Guest Opinion: Liberal ideas need to be challenged with facts, experience – Bucks County Courier Times

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

By Robert Lanhan

TuesdayJul14,2020at4:30AM

Im in my 80s and Ive experienced a lot with going to different places and countries and, from what Ive seen, it appears that classification is alive and well wherever Ive been.

"Classification" has been around since the beginning of time with mostly, the "Have" and "Have-Nots" and it doesnt matter what your skin color is for, in some form or another, there is bigotry at every level in our societies regardless of race.

I served in our military when there was no separation of races and you were given the same privileges and rights and as long as you respected others. In most cases, there was harmony due to the rules applying to each in the same way.

I see so many negative things coming mostly from younger people who I consider as to not being knowledgeable and qualified regarding what our system is supposed to be built on. That being mutual respect for others along with pride in being a good citizen and taking care of your personal responsibilities.

One thing Ive overlooked that is to get the facts straight before you become a mob and destroy other peoples property and lives with what might not be the truth coming from sources that want to stir up trouble. So make sure you get the true facts before you form an opinion, if possible. In lots of cases they are self-motivated from sources that start rumors and want all of us to think the worst, which in most cases not true.

I dont approve of tearing down statues of historical people that made our country what it is supposed to be. That was in another time and place and those people stood up and did what they had to when it was required. Second guessing is easy when you dont have to do it yourself and there has been a lot of that lately and, surprisingly, the news agencies have fanned the flames with their power to incite the public with their views, which are supposed to be only the true facts.

There is nothing wrong with our country other than ourselves and these liberal ideas that seem to prevail. All of us have the Bill Of Rights to stand on equally. Thats what all of us should respect.

Robert Lanhan lives in Feasterville.

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Guest Opinion: Liberal ideas need to be challenged with facts, experience - Bucks County Courier Times

Who are the real liberals today? – The Week

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

This is a revolutionary moment in American culture.

On one side, activists and employees are demanding fundamental change to overturn structural racism deeply embedded within institutions of journalism, education, and business. On the other, critics accuse the would-be revolutionaries of engaging in acts of illiberalism, including the silencing and firing of people who resist the proposed changes or even show insufficient zeal in enacting them.

So far, the fight between the two sides has generated far more heat than light. That's what makes Osita Nwanevu's essay in The New Republic, "The Willful Blindness of Reactionary Liberalism," such a welcome intervention.

In defending the activist side of the dispute, Nwanevu's tone is high-minded, his reasoning clear and thoughtful. While critics of the activists frequently call the latter a "mob" or describe it in explicitly religious terms, Nwanevu makes a careful, deliberate, complex argument designed to show that it's actually the critics who are acting and speaking impulsively, reacting to events without deep thinking, intentionally refusing to see the reality going on around them.

As one of those critics (unnamed in Nwanevu's essay), I disagree. But it's important to clarify exactly why to ensure that both sides keep the conversation going instead of merely talking past each other, with each side doing little more than bucking up allies and seeking to discredit opponents. In my view, Nwanevu is quite wrong to describe social justice activists as "expanding" the bounds of liberalism, since the aim of their reforms is a deliberate constriction of debate. It would therefore be more honest for him and his ideological allies to admit this and accept its illiberal implications.

I've been pointing to the illiberalism of the social-justice left since at least 2013. I backed off somewhat during the first couple years of the Trump administration, since it seemed a little peevish and an offense against proportionality to write frequently about the topic with the White House occupied by a man who regularly expresses contempt for civil liberties. But there have been events worth addressing over the past year or so. Roughly since the publication of the "1619 Project" in The New York Times last August, but especially since the newsroom rebellions began early last month, I've found myself led once again to call out the illiberalism of the activist left.

Yet as far as Nwanevu is concerned, those who hold my views are the ones guilty of illiberalism.

Part of the problem may be that Nwanevu is responding to weaker arguments made by some on my own side. He's right to note, for example, that the core issue has nothing much to do with "free speech" in constitutional terms, since no one is raising a threat of government censorship. But neither does it concern, as Nwanevu asserts, "freedom of association," including the freedom of a community civil society, a newspaper, a corporate workplace to establish its own standards, since no one is denying the legitimacy of that freedom.

As I've argued on other occasions, every community makes decisions about what ideas and attitudes to rule out of bounds to treat some ideas as worthy of debate and others as unacceptable and warranting cancellation. What's distinctive about the present moment is that groups of activists are demanding to be given the power to make this all-important decision within certain institutions and they are using this newfound power to shift (and often constrict) the lines of acceptable thought and discussion, ruling certain arguments (and the people who make them) out of bounds.

Why do I oppose this effort? It has nothing to do with public policy. I'm all for vigorous debate and personally support efforts to ensure that Black Americans and other minority groups receive equal treatment under the law and that police reforms address and rectify manifest injustices in law enforcement. But that's only a small (and peripheral) part of what Nwanevu discusses in his essay and what his activist allies are aiming for. What he and they are really concerned with is defending the view that American society is comprised of "intelligible, if often hidden, systems" of racial oppression, and rejecting the views of "reactionary liberal[s]" like myself, who see the country as "a jumble of bits and pieces a muddle that defies both systemic understanding and collective action."

That really is the nub of the issue, though I think this is a tendentious way to describe the difference between the two camps. My criticism of the "1619 Project," for example, was focused less on the details of the various contributions and more on the framing of the project as an effort to tell the definitive, "true" story of America, with the history of slavery and its legacy sitting at its very core, decisively shaping everything else.

This was an activist move an act of deliberate exaggeration, a flattening out of the complexity that Nwanevu dismisses as a "muddle" and a "jumble," a decision to focus monomaniacally on one (important) facet of the multifaceted American experience and warp everything else around it. It certainly wasn't an example of seeking to achieve what Nwanevu calls "parity" among various groups. It was an effort to make Black history the defining feature of the country.

The best one can say for the effort is that it's an act of intentional overcorrection: American history has for too long been told as a story focused on white people, so now we should tell it as a story focused on Black people. But that's not a way to achieve a more accurate understanding of the past. It's an act of replacing one form of distortion with another.

And this brings us back to the second-order issue to the question of whether the activists fighting for control of decisions in the workplace believe this kind of criticism is acceptable, and hence worth publishing, at all. From his essay, it's genuinely hard to tell where Nwanevu comes down on the question. During an especially perplexing passage, he mocks New York Times columnist David Brooks for "surreal condescension" in wondering, in the midst of an essay about Ta-Nehisi Coates's much-lauded memoir Between the World and Me, whether, as a white person, he had "standing to respond" critically to Coates' "experience."

When Brooks' column appeared, five years ago, it was possible to wave away such concerns. Today, after a series of forced resignations and firings at a series of media organizations, they cannot be. Yet Nwanevu dismisses them anyway before quickly pivoting to expressions of admiration for two more recent columns from Brooks in which the columnist shows that his reading in Black history has "worked" on him, leading to a "conversion" to support for reparations for slavery and an acknowledgement that "moderates" have "failed Black America."

Brooks has learned. He won't be canceled.

But what if his reading hadn't "worked"? What if Brooks stood by or deepened his respectful criticisms of Coates? What if he continued to argue, as he did in that five-year-old column, that "this country, like each person in it, is a mixture of glory and shame" and that although "violence is embedded in America it is not close to the totality of America"? What if instead of joining Coates in calling for reparations, he argued, as I have, that it's a proposal doomed to failure? Would he be allowed to make those arguments in The New York Times today? Or would he be risking his job in doing so not because he would be severely criticized, which is assumed and expected, but because he would provoke a rebellion on staff and calls for his dismissal for refusing to adequately listen, learn, and adjust his views?

I want a public world in which Ta-Nehisi Coates is free to make his arguments with as much potency as he possibly can. But I also want a public world in which his critics can do the same without fear of crossing lines newly drawn. One argument. Then the next. And so on, down through the years. That's how we truly learn and grow as a culture not by taking control of the boundaries of debate, narrowing them to verify our tidy certainties, protecting our sacred texts, and punishing those who dare to profane them.

I don't know if Osita Nwanevu shares this vision of a free, liberal society. I do know that many of the people on his side of the debate appear not to. And that he nonetheless believes that those who think the way I do are the ones guilty of illiberalism. Maybe one day, if the argument continues, I'll be able to persuade him otherwise.

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Who are the real liberals today? - The Week

Why the Conservatives are going after the Liberals’ pre-pandemic spending now – CBC.ca

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

The federal balance sheet is a mathematical exercise that has real fiscal and economic implications. But outside of a debt crisis,the greatest value of a surplus or deficit estimate may be as a political idea.

In that respect, the most interesting thing about the $343 billion deficit that Finance Minister Bill Morneau projected on Wednesday is how it might frame the federal debate for years to come.

There is very little actualdebate to be had about the current deficit. Almost no one is arguing that the federal government should not have spent nearly $200 billion over the last few months to help Canadians get through a pandemic-induced economic shutdown. The need to continue providing some amount of support through the fall and into next spring seems obvious.

