Author Archives: Danzig

NASA’s Next Rover Will Bring First-Ever Microphone to Mars – Futurism

Posted on by

No country has ever successfully sent a microphone to Mars. As a result, weve never heard the eerie sounds of the surface of Red Planet.

Even if only a few minutes of Martian sounds are recorded from this first experiment, the public interest will be high and the opportunity for scientific exploration real, famed astronomer Carl Sagan wrote in a 1996 letter to NASA, as quoted by the Planetary Society, a nonprofit space exploration advocacy group.

But with NASAs Perseverance mission launching in just a single week if the weather plays along that all may change. The agencys next-gen Mars rover is outfitted with not just one but two microphones.

Afterthe crafts six month journey through the solar system, the two microphones attached to NASAs Perseverance rover could finally offer us a tantalizing first: a chance to listen to what Mars actually sounds like.

One microphone, on Perseverances Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) system, was designed to make sure the rover makes it down to Mars unharmed. Thanks to accompanying video, we could soon, for the first time ever, get to watch and listen to a Mars landing.

The second is part of the rovers SuperCam instrument, which builds on Curiositys ChemCam, a laser beam that heats and vaporizes rocks to determine what chemicals theyre made of.

The microphones could also tell us about the rovers health.

Hearing how the mast swivels, the wheels turn, or hearing how other instruments sound can also be an important engineering diagnostic tool, said Greg Delory, the CEO and co-founder of space hardware company Heliospace and an advisor to the SuperCam team, in the statement.

Previous attempts at recording the sounds of Mars with a microphone quickly turned into an uphill battle with plenty of setbacks.

The Planetary Society, co-founded by Sagan in 1980, jumped into action in the mid-1990s to finally bring a microphone to Mars. Initially, the team was hoping to attach one to NASAs Mars Polar Lander mission, set to launch in 1990.

They got to work and after raising $100,000, they came up with the Mars Microphone, the first crowdfunded scientific instrument to fly to another planet, according to the Society.

The original Mars microphone we built was a smart little box, about 5 centimeters on each side, weighing 50 grams, Delory said. The microphone was built for extreme environments, and we tested it enough to know how robust it was.

Unfortunately, a NASA committee dismissed the idea. A second chance to have it attached to Frances Netlander mission in 2007 cropped up, but the mission was canceled in 2004.

Several years later, a different microphone made its way all the way to Mars mounted to NASAs Phoenix lander in 2008. In yet another unfortunate turn of events, the microphone had to be deactivated prior to the launch due to a technical glitch.

The closest the Earth has come to hearing the sounds of Mars was in December 2018, when NASAused InSights seismometer and air pressure sensorto capture something approximating sound. However, recordings had to be pitched and sped up to hear.

Lets hope Perseverance makes it to Mars in one piece. Only then will be able to get to hear the sounds of an alien planet.

READ MORE: Perseverance microphones fulfill long Planetary Society campaign to hear sounds from Mars [Planetary Society]

More on Mars rovers:NASAs Mars Rover Spent the Weekend Shooting a Weird-Looking Rock With a Laser

More:

NASA's Next Rover Will Bring First-Ever Microphone to Mars - Futurism

Russia Just Tested a Military Satellite That Kills Other Satellites – Futurism

Posted on by

Space War

Last week, Russia tested what U.S. military officials believe to be a dangerous new anti-satellite weapon.

In short, the Russian satellite Cosmos 2543 demonstrated that its capable of approaching another satellite in orbit and shooting it down, C4ISRNET reports. And that demo, amidst international talks about demilitarizing space, has the Pentagon concerned.

The actual weapon worked sort of like a Russian nesting doll: Cosmos 2543 first deployed a sub-satellite that then launched a projectile at the relative speed of 250 kilometers per hour. There was no target, and the satellite was only near another Russian satellite for the demo, but U.S. military officials see the test as a show of force.

This is further evidence of Russias continuing efforts to develop and test space-based systems, General John Raymond, Space Force Chief of Space Operations, said in a statement provided to C4ISRNET, and consistent with the Kremlins published military doctrine to employ weapons that hold U.S. and allied space assets at risk.

The U.S. State Department sees the weapons test as a sign that space warfare is a growing threat worthy of greater attention, C4ISRNET reports. And officials couldnt resist taking a jab at Russia along the way.

This event highlights Russias hypocritical advocacy of outer space arms control, with which Moscow aims to restrict the capabilities of the United States while clearly having no intention of halting its own counterspace program, Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Chris Ford said in the statement.

READ MORE: Russia conducted anti-satellite test in space, says U.S. Space Command [C4ISRNET]

More on space warfare: The Pentagon Wants Sentinel Satellites To Deter Space Warfare

More here:

Russia Just Tested a Military Satellite That Kills Other Satellites - Futurism

Star Wars: Dark Legends Will Reveal Secrets of Sith Immortality – Screen Rant

Posted on by

The upcoming Star Wars book Dark Legends will reveal the ancient secrets of Exegol - and the mystery of the Sith's quest for immortality.

George Mann's upcomingStar Wars tie-in book,Dark Legends, will reveal ancient secrets of Exegol and the Sith quest for immortality. According to Matt Stover's novelization ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, the ultimate goal of every Sith is to find a way to conquer death. As powerful as a Sith may be, though, they can never truly become a Force Ghost in the manner seen by Jedi such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Luke Skywalker, because that involves submitting yourself to the will of the Force - the very opposite of Sith philosophy.

The Sith may not technically be able to conquer death, but they can still come pretty close, as revealed inStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There, the Emperor mysteriously returned from the dead. The film itself was silent as to just how this was possible, but tie-ins have gradually fleshed it out. It seems the Emperor's spirit survivedReturn of the Jedi, and fled to a clone body secreted on the Sith bastion of Exegol. This is a technique known as Essence Transfer, and the experience appears to have made Palpatine even more powerful in the dark side of the Force. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about Essence Transfer, not least the fact a Sith spirit has previously been unable to travel cosmic distances before finding a host. But it seems some of those secrets may well be revealed in George Mann's upcomingStar Wars book,Dark Legends.

Related:Star Wars: All 30 Light & Dark Side Force Powers In Canon

Mann participated in the annual Lucasfilm Publishing Panel at this year's San Diego Comic-Con@Home, and there he talked a little about the book. It's essentially a sequel to his previous work,Myths & Fables, and serves as a collection of in-universe legends. Like real-world myths, many of these have an element of truth to them, and apparently one of the tales inDark Legends will explore the Sith quest for immortality. As Mann explained:

"Another example is a story set on Exegol, which was great fun to do, because I was writing that just in the runup to the film coming out, and being able to hear a few of the little secrets about what was going to happen. And we're exploring in that, that kind of whole thing that the Emperor was trying to do, that whole Sith quest for immortality and this is an ancient story about a Sith who's tried before to win immortality, and the price of that - the price of immortal life, and what it does to a person who can achieve it, or get close to it. Like most of these kind of Grimm's Fairy Tales, you have a sting in the tail of most of these stories, so no one gets what they quite expect by the end of the tale."

This ancient Sith's quest for immortality appears to have been successful enough to make their way into Sith legend, so they can safely be called a forerunner of Palpatine himself. But Mann suggests things didn't turn out well; he's fashioned these stories on Grimm's Fairy Tales, meaning people don't always get what they want. Presumably that means there will be a major cost to the Sith quest, with Palpatine learning lessons from the legend but choosing not to duplicate it.The history of the Sith planet Exegol is currently shrouded in mystery. According to the junior novelization ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it was a once-fertile habitat that was despoiled by the Sith, who consumed the world's resources. Hidden in the depths of the Unknown Regions, it was presumably found by Sith explorers who used the Force to safely chart a path through the maelstrom. They recognized its potential as a major stronghold, although there may well have been others as well; thus when the Sith Empire was defeated millennia ago, the survivors took Exegol as their base.

Star Wars: Dark Legends will be available at your local book store on July 28th, 2020.

More:Star Wars Confirms The First Jedi DIDNT Serve The Light Side

X-Men: Cyclops' Brother is Back, With a HUGE Secret

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant's staff writers, and he's frankly amused that his childhood is back - and this time it's cool. Tom's focus tends to be on the various superhero franchises, as well as Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Star Trek; he's also an avid comic book reader. Over the years, Tom has built a strong relationship with aspects of the various fan communities, and is a Moderator on some of Facebook's largest MCU and X-Men groups. Previously, he's written entertainment news and articles for Movie Pilot.A graduate of Edge Hill University in the United Kingdom, Tom is still strongly connected with his alma mater; in fact, in his spare time he's a voluntary chaplain there. He's heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will quickly learn that he's interested in British politics as well.

Go here to read the rest:

Star Wars: Dark Legends Will Reveal Secrets of Sith Immortality - Screen Rant

The Old Guard: Biggest Unanswered Questions From The Netflix Movie – Screen Rant

Posted on by

Though Netflix has yet to confirm a sequel to The Old Guard starring Charlize Theron, some big questions surrounding the mythology remain unanswered.

