Room for more fiscal support in India in near term given severity of economic situation: IMF – The Financial Express

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A top IMF official has said that there is room for more fiscal support in India in the near term, particularly for vulnerable households and SMEs, given the severity of the countrys economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vitor Gaspar, Director of the International Monetary Funds Fiscal Affairs Department, told PTI that a complete and successful implementation of the existing support measures (in particular, food provision to households) is of paramount importance.

Given the severity of the economic situation, in the near-term there is room for more fiscal support, particularly for vulnerable households and SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises), he said.

Over the medium-term, India will continue to have a very limited fiscal space, and a credible and well-communicated consolidation plan will be urgently needed once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, Gasper said.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 in India has been substantial and broad-based, he said, adding that high frequency indicators point to a sharp decline in economic activity, as reflected in the industrial production, business sentiment (in the purchasing managers index), vehicle sales and trade.

In the June World Economic Outlook (WEO), growth in fiscal year 20/21 was revised down to -4.5 per cent, he said.

The downward revision compared with the April WEO was driven primarily by the continued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in India.

This led the International Monetary Fund to make specific two adjustments. First, the assumed length of the partial lockdown was extended somewhat. Second, and more important, we made more conservative assumptions about the speed of recovery given that the health crisis has not yet been contained, Gasper said in response to a question.

He said that the near-term growth outlook in India continues to be clouded by the global and domestic slowdown and uncertainties relating to the evolution of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the senior IMF official, Indias general government fiscal deficit is projected to reach 12.1 per cent of the GDP in fiscal year 20/21, primarily due to weak tax revenues, as well as a denominator effect associated with the negative projected nominal GDP growth as with all other macro variables, estimates are highly uncertain.

Consistent with this, and the deterioration in economic activity, Indias public debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to reach about 84 per cent this fiscal year, Gasper added.

According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the contagion has infected over 12 million people and killed more than 554,000 across the world.

The US is the worst affected country with over 3.1 million cases and more than 1,33,000 deaths. Indias COVID-19 caseload stands at 7,93,802 with 21,604 deaths.

The COVID-19, which originated in Chinas Wuhan city in December last year, has also battered the world economy with the International Monetary Fund saying that the global economy is bound to suffer a severe recession.

Scientists are racing against time to find a vaccine or medicine for its treatment.

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Room for more fiscal support in India in near term given severity of economic situation: IMF - The Financial Express

Strategy to spur the rural economy: Creating value and sustainable livelihood for migrants – The Financial Express

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By GR Chintala

Roti, Kapda and Makan symbolise the essential requirements for a decent living with the absolute basic being food (roti). The question of lives and livelihood is inextricably linked to food. Perhaps, the most disruptive impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the forced return of migrants to their native states. It is estimated that at least 10 million (of 60 million) inter-state migrant labourers have returned home. The obvious reason for return migration is lack of earnings and inadequate savings to tide over the lockdown period. Majority of the migrants have returned to states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan from metros like Delhi, Mumbai and other States (Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala). The government, through its various interventions specifically through the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana, MNREGA has provided timely relief to migrants in these difficult times.

The PM has also extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) till the end of November. The safety net of free rations is perhaps the best way of immediately reaching out. This will not only provide minimum food but also provide the bandwidth to look for alternate livelihood options.

We need to capitalise on this and build a development paradigm which ensures that additional and sustainable livelihoods are created in rural areas, especially in the reverse migration states. As per Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2018-19, the average monthly earnings of the self-employed men and women are in the range of Rs 9,100-9,600 and Rs 3,800-4,400, respectively. Quick surveys, though thin on the sample, carried out by some voluntary organisations, indicate an unwillingness to return to cities. These also report that migrants have indicated an income of anywhere between Rs 5,000 Rs 15,000 per month, depending on the state and size of family as adequate for them to remain in their native place.

Cash transfers might alleviate immediate stress, but longer-term measures are needed. This maybe an opportunity to rethink the whole aspect of migration and reconfigure it in a way that it improves the prospects of migrants and also entail solutions to some of the long vexing issues facing rural areas by using the innate or acquired skills of the migrants who have moved back. For example, the marketing of agriculture and horticulture products and non-farm produce has been an area of concern and calls for new arrangements involving local resources and institutions.

In many parts of the country, FPOs stepped in successfully creating supply chains in the Covid scenario. There are also numerous examples across metros in the way groups of farmers took the initiative to ensure direct delivery of produce to gated communities and societies for products ranging from exotic avocados to perishables like regular fruits and vegetables. The entire logistics chain has been set in motion, but it currently lacks depth and width. Individual enterprise combined with modern communication tools has facilitated outreach. An institutional fillip which builds on this with expertise can generate livelihoods at various levels. Some of the migrants working in the food and vegetable supply chain in big cities can be engaged with FPOs on the marketing side as they have a fair understanding of the nuances of marketing and consumer preferences in urban areas. There are close to 6,000 FPOs in the country and growing. These can be ideal institutions to absorb them gainfully. If this new institutional supply chain gains traction, a variety of jobs around packing, sorting, grading, etc, can be created in rural areas in a much more permanent way. This will help in addressing two challengescreating employment and reduction in wastage of perishables. Small-sized transport logistics (small vehicles, vans, cold storage vans) also can be gainfully absorbed as drivers. The growing infrastructure of FPOs can be used to become the fulcrum of triggering and shaping value chains in rural areas.

To enable this, various actors will need to rethink their roles and envisage the support needed. Banks will need to ensure credit for these supply chains right from working capital to vehicles, logistics service providers, infrastructure, etc. Organisations like NABARD will need to ensure that the necessary hand-holding happens. Resource centres for FPOs are in fact being envisaged, which can be fast-tracked to provide the much-needed expertise to FPOs on these aspects. There also exists a case for tweaking some of the skilling programmes in a manner that recognises the prior learning and experiences of these migrant workers in various sectors and not necessarily link it with fixed tenure placement based trainings/skilling programmes. For example, a migrant worker who has been engaged in the vegetable supply chain need not have a requirement of a fixed tenure training but can quickly be trained (re-skilled) in terms of FPOs requirement which will give him/her quicker access to find a job locally. So certain tailoring and flexibility of the existing skills programme taking into account this new reality depending on the state can be thought of.

Local institutions and decentralised development needs to be strengthened. They are better equipped to absorb the shocks and disruptions that are created in the supply chain. The Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) can function at the village level in a multifarious roleaggregator, supplier of credit, forging marketing linkages etc. One of the critical gaps in this scheme of things is these are infrastructure deficient. Our experience shows wherever PACS are well endowed with infrastructure, they have led to positive externalities. We need to strengthen the infrastructure of good PACS.

As part of the strategy to spur the rural economy, migrants should be encouraged to invest in the medium-term and long-term livelihood options.

This will entail demand for credit which banks, financial institutions, SHGs and their networks must fulfil. It may require these agencies to create tailor-made changes in terms of collateral security, repayment terms, customised loan product, the concessional interest rate, which they should be willing to offer. There is a demand for credit provided lending institutions are willing to look beyond the routine trodden path.

A similar case exists in the case of handlooms & handicrafts. The urban consumer is looking to source quality products from weavers and artisans, but options for a real connect are few. Here again, a plethora of employment opportunities exist from packing for delivery to digital marketingeven taking good quality photos for an artisan in many states is a challenge. For this, co-operative societies need to be re-energised, or an alternate structure similar to FPOs needs to be set up quickly. This will require a separate column.

We have already started working on some of the above and NABARDs forthcoming Foundation Day will see us put forward some concrete plans in this context.

The canvas is huge, and there are immense possibilities to collaborate with other stakeholders in this task. We intend seizing this opportunity to play an important role in ensuring that agriculture and rural development will emerge as powerhouses in the years to come.

The author is Chairman, NABARD. Views are personal

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Strategy to spur the rural economy: Creating value and sustainable livelihood for migrants - The Financial Express

The costed 175bn green revolution for Scotland that creates 100000 jobs and pays for itself – HeraldScotland

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A 175bn green overhaul of the economy is needed in a post-coronavirus Scotland which will generate 100,000 new jobs and pay for itself, according to a major report from a influential think tank.

The call is made in the a major new analysis by the Common Weal, setting out a vision of an alternative economic recovery strategy for the country in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

It says the 25-year costed plan will take place only once and will then serve "many generations".

Spreading the cost over 50 years would cost approximately 5 billion a year, it says.

But apart from its "conservative" estimate on jobs, it will also create 4 billion of additional tax revenue each year and an additional 2.5 billion of additional direct income annually.

"This means that the investment not only pays for itself but generates a very substantial annual surplus," it said.

It comes after the Herald revealed that some of Scotlands rural and most affluent areas are being badly hit by the coronavirus economic crisis, with unemployment nearly trebling in parts during lockdown as concerns grow about the future financial shock from Covid-19.

Data from the end of June shows nearly one in three Scots able to work were unemployed or on furlough.

Scotlands more affluent areas with historically lower levels of deprivation have seen the biggest rise in the numbers claiming either Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) or Universal Credit (UC) being hit up to five times harder than those areas that are less well off.

At least 843,240 Scots were either claiming unemployment benefits or have been furloughed under the UK Governments job retention scheme, which is nearly one-third of the population who are available for work.

READ MORE:Coronavirus - Bus firms call for green revolution amid social distancing concerns

And the Scottish Government has been urged to use additional funding from the Treasury to invest in creating jobs after Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out a plan to underpin employment as Britain emerges from the devastation caused by the coronavirus.

A temporary cut in VAT from 20% to 5%, and a scheme offering discounted meals at restaurants, is aimed at supporting the hard-hit hospitality industry.

There are also new subsidies to ensure young furloughed workers are retained by companies, and cuts to the cost of buying a home in England and Northern Ireland.

The Chancellor said Scotland would now receive a total of 4.6bn in additional Barnett funding from the UK government.

Dr Craig Dalzell, Common Weal head of policy said: That we are still in the midst of this current crisis cannot distract us from the fact that we have only ten years left to make serious changes to our economy to avert the worst impacts of the climate emergency.

We do not have time to spend a "lost decade" rebuilding back to pre-crisis "normal" and then trying to change everything again. We certainly cannot rebuild in a way that leaves us vulnerable to the next pandemic or other crisis that will inevitably come.

The solutions to the Covid crisis must be the same solutions that lead to a zero-carbon economy and create for Scotland an economy that is resilient to the next shock and which works for all of us both now and into the future.

Common Weal said their Green New Deal plan would reduce Scotland's "negative environmental impact" to zero while creating a "transformed economy."

It would also result in the rapid growith of a wide range of industry sectors in Scotland - particularly the production of wood-based construction materials, a large land management industry, significant increases in food production and processing and the establishment of a lot of light industry.

On top of this, it says, there will be a substantial increase in component supply and heavy manufacturing.

"It would end resource waste, regenerate land and soil, enable the re-establishment of wildlife populations and greatly decrease the reliance on biocides," the think tanks said. "This would all have a positive impact on Scotlands urban and rural landscape, making the nation more beautiful.

It said of its overall plan that it was based on the principle that the causes of the environmental crisis are "structural and collective not individual and personal which means the solutions cannot be individual but must be collective and must change not just the technologies we use but the structural causes of the harm being done".

"This has an immediate consequence there is zero additional cost to citizens for this entire transformation," it said. "Everyone gets a very substantial upgrade to their house without having to pay anything extra, no-one has to spend their own money to bring about a circular economy, no-ones electricity bills will rise to pay for decarbonisation. Every single thing that has to be done to make the green transition we need to make is covered in the above costs."

It has already suggested as part of the plan that oil and gas extraction should be phased out and be replaced by a raft of low-carbon initiatives aimed at tackling climate change as part of the transformation.

It has also suggested a 50bn scheme to build a low-carbon district heating scheme, connected to every house on the gas grid where technically possible, and power it with large-scale renewable heat generation.

District heating is the supply of heating and hot water to multiple buildings from a centralised generation source, through insulated underground pipes. This system is widely developed in the Nordic countries, but less so in the UK, and reduces the carbon emissions produced in supplying heat to homes.

It has been suggesting taking all energy into public ownership, and moving to the production of hydrogen, seen as a versatile fuel capable of powering everything from household appliances to transport to industrial processes.

Common Weal says hydrogen itself will become a "large industry in Scotland with the potential to leadEurope and become its largest hydrogen exporter".

It also calls for the biggest overhaul of housing since the Second World War, with a plan to have greener homes by installing loft installation, double glazing and renewable technologies - at a cost of 40bn.