Where there are specific complaints, they tend to be that the government could have spent more and moved faster. As if in response to those critiques, Morneau's 168-page snapshot goes on at length about what the Liberal government has done and makes a point of showing how the federal response in Canada stacks up against relief efforts in other G7 countries.

All of which might explainwhythe Conservatives stopped short Wednesday of a fullassaulton the current deficit. Instead,the Conservatives renewed their attacks on the deficits the Trudeau government ran before the crisis. In 2015, the Liberals made an explicit decision to run a deficit and the federal government ran a cumulative shortfall of $54.7 billion between 2015 and 2019.

Watch: Andrew Scheer presses federal government for a pandemic recovery plan

The Conservatives like to argue that the budget was balanced when the Harper government left office five years ago. That's not entirely accurate. In November 2015 after that year's federal election, but before the Liberals had started to implement their agenda the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer released an updated fiscal projection that showed a surplus of $1.2 billion for 2015-2016.

But the federal balance sheet was benefiting from a one-time boost provided by the sale of the federal government's shares in General Motors. In the years following, the PBO projected that the budget would show a deficit of between $3 billion and $5 billion in subsequent years.

For the fiscal year of 2018-2019, the PBO estimated that the federal government's debt-to-GDP ratio a measure of accumulated debt in comparison to the national economy would be 27.9 per cent.

In fact, after the Liberal government implemented its spending plans, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 30.9 per cent in 2018-2019. That three per cent difference isn't nothing, but it is the box within which any argument about pre-2020 fiscal policy has to be fought.

Of course, a full evaluation of the Liberal approach before the pandemic hit would have to assess the value of that increased spending. But the 2015 to 2019 era is just the prelude to what'slikely to be a larger debate about the shape, size and activity of the federal government going forward.

The federal government is running a deficit of $343 billion but the sky has not fallen and that is an implicitchallenge to the Conservatives' arguments about the primary value of frugality.They also may notwantthe idea of such widespread federal support for individuals and businesses to be broadlyaccepted by Canadians.

So, on Wednesday, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told the House of Commons that Morneau had presented a "dire" picture of federal finances. Pierre Poilievre, the shadow finance minister,stood and loudly decriedthe fact that total federal debt isnow expected to reach $1 trillion.Poilievrethen called on Morneau to reform the government's relief policies so that the free market could be unleashed to create the jobs and growth that are now needed.

The future direction of the Conservative Party still depends on who its next leader turns out to be, but Scheer and Poilievreprobably havelaid out the broad strokes of what Conservatives will argue in the months and years ahead that government borrowing isa significant source of concern, that there has been too much spending under the Liberals, and that the private sector must be left alone to create prosperity.

When Conservatives need to argue that Canada cannot "afford" something in the future, they'll no doubt insist that the Liberals have 'spent the cupboards bare'. (Granted, Poilievre and Scheer were making that argument before the current crisis. Maybethey needa new metaphor.)

Watch: The National:Bill Morneau on $343B deficit, post-pandemic recovery

One trillion is not a magic number;the federal debt almost inevitably would have reached that level at some point in the future. But it is a big number. And big numbers can be attention-grabbing.

No one should take thedeficitfor granted, but Morneau was prepared to argue thatCanada's current fiscal plight looks less alarming when it's placed incontext. Canada went into this crisis with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and it still has the lowest level of net government debt among those countries. Due to low interest rates, the federal government also willpay a lower servicing charge on that debt this year than it did last year, even with the extra borrowing.

Federal debt-to-GDP is now expected to reach 49 per cent well below its peak of 66 per cent in the mid-1990s. As the economy continues to recover, that ratio should decline.

But even if no one is really contestingthe need to spend now, there will be a debate later about how to manage the deficit and the debt going forward. And the extent of the federal government's emergency spending coupled with the deficits of earlier years could leave Morneau and the Liberals vulnerable to claims that they are irresponsible or profligate.

There was some faint grumbling already when it seemed that the federal government might not be doing enough to ensure that payments from the Canadaemergency response benefit (CERB) weren't going to ineligible recipients. Any future spending scandals could be much more potent in light of the big numbers that were released on Wednesday.

And Morneau willsoon have to confrontall the other problemsthis pandemic has exposed, and all the outstanding requests that have piled up over the last four months. Major issues involving long-term care, precarious work, inequality, child care and climate change are going to be waiting for the finance minister once it's time to rebuild not to mention the need to be better prepared for the next pandemic. Each of those issues will come with demands for new funding.

On that note,theNDP'sJagmeetSingh isalreadycalling for a new tax on the richest Canadians. Of course, theNDPwas proposing a wealth tax before this pandemic but New Democrats will have evenmore reasons to argue for one now.

For the Liberals, doing everything and making the case that theycan do so responsibly is only going to get harder. And Liberals who worry about this government's legacy must know that if they leave the government on an unacceptable fiscal path, they'll give their successors a handy reason to significantly restructure whatever is left behind.

Watch: The At Issue panel discusses what's missing from the fiscal snapshot

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Why the Conservatives are going after the Liberals' pre-pandemic spending now - CBC.ca

Ex-Liberal MPs running in next election eagerly await start of nomination process – The Hill Times

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

With the Liberals in majority territory in public opinion polls, some Liberal MPs who lost the last election are eagerly awaiting the start of nomination contests that will give them a chance to reclaim their seats.

In interviews with The Hill Times, some former Liberal MPs said nominations for unheld ridingsthose currently occupied by MPs from other partieswill likely start after the Liberal Partys biennial convention, which is scheduled to run between Nov.12 and Nov. 15 in Ottawa. They said the nominations contests were originally planned for March, but were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest update that Ive been able to get is that they may start looking around when our national convention is going to be, which is after Remembrance Day this year, so sort of mid-to-late November, said former Liberal MP John Aldag, who represented the riding of Cloverdale-Langley City, B.C. from 2015-2019, but lost the last election to Conservative MP Tamara Jensen by a margin of 2.5 per cent of the vote. Ms. Jensen won 20,937 votes, Mr. Aldag 19,542, NDP candidate Rae Banwarie received 10,508 votes, and Green Party candidate Caelum Nutbrown garnered 3,572 votes.

In 2015, Mr. Aldag had carried the riding by a margin of 11 per cent of the vote over Conservative candidate Dean Drysdale. That year, Justin Trudeaus (Papineau, Que.) Liberals won a majority government with 184 seats. They were reduced to a minority in 2019, ending up with 157 of the total 338 seats. The Conservatives won 121, the Bloc 32, the NDP 24, the Greens three, and one Independent MP was elected.

In a minority government, an election could happen at any time if the governing party loses a vote of confidence. In comparison, under majority governments the dates of elections are fixed in advance.

In minority governments, political parties try to nominate their candidates sooner rather than later, given the inherent unpredictability of how long a government will last. Early nominations give nominated candidates more time to campaign, gain name recognition, raise funds, and develop contacts in communities in their ridings. The average life of a minority government in Canada is 18 months.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressing the national Liberal caucus during the Jan. 23 winter caucus retreat. Recent polls showed the Liberals would win a majority government if an election were held at the time, but that was before the WE Charity scandal erupted last week. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Even after losing the last election, Mr. Aldag said hes never discontinued his outreach with people living in the riding. He said he agrees with the partys decision not to call nomination contests when the country is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, but he also said its always better if a politician can introduce themselves to voters as a partys nominated candidate as early as possible, rather than as someone who is seeking a nomination.

I am planning on putting my name forward again, and I know itd be a lot easier when we are able to start campaigning or getting out in public to actually be there as the candidate, as opposed to the person seeking the nomination, said Mr. Aldag.

They were originally looking, pre-COVID, at having some of the nominations starting by the end of March. COVID has changed all of that.

National public opinion polls taken not long before the WE Charity scandal erupted last week suggested that the Liberals would win a majority government if an election were held at the time. The numbers suggested that Canadians supported the way the Liberal government was managing the pandemic so far.

A Lger poll released last week suggested that if an election were to be called now, 39 per cent of Canadians would vote for the Liberal Party, 25 per cent Conservative Party, 20 per cent NDP, and five per cent for the Green Party.

The online poll of 1,517 Canadians was conducted between July 3 and July 5, and had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

This would mean a marked increase in popularity for the Liberals compared to before the pandemic, when the Liberals and the Conservatives were in a statistical tie at 31 per cent and 32 per cent respectively, according to a Lger poll conducted on Jan. 22. The NDP support was at 19 per cent, and the Green Party at eight per cent.

It however remains to be seen if the WE Charity controversy will have any serious effect on the popularity of the Liberal Party. This is the first major ethics controversy that Mr. Trudeau has run into since the last federal election. During the last Parliament, his popularity was severely damaged by the SNC-Lavalin scandal and also his family and friends trip to the private Caribbean island of the Aga Khan, whose charity has received millions of dollars from the Canadian government.

The WE Charity controversy surrounds a now-cancelled, untendered $900-million contract to handle a student volunteer program that was handed to the charity. The Trudeau family is close to the WE Charity; Mr. Trudeau has volunteered for it in the past, his mother Margaret and brother Alexandre have received a total of about $300,000 over the years in speaking fees for WE Charity events, and his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, is an official ambassador for the charity and hosts a podcast for it. She received a $1,500 honorarium for hosting a WE Charity event in 2012.

