Tag Archives: WorldNews

Thousands protest again over arrest of Russian regional governor

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Unrest in Khabarovsk as Sergei Furgal is held in Moscow in connection with murders

Tens of thousands of people in the Russian city of Khabarovsk have turned out for a protest over the arrest of the region’s governor on charges of involvement in multiple murders.

Local media estimated that the rally on Saturday attracted between 15,000 and 50,000 people. Protests have taken place every day this week, typically drawing hundreds of people .

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Coronavirus latest: WHO says health workers account for 10% of global infections

The UN body announced that over 1.4 million infections of COVID-19 are accounted for by health care sector workers, at least 10% of all cases. EU leaders have met to discuss a recovery package.

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The UN body announced that over 1.4 million infections of COVID-19 are accounted for by health care sector workers, at least 10% of all cases. EU leaders have met to discuss a recovery package. Follow DW for the latest.

Analysis: Trump has sidelined the CDC with the White House taking control of coronavirus data. It has worldwide ramifications

With the world in desperate need of authoritative information, one of the foremost agencies for fighting infectious disease has gone conspicuously silent, writes Erin Smith.

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With the world in desperate need of authoritative information, one of the foremost agencies for fighting infectious disease has gone conspicuously silent, writes Erin Smith.

Texas attorney general says religious private schools “need not comply” with local health orders to close

Texas Attorney General wants religious schools to fail their children and put them at risk of being sick and infecting the parents and grandparents.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at the Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention in Dallas on Oct. 19, 2017.
Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune

While local health officials have the authority to keep school districts closed for in-person instruction through the fall, Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a letter to schools Friday that private religious schools are are free to decide for themselves whether to reopen.

Last week, the state’s education agency released an order requiring schools to open their buildings to in-person instruction five days a week for all students who want it. Following backlash, on Friday, Texas officials said school districts will be allowed to delay on-campus instruction for at least four weeks, and ask for waivers to continue remote instruction for up to four additional weeks in areas hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, TEA officials confirmed that school districts wouldn’t be penalized for barring students on campuses if local health officials mandated that schools stay closed, as long as remote instruction is offered.

Already local health officials in counties, including Dallas and El Paso have issued mandates barring in-person classes for public and private schools in their jurisdictions, at least through August and in some cases to the end of September.

However, Paxton in an opinion said imposing these mandates on private religious schools would violate the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Religious services have already been exempted from Gov. Greg Abbott’s state-wide masking order.

“There are robust constitutional and statutory protections unique to religious individuals and communities, specifically including religious private schools,” Paxton said in the letter. “In accordance with the protections granted by the First Amendment and Texas law, this guidance allows religious private schools to determine for themselves when to reopen free from any government mandate or interference.”

On Friday, Texas education officials said schools can keep classrooms closed for longer than what was to be initially allowed.

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