Mashpi Lodge Reopens With New Health and Safety Efforts – Luxury Travel Advisor

Posted on by

After three-and-a-half months with its doors locked and only a skeleton crew onsite, Mashpi Lodge has begun welcoming guests to experience the rainforest again. Located within the 6,000-acre Mashpi Rainforest Reserve near Quito, Ecuador, Mashpi Lodge has spent the pandemic pause implementing more than 30 protocols and measures designed to prioritize the health and safety of guests and staff, surpassing even the Safe Travels protocols recommended by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Team members of Mashpi Lodge have been trained and tested on every new detail of bio-security, with particular emphasis given to cleaning, food and beverage handling, and guest interaction. T note, the team came up with new wordless gesturesan open palm of the right hand held over the heart for welcome; arms crossed over the chest and a little bow for thank youto limit verbal interactions and need to remove masks.

Mashpi Lodge has installed new infrastructure, acquired new productsincluding ozone tunnels, disinfection matts, contactless gel dispensers, electrostatic sprayers and social distancing signageand adapted many aspects of its guest experience to protect against COVID-19. On arrival, guests will be checked in digitally and receive single-use hand towels and welcome drinks in bottles. The Lodge has further eliminated printed materials and made all information guests might require browsable via smartphone.

Like this story? Subscribe to The Dossier

Luxury Travel Advisors only newsletter, covering unique destinations and product news for affluent travelers. Delivered every Tuesday & Thursday.

Guest amenities include sanitizing gels and sprays and individual rain ponchos. The Lodge has also replaced buffets with la carte service in the glass-enclosed dining room and ensured that all tables are spaced for social distancing. The new measures extend beyond Mashpi Lodge proper, with expert guides trained and equipped to see to the health, safety and peace of mind of guests exploring the rainforest on foot, by Sky Bike and/or Dragonfly cable car.

Rates at Mashpi Lodge include shared transfer from main hotels in Quito, all meals, all guided activities and excursions within the reserve, soft drinks and the use of rubber boots and rain ponchos.

New Small-Yacht Expedition Company, Kontiki, Sets Sail This Fall

Preferred Hotels & Resorts Launches "Loving Local" Series

Six Senses to Open Resort in Galapagos in 2021

Luxury Gold Launches Ecuadorian Amazon Itinerary Extension

The rest is here:

Mashpi Lodge Reopens With New Health and Safety Efforts - Luxury Travel Advisor

Dude Will Travel 37,000 Miles Around The World On A Honda Monkey – RideApart

Posted on by

We hear of people dropping their old, boring eat, work, sleep life to answer the call of motorcycle adventure almost every week. Chances are you probably know someone who's made the jump. Whether its for personal motives or to seek a bit of online recognition, the nomadic lifestyle on two wheels is a surging trend that shows no signs of slowing down.

For Portuguese rider Andr Sousa, the purpose of his ride around the world is to set a world record. Another one. See, the 24-year-old set the 2018 World Record for the fastest trip around South America on a small bike, according to the International Book of Records. This time around, Sousas ambitions have gone from continental to global.

On July 12, 2020, Sousa set off on yet another adventure in the hopes of adding another world record to his collection by becoming the first rider to circumvent the world on a small bike. This time, the trip will take two years and take him on a 37,000-mile journey across 50 countries. What about the small bike? Sousa opted for one of the smallest, more reliable, and rugged models available on the market: the Honda Monkey.

His mini moto was slightly supped up for the occasion to increase its capability thanks to a new exhaust, and additional lighting pods that come in handy when hes stuck navigating unfamiliar terrains in the dark. In addition to a few minor tweaks, the bike is also fully-loaded with all the gear, bells, and whistles such a trip requires. This isnt a glamorous gourmet Instagram trip and Sousa doesnt plan to stop at fancy restaurants and hotels along the way so he needs a fair bit of gear.

Thankfully, it looks like hes taken advantage of every motorcycle packing solution in the book and then some. The bags are comically almost as big as the bike itself. You can follow his adventure on the Ride That Monkey website and social media accounts if youre curious to know how the Monkey holds up. God speed, Andr, make us proud.

Visit link:

Dude Will Travel 37,000 Miles Around The World On A Honda Monkey - RideApart

A New Visa Would Let You Travel to Barbados and Work There Remotely For a Year – Cond Nast Traveler

Posted on by

If you had the chance to travel to Barbados and work by the beach, would you?

Five months ago, working outside the office, even just temporarily, was a pipe dream for most employees. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Businesses remain shuttered around the globe to enforce social distancing, and working remotely has become the newand, for some, newly permanentnormal. Once encumbered by long and expensive commutes, employees now find themselves untethered from a traditional workplace, taking Zoom meetings from their living rooms instead. According to Global Workplace Analytics, an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the worlds workforce will be working from home multiple days a week by the end of 2021.

But if theres one takeaway from spending months quarantined at home, its that staring at the same four walls can grow old very quickly. More than ever, telecommuters are dreaming of shaking things up and escaping life for a little while. In fact, Barbados is banking on it.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced in a speech that the Barbados government is developing a 12-month Barbados Welcome Stampa special visa for remote workers who want to trade home for island life for up to a year at a time.

The stamp is currently in the final stages of development. While further details are forthcoming, Mottley said in her speech that the visa would allow people from the United States, Europe, and Latin America to come and do their jobs digitally for a couple of months and then go back home, if they feel they can work better in a more relaxed atmosphere such as next to a beach. The proposal is a direct response to current COVID-19 travel restrictions, in which lengthy, mandated quarantines restrict short-term travel.

The prospect of working from a beach is more than tempting. Being by the ocean has been proven to boost your mood and your healthboth of which can suffer under self-isolation. At the same time, the stamp would also help jump-start the islands economy by bringing in additional tourism dollars for local businesses. Barbados is among the top 20 countries most dependent on travel and tourism as a source of GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Its worth noting that this new opportunity to work remotely has appeal beyond cabin fever. As the Black Lives Matter movement grows across the U.S., Black Americans are increasingly looking to move abroad to escape the institutional racism and discrimination still so persistent in America. It remains to be seen whether Barbados will market this opportunity specifically to Black Americans to capture a portion of their massive spending power, but theres no question that tourism boards play a large role in making travel more accessible and inclusive.

Luckily, interested parties wont have to wait for long. While the visa is in the final stages of development, the Caribbean island will begin welcoming international travelers back on Sunday, July 12, when air travel to Barbados is expected to recommence. JetBlue and American Airlines are resuming commercial flights from the U.S. on July 25 and August 5, respectively.

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

See the original post:

A New Visa Would Let You Travel to Barbados and Work There Remotely For a Year - Cond Nast Traveler

Impact Analysis of Covid-19: Geotourism Market Business Insights, And Forecast To 2027 – Jewish Life News

Posted on by

The Global Geotourism Market Report 2025 is intended to provide a complete overview of various market metrics. This report is developed by a team of professional authors and scholars. The data contained in the report is collected through a very accurate methodology. This report focuses primarily on analysis based on past and present market environments. Recent research data has helped professionals respond to growth.

Key Player Mentioned: Expedia Group, Priceline Group, China Travel, China CYTS Tours Holding, American Express Global Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, BCD Travel, HRG North America, Travel Leaders Group, Fareportal/Travelong, AAA Travel, Corporate Travel Management, Travel and Transport, Altour, Direct Travel, World Travel Inc., Omega World Travel, Frosch, JTB Americas Group, Ovation Travel Group, World Travel Holdings, Mountain Travel Sobek, TUI AG, Natural Habitat Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent Group, InnerAsia Travel Group, Butterfield & Robinson, ATG Travel

Request Sample Copy @t: https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/request-samples.php?_id=12&_sid=8611

The study report gives a wide summary of trends that are new and emerging trends on the industry. This report offers an evaluation of weaknesses and the advantages of this current marketplace. In addition, it sees the dynamics of this marketplace for an extensive understanding. This Markets drivers are including data from businesses that are predicted to improve demand and chances. This will enable readers create better business decisions and comprehend the trajectory of this marketplace to create the investments.

Product Segment Analysis: Very Motivated, Partially Motivated, Accessory, Accidental, Not Motivated

Application Segment Analysis: Application A, Application B, Application C

Regional Segment Analysis: North America (U.S.; Canada; Mexico), Europe (Germany; U.K.; France; Italy; Russia; Spain etc.), Asia-Pacific (China; India; Japan; Southeast Asia etc.), South America (Brazil; Argentina etc.), Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia; South Africa etc.)

The qualitative and qualitative details associated with the key elements of the market also provide an in-depth overview of the most macro and micro economic factors which will provides a company a competitive advantage. This report provides a radical analysis of the past and current state of the market, and provides a future outlook on how the market evolves over time, with current data, trends, competition and regulatory frameworks.