Late Friday, media reports indicated that Finance Minister Bill Morneau (Toronto Centre, Ont.) also did not recuse himself from cabinet approval of the WE Charity contract although two of his close family members have been directly involved with the charity, one as a contractual employee. The Conservatives have called on the RCMP to investigate the issue.

Mr. Trudeau has said the decision to award the contract for the Canada Student Service Grant to the WE Charity was made by public servants, but it was also approved by the cabinet, and Mr. Trudeau did not recuse himself from that decision.

Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion is currently investigating the scandal.

The Conservative Party announced its nomination rules for held ridings in April. A party spokesman told The Hill Times last week that nominations in unheld ridings will likely start for the Conservatives sometime after the party elects its new leader next month.

According to the Conservative Partys nomination rules for incumbent MPs, if an election were to be called between now and June 2021, all MPs would be acclaimed as partys candidates automatically. If an election is held after June of next year, Conservative MPs can still run unopposed without going through the nomination process if they raise $15,000 by Dec. 31, 2020.

Liberal delegates at the Halifax biennial convention. Liberal MP John Aldag says it appears the nomination process will start after the partys biennial convention in mid-November in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Cynthia Munster

If any Conservative MP is not able to meet the threshold by that deadline, they would have to then raise $25,000 by April 30, 2021. If an MP is not able to meet either of the two deadlines, they will have to earn their nomination through the regular nomination process.

Those fundraising thresholds are relatively low, and all Conservative MPs are expected to be acclaimed as party candidates for the next election.

Some Conservative sources told The Hill Times that the caucus had recommended that financial target as the only condition for qualification to carry the partys banner for the next election to the elected National Council, the 20-member governing body of the party. The council accepted it without any amendment.

Conservative MPs toldThe Hill Times in April that the COVID-19 pandemic is the reason the threshold is so low. Canadians are facing daunting economic and health challenges, and fundraising is going to be a challenge for politicians for at least for the next year or so.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Liberal Party told The Hill Times last week that the party is still in the process of consulting MPs and rank and file members about the nomination rules for held and unheld ridings. He did not say when the nomination contests would start.

Over the course of this year, weve been continuing to hear ideas from Liberal MPs, past candidates, EDAs, and registered Liberals across Canada on the best process to help elect even more Liberal MPs whenever the next campaign eventually arrives, wrote Braeden Caley, senior director of communications for the Liberal Party, in an email to The Hill Times. We anticipate those consultations being finalized shortly, andwell have more to share about the new nominations process in due course.

Liberal MP Dan Ruimy, who represented the riding of Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge, B.C. from 2015 to 2019, but lost the election to Conservative MP Marc Dalton, said he is also planning on running in the next election, but does not know when the nomination contest will happen. Since the last election, Mr. Ruimy said, he has stayed in regular contact with people in the riding. In his conversations with constituents, Mr. Ruimy said he always asks what they think about the governments response to the pandemic, and so far he has received a positive feedback.

He said hes not worried about when the nomination contests will happen, but wants to ensure that hes ready whenever the contest is called.

We dont know when the next election is going to be: it could be two months from now, it could be two years from now, said Mr. Ruimy. So, I try not to worry about when thats gonna happen. Its more about making sure that Im ready for whenever it happens.

Mr. Ruimy won the 2015 election by a margin of only 2.4 percentage points. He won 17,673 votes, or 33.8 per cent of the total, compared to Conservative candidate Mike Murray, who won 16,373 votes, 31.4 per cent of the total. The NDP candidate Bob DEith received 15,450 votes, 29.6 percentage of the total; and the Green Party candidate Peter Tam won 2,202 votes, or 4.2 per cent of the total.

Mr. Ruimy lost the 2019 election by a margin of 6.5 per cent of the votes. In that election, Mr.Dalton garnered 19,650 votes, 36.2 per cent of the total. Mr. Ruimy won 16,125 votes, for 29.7 per cent of the total, while the NDPs Jack Mogk carried 12,958 votes or 23.9 per cent of the total, and the Green Partys Ariane Jaschke won 4,33 votes, eight per cent of the total.

Former Liberal MP Gordie Hogg, who represented the British Columbia riding of South Surrey-White Rock from 2017 to 2019, but lost the last election, said that his decision to run in the next election will depend on when the nextelection is called. He said if the election is called in the next year or so, he would run. Otherwise, he might not run. A former provincial cabinet minister, Mr. Hogg, who holds a PhD, said hes looking at some teaching opportunities at universities in British Columbia and other possibilities.

Ive been invited to do a number of things and participate in a number of boards in the community, said Mr. Hogg. So Ive been waiting to make some decisions on that and certainly the pandemic has made it a little more difficult to make decisions around that.

Mr. Hogg and other former MPs said early nominations would give more time to candidates to get ready for the election. They however also agree that the health consequences of the pandemic are preventing the party from nominating candidates.

Mr. Hogg, a former provincial MLA, won the riding in a 2017 byelection by a margin of 5.3 per cent of the votes. He won 47.4 per cent of the vote, while second place Conservative candidate Kerry-Lynne Findlay garnered 42.1 per cent of the vote. The third place NDP candidate Jonathan Silveira carried 4.8 per cent, and the Green candidate Larry Colero won 4.1 per cent of the vote.

In 2019, Ms. Findlay, a former Harper era cabinet minister, bested Mr. Hogg by a margin of 4.5 per cent of the votes. Ms. Findlay won 41.9 per cent of the votes, Mr. Hogg 37.4 per cent, NDP candidate Stephen Crozier 11.6 per cent, and the Green Party candidate Beverley Hobby won 7.7 per cent of the votes.

The Hill Times

Permissionless Software Foundation Aims to Foster Open-Source Software With Bitcoin Cash – Bitcoin News

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Just recently, Bitcoin Cash proponents were introduced to a new foundation called the Permissionless Software Foundation aimed at spreading Bitcoin Cash and SLP token technology.

This week an organization called the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF) revealed an announcement to the BCH community. The groups mission aims to foster the growth of open-source software and growing adoption of Bitcoin Cash across the globe.

Moreover, the PSF plans to bolster Simple Ledger Protocol innovation. Crypto fans can read about the PSF on the organizations new web portal called psfoundation.cash. The organizations business model states:

The Foundation is a community-oriented, highly automated, and legally-nonexistent decentralized autonomous organization whose purpose is to foster the growth of open-source software and the adoption of Bitcoin Cash across the globe. The PSF will offer a Simple Ledger Protocol (SLP) token on the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network to self-fund the development of open-source software, and reward contributors that help the organization grow.

According to the press release, PSF and the web portal fullstack.cash will offer consulting services going forward.

More and more businesses are looking into the great opportunities of integrating Bitcoin Cash and SLP tokens into their operations, explains the announcement. Finding the right information and the best people can be a daunting task but this service is already proving helpful for those businesses wanting to step into the world of Bitcoin Cash.

The Bitcoin Cash (BCH) proponent and host of the developers monthly video series, David R. Allen, joined the PSF as the Business Development Manager. [Allen] has agreed to assist and support the Permissionless Software Foundation and to be a primary contact for businesses as the community grows out of its infancy. His experience and contributions are a welcome addition to the foundation, the PSF announcement details.

PSF also aims to offer white-label BCH and SLP wallets as well, according to the press release details. At the time of publication, the work is being executed in order to provide the community with a fully functional white-label web wallet.

With this wallet, businesses will be able to release reliable web wallets with organisation-specific branding, the announcement notes. This will lower the barrier to entry for businesses even further. An early prototype of the wallet can be seen at wallet.fullstack.cash.

The software developer Chris Troutner is also involved with the PSF, and nine days ago he created a post about the subject on the Reddit forum r/btc. Troutner and the PSF have also released an introductory video which can be viewed on Youtube.

BCH supporters seemed to like the project, according to a number of comments within the Reddit post. Super interesting [and] very exciting, one person wrote.

What do you think about the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF) for Bitcoin Cash? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, psfoundation.cash

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

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Permissionless Software Foundation Aims to Foster Open-Source Software With Bitcoin Cash - Bitcoin News

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Up $0.09 Over Past 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Entered Today Down 2.29% – CFDTrading

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Bitcoin Cash 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 14, 2020 11:19 AM GMT (07:19 AM EST)

The back and forth price flow continues for Bitcoin Cash, which started the current 4 hour candle off at 228.47 US dollars, up 0.04% ($0.09) from the previous 4 hours. Out of the 5 instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Bitcoin Cash ended up ranking 4th for the four-hour candle in terms of price change relative to the previous 4 hours.

The choppiness in the recent daily price action of Bitcoin Cash continues; to start today, it came in at a price of 231.99 US dollars, down 2.29% ($5.44) since the previous day. The price move occurred on volume that was up 93.51% from the day prior, but down 32.35% from the same day the week before. On a relative basis, Bitcoin Cash was the worst performer out of all 5 of the assets in the Top Cryptos asset class during the previous day. Here is a daily price chart of Bitcoin Cash.

