Friday, July 31, 2020

Federal Agents Don’t Need Army Fatigues


By BY THE EDITORIAL BOARD from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/2Dm00ru

A Better Year for Trump’s Family Business (Last Year, That Is)


By BY BEN PROTESS, STEVE EDER AND MICHAEL H. KELLER from NYT Business https://ift.tt/3jZGstT

Week in pictures: 25 July-31 July 2020

A selection of powerful news photographs taken around the world this week.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/30heHFd

Why a new generation of Thais are protesting against the government

A new political divide in Thailand has emerged between the country's youth and its older generation.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3fi6QLZ

India coronavirus: Gold rush as pandemic roils country's economy

As Covid-19 worsens the economic slump, Indians are returning to a trusted asset: gold.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/30evlp4

Phyllis Omido: The woman who won $12m fighting lead battery poisoners

Kenyan activist Phyllis Omido has been ignored, harassed and arrested, but she never gave up.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3hWgN3r

Gov. Hogan condemns Trump's 'outrageous' tweet calling for election delay

Gov. Hogan condemns Trump's 'outrageous' tweet calling for election delay“I never cease to be amazed by things the president tweets, but even that one took me by surprise,” Hogan said. “He can’t postpone the election, he doesn’t have the power to do it, and that’s why it’s an outrageous statement.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30eVPqA

Ghislaine Maxwell-Jeffrey Epstein emails revealed in new court papers

Ghislaine Maxwell-Jeffrey Epstein emails revealed in new court papersIn the papers, a key accuser also alleges the pair were equally involved in sex trafficking.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/315yTcu

Two pilots killed when air tankers collide

Two pilots killed when air tankers collideThe planes had been dispatched to help battle the Bishop Fire, a 14,000-acre blaze burning on federal land.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/33dKmtk

Jim Jordan tries and fails to get Fauci to say protesters should be arrested for gathering during pandemic

Jim Jordan tries and fails to get Fauci to say protesters should be arrested for gathering during pandemicDr. Anthony Fauci wants to make it clear he's got nothing to do with the justice system.Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared before Congress on Friday for a hearing on the federal government's coronavirus response. That's where Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who's been skeptical of restrictions meant to stem the virus' spread, tried to get Fauci to distinguish between protests against racism in the U.S. and bans on businesses reopening amid the pandemic.Because science indicates crowds exacerbate the spread of coronavirus, Jordan asked Fauci on Friday if the government "should limit the protests." "I'm not in a position to determine what the government should do in a forceful way," Fauci responded. So Jordan kept pressing: "The government is stopping people from going to church," claiming that's something "the five liberals" on the Supreme Court had decided. But Fauci continued holding out, saying he does not "judge one crowd versus another crowd" and would not "opine on who should get arrested or not. That's not my position."Jordan then went so far as to claim Fauci had said "protests increase the spread" of coronavirus. "I said crowds, I didn't say specifically, I didn't say protests or anything, " Fauci firmly responded. "You're putting words in my mouth," Fauci continued before saying he had no data showing the nationwide protests had spread the virus. Watch the whole exchange below. > Rep. Jordan: So, you're allowed to protest, millions of people in crowds...but you try to run your business and you get arrested?> > Dr. Fauci: I don't understand what you're asking me, as a public health official, to opine on who should get arrested or not. That's not my position pic.twitter.com/fAZEqbLz5q> > -- CBS News (@CBSNews) July 31, 2020More stories from theweek.com The White House reportedly scrapped a national testing plan because the virus was mostly hitting blue states Josh Hawley's good idea to stop modern slavery New Lincoln Project video imagines what it's like to wake up from a coma in 2020




