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“A man’s mind, stretched by new ideas, may never return to its original dimensions.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
In 2017, suicide claimed the lives of more than 47,000 people in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Suicide affects people of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities.
Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it can be preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can help save lives.
Here are 5 steps you can take to #BeThe1To help someone in emotional pain:
- ASK: “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” It’s not an easy question but studies show that asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicides or suicidal thoughts.
- KEEP THEM SAFE: Reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal items or places is an important part of suicide prevention. While this is not always easy, asking if the at-risk person has a plan and removing or disabling the lethal means can make a difference.
- BE THERE: Listen carefully and learn what the individual is thinking and feeling. Research suggests acknowledging and talking about suicide may in fact reduce rather than increase suicidal thoughts.
- HELP THEM CONNECT: Save the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number in your phone so it’s there when you need it: 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You can also help make a connection with a trusted individual like a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or mental health professional.
- STAY CONNECTED: Staying in touch after a crisis or after being discharged from care can make a difference. Studies have shown the number of suicide deaths goes down when someone follows up with the at-risk person.
- For more information on suicide prevention go HERE
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TEENAGE EMPOWERMENT
Your 2020 Plan
Coping with Traumatic Events
Overview
A traumatic event is a shocking, scary, or dangerous experience that can affect someone emotionally and physically. Experiences like natural disasters (such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods), acts of violence (such as assault, abuse, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings), as well as car crashes and other accidents can all be traumatic.
Ways to Cope
Healthy ways of coping in this time period include:
- Avoiding alcohol and other drugs;
- Spending time with loved ones and trusted friends who are supportive; and
- Trying to maintain normal routines for meals, exercise, and sleep.
In general, staying active is a good way to cope with stressful feelings.
Watching the World breathe from space…
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PRODUCTIVITY
CDC: CORONA VIRUS 2019 – (COVID19)
MENTAL HEALTH AND COPING
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.
The emotional impact of an emergency on a person can depend on the person’s characteristics and experiences, the social and economic circumstances of the person and their community, and the availability of local resources. People can become more distressed if they see repeated images or hear repeated reports about the outbreak in the media.
People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:
- People who have preexisting mental health conditions including problems with substance use
- Children
- People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
Additional information and resources on mental health care can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) NATIONAL Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- People with deafness or hearing loss can use their preferred relay service to call 1-800-985-5990.
Reactions during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
- Fear and worry about your own health status and that of your loved ones who may have been exposed to COVID-19
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
- Domestic Violence and Abuse
WORDPRESS REALLY, REALLY SUCKS!!!😂😂😂
UN mobilizes global cooperation in science-based COVID-19 responses
From leading research and development to assess potential treatments for #COVID19, to supporting the deployment of medical robots in China, the United Nations is mobilizing international cooperation to harness the power of science, technology and innovation to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES08 APR 2020 | SECRETARY-GENERAL
“Now is the time for unity”
The Covid-19 pandemic is one of the most dangerous challenges this world has faced in our lifetime. It is above all a human crisis with severe health and socio-economic consequences. The World Health Organization, with thousands of its staff, is on the front lines, supporting Member States and their societies, especially the most vulnerable among them, with guidance, training, equipment and concrete life-saving services as they fight the virus.
faith
noun ˈfāth plural faiths ˈfāths , sometimes ˈfāt͟hz
Definition of faith
(Entry 1 of 2)1a: allegiance to duty or a person : LOYALTY lost faith in the company’s presidentb(1): fidelity to one’s promises(2): sincerity of intentionsacted in good faith2a(1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God(2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religionb(1): firm belief in something for which there is no proofclinging to the faith that her missing son would one day return(2): complete trust3: something that is believed especially with strong convictionespecially: a system of religious beliefsthe Protestant faith on faith: without questiontook everything he said on faith
faith verb ˈfāth faithed; faithing; faiths
Definition of faith (Entry 2 of 2)
transitive verb archaic: BELIEVE, TRUST
Stages of faith development
James W. Fowler (1940–2015) proposes a series of stages of faith-development (or spiritual development) across the human life-span. His stages relate closely to the work of Piaget, Erikson, and Kohlberg regarding aspects of psychological development in children and adults. Fowler defines faith as an activity of trusting, committing, and relating to the world based on a set of assumptions of how one is related to others and the world.
- Intuitive-Projective: a stage of confusion and of high impressionability through stories and rituals (pre-school period).
- Mythic-Literal: a stage where provided information is accepted in order to conform with social norms (school-going period).
- Synthetic-Conventional: in this stage the faith acquired is concreted in the belief system with the forgoing of personification and replacement with authority in individuals or groups that represent one’s beliefs (early-late adolescence).
- Individuative-Reflective: in this stage the individual critically analyzes adopted and accepted faith with existing systems of faith. Disillusion or strengthening of faith happens in this stage. Based on needs, experiences and paradoxes (early adulthood).
- Conjunctive faith: in this stage people realize the limits of logic and, facing the paradoxes or transcendence of life, accept the “mystery of life” and often return to the sacred stories and symbols of the pre-acquired or re-adopted faith system. This stage is called negotiated settling in life (mid-life).
- Universalizing faith: this is the “enlightenment” stage where the individual comes out of all the existing systems of faith and lives life with universal principles of compassion and love and in service to others for upliftment, without worries and doubt (middle-late adulthood (45–65 years old and plus.
No hard-and-fast rule requires individuals pursuing faith to go through all six stages. There is a high probability for individuals to be content and fixed in a particular stage for a lifetime; stages from 2-5 are such stages. Stage 6 is the summit of faith development. This state is often considered as “not fully” attainable.
RUNWAY
If you or someone you know is in a crisis, get help immediately. You can call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
6/30 –
The Department of Justice Warns of Inaccurate Flyers and Postings Regarding the Use of Face Masks and the Americans with Disabilities Act 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband reiterated today that cards and other documents bearing the Department of Justice seal and claiming that individuals are exempt from face mask requirements are fraudulent.
Attorney General William P. Barr’s Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Department of Justice And Federal Trade Commission Issue New Vertical Merger Guidelines 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission issued today new Vertical Merger Guidelines that outline how the federal antitrust agencies evaluate the likely competitive impact of mergers and whether those mergers comply with U.S. antitrust law. These new Vertical Merger Guidelines mark the first time the Department and the FTC have issued joint guidelines on vertical mergers, and represent the first major revision to guidance on vertical mergers since the Department’s 1984 Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines, which the Department withdrew in January of this year.
Guam Ambulance Company Owners Sentenced to Prison for Their Roles in Medicare Ambulance Fraud Scheme 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Two owners of Guam Medical Transport (GMT) were sentenced to prison terms today for their roles in a health care fraud and money laundering scheme that resulted in a loss to the United States of approximately $10.8 million, one of the largest single Medicare ambulance fraud cases ever prosecuted by the Justice Department.
The Justice Department, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Trade Commission Partner to Alert Public of Contact Tracing COVID-19 Fraud Schemes 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
In continued effort to fight fraud connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Federal Trade Commission are partnering to alert the public of emerging threats to steal money and sensitive information through contact tracing scams. Contact tracing is a process underway to identify people who have come in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, instruct them to quarantine, and monitor their symptoms. Contact tracing scams often appear in the form of text messages or telephone calls seeking money, or Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, along with other sensitive information not required for authentic contact tracing.
Opioid Manufacturer Indivior’s Chief Executive Officer Pleads Guilty In Connection With Drug Safety Claims 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The chief executive officer of Indivior PLC, Shaun Thaxter, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia to a one-count information charging him with causing the introduction into interstate commerce of the opioid drug Suboxone Film, which was misbranded in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Seattle Doctor Charged with COVID Relief Fraud 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Seattle doctor was taken into custody today on allegations that he fraudulently sought over $3 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Former Colorado Judge Pleads Guilty to Obstructing Task Force Investigation of a Drug Trafficking Organization 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A former Colorado judge pleaded guilty today to obstructing a federal task force investigation of a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
Fifth Pharmaceutical Company Charged In Ongoing Criminal Antitrust Investigation 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA was charged for conspiring to fix prices for generic drugs, the Department of Justice announced today.
Statement from Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft on Federal Court’s Decision that Legal Challenge to Illinois Governor’s Sweeping COVID-19 Orders Belongs in State Court 06/30/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric Dreiband and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois Steven D. Weinhoeft issued the following statement on yesterday’s ruling, agreeing with the Justice Department, that a legal challenge to Governor J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 orders belongs in Illinois state court rather than federal court:
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 3. Military gears up to fight racial bias, a longstanding adversary (Wall Street Journal) Black service members face obstacles in trying to reach the top—and even when they get there. |
| ‘I can’t breathe’: This is the Marine who protested outside the Utah Capitol in uniform for racial equality |
| With George Floyd’s last words “I can’t breathe” emblazoned on black tape covering his mouth, Winn stood in his dress blues outside the Utah Capitol for three hours, despite the nearly 100 degree Fahrenheit heat that melted his shoes. |
GREAT OUTDOORS
68 Outdoor Patio Ideas and Designs for Backyards and Rooftops
These outdoor patio designs will turn your backyard, terrace, or rooftop into your own oasis
By Kristi Kellogg, Lindsey DeSimone, and Jennifer Fernandez
| Iran nuclear deal still best way to ensure peace, DiCarlo tells Security CouncilThe UN regrets that the future of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is in doubt, but notwithstanding current challenges, that landmark deal is still the best way to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme proceeds along a peaceful path, the UN’s top political official said on Tuesday.Peace and Security© UNICEF/Delil SouleimanSyria: Top UN officials appeal to donors to help end ‘shocking’ scale of suffering The UN chief called on the world to step up “financial, humanitarian and political commitments”, to help end nearly a decade of brutal conflict and suffering across Syria, in a video message delivered to the fourth Brussels Donor Conference on Tuesday.Peace and Security UN Photo/Antoine TardyBachelet renews call for accountability in Philippines war on illegal drugsThe Human Rights Council should consider supporting new accountability measures against perpetrators of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines’ so-called war on illegal drugs, the UN’s top rights official said on Tuesday.Human Rights ILO/Yacine ImadalouHard times forecast for global job recovery in 2020, warns UN labour agency chiefThe impact of the COVID-19 crisis on jobs has been much worse than expected initially, the head of the UN labour agency said on Tuesday, in an appeal to Governments, workers and employers, to agree on a sustainable economic recovery plan to reduce inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.Economic Development© UNICEF/Parvez AhmadImpacts of COVID-19 disproportionately affect poor and vulnerable: UN chiefAddressing poverty eradication on Tuesday in front of the General Assembly, UN chief António Guterres warned that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are falling “disproportionately on the most vulnerable: people living in poverty, the working poor, women and children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups”.SDGs© UNICEF/Lisa AdelsonPause before sharing, to help stop viral spread of COVID-19 misinformationThe UN is asking people to make the same judgement calls they’ve been applying to social distancing, to social media, and take extra care before sharing.UN Affairs UN Photo/Evan SchneiderUN honours fallen colleagues and legacy of hope they leave behindFallen UN colleagues were honoured on Tuesday at a solemn ceremony commemorating their bravery, and having served the UN cause of saving future generations “from the scourge of war and to pursue better standards of living for all in larger freedom”, said Secretary-General António Guterres, paying tribute.UN Affairs UNFPA-UNICEF/Kiran PandayHarmful practices rob women and girls of ‘right to reach their full potential’Urgent, and accelerated action is needed to end female genital mutilation, child marriage, and other “harmful practices” and abuses carried out against women and girls, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), said on Tuesday, in its latest major report on the state of the world’s population. Women |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
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7/1 –
Three Former Hilo Correctional Officers Indicted for Assaulting an Inmate and Attempting to Cover it Up 07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A federal grand jury in Honolulu, Hawaii, returned a six-count indictment against three former correctional officers — Jason Tagaloa, 29, Craig Pinkney, 36, and Jonathan Taum, 48 — for their roles in assaulting an inmate housed at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center and for attempting to cover up their misconduct.
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on the Restoration of Law and Order in Seattle 07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATES T-MOBILE AND DISH FOR CLOSING THE BOOST DIVESTITURE 07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT
T-Mobile US Inc. (T-Mobile) and Dish Network Corporation (Dish) announced today that they closed T-Mobile’s divestiture of Boost Network (Boost) to Dish. Boost was legacy Sprint Corporation’s prepaid wireless brand, and the transaction was completed pursuant to the remedies imposed by the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission.
Virtual Five Country Ministerial Meeting – Joint Communiqué 06/26/2020 12:00 AM EDT
On June 17 and 18, 2020, United States Attorney General William P. Barr and United States Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Ken Cuccinnelli joined ministers from the ‘Five Eyes’ partnership for a virtual meeting to agree joint action to tackle emerging security threats during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
U.S. Seeks to Recover Approximately $96 Million Traceable to Funds Allegedly Misappropriated from Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund 07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Justice Department announced today the filing of civil forfeiture complaints seeking the forfeiture and recovery of approximately $96 million in assets allegedly associated with an international conspiracy to launder funds misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.
Novartis Pays Over $642 Million to Settle Allegations of Improper Payments to Patients and Physicians 07/01/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Pharmaceutical company Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (Novartis), based in East Hanover, New Jersey, has agreed to pay over $642 million in separate settlements resolving claims that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA). The first settlement pertains to the company’s alleged illegal use of three foundations as conduits to pay the copayments of Medicare patients taking Novartis’s drugs Gilenya and Afinitor. The second settlement resolves claims arising from the company’s alleged payments of kickbacks to doctors.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| Mother of Marine killed in Afghanistan demands answers amid Russian bounty allegations |
| The mother of one of three killed Marines killed in Afghanistan in April 2019 is calling for a “thorough investigation” and for those responsible to be held accountable. Some military families scrambling to find child care after Trump’s suspension of au pair visas Au pairs have been a flexible, economic child care option for some military families. But the executive order means no new au pairs are coming in for the rest of the year. |
| What’s Up – July 2020 What’s Up for July? How about some moons with those giant planets? Mars after midnight. And are the stars of Mars the same as ours? › Watch now |
| “Clyde’s Spot” on Jupiter This image from NASA’s Juno spacecraft captures several storms in Jupiter’s southern hemisphere. When Juno obtained this view of Jupiter, the smaller, oval-shaped feature at the center of the image was brand new. › Read the full story |
Youth activist speaks up for environmental protection at Human Rights Council Human Rights
Junior, a teenage youth activist from Côte d’Ivoire, speaks via videolink to the UN Human Rights Council about protecting the environment.
| Stalled Security Council resolution adopted, backing UN’s global humanitarian ceasefire callThe Security Council on Wednesday echoed the Secretary-General’s call for a worldwide ceasefire, to combat the coronavirus pandemic that has already claimed more than half a million lives. The UN chief welcomed the long-awaited move, calling for countries to “redouble their efforts for peace”.Peace and Security UN Mexico/Luis Arroyo‘Long, hard road ahead’ for countries taking piecemeal approach to COVIDThe head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Monday that some nations battling the COVID-19 pandemic who have been taking a “fragmented approach” to suppressing the deadly virus, “face a long, hard road ahead.”Health UNHRC Video ScreenshotYouth activist speaks up for environmental protection at Human Rights CouncilAt the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, a teenager from Côte d’Ivoire has explained why protecting the environment matters so much.Human Rights UN Photo/Marco DorminoUNESCO urges caution over fraudulent African artefacts, sold in its nameThe UN on Wednesday revealed the existence of an illicit trafficking scam in African cultural artefacts, which are being sold to unsuspecting buyers, thanks to the entirely fake UNESCO stamp they come with.Culture and Education UN Women/Fahad Abdullah Kaizer‘Bold and creative’ solutions needed for a sustainable, post-pandemic economyUnless the world acts now, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying global recession, will trigger “years of depressed and disrupted economic growth”, the UN chief warned on Wednesday. Economic Development |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/2 –
Justice Department Settles Lending Discrimination Lawsuit with Maryland Used Car Dealership 07/02/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Justice Department today announced a settlement of its race discrimination lawsuit against Guaranteed Auto Sales, a used car dealership in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The agreement also settles the United States’ claims against the dealership’s owner and manager, Kelly Ann West and Robert Chesgreen
Warrant and Complaint Seek Seizure of All Iranian Gasoil Aboard Four Tankers Headed to Venezuela Based on Connection to IRGC 07/02/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A forfeiture complaint and warrant were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all petroleum-product cargo aboard the Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the Bering with IMO number 9149225, the Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the Luna with IMO number 9208100 are subject to forfeiture based on the terrorism forfeiture statute.
