Health secretary Azar wrongly claims ‘health-care workers don’t get infected’ in argument for reopening schools

Official site of The Week Magazine, offering commentary and analysis of the day’s breaking news and current events as well as arts, entertainment, people and gossip, and political cartoons.
— Read on theweek.com/speedreads/924153/health-secretary-azar-wrongly-claims-healthcare-workers-dont-infected-argument-reopening-schools

He needs to read about those who have died in service – what a dolt 😡

International Students in Online Courses Face Lost F1 Visas, ICE Says

International students contributed $45 billion to the U.S. economy in 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Support about 400,000 jobs and Trump wants to throw that away!

International students will be required to take at least one in-person class to keep their visas, at a time when many universities are prioritizing online instruction.

Hospitalizations up in Arizona, Texas, Florida as US nears 3 million COVID-19 cases | CIDRAP

The first week of July saw almost 300,000 new US COVID-19 cases, the Washington Post reports, and 7-day averages in 12 states hit record highs, with marked increases in case detection in West Virginia, Tennessee, and Montana.

And in three states that have been hit hardest with the virus this summer—Arizona, Texas, and Florida—hospitalization rates, including intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, are increasing at an alarming rate.

Source: Hospitalizations up in Arizona, Texas, Florida as US nears 3 million COVID-19 cases | CIDRAP

Lam: HK security law does not spell doom and gloom

Issuing rear view glasses for everyone so they can see who is about to grab them up for breaking up society…

ST_20200708_FDLENIENT08_5799817.jpg?itok

HONG KONG • Hong Kong’s national security law does not spell “doom and gloom”, its leader Carrie Lam said yesterday, as she tried to calm unease over legislation that critics say could quash freedoms that have underpinned the city’s success as a financial hub.

The sweeping legislation that Beijing imposed on the former British colony punishes what China defines as secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces, with up to life in prison.

It came into force at the same time it was made public, just before midnight on June 30, with police arresting more than 300 people in protests the next day – about 10 of them, including a 15-year-old, for suspected violations of it.

“Surely, this is not doom and gloom for Hong Kong,” Mrs Lam, the city’s Beijing-backed Chief Executive, told a weekly news conference. “I’m sure, with the passage of time… confidence will grow in ‘one country, two systems’ and in Hong Kong’s future.”

The legislation has been criticised by democracy activists and Western governments for undermining freedoms guaranteed under the “one country, two systems” formula agreed when Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong and Chinese officials say the law, which gives mainland security agencies an enforcement presence in the city for the first time, is vital to plug holes in national security defences, exposed by the city’s failure to pass such legislation as required under the Basic Law, its mini-Constitution.

Mrs Lam said cases involving the new mainland agents would be “rare”, but nevertheless, national security was a “red line” that should not be crossed.

The law was not harsh when compared with that of other countries, she said. “It is a rather mild law. Its scope is not as broad as that in other countries and even China.”

Critics say the aim of the legislation is to stamp out a pro-democracy movement that brought months of protests, at times violent, to the city last year.

Late on Monday, Hong Kong released details of how the law would be implemented, outlining police powers over the Internet, including the ability to ask publishers to remove information deemed a threat to national security.

Internet firms and their staff face fines and up to one year in jail, if they do not comply and police can seize their equipment. The companies are also expected to provide identification records and decryption assistance.

But Mrs Lam said she had not noticed widespread fears and the law would restore the city’s status as one of the safest in the world after last year’s violent pro-democracy protests. Despite her assurances, the law has had a chilling effect.

“If Hong Kong police and the government do not get information from Facebook, they may have other means,” said 45-year-old playwright Yan Pat-To.

“The fear has spread over freedom of expression.”

Shortly after the law came into force, pro-democracy activists disbanded their organisations.

Many shops have removed protest-related products and decorations, and public libraries have removed some books seen as supportive of the democracy movement.

Protesters have quickly learnt that actions that were not worthy of police attention a little more than a week ago could now warrant an arrest, a DNA sample and search of their home.

Ms Janet Pang, a lawyer for several protesters arrested for acts of inciting or abetting subversion or secession, said she believes it is the first time genetic data has been taken from protesters arrested for minor offences.

“It is unnecessary, intrusive and disproportionate,” she said. “I don’t know why they had to take DNA samples. We don’t know what kind of database they’re trying to build which might be sent back to the central government in Beijing.”

Police said the samples were to prove – or disprove – that those held had committed the offences.

The final power of interpretation of the law lies with the authorities in mainland China, where human rights groups have reported arbitrary detentions and disappearances. China has been clamping down on dissent and tightening censorship.