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/33dXP4g

Teachers fearing in-person schooling make wills, retire or plan strikes

Teachers fearing in-person schooling make wills, retire or plan strikesEducators, worried about the potentially deadly risks they are being forced to take, say proper protections have not been implemented School districts around the US are set to begin reopening in August, many with in-person classes, five days a week, despite coronavirus cases rising in many parts of the country.But the school reopenings have teachers around the US fearful for the safety of themselves, students, staff and family members, with teachers and unions saying that proper protections and protocols have yet to be implemented.Some teachers have even drawn up wills ahead of classes beginning, others have retired from the profession and teachers unions have said they will sanction strike action for members who deem that they are being forced to take potentially deadly risks.“Educators are afraid because proper policies are not being put in place to protect them,” said Alicia Priest, president of the Oklahoma Education Association. The Oklahoma state board of education has only issued guidelines for school districts, and voted down a proposal on 23 July to issue a mask mandate in schools across the state.“The OEA offers members through our personal legal services program a free will. The requests for those free wills are up over 3,000% in the last few weeks,” Priest added.A report published by the Kaiser Family Foundation on 10 July found 1.47 million teachers in the US – some 24% of the profession – are at greater risk of serious illness if infected with coronavirus because they have conditions that make them vulnerable.Yet Florida has issued an order mandating all schools must open in August in-person, five days a week. The Florida teachers union responded to the order with a lawsuit.“We are letting the community down by pretending we can open safely. The districts cannot do what is necessary according to CDC guidelines,” said Stacy Rene Kennett, a kindergarten teacher in Immokalee, Florida, who is expected to begin attending in-person training for school reopenings on 4 August.Amy Scott, an IB language arts high school teacher in Miami, Florida for 44 years, decided to retire one year early due to the coronavirus pandemic and the instability of the upcoming school year.“I dreaded it. I wanted to extend it as long as possible because I love kids and teaching,” said Scott. “But then came coronavirus and I realized all the difficulties of holding brick-and-mortar classrooms and the danger involved to teachers, students and the community spread and I didn’t want to end my 45 years of teaching in such a frustrating environment.”In Arizona, which was designated a global pandemic hotspot in early July, reopening decisions have been left to individual school districts.“There is no consistency across the state,” said Marisol Garcia, a middle school teacher and parent in Phoenix who currently serves as vice-president of the Arizona Educators Association. “We are left to our own devices to figure out how to keep our families safe and ensure our students are safe”Garcia explained current class loads in Arizona make social distancing impossible in districts where in-person learning is permitted, as she had no less than 31 students in each class last school year, and it remains unclear if any schools will face repercussions for not following guidelines for coronavirus protections. She also warns many of her colleagues may retire early.In Georgia, state agencies have issued guidelines for school reopenings, deferring decisions to school districts on when and how schools reopen in the coming weeks.Several school districts outside of metro areas in Georgia are reopening in August with in-person classes, five days a week, leaving teachers there concerned over safety protections as coronavirus case rates have been rising around the state over the past several weeks.“We’re very concerned that when we’re once again in school buildings, children, educators, and their family members will become sick and perhaps die,” said Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Educators Association.According to Morgan, several school districts in Georgia that are reopening in person, five days a week, are not following CDC guidelines, with no mask mandates, large classroom sizes making social distancing impossible, and responsibility for extra cleaning measures placed on teachers to carry out.Even as schools are expected to reopen in the coming weeks around the US, school districts and teachers are scrambling to create plans for restarting schools, whether classes are conducted in person, virtually, or a hybrid of in-person and remote learning.“The country is asking teachers and children to lead the way, yet no one seems to know what direction we’re headed,” said Angela McKeen, a high school science teacher in Clarksburg, West Virginia. “My concerns at this point are for my students. Can we prevent huge outbreaks? Can students effectively learn in such fluid situations? Can teachers effectively reach their students at not just their places academically, but also emotionally during this time?”Teacher unions have raised the possibility of walking off the job unless comprehensive safety plans are implemented for schools to reopen.The head of the Colorado Education Association recently said teachers may refuse to report to work as schools are set to reopen in the state in August if teachers’ criteria for school reopenings aren’t met.The union cited a survey of nearly 10,000 members, where about eight out of 10 teachers asserted they would be willing to refuse to work if teachers aren’t provided a voice in how safety protocols are implemented, such as mask mandates and social distancing procedures.“We don’t want schools to be epicenters of outbreak in our community. It would crush any student or staff member if they brought coronavirus into school,” said Ernest Garibay, a high school math teacher in Jefferson county, Colorado, and local union representative.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3gvGTKt