Louisiana Company Charged With Conspiracy To Defraud The Government And Violate The Procurement Integrity Act 07/02/2020 12:00 AM EDT
United States Attorney Peter G. Strasser and Makan Delrahim, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, announced that CAJAN WELDING & RENTALS, LTD., a company located in Opelousas, Louisiana, was charged on July 2, 2020 in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Procurement Integrity Act, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.
openWHO
New courses and languages for COVID-19
The 100th course for COVID-19 has been launched on OpenWHO. The 100th course (a general introduction to emerging respiratory viruses, including novel coronaviruses in Yoruba) published 5 months after the launch of the first COVID-19 course on the platform.
New courses
- Standard precautions: Injection safety and needle-stick injury management: In this course, you will learn about the causes of unsafe injection practices, how to safely give injections, and how to safely dispose of needles and other sharps. You will also learn what to do when needle-stick injuries occur, how to manage potential exposures, and ways to protect yourself, the staff and patients in your facility, and your community.
New translations
- A general introduction to emerging respiratory viruses, including novel coronaviruses in Igbo, Punjabi, Yoruba and Zulu.
- Standard precautions for hand hygiene in Arabic and Russian.
- How to put on and remove PPE for COVID-19 in Chinese, Dutch, Tetum and Spanish.
- Clinical care SARI in Arabic.
- Health and safety briefing for respiratory diseases – ePROTECT in Tetum.
All courses for COVID-19 can be accessed here. You can use the toolbar to filter courses by language.
Certificates now available
| COVID-19 fast becoming protection crisis, Guterres warns Security CouncilThe COVID-19 pandemic is “profoundly affecting” peace and security across the globe, the Secretary-General told the Security Council on Thursday, pressing the 15-member body to use its collective influence to protect the millions of people either trapped in, or fleeing conflict, and already facing acute vulnerabilities.Peace and Security© UNICEF/Seyba KeïtaHelping youth enterprise take off, will bring sustainable returns, say UN economistsYoung entrepreneurs who want their work to have a positive impact on their communities, urgently need more help from governments if they’re to succeed and resist the COVID-19-fuelled economic downturn, UN economists said on Thursday.Economic Development IFADProtect ordinary Afghans ahead of peace talks, urges UN Mission chiefAhead of hoped-for peace talks between Afghan Government and Taliban negotiators, UN peacekeepers in Afghanistan have urged parties to “redouble” their efforts to keep civilians safe.Peace and Security PAHO‘Transfats’ from processed foods may increase ovarian cancer riskA likely link between processed and fried foods containing so-called “transfats” and ovarian cancer has been identified by UN scientists, they said on Thursday.Health |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/3 –
Condé Nast Spotlight
TEEN VOGUEThe Racist History of America’s Patriotic Anthems
OG History is a Teen Vogue series where we unearth history not told through a white, cisheteropatriarchal lens.
THE NEW YORKERThe Weekend Crossword
A lightly challenging puzzle.
THEM.Munroe Bergdorf Checked This British Politician for Transphobic Tweets
VOGUE24 Hours With Laverne Cox, Whose New Film Disclosure Recalls Decades Of Trans History Onscreen
GLAMOUR17 Sunscreens That Don’t Suck, According to Glamour Editors
ALLURETarte’s New Maracuja Juicy Lip Trios Completely Sold Out Within a Week of Launching
Spotlight: Racism in America
THE NEW YORKERTo the World, We’re Now America the Racist and Pitiful
VANITY FAIRHugh Downs, Legendary Television Host, Dies at Age 99
TEEN VOGUEJohn Lewis’ Early Activism Years Are Explored in New Documentary
Spotlight: The Latest on The Coronavirushere
GLAMOURJust 50+ Photos of Celebrities Wearing Face Masks
VANITY FAIRFive Feel-Good Podcasts to Help Find Your Inner Optimist
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELERThese Cities Are Becoming Much More Pedestrian-Friendly
TEEN VOGUEDisney’s Live-Action “Mulan” Has Been Delayed — Again
July is National Park & Recreation Month
Since 1985, Americans have celebrated National Park and Recreation Month in the month of July. During National Park and Recreation Month, individuals and organizations can promote the benefits of local parks and recreation centers to communities and encourage people to get outside, explore local parks, and enjoy outdoor activities.
Why celebrate parks?
- To support the environment: Parks play an important role in environmental health by cleaning water, preserving wildlife, and offering a refuge to humans and animals throughout the seasons.
- To explore local ecosystems: Parks offer a lot more than meets the eye. Did you know that parks are not just plots of grass? Sports fields, beaches, trails, and many other spaces can be parks, offering a host of recreation opportunities.
Why get active outside?
- To increase children’s chances of success in school: Kids with access to safe parks and playgrounds are more likely to engage in physical activities — and kids who are physically active do better in school.
- To contribute to the maintenance of a healthy weight: Local parks and recreation areas promote physical activity.
| UN rights office expresses alarm at Hong Kong arrests under new security lawThe UN human rights office, OHCHR, has expressed alarm at the arrest of demonstrators in Hong Kong, following China’s adoption of a national security law for the Special Administrative Region (SAR).Human Rights ILO/Apex ImageProtecting migrant workers in Kuwait: a Resident Coordinator’s blogIn Kuwait, the UN has played an important role in countering xenophobic rhetoric, falsely blaming the spread of COVID-19 on migrant workers. In this opinion piece, Tarek El Sheikh, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the country, highlights the efforts being made to safeguard the rights of foreign residents. Migrants and Refugees |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/4 –
Columbia
(/kəˈlʌmbiə/; kə-LUM-bee-ə) is the female personification of the United States. It was also a historical name applied to the Americas and to the New World. The association has given rise to the names of many American places, objects, institutions and companies; such as: Columbia University, the District of Columbia (U.S. capital), “Hail, Columbia” (unofficial national and official vice-presidential anthem), as well as the ship Columbia Rediviva, which would give its name to the Columbia River. Images of the Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World, erected in 1886) largely displaced personified Columbia as the female symbol of the United States by around 1920, although Lady Liberty was seen as an aspect of Columbia.
Columbia is a New Latin toponym, in use since the 1730s with reference to the Thirteen Colonies which would go on to form the United States. It originated from the name of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and from the ending -ia, common in Latin names of countries (paralleling Britannia, Gallia, and others).
The earliest type of personification of the Americas, seen in European art from the 16th century onwards, reflected the tropical regions in South and Central America from which the earliest travellers reported back. These were most often used in sets of female personifications of the Four Continents. America was depicted as a woman who, like Africa, was only partly dressed, typically in bright feathers, which invariably formed her headress. She often held a parrot, was seated on a caiman or alligator, with a cornucopia. Sometimes a severed head was a further attribute, or in prints scenes of cannibalism were seen in the background.
18th century
Though versions of this depiction, tending as time went on to soften the rather savage image into an “Indian princess” type, and in churches emphasizing conversion to Christianity, served European artists well enough, by the 18th century they were becoming rejected by settlers in North America, who wanted figures representing themselves rather than the Native Americans they were often in conflict with.
Massachusetts Chief Justice Samuel Sewall used the name Columbina (not Columbia) for the New World in 1697. The name Columbia for America first appeared in 1738 in the weekly publication of the debates of Parliament in Edward Cave‘s The Gentleman’s Magazine. Publication of Parliamentary debates was technically illegal, so the debates were issued under the thin disguise of Reports of the Debates of the Senate of Lilliput and fictitious names were used for most individuals and placenames found in the record. Most of these were transparent anagrams or similar distortions of the real names and some few were taken directly from Jonathan Swift‘s Gulliver’s Travels while a few others were classical or neoclassical in style. Such were Ierne for Ireland, Iberia for Spain, Noveborac for New York (from Eboracum, the Roman name for York) and Columbia for America—at the time used in the sense of “European colonies in the New World”.
By the time of the Revolution, the name Columbia had lost the comic overtone of its Lilliputian origins and had become established as an alternative, or poetic name for America. While the name America is necessarily scanned with four syllables, according to 18th-century rules of English versification Columbia was normally scanned with three, which is often more metrically convenient. For instance, the name appears in a collection of complimentary poems written by Harvard graduates in 1761 on the occasion of the marriage and coronation of King George III. Behold, Britannia! in thy favour’d Isle;At distance, thou, Columbia! view thy Prince,For ancestors renowned, for virtues more;
The name Columbia rapidly came to be applied to a variety of items reflecting American identity. A ship built in Massachusetts in 1773 received the name Columbia Rediviva and it later became famous as an exploring ship and lent its name to new Columbias.
After Independence
No serious consideration was given to using the name Columbia as an official name for the independent United States, but with independence the name became popular and was given to many counties, townships, and towns as well as other institutions.
- In 1784, the former King’s College in New York City had its name changed to Columbia College, which became the nucleus of the present-day Ivy League Columbia University.
- In 1786, South Carolina gave the name Columbia to its new capital city. Columbia is also the name of at least nineteen other towns in the United States.
- In 1791, three commissioners appointed by President George Washington named the area destined for the seat of the United States government the Territory of Columbia. It was subsequently (1801) organized as the District of Columbia.
- In 1792, the Columbia Rediviva sailing ship gave its name to the Columbia River in the American Northwest (much later, the Rediviva would give its name to the Space Shuttle Columbia)
- In 1798, Joseph Hopkinson wrote lyrics for Philip Phile‘s 1789 inaugural “President’s March” under the new title of “Hail, Columbia“. Once used as de facto national anthem of the United States, it is now used as the entrance march of the Vice President of the United States.
- In 1821 citizens of Boone County, Missouri chose the name for their new city of Columbia, Missouri
- In 1865 Jules Verne‘s novel From the Earth to the Moon, the spacecraft to the Moon was fired from a giant Columbiad cannon.
In part, the more frequent usage of the name Columbia reflected a rising American neoclassicism, exemplified in the tendency to use Roman terms and symbols. The selection of the eagle as the national bird, the heraldric use of the eagle, the use of the term Senate to describe the upper house of Congress and the naming of Capitol Hill and the Capitol building were all conscious evocations of Roman precedents.
The adjective Columbian has been used to mean “of or from the United States of America”, for instance in the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois. It has occasionally been proposed as an alternative word for American.
Columbian should not be confused with the adjective pre-Columbian, referring to a time period before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492.
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on Independence Day 07/04/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Independence Day (colloquiallythe Fourth of July or July 4) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states. The Congress had voted to declare independence two days earlier, on July 2, but it was not declared until July 4.
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain’s rule. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:
The second day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.
Adams’s prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.
Historians have long disputed whether members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.
By a remarkable coincidence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration, Jefferson even mentioning the fact.(Only one other signatory, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, survived them, dying in 1832.) Although not a signatory of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, another Founding Father who was elected as president, also died on July 4, 1831. He was the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, was born on July 4, 1872; so far he is the only U.S. president to have been born on Independence Day.
New York City was the first capital of the United States once the Constitution was ratified. George Washington took the oath of office to become the first President of the United States from the balcony of the old City Hall.
About the USA > U.S. Government > The Nation’s Capital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania As stipulated by the Residence Act, Philadelphia served as the temporary capital of the United States of America between 1790 and 1800 while Washington, D.C., was being built.
8 Forgotten Capitals of the United States – HISTORY
Philadelphia, Pa., was the very first capital.The First Continental Congress had to meet in Carpenters’ Hall from September 5 to October 26, 1774, because Independence Hall was being used by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
The Quick 9: Nine Capitals of the United States | Mental Floss
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Four Supervisory Correctional Officers at Angola Prison Sentenced for Beating a Handcuffed and Shackled Inmate 07/06/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Four former supervisory correctional officers at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, Louisiana — Daniel Davis (43), Scotty Kennedy (52), John Sanders (34), and James Savoy Jr. (42) — were sentenced on July 2, for their roles in assaulting an inmate who was handcuffed, shackled, and not resisting, and for conspiring to cover up their misconduct by devising a false cover story, submitting false reports documenting that cover story, tampering with witnesses, and lying under oath.
Justice Department Settles with Florida-Based Promotional Products Distributor and Retailer to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims 07/06/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement with Bel USA LLC (Bel USA), an online distributor and retailer of customized promotional products located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The settlement resolves claims that Bel USA discriminated against work-authorized non-U.S. citizens by requiring them to provide specific and unnecessary immigration documents when verifying their work authorization, because of their citizenship or immigration status.
West Virginia Woman Admits to Willful Retention of Top Secret National Defense Information and International Parental Kidnapping 07/06/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Elizabeth Jo Shirley, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, has admitted to unlawfully retaining a document containing national defense information and committing international parental kidnapping, the Department of Justice announced.
Two Defendants Charged for Their Role in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Former High-Ranking Government Official in Panama 07/06/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares (Luis Martinelli Linares) and Ricardo Alberto Martinelli Linares (Ricardo Martinelli Linares) for their roles in a massive bribery and money laundering scheme involving Odebrecht S.A. (Odebrecht), a Brazil-based global construction conglomerate.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
The scientific method is an empirical method of acquiring knowledge that has characterized the development of science since at least the 17th century. It involves careful observation, applying rigorous skepticism about what is observed, given that cognitive assumptions can distort how one interprets the observation. It involves formulating hypotheses, via induction, based on such observations; experimental and measurement-based testing of deductions drawn from the hypotheses; and refinement (or elimination) of the hypotheses based on the experimental findings. These are principles of the scientific method, as distinguished from a definitive series of steps applicable to all scientific enterprises.
Though diverse models for the scientific method are available, there is in general a continuous process that includes observations about the natural world. People are naturally inquisitive, so they often come up with questions about things they see or hear, and they often develop ideas or hypotheses about why things are the way they are. The best hypotheses lead to predictions that can be tested in various ways. The most conclusive testing of hypotheses comes from reasoning based on carefully controlled experimental data. Depending on how well additional tests match the predictions, the original hypothesis may require refinement, alteration, expansion or even rejection. If a particular hypothesis becomes very well supported, a general theory may be developed.
Although procedures vary from one field of inquiry to another, they are frequently the same from one to another. The process of the scientific method involves making conjectures (hypotheses), deriving predictions from them as logical consequences, and then carrying out experiments or empirical observations based on those predictions. A hypothesis is a conjecture, based on knowledge obtained while seeking answers to the question. The hypothesis might be very specific, or it might be broad. Scientists then test hypotheses by conducting experiments or studies. A scientific hypothesis must be falsifiable, implying that it is possible to identify a possible outcome of an experiment or observation that conflicts with predictions deduced from the hypothesis; otherwise, the hypothesis cannot be meaningfully tested.