Netflixs new action-drama The Old Guard leaves some big questions unanswered, likely because of plans to expand the story into a trilogy of movies. The Old Guard follows Andy (Charlize Theron), the leader of a team of immortal warriors whose self-assigned mission it is to fight on the right side of history. The team includes Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), soon to be joined by a new Immortal, U.S. Marine Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne). Things grow more complicated when the teams secret is uncovered by former CIA agent Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who hands evidence of their immortality over to pharmaceutical company CEO Merrick (Harry Melling). Merrick wants the Immortals captured so he can discover the secret to immortality and the end of disease for all.

Based on Greg Ruckas original comic series of the same name (Rucka also served as writer on the production), The Old Guard proved a refreshing take on the superhero genre, treating the characters abilities as both a gift and a great burden. Though Netflix has yet to announce a sequel, the movies ambiguous ending does effectively set up a potential sequel. Indeed, director Gina Prince-Bythewood confirmed in an interview with Digital Spy that The Old Guard was planned as the start of a trilogy, explaining that Rucka always envisioned this as a trilogy. I know where the story goes, and its pretty great. So if the audience is eager for it, theres definitely more stories to tell. It therefore makes sense for The Old Guard to leave some of its biggest questions unanswered as a way of tickling audience curiosity and encouraging demand for a sequel.

Related:The Old Guard Cast Guide: Where You've Seen Each Actor Before

With this in mind, there are some major questions left unanswered, and not just the ones set up by The Old Guards final scenes. Rucka explained that he wanted to make it really clear that the first story is not concerned with the how or the why of their immortality, likely to keep the story action-driven and avoid being weighed down by too much exposition. His statement also indicates an intention to explore the mythology further should a sequel be green-lit. Below are some of the biggest questions from The Old Guard that fans want answered.

One of the biggest questions posed by the Netflix movie is how the team became immortal in the first place. It is something the heroes ponder themselves, and the audience receives no answers. Does immortality manifest randomly? Is it the result of some genetic mutation akin to that of the X-Men? Some divine gift bestowed on a select few? What is certain is that none of the characters seem to hold the answers, but perhaps more will be revealed in future.

Andys age becomes something of a recurring joke throughout the film. Nile asks her about it repeatedly, but Andy maintains that she does not remember how long she has been immortal. While this could be true and she has in fact forgotten her early years, it is just as likely that Andy prefers to keep that part of her life private. What The Old Guard does reveal is that Andy predates the other warriors by many centuries. She spent time being worshipped as a goddess, and it is suggested that Andy was once known as the Queen of the Amazons, Andromache, and battled Heracles. Safe to say she has been around for an exceptionally long time, though it would be interesting to know exactly how long and to uncover more of her history.

The Old Guard established that though long-lasting, immortality is not permanent. No one knows when or why Immortals become mortals again, but the warriors do know their fate is unavoidable. Around halfway through the movie, Andy realizes that she is not healing from a stab wound she suffered, indicating she is now mortal. When she is later captured, her sudden loss of immortality puzzles Copley and Merrick, and the audience is equally left without an explanation. It is possible that, much like the comics, the movies will not delve into the how of immortality but rather focus on the impact it has on the characters. A sequel would therefore see Andy reckon with her newfound mortality without attempting to explain it.

Related:Every Song In Netflix's The Old Guard Movie

Is there a chance that Andy might regain her immortality? Her friend and fellow Immortal Lykon, thus far the only Immortal to lose his ability, died in combat. It therefore remains possible that immortality could return just as it went away, or that there is a way for it to be regained. Even if Andy herself is content to die, perhaps her team members are not ready to lose their fearless leader and friend and will seek to restore her abilities.

Quynh (Veronica Ngo) was Andys partner and friend for hundreds of years until they were both captured during the European witch hunts. After failing to die from hanging, a group of priests decide to separate the two women and trap Quynh in an iron maiden, sending her to the bottom of the sea where she could never be found. In the movies most haunting scene, viewers witness Quynh being forced to drown, die and be reborn over and over for five centuries. She was trapped in her metal coffin for hundreds of years yet, by the movies end, it is revealed that Quynh has finally escaped. How? Viewers will have to wait for a sequel to find out.

The two never met, but it is likely that Quynh also had visions of new Immortals, much like Andy and the team had when Nile first died. She approaches Booker only a few months after he is exiled from the immortal group for his betrayal, and he finds her waiting for him in his apartment. What does Quynh want with him? It is likely she approached him as a way of getting to Andy; whether she wants to reconnect with her old companion or seek revenge is unclear, though the latter seems more probable given the suffering she endured.

Later in the movie, Copley reveals that the Old Guard has saved hundreds of people throughout history, many of whom would go on to save humanity in some way, be it by preventing a nuclear catastrophe or by making some life-altering scientific discovery. Is it just coincidence? Does the team save so many people that, merely through the laws of probability, some were bound to go on to play crucial parts in directing human history? Or could it be that some higher power is controlling their actions, pointing them in the right direction like pawns on a chessboard?

Could there be other Immortals in the world that the Old Guard are unaware of? Or people much like Nile, lying dormant and ignorant of their immortality, until the time of their first death? It is doubtful that throughout the entirety of human history, only seven Immortals have existed. Perhaps a sequel to The Old Guard would see the team confronted with others like them.

Next:The Old Guard Ending & Sequel Setup Explained

X-Mens Olivia Munn Wields Psylockes Sword To Disastrous Results In New Video

Laura is a news and features writer at Screen Rant, having written on film, television and culture for a number of print and online publications since 2016. She most enjoys speaking to actors and filmmakers about their projects, having interviewed the likes of Sir Patrick Stewart, Robert De Niro, and Melissa McCarthy. Otherwise, she can usually be found re-watching the same five sci-fiction/fantasy shows for the umpteenth time, at a film festival or laughing at X A-12 memes. Follow her @laura_potier to discuss whether Legally Blonde or Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping most deserves to be crowned the best film in cinematic history. Citizen Kane who?

Original post:

The Old Guard: Biggest Unanswered Questions From The Netflix Movie - Screen Rant

How We Help Our Lifeguards Do Better on and Off the Job – The SandPaper

Posted on by

I get no great pleasure from seeing my old beach patrol on LBI make national news at least not for the reasons now.

I have been a lifeguard for 35 years, and have made a career as afull-time year-roundaquatic safety, rescue and training professional.For much of it, I haveadvocated that lifeguards are good at their jobs not in spite of theiryouth, energy, gregarious nature and feelings of immortality, butbecause of them. These are the qualities that make lifeguards available for seasonal employment, practiced at long hours of concentration, capable of bursts of athleticism, confident at making rescues, proficient at working as a team, gifted at making connections, and adored by young people, many of whom see excitement or glory in the job and aspire to the position one day.

That said, lifeguarding is often a teens or young adults first job, and the curve for learning not just lifesaving skills, but also employment skills can be steep. While they navigate this position that includes elements of medicine, sport, liability, public relations, administration and more, they have, on occasion, been known to make some poor choices.

Case in point: gathering en masse during a pandemic, which has resulted in a bloom of COVID-19 cases among lifeguards on LBI and elsewhere.

At best, the lifeguards actions have a ripple effect (pun intended) that negatively impacts the Islands economy, as the outbreak has forced work stoppages in restaurants, retail shops and clubs that employ those lifeguards family and friends.Many of those establishments took great precautions to avoid this and, through no fault of their own or their employees, are suffering.At worst, those lifeguards compromisedpublic health and safety, resulting from understaffed beaches, not to mention the spread of a mysterious mutating disease.

So its tempting to trash lifeguards as immature and irresponsible,and make them the villainsin this episode.After all, many of them failed in their primary objective to protect human life at the beach.We count on them to be there, and they risked that.But for lifeguardsto be successful, in lifesaving and beyond, they need guidance and support and examples from a variety of sources: parents, supervisors, colleagues and the public they serve.If the goal is to prevent drowning, the second leading cause of accidental death among children and young adults, we need lifeguards to be successful.We need lifeguards, period.

Since the positive performance of lifeguards is important to all of us for public safety, property values, tourism and more heres how you (yes, YOU!), no matter what your relationship to a lifeguard, can help ensure their professional triumph.

They Are Not Kids. We hear it all the time.How many kids do you have working thissummer?The answer: none.That lifeguard in the chair may be your child, but he or she is not a child.Would you trust a kid with your most precious commodity your life and that of your child or children in an inherently dangerous environment like the ocean?Change your language.Use young professional.Or simply lifeguard. If you call them kids, you will invite kid behavior.And you will be tempted to forgive the errors in judgment that are part of gaining experience rather than holding them accountable and helping them learn from their mistakes.

Attending a group gathering during a pandemic is one such lapse.If any parents or supervisors facilitated, condoned or ignored this, they are complicit in this outbreak.