Killer of Rafiki, Uganda's rare silverback mountain gorilla, jailed

Killer of Rafiki, Uganda's rare silverback mountain gorilla, jailedThe Ugandan hunter said that he had killed the animal in self defence when he was attacked.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30bivrs

Father, son with COVID-19 forced to quarantine in Hawaii

Father, son with COVID-19 forced to quarantine in HawaiiHawaii's public health director said a rarely used special health order was used to force them into isolation.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3fhgz58

China uses Hong Kong security law against US and UK based activists

China uses Hong Kong security law against US and UK based activists* Arrest warrant issued for campaigner and US citizen Samuel Chu * Four other exiles are in Britain wanted for ‘incitement to secession’Hong Kong police have issued arrest warrants for six pro-democracy activists living in exile, the first time the city’s authorities have used a sweeping new law to target campaigners living outside Hong Kong.They include Samuel Chu, an American citizen who lives in the US, Nathan Law, a prominent campaigner who recently relocated to the UK after fleeing Hong Kong, and Simon Cheng, a former British consular staffer who was granted asylum in the UK after alleging he was tortured in China.Chinese state media reported that the six men were wanted for “incitement to secession and collusion with foreign forces”.The move comes a month after China introduced a controversial national security law in Hong Kong. China said the legislation targets the crimes of “secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces” and carries penalties as severe as life in prison.Critics warned that it would be used to target legitimate opposition, and highlighted the unusual decision to make the law applicable to both Hong Kong residents and non-residents. That apparently gives China jurisdiction beyond its own borders.Chu, who runs the Hong Kong Democracy Council, a Washington DC-based advocacy organization dedicated to furthering Hong Kong’s freedom and democracy, is the first person targeted under this aspect of the law.He said China was sending a clear message to other activists by ordering his arrest.“I would really emphasize how outrageous this really is,” Chu told the Guardian. “I am the first non-Chinese citizen that essentially is being targeted. I think they do intend to try to make this an example.”Several countries have since suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong, including the UK, Australia and Germany, as a possible safeguard against attempts to use the national security laws to round up activists abroad. The US ordered an end to Hong Kong’s special economic status earlier in July.Chu, who has lived in the US as an American citizen since 1996, said the charges amounted to China “targeting a US citizen for lobbying my own government”.“We always knew that when the national security law went into effect there was a very troubling and illogical, irrational idea that they were claiming jurisdiction over anyone who is not even a Hong Kong resident, who is anywhere in the world, doing anything that they deemed threatening,” he said.> HK police is targeting a US citizen for lobbying my own gov't. I might be the 1st non-Chinese citizen to be targeted, but I will not be the last. If I am targeted, any American/any citizen of any nation who speaks out for HK can-and will be-too. > > We are all Hong Kongers now. pic.twitter.com/KQYGcStY1e> > — Samuel Chu 朱牧民 (@samuelmchu) July 31, 2020The other activists charged wereRay Wong, Wayne Chan and Honcques Laus.Wong, who is currently in the UK, told Reuters the charges showed that the Chinese government was afraid of the advocacy work of Hong Kong activists internationally.“I think they want to cut off our connection with people in Hong Kong … it will make people fear that they may violate the national security law by contacting us,” Wong said.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3gjcdff

Trump revisits his playbook for disastrous news: An explosive spectacle

Trump revisits his playbook for disastrous news: An explosive spectacleMinutes after the government announced the worst economic contraction on record, the president upended a day in Washington with his suggestion of delaying the election.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2D6ZuxH

Russian jet fighter buzzes two U.S. spy planes over Black Sea



from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30e3c1p

Hong Kong bars 12 opposition candidates from election

Hong Kong bars 12 opposition candidates from electionOpposition candidates had hoped to capitalise on anger over a controversial security law.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3hKQwVu