That would involve setting up a national housing company and spend 40 billion to make every home in Scotland more thermally efficient, saving 40% off heating bills.

It also foresees a decarbonised transport plan where small vehicles will be predominantly battery-electric powered while larger vehicles will be hydrogen fuel-cell powered.

There will then need to be investment in converting trains, buses and ferries and commissioning new ones.

It suggests there are is unlinkely to be a technical solution for "air transport" some work-arounds are proposed like offering families which take summer holidays by hydrogen ferry extra days of holiday entitlement to cover the longer journey times.

"There will be a substantial impact on our individual lifestyles," the think tank says. "People will have warmer homes at less cost, gain access to better quality food, be protected from the impacts of pollution, have easier access to a fast and efficient transport system, be able to own land and much more.

"The goods that people use will be of a higher quality but will cost them less over all because many more products will be borrowed, rented or leased, they will last much longer and be entirely repairable. Spending will shift from shopping to participation, relaxation and socialising, improving quality of life."

It concluded: "This is a historic moment, a moment when everything has to change. If we have learned anything through the Covid crisis it is that half measures and hoping for the best achieve next to nothing. You do it or you dont do it. This Plan is something serious we can do. So will we do it? Its up to us."

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The costed 175bn green revolution for Scotland that creates 100000 jobs and pays for itself - HeraldScotland

Trust in Resilience: Empowering businesses to boost the economy – The Edge Markets MY

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The Covid-19 pandemic started out as a public healthcare problem, but its aftershocks are expected to be felt across business and society for a prolonged period. The scope of these challenges are top of mind for leaders of organisations of all types governments, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

Building trust needs to go hand in hand, so no one gets left behind. After all, businesses need to trust in the stability of the supply chain, and consumers need to trust that they have a safe environment in which to stimulate the economy. But beyond restart and recovery, we need to implement systemic changes that allow us to navigate inevitable future disruptions to transition to become a high-income nation within the decade.

In this series of articles, we will be sharing our views on the five key priorities in our journey economy and finance; international affairs and security; infrastructure; society and living together; and education.

Fundamental to the first priority in the series economy and finance is the need to restore private consumption and our contribution to the global supply chain. Private consumption accounted for 59% of the countrys gross domestic product in 2019, according to Bank Negara Malaysia.

Keeping businesses in business

The stabilisation wave of many countries responses to Covid-19 is likely to take longer than expected. This is a time in which governments and organisations learn to operate in the new normal while continuing to respond to immediate challenges. In Malaysia, 23% of chief financial officers surveyed in PwCs Covid-19 CFO Pulse survey in May estimated that they would take 12 months to get back to business as usual.

During this time, economic initiatives have been important in keeping businesses liquid and retaining employment for many Malaysians, through income assistance or capital funds. Concerns have been expressed, however, particularly by small and medium enterprises, that there just is not enough to go around. Our SMEs contribute to more than two-thirds of total employment in our country and almost 40% to the economy.

Competition for funds is intense. In the Laksana report on June 30, of 300,000 of the countrys SMEs that qualify, only 19,539 applications for the SME Soft Loan Funds were approved. For SMEs, whose main sources of financing are banks and financial institutions, the limited funding available and tighter approval process mean their access to funds may be delayed or become out of reach. There may be contagion effects to larger organisations, because small businesses are most often primary customers and a third or fourth tier in their supply chain.

To maintain supply chain stability, the call for government-linked companies and large corporates to accelerate payment to their vendors, many of whom are SMEs, has been highly welcomed. Supply chain finance (SCF) could be a win-win solution for these corporations to provide cash-flow relief and support this initiative in a sustainable way.

SME closures and the resulting job lay-offs will have a negative impact directly on consumer purchasing power and indirectly on consumer confidence. Aid can help cushion the impact of Covid-19 for businesses so they have time to consider their next steps. Some may be agile in exploring new revenue opportunities, while others may cut their losses by exiting altogether. But the objective here is to keep as many companies in business and people at work for as long as possible to avoid further impact to the economy.

Invigorating entrepreneurialism

Inevitably, some businesses or, rather, the old ways of doing things will not survive the crisis. Organisations and leaders need to force themselves to be strategic. Redesigning a boat while bailing water from the hull may sound ambitious. But it must happen.

And where businesses exit, there is now room for new businesses to operate. With contact tracing and standard operating procedures in place to manage public health risks, this could be the right time to invest in new businesses as confidence returns.

There is also an opportunity to build trust, whether by solving an important issue faced by their customers through new product or service offerings or addressing a newly identified gap in the market. Suppliers are hungry for business, and people are looking for new ways to participate in the economy.

For example, gastronomic and health/wellness industries are operating at a reduced capacity for the foreseeable future. They now have to diversify their service offerings and tailor the customer experience for people who are engaging with their products in new ways.

Innovation-based funding may be beneficial to help existing businesses pivot, or new businesses start up, to play a role in boosting economic activity. After all, entrepreneurialism is a natural strength of Malaysians. We see a role for businesses in harder-hit industries, such as tourism, where the RM1 billion Penjana Tourism Financing (PTF) can help finance transformative initiatives.

New ways of working

Businesses may come to realise that future-proofing efforts would have been best undertaken during good times. After all, these investments are time- and resource-intensive even in the best of times. However, there is no better time than the present to start equipping themselves with the tools they would need to withstand future challenges.

According to PwCs Digital resilience in a new world report, 70% of Malaysians believe technology will change their current jobs in three to five years. The current and future workforce need to be employed, productive and equipped with the right skills if we are to reboot the economy effectively and prepare for a digital future.

A fundamental shift in the skills required of employees means that technical-scientific expertise as well as soft skills and aptitudes need to be developed. There is clearly an appetite for upskilling among Malaysians 85% of survey respondents in the Digital resilience in a new world report said they would learn new skills or completely retrain as a means to improve their future employability.

Strategic partnerships can help accelerate this move by promoting the use of self-learning tools. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is working with Coursera to provide free access to courses, including professional certificates for unemployed workers, until year-end. PwCs Digital Fitness app is also currently available for free and offers a library of resources to help users deepen their knowledge of the latest digital trends and adapt to new ways of working and learning.

Conclusion

I hope that the points raised can lead to a collaborative effort to realise our ambitions of becoming a high-income nation. Businesses and individuals should take this opportunity to invest for the future, whether through new business models and ideas, or by reskilling and upskilling for a digital world.

The pandemic has prompted the need for a new way of living, where businesses and the government collectively do the right thing for their stakeholders to rebuild trust in the institutions that make society work, and at the same time rebuild our businesses, our work and our lives.

Patrick Tay is deals partner of economics and policy at PwC Malaysia. This is the first of a five-part series.

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Trust in Resilience: Empowering businesses to boost the economy - The Edge Markets MY

Six candidates will face off in primary for Kitsap County Commissioner District 2 position – Kitsap Sun

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The county administration building in Port Orchard. Voters in South Kitsap will see six candidates in the primary for Kitsap County Commissioner District 2.(Photo: Jessie Darland / Kitsap Sun)

Charlotte Garrido, the incumbent Kitsap County Commissioner for District 2, is seeking a fourth consecutive term as she faces off against five challengers in the Aug. 4 primary election.

Although the seat is sometimes referred to as "South Kitsap Commissioner," District 2 encompasses a portion of Bremerton along with all of South Kitsap.

Garrido, a longtime South Kitsap resident and civic activist, served a single term as South Kitsap commissioner from 1997 through 2000. She regained the seat in 2008 and held onto it in 2012 and 2016.

Her opponents include Republicans Oran Root and Marcus Carter, along with two fellow Democrats, Paul Nuchims and Stacey Smith. All including Garrido live in South Kitsap. Bob Perkins, the lone candidate from Bremerton, states no party preference.

The top two candidates, regardless of party, will move on to the general election.

Candidates were asked the following questions:

Their responses are in the order in which they appear in the Kitsap County Voter's Pamphlet.

Paul Nuchims:Democrat, 86, of Manchester

Campaign finance: Mini-reporting (candidates who choose this option pledge to raise and spend no more than $5,000 and so are exempt from filing detailed reports with the Public Disclosure Commission.)

Career experience: Professional artist, gallery owner and tenured art professor at West Virginia State University

Nuchims said he was motivated to run for county commissioner because of an ongoing dispute he's had with the county over a stormwater pipe that, according toNuchims, regularly floods his property. He ran for the office once before in 2008 (years before the pipe issue) but withdrew just before the primary.

Nuchims is a member of the Manchester Citizens Advisory Committee, a group of volunteers that meets with county officials to discuss community needs. If elected, hewill take aim at what he describes as inefficient and unresponsive bureaucracy in the county government.

"The county hierarchy is locked in a struggle with the bureaucracy and they both have no fear and will keep drawing their paychecks because the taxpaying people are caught themselves between their indifference and their morbidity," he said. "I should leave but I'm an optimist and want to save them and our species."

Paul Nuchims(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

To address the problem of homelessness, Nuchims would enact incentives for the use of vacant buildings, including commercial properties and the homes of snowbirds who depart for the winter while leaving the heat on. Nuchims says that's a "shameful"waste of resources. He said the county should consider exercising eminent domain in the case of commercial buildings that sit vacant for years.

Nuchims sees the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity for the county (and the world) to rethink the conservation of resources. He said sheltering in place has reduced pollution, a trend the county should encourage. "It really helps to solve the problem of pollution and use of fossil fuels. ... I'm saving my life and helping others save the planet," Nuchims said. "Everyone should do that."

He also thinks county buildings such as the administration building should be outfitted with cots for workers to cut down on commuting.

"The county because it's publiclyfunded from taxpayers should not be allowed to have their workers go back and forth over three miles when they could stay at least a week at a time in the buildings because the buildings are heated in the wintertime and they're empty at night," Nuchims said. "I know this is radical, but it's what we have to do to save our planet."

Regarding the question of defunding the police, Nuchims said, "The police have to be re-educated." He recommends that the county form an advisory committee to oversee racial equity that includes representatives from the NAACP Bremerton Unit and local Native American tribes. He also advocates initiatives to hire more peopleof color to administrativepositions within the county.

Charlotte Garrido: Democrat, 74, of Olalla

Campaign finance: Raised $17,671 (including a $15,000 loan from the candidate to the campaign); spent to date $15.73.

Career experience: Small business owner, community activist andvolunteer who helped found groups such as the South Kitsap Community Council and Port Orchard Farmer's Market; Kitsap County commissioner, 2008-present

"Kitsap County is a wonderful place to live and work," said Garrido. "I strive to provide the best public service to all citizens and to welcome community and neighborhood participation with their government.This work builds a better community, and that is what motivates me."

Garrido said she supports the "housing first" model as one way among an array of services to address homelessness. The late Lloyd Pendleton, after whom Bremerton's low-barrier housing project in the works is named, visited Kitsap in 2016 and provided helpful suggestions for a broad community support coalition to help people transition to self-sufficiency, she said.

Charlotte Garrido, 2020(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

The threat of COVID-19 spurred the county to provide temporary supportive housingto prevent the spread of coronavirus among people living on the streets, which gave county officials insight into needs and possible long-term solutions,Garrido said."Great strides were made in coordinating across agencies.Andservice agencies are enthusiastic about ways to improve the system even further."

To relieve the economic impact of COVID-19, the county is seeking federal CARES Act small business assistance funding,Garrido said. "If this is received, we have discussed a program to reimburse small businesses that have experienced a documented loss of income due to COVID-19 for business-related rent or leases."

As for cuts to county government, the board of commissioners has asked departments to reduce their budgets by 5% across the board.

"We will continue to review the economic realities and what strategies or responses are necessary for the final budget," she said. "Our experience with the economic downturn in 2009 also provides valuable insights."

Regarding the Black Lives Matter movementand its implications for Kitsap County, Garrido said, "These recent events have been a wakeup call to most of us."

Garrido has met and will continue to meet with community members who are people of color to learn how the county government can serve them better. The county is considering a request to form a race equity task force.

"I agree with Sheriff (Gary) Simpson when he says, 'Today, being a police officer in America is hard,'" Garrido said."So is living in America as a person of color.We can do better, and we must do better if we want to overcome the divide between people."

During the budget process the county looks at new initiatives in and across departments, she said.

"While 'defund the police'can mean divesting funds from one program to another, it also can foster new collaborations, such as for public safety and community support links with social services, youth services, housing, education, healthcare and other community resources," Garrido said.