Work and Home. The expectations oflifeguards are the same as members of a family, and the lessons gained through employment underscore those taught at home. Do your fair share.Pick up yourown stuff.Be ready when its time to go.Call if youre going to be late.While the lifeguard is responsible for his or her own employment conduct and communication, support for the job at home starts with parents involving their lifeguard in their family schedule and knowing how far in advance they need to request days off.It includes expectations of readiness, so details for transportation and lunch can be coordinated.It followsthrough job performance, with discussions about how sleep, hydration, alcohol and events that pose potential virus exposure positively and negatively affect a lifeguards ability to fulfill their duties.

Not Your Daddys Beach Patrol.Or your moms.Lifeguarding traditions are passed through generations,in families and in agencies.While today more than 60 percent of U.S. lifeguards are women, allare following in a historically male-dominated institution.Some patrols are deeply rooted in a bravado-fueled value system where binge drinking and licentious behavior are still exalted rites of passage.Working through a hangover is not a reason to brag; its a reason to stay home without pay.If youre a lifeguard trying to live up to the old lore, or a supervisor or parent trying to recapture or pass on that experience, stop.Perpetuating a drunken hook-up culture is physically, emotionally and financially dangerous.

Many things in lifeguarding have changed: the science, the equipment, the role of women, the risks of intimaterelations and, oh yeah, the virus.

Overcoming Public Perception.The zealous unity among lifeguards, especially seasonal ones, comes from having to be their own cheerleaders.Many lifeguards feel (or are) degraded compared to their brothers and sisters in police, fire and EMS thatgetbetter pay,more benefitsandgreater respect.But by the time someone calls 911, the crisis has already occurred.Lifeguards are the onlyemergency medical responders charged with drowning prevention andrecognition.They have to vigilantly watch, firmly and politely warn, keenly recognize even the subtlestsigns of distress, and intervene before a situation worsens withtheir bodies, not shiny vehicles with lights and sirens.Lifeguarding is not the bottom of the EMS hierarchy.It is aspecialty.Behaving badly compromises credibility.

Lifeguards for Life. The U.S. Lifesaving Association slogan suggests membership in an elite club of people with a shared experience in water rescue not just for the duration of your life, butin all aspectsof your life.That means that as a lifeguard, you bring honor to the profession as an example of skill and safety in everything you do.You are clean, polished, professional, attentive and sober on and off the job.Your behavior withstands public scrutiny, and your social media profiles do not undermine the reputation of a person tasked with the serious responsibility of protecting human life. And dont even get me started on the number of lifeguards I see riding to work on their bicycles without a helmet, buoy can in one hand and phone in the other.No lifeguardshould consider himself or herself an exception to the rule; they must be examples of it.

We Cant Control What They Do Off Duty.Nope, we cant. But performance at work is influenced by off-duty activities. Want to curtail drinking on Saturday night? Schedule mandatory in-services early Sunday morning. Want to limit large gatherings? Establish group size limits in your daily operations. Leaders need to set a strong workplace example in this health crisis. Arrange stands 6 feet apart. Schedule lifeguards in staggered shifts, and with the same partner(s) all season. Conduct training in pods to minimize large-group interaction. Require masks for daily meetings, and hold them outdoors or on Zoom. Demonstrate pandemic awareness in every aspect of your operation. Then you can establish consequences for activities both on and off the job that risk the health of your staff and patrons and the smooth running of your team, as the NFL just did.

Manyof us cringed and held our breath as we watched lifeguards conduct themselves as usual.But this summer is anything but usual.And agencies were vulnerable to the characteristics of lifeguards that occasionally hurt their performance as well as often help it.The lifeguards recent social interaction has caused interruptions in even the most proactive of patrols.That just means we need to keep at it.Do your contact tracing.Dont knowingly put lifeguards on the pineif someone in your crew tests positive.If the spread among lifeguards reveals cracks in your prevention strategy, fill them in now,like a sand hole thats ready to collapse.

Show them how theyve hurtthemselves,and not just their reputations.Was that one party worth two weeks of lost wages and 14 days in quarantine?Did the missed work time cost them eligibility for an award or consideration for a promotion? They say they love their big family-like crew?Well then, when you dismiss half your beach patrol to get a COVID test during work hours, make them acknowledge the brothers and sisters they left on the wood.And while youre at it, publicly thank the lifeguards who did not have to be excused for three hours on a work day.A little recognition for making the responsible choice only to end up taking on the extra coverage never hurts.

Is this on them? Absolutely. The lifeguards are the responsible parties. They disregarded public health warnings, state mandates and likely the advice of their parents and the rules of their agency. At this age, they think theyre unbreakable. Most people, young and old, wont believe something until they experience it for themselves. Many of the lifeguards affected (and infected) are still on the road to adulting. Theyve not had enough life experience to know what we know firsthand. Our job as seasoned adults who have been there and done that is to recognize and show them their victories and their vulnerabilities, and to help them understand that their actions have consequences to themselves and others whom they know, and dont.

Only then can they climb back from this mistake, and back up on that chair.

Stephane Rebeck is a resident of Barnegat Light and St. Louis, Mo.She is a USLA surf rescue training officer and the chief of BYLG Sport Water Rescue.In 2018, she was named the National Drowning Prevention Alliance Lifesaver of the Year.

Excerpt from:

How We Help Our Lifeguards Do Better on and Off the Job - The SandPaper

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network and Network Health Help Patients Manage Diabetes Using Glooko and Xealth – Business Wire

Posted on by

MILWAUKEE & SEATTLE & MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Froedtert & MCW health network and Network Health, a Wisconsin-based health insurer, today announced they are improving patients ability to manage diabetes by using digital health as part of the care teams treatment approach. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 34 million Americans have diabetes in 2020, up from 27 million in 2018, showing a pressing need to address this chronic disease.

Glooko, a digital health platform used by patients and their physicians to collect and share their diabetes and activity data, is prescribed to patients by their medical provider through Xealth, a digital health and workflow optimization platform, enabling providers to increase their visibility into how patients are managing their diabetes. Patients receive a better understanding of how their body is interacting with food, exercise and medication such as insulin as well as a deeper connection with their care team.

People living with diabetes can experience rapid and dangerous changes to their glucose and A1c levels, making visibility into these changes important for ongoing care, said Bradley Crotty MD, MPH, chief digital engagement officer and internist with the Froedtert & MCW health network. As the first health system in the U.S. to add Glooko to our digiceutical formulary, we recognized the value it brings to patients early on. With Xealth delivering the Glooko mobile app for patients, clinicians have integrated access to the patients current information, which leads to more informed patient care decisions, even when the patient cannot visit the clinic in person.

The Froedtert & MCW health network began prescribing Glooko through the Xealth platform within the EHR workflow in December 2018 to patients with diabetes. Network Health is a key partner of the Froedtert & MCW health network, and based on early data showing improvement for patients, embarked on a unique partnership to expand its use for members. In January 2020, one particular patient began using the mobile app after extreme glucose (422) and A1c (10.4) levels left her fatigued, with no saliva, and worsening eye sight that resulted in her being hospitalized.

Feeling tired and unwell, I went to see my doctor not realizing how extreme my diabetes had become, said April, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The experience scared me to make the changes necessary to improve my health. When I was contacted by a Certified Diabetes Educator RN working with my doctor who prescribed the Glooko app, I gave it a try. It allows me to see trends, follow activity, food combinations, target times to eat really see what is happening with my body. Within four months, my A1c level is normal at 5.4!

We are driven to create healthy communities by working with health care providers to deliver innovative solutions, said Dr. Greg Buran, chief medical officer at Network Health. This includes bringing technology into play for managing chronic conditions like diabetes. By offering members the resources they need from the doctors they trust, Glooko and Xealth are helping our members achieve better health.

Diabetes data collected by Glooko is securely shared with the patients physician and can be visualized in actionable charts and graphs, creating a solid foundation for doctor-patient collaboration and confident treatment decisions. Although the digital health app is available to any diabetic patient via all app stores, incorporating Xealths digital health platform with clinician recommendation has shown increased patient engagement rates as compared to a direct to consumer approach.

Glooko has strengthened our diabetes outreach teams ability to guide patients willing to share and remotely monitor blood sugar levels and support improved self-management, said Deborah Wessberg, RN CDE, Froedtert & MCW Enterprise Care Coordination and the Ambulatory Diabetes Outreach Program.

Integrating the broad capabilities of Glooko, Xealth, Froedtert & MCW and Network Health has proven to improve the overall health of the patients in the program. We are excited to join forces with these industry partners, said Russ Johannesson, CEO of Glooko.

Using the Xealth platform, which is integrated directly into Froedtert & MCW health networks EHR, to prescribe Glooko gives physicians easier access to proven diabetes management tools and patients have support that their physicians recommend, said Mike McSherry, CEO of Xealth. To date, clinicians have ordered Glooko for 900 Network Health patients, so that is at least 900 more people who are working together with both their care teams and insurer to improve their health.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin's only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, an internationally recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies. The Froedtert & MCW health network, which includes five hospitals, nearly 2,000 physicians and more than 40 health centers and clinics, draws patients from throughout the Midwest and the nation. In our most recent fiscal year, outpatient visits exceeded 1.3 million, inpatient admissions to our hospitals were 52,855 and visits to our network physicians totaled 1,059,268. For more information, visit froedtert.com.