The purpose of an experiment is to determine whether observations agree with or conflict with the predictions derived from a hypothesis. Experiments can take place anywhere from a garage to CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. There are difficulties in a formulaic statement of method, however. Though the scientific method is often presented as a fixed sequence of steps, it represents rather a set of general principles. Not all steps take place in every scientific inquiry (nor to the same degree), and they are not always in the same order. Wikipedia
Nineteen-year-old Ashima Shiraishi may be one of the most talented rock climbers in the world, but lofty titles aside, she wants kids to know that most of climbing — and life — is “just falling.” Her new book, How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion, is about how she approaches all kinds of obstacles.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
| NASA’s Venus Rover Challenge Winners Announced An overwhelming response to the competition will help advance the design of a mechanical rover concept that could one day explore the hellish surface of Venus. › Read the full story |
| Curiosity Mars Rover’s Summer Road Trip Has Begun After more than a year in a clay-rich region, Curiosity is making a mile-long journey around some deep sand so that it can explore higher up Mount Sharp. › Read the full story |
Black protesters and Boogaloo boys, both carrying weapons but offering radically different visions of America, assembled in Richmond, Va., the former capital of the Confederacy, over the holiday weekend. There’s a legal battle waging over removing the statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, but few here expect it to survive the re-energized anti-racism movement sparked by the killing of George Floyd.
| Nate Boyer: Let’s finish strong, America |
| In this commentary, former Green Beret and professional football player Nate Boyer says it’s halftime for the 2020 season. But just like every coach says: it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Pentagon draft policy would ban Confederate flag displays A draft policy being circulated by Pentagon leaders would ban the display of the Confederate flag in Defense Department workplaces or public areas by service members and civilian personnel. |
| UN NEWS Terrorist groups must not be allowed to exploit ‘fragilities’ caused by global health pandemicAs COVID-19 continues to disrupt the world’s health systems, economies and local communities, the UN Secretary-General on Monday highlighted how the pandemic has laid bare vulnerabilities to “new and emerging forms of terrorism”, such as cyberattacks, bioterrorism and the misuse of digital technology.Peace and Security WHO/P. VirotMove away from outdated ‘mad or bad’ approach to mental illness, urges independent UN expertStates, civil society, psychiatric organizations and the World Health Organization (WHO) itself must change the way they address mental health challenges, a UN independent rights expert said, calling for a shift towards understanding the context behind mental distress. Health© UNICEF/Hiraj SinghUNAIDS report: COVID-19 pandemic derails 2020 HIV targetsHIV targets set for 2020 will not be reached, owing in part to deeply unequal access to antiretroviral therapy and service disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new UNAIDS report released on Monday.Health MONUSCOA sustainable future for all depends on ‘resolve to act together in solidarity’The United Nations vision for a sustainable future for all “will depend on our policy choices today, and our resolve to act together in solidarity”, a senior UN official told delegates on Monday at a meeting to discuss post-pandemic recovery.SDGs MONUSCO/Michael AliRestoring dignity to victims of sexual abuse and exploitation by UN personnelProjects supported by a UN trust fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, are helping victims to regain their dignity, learn new skills, and improve their livelihoods.Women ILRI/Barbara WielandNew UN report outlines ways to curb growing spread of animal-to-human diseasesAs the battle against COVID-19 rages, the world can expect to see other diseases that pass from animals to humans emerge, according to a new UN report launched on Monday, which maintains that there is still time to head off potential zoonotic pandemics.Health |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
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President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Holds Hearing on Accreditation and Community Engagement 07/07/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Department of Justice Awards $2.2 Million for Innovative Community Policing Projects 07/07/2020 12:00 AM EDT
| DEFENSE NEWS- Today’s Top 5 |
| 5. Harker takes over as acting Pentagon comptroller (Defense News) Thomas Harker, the current U.S. Navy comptroller, has been named the acting comptroller for the Pentagon. |
1-2 P.M. PDT
Exploring Mars Science With the Perseverance Rover
In this one-hour live workshop, we’ll get an in-depth look at how Perseverance will explore the science of Mars, building on our understanding of the Red Planet and preparing for future human missions.
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National Science Foundation
NSF advances materials research and innovation with new centers
Our lives, comfort, and well-being have come to depend on the development of new materials for everything ranging from smart electronics to implantable medical devices. The U.S. National Science Foundation fosters collaboration and innovation among universities, national laboratories, industry, and international scientific organizations through its Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers. These centers work to address critical challenges in material science such as extreme miniaturization, self-folding atomically thin “paper” materials, on-demand assembly of nanoparticles, materials behavior under extreme conditions, and the quantum revolution.
“Materials are enablers of technologies that directly affect people’s lives,” says Dr. Linda Sapochak, director of the Division of Materials Research. “This week, we announce an investment of $198 million to fund 11 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers to forge new discoveries and fuel new technologies.”
NSF is establishing three new centers and an additional eight successfully recompeted for funding this year in emerging fields such as quantum materials and synthetic biology.
The new centers include:
- University of Delaware Center for Hybrid, Active, and Responsive Materials, which will synthesize nanomaterials capable of self-assembly and other predesigned properties.
- UC Irvine Center for Materials Discovery will investigate synthetic materials in biological environments and under extreme conditions.
- UC San Diego Materials Research Center will develop biosynthetic materials that integrate engineered living matter with artificial polymers.
The existing centers include:
- Brandeis University Center for Bioinspired Soft Materials seeks to mimic the functions of living cells and tissues using simplified materials.
- Columbia University Center for Precision-Assembled Quantum Materials assembles 2D and smaller structures to discover and measure emergent properties.
- Harvard University Materials Research Center studies self-assembly and stimulus-response activity in soft materials.
- Ohio State University Center for Emergent Materials researches novel computer and information storage technologies by studying electron-spin.
- Penn State University Center for Nanoscale Science works on fabrication of nanomaterials with optical and electrical functions.
- Princeton University Center for Complex Materials studies insulators, semiconductors, polymers, and quantum computing.
- University of Chicago Materials Research Center focuses on how the structure and fabrication of a material impacts how it responds to stimuli.
- University of Minnesota Materials Research Center designs and studies electrical properties in novel materials.
These centers create opportunities that extend well beyond the fundamental science they pursue by contributing to the education and development of a future science and engineering workforce. Together, these facilities comprise a diverse network of instrumentation that broadly spans current materials research needs in academic, government, and industrial laboratories around the world.
Results from materials research at the centers are poised to have ripple effects across the scientific community and industry. Future developments in sectors like biotechnology, energy and computing, and even ceramics and everyday plastics and foams will benefit from the practical application of cutting-edge materials research.
More information about Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers can be found on NSF’s website, or at mrsec.org .
| ‘New dynamic’ needed to overcome negative impacts of COVID-19 worldwide The dramatic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, have laid bare “weaknesses in our systems and societies”, a top official told the UN’s key international forum on sustainable development which began on Tuesday, warning that “a new dynamic” is needed to overcome the negative shocks. SDGs© UNICEF/Karin SchermbruckerWorld must do better to prevent children ‘dying needlessly’ from AIDS-related illnessesDespite progress in the global battle against HIV, the response on behalf of children has fallen behind, the UN agency leading the fight to stamp out the virus said on Tuesday.Health ILO/Yacine ImadalouWHO to issue new brief on airborne transmission, following ‘active engagement’ with scientistsThe World Health Organization (WHO) is set to issue a brief on the modes of transmission of the new coronavirus, a senior official said on Tuesday.Health WHO/SyriaFresh evidence of war crimes committed by all sides in Syrian conflict, probe findsHospitals, schools and homes have all been targeted during Syria’s brutal and long-running conflict, said UN-appointed investigators, who on Tuesday condemned likely fresh war crimes committed by all parties.Human Rights UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeHuman rights through peacekeeping essential factor in beating coronavirusThe UN human rights chief is calling for greater investment in the human rights components of peace operations – not least to monitor the impact of efforts to contain the global COVID-19 pandemic.Peace and Security FAOIndependent rights expert speaks of ‘anguish, stress and disempowerment’ of povertyMore than 70 million people are expected to fall into extreme poverty because of COVID-19, the UN Human Rights Council heard on Tuesday, as a leading rights expert slammed “greatly exaggerated” claims of global poverty eradication between 1990 and 2015.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
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Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Launch of Operation Legend 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Narcotics Bureau of Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that it has found reasonable cause to believe the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield, Massachusetts, Police Department (SPD) engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The investigation was conducted pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 and was announced on April 13, 2018
Readout of Roundtable Events with Attorney General Barr and Senator Tim Scott in Columbia, South Carolina 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Oklahoma City Hospital, Management Company, And Physician Group To Pay $77.2 Million To Settle Federal And State False Claims Act Allegations Arising From Improper Payments To Referring Physicians 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Oklahoma Center for Orthopaedic and Multi-Specialty Surgery (OCOM), a specialty hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, its part-owner and management company, USP OKC, Inc. and USP OKC Manager, Inc. (collectively USP), Southwest Orthopaedic Specialists, PLLC (SOS), an Oklahoma City-based physician group, and two SOS physicians, will pay $77.2 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act and the Oklahoma Medicaid False Claims Act of improper relationships between OCOM and SOS, resulting in the submission of false claims to the Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE programs, the Justice Department announced today.
American Contractor Pleads Guilty to Stealing Government Equipment on U.S. Military Base in Afghanistan 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
An American military contractor pleaded guilty today to his role in a theft ring on a military installation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A U.S. Army soldier was sentenced today to life in prison for aggravated sexual assault of a minor, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon Jr of the Eastern District of North Carolina announced.
Kansas Man Sentenced for Killing a Woman on a Cruise Ship 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Kansas man was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for murdering his longtime girlfriend during a cruise from Florida to the Bahamas in January 2018.
American Man Charged with Exploiting Children in Laos 07/08/2020 12:00 AM EDT
An American citizen was arrested and charged yesterday in connection with exploiting teenage boys in Laos.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
Politics
How the Trump campaign hopes to boost Black voter turnout
Blood-based biomarker can detect, predict severity of traumatic brain injury
| A study from the National Institutes of Health confirms that neurofilament light chain as a blood biomarker can detect brain injury and predict recovery in multiple groups, including professional hockey players with acute or chronic concussions and clinic-based patients with mild, moderate, or severe traumatic brain injury. The research was conducted by scientists at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, and published in the July 8, 2020, online issue of Neurology. |  |
NfL outperforms other blood tests to predict and diagnose traumatic brain injury
| A study from the National Institutes of Health showed that neurofilament light chain (NfL) delivered superior diagnostic and prognostic performance as a blood biomarker for mild, moderate, and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) when compared to blood proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein, tau, and ubiquitin c-terminal hydrolase-L1. The research was conducted by scientists at the NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, and published in the July 8, 2020, online issue of Neurology. |
NIMH: Outdoor light linked with teens’ sleep and mental health
Large-scale study of U.S. teens shows associations between outdoor, artificial light at night and health outcomes
| Research shows that adolescents who live in areas that have high levels of artificial light at night tend to get less sleep and are more likely to have a mood disorder relative to teens who live in areas with low levels of night-time light. The research was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, and is published in JAMA Psychiatry. Learn more |
| VERITAS: Exploring the Deep Truths of Venus Under consideration to become the next Discovery Program mission, VERITAS would reveal the inner workings of Earth’s mysterious “twin.” › Read the full story |
| 7 Things to Know About the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission NASA’s next rover to the Red Planet is slated to launch no earlier than July 30. These highlights will get you up to speed on the ambitious mission. › Read the full story |
| Comet NEOWISE Sizzles as It Slides by the Sun, Providing a Treat for Observers Catch the comet in the morning sky until July 11, after which you can find it just after sunset until mid-August. › Read the full story |
| NASA’s InSight Flexes Its Arm While Its ‘Mole’ Hits Pause Now that the lander’s robotic arm has helped the mole get underground, it will resume science activities that have been on hold. › Read the full story |
| Building NASA’s Psyche: Design Done, Now Full Speed Ahead on Hardware The mission to explore a metal-rich asteroid is pivoting from planning the details to building real pieces of the spacecraft puzzle. › Read the full story |
| Keeping a Steady Eye on Sea Level Change From Space The Sentinel-6/Jason-CS satellite mission will add to a long-term sea level dataset that’s become the gold standard for climate studies from orbit. › Read the full story |
| Illegal trade in fake or faulty COVID-19 products booming, new UN research revealsA surge in demand for medical products to combat COVID-19 has led to a jump in the trafficking of substandard and faulty merchandise, according to new UN research published on Wednesday. Health ILO/E. RaboanalyUN chief highlights need for decent jobs to fuel COVID-19 recoveryMore than 50 Heads of State and government, alongside global employers’ and trade union leaders, have been taking part in an online discussion on Wednesday looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world of work.Economic Development OCHA/Giles ClarkeTime is running out for Libya, UN chief warns Security CouncilWith battle lines shifting, foreign interference growing, thousands fleeing their homes and COVID-19 cases on the rise, time is running out for bringing a peaceful end to the conflict in Libya, Secretary-General António Guterres says.Peace and Security© World Bank/Stephan BachenheimerIdentify and address ‘real needs’ to recover from COVID-19, UN rights expert urgesThere is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in “a serious setback” for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an independent UN human rights expert said on Wednesday, urging a high-level meeting to “take a hard look” at implementation efforts to live up to the promise to leave no one behind.SDGs UNMISS/Isaac BillyUN expert calls for end to gender-based violence against women journalistsWomen journalists face particular dangers while going about their work, an independent UN expert told the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday, saying that Governments should do more to protect them. Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
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President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Holds Hearing on Trust and Respect for Law Enforcement via Teleconference 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Proposed Settlement with United States and Major Fertilizer Producer will Reduce Acidic Wastewater Generation and Enhance Phosphate Recovery 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a settlement with J.R. Simplot Company and its subsidiary, Simplot Phosphates LLC (Simplot), involving Simplot’s Rock Springs, Wyoming, manufacturing facility
Four Former Corrections Officers Sentenced For Violating Inmates Civil Rights 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Four former corrections officers at the Jackson County Detention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for their roles in violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by beating the inmate without any legal justification.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Wildlife 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Texas man pleaded guilty today in federal court in the Western District of Texas on charges of conspiring to traffic thousands of live reptiles, amphibians, and birds, valued in excess of $3.5 million.
Researcher Charged with Illegally Using U.S. Grant Funds to Develop Scientific Expertise for China 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A rheumatology professor and researcher with strong ties to China has been ordered held without bond to face a charge of grant fraud for not disclosing that he was engaged in a sophisticated scheme to use approximately $4.1 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop China’s expertise in the areas of rheumatology and immunology. He is also charged with making false statements about maintaining employment in China at the same time he was employed at universities in the United States, including The Ohio State University.
American Contractor Charged as Part of Theft Ring Responsible for Stealing Government Equipment from U.S. Military Base in Afghanistan 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A three-count indictment was returned today in the Eastern District of Virginia, charging an American military contractor for her alleged role in a theft ring on a military installation in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Former CEO of Tennessee Pain Management Company Sentenced for Role in Approximately $4 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Tennessee healthcare executive was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release today for his role in an approximately $4 million kickback scheme.
