Public confidence has caused Covid test shortage, Boris Johnson argues

Translation: We did not really prepare or plan well for mass testing and now we cannot give as many tests as are needed or requested.

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PM says people cannot get tests because growing faith in system has increased demand

People being unable to secure Covid tests or being asked to travel hundreds of miles for one are a result of public confidence in the test and trace system and a resulting increase in demand, Boris Johnson has argued at a prime minister’s questions.

With Keir Starmer ignoring the furore over the government’s admission it could break international law in seeking to renege on some of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, the Labour leader instead used all of his questions to focus on what he termed a lack of government competence over testing.

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Open Thread | Reminding You About That Voting Plan — 3CHICSPOLITICO

Well, just dropping random but election related tweets. I can tell you few people know me as well as @BarackObama and @KamalaHarris do. https://t.co/LwkVSCglGS — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 8, 2020 I am going to say it again: They ALL have been skimming off the top, middle and bottom. Grifting thieves😠😠 Money concerns are […]

Open Thread | Reminding You About That Voting Plan — 3CHICSPOLITICO

Moria fire: EU mobilises support — EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

The European Council president Charles Michel said he is working on mobilisation of the EU support to Greece in the aftermath of the Moria migrant camp fire. «Full solidarity with the people of Lesbos providing shelter, the migrants and staff. We are in touch with the Greek authorities and ready to mobilize support», Michel wrote […]

Moria fire: EU mobilises support — EUROPE DIPLOMATIC

Who Is Joe Biden?

The Gist Joe Biden is the official Democratic Party nominee for the 59th U.S. presidential election. He will be running alongside Kamala Harris (the first would-be female and African-American Vice President in U.S. history) against the incumbent Republican President, Donald J. Trump. Why does it matter The November 2020 U.S. presidential election will be one…

Who Is Joe Biden? — No Time For Pants

Belarusian riot police violently arrested demonstrators at a women’s rally in support of oppositionist Maria Kolesnikova

The solidarity rally mainly involved women, some of whom brought their children. Despite the fact that Belarusian riot police typically only arrest men during protests, they violently detained women at the rally, including elderly ones. On September 9, Maria Kolesnikova’s father told journalists that she had been jailed in Minsk.

On the evening of September 8, a solidarity rally in support of Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova (Maryia Kalesnikava) took place near the Kamaroŭski Market in Minsk. Kolesnikova was abducted by unidentified men in the center of the Belarusian capital on the morning of September 7. A day later, Belarusian state media reported that she had been arrested at the border with Ukraine. The solidarity rally mainly involved women, some of whom brought their children. Despite the fact that Belarusian riot police typically only arrest men during protests, they violently detained women at the rally, including elderly ones. On September 9, Maria Kolesnikova’s father told journalists that she had been jailed in Minsk.

Sri Lanka Tea Storm Swirls around President Aoun

The presidency said Aoun had written to his Sri Lankan counterpart to thank him for “a gift of Ceylon tea that had been received by the army… and distributed to the families of soldiers in the presidential guard.” W140

President Michel Aoun has come under fire after reports and activists said that tea donated by Sri Lanka for victims of the Beirut blast was distributed instead to families of his presidential guards.

But the press office of the Presidency hit back on Wednesday, noting that an official memo sent by Sri Lanka to Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry had mentioned that “1,675 kilograms of Ceylon tea” were “a donation to His Excellency the President, General Michel Aoun, as a gesture of solidarity and friendship between Sri Lanka and Lebanon.”

Belarus opposition figure Maxim Znak taken from office by masked men

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Lawyer was one of few remaining leading members of coordination council still free

Belarusian authorities have detained one of the last leading members of an opposition council who had remained free, moving methodically to end a month of protests against President Alexander Lukashenko.

Maxim Znak, a lawyer and member of the coordination council created by the opposition to facilitate talks with the country’s leader on a transition of power, was taken out of the council’s office by unidentified people in ski masks, his associate Gleb German said. He said Znak only had time to text message “masks” before they took the phone away from him.

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