South Korean general sacked over defector's return

South Korean general sacked over defector's returnThe man's departure only came to light when Pyongyang -- which insists it has not had any coronavirus cases -- announced at the weekend that a "runaway" who had returned across the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone was suspected of having the disease. Inter-Korean relations have been in a deep freeze following the collapse of a summit in Hanoi between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/39MGgcS

Coronavirus: Tracking new outbreaks in the sewers

Around 15,000 new cases of the disease have been reported in Spain in the past week.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/39J6AV4

US election 2020: The war hero who could be Biden's running mate

Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran and the first Thai-American woman elected to Congress.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/339acyu

Belarus: The mother challenging an authoritarian president

Political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya rallies protesters in a battle with Alexander Lukashenko.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/339JHZM

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Chicago police chief dies in apparent suicide after promotion

Chicago police chief dies in apparent suicide after promotionA 30-year veteran of the Chicago police force is found dead two weeks after being promoted; Matt Finn reports from Chicago as the city marks another deadly night of violence.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2CYby4g

US hits Poland, others in Europe over Holocaust claims

US hits Poland, others in Europe over Holocaust claimsThe United States is criticizing a number of eastern and central European nations, including Poland, for failing to compensate Holocaust victims and their families and communities for property seized during Nazi occupation in World War II as the numbers of survivors dwindles due to age. In a report issued Wednesday, the State Department called out Bosnia, Belarus, Ukraine and particularly Poland for not having acted on restitution claims. Croatia, Latvia and Russia were also taken to task in the report, which is likely to draw angry responses from the governments identified.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30aizb5

Trump attended a fundraiser in Texas without a mask on the day the US hit 150,000 coronavirus deaths

Trump attended a fundraiser in Texas without a mask on the day the US hit 150,000 coronavirus deathsTrump was expected to attend the fundraiser with GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, but the congressman tested positive for the coronavirus.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30YNK8x

Republicans and White House at Odds Over Kansas Senate Race


By BY JONATHAN MARTIN AND KATIE GLUECK from NYT U.S. https://ift.tt/2PbxtYh

Iran says fires missiles from underground in Gulf war games

Iran says fires missiles from underground in Gulf war gamesIran's Revolutionary Guards said they launched ballistic missiles from "the depths of the Earth" on Wednesday during the last day of military exercises near sensitive Gulf waters. The launches came a day after the Guards struck a mock-up of a US aircraft carrier with volleys of missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for a fifth of world oil output. The Iranian manoeuvres were staged amid heightened tensions between Iran and its decades-old arch enemy the United States.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/39HeBtB

Why some Americans say they'll never wear a mask — and what that says about the U.S.

Why some Americans say they'll never wear a mask — and what that says about the U.S.While the vast majority of public health experts now agree that wearing face masks could halt the worsening coronavirus pandemic in its tracks, some Americans continue to resist that guidance.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3f7zf7v

Dahleen Glanton: When it comes to honoring John Lewis, Donald Trump was no hypocrite

Dahleen Glanton: When it comes to honoring John Lewis, Donald Trump was no hypocriteWe should thank Donald Trump for skipping Congressman John Lewis' farewell ceremony. While his absence from the memorial in the Capitol rotunda on Monday was glaring, Trump did us all a favor by leaving town. To pay respects to a man for whom he showed so little regard in life would be disingenuous. Trump might be a liar, but at least he is no hypocrite. Unlike Senate Majority Leader Mitch ...




