Author Archives: Danzig

Plainclothes NYC police grab protester and throw her into unmarked car – WSWS

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By Niles Niemuth 30 July 2020

Shock and anger quickly spread online Tuesday as video posted on social media showed a group of armed men in street clothes snatching a young protester off the street and trundling her into an unmarked van during a peaceful demonstration against police violence in New York City.

While the men refused to identify themselves at the scene of the kidnapping, the New York Police Department (NYPD) later identified them as members of the police forces plainclothes Warrant Squad.

Outrage over Tuesdays incident was compounded by its similarity to the snatch and grab detentions carried out in recent weeks by federal paramilitary police in Portland, Oregon. In that city, a tactical wing of Customs and Border Protection known as BORTAC, sent in by President Trump to crack down on protests near the federal courthouse, has been seizing protesters, throwing them into unmarked vans and taking them to secret locations where they are subject to questioning for hours on end. The element of terror and intimidation is enhanced by the fact that the victims do not know who has picked them up or where they are being held.

All such actions violate the US Constitutions First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and assembly and its Fourth Amendment ban on arbitrary searches or seizures. They also run counter to the requirement that arrests be based on probable cause.

The NYPD played down the unconstitutional arrest, claiming the Warrant Squad routinely uses unmarked vehicles to effectively locate wanted suspects. But it is clear that the abduction of 18-year-old Nikki Stone was intended to send a signal to demonstrators, as well as the Trump administration, that the New York police are more than capable of cracking down on protests without direct federal intervention.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to deploy federal forces to Democratic-controlled cities throughout the country, including New York, to suppress demonstrations that have continued since the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police on May 25. There have been reports of federal police in Detroit and other cities.

Nikki Stone is a homeless youth who has been participating in protests throughout the city. The authorities have justified her chilling arrestwhich bystanders took to be a kidnappingwith allegations of vandalism, including spray painting the lenses of police cameras around City Hall Park. She was released from police custody early Wednesday and charged with several counts of graffiti painting and criminal mischief.

The citys Democratic mayor, Bill de Blasio, responded to the arrest by upholding the right of non-uniformed, unidentified NYPD officers to grab peaceful protesters off the street, while mildly criticizing the timing of the arrest.

This is not Portland, he said. I want to emphasize what you see on that video are NYPD officers, federal agencies are not involved! I think it was the wrong time and place to effectuate that arrest. I want to affirm very clearly, no one is allowed to damage police property. If you damage property it will lead to consequences.

As with Trumps attempted coup on June 1, the Democratic Party has downplayed the authoritarian and fascistic character of Trumps deployment of paramilitary federal forces, dismissing it is an electoral ploy to raise flagging poll numbers. At the same time they argue that they are capable of suppressing protests in the cities they control with heavily armed local police, bolstered when necessary by National Guard troops under the command of state governors.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate, gave a speech Tuesday in which he endorsed the prosecution of anarchists and arsonists and insisted that he would be better equipped to suppress popular anger by coordinating with local police forces. The Democrats have made clear that they are willing to collaborate with the Trump administration in suppressing protests as long as they retain a measure of control.

This isnt about law and order, Biden said of Trumps crackdown, its about a political strategy to revive a failing campaign. Every instinct Trump has is to add fuel to the fire. Thats the last thing, the last thing we need. We need leadership to calm the water and lower the temperature. Thats how we will restore peace in the streets.

On Wednesday, Oregons Democratic governor, Kate Brown, announced via Twitter that an agreement had been reached in negotiations with the White House for the Oregon State Police to take over policing the area around the federal court house.

Federal police, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, are set to begin a phased withdrawal from the city, while other agents from the Department of Homeland Security will remain inside the courthouse. CBP forces deployed last week to Seattle, Washington will also leave that city, following lobbying by Democratic Mayor Jenny Durkan and Governor Jay Inslee, also a Democrat.

State and local law enforcement will begin securing properties and streets, especially those surrounding federal properties that have been under nightly attack for the past two months, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said in a statement announcing the agreement. Oregon State Police will coordinate with Federal Protective Service (FPS) officers to ensure all federal facilities remain protected and secure.

Wolf added, President Trump has also made it clear that this Administration is ready and willing to partner with state and local law enforcement to protect every Americanand you see that commitment in Portland with this plan. The Department and this Administration will also continue to fulfill its solemn obligation to uphold federal law across the country.

While the Trump administration appears to have backed off for now on the deployment of federal forces against protesters in Portland and Seattle, the Justice Department is moving forward with an expansion of Operation Legend, an anti-violence initiative involving the deployment of nearly 100 officers from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Agency and other federal police agencies to Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Hundreds of agents have already been welcomed by Democratic mayors in Kansas City, Chicago and Albuquerque, with the assurance that the agents will aid in the arrest of those deemed chronic violent criminals by Attorney General William Barr.

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Plainclothes NYC police grab protester and throw her into unmarked car - WSWS

UAE partners with Airbus to launch satellite testing and assembly centre – The National

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The UAE's flourishing space sector is taking another leap forward as a satellite testing and assembly centre is prepared for launch in Al Ain.

Tawazun Economic Council has joined forces with major airline and aerospace manufacturer Airbus and the National Space Science and Technology Centre (NSSTC), at UAE and University, to drive forward plans to begin operations at the centre early next year.

The project will create 32 jobs, with 22 of the new employees to be Emirati.

Workers will receive training at Airbus facilities in France as well as locally.

The partnership was formed by Tawazun, a body which was was founded in 1992 to help develop a sustainable defence and security industry in the UAE.

"This is our second project after Yahsat, and there are many more projects to come, as Tawazun works to further develop the UAE space sector," said Matar Ali Al Romaithi, chief economic development officer for Tawazun.

"The UAE is building and acquiring the knowledge required to become a regional hub for space activities and advanced research and development.

"This centre is an integral part of those plans and consequently Tawazun has worked to make sure that it operates as a sustainable resource for the next five to seven years with a view to becoming permanent.

"We also value the significant contribution that Airbus is making to the Centres sustainability, as well as to the increase and development of our Emirati resource and expertise. NSSTC will accumulate critical knowledge from Airbus through this project, and our national competencies and skills will increase significantly."

The UAE successfully launched KhalifaSat, the first satellite designed, tested and manufactured entirely by Emirati engineers, from Japan in October, 2018.

This week, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre released new high-resolution images of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, captured by KhalifaSat.

The UAE's space sector has enjoyed remarkable success in recent years, with the launch of KhalifaSat followed by the country's first astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, travelling aboard the International Space Centre last September.

Only last month, the Hope probe began its milestone mission to Mars.

The Satellite Assembly, Integration and Testing Centre will develop and build communication, navigation and hyperspectral satellites ranging in size between 50 and 250 kilogrammes.

It will be based at the NSSTC site in Al Ain, with Airbus supporting the design, outfitting and commissioning of the facility.

Airbus will also manage the procurement, installation and operational qualification required for the equipment.

Airbus has pledged to play a leading role in bolstering the UAE aerospace industry.

"The space industry is an important and strategic sector for the UAE, as it enables the development of high-level skills and drives innovation," said Mikail Houari, president of the Mena region for Airbus.

"Airbus remains committed to supporting the advancement of all key elements of the UAEs aerospace industry. For many years, we have worked closely in partnership with the nations leading industrial entities to help create new technological solutions and provide global expertise and experience to local talent."

The growing UAE space sector has provided 3,000 jobs at 50 space related entities, five space research and development centres and three universities offering space degrees.

Emirati engineers with the Hope probe in the clean room at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre headquarters. Courtesy: MBRSC

The Hope spacecraft was delivered to Japan on board the world's largest cargo plane in April. The overall journey from Dubai to the Tanegashima Space Centre took 83 hours. Courtesy: MBRSC

The Japanese H-IIA rocket that will deliver Hope to space on July 15. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

The probe underwent several different tests in the clean room prior to its departure to Japan, including being exposed to extreme temperatures. Courtesy: MBRSC

The probe before the solar panels were installed. Courtesy: Wam

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, visited the Mohammed Bin RashidSpace Centreas the last external part of the Hope Probe was installed. Courtesy: Wam

"This is in line with the vision of the UAE government, achieving the goals of the national agenda through the implementation of contemporary, sustainable developmental projects," said Saeed Ahmed Ghobash, chancellor of UAE University.

The NSSTC was created by the UAE University alongside the UAE Space Agency.

"UAE University possesses distinctive scientific and technical capabilities that enable it to keep abreast of global trends in applied scientific research, the fourth industrial revolution, the requirements of artificial intelligence, and space science and technology. The universitys work contributes to the development of a knowledge and digital based economy."

The UAE Space Agency is funding the first two projects that will be completed under the management and operation of NSSTC.

The first will be a satellite that will augment navigational capabilities for the UAE and the second will be the Arab 813 Satellite.

Both projects are currently underway with the support of Airbus and will be completed at the new facilities.

Updated: August 5, 2020 05:02 PM

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UAE partners with Airbus to launch satellite testing and assembly centre - The National

June TechCred to Fund Record-Setting Number of In-Demand Credentials WKTN- A division of Home Town Media – WKTN Radio

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Next Round Launches Today

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)Lt. Governor Jon Husted, who serves as Director of the Governors Office of Workforce Transformation, announced today that 302 Ohio companies have been approved for TechCred funding, allowing them another opportunity to upskill their current and future employees with technology-focused skills.

The results of the June application period is evidence of the demand employers have for people with tech-focused credentials, said Lt. Governor Husted. These skills help create job security and higher wages for the employee and helps make sure Ohio employers have the talent they need to compete.

In May, updates were made to TechCred to support the changing needs of Ohio businesses and workers during the economic recovery amid the COVID-19 health crisis in anticipation of the June application period.

Following the June application period, applications were approved for 302 Ohio employers, funding 3,241 credentials that will help upskill Ohio workers. The increase in applications from employers proves that technology skills are more important for Ohio workers than ever. The June round was record setting, with a 101 percent increase in the number of credentials that will be funded compared to the January round, which was previously the most successful application period in the programs history.

TechCred is helping create a stronger workforce in Ohio, said Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. Employees are expanding their skills, and employers are getting the talent they need to grow their business.

In addition to the June awards, Lt. Governor Husted announced that the list of eligible TechCred credentials now includes examples of education and training providers that offer each certificate or certification as a resource to employers.

The examples listed under each credential are based on training provider submissions and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of providers offering each credential within the state or online. Employers are welcome to work with a training provider that is not listed.

The importance of upskilling as we continue through and emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated, said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor Randy Gardner. Education plays a vital role in keeping Ohios economy strong, and increased participation in the TechCred program bolsters Ohios workforce for the future.

To date, 695 Ohio employers have been allocated funding through four rounds, supporting 7,473 technology-focused credentials to be earned by Ohio employees.

The next application period of the TechCred program opens today, August 4th and closes on August 31st, allowing for another opportunity for current and incoming employees to earn tech-focused skills.