Ask For Discount @t: https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/ask-for-discount.php?_id=12&_sid=8611

From market share to regional everything is covered by this record, Plans. At exactly the same time, players at the market that wish to enlarge can assess the expected regions capacity. Our reports offer insights. Regional aspects that may impede growth in the next few years are also covered by analysis.

Reasons to buy Geotourism Market Report This report focuses on the quantity and value of Geotourism market at the planet , regional and company levels, from a worldwide point of view. This report analyzes historical data and future projections to supply an summary of the general Geotourism market. Regionally, this report focuses on several key regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America , and Middle East & Africa At the corporate level, this report focuses on each manufacturers production capacity, factory shipping price, sales, and market share covered during this report.

Business Impacts of COVID-19 on Dacron Vascular Grafts Market Strategies of Major Industry Competitors ENDOLOGIX, MAQUET Holding, Cordis

About Us:

Introspective Market Research is a visionary research company who is ready to assist their customer to flourish their business by offering strategies for gaining success. We sell market research reports received from other leading companies in the market research industry which offer in-depth and trustworthy information on different topics and sectors.The IMR founded by the team of experts and experienced professionals in the industry. The team is focusing on offering the empirical data collected from experts that can be the base for the next few years. The Aim of the company is to offering reports from numerous sectors such as FMCG, technology, food beverages, media, chemical, and healthcare among others.

Contact Us:

3001 S King Drive,Chicago, Illinois,U.S.A 60616Contact No: +1-773-382-1047Email:[emailprotected]

See the original post:

Impact Analysis of Covid-19: Geotourism Market Business Insights, And Forecast To 2027 - Jewish Life News

Coronavirus and travel: A loophole is allowing locked-down Russians to escape to the beaches of the Mediterranean – Traveller

Posted on by

Henry Meyer and Irina Reznik

Muscovites desperate for a summer holiday abroad this year have found a loophole that's letting them evade Russia's coronavirus ban on foreign travel. A loophole that involves a 14-hour round trip via Belarus.

Travellers are exploiting the soft border between the two former-Soviet neighbours. Russians can drive to Minsk with minimal checks, and once there they can make use of Belarus's more liberal Covid-19 restrictions.

"Since the quarantine, Minsk has become a Casablanca, the main crossroads for Russians who want to leave the country," said Maxim Valetskiy, a Russian businessman with an Israeli passport and family in London, who has used the detour four times since the Kremlin halted foreign travel at the end of March.

Russians have been advised to stay put this summer even as other coronavirus restrictions are loosened, as the government deals with the fourth-highest infection rate in the world. Domestic travel within Russia's 6.6 million square-mile territory is mostly allowed, but many are put off by the country's underdeveloped and crowded tourist resorts.

Russians aren't the only ones seeking out cumbersome detours to work around coronavirus restrictions that have slashed international travel this summer. Stanley Johnson, the British Prime Minister's father, has been criticised for using Bulgaria as an air bridge to visit his villa in Greece, which had restrictions on visitors from the UK.

"I want to go on holiday where I choose, and that's certainly not on the Black Sea in Russia," said Elena Venediktova, a 44 year-old real estate broker in Moscow, who has booked a two-week holiday via Belarus in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurgada from August1. "Europe may be off limits but there are lots of other seaside destinations. You just have to make a slight effort."

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

The loophole is proving to be a boon to Belorussian tour operators in a disastrous year for most of the global holiday industry. Minsk-based Travel House has seen a surge in reservations from Russians for package holidays in Turkey and Egypt since those countries opened their borders on July 1. All of the trips are run through Belavia, Belarus's state-owned airline.

In theory Russians are allowed to cross the border only to study, receive health treatment or to care for a sick relative, but many tour operators get around that by securing their clients a booking at a Belorussian sanatorium.

"The demand is huge - all the flights to Egypt and Turkey are booked solid beyond mid-July," said Yury Surkov, Travel House's commercial director, who estimates that Russians will soon make up about 40 per centof flights from Belarus to major tourist destinations. "We're adding flights from regional airports."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov acknowledged on state TV late that the loophole exists, but said that the Kremlin isn't planning to close it. The government said Friday it may restart some flights abroad in mid-August.

"We can't forbid people from using this opportunity," Lavrov said. "Of course people should be careful and use common sense when taking such decisions."

BLOOMBERG

See also:Greece considers second lockdown after tourists bring spike of cases

See also:Move over, Monkey Jesus: Spain botches restoration of another work of art

Henry Meyer and Irina Reznik

Link:

Coronavirus and travel: A loophole is allowing locked-down Russians to escape to the beaches of the Mediterranean - Traveller

New Zealand and Cook Islands work on ‘travel bridge’ to beat tourism slump – The Guardian

Posted on by

New Zealands first travel bubble could be on its way after the Cook Islands deputy prime minister said his country was ready to welcome tourist flights as early as next week.

The Cook Islands is a self-governing archipelago in the Pacific, in free association with New Zealand.

It has recorded no cases of coronavirus, while New Zealand has in effect eliminated the disease; having recorded no community spread for more than 70 days, meaning any active cases have been limited to arrivals in quarantine.

The Cook Islands is a favourite holiday destination for New Zealanders, and more than 80,000 Cook Islanders live permanently in New Zealand.

Mark Brown, the deputy prime minister of the Cook Islands, told the AM Show that talks between the two countries to open a quarantine-free travel bubble were in the final stages, and flights could begin as early as next week.

Jacinda Ardern and Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna spoke on the phone on Monday night, Brown said, and his country was desperate for tourists to return. Tourism is the main driver of the economy.

We are Covid-19 free ... New Zealand is in level 1 with no community transmission. So we are quite happy to see the establishment of a new travel bridge, Brown said, saying his country was also in advanced talks with Air New Zealand.

Dedicated travel gates between the Cook Islands and Auckland airport would be established, Brown said, and New Zealand citizens who had been in the country for 30 days or more would be eligible to visit the Cooks.

Weve been quite persistent ... by necessity for us, Brown said. Tourism is a huge part of our economy up to 70% weve got 45% of our workforce that is on the wage subsidy with no other support which is going to end by September.

The Pacific region has had very low numbers of Covid-19 infections a little over 300 cases to date due to its geographic isolation and strict enforcement of border closures.

But in a part of the world that is financially dependent on tourism and that imports much of its food, fuel and other vital supplies, travel lockdowns have hit Pacific economies especially hard.

Fiji Airways has laid off 775 employees more than half its workforce and in Vanuatu, 70% of tourism workers have lost their jobs. A recent survey of Cook Islands businesses forecast a 90% drop in revenue from the economic impact of coronavirus travel restrictions.

In a statement,Air New Zealand said: Discussions between the New Zealand and Cook Island governments on establishing a travel bubble have been going well.

A Trans-Tasman bubble with Australia has been the most hotly anticipated for Kiwis, but since cases have begun to climb in Victoria and New South Wales, both Ardern and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison have poured cold water on it being up and running any time soon.

The Cook Islands bubble may also be further off than Brown has suggested, with Ardern saying in a statement that her priority remained the safety of Kiwis, and keeping the Pacific protected.

The prime minister spoke to the Cook Islands prime minister yesterday to convey that she has asked officials to work on timelines for reopening with realm countries, a spokesman for Ardern said. There are no set dates yet, and any speculation at this stage would be very premature No one wishes to be responsible for Covid entering into the Pacific.

The secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor,said in May that any reopening would take time and that a governments priority must be that people stay healthy. We just dont have strong health systems, health services and health infrastructure, she said.

Travel is beginning to resume across the Pacific, but so far has largely been limited to the repatriation of citizens or travel between communities with existing close ties.

Original post:

New Zealand and Cook Islands work on 'travel bridge' to beat tourism slump - The Guardian

In Pictures: The Bruce Oldfield designs worn by stars and royals as he turns 70 – expressandstar.com

Posted on by

Bruce Oldfield, one of the royal familys favourite fashion designers, is celebrating his 70th birthday on Tuesday.

The British couture designer, who was one of Diana, Princess of Wales favoured designers, was brought up in foster care before he was adopted by a seamstress.

He went on to create luxury dresses for royals, as well as celebrities such as model Jerry Hall and actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, in a career spanning 45 years.

Diana wore a glistening floor-length gown by Oldfield to a star-studded charity catwalk in aid of child care charity Barnardos, at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1985.

She attended the event as president of the charity, along with celebrities including actress Joan Collins.

At another Barnardos event at the Grosvenor House Hotel in 1988, Oldfield is pictured with Diana wearing his off-the-shoulder crushed purple velvet gown.

