U.S. federal judge blocks Trump rollback on transgender health care – National | Globalnews.ca

Monday’s preliminary injunction from U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block in Brooklyn bars the administration from enforcing the regulation until the case can be heard in court and decided. Block indicated he thought the Trump administration’s so-called transgender rule is invalid in light of the Supreme Court ruling in June on a case involving similar issues in the context of job discrimination.

Source: U.S. federal judge blocks Trump rollback on transgender health care – National | Globalnews.ca

Japan’s travel ban to contain virus unfair, Western businesses say

Get over it! People before profit is the way to survival and in the end a healthy economy!

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TOKYO (REUTERS) – Four Western business lobbies joined in protesting against Japan’s travel ban to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, saying the policy is out of step with measures in other major economies and will harm investment.

Many countries have imposed travel curbs to battle the pandemic, but Japan’s are among the most strict, effectively banning the entry of tourists and visa holders from more than 140 countries.

“This policy is contrary to the treatment Japan receives from other G-7 and other leading countries who treat long-term foreign residents equally to citizens on health matters,” the groups said in a statement released on Tuesday (Aug 18).

The joint letter was signed by business lobbies from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe.

The US and European groups had previously issued complaints about the policy.

Japan allows its citizens to return to the country if they take a coronavirus test at the port of entry and observe a period of self-quarantine.

Foreigners living in Japan face much higher hurdles for re-entry.

These measures “can only discourage foreign nationals, and the companies they work for, from investing in Japan”, the business groups said.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The government announced last month it would start “phased measures” to restore travel depending on infection conditions, starting with 12 Asian countries.

Restrictions to contain the spread of the virus have devastated Japan’s economy, which posted its biggest contraction on record in the second quarter.

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Belarusians are speaking as one: Alexander Lukashenko’s time is up | David Kurkovskiy

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More than a week after a sham election, public rage has not died down

“And what is it, what is it that they want / Centuries despised: those deaf, blind ones? / To be called people.” These words by Janka Kupala, Belarus’s national poet, published in the early 1900s, have come to mind in recent days as protests have rippled through the nation. Twenty-six years after Alexander Lukashenko came to power in the Republic of Belarus’ first and last democratic elections – almost immediately stripping the country of any ambitions to recover its national language, democratic process or historic myths and symbols after more than 70 years under the Soviet yoke – Belarus and Belarusians are seeing for the first time a fighting chance at meaningful politics and civic rights. Make no mistake, a people once described as the “dark, despised ones” (ciomny, pahardžany narod) have crossed a point of no return.

Olga Shparaga, a leading Belarusian political philosopher (whom I work alongside at the European College of Liberal Arts), described the emotions of fellow protesters in a phone conversation last Wednesday morning: “People are completely infuriated, ready to go wherever they need. This is not the time to think, but to act.” The protests followed the sham election on 9 August: the election commission gave Lukashenko approximately 80% of the vote when in all likelihood the main opposition actually won by a landslide. Unable to take these lies any longer, Belarusians took to the polling stations and streets in peaceful protest, only to be brutally attacked, gassed and shot at by riot police.

Continue reading…

Black Met inspector stopped by police while driving home from work | UK news | The Guardian

The inspector was also accused of being obstructive, with the 22-year veteran of the force telling the broadcaster: “These were alleged offences that could have ended my whole career.”

The two officers left the scene after Ehikioya informed them he was a serving colleague and showed them his police badge.

The Met said in its statement that no action had been taken against the inspector as a result of the stop.

Ehikioya said: “I believed I was racially profiled and received no apology. I have kids and a grandson, I would not want them treated like this.”

 

Source: Black Met inspector stopped by police while driving home from work | UK news | The Guardian

Latinos downgrade Trump on coronavirus response, kick up Biden support, poll shows

Latino registered voters’ support for Biden, who will officially accept the party’s nomination this week, rose 5 percentage points from May, while Latinos’ disapproval of Trump was up 14 percentage points over the same four months, the poll showed.

“Responding to COVID-19 is the gorilla at the table. It is a giant factor that Latinos are considering as the most important issue that they are facing. It eclipses health care costs and unemployment,” said Gary Segura, a principal with Latino Decisions polling firm, which conducted the poll.

The poll showed that 73 percent of respondents agreed that Trump ignored the early warning signs of the virus and downplayed its seriousness.

 

Source: Latinos downgrade Trump on coronavirus response, kick up Biden support, poll shows

Cellphone Data Shows How Las Vegas Is “Gambling With Lives” Across the Country — ProPublica – (Mindless me-first behavior)

During the four-day period, about 26,000 devices were identified on the Las Vegas Strip. Some of those same smartphones also showed up in every state on the mainland except Maine in those same four days. About 3,700 of the devices were spotted in Southern California in the same four days; about 2,700 in Arizona, with 740 in Phoenix; around 1,000 in Texas; more than 800 in Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland; and more than 100 in the New York area.

The cellphone analysis highlights a reason the virus keeps spreading, said Oscar Alleyne, an epidemiologist and chief program officer with the National Association of County and City Health Officials. “People have been highly mobile, and as a result, it makes sense why we see the continuation of the surge.”

Source: Cellphone Data Shows How Las Vegas Is “Gambling With Lives” Across the Country — ProPublica

Beaten Back, the Coronavirus Regains Strength in France – The New York Times

The signs of a new wave of infection emerged over the summer as people began resuming much of their pre-coronavirus lives, traveling across France and socializing in cafes, restaurants and parks. Many, especially the young, have visibly relaxed their vigilance and have not followed rules on mask wearing or social distancing.

In recent days, France has recorded about 3,000 new infections every day, roughly double the figure at the beginning of the month, and the authorities are investigating an increasing number of clusters.

Belarus live updates: Fractures form in diplomatic elite

Belarus’ ambassador to Slovakia is stepping down after siding with protesters calling for President Alexander Lukashenko’s resignation. Four other diplomats have also abandoned their posts.

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Belarus’ ambassador to Slovakia is stepping down after siding with protesters calling for President Alexander Lukashenko’s resignation. Four other diplomats have also abandoned their posts. Follow DW for the latest.

Coronavirus: South Korea bans all religious meetings in ‘last ditch’ bid to quash new outbreak | South China Morning Post

Pastor who leads the Sarang Jeil church, which is at the centre of the recent outbreak, dismissed social distancing advice and has since tested positive.
— Read on www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3097832/coronavirus-south-korea-bans-all-religious-meetings

Good luck with lockdown measures to halt spread.