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3f9hCEb

New research suggests COVID-19 can spread via aerosol transmission -- and might affect tall people more

New research suggests COVID-19 can spread via aerosol transmission -- and might affect tall people moreA new survey has found more evidence to suggest that people can become infected with COVID-19 through aerosol transmission, which could be prevented by wearing a mask. Carried out by data scientists in the UK, Norway, and the US, the study is one of the first to investigate which personal and work-related factors can lead to COVID-19 transmission. After surveying 2,000 people in the UK and US, the researchers found that the data from both countries suggests that aerosol transmission of the virus -- via microdroplets which are so small that they remain suspended in the air for several hours -- is very likely.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/39EGDWy

Google's Sundar Pichai was immediately pounced on in the first question of the antitrust hearing, asking the CEO why Google steals content

Google's Sundar Pichai was immediately pounced on in the first question of the antitrust hearing, asking the CEO why Google steals contentIn his opening set of questions to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, David Cicilline revealed what the year-long investigation had found.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/334VEzS

Father, son with COVID-19 forced to quarantine in Hawaii

Father, son with COVID-19 forced to quarantine in HawaiiHawaii's public health director said a rarely used special health order was used to force them into isolation.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3fhgz58

Hong Kong students arrested on suspicion of inciting secession

Hong Kong students arrested on suspicion of inciting secessionChina's new "national security" legislation​, which came into force in Hong Kong on July 1, outlaws a variety of vaguely defined offenses like "sedition" that can carry sentences of life in prison.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2PeKdxb

Poll puts Biden over Trump in 6 swing states

Poll puts Biden over Trump in 6 swing statesFormer Vice President Joe Biden is still looking good in key swing states across the country.In May, a poll from a British consulting firm Redfield & Wilton Strategies put Biden ahead of President Trump in six states Trump won in 2016: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Redfield & Wilton Strategies' July poll shows Biden still has a lead in all of those states, and even widened it in three of them.While Biden had 4 percent lead over Trump in Arizona, a 2 point lead in Florida, and an 8 point lead in Michigan in May, he has an 8, 7, and 12 percent lead, respectively, in those states as of July. Biden maintained his 10-point lead in Wisconsin over the past two months. Meanwhile Biden lost traction in North Carolina, where he had a 45-43 lead over Trump in May but has a 43-42 lead as of July, and Pennsylvania, where his margin fell from 48-39 to 48-41.Redfield & Wilton surveyed anywhere from 742 to 1,121 registered voters in each of the states, with larger populations corresponding to larger sample sizes. The polls were conducted from July 19-24.More stories from theweek.com Conservative propaganda has crippled the U.S. coronavirus response Facebook beats 2nd quarter revenue expectations even as ad industry struggles Mike Pence and Kellyanne Conway give conflicting messages about Trump's RNC speech plans




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3fgtJ2a

Police chief explains decision to back out of Democrat convention security

Police chief explains decision to back out of Democrat convention securityWest Allis Police Department Chief Patrick Mitchell joins 'Fox & Friends' after backing out of a DNC security agreement over a ban on law enforcement's use of chemical irritants during protests.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3hK3Sl4

Chinese scientist arrested after seeking medical care



from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2DiPcuc

Trump says coronavirus stimulus checks, direct payments may be more than $1,200

Trump says coronavirus stimulus checks, direct payments may be more than $1,200The amount the president put on the table is even higher than that proposed by Republicans and Democrats.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3gixuFO

FBI says errors uncovered in wiretap applications were mostly 'non-material'

FBI says errors uncovered in wiretap applications were mostly 'non-material'The FBI said on Thursday that the errors and sloppy record-keeping identified in connection with 29 of its applications submitted to a federal court to obtain wiretaps to monitor U.S. citizens were "non-material" and did not undermine their legal validity. The FBI's statement on Thursday came several months after Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz released an audit faulting the FBI for failing to follow procedures designed to minimize factual inaccuracies in applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2EqpIeT

Covid-19: Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning

Until recently, the city was seen as a poster child in its handling of the pandemic. What went wrong?

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/30bOnfN

What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from?

To many the Karen meme - and its male equivalent Ken - sums up a specific type of white privilege.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3gioFf9

The 'real' threat to Russia’s former doping mastermind

The ex-mastermind of Russian sports doping, Grigory Rodchenkov, now only appears in disguise. Matt Majendie explains why.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/314ezIn

Bollywood's 'warts and all' biopic on 'human computer'

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan plays Shakuntala Devi who dazzled the world with her skill with numbers.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3ggIC6b

The middle-css Pakistani students fighting for a homeland dream

Shahdad Mumtaz died for his beliefs. Could a missing student end up waging war on the Pakistani state?