You can learn more about the program athttp://TechCred.Ohio.gov

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June TechCred to Fund Record-Setting Number of In-Demand Credentials WKTN- A division of Home Town Media - WKTN Radio

Managing air quality: Urban intergovernmental institutions appear to be logical choice – The Financial Express

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By KK Pandey

The municipal governance for ambient air quality (AAQ) has assumed special significance with the first-ever allocation of Rs 4,400 crore for FY21 by the Fifteenth National Finance Commission (NFC) to 50 urban agglomerations (UAs) as part of Rs 29,250 crore share of urban local bodies (ULBs). Water supply (WS), solid waste management (SWM) and roads that determine AAQ got further allocation for UAs and other ULBs for the same period.

Three important points deserve special attention of NFC, which is working out further details for the remaining period of its mandate: (i) the role and significance of municipal services in pollution caused by PM2.5 and PM10, (ii) institutional arrangements/governance, and (iii) mobilisation of funds at the city level.

First, adequacy of municipal services in terms of treatment of water, solid waste (household/municipal/electronic/end-of-use vehicles/hazardous /green leaves/construction and demolition waste, etc), roads, footpath, dividers/roundabout, greenery/plantation, maintenance of parks/lakes, etc, determine the levels of AAQ. It is estimated that 6.4% of GDP (largely in urban centres) is lost due to inadequacies in WS and SWM. The two are also important from the angle of resource efficiency/circular economy, where the output from one sector is used as input for another product. It is argued that 90-95% of solid waste can be processed for another input.

Second, the institutional arrangements and governance among UAs to protect air quality go beyond the administrative jurisdiction of cities. The 50 UAs have 264 ULBs and other census towns, villages, special townships (railways, industries, etc, with multiple institutional arrangements for municipal services). The National Capital Region (NCR), for example, involves administrative city (MCDs, NDMC, and Cantonment Board), physical city (Gurugram, Noida, etc) and the city region.

Third, the budgetary allocation to ULBs is not enough to meet the requisite actions. Requirements of funds (also indicating physical gap) are fairly high than NFC grant and kitty of municipal finance. HPEC report estimates investment requirements of Rs 31 lakh crore at 2010 prices in a 20 years perspective with 75%-plus share for WS, SWM and municipal roads.

Therefore, the urban intergovernmental institutions (centre, states and ULBs) appear to be the logical choice for the management of AAQ. The role of ministry of environment and forest/Central Pollution Control Board and their counterparts in the states is to supplement urban institutions with AQI and enable them to link NFC grants in the overall framework of NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) with a nodal agency role to largest ULB to manage AAQ in UA. The census towns should also be immediately upgraded as ULB status by their respective states.

At the same time, a five-year plan (physical/fiscal gap) should be worked out for entire UA. It should be based on environmental and energy audit as per the Model Municipal Law of 2003, which are yet to be applied. AAQ-related innovations such as C&D waste, participatory maintenance of parks, footpaths, etc, as applied in Ahmedabad, Indore, Delhi, Pune, and Namami Gange, etc, should be included. Certain cases, like the NCR, need specific arrangements.

Using NFC funds as seed capital, extra-budgetary resources from the community, corporate social responsibility funds and public-private partnerships need to be mobilised. The NFC grant also needs upward revision in proportion to the size of UA.

The author isProfessor, Urban Management, Indian Institute of Public Administration. Views are personal

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Managing air quality: Urban intergovernmental institutions appear to be logical choice - The Financial Express

Trump Tries to Make It Hard for Anyone Else to Behave Ethically, Either – The New Yorker

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Given what you know of the Trump Administration, you may not be shocked to learn thathidden away behind a wall of acronyms, and obscured in the recesses of the federal rule-making processit is doing its best to stall the trend toward ethical investing. The Department of Labor, in June, proposed changes to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that would make it hard for pension funds to steer money toward so-called E.S.G. fundsthose that put a priority on environmental, social, and governance factors, such as whether a company is switching to renewable energy or putting women on its board or treating its workers fairly.

A couple of caveats first: E.S.G. investing is no panacea. (A Blackrock E.S.G. fund, for instance, had ExxonMobil as its twentieth-largest holding at one point, which is roughly akin to the Vatican setting aside a corner of the Sistine Chapel for satanic rituals.) And, at this late date, the idea that green capitalism is going to single-handedly save the day seems absurd. Still, people have pensions, and theyre going to be invested somewhere. E.S.G. funds saw record growth in 2019, and that rise steepened as the pandemic hit. The rebound in civil society has been impressive, with an increase in volunteering, social cohesion, community support and focus on public good vs. private freedoms, JPMorgan said in a recent note to clients. We see the Covid-19 crisis accelerating the trend to ESG investment. Oh, and theres another reason: a Financial Times analysis in June found that, in the past decade, you made more money investing responsibly.

Who wouldnt like all this? Well, diehard libertarians clinging to the Milton Friedman theory that a corporation has no social responsibility beyond making money, and people who run unethical enterprises. This (often overlapping) set of players orbits in a loose constellation around the businessman in the Oval Office, who himself has never been accused of behaving ethically. Now Trumps Secretary of Labor, Eugene Scalia (the son of the late Supreme Court Justice), has proposed the rule changes, which would force pension funds seeking to invest ethically to jump through any number of hoops proving that theres no pecuniary difference with more cavalier holdings.

Happily, New York Statewhich is home to, among other things, a great many fundshas decided to fight back. Linda Lacewell, the states superintendent of financial services, wrote Scalia last week to say, In our view, the rise of ESG investing in recent years is a welcome development that reflects both a more sophisticated approach to investment and risk analysis and one more in line with the challenges facing investors today. As Ali Zaidi, who handles climate policy for Governor Andrew Cuomo, explained to me in an interview, the proposed rule is essentially an effort to take information away from the market. Whats really stunning, Zaidi added, is that it comes as the economic feedback to this incredible challenge we face in the form of the COVID crisis has actually reminded us how important E.S.G. and climate-risk analysis really are. In financial regulatory parlance, we talk about stress testing. In some ways, the stress testing is happening right now, and showing that a lot of these industries sit on a house of sand, not a firm foundation. That is to say, you better hope that you werent long on oil going into the pandemic, because you not only helped to wreck the planetyou also lost your shirt.

As Zaidi pointed out, like all else in our public life, the result of the Administrations efforts rests on the outcome of the November elections. The Department of Labors rule changes will probably come late enough in the Trump term that, if hes defeated, it will be relatively easy for Congress to overturn them. And Elizabeth Warren, who seems likely to wield some power on financial questions in a Biden Administration, has made it clear that shell have no patience for this kind of irresponsibility. As she wrote in a letter to the Wall Street Journal last month, Mr. Scalia seems to think that burying our heads in the sand and pretending that there is no risk to manage is risk management itself. If Mr. Scalia truly wanted to protect retirees, hed remove roadblocks to ESG investing, call on his colleagues to create strong ESG standards and support my Climate Risk Disclosure Act. The bottom line, as she points out, is that climate change threatens the stability of our economy. Indeed, as a new study published last Thursday makes clear, by 2100, as much as twenty per cent of global G.D.P. could be threatened by coastal flooding, in a worst-case scenario. Add in desertification, heat waves, agricultural collapsepretty soon, there isnt much of an economy left to worry about.

The situation seems obvious by this pointbut clearly not, at least in the Azkaban where American policy is currently formulated. Others, however, are catching on. Mark Fawcett, the chief investment officer for the National Employment Savings Trust, the United Kingdoms largest public pension fund by number of members, announced last week that it will begin to divest its massive portfolio from fossil fuels. Why? Just like coronavirus, climate change poses serious risks to both our savers and their investments, Fawcett said. It has the potential to cause catastrophic damage and completely disrupt our way of life. No one wants to save throughout their life to retire into a world devastated by climate change.

According to the World Bank, fashion is responsible for ten per cent of the planets greenhouse-gas emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Which is why its good that the fashion writer Shonagh Marshall has launched Denier, a Web site that features her conversations about the industrys relation to people, the planet, and profit. (And also a pretty good pun.) The sites early content includes a particularly fine colloquy with Liz Ricketts, of the Or Foundation, about what happens to the clothes that Americans give away to charities. I interviewed Marshall, whos based in New York, last week; our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Fashion, broadly defined, seems to be a large part of the climate equation. Is it possible to reimagine it as an industry? If so, is that reimagining under way, or is it mostly greenwashing so far?

It is possible to reimagine it, and I think the regenerative nature at the very core of the fashion industry makes it ripe for dreaming up new systems. There are a number of fashion designers that have built their businesses with concerns for the climate crisis at the center. They act as interesting case studies in that all the decisions they make have the well-being of people and the planet as a focus, even if this means forgoing profit. But there is a lot of greenwashing, and fast fashion and luxury design houses have done little to change all elements of their business. Often, they focus on one thing, such as carbon emissions, which is fantastichowever, as we know, this is just not enough! A brilliant resource to find out how well a fashion brand is doing across people, planet, and animals is Good on You. Fashion companies are rated from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Great), and it includes lengthy descriptions about why they are rated this way.

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Trump Tries to Make It Hard for Anyone Else to Behave Ethically, Either - The New Yorker

Teva and Alvotech Announce Strategic Partnership to Collaborate in the U.S. Biosimilar Market – Business Wire

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TEL AVIV, Israel & REYKJAVIK, Iceland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: and TASE: TEVA) and biopharmaceutical company Alvotech today announced that they have entered into an exclusive strategic partnership for the commercialization in the U.S. of five biosimilar product candidates. This strategic partnership combines Tevas long-standing commercial presence and extensive infrastructure in the U.S. market with Alvotechs scientific experience and state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing. The initial pipeline contains biosimilar candidates addressing multiple therapeutic areas.

Robert Wessman, Alvotechs founder and Chairman said, We are very proud to announce our strategic alliance with Teva a leading global pharmaceutical company, to accelerate the introduction and adoption of new biosimilar medicines for patients in the U.S. market. This is not only a big moment for the biosimilar industry but also a very special moment for Alvotech, as we continue to join forces with leading global and regional partners around the world.

This commercial partnership with Alvotech will enable Teva to lend its technical expertise in working with the FDA to bring products to the U.S. market while broadening its growing biosimilar portfolio and continuing to leverage its unique cross-functional expertise across both specialty and generic medicines, said Brendan OGrady, Executive Vice President and Head of North America Commercial at Teva. This collaboration is another step in our unwavering commitment to develop and enable access to quality medications to help improve the lives of patients."

Under this partnership agreement, Alvotech will be responsible for the development, registration and supply of the biosimilars, while Teva will be exclusively commercializing the products in the U.S. The originator products of these five candidates currently generate around $35 billion in U.S. sales. The agreement includes an upfront payment, with subsequent milestone payments over the next several years. Teva and Alvotech will share profit from the commercialization of the biosimilars. All other financial terms and product details remain confidential.

About Alvotech

Alvotech is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of high quality biosimilars for global markets. We are specialists in biotechnology, seeking to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-competitive products and services to our partners and to patients worldwide. Our fully integrated approach, with high-quality in-house competencies throughout the value chain, enables the accelerated development of biosimilar medicines.