San Diego, California Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For His Role In Million Dollar Scheme Targeting Thousands Of U.S. Servicemembers And Veterans 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A federal judge in San Antonio sentenced 32-year-old Trorice Crawford of San Diego, California, to 46 months in federal prison for his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans, the Department of Justice announced today.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 4. House Democrats call on military to end ban on transgender service (Military Times) More than 100 House Democrats are calling for an end to the military’s ban on open transgender service. |
Nice Catch!
The variety of fishing techniques displayed by brown bears demonstrates their skill, individuality, adaptability, and most of all, how they attempt to sate their tremendous hunger.
12 pm PT / 3 pm ET on the Brooks Live Chat Channel for a discussion about bear fishing techniques, hosted by resident naturalist Mike Fitz and Katmai Ranger Naomi Boak!
Making a Difference
Water for Tomorrow
The largest freshwater aquifer in the world, the Ogallala, has been an entire generation’s primary source for agricultural and public groundwater in eastern Colorado and six Great Plains states. Ninety percent of its pumped water is used for irrigation, making a fifth of the annual U.S. agricultural harvest possible, and helping support 30 percent of livestock produced in the nation. Since 2016, a Colorado State University-led consortium of eight western universities has worked tirelessly to address these very challenges. The team of experts, students, and partners was formed through a $10 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Water for Agriculture Challenge program. The USDA-funded work aimed to foster engagement with the people most affected by the declining water supply – the farmers and producers who rely on it and who, above all others, are dedicated to saving it. For more information, read the Colorado State University article.
Water drop close up. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
| Elevate Security, in partnership with SANS Security Awareness is hosting a live webcast 12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET. Sign up now to learn a new approach to human risk metrics. What’s the largest unaddressed gap in security? Solving for human-risk! But security teams can’t change what they don’t measure. Join Lance Spitzner, director at SANS Security Awareness and me (Masha Sedova, Co-Founder, Elevate Security) for an interactive discussion on how to gather and communicate human-centric risk metrics to not only make a measurable impact on your organization but foster a positive feedback loop to improve your overall security posture.  |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATED HEALTH Health and Wellness Information Spanish-Language Resources From NCCIH |
| Many of NCCIH’s resources are available in Spanish as well as English. Visit our website to read the Spanish versions of:Our news update on “alternative” treatments for coronavirus (Noticias: El coronavirus y los tratamientos “alternativos”)The Know the Science health literacy toolkit (Conozca la ciencia)Fact sheets on health topics such as cancer, colds and flu, diabetes, and weight control. Find out more |
| NASA’s Perseverance Rover Attached to Atlas V Rocket Ready for its launch later in the month, the Mars-bound rover will touch terra firma no more. › Read the full story |
| NASA’s Deep Space Station in Australia Is Getting an Upgrade Used for communicating with distant spacecraft, a massive radio antenna is being retrofitted to prepare it for a busy future of solar system exploration. › Read the full story |
Reggae classic ‘One Love’ re-issued to help children upended by COVID crisis
Jamaican reggae artist and musician Ziggy Marley pledges his support for ‘Say Yes for Children’ while visiting UN Headquarters
| Address ‘unprecedented’ impact of coronavirus on Latin America and the Caribbean, urges GuterresAs COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the world, Latin America and the Caribbean have become a “hotspot of the pandemic”, the UN chief said on Thursday, releasing a new policy initiative on how best to recover in a region already embroiled in poverty, hunger, unemployment and inequality. Health UN NewsAll drone strikes ‘in self-defence’ should go before Security Council, argues independent rights expertThe growing use of weaponised drones risks destabilising global peace and security and creating a “drone power club” among nations, that face no effective accountability for deploying them as part of their “war on terror”, a senior UN-appointed independent rights expert said on Thursday.Human Rights© UNICEF/Yareidy PerdomoGlobal Acceleration Framework to speed up water and sanitation access for allA new mechanism launched on Thursday aims to speed up action so that people everywhere will have access to water and sanitation by the end of the decade, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).SDGs© World Bank/Curt CarnemarkIntercommunal violence, terrorist attacks inflame tensions in West AfricaIntercommunal violence and persistent attacks by extremists, continue to undermine peace and security across West Africa, the UN’s top official in the region warned the Security Council on Thursday, calling for sustained engagement with all partners to urgently advance a holistic approach to peace.Peace and Security© UNICEF/Nicole ToutounjiReggae classic ‘One Love’ re-issued to help children upended by COVID crisisThe iconic Bob Marley song One Love is to be re-released with the blessing of the musician’s family to support children whose lives have been upended by COVID-19, the UN said on Thursday.Humanitarian Aid UN Photo/John IsaacUN chief underscores need for reconciliation 25 years after Srebrenica genocideTwenty-five years after the Srebrenica genocide, peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains fragile, underscoring the need for true reconciliation in the region, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday in a video message marking the anniversary of the worst atrocity crime in Europe, since the Second World War.Peace and Security UN News/John KibegoRefugees in Africa ‘even more vulnerable than ever’ amid COVID crisisMillions of refugees across Africa face even greater food insecurity because of aid disruption and rising food prices linked to the COVID-19 crisis, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.Humanitarian Aid |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/10 –
Department of Justice Antitrust Division to Host Workshop on Competition in the Licensing of Public Performance Rights in the Music Industry 07/10/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Department of Justice will hold a virtual public workshop on July 28th and 29th, 2020, to discuss competition in the licensing of public performance rights in the music industry. The workshop will provide a further venue for industry stakeholders to weigh in on the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) consent decrees and their implications for antitrust law enforcement and policy as we enter the third decade of the 21st Century and as music distribution continues to evolve through technological innovation.
Compounding Pharmacy Mogul Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering 07/10/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Mississippi businessman pleaded guilty Thursday for his role in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud TRICARE, the health care benefit program serving U.S. military, veterans, and their respective family members, as well as private health care benefit programs, by paying kickbacks to practitioners and distributors for the prescribing and referring of fraudulent prescriptions for not medically necessary compounded medications that were ultimately dispensed by his pharmacies, as well as for his role in a scheme to launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme.
Florida Man Charged with COVID Relief Fraud and Health Care Fraud 07/10/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Florida man was arrested today on allegations that he fraudulently sought several Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and that he participated in a scheme to defraud Medicare of at least $5.6 million. It is further alleged that a portion of the PPP loan proceeds were potentially used in furtherance of the Medicare fraud scheme.
Antitrust Division Applauds New International Leniency Guidelines 07/10/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Antitrust Division helped lead the International Competition Network (ICN) initiative on cross-border leniency cooperation to fight international price fixing cartels. The ICN released the “Guidance on Enhancing Cross-Border Leniency Cooperation,” a year-long effort undertaken by the ICN’s Cartel Working Group. The guidance document is designed to assist competition agencies around the globe in engaging and cooperating with their international counterparts when dealing with leniency applicants and other cooperating companies in cross-border investigations.
Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen Delivers Remarks at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 07/09/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Thank you John McNesby. It is a tremendous honor for me to join Vice President Pence before this lodge of one of the most respected law enforcement organizations in the nation. The Fraternal Order of Police was founded over a century ago with the motto “Jus, Fidus, Libertatum” – “Law is a Safeguard of Freedom.” At the U.S. Department of Justice, we live by that compass as well.
Universal Health Services, Inc. And Related Entities To Pay $122 Million To Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating To Medically Unnecessary Inpatient Behavioral Health Services And Illegal Kickbacks 07/10/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Universal Health Services, Inc., UHS of Delaware, Inc.(together, UHS), and Turning Point Care Center, LLC (Turning Point), a UHS facility located in Moultrie, Georgia, have agreed to pay a combined total of $122 million to resolve alleged violations of the False Claims Act for billing for medically unnecessary inpatient behavioral health services, failing to provide adequate and appropriate services, and paying illegal inducements to federal healthcare beneficiaries, the Department of Justice announced today. UHS owns and provides management and administrative services to nearly 200 acute care inpatient psychiatric hospitals and residential psychiatric and behavioral treatment facilities nationwide. UHS is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| Summer Movies are here |
| This is the event you’ve been waiting for! Epic movies drop every Friday. Solo: A Star Wars Story and X-Men: Days of Future Past just added. Check Disney+ weekly for more exciting releases. |
| Start Streaming |
The Weeknd Crossword:
A lightly challenging puzzle.
10 am PT / 1 pm ET
An exciting special broadcast with Misi Stine from the International Wolf Center to discuss the multiple wolf sightings witnessed this year at Brooks Falls.
| Twitter users are calling for a boycott of Goya Foods[as well as Facebook😒], a brand most known for its Hispanic-staple food offerings, after the CEO of the company lavished praise on President Trump during a Thursday visit to the White House. A new Black Lives Matter mural has been painted in New York City in front of Trump Tower. The president called the project “a symbol of hate.” On Thursday, Florida and Texas set record daily high numbers of people who have died from COVID-19. In Arizona, health officials say the daily coronavirus count has doubled in the past two weeks, and the state’s governor is telling restaurants that they can still operate, but at half capacity. The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that about half of the land in Oklahoma is within a Native American reservation — a decision that will have major consequences for both past and future criminal and civil cases. The court’s decision hinged on the question of whether the Creek reservation continued to exist after Oklahoma became a state. The ruling was applauded by tribes, but government officials say it could cause confusion in the legal system. A 24-year-old Black man found hanging from a tree in a park in Southern California last month died by suicide, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office said Thursday. The conclusion outraged Robert Fuller’s family, who insisted that he would not take his own life. The case spurred protests in the city of Palmdale as people called for an independent investigation by California’s attorney general into what many believed was a lynching. |
CULTURE
The Woman Who Made the Best Action Movie of 2020
Gina Prince-Bythewood talks about her new superhero film, Netflix’s The Old Guard, and how women are changing the genre.DAVID SIMS
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is said to be one of several candidates under consideration as Joe Biden’s presidential running mate. Bottoms was an early Biden supporter, and during the pandemic and protests, she caught the eye of many across the country.
Listen here or
Summer Quilts – Weekend Stay-cation Special 50% off
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| hit 12 millionCOVID-19 cases globally have more than doubled in the past six weeks, reaching 12 million on Friday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has reported.Health© UNICEF/Ali AlmatarSyria: Authorization to continue lifesaving cross-border aid remains in limboWith the deadline just hours away, the Security Council has failed on its third attempt this week to extend its authorization for lifesaving food, medicine and shelter to cross into northwest Syria from Turkey.Humanitarian Aid UNODC‘Strengthen multilateralism’ to combat global terrorismAlthough COVID-19 has tested “national resilience, international solidarity and multilateral cooperation”, we must not “pause our efforts” in the battle against terrorism, the UN counter-terrorism chief said on Friday.Peace and Security UNEP/Natalia MrozWildlife crime putting environment and health at risk: UN reportThe COVID-19 pandemic shows how wildlife crime is a threat not only to the environment but to human health, according to a new UN report issued on Friday.Law and Crime Prevention UN News/Jing ZhangUNESCO expresses deep regret over Turkey decision to change status of historic Hagia SophiaAs the Turkish President signed a decree on Friday converting the ancient Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque, the UN cultural agency (UNESCO) said that it “deeply regrets the decision” made “without prior discussion”, having earlier in the day called on the State to abide by its “legal commitments and obligations” in accordance with it’s status as a museum, on the World Heritage List.Culture and Education UNICEFFLebanon ‘fast spiralling out of control’ leaving many destitute and facing starvation, warns Bachelet Sounding the alarm over the crippling impact of “growing economic shocks, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic” in Lebanon, the UN human rights chief called on Friday for a unified response by politicians and the people to overcome the worsening socio-economic crisis there. Humanitarian Aid WFP/Marco FrattiniFinding hope in calamity: how UN humanitarians cope on the frontlineWhat does it take to help the world’s most vulnerable people, often in dangerous and unstable situations, and at considerable personal risk? In the latest season of the award-winning UN podcast, Awake At Night, host Melissa Fleming speaks to some of the Organization’s most prominent humanitarians to find out what motivates them, and how they cope.Humanitarian Aid WFP/Mohammed AwadhWaiting to declare famine ‘will be too late for Yemenis on brink of starvation’In Yemen, fears of famine have resurfaced as UN humanitarians also warned on Friday that 360,000 severely malnourished children could die unless they continue to get treatment and aid is stepped up. In an urgent appeal for funding, the World Food Programme (WFP) said that it needs $200 million per month to maintain assistance in the war-torn country.Humanitarian Aid |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/11 –
Inside Pro Skateboarder Nyjah Huston’s Zen Laguna Beach Pad
The world’s highest-paid skater went from a crash pad full of friends to this modern five-bedroom with breathtaking views
Photography by Mikael Kennedy
This Hashtag Unlocked $15 Billion of Lost Wages Due to Cancelled Orders From Gap, Levi’s, and Other Brands
BY BROOKE BOBB
| Two Bizarre Brown Dwarfs Found With Citizen Scientists’ Help Data from NASA’s NEOWISE mission, managed by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, fuels the search for these not-quite-planets-but-not-quite-stars. › Read the full story |
| Join NASA for the Launch of the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover No matter where you live, choose from a menu of activities to join NASA as we “Countdown to Mars” and launch the Perseverance rover to the Red Planet. › Read the full story |
| NASA’s AIRS Monitors Tropical Storm Fay as It Deluges the East Coast From its vantage point aboard the Aqua satellite, the instrument maps how much moisture the storm’s clouds contain. › Read the full story |
These 13 Buildings Redefined Architecture in the Past 5 Years
From Santiago Calatrava’s Oculus to the Louvre Abu Dhabi by Jean Nouvel, these structures go above and beyond their vertical height in redefining the ever-changing world of architecture
By Nick Mafi
Condé Nast Spotlight
TEEN VOGUEIf You Feel Like You’re Living in a Dream, You Might Be Dissociating
THE NEW YORKERHow Can the Press Best Serve a Democratic Society?
In the nineteen-forties, a panel of scholars struggled over truth in reporting, the marketplace of ideas, and the maintenance of a free and responsible press. Their deliberations are more relevant than ever.
PITCHFORKJAY-Z, Yo Gotti, and Team ROC File Lawsuit Over Mississippi Prison Conditions
The class action complaint details subpar hygiene protocols, lack of proper healthcare, and more at Mississippi State Penitentiary Parchman
THEM.Supreme Court Ruling Allows Religious Schools to Discriminate Against LGBTQ+ Teachers
The move precludes religious institutions from having to follow anti-discrimination laws for many employees.
VOGUESojin Oh’s 3-D Nail Art Takes Its Cues From Nature
SELF7 Ways You Could Accidentally Be Making Your IBS Worse
VANITY FAIRInside the Epic One-Shot Finale of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
WIREDHow Mysterious Protest Messages Have Filled the Skies
Spotlight: Racism in America
THE NEW YORKER“Do You Think You’re Not Involved?” The Racial Reckoning of “Blood at the Root”
SELFThis Black History Bootcamp Might Help You Tap Into Joyful Resistance
WIREDHow Mysterious Protest Messages Have Filled the Skies
VANITY FAIRJeff Bezos To Amazon Staff: No More TikTok
Spotlight: The Latest on The Coronavirus
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELERRio de Janeiro Beaches Will Remain Closed Until There’s a Vaccine
GLAMOURDunkin’ Donuts Will Close 450 Stores by the End of This Year
| How the new coronavirus surges compare to New York City’s peak |
| COVID-19 has been described as a once-in-a-century pandemic, with New York City as the iconic early epicenter for the U.S. Now, as coronavirus surges across the country, many places are moving toward a New York-style crisis—and not only in urban areas. |
| SEE THE DATA SEE THE MAP |
7/12 –
Various practioners of meditation: The HinduSwami Vivekananda, the Buddhist monk Hsuan Hua, Taoist Baduanjin Qigong, the Christian St Francis, the Stoic sage Epictetus and Muslim Sufis in Dhikr.
