AMD detailing. The mountain bike also has an option for some pretty snazzy bright orange wheels. As far as bikes go, though theyre both kind of lame. Although its a little lazy to judge them without testing them out myself (hey AMD, send me a review model I dare you) theyre pretty simple and uninteresting. I say this as an avid road cyclist and hobby mountain biker. The mountain bike is probably the worst offender, but Ill admit youll struggle to find many useful mountain bikes at $300 anyway. The bike has dual suspension, a three by eight gearset, v-brakes, and 26 wheels. The biggest problem is probably the brakes, they simply dont look trustworthy and because theyre v-brakes theyll suffer if the track is muddy or dusty. The tires look like theyre a little lacking in traction, too. The result is that the bike is too dangerous to take down a technically difficult trail, but if you dont, then youll never use the full suspension and gear range. At this price bracket, Id recommend a hardtail for endurance riding instead. The cruiser bike, which is a commuter or town bike, looks to be okay. It also has 26 wheels but thats where the list of features stop. The only brakes are the pedal-backward kind and theres only one gear. These arent necessarily bad things, if the money has been invested in making the frame lighter and thus more comfortable to ride. What bugs me most about this bike is the geometry. It looks like it seats the rider quite far back and low down. Its not a riding style many cyclists I know like much, but if it suits you, well, this isnt a bad bike. To answer the question I posed at the beginning: what do you want more, a new GPU or a mountain bike? Id have to say a mountain bike because the biggest thing impacting my gaming performance tonight isnt my 2070s performance, its the massive bruise down my right arm from crashing on a trail this morning. But, uh, Im gonna have to pass on AMDs mountain bike. Maybe stick to CPUs, AMD? She's a proud mother-to-be! Morgan Stewart took to her Instagram on Saturday, September 5, to show off her growing baby bump for the first time since she and musician fiance Jordan McGraw announced they were expecting their first child together in August. For her post, the Nightly Pop host shared a couple of photos of herself posing confidently in a striking black bikini. 'Can we get this emoji a bikini please....' she teased in the caption, before adding the pregnant mother emoji. Proud mom-to-be: Morgan Stewart, 31, showed off her growing baby bump for the first time In one photo, she crossed her left leg over her right and seductively lifted her left arm up to the back of her head while standing in front of a window with the lush green yard in the background. Stewart, who starred in the reality show Rich Kids Of Beverly Hills, wore her blonde tresses long and stringy with a part in the middle, and accessorized with gold jewelry pieces and large sunglasses. She also shared a mirror selfie on her Insta-Story that showed her smiling for the camera and cradling her bump. Strike a pose: The Nightly Pop host also shared a mirror selfie on her Insta-Story that showed her smiling for the camera and cradling her bump Nearly a month ago, Stewart and Jordan, who's the son of famed television host Dr. Phil, announced that they're expecting a baby girl. During their gender reveal video, the couple looked overjoyed when they pierced a balloon that revealed a flurry of baby pink confetti. 'She may not be great at math but at least we know shell be well dressed,' Stewart captioned her post, while her musician fiance wrote, 'Been working on my dad jokes for years' along with his post. Beaming: Stewart and musician fiance Jordan McGraw announced that they're expecting a baby girl nearly a month ago Excited: McGraw's parent were overjoyed about their son's baby news Back on the Fourth of July, the couple announced they were engaged by posting a photo of Stewart wearing a one-piece swimsuit with the massive diamond ring on her finger with the caption, 'Fireworks.' It was first revealed back in March 2020 that the pair had started dating. Getting hitched! The couple announced they were engaged by posting a photo of Stewart wearing a one-piece swimsuit with the massive diamond ring on her finger Artisan in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad are hopeful as the central government is discussing ways to boost the manufacturing of Indian Toys. Basheer Ahmed, artisan said that the demand for wooden toys has increased as the people started preferring more of indigenous toys after the conflict with China. "Demand for these toys has increased amid conflict with China. People are looking for alternatives and supporting local products," Ahmed said. He also said that earlier, we were earning less but now after Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for boosting the manufacturing units of toys in the country, we are earning more money as people are inclined towards local products. Recently, PM Modi, during his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio programme, talked about making "toys for the world" and highlighted the ability of India to become a "toy hub". "There has been a rich tradition of local toys in our country. There are many talented and skilled artisans who possess expertise in making good toys. Toys are very important for the development of children. Even Rabindranath Tagore has spoken about the importance of toys. India has the talent and the ability to become a toy hub by making toys for the entire world," the Prime Minister had said. Also, 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. 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. (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 we continue from last week ... 2. Why i am positive that this plan is attainable. I want to encourage and motivate our government by ensuring them that this plan is attainable, ambitious as it looks but yes we need lots of red bull ambition and stamina for us to turn around the post-covid-19 effects. Below are some of what i consider to be low hanging enablers for the success of the plan. 2.1 Section 64 of the national constitution provides that the executive authority of Eswatini vests in the king as head of state and shall be exercised in accordance with the provisions of this constitution. This means that there is very little which his majestys government can fail to do. This was the same unitary government authority environment that prevailed to see singapore, rwanda and maleysia and other mainly asian nations such as taiwan, japan, mainland china and others propel their economies in ways that defied western logic from a position of profound socio-economic and political strife to first world nations. In short we have what it takes to even force an exponential economic growth agenda. In his 2020 speech from the throne during parliament opening hmk commanded that let us tap into the enormous potential that our collective attributes provide to mould an impenetrable circle of trust in our capabilities to create a society of visionaries, optimists, entrepreneurs and active citizens with first world mindsets and out of the box thinkers. This was like a blank cheque for government to live up to this command and if it wasnt possible pre-covid-19 it certainly is possible post-covid-19 with such a strong and clear command issued in terms of section 64 of our constitution. 2.2 The programme is titled private-sector-led economic recovery. I notice that there is so much wealth of private sector gurus in our current cabinet including but not limited to key portfolios such as the prime minister, commerce, finance, foreign affairs, agriculture and others. The manqoba khumalo-led task team is also rich in able and vibrant public and private sector individuals and there is a lot at stake in terms of their reputation should this plan fail to deliver. So failure is not an option which is why we will win. opportunity 2.3 We are currently in a state of not even a national disaster/emergency but a global disaster due to covid-19. A state of disaster presents a very fertile opportunity for leaders to do things and anything differently like during war time in the interest of the country and its people because recovery from disaster requires you to do the unthinkable. Actually even a unitary command leadership system is justified during disaster and during recovery. Such would also be in line with hmks command that that lets think outside the box. 2.4 The strategy is founded on a principle of eswatini to be a private sector-led economy committed to economic reform the strategy document says the goe through this recovery plan commits itself to create a conducive business environment that will unlock all the bottlenecks that have prevented/impeded the implementation of viable development projects with high returns on investment. This commitment by government is plausible and really raises the private sectors expectations even though this is not the first time such a statement was made. For example for over 10 years we have been waiting for the promised thermal power plant as we suffer from a colonial procrastination mind disorder and i want to positively think that this disorder will be a thing of the past through this plan. I notice from the plan that e18 million will be invested within the next 18 months out of a total of a e32.125 billion project to be implemented over three years. For a change this plan has to make this happen. 3.3 A systemic approach by breaking the silo walls. One of the main causes of the stifled economic performance is because government is not operating as one system. One ministry promotes businesses and another ministry comes and kill the businesses yet this is the same government. For example, one ministry will come and promote msmes and another ministry will come and kill the msmes through a hostile tax regime That forces businesses to close down. The same goes for promotion of informal traders where another ministry will come and destroy informal trader-businesses both in municipalities and along our roads in roadside markets with vengeance. If we seriously want a private sector-led economy and are committed to it lets start by allocating part of the post-covid-19 budget to improving the working environment for the informal sector such as roadside marketers by building good infrastructure plus sanitation facilities for them. Please show their children that were caring and not a cruel government. For a government ministry or department to brag about destroying informal trader structures is not a sign of commitment. (..See part 3 next week) 3. Road map to a private sector led economy for the kingdom of eswatini I wish to conclude by proposing to the respectable task team a road map to the plan and below are some of my humble proposals to the team with justifications and top of the agenda is decolonisation of our public service. I wish also to make very clear that in my experience, it is not the private sector that is frustrating economic growth and development in this country but its the government through the colonial public administration mindset which rewards conformists and punishes innovative thinkers and prompt decision-takers to an extent that such innovative minds end up diverted and tempted to do other things outside the core business of government. decision 3.1 Decolonising the public service. This may not be an overnight exercise but it is a prerequisite especially when it comes to decision-making given that the public service is the governments hands. I say decolonising because governments procrastination level is by far one of the highest to an extent that even our parliament sometimes frustrate government efforts to fast-track development because parliament itself suffers from the same colonial mindset. Actually investors end up giving up and migrate to the more friendly decision-taking economies. Evidence of this is that when hmk opened parliament in 2020, he commanded that a study for a thermal power station would have been completed by august 2020. It is not clear why the post-covid-19 plan has given this exercise e18 million over 18 months when the study should have been published by now as this is the august that was commanded. I am not privy to the insights of this project but i suspect that the public service colonial procrastination took its toll. In his own words hmk commanded that ..It is anticipated that a detailed technical and economic assessment for a 300mw power plant, which is supported by the friends of the kingdom, will be completed by august 2020. 3.2 During the same speech from the throne, hmk commanded that let us do an introspection, and consider the progress we have done, and see how far we are to our set goal. If we are still not there, we ought to address the shortfalls and accelerate our efforts towards making our dream come true. Introspection ought to be prioritised as a prerequisite to the plan with a view to decolonising the public service mindset. I am not suggesting by the way that our public officers and the public service are not doing their work, its just that the colonial mindset does not reward for thinking outside the box. You are boxed and rewarded handsomely if you faithfully remain in the box through compliance. Servants of the state work hard but inside a silo-based box instead of a system and actually get punished and denied promotions for creativity and for thinking outside the box. Union health and science minister Dr Harsh Vardhans mother Snehlata Goel died on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was 89. The minister rushed her to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after she collapsed suddenly, but she could not be revived. She died at 8.50 am Heartbroken to inform that my dearest person on earth, my Mother, has left for heavenly abode. She was 89 & suffered a cardiac arrest today morning. A towering personality, my guide & philosopher, she has left a void in my life that none can fill. May her pious soul find peace, tweeted the minister in the morning, with a photograph of him with his mother. Dr Harsh Vardhan, who is an ENT doctor by training, donated her eyes at the Organ Retrieval and Banking Organisation (ORBO) at AIIMS for people with corneal blindness to regain their vision. After his mother passed away, the minister asked to donate her eyes and signed the consent form himself. It is a really great step and hopefully an inspiration for others, said Dr Aarti Vij, chief of ORBO. Since his mothers advanced age made her unfit for donating other organs, Dr Harsh Vardhan donated her body to Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) for the advancement of science to help medical students and researchers learn about the human anatomy. Her body had been pledged to the institute earlier and was received today upon her death. She would live on after her demise and help in educating the future generation of doctors. Training of anatomy is an essential part of the MBBS course but rarely do we see people donate bodies. It was a courageous step taken by the minister, said Dr Suresh Seth, director of the Lok Nayak Hospital that is attached to MAMC. Minister of state in the Prime Ministers Office, Jitendra Singh, wrote in a tweet: My sincere condolences to Dr Harsh Vardhan ji, with whom I share a long-time relationship as my senior, both in medical profession as well as in public life. Mothers void can never be filled. Condolences also came from the Congress MP Digvijay Singh, who said, Very sorry to hear about the sad demise of Harsh Vardhan jis Mother. Our condolences to Harsh Vardhan ji and his family. May her Soul rest in Peace. The Indian Medical Association also expressed sadness at the demise of the ministers mother. President Buhari will be traveling to Niamey, Niger republic to participate in the 57th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. Garba Shehu, Buharis Spokesman disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. Buhari is expected to participate in a one-day summit will deliberate on the Special Report on COVID-19 to be presented by President Buhari who was appointed the ECOWAS Champion on the Fight against COVID-19 during the Extraordinary Virtual Summit of ECOWAS on April 23, 2020. As a Champion, the Nigerian leader was expected to coordinate the sub-regional response against the pandemic. In furtherance of that objective, under the supervision of the Champion, Nigerian Ministers of Health, Aviation and Finance were appointed Chairpersons of the Ministerial Coordination Committees on Health; Transport, Logistics and Trade; and Finance respectively. The increasing rate of terrorism, armed banditry and the democratic process by the military in Mali, will also be discussed at the summit. President Buhari will be accompanied to the Summit by ministers and other top government officials, will return to Abuja after the meeting. At the summit, a Special Report will be received on the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme to be presented by President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone and Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), and President Alassane Ouattara, who is Chair of the West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU/UEMOA). Also the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean Claude Kassi Brou will present to the West African leaders, the 2020 Interim Report on activities of the sub-regional body including ECOWAS Vision 2050. Similarly, in Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Guinea and Niger where parliamentary and presidential elections are scheduled for this year, the imperative to strengthen democracy in the sub-region by respecting constitutional provisions, rule of law and outcomes of free and fair polls, will be emphasised, the statement added. With 12 players left in the World Series of Poker $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event on GGPoker, Stoyan Madanzhiev got involved in what seemed to be a relatively standard lucky all-in hand, hitting a three on the turn with ace-three against the ace-nine of a short-stacked Samuel Vousden. Then, two players showed they'd folded a three, meaning Madanzhiev had hit a one-outer. While it helped him eliminate a major threat in one of the most accomplished and skilled players in the final day, it wasn't really among the most impactful hands Madanzhiev played. It just summed up how his day went as he cruised to a fairly mundane victory, the last player standing in a field of 5,802, of which 38 made the final day. The Bulgarian, whose WSOP earnings amounted to about $5,500 coming in, all from GGPoker, won a staggering $3,904,686, the largest prize ever awarded in online poker. Final Result 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online $5,000 Main Event Position Winner Country Prize (in USD) 1 Stoyan Madanzhiev Bulgaria $3,904,686 2 Wenling Gao China $2,748,605 3 Tyler Rueger United States $1,928,887 4 Thomas Ward New Zealand $1,353,634 5 Satoshi Isomae Japan $949,937 6 Joao Santos Brazil $666,637 7 Stefan Schillhabel Germany $467,825 8 Tyler Cornell United States $328,305 9 Samuel Taylor United States $230,395 The most crucial pot Madanzhiev played came with 25 players left, when he faced off with Martin Arce holding kings against ace-king. The preflop all-in spot went Madanzhiev's way to give him a pot of 22 million and a stack of 40 million at 300,000 big blind. Then, against Julian Stuer, Madanzhiev opened under the gun and barreled off on a paired board when he made kings full of eights on the river after flopping two pair. Stuer, unfortunately for him, held the last king and called off with trips. The heater saw Madanzhiev race ahead of the field with about double the next stacks. From there, he kept the pressure on as highly credentialed players like start-of-day leader Bryan Piccioli, Vousden and online tourney legend Benjamin "bencb789" Rolle ran out of chips en route to the final table. Big Names Down Early Several notable names still remained at the final table as poker millionaires Stefan Schillhabel, Tyler Cornell, Thomas Ward of New Zealand and Samuel Taylor all made it. However, none was above 20 blinds other than Taylor, and he proceeded to run into a nasty set-under-set cooler right away to bust ninth. The others didn't fare much better other than Ward, who managed to ladder all the way to fourth thanks to a lightning-quick final table that lasted about two hours as all of the chips got concentrated into two seats: those of Madanzhiev and WSOP neophyte Wenling Gao. The only player to build a stack that challenged their was Tyler Rueger, who started the final table about even with Madanzhiev. But, when Gao relegated him to third place with kings over ace-queen, Gao and Madanzhiev went heads up with both players a staggering 200 blinds deep. Deep-Stacked Heads-Up Match Ends in a Hurry The final table theme of speed continued heads up despite how deep the two players were, though. Gao has built a nice record in Asian tournaments. Madanzhiev was a step ahead of his foe at every turn as he got thin value with an overbet on the river then turned around and picked off her multi-barrel bluff moments later. Suddenly, he had a decent lead, but Gao still had plenty of chips with more than 100 big blinds. Unfortunately for her, the end came moments later when she couldn't find the fold button with aces after Madanzhiev defended his big blind with seven-six and flopped a nut straight. Nonetheless, Gao, an active participant in the Asian tournament scene with almost $700K in cashes, earned more than $2.7 million for her efforts. As for Madanzhiev, who identifies himself as a pro player on his Instagram, live events don't appear to be a major part of his portfolio as he has just about $30K in cashes. Perhaps that will change now that he's almost $4 million richer and in the record books until some brave operator decides to top this historic event. By Trend Export of jewelry from Turkey to international markets dropped by 9.4 percent from January through July 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, amounting to $1.6 billion, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend. This amount accounted for 2.2 percent of the countrys total export from Jan. through Jul. 2020. "Turkeys export of jewelry to international markets amounted to $346.6 million in July 2020, which is 31.8 percent less compared to the same month of 2019," the ministry said. In July of this year, Turkeys export of jewelry to international markets amounted to 2.3 percent of the countrys total export. "During the last twelve months, from July 2019 through July 2020, Turkey exported jewelry worth $3.9 billion," added the ministry. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A new rise in Covid-19 cases in Britain are predominantly amoung young people The United Kingdom registered almost 3,000 new coronavirus cases over 24 hours, a level not seen since late May, health ministry figures showed Sunday. The government said two more people had died after testing positive over the past 28 days, bringing the overall UK toll to 41,551, Europe's highest. In addition, 2,988 new cases were recorded, significantly higher than the 1,813 registered Saturday. "The rise in the number of cases that we have seen today is concerning," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock as Britain digested the highest number of daily cases since 2,959 on May 23. Hancock said the latest sufferers are predominantly young people but cautioned against behaviour that might allow a spread to the elderly. Hancock said it was "important that people don't allow this illness to infect their grandparents and to lead to the sort of problems that we saw earlier in the year" when the health system battled to contain the virus as the toll inexorably rose. The concern is that increased transmission generally heightens the risk that the virus could get passed on to the elderly and people with underlying health problems. Opposition Labour health spokesman Jonathan Ashworth urged Hancock to update lawmakers on the government's approach in parliament on Monday. Cities are struggling with the economic impact of the virus Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government says it will tighten local restrictions in areas showing sharp rises in cases rather than impose a second national lockdown for fear of its effect on the economy. Such restrictions would include limiting household contacts. Sunday saw 124 new admissions to hospital of virus sufferers, bringing the total to 756 with 69 on ventilators. 'Get Britain back up and running' To date, a total of 347,152 coronavirus cases have now been confirmed across the United Kingdom. How to deal with the virus spread just as the school year starts remains a delicate question in many countries. Some parents question if it safe for their offspring to return to the classroom. Hancock said the British government was right to reopen schools "because of the impact on children of not getting an education". The British government says it will tighten local restrictions in areas showing sharp rises in cases rather than impose a second national lockdown for fear of its effect on the economy London's mayor Sadiq Khan expressed concern at the latest "worrying" transmission data. "Londoners have already made incredible sacrifices but the virus is still with us & we must keep following the rules to keep safe," he tweeted. Beyond the headline figure for Britain on Sunday, Scotland recorded 208 new cases for its highest daily increase in more than four months." Cities are struggling with the economic impact of the virus, with millions of people having spent months working from home. "The economy needs to have people back at work," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC. "It is important to send a message that we need to get Britain back up and running, the economy motoring on all cylinders." But he accepted that a mass return to office working would need to be "incremental". Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2020 AFP Kentucky congressman against mandates says he has COVID-19 By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Central government which dropped Question Hour from the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament citing Covid-19, is forcing students to give answers in JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test), AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged on Saturday. On one hand Narendra Modi will not give answers in Question Hour citing Covid-19, on the other hand you ask students to go and answer questions in JEE and NEET. This is his governance, Owaisi told reporters when asked about the Question Hour. We dont know whether we can raise questions on Covid-19 crisis and have debates on whats happening in eastern Ladakh as there is no Question Hour, Owaisi said. He said the government with its brute majority could bring ordinances and make them into laws. In an ideal situation we should have Question Hour, the Hyderabad MP added. He said PMs of several countries were holding press meets on Coronavirus-related issues, whereas Modi just puts out video messages. Meanwhile, Owaisi thanked CM K Chandrasekhar Rao for going ahead with the construction of the two mosques and the temple at the same places inside the upcoming Secretariat complex. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said he would consider tendering an apology only if actress Kangana Ranaut does so for her 'insulting' remarks against Mumbai and Maharashtra. Photograph: Kind courtesy @KanganaTeam/Twitter In a veiled jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Raut asked whether the actress had the courage to compare Ahmedabad to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The actress had recently compared Mumbai to PoK in a tweet, evoking ire of leaders of the ruling Sena. Asked if he would apologise for his remark against Ranaut while reacting to her tweet on a news channel, Raut told reporters that 'anybody who lives and works here and speaks ill of Mumbai, Maharashtra and Marathi people, I would say (to them to) apologise first, then I will consider apologising'. "If that girl apologises to Mumbai and Maharashtra for calling Mumbai a 'mini Pakistan, then I will think about it. Does she have the courage to say the same about Ahmedabad?" he asked. The trouble started when Ranaut had said that she felt unsafe in Mumbai after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. BJP leader Ram Kadam had recently asked the Sena-led state government to provide the police protection to Ranaut, since 'she wanted to expose the Bollywood drug nexus'. Responding to Kadam's tweet, the actress had said she feared the Mumbai police more than the 'movie mafia', and would prefer security either from Himachal Pradesh or the Centre. Reacting strongly, Raut had purportedly said, "We kindly request her not to come to Mumbai. This is nothing but an insult to Mumbai Police." Hitting back, Ranaut tweeted: 'Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?' She had tagged a September 1 news report on Raut asking her not to return to Mumbai if she was afraid of the city police. Raut had on Friday urged the Maharashtra government to take against people defaming the city police. He had also asked Ranaut to tour the PoK first to see the situation prevailing there. The actress, who is currently in her home state Himachal Pradesh, had also tweeted that she will be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and dared anyone to stop her. Sena MLA Pratap Saranik had hit back with a slap threat and said she should be arrested for sedition. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's personal residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra in Mumbai has received calls in which the caller allegedly threatened to blow it up, the Chief Minister's Office said in a statement on Sunday. IMAGE: Extra security force was deployed outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's personal residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra, Mumbai. Photograph: ANI According to police, 'Matoshree' received two calls on Saturday night from a man, who said he was calling from Dubai on behalf of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Following this, the police have beefed up security at the bungalow located in Kalanagar Colony, a police official said. The CMO said the state cabinet, which met here on Sunday on the eve of the two-day monsoon session of state legislature, expressed concern over the threat call and sought Centre's intervention in the matter. State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told the cabinet that the crime branch was investigating the matter. 'State CM Uddhav Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree' received anonymous threat call that it be would blown up. The state cabinet which met today, expressed concern over it and condemned it,' the CMO statement said. 'The cabinet sought the Centre's intervention in the case. The ministers said the guilty should be brought to book and strict action should be taken,' it added. A police official said, "Someone called up on 'Matoshree' phone number two times on Saturday night and said Dawood Ibrahim wanted to talk to CM Uddhav Thackeray. However, the telephone operator did not transfer the call to the CM." "The caller did not reveal his identity, but only said that he was calling from Dubai on behalf of Dawood Ibrahim. Both the calls were received around 10.30 pm," he said. The local police were later informed about the calls, following which extra security force was deployed outside the bungalow, the official added. According to him, no case was registered in this connection. Talking to PTI, a top police official said, "We are trying to verify whether the calls received were from Dubai or some other place. Investigation is on." State Transport Minister Anil Parab, however, dismissed reports that the caller gave a threat to blow up the chief minister's residence. "There was no threat to blow up 'Matoshree'," he said. "As per the preliminary information, the caller said he wasDawood Ibrahim's aide and wanted to speak to the chief minister. Police have been informed about the calls and a probe is on," the Shiv Sena leader said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-09-07 00:24:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian government will take all measures possible to put an end to the phenomenon of construction on agricultural land that poses a threat to the country's food security, Egyptian officials and experts said. Illegal construction in Egypt has increased in recent years amid security chaos that overwhelmed the most populous Arab country after the 2011 uprising that toppled late President Hosni Mubarak. Incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi warned recently against the ongoing construction on agricultural land, vowing to eradicate such encroachments, while Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly even noted these violations represent a matter of "life or death." Among the measures the government has taken were the establishment of a system to monitor the violations and formation of a specialized unit to coordinate with the system's central units in reaching local provinces to eradicate them. The area of agricultural land in Egypt is about 9.4 million feddans (3.95 million hectares), according to the latest official statistics. "The violations on agricultural land between 2010 to 2020 amounted to about 88,000 feddans, with a total of 2 million violations," said Mohamed al-Kersh, spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, adding the government has so far dealt with 1.4 million violations. "The Ministry of Agriculture has instructed all workers in the field of land protection, agricultural directorates and associations to monitor and report any violations immediately," he told Xinhua. According to al-Kersh, the ministry, with an operation room established to immediately follow encroachments on agricultural land, has recently launched more than 16 campaigns to remove them. He explained that Egypt is making great efforts to reclaim desert lands as the country is facing costly challenges for treating and pumping water for the irrigation of these lands. "Therefore, the government will never allow the construction on agricultural land, which is the source of food for Egyptians," the spokesman concluded. Syed Khalifa, head of the Agricultural Syndicate, said Egypt has lost 1.2 million feddans of agricultural lands since 1984. "Losing one feddan means losing food ... This means importing food products with hard currency which will put pressure on the country's economy," Khalifa told Xinhua, noting the average production per feddan is sufficient to feed 20 to 25 individuals in Egypt. On the other side, the government will provide well-planned housing units for farmers so that they will stop building on agricultural land, Khalifa said. Ednitem Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has allegedly received a call threatening to blow up his house 'Matoshree'. The calls were made in the name of dreaded gangster Dawood Ibrahim. As pre reports, four such threatening calls were made from Dubai. Following the threat call security at the CM's house has been increased. (This is developing news, more details awaited.) A deradicalisation programme launched by the Pakistan Army for surrendered militants in the restive Balochistan province has an Islamist overhang, with leaders of hardline groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami being part of the training courses, according to documents accessed by Hindustan Times. The deradicalisation and rehabilitation programme, started in 2018 by Lt Gen (retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa, also appeared to be aimed more at replacing the ethnic Baloch identity of the militants with one that emphasises religio-patriotism, the confidential documents show. Bajwa, who was recently at the centre of a controversy after a Pakistani news website reported that his family had created a business empire of 99 companies in four countries - including a pizza franchise worth nearly $40 million - appears to have been the guiding force behind the programme that was launched while he was heading the Pakistan Armys southern command. Also read: India calls Chinas bluff in Chushul An existing deradicalisation centre in Quetta named Umeed-e-Nau was expanded and renamed Darepsh, a Balochi word meaning ujala (light), to implement the programme. The documents show that the programme has so far handled at least two batches of surrendered militants 50 fighters who were part of a course from December 2018 to March 2019, and 128 fighters who underwent a course during April-July 2019. While the programme does make an effort to rope in both army and civilian psychologists to deal with the psychological and social training of the surrendered Baloch fighters, almost 20 percent or a fifth of training modules are devoted to a religio-patriotism programme, and guest speakers for this included Abdul Haq Hashmi, the provincial president of Jamaat-e-Islami. The Jamaat-e-Islami established deep links with jihadi groups during the war against Soviet occupation forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s and was also active in the early years of the militant movement in Jammu and Kashmir, having close ties with the Hizbul Mujahideen. The Jamaat also has close ties with the Pakistani military. Also read: To China, a military and diplomatic message The documents show that while the surrendered fighters are taught rejection of extremism during the religio-patriotism programme, they are also trained in jihad, morality, patriotism. The documents also highlight the mismatch between the overall number of surrendered fighters and the number of those who have completed the deradicalisation programme. According to a brief history of the programme included in the documents, more than 2,500 fighters surrendered in 2018 as a result of effect-based selected operations in Balochistan along with efforts in non-kinetic domain that isolated terrorists/Baloch sub-nationalists. However, only 178 surrendered fighters were part of the two deradicalisation and rehabilitation courses conducted so far. Most of these fighters were drawn from Dera Bugti, Sibi and Kohlu regions of Balochistan. People familiar with developments also pointed to the similarity between the deradicalisation camps being run in Balochistan and the so-called re-education camps run by Chinese authorities for Uyghurs in Xinjiang. The objectives, layout and vocational training module closely align with those of the camps in Xinjiang. One of the key aims seems to be to remove all traces of ethnic identity and nationalism, said one of the people cited above. Significantly, a slide that is part of the documents contains a reference to one of the key issues raised by civil society and human rights groups regarding the activities of Pakistani security and intelligence agencies in Balochistan the issue of missing persons or the victims of enforced disappearances. The slide on some nine points raised by the surrendered Baloch fighters during the deradicalisation programme includes in the first place, Missing Pers whereabouts be pursued. The surrendered fighters also called for financial assistance to be paid to some fighters who hadnt received the aid when they laid down arms. In recent years, the bodies of scores of victims of enforced disappearances have been found dumped on roadsides, many of them with marks of torture. Sameer Patil, fellow for international security studies at Gateway House, said it was strange that the Jamaat-e-Islami, described by some as the mother organisation for most jihadis, was part of such a deradicalisation programme. This programme also shows the misplaced priorities of the Pakistan Army such a programme should focus on Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or Punjab, where deadly groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba are based. But then the groups that dont indulge in activities against the Pakistani state have always received preferential treatment, he said. The Pakistan Army appears to be using its own version of Islam to crush groups with an identity and form of Islam that doesnt suit them, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON How the LGBTQ+ community fuelled covid-19 relief for all Queer activists and organizations have led from the front during the pandemic, raising funds and ensuring relief reaches communities that live on the margins When the pandemic first struck, Santa Khurai, arguably Manipurs foremost queer activist and champion of transgender rights, reached out to donors and with support from the National Council of Churches in India, and began distributing ration to 200 people from the trans community in Imphal. Gradually, these efforts moved beyond the capital, and beyond basic ration kits, to the community in other parts of Manipur. And to some from other communities too. advertisement advertisement Queer activists and organizations have led from the front during the covid-19 pandemic. They have been raising funds, coordinating with government officials and private donors to ensure relief reaches communities that live on the marginstheir own, as well as daily-wage workers and others. This, in fact, is what distinguishes the relief effort this time, with members of the LGBTQ+ community finding the means and agency to try and support other marginalized communities as well. Khurai, for instance, identified widows in the neighbourhood whose children did not have the means to attend online classes. She ran a fund-raiser on Ketto to provide 15 children with smartphones and tablets, but since she could not meet the target, she put the funds raised to the best use possible. She bought smartphones for the three poorest widows and used the rest of the money to organize Wi-Fi, stationery items and a smart TV for a community hall30-40 children now have access to it. advertisement advertisement Khurais experience has helped her. Associated today with the civil society organizations All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association and Solidarity and Action against The HIV Infection in India, she was 16 when her parents stopped her pocket money, making it conditional on her behaving like a boy. But Khurai would not negotiate on her identity. She started sketching designs for pillow covers and bedsheets 5 per pillow cover and 10-15 a bedcover. She also started tutoring the neighbours children. When I was younger, I faced a lot of backlash. I encountered a lot of brutality. I was beaten up, people peed on my face. A lot of horrible things happened to me, says Khurai. When I think about all that, its like a nightmare to me. But it also gives me power today to speak up and say no to all the humiliation. To all the prejudices imposed on us. advertisement advertisement Such experiences are translating into a determination to assert their place in society. What has been inspiring is that there have been countless queer people who have stepped up to provide relief during the covid-19 pandemic. Initially through community networks that have sent out SOS requests for help and then through more organized channels, LGBTQIA+ people across the board have led efforts to provide emergency food and sanitation relief, says Anish Gawande, curator and co-founder, Pink List India, the countrys first archive of politicians supporting LGBTQ+ rights. This has made a difference. Section 377 (of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized sexual acts between consenting adults against the order of nature) may be off the statute books, we may have NALSA (National Legal Services Authority of India)despite the Trans Actbut its moments like these that transform the public understanding of queerness. By going beyond respectability politics that requires queerness to conform to societal norms, this form of coming together as a community and helping each other is a much better path towards finding acceptance, adds Gawande. advertisement advertisement Evidence of this is visible across the countrywhether it is Nazaria in Delhi, which has been providing a helpline for the LGBTQ+ community; Queerspace Saga, an organization in Mangaluru, which raised almost 4 lakh on Instagram and Twitter; Grace Banu in Tamil Nadu or Mudraboyina in Telangana, who set up Ketto fund-raisers and got the word out through social media. Sumit Pawar, who set up Guftagu Cafe, a queer-friendly space in Mumbai, has been using his infrastructure to organize food for vulnerable communities in the city. By 30 August, we managed to cook and distribute 2,525 meals from our community kitchen, says Pawar. They are now raising funds and hope to reach a target of 5,000. These meals were not exclusively made for community members only, they were distributed amongst daily-wage workers, people living in slums, queer individuals etc, he says. advertisement advertisement Take the example of Rachana Mudraboyina, part of the Telangana Hijra Transgender Samiti, who initially raised funds and coordinated with the state government to ensure cash and ration for members of the trans community. This included long-term assistance and skilling since options for sustenance, such as sex work and begging, had come to a standstill. Mudraboyina raised funds to provide sewing machines for the trans community in Telangana and resources and training for them to make pickles under an initiative titled Quickles. But her work has moved beyond the queer communitythe activist has since collected enough to provide ration to 500 impoverished Muslim families in the ghetto near home, as well as sex workers in the area. advertisement advertisement Gawande, too, has been involved in relief work in Mumbai, after a chance call from a friend who was bringing together a group of young people across the country to create a national campaign called Youth Feed India. They have so far delivered relief kits to almost 50,000 families across the country. The focus was on daily-wage labourers, not particularly on the LGBTQIA+ community. But because of my work with Pink List India and general work within the community, I got a bunch of relief calls to help vulnerable folxparticularly trans* folx who had lost out on all means to earn a living, says Gawande. Over the course of three months, we must have delivered ration kits to around 600 queer families across the city through grass-roots organizations working within the community. From Kamathipura to Bhiwandi, from Vikhroli to Malwani, we covered large chunks, he adds. advertisement advertisement As fatigue sets in and fund-raisers start losing steam, these activists continue the fight. They spend their daysMudraboyina says sometimes from 8am-10pmdistributing ration, alert to the needs of their community as well as those around them. Khurai perhaps sums it up best: What I have done for the both queer and non-queer communities in the pandemic is just the beginning. We are part and parcel of societyits true we are on the margins but we cant walk alone. We face a lot of extreme violence, she says. Manipur is a conflict zone and then from the non-state actors also, they can attack us immediately, we cannot challenge them. But what we can do is we can assert our space in an intelligent and articulate way. It takes timebut we are working on it. advertisement advertisement The running mate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on government to rescind its decision to pass the public universities bill. According to her, any form of political interference in the management of the country's public universities will be detrimental to strides made in running the countrys tertiary institutions. She was speaking at Enchi in the Aowin constituency of the Western North region where she rounded up her four- day regional campaign tour. Government is seeking, through the bill, to take significant control of the administration of universities. Many experts in the field of tertiary education agree that it will undermine academic freedom. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, herself a former vice chancellor of the University of Cape Coast noted that, implementing the proposed policy document by government such as increasing government's representatives on the university councils and removing those of GRASAG will be in bad taste. "The governance or administration of a university is diametrically different and must be devoid of politics". It will be recalled that major stakeholders in the education front like the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, The University Teachers Association of Ghana and the Minority Caucus in Ghana's parliament have opposed the decision. Professor Opoku-Agyemang queried what specific challenge the bill will address and said its contents will be inimical to academic freedom. She stressed that the focus should be on how to ensure that universities produce graduates with skills needed to meet the challenges the country currently faces and compete effectively with their international counterparts. The NDC had earlier indicated that, in the event Government abuses its majority in Parliament by passing the Public Universities Bill against all good counsel, the next NDC Government, when mandated by the people, will repeal the Act. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The administration of Ca Mau Province, located in Vietnams Mekong Delta, is going all out to fortify over 3,300 meters of coastal embankment at high risk of erosion. Four sections measuring a total of 3,325 meters along the coastal embankment in Ca Mau need to be promptly protected from erosion. The situation is most urgent in Khanh Tien Commune, U Minh District, where strong waves have devoured large areas of protection forest and are threatening the local embankment. People reinforce a section of coastal embankment in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre Residents affected by erosion have moved to the Huong Mai relocation zone in the commune. According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, a dyke break is likely to happen during the coming rainy season if the embankment is not reinforced and protected properly. This will threaten more than 26,000 households living on the western coast of Ca Mau, Vietnam's southernmost province, as well as their 128,900 hectares of agricultural land. People fortify a section of coastal embankment in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre Ca Mau authorities have proposed spending VND10 billion (US$431,180) on solving the problem. Another VND4 billion ($172,400) has also been used to upgrade the more vulnerable sections of the coastal embankment, A warning sign is put at an embankment section affected by erosion in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre A resident travels on a makeshift raft in an area affected by coastal erosion in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre Houses are being built at the Huong Mai relocation zone in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre A residential area affected by coastal erosion in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre A residential area affected by coastal erosion in Ca Mau Province, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Meerut : An FIR has been lodged in Meerut on Saturday against BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj for his remark on population control. The FIR was registered under IPC sections 298 (Uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class) and 153b (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) among others. Meerut Polices action came a day after MP indirectly blamed Muslims for the population growth in the country. Also read: Sakshi Maharaj stirs controversy, says Muslims responsible for rising population Those with four wives and 40 children are responsible for the population increase in the country. Hindus are not responsible for the increase in population, Maharaj told a sant sammelan in Meerut on Firday. Strict laws are required in this country if we really want to curb population. Parties need to rise above politics and take decision for the sake of the country, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By now weve all seen and heard the doomsday scenarios warning against the very real possibility of a second coronavirus wave emerging in New Jersey this fall. Medical experts are predicting a surge sometime over the next few months, when the weather turns chilly and right in the thick of cold and flu season. But those same experts want everyone to know that it will be possible to steer clear of a major second wave here. In fact, its up to us literally. The state can avoid a significant re-emergence of the virus by remaining vigilant when it comes to recommended safety precautions and by resisting the urge to relax on requirements, experts said. That means continuing to wash our hands frequently, wearing masks in public, maintaining social distancing and refraining from gathering in large numbers indoors. Everyone is weary of living the quarantine life avoiding big social gatherings, keeping extra masks in the glove box, squirting hand sanitizer at every pass. But the longer we can adhere to those types of precautions, the sooner life can return to normal or close to it. So much of this is going to be dependent on how we as individuals and as a collective society behave moving forward, said Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist and professor at Montclair State University. If we can get near universal masking and compliant mask wearing, I think we can potentially avoid a significant second peak. After a devastating initial outbreak in March and April that saw New Jersey report about 4,000 new cases of infection per day, the state has been corralling the spread of the virus in large part this summer, reducing new cases to about 300 per day. But that positive data only means we cant start to let our guard down, experts said. Most evidence seems to suggest New Jersey handled the initial wave of the virus correctly, shutting down non-essential businesses in a timely fashion and imposing wide-ranging restrictions that helped reduce the spread of COVID-19. The vigilant approach in mandating mask wearing even outdoors for a stretch and keeping gyms closed longer than other states has enabled New Jersey to reopen more confidently this fall, experts added. Meanwhile, in states such as Texas, Florida and California, where the virus continues to rage, the prospects of avoiding a second major surge this fall appears more tenuous, according to experts. If we can get through the next six to eight months, well be okay, said Judith Lightfoot, the chief of infectious disease at Rowan University. If we just hold on, we can avoid a surge. With proper PPE, social distancing and safety techniques, we can avoid the surge. Now that gyms, restaurants, movie theaters and performance venues are reopening this week across New Jersey, its more crucial than ever that residents and business owners alike actually adhere to new policies designed to keep people safe and limit the potential spread of the virus. Gyms and health clubs reopened this week at 25% capacity, with gym-goers wearing masks at all times, maintaining six-feet between equipment and imposing cleanings after each machines use. Meanwhile, restaurants, movie theaters and performance venues are reopening indoor facilities Friday morning; indoor capacity at restaurants will be capped at 25%, tables must be at least six feet apart and masks must be worn by staff at all times. But experts are warning: If we want to avoid a second wave this fall, everyone needs to take the new policies and restrictions seriously. If we want to keep things open, we really need to focus on those behaviors and then creating systems and policies that support those behaviors and make them feasible, Silvera said. If we can keep the numbers low enough so that community spread is minimal, we can maintain some sense of a normal life. Lightfoot added that avoiding a second wave will also require residents to remain flexible. Be prepared to have your gym close again if theres a spike in your town. Be ready to have the kids back home if theres a sudden surge at their school. You might have to put off eating indoors at your favorite restaurant a few more months if cases tick back up. Im in the side of lets roll things out very, very slowly, Lightfoot said. Its going to be a wait-and-see approach. If you start seeing the numbers go up then you know youre going to have to shut things down very quickly. The good news is: New Jersey can avoid a second surge, experts said. Some aspects may be out of our control such as out-of-state travel or infected people coming into New Jersey. But if we keep sticking to the medical script a little longer, we may be able keep infections down this fall. In short: Keep those extra masks handy. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook. South Africa releases RAE results South Africa only holds the radio amateurs exam twice a year, in May and October. This year the May exam was delayed until August 29 due to the pandemic SARL News reports: Noel Hammond, ZR6DX told SARL News that the RAE results letter has been e-mailed to all the candidates who wrote on Saturday 29 August. This RAE has been a challenge for everyone involved due to the pandemic. The exam dates were postponed on two occasions and special protocols had to be put in place for the RAE to go ahead. We had 209 applications to write the RAE, which is a record number of entries, however, only 178 exam numbers were issued. Of these we had a few cancellations before the exams. This left us with 173 people who elected to write under COVID level 2 lockdown conditions. Of these 49 did not attend the exam session. There were 27 exam centres, with some centres having to cater for a morning and afternoon session. This was done to accommodate social distancing, hence two exam papers had to be set. Each exam centre had to follow strict COVID protocols. Of the 124 who wrote, 119 candidates passed. Noel wishes to thank the RAE team of Kelley and Gerhard, ZS6CRS for all their efforts. He also wishes to thank the lecturers for all the time they have put into mentoring the candidates, some via online platforms under difficult circumstances. Thanks also go to the invigilators and HF assessors for their time and help. Without these willing people the RAE would not have been such a great success. Congratulations to all the new amateurs, we hope you will enjoy the hobby for many years to come. Source SARL News https://sarlnewsbulletin .wordpress.com/ Prior to taking the 60 question radio amateurs Class A exam it is necessary for candidates to complete an in-person Practical Operating Assessment which must be signed-off by two HF Assessors. This can be problematic when there is a pandemic. The Practical Operating Assessment for the Class A licence was introduced around the time the Morse test was abolished and the Class B licence, equivalent to UK Foundation, was introduced. Details of the RAE Practical Operating Assessment are at http://www.sarl.org.za/Web3/Members/DoDocDownload. aspx?X=201712201229 34zMsDL8EzPL.PDF President Donald Trump, center right, and first lady Melania Trump, center left, greet members of the military at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Dec. 27, 2018. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) 700 US Veterans Issue Open Letter in Support of Trump Nearly 700 American veterans signed a letter in support of President Donald Trump after it was reported that he allegedly disparaged World War I veterans in 2018. In the open letter, which was signed by 674 veterans, the writers said they are speaking out after recent baseless media attacks against President Trump from anonymous sources, referring to a piece published by The Atlantic last week. Anyone who knows President Trump has seen his love and reverence for our military and veterans. That is why we, veterans from every generation, are writing today to reaffirm our support for President Trump, they added, saying that the Atlantic article is designed to divide the nation and meddle in the election. Trump and a number of White House officials denied that Trump called the veterans losers and suckers while he was visiting France. The report also claimed Trump didnt want to visit a cemetery with fallen American soldiers because it would mess up his hair. None of the anonymous sources who made the claims have gone on record to identify themselves. Throughout his administration, President Trump has consistently stood by our men and women in uniform and cared for them once they have returned to civilian life, the veterans support letter said. It added that Trump has demonstrated his unwavering support for Americas service members time and time again and has spent countless hours as president visiting battlefields and cemeteries, honoring Gold Star families and comforting them in their grief, and praising wounded warriors and honoring their sacrifice. The veterans, in the letter, also said Democratic nominee Joe Biden would weaken the military and its various programs. On Sept. 4, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence, and former national security adviser John Bolton disputed the account in the Atlantic. I didnt hear that, Bolton said in an interview. Im not saying he didnt say them later in the day or another time but I was there for that discussion. Ive been with this president coming on four years. Ive never heard the president use the language, Pompeo told Fox News on Friday. Ive never seen that. Indeed, just the contrary. Going further, he said Trump has the deepest respect for the U.S. armed forces. Pence also denied the report, saying that Trump never scuppered his visit to the cemetery because of his hair. It never happened. I talked to the president that day. I know how disappointed President Trump was that there was a bad weather call that did not permit him to fly to Belleau Wood to honor our fallen there, Pence said in a televised interview. Nigeria's government plans to deliver humanitarian aid supplies by air to people in remote communities in parts of the northeast that have been ravaged by the decade-long Islamist insurgency spearheaded by Boko Haram. The insurgency, which since 2009 has killed around 35,000 people and forced two million people to flee their homes, has spawned one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Seven million people need some form of aid, the United Nations estimates. Humanitarian affairs minister Sadiya Umar Farouk on Sunday told reporters in Maiduguri, capital of the conflict-ravaged Borno state, that Nigerian Air Force helicopters and planes would be used to drop food supplies and items such as blankets. "There has been an issue of inaccessible areas where humanitarian workers cannot reach the people," she said at a news conference on Sunday. "Air drops are especially good for areas we cannot access by road," she added. Farouk did not provide details of the number of people authorities expected to reach or the frequency of deliveries. A spokesman for the ministry did not immediately respond to a phone call and text messages seeking further details. Security forces in Nigeria, which plays a key role in maintaining stability in West Africa, have in recent months battled strikes by Islamists in the northeast. Jihadist group Boko Haram was pushed off most of the land it controlled early in 2015 but the group continued to mount attacks in the northeast, as well as neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger. A splinter faction that pledged allegiance to Islamic State in 2016 has become the dominant force in the region, mounting sustained attacks on the armed forces in the last few years. Search Keywords: Short link: In Sen. Mike Duffys case against the Senate, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the lower courts ruling that the courts cannot hold to account Canadas Senate due to parliamentary privilege. Parliamentary privilege is the legal immunity that elected and appointed members of the parliament enjoy against liability for actions made in the course of their legislative duties. However, in the #MeToo era, there remains no greater bastion of male privilege that has perpetrated abuse against alleged female victims as Canadas Senate through the Senates use of parliamentary privilege. After almost four years, Senate Ethics Officer Pierre Legault finished his review of the scandal against former senator Don Meredith and ruled in June 2019 his behaviour was harassment. The accusations against Meredith ranged from exposing his penis and engaging in aggressive behaviour to unsolicited kissing and screaming at staff. Two of Merediths alleged victims felt the Senate administration failed to adequately protect them and the Senate HR department had protected predatory senators. Meredith ultimately resigned in 2017 due to a sexual relationship with a teenage girl. The SEO had dragged its feet on the staff harassment given the weak oversight in the Senate and overlapping investigations. A quicker investigatory and adjudicative process that is clear and transparent would have benefited the alleged victims and ensured justice was dispensed quickly and predators punished, and importantly, protect the legitimacy of the Senate. Simply put, harassing and abusing staff, including engaging in potentially criminal acts, is not within the scope of parliamentary legislative duties and privilege. Parliamentary privilege has instead been used as a legal tool that does not relate to the proper functioning of the Senate, but to instead protect badly behaving senators by preventing and impeding the release of evidence to investigators, ultimately failing the publics need for accountability of Canadas unelected upper house. Constitutionally, while the Courts must respect the constitutional limits on the judicial branch in adjudicating the legislative branch, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms arguably limits the scope of parliamentary privilege. The Supreme Court of Canada has affirmed the living tree doctrine of the Charter, meaning that legal precedent and convention are secondary to reflecting the morals and values of a modern and changing society. In particular, ever since Mr. Justice Charles Vaillancourt ruled in the Mike Duffy case there was political interference that went all the way to the top at the PMO and the prime minister, we should be mindful of partisan and appointed politicians policing themselves. Expanded investigatory powers to external adjudicators, including the Courts, should be provided to be ensure the Senate is free from taint or bias. If the Senate fails to make these reforms, then the legitimacy of the Parliament itself should be questioned by the public, including vulnerable groups such as women and other minorities, that deserve justice. Mumbai: Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut on Sunday said that she will definitely come to Mumbai on September 9, though she has been allegedly threatened.Separately, after Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Rauts remark on Ranaut drew criticism on social media, he said that he will apologise only after the actress apologises to Mumbai and Maharashtra. On Sunday, Ranaut posted a video on Twitter stating, In a country where women are being tortured and raped everyday, a parliamentarian using such language shows this societys mentality... If I criticise Mumbai Police or if I criticise you, then you cant say I am insulting Maharashtra. You are not Maharashtra. Your people are threatening me, still I will come to Mumbai on September 9. Meanwhile, responding to criticism over his haramkhor remark, the Shiv Sena leader As someone who has used unparliamentary language, let her (Ranaut) apologise to Mumbai and Maharashtra first, Raut told mediapersons on Sunday. Sena has been miffed with Ranaut after the latter said that Mumbai feels like Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). In a tweet, Ranaut on Friday asked, Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?. She had tagged a September 1 news report where Raut purportedly said she should not come back to Mumbai if she was afraid of the city police. State home minister Anil Deshmukh had also said that Ranaut does not have right to stay in Mumbai or Maharashtra. The BBC's new director-general has held talks with Andrew Neil to try and convince him to return to the corporation. On his second day in the role, Tim Davie held a Zoom call with Mr Neil, who left the BBC in March, and made him a number of formal offers, as reported by The Sunday Telegraph. Mr Neil - famed for his forensic no-holds-barred interviews - is understood to have spent most of the pandemic in France after The Andrew Neil Show was taken off air. Sources close to the director-general told the newspaper: 'Tim Davie wants Andrew Neil back at the BBC because he is a b***** good broadcaster. 'There has always been a collective desire to have him in the fold because of his talent.' It comes as Mr Davie is understood to be keen to shake off criticism that the BBC is too left-wing. Mr Neil - famed for his forensic no-holds-barred interviews - is understood to have spent most of the pandemic in France after The Andrew Neil Show was taken off air Addressing staff at the BBC's Cardiff office, Davie said: 'If you want to be an opinionated columnist or a partisan campaigner on social media then that is a valid choice, but you should not be working at the BBC.' He added: 'Our research shows that too many perceive us to be shaped by a particular perspective.' Davie said new rules around employees' use of social media will be introduced and will be 'rigorously enforced', while also hinting at a crackdown on the corporation's stars making money from private companies, adding there will be 'clearer direction on the declaration of external interests'. Davie added: 'To be clear, this is not about abandoning democratic values such as championing fair debate or an abhorrence of racism. But it is about being free from political bias, guided by the pursuit of truth, not a particular agenda.' Mr Neil, who is chairman of the Spectator magazine, has previously been accused by left-wing commentators as sympathetic to Brexit and previously described The Mash Report, the BBC Two satirical show, as 'Left-wing propaganda'. But he is widely seen across the political spectrum as a formidable political interviewer and is understood to be willing to curb his social media posting if hired back by the BBC. Mr Neil is also thought to be mulling over other offers to return to television, so his return to the corporation is far from set in stone. New BBC Director General Tim Davie is pictured delivering his first speech with a few warning shots Several other BBC star names has also been accused of bias in the past. Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis was criticised for her opening monologue about the Government's handling of Dominic Cummings' lockdown trip. The BBC ruling the introduction 'did not meet our standards of due impartiality'. And BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty was rebuked last year after commenting on remarks made by US President Donald Trump. Then-chief Lord Tony Hall later reversed the decision. In the speech on Thursday last week Davie also addressed doubts over the future viability of the licence fee funding model. He said he was not in favour of a Netflix-style subscription fee that would make the BBC 'just another media company serving a specific group'. He said: 'The evidence is unequivocal: the future of a universal BBC can no longer be taken for granted. We have no inalienable right to exist. 'We are only as good as the value we deliver our audiences, our customers. We must grow that value. That is our simple mission. 'For the avoidance of doubt, I do not want a subscription BBC that serves the few. We could make a decent business out of it, and I suspect it could do quite well in certain postcodes, but it would make us just another media company serving a specific group.' Elsewhere Davie, the 17th director-general, suggested there could be a cull of content at the broadcaster. 'The truth is that we have tried to cope with increasing competition by making more and spreading ourselves too thinly,' he said, 'Of course, we need to offer a broad choice as the BBC, and we should not retreat to a narrow offer. But we have been too slow to stop things that don't work.' Davie said the BBC will 'look in all areas' and 'identify how we can have more impact by making less'. He added: 'I want us to consider what we would do if we could only make 80% of our current hours. What would we stop?' He said the 'simple' move was not 'about cuts to save money'. Davie praised dramas such as Normal People, Line Of Duty, Fleabag, an EastEnders special and documentaries Blue Planet 2 and Once Upon A Time In Iraq. He said Strictly Come Dancing, Wimbledon, comedy This Country, the BBC's VE Day 75 coverage, educational service BBC Bitesize, the World Service and regional and national news were all examples of where the broadcaster builds a connection with the audience. But the BBC must re-allocate 'funds to where they generate most value - to ensure that we make our output world-beating and utterly distinctive'. He also said there was 'too much bureaucracy', adding: 'I want every area of the BBC not to moan about bureaucracy but dismantle it.' Californias oldest state park will remain closed for at least a year following extensive damage caused by the recent CZU August Lightning Complex fires. In a statement to SFGATE on Sunday, the California State Parks department said it was saddened by the devastation the wildfire has caused, not only to Big Basin Redwoods State Park but the surrounding community in the Santa Cruz area. Because the parks ancient redwood trees are currently unstable, they must be stress tested against the effects of winter storms, wind, soil erosion and potential flooding in burned-out areas before the public is allowed to return, according to the department, which is still assessing the damages. The recovery period will be a long process, the statement continued. A lack of prescribed burns in the area as well as vegetation buildup were both contributing factors to Big Basins worst fire in recorded history, according to Peter Jordan, one of the parks environmental scientists. Several structures were destroyed, including the parks headquarters which were built in 1936 and are registered with the National Register of Historic Places as well as the main lodge, ranger station, nature museum and campground facilities. The Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest trees, two of the parks largest, were both impacted by the wildfires but remain healthy. The Auto Tree, known for its recognizable hollow and as one of Big Basins oldest redwoods, sustained moderate to extensive damage, but remains standing, reported California State Parks. MORE: 'I loved walking into that tree': Docent waits on the fate of one beloved Big Basin redwood The upper crowns of some trees were scorched while others remain unscathed, but the redwoods unique chemical composition help them to recover over time. Trees in a fire-adapted ecosystem have a fair amount of bark protecting them from mortality, J. Keith Gilless, the dean emeritus of UC Berkeleys College of Natural Resources and chair of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, told SFGATE earlier this month. Redwoods in particular have 10 inches of bark that are pretty resistant to heat coming in to kill them, and some are even adapted to sprouting after fires. All campgrounds will remain closed through Tuesday, including those in Half Moon Bay, Manresa, New Brighton, Seacliff and Sunset state beaches. All other state parks and beaches in these counties are temporarily closed to the public until further notice. Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to render an apology to the people of Akyem over his alleged Akyem Sakawa Mafias comment. The vice president has waded into the Akyem Sakawa Mafias because he believes that it is unfortunate for the former president to lump up a whole tribe with one negative description. Speaking to the chiefs and people of Gushegu, Dr. Bawumia said John Dramani Mahama cannot win an election with insults and tribal division. Bawumias comment follow President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos claims that Mr. Mahama endorsed a post by MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adingo which described people in Akufo-Addos government as Akyem Sakawa Mafias who are looting the state. Responding to the NPPs flagbearer, the former President John Dramani Mahama said attempts by President Akufo-Addo to campaign on ethnic lines by accusing him of insulting people from the Akyem tribe will not wash, I will be the last person to disparage any ethnic group. Dr. Bawumia argued that although President Akufo-Addo is an Akyem, he has been instrumental in restoring peace in Dagbon; a fate he said Mr. Mahama and the NDC could not achieve during its tenure. On his part, the Chief of Gushegu, Abdulai Mahamudu Shitobu, also expressed appreciation to Akufo-Addo for restoring peace after 16 years of conflict. Naa Shitobu said, there is a need for the people to unite and continue to live in peace to enable them to enjoy more development. He used the opportunity to appeal for a school bus for the Gushegu Nursing Training college and more resources for the Gushegu Hospital to ensure quality health care delivery. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Lebanese Army has completed the disposal of more than 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found at the entrance to the port of Beirut, the site of a massive blast in early August. The Lebanese Army has completed the disposal of more than 4 tonnes of ammonium nitrate found at the entrance to the port of Beirut, the site of a massive blast in early August, according to the armys statement obtained by Sputnik on Saturday. Four warehouses storing the dangerous chemical were discovered by the Lebanese military near entrance number nine earlier this week. The statement said that a 4.35-tonne batch of ammonium nitrate discovered a few days ago in the port of Beirut has been disposed of. The powerful blast in the port of the Lebanese capital that took place on August 4 left at least 190 people dead and 6,500 others injured. The explosion, which caused an estimated $15 billion in damages and prompted the countrys government to resign, has been blamed on the improper storage of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate by the port authorities. Also read: Uyghur activist approaches Islamic community against Chinese oppression Also read: Over 15 lakh people returned under Vande Bharat mission: Puri The World Bank has cancelled USD 224 million loans to the government of Lebanon for the proposed Bisri Dam Project because it failed to fulfil preconditions required before the funds were disbursed, the organization said in a press release. The release said on Friday that the World Bank today notified the Government of Lebanon (GOL) of its decision to cancel the undisbursed funds under the Water Supply Augmentation Project (Bisri Dam Project) due to non-completion of the tasks that are preconditions to the commencement of construction of the Bisri Dam, the release said on Friday. The cancelled portion of the loan is USD 244 million and the cancellation is effective immediately. Lebanon failed to meet the Friday deadline to finalize the Ecological Compensation Plan and to mobilize a contractor at the dam project worksite, the release said. The government also failed to finalize operation and maintenance arrangements by August 24. The World Bank had raised these issues with Lebanon since January, as per the release. Also read: Multiple stabbings in UKs Birmingham, police marks it as major incident ST. LOUIS They put on the airs of young toughs, cutting jaunty poses and puffing roll-their-own cigarettes. But they were little boys, many of them orphans, scratching livings off penny tips by hawking big-city newspapers. Lewis Wilkes Hine photographed some of St. Louis' hardscrabble newsboys during a visit here in early May 1910. Hine already had made his reputation as an early reform documentarian with powerful images of immigrants on Ellis Island and girls tending spindles in a South Carolina cotton mill. In 1910, he was touring the country for the National Child Labor Committee, a private organization. He took pictures of kids in mines, factories, shrimp canneries and garment shops. In St. Louis, he chronicled the "newsies." In early May of that year, he spent several days in St. Louis with the newsies on their corners and at the branch offices, where they picked up papers and settled up with their bosses. Back then, St. Louis had five English-language dailies. The boys were the publishers' shock troops, tussling for primacy on busy corners. Born into poverty, newsies usually didn't go to school. Their bosses tended to be generous only with corporal punishment. All told, Hine took more than 5,000 photographs of children on the job during the boom years of the early 1900s. Reformers used them in the crusade to institute child-labor laws, which wouldn't be enacted until his St. Louis newsies were in their 30s. Hine grew up in Oshkosh, Wis., and earned a sociology degree from the University of Chicago. During World War I, he was a Red Cross photographer. He lingered after the armistice to record the lives of children in the Balkans. Returning to America, he was hired to chronicle the construction of the Empire State Building. He went to the top with the ironworkers. His 1932 book, "Men at Work," is a masterpiece of daring at 1,000 feet. Hine died in 1940 at age 65. Last year, author Joe Manning of Massachusetts sought identities of the St. Louis newsies for a book. Phyllis Foerstel of south St. Louis County said she was certain that one of them was Slavko "Socko" Okertich, her uncle, who had sold papers as a young Croat immigrant. The Hine photograph has been on the family room wall for decades. Socko died in 1958. An auto lighting system production line in a Japanese-invested firm in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Singapore - Vietnams robust economic performance over the past three decades has been heavily dependent on exports and foreign direct investment (FDI), with foreign invested companies accounting for 67.8 percent of the countrys total export turnover in 2019, according to the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) of Singapore. In its article published on September 2 on the development of Vietnam's economy, ISEAS said that Vietnams impressive foreign trade and FDI performance over the past 30 years has turned the country into one of the most open economies in the world. In 2017, for example, Vietnams trade-to-GDP ratio was 200.4 percent, which was the sixth highest in the world. In Asia, Vietnam was only behind Hong Kong (375.1 percent) and Singapore (322.4 percent). Similarly, FDI is also playing an important role in Vietnams economic development. In 2019, the net annual FDI inflow of Vietnam was equivalent to 6.3 percent of its GDP, which was the fourth highest in Southeast Asia, after Singapore (28.3 percent), Cambodia (13.7 percent), and Laos (7.4 percent). Vietnams openness to trade and FDI originated from a combination of economic and strategic considerations. Vietnam considers international economic integration as a key measure to promote socio-economic development and to achieve the Communist Party of Vietnams (CPV) goal of national modernization and industrialization. In other words, Vietnam considers foreign trade and investment as key tools to transform and upgrade its economy, said the article. At the same time, Vietnam also has strategic interests in pursuing open trade regimes, especially FTAs with key economies, and attracting FDI. Vietnamese strategists believe that by integrating Vietnam deeply into the global economy and strengthening economic ties with the major powers, Vietnam can align its economic interests with its partners. The article said Vietnam generally benefits from foreign trade and FDI because they create jobs and upgrade skills for the workforce, contribute to tax revenue, and boost workers income. Nevertheless, Vietnams excessive reliance on exports and FDI has been seen as a potential problem for the country. While foreign invested companies accounted for only 20.3 percent of Vietnams GDP, they contributed a whopping 67.8 percent to the countrys total export turnover in 2019. However, Vietnams over-reliance on exports and FDI has generated concerns among policy makers and experts, it said. The Vietnamese government also appears to be well aware of the problem and certain remedial measures have been adopted. This is reflected in a remark by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a meeting with local entrepreneurs in June 2019: We have to build a self-reliant economy in the context of international integration. Hence, we must have a (strong) team of corporations of different types of ownership, including native private enterprises. Vietnams FDI policy has long been favouring foreign investors. But recently, in dealing with domestic investors, especially private enterprises, the government has stressed four key principles: equality, being protected, being incentivized, and being given opportunities. Another measure is to encourage private enterprises to expand their businesses, especially into the manufacturing and high-tech sectors, to strengthen Vietnams domestic industrial base. The governments support for Vingroup, the countrys largest private conglomerate, to expand into automobile, electronic and high-tech industries is a case in point. If successful, such national champions will not only boost Vietnams GDP growth, but also generate more exports for the country. After all, foreign investors may come and go, while local businesses will always stay, and their success and long-term commitments will be the key to Vietnams self-reliance and long-term economic prosperity. Finally, Vietnamese businesses are also encouraged and assisted to work with foreign firms to participate in the global value chain. This is an important measure as it enables Vietnamese firms to grow up and play a bigger role in the economy in the long run. However, it is also a serious challenge as after more than 30 years, the expected spill-over effect from FDI is still limited. Samsung, for example, sources most of its components for its mobile phone factories from foreign suppliers. Among suppliers who accounted for 80 percent of Samsung Electronics transaction volume and agreed to be disclosed, 28 are based in Vietnam but all of them are foreign companies. To address this issue, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade is working closely with Samsung to increase the number of qualified local suppliers for Samsung. As of 2019, the number of tier-one Vietnamese suppliers for Samsung had increased to 42. If all the three above measures are implemented successfully, Vietnams economy will become more resilient and its export-led, FDI-driven growth model can be claimed a success, the institute concluded. Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris told CNN that she wouldn't take President Donald Trump's word alone on the efficacy of a coronavirus vaccine. "I would not trust Donald Trump, and it would have to be a credible source of information that talks about the efficacy and the reliability of whatever he's talking about," Harris said in an interview with CNN's "State of the Union." "I will not take his word for it." Trump has accused employees at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of attempting to sabotage his re-election by slowing down coronavirus research. Concern about pressure from the White House to speed up the vaccine's development and approval pushed drugmakers to plan a public pledge to not send any covid-19 vaccine to the FDA for review without extensive safety and efficacy data. Still, health officials inside the Trump administration have said the process will be based entirely on science, and FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, a Trump appointee, has said he wouldn't participate if he thought a vaccine were being rubber-stamped. Harris, running on Democratic nominee Joe Biden's ticket, voiced concern that public health experts and scientists may be ignored by the current administration. "If past is prologue they will not, they'll be muzzled, they'll be suppressed, they will be sidelined," she said. "Because he's looking at an election coming up in less than 60 days, and he's grasping for whatever he can get to pretend that he has been a leader on this issue when he's not." She added that she would "trust the word of public health officials and scientists," including Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who has clashed with Trump at times over the U.S. coronavirus response. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., called Harris's comment "her most irresponsible statement of all" in an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures." People can request mail-in ballots now, but then wait to make up their mind later about whether they'd prefer to vote in person. It's fine for voters to request a mail-in ballot but then vote in person instead as long as they don't also mail in the other ballot and thus end up voting twice, as President Donald Trump appeared to encourage in a recent visit to North Carolina. It's a crime to vote more than once. "On your ballots, if you get the unsolicited ballots, send it in and then go make sure it counted and if it doesn't tabulate, you vote," Trump said. "Just vote. And then if they calculate it very late, which they shouldn't be doing, they'll see you voted and so it won't count. Send it in early and then go and vote and if it's not tabulated, you vote." It is felony voter fraud to vote more than once, or to encourage people to do so, state elections officials quickly pointed out after Trump's remarks. Karen Brinson Bell, the state's elections director, said there are numerous safeguards the state has in place to try to stop people from voting twice. Besides, there are faster and safer ways for voters to check on the status of their ballot. WASHINGTON As a senator and vice president, Joe Biden like politicians from both parties and presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan embraced the idea that the U.S. could coax China into acting as a "responsible stakeholder." As the Democratic presidential nominee, Biden now calls Chinese President Xi Jinping a "thug." Until recently, the consensus in Washington held that more trade and dialogue with Beijing would help defuse tensions and eventually bring China into the liberal world order shaped by America. The view from both sides of the aisle has dramatically shifted, and Biden's evolution reflects that change. In his bid for the White House, Biden has vowed to stand up to Beijing and accused his opponent, President Donald Trump, of getting "played" by the regime. For his part, Trump has painted Biden as "soft" on China, and said the vice president was part of an administration that failed to hold Beijing accountable. If he wins in November, how would Biden handle China? Would he press ahead with tariffs and other punitive measures pursued by Trump? Would he make concessions on trade or human rights in return for a deal on climate? Image: Chinese President Xi Jinping with Joe Biden inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (Lintao Zhang / AFP - Getty Images file) Biden and his campaign have spoken in broad strokes without offering details about exactly how far he would be willing to go to confront China on trade, human rights, cyber espionage or its growing presence in the South China Sea. Attempting to a draw a contrast with Trump, who has often shied away from criticizing China over human rights, Biden has vowed to hold China accountable over its treatment of Uighurs in Xinjang and its crackdown in Hong Kong. Biden also says he would shore up U.S. alliances that he says have been badly damaged by Trump to present a united front against Beijing, and invest in high-tech research and education to make the American economy more competitive. Former officials and analysts expect that at minimum, Biden would strike a more measured and consistent tone than Trump, who has heaped praise on Xi and at other times unleashed belligerent tweets against China. Story continues Given his familiarity with Chinese leaders, Biden will likely work to "redefine the personal temperature with Xi," said commentator Steven Clemons. But on matters of substance, Biden and Trump might not be so far apart, partly because of China's increasingly antagonistic trajectory, former officials and China experts said. Tariffs imposed by Trump, which Biden has criticized as hurting American farmers and manufacturers, could give Biden leverage in any dealings with Beijing, former officials said. Xi's aggressive track record has shifted how American voters and lawmakers view China, and that could limit Biden's choices when it comes to setting China policy, former officials and experts said. Amid talk of a new "cold war," both Democrats and Republicans say China is stealing Western trade secrets, blocking access to its markets, bullying its neighbors and waging a global disinformation campaign. "The Hill has changed its mind on China. That constrains what any administration can do because you don't want to be accused of being soft on China,' said James Lewis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, who served in several administrations. National security officials have also raised alarms about Chinese espionage and cyber theft in recent years using public language that can't be taken back, and could constrain any move by Biden to soften the approach. The FBI director, Christopher Wray who, if past practice is a guide, would continue serving his 10-year-term in a Biden administration last month called Chinese spying and hacking "the greatest long-term threat to our nation's information and intellectual property, and to our economic vitalityIt's a threat to our economic security and by extension, to our national security." Biden would have to contend with progressive voices inside the Democratic party that support tariffs or other protectionist measures against China. A Biden administration likely would come under pressure from organized labor if it tried to revive a version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which was supposed to create a trading bloc that would exclude China. Trump dumped the deal in one of his first actions as president. If Biden wins the White House, rebuilding Asian alliances would only be a first step, experts said. He would face an array of difficult decisions on China from day one, from Taiwan's defense to technology export rules to China's cyber espionage. China would likely test the mettle of the next president soon after his inauguration, perhaps over Taiwan or over trade, and Biden would have to decide where to draw the line with Beijing and how much risk to accept, former officials said. Trump opted to sell F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan, infuriating Beijing. Biden likely would have to weigh whether to sell more advanced air defense systems to Taipei. "One of the core challenges that a Biden administration will face early on is deciding their tolerance for risk and friction. That will tell the Chinese something about Biden's resolve," said one former senior official who worked on China policy in the Obama administration. "It will send signals to allies as well." The Trump campaign has pointed to Biden's past comments, including that it was in America's interest to see China prosper, and painted him as naive, using footage of Biden clinking glasses with Xi. "President Trump is the first president with a backbone to stand up to China and hold them accountable for their nefarious actions while Joe Biden has spent his entire career appeasing Beijing and expanding American reliance on the communist nation," said Ken Farnaso, Trump campaign deputy national press secretary. CHINA-US-TRUMP-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY (Nicolas Asfouri / AFP via Getty Images file) "In sharp contrast, President Trump has confronted China's aggression on the world stage, cut off travel from the nation early in the pandemic, delivered on the Phase One China trade deal, and has tightened the leash on Beijing's unfair corporate espionage." Biden's campaign and many independent foreign policy analysts have in turn argued that Trump's tariffs have boomeranged on American farmers, that the "Phase One" trade deal with China achieved little and that Trump failed initially to stand up to Xi over the coronavirus, the crackdown on Hong Kong and the repression of the country's Uighur Muslim community. Derek Scissors, a senior research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute think tank and a self-described China hawk, said the Phase One trade deal is a non-starter, as China so far has fallen far short of its commitments to purchase U.S. goods and services, and crucial structural issues including access to China's market and intellectual property theft remain unresolved. "The problem with the Trump administration position is, their China toughness is mostly sound and fury signifying nothing," Scissors said. Scissors said Biden's comments on China over the years were sometimes naive, but he said it was misleading to suggest the vice president would return to policies from 10 years ago, given the dramatic changes in attitudes about China. "The world has changed, Congress has changed," he said. But he added that it was an open question as to what specific steps Biden was ready to take if elected. "I think Biden will be every bit as tough as Trump is but I think his approach will be more consistent and be more strategic," said China expert Kenneth Lieberthal of the Brookings Institution, who advised President Bill Clinton. John Ullyot, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, rejected accusations that the Trump administration has alienated allies and failed to promptly call out China over its clampdown in Hong Kong or its treatment of Uighurs in Xinjang. "The President took actions that impose real cost on the Chinese Communist Party for its atrocities against the Uyghurs and other minorities," Ullyot said in an email. Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, wrote in his recently published memoir that the president gave Xi a green light to build detention camps for Uighurs in a 2019 meeting. The White House has denied the account. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other Trump officials repeatedly have condemned China over its treatment of the Uighur community, Last month, the top U.S. counterintelligence official said that "China prefers that President Trump whom Beijing sees as unpredictable does not win reelection." Trump's supporters have seized on that assessment, saying the president's unpredictable style has wrong-footed China. But critics argue President Trump has tarnished America's image and signaled a U.S. retreat from the international arena, handing Beijing an opportunity to assert itself at the United Nations and elsewhere. Some former Chinese officials and commentators say Trump has given China a golden opportunity, and that the regime would reap the rewards of another four years of Trump. "I think from China's perspective, while some predictability is nice, having the United States severely weakened on the world stage, having the U.S. strategic position eroded, is something that they would love to see more of," said Jeff Prescott, an adviser on the Biden campaign and a former senior official in the Obama administration. Among voters, polls indicate Trump has failed to turn his China-bashing into a political advantage. In three of four surveys conducted in May and June, Biden had an edge over Trump when voters were asked who would be better at handling China. As both Trump and Biden try to outdo each other in talking tough on China, it's unclear if either candidate has figured out how to successfully counter the regime. Although the more conciliatory approach by previous administrations has been criticized as a failure, Trump's "get tough" policies have so far failed to change China's behavior, experts said. The president has taken unprecedented steps to push back against China, imposing tariffs, seeking to block Huawei from entering Western markets, slapping a long list of sanctions on China and closing Beijing's Houston consulate over alleged espionage. But China has yet to back off of its trade policies, doubled down on its claims in the South China Sea, and pressed ahead with clampdowns in Hong Kong and Xinjang despite an international outcry. Since entering the Senate in the 1970s, Biden has always been known as a pragmatist, wary of rigid doctrine, and willing to compromise. Unlike some China hawks in and outside the Trump administration, he does not speak about the competition with Beijing as a civilizational struggle akin to the Cold War with the Soviets. Even as Biden has vowed to stand up to China, he would likely remain open to cooperation on some major issues where the two countries share common ground on climate change, counterterrorism and curbing the nuclear ambitions of North Korea and Iran, his advisers and former officials said. But China has often pushed for concessions on other unrelated disputes in return for cooperating on issues deemed important by Washington, said Dean Cheng of the Heritage Foundation. "If you want the Chinese to cooperate, you are going to pay a price." Biden's advisers point to an episode seven years ago to illustrate how Biden would approach the U.S-China relationship. In 2013, then Vice President Biden flew to Beijing after China announced all aircraft flying over the East China Sea would first have to seek permission from Beijing. "He didn't holler and bluster," said Jake Sullivan, who was in the room as Biden's national security adviser at the time. "He just very calmly, firmly, directly said to Xi Jinping, 'So I heard you guys did this. We are not going to honor it. We are not going to respect it. In fact, we're going to fly our own military aircraft through it without complying.'" Hours later, in the same visit to Beijing, Biden proposed cooperating with China to tackle climate change, said Sullivan, now an adviser on Biden's presidential campaign. The two agreed that the U.S. and China should work together on climate, and that helped lay the groundwork for a bilateral deal and eventually the 2015 Paris climate accords, he said. "That meeting is an encapsulation of the way that Joe Biden looks at this, which is there is no reason to think we can't be tough, direct, decisive and engage with our allies to push back on China in a range of different areas, and also work with them where it's in our interest," Sullivan said. "That's the kind of attitude that he will take with him into the White House." In March, in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, a tweet from the French Health Minister, Olivier Veran, advised patients with COVID-19 not to take ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and antipyretic properties. He even warned that taking it would increase mortality among COVID-19 patients, even though the statement was not backed by any scientifically valid evidence In spite of this information's spuriousness, it subsequently spread to a number of countries. UOC doctoral student Sergi Xaudiera and Ana Sofia Cardenal, a researcher at the Faculty of Law and Political Science, have studied the digital reach of this unverified, Twitter-propagated information in Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy. The results show that misinformation has a huge impact when credible sources take part in propagating it. Based on a case study of Catalonia, the project also highlights the importance of local channels in disseminating or deactivating misinformation as, according to the study's conclusions, it is precisely the regional channels that have greatest impact in each territory. Published in the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Misinformation Review, the research forms part of Sergi Xaudiera's doctoral thesis, in which he studies cases of misinformation in emergency situations. "Until now, most misinformation campaigns were instigated by unauthoritative users or partisan media. However, this case stands out for the fact that the fake news was echoed by political representatives (specifically, the French Health Minister) and respectable media outlets, who took it to a broader audience," the researcher explained. From a WhatsApp voice message to the French Minister's Twitter account The spark that spread the false news about ibuprofen to other European countries was the message posted by the French Minister on Twitter. However, the UOC researchers traced the story's trail back to a WhatsApp voice message in Germany. Following the digital footprint on the microblogging network, they also analysed how, over a period of two weeks, the story spread from its country of origin to users in the Netherlands, France and, finally, Spain and Italy. They looked at the role played by credible sources, such as political representatives and respected media outlets, in giving greater prominence to the misinformation. The importance of official sources in matters such as these can be seen in the differences in how the information spread between France and Germany. "Even though the message originated in Germany, nobody took it seriously. The voice message was forwarded to different users but, as it was not possible to identify who originally recorded it, it lost credibility and the general tone of comments was basically to debunk it or make jokes about it," the research project's author highlighted. However, in France, where the message was sponsored by a credible source, the fake news had the greatest impact of all the countries studied and the comments refuting the information were virtually non-existent. Indeed, the project showed how other reliable sources, such as the media, reproduced the Minister's tweet without fact-checking, helping to take the information to greater segments of the population. "Misinformation supported by reliable sources is particularly dangerous because their very credibility induces people to accept the recommendations without doubting or questioning the information on which they are based. In addition, these types of action, occurring during emergency situations, are particularly sensitive and, if treated incorrectly, they may have irreversible consequences," the researcher continued. The other territories included in the study fall between these two extremes, combining messages that reproduced the fake news with others that said that it was not true. In Spain and Italy, the media and journalists were the first to debunk the misinformation, citing the French Minister's subsequent statements to disprove it. On 18 March, a second wave appeared in all the territories, and was quickly rejected by users. In spite of this, the news re-emerged in Italy and spread quickly between 20 and 23 March. The power of local media in spreading information Tracking the path taken by this information highlights the importance of governments' active presence on social media. "By practising active listening to detect conversations about how the emergency is being handled, governments can act quickly whenever inaccurate information attains a certain level of visibility," Xaudiera explained. The study's researchers also found that even though supragovernmental agencies such as the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency dismissed the information as untrue, the fake information continued to spread unabated until it was denied by each region's official channels. According to the authors, this points to a strong regional dimension in the dissemination of information. With the goal of determining the effectiveness of local official sources in discrediting fake news, the researchers studied the specific case of Catalonia. The results showed that most of the Catalan users who contributed to spreading unverified information were not following official sources when the information was published. However, the vast majority of those who shared messages that contributed to discrediting the misinformation were following official channels. "Misinformation is counteracted most effectively by local sources. When a false narrative starts to circulate in a region, it is the local channels that must help in checking the information and exposing it as fake when necessary. We have seen that following local official channels has a positive effect. However, when it is these channels that are putting out fake information, the region's citizens may become impervious to accurate information," Xaudiera said. In such cases, social media's role becomes particularly complex. "Social platforms (in this case, Twitter) can and must do more to prevent fake information from circulating in their ecosystems. This is particularly critical in cases such as that studied by us, as they are credible, verified channels that are disseminating incorrect information on the platform," he stressed. Faced with fake information such as the statements about ibuprofen, the researchers recommend following official sources and viewing the information we receive critically, checking it on several sources from different, geographically separate origins, if possible. In addition, on the institutional level, they propose approaching cybersecurity from an information and communication viewpoint. "Until now, cybersecurity was seen purely as a technology issue. However, these cases show that the threat involves much more than technology and the social aspects must be studied as well," Xaudiera concluded. - Kenya on Sunday, September 6, recorded less than 100 cases in a single day for the first time in about four months - The number of infections in the country has been diminishing since mid-August 2020 - A recent study by KEMRI suggested that Kenya might have hit it's infections peak in July 2020 - Earlier, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the trend in the country showed the curve was beginning to flatten PAY ATTENTION: Click 'See First' under 'Follow' Tab to see Tuko.co.ke news on your FB Feed Some 83 more Kenyans have tested positive for coronavirus pushing to 35,103 the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. The fresh cases (77 Kenyans and six foreigners) were captured from a sample size of 3,093 tested in the last 24 hours and included 58 males and 25 females. READ ALSO: Kakamega residents defy COVID-19 rules, attend cultural bullfighting ceremony in thousands Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe. Photo: MoH. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: List of governors whose regimes have been dogged by graft scandals The youngest was a one-year-old while the oldest was 85. Since the Ministry of Health started testing for the disease, at least 474,477 samples have been tested. READ ALSO: Generous Kenyans build 2-bedroom house for Nyeri family who lived in shanty within 21 days Seventy-two (72) other patients had recovered from the disease, pushing the number of recoveries in the country to 21,230 from 21,158 recorded on Saturday, September 5. Some 39 of those discharged recuperated under the home-based plan, while 33 were discharged from various hospitals. The number of deaths rose to 597 after three more patients died from the virus. Distribution of cases Nairobi recorded the highest at 27 followed by Busia (15), Kisumu (12), Nakuru (seven) Machakoss (seven), Kiambu (five), Laikipia (three) and three in Kisii. Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Mombasa and Uasin Gishu regiustestered a single case each. READ ALSO: Maria series hunk Trevor marries gorgeous bae in beautiful beach wedding This was the first time in over three months less than 100 cases were recorded in a day. Since mid-May, the country was reporting at least 200 cases every day. The cases, however, started to decline from a high of over 400 daily positives in mid-August. Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the trend showed the number of infections in the country had started to drop. TUKO.co.ke had also reported that a recent study by Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) showed that Kenya might have hit is infections peak in July 2020. 