Alvotechs initial pipeline contains several monoclonal-antibody and fusion-protein biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmunity, oncology, ophthalmology and inflammatory conditions to improve quality of life for patients around the world. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.alvotech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve peoples lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at http://www.tevapharm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding the strategic partnership with Alvotech for the commercialization in the U.S. of biosimilar product candidates, which are based on managements current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to:

the potential that the expected benefits and opportunities related to our collaboration with Alvotech may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected;

challenges inherent in product research and development, including uncertainty of clinical success and obtaining regulatory approvals for the biosimilar product candidates;

the commercial success of the biosimilar product candidates, if approved;

our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including: that we are substantially dependent on our generic products; consolidation of our customer base and commercial alliances among our customers; the increase in the number of competitors targeting generic opportunities and seeking U.S. market exclusivity for generic versions of significant products; competition for our specialty products, especially COPAXONE, our leading medicine, which faces competition from existing and potential additional generic versions, competing glatiramer acetate products and orally-administered alternatives; the uncertainty of commercial success of AJOVY or AUSTEDO; competition from companies with greater resources and capabilities; delays in launches of new products and our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product pipeline; ability to develop and commercialize biopharmaceutical products; efforts of pharmaceutical companies to limit the use of generics, including through legislation and regulations and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights;

our substantial indebtedness, which may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in additional transactions or make new investments, may result in a further downgrade of our credit ratings; and our inability to raise debt or borrow funds in amounts or on terms that are favorable to us;

our business and operations in general, including: duration, and geographic reach of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our business, financial condition, operations, cash flows, and liquidity and on the economy in general; interruptions in our supply chain, including due to potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and business in geographic locations impacted by the pandemic and on the business operations of our customers and suppliers; adequacy of and our ability to successfully execute and maintain the activities and efforts related to the measures we have taken or may take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated costs therewith; implementation of our restructuring plan announced in December 2017; challenges associated with conducting business globally, including adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, political or economic instability, major hostilities or terrorism; our ability to attract, hire and retain highly skilled personnel; our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products; compliance with anti-corruption sanctions and trade control laws; manufacturing or quality control problems; disruptions of information technology systems; breaches of our data security; variations in intellectual property laws; significant sales to a limited number of customers; our ability to successfully bid for suitable acquisition targets or licensing opportunities, or to consummate and integrate acquisitions; our prospects and opportunities for growth if we sell assets and potential difficulties related to the operation of our new global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system;

compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including: increased legal and regulatory action in connection with public concern over the abuse of opioid medications in the U.S. and our ability to reach a final resolution of the remaining opioid-related litigation; costs and delays resulting from the extensive governmental regulation to which we are subject or delays in governmental processing time including due to modified government operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic and effects on product and patent approvals; the effects of reforms in healthcare regulation and reductions in pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement and coverage; governmental investigations into S&M practices; potential liability for patent infringement; product liability claims; increased government scrutiny of our patent settlement agreements; failure to comply with complex Medicare and Medicaid reporting and payment obligations; and environmental risks;

other financial and economic risks, including: our exposure to currency fluctuations and restrictions as well as credit risks; potential impairments of our intangible assets; potential significant increases in tax liabilities; and the effect on our overall effective tax rate of the termination or expiration of governmental programs or tax benefits, or of a change in our business;

and other factors discussed in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections captioned "Risk Factors and Forward Looking Statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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Teva and Alvotech Announce Strategic Partnership to Collaborate in the U.S. Biosimilar Market - Business Wire

SpaceX Wins FCC Approval To Test Starlink Ground Stations In 6 States – Wccftech

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A cluster of 60 SpaceX Starlink satellites before launch on January 29, 2020. The launch, believed to have cost SpaceX $50 million, was the company's third launch of an operational batch of Starlink satellites. (Image Credit: SpaceX)

Hawthorne, California-based astronautic launch services provider and equipment manufacturer Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) plans to diversify its operations through launching an internet network consisting of non-geostationary satellites and ground base stations. Dubbed as Starlink, this network eventually intends to function on its own through using lasers for relaying data between the satellites to ensure global coverage.

SpaceX's plans for Starlink have however come under the scrutiny of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is yet to decide on whether to maintain the company's preferential access to certain frequency bands. Additionally, the Commission is also yet to change its mind about Starlink being 'experimental' in nature; a shift that will qualify the network to receive American government funds for providing internet access to users in rural areas.

SpaceX Invests $70 Million In 12GHz Starlink Terminal Production

To this end, Starlink just scored a big win from the FCC as the regulatory body has granted SpaceX Services Inc. temporary authority to operate Starlink ground stations located in six American states. The approval comes following SpaceX's decision to file the Special Temporary Authority (STA) request with the FCC in mid-June.

For the initial stage of Starlink's launch, SpaceX will have to use ground-based Earth stations to operate the network and provide users with the ability to connect with internet servers. The company requested the FCC to allow it to temporarily operate six Earth stations in different American states to test these ground stations and the satellites, in an attempt to ensure that the network performs according to expectations once it is launched commercially later this year.

The six ground stations for which SpaceX has received FCC approval are located in Hitterdal, MN; Tionesta, CA; Robertsdale, AL; and Baxley, GA, Butte, MT; and Colburn, ID. For uploading data from the stations to the Starlink satellites, the company intends to use the 28.6-29.1 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz spectrums and for downlink, it intends to use the 17.8-18.6 GHz and 18.8-19.3 GHz.

The Falcon 9 Block 5 (Booster B1049.5) with the eighth batch of Starlink satellites lifts off on 4th June 2020 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. (Image: SpaceX livestream)

FCC's approval also requires SpaceX to be responsible for any interference that might occur with existing users of the aforementioned spectrum bands. Specifically, they are tilted against SpaceX due to the facts. that while the company is responsible for not willfully causing interference with other, current users of the band and that it is not liable to receive any protection from said interference, should this interference occur then SpaceX is required to stop broadcasting from the ground station that is responsible for the occurrence and proceed to inform the FCC of the event.

Each of SpaceX's gateway Earth stations featureseight antennas which are manufactured by in-house by SpaceX. The antennas come with minor and major diameters of 1.5 meters each, are located 3.2 meters above ground level, have an input power of 50 Watts and Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) of 66.5 decibel-Watt. EIRP is an indicator of the antenna's maximum power output in a single direction.

SpaceX's STA period commences today and it will last for 60 days before ending in September. In the narrative for the authorization request, the company directly tied the grant to its ability to refine Starlink for creating a network that is capable of serving populations in areas that are typically either deprived of internet connectivity or where users find it difficult to obtain coverage. SpaceX is also required to coordinate with any federal users of the frequency bands in which it has been authorized to operate, and the approval comes as the company prepares to expand the number of Starlink satellites orbiting the Earth by conducting more launches.

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SpaceX Wins FCC Approval To Test Starlink Ground Stations In 6 States - Wccftech

Can the Turkish Military’s Fight Against the Pandemic Set an Example for NATO? – The Jamestown Foundation

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In March 2020, eight personnel in the German-led, multinational North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) battalion in Lithuania tested positive for the novel coronavirus (The Baltic Times, March 24). From a defense-planning standpoint, the spread of COVID-19 to the Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) units stationed along the Alliances eastern flank marked a critical challenge. Worse, several military exercises, most notably Defender Europe 2020, had to be canceled or dramatically scaled back, raising concerns about whether NATO countries would be able to maintain combat readiness at adequate levels in the midst of the global health crisis. But at the same time, the Turkish Armed Forces have remained busy pursuing a heavy agenda beyond the countrys borders, even though NATOs southeastern-most member was hit fairly hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

Despite the pandemic and growing bio-security threat, the Turkish Armed Forces actually stepped up their combat operations. The Turkish Naval Forces have been pursuing a robust buildup in the Mediterranean Sea and recently intensified their deterrent presence off the Libyan coast (Yeni afak, July 7). The Turkish Land Forces have also been quite active. In Northern Iraq, Operation Claw-Tiger (Pene Kartal Operasyonu) targets the Kurdistan Workers Partys (PKK) logistical infrastructure, arsenal and militants (Msb.gov.tr, June 30). In tandem, the Air Force continues to strike at PKK positions in northern Iraq (Sabah, June 25).

In June 2020, the Turkish navy once more assumed command of Combined Task Force 151 to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalias coast. In early July, Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar paid a visit to Libya, where Ankara has forward-deployed contingents in support of the United Nationsrecognized Tripoli government (Msb.gov.tr, July 7, 18).

Three important factors regarding the Turkish Armed Forces deserve mention before going into the details of how Ankara has managed the situation. First, Turkey is one of the few NATO member states that still employ conscription. This fact looms large as the biggest hardship and risk amidst the quickly and readily spreading coronavirus pandemic. Second, the Turkish military has an expeditionary posture. It has forward-deployed units and overseas bases in many countries and regions, such as Libya, Syria, Cyprus, Iraq, Somalia and Qatar (TRT Haber, January 3). Likewise, the Naval Forces sail beyond coastal waters regularly. At present, for example, one-quarter to one-third of the frigate arsenal operates in and near Libyan waters (Yeni afak, January 25). Third, the Turkish military is not a ceremonial or parading force. It fights, and it fights hard. Over recent years, Turkish generals planned and executed fierce campaigns against the PKK, Islamic State, the Syrian Arab Army and accompanying Iranian-backed Shiite militias at Turkeys doorstep. Overall, the Turkish Armed Forces cannot risk being pinned down by bio-security threats. The wars go on.

To weather the storm, at the outset of the pandemic, Turkeys Ministry of Defense established the Center for Countering the Coronavirus (Koronavirus ile Mcadele MerkeziKOMMER) to tackle the outbreak within the militarys ranks. In a joint-force planning fashion, the KOMMER incorporated the General Staff, all military branches, Turkeys four field armies, the naval fleet as well as each of the airbase commands (Anadolu Agency, June 7). By doing so, the defense ministry centralized its health-tracking databases and necessary countermeasures.

Dronization has been another factor that helped the Armed Forces. In many frontiers, Turkeys generals were able to rely on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to achieve mission objectives with a limited troop footprint (TRT World, May 22; Al Jazeera, May 28; Mei.edu, March 26).

Apart from establishing the KOMMER and using UAVs extensively, the Turkish military closed its facilities, units and headquarters to outsiders. The navy, meanwhile, sailed its ships away from the homeports and kept the critical personnel away from the rest of the Armed Forces and society. The 2nd Field Army, which is responsible for the Middle Eastern frontier, did its best to isolate the forward-deployed elements in Syria and northern Iraq. Additionally, the defense ministry assigned Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense teams to combat formations in high-risk areas to provide additional protection (TRT Haber, June 7). As a result, Turkeys military operations were not plagued by the coronavirus.

One thing the coronavirus pandemic reminded war planners of is the bio-security aspect of military campaigns. Since ancient times, wars have centered on the soldier, for most of human history accompanied by other animals, such as horses, oxen and elephants. All living things are, of course, to one degree or another, vulnerable to microscopic pathogens and environmental conditions. With the Second World War, the mechanization of warfighting inevitably replaced the non-human part of traditional warrior packs. However, people must still man main battle tanks and fly fighter aircraft.