Coming into today the current price of Bitcoin Cash is sitting close to its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages; moving average crosses often indicate a change in momentum, so this may be worth keeping an eye on. The clearest trend exists on the 14 day timeframe, which shows price moving up over that time. Also of note is that on a 30 day basis price appears to be forming a base which could the stage for it being a support/resistance level going forward. Or to view things another way, note that out of the past 10 days Bitcoin Cashs price has gone up 5 them.

For laughs, fights, or genuinely useful information, lets see what the most popular tweets pertaining to Bitcoin Cash for the past day were:

Stablecoin Tether Is Now Circulating on the Bitcoin Cash Network$BCH for the win

Whether for Bitcoin Cash (#BCH) or any other cryptocurrency, growth is not a one way path trials and errors lead to winning..@BitcoinCash

@rogerkver I just heard about Bitcoin Waffles (BTCW) Just curious is bitcoin cash as good as BTCW? Im hesitant because bitcoin waffles seems like the next big thing but bitcoin cash Im not sure about

Follow this link:

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Up $0.09 Over Past 4 Hours, Fares the Worst Out of Top Cryptos to Start the Day; Entered Today Down 2.29% - CFDTrading

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Down $1.73 Over Past 4 Hours, Entered Today Up 0.06%; Eyes 50 and 100 Day Averages – CFDTrading

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Bitcoin Cash 4 Hour Price Update

Updated July 11, 2020 11:18 AM GMT (07:18 AM EST)

Bitcoin Cash is down 0.73% ($1.73) since the previous 4 hours, marking the 3rd candle in a row a decline has happened. Out of the 5 instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Bitcoin Cash ended up ranking 4th for the four-hour candle in terms of price change relative to the previous 4 hours.

The choppiness in the recent daily price action of Bitcoin Cash continues; to start today, it came in at a price of 238.29 US dollars, up 0.06% ($0.15) since the day prior. The change in price came along side change in volume that was down 32.78% from previous day, but up 7.38% from the Friday of last week. Relative to other instruments in the Top Cryptos asset class, Bitcoin Cash ranked 2nd since the day prior in terms of percentage price change. Here is a daily price chart of Bitcoin Cash.

Notably, Bitcoin Cash is now close to its 20, 50 and 100 day moving averages, which may act as price barrier for the asset. The clearest trend exists on the 14 day timeframe, which shows price moving up over that time. For additional context, note that price has gone up 6 out of the past 10 days. And for candlestick traders, a special treat: there is a pin bar pattern showing up on the charts as well. Rejoice!

Behold! Here are the top tweets related to Bitcoin Cash:

21 days to #Bitcoin fork day.On August 1st, 2017 after a long community debate on how to better scale Bitcoin, a hard fork was made in the Bitcoin blockchain, resulting in BCH & BTC.Bitcoin Cash enables an increased volume of trades per second to speed up txns. & lower fees.

@cryptoo_moon @BitcoinCom The only thing thats dead is the dream of #bitcoin.Oh, waitIts alive and well in Bitcoin Cash.The truth hurts, I know.

@rogerkver Bitcoin cash will never be bitcoin!

For a longer news piece related to BCH thats been generating discussion, check out:

TikTok Dogecoin Operation Explodes; Chainalysis Raises $13 Million; Tether Mints $6 Million on Bitcoin Cash CoinSpice

Tether, the stablecoin company, appears to have started distributing its SLP version of USDT by minting $6 million worth on top of the Bitcoin Cash blockchain.For example, Karen deposits an asset such as USDT to @AaveAave and delegates her credit line to Chad, who draws funds such as ETH from Aave Protocol.The system use credit delegation, where traders collateralized a position and then use it to delegate a credit line to another user that will be the one to draw the resources from the Aave platform.

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Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Down $1.73 Over Past 4 Hours, Entered Today Up 0.06%; Eyes 50 and 100 Day Averages - CFDTrading

Bitcoin Cash Struggles to Sustain Above $240 High, May Soon Reach Overbought Region at $250 – Coin Idol

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Jul 08, 2020 at 11:43 // News

Bitcoin Cash has made a surprise move in the last 48 hours to reach the $245 high. For the past week, sellers have pushed the coin to a low of $205. The bulls responded immediately and corrected upward above $220.

For about a week BCH has been consolidating above the $220 support to break into the previous highs. Eventually, BCH rebounded above $220 to reach a high of $245. The price made a pullback.

In the meantime, the bulls are struggling above the $240 resistance to push price to the previous high. The current uptrend can be sustained if BCH finds support above $240 and rebounds. A second rebound will propel price to break the $260 resistance and the momentum will extend to retest the $281 overhead resistance. At the time of writing, the bulls and bears are struggling above the $240 price level.

BCH upward move is likely as the price breaks the 12-day EMA and the 26-day EMA. The coin is likely to rise as it is in the bullish trend zone. The crypto is also in a bullish momentum as it is above the 70 % range of the daily stochastic. However, the market is approaching the overbought region. In the overbought region, BCH may resume a downward move.

Key Resistance Zones: $440, $480, $520

Key Support Zones: $200, $160, $120

The recent rebound has indicated that the downtrend is over. The bulls have to jump over the hurdles at $260 and $270 before overcoming the overhead resistance at $281. BCH is still fluctuating above the $240 resistance. It will rise if the current momentum is sustained above $240 price level.

Disclaimer. This analysis and forecast are the personal opinions of the author that are not a recommendation to buy or sell cryptocurrency and should not be viewed as an endorsement by Coin Idol. Readers should do their own research before investing funds.

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Bitcoin Cash Struggles to Sustain Above $240 High, May Soon Reach Overbought Region at $250 - Coin Idol

The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 11th, 2020 – FX Empire

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Bitcoin, BTC to USD, rose by 0.60% on Friday. Following a 2.32% slide on Thursday, Bitcoin ended the day at $9,304.6.

It was a bearish start to the day for Bitcoin. Bitcoin fell to an early morning intraday low $9,133.1 before finding support.

Finding support at the first major support level at $9,132.03, Bitcoin rallied to a late intraday high $9,324.6.

In spite of the late recovery, Bitcoin fell well short of the first major resistance level at $9,407.73.

The late recovery, however, saw Bitcoin wrap up the day in positive territory.

The near-term bullish trend remained intact in spite of the early July pullback to sub-$9,000 levels. For the bears, Bitcoin would need to slide through the 62% FIB of $6,400 to form a near-term bearish trend.

Across the rest of the majors, it was a mixed day on Friday.

Binance Coin (+2.73%), Bitcoin Cash ABC (+1.00%), Moneros XMR (+0.25%), and Tezos (+0.34%) bucked the trend on the day.

It was a bearish day for the rest of the majors.

Cardanos ADA led the way down, with a loss of 4.63%.

Bitcoin Cash SV (-2.00%), XRP (-1.69%) Stellars Lumen (-0.99%), and Trons TRX (-2.02%) also struggled.

EOS (-0.72%), Ethereum (-0.33%), and Litecoin (-0.02%) saw relatively modest losses on the day.

In the current week, the crypto total market cap rose from a Monday low $254.55bn to a Wednesday high $274.58bn. At the time of writing, the total market cap stood at $267.03bn.

Bitcoins dominance fell from a Monday high 65.58% to a Thursday low 63.55%. At the time of writing, Bitcoins dominance stood at 64.05%.

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The Crypto Daily Movers and Shakers July 11th, 2020 - FX Empire

Bitcoin Cash Analysis: $230 Holds The Key But Can Bulls Clear $245? – Live Bitcoin News

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Bitcoin cash price is correcting gains from the $245 hurdle against the US Dollar. BCH/USD is likely to bounce back as long as it is above the $230 support zone.

Earlier this week, bitcoin cash price started a fresh increase above the $225 and $230 resistance levels against the US Dollar. BCH price even settled above the $230 level and the 55 simple moving average (4-hours).

Finally, the price spiked above the $240 level and it is currently facing a strong resistance near the $245 level. A high is formed near the $245 level and the price is currently correcting lower.

There was a break below the $240 level, plus the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $215 swing low to $245 high. The price is now trading below the $236 level and it is approaching the main $230 support zone.

There is a major bullish trend line forming with support near $230 on the 4-hours chart of the BCH/USD pair. The trend line is close to the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $215 swing low to $245 high.

More importantly, the 55 simple moving average (4-hours) is also near the trend line support at $230. If bitcoin cash price fails to stay above the trend line support and $230, there is a risk of a nasty decline in the coming sessions.

Conversely, the price might bounce back above the $240 and $242 levels. The main resistance is near the $245 level. A successful close above the $245 level might trigger a sharp rally towards $255 and $260.

Bitcoin Cash Price

Looking at the chart, bitcoin cash price is correcting lower from the $245 barrier. It must stay above the $230 support to make another attempt to clear the $245 resistance.

4 hours MACD The MACD for BCH/USD is currently gaining momentum in the bearish zone.

4 hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) The RSI for BCH/USD is now below the 50 level.

Key Support Levels $230 and $215.

Key Resistance Levels $240 and $245.