About Network Health

Founded in 1982, Network Health offers customized commercial and Medicare health insurance services to employers, individuals and families in more than 23 counties throughout Wisconsin. Through its strong reputation for quality health care coverage and superior customer service, Network Health has grown to serve more than 120,000 members. Network Health has a 4.5 out of 5 Star Rating for Medicare Advantage PPO plans from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, outperforming the national average of 4 Stars. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Network Health also has a 4.5 out of 5 rating for both Medicare and commercial products for 2019-2020 from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Network Health is one of only four health plans in Wisconsin receiving this NCQA score for Medicare and commercial plans, and no other plans in Wisconsin are rated higher. Network Health is ranked in the top 38 commercial plans and top 25 Medicare plans, and was also named one of the Best Medicare Advantage plans for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more at networkhealth.com. Visit our blog at networkhealth.com/grow-in-the-know/.

About Glooko

Glooko is transforming digital health by connecting people with diabetes and their health care professionals, enabling telehealth, clinical research and improved collaboration.

The companys software platforms, Glooko and diasend, empower diabetes management by collecting and unlocking the power of data from blood-glucose meters, CGMs, insulin pumps, pens and activity trackers bringing insights together in one place. Data is easily uploaded - remotely via app or in-clinic, securely shared and visualized in actionable charts and graphs. This creates a solid foundation enabling collaboration and confident treatment decisions. The platforms are compatible with the vast majority of diabetes devices available, giving people with diabetes and their care teams the freedom of choice.

2.8 million users have benefited from diabetes insights by using Glookos solutions, which are trusted by world leaders in diabetes care, and used in 26 countries across 15 languages. Learn more at glooko.com.

About Xealth

Xealth scales digital health programs, enabling clinicians to integrate, prescribe and monitor digital health tools for patients to drive engagement and utilization. Through the secure Xealth platform, clinicians can find and order the right digital health tools and programs for patients direct from the EHR workflow, send these digital health orders to the patients email or patient portal, and then monitor activity. Xealth spun out of Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) in 2017, and investors include Atrium Health, Cleveland Clinic, MemorialCare Innovation Fund, McKesson Ventures, Novartis, Philips, and ResMed as well as Providence Ventures, UPMC and the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network.

For more information, visit http://www.xealth.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Read the original here:

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network and Network Health Help Patients Manage Diabetes Using Glooko and Xealth - Business Wire

China Pushes for Blockchain Dominance But Will the World Trust It? – VOA Asia

Posted on by

Despite Washingtons pushback against China's ambition to lead the world in building emerging technologies such as 5G, Beijing next month will launch a global effort in developing blockchain, a distributed database that experts say could reshape businesses around the world.

Starting August 10, China will roll out the international version of its blockchain infrastructure, the Blockchain Service Network, or BSN. The network gives developers tools and access to blockchain technology through BSNs overseas data centers so that they can build applications for businesses and smart cities.

As the BSN takes hold in worldwide countries, it will become the only global infrastructure network that is innovated by China, whose gateway access is controlled by China, the BSN Alliance declared in a white paper last year.

Blockchain is a kind of distributed database with trustworthy record-keeping that makes possible cryptocurrencies like bitcoin as well as new types of products like digital identification. The technology has the potential to create decentralized, more transparent digital networks.

U.S. Representative Bill Foster, a congressman who holds a doctorate in physics and is a leader of a group of American lawmakers studying the technology, has called it a disruptive technology that will change the way we do business in almost every sector.

Blockchain technology can create more transparent record-keeping with open-source code to create trustworthy databases. But Chinas system is a more centralized alternative overseen by the BSN Alliance, a group of state-owned companies that designs its digital architecture and maintains control over the databases.

China hopes that this managed network, which it says offers cheaper costs and better interoperability over other competitors, will become the preferred option for businesses and governments trying to use the technology.

Backed by the Chinese government, BSN already is the worlds largest blockchain ecosystem that is expected to serve as the backbone for massive interconnectivity both in China and around the world. It already has more than 100 city-nodes, or physical devices running on the network, stationed on six continents. The network hopes to deploy up to 200 more by the end of this year.

A Chinese national priority

Just as the countrys aggressive international expansion in other major emerging technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence, China declared blockchain a national technology priority in 2016. It was mentioned twice in the Chinese State Councils 13th five-year economic plan that was released that year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized blockchain as an important breakthrough, and promised that China would seize the opportunity during his speech in October at a so-called "collective study" session held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

In Xi's words, China will take the leading position ... occupy the commanding heights of innovation, and gain new industrial advantages. The meeting had only one agenda on the table: the current status and trends of blockchain technology.

"China is the most active major national government in the world in blockchain development. China is one of the few countries that sees blockchain as a strategic emerging technology, alongside areas such as artificial intelligence and 5G wireless," Kevin Werbach, a professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, told VOA.

China now has more than 700 blockchain projects registered since last year with the countrys Cyberspace Administration. According to a white paper on Chinas blockchain patent application released last Friday, China holds more blockchain patents than any other country in the world. Eric Jing, Chairman at China's tech giant Alibaba's Ant Financial Services, told reporters last week that users of its blockchain service are uploading 100 million digital assets a day mostly records of transactions.

A blockchain with Chinese characteristics

BSN was born last spring while the world was struggling to deal with catastrophic social, economic, and political challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of Beijing's grand strategy to lead the digital transformation of the world economy, the plan is to make the network so effective and low-cost that it becomes the dominant provider for blockchain cloud computing services.

"The concerns are that more developer and customer mindshare will shift to Chinese platforms and that China will push technical standards to reflect its policy positions," said Werbach, who once served as a consultant for the CIA on a blockchain training program.

Werbach said that is why its essential to the Chinese blockchain system is different from the open models that emphasize decentralization.

The geopolitical implications of the technology depend on who designs and implements the technologies, argued Werbach, who has written extensively on emerging technologies such as blockchain. "China is focused more on permissioned blockchains for enterprise applications, and on Chinese platforms that build in the capability for oversight and compliance that the Chinese government requires," said Werbach in an email to VOA.

Two days after Xis speech last year, a blockchain initiative announced by the CCP enabled party members to pledge their loyalty to Xi, by immutably recording it on the blockchain ledger.

As Chinese leaders press the countrys engineers to forge ahead on the technology, companies overseas are sounding an alarm that the United States is ceding its role as the internets leading innovator.

A recent white paper co-authored by Amazon Web Services, IBM, Deloitte, and others noted that U.S. military is falling behind China and Russia in a blockchain arms race.

"While China and Russia have invested millions of dollars worth of research and development (R&D) into the technology, the policymakers of our country are still trying to understand what the technology is," said the paper that was released last May.

A report published last year by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania also warned about Chinas blockchain dominance: "By all counts, China is leading the world in the use and development of blockchain technology.

"We are way behind China when it comes to blockchain technology," Chris Larsen, executive chairman of Ripple Labs Inc, a U.S.-based leading blockchain company, told The Wall Street Journal recently.

Werbach said if U.S. policymakers and companies do not compete for blockchain business, "blockchain with Chinese characteristics will become more of the norm."

On the other hand, some analysts remain skeptical that China is leading the world on technology. Larry Wortzel, a commissioner of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission of the U.S. Congress, pointed out in an email to VOA that IBM and other American companies have the technology and use it. "I do not believe the US is losing a Blockchain race,'" said Dr. Wortzel.

In the top 50 blockchain company list compiled by Forbes last year, Amazon was ranked number one with Ant Financial of China's Alibaba second. Among the top 5 companies, two are Americans, two are Chinese ones, and one is from England.

Martin Chorzempa, a research fellow at Peterson Institute for International Economics, told VOA that most of the money China is pouring in would be wasted. "As we can see from the recent global pushback against Huawei, especially in Australia and Europe, I do not see it as plausible that the world will adopt on Chinese blockchain infrastructure."

Read more from the original source:

China Pushes for Blockchain Dominance But Will the World Trust It? - VOA Asia

It Is Time for Blockchain to Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion – Cointelegraph

Posted on by

The lack of gender and racial diversity in the tech space is no longer a secret. According to data from Statista, while the percentage of employed women across all job sectors in the United States has grown to 47%, the five largest tech companies on the planet Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft have a workforce of only about 34.4% women. This misrepresentation extends to the C-suite as well, with 31% of large tech companies lacking any women of color as executives.

Its clear that the tech workforce today doesnt fully represent the communities in which we live or the consumers or customers we serve. But the renewed attention given to diversity and inclusion has resulted in positive reactions from leaders in the tech sphere that could change that.

In June, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian voluntarily resigned as a member of the Reddit board of directors, asking to be replaced by a black candidate. His vacancy was filled by Michael Seibel, a partner and the CEO of Y Combinator. Just last week, Facebook announced a program to measure how well their executives are handling diversity and inclusion initiatives, tying them to bi-annual performance reviews. And Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently said the company will add more black and underrepresented employees to leadership positions, promising a 30% increase in diversity by 2025.