Not to be confused with mediation or medication.
Meditation
is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Scholars have found meditation difficult to define, as practices vary both between traditions and within them.
Meditation has been practiced since 1500 BCE antiquity in numerous religious traditions, often as part of the path towards enlightenment and self realization. The earliest records of meditation (Dhyana) come from the Hindu traditions of Vedantism, and meditation has a long tradition of being a practice in Hinduism. Since the 19th century, Asian meditative techniques have spread to other cultures where they have also found application in non-spiritual contexts, such as business and health.
Meditation may be used with the aim of reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and increasing peace, perception, self-concept, and well-being. Meditation is under research to define its possible health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other effects.
Etymology
The English meditation is derived from Old French meditacioun, in turn from Latin meditatio from a verb meditari, meaning “to think, contemplate, devise, ponder”. The use of the term meditatio as part of a formal, stepwise process of meditation goes back to the 12th century monk Guigo II.
Apart from its historical usage, the term meditation was introduced as a translation for Eastern spiritual practices, referred to as dhyāna in Hinduism and Buddhism and which comes from the Sanskrit root dhyai, meaning to contemplate or meditate. The term “meditation” in English may also refer to practices from Islamic Sufism, or other traditions such as Jewish Kabbalah and Christian Hesychasm.
7/13 –
Washington, D.C. General Contractor Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud 07/13/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The owner of a residential construction contracting firm based in Washington, D.C. was charged with allegedly submitting fraudulent documents to a bank in connection with applications seeking more than $400,000 in a forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
¬Twenty-Seven Skilled Nursing Facilities Controlled By Longwood Management Corporation To Pay $16.7 Million To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations 07/13/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Longwood Management Corporation and 27 affiliated skilled nursing facilities (Longwood) have agreed to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare for rehabilitation therapy services that were not reasonable or necessary, the Department of Justice announced today. Longwood is headquartered in California and the 27 skilled nursing facilities are also located in California.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| HAMILTON |
| Now Streaming on Disney+ |
| Hamilton sold out on Broadway, night after night. But now, you have the best seat in the house to stream this exclusive performance, captured live on stage. |
| Start Streaming |
GetCountedNY
Did you complete the census yet?
New York urges you to be part of our complete count effort, which will ensure census data is accurate. It’s quick and simple to participate, and it can even be done online now. Don’t be anonymous. Make sure you are counted in the 2020 U.S. Census, and encourage friends, family and co-workers to participate as well. Census data is an important tool that will help shape our future, and an accurate tally will help ensure everyone counts when it comes to key decisions impacting our future.
| UN report sends ‘sobering message’ of deeply entrenched hunger globallyIn much of the world, “hunger remains deeply entrenched and is rising”, the UN chief said on Monday, launching this year’s major UN food security update, highlighting that over the past five years, tens of millions of people have joined the ranks of the chronically undernourished.Health© UNICEF/Vincent TremeauCities and local government must focus on well-being of people in developing countriesWhile the scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt in developing and developed countries alike, the President of the UN General Assembly maintained on Monday that the response must focus on “the two-thirds of the world’s population at risk of being left behind”. SDGs UN Photo/Catianne TijerinaUN condemns deadly attack against peacekeepers in Central African RepublicA UN peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and two others were wounded in a deadly attack in the Central African Republic on Monday.Peace and Security© UNICEF/Shiraaz Mohamed‘Don’t make schools a political football’: senior WHO official calls for data-based COVID-19 strategiesA senior World Health Organization (WHO) official on Monday, called for the question of school reopenings to be included as part of comprehensive, data-driven COVID-19 public health strategies, and not a politically-driven decision-making process.Health© UNHCR/Socrates BaltagiannisCOVID-19: UN and partners work to ensure learning never stops for young refugeesGlobal advocates for refugees are pushing to ensure the COVID-19 pandemic does not derail efforts for displaced children and young people to continue learning and eventually return to a real classroom.Migrants and Refugees© UNICEF/Omar AlbamWomen and girls deserve more protection in emergencies, UN rights council hearsThe collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN’s deputy rights chief said on Monday.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/14 –
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on the Execution of Daniel Lewis Lee 07/14/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Texas Man Charged with COVID Relief Fraud 07/14/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Texas man has been taken into custody on allegations he fraudulently obtained more than $1.1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas.
San Antonio Tax Preparer Indicted for False Returns 07/14/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A federal grand jury in Waco, Texas, returned an indictment today charging a San Antonio tax preparer with aiding in the preparation of false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John F. Bash for the Western District of Texas.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
Expanding the talent base engaged in mathematical research
Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, act as incubators to tackle problems ranging from health care and economics to data science and artificial intelligence. By engaging multiple research communities, the institutes enable the field of mathematics to respond quickly to national needs.
Algebraic Computer Vision Advances the 3D Reconstruction of Curves and Surfaces from Multiple Views
SAMSI Blog: Where are you Gonna go when the Volcano blow?
Accelerating molecular dynamics to reach unprecedented simulation times with atomistic accuracy
Establishing a Theoretical Understanding of Machine Learning
Why Zebrafish (Almost) Always Have Stripes
The Secret Life of Red Blood Cells Revealed Through Topological Data Analysis
Magnetic Bottles for Fusion Energy
Gender Differences in Binge Drinking
Prevalence, Predictors, and Consequences
Richard W. Wilsnack, Sharon C. Wilsnack, Gerhard Gmel, and Lori Wolfgang Kantor
Richard W. Wilsnack, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Sharon C. Wilsnack, Ph.D., is the Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Gerhard Gmel, Ph.D., is a professor, University of Lausanne, and is affiliated with the Alcohol Treatment Center, University of Lausanne Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. He is also an invited professor, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
Lori Wolfgang Kantor, M.A., is a science writer at CSR, Incorporated.
Just as binge drinking rates differ for men and women, the predictors and consequences of binge drinking vary by gender as well. This article examines these differences and how binge drinking definitions and research samples and methods may influence findings. It also describes the relationship between age and binge drinking among men and women, and how drinking culture and environment affect this relationship. It examines gender-specific trends in binge drinking, predictors of binge drinking for men and women, and binge drinking in the context of smoking. The article reviews current findings on gender differences in the health consequences of binge drinking, including morbidity and mortality, suicidality, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, liver disorders, and brain and neurocognitive implications. It also discusses gender differences in the behavioral and social consequences of binge drinking, including alcohol-impaired driving, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence, and includes implications for treatment and prevention.
Key words: Alcohol and other drugs (AODs); AOD associated consequences; binge AOD use; gender differences; physical health; predictive factors
| The Picture Show AMERICA RECKONS WITH RACIAL INJUSTICE Richmond, Va., Photographer Watches Familiar Anger Resurface In Recent Protests LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO For the past month, as anti-racism protesters across America have revived the campaign for the removal of statues, many eyes have focused on Richmond, Va. — the former capital of the Confederacy. Richmond is home to Monument Avenue, a long stretch with towering statues dedicated to Confederate figures like Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. Some of those monuments have been toppled by protesters; others have been taken down by the city. Regina Boone, a photographer for the Richmond Free Press, has been capturing all this action, as well as the violent standoffs between police and protesters. |
After nearly a year wait, St. Augustine 1-year-old gets heart transplant
After waiting in the hospital for most of her life for a heart, 1-year-old Phoebe Friebel finally got that heart early Sunday morning.
After nearly a year wait, St. Augustine one-year-old gets heart transplant Author: Kailey Tracy
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — One-year-old Phoebe Friebel has known nothing other than life in the hospital. She was on the heart transplant list for 342 days. The keyword there is “was.” Early Sunday morning, Phoebe Friebel finally got the heart she’d been waiting for. READ THE FULL STORY
| NASA to Highlight Comet NEOWISE with Public Broadcast, Media Teleconference As Comet NEOWISE begins to dazzle the evening skies, the public and media can pose their astronomy questions to a panel of experts from NASA, JPL, and the NEOWISE mission. › Read the full story |
| 6 Things to Know About NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter The first helicopter attempting to fly on another planet is a marvel of engineering. Get up to speed with these key facts about its plans. › Read the full story |
| NASA Announces Mini Payload Challenge Winners The winners for the JPL-led “Honey, I Shrunk the NASA Payload” challenge have been announced, and the miniature robotic designs could help the agency explore the Moon. › Read the full story |
| ‘Disk Detective’ Needs Your Help Finding Disks Where Planets Form Members of the public can help scientists learn how planets form by sifting through data from NASA’s WISE mission, managed by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. › Read the full story |
| ‘Turn the tide’ across a turbulent world, UN chief urges key development forum “Concrete, bold and implementable solutions” are needed to turn the tide on the many challenges the world is facing, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, on the biggest day so far for the UN’s key international forum on sustainable development. SDGs UN Verification Mission in Colombia/Marcos GuevaraColombia: Killing of rights defenders, social leaders, ex-fighters, most serious threat to peaceThe killing of former combatants, human rights defenders and social leaders of communities devastated by decades of conflict, remains the most serious threat to peace in Colombia since the signing of a landmark peace agreement in 2016, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday, meeting in-person at UN Headquarters in New York, for the first time in four months.Peace and Security© Hadong County, Republic of Korea‘Country-driven’ approach needed to limit COVID-19 damage to food security A ‘business as usual’ approach is no longer an option, the head of the UN agriculture agency said on Tuesday, launching a new plan to move past the coronavirus pandemic.Health ECA‘Women Rise for All’ to shape leadership in pandemic response and recoveryAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic has generated an unprecedented global health, humanitarian and development crisis, it has also revealed the power of women’s leadership, according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General.Women UNAMIDUN-African Union mission working to restore calm after recent Darfur violenceThe joint UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) is working with Sudanese and local authorities to de-escalate tensions following recent violent incidents in two nearby towns, including a deadly attack on a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs).Peace and Security ICJ/Frank van BeekUN top court rules in favour of Qatar in international airspace disputeThe UN’s top court has ruled in favour of Qatar over an airspace dispute involving four other Middle Eastern countries.Peace and Security IOM/R. IbrahimIn Yemen, thousands of Ethiopian migrants stranded, COVID-19 likely widespreadTens of thousands of Ethiopian migrants have been stranded in war-ravaged Yemen where they continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention and exposure to COVID-19 infection, forcible relocation and abuse, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.Peace and Security |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/15 –
Department of Justice Seeks Recovery of Approximately $3.5 Million in Corruption Proceeds Linked to Ex-President of The Gambia 07/15/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking the forfeiture of a Maryland property acquired with approximately $3,500,000 in corruption proceeds by the ex-president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, through a trust set up by his wife, Zineb Jammeh.
The Department of Justice Announces Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leadership 07/15/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Former Federal Corrections Officer Sentenced for Lying to Federal Authorities 07/15/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A former corrections officer with the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Federal Correctional Institution in Petersburg, Virginia (FCI-Petersburg), was sentenced Tuesday to 54 months in prison for willfully making false statements to federal agents during a federal criminal civil rights investigation, announced the Department of Justice
Justice Department Files Civil Action to Shut Down Chicago Area Tax Return Preparer 07/15/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The United States has filed a complaint seeking to bar a Chicago area tax return preparer from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL
NEW YORK
Summer’s here and it’s time to get outside safely and responsibly. During the COVID-19 public health crisis, take the #PlaySmartPlaySafePlayLocal pledge.
PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE — Practice social distancing, wash your hands, wear a mask to protect yourself and others. If it’s crowded, find somewhere else to go.
PLAY LOCAL — Stay close to home and #RecreateLocal in your region — amenities like restrooms and restaurants may not be open.
PLAY SMART — plan ahead. Make a list of alternate destinations and places to visit.
PLAY SAFE — stay home if you’re sick or if you’re part of a vulnerable population.
Check DEC’s website to see the current status of DEC campgrounds.
Job Opportunities
City of Sitka, Alaska
| Heavy Equipment Mechanic | Job Duties | $24 to $26/hr DOE/Q* | July 28, 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Chief | Job Duties | $91,790.40 DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Human Resources Director | Job Duties | $91,790.40 DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Municipal Engineer | Job Duties | $101,233.60 DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Generation System Manager | Job Duties | $106,225.60 DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| TD System Manager | Job Duties | $106,225.60 DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Multi-Service Officer | Job Duties | $23.75/hr DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Dispatch/Records Clerk | Job Duties | $20.98/hrDOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Jail Officer | Job Duties | $20.75/hr DOE/Q* | Open Until Filled |
| Relay/Control Technician | Job Duties | $49.72/hr* | Open Until Filled |
| Journey Line Worker | Job Duties | $49.72/hr* | Open Until Filled |
| *Plus benefits |
Take a Beluga Tour
Hop on the beluga boat! It’s time to go for a wild summer ride. In celebration of Arctic Sea Ice Day, our fabulous Beluga Cams go live this afternoon. Captain Kieran McIver is your capable guide to navigate the arctic waters of Manitoba’s Churchill River.
Check out the Beluga Boat tour schedule for optimum tour planning, and tune in at the Tundra Connections page at 12:00pm EST, 11:00 am CT, (9:00 am PT) for a live kickoff discussion.
Never Stop Learning!
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| ACHIEVING OVERMATCH IN THE DIGITAL BATTLESPACE 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET Join Booz Allen’s defense leaders for a deep dive on information dominance and the emerging technologies that support warfighters in a fully integrated battlespace. In this virtual event, you’ll get insight into the features of the future battlespace—open, smart, at the edge, and secure—and how they will lead to a more ready, lethal, and survivable future force. What you’ll learn: • How future battles will be fought in the digital realm—and how our adversaries are preparing for this future • How the Digital Battlespace vision will drive a new approach for the future of national defense • How designing tactical solutions for the future force will enable the U.S. military to achieve overmatch REGISTER NOW |
| Lives and Legacies of People With Intellectual Disability This unique publication looks at the history of the lives of people with ID and the ways in which they were treated and mistreated by society, and both historical and recent constructs of ID. The authors propose a new moral community, based on the supports that will enable people with ID to live independent lives of their own choosing and pursue and achieve their own goals.Now also available as an E-book! |
 To explore other titles, visit our online bookstore by clicking here. |
Writing for Publication
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Presenters:
LaRon Scott, EdD, BCSE, Virginia Commonwealth University
Frank Symons, PhD, FAAIDD, University of Minnesota
Colleen Thoma, PhD, Viginia Commonwealth University
Jim Thompson, PhD, University of Kansas
The session addresses what professionals in the field need to know about how to be published in a scholarly journal: the elements of a research report needed for journal publication; the types of research and other articles published by the three AAIDD journals; how to determine which journal is the best fit for your work; and the policies and processes involved in publication in scholarly journals in both print and electronic formats. This session will be relevant to the practice of social workers and psychologists who work with people with IDD and their families.
Making a Difference
Purdue University graduate student Josiah Davidson collects a nasal swab from a calf to test for bovine respiratory disease. Photo courtesy Suraj Mohan.