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Bitcoin Cash Analysis: $230 Holds The Key But Can Bulls Clear $245? - Live Bitcoin News

The Crypto Daily The Movers and Shakers July 8th, 2020 – Yahoo Finance

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Bitcoin fell by 1.00% on Tuesday. Partially reversing a 2.99% gain from Monday, Bitcoin ended the day at $9,267.5.

It was a mixed start to the day for Bitcoin. Bitcoin rose to an early morning intraday high $9,389.4 before hitting reverse.

Falling well short of the first major resistance level at $9,475.2, Bitcoin slid to a late intraday low $9,211.1.

Steering clear of the first major support level at $9,161.4, Bitcoin moved back through to $9,260 levels to limit the loss on the day.

The near-term bullish trend remained intact in spite of the recent pullback to sub-$9,000 levels. For the bears, Bitcoin would need to slide through the 62% FIB of $6,400 to form a near-term bearish trend.

Across the rest of the majors, it was a mixed day on Tuesday.

Cardanos ADA jumped by 11.78% to lead the way.

Binance Coin (+2.94%), Stellars Lumen (+2.76%), and Tezos (+2.71%) also bucked the trend on the day.

It was a bearish day for the rest of the majors, however.

Bitcoin Cash SV (-4.55%) and Trons TRX (-4.80%) led the way down.

Bitcoin Cash ABC (-1.28%), EOS (-2.14%), Ethereum (-0.97%), Litecoin (-1.54%), Moneros XMR (-0.68%) and Ripples XRP (-1.93%) also joined Bitcoin in the red.

In the current week, the crypto total market cap rose from a Monday low $254.54bn to Tuesday high $267.10bn. At the time of writing, the total market cap stood at $263.81bn.

Bitcoins dominance fell from a Monday high 65.58% to a Tuesday low 64.30%. At the time of writing, Bitcoins dominance stood at 64.58%.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin was down by 0.07% to $9,261.2. A bullish start to the day saw Bitcoin rise to an early morning high $9,278.6 to a low $9,256.0.

Bitcoin left the major support and resistance levels untested early on.

Elsewhere, it was a mixed start to the day.

Cardanos ADA was on the move once more, rising by 1.20%, with BNB up by 0.23% at the time of writing.

It was a bearish start for the rest of the majors, however.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin Cash and Trons TRX were down by 1.07% and by 2.19% to lead the way down.

Bitcoin would need to move through the $9,290 pivot to support a run at the first major resistance level at $9,367.57.

Support from the broader market would be needed, however, for Bitcoin to break back through to $9,300 levels.

Barring an extended crypto rebound, the first major resistance level and Tuesdays high $9,389.4 would likely cap any upside.

In the event of a crypto breakout, Bitcoin should break through the second major resistance level at $9,467.63.

Failure to move through the $9,290 pivot level would bring the first major support level at $9,189.27 into play.

Barring an extended crypto sell-off, however, Bitcoin should avoid sub-$9,100 levels. The second major resistance level at $9,111.03 would likely limit any downside.

This article was originally posted on FX Empire

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The Crypto Daily The Movers and Shakers July 8th, 2020 - Yahoo Finance

Bitcoin and Altcoins Hesitate Ahead of Next Move – Cryptonews

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

This past week, bitcoin price failed to surpass the main USD 9,500 resistance region. As a result, there was a downside correction below USD 9,300 and USD 9,200. The price is currently trading in a range above USD 9,200 and it might attempt another upside break above the USD 9,500 resistance.

Similarly, most major altcoins are showing positive signs and trading above important supports, including ethereum, XRP, litecoin, bitcoin cash, BNB, EOS, TRX, ADA, and XLM. ETH/USD is currently (08:30 UTC) rising and trading near USD 242. XRP/USD is holding the USD 0.198 support and it might soon revisit the USD 0.205 resistance zone.

Total market capitalization

After a short-term downside correction, bitcoin price started a fresh recovery. BTC is showing positive signs and it is trading above the USD 9,200 level. An immediate resistance is near USD 9,300 and USD 9,320. The main weekly resistance is still near USD 9,500 and USD 9,550, above which the bulls might test the USD 10,000 level.If there is no upside break above USD 9,320 or USD 9,500 this week, there is a risk of a sharp decline below the USD 9,050 and USD 9,000 support levels.

Ethereum price is well above the USD 235 weekly support level. ETH is rising and trading near USD 242. An initial resistance is near the USD 245 level, but the crucial hurdle is still near USD 250.A successful close above the USD 250 will most likely clear the path for more upsides towards the USD 262 and USD 265 levels.

Bitcoin cash price failed to surpass the USD 245 resistance and corrected lower below USD 240. BCH is currently consolidating above USD 235 and it might slowly climb above USD 240. To start a strong increase, the price must surpass the USD 245 hurdle. If not, there is a risk of an extended declined towards the USD 220 support.ADA is gaining traction and it recently broke the USD 0.125 and USD 0.130 resistance levels. It seems like the price is likely to continue higher above the USD 0.135 level. The next major resistance on the upside is close to the USD 0.150 level. On the downside, there are decent supports forming near USD 0.128 and USD 0.125.XRP price tested the USD 0.212 resistance zone this past week before correcting lower. It is now consolidating near the USD 0.200 level, with many supports near USD 0.198 and USD 0.195. On the upside, a clear break above USD 0.205 could pump the price towards the USD 0.212 and USD 0.215 levels.

In the past three sessions, many small-capitalization altcoins rallied over 5%, including LINK, ERD, LRC, DIVI, RLC, FXC, BNT, RSR, XTZ, and ZEC. Out of these, LINK gained over 25% and it traded to a new all-time high above USD 8.00 before correcting lower.

To sum up, bitcoin price is trading above a couple of important supports near USD 9,100 and USD 9,000. As long as there is no close below USD 9,000, BTC might continue to rise towards USD 9,500 and USD 9,550 in the near term._____

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Bitcoin and Altcoins Hesitate Ahead of Next Move - Cryptonews

Address ‘unprecedented’ impact of coronavirus on Latin America and the Caribbean, urges Guterres – UN News

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

The UN brief revealsthat several countries in the region, are now among those with the highest per capita infection rates worldwide and shines a light on how the crisis is impacting vulnerable groups, includingindigenous communities and women.

The most vulnerable populations and individuals are once again being hit the hardest, Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said in a video message on the pandemics effect throughout a zone grappling with fragmented health services even before the coronavirus.

The UN chief emphasized the impact of the coronavirus on women across the region, who make up the majority of the workforce and now bear the brunt of additional caregiving. He highlighted the plight of older persons and individuals with disabilities, who are at greater risk; and indigenous peoples, those of African descent, migrants and refugees, who suffering disproportionately.

It is projected that there will be a 9.1 per cent contraction in gross domestic product (GDP), which will be the largest in a century.

While stressing the need to do everything possible to limit the spread of the virus and tackle the health effects of the pandemic, Mr. Guterres noted that we must also address the unprecedented social and economic impacts.

The policy brief underlines an array of urgent and longer-term steps for better recovery, including the prioritization of distance learning and continued child-centered services to mitigate education interruptions.

Governments within the region are also being asked to do more to reduce poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, such as by providing basic emergency income and anti-hunger grants.

Mr. Guterres also flagged the urgent need for greater international support.

I have called for a rescue and recovery package equivalent to more than 10 per cent of the global economy, reminded the UN chief, underscoring the need of the international community to provide liquidity, financial assistance and debt relief for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin American and Caribbean countries and in particular small island developing States should not be excluded from global assistance, he asserted. The international multilateral response needs to be extended to middle-income countries.

Broader structural challenges must be addressed to build back better and transform the regions development model.

Against the backdrop of pervasive inequality, accessible and comprehensive welfare systems must be developed, fair taxation systems created, decent jobs promoted, environmental sustainability strengthened, and social protection mechanisms reinforced, according to the UN chief.

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Address 'unprecedented' impact of coronavirus on Latin America and the Caribbean, urges Guterres - UN News

Island Pops Captures the Vibe of the Caribbean in a Cone – Thrillist

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Shelly Marshall of Island Pops | Courtesy of Island Pops

Ordinarily, being laid off from your high-powered consulting job while five months pregnant is cause for immediate panic. But for Shelly Marshall, it was just the sort of life-altering push that she needed to finally devote herself full-time to her true passion: ice cream making. My mother said, Are you going to go to one of your competitors and go back into consulting? Or are you going to open up that shop that youve always wanted? Marshall recalls. Up until that point in 2017, Marshall and her husband Khalid Hamid had been running Island Pops as a side project, specializing in Caribbean-inspired ice cream and popsicle flavors. All their free time was spent hustling at street fairs and food markets. I think if I hadnt gotten laid off, I probably would still be working in consulting and doing this on the side, says Marshall.