Major tech companies like Google, Facebook and Reddit, among many others, have announced these efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in their organizations. So, what are we waiting for in the blockchain space? The point is, we dont have to wait, given the newness of our industry. If we take action now, we can address these issues faster, more comprehensively and more directly.

Related: Cointelegraph Talks Recap: Challenges and Opportunities on the Road to Diversity and Inclusion in Crypto

The blockchain industry is revered for its willingness and effectiveness in challenging legacy systems and old school thinking. For many, our open-source, transparent nature is a point of pride. What that means to me is that not only should our code be open but organizations should function in the open as well.

There is no better time than now to confront traditional organizational structures and help mold our community into one that prioritizes diverse leadership and new voices.

A LongHash report from December 2018 analyzed the top 100 blockchain startups and found that of the 1,062 listed team members, just 14.5% were women. The report also found that 7% of those blockchain startup executives were women, and 78 of the 100 startups listed had no female executives. Only one startup from the list had more than one woman in an executive role. While we can assume and hope that those figures have improved, they paint a pretty dire picture in terms of female representation. In an industry where provable facts and figures are invaluable, we can actually point to quantifiable benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Related: Women in Blockchain: Has Gender Distribution Come to the Crypto Market?

A study conducted by Harvard Business Review found that the most diverse enterprises were also the most innovative. Companies with above-average total diversity had both 19 percentage points higher innovation revenues and 9 percentage points higher EBIT margins on average. The blockchain industry often seeks to create unique solutions that help underrepresented groups of people. By involving those with diverse backgrounds and expertise in the decision-making processes, it not only reflects the global nature and needs of the blockchain industry generally (particularly involving solutions for the marginalized in the financial system) but it also avoids groupthink and helps to identify blind spots.

The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer, which examines trust in business, government, media and NGOs found 92% of employees surveyed said that they expect their employers CEO to speak up on one or more issues ranging from income inequality to diversity. 73% of employees expect a prospective employer to offer the opportunity to shape the future of society in a positive way.

Its our turn to show leadership here.

The tangible energy behind recent social justice movements has reignited the dialogue around equality and inclusion. Having difficult conversations about the need to implement change is a great first step.

I hope to see these discussions continue to take place, but I also hope to see companies showcase their commitment to change through concrete action. Whether that is by supporting organizations that are placing an emphasis on including underrepresented voices, or reflecting on current representation in leadership and making changes to include more diverse perspectives in executive positions, our industry must work toward a more inclusive future.

The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Denelle Dixon is the CEO and executive director of the Stellar Development Foundation a nonprofit organization that supports the development and growth of Stellar, an open-source blockchain network that connects the worlds financial infrastructure. Previously, she was the chief operating officer of Mozilla and also used to serve as general counsel and legal advisor in private equity and technology.

Read more:

It Is Time for Blockchain to Prioritize Diversity and Inclusion - Cointelegraph

Blockchain This Week: PM Endorses Blockchain, Calls It An Opportunity In Technology & More – Inc42 Media

Posted on by

At the India Ideas Summit, Modi highlighted how technology is playing a massive role in the country

ChitMonks launches two new products ChitFunds 2.0 and ChitPe

Huawei files patent for blockchain-related storage method and device

At the India Ideas Summit, hosted by the US-India Business Council, last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the prominence of blockchain, where he endorsed it as an opportunity in frontier technology, as he pitched it to the global investors, reminding Indias tech capabilities, alongside highlighting the countrys half a billion connected internet users.

In an attempt to set the post-pandemic economic recovery agenda, PM Modi invited US businesses to invest in various economic sectors in India, including agriculture, civil aviation, healthcare and fintech among others.

He said that opportunities in technologies abound in the frontier technologies of 5G, Big Data analytics, quantum computing, blockchain and internet of things.

Meanwhile, Unicorn India Ventures-backed blockchain startup ChitMonks recently launched two new products for the unorganised chit fund industry, ChitFunds 2.0 and ChitPe. With this, the company looks to partner with chit fund companies as well as customers across India.

Prior to this, the company had launched a blockchain-based product called T-Chits, which allowed Telangana state government regulators to administer chit fund operations. In a local media report, Pavan Adipuram, the cofounder and CEO of ChitMonks said that the new products are an extension of its existing product that it had developed for the state regulators. With this platform, we want to make chit fund companies digitally ready and it will prove to be extremely useful at a time when offline relations are all going online, he added.

At present, the chit fund industry in Telangana alone stands at INR 19K Cr annually, and about 1.5K companies are operating in this unorganised sector. Overall, in India, the number stands at INR 1.5 Lakh Cr, the report added.

According to Delliots Blockchain Survey, only around one-fifth view cybersecurity concerns alone prevents them from advancing blockchain strategy, indicating some balancing of concerns, while 58% of the participants said that cybersecurity issues are among several kinds of issues that figure into their blockchain strategy.

Chinese tech giant Huawei recently announced that it has applied for a new patent related to blockchain technology that deals with storage techniques and devices. Besides this, Huawei has previously filed patents related to blockchain-based settlement platforms. In addition to this, the tech giant has also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Peoples Bank of China. However, the details of the agreement are yet to be disclosed.

The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) announced that it has launched a central blockchain securities lending platform. The new platform is said to enable direct lending among all the major financial instruments. Also, it serves a unified platform for all securities lending activities, thereby giving access to larger securities transactions within shorter timeframes, alongside short-term transactions. Orly Grinfeld, EVP and head of Clearing at TASE said that the blockchain technology platform will present a new level of safety for securities lending and will support growth for transactions.

In a bid to bring in transparency and trust in the industrial processes, Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba launched a new blockchain solution called AntChain. The new platform is said to be built on top of Ant Groups blockchain technology, which combines artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), among other technologies, as reported by South China Morning Post. Li Jieli, the general manager of blockchain solutions and innovations at Ant said that the applications of enterprise blockchain technology is still at a nascent stage and the new platform will support digital transactions, reduce cost across industries, as the digital economy takes shape.

The rest is here:

Blockchain This Week: PM Endorses Blockchain, Calls It An Opportunity In Technology & More - Inc42 Media

Visa is getting behind digital currencies and blockchain – TechHQ

Posted on by

Payment titan Visa has announced its support and development of blockchain and digital currencies. The financial services company wrote in ablog post, were reshaping how money moves across the globe, and that means pursuing a broad array of technologies and partnerships.

In that regard, digital currencies offer an exciting avenue for us to continue doing what we do best: expanding our network-of-networks to support new forms of commerce.

The post entitled Advancing our approach to digital currencynarrates the companys efforts and plans to venture further into blockchain and cryptocurrencies, tying in the relevance of its pursuit as the world moves forward with digitalization in the finance industry.

With more consumers and businesses adopting digital currencies and circulation spreading wide, reaching over US$10 billion in May, Visa is aiming to tap into this space and avoid falling behind from competitors.

Prior to Visas announcement, the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released anofficial letterstating national savings banks and federal savings associations are now allowed to provide cryptocurrency custody services for customers.

Acting Comptroller of the Currency, Brian P. Brooks, stated, from safe-deposit boxes to virtual vaults, we must ensure banks can meet the financial services needs of their customers today.

This opinion clarifies that banks can continue satisfying their customers needs for safeguarding their most valuable assets, which today for tens of millions of Americans includes cryptocurrency.

Hence, legacy finance companies like Visa are declaring their support of digital currencies and blockchain.

Visa clarifies that its primarily looking to help connect its network of financial firms, merchants, and consumers to adapt to an emerging payment sphere powered by blockchain and digital currency.

The payment company explained its years of research in blockchain-inspired solutions aim to bring next-gen digital transactions to life.

Our research team has been exploring the science of blockchain technology for several years. Today their research is focused on new mechanisms to improve scalability and enable offline digital currency transactions.

Meanwhile, Visa promises to maintain a rigorous focus on data protection, consumer privacy and fairness, and full compliance with all applicable laws in its endeavor in blockchain and digital currency ecosystem.

To date, central and commercial banks have been keen to tap into new technologies such as blockchain and cryptocurrencies that were once deemed to be a threat. Financial institutions are increasingly acknowledging the potentials of blockchain in turbocharging cross-border payment and saw vigorous measures that need to be taken.

For instance, theEuropean Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Japan (BOJ) teamed up to study and experiment with the concept of distributed ledger technologies (DLT) in a financial aspect. The project aimed to lay out the foundations for the design and safety features of DLT in finance, driving initiatives of cross-border payment services further.

Tech giantIBMhas illustrated the capability of blockchain to turn cross-border payment into a reality. Last year, the tech firm announced the arrival of a blockchain network for cross-border payments.

Marie Wieck, General Manager, IBM Blockchain, shared the news: Weve created a new type of payment network designed to accelerate remittances and transform cross-border payments to facilitate the movement of money in countries that need it most.