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. Women are all over me, my wife should be saved and respectful -Stivo Simpleboy | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The world faces a long and difficult road towards a full economic recovery despite the benefits of advanced technology, the development of a vaccine for Covid-19, and government stimulus packages worth over $10 trillion, said experts at the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (#GMIS2020) which is being held on September 4-5. The heads of Mubadala Investment Company, Siemens, Honeywell and Schneider Electric joined a keynote panel on day 2 of the #GMIS2020 Virtual Summit running on September 4 and 5 to discuss and debate A trillion-dollar question: in an age of digital restoration, how are leaders repurposing our economies to deal with a post-crisis era?, reported Emirates news agency Wam. The session was followed by a keynote speech by Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales Group. The panellists were all united in their praise of swift government financial actions taken to protect jobs and businesses amid the widespread lockdowns imposed around the world to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. However, they warned that this would likely lead to a period of economic stagnation in 2021, and possibly even through 2022, especially given the potential threat of a second or even further waves of the coronavirus. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mubadala Investment Company, said: "We have seen the positive economic reaction to the financial steps taken by most governments, particularly in the large economies around the world. Getting back to a more stable period of economic activity, and visibility into business growth, will take time." Darius Adamczyk, Chairman and CEO of Honeywell, said: "Theres been an incredible level of stimulus in the United States, the EU and other economies as well. Now governments around the world are going to have to figure out a smart way to pay for this that doesn't damage the economies going forward." Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric, stated: "Protective measures have understandably focused on vulnerable older people in our societies, but the people who are getting punished because they cant get jobs are the youngsters, and they are the future of our world," he said. "We work closely with governments and other institutions to propose internships, and try to make sure that there is not a generation that is left behind." Tricoire added: "Large companies like us live within an ecosystem of many suppliers and smaller companies and it's very important that we help those companies through the crisis and actually use it to help them modernise and digitise, to be more sustainable and prepare for the future." Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens, agreed that it was vital for government rescue packages to be channelled into the right areas. He said: "It's crucially important that we not only have trillions of dollars of government money and stimulus, but also that this money is invested into future-oriented and not backward-oriented industries, because they are going to die anyway. And if we are not mindful about this today, we risk forfeiting much of the future." Al Mubarak sounded a note of optimism that a recovery could be enabled by the arrival on the market of potentially multiple vaccines for Covid-19 as well as progress that is being made with numerous therapies. "There is going to be a vaccine sooner rather than later" he said. The panellists all agreed that the crisis would act as a catalyst for accelerating digital transformation in most sectors of the economy as well as a greater shift towards sustainability. As global leaders in technology and innovation, their companies have all made significant strides down this path. Mubadala has been shifting its portfolio focus in recent years, investing more in technology and moving away from some of the traditional sectors the company had previously invested in. Since Covid-19 emerged the company has begun to accelerate that transition. Al Mubarak said: "The way that we've been shifting our portfolio to these areas, be it energy, renewable energy, energy storage, mobility, automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, these are all areas that we at Mubadala took a view on pre-Covid. The crisis now just confirms we were on the right path, and we will continue to invest aggressively in that space." Al Mubarak added that one of the areas that Mubadala is now monitoring closely is hydrogen, which holds huge potential to help combat climate change through the decarbonisation of energy systems, industry, and mobility. Siemens is playing a leading role in the development of hydrogen-based solutions and Kaeser said hydrogen would be "the next big thing in energy". However, the cost of producing green hydrogen from renewable sources is higher than conventional hydrogen, a gap which he said can only be bridged through carbon pricing. "The most relevant regulatory topic we have on a global level is how we are going to price emissions on CO2," he said. "Once we figure that out we can do a lot for the environment but we need to have a common understanding on how to price the CO2 and that is very clear. Physics alone will not help us going forward." Tricoire said awareness of sustainability issues had been heightened by Covid-19 because the virus and climate change are both by-products of human activities, urbanisation, and population growth. He added that energy savings and efficiency could play a major role in driving sustainability and that digital transformation, accelerated by Covid-19, would be a key factor in that process. He said: "Everybody on Earth has realised the value of resiliency and reliability. We took this for granted in the past, and now we see that monitoring and digitising is really important because it allows you to anticipate things." Honeywell implemented a series of strategic initiatives spanning software, digital integration and supply chain transformation long before the crisis had hit, all of which were enabled by digitalisation, which Adamczyk urged all companies to embrace. "It's undeniable that the world is going to become much more digital, and trying to resist that change is pointless," he said. "And if one resists that change, I think one is in danger of having an obsolete company that's not going to be contemporary and keeping up with the times." Al Mubarak concluded: "The world has changed, and you have to evolve. And I think the companies and countries and individuals that are able to pivot and really look at this new world will be the ones that succeed post-Covid." In his keynote speech, Patrice Caine, Chairman and CEO, Thales Group, said: "As the world is getting increasingly unpredictable, its vital that people have confidence in the ability of institutions and companies to perform their roles and successfully address the challenges ahead. What has become evident this year is that agility and resilience are at the forefront of adapting to a new normal and building a future we can all trust. "Our investment in human capital needs to evolve and strengthen with a view to driving success. Countries and companies can continue to be pioneering only if they pay more attention to their role in education. Education leads to innovation; and we must continue to innovate to be better prepared to face any unexpected crises and to help society bounce back and sustainability move forward." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said he had a very fruitful meeting with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and regional security issues, including Afghanistan. Singh arrived in Tehran from Moscow on Saturday after concluding his three-day visit to Russia where he attended a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) defence ministers. He also held bilateral talks with his counterparts from Russia, China and the Central Asian countries. Had a very fruitful meeting with Iranian defence minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami in Tehran. We discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan and the issues of bilateral cooperation, he said in a tweet. Both the Defence Ministers discussed ways to take forward bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional security issues, including peace and stability in Afghanistan, Singhs office said in a separate tweet. The meeting between the two ministers took place in a cordial and warm atmosphere, it said, adding that the leaders emphasised upon the age-old cultural, linguistic and civilisational ties between India and Iran. Scarlett Moffatt attends the 'Dumbo' European premiere at The Curzon Mayfair on March 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images) Scarlett Moffatt says people assume she is thick because of her strong north east accent. The Gogglebox and Im A Celeb...Get Me Out Of Here star has been a regular on our screens in recent years, but the 29-year-old says she is often treated like she not very intelligent. Speaking to The Mirror, Moffatt, from County Durham, explained: I just cant win. Maybe its the way Ive portrayed myself, but people always assume Im thick. I dont know if its my accent or whatever. Read more: Scarlett Moffatt: I gained weight on purpose after fitness DVD I always remember filming and this producer explaining the same thing to me three times. And me going, OK, thats fine, I understand. And then explaining it again and then me going, No, really, I understand! Inside, Im screaming but on the outside I would never show that. If you actually have an opinion or idea, sometimes its sort of put across as, Well done, youre thinking like a man, or, Get back in your box because its not your place. It is quite difficult being a woman. Im either too quiet or too loud, or Im too fake or Im not fake enough. The star won the 2016 series of I'm A Celeb. (ITV) She added the only way to deal with it is to be yourself and not take anything personally. Moffatt found fame appearing alongside mum Betty and dad Mark on popular Channel 4 show Gogglebox. She won more fans during her 2016 stint Im A Celeb which saw her crowned Queen of the Jungle. She has recently been hosting conspiracy theories podcast Scarlett Moffatt Wants To Believe. Read more: Scarlett Moffatt tells how fan mistook her for a 'thinner, prettier' lookalike of herself It made headlines recently when Dara O Briain condemning the BBC for commissioning Moffatts podcast but cancelling his own astronomy series Stargazing Live. In a now deleted tweet, O Briain said: Trying not to be depressed today that while the BBC dont seem to want to make any more Stargazing Live, they will pay Scarlett Moffatt to make a podcast about how she doesnt believe in the Moon landings. Moffatts representatives declined to comment on O Briains tweet. Hi, my name is Matthew. I am 21 years old and live in Auckland, New Zealand. Early life I grew up in a Christian family in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). I am the eldest of three children and was fortunate enough to live with both of my parents. Even though I grew up in a Christian household, there comes a time for any Christian where they must decide to claim their faith as their own. For me, this wasnt a decision I made in a moment. Rather, it was a series of small choices I made overtime that helped me claim my faith as my own. One of those defining choices I can remember was when I decided to read my Bible regularly when I was 12. It played a big part in building the foundation of my belief. Also, it involved a personal sacrifice of my time beyond just going to church on a Sunday with my parents. Through that time of regularly reading my Bible, along with other choices I made, my faith became firmly mine. Move to NZ We moved to New Zealand in July 2013. Moving here remains the hardest, but best thing we have done as a family. My dad left in search of job in February of that year. He only had a 6-month window in which he had to find a job. After 6 months, he would have to return to SA for another 6 months before trying again. He eventually found one about 3 weeks before the 6-month window was up. As you can imagine, it was a stressful time for the family. We had sold our house, packed a shipping container and I was being home-schooled in preparation for this move. Yet, that time of waiting remains one of the most influential in my faith. It formed the foundation of my understanding on Biblical peace. Peace Often, we think that peace is mutually exclusive to suffering, pain, and confusion. During those times, when the flood waters rush in and it feels like were drowning, it can feel as if God isnt there and that He doesnt care. But sometimes, instead of sending us a rescue boat like we might want Him to, God says: Trust me and keep swimming. Instead of complete relief, He offers us peace. Peace, as Ive come to realise, is regardless of the circumstances or the outcomes, knowing that with God everything is going to be okay (Romans chapter 8, verse 28). The waiting, the uncertainty, the unknown is still worrying and scary. Treading water is never comfortable. But you know, Gods peace gives rest and comfort amongst the discomfort. Climbing I like to think of my journey to where I am today as a hike up a mountain during an overcast day. Those days that are so overcast that you cant see the summit. During days like that, the only choice you have is to take it one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. Eventually the clouds will clear, youll look up at the summit, and it might be so much higher than you anticipated. So much so that you might think to yourself that you wouldnt even have started if you knew how far you had to go. But then you also look back, and you see how far you have come, and it gives you strength to keep going. It reminds me of the verse in Psalm 119: Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light to my path (verse 105). The lamps in those days were only strong enough to illuminate a small area around the holder. Only showing them their very immediate surroundings. When it comes to God leading us, He often only reveals to us enough to illuminate our next step, but not enough to show us how high we have to climb. It is less daunting that way, and it forces us to have faith. Without complete knowledge of what lies ahead, we must put our faith and trust in God with each step. I know if my family knew all that was ahead, we probably wouldnt have made the move. But we are so grateful we did. Writing I began writing in high. Initially, I felt nudges to write during times I felt inspired. I would write whatever came to my mind and send it to my youth group leaders for feedback. About three years (2018) into me writing casually, I felt this sense that there was a real opportunity on the horizon. It wasnt long after that my senior pastor put an ad for writing for Christian Today. When I saw it, it all clicked, and I jumped at the opportunity. Im so grateful for the growth Ive experienced through writing. The present Im currently in my third year of five studying an engineering/commerce conjoint degree. I really struggled to decide what to do after high school, but now I feel as if Im exactly where Im supposed to be. Yet, being in this position is not my own doing. I hope that my story is a testament to Gods grace and provision in my life. Even though I dont know what the future may hold, Im glad I have God on my side. Knowing how far He has brought me allows me to move forward in freedom and in hope. [Editor - Last year Matthew Thornton was awarded a BRONZE in the new writer category from the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) and this year the Tronson Award from Press Service International NZ young writers for both consistency and participation as one of the coordinators in the Kiwi young writer program] Stacker explores snacks and other food items banned in the U.S. From tasty cheeses to the famed Scottish dish haggis, these 30 foods arent welcome in most of the United States. Hong Kong: Govt responds to procession The Government today strongly condemned unlawful and selfish acts during unauthorised assemblies in various Kowloon districts. It said that a large number of people ignored Police advice and participated in unauthorised assemblies today. They blocked roads with barricades, threw hard objects at police officers and chanted slogans connoting Hong Kong independence. In its response, the Government noted that participating in unlawful assemblies may breach the Public Order Ordinance and the Prevention & Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation, while acts advocating Hong Kong independence may also breach the National Security Law. Police discharged their rightful duties today and took prompt and decisive action to apprehend the offenders. Regarding views on the National Security Law, the Government said that safeguarding national security by way of legislation is in line with international practice. The enactment of the National Security Law is constitutional, lawful, rational and reasonable, which ensures the resolute, full and faithful implementation of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people administering Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy. The law only targets four types of acts and activities that endanger national security. The vast majority of law-abiding residents in Hong Kong, as well as the rights legitimately exercised by them will not be affected. The Government pointed out that in the two months following the National Security Law's enactment, the stability of society has been restored and members of the public no longer live in terror. As for the Legislative Council General Election, the Government said it is reasonable and in the public interest to postpone it for a year, given that the epidemic is likely to last for a while and preparation work and the voter registration exercise will take months before an election can be held. It also reiterated that the Hong Kong Health Code system was developed to facilitate people crossing the boundary so as to gradually restore livelihood and economic activities. The system does not have any tracking function and fully complies with the requirements of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Application of the code is voluntary. The Government noted the COVID-19 outbreak has not yet stabilised, adding that the prime goal now is to stay united and focus resources to fight the virus. This story has been published on: 2020-09-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike today flagged off the construction of 11 township roads of about 11 kilometres in Bauchi initiated by Governor Bala. [embedded content] The roads flagged off are Gwangwangwan to Bakaro to Kofar Dumi, Malam Goje to Bakin Kura linking Muda Lawal Market covering a distance of 3 kilometres, Bununu township roads, 2.65 kilometres and Sade township roads, 2.5 kilometres. Others are Disina township roads project and storm water drainages as well as two major roads with a distance of about 1.65 kilometer. Speaking shortly before the flagging off at Unguwar Alkali Aminu in Bauchi metropolis, Governor Wike commended Governor Bala for embarking on roads construction across the state. Governor Wike said inspite of the inadequate resources, Governor Bala has achieved a lot in improving the living standards of his people. Governor Bala expressed gratitude to Governor Wike for honouring his invitation to flag off the construction of the roads. The Governor informed his colleague that, from inception of his administration to date, the state government has completed 6 major road projects across the state. Governor Bala commended Governor Wike for transforming Port Harcourt to both commercial and tourism destinations. Governor Bala said to achieve the desired objectives, his administration has chosen competent contractors to handle the township roads contracts. https://www.aish.com/jw/s/Fighting-Anti-Semitism-One-Reader-at-a-Time.html Sometimes God sends you your next writing assignment. Liza Wiemer wasn't easily rattled. The 54-year-old Milwaukee resident was a poised driver, and she navigated the unfamiliar highways of Upstate New York with steely determination until she suddenly found herself in the eye of a violent summer storm. The windshield wipers rendered useless by the onslaught, Liza felt a slight frisson of fear as great torrents of rain blinded her vision. Hunting for the nearest exit ramp, she exhaled at the welcome sight of a brightly-lit gas station/mini-mart nearby, where she could decamp until the downpour ended, or, at the very least, diminished. As Liza drove into the parking lot to wait out the storm, her natural state perpetually buoyant, optimistic and positive sagged just a little. The venue she was driving to for more than an hour already was nowhere near her hotel in Syracuse, as she had been promised. What am I doing here? A year ago, in 2017, Liza a writer and educator had been contacted by a librarian who wished to arrange a speaking tour for her in Upstate New York. She had heard about Liza's popular workshops, where she successfully inculcated critical values and ideals into the current generation of public high school students who were sorely lacking ethical direction. "I'll set you up at a centrally-located hotel, near all your venues, so you won't have to travel far," the librarian had pledged. But this next-to-the-last venue was well out of the range she had anticipated. As rivulets of water streamed around her, Liza couldn't help asking, "Why would the Almighty want me to be here?" A high school teacher had given his students a reprehensible assignment: research and debate the merits of Hitler's Final Solution. To while away the time, Liza scanned her text messages. Her aunt had just forwarded some articles about an uproar that had erupted in an upstate New York town where a high school teacher had given his students a reprehensible assignment: research and debate the merits of Hitler's Final Solution. Most of the students had been compliant, not even questioning the teacher's motives, but two teenagers Jordan April and Archer Shurtliff (neither of whom were Jewish) refused. They vocally opposed the project, sweeping both the school and the town into the vortex of the debate. The assignment was ultimately canceled. The students' heroism as well as the anti-Semitic assignment that ignited it made national news. Liza was horrified that such an assignment could have emanated from an American school circa 2017. She knew that anti-Semitism simmered beneath a lot of surfaces, and that in recent years there had been an alarming uptick, but this act was unusually brazen and heinous. The news item said that the incident occurred in Oswego, New York. Liza surveyed the sign above the mini-mart's entrance and goosebumps erupted over her arms. "Oswego Mini-Mart" it proclaimed. She was in the exact place where it had happened. What were the odds? "I trembled when I realized where I was 'randomly' parked," Liza remembers. "I don't believe in coincidences; I felt I was there for a purpose. When I got to my destination a bookstore I decided I'd buy two of my books and inscribe a message to these young heroes, telling them how courageous they were and how proud I am of the outcome they achieved. That's the least I can do." Liza looked at the photographs of the two teens and shook her head in awe. They look so young, but they took on a teacher, a principal, and an entire town. Unbelievable! When the torrential downpour let up, Liza got back on the highway, revved up with a new-found purpose and a strong sense that the out-of-the-way "gig" had not been a mistake on the part of the librarian after all. Liza entered the bookstore and immediately saw a familiar-looking face. "It's the world-famous Jordan!" Liza shouted. The young girl wheeled around, startled. "How do you know my name?" she asked the stranger. "I just read about you!" Liza exclaimed, stunned by the second coincidence. "Your picture - and Archer's - accompanied the news report." Liza now understood why the librarian one year before had unwittingly arranged to send her so far afield. "To me, it was clearly God's plan. The coincidences were too striking for it to be anything else." That night, she spoke with both Jordan and Archer on a conference call and determined then and there to write their story for a Jewish newspaper syndicate. "Many papers picked up the story and the reaction was strong. One day, I was discussing the piece with a writer friend of mine, when she suddenly said: 'Why don't you turn it into a book?' And that's exactly what I did! Education is the key to deterring anti-Semitism. This book is my own small, personal way of combatting it "The Assignment," a YA (Young Adult) novel published a week ago by Delacorte, a major commercial trade house, is the result of the confluence of coincidences Liza experienced a convergence she interpreted as a tap on the shoulder, a push, a shove, by God himself. "The Lubavitcher Rebbe always said that education is the absolute key to deterring anti-Semitism, nothing else, " Liza said. "'The Assignment' is my own small, personal way of combatting it." While conducting research for the book, Liza was devastated to learn that the incident at Oswego was not a solitary case. "Numerous similar harmful assignments have, in recent years, been given across the United States. To mention just four: One was a history assignment from a California high school asking students to make a time capsule of Nazi society. This resulted in swastikas being daubed all over the school. In the second instance, a student was assigned to play Hitler at a Tennessee public school's Living History project, and to make the Sieg Heil salute. After students started making salutes all over the school, an 11-year-old girl who told her classmates to stop was sent to the principal's office to be punished. "In a third case, a prestigious private school in Atlanta made 'Mein Kampf' required summer reading for all its students, and a fourth report revolved around an Albany public school history teacher who gave students the assignment to write an essay that proved the writer was loyal to the Nazis, and that 'Jews are evil and the source of our problems.' "The more I read about what was happening in both public and private schools across the country, the more shell-shocked I became. Many of these assignments were ultimately squelched by the efforts of a few conscientious students or parents. Sadly, there were places where there were no protests and some of these assignments were fulfilled by unquestioning students. I decided to fictionalize Jordan and Archer's story rather than turn it into a memoir. I felt their story was one of several, representative of a new phenomenon occurring across the country." Liza's trip to Oswego took place in 2017, a year before Pittsburgh, and two years before Poway. As a result of her research, she had already become aware that a new, virulent strain of anti-Semitism had reared its ugly head. "I had used Twitter extensively to market my previous YA book 'Hello?' and was completely unnerved by the rabid anti-Semitism I found on social media. I was disheartened that not too many people in the Jewish community - neither ordinary people, politicians, communal leaders, not even officials from major Jewish defense organizations were pushing back as they should have been. And the only response from non-Jews on Twitter reading these rants was utter silence. Anti-Semitism had already become so mainstream that no one was even blinking. "I remembered Elie Wiesel's powerful statement that 'Silence helps the tormentor not the tormented' and I felt compelled to do something. I could not be quiet. I thought of the Lubavitcher Rebbe's call for education as a tool for eradicating anti-Semitism, and since I am neither a politician nor communal leader, just an ordinary person, I did the only thing I could. We all have to try to stop it in its tracks any way we can." Public schools are good places to start. The stances and perspectives of adolescents are far less hardened than adults, and at their age they are still open, curious, impressionable, and looking for inspiration. I hope the book will enable young adults to confront their biases and change their perception of Jews. "My novel gives students an opportunity to experience anti-Semitism by putting themselves in the characters' shoes and to imagine how they would feel, what they would do, and also why it's so important to speak up and not stay silent because hateful acts lead to more hateful acts. "I hope the book will enable young adults to confront their biases and change their perception of Jews. Based on my experience of speaking at different schools across the country, I know that many teens have never met a Jewish person before, but they embrace stereotypes. 