Oran Root:Republican, 48, South Kitsap

Campaign finance: Raised $17,084 (including loans tothe campaign totaling $662); spent to date, $4,164

Career experience: Marine Corps Special Operations combat veteran, owns and operates OSCAR 6, providing specialized military trainingto Air Force and Navy personnel; volunteer youth mentor, self-defense trainer to domestic violence survivors; alumnus South Kitsap High School and Olympic College

Root in the voter's pamphlet describes himself as a fiscally conservative small-business owner with leadership experience that will serve the county well in challenging times ahead.

Oran Root, 2020(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

"Im running to provide some desperately needed leadership for South Kitsap on our County Commission," he said in a statement to the Kitsap Sun. "For too long our taxpayers and local small businesses have been low on the list of priorities for the incumbent and I plan to change that."

Root in general supports homeless programs and servicesthat require accountability, although "a small percentageof individuals with mental illness will not be able to live independently and will require assistance like the Pendleton (Place)to help curb the downward cycle."

Root says county fundsshould be directed toward "those truly in need, including those with mental illness or in dire circumstances due to events beyond their control." He said his mother has been inthat risk category."She is on a very narrow fixed income and was approximately two days from being homeless recently. This is very real for me."

Root notes District 2 has the highest reported percentage of homeless people in thecounty, according to most recent counts, 31% in Port Orchard, 38% in Bremerton.He cites about $1.3 million in taxpayer-supported programs administered by the county to address homelessness and saysthe county should not at this time take on more programs, andthat faith-based and private organizations should be the primary sources of support.

To stimulate the economy in the face of COVID-19 impacts, Kitsap should direct most of its CARES Act funding (Root estimates nearly $15 million) toward supporting small businesses.

"Hundreds of small businesses and their employees are facing dire times and many are in jeopardy of failure," Root said. "We can help offset future social service costs by supporting those who are working to provide businesses and jobs that pay taxes and employees."

In considering cuts to the county budget, Root would prioritize funding of essential services, "public safety, infrastructure and health/welfare." He does not support calls to defund the police.

"I believe that our law enforcement agencies across Kitsap, from the county to the local

jurisdictions, are in large part performing admirably and if anything may need additional

resources to navigate these challenging times," he said. "We all need to recognize that our police are critical to not just our personal public safety and well-being, but to our businesses and a recovering economy that has the confidence in protection from

property crimes and from those who might threaten customers and employees. Defunding our police is a poorly considered and destructive plan.

Bob Perkins:No party preference, 72, of Bremerton

Campaign finance: Mini-reporting

Career experience: Engineer and program manager for more than 30 years as a contractor to N.A.S.A., with experience in personnel management, budgetingand contract negotiation; small business owner, Navy veteran, community volunteer

"I am here to provide a service to our community by way of commerce, recreation, environmental protectionand educational opportunities," Perkins said in the voter's pamphlet."I am committed to represent the public interest using thoughtful, practical processes, seeking multiple perspectives and to be a good steward of the publics funds."

Perkins ran in 2017 for Port of Bremerton commissioner, losing to incumbent Axel Strakeljahn.

A priority for Perkins would be improving infrastructure, including roads and Internet connectivity throughout Kitsap County. Perkins cites his work with federal and state agencies, including regulatory agencies, as relevant to project development.

"I am a strong supporter of youth mentorship, work-based learning and summer employment opportunities," he said.

Bob Perkins, 2020(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

Perkins supports a housing-first model to address homelessness with conditions.

"You've got to have a home before you do anything," he said. "I'm for that, but it's not going to be a free ride. People have got to contribute. If you contribute, you've got dignity."

Perkins was involved in early discussions about plans for a low-barrier homeless housing project that is now taking shape in Bremerton as Pendleton Place. He says the county should wait and see how that project functions before attempting to expand low-barrier housing.

Perkins thinks the county should look at undeveloped areas and vacant buildings in need of renovation as potential homes for those in need. The county needs to prioritize spending and should look at government grants and philanthropic grants as sources of funding for any new project.

Regarding budget cuts coming as a result of the pandemic, Perkins said all budgets have contingencies built-in. The county should look at each department to eliminate non-essential spending to weather the economic downturn.

Perkins is not a proponent of defunding the police, who are essential "first-line social workers" and perform other critical functions. Police officers provide 24/7 mental health services, he said. He would consider increased funding for mental health to support the sheriff's office but not with concurrent cuts to the sheriff's office budget.

Stacey (Spencer) Smith:Democrat, 50, Waterman

Campaign finance: raised $19,865 (including loans to the campaign totaling $10,000); expenditures, $7,396

Career experience: Currentdirector of Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long-term Care; board president of the Washington Association of Area Agencieson Aging;former Kitsap County Mental Health Program resource manager (2007-2014);youth mental health therapist (1995-2000);juvenile detention officer (1995-1997)

Smith cites her lengthy career in Kitsap County serving residents of diverse ages and backgrounds as her qualification to lead the county. She is the first member of her family to graduate from college and says she understands the importance of opportunity for all.

"I feel like I've demonstrated leadership in my time here in Kitsap, and Kitsap County taxpayers have invested in me and I'm ready to lead," Smith said. "I care about Kitsap, being raised here my entire life, and Kitsap has really signaled it's ready for change. ... We've had the incumbent for some time and it's just time for a change of leadership."

Smith's top three priorities are: housing, COVID-19 recovery (with a focus on vulnerable populations and small business recovery)and "opportunity for all to thrive."

Stacey (Spencer) Smith, 2020(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

Regarding opportunity, she said, "It really is that theme of racial equity and social justice we're living in today." That includeschanges to the justice system among other reforms Smith would support.

Smith supports low-barrier models of treatment and support to serve people who are homeless. And she said the county needs to adequately fund human services that aidhomeless and vulnerable populations.

Beyond that, the county needs a long-range plan for affordable housing, she said. Smith advocates that 10% of all new housing be set aside as affordable housing for people on fixed incomes and young families. She says Kitsap should look to other counties for models to incentivize and/or publicly fund new development or redevelopment of blighted properties.

The county should explore rezoning to encourage a range of housing options, she said, and it should take advantage of all opportunities to raise funds for affordable housing, such as grants through the Department of Commerce.

"County commissioners who are looking for solutions keep an eye on when solutions come forward," she said. "I don't study a problem. I get to work. I'm very solution-focused."

In response to COVID-19, the county should look for areas that are underspent because of the pandemic, Smith said. She thinks the county budget should be reviewedmonthly so the board has current information on which to base decisions and budget adjustments.

As strategies to save money, she'dlook at the voluntary reduction of hours, with layoffs as a last resort. Programs serving vulnerable people need to be preserved, she said.

Smith does not advocate cuts to the sheriff's office but would shift the focus of its duties to providing public resources. "Law enforcement is paramount in Kitsap County," she said. "We need the patrol officers. We need public safety."

Marcus Carter:Republican, 59, of Burley

Campaign finance: Raised $7,325; spent to date, $1,452

Career experience: Kitsap Rifle & Revolver Club executive officer (1998-present), former union journeyman carpenter, business owner (Abba First Enterprises, Bayside Shooters Supply, Firepower Munitions, National Firearms Institute); Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission instructor

Carter ran for county commissioner in 1996, the same year Garrido won her first term.

Carter, through his involvement with the KRRC, has been embroiled in a lengthy legal battle with Kitsap County stemming from complaints about noise and allegations that work done on the shooting rangein years past was not properly permitted. The club remains under a court injunction prohibiting firearms discharge, but the club is open for othertypes of target shooting such as air rifles (which use compressed air, not gunpower) and archery, Carter said.

Because of the gun club's legal dispute, Carter said, he's heard from other people examples of the county reportedly overstepping its authority.If elected, he would advocate for the rights of individuals and property owners by rolling back regulations he described as arbitrary and stifling

"It is imperative that we return Kitsap County to its proper role of protecting individual rights by following mandated constitutional provisions and purpose," he said. "I want to restore confidence that county government will be a help not a hindrance to those who live here. Reducing government interference will be the best way to reinvigorate the economy and unleash solutions to the issues we face."

Marcus Carter, 2020(Photo: Kitsap County Auditor)

Carter supports the housing-first model to address homelessness. Churches, civic groups and individuals could help if the county would get out of the way, he said. "The concept is sound and should be encouraged. Kitsap County has implemented regulations that make it very hard for those that want to help those who are troubled, and those barriers must be removed."

Regarding the economic downturn, Carter said the county should have been protecting the right of business owners to operate safely during the pandemic. He said the state overstepped in defining what was an essential business, and a legal challenge by thecounty to the state's mandates should be considered.

Carter said commissioners' salaries should be frozen, reduced and tied to the county's median wage. "You lead by example," he said.

Carter said the county should prioritize fundingto departments that provide infrastructure and "essential"services, including the sheriff's office. The county should provide incentives for departments that underspend, instead of a "use it or lose it" mentality, Carter said, and the county should consider rezoning to encourage redevelopment as part of its economic recovery strategy.

Carter does not support defunding the police. He does think the concept of "qualified immunity" on the part of the justice system should be challenged. Carter strongly advocatesde-escalation training not only for law enforcement but also for members of the public to advance public safety. Carter has experiencein the "use of lethal force" training for members of law enforcement and the military.

"When emotions get flying and you've just seen or witnessed a horrific event, it's hard to downshift, but that's something that can be taught."

Chris Henry reports on education and community news for the Kitsap Sun. Reachher at (360) 792-9219 or christina.henry@kitsapsun.com. Support coverage of local news by signing up today for a digital subscription.

Read or Share this story: https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/local/2020/07/11/six-candidates-running-kitsap-county-commissioner-district-2/5409273002/

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Six candidates will face off in primary for Kitsap County Commissioner District 2 position - Kitsap Sun

Which international destinations are reopening to tourists? – Wink News

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ATLANTA (CNN)

Although many governments are still advising against nonessential internationaltravel, a host of populardestinationsare beginning to ease their Covid-19 lockdown measures and border restrictions and are moving toward welcoming tourists back.

On July 1, the European Union announced it would be reopening its external border to 15 countries outside of the bloc in a bid to boost its travel industry.

Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay areall included in the list,along with China, provided it agrees to lift restrictions on EU citizens.

However, the United States, which now has thehighest number of confirmed Covid-19 infectionsin the world, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, was not included.

Travel bubbles are also becoming more popular, with the likes of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand considering following the lead of Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who have lifted restrictions for each others citizens.

Meanwhile, the UK has formed travel corridors with 59 different countries, while popular destinations like Dubai and Jamaica have already opened their doors to foreign visitors again.

If youre one of many travelers eagerly awaiting news on where you can travel to this year, heres a guide to the top destinations making plans to reopen, as well as some of those that are keeping their borders firmly closed for now.

Aruba will slowly reopen to tourists betweenJune 15 and July 10.

Visitors from nearby Caribbean islands Curacao and Bonaire will be permitted to enter first, followed by travelers from Canada and Europe on July 1.

Tourists from the United States will be allowed to visit from July 10.

While it was previously suggested travelers would not be required to take a Covid-19 test on arrival or prior to travel, it seems this is no longer the case.

Like many other destinations, Aruba is giving visitors the option to either provide a negative test result taken no more than 72 hours before their visit or receive a test on arrival.

However, the cost of the test, which must be paid for in advance, is the responsibility of the traveler.

The island has also introduced mandatory insurance coverage, theAruba Visitors Insurance, which will cover any expenses if visitors test positive for the virus during their trip.

Nonessential businesses including shopping malls, cinemas, beauty salons and outdoor restaurants were allowed to reopen on May 25, while the island countrys 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was completely lifted earlier this month.

Restaurants with indoor seating have now been allowed to reopen, although diners must leave before 10 p.m., along with spas, and saunas.

In addition, the Department of Public Health has introduced theAruba Health & Happiness Code,a mandatory cleaning and hygiene certification program for all businesses related to tourism in the country.

Bali has been relatively successful in containing its coronavirus outbreak, with less than1,500 confirmed casesand, at the time of writing, a total of 11 deaths.

The Indonesian island now hopes to welcome tourists back by October, provided its infection rates stay low.

Accordingto a statement from Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani, secretary of the ministry, Yogyakarta, situated on the island of Java, is likely to reopen first, along with the Riau Islands province.

Balis economy is hugely dependent on tourism and visitor numbers have been rising in recent years, with around 6.3 million people visiting in 2019.

The coronavirus has collapsed the Balinese economy its been a steep drop since [mid-March] when social-distancing measures were put in place, Mangku Nyoman Kandia, a Bali tour guide, told ABC Newsin April. No tourist, no money.

All foreign nationals, except for diplomats, permanent residents and humanitarian workers, are currently banned from Indonesia, and anyone entering the island must undergo a swab test and provide a letter stating they are free of Covid-19.