More here:

Visa is getting behind digital currencies and blockchain - TechHQ

U.S. Health Department Chief Discloses Functioning Blockchain Project To Track Covid-19 – Forbes

Posted on by

As hospitals adjust to the new Health and Human Services (HHS) platform called the Coronavirus Data Hub to report critical Covid-19 information, HHS Chief Information Officer Jos L. Arrieta confirmed that the agency is using blockchain technology to track Covid-19 hospitalization data. In an interview today, Arrieta stated how this will allow for faster clinical trials, protect citizens and flatten the curve on this pandemic, so we can recover from this pandemic using blockchain technology, a distributed ledger technology.

Earlier this week, Arrieta noted how HHS Protect, a platform for authenticating data, is more comprehensive than that previously provided by the CDC. At HHS Protect, every day, every data element we receive is hashed with a time-stamped record of the parcing and curation and sharing of that data element. Arrieta, who is well-known for championing the benefits of blockchain technology within the U.S. Government, explained blockchain will ensure the data for Covid-19 hospitalizations is accurate and traceable.

N95 Respirator With Stethoscope On American Flags

Arrieta confirmed that the blockchain system being used with HHS Protect is an enterprise version similar to those supported by the Hyperledger organization and companies such as IBM IBM as opposed to the bitcoin or ethereum blockchains. He declined to disclose the exact name of the platform.

The blockchain HHS uses is not the blockchain of the anarchists and disruptors, but rather as a fresh step forward where thousands of users on the platform are accessing data sets, stated Arrieta. According to the CIO, HHS Protect coordinates data from 6,200 hospitals across the United States, including numbers of ventilators, hospital beds, ER admittance, and discharge, lab test data across the U.S., warehouse implications, and nursing home data.

As a result of using blockchain technology with HHS Protect, the U.S. government can now, as Arrieta explained, share with the general public how the results were generated because you have a record that is immutable. Exactly how this would be accessed is unclear.

He added: Science is about proving something and then sharing the steps of how you proved it. Creating time-stamps in an immutable record is truly empowering and allows for complete transparency from a data perspective. Arrieta noted blockchain technology will enable HHS to, allow clinical trials faster, protect citizens better, and best allow the country to recover from this pandemic.

Asked if he believed the move of Covid-19 data from the CDC to HHS with the data protected by blockchain technology should provide more comfort to Americans about the accuracy of the data provided, Arrieta responded, Absolutely, this is extremely important. Americans now have a public record of how the data was received with time-stamped steps where people have access to the data elements. It is important to note that the CDC, HHS, providers, and the American public are able to see the data element at the exact moment it was shared as a result of blockchain technology.

As reported by ABC News, CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield forcefully defended the change in a call with reporters, insisting that the federal governments effort to create a single database run by HHS - linking an estimated 4 billion disparate data elements on everything from testing to the race and ethnicity of patients to hospital supplies and bed space instead of through the CDC can only help the CDCs efforts.

According to Arrieta, for something as critical as Covid-19 data, trust and transparency is needed for data in real-time with large data sets, which the blockchain provides. With this technology, we are able to do it and I am super excited, says Arrieta.

While at the General Services Administration (GSA), Arrieta helped build from the ground up a blockchain working group that meets weekly and still meets every Friday. This working group, run by the the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council, (ACT-IAC), a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to improving government, has helped develop a blockchain playbook that U.S. agencies can use to in determining if blockchain should be used for a particular use case and how to implement the technology.

The group allows for an ongoing dialogue between government and industry on ways of adopting blockchain technology. From the European Union to China, the entire world increasingly seems to be increasingly seeing this technology as the next version of the World Wide Web, or Web 3.0, and is racing to adopt it.

Blockchain technology concept. Chain in form of pc circuit board with cpu on blue futuristic ... [+] background. 3d illustration

Prior to today, there was no highly visible blockchain technology being used by the U.S. Government, causing a general concern that America was falling behind China and others in the blockchain race. However, the confirmation today of the technologys application to Covid-19 to help reduce the rate the virus spreads, or flatten the curve, as it is widely described, will likely show the U.S. is turning a corner on the technology at a critical time in our history.

Arrieta, in his current role as the CIO at HHS, had previously noted, back in January, that the HHS Accelerate program, focused on using the technology to streamline and improve the procurement process, will save HHS somewhere around $33 to $40million over the next five years. However, HHS Protect was an opportunity to use the technology for its true purpose, says. The core for this technology is around sharing and transparency, using hashes and time series and being able to share the data with the integrity to allow the American public to ensure the underlying data is accurate, he says.

According to Arrieta, blockchain will be the anchor in the marketplace, at an individual, company, agency, and national level. The technology is transformative and how it is used takes time, he says.. While saving taxpayer money was a good achievement with HHS Accelerate, Arrieta believes, the use of blockchain with Covid-19 will be truly impactful in demonstrating the usefulness of this key new technology.

See the rest here:

U.S. Health Department Chief Discloses Functioning Blockchain Project To Track Covid-19 - Forbes

Issuance Of Dematerialised Securities Using Blockchain Technology New Draft Legislation Published! – Corporate/Commercial Law – Luxembourg – Mondaq…

Posted on by

30 July 2020

Arendt & Medernach

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com.

On 27 July 2020, the government has introduced a draft billn7637 in Parliament (the "DraftBill"), which - if adopted - will modernise the lawof 6 April 2013 on dematerialised securities, as amended (the"2013 Law"), in order to facilitate theuse of distributed ledger technology when issuing dematerialisedsecurities.

Last year, the Luxembourg legislator had already amended the lawof 1st August 2001 on the circulation of securities and otherfinancial instrument (the "2001 Law") bya law of 1st March 2019 in order to clarify that account keepinginstitutions such as banks could offer securities accounts operatedusing distributed ledger technology and a number of related items,including confirmation that successive registrations of securitiesusing distributed ledger technology have the same effects astransfers between securities accounts (e.g. regarding transfer ofownership).

The purpose of the new draft bill is essentially to introducetwo changes:

When issuing dematerialised securities, it is necessary to keepa record of the number and type of securities issued in a so-calledissuance account in order to enable the central account keeper orliquidation organism to verify that in securities accounts thereare not more securities in circulation than securities issued. Theissuance account is not a securities account, but simply a recordkept for the purposes of making the aforementioned reconciliationverifications. The central account keeper or liquidation organismwhose duty it is to make these verifications will be able to keepthese records using distributed ledger technology. As a result allelements linked to an issuance of dematerialised securities can bekept using distributed ledger technology in the future, i.e. notonly securities accounts (already possible since 2019 by virtue ofthe 2001 Law) but also issuance accounts.

Currently, only certain regulated Luxembourg service providerscan act as central account keepers under the 2013 Law. Moreover,they require a specific additional license in order to be able toperform this function. This situation will remain unchanged inrelation to equity securities. However, for (non-listed) debtsecurities, the scope of regulated service providers able to act ascentral account keepers will be broadened. In the future thisfunction can be performed by any credit institution or investmentfirm authorised in a Member State of the European Economic Area,provided that they have appropriate control mechanisms and ITsecurity arrangements for the purpose of keeping issuance accountsand performing the relevant tasks linked thereto such as theaforementioned reconciliation verifications. As a result issuers ofnon-listed debt securities governed by Luxembourg law will have alarger choice of service providers for this aspect of anissuance.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

POPULAR ARTICLES ON: Corporate/Commercial Law from Luxembourg

Original post:

Issuance Of Dematerialised Securities Using Blockchain Technology New Draft Legislation Published! - Corporate/Commercial Law - Luxembourg - Mondaq...

Poker, Metacognition, and ‘The Biggest Bluff’ | Learning Innovation – Inside Higher Ed

Posted on by

The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win by Maria Konnikova

Published in June of 2020.

What if the best way to learn about learning is to play poker? Or maybe to read about learning to play poker?

This is the premise of New Yorker writer (and Columbia psychology PhD trained) Maria Konnikova's new book The Biggest Bluff.

Konnikova tells how she went in under a year from not knowing how many cards are in a deck to a tournament-winning professional poker player.

The Biggest Bluff is less a book about poker - although we learn plenty about the sub-culture of professional poker players - and more a book on metacognition. Poker, it turns out, is a vehicle for thinking about thinking.

The animating spirit underlying Konnikova's journey from a poker novice to expert is summarized in the advice that her coach, professional poker player Erik Seidel, repeats continuously:

"Less certainty. More inquiry."

In learning how to thrive in the hyper-competitive male-dominated (and incredibly sexist) world of professional poker, Konnikova must absorb many lessons beyond optimal betting, calling, and folding strategies.

Over the book's chapters, Konnikova relates how poker uncovers and reveals one's blind spots, biases, and mental fault lines.

It is hard to come away from reading The Biggest Bluff without concluding that poker should be integrated into the curriculum. At the very least, it seems as if Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs) should think about a faculty learning science reading group where the book is discussed, followed by some low-stakes Texas Hold 'em.