Purdue University Team to Develop Rapid Sensor Technology for Cattle Disease
Bovine respiratory disease, one of the most prevalent and costly illnesses in the beef and dairy industries, accounts for about half of all feedlot deaths in North America and costs producers as much as $900 million a year, according to Purdue University. Quickly diagnosing the illness could improve the well-being of animals and save producers significant money. With current tests, it can take four or more days to deliver results. Purdue University researchers, led by Mohit Verma, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, are developing technology to reduce the diagnosis time to about 30 minutes. Their work is being funded by a $1 million Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems (IDEAS) grant from USDA’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture. For more information, read the Purdue article.
| US Africa Command: Russian mercenaries planted land mines in Libya |
| The U.S. Africa Command said verified photographic evidence shows “indiscriminately placed booby traps and minefields” around the outskirts of Tripoli and all the way east toward the strategic coastal city of Sirte since mid-June. |
| Esper directs services to review racial bias in grooming standards, training and more |
| Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s team has come back with its first recommendations for tackling racial bias in the military. |
| Army and Navy still expect a 2020 football game |
| Despite COVID-19 cancelations across college sports conferences, the Army and Navy academies still expect to face off in 2020. Guilty plea in poisoning deaths of VA patients still leaves lawsuits, lingering questions Families still don’t have a motive for the crimes or answers on whether proper hospital safety protocols were in place. Fight over $7.2B contract could delay privatizing the system for moving troops’ household goods It’s unclear whether this will delay a new system for managing service members’ household goods moves, designed to improve the process. |
Human Rights
An independent UN human rights expert is calling for greater scrutiny of emerging digital technologies which she said are being used to uphold racial inequality, discrimination and intolerance.
| Yemen oil tanker wreck: Time running out to avert ‘looming environmental, economic and humanitarian catastrophe’Time is fast running out for getting a UN team of experts aboard the Yemeni oil storage vessel Safer, before it spills its cargo of 1.148 million barrels of light crude oil into the Red Sea, triggering what would likely be a massive environmental and economic catastrophe, the Security Council heard on Wednesday.Peace and Security© UNFPAConcerns and hopes of Yemenis at heart of UN plans for better futureIn a wide-ranging interview for UN News on Wednesday, Martin Griffiths, the UN’s Special Envoy in Yemen, addresses the protracted peace process in the country, and the enormous challenges that still need to be overcome.Peace and Security ITU/D. ProcofieffIndependent rights expert says emerging technologies entrenching racism, discriminationAn independent UN human rights expert is calling for greater scrutiny of emerging digital technologies which she said are being used to uphold racial inequality, discrimination and intolerance.Human Rights UNICEF/RichFirearms trafficking, ‘enabler and multiplier of violence’ worldwideFirearms trafficking poses a “grave threat” to human life and international security, the UN crime fighting chief said on Wednesday, launching a new report from her agency that sheds light on the dangers of illicit firearms flows.Peace and Security© UNICEF/Samir KarahodaPandemic putting immunization gains at risk, UN agencies warnDisruptions in the delivery of immunization services resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic threaten to unravel global gains in reaching more children and young people with a wider range of vaccines, two UN agencies warned on WednesdayHealth© UNICEF/Shafiqul Alam KironOur ‘new normal’ requires human contact, UN chief tells youth webinar on mental healthHow to adapt and move forward in the new reality of a COVID-19 world was the focus of a UN webinar on Wednesday, which considered how young people can maintain good mental health and a sense of wellbeing.Health© UNICEF/Claudia BergerVenezuela: amputation, extortion and death amidst booming gold mining racketThe Human Rights Council on Wednesday heard damning reports of serious exploitation and abuse of children and indigenous communities in Venezuela, where mining for gold and other minerals is booming.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/16 –
California Man Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A California man was arrested today and charged with fraudulently seeking over $8.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Nicola T. Hanna of the Central District of California
Kentucky Man Sentenced for Role in Concealing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Corporate Contributions to U.S. Senate Campaign 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Kentucky man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in orchestrating a multi-year scheme to funnel more than $200,000 in secret, unlawful corporate contributions into a campaign for United States Senate and for causing the concealment of those contributions from the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Appointment of Prim F. Escalona as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Attorney General William P. Barr announced today the appointment of Prim F. Escalona as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546.
Essentra Fze Admits to North Korean Sanctions and Fraud Violations, Agrees to Pay Fine 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Essentra FZE Company Limited (Essentra FZE), a global supplier of cigarette products and incorporated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has agreed to pay a $665,112 fine and enter into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Justice Department for violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and defrauding the United States in connection with evading U.S. imposed North Korea Sanctions Regulations.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers Delivers Keynote at ACI’s Sixth National Conference on CFIUS: Compliance and Enforcement 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Good morning, and thank you for that kind introduction and the invitation to speak with you. One of the major activities of DOJ’s National Security Division is working with our interagency partners to protect against adversaries that would exploit our country’s open investment climate to harm our national security interests. This conference is devoted to that aspect of our work, and offers an opportunity to engage with the private sector about the threats we face, the steps taken to address those threats.
Attorney General William P. Barr Delivers Remarks on China Policy at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Thank you, Andrew for that very kind introduction and for the excellent work that you and your team have done in protecting the people of the Western District of Michigan. I would like to thank the leadership and staff of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum — especially Director Elaine Didier — for hosting today’s event. I’d also like to offer a special thanks to the Ford Presidential Foundation and Executive Director Joe Calvaruso. Even under normal circumstances, hosting an event can be a challenge, but these days, I know it is especially challenging. Thank you for accommodating us. I am also grateful to you, the audience, for honoring me with your presence today.
Statement by Department of Justice Spokesperson Kerri Kupec on the Execution of Wesley Ira Purkey 07/16/2020 12:00 AM EDT
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
Making inclusive growth a priority for ethnic minorities
As we respond to COVID-19 in the world’s poorest countries, the World Bank firmly believes in a socially equitable response that includes ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples. Here’s why…
CNCS
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) will host a webinar to discuss ideas and solutions for engaging in and leading days of service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope you can join us for this webinar featuring grantees and others who are developing solutions to continue engaging communities through service and promoting continued civic engagement.
Please use the link below to register for the webinar. After you register, you will receive a link by email to use to connect to the webinar.
2-3:30 p.m. ET
Registration link:
https://cncs.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vn4TcKXgShaS6FEKtf3Dag
Webinar ID: 986-7462-5899
Dial in numbers:
- 646-558-8656
- 720-707-2699
- 877-853-5257
- 888-475-4499
Questions, email Engagement@cns.gov.
NASA JPL NEWS
Runaway Star Might Explain Black Hole’s Disappearing Act
› Full image and caption
The telltale sign that the black hole was feeding vanished, perhaps when a star interrupted the feast. The event could lend new insight into these mysterious objects.
Nuclear testing legacy is ‘cruellest’ environmental injustice, warns rights expert.
Licorne nuclear test, 1971, French Polynesia. Photo: The Official CTBTO Photostream
The dangerous legacy of nuclear weapons testing continues to affect many communities, a leading rights expert said on Thursday, on the 75th anniversary of testing in the United States, that heralded the nuclear age.
| COVID-19: UN relief chief urges G20 to step up to avert ‘cascading crises’ in fragile countriesThe COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession are set to trigger the first increase in global poverty in three decades, pushing 265 million people to the point of starvation by the end of the year, the UN’s top humanitarian official warned on Friday.Humanitarian Aid© UNICEF/Yareidy PerdomoWorld off track in meeting 2030 Agenda, UN deputy chief warns, calls for solidarity in COVID-19 recoveryThe world was off track in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, even before the COVID-19 crisis erupted, but can get back on course by increasing investment in public services, showing solidarity on financing, and “reshaping” how people work, learn, live and consume.Climate Change© UNICEF/Jonathan ShadidWHO concerned about growing Ebola outbreak in DR CongoThe World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are concerned about the growing Ebola outbreak in the northwestern province of Equateur, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as they face critical funding gaps amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN health agency said on ThursdayHealth Giles Clarke/ Getty Images ReportageIraq: ISIL’s acts of terror ‘divorced from the values of all faiths’ Religious leaders from communities across Iraq called for greater “healing and reconciliation” during a UN-organized event on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to support survivors of crimes perpetrated by ISIL terrorist fighters. Peace and Security OCHA/Hedinn HalldorssonUN independent expert welcomes UK court decision to allow Shamima Begum to fight for citizenship Radicalized on British soil as a London schoolgirl, an independent UN expert welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling in the United Kingdom on Thursday, to allow 20-year-old Shamima Begum to return home from Syria to challenge the Government’s removal of her citizenship.Human Rights CTBTONuclear testing legacy is ‘cruellest’ environmental injustice, warns rights expertThe dangerous legacy of nuclear weapons testing continues to affect many communities, a leading rights expert said on Thursday, on the 75th anniversary of testing in the United States, that heralded the nuclear age.Human Rights© UNICEF/Alessio RomenziRise in women prisoners and COVID measures, ‘making sentences worse’More than 700,000 women are in prison around the world, and that number is growing much faster than men, the Human Rights Council has heard.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/17 –
Transcript of Attorney General Barr’s Remarks on China Policy at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum 07/17/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Statement by Department of Justice Spokesperson Kerri Kupec on the Execution of Dustin Lee Honken 07/17/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Department of Justice Spokesperson Kerri Kupec has issued the following statement.
Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Announces Virtual Consultations 07/17/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives announced 12 Tribal consultations to occur virtually across the United States in the coming months. American Indians and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high rates of violence. President Trump has called the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans “sobering and heartbreaking.”
Ukrainian Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy and Trafficking of Counterfeit Cancer and Hepatitis Drugs 07/17/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Two citizens of Ukraine have admitted they conspired to smuggle and distribute counterfeit cancer and hepatitis drugs into the United States, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas.
Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security Announce Plan to Restart MPP Hearings 07/17/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) remain committed to resuming removal hearings for aliens subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) as expeditiously as possible. To lend greater certainty in a fluid COVID-19 environment, DHS has maintained close contact with the Department of State (DOS) and the Government of Mexico (GOM) and worked with DOJ to identify public health criteria to determine when hearings may resume swiftly and safely.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
The Weekend Crossword
A lightly challenging puzzle.
By Robyn Weintraub
- Businesses Are Ready to Embrace Remote Work. Employees Aren’t Convinced
- This $2.75 Billion Company Employs Only Remote Workers. Here’s How It Works
- Need to Decide Whether Your Employees Should Work Remotely? Here’s a Handy Guide
- Some college students are creating their own summer jobs: helping their Covid-stricken communities through entrepreneurship. –Inc.
- On Wednesday, a brazen hack breached the Twitter accounts of Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and more in a bitcoin scam. –The New York Times
- This travel startup became profitable during the pandemic, despite its industry’s collapse. Here’s how. –Fast Company
- Local economies keep reopening and re-closing. Take these five steps to prepare for the next cycle. –Inc.
- Vacations aren’t just wellness activities: Giving your employees breaks can cut down on employee theft and fraud. –Inc.
Cameron Albert-Deitch, Reporter, Inc.
| ART NEWS Statue of Black Lives Matter activist removed after one day and more art news READ MORE |
| What to Stream NEW EPISODES3 new episodes to watch, from ‘Real Rap Stories’ to ‘Wack or Woke?’ READ MORE |
| EVENTS What’s streaming this weekend? An ongoing list of art events READ MORE |
| Video of the Day THE ART ASSIGNMENTLearn how to make bread like artist Georgia O’Keeffe WATCH NOW |
| Weekend Plans THEATER + OPERAFrom National Theatre’s ‘Amadeus,’ to the Globe’s ‘Macbeth,’ here are 3 performances you can watch now READ MORE |
| In Case You Missed It VISUALMetropolitan Museum to reopen in August with reduced hours READ MORE |
| News UpdatesSPECIAL REPORTSUpdates from our news teams reporting on the coronavirus READ MORE |
| Dump fuel-hungry AC units to cut years of emissions and save trillions: UN reportA wholesale switch to efficient, “climate-friendly” appliances could make a huge dent in environmentally harmful emissions, says a new UN report released on Friday.Climate Change UN Photo/Nabil MidaniWartime sexual violence a ‘psychological weapon’, sets back cause of peaceSexual violence is used as a war tactic and a political tool to dehumanize, destabilize and forcibly displace populations across the globe, the UN’s expert on the issue told the Security Council on Friday, pressing countries to adopt a survivor-centred approach that ensures victims will not be forgotten.Peace and Security UN Photo/Manuel EliasCOVID-19 highlights need for renewed, inclusive multilateralism: UN chiefWith the COVID-19 pandemic putting development gains at risk, exposing vulnerabilities and inequalities both within and among nations, the UN Secretary-General is urging governments to reexamine how they work together to solve global challenges.SDGs UN Photo/Ariana LindquistMandela Prize awarded to Greek and Guinean rights activistsThe 2020 Nelson Mandela Prize, which is awarded every five years and recognizes those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, will go this year to Marianna Vardinoyannis, of Greece, and Doctor Morissana Kouyaté, of Guinea, it was announced on Friday.Health WFP/Damilola OnafuwaWorld’s poorest being pushed ‘closer to the abyss’ of famine, warns WFP chiefHunger threatens to soar to devastating levels in 25 countries in the coming months due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are warning.SDGs |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/18 –
NASA JPL NEWS
NASA Scientist Over the Moon With Homegrown Radish Research
Time-lapse video taken with and iPhone (Sunday, June 14, 10 a.m. to Thursday, June 18, 8:45 a.m.) shows radishes sprouting on the kitchen counter in Max Coleman’s Pasadena home. Action begins in the container on the right, but keep an eye on the activity starting in the container on the left.Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA to Broadcast Mars 2020 Perseverance Launch, Prelaunch Activities
› Full image and caption
Starting July 27, news activities will cover everything from mission engineering and science to returning samples from Mars to, of course, the launch itself.
VOGUE
RUNWAY
Go Behind the Scenes at the Jacquemus Spring 2021 Show
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ÉCOUTE CHÉRIE
Versace Debuts a See-Now-Buy-Soon Collection with AJ Tracey
BY STEFF YOTKA
Digital Fashion Week is well underway in Milan, bringing together physical and virtual events for the men’s spring 2021 and resort 2021 collections. Versace, though, has its own contributions to Milanese style—and it’s available to buy this summer. Debuting on a livestream of British rapper AJ Tracey, the brand previewed a “Flash collection” of select pieces available for sale this August.
Condé Nast Spotlight
TEEN VOGUEMunroe Bergdorf Shares 7 Steps to Change the Beauty Industry for Good
THE NEW YORKERConspiracy Theories, Denial, and the Coronavirus
A quarter century after an atrocity in Europe, the United States is now the international calamity.
PITCHFORKEngland Will Allow Indoor Concerts Beginning Next Month, Prime Minister Says
Social distancing will be mandatory among audience members in the next stage of the country’s reopening plan
VOGUEHow Four Women Photographers Interpreted Fashion During Quarantine
At home off the coast of Ireland or on the bodies of loved ones—these photographers captured clothing their way.