Its unclear what the entry requirements will be if restrictions are lifted later this year, or whether Bali will accept travelers from regions badly affected by the pandemic.

However, tourism officials have been calling for atravel bubble to be implementedbetween Bali and Australia.

Barbados has announced it will be reopening its borders to international travelers from July 12.

However, visitors will have to adhere to a number of strict requirements.

All tourists from high risk countries will be strongly encouraged to take a Covid-19 test at least 72 hours before departing for Barbados, according to a recent press release from the Barbados Tourist Board.

Meanwhile, those from low risk destinations can be tested a week before visiting the Caribbean island.

Visitors also need to complete an online Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (ED card), which asks a series of health questions connected to Covid-19 symptoms.

Those who dont provide a negative test result from an accredited or recognized laboratory in advance will take one on arrival and will be placed in quarantine at their own expense until the results come through. This is likely to take up to 48 hours.

While visiting the island, travelers must comply with local protocols, including keeping a physical distance of one-meter away from others and wearing face masks in public.

Barbados nationwide curfew isdue to be lifted on July 1, while commercial air traffic will resume 11 days later.

UK flag carrier British Airways will restart services to Barbados on July 18, with US airline JetBlue following suit on July 25 and Virgin Atlantic on August 1.

Cyprus is so keen to get its tourism industry back on track, officials are offering to cover the costs of any travelers who test positive for Covid-19 while on vacation in the Mediterranean island nation.

According to a letter shared with CNN, the Cypriot government will pay for lodging, as well as food, drink and medication for tourists who are taken ill with coronavirus during their visit.

The detailed plan was set out in a five-page letter issued to governments, airlines and tour operators on May 26.

Officials have also earmarked a 100-bed hospital for foreign travelers who test positive, while a 500-room quarantine hotel will be available to patients families and close contacts.

The traveler will only need to bear the cost of their airport transfer and repatriation flight, in collaboration with their agent and/or airline, states the letter.

The countrys hotels began to reopen on June 1, while international air travel restarted on June 9.

Once the destination reopens, visitors from only chosen countries will be allowed to enter.

Officialshave issued a list of countriesto be granted access to Cyprus in two separate stages.

Incoming flights from Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania will be authorized first.

From June 20, Cyprus will also permit incoming flights from Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia and the Czech Republic.

The UK and the US, bothlisted among the nations with the highest numberof confirmed Covid-19 deaths, are noticeably absent.

However, the list is to be expanded to include further countries in the coming months.

Travelers heading to Cyprus will need to provide a valid certificate proving theyve tested negative for Covid-19, while theyll be subject to temperature checks on arrival as well as testing at random during the course of their trip.

The destination has already put measures in place to protect travelers and residents, such as ensuring hotel staff wear masks and gloves, regularly disinfecting sunbeds and keeping tables at restaurants, bars, cafs, and pubs at least two meters (6.5 feet) apart.

Tourism accounts for at least 15% of Cypruss economy.

Tourism brings in around $1 billion in revenue for Egypt each month, so the impact of thetravel restrictionscaused by the pandemic has been significant.

The government suspended passenger flights back in March, while all hotels, restaurants and cafes were closed and a night curfew imposed.

These measures are currently being relaxed, with hotels that meet certain requirements, such as having a clinic with a resident doctor on-site, being granted permission to reopen for domestic visitors at a reduced capacity.

But acurfew remains in placebetween 8p.m. and 5 a.m although this isdue to be lifted on June 27 andthe government has made wearing masks mandatoryin public places and public transport.

Although international flights are yet to begin operating again bar a select few routes the cabinet has indicatedscheduled international flights will be allowed to enter from July 1, while foreign tourists will be permitted at the resorts least affected by Covid-19.

We have to prepare, cabinet spokesman Nader Saad saidduring a televised interview last month.

A number of global carriers have expressed willingness to resume flights to Egypt in July, and as a result, we are considering a gradual resumption of international flights beginning towards the end of this month and in the first half of July.

France was the most visited country in the world before the coronavirus pandemic.

While restrictions were previously in place on all nonessential travel from outside the Schengen Zone (a grouping of 26 countries which normally have open borders), the measures are due to be lifted for 15 countries outside of the EU, including Australia, Canada and Japan.

At present all travelers who enter France, with the exception of EU citizens, are subject to a compulsory 14-day quarantine.

UK citizens were previously exempt from this measure. However, this was recently amended in response to the UKs decision to apply its mandatory 14-day quarantine, which isset to be amended soon, to arrivals from France.

Although the government has been slowly lifting lockdown measures, withcar journeys of up to 100 kilometers now allowed and beaches beginning to reopen, officials have previously made it clear the country is in no hurry to ease border restrictions for international travelers.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe recently announced a$19.4 billion stimulus packageto boost Frances ailing tourism sector.

What is good for tourism is often good for France, what strikes tourism strikes France, he said during a news conference.

The countrys hotels, bars, restaurants and cafs were granted permission to reopen on June 2.

Meanwhile, Paris was downgraded from a red zone to a green zone in mid-June and the city has now reopened.

Frances most visited museum, the Louvre, will reopen on July 6.

Tourism is facing what is probably its worst challenge in modern history, added Philippe. Because this is one of the crown jewels of the French economy, rescuing it is a national priority.

He went on to state that residents can take holidays within France during July and August.

The countrys hotels will be reliant on domestic tourism once they do reopen, as all signs suggest international travelers will not be able to enter for the foreseeable future.

When the lockdown measures soften, French tourists are likely to want to stay close to home in the short term, a spokesperson for French hotel chain Accor told CNN Travel earlier this month.

It will be the moment for them to rediscover their own country and we will be there to welcome them.

Georgia was experiencing a tourism boom before the coronavirus pandemic, withfive million travelers visiting in 2019,a 7% increase on the previous year.

But the country was forced to close its winter resorts and place a ban on all foreign visitors back in March because of the crisis.

Eager to revive its tourism sector, the countrys government had previously said it planned to reopen to international travelers on July 1, but this has beenpushed back until July 31due to a rapid increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in the partner and neighboring countries.

Officials have brought in athree-stage anti-crisis plan, which includes a marketing campaign designed to promote Georgia as a safe destination.

The next stage will allow for domestic travel in special safe tourism zones, while the final stage involves reopening borders and resuming some flights.

We are transitioning to the third stage [of Covid-19 response], which means post-crisis management of the economy and devising plans [on] how to kickstart different sectors, Prime MinisterGiorgi Gakharia said at a council meeting focusedon fighting Covid-19.

[The] tourism sector will be first to which emergency relief measures will apply.

The land of poets and thinkers lifted travel restrictions for travelers from 31 different countries on June 15.

The approved destinations included the 26 EU member states, as well as the UK, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The revitalization of tourism is important both for travelers and the German travel industry, as well as for the economic stability of the respective target countries, read a statement from a paper calledCriteria for the Enabling of intra-European Tourism,which was issued last month.

The Austria/Germany land border has also reopened travel between Austria and Germany is possible as of June 15 and restrictions around the country are being relaxed.

Visitors from destinations such as Australia and Canada will also be allowed to enter soon due to the EUs decision to lift restrictions on various countries outside of the bloc.

Bars, restaurants and museums have reopened, while some hotels have begun to resume business.

Chancellor Angela Merkel recently announcedsocial distancing rules would continueuntil at least October.

International direct flights to Greeces many holiday destinations restarted on July 1 for travelers from most of the EU and a list of 14 additional EU-approved countries, with travelers subject only to random checks.

Greece has also extended its travel ban on direct flights from the UK and Sweden until July 15. All information is expected to be updated by mid-July.

The US, Greeces third-largest market, is not included on the EU list. Nearly 2 million Americans visited Greece in 2019. The country has been attracting a growing number of US travelers in recent years and was projected to grow further in 2020.

Russia also failed to make the EU list meaning that Greece will enter its peak season without the three countries that in 2019 accounted for about 20% of its tourism revenue.

Greece is also opening its international ports and some border crossings for the first time since the country imposed a strict lockdown over three months ago.

The country is being hailed as one of the safest destinations for holidaymakers in the Mediterranean this summer with under 200 deaths from Covid-19 and less than 3,500 cases in a population of 11 million.

As part of the measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, international travelers are required to fill in a detailed passenger form. The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) will have to be completed online at least 48 hours before entering the country and includes information such as duration of previous stays in other countries during the two weeks prior to travel, and the address of stay in Greece.

Travelers will receive QR codes based on an algorithm that will calculate those most at risk of spreading a coronavirus infection. Authorities will use the QR code to identify passengers who need to be tested upon arrival, Greeces Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said.

Those tested must quarantine overnight pending results. Those who test positive will be quarantined for up to 14 days.

Travelers from outside the European Union hoping to visit Hungary this summer will have to wait a little longer.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced Thursday that the Central European countrywould only be reopening its bordersto one of the 14 EU-approved safe countries in order to protect the health interests of residents.

Its southern neighbor Serbia, home to a large ethnic Hungarian minority, was the sole non-EU country to make the cut.

The decision came just days after theEUs request for its member states to lift travel restrictionsfor various countries outside the bloc, including China, provided it reciprocates the move, Australia and Japan.

For the time being, with the exception of Serbia, we cant comply with the EUs request that we allow entry to citizens from outside the bloc because that would be contrary to the health interests of the Hungarian people, Orban said in a videoposted on his Facebook page.

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Which international destinations are reopening to tourists? - Wink News

Turning on the Lights for 450000 People in Rural Myanmar – Modern Diplomacy

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What is energy system integration?

Energy system integration refers to the planning and operating of the energy system as a whole, across multiple energy carriers, infrastructures, and consumption sectors. It creates stronger links between them with the objective of delivering low-carbon, reliable and resource-efficient energy services, at the least possible cost for society. Energy system integration is the pathway towards an effective, affordable and deep decarbonisation of the European economy.

The current energy system is still built on parallel and vertical energy value chains, which rigidly link specific energy resources with specific end-use sectors. This model of separate silos cannot deliver a climate neutral economy. It is technically and economically inefficient, and leads to substantial losses in the form of waste heat and low energy efficiency.

The Energy System Integration Strategy sets out a vision on how to accelerate the transition towards a more integrated energy system, in support of clean energy and a climate neutral economy while strengthening energy security, protecting health and the environment, and promoting growth and global industrial leadership.

The Strategy sets out 38 actions to implement the necessary reforms. These include the revision of existing energy legislation, financial support or research and deployment of new technologies and digital tools, guidance to Member States on fiscal measures and phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies, market governance reform and holistic infrastructure planning, and improved information to consumers.

What are the main elements of the strategy?

The strategy is built on three complementary and mutually reinforcing elements:

Finally, the strategy will be pro-consumer, providing clear and easily accessible information on the cleanest solutions and climate-friendly choices in the market, enabling and encouraging smarter and more sustainable energy use. It will rely on an increased use of digitalisation to connect consumers, producers and energy system operators with each other. This will also contribute to the fight against energy poverty.

The strategy lays down concrete policy proposals that the Commission will present over the coming months and years to deliver on these objectives.

Does this strategy help to reach the goals of the European Green Deal?

Yes. Energy production and consumption account for 75% of our greenhouse gas emissions. The energy system is therefore crucial to delivering on the European Green Deals objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. The energy system also underpins our economy and our daily lives. It provides jobs and livelihoods and strengthens European competitiveness and innovation.

Energy sector integration enables to combine decarbonised and renewable energy supply with efficient demand side technologies such as electric motors, heat pumps and fuel cells. Deep greenhouse gas emission reductions can only be reached through a combination of energy efficiency and very high shares of renewable energy. And both energy efficiency and renewables penetration can be facilitated by a more integrated energy system.

A new inter-connected system will be more efficient and circular, capturing and re-using waste energy. It will be cleaner, with increased use of heat and electricity produced from renewable sources applied in efficient demand side applications in industry, transport and heating. And for those sectors where electrification is difficult, the strategy proposes steps to promote cleaner fuels, including sustainable biofuels and biogas, and renewable hydrogen.

All this will contribute to combatting climate change and reach the goals of the European Green Deal while keeping the costs of the energy transition under control, thus contributing to a fair and just transition.

Will the strategy help Europes economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis?

Yes. The strategy will be another building block of the economic recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. The transition to a more integrated energy system is of crucial importance for Europe, now more than ever. The Commissions Next Generation EU recovery plan presented on 27 May 2020 highlights the need to better integrate the energy system, as part of its efforts to unlock investment in key clean technologies and value chains. By relying on greater use of clean and innovative processes and tools, the path towards system integration will also trigger new investments, jobs and growth, and strengthen EU industrial leadership at a global level, contributing to the economic recovery.