Island Popss origin story begins even earlier, however. Much earlier: Marshall and Hamid are both from Trinidad and Tobago -- though raised on opposite sides of the island of Trinidad -- and even attended the same high school (although they didnt know each other then). As luck would have it, St. James Secondary School was across the street from one of Port of Spains most famous ice cream parlors: B&M. We grew up very humbly in the Caribbean, Marshall says. Ice cream was a luxury. But, if you had a dollar left over at the end of the day, you could go to B&M and get a huge, 16-ounce cup and theyd fill it up with like four different flavors. Thats one of my most profound memories. Popular varieties included Trinidadian stalwarts like soursop, sapodilla, sea moss, and pineapple.Fast forward to adulthood: After connecting at a school reunion event in New York, the two began dating and eventually married. And, one day in 2014, when Marshall was craving a taste of home -- soursop ice cream, to be exact -- Hamid discovered there was no shop in Brooklyn that could offer them that taste of their Trinidadian childhood. The idea for Island Pops was born. Just a year later, the couple completed Penn States famed ice cream course and won Brooklyn Public Librarys PowerUP! Competition, where entrepreneurs competed for seed money for their businesses. From there, they began to grow their fan base, catering private events on the weekends. Part of what makes their ice cream so unique is its 18% butterfat content; many other varieties top out at 14%. The result is a rich, ultra creamy ice cream base, which may cost a bit more to manufacture, but Marshall and Hamid did not want to compromise on taste.

They dont want to come from Staten Island and not get their soursop or sapodilla."

But, back to the layoff: Luckily for ice cream aficionados across the city, the corporate worlds loss was their gain. In 2018, just two months after they gave birth to their first child, the couple opened up the first brick and mortar outpost of Island Pops in Crown Heights. They decided on the location because the neighborhood not only caters to Caribbean transplants, but is also hip enough to attract those looking for the next big thing, whether thats fashion or food. But make no mistake: Island Pops creates ice cream for the Caribbean palate. There are other stores that carry some of the same flavors -- Marshall mentions Taste of the Tropics and Crme and Cocoa -- but Island Pops is the only shop that specializes solely in flavors that hail from the islands. They make about 15 core flavors, which Marshall and Hamid are generally loath to switch out, because their customer base is very loyal to their favorites. They dont want to come from Staten Island and not get their soursop or sapodilla, Marshall says. We know our customers are set in their ways, which is good!

And for those who may be unfamiliar with Caribbean flavors, the couple knows describing them only goes so far. I always hand them a taste of it, because thats the only way theyll understand, Marshall says of soursop, for example. While she likens the prickly green fruit to something like a guava-vanilla flavor, some say its like strawberry or pineapple. Everyone comes to the shop and thinks it tastes like something else, she says.

Marshall and Hamid initially created Island Pops because they missed the ice cream of Trinidad, but the store carries flavors that resonate for many different Caribbean immigrants. We always have nutmeg, because Grenadians love that. The Jamaicans love grapenut. For Barbados expats, we have the banana-Baileys-coconut. Bahamians have the Dark n Stormy. Were trying to please every Caribbean island palate, Marshall says.

Catering to so many different tastes means keeping the menu relatively static, but the couple did roll out one new flavor this season thats been very successful: sea moss. Its not fishy at all and I know a lot of celebrities are putting it in their smoothies now, she says.

In addition to traditional ice creams, Island Pops also has a substantial selection of vegan flavors. In what may be one of the industrys biggest ironies, Hamid developed a lactose intolerance during the first year of opening the shop. Its one of those things where its a gift and curse at the same time, he says. Lord knows Ive always enjoyed ice cream. So, having my own ice cream shop and being able to eat an unlimited amount of ice cream would have been spectacular. But, it would also have been very weight-gaining, I would say, he adds with a laugh. Island Popss vegan flavors start with a house-made cashew milk, which is almost as rich as a traditional dairy base. Then, its blended with fruits like strawberry or -- Hamids favorite -- into a Caribbean Chocolate flavor, which is made with cocoa imported from Trinidad. The shops rotating popsicle selection is also dairy-free: current blends include everything from watermelon-mint to rum punch.

Like any small business, Island Pops has had to be nimble during the COVID-19 crisis, but the silver lining is that theyve been able to expand in ways they hadnt considered before. The pandemic forced us all to be more creative in our delivery system, Hamid says. Now were servicing the Bronx, Long Island, Queens, and all throughout Brooklyn. And, even amid quarantine restrictions, they still plan on celebrating the shops second anniversary this month. Looking ahead, the couple would also like to begin wholesale operations locally, with an eventual goal of being a recognizable brand everywhere.

Were starting off slowly, focusing on getting into smaller, neighborhood groceries, and then eventually going nationwide, he says. The sky is the limit.

Juliet Izon is a Thrillist contributor.

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Island Pops Captures the Vibe of the Caribbean in a Cone - Thrillist

HFR Networks Partners with TVC to Deliver xHaul Solutions to Service Providers Across the Caribbean and Latin America – PRNewswire

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

RICHARDSON, Texas, July 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HFR Networks, Inc., leading the industry with intelligent xHaul RAN Transport and Edge Access solutions, today announced a distribution agreement with TVC Communications, a division of WESCO Distribution, Inc., to deliver integrated products and professional services to operators throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. With wireless network builds advancing throughout the region, TVC Communications is well positioned to address the critical RAN transport demands of mobile operators utilizing HFR Networks' portfolio of flexiHaul intelligent xHaul solutions.

With continued capacity additions supporting 3G and 4G services in parallel with the introduction of new services, operators around the world are evolving their RAN transport and access infrastructure to address new network and market demands. Ramping up new 5G and Ethernet business services with rapid, cost efficient deployment models is vital to solve the complex challenges operators face across a highly competitive marketplace.

HFR Networks' flexiHaul portfolio of xHaul solutions, based on open standards and purpose-built to overcome today's most difficult RAN transport challenges, ensure operators can easily add needed capacity while migrating from single-vendor hardware-centric architectures to multi-vendor open solutions. Located in Miami, FL, TVC's Caribbean and Latin American operation serves Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America andSouth America. By combining HFR Networks' best-of-breed solutions with TVC's extensive pre-sales and post-sale professional service capabilities, service providers in these markets will be able to quickly deploy solutions to meet their business challenges. Enabling an advanced mobile network with nanosecond timing connecting cellular radios using Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), eCPRI, and Ethernet services, HFR Networks supports both traditional and cloud-based NFV mobile architectures. flexiHaul solutions enable service providers to combine RAN transport with other traffic types such as Ethernet business services on a common infrastructure and expand mobile services quickly, especially when fiber is constrained.

"HFR Networks provides us access to state-of-the-art RAN transport solutions which help service providers to future-proof their networks by converging 4G and 5G network deployment strategies for rapid time to market with profitable service offerings," said Ken Olsen, Senior Vice President, TVC Communications, Caribbean and Latin America. "With HFR Networks, TVC can deliver on service provider requirements including cost savings, operational efficiency, and the acceleration of new services."

"TVC Communications is a company with deep customer relationships and an excellent track record of delivering for its customers," stated Paul Crann, CEO, HFR Networks. "Partnering with TVC gives us access to an amazing team with the resources, experience, and talent to best serve operators in these regions."

About HFR Networks:HFR Networks, Inc. is leading the industry with our flexiHaul portfolio of intelligent xHaul RAN Transport and Edge Access solutions. We solve today's most critical RAN transport demands, especially when fiber is constrained for fronthaul or backhaul applications. Our solutions have optimized economics for this segment of the network, while also delivering high performance, simplified operations, interoperability across wireless technologies and a diverse ecosystem of 3rd party RAN suppliers. HFR Networks' technological leadership helps customers to lower costs for 3G/4G operations, while also accelerating new 5G and Ethernet services. We enable advanced mobile networks by utilizing nanosecond timing to connect radios using CPRI and eCPRI, within both traditional and cloud-based mobile architectures. For more information, please visit http://www.hfrnetworks.com.

About WESCO WESCO International, Inc., a publicly traded Fortune 500 holding company headquartered inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of electrical, industrial, and communications maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products, construction materials, and advanced supply chain management and logistic services. 2019 annual sales were approximately$8.4 billion. The company employs approximately 9,500 people, maintains relationships with approximately 30,000 suppliers, and serves approximately 70,000 active customers worldwide. Customers include commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities. WESCO operates 11 fully automated distribution centers and approximately 500 branches inNorth Americaand international markets, providing a local presence for customers and a global network to serve multi-location businesses and multi-national corporations.

For HFR Networks, please contact:Kelly Friedland, Director of Marketing+1 781-640-4864[emailprotected]

For TVC/Wesco, please contact: William RuthrauffDirector, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications+1 412-454-4220

SOURCE HFR Networks

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HFR Networks Partners with TVC to Deliver xHaul Solutions to Service Providers Across the Caribbean and Latin America - PRNewswire

Latin America and the Caribbean have reported more coronavirus deaths than US and Canada – CNN International

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

John spent his 16th birthday the same way he's spent every day during theUK's Covid-19lockdown alone in a cell for 23 hours, with no visits, no internet and few phone calls. He is one of hundreds of children locked up in UK prisons, the forgotten casualties ofthe pandemic.

"It gives you a lot of time to think and my thoughts aren't always positive," John tells his lawyer, Jude Lanchin, on the rare occasion that she gets access to the prison video link service. "I struggle to sleep," he adds.