'The Assignment' provides a clear model for teens and will hopefully empower them to think critically about anti-Semitism and recognize that they are responsible for speaking up and putting a stop to any anti-Semitism they might hear or witness." NEW DELHI : Indicating a delay in country's first bullet train project, the Railways on Saturday said a "real timeframe" for the completion of the Mumbai -Ahmedabad bullet train plan has to be "reassessed" as the land aquisation for the project has been delayed due to the coronavirus crisis, and a clear timeline can be provided in next three to six months. Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board V K Yadav in a press briefing also denied reports that the Japanese firms were not keen on the project, saying "it is true that the tenders and land acquisition were delayed a bit due to the coronavirus pandemic, but I can say that the project is progressing well." Yadav's comments came amid reports that the bullet train project may fail to meet its December 2023 deadline. "In any linear project like the bullet train project, work can only begin when a certain amount of land is available. We are hoping that within the next three to six months, we will be able to get to that point where we have 90-100 per cent of the land. Our designs are ready and we are set to go... "As the COVID19 situation improves, the Railways will start the bidding process and within the next three to six months, we will be able to get the status of land acquired. It will then be the appropriate time to reassess the project. Once the land status is ascertained, we can provide a real timeframe for the completion of the project," the railway board chairman said. He, however, did not confirm that the project will meet the December 2023 deadline. Denying reports that the Japanese firms were not keen on the project, he said both Indian and Japanese companies were on board and urged people to disregard such rumours. "It is not correct. The Japanese are very much interested in the project, there is no doubt about it. This is an extraordinary situation. It is difficult for them to come here during a pandemic and we have to keep that in mind. I want to tell you all that there is a lot of interest from everyone whether it is the Japanese companies or Indian," he said reacting to reports that Japanese firms were not interested in the project. "Due to the pandemic situation, international travels were banned. Such kinds of projects require a lot of survey works and hence Japanese companies could not participate. We had advance information about that. As land issues improve, we will start the bidding process again," he added. Even before the COVID pandemic, the project had been hit hard due to protests from farmers in both Maharashtra and Gujarat. It also had to contend with rising costs because of a widening gap between the Indian rupee and the Japanese yen. The 508.17-kilometre long network will pass through three districts in Maharashtra (Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar) and eight districts in Gujarat (Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, and Ahmedabad). Yadav said that so far 63 percent land has been acquired for the project, with 82 percent acquired in Gujarat and 23 per cent in Maharashtra. According to officials, the estimated total cost of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad project is 1.08 trillion, of which 81 percent cost is planned to be funded through a 20-year loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Central government has signed a loan agreement with JICA for providing 15,000 crore, of the total loan amount of 88,000 crore. The Railways has been keen on opening at least a portion of the project by August 2022, to coincide with 75 years of Independence. While the National High Speed Rail Corporation, the implementing agency for the project, maintains that it will make it on time, a review in the next six months is expected to give a clearer picture, according to officials. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Monday address the Governors' Conference on the National Education Policy (NEP) through video conference. The conference titled 'Role of NEP 2020 in Transforming Higher Education' is being organised by the Ministry of Education (MoE), formerly the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Education ministers of all states, vice-chancellors of state universities among other senior officials would also be attending the Governors' Conference.Also Read: Transfer cash to poor, give free food, borrow more to boost demand: Chidambaram A statement released by Prime Minister's office said the NEP 2020 is twenty-first century's first education policy. The previous education policy was released 34 years ago in 1986. The NEP 2020 aims to make major reforms in both school and higher education level. "The new National Education Policy strives for making India into an equitable and vibrant knowledge society. It envisions an India-centred education system that contributes directly to transforming India into a global superpower," it said. It added that the comprehensive transformation the NEP aims would also bring about a paradigm shift in the country's education system and create an enabling and reinvigorated educational ecosystem for new 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' as envisaged by PM Modi. Various webinars, virtual conferences, and conclaves on several aspects of the National Education Policy 2020 are being held across the country. Earlier, the Ministry of Education and University Grants Commission had organised a 'Conclave on Transformational Reforms in Higher Education under National Education Policy 2020', which was also addressed by Modi. (With PTI inputs) Also Read: Happiest Minds IPO opens tomorrow; here are 7 things to know Also Read: IPL 2020 schedule: Mumbai Indians to take on Chennai Super Kings in opening match; check full schedule Mumbai, Sep 6 : Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty was allowed to leave the National Control Bureau office here after a gruelling six-hour-long session of questioning on Sunday. She is likely to be summoned again on Monday as the NCB continues its investigations to unravel the drugs angle that has emerged in the death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Rhea, who did not appear to be flustered as she stepped out, underwent interrogation by several teams of NCB sleuths during the day before they finally permitted her to go home after 6 p.m. in her own vehicle. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery C ovid-19 could be endemic in poorer parts of the UK, according to a leaked Public Health England report. The report suggests that in areas with poor housing quality, high levels of deprivation and large BAME communities the months-long UK-wide lockdown was ineffective. The study, seen by the Observer, reportedly investigates in-depth the links between housing, poverty, ethnicity and high levels of Covid-19 in areas in the north-west, and looks to take lessons from the region to be applied throughout the UK. "The overall analysis suggests Bolton, Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale never really left the epidemic phase and that nine of the 10 boroughs [of Greater Manchester] are currently experiencing an epidemic phase," the report reads. A mobile advertising vehicle displays a Covid-19 high risk area warning in Oldham, Greater Manchester / PA The areas of the UK with the highest levels of coronavirus Bolton, Bradford, Blackburn and Darwen, Oldham and Salford are all in the North West. With more than 98 cases per 100,000 people last week, Bolton had around five times as many cases as some of the least-affected areas, like Milton Keynes, Kent and Southampton. The study goes on: Each region has experienced its own epidemic journey with the north peaking later and the NW [north-west], Y&H [Yorkshire and Humber] and EM [East Midlands] failing to return to a near zero Covid status even during lockdown, unlike the other regions which have been able to return to a near pre-Covid state. The report questions whether local lockdowns are effective in these areas, given the claims that national lockdown had less impact than in other parts of the country. Shoppers in Oldham / AFP via Getty Images If we accept the premise that in some areas the infection is now endemic how does this change our strategy?," it says. "If these areas were not able to attain near zero-Covid status during full lockdown, how realistic is it that we can expect current restriction escalations to work? Gabriel Scally, public health professor at Bristol University, said the "extremely alarming" findings show better contact tracing and improving housing conditions is vital for tackling the virus. The only way forward is to build a system which provides much better, more locally tailored responses," he told the Observer. There is no integrated find, test, trace, isolate and support system at the moment. The data on housing is extraordinarily important. Overcrowded households are part of public health history. Housing conditions are so important and always have been, whether it was for cholera or tuberculosis or Covid-19. Shoppers in Greater Manchester / Getty Images Doing something about housing conditions for someone who has an active infection is extremely important and it is not something that can be handled by a call centre run by a commercial company hundreds of miles away. The leaked report comes as the Labour Party and former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair pile pressure on the Government to ramp up testing to help prop up struggling businesses. Public Health England declined to comment. Learning to throw a boomerang is no laughing matter just ask model Lara Stone and her boyfriend. The couple appeared surprised to discover that the toy did exactly what it was supposed to when it came flying back towards them as they larked about in a London park. Learning to throw a boomerang is no laughing matter just ask model Lara Stone and her boyfriend The pair ducked into a crouch and covered their heads, hoping that the boomerang missed them and their pet dog Dutch star Stone, 36, and her new love David Grievson, a property developer, were forced to take swift evasive action when it swooped towards their heads on its return journey. The pair ducked into a crouch and covered their heads, hoping that the boomerang missed them and their pet dog. Dressed in a pair of on-trend polka dot trousers and Birkenstock sandals, a clearly-relieved Lara then burst into gales of laughter when she realised they had avoided an embarrassing accident. The fun-loving couple fell in love after meeting through the dating app Tinder in January 2018, more than two years after Stone split from her former husband, David Walliams. She began dating the Britains Got Talent judge in September 2009 and announced their engagement just four months later. The actress dressed in a pair of on-trend polka dot trousers and Birkenstock sandals They married at Claridges hotel in London in May 2010 with a no-expense-spared wedding and a star-studded guest list. Three years later, Lara gave birth to the couples son, Arthur. But following a trial separation, Walliams filed for divorce, citing unreasonable behaviour, in September 2015. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to Jair Bolsonaro, President of the Federative Republic of Brazil. "Dear Mister President, I sincerely congratulate you and your entire people on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the national holiday of the Federative Republic of Brazil the Independence Day. I believe that the relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil will further evolve and expand in the spirit of friendship and cooperation in line with the interests of our peoples. On this festive day, I wish you strong health, success in your work, and wish peace and prosperity to your country", the letter said. Prime minister Boris Johnson is fascinated by Donald Trump and is intrigued by his American counterpart's patchy relationship "with the facts and the truth, according to a former British ambassador to the US. Lord Kim Darroch makes the claim in a new book, serialised in The Times, where he suggests Mr Trump had also considered Mr Johnson "a kindred spirit". Mr Johnson had allegedly been "fascinated" by the president on visits to Washington as foreign secretary before he became prime minister, with particular focus on Mr Trumps use of language. This includes "the limited vocabulary, the simplicity of the messaging, the disdain for political correctness, the sometimes incendiary imagery, and the at best intermittent relationship with facts and the truth", Lord Kim writes. In an interview accompanying the excerpts, Lord Kim was asked if any of those characteristics had rubbed off on Mr Johnson. "From what I hear from colleagues," he replied, "this government pays a lot of attention to presentation, to language. "But if you go back through the current prime minister's history, he's often said quite striking things. And he never apologises. "So, Boris might have done this anyway, but certainly, having watched Trump in action, he wouldn't have been put off." Lord Kim also says he told Mr Johnson he was partly to blame for his resignation from his Washington post, following the leaking of a cable in which the ambassador said Mr Trump was "inept" as president. Mr Johnson, who was then running for the Conservative leadership, repeatedly refused to say he would keep him in the post during a TV debate on 9 July last year. Lord Kim resigned the next day and spoke with Mr Johnson by phone. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 January 2022 Bonhams Danny McIlwraith holds a Nigerian polycrome carved wood mask during a photocall for the sale of the Jim Lennon Collection at Bonhams in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 16 January 2022 The moon rises above the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, Hampshire PA UK news in pictures 15 January 2022 Demonstrators outside Downing Street during a Kill The Bill protest against The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in London PA UK news in pictures 14 January 2022 Ecologist Emma Smart (left) and retired GP Dr Diana Warner outside HMP Bronzefield, in Surrey, following their release from the prison where Emma undertook a 26-day hunger strike during her incarceration. Ms Smart was sentenced in November, along with other members of Insulate Britain, to serve four months for breaking a High Court injunction by taking part in a blockade at junction 25 of the M25 motorway during the morning rush hour on 8 October last year PA UK news in pictures 13 January 2022 A TV presenter holds a copy of a newspaper outside 10 Downing Streetafter the Prime Minister apologised for attending a gathering of colleagues in the Number Ten garden in May 2020, while the UK was in strict lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic Getty UK news in pictures 12 January 2022 Fitness guru Derrick Evans after receiving an MBE during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 11 January 2022 A couple walk underneath an umbrella during wet weather on Westminster Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 10 January 2022 A jogger passes the Covid Memorial Wall in London AP UK news in pictures 9 January 2021 The sun rises over horses at Seaton Sluice in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 8 January 2022 Riders compete during the Veterans Men's race at the UK Cyclo-Cross National Championships 2022 in Ardingly, south of London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 7 January 2022 A dog looks out of a car window at the wintry conditions in Killeshin, Co. Laois PA UK news in pictures 6 January 2022 People walk through frost and mist alongside a frozen lake during sunrise in Bushy Park, London REUTERS UK news in pictures 5 January 2022 A skier jumps on the slopes at Allenheads in the Pennines to the north of Weardale in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 4 January 2022 Freshly-fallen snow covers houses in Corbridge, near Hexham in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 3 January 2022 Dean Morrison, 13, receives his Covid-19 vaccine from student nurse Anthony McLaughlin during a vaccination clinic at the Glasgow Central Mosque PA UK news in pictures 2 January 2022 Konastantinos Tsimikas of Liverpool with Chelseas Mason Mount during the Premier League match at Stamfrod Bridge Liverpool FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 January 2022 New Years Eve Lasers, drones and fireworks illuminate the sky in front of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich shortly after midnight in London EPA UK news in pictures 31 December 2021 Competitors in fancy dress run across the Pennine tops near Haworth, West Yorkshire, in the annual Auld Lang Syne Fell race which attracts hundreds of runners every year PA UK news in pictures 30 December 2021 Sunrise at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 29 December 2021 The Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, looks at Becket, a six month old red-billed chough as he visits Wildwood Wildlife Park in Kent on the anniversary of the murder of Thomas Becket PA UK news in pictures 28 December 2021 Troops of the Household Cavalry are seen reflected in a puddle during the changing of the Queens Life Guard, on Horse Guards Parade, in central London PA UK news in pictures 27 December 2021 A pedestrian walks past a winter sale sign outside a John Lewis store on Oxford street in London Getty UK news in pictures 26 December 2021 Riders take their bikes through the snow near Castleside, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 25 December 2021 Patrick Corkery wears a santa hat and beard as waves crash over him at Forty Foot near Dublin during a Christmas Day dip PA UK news in pictures 24 December 2021 People stand inside Kings Cross Station on Christmas Eve in London Reuters UK news in pictures 23 December 2021 Christmas shoppers fill the car park at Fosse Shopping Park in Leicester PA UK news in pictures 22 December 2021 The sun rises behind the stones as people gather for the winter solstice at Stonehenge. Getty UK news in pictures 21 December 2021 People take part in a winter solstice swim at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh to mark the solstice and to witness the dawn after the longest night of the year PA UK news in pictures 20 December 2021 An auction employee displays poultry to buyers and sellers attending the Christmas Poultry Sale at York Auction Centre in Murton PA UK news in pictures 19 December 2021 Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers looks on during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea at Molineux Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 December 2021 Freight lorries queuing at the port of Dover in Kent PA UK news in pictures 17 December 2021 Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, bursts 'Boris' bubble' held by colleague Tim Farron, as she celebrates following her victory in the North Shropshire by-election PA UK news in pictures 16 December 2021 Brussels sprouts are harvested by workers as they prepare for the busy Christmas period near Boston in Lincolnshire PA UK news in pictures 15 December 2021 Lewis Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 14 December 2021 The Royal Liver Buildings surrounded by early morning fog in Liverpool PA UK news in pictures 13 December 2021 People queue outside a walk-in Covid-19 vaccination centre at St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster Getty Images UK news in pictures 12 December 2021 People take part in the Big Leeds Santa Dash in Roundhay Park, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 11 December 2021 People arrive at a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Elland Road in Leeds, PA UK news in pictures 10 December 2021 Stella Moris speaks to the media after the US Government won its High Court bid to overturn a judges decision not to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange PA UK news in pictures 9 December 2021 Camels are lead around Salisbury Cathedral during a rehearsal for the Christmas Eve Service PA UK news in pictures 8 December 2021 Margaret Keenan and Nurse May Parsons, a year after Margaret was the first person in the UK to receive the Pfizer vaccine PA UK news in pictures 7 December 2021 Snowfall in Leadhills, South Lanarkshire as Storm Barra hits the UK with disruptive winds, heavy rain and snow PA UK news in pictures 6 December 2021 A person tries to avoid sea spray on New Brighton promenade in Wallasey as the UK readies for the arrival of Storm Barra Getty UK news in pictures 5 December 2021 People release balloons during a tribute to six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside Emma Tustin's former address in Solihull, West Midlands, where he was murdered by his stepmother PA UK news in pictures 4 December 2021 People walk through a Christmas market in Trafalgar Square Reuters UK news in pictures 3 December 2021 A pedestrian carries a dog as they dodge shoppers on Oxford Street in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 2 December 2021 Duchess of Cambridge inspects a Faberge egg at the Victoria and Albert Museum Getty UK news in pictures 1 December 2021 Meerkats at London Zoo with an advent calendar PA UK news in pictures 30 November 2021 Workers put the finishing touches to the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree ahead of the lighting ceremony later in the week PA UK news in pictures 29 November 2021 Home Secretary Priti Patel is greeted by a police dog at a special memorial service for Met Police Sergeant Matiu Ratana Getty "He said: 'But why did you resign? Wouldn't it all have blown over after a few weeks?"' Lord Kim told The Times. In answer to Mr Johnson's question as to whether the resignation was his fault, Lord Kim told him that "in part it was". After Lord Kim left the diplomatic corps following a distinguished 42-year career, Mr Trump fired back with a range of epithets, calling him "the wacky ambassador", "pompous", and "a very stupid guy". Former US national security advisor John Bolton has meanwhile claimed that Mr Trump demanded the removal of Lord Kim from his position. Trump called me and said get him out of here, Mr Bolton told The Daily Telegraph. I mean at like seven in the morning or six in the morning. Early. I was at the office but even for Trump that was early. In a subsequent phone call with Sir Mark Sedwill, then the UKs top civil servant, Mr Bolton told him: Things are going to get worse unless you can figure out how to get him out. Chase Gaines wishes he could get more young people in North Carolina to open their doors when he stops at their houses. He wants to give them information from the Republican Party. Rick Hart desires for the days where he could campaign in the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. He wants to persuade young people to elect Democratic Party candidates. The two college students are on the opposite sides of American politics. But they face the same difficulty: reaching young voters when universities are empty because of the new coronavirus. Hart is a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He spoke to the Associated Press from his parents house in Laurel, Maryland. The country kind of came to a shut down and we were like, What do we do next? he said. Campaigns and their supporters say they are still struggling to answer that question and looking for solutions. The coronavirus has forced many colleges to operate online-only classes, ending hopes of large voter registration drives on school campuses. Festivals, sporting events or other large public gatherings where young adults can be found are also canceled. But registering college students to vote is just half the battle. American states set their own election processes and have different policies for in-person and mail-in voting. Students who register to vote using a university address might have their college housing close from coronavirus before they are able to vote. The move to voting by mail raises other unexpected difficulties for young voters. These include a lack of knowledge about the mail-in voting process and ballot rejections because of unclear handwriting. Younger voters are behind the eight ball to begin with, and COVID is just going to make it worse, said Daniel Smith. He is a political science professor at the University of Florida who has studied mail-in balloting. Registering young voters The closing of campuses has a strong effect on registration of young voters in the important state of North Carolina. President Trump, a Republican, won the state in 2016. Democratic Party nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden is hoping to win the state in the presidential election on November 3. Kate Fellman leads the nonpartisan voter registration group You Can Vote. She said the organization set a goal this year to register 30,000 people, aged 18 to 25, in North Carolina. She said it had registered 4,391 new voters before COVID-19 hit in mid-March. In the four months since, the group registered fewer than 100. The problem has led to creative methods for registering young voters. Tom Steyer, a businessman and former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, created the group NextGen America in 2013. It has voter registration operations in 11 states. The group says it uses social media, email, online advertising and direct messaging to connect with young people. The Democratic National Committee and Bidens campaign have greatly restricted employee travel, effectively ending their in-person voter contacts. That is to change said Symone Sanders, a top campaign advisor for Biden. She said the campaign will have its employees working campus voting drives in more than 10 battleground states by September. Republican campaigns have been more willing to reach out to voters in person. Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Zager said the campaign has 73 target campuses. And, she added, more than 550 students are helping the campaign both on campus and online. Our youth engagement efforts will continue both virtually and in-person, she said. The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University collects information on young voter registration. Of the 39 states for which it had dependable information, the center found that 20 states already have a higher number of young people registered to vote in August 2020 than they did in November 2016. States like Georgia, New Jersey, Vermont, New Mexico and California experienced increases. But states including Arkansas, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Illinois have seen fewer registrations. The center noted that voter registration among 18 and 19-year-olds in 30 out of 39 states is currently at levels below those of 2016. And in eight of those states the drop was sharp, at 33 percent less. I'm Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Quiz - Groups Face Difficulties Registering Voters During Pandemic Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school festival - n. an organized series of performances behind the eight ball - phrase, at a disadvantage nonpartisan - adj. not supporting one political party or group over another engagement - n. the act or state of being involved with something virtually - adv. occurring on computer or the internet Andy Cowell can have "any job he wants", according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. Although Cowell is still working on a project at Mercedes, the dominant team's engine boss has decided to leave the German outfit. It was rumoured that Ferrari was interested in snapping him up, but Italian reports suggest Cowell turned down the offer. The next rumour is that Cowell is actually heading to the Wolff-linked Aston Martin team. "Andy has played a very important role in our team, and since 2014 has been able to steadily improve the level of our results," said Wolff when asked at Monza about Cowell's next move. "I have a very warm attitude towards him both as a person and an engineer. Now he is evaluating all his possible options, and he has a lot of them! Only he can decide what suits him best. "I don't think he has to rush, and I don't think Andy will accept the first offer that comes along either," Wolff added. "But a specialist with such a list of achievements and the ability to lead people can really have any job he wants." (GMM) Even as a kid going to Grant and Roosevelt Elementary in Mason City, Dr. Deborah Turner had a civic bent and political interest. After school, Turner would tag along with her mother, Maybelle, to go door to door and drop off various types of campaign literature. When they weren't door knocking, Turner would attend local meetings with her mom. It wasn't out of the norm for Turner to sit in on the latest happenings of the planning and zoning committee. "(She) ingrained that in us," Turner said. And though the Mason City native has spent a good deal of her life in the medical profession, that sense of civic engagement from a young age crystallized when Turner was recently elected the national president of the board of directors for the League of Women Voters. "Looking at where Ive come from and where I am now, the foundation I got in Mason City got me to where I am now," Turner said. Turner said she first got interested in the 100-year-old organization because it spoke to her values. The League of Women Voters runs programs that cover a wide variety of political topics and Turner said she was taken by the organization when she went to a meeting where elected officials discussed civil discourse in politics. Once the event wrapped, it didn't take her any time at all to sign up. "I went to the website and it listed all the things the league was engaged in and I said this is the organization I was waiting to be involved with," Turner said. Before being elected president in late June, Turner spent nearly a decade with the League of Voters. Over the past several years, she chaired the organization's "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee." When Turner spoke at the virtual convention where she was elected she tried to affirm the vitality of all that work. "I see my role as president as a tremendous honor, an important opportunity, and a great responsibility," she told a virtual crowd of at least 2,000 members. "The League is at the intersection of democracy, social justice, and civil rights and it is through that lens that we seek to advance voting rights in this country." The way that Turner sees it, the state of voting rights is good in the basic sense that the U.S. operates as a democracy but there are clear challenges. COVID-19 has changed the way millions of citizens will have to vote this year and it's a responsibility of an organization such as the League of Women Voters to keep informed on what's happening. There are other issues that they are focused on. "We also have forms of voter suppression and for one reason or another, we see forms of it happening, particularly in communities that are economically challenged," Turner said. "And we make sure they get equal access to the ballot." That's not the only work Turner's tried to do in disenfranchised and marginalized communities. For years now, the gynecologic oncologist has taken trips to Tanzania to help facilitate medical, educational, and nutritional support with The Outreach Program based in Des Moines and Union. According to Turner, the beginning of that work had a degree of happenstance to it. "I was then in Des Moines working at Mercy Medical and I had a friend who stopped by and said, 'How would you like to go to Tanzania?' and I said sure," Turner recounted. It turned out that friend had been working with an organization that had been doing medical missions and they wanted a female doctor for gynecology. Once she finally made it to the east African nation, Turner said that there was a bit of an adjustment period. Trips from one town to another, by car, could take awhile because of the conditions of the infrastructure. Power outages weren't uncommon and cell reception was out of the question. All of that added up to altering the way that Turner had to operate. "The first thing was acknowledging that all of the things we have to practice medicine we didnt have there and all the good things you can do without that," Turner said. Like with the civic engagement, Turner developed her medical inclinations as a kid in Mason City as well. Turner's oldest sister was a nurse and would occasionally take Turner to work so she learned a lot about medicine at an early age. When she got to junior high, Turner scientific interests only grew. Which was fully encouraged by her parents. "Mom and Dad were always the kind of folks that said you can be whatever you want to be so I turned my idea toward being a physician," she said. When Turner eventually graduated from Mason City High School and headed off to Ames, she did it to study medicine. The transition there wasn't seamless, but Turner said she was helped a lot by her brother who was already enrolled at the school. "Back in the day, Mason City was multi-ethnic and we were all here together, but when I got to college people would look at me differently because they didnt understand the background I came from," Turner said. Turner's never run from that background. She tries to make it back to Mason City whenever she can, though it's difficult now with the pandemic and her living in Omaha. But she plans to make it back in the fall and see the town she still calls vibrant and beautiful. "Its a different place than it was when I was growing up, but there is still the same basic community feeling." Jared McNett covers local government for the Globe Gazette. You can reach him at Jared.McNett@globegazette.com or by phone at 641-421-0527. Follow Jared on Twitter at @TwoHeadedBoy98. Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MANISTEE COUNTY The following calls were made to the Michigan State Police Cadillac Post for Manistee incidents from Aug. 16-20. All calls may not be reported. Aug. 16 Retail fraud was reported on the 1000 block of U.S. 31 in Filer Township at 4 p.m. A suspicious box was found in the woods on Pomeroy Road near M-55 in Stronach Township at 5:50 p.m. The state police blotter report did not specify if there was anything in the box. Trespassing was reported at 10 p.m. on the 4000 block of High Bridge Road in Norman Township. Aug. 17 A felonious assault is pending a prosecutor review after an incident at 1:33 a.m. on the 4000 block of Mary Street in Norman Township. Trespassing was reported at 2 p.m. on the 18000 block of Hoxeyville Road in Norman Township. A civil dispute was reported at 9:30 p.m. on the 17000 block of Stronach Dam Road in Norman Township. A civil dispute was reported at 3 p.m. on the 8000 block of Lake Street in Bear Lake Township. Aug. 18 There was a drowning investigation at Arcadia Lake in Arcadia Township at 10:29 a.m. According to previous news releases, police had said they believed an Arcadia man drowned after falling in a creek. The man was later found unresponsive, floating in Arcadia Lake. Arcadia Township Fire Rescue responded to the scene and with the help of a local resident with a boat, they brought the man back to shore, according to previous news releases. Arcadia Fire Rescue conducted CPR, without success. Aug. 19 An illegal dumping was reported on Adamczak Road near Maple Road in Filer Township at 11 a.m. An assault was reported at 10:30 a.m. on the 1000 block of M-55 in Manistee Township. Aug. 20 A civil dispute was reported at 1:45 p.m. on the 4000 block of Mary Street in Norman Township. A 40-year-old man was arrested for operating while intoxicated, no license and unlawful license plate at 8:29 p.m. on High Bridge Road near Milks Road in Maple Grove Township. A 40-year-old man was arrested for a suspended license on Maple Street near Cody Street in Bear Lake at 10 p.m. Cypriot authorities have expressed alarm over the arrival of four boats carrying Syrian and Lebanese migrants in waters off the east Mediterranean island nation's coastline within a 48-hour span. Cyprus police said on Sunday that four vessels appeared off Cyprus' eastern and southern coast over the last two days carrying a total of 123 people, and about half of them have been permitted to disembark. Some 21 people remain aboard a boat that is adrift off Cyprus' southeastern tip as a result of a faulty engine. Police said three women and nine children had earlier been taken off the boat and transferred to a Cypriot hospital as a precaution. Some 33 migrants aboard a boat that police intercepted 14 miles (22.5km) off the southern coast on Saturday afternoon have boarded another vessel that Cypriot authorities have chartered to be taken back to Lebanon. European Union member Cyprus and Lebanon have an agreement to curb the arrival of boats carrying migrants from reaching the island. On Friday, police encountered a small craft sailing off the coastal town of Larnaca with five migrants aboard. The boat continued to sail on in an undetermined direction. Meanwhile, 51 people were taken to a reception centre after their boat from Lebanon reached a rocky beach on Saturday along the island's eastern coastline, inside a UN controlled buffer zone separating the ethnically split island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot north from the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south. UN peacekeepers transferred the 35 men, five women and 11 children to Cypriot custody. A court on Sunday ordered that four men remain in custody over suspicion they were the boat's crew. Police said another 20 Syrian migrants 19 men, a woman and a child were taken to a reception centre after being picked up Sunday morning near the buffer zone 10 miles (16km) west of the capital Nicosia. Cyprus' Interior Minister Nicos Nouris told private news channel Alpha that an urgent meeting would be convened on Monday to assess the unfolding situation. He said Cyprus' migrant reception centre is reaching its limits amid concerns over sticking to health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19. On Friday, Nouris hailed lawmakers' approval of a constitutional amendment shortening the amount of time migrants have to appeal rejected asylum applications from 75 to 15 days. He said the measure is a key first step in helping to clear the huge backlog of asylum cases. AP The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is expected to decide whether to remain a part of the alliance for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections at its state parliamentary board meeting on Monday. The Bihar elections are set to be held in October and November. Despite being a part of the NDA at the Centre and in the state, the LJP has trained its guns at the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar; alleging that the government has failed to meet promises. On Sunday, LJP president Chirag Paswan, who has not shied away from criticizing the Janata Dal (United) leadership, shot off another letter to the chief minister reminding him that the promises made to people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have not been met. The criticism has sparked speculation that the LJP is negotiating for more seats and other post-election agreements, failing which it could exit the alliance. However, this would not be the first time that the LJP leaves coalition; in 2005 it was part of the UPA-I, but parted ways with the coalition ahead of the state assembly election, following which it faced an electoral setback. There are some issues that will come up for discussion. Leaders will be given a chance to put forth their concerns, said an LJP functionary. Paswan, who had earlier told HT in an interview that he was against the idea the elections in the midst of a pandemic, could not be reached for comment. He had also said that in a meeting with the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), JP Nadda, he had raised the issue of deferring polls till the pandemic is controlled. BJPs national media co-incharge and member of legislative council (MLC) from Bihar, Sanjay Mayukh, said the NDA will jointly contest the 243-seat assembly poll and win with a clear majority. The opposition has no vision and Prime Minister Narendra Modis development agenda is moving ahead with full steam, he said. While the BJP has maintained a diplomatic stance on the issue, the JD(U) sees it as a ploy to wrangle more seats for the upcoming contest. There is little doubt that the statements are posturing for more seats. However, the party should remember that seats will be decided on the merit of the candidate and also their performance in the last assembly election, said a senior JDU leader. In the last assembly election, the LJP had won only two of the 42 seats it had contested. The party made up for the electoral loss in 2019 by winning six Lok Sabha seats and is hoping to contest for 36 seats in the upcoming election. The LJP is also trying to woo the voters by pitting a younger face against Nitish Kumar, who is battling anti-incumbency. There is also speculation that the LJP could emerge as a third front in the state with Paswan as the CM candidate. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Britain confirms its highest virus tally since May 23, with 2,988 new infections. The United Kingdom confirmed 2,988 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its highest number since May 23. India recorded more than 90,000 cases of the new coronavirus, a global daily record, according to data from the federal health ministry. Australias coronavirus hot spot state of Victoria on Sunday extended a hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne by two weeks to the end of September as infection rates have declined more slowly than hoped. Protesters gathered in the Italian capital, Rome, to protest against the use of masks to help contain the spread of coronavirus. This comes as the countrys health ministry is reporting an increase in COVID-19 deaths, with 16 new fatalities, bringing the total to 35,534. At least 1,700 more cases were also reported, with the total at 276,338 infections. More than 26.9 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and more than 881,300 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 18 million people have recovered. Here are the latest updates: Sunday, September 6 23:08 GMT Jump in COVID-19 cases in Britain is concerning UK health chief United Kingdom Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that it is concerning that coronavirus cases in the country are on the rise once again with 2,988 new infections reported. The rise in the number of cases that weve seen today is concerning, he said. The cases are predominately among younger people, but weve seen in other countries across the world and in Europe this sort of rise in the cases amongst younger people leading to a rise across the population as a whole. The UK now almost 350,000 cases and over 41,600 deaths with at least two fatalities officially reported as of Sunday, according to the Johns Hopkins University. 20:45 GMT Italys Costa Cruises joins liners return to sea Italian cruise ship Costa Deliziosa returned to service on Sunday, setting sail from the Adriatic port of Trieste after a coronavirus furlough of more than five months. Carrying only Italian residents as part of its precautions against COVID-19 contagion, the ship is on a weeklong outing that will follow an all-Italy itinerary of Adriatic and Mediterranean ports. Following a strict protocol, passengers had their temperatures taken, were tested for COVID-19 and completed a health questionnaire before being allowed on board. The crew had been tested for the virus and spent 14 days in quarantine before the departure. Cruise lines are hoping that tighter protocols will allow them to control the still-lingering threat of coronavirus aboard their ships [Massimo Pinca/Reuters] 20:00 GMT Israel imposes overnight curfews as virus deaths pass 1,000 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced overnight curfews on some 40 cities and towns hit hard by the coronavirus, but backed away from reported recommendations for full lockdowns after an uproar by politically powerful religious politicians. The curfews will go into effect Monday night at 7pm (16:00 GMT) and will last until 5am (02:00 GMT). It was not known how long the curfews will remain in place. People will not be allowed to venture more than 500 metres from their homes, and non-essential businesses will have to close. The announcement came less than two weeks before the Jewish New Year. 19:00 GMT Turkey confirms more than 1,500 new infections Turkey recorded 1,578 new virus cases on Sunday, the health ministry said, taking the countrys caseload to 279,806. At least 53 people died from the virus in the past 24 hours, the ministry added, taking the total fatalities to 6,673. More than 251,105 people have recovered from the virus in Turkey, the health ministry said. 18:00 GMT 44 percent of Greeks would snub coronavirus vaccine: Poll Nearly one in two Greeks would skip a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, according to a poll published Sunday, with nearly 20 percent opposing masks as well. Forty-four percent of respondents on average said they would not use the vaccine if it were approved and freely available, the study in To Vima weekly said. The poll of 1,000 respondents was carried out by Greek firm Metron Analysis. The Greek government has said that any COVID-19 vaccine would not be compulsory but it will be strongly recommended. With more than 11,500 cases and 284 deaths, Greece has fared better than most other European nations in responding to the pandemic [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] 17:00 GMT France reports 7,071 new daily COVID-19 infections French health authorities reported 7,071 new confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday, down from Saturdays 8,550 and also below Fridays peak of 8,975. Fridays figure had set a new all-time high of daily additional infections for the country. The number of people hospitalised for the disease over the last seven days reached 1,704, of which 288 were in intensive care units. The number of people in France who have died from COVID-19 increased by 3 to 30,701, and the cumulative number of cases now totals 324,777. 16:00 GMT UK records nearly 3,000 new coronavirus cases The United Kingdom recorded 2,988 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, its highest level since May 23, taking its total to 347,152 infections. On Saturday, UK reported 1,813 cases. The number of fatalities, however, remained at a low level, with two deaths reported on Sunday. At least 41,551 people have died from the virus in the UK, according to government data. 15:00 GMT Pope says gossip, chatter are a plague more awful than COVID-19 Gossip and chatter are a plague more awful than COVID-19, Pope Francis said during his Sunday Angelus prayers, delivered from the window of the Vatican on St Peters Square in Rome. When we see a brother or sister make a mistake or with a defect, the first thing we do is go tell others about it. We gossip, the pope said. He said that gossip hurts the community of the church, comparing it to the devil, the liar who wants to divide the church. Pope Francis called on the faithful to make an effort and to avoid gossip [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters] 14:20 GMT Qatar reports 231 new coronavirus infections Qatar reported 231 new infections on Sunday, the public health ministry announced, taking the countrys total caseload to 120,095. The ministry also reported the death of one person taking Qatars death toll from COVID-19 to 203. The total number of people who have recovered from the virus in Qatar stands at 116,998, according to the countrys public health ministry [EPA] 14:00 GMT Russia reports more than 5,100 new infections Russia reported 5,195 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking its total to 1,025,505, the fourth-largest in the world. The Russian coronavirus crisis centre said 61 deaths had been confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 17,820. Only the United States, Brazil and India have reported more cases than Russia [Pavel Golovkin/AP] 13:45 GMT Abu Dhabis Etihad extends wage cuts until end of year Abu Dhabis Etihad Airways has extended the period of reduced pay for its staff until the end of the year, a spokeswoman for the carrier said on Sunday. Employees will have their salary reduced by 10 percent from September until the end of December, she said, compared to an earlier cut of between 25 percent and 50 percent that ended last month. The state-owned airline had resumed paying allowances, the spokeswoman said. It had earlier stopped paying transport and other job-related allowances. Etihad and rival Emirates have laid off staff and asked employees to take months of voluntary unpaid leave [Jacky Naegelen/Reuters] 13:35 GMT Hello, this is Hamza Mohamed in Doha taking over from my colleague Tamila Varshalomidze. 11:50 GMT Berlusconi in most delicate phase of coronavirus Silvio Berlusconis doctor says that the hospitalised former Italian prime minister is responding optimally to COVID-19 treatment, but that he belongs to the most vulnerable category of patients and is in the most delicate phase of the virus. Dr Alberto Zangrillo, who is head of intensive care at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, repeated that he nevertheless remained cautiously optimistic about Berlusconis recovery. The patient is responding optimally to treatment, he said. This doesnt mean we can claim victory because, as you know, he belongs to the most fragile category given his age. 11:00 GMT France puts more departments on COVID-19 high alert French authorities have placed seven more departments covering major cities such as Lille, Strasbourg and Dijon on high alert as increases in COVID-19 infections accelerate, the government said. Of Frances 101 mainland and overseas departments, 28 are now considered red zones where authorities will be able to impose exceptional measures to slow the number of new coronavirus cases. The move comes as France reported a record of nearly 9,000 daily cases on Friday, and a further 8,550 cases in the past 24 hours on Saturday, when the nationwide test positivity rate increased to 4.7 percent. 09:53 GMT Reports: Italy to extend coronavirus measures The Italian government plans to extend measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus through the end of September, including requiring people to wear masks and maintain social-distancing, according to media reports. Many of the current measures are set to expire on Monday. However, an updated decree is expected to be published shortly. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is planning to extend the measures to combat the virus until September 30, Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported. Protesters rally against the Italian governments health policy in Rome [Vincenzo Pinto/AFP] 09:03 GMT Coronavirus death toll surpasses 1,000 mark in Israel The total number of COVID-19-related deaths in Israel has surpassed the level of 1,000, the countrys health ministry confirmed. A total of 1,010 people have died of coronavirus in the country of 9.2 million inhabitants, it said in its latest statistics published on Sunday morning. 09:00 GMT Indonesia reports 3,444 new coronavirus cases Indonesia reported 3,444 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 194,109, data from the health ministry website showed. The Southeast Asian country also reported 85 new deaths, taking the total to 8,025, the highest coronavirus death toll in Southeast Asia. 06:31 GMT India reports global daily record of new coronavirus cases India has recorded more than 90,000 cases of the new coronavirus, a global daily record, according to data from the federal health ministry. There were 90,632 new cases in the 24 hours to Sunday, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while the number of deaths rose by 1,065 to 70,626. The country is set to pass Brazil on Monday as the second-most affected country by total infections and will be behind only the United States, which has 6.4 million cases and nearly 193,000 deaths. 06:03 GMT Hello, this is Tamila Varshalomidze in Doha, Qatar, taking over the live updates from my colleague Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. People are seen enjoying the sun at St Kilda beach in Melbourne, Australia [Daniel Pockett/Getty Images] 05:05 GMT Australias COVID-19 epicentre extends hard lockdown Australias coronavirus hotspot state of Victoria on Sunday extended a hard lockdown in its capital Melbourne by two weeks to the end of September as infection rates have declined more slowly than hoped, according to the Reuters news agency. State Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday extended the hard lockdown, in place since August 2, to September 28 with a slight relaxation, and mapped out a gradual easing of restrictions over the following two months. Melbournes stage 4 restrictions, which had been due to end on September 13, shut most of the economy, limited peoples movements to a 5km (3-mile) radius around their homes for one hour a day and imposed a night-time curfew. We cannot open up at this time. If we were to we would lose control very quickly, Andrews said at a televised media conference. Victoria, Australias second-most populous state, has been the epicentre of a second wave of the novel coronavirus, now accounting for about 75 percent of the countrys 26,282 cases and 90 percent of its 753 deaths. The state on Sunday reported 63 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths, down from a peak of 725 new cases on August 5. 04:32 GMT Jakarta running out of cemetery space over COVID-19 pandemic A cemetery in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, is reportedly expecting to run out of space as the number of deaths linked to the coronavirus continues to rise. Nadi, the manager of East Jakartas Pondok Ranggon cemetery, was quoted by Indonesias Kompas as saying he expects the burial site to run out of space by October, with only 1,000 spots left. In August, the cemetery reportedly had an average of 27 people buried daily including those who died of coronavirus. Pondok Ranggon was designated as a COVID-19 burial site in March, and since then more than 2,600 fatalities have been buried there. Indonesia has officially reported more than 190,000 cases with almost 8,000 dead. 04:02 GMT Officials call for caution as US marks Labor Day Officials across the US are urging Americans to take precautions while celebrating extended Labor Day holiday to avoid spreading the coronavirus. In New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said while the state has made great progress in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, the holiday weekend starting on Saturday will be key to keeping the spread of the virus low and to ensure students can return safely to school this year. In California, San Diego State University officials issued a Labor Day weekend stay-at-home order for students living on campus to limit the spread of the disease, as they return for the school year. The US has an estimated 6.25 million coronavirus cases, with more than 2.3 million declared as recovered. More than 188,500 people have died of the disease in the US the highest number of fatalities worldwide. 03:42 GMT Germanys confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 988 to 249,985 Germanys centre for infectious diseases reported on Sunday at least 988 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 249,985 infections. The Robert Koch Institute also reported one death, with the total now at 9,325 since the pandemic spread in the country in late January. 03:05 GMT South Koreas new COVID-19 cases stay below 200 for fourth day Of the new infections reported, 152 were local cases and a majority of them came from the greater Seoul area, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Lee Jin-man/AP] South Korea reported 167 cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, marking the fourth straight day of less than 200 new infections, according to Yonhap news agency. Of the total new infections, 152 were local cases and a majority of them came from the greater Seoul area, data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) showed. The countrys total cases have now risen to 21,177, although more than 16,000 have fully recovered. It also added one more death, raising the death toll to 334. The countrys virus death rate is now at 1.58 percent. 