Does the strategy continue to support fossil fuels such as gas and coal?

On the contrary, the strategy is a roadmap to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels through 3 levels:

As regards to gas, the strategy proposes a pathway to replace natural gas with sustainable renewable gas and new synthetic gases based on renewable sources such as hydrogen and synthetic methane.

Does the strategy contribute to the goal of a just transition?

The objective of the strategy is to reach our climate objectives at the lowest possible cost for consumers and public budgets. The strategy also proposes to reinforce the role of consumers in driving the transition to a decarbonised, decentralised energy system. Providing clear and easily accessible information will enable citizens to make climate-friendly choices, change energy consumption patterns and be informed about the best technology options available to them.

The strategy also takes advantage of the rapidly decreasing costs of renewable energy across the EU, which results in lower prices for the consumers, increased energy security, and a more inclusive energy system. In addition, this strategy aims at strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy by promoting growth and technological innovation across the whole EU.

Does the strategy respect the energy-efficiency-first principle?

Yes. The energy-efficiency-first principle is at the core of energy system integration. Energy efficiency reduces the overall investment needs and costs associated with energy production, infrastructure and use. It also reduces the related land and materials use, and the associated pollution and biodiversity losses.

Energy system integration can help the EU achieve greater energy efficiency through a more circular use of available resources and by switching to more efficient energy technologies. For example, electric vehicles are much more energy efficient than combustion engines. Applying this energy-efficiency-first principle consistently across the whole energy system will be done by giving priority to demand-side solutions whenever they are more cost effective than investments in energy supply infrastructure in meeting policy objectives.

Other measures will ensure that customers decisions to save, switch or share energy properly reflect the life cycle energy use and footprint of the different energy carriers, including extraction, production and reuse or recycling of raw materials, conversion, transformation, transportation and storage of energy, and the growing share of renewables in electricity supply.

How does the strategy support EU leadership in clean energy technology?

The strategy aims to ensure that the EU fully exploits its head-start and expertise in renewable and smart energy technologies. Specific sectors and value chains that are expected to have a central importance and where the EU is well positioned for global leadership include:

How does the strategy affect the EUs security of energy supply?

The EU is currently importing 58% of its energy needs, mostly in the form of oil and gas. With the clean energy transition, the EU will decrease its dependence on fossil fuels and fossil fuel imports. The Energy system integration strategy will facilitate this process. The EU will consume less energy overall, increasingly rely on domestic renewable resources and gradually diversify its energy imports towards cleaner energy carriers, such as renewable hydrogen. These energy savings, diversification and domestic production will help to build a more resilient European economy.

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Turning on the Lights for 450000 People in Rural Myanmar - Modern Diplomacy

LOOMING FREE FALL: How to save the Naira Experts – Vanguard

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On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, adjusted the value of the Naira to exchange to the dollar at N381, as part of the measures to unify the rate at the foreign exchange spot.

In March, the CBN had adjusted the official exchange rate to N360/$ from N307/$ and abolished the N325 and N330 concessionary rates.

Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, had explained, recently, that the bank was making efforts towards a unification of the multiple exchange rates.

What we mean by exchange rate unification is moving towards NAFEX, he had said.

Only last week, the Economic Sustainability Committee, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also proposed a unified exchange rate to increase FAAC payments to address the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.Economic analysts, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, opined that a cocktail of factors, which include pressure from World Bank and

IMF, alarming depletion of foreign reserves as the Federal Government struggles to meet balance of trade obligations, and especially as the former multiple exchange rates regime created confusion, and deterred foreign investments, influenced the latest CBN policy.

Dr Muda Yusuf, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, said the rate adjustment would impact positively on the remittance to the federation account.

It could also, according to him, marginally reduce the deficit in the budget.

To the LCCI boss, for the few firms that have been able to access forex at official rates, the adjustment would mean an added pressure on costs.

His words, But rate adjustment is not a one directional phenomenon. If supply improves, the rate will appreciate. It is a dynamic thing.

Yusuf explained that multiple exchange rates could be a major source of distortion in the foreign exchange market as they complicate the management of the forex market.

The regime perpetuates a rent economy, creates opportunities for arbitrage, engenders resource misallocation, impedes the inflow of investment, inhibits the inflow of forex, and creates transparency issues in the allocation of forex.

Multiplicity of rates is inimical to sustainable economic diversification and self-reliance as it penalizes domestic production and incentivizes imports.

Yusuf maintained that it is imperative for the exchange rate to reflect the market fundamentals in order to ensure sustainability and promote efficiency in allocation mechanism.

This is also critical for investors confidence. This should however be complemented with appropriate trade policy regime, fiscal policy measures, and institutional strengthening to achieve the objective of heightened self-reliance and economic diversification.

Prof. Ken Ife, Chief Economic Strategist in ECOWAS Commission, said against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has more than halved oil revenue, raising pressure on the currencies of crude oil-dependent economies like Nigeria, the CBN had been forced to move, more so because the inefficiencies and complexity of Nigerias exchange rate system made it prone to corruption.

Ife, also the Co-Chair of European Union Africa Business Task Force, noted that investors and the IMF have said the absence of a single rate creates confusion and deters foreign investment, adding that transition to a simpler, flexible rate is the right step in unpicking the trade-destroying policies that have held back growth in recent years.

Ife explained: Note that crude oil sector provides around 90% of Nigerias foreign exchange earnings and around 70% of its budgetary revenues, thereby helping to boost Nigerias monetary assets and providing the needed ammunition to stabilize the naira.

The CBN stated that it would use all the monetary tools it had to rescue the Nigerian economy from the fallouts of the COVID-19 induced global economic strain and stabilize the naira with some concrete steps it had taken to tackle currency speculators.

This, however, is not without prejudice to what really obtains in the forex market.

To Mr Seye Adetunmbi, Chief Responsibility Officer of Value Investing Limited, the action of the CBN becomes inevitable due to the reality of the pressure on foreign reserves towards meeting the federal balance of trade obligations.

Many factors are responsible for the situation we find ourselves as a nation today. In the first instance Nigeria was far more productive in the 1980s when a dollar exchanged for less than 70 kobo than the prevailing situation in the present setting, Adetunmbi said.

Nigeria is no longer a net exporter of refined petroleum products as it used to be in the 1980s. As a matter of fact, the country has been importing all refined petroleum products we consume for years till now.

Adetunmbi, who is the convener of Capital Market Roundtable in Nigeria, maintained that the solution to the foreign exchange challenges in Nigeria today is a collective responsibility. The country needs a progressive and purpose-driven leadership to pilot the structured solution coupled with a strong political will, he said

The Value Investing boss added that Nigeria needs to rejig the national policy on productivity drive.

What are we producing now and what are we set or planning to produce that will be backed with measurable action?

It becomes imperative to set out clear incentives for local resource-based manufacturing companies.

This will be implemented with a combination of example setting and trade instruments.

There is need for a deliberate national orientation structured to change the consumption culture of Nigerians.

This is not just going to be about food but in all things, by consuming what Nigerians produce and shunning what we do not produce.

Public policy analyst, Mr. Alex Ogundadegbe, said the devaluation of the naira to N381 to $1is long overdue, saying it came as a result on pressure on government by the IMF and World Bank to unify exchange rates in the market as a precondition to receiving loans from the international bodies.

Ogundadegbe explained that with the current economic realities, Nigeria can no longer manage to prop the Naira at the forex market by using income from the oil market to stabilize the currency.

There has been a shift in product levels as well as price of oil from 2.3 million barrels a day (mbd) and $57/b to 1.9mbd and $28/b, the analyst said.

Oil prices might stay below pre-pandemic levels in 202021 because of slowed economic activity and a persistent supply glut, he said.

He added that whichever way it goes, there will be pressure on the Naira henceforth and government might be pushed to allow the Naira to float to market forces.

The implication is that goods imported will cost more because of the exchange rate and therefore become more expensive in the retail markets

Nigeria has been unable to fulfill the conditions which would enable the value of the currency to rise at the exchange rate market.

One of these major conditions is to level the balance of trade, which means Nigeria has to improve on her export of finished goods instead of relying solely on crude oil as an export commodity. The journey to improving Naira could be long and difficult.

Vanguard News Nigeria.

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LOOMING FREE FALL: How to save the Naira, by Yusuf, Ife, Ogundadegbe – Vanguard

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Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor.By Victor Tunde Oso

On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, adjusted the value of the Naira to exchange to the dollar at N381, as part of the measures to unify the rate at the foreign exchange spot.

In March, the CBN had adjusted the official exchange rate to N360/$ from N307/$ and abolished the N325 and N330 concessionary rates.

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, had explained, recently, that the bank was making efforts towards a unification of the multiple exchange rates.

What we mean by exchange rate unification is moving towards NAFEX, he had said.

Only last week, the Economic Sustainability Committee, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also proposed a unified exchange rate to increase FAAC payments to address the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic analysts, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard, opined that a cocktail of factors, which include pressure from World Bank and IMF, alarming depletion of foreign reserves as the Federal Government struggles to meet balance of trade obligations, and especially as the former multiple exchange rates regime created confusion, and deterred foreign investments, influenced the latest CBN policy.

Policy ll boost remittances to federation account Yusuf, LCCI D-G

Dr. Muda Yusuf, the Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI, said the rate adjustment would impact positively on the remittance to the federation account. It could also, according to him, marginally reduce the deficit in the budget.

To the LCCI boss, for the few firms that have been able to access forex at official rates, the adjustment would mean an added pressure on costs.

His words, But rate adjustment is not a one directional phenomenon. If supply improves, the rate will appreciate. It is a dynamic thing.

Yusuf explained that multiple exchange rates could be a major source of distortion in the foreign exchange market as they complicate the management of the forex market.

The regime perpetuates a rent economy, creates opportunities for arbitrage, engenders resource misallocation, impedes the inflow of investment, inhibits the inflow of forex, and creates transparency issues in the allocation of forex.

Multiplicity of rates is inimical to sustainable economic diversification and self-reliance as it penalizes domestic production and incentivizes imports.

Yusuf maintained that it is imperative for the exchange rate to reflect the market fundamentals in order to ensure sustainability and promote efficiency in allocation mechanism.

This is also critical for investors confidence. This should however be complemented with appropriate trade policy regime, fiscal policy measures and institutional strengthening to achieve the objective of heightened self-reliance and economic diversification.

Complexity of exchange rate system prone to corruption Ife, ECOWAS Chief Economic Strategist

Prof. Ken Ife, Chief Economic Strategist in ECOWAS Commission, said against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has more than halved oil revenue, raising pressure on the currencies of crude oil-dependent economies like Nigeria, the CBN had been forced to move, more so because the inefficiencies and complexity of Nigerias exchange rate system made it prone to corruption.

Ife, also the Co-Chair of European Union Africa Business Task Force, noted that investors and the IMF have said the absence of a single rate creates confusion and deters foreign investment, adding that transition to a simpler, flexible rate is the right step in unpicking the trade-destroying policies that have held back growth in recent years.

Ife explained: Note that crude oil sector provides around 90% of Nigerias foreign exchange earnings and around 70% of its budgetary revenues, thereby helping to boost Nigerias monetary assets and providing the needed ammunition to stabilize the naira.

The CBN stated that it would use all the monetary tools it had to rescue the Nigerian economy from the fallouts of the COVID-19 induced global economic strain and stabilize the naira with some concrete steps it had taken to tackle currency speculators.

This however, is not without prejudice to what really obtains in the forex market.

Fast depleting national reserves, reason for devaluation -Adetunmbi, Value Investing boss

To Mr. Seye Adetunmbi, Chief Responsibility Officer of Value Investing Limited, the action of the CBN becomes inevitable due to the reality of the pressure on foreign reserves towards meeting the federal balance of trade obligations.

Many factors are responsible for the situation we find ourselves as a nation today. In the first instance Nigeria was far more productive in the 1980s when a dollar exchanged for less than 70 kobo than the prevailing situation in the present setting, Adetunmbi said.

Nigeria is no longer a net exporter of refined petroleum products as it used to be in the 1980s. As a matter of fact, the country has been importing all refined petroleum products we consume for years till now.

Adetunmbi, who is the convener of Capital Market Roundtable in Nigeria, maintained that the solution to the foreign exchange challenges in Nigeria today is a collective responsibility. The country needs a progressive and purpose-driven leadership to pilot the structured solution coupled with a strong political will, he said

The Value Investing boss added that Nigeria needs to rejig the national policy on productivity drive.