In the UK, teens and children aged 18 and younger are held in what the government refers to as secure children's homes, secure training centers and young offender institutions. The lawyers CNN spoke to universally refer to such institutions as prisons.

A CNN crew was allowed to observe Lanchin's call with her client and has changed his name due to UK reporting restrictions for ongoing criminal cases involving children.

I get thirty minutes out a day and then apart from that I'm just in my cell, just thinking," John says. "There's a lot of time to think, and it messes with your head a little bit."

The restrictions have been imposed by the UK government as part of the Covid-19 lockdown. Visits have been temporarily suspended and time outside of prison cells has been severely reduced, as part of broader measures to enforce social distancing in prisons due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to multiple lawyers and experts CNN has spoken to, these restrictions have left children like John in solitary confinement.

The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Mandela rules, define solitary confinement as 22 hours a day or more without meaningful human contact.

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Latin America and the Caribbean have reported more coronavirus deaths than US and Canada - CNN International

OpEd: Ranking the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Movies – Inside the Magic

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

Yo ho, yo ho, a Pirates life for me. Who wouldve thought such a simple ride couldve made such a lucrative film series. Ranking Pirates of the Caribbean movies is difficult as each of the five contains something to love.

From The Curse of the Black Pearls horror-themedaesthetic to Dead Mans Chest and At Worlds Ends epic story, each Pirates of the Caribbean movie has something for everyone.

With the news that Margot Robbie will lead a female-led Pirates movie set in the same world (possibly co-starring Karen Gillen), theres no better time to reflect on the franchise so far.

So, starting off in fifth place

Also known as Salazars Revenge in some countries, Dead Men Tell No Tales is often thought to be the weakest entry in the series. The film actually does some really great things; re-introducing series veterans Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom for one and giving Geoffrey Rushs Captain Barbossa an appropriate send-off.

What it does not handle well, however, is what almost everyone is here to see: Johnny Depps Captain Jack Sparrow. Instead of pretending to be an idiot to outwit his rivals, this Jack is just a fool. Its truly sad to see and might have something to do with the fact that Depp was reportedly taking his lines through an earpiece on set. The action and jokes also reflect this more kid-friendly approach, as they rely on just impossible stunts (dragging a bank, really?) or gross-out humor, and thats not what Pirates was ever about.

However, the film really benefits from two incredible additions; Javier Bardems Captain Salazar and that sweet as heck scene where we get to see a young Captain Jack Sparrow. So so cool.

Related: Pirates Fans Demand the Return of Johnny Depp

The fourth film comes very, very close to the same level of blandness as the fifth installment but benefits from a slightly more competent Captain Jack.

Penlope Cruzs Angelica makes an excellent foil and the character has excellent chemistry with Depp. Regrettably, real-life pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane) is just not good as this films villain and is outmatched by just about every other Pirates antagonist.

On the whole, this one is a little too long, but it boasts some stunning visuals and a cool plot revolving around the fountain of youth that could be straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.

Related: Rumors suggest Johnny Depp is back for the next Pirates of the Caribbean movie!

Its way too long and overcomplicated, but boy do I love this movie. The final battle between The Black Pearl and The Flying Dutchman is one of the most iconic moments in the entire Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and wouldve made a fitting finale to the entire series.

As is, Tom Hollanders Lord Cutler Beckett makes a fine villain, and suitably different to the nasty Davy Jones and his ghostly crew. Not really sure what the whole Brethren Court and Pirate King schtick was doing though. Some foreshadowing wouldve been good on that one. Also, killing the Kraken off-screen? Worst. Move. Ever.

Still, the triumphant return of Captain Barbossa to the main cast alone makes this one worthwhile. For my money, the continuous story of the first three Pirates movies cements them as the Star Wars trilogy of the 2000s generation.

Related: OpEd: Taika Waititi is Perfect to Refresh Pirates Series

Dead Mans Chest is how you do a sequel. It raises the stakes, fills out the lore (hello Stellan Skarsgrd as an amazingly realized Bootstrap Bill), and most of all it progresses the story without rehashing the first.

Its a little more bloated than the first and already moves towards the absurd action of Dead Men Tell No Tales, though its done far better and really leans into the comedy. Seeing Johnny Depp skewered like a kebab while pretending to be the chief of an indigenous tribe will never not be funny.

And of course, the introduction of the greatest villain of the series Bill Nighys Davy Jones certainly doesnt hurt either. Jones is all at once sympathetic, scary, and cool; something that very few movie villains manage to achieve. Theres a reason this movie is the only one of the series to win the Academy Award for best special effects.

Hans Zimmers score is also off. The. Chain in this one. Bravo.

Related: Johnny Depp Fans Petition For His Pirates Return After Leak Of Amber Heard Tape

Yes, this does mean they just get progressively worse, but how could Curse of the Black Pearl not be number one? This film changed everything and made pirates cool again, something studios around the world had been trying to figure out for years.

Everything about it is perfect and to me, its the quintessential period adventure film, though it boldly leans into the horror genre too, drawing in an older audience in the process.

Of course, the cast is really what sells this movie. Knightley, Bloom, and Rush are all exceptional, but its Johnny Depps Captain Jack Sparrow who swaggers his way into the list of truly unforgettable characters.

Im still holding out hope that we can see Mr. Depp return for one last ride as the good Captain. One final pirate movie that sees him go out with a swashbuckling bang, not a foolish whimper.

Related: Zac Efron Rumored To Play Jack Sparrow In Pirates of the Caribbean Reboot

How would you go about ranking Pirates of the Caribbean movies? Let us know in the comments below.

To Expedite Resilient Solar in the Caribbean, Collaboration is Key – Benzinga

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

A new Rocky Mountain Institute report entails how policymakers and regulators can collaborate to quicken solar photovoltaic installation across the Caribbeanimproving communities' livelihoods, enabling cost savings, building resilience and reducing dependency on foreign oil.

NEW YORK (PRWEB) July 14, 2020

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), the Clinton Foundation and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States released a joint report that details how island policymakers and regulators can work together to enhance the resilience of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the Caribbean.

The Caribbean and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) continue to face more frequent and intense weather events. When critical infrastructure, like hospitals and schools, are without power, communities suffer deeply. Solar PV systems are a way to increase the resilience of the grid and greatly improve people's access to reliable electricity, but they are useless if they fail.

The report underscores the need to ensure resilient solar PV systems are installed in the most cost-effective and collaborative way. Other key topics include incentivizing the use of the correct equipment and ensuring building codes incorporate resilient solar PV design and construction standards.

"I cannot stress enough the value of stakeholder collaboration. Collaboration ensures that the correct equipment is available, known best practices are enforced, and that systems are built to the highest standards. These components ensure that islands build the most resilient solar projects and ultimately more resilient communities," said Jules Kortenhorst, Chief Executive Officer, RMI.

Key recommendations for collaboration presented in the report include:

"In the Sustainable Development Goals, the world committed to ensuring access to affordable, reliable and modern energy for all. Many Small Island Developing States are emerging as frontrunners in the pursuit of renewable energy, with solar power leading the way. International support in the form of access to finance, investments and technology will be critical to accelerate their transitionand their resilience," said Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, High Representative for the UN-OHRLLS.

"President Clinton's commitment to the environment continues to drive our work across the Caribbean and island states, finding scalable, replicable solutions for clean energy. We are proud to partner with RMI and UN OHRLLS to share these best practices with the global community. Today, it is even more important to find reliable, cost-effective energy solutions to keep essential services up and running in the face of extreme weather events and the current pandemic," explained Kevin Thurm, chief executive officer, Clinton Foundation.

Solar Under Storm for Policymakers is the third in a series of reports by RMI and partners that focus on installing hurricane-resilient solar systems. The first Solar Under Storm guide discussed the root causes of past solar failures focused on ground-mounted systems. Solar Under Storm Part II explored best practices for equipment and procedures for rooftop systems.

To download the Solar Under Storm for Policymakers report,visit Solar Under Storm for Policymakers: Select Best Practices for Resilient Photovoltaic Systems for Small Island Developing States.

Media Inquiries please contact:

Nick Steel, Media Relations Manager, T: +1 347-574-0887, E: nsteel@rmi.org

Conor O'Loughlin, Head of Advocacy, E: conoroloughlin@un.org

Notes to Editors

About Rocky Mountain Institute

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)an independent nonprofit founded in 1982transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future. It engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables. RMI has offices in Basalt and Boulder, Colorado; New York City; the San Francisco Bay Area; Washington, D.C.; and Beijing.

More information on RMI can be found at http://www.rmi.org or follow us on Twitter @RockyMtnInst.

About the Clinton Foundation

Building on a lifetime of public service, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation on the simple belief that everyone deserves a chance to succeed, everyone has a responsibility to act, and we all do better when we work together.

For nearly two decades, that belief has energized the work of the Foundation in overcoming complex challenges and improving the lives of people across the United States and around the world. As an operating foundation, we work on issues directly or with strategic partners from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to create economic opportunity, improve public health, and inspire civic engagement and service.