Oldfield grew up under the care of Barnardos, received financial support from the charity in his teenage years, and is now vice president of the charity.

Oldfields designs have an enduring popularity with the royal family the Duchess of Cornwall also occasionally wears his dresses.

Camilla attended the Bruce Oldfield Fashion Show, which raised money for the National Osteoporosis Society, in 2017, wearing his black knee-length gown.

She is pictured with Oldfield, and four models sporting his brightly coloured ballgowns, at Lancaster House in London.

Models show off two dresses from Bruce Oldfields 1975 Borghese Spring Collection.

Actress Joanna Lumley wore an intricate lilac shawl and dress by Oldfield to celebrate his 50th birthday and 25 years in the fashion industry at Mansion House in London.

Model and philanthropist Lady Getty also accompanied Oldfield to his star-studded birthday party in 2000.

Diana wore Oldfields veiled hat and knee-length white dress when she opened the World Travel Market at Olympia, London, in 1985.

The long-sleeved design featured a wrap-neck collar and breast pocket detail.

She also wore Oldfields designs in Rome with the Prince of Wales in 1985.

She is pictured with Charles wearing a black and white cotton suit during their Vatican tour.

Oldfields designs have hit the red carpet at the Oscars, including when former model Heather Mills wore a flower-patterned cutout dress by him in 2002.

She attended the 74th annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, alongside her then-partner and Beatles musician Sir Paul McCartney.

Oldfield designed the worlds most expensive abaya at the time a long outer garment worn by some Muslim women in 2008.

British electric violinist Linzi Stoppard modelled the 175,000 garment at the Intercontinental Hotel in central London.

The British designer also created McDonalds staff uniforms in April 2008, which were neutral-toned.

This range of specialist workwear was to be rolled out to the 67,000 McDonalds employees in Britain at the time, according to Vogue.

View original post here:

In Pictures: The Bruce Oldfield designs worn by stars and royals as he turns 70 - expressandstar.com

Coronavirus: What’s happening around the world on July 13 – CBC.ca

Posted on by

The latest:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday extended the closure of bars and indoor dining statewide and has ordered gyms, churches and hair salons closed in most places as coronavirus cases keep rising in the nation's most populated state.

On July 1, Newsom ordered many counties to close bars and indoor operations at restaurants, wineries, zoos and family entertainment centres like bowling alleys and miniature golf.

The Democratic governor extended that order statewide Monday. He also imposed additional restrictions on the 30 countieswith rising numbers, including the most populated of Los Angeles and San Diego, by ordering worship services to stop and gyms, hair salons, indoor malls and offices for noncritical industries to shut down.

"The data suggests not everybody is practising common sense," said Newsom, whose order takes effect immediately.

He didn't include schools, which are scheduled to resume in a few weeks in much of the state. But Monday, the state's two largest school districts, San Diego and Los Angeles, announced their students would start the school year with online learning only. L.A. Unified is the second-largest public school district in the country.

In March, California was the first state to issue a mandatory, statewide stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The order appeared to work as cases stabilized in the ensuing weeks while other states grappled with huge increases.

But the order devastated the world's fifth-largest economy, with more than 7.5 million people filing for unemployment benefits. Newsom moved quickly to let most businesses reopen in May. Like other states that took similar steps, a subsequent rise in cases and hospitalizations led him to impose new restrictions this month.

Newsom has compared his strategy of opening and closing businesses as a "dimmer switch," highlighting the flexibility needed as public health officials monitor the virus's progress.

California confirmed 8,358 new coronavirus cases on Sunday. Hospitalizations have increased 28 per centover the past two weeks. Newsom said the data suggest not everyone is using common sense.

Deaths from the virus have been rising in the U.S., especially in the south and west, though they are still well below the numbers reached in April, according to a recent Associated Press analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday attributed the current surge in coronavirus cases to the United States not having shut down completely to snuff out outbreaks of the disease.

"We started to come down and then we plateaued at a level that was really quite high about 20,000 infections a day. Then as we started to reopen, we're seeing the surges that we're seeing today as we speak in California ... in Arizona, in Texas, in Florida and several other states,"Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said in an interview with Stanford Medicine

In Ontario, a large swath of the province will move to Stage 3 ofreopening on July 17, with the exception of the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of southern Ontario, which will remain in Stage 2 for now.

The province's plan will allow for activitiessuch as indoor dining in restaurants, live performing arts shows and the reopening of movie theatres and playgrounds albeit with significant health and safety measures in place, includingphysical distancing, enhanced cleaning protocols and Plexiglas barriers.

Meanwhile in Quebec, masks or face coverings will be mandatory in all indoor public spacesbeginning Saturday, Premier Franois Legaultannounced. That coincides with the start of the province's two-week construction holiday, when tens of thousands of Quebecers take their summer vacation.

At the U.S. border, the Public Health Agency of Canada is adding on-site employees at 36 points of entry to bolster screening for COVID-19.

Canada and the U.S.arestill in talks on the future of a ban on non-essential travel between the two nations and will have more to say in the coming days, Trudeau said. The ban, introduced in March, has been extended several times and is due to expire on July 21.

As of 7:30p.m.ET on Monday, Canada had 108,155 confirmed and presumptive coronavirus cases. Provinces and territories listed 71,841 of those as recovered or resolved. ACBC News tallyof deaths based on provincial reports, regional health information and CBC's reporting stood at 8,827.

The WHO director general said that while numerous countries have now brought their previously explosive outbreaks under control, namely those in Europe and Asia, "too many countries are headed in the wrong direction."

Without naming specific politicians, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also chastised political leaders for their "mixed messages" amid the coronavirus outbreaks, saying that they are "undermining the most critical ingredient of any response: trust."

"If the basics aren't followed, there is only one way this pandemic is going to go,"Ghebreyesussaid Monday. "It's going to get worse and worse and worse."

WATCH | No return to old normal for the foreseeable future, WHO says:

In Asia,two WHO experts were in China for a mission to trace the origin of the pandemic. The virus was first detected in the central Chinesecity of Wuhan late last year. Beijing had been reluctant to allow a probe but relented after scores of countries called on the WHO to conduct a thorough investigation.

China has argued that the virus might have originated outside of China and has angrily denied allegations that it covered up the scale of the outbreak as infections first began to spread.

Meanwhile, India which has the most confirmed virus cases after the United States and Brazil on Monday reported a record daily surge of 28,701 new cases reported in the past 24 hours. Authorities in several cities are reinstating strict lockdowns after attempting to loosen things up to revive an ailing economy

In Europe,France was considering requiring the use of masks in all indoor public spaces amid a small rise in virus infections and a big drop in public vigilance.

Greece was seeking a ban on church and village fairs and tighter tourism-related checks following a recent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases.

In Spain, a judge has overturned a decision by the Catalan regional government to confine over 140,000 people to only leaving their homes for work and other essential activities, arguing that only central authorities can issue a lockdown that restricts freedom of movement.

In Africa, the president ofSouth Africa,Cyril Ramaphosa,said Sunday that the country would reimpose a ban on alcohol sales to reduce the volume of people needing emergency care so that hospitals have more beds free to treat COVID-19 patients.

South Africa, which accounts for over 40 per centof all the reported coronavirus cases onthe continent,is also reinstating a nighttime curfew to reduce the number of traffic accidents and has made it mandatory for all residents to wear face masks in public.

"We are taking these measures fully aware that they impose unwelcome restrictions on people's lives. They are, however, necessary to see us through the peak of the disease," Ramaphosa said in a letter to the nation on Monday.

"There is no way that we can avoid the coronavirus storm, but we can limit the damage that it can cause to our lives."

In the Americas,Mexican Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said on Monday he had recovered from COVID-19after his latest test results for the virus came through negative and that he was returning to work.

Herrera made the announcement on Twitter, some two and a halfweeks after he first revealed he had contracted coronavirus.

Several high-ranking officials in the Americas have tested positive for COVID-19, including Brazil PresidentJair Bolsonaroand Interim Bolivian PresidentJeanine Anez.

Read the original:

Coronavirus: What's happening around the world on July 13 - CBC.ca

The way forward in a world wary of travel – The News International

Posted on by

July 14, 2020

As we step into a hazy future filled with uncertainty and an impending sense of doom, the world we once knew seems to be in the back of beyond.

And in these unstable and tense times, the one thing that will surely suffer a welt will be the future of travel.

As per a report by market research provider Euromonitor International, the travel and tourism industry is likely to suffer through the effects of the pandemic for another five to 10 years, bringing the entire industry on its knees. However, limited stretches of recovery are expected to drive the initial rebound in certain regions like domestic and short-haul travel.

We spoke to a number of experts in the field to get a glimpse of what the future looks like for travel enthusiasts waiting to plan their next vacation.