Universities, and the CTLs in which they are embedded, might want to think about adopting less certainty and more inquiry in their official mission statements.

The Biggest Bluff should be included in any bookshelf on learning about learning.

What are you reading?

Read this article:

Poker, Metacognition, and 'The Biggest Bluff' | Learning Innovation - Inside Higher Ed

Kai Havertz WILL face Rangers as Chelsea ‘poker game’ forces dramatic U-turn over 80m superstar – Daily Record

Posted on by

Bayer Leverkusen main man Kai Havertz looks set to face Rangers in the Europa League last 16 showdown in Germany - according to a report.

Bild state the 80million Chelsea target will almost certainly be in the team that takes on Steven Gerrard 's side at the Bay Arena next Thursday despite fervent speculation over his future.

The Germany international is Frank Lampard's No.1 signing target and it's understood the player himself has his heart set on a move to Stamford Bridge,.

But the publication believe a poker game is currently taking place between free-spending Chelsea and Leverkusen over the structure of the deal for the 21-year-old.

The Blues view the attacker as the perfect player to compliment fellow new arrivals Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.

And Havertz, who returned to training last week, now looks poised to be among the team in the vital clash with Rangers for Peter Bosz's under-pressure side.

Leverkusen are desperate for Euro success as they target winning the revised tournament after missing out on a Champions League place following their fifth-placed Bundesliga finish.

Havertz was brilliant in the 3-1 first leg win back in March and scored from the penalty spot on a night he pulled the strings at Ibrox.

The winner of the tie will remain in Germany to take on Inter or Getafe as the tournament becomes a one-legged affair.

Go here to read the rest:

Kai Havertz WILL face Rangers as Chelsea 'poker game' forces dramatic U-turn over 80m superstar - Daily Record

What Are the Best Poker Apps of 2020? – GameIndustry.com

Posted on by

If there is one good thing about smartphones and tablets, it is that they allow those with a passion for poker to play easily. There are so many poker apps available, some can feel overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the right platform.

Not only are poker enthusiasts keen to use an app that is easy to use, but it also ensures that any personal information contained within the app is always safeguarded. Of course, everyone can have their own requirements concerning a poker app, so what suits one person will not necessarily suit another.

Reading reviews and listing to friends recommendations can be helpful, but those looking for the best poker platforms of 2020 need only consider the following poker apps.

GGPoker

It is not just the winnings of poker that can be alluring, but also the social aspect. As such, some may want to use a poker platform that is always busy, and GGPoker is perfect in this regard. Of course, this is not the only beneficial aspect of GGPoker. As well as holding several poker tournaments throughout the day, there are also several promotions to enjoy on a regular basis.

Downloading the GGPoker app is straightforward, and all versions are available via the download page.

888Poker

888Poker is another app worth considering for those wanting to make light work of playing poker on the go. Always abundant with ongoing promotions for players as well as incentives for introducing friends and family to the 888Poker platform.

888 Poker is also one of the few poker apps that supports fast-fold tournaments, which is perfect for those that enjoy visiting different poker tables.

There is a desktop site that can be accessed as well as apps available for iOS and Android users which can be downloaded via their respective download links Playing poker on the go has never been so easy.

PPPoker

PPPoker is an app that can be downloaded to iOS and Android devices and allows poker payers to connect with players situated globally. Not a fan of playing poker with online strangers? Fear not, as the PPPoker app will enable members to create a playroom which can only be accessed by friends and family members.

There is also the opportunity to test out your poker face via the use of play money, which can be converted to real money once you are confident using the app.

Poker Stars

One of the reasons that the Poker Stars app is so popular is due to it being home to the renowned World Championships for Online Poker. Those that enjoy the streamlined aesthetic of the poker platform will find the same variants in place on the Android and iOS app.

As Poker Stars can be played on several devices, switching from a mobile to the desktop is effortless and secure.

Although there are hundreds if not thousands of poker apps available for iOS and Android devices, those listed have proved to be easy to use, great value for money and have procedures in place that help reinforce responsible betting.

Infinite Ventures, Inc., handheld game developer and publisher, today announced plans to produce its award-winning

Watch the E3 trailer for the Puppeteer. Available for pre-order now and releases September 10th.http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=4qlEhkhDxKg

See the original post:

What Are the Best Poker Apps of 2020? - GameIndustry.com

Jacksonville non-profit’s mission of rescuing animals from Bahamas put on hold because of COVID-19 – FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX

Posted on by

Florida Urgent Rescue planned a rescue mission to the Bahamas in March but the coronavirus canceled what would have been its fifth trip.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. It is a labor of love that began last September after Hurricane Dorian destroyed much of the Bahamas.

However, Mike Merrills mission trips have stalled. The coronavirus put a stop to rescuing animals.

"We were planning to do another one in March and that got put on ice. We were thinking by May or June this whole thing would blow over," he told First Coast News.

Merrill is the founder of Florida Urgent Rescue, a Jacksonville non-profit that has flown to the Bahamas four times. By the crate-full, he's brought more than 100 dogs to the United States that needed medical care.

Because of COVID-19, he doesnt know when his next trip will be.

We are trying to look around with private aircraft, possibly that we dont actually fly there. They just put the animals on the plane and we get them on our end," Merrill explained.

One dog named Silka was found wandering the streets after the hurricane. She was blind, but because of the care she received in the US, she can now see.

It really is a miracle in my opinion. When we got her we couldnt even touch her, not safely. We couldnt handle her. She didnt trust humans," he said.

Merrill says there are still many great needs in the Bahamas, including rebuilding entire communities. He also says there is a need here for more foster families looking to care for the animals that have either been abandoned or forgotten.

We continue to rescue dogs locally. We are continuing to support our local shelters. We are going to continue to do what we can as our money permits," he said.

For more information on Florida Urgent Rescue, click here.

Read more:

Jacksonville non-profit's mission of rescuing animals from Bahamas put on hold because of COVID-19 - FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX

For future travel plans: it’s really better in the Bahamas – Amsterdam News

Posted on by

Theres a reason they say, Its better in the Bahamas. Take a dip in those gorgeous aqua waters and youll know why. When the Bahamas are ready for U.S. visitors, you can find all safety and protocol information in detail on Bahamas.com.

Maybe youve been to Nassau/Paradise Island, but theres so much more to the Bahamas. Venture further afield this time. Here are some other spectacular spots for a Bahamian escape.

The Exumas

The Exumas are an archipelago of 365 cays and islands. They say good things come in threes. In this case, its Great Exuma, Little Exuma and The Exuma Cays. Each is its own world. If youre looking for A-listers, youre likely to find them in the Cays, when theyre not cocooning in their lavish homes and condos. Great Exuma and Little Exuma are chill spots. One wow factor is the Mile-long Sandbar, a stretch of white sand that emerges from the blue-green water at low tide. Then there are the pigs. Pig Island at Big Major Cay, a little uninhabited island close to Staniel Cay, is home to the cutest swimming pigs. Theres more to the story, the Thunderball Grotto, underwater caves, and on Compass and Sampson cays, unspoiled beaches, cliffs and lagoons. Expect a color explosion in reefs and waters at the Exumas Cays Land and Sea Park and Warderick Wells Marine Sanctuary.

Andros

Andros is likely to be the next hot thing in the Bahamas. This is the largest island in the Bahamas but also the least inhabited. Its home to the worlds third largest barrier reef and numerous blue hole ocean caves. Andros may be a secret to many people, but not to bone fishers who call it the bone fishing capital of the world. Andros is ideal for snorkeling, diving, sailing and any kind of boating. Andros is where youll find the oldest dive shop on the planet. The recently opened ultra-fab Caerula Mar is an ideal option for your home away from home.

Long Island

Youve probably heard stories about Deans Blue Hole, the second deepest blue hole in the world, 80 x 120 feet wide on the surface and 330 feet wide and 60 feet down. Long Island is where youll find this natural wonder. The Tropic of Cancer runs directly through the island, giving it two distinct coastlines, one with cliffs and caves and vigorous Atlantic waves and the other, a sandy edged lee side which slopes calmly into the Bahamas Bank. Long Island is also home to the ruins of St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, the oldest church in The Bahamas.

San Salvador

If youre not a diver, you might not be gung-ho about going to San Salvador. But if you are, youre in heaven with more than 50 dive sites. Youll find reefs, ruins, shipwrecks, and walls. Devils Claw and Vickys Reef are home to stingrays and sharks; French Bay has unique Elkhorn and staghorn coral. The water wonderment doesnt stop there. The Great Lake Preserve in the middle of San Salvador is a protected area stretching the entire length of the island. Its 10 miles long and two miles wide. Its ideal for bird watching.

Acklins & Crooked Islands

Talk about remote. This is off the beaten path for sure. Acklins is one of the least known and most preserved islands in The Bahamas. If youre in the mood for privacy this is the spot. Think very secluded beaches. Where this area shines though is bone fishing. For a step back in the past, Crooked Islands French Wells and Gun Point settlements recall the days of plantations.