02:30 GMT Mainland China reports 10 new COVID-19 cases, no new deaths Chinas National Health Commission reported on Sunday at least 10 new COVID-19 cases as of the end of Saturday. The health agency said all new cases were imported, marking the 21st consecutive day with no locally transmitted infections, according to Reuters news agency. The number of new asymptomatic cases rose to 17 from eight a day earlier. China does not count asymptomatic infections as confirmed cases. The total confirmed COVID-19 cases for mainland China now stands at 85,122, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634. 01:49 GMT Italys ex-PM Berlusconi recovering from coronavirus The personal doctor of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has expressed cautious but reasonable optimism for the politicians recovery from the coronavirus. The 83-year-old Berlusconi is hospitalised in Milan after testing positive this week. Dr Alberto Zangrillo said in a written statement on Saturday that Berlusconis clinical condition remains stable. Zangrillo said on Friday, several hours after Berlusconi was admitted to San Raffaele hospital, his patient has an early-stage lung infection and was breathing on his own. 01:30 GMT Mexico records 122,765 additional deaths during pandemic -health ministry Mexicos health ministry has recorded an extra 122,765 deaths above expectations during the pandemic up to August. The report about excess mortality rates could suggest Mexicos true coronavirus toll could be much higher, Reuters news agency reported. Mexico has recorded 67,326 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus, including 475 news cases on Saturday. It also recorded 6,319 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total infections to at least 629,400. 00:15 GMT Brazil reports 30,168 coronavirus cases, 682 deaths Brazils ministry of health has reported recorded 30,168 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the countrys total infections to at least 4.1 million. The country also reported 682 additional fatalities, bringing the death toll to 126,203. Brazil ranks second to the US in the number of cases and infections worldwide. 00:05 GMT Italy sees resurgence in coronavirus deaths With nearly 1,700 more cases Saturday, Italy has confirmed a total of 276,338 infections [Remo Casilli/Reuters] Protesters gathered in the Italian capital, Rome, to protest against the use of masks to help contain the spread of coronavirus. This as the daily number of coronavirus deaths in Italy has been rising, with 16 registered Saturday by the Italian health ministry. The death toll is five more than the previous day. However, those numbers are dramatically lower than in the early weeks of the pandemic in the nation, when hundreds of people were dying daily, according to an AP news agency analysis. With nearly 1,700 more cases Saturday, Italy has confirmed a total of 276,338 infections. Most of the recent cases have been linked to popular holiday locales, particularly among those who vacationed on the island of Sardinia. Italys known death toll stands at 35,534. _______________________________________________________________ Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For key developments from yesterday, September 5, go here. In this 2013 photo, Montgomery County financial adviser Dean Vagnozzi stands in a room at Ruth Chris Steakhouse in King of Prussia, where he has pitched potential investors about putting their money into life settlements. Read more Since financial adviser Dean Vagnozzi was charged with fraud in a government lawsuit in July, he has been castigated by regulators for how he steered customers to Par Funding, a Philadelphia lender founded by a twice-convicted felon. Par Funding suspended payments to investors for two months this spring, then cut their returns by more than half. It turns out that Par is not the only Vagnozzi investment that has disappointed. Emails obtained by The Inquirer show that Vagnozzi told investors earlier this year he was sorry about the life settlement investments he has also sold, deals in which investors bet on the life insurance policies of the elderly. It goes without saying, Vagnozzi wrote, I apologize for how poorly this fund has performed. With his heavy radio advertising and free steak sales dinners, Vagnozzi, 51, whose offices are in King of Prussia, has touted alternatives to Wall Street for more than 15 years. READ MORE: Par Funding threatened violence, trashed reputations after businesses took out loans at brutal interest rates, borrowers say One was Par Funding, in which investors financed high-interest cash advances to merchants. The lawsuit by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission names Par Funding, its owners, Vagnozzi, and others as defendants, saying that they misled investors about Pars high default rate and an owners criminal past as a grifter. They deny the accusations. Since 2010 Vagnozzi has also promoted the life settlement funds, in which investors buy life insurance policies from elderly people who have sold them cheap for cash. For Vagnozzi and his clients, life settlements have been a bumpy road. His record is marked by lawsuits, a $95,000 regulatory punishment, Vagnozzis admission that some funds havent performed as expected and recent complaints from some investors that others havent delivered, too. Vagnozzi and his lawyers didnt respond to questions for this article. Supporters of life settlement investments say they are a boon for policyholders who need cash now and investors who profit well by supplying it. Though an unusual business one Vagnozzi investor calls it creepy the field is thriving. In these investments, buyers purchase life insurance policies, typically from aging people who no longer want their heirs to collect, but would rather have cash up front, even if they receive less than their death benefit. They often sell the policies to middlemen, who in turn sell them to investment funds, like those run by Vagnozzi. Shares in those funds are then shopped to individual investors. The investors must pay the premiums to keep up the policies, but collect the full amount when the sellers pass on. The faster sellers die, the bigger the payoff. Vagnozzis main policy source at first was a Texas firm, Life Partners Inc., a pioneer in acquiring and marketing policies. It later collapsed into bankruptcy amid SEC charges of fraud. In the 2020 emails obtained by The Inquirer, Vagnozzi acknowledged a simple problem with funds containing those early policies: Sellers hadnt died fast enough. The life expectancies were terrible, he wrote investors. No other way to say it. READ MORE: Par Funding owner seeks release from prison, agrees to SEC control until civil fraud trial One early investor was Robert Sullivan, 60, manager of a Philadelphia transportation company. He was among a group who, in 2010, each put an average of nearly $50,000 into the first of Vagnozzis life settlement funds, called Pillar 1. The hope was to turn their money into at least $70,000, as the old people died on schedule. Only they didnt. A decade later, Sullivan says, the fund has paid back less than half the original investment. We get a few checks periodically, he said, but Id have been better holding on to my company stock. Incorrect estimates Life Partners founder Brian Pardo lived well in Waco, Texas, for a time. Pardo bought four planes and a yacht along with such artifacts as replicas of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus and a pharaohs throne. His business eventually sold $2.4 billion in policies to 20,000 investors. But in 2010 the Wall Street Journal reported that Pardos firm was relying heavily on an assembly-line doctor who was systematically under-predicting life expectancies. Life Partners sellers were living a lot longer than predicted very good for them but hard on investors paying years of premiums without collecting death benefits, In 2012, the SEC followed up on the Journal article with a lawsuit accusing Life Partners of fraud and Pardo of covering up the inaccurate life estimates. The Texas firm declared bankruptcy in January 2015, a month after a judge fined it $38 million in the SEC case. Pardo quit. Now 77, he has been socked with penalties totaling $28 million. Pardo hasnt paid. Brian is broke, his Houston lawyer, Brent Perry, said last week. Vagnozzi kept selling investments in policies purchased from Life Partners despite that firms troubles. One investor told The Inquirer he put in his $50,000 at Vagnozzis urging in February 2015, a month after the bankruptcy. He claimed, The issues with Life Partners werent disclosed to me. Two other investors, Scott Bennett and his wife, Juli, invested in 2013, after the SEC suit, but before the bankruptcy. In early 2015, the Chester County couple were featured in a suburban newspaper touting Vagnozzis acumen. The headline read: Montgomery County investors double their money sooner than expected. The photo showed the smiling couple and Vagnozzi holding a giant mock check. READ MORE: Dean Vagnozzi and his alternatives to Wall Street It was true, as far as it went Bennett said one policy, of more than 100 in the investment, had paid off at twice what investors had put in. But for his fund, Bennett said, that was the last big payout. After seven years, he said, investors have yet to get back what they put in Separately, in a last bit of litigation in the overall Life Partners scandal, a trustee for its creditors is suing Vagnozzi and scores of other Life Partners salespeople to claw back their commissions. The suit, seeking $1.25 million in commissions that Vagnozzi was paid 2009 to 2014, is to go on trial next year. A new source for policies After Life Partners, Vagnozzis firm found new companies from which to acquire more policies, notably from Fort Washington-based Coventry First. Its the largest firm in the industry, according to annual data compiled by the Life Settlement Report, the industry newsletter. Vagnozzi sold investors additional shares in funds bearing the Pillar name and based on life insurance policies. In addition, he put investors into new ventures that combined life insurance buys with Par Funding. In all, Vagnozzi raised over $50 million from more than 300 investors in life settlements between 2010 and 2019, according to SEC documents. READ MORE: Federal judge orders Par Funding to stay out of seized accounts after its staff accessed 100,000 records Some investors in Vagnozzis more recent life settlement funds say their returns have also been slower and less than expected. One, Pillar 8 Life Settlement Fund LP, is made up of policies that cost investors a total of about $10 million, according to data shared with The Inquirer by an investor. The participants were told they stood to collect death benefits of about $17 million. The aging sellers had an average life expectancy of 34 months, dating from 2017, investors were told. Under such a forecast, investors should have received about half their payout by now. But that hasnt happened, investors said. Im in Pillar 8. We have had one death, no payout to us they need the money [from that settlement] to pay premiums on other policies, said another investor, Dale Hood, a Montgomery County health insurance salesman. Most of the people have reached their expected maturity. But medical technology is keeping them living. Hes still confident his investment will pay off eventually. Jim Wollyung, 64, a retired Philadelphia trucking company employee, has invested $900,000 in Vagnozzi ventures since 2018. He put $400,000 of that into a fund mostly invested in life settlements. Fund documents show that he was among 99 investors who put up about $12 million and were told they could reap $21 million. Half the 22 policies were to come due in 2020, So far, the documents say, he has received payouts for only three deaths. His payback: $31,000. When two more policyholders died this year, he says, the Vagnozzi rep who sold him the fund told him there wasnt enough money to pay him. They died, but I didnt get paid, Wollyung said. A $95,000 penalty Two weeks before the SEC brought its sweeping complaint involving Par Funding and its merchant cash advances, the agency faulted Vagnozzis sales pitches for life settlements. On July 14, Vagnozzi and one of his companies agreed to pay a $95,000 penalty to settle accusations that he sold $32 million in Pillar funds to 339 investors without registering his products with the SEC as securities. READ MORE: Can Par Funding receiver collect enough cash from business to pay investors? Many buyers, the agency found, lacked the wealth that the SEC rules require to make such investments. And the agencys order said his heavy media buys and the dinners violated its rules limiting sales to the public when a security is not registered. (In all, Vagnozzi has agreed to pay $1.1 million since 2018 to resolve complaints from federal and state regulators.) Vagnozzi didnt admit any wrongdoing. In a note to clients, he summarized the SEC order this way: All they can say is they dont like my advertising methods. In its more recent lawsuit, the SEC cited that as an example of his repeated misrepresentations. That is not what the order says, the agency said. Take it or leave it As life-settlement payouts drag on and premium costs rise, investors have been left frustrated. Wollyung said he has lots of questions for the next Vagnozzi free dinner. Another investor a suburban statistician who put $75,000 in one of the life settlement funds did some ghoulish fact-checking. (He asked not to be named, saying he was embarrassed about his investment.) Working with fragmentary information from fund papers, partially redacted names, ages, and the like, he searched on Google to see whether the insured had died. He found few leads but is still puzzled by the lack of payments. He expected a quicker payout. Some of these are elderly people, he said. Were in a pandemic. For some life settlement investors, the big jolt came this February when Vagnozzi wrote acknowledging the poor performance. Vagnozzi told them not to worry, though. He could move their remaining investment into something with a higher return. I am arranging to pay you 17% !, he said. READ MORE: In SEC fraud lawsuit, Par Fundings receiver squares off with adviser Dean Vagnozzi over money freeze His new pitch was for investments in Par Funding, the business the SEC now says was fraudulent. THIS IS A TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT OFFER. Vagnozzi wrote in February, in capital letters. Many investors, weary of slow returns, agreed to the switch. But Vagnozzi later called it off. Some now say they dodged a bullet. By April he was writing that Par Funding appears to be insolvent. Par could not pay investors interest and principal in April and May. When checks resumed, the rate was just 4%, half the previous one. There would be no 17% return. The life settlement investments have some investors rueful. One is John Lindtner, 49, a Chester County contractor. In an interview, he said was disappointed in the returns from a Vagnozzi fund but hoped at least to get his money back. He invested in the life settlements in 2015 after attending one of Vagnozzis free meals. He posted a comment about that last week on Facebook: That was the most expensive dinner I ever had. Getty Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger has joined other veterans and military families reacting to the reports Donald Trump allegedly called fallen soldiers "suckers" and "losers". Captain Sullenberger, who saved 155 passengers in 2009 when he landed a damaged plane in what's become known as the "Miracle on the Hudson", slammed the president in a series of tweets. At the start of the tweets, Captain Sullenberg mentioned how he served in the military while also honouring his father who, like himself, was a war veteran. "In our travels, my wife Lorrie and I have always made it a point to visit military bases, hospitals and cemeteries, to meet and honour those who serve and have served our nation," he wrote. He added: "I have long known that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling, whether in the military or in civilian life. And I have always tried to be a voice of reason and to speak in a measured way." His tone then changed, as he said it was time to call out the "egregious behaviour" being displayed by the sitting president. "For the first time in American history, a president has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country," Mr Sullenberg's thread continued. 7/9 He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the U.S. Military. But he has completely failed to uphold his oath. Now we know why. He has admitted that he cannot comprehend the concept of service above self. Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) September 4, 2020 Though it was a first, according to the former pilot, he said he was not "surprised". Instead, Mr Sullenberg said he was "disgusted" by Mr Trump and his behaviour. Story continues "He took an oath of office that is similar to the one that each person takes who enters the US Military. But he has completely failed to uphold his oath," he said. "Now we know why. He has admitted that he cannot comprehend the concept of service above self." "He cannot understand selflessness because he is selfish. He cannot conceive of courage because he is a coward. He cannot feel duty because he is disloyal," Mr Sullenberg added at the end of his thread before sharing The Atlantic's story. This was not the only backlash that's sparked since the bombshell report. Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling told CNN that he's spoken with several active military officials who are "furious" about the alleged rhetoric Mr Trump used against military troops. "The military, the veterans I've talked to tonight, they are furious about this and they can't understand why people are still supporting this individual who is doing these kinds of things," he said. Twitter users have also used hashtags like #veteransagainstTrump following the report, with several sharing images of themselves or their family members previously serving in the military. Mr Trump has vehemently denied the report by The Atlantic, calling it a "hoax". "It was a totally fake story, and that was confirmed by many people that were actually there," Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. "It was a terrible thing that somebody could say the kind of things especially to me because I have done more for the military than almost anybody else." In the report, Mr Trump allegedly objected to visiting the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018 because he did not see the point in honouring the soldiers who died, according to multiple anonymous sources who were on the trip. "Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers," Mr Trump allegedly said. It was reported at the time that the trip was cancelled because his helicopter couldn't fly in the rain that day and the Secret Service was unable to drive him to the cemetery. The White House has denied the reports by releasing a 2018 email stating the weather conditions were too poor that day to fly. Another incident from the same trip involved Mr Trump allegedly calling the Marines who died at Belleau Wood, one of the toughest battles for the Marines during the First World War, "suckers". Other allegations in The Atlantic's report included Mr Trump questioning a young Marine's sacrifice during a 2017 Memorial Day visit to Arlington Cemetery with General John Kelly, citing multiple sources. The man in question was Mr Kelly's son 1st Lieutenant Robert Kelly who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Mr Trump and General Kelly, who was serving as the president's secretary of homeland security at the time, stopped at the son's grave when visiting the cemetery. Mr Trump reportedly turned to General Kelly and said: "I don't get it. What was in it for them?" Although the White House has denied all aspects of the report, reporters from The Washington Post, Associated Press, and Fox News have independently confirmed key details. Read more Biden blasts 'deplorable' Trump comments reportedly mocking veterans Trump calls racial sensitivity training a 'sickness' Trump demands firing of Fox News reporter who backed 'suckers' story GOP candidate lauded by Trump posts gun photo with image of 'Squad' NSW Child Abuse Squad detectives began investigating the family under Strike Force Baillieu in 2016. It was prompted by a referral from Tasmania Police alleging the sexual abuse and torture of three young children. The claims were so horrific children picked up by their penises, forced to drink blood and endure needles stuck in their eyes, and other acts involving defecation and blood it was hard to believe they could be true. "I would rather be accused of murder," Yyani Cook-Williams said. Yyani Cook-Williams. Credit:60 Minutes/Nine Strike Force Baillieu detectives descended on the family in February 2018, arresting Ms Meredith and her mother, her sister Yyani Cook-Williams, 35, her uncle Paul Cook, 54, and three young people who cannot be named. They were collectively charged with 145 offences, including kidnapping, intimidation, assault and producing child abuse material, after almost 40 hours of interviews between the alleged child victims and investigators. The family endured more than 200 days in custody and spent two years prohibited from speaking to each other before the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions sensationally dropped all charges in February. It followed revelations last year of an explosive admission from one of the alleged victims: Im really sorry, Ive been lying about the whole thing. A subsequent appeal by NSW Police to reinstate the charges was rejected, with the DPP finding no reasonable prospects of safe conviction. The family's lawyer Bryan Wrench has described their case as "probably the worst miscarriage of justice" he has ever seen. "There is no greater damage than ruining one's reputation for something that was undeserved. It reveals a frightening reality that ordinary people can be subjected to abuses of process," he said. "When you see the live impact it hits home hard. You see how shaken these people are and how they will never trust the police, the system. They are the living consequences of these mistakes." One allegation claimed that Mr Cook filmed a video in which Therese had "bitten down" into the penis of one of the children and used her teeth to pick him up off the ground. The family endured more than 200 days in custody. Credit:60 Minutes/Nine "It's been alleged that I filmed that as well. Which is completely and utterly implausible, that particular act," Mr Cook said. Expert medical advice tendered to court found an "impossibility and implausibility" of such physical offences, with no evidence of injury found on the boys. "NSW Police were almost deliberately ignoring the evidence that was available that showed our clients did not do this," Mr Wrench said. During a bail application last year Mr Wrench tendered two videos depicting the co-accused on an outing with the children in an open park. One of the videos was filmed on Anzac Day, when police alleged two of the young children were sexually assaulted and incited to have sex with one another. Both videos were tendered to support the defence argument that there had been "no enforced conduct" towards the children. Last year it emerged that the mother of one of the alleged victims had withheld from police a contemporaneous note describing an admission from the child that he had been "lying about the whole thing". A NSW Police spokesman said the DPP's decision to drop the charges was strongly opposed and that Strike Force Baillieu investigators remained ready for the matter to proceed through court. "Every report of child abuse is investigated with the same tenacity and, where there is evidence of criminal behaviour, we will place people before a court," he said. "We do not share the opinions offered by 60 Minutes of these victims or any victims of child abuse." Returning to everyday life has not been easy for the family, in particular for those who were under the age of 18, Mr Wrench said. "You can't just flick a switch and return to normal life. I think there are still a lot of unanswered questions in this. Nobody has even apologised to them. Everybody expects better [from police]." Mr Wrench said the only silver lining in the case has been the level of support received by the family as they fought the charges against them. If you are an avid reader of online news in South Africa, it is likely that you have seen advertisements in articles that claim to have the answer to your financial troubles. These ads use the faces of famous and wealthy South Africans along with provocative text to try and entice you into clicking on them. Depending on the target demographic, the ads change their pitch. They may use headlines like Learn why the ANC tried to bury it, suggesting that the ANC tried to block a scheme that will make poor people rich. Other ads will promise you financial freedom, claim to reveal one trick that a celebrity uses to make lots of money, or sell you the story of a real-life Robin Hood who built a wealth-creating system for the lower class. Advertising a scam using Mark Shuttleworths face MyBroadband was recently contacted by a reader who tried for weeks to report one of these ads to Google which they saw on a prominent South African news website. It also appeared on embedded YouTube videos. The ad in question used the likeness of Mark Shuttleworth to promote various books and a scheme that claims it can make you a millionaire with software that trades automatically on financial markets. Google responded within four days of the initial report with a follow-up question: Please clarify whether you are requesting removal of these URLs from Googles search results, or whether you are requesting removal of a Google search ad. The person reporting the advertisement explained once again that it was neither a search result nor a Google search ad, but a third-party ad appearing on South African news websites. More than a week later, Google responded with yet another request for clarification: After reviewing your submission, we werent able to fully understand your request. If you send us more details to clarify your concerns, we will investigate further. The person trying to report the advertisement once again tried to explain that someone was using Google Ads to advertise shady financial services using fraudulent endorsements. Another four days later, Google provided the following response: Upon recent review of your complaint, we were unable to locate the advertisements in question. While this advertisement appeared on a South African news website in 2020, it has been a problem for at least two years. Shuttleworth issued a statement in 2018 about not only this exact issue, but the very same product that was fraudulently claiming his endorsement. Trevor Noah, Cyril Ramaphosa, Naas Botha, and Patrice Motsepe Mark Shuttleworth is not the only famous South African whose endorsement has been falsified to advertise shady investment products. Photos of Trevor Noah, Cyril Ramaphosa, Patrice Motsepe, Naas Botha, and Pravin Gordhan are used to promote various get-rich-quick scams. MyBroadband visited a handful of large South African websites that rely on Google Ads for their income and found that, on 31 August, there were several displaying advertisements for dodgy financial services. In each case, the pattern was the same: an advertisement would link to a page styled to look like a legitimate news article. This false article would then claim that a famous and wealthy South African endorsed a specific Bitcoin-based investment scheme. For a small initial investment of around R3,500, it claims, the scheme will turn you into a multi-millionaire. The misleading article includes a falsified tweet purporting to be from President Cyril Ramaphosa stating that this Bitcoin-based service is showing great promise and has my full endorsement as a wealth system. A brief analysis of the false articles shows that they are often hosted on Googles own Blogspot platform. The page hosting the misleading article contains a completely unrelated blog post and then pulls in the article using an