The post-pandemic world would not just spiral the fear of health hazards but the dark clouds of financial instability will also take over.

Komail Naqvi, CEO and founder of Pakistans largest travel portal, FindMyAdventure, gave his take on how his platform is trying to keep consumer confidence high while still being responsible for the type of experiences they can offer at a time like this.

Weve been making active efforts to facilitate our customers with regards to queries and confusions, while constantly innovating and coming up with new experiences we can offer. Our top priority right now is to offer experiences that are safe, he said.

All of us, consumers and service providers alike, need to educate ourselves, behave responsibly, and prioritise health over recreation, he added.

Pakistans tourism scene plunged after the pandemic as swiftly as it rose, driving many out of business, and leaving countless fearful of the times ahead.

Amtul Baweja and Fahad Tariq, the superstar duo behind the travel company Patangeer, walked us through the future of Pakistans tourism industry and how it can recuperate from the COVID-19 aftershock.

After almost 20 years since 9/11, we had finally established our country to be safe for travel, which had created business and that is why we say, travel locally and support these tour guides and companies, Tariq told Geo.tv.

Speaking about how the industry can rise once again, Baweja and Tariq stressed on the governments efforts to spread awareness about precautionary measures that should be essential for travelling even years later.

Naqvi also gave his take and how FindMyAdventure is aiming to give back to the battered industry. Tour guides and porters have found themselves struggling to make ends meet. We realised they needed help, which is when we started our Guide Fund, through which we managed to raise millions of rupees which went to families across Pakistan.

Safaa Rauf, CEO of travel company Utopia Retreats and a prominent name in Pakistans digital marketing and blogging circles, laid out a plan that can bring us back on track: rehabilitation of cultural landmarks and a dedicated marketing team for the countrys tourism.

However, before we tread towards that, she also reminded us that, First, we need to make sure the country is safe for international and local tourists. This means flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases.

We, as a country and nation, have a lot to offer and can work towards growing our tourism sector, Rauf told Geo.tv.

With the industry being thrown into disarray, many are now heading towards other digital routes to keep their businesses afloat.

Naqvi offered a prime example of how even bigshots are moving to digital alternatives. Most businesses have started focusing on digital content, and have moved towards providing digital variants of their products. In a conversation which we had with one of Airbnb representatives, he detailed how the initiative was executed from the ground up, with each process being done manually.

According to Euromonitor Internationals Travel Forecast Model, some of the countries that will witness the sharpest decline in the global consumer expenditure due to a drop in tourism, include India, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Trishita Bhattacharya, an acclaimed travel photographer and blogger based in Mumbai, India showed a glimpse of what a world wary of travel would look like.

I think we're all going to be really careful till a vaccine comes out and wouldn't be travelling internationally at least. Humans will be extra careful and take precautionary measures after this. Countries will set their own rules regarding travel and we'll have to adapt to the new normal, she said in a conversation with Geo.tv.

Looking at the current scenario, domestic tourism is the only thing that can work for us. Travelling domestically and within Indian states will help us in increasing the revenue on an individual level, she added.

Healthcare official, avid traveler and an emerging blogger from Hong Kong, Susanna Tsui also spoke about how her love for travel has fallen into jeopardy: I guess long distance travels may decrease but prices would always be my biggest concern when I travel. I love travelling to Middle Eastern countries but if flight prices surge I would surely step back and switch to nearby ones.

As tourism takes a hit and travel becomes a luxury, the days of backpacking across continents and staying confined on a limited budget seem to be behind us.

Our travel gurus, however, are giving some expert advice on how to keep your travel bug alive while also ensuring you're being safe and keeping your wallet in check.

Rent a car, get a tent and head to the closest place to you. There are lots of places you can look up now that are very safe to camp. Much cleaner and safer than staying in hostels or hotels, suggests Baweja of Patangeer.

Naqvi, on the other hand, wants to make sure precautionary measures remain the uppermost priority not just for FindMyAdventure but for anyone looking to travel: The biggest tip would be to make sure that theyre taking all the right precautions and have done their homework thoroughly on the location theyre planning on visiting.

Bhattacharya recommends: The tips that can help in any travel is cheaper air tickets, and leaving out the expensive adventure parks and expensive touristy spots.

According to Rauf, spending on experiences should be more important than splashing out on luxury travel. Pre-plan and pre-book trips months in advance to take advantage of lower costs, spend time with locals to find out of cheap deals and budget-friendly things.

Tsui deems a shift in travel destinations in terms of distance to be of more use in compressing the budget. To keep renewing our travel experiences, travelers can choose to focus on nearby countries. Like for me, the Southeast Asian countries save the biggest expense in trips which are flights, she said.

As we step into a hazy future filled with uncertainty and an impending sense of doom, the world we once knew seems to be in the back of beyond.

And in these unstable and tense times, the one thing that will surely suffer a welt will be the future of travel.

As per a report by market research provider Euromonitor International, the travel and tourism industry is likely to suffer through the effects of the pandemic for another five to 10 years, bringing the entire industry on its knees. However, limited stretches of recovery are expected to drive the initial rebound in certain regions like domestic and short-haul travel.

We spoke to a number of experts in the field to get a glimpse of what the future looks like for travel enthusiasts waiting to plan their next vacation.

The post-pandemic world would not just spiral the fear of health hazards but the dark clouds of financial instability will also take over.

Komail Naqvi, CEO and founder of Pakistans largest travel portal, FindMyAdventure, gave his take on how his platform is trying to keep consumer confidence high while still being responsible for the type of experiences they can offer at a time like this.

Weve been making active efforts to facilitate our customers with regards to queries and confusions, while constantly innovating and coming up with new experiences we can offer. Our top priority right now is to offer experiences that are safe, he said.

All of us, consumers and service providers alike, need to educate ourselves, behave responsibly, and prioritise health over recreation, he added.

Pakistans tourism scene plunged after the pandemic as swiftly as it rose, driving many out of business, and leaving countless fearful of the times ahead.

Amtul Baweja and Fahad Tariq, the superstar duo behind the travel company Patangeer, walked us through the future of Pakistans tourism industry and how it can recuperate from the COVID-19 aftershock.

After almost 20 years since 9/11, we had finally established our country to be safe for travel, which had created business and that is why we say, travel locally and support these tour guides and companies, Tariq told Geo.tv.

Speaking about how the industry can rise once again, Baweja and Tariq stressed on the governments efforts to spread awareness about precautionary measures that should be essential for travelling even years later.

Naqvi also gave his take and how FindMyAdventure is aiming to give back to the battered industry. Tour guides and porters have found themselves struggling to make ends meet. We realised they needed help, which is when we started our Guide Fund, through which we managed to raise millions of rupees which went to families across Pakistan.

Safaa Rauf, CEO of travel company Utopia Retreats and a prominent name in Pakistans digital marketing and blogging circles, laid out a plan that can bring us back on track: rehabilitation of cultural landmarks and a dedicated marketing team for the countrys tourism.

However, before we tread towards that, she also reminded us that, First, we need to make sure the country is safe for international and local tourists. This means flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases.

We, as a country and nation, have a lot to offer and can work towards growing our tourism sector, Rauf told Geo.tv.

With the industry being thrown into disarray, many are now heading towards other digital routes to keep their businesses afloat.

Naqvi offered a prime example of how even bigshots are moving to digital alternatives. Most businesses have started focusing on digital content, and have moved towards providing digital variants of their products. In a conversation which we had with one of Airbnb representatives, he detailed how the initiative was executed from the ground up, with each process being done manually.

According to Euromonitor Internationals Travel Forecast Model, some of the countries that will witness the sharpest decline in the global consumer expenditure due to a drop in tourism, include India, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Trishita Bhattacharya, an acclaimed travel photographer and blogger based in Mumbai, India showed a glimpse of what a world wary of travel would look like.

I think we're all going to be really careful till a vaccine comes out and wouldn't be travelling internationally at least. Humans will be extra careful and take precautionary measures after this. Countries will set their own rules regarding travel and we'll have to adapt to the new normal, she said in a conversation with Geo.tv.

Looking at the current scenario, domestic tourism is the only thing that can work for us. Travelling domestically and within Indian states will help us in increasing the revenue on an individual level, she added.

Healthcare official, avid traveler and an emerging blogger from Hong Kong, Susanna Tsui also spoke about how her love for travel has fallen into jeopardy: I guess long distance travels may decrease but prices would always be my biggest concern when I travel. I love travelling to Middle Eastern countries but if flight prices surge I would surely step back and switch to nearby ones.

As tourism takes a hit and travel becomes a luxury, the days of backpacking across continents and staying confined on a limited budget seem to be behind us.