In terms of temporary strategies to weather, or mitigate the effects of the pandemic, the Turkish military did well, and it was able to continue fighting effectively in multiple fronts beyond Turkeys borders. However, over the longer term, Turkey and other NATO countries will need to find and adopt more sustainable solutions to ensure uninterrupted high-readiness levels. The progressive introduction of ever-larger numbers of robotic systems to battlegrounds and exercises may offer some relief. Likewise, AI-assisted multi-national exercise simulations could replace some, albeit not all, military drills. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the limits of human planning and operations in the midst of a crisis. As the classic Latin adage goes, Si vis pacem, para bellumif you want peace, prepare for war. Turkey and its NATO allies will, thus, need to spend the next several years preparing to do so under more daunting bio-security conditions.

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Can the Turkish Military's Fight Against the Pandemic Set an Example for NATO? - The Jamestown Foundation

In the North Atlantic, NATO navies are practicing to take on a wave of Russian submarines – Business Insider – Business Insider

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NATO navies converged in the North Sea in late June for this year's Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine-warfare exercise, reflecting a growing focus on countering enemy submarines amid "great-power competition" with Russia and China.

During the exercise, US Navy destroyer USS Roosevelt and four other surface ships took turns hunting and being hunted by Navy fast-attack sub USS Indiana and four other subs in the waters off Iceland.

"It was fantastic because we would have such a small, confined area that it forced interaction between the submarine and the surface ships," Cmdr. Ryan Kendall, commanding officer of the Roosevelt, said in an interview.

Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent with Allied warships, including USS Roosevelt, left, at the end of Dynamic Mongoose, July 9, 2020. British Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

Roosevelt and its counterparts brought helicopters with dipping sonar and torpedoes. Five maritime patrol aircraft, including a US Navy P-8 Poseidon, also took part.

"We'd all take turns controlling the aircraft and controlling the helicopters in the air. So we would have the P-8 come out, drop some sonobuoys, and help us localize" the sub, Kendall said. "Surface ships would come in to get closer to see if we could get our towed array or our whole active sonar on the submarines."

The Roosevelt's AN/SQQ 89A(V) 15 sonar "is one of the most advanced in the Navy," Kendall said. "We have an MH-60R helicopter with an active dipper, so we're able to use the tag team of Roosevelt and our active sonar and passive sonar, as well as our multifunctional towed array, to localize the submarine and then use our helicopter to pounce."

Subs like Indiana "mesh with the other parts of the team who can provide fast response and broad area coverage," said Cmdr. David Grogan, commanding officer of USS Indiana.

"We represent the persistent, in-stratum asset who can effectively use the underwater environment to maximize detection and engagement possibilities of an adversary submarine," Grogan added.

NATO ships and subs during exercise Dynamic Mongoose, July 2020. British Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

Dynamic Mongoose allows ships and subs to exercise in real-world conditions for an extended period, Kendall said.

US and French aircraft operated out of Iceland while British planes flew from Scotland. Ships dealt with rough seas, and helicopters practiced staying aloft for extended periods.

"Normally when they execute a training scenario, it could be anywhere from two to three hours," Kendall said. "In this case, we were doing it for 12 or 22 hours straight, and you'd have watch-team turnovers."

Coordinating with aircraft and ships "can be complicated for a number of reasons," Grogan said. "Exposing my team to that, as well as learning to best employ each submarine, surface, and air asset ... was vital to expanding my team's ability within the greater ASW effort."

Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton, left, British frigate HMS Kent, right and a German diesel submarine, center, during Dynamic Mongoose, July 2020. British Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

Subs were also able to use "the environment and ... water temperature, salinity, depth, [and] bottom contours to evade us or to hide so that they can into an advantageous position to attack us," Kendall added.

Roosevelt analyzed the water "hour by hour, day by day," Kendall said, because changes in it mean "we'll get different ranges on our sonar" though Grogan said the "only tangible difference onboard in colder water is the presence of an extra sweater here or there."

"You can't do synthetic training pier-side with a computer-generated model for ... tracking real-world submarines," Kendall added. "You have real people making real decisions, and you have consequences for those decisions."

NATO ships during Dynamic Mongoose, July 2020. British Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

Russian and Chinese submarine fleets have gotten bigger and better, and the US Navy has dedicated more time and resources to ASW.

"They finished fielding the P-8, they're putting the new AN/SQQ 89 sonar system onto all the destroyers, and they've been investing in some unmanned systems for anti-submarine warfare," said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and former special assistant to the Navy's chief of naval operations.

They're also practicing more. "Dynamic Mongoose is one example," Clark said, citing recent exercises above the Arctic Circle.

"The most important mission for those deployments was anti-submarine warfare basically looking for Russian submarines deploying out of their bases in the Kola Peninsula," where the powerful Northern Fleet is based, Clark added.

Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of USS Roosevelt at the end of Dynamic Mongoose 2020, July 9, 2020. US Navy/MCS Seaman Austin G. Collins

During the Cold War, the Greenland-Iceland-UK Gap was an important chokepoint between that Russian fleet and the Atlantic. "We still rely on these chokepoints as kind of the line in the sand," Clark said.

Russia subs passing through that gap could threaten Europe's links to North America in a war. (A Russian ship monitored Dynamic Mongoose but "didn't affect the exercise at all," Kendall said.)

"There's a big concern on the US part about even a couple Russian nuclear submarines making it past the GIUK gap, because they can then just drift around in the Atlantic until they can track down a US [ballistic missile sub] or threaten the US coast," Clark added.

Subs and aircraft assumed much of the ASW mission after the Cold War, but the Navy has invested in more surface-ship ASW because that sub fleet which will shrink in coming decades as older Los Angeles-class subs retire now has many other missions.

Surface ships are also now the primary missile-defense platform and are responsible for maritime security operations, meaning ASW "is another mission on top of all the other missions they've got to do," Clark said.

A US Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter prepares to land on the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt in the Atlantic Ocean, August 4, 2013. US Navy/MCS2 Samantha Thorpe

Dynamic Mongoose illustrates the mismatch, Clark said. "Every time the Russians deploy a ... nuclear submarine down through the GIUK gap, we deploy a dozen airplanes or ships to go up there and track it. So the Navy just isn't set up to be able to do ASW at any scale."

Dynamic Mongoose involved five submarines, but Russia can muster more.In October, Russia's Northern Fleet reportedly sent 10 subs toward the Atlantic to test NATO's detection abilities and show it could threaten the US.

"These submarines are really hard to track unless you want to put one of our submarines on it," Clark said, "and we don't have enough submarines to do that."

Clark argues more unmanned vehicles should be acquired and used to suppress some subs while manned assets to pursue the subs that need to be eliminated.

"You have to decide which submarines are ... ones you have to sink and which ones can you accept just harassing and suppressing, because you don't have enough submarines to go try and kill every opponent submarine," Clark said.

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In the North Atlantic, NATO navies are practicing to take on a wave of Russian submarines - Business Insider - Business Insider

Romania Ready to Welcome US Troops Removed From Germany – Balkan Insight

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Romanias President Klaus Iohannis (2-R) visits the Mihail Kogalniceanu military airport, 250 east of Bucharest, June 13, 2017. Archive photo: EPA/Bogdan Cristel

Hours after Washington announced on Wednesday that 11,900 US troops in Germany would be redeployed to reinforce NATOs southeastern flank, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed appreciation for the move and reaffirmed that US troops are always welcome in Romania.

Speaking on Wednesday, Iohannis deemed the US decision very important for Romania, and recalled that he and the Bucharest government had long been stressing the need of [deploying] more troops in the Black Sea zone.

If this happens, we are very satisfied, said Iohannis, who added that the details of a potential redeployment to US troops to Romania would be discussed at NATO level.

Romania is one of the staunchest allies of the US in Europe. Bucharest already hosts a military NATO airbase with an American presence by the Black Sea as well as a missile shield base.

Particularly after the Russian annexation of the Crimea in 2014, the Black Sea region has become a place of mounting tension between Russia, which has deployed more military capabilities in the area, and the US and NATO.

As a firmly pro-Western country and NATO member since 2004, Romania is a cornerstone of the US architecture of deterrence of Russia in the region. In response to Moscows growing activity and presence in the Black Sea, Bucharest has boosted its own military investment in recent years.

Romanias National Defence Strategy for 2020-2024 mentions Russias aggressive behaviour in the region as one of the major strategic threats facing the country.

The new strategy was adopted last month by the Romanian parliament. In a clear reference to the US, Russia has accused Bucharest of being subservient to third parties and their agendas at the expense of its own interest.

The US restructuring of its presence in Europe was outlined on Wednesday by Washingtons Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper.

Approximately 11,900 military personnel will be repositioned from Germany, with nearly 5,600 repositioned within other NATO countries and 6,400 returning to the United States to address readiness and prepare for rotational deployments, the US Department of Defense explained.

The plan will consolidate headquarters to strengthen operational efficiency to focus on readiness, and place rotational forces in the Black Sea region on NATOs southeastern flank, it added.

This makes Romania a prime candidate to host, on a permanent or rotational basis, part of the US troops being moved from Germany.

The reshaping of US defence architecture in Europe serves the purpose of enhancing deterrence of Russia as its first priority, Esper highlighted.

By strengthening military capabilities in the Black Sea, the US seeks to prevent further Russian aggression against NATO allies in the region.

The US plans to invest 130 million dollars in turning the old airbase of Campia Turzii, in central Romania, into a hub of the US Airforce operations in southeastern Europe from which more fighter planes rotations can be conducted.

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Romania Ready to Welcome US Troops Removed From Germany - Balkan Insight

Poland Agrees To Pay Almost All Costs of US Troop Presence – Breaking Defense

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American and Polish soldiers during an exercise at a Polish base.

WASHINGTON: The Polish government will pay the majority of costs associated with stationing 5,500 US troops at bases within its borders as part of a new security cooperation pact, the Pentagon has confirmed to Breaking Defense.

The deal comes as the Trump administration keeps prodding longtime allies like South Korea and Japan to pay more of the costs of tens of thousands of US troops within their borders, while President Trump has complained that countries like Germany dont meet defense spending goals outlined by NATO.

But Poland, which already meets the NATO-mandated goal of spending 2 percent of GDP on national defense by 2024, has agreed to take more US forces, aircraft and drones while footing what is likely to be a hefty bill to build infrastructure for those forces as they flow in and out of the country on a rotational basis.

Warsaw has agreed to fund infrastructure and logistical support to U.S. forces in Poland, including the current 4,500 rotational forces and the planned increase of 1,000 additional rotational forces, Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesperson said.

The final amount isnt clear. The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement has been agreed to, but will not be signed for several weeks yet, and no infrastructure improvements that might be needed have not been started. Iin broad terms, Poland has agreed to fully fund infrastructure for:

In a Monday morning statement, Esper said the new deal will enhance deterrence against Russia, strengthen NATO, reassure our Allies, and our forward presence in Poland on NATOs eastern flank will improve our strategic and operational flexibility.

The Polish deal comes as the US is in the early stages of planning to pull 12,000 troops from Germany and remains locked in a spending dispute with South Korea over Trumps demand Seoul pay more to keep the 28,500 American forces in the country.