Our programs are designed to make a real difference today while serving as proven models for tomorrow. The goal of every effort is to use available resources to get better results fasterat the lowest possible cost. We firmly believe that when diverse groups of people bring resources together in the spirit of true cooperation, transformative ideas will emerge to drive life-changing action. Learn more at https://www.clintonfoundation.org/, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ClintonFoundation, and on Twitter @ClintonFdn.

About the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Land Locked Countries, and Small Island Developing States

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) assists vulnerable countries in areas including economic growth, poverty reduction, and meeting targets laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/to_expedite_resilient_solar_in_the_caribbean_collaboration_is_key/prweb17254640.htm

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To Expedite Resilient Solar in the Caribbean, Collaboration is Key - Benzinga

Everybody Profits From Nonprofit Caribbean Tourism Bodies – South Florida Caribbean News

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

A joint editorial by Frank J. Comito, CEO and Director General, Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA); and Brian D. Frontin, President, Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives (CSHAE) and CEO, Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants & Tourism Association (THRTA)

MIAMI The nonprofit tourism associations of the Caribbean are integral to the regions recovery and to the sustained profitability of the tourism and hospitality sector. And, during these difficult Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) times it is even more important to support these vital development-driver institutions if we are to emerge from the pandemic more quickly and in the best economic shape.

Moving beyond this pandemic well-prepared for the new realities of global tourism requires governments to collaborate closely with the private sector, speaking with one voice through their national associations and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) on hurdling the barriers lining the path back to profitability.

We know from experience with hurricanes and health crisis situations that when the business community and governments work in a unified way they are able to accelerate the return to full employment, restoring tax revenue, rebuilding dynamic business, and enhancing education, health and other government services.

The most important thing the business community can do is to support its local and regional hotel and tourism associations by being as collaborative and engaged as possible on a variety of issues which affect their bottom line and the well-being of the communities where they operate.

Nonprofit organizations are societys biggest (little-known) change agents, especially the business-led NGOs like ours, marshaling and leveraging resources at the local, regional and international levels.

Their historic contributions to the economies and development of the Caribbean region are considerable, working tirelessly for decades on advocacy, training and education, research, marketing, beautification, environmental protection, energy efficiency, product development and community enhancements.

One can easily state that through the dedicated volunteer business leadership of these nonprofit organizations, businesses and governments throughout the Caribbean have flourished.

Today, however, the very survival and future viability of many of these organizations is in question.

Leadership, beacons of guidance, providing answers, support and advice through crises are provided by national and regional associations to help businesses make it through the storms and create a path towards recovery.

We have received plaudits for the important benefits accruing from membership of CHTA and national associations which shone brightly over the past 100 days as tourism stakeholders, in many instances working in step with governments, have worked on response, mitigation and recovery.

The rapid Caribbean-wide response of CHTA to the crisis was made possible by national tourism associations assembling data from countries and territories, which were fed to member groups directly to support local efforts or through such avenues as the resilience series of webinars launched by CHTA.

The value of our membership associations has been proven so often that we may be suffering from our own success as destinations and resorts appear to be taking our collective efforts for granted. Our biggest challenge as nonprofit organizations is to get many more in the business community to realize that we are their insurance policy. But we need them to pay the correct premium for this insurance coverage.

We are supported by voluntary contributions and only about half of the private sector in most jurisdictions actually come to the table to help make the difference in their own industry often because they dont know the extent of what the organizations do for them, but also unfortunately because some businesses simply dont see supporting the collective as part of their responsibility, but are willing to freely accept the benefits to their businesses which these associations bring about, thanks to the dedicated leadership and support of some of their fellow businesses. This simply is not fair play.

Those who are disengaged dont seem to realize theyre hurting themselves and that its absolutely essential, especially during crises like the one we have now, to come to the table and lend talent and resources for the benefit not only of their own properties, but for all the Caribbean enterprises, because as we know all too well, in small island states, a rising tide raises all boats. At the minimum, a modest financial dues investment should be committed.

Every association in the Caribbean is financially strapped, but we in regional and national organizations are being asked on a daily basis to do far more with fewer resources during the toughest of times. Without the urgent support of industry stakeholders, some of these long-standing national hotel and tourism associations may soon be forced to close their doors.

Such closures would be lamentable because we are all in this together, not just those in the major breadwinner of the region, tourism, but also the majority of private sector concerns linked to the sector.

Banks, insurance companies, telecommunications firms, wholesalers, shipping firms and service providers are among the many industry players whose success has been built through tourism.

Decades of development work by the regions 33 national hotel and tourism associations and CHTA have contributed to their collective success. Now, in this time of incredible vulnerability, as best they can, we need these businesses, along with all tourism-related businesses, to support our nonprofit organizations and associations.

After all, this would be a business imperative not an act of charity because they will be investing in the recovery of the most important revenue producer of the region. The return on their investment in tourism associations will help to reignite tourism faster, which will more readily accrue benefits to these businesses in the medium to long term.

The pandemic lockdowns have allowed our associations to make our industry smarter and stronger by intensifying training in the sector with heightened hygiene and health and safety guidelines. Our training modules are now being carefully studied by the private sector another benefit produced by nonprofits that helps corporations.

CHTA has focused a lot of effort on improving and honing health, safety and environmental standards collaboratively with the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission (OECSC), and the Jamaica-based Global Tourism Resiliency and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Such initiatives will help countries and territories rebound and recover faster, while building consumer confidence, and confidence in our own employees as they adhere to protocols that can keep them safe as well.

Importantly, this coordinated skills boosting will build confidence in travelers as word gets out that the Caribbean is really helping to mitigate or remove altogether health and safety risks.

The point is, tourism is everybodys business and for everybodys benefit: governments benefit because they generate tax revenue from our generation of business for the economy and many jobs and spin-off businesses are created, broadening tourisms impact even further.

Those businesses which have benefited so richly from tourism can look at ways of supporting their local national hotel and tourism associations and CHTA, because tourism generates a tremendous value that enhances the health, wealth, environment and well-being of all our people.

We applaud those businesses and their dedicated owners, operators, managers and supervisors in the region who have invested leadership, time and money into making these institutions possible.

We challenge those who have not stepped up to the plate, at a minimum, with the remittance of a small annual dues investment, to do so. Time and time again, whether theyve realized it or not, our nonprofit organizations have been there for them and it is not only long overdue, it is fair play and simply good business for them to step up in this time of tremendous need for their own benefit, if nothing else.

Standing by and watching nonprofit tourism associations struggle or fail is just bad business.

See the rest here:

Everybody Profits From Nonprofit Caribbean Tourism Bodies - South Florida Caribbean News

You could move to Barbados and work there remotely for a year thanks to a new incentive – Insider – INSIDER

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Danzig

If you can work from anywhere, would you stay where you are?

As much of the world has taken to working remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic, many employees are no longer tied to where their offices are.

Barbados is banking on the idea that many people will choose a tropical paradise over their current digs.

Imagine working from here. LU LIN/Shuttershock

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said last week that the Caribbean country was planning to introduce a "12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp" that would allow visitors to stay for up to a year and work remotely.

Mottley said the stamp would allow "persons to come and work from here overseas, digitally so, so that persons don't need to remain in the countries in which they are" but beyond that, information is scarce. A representative for Barbados Tourism Marketing told Insider that "details on the visa are still being finalized by the Government of Barbados."

The idea is that as short-term travel becomes increasingly difficult, a 12-month stamp would make the trip more worthwhile. It would also bring much-needed tourism dollars to the island.

Mottley said on June 26 that Barbados planned to reopen to tourists on July 12, this Sunday, when some air travel is expected to resume.

"We will continue to take a risk-based approach to the protection of our country, our people and our visitors," Mottley said.

It's important to note, however, that nonessential travel is still discouraged in many places, including the US, where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned against it.

The island is a British Commonwealth nation. Styve Reineck/Shutterstock

A recent press release from Barbados Tourism Marketing said visitors from high-risk countries (more than 10,000 new cases in the past seven days) were "strongly encouraged" to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure. Travelers from low-risk spots (with fewer than 100 cases in the past week) could take the test up to a week before departure.

Travelers who didn't take a test before their arrival will have to take one when they land, then quarantine at their expense until they receive the results, which could take about two days. Should they test positive, "they will be placed in isolation where they will receive care from the Ministry of Health and Wellness," the press release said.

Visitors will also have to fill out an online embarkation/disembarkation form related to their health and face temperature checks at the airport, the press release said.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, Barbados had 98 confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven deaths as of Wednesday.

While it's still unclear when this welcome stamp might launch, Mottley said: "The government is committed to working with you on the promotion of new concepts like the 12-month Barbados Welcome Stamp, being able to open our borders to persons traveling and making it as hospitable as ever for all of us."

Representatives for the Barbados Government Information Service did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

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You could move to Barbados and work there remotely for a year thanks to a new incentive - Insider - INSIDER

Futurist Transhuman News Blog

Author Archives: Danzig

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To Expedite Resilient Solar in the Caribbean, Collaboration is Key – Benzinga

Everybody Profits From Nonprofit Caribbean Tourism Bodies – South Florida Caribbean News

You could move to Barbados and work there remotely for a year thanks to a new incentive – Insider – INSIDER