Our travel gurus, however, are giving some expert advice on how to keep your travel bug alive while also ensuring you're being safe and keeping your wallet in check.

Rent a car, get a tent and head to the closest place to you. There are lots of places you can look up now that are very safe to camp. Much cleaner and safer than staying in hostels or hotels, suggests Baweja of Patangeer.

Naqvi, on the other hand, wants to make sure precautionary measures remain the uppermost priority not just for FindMyAdventure but for anyone looking to travel: The biggest tip would be to make sure that theyre taking all the right precautions and have done their homework thoroughly on the location theyre planning on visiting.

Bhattacharya recommends: The tips that can help in any travel is cheaper air tickets, and leaving out the expensive adventure parks and expensive touristy spots.

According to Rauf, spending on experiences should be more important than splashing out on luxury travel. Pre-plan and pre-book trips months in advance to take advantage of lower costs, spend time with locals to find out of cheap deals and budget-friendly things.

Tsui deems a shift in travel destinations in terms of distance to be of more use in compressing the budget. To keep renewing our travel experiences, travelers can choose to focus on nearby countries. Like for me, the Southeast Asian countries save the biggest expense in trips which are flights, she said.

Read more:

The way forward in a world wary of travel - The News International

‘We Took PPP Funds and Would Do It Again’ – New Ideal

Posted on by

Social media and major news outlets are ablaze with reports that the Ayn Rand Institute applied for and received funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, established by Congress under the CARES Act for pandemic relief. People are questioning how an educational nonprofit that advocates ending the welfare state can maintain its integrity while accepting a government bailout.

The question is understandable, which is why months ago, before ARI received any funds Institute scholars recorded an explanatory webinar and published an essay (To Take or Not to Take), stating clearly that ARI was applying for funds and explaining why an uncompromising advocate of laissez-faire capitalismabsolutely has a right to take such money as a matter of moral principle.

These explanations are based squarely on Rands philosophy of Objectivism, including statements she made directly on the issue during her lifetime (she died in 1982).

Together these materials provide a factual basis for journalists, commentators and other interested persons to understand the Institutes position.

The Institutes president and CEO, Tal Tsfany, has recorded a short video explaining why the pursuit of PPP funds was a matter of justice for ARIs donors.

SUPPORT ARI: If you value the ideas presented here, please become an ARI Member today.

Share this article:

Read more:

'We Took PPP Funds and Would Do It Again' - New Ideal

Tips and Murmurs: Ayn Rand Institute gets government handout – Crikey

Posted on by

Thank heavens the public purse is so open for the well-connected, and the sky's the limit for Fox's Sky News numbers well they couldn't get much lower.

The invisible hand that feeds The Ayn Rand Institute, committed to preserving the memory of libertarianism's patron saint, has taken a US government loan of up to $1 million.

The institute, which promotes free markets, applied for a loan under the pay cheque protection program, which gives businesses money to keep workers on. The decision was justified, director Harry Binswanger argued, because "it would be morally wrong for pro-capitalists to humbly step aside and watch the new money go only to anti-capitalists".

The Rand people aren't the only opponents of big government crying out for the public purse during a time of crisis. Conservative group Americans for Tax Reform got up to $300,000. So did a group called Citizens Against Government Waste which, along with Americans for Tax Reform, opposed stimulus bills which underpinned the loans.

Read more here:

Tips and Murmurs: Ayn Rand Institute gets government handout - Crikey

St. Joseph reaps short-lived cash infusion – News-Press Now

Posted on by

If you want to download the Small Business Administrations data on 4.9 million coronavirus relief recipients, get ready for a computer crash. Theres that much data.

This spring, the SBAs Paycheck Protection Program provided $520 billion in forgivable loans so small businesses could continue paying employees as the coronavirus became a cement block around the economys neck. Politicians of all stripes demanded more transparency, so details on larger loan recipients were released earlier this month.

Its still transparency even if its granted grudgingly.

The SBA released the names of PPP recipients that received between $150,000 to $10 million in funds, which accounted for about 75% of the companies that took benefits. Companies that received smaller amounts were not identified.

Nationally, it makes for interesting reading. Recipients of coronavirus relief funding include a foundation linked to anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, Ruths Chris steakhouse, the Church of Scientology and friends and family of Jared Kushner, Nancy Pelosi and Kanye West.

Closer to home, the big news isnt powerful connections but the sheer volume of federal money that poured into St. Joseph in a short period of time.

SBA data shows that $48 million to $118 million in federal funding supported 138 St. Joseph companies, from manufacturers, contractors and machine shops to nonprofits and professional services firms. These companies, firms and organizations employed at least 6,000 people, by conservative estimates.

Those were just the largest recipients. In total, 800 St. Joseph businesses may have received funding. Thats not counting those that indirectly capitalized on government stimulus efforts through enhanced unemployment benefits for furloughed employees, all because of the coronavirus.

This suggests an unprecedented level of federal support for the economy. Even the Ayn Rand Institute in California took a check, although its leadership had something deep and philosophical to say about it.

In the coming months, there will be a time to ask hard questions about oversight of the PPP, how this money was spent and whether some of these well-connected recipients took advantage of the system. After all, the PPP was a rush job involving a fire hose of money.

It will be equally important to look at what happens next. The vast sums of the PPP tended to obscure that reality that this program was short-lived, an eight-week bridge to get businesses to the other side of troubled waters.

Theyre there now, but what happens next? On a local level, the list of recipients points not to political influence or scandal but to survival in unprecedented times. The need to survive doesnt go away.

Follow this link:

St. Joseph reaps short-lived cash infusion - News-Press Now

Your Illinois News Radar I’m not sure why this is being treated almost like a scandal – The Capitol Fax Blog

Posted on by

* Yeah, hes a conservative Republican. But the forgivable loan was for payroll. The idea was to keep people working during the most momentous economic downturn in American history. He didnt pocket the money

A dairy owned by Illinois Republican congressional candidate Jim Oberweis received a loan worth $5 million to $10 million from the federal rescue package aimed at helping small businesses weather the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released Monday.

Oberweis Dairy, the North Aurora-based business where Jim Oberweis is chairman, was approved for the Paycheck Protection Program on April 8, according to Treasury Department data.

Oberweis won the March GOP primary to challenge Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood for a Chicago-area congressional district that is one of Republicans top targets this fall. The businessman, who also is an Illinois state senator and an investment manager, has loaned his campaign $1.1 million so far this election cycle, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. His campaign has repaid $500,000 of that money, FEC reports show.

Oberweis bought the family business from his brother decades ago. The company operates over 40 ice cream stores and restaurants and has over 1,200 employees, according to his campaign website. The business is currently operated by Oberweis son, who is the company president. Oberweis says his role with the company is advisory and he does not receive a salary. His campaign website says his wife also works for the family business.

Oberweis said in a statement Monday the loan was used to pay for salaries and benefits for employees.

And, yes, a whole lot of small business owners, including lots of people of color, were locked out because their banks focused on big clients. And some companies applied for the money simply to avoid depleting huge reserves. But just because somebodys name turns up on a list doesnt mean theyre automatically bad. You do what you gotta do to keep the doors open. You may have a different take, and Id love to hear it.

Now, if Oberweis opposes helping others after his own company was assisted and doesnt have a sound explanation, thats a different story and makes him fair game.

* Some major media outlets also applied for and received the loans

Chicago Public Media, the nonprofit that operates WBEZ, got $2.8 million in PPP funding, a spokeswoman said. Federal help enabled us to avoid layoffs or furloughs for any staff members during these past few months, the spokeswoman said in June. Chicago Public Media ultimately laid off 12 employees.

The publishers of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Herald also got loans of between $2 million and $5 million, as did many other familiar names in local business and culture, including:

Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Home Run Inn pizzerias.

Rosebud Restaurants.

Navy Pier Inc.

Shedd Aquarium

Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

* More from Politico

Schiff Hardin law firm in Chicago received between $5 million and $10 million. The firm counts Maggie Hickey as a partner the attorney monitoring how the Chicago Police Department complies with a court order laying out reform.

Forde & OMeara LLP, which represented Rahm Emanuels residency case when he first ran for mayor; and Finkel, Martwick, Colson P.C., where Sen. Robert Martwick works when hes not in Springfield, are also on the PPP list.

And though House Speaker Mike Madigans law firm is listed, his spokeswoman tells Playbook that the Democratic Party leader withdrew his loan request so no PPP funds were received.

* Madigan spokesperson Eileen Boyce

This SBA list represents applications submitted and approved, not loans processed. Like many businesses, an application for a PPP loan was submitted, but was withdrawn at the request of Speaker Madigan and Bud Getzendanner. No loans were processed and no PPP funds were received.