During a Pentagon briefing last week, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs John Hyten repeatedly made the case that moving the Germany-based troops back to the US, Belgium and Italy, is a strategic decision that will benefit the US and NATO. Within minutes of that press conference however, Trump contradicted his military leaders from the White House lawn, saying he ordered the pullout so the US wont be suckersso were reducing the force because theyre not paying their bills. Its very simple, theyre delinquent.

Trump again conflated the 2 percent NATO pledge with payments to the alliance itself. Germany, despite being the wealthiest nation in Europe, continues to fall well below that mark.

Relying on Polish construction efforts has recently cost the Pentagon about $100 million in cost overruns however.

Europes second Aegis Ashore site based in Redzikowo, Poland, was supposed to be up and running in 2018, but problems with local contractors have pushed that back to 2022 and will cost the US an additional $96 million in 2021, according to budget documents. The Missile Defense Agency stopped paying the contractor in the spring due to the schedule slippages; work has since resumed.

Stepping in to foot the bill while fulfilling its NATO pledge Warsaw is ticking off all the boxes demanded by the White House to maintain and improve its relationship with Washington.

Esper has recently acknowledged he is considering adjustments to the American military presence in South Korea, but clarified that he has issued no order to withdraw troops, despite reports suggesting a drawdown is being considered by Pentagon leadership.

Under the previous agreement between the US and South Korea, which ended in December, South Korea agreed to pay $870 million for 2019. The Trump administration originally demanded $5 billion in 2020 to keep the US footprint as is. That was rejected by the South Korean government, who then agreed to pay the salaries of thousands of Koreans who had been furloughed from their jobs on American bases. Since that tweak, talks between the two sides have stalled.

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Poland Agrees To Pay Almost All Costs of US Troop Presence - Breaking Defense

China Has Become More Powerful, Wealthier & Dangerous Than USSR Ever Was! – EurAsian Times

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As China continues to challenge India up in the Himalayas and provoking neighbours in the South China Sea, a paper written by top defence leaders including a former secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), says that NATO immediately needs to adjust its response to the threat posed by China.

From Afghanistan To Syria This Is How Rafale Jets Have Dominated Skies Without Ever Being Shot-Down

Experts have predicted that China could become more powerful than the USSR ever was, if the current pattern continues.This is in reference to Chinas increasing aggressiveness with several countries including India, Japan and its actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

It is clear that President Xi Jinping remains committed to the modernisation of the Peoples Liberation Army by 2035 and its transformation into a world-class military by 2049, stated the paper. Recent events demonstrate the determination China has to bring Hong Kong under its firm grip, raising grave concerns for its future as well as that of Taiwan, it added.

In a report accessed byExpress, the paper is published by the Policy Institute and authored by George Robertson, who was the secretary-general of NATO 1999-2004. It has been co-authored by Michael Fallon, UK secretary of state for defence, 2014-17; Catherine Ashton, the EUs first high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, 2009-14; Peter Ricketts, UK permanent representative to NATO, 2003-06, and UK national security advisor, 2010-12; Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, 2006-07, and the partys former spokesperson for foreign affairs and defence; and Benedict Wilkinson, Director of Research at the Policy Institute, Kings College London.

The paper talked about the ongoing border dispute with India where Indian and Chinese troops got into a violent clash in the Galwan valley of Eastern Ladakh. The clash resulted in 20 Indian casualties and an unconfirmed number on the Chinese side.

Chinas argument with India, and ongoing disputes with Japan, demonstrate preparedness to press territorial claims from the Himalayas to the South China Seas, asserted the paper.

In 2019, NATO leaders acknowledged that the alliance needs to address Chinas growing influence that presents both opportunities and challenges. NATO needs to develop a coherent policy towards China that includes conflict-avoidance and de-escalation.

Chinas actions are pushing NATO to look at Asia, a new change thats bothering an alliance which was created to protect Europe against the Soviet Union and then Russia. With US President Donald Trump pushing European nations to ramp up its military capabilities and to persuade them to join it in confronting an increasingly assertive China, NATO has clearly been facing a dilemma. European nations still see China as an economic partner. However, in December last year, alliance members specifically mentioned China for the first time in their declaration after the NATO Summit.

NATO has been long worried about Russia and has largely been silent on China. However, that is now changing. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenbergcalled onthe alliance to stand up to Beijings bullying and coercion, emphasising how Chinas rise is radically shifting the global balance of power.

It is clear that NATO can no longer ignore the threat. If the alliance hopes to remain competitive, it will have to develop a new strategy for dealing with Beijing.

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China Has Become More Powerful, Wealthier & Dangerous Than USSR Ever Was! - EurAsian Times

‘Naming The Tree’ | Circle Round 103 | Circle Round – WBUR

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Ever heard the saying, Bigger is better?

Story continues below

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Well guess what?

Its not necessarily true!

In todays story, well meet a character whos anything but big. But when it comes to patience, focus and creativity shes huge!

Our story is called Naming the Tree. Versions of this tale come from parts of Africa. Our adaptation continues our 2020 summer series with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and features musical accompaniment by BSO tuba player Mike Roylance.

Voices in this episode include Gabriela Fernandez Coffey, Kevin Corbett, Jessica Rau, Jefferson Russell, Chris Tucci, Craig Wallace, Laura K. Welsh and Chloe Coleman. Kids, you can see Chloe in Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made on Disney+. And grown-ups, look for Chloe in Upload on Amazon, Big Little Lies on HBO, as well as the feature film, My Spy.

Coloring Page

ADULTS! PRINT THISso everyone can color while listening. Were also keeping an album so share your picture onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRound. We'd love to see it! To access all the coloring pages for past episodes clickHERE.Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about herHERE.

Things To Think About After Listening

Think about a time you felt strong - in body, or mind, or both.

Find a piece of paper and something to draw with, then create a picture that shows your experience. Once youre done, show it to a grown-up in your life, and tell them all about it. Then ask your grown-up to describe a time they felt strong.

Musical Spotlight: Tuba

Appearing first in the mid-1800s, the tuba is one of the newer instruments in the modern orchestra. Its also the lowest-pitched member of the brass family. Composer Eric Shimelonis chose the tuba to accompany this story because its deep, booming sound echoes the rich, low voice of Elephant - and suggests the slower, steadier pace of Tortoise!

Script:

NARRATOR: Long ago back when animals ruled the earth a great drought came to the land.

Not one drop of rain fell from the sky, so the ground grew scorched, baked and dusty and the long, tall grass shriveled, withered and wilted.

The great drought led to a great famine, and the animals roamed the plains, searching for something anything! to fill their bellies.

But they couldnt find a thing to eat.

Until...

ANIMAL 1: / ANIMAL 2: / ANIMAL 3: / ANIMAL 4: / ANIMAL 5: Wooooowwwwwww!

NARRATOR: Miraculously, sprouting up in the middle of the vast, sunburnt plains was a lofty, leafy tree, with a thick, gnarled trunk. The trees strong, sturdy branches were bursting with ripe, fragrant, juicy fruit all of them different colors of the rainbow!

As the animals gaped at the tree with watering mouths, Elephant used his strong, grey trunk to grasp one of the plump fruits. He gave the fruit a tug but it held fast to the branch.

ELEPHANT: Ahhhh just as I suspected!

NARRATOR: Elephant let go of the fruit and turned to his fellow animals.

ELEPHANT: My friends! Ive heard stories about this tree... Legend has it its a magic tree! And its rainbow-colored fruit will cling to its branches and never come off... unless we can say the trees name.

NARRATOR: The animals were intrigued.

ANIMAL 1: Okay

ANIMAL 2: So, whats the name of the tree, Elephant?

ANIMAL 3: Yes! Whats the name of the tree!?

ANIMAL 4: Tell us what it's called!

ANIMAL 5: Tell us the name!

ANIMAL 1: / ANIMAL 2: / ANIMAL 3: / ANIMAL 4: / ANIMAL 5: (ad-lib excited pleas to hear the trees name, to say the name and get fruit, how hungry they are, etc.)

NARRATOR: Elephant held up his trunk. The animals quieted down.

ELEPHANT: The truth is, my friends... I dont actually know the trees name! The only one who does know is the king of the beasts himself Lion! (beat) So... my question is which one of you will go and ask Lion the name of the tree?

NARRATOR: The animals exchanged a nervous glance. All of them knew that Lion lived far across the plains, over the hills, and deep within the jungle! The great creature rarely emerged from his den, and he was always grouchy, grumbly and grumpy.

ELEPHANT: (encouraging) Oh, come now, friends! Surely one of you can visit Lion and find out the name of the tree...? So that we can enjoy this succulent, sweet-smelling fruit...? (beat) Anyone? (getting discouraged/frustrated) Anyone?

TORTOISE: Ill do it, Elephant!

NARRATOR: The animals all stared at Tortoise.

TORTOISE: Ill go and ask Lion the name of the tree!

NARRATOR: Elephant knelt down, lowered his trunk, and gave Tortoises tiny head a gentle pat.

ELEPHANT: (almost condescending) Oh, Tortoise. I appreciate your offer. But look at you! Youre so small! So slow! By the time you return from Lions den, all of us will have wasted away from hunger!

NARRATOR: Elephant got back to his feet.

ELEPHANT: No. We want to send someone whos swift... and nimble! Someone like

NARRATOR: His eyes darted from animal to animal.

ELEPHANT: like Hare! (beat) Hare, why dont you go across the plains, over the hills and into the jungle to ask Lion the name of the tree?

NARRATOR: Hare wiggled her slender ears and twitched her whiskery nose.

HARE: (flattered, becoming more confident) Well I am swift and nimble! The swiftest and nimblest, in fact! (beat) You know what? Ill do it!

NARRATOR: So swift, nimble Hare jumped across the plains, hopped over the hills, and leaped through the jungle, all the way to Lions den.

HARE: (cheery, chirpy) Hi there, Lion! Do you have a minute?

NARRATOR: Unbeknownst to Hare, Lion was about to settle down for a nap. The great beast lifted his shaggy, golden head and rolled his big, amber eyes.

LION: (tired, grumpy) I suppose I have a minute - but thats all! (beat) (grudging) What is it, Hare?

HARE: Well, Lion It hasnt rained in ages, and the animals are very hungry. But we found the magic tree in the middle of the plains! The one that grows juicy, rainbow-colored fruits! So I wonder, could you please tell me the trees name...?

NARRATOR: Lion opened his mighty jaws and let out a yawn.

LION: (yawn) So you wish to know the name of the magic tree in the middle of the plains that grows juicy, rainbow-colored fruits...? (beat) The name of the tree is (slowly) UWUNGELEMA [uh-WOONG-uh-LAY-muh]. [note: the oo is like spoon or moon.]

HARE: (slowly repeating) Uwungelema? [uh-WOONG-uh-LAY-muh] [note: the oo is like spoon or moon.]

LION: Thats right! Say that name and you and the other animals can eat as many juicy, rainbow-colored fruits as you want. (beat) Now beat it, Hare. I have a cat nap to take.

NARRATOR: Hares heart and legs were racing as she scurried away from Lions den.

HARE: (as she runs, super-excited) Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Well be stuffing ourselves on juicy, rainbow-colored fruit in no time thanks to my swift, nimble feet! (beat) Lets see how fast these babies can go!