Mrs Lam, asked about media freedom, said if reporters could guarantee they would not breach the new law, she could guarantee they would be allowed to report freely.

“Ultimately, time and facts will tell that this law will not undermine human rights and freedoms,” she said.

REUTERS, BLOOMBERG

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

At least 8 Mississippi lawmakers test positive for COVID-19 | Miami Herald

At least eight Mississippi lawmakers have tested positive for the coronavirus after working for weeks in a Capitol where many people stood or sat close together and did not wear masks.

Among those who have publicly acknowledged having COVID-19 are Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the Senate, and House Speaker Philip Gunn.

The state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, said Tuesday there are also at least 11 other suspected cases of the virus among legislators and Capitol employees. In addition, Dobbs said the highly contagious virus is spreading at parties and other social gatherings around the state.

Source: At least 8 Mississippi lawmakers test positive for COVID-19 | Miami Herald

Second Look Behind the Headlines – News you can use…

Baldacchino di Perla

"Luce di parole, ombra di sogni."

Northern Desert Photography

Living on the Edge of the Sagebrush Ocean

Susana Cabaço

Spiritual Insights & Personal Empowerment

Barbara Picci

Artist & Art Blogger

craft journey

Furnicraft, woodwork, and art

musings corner

reveries and rants

Japão para Românticos

Bem Vindos a este espaço onde compartilhamos um pouco da realidade do Japão à todos aqueles que desejam visitar ou morar no Japão. Aqui neste espaço, mostramos a realidade do Japão e dos imigrantes. O nosso compromisso é com a realidade. Fique por dentro do noticiário dos principais jornais japoneses, tutoriais de Faça você mesmo no Japão e acompanhe a Série Histórias de Imigrantes no Japão. Esperamos que goste de nossos conteúdos, deixe seu like, seu comentário, compartilhe e nos ajudar você e à outras pessoas. Grande abraço, gratidão e volte sempre!

Leben als Mensch

Willkommen auf Elke´s Glücks-Blog

Sharpshot Nature .Com

- Specializing in the great outdoors, capturing nature at its finest!

Diane Ravitch's blog

A site to discuss education and democracy

Expansão e Percepção

Seu Guia de Inspirações e Reflexões Diárias

noga noga.

my-health-and-beauty.com/

Uğurcan'ın Ütopyası

Benim Gezegenime Hoş geldiniz !!!

AKILS

Blog de viajes y lugares

Ed Mooney Photography

The official blog of Ed Mooney Photography. Dad of 3, Photographer, Blogger, Powerlifter. Exploring the historical sites of Ireland.

everything Explored on the earth

It has new aidias,news, about education , motivation, social, historical, culture, marketing creation new aidias education of language science culture and history

Born to die

L'unico modo sensato di vivere è senza regole

Early Morning Memories

by Anuran (A) & Sayoni (S)

My thoughts

Fun for the Brain

Neo Vision College

An exemplary learning community.

Anthony’s Crazy Love and Life Lessons in Empathy

Loves, lamentation, and life through prose, stories, passions, and essays.

Episodic Squalid Rants

public tantrums by a non-two-year-old

The Street Art Directory

Public, street and urban art worldwide

Artie & Stu

all the rules of free form

Everyone read that they fell in love first

<script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-2937106805202763" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>

davidscottmoyer

Lapsed Painter, Occasional Photographer, Compulsive Writer

Health & Fitness

Health Blogs

Buildings Tell Tales

Exploring the hidden architectural heritage of Budapest

Divit kalem

Yaşamdan

Roy's Weblog

The third incarnation...

Thought Pukes

More than a thought less than a question

"بوصلة الحياة"

"بوصلة الحياة: مدونة متعددة المجالات، من السياسة إلى الرومانسية، ومن تطوير الذات إلى الأدب وأكثر!" بقلم مشاعر بنت عبدالرحمن

parallax

The view from here ... Or here!

ClearingSpace4Joy

Bringer and seeker of joy

Belladonna’s Flashlight

The One Where She Stumbled Through Her 40's and Faced Her Demons

~ Trivial Music Silliness ~

Baw wit da baw. Just sayin'.

mo mnsoor blog

Website storys

Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss

Welcome to the Anglo Swiss World

gnaddrig ad libitum

Querbeet und ohne Gewähr

Peace & Truth

KINDNESS IS FREE, sprinkle it all over the world, and 😁 smile

Ética de la vida diaria

Nuestra ética de todos los días...

Elizabeth Gauffreau

Fiction Writer in Poet's Clothing