* Sun-Times

According to a Sun-Times analysis of all PPP loans in Illinois:

* But I will admit I smirked hard when I read this

Americans for Tax Reform Foundation, which says it educates taxpayers on the true cost of government and the realities of costly government programs, received between $150,000 and $300,000 in loans.

In a statement, Americans for Tax Reform claimed it never opposed the PPP program and defended the foundations decision to take government loans, which it said allowed the foundation to maintain its employees without laying anyone off after it was badly hurt by the government shutdown.

But ATR founder Grover Norquist has criticized the unemployment insurance provision of the CARES Act, which he said delays recovery, and signed a letter urging lawmakers not to approve a second stimulus bill.

The Ayn Rand Institute, named for conservative philosopher Ayn Rand, received a loan of between $350,000 and $1 million, which it called partial restitution for government-inflicted losses.

It would be a terrible injustice for pro-capitalists to step aside and leave the funds to those indifferent or actively hostile to capitalism, Ayn Rand Institute board member Harry Binswanger argued in May, stating that the organization would take any relief money offered us.

See the article here:

Your Illinois News Radar I'm not sure why this is being treated almost like a scandal - The Capitol Fax Blog

Paycheck Protection Payouts Give Taxpayers Plenty To Ponder | K. Lloyd Billingsley – The Beacon

Posted on by

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security package (CARES), is intended to blunt the economic damage from the current pandemic. As CNBC reports, the payouts include a $5-10 million loan for the Archdiocese of New York, $350,000 to $1 million to the Ayn Rand Institute and $1-2 million for the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, named after the son-in-law of President Trump. The media payouts were also of interest.

Forbes Media bagged at least $5 million, according to CNBC and the Washington Times got at least $1 million. The Washingtonian and the Daily Caller both got at least $350,000, and The American Prospect received at least $150,000. While propping up media, the PPP payouts did not neglect the political side.

The Ohio Democratic Party got at least $150,000 and the Florida Democratic Party Building Fund got at least $350,000. The Womens National Republican Club of New York got at least $350,000, with some $150,000 going to the Black Republican Caucus in Florida. PPP also shelled out $5-10 million to the Boies Schiller Flexner law firm, headed by David Boies, whose clients include former vice president Al Gore. As embattled taxpayers assess the merits of these payouts, they might consider an item CNBC managed to miss.

As Evan Symon reports in the California Globe, PPP loans of $150-350,000 went to PlumpJack Winery, owned by California governor Gavin Newsom. Last year Newsom reported more than $200,000 in income through PlumpJack, so the governor remains a beneficiary even though he relinquished control while in office.

Before the July 4 weekend, Gov. Newsom shut down bars, restaurants, zoos, movie theaters, museums and winery tasting rooms in 19 California counties. Missing from the shutdown list is upscale Napa County, where PlumpJack is located.

All told, the PPP payouts show some distancing from the kind of accountability taxpayers have a right to expect.

Link:

Paycheck Protection Payouts Give Taxpayers Plenty To Ponder | K. Lloyd Billingsley - The Beacon

Indiana PPP loan recipients: See the full searchable list of who received them – Courier & Press

Posted on by

A model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington is now predicting Indiana coronavirus deaths could near 2,500 by August. Here's why. Wochit

Indianabusinesses that applied for and received a loan as part of a national effort to save small companies during the coronavirus pandemic is now public information.

The U.S. government has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans of $150,000 or more.

Designed to cover expenses such as payroll and rent, the loans do not have to be paid back if at least 60 percent of the money is spent keeping or rehiring workers. Otherwise, it carries a 1 percent interest rate and must be repaid within two years.

Search through Indiana businesses that benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program with our database by searching below. Narrow the list by typing in a business or city name.

(Note: Not seeing the search bar above? Click here.)

Results show the range of the loan received, jobs retained, date approvedand other details released by the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration Monday, July 6.

Across the country, more than 660,000 businesses received $150,000 or up to the $10 million maximum from the small-business lending program.

Known-names across the U.S. include:

The Ayn Rand Institute received a loan and defended it on Twitter.

Restaurant chains like P.F. Changs, Legal Sea Foods and Silver Diner either received PPP loans or had investors connected to the company that did.

Internationally, South Korean airline Korean Air received a PPP loan.

Wall Street investment groups, including Semper Capital Management LP and Domini Impact Investments LLC, which manage billions of dollars, also received PPP loans according to Reuters.

Politically, according to the Washington Post, companies with connections to a handful of federal lawmakers, like Foremost Maritime, which is a shipping business controlled by the family of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, have received PPP loans.

John Farrell, a Republican donor and real estate developer also received a PPP loan.

Several law firms, including ones with ties to President Trump (Kasowitz, Benson & Torres) and former vice president Al Gore and film producer Harvey Weinstein (Boies Schiller Flexner) also received PPP loans.

The Roman Catholic dioceses in California, New York, Nevada, Tennessee and Kentucky also received loans.

Grace Pateras and Joe Harrington contributed to this story.

Daniella Medina is a digital producer for the USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter @danimedinanews.

Read or Share this story: https://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2020/07/09/indiana-ppp-loan-recipients-database-coronavirus-pandemic-search-full-list-businesses-covid-19/3286683001/

Read this article:

Indiana PPP loan recipients: See the full searchable list of who received them - Courier & Press

Mississippi PPP loan recipients: See the full searchable list of who received them – Hattiesburg American

Posted on by

Staff Report Published 6:37 p.m. CT July 8, 2020

If you are a small business owner and have not yet applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan yet...According to Business Insider, you may be out of luck and too late to receive funding. The US government recently added a second round of $310 billion to PPP loan program. The goal is to fund small businesses that have been economically impacted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bankers, lawyers, and consultants told Business Insider that the volume of pre-approved loans will soak up the second round of funding.If you don't receive emergency government funding, it's suggested for small businesses to seek funding through tax relief, private companies, local governments, and organizations offering small business grants. Wochit

Mississippi businesses that applied for and received a loan as part of a national effort to save small companies during the coronavirus pandemic is now public information.

The U.S. government has released a list of businesses that have received emergency pandemic loans of $150,000 or more.

Designed to cover expenses such as payroll and rent, the loans do not have to be paid back if at least 60 percent of the money is spent keeping or rehiring workers. Otherwise, it carries a 1 percent interest rate and must be repaid within two years.

Search through Mississippi businesses that benefited from the Paycheck Protection Program with our database by searching below. Narrow the list by typing in a business or city name.

Across the country, more than 660,000 businesses received $150,000 or up to the $10 million maximum from the small-business lending program.

Known-names across the U.S. include:

The Ayn Rand Institute received a loan and defended it on Twitter.

Restaurant chains like P.F. Changs, Legal Sea Foods and Silver Diner either received PPP loans or had investors connected to the company that did.

Internationally, South Korean airline Korean Air received a PPP loan.

Wall Street investment groups, including Semper Capital Management LP and Domini Impact Investments LLC, which manage billions of dollars, also received PPP loans according to Reuters.

Politically, according to the Washington Post, companies with connections to a handful of federal lawmakers, like Foremost Maritime, which is a shipping business controlled by the family of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, have received PPP loans.

John Farrell, a Republican donor and real estate developer also received a PPP loan.

Several law firms, including ones with ties to President Trump (Kasowitz, Benson & Torres) and former vice president Al Gore and film producer Harvey Weinstein (Boies Schiller Flexner) also received PPP loans.

The Roman Catholic dioceses in California, New York, Nevada, Tennessee and Kentucky also received loans.

Grace Pateras and Joe Harrington contributed to this story.

Read or Share this story: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2020/07/08/ms-ppp-loan-recipients-database-coronavirus-pandemic-search-full-list-businesses-covid-19/5402287002/

Continue reading here:

Mississippi PPP loan recipients: See the full searchable list of who received them - Hattiesburg American

Climbing aboard the PPP train | Opinion | citizensvoice.com – Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

Posted on by

A group of organizations that condemn taxation and government spending werent so circumspect when the supposed gravy train pulled into their stations. They eagerly climbed aboard, taking several million dollars worth of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program that they wont have to repay if they retain their work forces.

The money was included in the initial CARES Act, the $2 trillion emergency relief package that Congress passed to mitigate the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a May 1 statement by Citizens Against Government Waste, the CARES Act is stuffed with wasteful and unnecessary spending. Apparently, loans of up to $350,000 that the organization obtained do not fit either category.

Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, condemned a provision of the law that provides supplemental unemployment benefits for laid-off workers. He did not voice any objection, however, to the Cares Act provision under which the organization borrowed up to $300,000.

The Ayn Rand Institute, named for that conservative champion of rugged individualism, received a loan from the collective people of the United States of between $350,000 and $1 million, calling it partial restitution for government-inflicted losses.