NARRATOR: Hare began sprinting faster...

HARE: Woo-hoo-hoo!

NARRATOR: ...and faster

HARE: Look at me!!!

NARRATOR: ...and soon she was going so fast that as she burst out of the jungle and headed toward the hills...

HARE: (gasp)

NARRATOR: ...her paw got snagged in a vine hanging from a baobab tree!

HARE: Oh no!

NARRATOR: Hare wriggled this way and that as she scrambled to untangle herself from the creeper.

HARE: (fighting to untangle) Oh, come on! Come on!

NARRATOR: And when she finally broke free

HARE: Whew!

NARRATOR: ...she sped back over the hills and across the plains at such a breakneck pace, her slender body looked like a blur.

When Hare returned to the magic tree, Elephant and the other animals leaned in with hopeful eyes and bated breath.

ELEPHANT: Well, Hare? Tell us! Whats the name of the tree?

NARRATOR: Hare grinned.

HARE: (proudly) Okay, everybody. The name of the tree is (realizing shes unable to remember)... is ummmm

NARRATOR: Hare wracked her brain, trying to remember what Lion told her. But her unexpected tango with the vine had knocked the trees name right out of her head!

HARE: The name is... uhhhh ummmm (beat) (defeated, sheepish) I forgot!!!

NARRATOR: The animals faces dropped. Elephant shrugged.

ELEPHANT: Thats okay, Hare, thats okay. Well just have to send someone else.

TORTOISE: Well...? What about me?

NARRATOR: Once again, all eyes turned to Tortoise.

TORTOISE: I told you, Elephant! Ill do it! Ill go ask Lion the name of the tree!

NARRATOR: Elephant shook his head.

ELEPHANT: Thats very sweet of you, Tortoise. But like I said, youre just too small and slow! And besides, after what happened with Hare, we need someone who will actually remember what Lion tells them... Someone who wont forget... Someone who (beat, a-ha moment) wait a minute!

NARRATOR: His eyes lit up.

ELEPHANT: Thats me! Elephants never forget!

NARRATOR: It was true! Elephant had an excellent memory.

So, with his wrinkly, grey tail swinging behind him, Elephant set off for Lions den, to find out the name of the magic tree.

NARRATOR: What do you think will happen next?

Will Elephant learn the trees name and remember it?

Well find out, after a quick break.

[theme music in]

NARRATOR: Welcome back to Circle Round. Im Rebecca Sheir. Today our story is called Naming the Tree.

NARRATOR: Before the break, during a great drought and famine, the animals found a magical tree that was actually bearing fruit!

But the animals couldnt pick the fruit until they said the name of the tree and the only one who knew the trees name was Lion, who lived across the plains, over the hills, and deep within the jungle.

First, Lion told the name to Hare, but the swift, nimble creature rushed away so quickly that she got caught in a vine! And the name vanished from her head!

So Elephant volunteered.

The massive creature tromped across the plains, tramped over the hills, and trundled through the jungle, all the way to Lions den.

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Green and Growing: Plant blindness, a mower, and one unfortunate afternoon – theday.com

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I learned a hard lesson recently. It happened when a 3-year-old wet meadow and shrub area Id designed was accidentally mowed by a brush hog operator one afternoon in early July.

Tractor tires wreaked havoc on one-third acre of native warm-season grasses and sedges and flowering plants along the wetland edge. The brush hog chewed up about 40 young native shrubs, which looked like woody upstarts. (No mounds of mulch surrounded them.) The planting was almost three years old.

The operators explanation was simple and almost predictable: He saw a tall field, he had some time left after his primary mowing job on the same property. The operator thought hed do the owner a favor.

To his eye, he said, it looked like a bunch of weeds. No matter that to the birds, butterflies, bees, reptiles, and amphibians, it looked like a grocery store and a nursery for the next generation. That wasnt on his mind.

We could label the loss the result of incompetence, carelessness, a terrible mistake, or worse. Nothing could undo the damage, especially the years it had taken for the plants to mature.

Yet we all know that the tractor operator made a common assumption that earns him and thousands of others a paycheck: Tall vegetation is supposed to be mowed. It blocks peoples views. It triggers complaints about messiness. Mow it. Its always been that way.

But the mowers attitude may also be a result of a broader cultural problem, one that some in the horticulture world called plant blindness.

The phrase appeared for the first time in a 1998 guest editorial paper by science educators James Wandersee and Elisabeth Schussler. They defined plant blindness as the inability to see or notice the plants in ones own environment.

They observed multiple consequences from this bias, such as the inability to recognize the importance of plants in human affairs and natural processes, and the misguided, anthropocentric ranking of plants as inferior to animals, leading to the erroneous conclusion that they are unworthy of human consideration.

(Read more in their guest editorial in The American Biology Teacher Volume 61, Issue 2, available at online.ucpress.edu/abt.)

This perspective is nothing new in the 21st century, of course. It dates at least to the beginning of the 20th century when our recent ancestors abandoned farms in droves. Or, perhaps it dates from the more distant times when we no longer needed to be able to distinguish edible from poisonous plants or find fibers for homespun clothing or find medicine. We lost our need to see plants.

Unfortunately, our mental wiring may be part of the problem as well. Plants seem to be inanimate and easy to control. Wandersee observed that the primary problem might be due to the inherent constraints of [our] visual information processing systems. Animals are more noticeable. Were more likely to understand the consequences of animal encounters, both positive and negative.

This inability to see plants may have tragic future consequences, however.

Paradoxically, plants form the basis of most animal habitats and all life on earth, observed Wandersee and Schussler in 1999. More recently, Douglas Tallamy, author of Natures Best Hope and other works that alerts us to the insect apocalypse, summarized the profound role of plants in eight words: Plants, in essence, enable animals to eat sunlight, he says. Insects are the animals that are best at transferring energy from plants to other animals.

Can we afford to be plant-blind any longer?

Taking off the blinders

It would be nice to imagine the tractor operator, given the same encounter with a wet meadow, might pause and think: Thats a bird and pollinator habitat that doubles as wetland protection. Id better check with someone before I mow. This change of perspective is unlikely, however, without some new intentions on his part and a bit of education.

Here are a few ideas to help you and those you know overcome plant blindness.

First, check out this entertaining video essay by U.K.-based YouTuber Benedict Furness: bit.ly/plant-blindness.

For more fun, download an app called Picture This, available at picturethisai.com. Heres how it works: I was walking in a grassy field recently when I encountered an unusual plant. I snapped a picture with Picture This. The app, which is based on artificial intelligence, identified a green-fringed bog orchid in about two seconds. I have found it to be about 80 percent accurate, far more than other plant identification apps Ive tried.

If you enjoy crowd-sourced information, one of the most reliable and most popular sites is iNaturalist, available at inaturalist.org. Upload your photos and receive help from scientists, citizen-scientists, students of all ages, and the rest of us.

iNaturalist offers both plant and animal identification. It is a joint initiative by theCalifornia Academy of Sciencesand theNational Geographic Society.

If youre a Facebook user, the Plant Identification group (bit.ly/Facebook-plant-ID) helps with all sorts of plants, including houseplants and edibles.

If you want to know more about plant blindness, the Native Plant Conservation Campaign has more information at bit.ly/plant-blindness-page.

Above all, the next time you see a grassy meadow, chalk one up for pollinator and bird habitat. Make sure the mower stays in the shed.

Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer from Old Saybrook who writes and speaks about horticulture and ecology. Reach her through her website, speakingoflandscapes.com.

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Find the Original Source Image of your Favorite Movie – News Lagoon

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(Photo by A24)

Continuing our series of Ridiculously Early Oscar Predictions, we now move on to the gentlemen. As noted when we released our Ridiculously Early Best Actress predictions, it might seem ludicrous to start guesstimating contenders so soon, but the Oscar movie calendar is starting earlier and earlier as is awards season itself and the very notion of an Oscar movie is changing.

Our early Best Actor predictions list is supersized because we might be facing the most competitive race in the category in decades. The upcoming seasoncould evendethrone 1993, which is considered by many to be the most competitive year ever when it comes to Best Actor: Al Pacino(Scent of Woman) wonthe award over Robert Downey Jr. (Chaplin), Clint Eastwood (Unforgiven), Stephen Rea (The Crying Game), and Denzel Washington (Malcolm X).

The same storm of fierce competition is a-brewing for 2020. How do we know?Anumberof the filmslikely to be in the conversation have already screened at festivals and earned Tomatometer scores, and pundits are already singling out the major standout performances in them. There are also othersthat nobody has yet seen, but for which early pre-release buzzand expectations are high. With that said, some on this list may end up in the Supporting Actorcategory, and weve omitted names like Tom Hanks, who plays Mr Rogers inA Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,becausewebelieve hell be in that Supporting race.

Whether we like it or not, the campaigns are quietly underway, the conversation has started, and were now ready to join it. Ifhistory and basic math tell us anything, it is that most of these names wont make it to Oscar night, but were pretty confident many of them will be right up there in the awards chatter. So read on as we break down our ridiculously earlypicks for 2020 Best Actor contenders.

Dont agree with our picks? Have at us in the comments.

This fresh take on Bonnie and Clydecame from the mind of Lena Waithe and is based on a story by James Frey. (Yes, its the I lied to Oprah James Frey, but try not tohold that against the film.) In the debut feature film fromMelina Matsoukas (director of Beyonces Formation music video), we follow Queen and Slim, two strangers who end up on the run together and maybe fall in love. RT was lucky enough to screen a few minutes of the film, and whatwe saw was enough to make two bold predictions:Queen and Slimmight be in the awards conversation, and Daniel Kaluuya could very well pull another Oscar nod. WithGet Out andWidows, the Britishactorhas quietly morphed into one of the hottest young talentsworking; what he is able to to do in one conversation with co-star Jodie Turner-Smith is nothing short of spectacular.

Noah Baumbach was at one timeless than thrilled that his 2017 release The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) was picked up by streaming giant Netflix; he had beenvery much hoping for a traditional studio run. However, those ill feelings have seemingly subsided, as he chose to produce his latest film entirely under the Netflix banner. (Hes in good company at the streamer, withAva DuVernay, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Soderbergh all releasing projects there.) We have already singled out Scarlett Johanssons Marriage Story performance as one that couldgo the distance, and her co-star Adam Driver is rumored to be equally impressive. The movie tells the story of a bicoastal breakup and hasbeen described as a modern-day Ordinary People mixed with a dash ofKramer vs. Kramer; its saidto bepoignant, intimate, and like so many otherBaumbach films full of big laughs and tears. Speaking to IndieWirein July, theWhile Were Young director confessed the film defies categorization: [Marriage Story] isa hidden thriller, a procedural, a romantic comedy, a tragic love story. I felt like this was a subject that could handle all those things.