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/312Wk6b

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Colombia coronavirus quarantine to be extended until Aug 30

Colombia coronavirus quarantine to be extended until Aug 30Colombia's national lockdown to curb infections of the new coronavirus will be extended by one month until the end of August, President Ivan Duque said on Tuesday. The Andean country has reported more than 267,300 coronavirus cases and 9,074 deaths. "Obligatory preventative isolation, as the general concept, will continue until August 30," Duque said in his nightly broadcast.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/30ZAFfd

Minneapolis 'Umbrella Man' who smashed windows during George Floyd protests was a white supremacist trying to incite riots, police say

Minneapolis 'Umbrella Man' who smashed windows during George Floyd protests was a white supremacist trying to incite riots, police sayLooting and rioting in the wake of his actions in Minneapolis caused about $500 million in damages and two deaths, the Star Tribune reported.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2Dj5sez

Most view kneeling during anthem as acceptable form of protest

Most view kneeling during anthem as acceptable form of protestViews on this are divided by political party and race.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3ffoYWB

Google's Sundar Pichai was immediately pounced on in the first question of the antitrust hearing, asking the CEO why Google steals content

Google's Sundar Pichai was immediately pounced on in the first question of the antitrust hearing, asking the CEO why Google steals contentIn his opening set of questions to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, David Cicilline revealed what the year-long investigation had found.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/334VEzS

National Guard major tells lawmakers he saw 'excessive' force used on protesters near the White House

National Guard major tells lawmakers he saw 'excessive' force used on protesters near the White HouseMajor Adam DeMarco told lawmakers actions against peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square were 'deeply disturbing.'




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3jPwZp1

Pakistani Muslim accused of insulting Islam killed in court



from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3jSXee0

China's Mars probe photographs Earth en route to Red Planet

China's Mars probe photographs Earth en route to Red PlanetChina's first Mars probe has beamed back a photo of the Earth and the Moon as it heads toward its destination, the country's space agency said Tuesday. The image, which shows the two celestial bodies as small crescents in the empty darkness of space, was taken 1.2 million kilometres (746,000 miles) away from Earth three days after the Tianwen-1 mission was launched on Thursday, the China National Space Administration said. China joined the United States and United Arab Emirates this month in launching a mission to Mars, taking advantage of a period when Mars and Earth are favourably aligned.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/307kgGa

Trump COVID Task Force to Guvs: Make Masks Mandatory Before You Fall Into Red Zone

Trump COVID Task Force to Guvs: Make Masks Mandatory Before You Fall Into Red ZoneAs states in the South and Southwest grapple with how to control the spread of the coronavirus, officials on President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force cautioned the nation’s governors Tuesday that a new set of states is beginning to experience an uptick in positive cases and recommended that local leaders implement mask mandates and close bars to contain the outbreaks.Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator for the task force, said the positivity rate in states such as Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Colorado was increasing and warned they should quickly take action before they fall into what she described as the “red COVID zones” category. Birx defined the red zones as those states with more than 100 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people and more than a 10 percent test positivity rate.“By the time you see hospitalizations, your community spread is so wide that you’ve flipped into a red state incredibly quickly,” Birx said, according to a recording of the call obtained by The Daily Beast. “By the time you see it, up to 80 or 90 percent of your county already has more than 10 percent positivity rate.”The warnings from Birx and other task force officials come as the administration is pushing states across the country to reopen schools, a point Vice President Mike Pence reiterated on the call. Pence said the task force would support whatever decision state leaders make but that the team was beginning to see evidence that “encouraging masks,” closing bars, and limiting indoor gatherings were slowing the spread in some of the hot spot states. Birx was more explicit with her advice, saying that the “100 percent mask mandates” played a significant role in containing the virus in those states.Trump in the past has resisted mask wearing and said in a Fox News interview this month that he would not impose a national mask mandate. On Monday, Trump retweeted a video shared by his son Donald Trump Jr. that featured a doctor saying masks were unnecessary. Twitter restricted Donald Trump Jr.’s account and removed the video from the platform.Trump Pushes Fake COVID Cure From Fringe Doctors, Banned by FacebookDr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top vaccine official, was also on the call with governors and said states should adhere to Birx’s recommendations even if it wasn’t politically expedient to do so. “You may be reluctant to do that because the general population is saying, ‘Wait a minute, we’re not that bad,’” Fauci said, referring to the advice of implementing mask mandates and restricting large gatherings of people. “You are worse than you think you are because where you are now is going to be reflected and what you are going to see… weeks from now. I know it may sound intrusive but it really isn’t.”Read more at The Daily Beast.Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast hereGet 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.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2CWuvV7

Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, gave 8-figure donations to 6 different HBCUs for their 'transformative' work against inequality

Jeff Bezos' ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, gave 8-figure donations to 6 different HBCUs for their 'transformative' work against inequalityFour of the presidents of these institutions highlighted that Scott's donations were the largest from a single individual in the schools' history.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2P628GD

India and China race to build along a disputed frontier

India and China race to build along a disputed frontierThe rival nuclear powers are trying to out-build each other along their disputed Himalayan border.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2BFf82D

SpaceX crew prepares for splashdown

SpaceX crew prepares for splashdownThe Crew Dragon capsule carrying two NASA astronauts is headed for the agency's first ocean splashdown in 45 years.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2DdVDia

Nadler to Barr: 'Shame on you'

Nadler to Barr: 'Shame on you'

"You really can't hide behind legal fictions this time," Nadler said.

Half an hour before curfew on June 1, baton-swinging police fired smoke canisters, flashbang grenades and rubber bullets to drive protesters farther from the White House, enabling President Donald Trump to walk across Lafayette Park and hold up a Bible in front of St. John’s Church, a house of worship visited by U.S. presidents for two centuries.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/3g89aqd

Ashleigh Barty Will Skip U.S. Open


By BY CHRISTOPHER CLAREY from NYT Sports https://ift.tt/3jSMNaA

The Tanned Man Has a Green Monster


By BY CHARLES M. BLOW from NYT Opinion https://ift.tt/3168Wts

Lawmakers, United in Their Ire, Lash Out at Big Tech’s Leaders


By BY CECILIA KANG AND DAVID MCCABE from NYT Technology https://ift.tt/2DfEeFN

As Trump Undercuts Aid Talks, White House Says Extra Jobless Benefits Will Lapse


By BY EMILY COCHRANE AND JIM TANKERSLEY from NYT Business https://ift.tt/39PSGkh

Coronavirus in Pakistan: Doctor's video diary of fight against pandemic

A doctor in one of Pakistan’s busiest hospitals has kept a video diary of the country’s struggle with coronavirus.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Xarbwy

'Bay of Piglets': A 'bizarre' plot to capture a president

How did exiled Venezuelans and former US Special Forces end up joining what looked from the outset like a suicide mission? 

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/335R2JE

India and China race to build along a disputed frontier

The rival nuclear powers are trying to out-build each other along their disputed Himalayan border.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2P6Jxdp

Nile dam row: Egypt fumes as Ethiopia celebrates

Concerns grow as Nile River nations fail to reach a deal on how to share the vital waters.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/3jSP9WL

The sweet smell of success: How Bulgaria took the lead in lavender

Lavender is used for cosmetics, fragrances and even, with the help of bees, to make honey.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/30WPrn2

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

'My Tanzanian family is split over coronavirus'

Sammy Awami writes that his relatives are divided over the Tanzanian leader's policy on Covid-19.

from BBC News - World https://ift.tt/2Dcnn6M

Factbox: Biden will soon pick a running mate. Here are the front-runners

Factbox: Biden will soon pick a running mate. Here are the front-runnersBiden has vowed to choose a woman as his potential vice president. Following widespread protests over racial injustice and police brutality, pressure increased on Biden to choose a woman of color. Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian parents, fits the bill.




from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/308qAxc