It would be a terrible injustice for pro-capitalists to step aside and leave the funds to those indifferent or actively hostile to capitalism, said institute board member Harry Binswanger. Indeed, every federal dollar that the institute claims for itself is one that cant unjustly go to someone who actually needs it. Its a wonder that the institute didnt think of that sooner.

If such hypocrisy were a vaccine, COVID-19 would have been vanquished before Atlas decided to just shrug and take the cash.

See more here:

Climbing aboard the PPP train | Opinion | citizensvoice.com - Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice

Whats the Deal With Parler and its Rising Popularity? – The Wire

Posted on by

The basic idea of Parler is an awful lot like Twitter. But instead of tweets, users post Parleys. Instead of retweets, there are echoes. And upon registering, the suggested accounts to follow include new outlets such as Breitbart, the Epoch Times, and the Daily Caller, as well as the political accounts for Rand Paul, Mark Levin, and Team Trump.

In June, right-wing users started flocking to this alt-Twitter, whose main selling point is that it vows to champion free speech. As mainstream platforms banned more far-right accounts, removed hate speech with newfound vigour, and attached warning labels to a few of President Donald Trumps tweets, Parler became, for many, an attractive solution to Twitters supposed ills.

Now, its the second most popular app in the App Store, and last week it was estimated to have reached more than 1.5 million daily users, snagging somehigh-profile newbies: Senator Ted Cruz, Representative Elise Stefanik, Representative Jim Jordan, Donald Trump Jr., and Eric Trump. What led to Parlers founding in August 2018 was, predictably, disillusionment with the likes of the Silicon Valley giants. Henderson, Nevadabased software engineers Jared Thomson and John Matze created the platform, according to Parlers website, [a]fter being exhausted with a lack of transparency in big tech, ideological suppresssion [sic] and privacy abuse.

Yet while the platform is being billed as the big free speech alternative to Twitter, it isnt exactly unique. Nor is it as uncensored as it claims to be. Parler is just the latest in a long line of rival social networks that have appeared (and, often, disappeared) in the past decade as alternatives to Big Tech. And, if the past is any indicator, its unlikely that Parler will become anything more than a fringe platform in the near future.

Some of the platforms to emerge as alternatives to the major social networks have taken a hard line on data privacy.Ello, for example, was founded in 2014 as an ad-free network that promised never to sell user data to advertisers. (After beingdubbed a Facebook killer,the site was overwhelmed with new users and crashed frequently; it could never scale up and instead became acommunity for digital artists.) MeWe, another Facebook rival, offers theindustrys first Privacy Bill of Rights. (It also takes alaissez-faire approach to content moderation.) And while its 8 million users are dwarfed by Facebooks2.6 billion, MeWe is one of the few successful alternative networks in that its continued to grow since its founding in 2016.

Also read: UnderstandingRight-Wing Resurgence in the US and India

Matze, Parlers CEO whocounts Ayn Rand and conservative economist Thomas Sowellamong his influences, fancies his platform a sort of free-speech utopia: Were a community town square, an open town square, with no censorship, Matzetold CNBC. If you can say it on the street of New York, you can say it on Parler. And while Parler says it is unbiasedMatze isoffering a $20,000 progressive bountyfor a popular liberal pundit to joinits evidently become an unofficial home to the far right, which has long claimed to be mistreated by mainstream platforms. When alt-right celebrities, such as Milo Yiannopoulos and Laura Loomer, are banned from Twitter, Parler is their next step. (Loomer announced last week that she has become the first person whose Parler following572,000exceeds her pre-ban Twitter following.)

In this regard, Parler is most similar to Gab, the free speechdriven platform launched in 2017 thats known as ahaven for extremists. [F]ar angrier and uglier than Parler, Gab quickly became a breeding ground for anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism, where postscalling for terrorist attacks and violence against minoritiescirculate.

Gabs fate, however, represents one iteration of the circle of life for platforms of its ilk: After it was connected to an instance of terrorism in 2018, when the suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shootingposted about his intentions to actjust before he killed 11 people, Gab never quite recovered. Its server, GoDaddy, dropped it, and though it eventually found another home online, its popularity waned following the shooting and the period offline. In 2019, a software engineer for Gabs web hosting companysaidthat the platform probably had a few tens of thousands of users at mostrather than the 835,000 that Gab claimedthough the hosting company laterdenied that.

But Parler doesnt quite have Gabs teeth. (Andrew Torba, Gabs founder, hasreferred to Parleras a network for Z-list Maga celebrities.) While even Gab has limits to free speech, since its content policypurports to ban extremism, Parler is stricter. It goes far beyond what you might expect from a platform whose entire ethos is freedom of expression. Matze listed a few of the basic rules in a Parley on Tuesday:

As the top Twitter comment points out, Twitter allows four of the five things that Parler censors. Parlers thoroughcommunity guidelinesalso prohibit spam, terrorist activity, defamation, fighting words, and obscenity, among other kinds of speech. And Parlersuser agreementincludes clauses that may seem antithetical to its mission.

Also read: As the Far-Right Culture War Escalates in Germany, Concerns Grow

The platform may remove any content and terminate your access to the Services at any time and for any reason or no reason, it states. But perhaps most surprising is this:

17. You agree to defend and indemnify Parler, as well as any of its officers, directors, employees, and agents, from and against any and all claims, actions, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including but not limited to all attorneys fees) arising from or relating to your access to and use of the Services. Parler will have the right to conduct its own defence, at your expense, in any action or proceeding covered by this indemnity.

The indemnity provision means that if Parler faces a lawsuit for something you post, you pay. Basically, youre free to say whatever you wantas long as it falls within the community guidelines, and as long as youre willing to take the risk.

That Parler has beenreportedly banning usersen masse this week only further illuminates the faade of free speech on the platform; but regardless of the extent to which one can or cannot Parley whatever they want, the fact remains that the platform is becoming an important space for the American far right.

Its worth considering, then, what its members might do with it. Part of the concern over polarised platforms is that they can lead to radicalisation: In general, theyre seen as part of the pipeline to extremism. First, extremist movements find a foothold in mainstream platforms, where they present their norms in a slightly more palatable way, explained Jeremy Blackburn, a computer science professor at Binghamton University who researches fringe and extremist web communities. Then they gain ground in platforms like Parler that straddle the fringe and mainstream.

Once you remove any question of there being an echo chamber, theres just obvious consequences, Blackburn said.

While this may be cause for concern,Amarnath Amarasingam, an extremism researcher and professor at Queens University, is skeptical that Parler will really galvanise the right. I think part of what animates the rightand the left to some extentand particularly the far right, is the ability to argue with the other, Amarasingam said.

Interacting (and fighting) with the left reinforces the far rights identity, giving it meaning and purpose, he said, and from studying similar platforms like Gab, Amarasingam has found that talking to yourself in the dark corners of the internet is actually not that satisfying. And while he believes it might lead to the radicalization of certain individuals within the far right, the platform itself wont necessarily further the ideologies of extremist right-wing groups.

What Parler could do, Amarasingam believes, is serve as a kind of sounding board for the far right, a place for fringe movements to try out and refine different arguments. Essentially, it could be a factory of sorts, churning out ideas before theyre deployed into the mainstream. Maybe one day, at leastfor now, a good portion of the conversation of Parler is about how fantastic the platform is and how dumb the old tech giants are. Amarasingam acknowledged this.

[W]hat that indicates to me is that they actually are just using Parler to vent their anger of being suspended from what really matters, which has been more mainstream platform, he said. And so I think theyll very much try to get back into wherever the conversation is happening.

Also read: Why Regulating Social Media Will Not Solve Online Hate Speech

Theres also the matter of growth. Normally, these networks just dont get that big. Theyre considered fringe platforms for a reason, and theres rarely a solid business model behind them.

In Parlers case, the network was started with angel funding, and Matze hasnt devised a clear business plan since. Currently, histentative modelis to match conservative influencers with advertisers, and have Parler take a cut of the influencer fee. But given brandsrecent reluctance to advertise on Facebook, this plan seems far from foolproof. With only 30 employees, Parlers ability to handle more users will be tested.

It might growespecially if Trump does decide to join after allbut, as Amarasingam put it, if youre not in the mainstream, youre not in the mainstream.

Generally speaking, what I expect to see in these sites is they hit a certain threshold of users, just like any other social networking platform, said Blackburn. And then for these types of platforms that are explicitly attracting these certain types of users, probably one of them will do something stupid, then they get shut down or deplatformed, and the next one pops up.

Chloe Hadavasis a writer based in Washington.

This piece was originally published onFutureTense, a partnership betweenSlatemagazine, Arizona State University, and New America.