Cat Island

If youre looking for wild revelry this is not the island for you. Cat Island is the most secluded in the Bahamas. Only about 1,700 people live there. Dont expect an array of restaurants, bars and uber luxe resorts. This is a place to go to collect your thoughts and settle yourself. Maybe you start to write that novel. You might want to go next June for the Annual Rake & Scrape Festival when the Bahamas indigenous music is celebrated.

See the article here:

For future travel plans: it's really better in the Bahamas - Amsterdam News

Isaias Causing Life-Threatening Flash Flooding And High Winds Over Puerto Rico – WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando

Posted on by

Location 125 miles W of Ponce Puerto Rico Wind 60 mph Heading NW at 20 mph Pressure 29.62 Coordinates 68.5W, 17.6N Discussion

At 800 a.m. AST (1200 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Isaias was located near latitude 17.6 north, longitude 68.5 west. Isaias is moving toward the northwest near 20 mph (31 km/h), and a west-northwestward to northwestward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected over the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Isaias will move over Hispaniola later today and near the southeastern Bahamas by tonight or early Friday. Isaias is forecast to be near the central Bahamas Friday night and approach the northwest Bahamas or southern Florida Friday night and Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph (95 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is anticipated until landfall in Dominican Republic later today, with re-strengthening forecast on Friday and Saturday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 415 miles (665 km) from the center. Tropical-storm-force winds are occuring along the southern coast of Puerto Rico. A weatherflow station in yabucoa tanque de agua reported sustained winds of 46 mph (74 km/h) with a gust to 56 mph (91 km/h). A weatherflow station at las mareas reported sustained winds of 43 mph (69 km/h) with a gust to 54 mph (87 km/h).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1003 mb (29.62 inches).

Changes with this advisory:

None

Summary of watches and warnings in effect:

A tropical storm warning is in effect for, * Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra * U.S. Virgin Islands * British Virgin Islands * Dominican Republic entire southern and northern coastlines * north coast of Haiti from le mole st Nicholas eastward to the northern border with the Dominican Republic * Turks and Caicos Islands * southeastern Bahamas including the acklins, crooked island, long cay, the inaguas, mayaguana, and the ragged islands * central Bahamas, including cat island, the exumas, long island, rum cay, and san salvador

A tropical storm watch is in effect for, * northwestern Bahamas including andros island, new providence, eleuthera, abacos islands, berry islands, grand Bahamas island, and bimini

Interests in Cuba and the Florida peninsula should monitor the progress of this system.

A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

A tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, generally within 48 hours.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service.

Key messages for Isaias can be found in the tropical cyclone discussion under awips header miatcdat4, wmo header wtnt44 kNHC, and on the web atwww.hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml.

Wind: tropical storm conditions will continue across portions of the U.S. And British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through this morning or early afternoon. These conditions are forecast to reach portions of the Dominican Republic and Haiti within the warning area later this morning, and the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos this afternoon. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the central Bahamas beginning Friday morning and are possible in the northwestern Bahamas beginning late Friday.

Rainfall: Isaias is expected to produce the following rain accumulations:

British and U.S. Virgin Islands and Turks and caicos: 3 to 6 inches.

Puerto Rico and northern haiti: 3 to 6 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 8 inches.

Dominican republic: 4 to 8 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 10 inches.

Bahamas: 4 to 8 inches.

Cuba: 2 to 4 inches, with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches.

These rainfall amounts will lead to life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, as well as potential riverine flooding beginning today. Urban and small stream flooding is expected for the U.S. Virgin Islands, eastern Puerto Rico, and Hispaniola.

Surf: swells generated by Isaias are affecting portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

Go here to see the original:

Isaias Causing Life-Threatening Flash Flooding And High Winds Over Puerto Rico - WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando

As The Bahamas is rocked by 55 new cases, PM says: ‘We were afraid to stop travel’ – Bahamas Tribune

Posted on by

Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis speaks in the House of Assembly. (BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis said Bahamians who travelled to the United States when the borders reopened this month lacked discipline and caused a surge in COVID-19 cases.

He said before the borders were reopened, his administration considered prohibiting residents from leaving the country but feared the political fallout of doing this while allowing tourists to move freely in and out of the country. Had residents been prohibited from travelling, he said the decision would have been discriminatory and unconstitutional but would have prevented spread of COVID-19 while boosting the economy.

Dr Minnis said 40 percent of the recent COVID-19 cases are because Bahamians travelled to virus hotspots, a number he expects to increase as more analysis is done.

His comments came before parliamentarians passed a resolution extending the state of emergency to September 30.

... Governments will be placed in situations where at some point in time they will have to make what they call discriminatory or unconstitutional decisions against their people in the interest of the advancement of their nation. We could not (do that) and the statistics are verifying that if we did, Riu and other hotels wouldve been opened and doing well, he said.

The Riu hotel announced this week that it will temporarily close on July 28.

Residents and tourists were not treated entirely the same when the countrys borders reopened. Unlike tourists, short-term travellers who left for 72 hours or less were not required to produce a negative RT-PCR test result and on their return to the country many were not entered into the Hubbcat system that monitors people in quarantine. Many were also not placed into a government designated quarantine facility.

Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin criticised Dr Minnis during her contribution to the debate, saying it was the government that dropped the ball by letting people travel to the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic and not quarantine them when they returned.

Dr Minnis said: We demonstrated as Bahamians the lack of discipline in that as our borders were opened there was mass migration to the hotspot despite a warning, we migrated, mass migration both from New Providence, Grand Bahama and to a limited extent Family Islands.

The case we wouldve heard of Inagua, that was Inaguas residents who left Inagua, went to Florida, father, the son, subsequently become infected and en route back to Inagua it was discovered they were positive and were subsequently held here in New Providence and managed appropriately.

No, they did not return to Inagua with the virus. What that demonstrates is the entire Bahamas archipelago travelled to the various hotspots. What that demonstrates, had we made a firm decision to ensure and prevent Bahamians from travelling, we wouldve been in a better position but to make such a decision would have been considered unconstitutional.

I would have and the government would have been accused of being the most dictatorial government. We would have been and I wouldve been accused of an abuse of power. But power is only abused when used unnecessarily but when it is used for the correct purpose it is not abused. We as a government, we refused, though we thought about it, we refused to make that decision to place a travel embargo on Bahamians and allow others to come in but what would have happened had we done that? The opposition, the people, the media, etc, would have lambasted us for doing that.

They would not have known what the possible outcome wouldve been. We wouldve been a successful nation but we wouldve been a destroyed grouping. We were afraid to make that decision. We were already being threatened by members of the opposition to be taken to court on constitutional violations so could you imagine what wouldve happened? We made the decision not to make an unconstitutional decision though we wouldve been better off and as a result of the decision that we made, allowing everybody to travel, we are seeing the results today. In todays world because of how we react and how we respond, that was the correct decision because we wouldve not known that this wouldve possibly been the outcome and it was essential that we know what is the outcome.

Go here to read the rest:

As The Bahamas is rocked by 55 new cases, PM says: 'We were afraid to stop travel' - Bahamas Tribune

Health Alert – Turks and Caicos Islands – US Embassy in The Bahamas

Posted on by

Health Alert U.S. Embassy Nassau, The Bahamas July 22,2020

Location:Turks and Caicos Islands

Event:Mandatory Health Requirements for Entering the Turks and Caicos Islands

TheTurks and Caicos Islands announced a mandatory entry requirement program called TCI Assured upon the reopening of its international borders on July 22, 2020. Entry requirements are subject to modification, given the ongoing global pandemic. We urge you to closely monitor the below referenced webpages, the U.S. Embassy Nassau website, and your travel vendors (air carriers and hotels) before your anticipated travel.

As of July 22, the current travel requirements for the Turks and Caicos Islands are as follows. You will need to closely monitor official information sources for any possible updates.

The health entry requirements and link to the application are available at https://turksandcaicostourism.com/. FAQs are available at: https://turksandcaicostourism.com/tci-assured-faqs/.

Please direct any questions to the Ministry of Tourism at https://turksandcaicostourism.com/contact-us/.

Upon Arrival

The Department of State Global Level 4 Health Advisoryfor COVID-19 remains in effect.

Visit the local government COVID-19webpagefor updated information.The Ministry of Healths COVID-19 hotline numbers are +1-649-333-0911 and +1-649-232-9444.

Effective March 16, U.S. Embassy Nassau suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit ourwebsitefor additional information.

Actions to Take:

Assistance

U.S. Embassy Nassau, The Bahamas#42 Queen Street, Nassau+1-242-322-1181ACSNassau@state.govU.S. Embassy Nassau webpage

For U.S. Citizens in an Emergency

Call State Department Consular Affairs at+1 888-407-4747 (when dialing from within the U.S.)+1 (202) 501-4444 (when dialing from overseas)

Enroll inSmart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive Alerts.Follow us onFacebookandTwitter

By durazoda | 27 July, 2020 | Topics: Alert

Here is the original post:

Health Alert - Turks and Caicos Islands - US Embassy in The Bahamas