What are we producing now and what are we set or planning to produce that will be backed with measurable action?

It becomes imperative to set out clear incentives for local resource-based manufacturing companies.

This will be implemented with a combination of example setting and trade instruments.

There is need for a deliberate national orientation structured to change the consumption culture of Nigerians.

This is not just going to be about food but in all things, by consuming what Nigerians produce and shunning what we do not produce.

World Bank, IMF influenced policy Ogundadegbe, public policy analyst

Public policy analyst, Mr. Alex Ogundadegbe, said the devaluation of the naira to N381 to $1is long overdue, saying it came as a result on pressure on government by the IMF and World Bank to unify exchange rates in the market as a precondition to receiving loans from the international bodies.

Ogundadegbe explained that with the current economic realities, Nigeria can no longer manage to prop the Naira at the forex market by using income from the oil market to stabilize the currency.

There has been a shift in product levels as well as price of oil from 2.3 million barrels a day (mbd) and $57/b to 1.9mbd and $28/b, the analyst said.

Oil prices might stay below pre-pandemic levels in 202021 because of slowed economic activity and a persistent supply glut, he said.

He added that whichever way it goes, there will be pressure on the Naira henceforth and government might be pushed to allow the Naira to float to market forces.

The implication is that goods imported will cost more because of the exchange rate and therefore become more expensive in the retail markets

Nigeria has been unable to fulfill the conditions which would enable the value of the currency to rise at the exchange rate market.

One of these major conditions is to level the balance of trade, which means Nigeria has to improve on her export of finished goods instead of relying solely on crude oil as an export commodity. The journey to improving the Naira could be long and difficult.

Vanguard

Related

Link:

LOOMING FREE FALL: How to save the Naira, by Yusuf, Ife, Ogundadegbe - Vanguard

ASEAN delves into economics of conserving biodiversity – Philippine Information Agency

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QUEZON CITY, July 9 -- Biodiverse areas produce ecosystem services that are indispensable to economic and social development. Assessing them informs decision-makers better about the value and priorities for conserving natural capital.

Newly released policy briefs of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), in collaboration with the European Union under the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in ASEAN (BCAMP) project, underscore the need to address knowledge and research gaps in ecosystems services valuation in ASEAN Member States.

The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Assessment and Economic Analysis for Management, Policy and Innovative Financing Applications (BESA++) policy briefs present the results of national and site-level stock-taking activities conducted in five ASEAN Member States, namely, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, as part of the interventions of the BCAMP project. These activities assessed the existing knowledge and awareness of protected area managers and policymakers and managers, on BESA and other economic analysis applications in biodiversity conservation.

Knowing the full and true economic value of ecosystem services will help decision-makers arrive at win-win solutions both for the economy and the environment. This knowledge provides a deeper understanding of what a nation stands to lose from activities that alter, if not destroy, natural ecosystems, ACB Executive Director Theresa Mundita Lim said.

Consultation workshops on the results of the stocktaking activities in the five ASEAN Member States were held from July to September 2019 to gather inputs from the government, academic institutions, and nongovernment organisations.

Wealth of research data

In Thailand, data and information have been used to support studies addressing specific policy issues, the BESA++ brief said.

A 2019 mangrove study,[1] for example, looked into the changes in land use and mangrove coverage using the baseline data of Thailands Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). Opportunity costs of conserving mangroves, or the costs incurred when mangroves are not conserved, were also analysed based on the land price data from Thailands Department of Treasury.

Results of the study helped determine the effectiveness of preventing the conversion of mangroves to alternative uses.

While there is a wealth of data and studies, the policy brief noted that researchers and protected area managers and policymakers must closely collaborate to maximise the uptake of existing research.

Research results can be used to inform more realistic conservation, sustainable development planning, and target setting, the brief said.

Thailand has a combined 107,290.35 square kilometres of protected areas, equivalent to 21 per cent of the total land area of the country.

Role in establishing protected areas

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, valuation studies have been used to support the establishment of new state parks, such as the case of the establishment of the Selangor State Park, which is the third largest in Peninsular Malaysia, covering 108,000 hectares.

Established as a state park in 2007 under the National Forestry Act Enactment 2005 of Selangor, and managed by the Forestry Department of Selangor, this natural forested area protects some of Selangors most vital resources.

Prior to the parks establishment, various uses of the forest areas were valued, and a trade-off analysis between protective forest reserve, particularly as water catchment functions, versus production forest reserve options, was undertaken.

While there are many studies on value estimates of ecosystem services in protected areas, few of them have led to substantial increases in the rates for the enjoyment of these services, or the sharing of excess profits among natural resource-based producers, the government, and communities.

For instance, despite consumers willingness to pay higher rates, prescribed entrance fees in protected areas have not increased. Other factors, however, come into play, such as the approval process for raising fees in forest recreational areas at the state government level.

Malaysia has established networks of both terrestrial and marine protected areas with a total size of 5.87 million hectares to conserve nationally and globally significant biodiversity.

Wider scope of assessment

The policy brief on the Philippines noted that ecosystem services assessments conducted in the country are narrow in breadth and indicate a limited capacity at the protected area level.

Based on the review of 768 publications in the Philippines, studies were found to be disposed towards resource use assessment and recreation services. The published studies mostly considered a few ecosystem services instead of the ideal system-wide approach of looking into multiple uses and assessing their trade-offs.

Recent development of tools for ecosystem services accounting should now provide the basis for protected area managers to start accounting for these various ecosystem services, it said.

According to the policy brief, capacity building in the use of these tools should be undertaken in collaboration with academic institutions, which are in a better position to invest in training their constituents and establish information systems.

The Philippines has 526 identified protected areas, of which 240 covering 7.15 million hectares are managed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The rest are under different types of authority and management.

Knowledge, capacity gaps

Assessments in the five ASEAN Member States showed key actors working to improve management and financing of protected areas have limited knowledge on ecosystem services valuation, economic analysis, and innovative financing mechanisms.

In the Philippines, an online survey for protected area managers, researchers, government officers, and faculty and staff of academic institutions, yielded a low response rate due to the lack of knowledge on the topics presented. Of the 317 potential respondents, 37 participated in the survey. The overall knowledge and skill on ecosystems valuation was found to be below that of a novice.

Similarly, results of a survey conducted in Cambodia showed most of the respondents are either novices (35 to 46%) or have no knowledge (31 to 36%) on ecosystem services measurement and accounting.

More than 50 per cent of the government officers in the survey expressed the need to understand how to account for and value cultural, provisioning, and supporting services of ecosystems. Government officers also expressed the need for training on conservation financing, especially on regulatory instruments of financing and fiscal financing.

The researcher respondents, on the other hand, said that greater knowledge on the standardised methodologies and approaches is required.

Cambodia has a large remaining expanse of tropical forests, and its system of protected areas and corridors covers 42 per cent of the country.

According to the Lao PDR policy brief, on the other hand, insufficient knowledge and skills on assessing economic values of biodiversity and ecosystem services were one of the most important factors accounting for the loss of forestry resources and biodiversity.

Lao PDR has rich forest resources and biodiversity, with one of the highest proportions of forest cover in Southeast Asia.

In a similar survey, most Lao respondents indicated that they have limited knowledge and skills on BESA, including baseline inventory and species-specific, change, indicator, and resource assessment.

Lao respondents have some knowledge and skills in provisioning services and the estimation of their market price, but little on regulating, cultural, and habitat services. They also said they possess some knowledge and skills in conservation financing. However, most lack experience in developing financing mechanisms.

Commenting on the BESA++ briefs, Enrico Strampelli, Head of Cooperation for the EU delegation in the Philippines, said: The true value of biodiversity and ecosystem services to the wealth of a nation and to the well-being of future generations is often overlooked by decision makers, or underestimated against immediate economic interests. In the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, we know, now more than ever, what could be the final price to pay for forest degradation and wildlife trafficking.

Lim said the ACB will consider the recommendations from the BESA++ policy briefs in its future policy actions with ASEAN Member States.

What is common in the reports is the need to improve the competency and skills in valuing biodiversity and ecosystem services, and effective communication of data and information to policymakers and stakeholders, Lim said.

To download all BESA++ policy briefs, click this link: https://bit.ly/3f9qxGI. (ACB)

##

[1] Nabangchang, O. and Vincent, J.R. (2019). The Economic Value of Mangroves Ecosystem in Thailand. [A study commissioned by the Thailand Research Fund].

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ASEAN delves into economics of conserving biodiversity - Philippine Information Agency

U.S. Tech Giants Pause Responses To Hong Kong Requests …

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Facebook, WhatsApp, and Google said Monday they have paused their processing of requests for user data from Hong Kong law enforcement agencies, days after Beijings controversial new national security law came into force in the territory.

WhatsApp is pausing reviews pending further assessment of the impact of the National Security Law, including formal human-rights due diligence and consultations with human-rights experts, a WhatsApp spokeswoman said.

Facebook, WhatsApps parent company, said that it had done the same, citing the companys belief in the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions.

Twitter also said in a statement that it had suspended such requests since last week. Like many public interest organizations, civil society leaders and entities, and industry peers, we have grave concerns regarding both the developing process and the full intention of this law, it said.

A Google spokesperson said that the firm had paused production on any new data requests from Hong Kong authorities and would continue to review the details of the new law.

Although Facebook, its products Whatsapp and Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Google generate ad revenue from China, they are all blocked in the country, where authorities shutter any online platform where they do not have ultimate control of content. They have, however, historically been openly accessible in Hong Kong, which has so far existed outside of mainlands Great Firewall.

But Hong Kong is facing a series of unknowns since the July 1 enactment of the new national security law, which has been met by unprecedented concerns about the future for freedom of speech in the financial hub.

The U.S. tech companies could end up in a clash with Beijing as China seeks to impose greater controls on Hong Kongs Internet space through this new legislation.

The new law criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers in sweepingly broad terms. The rules give authorities the ability to investigate, prosecute and punish locals and foreigners alike for anything that seems to promote subversion or incite hatred of the Chinese regime.

It also states the officials may ask the publisher, platform, host or network service provider of any electronic messages that endanger national security to remove or restrict access to them. Failure to comply can lead to fines and a year in prison.

In a transparency report for July to December of last year, Facebook said that it had received 241 information requests on 257 users or accounts from Hong Kong authorities, and had provided some data in 46% of those cases.

Chat apps that have made a name for themselves offering greater levels of encryption and security have also chimed in on the matter. London-based Telegram was the first to state that it did not intent to process Hong Kong data requests.

Meanwhile, encrypted chat app Signal, popular with Chinese dissidents and Hong Kong protestors, owned it peers: Wed announce that were stopping too, but we never started turning over user data to the HK police. Also, we dont have user data to turn over.

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TikTok ban: Facebook, tech companies benefit from US …

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On Friday, Amazon informed employees that buzzy app TikTok is a security risk and they needed to delete it immediately, only to row back on that message hours later, saying it was "sent in error."

The full story behind Amazon's perplexing about-face isn't yet clear. But it's reflective of a growing distrust in American political circles of Chinese-owned technology firms a distrust that America's homegrown tech giants are trying to harness to their own advantage to stave off the looming specter of regulation.

Over the past few years, public and political scrutiny of major US tech firms like Facebook, Google, and Amazon has steadily heightened, fed by a seemingly unending string of scandals and an increased recognition of the companies' extraordinary size and market power.

They now face varying calls for regulation from both the left and the right: from reform of Section 230, the law that underpins content moderation online, to calls for aggressive antitrust action that will tear the companies into their constituent parts.

This criticism has taken place against the backdrop of a nationalist Trump White House that is, rhetorically at least, aggressively challenging China. Big tech has been quick to leap on this in their defence. Take a speech from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about "free expression" in October 2019:

"This raises a larger question about the future of the global internet. China is building its own internet focused on very different values, and is now exporting their vision of the internet to other countries. Until recently, the internet in almost every country outside China has been defined by American platforms with strong free expression values. There's no guarantee these values will win out. A decade ago, almost all of the major internet platforms were American. Today, six of the top ten are Chinese.

"We're beginning to see this in social media. While our services, like WhatsApp, are used by protesters and activists everywhere due to strong encryption and privacy protections, on TikTok, the Chinese app growing quickly around the world, mentions of these protests are censored, even in the US.

"Is that the internet we want?"

Zuckerberg presents the contemporary internet as a modern-day clash of civilizations: A struggle between the enlightened, freedom-loving West and censorious China. And that's a warning to policy makers: Regulate us too much, and the Communists might win.