See the article here:

Whats the Deal With Parler and its Rising Popularity? - The Wire

We Talked With the Cast of ‘Brave New World’! – The Mary Sue

Posted on by

Brave New Worldis something I remember vividly from reading in high school. It was paired withAnthemby Ayn Rand, and I was assigned to do projects on Rands book when I wanted nothing more than to explore the world that Aldous Huxley created within the pages of Brave New World. And now, yet again, were returning to that world in 2020 with Peacocks new show starring Alden Ehrenreich, Harry Lloyd, Jessica Brown Findlay, Kylie Bunbury, and more!

In talking with the cast in preparation for the July 15 release, many expressed excitement over bringing this world to life, and I have to agree. I was instantly infatuated with the story (despite knowing it from reading the novel) and wanted to follow these characters as they began to explore a life not completely dependent on the laws of New London or John the Savage escaping the world hed known.

You can see our interviews with Jessica Brown Findlay, Harry Lloyd, Nina Sosanya, Sen Mitsuji, Hannah John-Kamen, and Joseph Morgan below!

Throughout my interviews, I asked everyone why they thought we continue to go back to the world of Aldous Huxley time and time again. While each cast member had wonderful takes on why we kept going back, I think that Jessica Brown Findlay hit the nail on the head. The world is evolving constantly and thrust into this digital age, and it is important to look at the cautionary tale that is Brave New Worldand see how we need to adapt.

Theres so much, I guess, focused on technology in our world and there are advances that we immediately see in this world. But its sort ofI think the really interesting question is the technology of humans, our own wiring, and why it is we behave and think and desire and feel the way that we do. I guess, posing the question: How much can you unravel that? Through design and through a numbing and telling people theyre happy. And, you know, people are going to slip past that and question things and I think were always going to be fascinated in that because thats how we function.

Brave New Worldhits Peacock on the 15th, and it is truly a beautiful adaptation of one of my favorite novels. I cannot wait for more, and I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did!

(image: Steve Schofield/Peacock)

Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site!

The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.

Have a tip we should know? tips@themarysue.com

Read the original:

We Talked With the Cast of 'Brave New World'! - The Mary Sue

Why does philosophy have a problem with race? – The Irish Times

Posted on by

Western philosophy has had two broad strategies for dealing with racism. One is to wave away hate speak and prejudice as of its time. The other is to divert all discussion of the topic into the low-status realm of ethnic, gender and equality studies.

The Black Lives Matters movement has put paid to these ploys for good. No longer can one pretend that the Enlightenment figure David Hume was speaking out of character when he ranked black people as naturally inferior to the whites. Nor can one pass off Immanuel Kants lowly regard for the Negroes of Africa as an aberration. Nor indeed can Voltaires anti-Semitism and offensive baiting of non-whites be treated like a minor blip in an otherwise unblemished intellectual record.

As John Gray writes in his book Seven Types of Atheism, Voltaires racism was not simply that of his time. Like Hume and Kant, he gave racism intellectual authority by asserting that it was grounded in reason.

The Enlightenment is still regarded as a high-point in European civilisation, and the scientific and secular values at the heart of it continue to inspire. Yet the question needs to be asked: Was it also a racist project, deeply entwined with the colonial and missionary expansions of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries?

Professor Aislinn ODonnell, acting head of the department of education at Maynooth University, believes answering this starts with learning: Learning not only how western philosophical thought has contained a racist undercurrent but also how those outside the canon have perceived things.

One of many thinkers people need to know more about, she says, is douard Glissant, a French philosopher from Martinique in the Caribbean who defended ones right to be opaque, or to lack transparency. Those in authority today like to pigeonhole, categorise and reduce minorities to subgroups. Demanding the right to opacity may be the first step towards dismantling this human taxonomy.

ODonnell explains further as this weeks Unthinkable guest.

Philosophy has largely been taught through the eyes of male, pale thinkers. Is it time for an overhaul?

Aislinn ODonnell: Philosophy departments lack of diversity when it comes to both curricula and staff has been flagged as a problem for many years, and in more recent times the American Philosophical Association and British Philosophical Association have issued guidelines which has resulted in some improvements in gender diversity.

However, philosophers like George Yancy, Simone de Beauvoir and Charles Mills argue that so-called mainstream approaches to philosophical enquiry, philosophical problems, and philosophical categories are not necessarily as abstract and universal as they may purport.

Yancy argues the dominance of a particular kind of human being in the field of philosophy white and male determines who gets to be let in to philosophy, and what counts as philosophical.

The ideas and positions of the philosophers and thinkers that I list here would enrich philosophy curricula. For a start, read Denise Ferreira da Silva, Fred Moten, Eli Clare, Christina Sharpe, George Yancy, Saidiya Hartman, Paul Gilroy, bell hooks, Charles Mills, Derrick Bell, Hortense Spillers, Frantz Fanon, Franoise Vergs, Enrique Dussel, Alexander Weheliye, Linda Martn Alcoff, Jasbir Puar, Sara Ahmed, Falguni Sheth, Sylvia Wynter, Achille Mbembe, douard Glissant.

Explain Glissants right to opacity and how it relates to the Black Lives Matter movement today.

The right to opacity rejects the argument that in order to be able to co-exist with others, I must first understand them. No doubt, there is something attractive about discourses of mutual understanding, but Glissant argues that what most matters is for each of us to be able to live with difference. He calls out the violence of making others transparent, that is, reducing people into pre-existing categories or forcing them to reveal and explain themselves in order to judge or compare.

He says: As far as Im concerned, a person has the right to be opaque. That doesnt stop me from liking that person, it doesnt stop me from working with him, hanging out with him, etc. A racist is someone who refuses what he does not understand. I can accept what I dont understand. Opacity is a right we must have.

For Glissant, a key driver of racism is when a logic of identity and purity is privileged over difference, exchange, transformation, and relation. Arguably the same logic is at play when people hold to a monocultural idea of Irishness, judging one group to be culturally the same - or properly Irish - and hence belong, and others to be culturally different and not fully Irish. It undermines the very idea of a pluralistic polity.

It doesnt matter if this is a post-colonial legacy in the Irish case; this way of thinking about identity as fixed operates with the same mechanisms of exclusion.

The metaphysics of modernity has privileged concepts and images of essence, filiation, lineage, territory and identity rather than foregrounding communication, transformation, exchange, difference and identity-in-relation. Such metaphysics has viewed identities as closed, separate, and pure, rather than identities-in-relation.

In terms of Black Lives Matter, I think Glissant would agree that we need to lay bare the ways in which claims to, and desires for, purity operate and how these play out in terms of white supremacy which presupposes whiteness as the norm. It means acknowledging just how much, quite frankly, black lives have not mattered in our recent histories. The creative move for him would involve creating new kinds of relations and solidarity.

Finally, as many people have said, an example of where the right to opacity matters involves white people not asking others to explain race and racism to them, or to demand that they tell their stories and experiences so they can understand them. Do some reading!

To what extent was the Enlightenment a colonial or imperialist exercise?

Glissant and others challenge the images of the Enlightenment and transparency this project of human understanding has been experienced for many people as one whereby they were studied as objects and viewed as not fully human.

Different philosophers will have different positions in terms of the Enlightenments legacies, what we ought to let go, what we ought to renew and what we ought to reimagine. Charles Mills has tried to reimagine liberalism, Paul Gilroy to imagine planetary humanism , while Denise Ferreira da Silva engages in the tradition of critique in philosophy arguing that violence, conquest, and colonisation are at the heart of the project of modernity.

I think what all these thinkers agree is that colonialism and imperialism cant be swept to one side. Indeed, Sylvia Wynter argues that what she calls the mono-liberal human has come into being because what was presented as salvation, the embrace of a common humanity, quickly became an exercise in imposing a threshold and ranking of who was to be counted as human. In this way vast swathes of people were positioned as infra-human needing development and civilisation to become fully human. She wants to imagine the human as creative praxis.

In many respects, this brings us back to your first question and it might help to re-frame it. What happens when the story of Enlightenment philosophy and modernity ignores its historical relation to colonialism, to racial slavery, to genocide, to racism, to sexism and so on? What kinds of images and concepts came to be privileged, like autonomy, sovereignty, property, or identity, and how did they come into existence?

In The Underside of Modernity, Enrique Dussel asks the reader to critically reflect on the inheritance of modernity and he says rather than Descartes famous cogito ergo sum we should reflect on the ego conquiro I conquer, therefore I am.

I think this needs to be taken seriously, and it means that we interrogate the canon more carefully rather than ignoring and dismissing those bits of texts that are problematic as simply prejudices of those times.

Read more:

Why does philosophy have a problem with race? - The Irish Times