THEM.Pentagon’s Confederate Flag Ban Also Prohibits Pride Flags at Military Bases
SELF17 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Copper IUD
GLAMOURThe Coolest Nail Colors for Summer, According to Glamour Editors
ARCHITECTURAL DIGESTAnthony Hopkins Sells Malibu Beach House
Spotlight: Racism in America
THE NEW YORKERJohn Lewis’s Legacy and America’s Redemption
THEM.Pentagon’s Confederate Flag Ban Also Prohibits Pride Flags at Military Bases
VANITY FAIRThe Trump Administration Is Deploying “Secret Police” Against Protesters in Portland
Spotlight: The Latest on The Coronavirus
THEM.Northern Ireland Is Finally Allowing Religious Same-Sex Marriages
CONDÉ NAST TRAVELERThe High Line and Governor’s Island Are Finally Reopening in New York
GLAMOUR‘Safer Than the Grocery Store’: 8 Superfans on Attending Walt Disney World’s Reopening
VANITY FAIR“We Need Them to F–king Do Something”: Former Pandemic Officials Call Trump’s COVID-19 Response a National Disaster
7/19 –
ACTIVITIES
6 AWESOME COASTAL CAMPING SPOTS
Hitting the beach is a great way to rejuvenate, and camping near the beach maximizes your relaxation time. Listen to the sounds of rolling waves, breathe in fresh sea air and soak up the sun’s warmth from your campsite or out on the beach. Get quick access to stretches of sandy beach at these KOAs and witness the always changing beauty of the ocean.
AVILA/PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA
Sandwiched between rolling hills and the always churning Pacific Ocean on California’s Central Coast, the Avila / Pismo Beach KOA is the perfect place to start enjoying the outdoors. Downtown Avila Beach’s assortment of restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and shops front a family-friendly sandy beach with lots of space to play and relax under the sun. Explore the beach even further by taking a stroll down the Avila Beach Pier to get out over the water. The nearby Shell Beach Bluff Trail winds along the coastal cliffs offering spectacular views of rocky ledges, sea cave entrances and bobbing aquatic life.
MANCHESTER BEACH/MENDOCINO COAST, CALIFORNIA
From your campsite at Manchester Beach / Mendocino Coast KOA Journey, walk through Manchester State Park’s wildflower filled grasslands to reach its 5-mile long stretch of sandy beach. Discover wave sculpted driftwood and vast Northern California ocean views. Tour the nearby Point Arena Lighthouse that’s been guiding sailors along the rocky shoreline since 1870. From the top of the lighthouse, spot migrating wales beyond treacherous coastal rocks. Explore unique beaches like Bowling Ball Beach where hug-width lumpy rocks line the shore and Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach with bits of glittering antique glass.
FORT PIERCE/PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA
Explore the harbors, beaches, and coastlines around Fort Pierce / Port St. Lucie KOA in a variety of fun ways. Cast your line in the Atlantic Ocean on board a chartered fishing boat; trips originate from several nearby harbors. The lengthy Hutchinson Island, filled with sandy beaches with warm lapping waves, can be explored via horseback. Find local marine life in the Indian River Lagoon with Dolphin Watch Boat Tours. Manatees, sea turtles and dolphins are often seen throughout the cruise visiting the lagoon’s mangrove marshes and small islands.
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
Myrtle Beach KOA is just a half-mile from South Carolina’s endless stretch of sandy beach, the perfect home base for nature lovers and entertainment seekers. If you’re looking to spend some downtime walking amongst pristine coastal forest, conquering rolling dunes or combing for shells on undeveloped beach visit Myrtle Beach State Park. But, if an exciting carnival atmosphere is more your thing ride the 187-foot SkyWheel. From the tip-top of the observation wheel soaring views of twinkling resorts, boardwalk promenade and the powerful Atlantic Ocean are laid out below.
CAPE CHARLES/CHESAPEAKE BAY, VIRGINIA
Wade in Chesapeake Bay’s warm sparkling waters just steps away from your Cape Charles / Chesapeake Bay KOA Resort. With private beaches for you and your dog, kayak and paddle board rentals, and waterfront restaurant, you don’t need to leave this KOA resort to have a fun vacation. But if you do venture out, the surrounding Delmarva Peninsula is covered by 1,700 acres of coastal parkland. The nearby Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge hosts migrating songbirds and monarch butterflies in the fall and woodpeckers, owls and rabbits all year long. Walk the refuge’s trails to spot nature at home in salt marshes, coastal forests, and wetlands.
SACO/OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE
Recharge amongst the pines and refreshing coastal Maine air at the Saco / Old Orchard Beach KOA Holiday. Vibrant vacation hot spot Saco Bay is just minutes from camp where you can ride soaring roller coasters with beachfront views at Palace Playland amusement park. After you’ve had your fill of rides walk out on Old Orchard Beach Pier to find shops and authentic Maine lobster rolls. Discover New England’s military past at Fort Williams Park perched on Cape Elizabeth’s rocky shore. Historic fort structures and Portland Head Lighthouse remain from colonial days. Tour the 1891 light keeper’s house to learn about area history and the role lighthouses played.
Eva Barrows is a San Francisco Bay Area freelance writer. Eva writes about local places, people and events on her website www.evabarrows.com. She founded the online literary journal Imitation Fruit in 2007 and has enjoyed promoting fellow writers and artists ever since.
7/20 –
Lebanese National Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison for Illegally Exporting Drone Parts and Technology 07/20/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald for the District of Minnesota today announced the sentencing of Usama Darwich Hamade, 55, to 42 months in prison, for conspiring to illegally export goods and technology in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the Export Administration Regulations, the Arms Export Control Act, and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. The sentence was handed down by Chief Judge John R. Tunheim in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minn.
Former Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration Uttam Dhillon New Interpol Washington Director 07/20/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Attorney General William P. Barr announced today Uttam Dhillon will become INTERPOL Washington Director after Wayne Salzgaber returns to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following his over two-year detail serving as INTERPOL Washington Director, effective August 1.
Statement by Attorney General William P. Barr on the Killing of Judge Salas’ Son and the Shooting of Her Husband 07/20/2020 12:00 AM EDT
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
National Youth Sports Week
 July 20-24 is National Youth Sports Week led by The National Council on Youth Sports. The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion recommends that kids between the ages of 6 and 17 get at least sixty minutes of physical activity every day. With summer youth sports activities slowly beginning to start back up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends assessing the following risks of spread before resuming team sports: Physical closeness of players, and the length of time that players are close to each other. Ability to engage in social distancing while not actively engaged in play. Amount of necessary touching of shared equipment and gear. Age of the player and their ability to comply with social distancing. Players at higher risk of developing a serious disease. Size of the team. Presence of nonessential visitors, spectators and volunteers. Travel required outside of the local communityLearn More |
MAA & TRIPODS Advanced Workshop in Data Science for Mathematical Sciences Faculty
Jul 20 – 24
NSF
75 years on the endless frontier: a vision for the future rooted in the past75 years ago, the White House made public Vannevar Bush’s vision for American prosperity that was based in government support for fundamental research. Today Sethuraman Panchanathan, 15th Director of the National Science Foundation, shares his vision for keeping Bush’s legacy alive at NSF. Continue Reading
INCLUDES: Making a collective impact to broaden participation in STEMSylvia James, Deputy Assistant Director for the National Science Foundation’s Education and Human Resources Directorate, highlights efforts to improve equity in STEM through the NSF INCLUDES initiative: In 1983, fresh out of college with a bachelor’s degree in biology, my first job focused on science education, which enabled me to address the issue of limited access for groups historically underrepresented in science. STEM participation rates for women, African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos were much lower than I expected. Unfortunately, 40 years later, work still needs to be done to make science inclusive.Continue Reading
BOOZ / ALLEN / HAMILTON
Today’s remarkable technological improvements are revolutionizing connected medical devices. At Booz Allen, our people develop and implement cybersecurity strategies that provide healthcare professionals with the security and freedom to create the next life-saving, game-changing breakthrough.
Learn how the healthcare community can build and maintain resilient, connected ecosystems by watching our recent webinar on medical device cybersecurity.
You’ll Learn:
- How connected medical technology requires more collaboration between manufacturers and health professionals.
- What needs to be done to defend cybersecurity threats.
- How to secure tomorrow’s connected medical devices while still addressing today’s urgent needs.
| THE MET 150 Met Anywhere: Art and CommunityCivic Practice PartnershipThe Met’s Civic Practice Partnership (CPP), launched in 2017, catalyzes and implements creative projects that advance healthy communities by bringing the skills and interests of neighborhood stakeholders together with those of The Met and artists who are socially minded in their practice. Invited CPP artists work in their own neighborhoods across New York City and at The Met to develop and implement ambitious projects and forge meaningful collaborations. Meet the artists → Art for Home: Thomas Struth’s Okutsu Family and MoreMet staff reflect on artworks that remind them of home, from a Thomas Struth photograph to American period rooms. Read the blog → Building on Architectural Traditions of the SahelRenowned architect Francis Kéré and photographer James Morris reflect on the past, present, and future of Sahelian architecture. Read the blog → Missing Manet’s ValtesseEuropean Paintings Collections Management Associate Jane R. Becker offers insights into the life and social world of Emilie-Louise Delabigne, the famous sitter of Manet’s portrait. Read the blog → Featured Videos DIGITAL PREMIERENrityagram: Samhāra RevisitedNrityagram, India’s lionized classical dance company, returns to The Met’s Temple of Dendur in The Sackler Wing, this time in collaboration with Sri Lanka’s equally acclaimed Chitrasena Dance Company. Samhāra Revisited brings together brilliant dance traditions with shared ancient roots, accompanied by a live original score. Join us for this captivating and meditative performance. Watch now → FROM THE VAULTSIn a Brilliant Light: Van Gogh in Arles, 1984Near the end of his life, Vincent van Gogh moved from Paris to the city of Arles in southeastern France, where he experienced the most productive period of his artistic career. During his 444 days there, he completed over two hundred paintings and one hundred drawings inspired by the region’s light, wildlife, and inhabitants. This film presents the stories behind many beloved works alongside beautiful footage of daily life in Provence, as well as glimpses of rarely seen canvases held in private collections. Narrated by Edward Herrmann. Watch now → |
New social contract needed to combat ‘inequality pandemic’: Guterres
The UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) commemorated with a special event, Nelson Mandela Day, whose legacy continues to guide us today. (file)
As the coronavirus outbreak continues to rage around the world, the UN chief urged everyone on Monday to take up a new social contract to combat the “inequality pandemic”, at a UN event marking the weekend’s observance of Nelson Mandela Day.
| WHO concerned about COVID-19 impact on indigenous people in the AmericasWith the Americas still the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact on the region’s indigenous people is of deep concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.Health UN Photo/Jean-Marc FerreNew social contract needed to combat ‘inequality pandemic’: GuterresAs the coronavirus outbreak continues to rage around the world, the UN chief urged everyone on Monday to take up a new social contract to combat the “inequality pandemic”, at a UN event marking the weekend’s observance of Nelson Mandela Day.Human Rights IAEA/Laura Gil MartinezGlobal cooperation key to eradicating deadly pig virus: UN agencyA disease that may kill every pig it infects and for which there is no effective vaccine, can be eradicated if more countries continue to work together to limit its spread, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday.Health© UNICEF/Moohialdin FuadFirst-ever World Chess Day, helps calm nerves during COVID-19 pandemicWith the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a pause for most sport worldwide, the UN has been celebrating a highly-competitive game that you can play safely indoors or online – with the added bonus of helping reduce anxiety, and improving mental health: Monday marks the first ever World Chess Day.Culture and Education UN Environment Programme/Todd BrownYoung innovators vying for top UN environmental prizeThirty-five young people with innovative ideas for tackling challenges such as protecting indigenous Amazonian land through adventure travel, converting harmful emissions into valuable commodities in the United States, and generating electricity from water in Nigeria, have been named as regional finalists for one of the UN’s most prestigious environmental awards.SDGs |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/21 –
Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers Remarks for Press Conference on United States V Li, Et Al. (EDWA) 07/21/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Today, the Justice Department unsealed charges in a significant national security cyber matter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington (EDWA) and the National Security Division (NSD) have charged two Chinese hackers working with the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS), including the Guangdong State Security Department (GSSD) of the MSS, with a sweeping global computer intrusion campaign. In making this announcement, I’m joined here by Dave Bowdich, Deputy Director of the FBI, Bill Hyslop, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, and Raymond Duda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle Field Division.
Two Chinese Hackers Working with the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaign Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information, Including COVID-19 Research 07/21/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A federal grand jury in Spokane, Washington, returned an indictment earlier this month charging two hackers, both nationals and residents of the People’s Republic of China (China), with hacking into the computer systems of hundreds of victim companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individual dissidents, clergy, and democratic and human rights activists in the United States and abroad, including Hong Kong and China. The defendants in some instances acted for their own personal financial gain, and in others for the benefit of the MSS or other Chinese government agencies. The hackers stole terabytes of data which comprised a sophisticated and prolific threat to U.S. networks.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 4. Trump’s defense secretary moves to shed his ‘yes man’ reputation (Politico) After a year of being overshadowed by others, Mark Esper is trying to prove he’s not a pushover. |
Join NY ReLeaf and the Natural Areas Conservancy (NAC) for a webinar at 10 a.m. that will highlight cutting-edge environmental research in the urban forestry field.
NAC’s Justin Bowers will discuss recent research that created a detailed picture of the composition and condition of New York City’s forests and wetlands. The study collected ecological data in more than 1,000 plots throughout the city and has contributed significantly to the Forest Management Framework, a guiding document for forest restoration and conservation in New York City over the next 25 years.
The webinar is free, but you must pre-register. We hope you can join us! Details and registration link are below.
Title: An Overview of the Ecological Assessment of New York City’s Natural Areas, and Research Stemming from It
Presenter: Justin Bowers, Project Manager for the Natural Areas Conservancy
Time: 10 a.m.
Registration
Photo provided by the Natural Areas Conservancy
US CENSUS BUREAU – CENSUS ACADEMY
- Economic Census Updates for AR, FL, GA, MI, NM, OK, and TX
- Exploring Census Data Webinar Series: Emerging Technologies
Online Q&A: Veteran Family Resources
The VA, and a broad coalition of partners including HHS, will be hosting a virtual Q&A chat at 3pm ET to help bring resources to veterans’ families, spouses, kids, caregivers, and survivors.
More than twenty experts will be on hand to answer your questions, including:
- Dayna Cooper, Director, Home & Community Based Programs, VHA Geriatric Services
- Lisa Pape, Deputy Chief PCS Officer, VHA Caregiver Support
- LtCol Brad Lanto, Director, Field Operations, VHA Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
- RDML Ann Duff, Director, VA Office of Survivor Assistance
- The Honorable Cheryl Mason, Chairman of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals
Charmain Bogue, Executive Director of VA Education Service at VBA - Lori Gerhard, Director, Office of Interagency Innovation, U.S. Administration for Community Living (HHS)
- SGT Bryce Carpenter, Ph.D., Manager, Veterans Legacy Program, National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
- SGT Jordan Ketner, Lead Outreach Specialist, Veterans Benefits Administration, Benefits Assistance Service
- PO2 Joe Lattimer, Office of Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement, VBA
- MAJ Eva Weatherley, Training Consultant, Veterans Benefits Administration, Compensation Service
- Jessica Schiefer, VHA Communications Officer, Vet Centers rep
- Caitlin Thompson, VP, Community Partnerships at Cohen Veterans Network
- Deirdre Armstrong, Director, Community Partnerships, Bob Woodruff Foundation
- Melissa Comeau, Director, American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network
- Alexandra Drane, Co-Founder & CEO at ARCHANGELS
- Dr. Jennifer O., DrPH Executive Director Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
- Maj Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, TAPS
- COL Brynt Parmeter, Senior Director Military Programs at Walmart
- Coleton Whitaker, Program Manager at Elizabeth Dole Foundation
- Jeanette Gilles, Deputy Director of Community Integration at Americas Warrior Partnership
- Kristy Kaufmann, Co-Founder & Executive Director at Code of Support Foundation
| DEFENSE NEWS: Military Culture |
Condé Nast Spotlight
TEEN VOGUESwapping Police for Social Workers Could Still Lead to Locking Up Mentally Ill People
ALLURE11 Hair, Makeup, and Nail Brands That Offer Virtual Try-On
“Try before you buy” has a whole new meaning in 2020.