He's not wrong about China, of course: It's a totalitarian regime that stifles freedom of speech and locks people up in concentration camps by the hundreds of thousands.

Now, the targeting of TikTok indicates the argument is gaining ground, to the benefit of America's homegrown tech firms.

Trump, who has been railing against Chinese telecom giant Huawei for years, is now turning his ire on TikTok, with reports swirling that the White House plans to attempt to ban the app in the US over purported security concerns. After the Amazon news first broke (and before it recanted), Republican Senator Josh Hawley wrote that "now the whole federal government should follow suit" in banning it from their employees' phones.

And, although Amazon walked back its ban, at least one other big American company has banned TikTok for employees: Wells Fargo, as The Information reported on Friday afternoon.

Big tech companies benefit from this in an immediate way: If the US government bans foreign competitors, it means American tech companies, to state the obvious, have less competition.

But it also illustrates that arguments like Zuckerberg's are effective, and that even nominal critics of American tech firms like Hawley are still keen to see decisive action taken against outside companies that might encroach on their turf. That fear can be leveraged to try to ward off regulation that's overly onerous or damaging to the American technology companies' interests lest the Communists win.

Got a tip? Contact Business Insider reporter Rob Price via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 650-636-6268), encrypted email (robaeprice@protonmail.com), standard email (rprice@businessinsider.com), Telegram/Wickr/WeChat (robaeprice), orTwitter DM (@robaeprice). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by standard email only, please.

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FYI: You do all know that America’s tech giants, even …

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Despite all those protests, internal and external, by tech workers against their employers' selling AI to the US military, the Pentagons Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) this week said the biggest names in IT are lining up to supply Uncle Sam.

Founded in 2018, the JAIC focuses on deploying machine-learning systems to support America's armed forces. It invests in all sorts of applications and platforms, from internal private clouds to drones.

Nand Mulchandani, who took over as acting director of the organization after Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan retired in June, told reporters in a briefing on Wednesday that the center has major contracts with all the major tech companies including Google.

The acting director singled out the search giant presumably to highlight what he saw as a bout of hypocrisy by Google, which made a big play about not helping Uncle Sam develop instruments of death yet still provides tech services on the down-low.

In 2018, CEO Sundar Pichai pulled Google out Project Maven a contract to provide the US military object-tracking AI to analyze drone surveillance footage after a revolt by Googlers. Soon after, the chief exec publicly declared Google wouldn't, among other things, "design or deploy ... technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm" nor "weapons or other technologies whose principal purpose or implementation is to cause or directly facilitate injury to people."

Later that year, Pichai also withdrew the web corp's bid for the Pentagon's $10bn winner-takes-all Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract because it did not align with his company's values. An inability to gain the certification needed to offer cloud services to the military was also a little tiny roadblock, as was its fear of publicly losing out to Amazon or Microsoft. But in any case Google spun itself as a lofty pacifist and definitely not a digital arms manufacturer, and so it wasn't going to get involved in this sort of stuff again.

Mulchandani, however, painted a different picture: the JAICs bonds with massive tech corps were only getting stronger no matter the protests and promises from Silicon Valley techies and executives, he claimed. Some of these technology suppliers may be working directly with the government, and some through a network of subcontractors. Some giants, particularly Microsoft, are outwardly proud to serve the US military, technology-wise.

A study by Tech Inquiry, an investigative nonprofit led by an ex-Googler, revealed Google as well as Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Nvidia, Dell, HP, IBM, Twitter, Palantir, and others, supply the Department of Defense and the Feds with technology one way or another. For example, Google's G Suite is used by the Navy and FBI, we see.

Tech Inquiry's Jack Poulson noted: "On balance, Google's position became supporting the DoD's cloud and cybersecurity while avoiding direct contributions to weapons systems."

As for the JAIC, it takes an interest in things like the role of machine learning in warfighting operations, warfighter health, logistics, and information warfare. Mulchandani said that most of the organization's budget is funneled into warfighting operations. It is true that many of our products we work on now will go into weapon systems, he said.

But he was quick to insist none of those systems were autonomous: humans still give the final commands, we understand. In other words, the center isnt building killer robots or weapons that decide solely whether someone lives or dies. Its such an outer edge case," he said. "We are nowhere near that in a platforms, hardware, software, or algorithms perspective to even get near that.

Another controversial area that the JAIC said it wasnt involved in is facial recognition. Mulchandani acknowledged that other countries, such as China and Russia, are more ready to deploy this sort of tech compared to his operation. [Were] not behind, its just that we dont build [those systems]. We dont build surveillance and censorship technologies, he insisted.

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facebook: US tech giants face hard choices under Hong Kong …

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US tech giants face a reckoning over how Hong Kong's security law will reshape their businesses, with their suspension of processing government requests for user data a stop-gap measure as they weigh options, people close to the industry say.

While Hong Kong is not a significant market for firms such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, they have used it as a perch to reach deep-pocketed advertisers in mainland China, where many of their services are blocked.

But the companies are now in the cross hairs of a national security law that gives China authority to demand that they turn over user data or censor content seen to violate the law - even when posted from abroad.

"These companies have to totally reassess the liability of having a presence in Hong Kong," Charles Mok, a legislator who represents the technology industry in Hong Kong, told Reuters.

If they refuse to cooperate with government requests, he said, authorities "could go after them and take them to court and fine them, or imprison their principals in Hong Kong".

Facebook, Google and Twitter have suspended processing government requests for user data in Hong Kong, they said on Monday, following China's imposition of the new national security law on the semi-autonomous city.

Facebook, which started operating in Hong Kong in 2010, last year opened a big new office in the city.

It sells more than $5 billion a year worth of ad space to Chinese businesses and government agencies looking to promote messages abroad, Reuters reported in January. That makes China Facebook's biggest country for revenue after the United States.

The U.S. internet firms are no strangers to governments demands regarding content and user information, and generally say they are bound by local laws.

The companies have often used a technique known as "geo-blocking" to restrict content in a particular country without removing it altogether.

But the sweeping language of Hong Kong's new law could mean such measures won't be enough. Authorities will no longer need to get court orders before requesting assistance or information, analysts said.

Requests for data about overseas users would put the companies in an especially tough spot.

"It's a global law ... if they comply with national security law in Hong Kong then there is the problem that they may violate laws in other countries," said Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of Hong Kong's Information Technology Federation.

CONTENT QUESTION

While the U.S. social media services are blocked in mainland China, they have operated freely in Hong Kong.

Other U.S. internet platforms are also rich with content that is banned in mainland China and may now be judged illegal in Hong Kong.

U.S. video streaming site Netflix, for example, carries "Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower", a 2017 documentary on activist Joshua Wong whose books were removed from Hong Kong public libraries last week.

"Ten Years", a 2015 film that has been criticised by Chinese state media for portraying a dystopian future Hong Kong under Chinese Communist Party control, is also available on its platform.

Netflix declined to comment.

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Infographic: How the Tech Giants Make Their Billions

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No matter where in the world you log in fromSilicon Valley, London, and beyondCOVID-19 has triggered a mass exodus from traditional office life. Now that the lucky among us have settled into remote work, many are left wondering if this massive, inadvertent work-from-home experiment will change work for good.

In the following charts, we feature data from a comprehensive survey conducted by UK-based startup network Founders Forum, in which hundreds of founders and their teams revealed their experiences of remote work and their plans for a post-pandemic future.

While the future remains a blank page, its clear that hundreds of startups have no plans to hit backspace on remote work.

Based primarily in the UK, almost half of the survey participants were founders, and nearly a quarter were managers below the C-suite.

Prior to pandemic-related lockdowns, 94% of those surveyed had worked from an external office. Despite their brick-and-mortar setup, more than 90% were able to accomplish the majority of their work remotely.

Gen X and Millennials made up most of the survey contingent, with nearly 80% of respondents with ages between 26-50, and 40% in the 31-40 age bracket.

From improved work-life balance and productivity levels to reduced formal teamwork, these entrepreneurs flagged some bold truths about whats working and whats not.

If history has taught us anything, its that world events have the potential to cause permanent mass change, like 9/11s lasting impact on airport security.

Although most survey respondents had plans to be back in the office within six months, those startups are rethinking their remote work policies as a direct result of COVID-19.

How might that play out in a post-pandemic world?

Based on the startup responses, a realistic post-pandemic work scenario could involve 3 to 5 days of remote work a week, with a couple dedicated in-office days for the entire team.

Upwards of 92% of respondents said they wanted the option to work from home in some capacity.

Its important to stay open to learning and experimenting with new ways of working. The current pandemic has only accelerated this process.Well see the other side of this crisis, and Im confident it will be brighter.

Evgeny Shadchnev, CEO, Makers Academy

Working from home hasnt slowed down these startupsin fact, it may have improved overall productivity in many cases.

More than half of the respondents were more productive from home, and 55% also reported working longer hours.

Blurred lines, however, raised some concerns.

From chores and rowdy children to extended hours, working from home often makes it difficult to compartmentalize. As a result, employers and employees may have to draw firmer lines between work and home in their remote policies, especially in the long term.

Although the benefits appear to outweigh the concerns, these issues pose important questions about our increasingly remote future.

To uncover some work-from-home easter eggs (Better for exercise. MUCH more pleasant environment), we grouped nearly 400 open-ended questions according to sentiment and revealed some interesting patterns.

From serendipitous encounters and beers with colleagues to more formal teamwork, an overwhelming number of the respondents missed the camaraderie of team interactions.

It was clear startups did not miss the hours spent commuting every day. During the pandemic, those hours have been replaced by family time, work, or other activities like cooking healthy meals and working out.

Remote working has been great for getting us through lockdownbut truly creative work needs the magic of face to face interaction, not endless Zoom calls. Without the serendipity and chemistry of real-world encounters, the world will be a far less creative place.

Rohan Silva, CEO, Second Home

This pandemic has delivered a new normal thats simultaneously challenging and revealing. For now, it looks like a new way of working is being coded into our collective software.

What becomes of the beloved open-office plan in a pandemic-prepped world remains to be seen, but if these startups are any indication, work-life may have changed for good.

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Infographic: How the Tech Giants Make Their Billions

US tech giants halt Hong Kong police help TechCrunch

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Facebook and Twitter have confirmed they have suspended processing demands for user data from Hong Kong authorities following the introduction of a new Beijing-imposed national security law.

A spokesperson for Facebook told TechCrunch it will pause the processing of data demands until it can better understand the new national security law, including formal human rights due diligence and consultations with human rights experts. The spokesperson added: We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and support the right of people to express themselves without fear for their safety or other repercussions.

Facebook said its suspension will also apply to WhatsApp, which it owns.

News of the suspension was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Soon after, Twitter also confirmed it followed suit. Given the rapid pace at which the new National Security Law in China has been passed and that it was only published in its entirety for the first time last week, our teams are reviewing the law to assess its implications, particularly as some of the terms of the law are vague and without clear definition, said a Twitter spokesperson.

Like many public interest organizations, civil society leaders and entities, and industry peers, we have grave concerns regarding both the developing process and the full intention of this law, the spokesperson said.

Twitter said it suspended transfers of user data subject to Hong Kong demands immediately after the law went into effect.

Google, Microsoft, and Telegram also said Monday that it will no longer process data requests from Hong Kong authorities.

Tech giants have long seen Hong Kong as a friendly outpost in Asia as a semi-independent city nation state, albeit under the control of Beijing under its one country, two systems principles. Hong Kong has far greater freedoms from mainland China, where government surveillance and censorship are widespread.

But the new national security law, imposed unilaterally by the Chinese government on June 30, effectively undermines any protections Hong Kong nationals had. The law removes provisions for authorities to require a court order before it can demand data from internet companies, like Facebook and Twitter.

One industry leader, who chairs the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association, said internet providers would have little choice but to comply with the new law.

The move is likely to put Silicon Valley tech giants and other companies that follow in their footsteps on notice with Beijing, which already has sweeping bans against some Western tech giants, including both Facebook and Twitter, on the mainland. WhatsApp is highly popular in Hong Kong, alongside Telegram and WeChat.

Updated with comment from Twitter, and later to include Microsoft and Google.

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US tech giants halt Hong Kong police help TechCrunch

This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through July 11) – Singularity Hub

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GENETICS

This Company Wants to Rewrite the Future of Genetic DiseaseMegan Molteni | WiredTessera has spent the past two years developing a new class of molecular manipulators capable of doing lots of things CRISPR can doand some that it cant, including precisely plugging in long stretches of DNA. Its not gene editing, says von Maltzahn. Its gene writing.