Apost-Fox merger world could provide Walt DisneyStudios with some chances at Best Actor trophies and, more importantly, something theyve never been able to get:a Best Picture Academy Award.You read that correctly: Disney has never won an Academy Award for Best Picture. Just let that sink in. With the Fox merger,Disneynow has a host of titles that will give ita competitive edge for awards, one of the biggest being Ford v. Ferrari. The movie tells the true-life tale of how the Ford Motor Companyworked tirelessly to build a car that could beat racing powerhouse Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1966. Starring Matt Damon as famed Ford car designer Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as racinglegendKen Miles, the films trailer promises a funny, fast-paced adventure. Both lead actors are coming off recent nominations Bale for Vice and Damon for The Martian andwith Logan and Walk the Line director James Mangold behind the camera, the odds are very much in their favor.

When Adam Sandler released his comedy special 100% Fresh earlier this year, everyone here at RT had to crack a smile. Though the comedians filmography,which is featured heavily in our upcoming book Rotten Movies We Love,is beloved by many, he has not been much of critical darling, especially lately. That being said, when Sandler teams up with indie directors, good things happen.The aforementioned The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) earned the former SNL star his best reviews in years, and Paul Thomas Andersons indie darling Punch Drunk Lovescored Sandler hisfirst Golden Globe nomination. In Uncut Gems, the New York native plays a celebrity jeweler from New Yorks famed Diamond District who is suddenly thrust into a race-against-the-clock-thriller to get back his merchandise or pay off his debts when one of his couriers is robbed. Robert Pattinson banged around the indie circuit withsome strongroles during and after his Twilight years, butit was his frantic performance as a bank robber in the Safdie Brothers Good Time that finally resurrectedhim in the minds of many critics. Its no wonder Sandler signed on to take the lead in their follow-up film.

Our new Batman and in this house, we do sayBattinson owes much to the Safdie BrothersGood Time for rehabbing his image in the minds of non-Twilightfans. (OK, and Claire Denis and David Cronenberg and other great indie directors hes been working with.) A supremely talented actor, he hasfought hard to do the kinds of roles that inspire him.Back in 2017 at the SavannahFilm Festival he said, I like finding directors who havent been fully realized by the wider world yet. The Lighthouse, whichwon the Cannes Critics Award, was one of the best-reviewed films of theFrench film festival. Those lucky enough to catch a screening have dubbed the story of two men trapped in an 1800s lighthouse a gothic horror masterpiece. Willem Dafoe, who last year pulled a nomination forthe Vincent van Gogh biopic At Eternitys Gate,is an Academy favorite with five career nominations, and as of today both he and R. Patz areright in the mix to score a nomination. Firstreviews out of the Cannes Film Festival predicted as much, and nothing has changed since then to slow down eithers momentum.

Last year, during the Oscars ceremony, as Netflix was racking up multiple wins from its15 nominations, the studio opted to play a teaserfor Martin Scorseses upcoming and long-awaited film The Irishman. It was a mic drop moment to be sure, and while the trailershowedno footage or even an official image, the names plastered on the screen were enough:Robert De Niro,Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, Martin Scorsese. In a script by Steven Zaillian, The Irishman follows Jimmy Hoffa and a cast of mob characters that includes his former bodyguard, who later confessed to murdering him. Recently, Netflix dropped the teaser trailer, providing a sneak peek ofThe Irishmanthat showed off its notorious use ofCGI technology to de-agethe older cast to their thirties, forties, and fifties.Using technology completely foreign to what weve seen in theMCU, or will see in Ang LeesThe Gemini Man starring Will Smith, The Irishman has positioned itself for multiple, possible double-digit nominations in technical and above-the-line categories, including possible nominations for its three leads. There isa tendency with awards films to categorize supporting performances as leads and vice-versa were looking you Alicia Vikander but from what we saw, De Niro was firmly in the lead category, with question marks forthe rest.

WhenTaron Egerton sat down with us earlier thisyear and broke down how hebecame Elton John,he confessed it was a transformative experience, nothing short of life-changing.It was something like that for many who watched it, too.The film premiered to acclaim at theCannes Film Festival earlier this year, andboth Egerton and his co-star Jamie Bell were singled out for their memorable performances. In an ultra-crowded field,Egertonhas a harder road to get to Oscar night than, say, Rami Malek had last year. His performance has the goods, but as our exhaustive list of lead and potential lead performances suggests, this year is going to be a murderers row of talent.

If Joaquin Phoenix can pull off another Oscar nomination for his upcoming role in Todd PhillipsThe Joker, he will officially be in Meryl Streep territory.Not to say he equals Streep inaccomplishments, but whenever he takes a role theres a safe bet hes going to be in the conversation even if its a comic-book movie. Its one of the reasons why were giving his performance in Todd Phillips take on the iconic Batman villain a chance.We dont know much about the film itself, which will debut at the Venice Film Festival, but weve detailed what we doknow about the upcoming feature here. One thing we know for sure is that this is a complete departure from the DCEU. Phoenix takes the lead as the titular villain, giving us a detailed backstory to Batmans greatest rival; and while many predict itwill borrow heavily from the comics, it remainsindependentfrom any previous origin story. The Gladiator star, whofell short of an Oscar nomination in 2018 for Lynne Ramsays You Were Never Really Here, looks to have dived headfirst into this new iteration of the character. And though Phillips is mostly known for comedies, he does seem to get the best out of his actors. After all, Bradley Cooper didnt show up for the Hangover III because he was bored.

Star power could be the thing that differentiates these two performances in a crowded field. Because, well, theyreLEO AND BRAD!Even if the duo doesnt campaign hard, their starry sheen and pedigreecould be enough to earn nominations. Also, they gave two of the most universally acclaimed performances of the year even if the movie they were featured in has divided some critics.DiCaprio is brilliant as the hapless, self-absorbed, aging TV star Rick Dalton, and Pitts quiet confidence and cocksure smile as strong and silent stuntman Cliff Booth have charmed both critics and audiences alike. Theyre dynamite together, too.Add in the fact thatbothstars and co-star Margot Robbie are staples on the awards circuit, with recent nominations (and a couple of wins), and youd be hard-pressed argue against eitherof them making the cut.

If you had told us, afterseeing his breakthrough performance in Robert RodriguezsDesperado, that Antonio Banderas wouldbe the frontrunner for a Best Actor prize some day, we would have said: Of course! He may have been a rarity in awards chatterover the past few decades, but Banderas hasalways had the chops. Action, romance, comedy, drama:TheMask of Zorrostar has excelled in all. This year, however, his eighth collaboration with director Pedro Almodvar could very well be his time. In a semi-autobiographical story about a filmmaker who struggles with pain and melancholy, partly inspired in part by 8 1/2,Banderas is vulnerable, heartbreaking, and captivating to watch. Since the film premiered at Cannes, Banderas has been getting buzz as believe it or not one of the few frontrunners who could unseat the likes of De Niro, DiCaprio, Pesci, or Pitt. A foreign language film is not the safest bet for an acting nomination stats-wise, but after AlfonsoCuarn won Best Director forRoma, anything is possible.

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Thumbnail image: Sony, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures

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Penn law and engineering students built these accessible tech projects for Philly nonprofits – Technical.ly

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A group of rising third-year law students at the University of Pennsylvania have teamed up with engineering students to create two tech-focused legal projects to be used by underserved communities navigating legal issues.

One project, a digital lockbox of sorts, will operate inside Broad Street Ministry (BSM) and be able to hold important documents like a birth certificate or medical records for housing insecure people. The other is a collaboration with Community Legal Services (CLS) on a form that would walk users through tricky tax law documents to see if in-person legal advice is needed.

The students work closely with Professor Cynthia Dahl, director of the Detkin Intellectual Property and Technology Legal Clinic, where she and students collaborate with startup founders on a variety of needs.

Zachary Furcolo and Maria Tartakovsky, both third-year law students with tech backgrounds, have spent the last academic year working on a guided interview project with CLS. The project is designed to help at-risk populations, like veterans or seniors, with property tax burdens.

In talking with CLS, we found out that people in these populations often come in when theyre about to get evicted, and CLS was looking for a way to get them enrolled before that happens, in a way that wouldnt force them to take off work and come in, Furcolo said. These forms and procedures can sometimes get a little complicated to fill out at home.

The tech behind the Property Tax Abatement Eligibility Survey aka the PhilaForm helps a user fill it out, asks questions and reminds them about documents they might need. It will also alert a user if theyre eligible for a number of tax programs. The tool itself is done, but the team is currently working with CLS and the engineering students who built the tool to vet it before rolling it out to the public.

But the group realizes theres work outside of creating the tool, Tartakovsky said. They also intend to target individuals or communities that could use the tool and promote it so that the public knows its available to them.

The group brought their project to the Iron Tech Invitational, a Georgetown University-based tech competition for the legal field. They didnt win, but it was a great experience to see that what the group thought was a niche area was actually being invested in by people across the country, Furcolo said.

For outreach purposes, the PhilaForm team identified property parcels that were likely to qualify for certain tax abatement programs and generated heat maps. (Courtesy image)

I do think AI in the legal space is looking pretty beneficial for lawyers, Tartakovsky said. Its important to make sure attorneys have access to relevant information, and the variables in place to help their clients. I think tech is proven to be prevalent in the legal space.

Another group of Penn students also created a project with Iron Tech standards in mind, although it didnt end up competing. Rising third year law student Matthew Copeland worked with a group of law and engineering students to develop a digital lockbox called Keep.id for BSM. Guests who use the nonprofits services could upload and have a place to store important documents so they wouldnt have to carry them around.

Copelands role involved learning data security law, which he said is ever-evolving in Pennsylvania. Currently, the project is being worked on by 13 independent contractors, all students or recent grads, from universities across the northeastern United States.

Having incorporated and secured an interest amongst our customers to beta test the product, were in the process just now of establishing a bank account for our organization and of setting up the nonprofit-focused (donations-focused) pages of the website, said the projects comms lead, Jackson Foltz.

Copeland said learning about the securities involved, like how the tech could be HIPAA-compliant, was difficult.

But its worth it having the guests have something to call their own, even if its digital, he said. Its work well worth it.

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Penn law and engineering students built these accessible tech projects for Philly nonprofits - Technical.ly

Lord Ram not the ‘property’ of BJP: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor – Deccan Herald

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With the Congress under attack from various quarters over what was seen by many as a subtle shift in its position on the Ram temple issue, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday rejected allegations that the grand old party was being "BJP-Lite" and asserted that Lord Ram is not the "property" of the saffron party.

Seeking to clear the air on what he said were "widespread misrepresentations" he had heard during the course of the day, Tharoor put out a series of tweets to spell out his party's stand on the Ram temple issue.

In his tweets, Tharoor also addressed those Muslims who say that they feel let down by the Congress and cited verses from the holy Quran, asking "who exactly betrayed you?"

"Not those who stand for an inclusive India, who have neither attacked you nor preached hatred against you," he said, addressing the section of Muslims riled by the Congress' stand.

Tharoor's remarks assume significance as they came after Indian Union Muslim League, a major ally in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, passed a resolution expressing displeasure over Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's statement on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Ahead of the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in Ayodhya, the Congress general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh issued the statement, hoping that the groundbreaking ceremony becomes "a celebration of national unity, fraternity and cultural affinity". Priyanka's remarks were seen by its allies, including the Muslim League, as a subtle shift in Congress' position on the emotive issue.

Several Congress leaders had also welcomed the "bhumi pujan" ceremony and hailed the Ram temple construction.

Former party president Rahul Gandhi said Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values and can never appear in cruelty, hatred or injustice.

Hitting out at the BJP, Tharoor said, "Shri Ram is not the property of BJP. He is the ideal man whose image is deeply etched in the hearts and minds of millions. Gandhiji always sang his hymns and died with "Hei Ram' on his lips. He talked about a Ram Rajya where all would live in peace and prosperity. Can't let his name be hijacked!"

The universal appeal of Ram and Sanatan Dharma cannot be commandeered by those who chant either hymns or slogans, he said, asserting that Lord Ram belongs to all humanity.

For Hindutva, Ram is a God to be worshipped; for Gandhi, Ram represented ideal qualities that every person should practise and seek to emulate, he said.

"Let's be clear: @INCIndia was NEVER opposed to the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, but to the criminal demolition of the Babri Masjid. In 1989, Rajiv Gandhi ji allowed VHP to do shilanyas on non-disputed land nearby as an alternate site: At the same time it was NOT Rajiv Gandhi who ordered opening of the locks at the masjid, but the district judge of Faizabad who ordered the locks to be opened in 1986!!" Tharoor said in his tweets.

"Whatever you feel about today's events, the Masjid's demolition is a blot on our conscience. As Rahul Gandhi said in 2007, 'My father said to my mother that he would stand in front of Babri Masjid. They would have had to kill him first'," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

Hitting out at some Left-liberal intellectuals accusing the Congress of being "BJP-Lite", Tharoor said many leaders welcomed the Ram temple after the Supreme Court judgement, but they did not instigate Hindus against Muslims.

"They did not make hate speeches against the Muslim community. They hailed the ideal Ram ji," he said.

"To those who insist there is no difference between the political parties in India, I ask: is there is no difference between those who would respectfully have come to an accommodation with the Muslim community on a Ram mandir, and those who, with rage and hate, destroyed the mosque?" the former Union minister asked.

Earlier in the morning, ahead of the foundation laying ceremony, Tharoor tweeted, "Lord Shri Ram epitomises justice for all, righteous conduct, fairness and firmness in all dealings, moral rectitude and courage."

"These values are much needed in such dark times. If they spread throughout the land, Ram Rajya would not be an occasion for triumphalist bigotry," he said, using the hash tag 'JaiShriRam'.

In a highly-anticipated event watched by millions on television, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day laid the foundation of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The wait of centuries has ended, Modi said after performing the groundbreaking ceremony, made possible by a Supreme Court verdict last year that allowed the construction of the temple at the site where the Babri mosque was demolished by kar sevaks in 1992.

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Search-and-rescue inquiry ‘better late than never,’ says former Torngat Mountains MHA – CBC.ca

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A former LabradorMHA who took part in the search for the missing Burton Winters in 2012 says he hopes the search-and-rescue inquiry will help improve future operations.

Randy Edmunds, Liberal MHA for Torngat Mountains from 2011 until he lost his seat to the PCs' Lela Evans last year, said it's good the inquiry will finally be going ahead.

"Better late than never. There's so many of us that spend time out on the land and out on the ocean in this province," Edmunds told CBC Radio's On The Go on Tuesday.

"Accidentshappen, people do get lost, and this inquiry I'm hopeful that we'll adjust protocols, adjust procedures and have a plan in the event that something like this happens again."

Details of the inquiry into Newfoundland and Labrador'sground search-and-rescue operations for lost and missing persons will be released this fall, the result of a process that began in 2018 after years of advocacy following the Burton's death.

Burton, 14, died afterhis snowmobile becamestuck onsea ice nearMakkovik, Labrador.He had walked 19 kilometres before succumbing to the cold.His body was found three days after he was missing including two days before a military aircraft was dispatched to aid in the ground search.

"I think it was the missed communication, for lack of a better word, between provincial search and rescue and federal search and rescue protocols, and the confusion and the explanations that came after totally caused more confusion," said Edmunds.

"I'd like to say that this should not have happened, but it did, and some of the excuseswe heard as to why they indeed couldn't come up, these are the things that need to be addressed and we need to have a plan that's ready to be implemented, designed for these types of accidents."

Former judge James Igloliorte of Hopedale wasappointed to lead the inquiry last week.

Edmunds said there's no better choice than Igloliorteto take the lead.

"I think Jimmy Igloliorte is knowledgeableof the land, knowledgeableof the people andhe has the insight of communicating with the people on the coast of Labrador," he said.

Edmunds said withIgloliorteat the forefronthe hopes asearch-and-rescue plan can be developed on the national and provincial scale, but most importantly on the local scale, where search-and-rescue members have pre-existing knowledge of the area.

"Local is the one I trust the most. These fellows know the land, they know the environment and they always come forward in situations like this, above and beyond what they're called to do."

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What exactly is ‘old growth’ BC forest, and how much is protected? – Agassiz-Harrison Observer

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B.C. Forests Minister Doug Donaldson has had an independent report on old-growth forest preservation on his desk since May, but it will be some time before it is released and longer before any of its recommendations are acted upon.

Donaldson appointed two experts to conduct the strategic review in October, with the forest industry struggling with poor economic conditions, the B.C. governments latest logging restrictions and continued protests calling for a moratorium on old growth logging.

Questioned on his ministrys $489 million budget at the B.C. legislature, Donaldson said the report is expected to be released soon, but that will be followed by engagement on the recommendations. The terms of reference require government-to-government talks with first nations before any decisions are made, which is expected to take several months.

Donaldson made a couple of things clear in his answers to B.C. Liberal MLA John Rustad. He isnt considering any change to the provinces definition of old growth forest, or a moratorium on old-growth logging for an industry that has seen steady increase in protected areas and restrictions on the Crown land base.

B.C.s definition of old growth is 250 years old in the Coast region, and 140 years old in the Interior. Overall, about 13.7 million hectares or 23 per cent of the total B.C. forest base is considered old growth, and 3.75 million hectares, 27 per cent of the old growth, may be harvested, Donaldson said.

Asked by Rustad if he is considering a short-term moratorium on old-growth logging until the report is considered, Donaldson responded: I have never used, and weve never used as a government, the word moratorium.

RELATED: B.C. has the most sustainably managed forests in the world

RELATED: Teal-Jones shuts down B.C. coast logging operations

The Coast region, which includes Vancouver Island, the Central Coast area designated as the Great Bear Rainforest timber supply area and Haida Gwaii, has 7.55 million hectares of forest, with 42 per cent old growth. And 33 per cent of the west coast region is protected or reserved, Donaldson said.

Vancouver Island forests are 73 per cent Crown land and 27 per cent private, much of it the legacy of colonial Governor James Douglas 1850s deal with coal baron James Dunsmuir to trade land for construction of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo (E&N) Railway.

A focus of anti-logging protests for decades, Vancouver Islands Crown forests are 39 per cent old growth, nearly half of which are protected or reserved.

The review was completed in January by Garry Merkel, a professional forester and member of the Tahltan Nation in northwest B.C., and Al Gorley, a professional forester and former chair of the Forest Practices Board that audits logging in B.C.

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What exactly is 'old growth' BC forest, and how much is protected? - Agassiz-Harrison Observer

The worlds biggest land grab – Part I – The News International

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Indias credentials as a responsible member of the international community faced a serious challenge in 2019, and continue to do so into 2020. New Delhi, long seen as a possible anchor for stability in Asia, plunged the region and the world in a territorial and religious dispute under the shadow of a nuclear war.

India did this by taking a brash unilateral action in Kashmir on 5 August 2019, revoking semi-autonomous rule in a disputed territory, and inviting Indian citizens a billion of them to throng Kashmir to buy land and turn roughly 13-million Kashmiris into a minority. And since India is predominantly Hindu and Kashmir is predominantly Muslim, this is a recipe for a Bosnia-style genocide that would drag in nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and China, and likely other powers.

The crisis is compounded by a communication blackout and nearly a million Indian soldiers patrolling the streets of Kashmir. Sporadic curfews have led to shortages in food and medicine. When the crisis began, it was so sudden it caught regional and big powers off guard. The world was busy in the Iran crisis, Syria, the China trade war, and fresh attempts at peace between Palestinians and Israel. Pakistan and the United States were busy making headway in an Afghan peace deal. The surprise Indian escalation in Kashmir threatened to derail Islamabads peace efforts in Afghanistan, and negatively impact President Trumps 2020 reelection bid.

If India keeps upping the ante in Kashmir, public anger inside Pakistan will push Pakistani leaders into a corner. Pakistan, the decades-old flagbearer of Kashmirs right to self-determination, has made it clear it will not allow India to annex Kashmiri territory and push Kashmiris out as refugees.

The Indian action triggered an unprecedented global reaction. This is likely the first time that Indian leaders find themselves at the receiving end of a global backlash, a situation they did not experience at any time since India became a country out of British colonies in 1947.

This is a stunning fall from grace for a country that was expected to play a role commensurate with its size, and where liberal values were supposed to foster a tolerant, constructive view of the neighborhood and the world. Instead, India is undergoing the birth pangs of a violent, segregationist, fascist ideology based on a twisted version of the peaceful religion of Hinduism. This new ideology targets Christianity, Islam, and Indias own underprivileged class of untouchables, the Dalits.

Behold the latest version of India: the worlds largest democracy is embroiled in the worlds largest military curfew and the largest communication blackout. This international dispute, simmering since 1947, is the worlds oldest pending conflict in the UN Security Council, preceding even the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which hogs the spotlight but is probably not as urgent as Kashmir at this stage, both militarily and in terms of the humanitarian crisis.

For all its international stature, India is unable or unwilling to maturely resolve a territorial dispute with a smaller neighbour. Kashmir has not been resolved mainly because Indian leaders will not sit down with Pakistan and work around an impartial UN-supervised referendum where Kashmiris decide their future.

Up until now India had hoped to ride out the conflict by stalling Kashmir peace talks, knowing that smaller parties Pakistan and Kashmiris cannot force India to come to the negotiating table. New Delhi uses this stalemate to its benefit to perpetuate the conflict.

India is not ending the war in Kashmir by choice. But India invites potential global intervention by stalling the Kashmir settlement.

On August 16, 2019, the inability of Indian leaders to resolve the conflict with Pakistan forced the international community to take baby steps towards what can become an international intervention in Kashmir. On that day, the UN Security Council held its first formal meeting on Kashmir in more than a half-century. Not much came out of it, but the die is cast.

This stunning setback for Indian diplomacy should have been met in New Delhi with introspection and a review of Indias policies in Kashmir. Instead, India protested international communitys interference in the conflict, in a move reminiscent of Milosevic after the Bosnia genocide and Saddam after the Kurd massacre.

More disturbingly, variations of the term The Final Solution are increasingly propping up in Indian public discourse, often coupled with condemnation of Kashmiris for their unpatriotic act of rejecting Indian military control.

Indias actions of August 5 have internationalized the Kashmir issue, and could force an international intervention at some future point if India fails to control the situation.

To be continued

The writer is a journalist focused on national security and human rights.

Twitter: @_AhmedQuraishi

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The worlds biggest land grab - Part I - The News International