A Bird? A Plane? No, Its a Google Balloon Beaming the InternetAbdi Lahif Dahir | The New York TimesA fleet of high-altitude balloons started delivering internet service to Kenya on Tuesday, extending online access to tens of thousands of people in the first-ever commercial deployment of the technology.

Fading Light: The Story of Magic Leaps Lost Mixed Reality Magnum OpusAdi Robertson | The VergeInside the company, though, a few dozen developers were building what they describe as one of Magic Leaps most exciting projects. Its calledThe Last Light: an interactive story about a young woman dealing with the death of her grandmother, designed to show the storytelling potential of mixed reality. And crucially, its creators say its finishedbut they arent sure if anyone will ever see it.

Augmented Reality Heads-Up Displays for Cars Are Finally a Real ThingJonathan M. Gitlin | Ars TechnicaAs you can see, it fuses various sensor inputs from the vehicle like the forward-looking radar as well as optical sensors to alert or inform the driver. That information could be the distance to a car youre following, or markers delineating the edge of the road in low-light situations, or navigation help via directional arrows that work a bit like the optimal racing line overlay in games like Forza.

Astronomers Are Uncovering the Magnetic Soul of the UniverseNatalie Wolchover | WiredTwenty years ago, astronomers started to detect magnetism permeating entire galaxy clusters, including the space between one galaxy and the next. Last year, astronomers finally managed to examine a far sparser region of spacethe expanse between galaxy clusters. There, they discovered the largest magnetic field yet: 10 million light-years of magnetized space spanning the entire length of this filament of the cosmic web.

The Tech Giants Invisible HelpersShira Ovide | The New York Timesone of the underappreciated ways that todays technology superpowers like Google and Amazon stay superpowers is their mastery of all the boring stuff that makes the internet possible. This is the kind of advantage the tech superpowers have that is hard forgovernments to break apart or for rivals to compete with. The tech giants fingerprints, brain power and dollars are all over the invisible backbone of the global internet.

Facebook Weighs Banning Political Ads Before the 2020 ElectionJoe Berkowitz | Fast CompanyWhile the ban is only being discussed at this point, asBloombergpoints out, some within Facebook are concerned that an ad blackout may harm voter registration and motivation campaigns, or limit candidates non-ad messaging. However, pre-election blackouts on Facebook are not without precedent: theyre a fixture in other countries, including the U.K.Quote.

NASA Unveils New Rules to Protect the Moon and Mars From Earth GermsChelsea Gohd | Space.comIt is important, the NASA chief explained, that future missions leave behind a pristine environment so we have the ability to know that what we discover in the future was not something that was left there by us We have to make sure that we are inventorying every kind of biological substance and even nonbiological substanceorganics for example that could leave something behind on the moon that could be problematic for future research.

Its an Incredible Experiment: Banning Cars in Cities Stirs Controversyand Has Mixed ResultsNate Berg | Fast CompanyThe converted streets quickly become part of peoples lives, with families having outdoor meals, older residents meeting in the mornings for coffee, and even indoor chores such as folding laundry moving out into the social space. Some are even becoming permanent. One street, which is in front of a school, now prohibits car traffic. In another neighborhood, residents are planning a Living Street explicitly for the purpose of seeing how a permanent closure would affect the area.

Image credit: Kasper Rasmussen /Unsplash

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This Week's Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through July 11) - Singularity Hub

Silicon Valley giants have thousands of US military contracts – E&T Magazine

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Research published by non-profit Tech Inquiry has revealed the extent of the relationship between Silicon Valley and US military and law enforcement, with Microsoft alone having 5,000 previously unreported subcontracts with law enforcement.

The contracts were found through open records requests filed by Tech Inquiry director and former Google researcher Dr Jack Poulson, who resigned following efforts to pressure the company to drop 'Project Dragonfly', which involved developing a heavily-censored version of its search engine for the Chinese market.

Around the same time, reports revealed that Google was building AI surveillance tools for Pentagon drones; a series of employee resignations forced Google to agree not to renew its contract. Employees have been involved in similar protests at Amazon and Microsoft over contracts with the military and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Both Amazon and Microsoft have resisted pressure to drop their contacts with ICE.

Tech Inquiry revealed in its report that the connections between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon run deeper than many people - including many rank-and-file employees - previously knew. The investigation showed that tech giants including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Dell, IBM, HP and Facebook have secured more than 5,000 agreements with US military and law enforcement agencies.

Tech Inquiry analysed more than 30 million government contracts signed or updated in the past five years. It found that the majority of agreements with consumer tech companies involved subcontracts, largely for services such as cloud computing, data processing and app support for which traditional military contractors may lack the capabilities.

These agreements can involve a network of subcontractors, making it difficult to see what services each company is providing.

In an interview with NBC, Poulson explained: Often the high-level contract description between tech companies and the military looks very vanilla and mundane. Only when you look at the details of the contract, which you can only get through [FOI] requests, do you see the workings of how the customisation from a tech company would actually be involved.

Microsoft alone has over 5,000 subcontracts with law enforcement agencies signed or updated since 2016. Amazon has more than 350 similar agreements, whileGoogle has more than 250.

Tech Inquiry wrote: Our analysis shows a diversity of contracting postures, not a systemic divide from Washington. Within a substantial list of namebrand tech companies, only Facebook, Apple and Twitter look to be staying out of major military and law enforcement contracts.

In a statement, a Google Cloud spokesperson said: We remain committed to partnering with the government on projects that are consistent with our terms of service, acceptable use policies and AI Principles.

A Department of Defense spokesperson told NBC News: We partner with organisations across [the department] from the services and components to combatant commands and defense agencies to rapidly prototype, deliver and scale advanced commercial solutions that save lives, inspire new operational concepts, increase efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.

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Silicon Valley giants have thousands of US military contracts - E&T Magazine

Tech giants: From the basement to world domination – KnowTechie

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Over recent years, many people have decided to start their own business, and many have done so within the tech industry. In todays digital age, technology has become a pivotal part of our lives, and those providing tech goods and services can expect a high level of success. This is why starting a tech company can be so rewarding and exciting.

Of course, many tech companies have been started over the years, and some have become huge household names all around the world. Whats surprising is that many of these huge world dominators were once just basement tech startup companies, where the founders operated the business from a basement while they were building it up. You will be amazed at the companies that started life in a basement, and in this article, we will run through some of the top ones.

As this infographic below shows, there are lots of huge tech giants that started their life in a basement and have gone on to achieve global domination in the world of tech. So, lets take a look at some of the big players that went from basement to world domination:

Amazon

When it comes to global domination, Amazon has completely nailed it. This is a company that is known around the world and is now worth $1 trillion, making its founder Jeff Bezos avery wealthy man indeed. However, life wasnt always like this, and when Bezos started, he was working from a double garage. He then upgraded to a basement warehouse with a few employees, and the rest is history. This is one huge success story about a company that began life in a garage and a basement.

FreshBooks

When it comes to FreshBooks accounting software, there are huge numbers of individuals and businesses that rely on it. However, there was a time when the founder of this software was relegated to the basement at his parents house where he managed to bring in just $100 or so a month after two years. However, he stayed in that basement for more than three years and continue to drive his company forward. Today, invoices are paid to the tune of $8 billion a year by users of the software.

Virgin Group

With the wide range of goods and services available, Virgin is known the world over. Among its offerings are tech products such services including broadband and mobile phones. When Sir Richard Branson started out at 16, he was working from a basement and it wasnt even his own basement. Fast forward to the present time, and Virgin has become a world dominator and is valued at close to $5 billion.

There are various other huge tech companies that started out in a basement such as Qualtrics and Epic Games, to name but a couple. It goes to show that just because you start your tech company in a basement, it does not mean you cannot achieve huge success.

Tech and Other Successful Companies That Started in Parents Basements Created By: JES

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to ourTwitterorFacebook.

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Tech giants: From the basement to world domination - KnowTechie

Kudos to TikTok, tech brethren; Starbucks & Luckin have us soured on coffee cos. – Compliance Week

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Nailed It

TikTok: The short-video platform downloaded by hundreds of millions around the world announced it was pulling its app out of Hong Kong amid concerns about a new national security law imposed by Chinese rule regarding handing over user data. The move is notable because TikToks parent company is based in China. Its a win for personal privacy in an area of the world thats seeing that civil right quickly receding. Dave Lefort

U.S. tech giants: Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Microsoft were among the other notable companies announcing they would suspend compliance with Chinese government requests for user data in Hong Kong. Dave Lefort

Adidas: The athletic apparel company has vowed to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace and invest more in career-advancement opportunities for its Black employees. At least its acknowledging it needs to improve in this area. The question now is whether it stays true to its word. Jaclyn Jaeger

Facebook boycotters: As of July 9, over 1,000 businesses (listed here on this public Google doc) have put their money where their mouth is and stopped advertising on Facebook. The advertisers are united in putting principles over profits in calling for the social media behemoth to make a more concerted effort to remove racist material and hate speech from its platform. Dave Lefort

FedEx: When the package delivery company that owns the naming rights for the NFLs Washington Redskins Stadium joined the chorus pushing owner Dan Snyder to rename the team from the Native American epithet, the billionaire finally buckled, launching a review of the name. Other sports teams like the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Chiefs would do well to follow the ethical lead of Quaker Oats (Aunt Jemima), Dreyers Grand Ice Cream (Eskimo Pie), and Mars (Uncle Ben) in reimagining the marketing of products with racist imagery and history. Its time. Aaron Nicodemus

EY: The Big Four firm is giving its employees the bonus of education. The auditing giant has partnered with Hult International Business School on an online free MBA program that will be available to all EY employees across the globe. DeAnn Orie

Wirecard: Already up to its ears in fraud allegations in Germany (to the tune of $2 billion), the payment company now reportedly finds itself under investigation in the United States for an alleged $100 million bank-fraud conspiracy connected to an online marijuana marketplace. Dave Lefort

Starbucks: The coffee chain banned employees from wearing Black Lives Matter apparel, saying it could amplify divisiveness. When an internal memo about it went public in June, people were outraged, and days later the company reversed the ban and declared it would provide 250,000 Starbucks-branded BLM shirts for employees. Thats great, but where do you really stand, Starbucks, when no one is looking? Aly McDevitt

Luckin Coffee: If you cant trust the China-based coffee retailer not to fabricate revenue, how can you believe the companys chairman when he insists a controversial shareholder vote to determine Luckins future was on the level? The results of that decisive vote have yet to be announced amid objections about how the votes were tallied. Unsurprisingly, theres been little transparency into the process. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice Dave Lefort

Instacart: The grocery delivery service has become quite successful during the pandemic, but reports say the company has not extended that success to its shoppers, or gig workers. DeAnn Orie

Deutsche Bank: We seriously question the sincerity of the banks CEO, even after the $150 million settlement with the NYDFS. When the CEO sends a letter to employees with just the briefest of remarks about being sorry for doing business with Jeffrey Epstein and then spends two pages talking to employees about getting back to business, thats a HUGE red flag that leadership puts ethics and integrity on the back burner. The bank will be in the news again for more unethical conduct in the future. We guarantee. Jaclyn Jaeger

Massachusetts General Brigham: The states largest network of hospitals isrewarding its frontline workers byfreezing pay for thousands andsuspending contributions to retirement plans after losing $800 million in revenue during the pandemic. Any employee earning $26.50 per hour or more will be impacted.What a nice way to say thank you to the caregivers and support staff whove puttheir lives on the line every day.Aly McDevitt

PPP loan program: The Treasury Department did the right thing by making public the recipients of larger PPP loans, but that doesnt come close to forgiving how much of a mess the program has been. Poorly worded parameters resulted in numerous public companies being able to take advantage of the funds for small businesses, some receiving loans of up to $10 million. It might anger many to see Kanye Wests clothing and sneaker brand Yeezy receive a loan between $2 million and $5 million when West is worth $1.3 billion (according to Forbes), but dont hate the playerhate the game. Kyle Brasseur

Elon Musk: In 2018, the SEC charged the Tesla CEO of exaggerating a claim of funding secured when he was attempting to take the firm private. To settle, Musk stepped down as chairman of the board. and he and the company were fined $20 million. Since Musk didnt want the firm to pay for his mistake, he bought $20 million worth of Tesla shares. This week, Teslas stock closed at $1,371 per share, making Musks initial investment more than $97 million a profit, even after his own fine, of more than $50 million. DeAnn Orie

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Kudos to TikTok, tech brethren; Starbucks & Luckin have us soured on coffee cos. - Compliance Week