GLAMOURApple Just Announced Its Plan to Be Carbon Neutral by 2030
Lisa Jackson, VP of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives is leading the efforts.
GQThe 10 Biggest Fits of the Week
GQ-approved kits from every red carpet, airport arrival, and coffee run home across the globe.
SELF30 Refreshing Mocktail Recipes That Make Skipping Booze Easy
WIREDIt’s Time to Defund Social Media
THE NEW YORKERJoin Me in My Blissful Seven-Day Yoga Challenge for Unsettling Times
Spotlight: Racism in America
VANITY FAIRConservative Media Seizes on Portland-Is-Burning Narrative
GLAMOURJoy Reid, on Making History: ‘I’m Proud to Carry With Me the Ghosts of the Black Women Who Were Just as Smart as Any Man’
THE NEW YORKERChance the Rapper’s Art and Activism
VOGUEAt the Portland Protests, This Is What John Lewis Meant by ‘Causing Good Trouble’
Spotlight: The Latest on The Coronavirus
ARCHITECTURAL DIGESTHow the CARES Act Could Help You Buy Your First Home
TEEN VOGUEThese Teachers Say Reopening Schools Is Unsafe and Unrealistic
VOGUELatest Results From Oxford Trial Raise Hopes for a Coronavirus Vaccine
GQHow Drakeo the Ruler Made One of the Albums of the Year From Prison
| COVID-19 is making a global childcare crisis even worse’: UNICEF chiefFollowing the release of a UN study that shows at least 40 million children have missed out on early childhood education due to measures to combat COVID-19, the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Henrietta Fore, warned that “the pandemic is making a global childcare crisis even worse.” Economic Development© UNRWA/Khalil AdwanIsrael-Palestine: Breakdown in cooperation over COVID, now putting lives at riskCooperation between Israelis and the Palestinians at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic is breaking down, putting human lives at risk as the economy goes into meltdown and the threat of Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank lingers, the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process says.Peace and Security Ryan Hawk/Woodland Park ZooDeforestation has slowed down but still remains a concern, new UN report revealsAlthough some 178 million hectares of forest has been lost worldwide over the past three decades, the rate of loss has declined substantially during this period, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday.SDGs IOM/Olivia HeadonCOVID-19 scapegoating triggers fresh displacement in Yemen, warns migration agencyCOVID-19 fears have prompted fresh displacement in war-torn Yemen, and forced many of those on the move to sell what little they have to survive, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.Migrants and Refugees UN Women/Fahad KaizerHarness multilateralism’s power to urgently advance women’s rights amid COVID recoveryWith essential resources for women’s health being diverted to emergency COVID-19 response around the world, Governments, civil society leaders, CEOs and academic experts gathered virtually on Tuesday, to explore ways to accelerate the achievement of landmark targets set 25 years ago for gender equality and women’s empowerment.Women UN Photo/Rick Bajornas/Loey FilipeEthiopia urged to allow peaceful demonstrations, investigate protestor deathsIndependent UN human rights experts are urging the Ethiopian authorities to allow peaceful demonstrations, in a new appeal for investigations into the deaths of people protesting the recent killing of a popular singer and activist from the Oromo ethnic group.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/22 –
Attorney General William P. Barr Joins President Donald J. Trump to Announce Expansion of Operation Legend 07/22/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Irish National Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking in Rhinoceros Horns 07/22/2020 12:00 AM EDT
An Irish national was sentenced in federal court in Waco, Texas, today to 12 months in prison for conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act in relation to illegal rhinoceros horn trafficking, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.
Attorney General William P. Barr Delivers Remarks During the Operation Legend Expansion Announcement 07/22/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Wife of U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Prison for Obstruction of Justice 07/22/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The wife of a U.S. Army soldier was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, the maximum statutory sentenced allowed under the law for obstruction of justice, Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon Jr. of the Eastern District of North Carolina announced.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 5. US service member dies in Syria (Army Times) A U.S. service member died in Syria on Tuesday, according to military officials in the region. |
Cybersecurity for Life Sciences Labs Webinar
12-1 pm EDT
As improvements to collaborative and cloud technologies catalyze a revolution of scientific discovery, cybersecurity is a keystone of this nascent scientific revolution. Hear leaders discuss the current and future state of cybersecurity in life science laboratories and research centers around the world.
US CENSUS BUREAU – CENSUS ACADEMY
- Analyzing Job-to-Job Flows in the Houston Metropolitan Area Using LEHD J2J Data
- Demystifying the Census API
Dignity and Belonging in a Digitally Connected World
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Presenter:
Jutta Treviranus, PhD, Ontario College of Art and Design University
The pandemic has significantly disrupted the “normal” state of our society. It has revealed the fault lines in our social systems and our conventional worldview. People with cognitive challenges have been among the most vulnerable to the negative consequences that also hurt our society as a whole. This disruption also presents an opportunity to change the collective mindset and find a more inclusive “normal”. This webinar will explore the opportunities presented to recalibrate our values, change our approaches to design, policy, education, work and how we build communities.
| DEFENSE NEWS: Military Culture |
| NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover Passes Flight Readiness Review The agency’s Mars 2020 mission has one more big prelaunch review – the Launch Readiness Review, on July 27. › Read the full story |
| NASA Juno Takes First Images of Jovian Moon Ganymede’s North Pole Infrared images from Juno provide the first glimpse of Ganymede’s icy north pole. › Read the full story |
| Amid fears of worst recession in decades, urgent calls for solidarity, a united economic frontWith multilateral cooperation under strain, senior UN officials, Nobel laureates and eminent academic experts, gathered virtually on Wednesday for the launch of a new report recommending “an adjusted approach” to economic development, and a policy dialogue exploring how countries can recover from COVID-19, in ways that lead to real structural transformation.Economic Development Unsplash/Parastoo MalekiIran urged to release rights activist with COVID-19 symptoms ‘before it is too late’A group of independent UN human rights experts has called for Iran to urgently release an activist who reportedly is ill with COVID-19 symptoms “before it is too late”.Human Rights World Bank/Hendri LombardRights experts call on Tanzania to end ‘crackdown’ on civic spaceTanzania should allow peaceful gatherings to take place ahead of elections in October and step back from “draconian” laws, UN-appointed independent rights experts said on Wednesday.Human Rights |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/23 –
President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Concludes with Final Hearings on Respect for Law Enforcement and Rule of Law 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Justice Department Alleges Excessive Force in Alabama’s Prisons for Men Violates the Constitution 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Alabama today concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that the conditions at Alabama’s prisons for men violate the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. Specifically, the department concluded that there is reasonable cause to believe that prisoners are subjected to excessive force at the hands of prison staff.
Sixth Pharmaceutical Company Charged In Ongoing Criminal Antitrust Investigation 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. (Taro U.S.A.) has been charged for conspiring to fix prices, allocate customers, and rig bids for generic drugs, the Department of Justice announced today.
Washington Tech Executive Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud and Money Laundering 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A Washington tech executive was taken into custody today and charged with fraudulently seeking over $5.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and laundering the proceeds, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt at of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
Department Of Justice Issues Business Review Letter To Monoclonal Antibody Manufacturers To Expedite And Increase The Production Of Covid-19 Mab Treatments 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The United States Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge proposed efforts by Eli Lilly and Company, AbCellera Biologics, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Genentech, and GlaxoSmithKline (together, the Requesting Parties) to share information about manufacturing facilities and other information that could enable them to expedite the production of monoclonal antibody treatments that are determined to be safe and effective to treat COVID-19.
United States Files Complaint to Forfeit More Than $2.37 Million From Companies Accused of Laundering Funds to Benefit Sanctioned North Korean Entities 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The United States has filed a complaint to forfeit $2,372,793, announced the Department of Justice. The complaint alleges that four companies laundered United States dollars on behalf of sanctioned North Korean banks. According to the complaint, the North Korean banks used these laundered funds as part of a scheme to procure goods for the North Korean regime, as well as to illegally access the U.S. financial market.
President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice Concludes with Final Hearings on Respect for Law Enforcement and Rule of Law 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Forsyth Man Sentenced for Attempted Attack on the White House 07/23/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Hasher Jallal Taheb, 23, of Cumming, Georiga, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting an attack upon the White House. Taheb also planned attacks on the Statue of Liberty, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and a synagogue
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 3. The horrific nightmare of a girl molested by her Army general father (Army Times) She’d gotten the call. Her attorney told her she needed to be ready, the hearing was happening in just a few days. |
Human Nutrition
deals with the provision of essential nutrients in food that are necessary to support human life and health. Poor nutrition is a chronic problem often linked to poverty, food security or a poor understanding of nutrition and dietary practices. Malnutrition and its consequences are large contributors to deaths and disabilities worldwide. Good nutrition is necessary for children to grow physically, and for normal human biological development.
Overview
The human body contains chemical compounds such as water, carbohydrates, amino acids (found in proteins), fatty acids (found in lipids), and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). These compounds are composed of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Any study done to determine nutritional status must take into account the state of the body before and after experiments, as well as the chemical composition of the whole diet and of all the materials excreted and eliminated from the body (including urine and feces).
Nutrients
Main article: Nutrient
The seven major classes of nutrients are carbohydrates, fats, fiber, minerals, proteins, vitamins, and water. Nutrients can be grouped as either macronutrients or micronutrients (needed in small quantities). Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are macronutrients, and provide energy. Water and fiber are macronutrients but do not provide energy. The micronutrients are minerals and vitamins.
The macronutrients (excluding fiber and water) provide structural material (amino acids from which proteins are built, and lipids from which cell membranes and some signaling molecules are built), and energy. Some of the structural material can also be used to generate energy internally, and in either case it is measured in Joules or kilocalories (often called “Calories” and written with a capital ‘C’ to distinguish them from little ‘c’ calories). Carbohydrates and proteins provide 17 kJ approximately (4 kcal) of energy per gram, while fats provide 37 kJ (9 kcal) per gram, though the net energy from either depends on such factors as absorption and digestive effort, which vary substantially from instance to instance.
Vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water do not provide energy, but are required for other reasons. A third class of dietary material, fiber (i.e., nondigestible material such as cellulose), seems also to be required for both mechanical and biochemical reasons, though the exact reasons remain unclear. For all age groups, males on average need to consume higher amounts of macronutrients than females. In general, intakes increase with age until the second or third decade of life.
Some nutrients can be stored – the fat-soluble vitamins – while others are required more or less continuously. Poor health can be caused by a lack of required nutrients, or for some vitamins and minerals, too much of a required nutrient. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized by the body, and must be obtained from food.
Molecules of carbohydrates and fats consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Carbohydrates range from simple monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose) to complex polysaccharides (starch). Fats are triglycerides, made of assorted fatty acid monomers bound to a glycerol backbone. Some fatty acids, but not all, are essential in the diet: they cannot be synthesized in the body. Protein molecules contain nitrogen atoms in addition to carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. The fundamental components of protein are nitrogen-containing amino acids, some of which are essential in the sense that humans cannot make them internally. Some of the amino acids are convertible (with the expenditure of energy) to glucose and can be used for energy production just as ordinary glucose, in a process known as gluconeogenesis. By breaking down existing protein, some glucose can be produced internally; the remaining amino acids are discarded, primarily as urea in urine. This occurs naturally when atrophy takes place, or during periods of starvation.
The list of nutrients that people are known to require is, in the words of Marion Nestle, “almost certainly incomplete”.
› Larger view
There are lots of ways to participate in the historic event, which is targeted for July 30.
NASA is inviting the public to take part in virtual activities and events ahead of the launch of the agency’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, which is targeted for 7:50 a.m. EDT (4:50 a.m. PDT) Thursday, July 30, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
Live coverage and countdown commentary will begin at 7 a.m. EDT (4 a.m. PDT) on NASA Television and the agency’s website, as well as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, and Theta.TV. As part of the broadcast, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Gregory Porter will perform a special rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
| NASA Invites Public to Share Excitement of Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Launch There are lots of ways to participate in the historic event, which is targeted for July 30. About the Mission The Perseverance mission launches between July 30-Aug. 15, 2020, and arrives at Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. This mission is a fantastic opportunity to engage students in real-world problem solving across the STEM fields. Learn about the mission including the rover, Perseverance, and the helicopter, Ingenuity. Live coverage of the launch will air on NASA TV and the agency’s website. › Read the full story |
› Larger view
Carried by a balloon the size of a football stadium, ASTHROS will use a cutting-edge telescope to observe wavelengths of light that aren’t visible from the ground.
| NASA Mission Will Study the Cosmos With a Stratospheric Balloon Carried by a balloon the size of a football stadium, ASTHROS will use a cutting-edge telescope to observe wavelengths of light that aren’t visible from the ground. › Read the full story |
New ECOSOC President outlines focus on pandemic, SDGs and climate action
The Permanent Representative of Pakistan, Munir Akram (right), presents his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres in November 2019.UN Affairs
Now is the time to implement policies and commitments to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the new President of one of the UN’s main bodies said on Thursday.
| COVID-19: No return to ‘old normal’, says UN health chief, as cases top 15 millionCOVID-19 cases worldwide have surpassed 15 million, and nearly 620,000 deaths. On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged people everywhere to play a part in preventing further spread of the disease, warning that there will be no return to “the old normal”.Health© UNOCHASecurity Council stalemate frustrates families of Syria’s missing detaineesFamilies of the more than 130,000 people believed to be detained and forcibly disappeared in Syria, are deeply frustrated by the Security Council’s failure to unite and make progress on the issue, the 15-member organ was told on Thursday.Peace and Security WFP/Giulio D’Adamo‘Temporary Basic Income’ could slow COVID surge, provide lifeline for world’s poorestThe immediate introduction of a Temporary Basic Income for the world’s poorest people could slow the current surge in COVID-19 and enable close to three billion people to stay at home, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report released on Thursday.Economic Development© UNICEFCOVID-19 provides opportunity to resolve conflicts, address weaknesses across Arab region: UN chiefWhile all Arab states are facing difficulties in responding to COVID-19, the pandemic can also provide an opportunity to resolve long-standing conflicts and address structural weaknesses across the region, the UN Secretary-General said on Thursday.Health UN News/Anton UspenskyCOVID-19: World leaders to stay at home, in first ‘virtual’ UN General AssemblyThe General Debate of the General Assembly, traditionally the most high-profile UN event of the year, will be a slimmed-down affair this September, with world leaders staying away from New York, and contributing set-piece speeches via video link, a UN spokesperson confirmed on Thursday.UN Affairs UN Photo/Mark GartenNew ECOSOC President outlines focus on pandemic, SDGs and climate actionNow is the time to implement policies and commitments to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the new President of one of the UN’s main bodies said on Thursday.UN Affairs |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/24 –
California Man Charged with Unlawfully Importing Mosaic 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A California man was charged today with one count of unlawfully affecting the entry of goods into the United States upon false classification as to quality and value.
Statement of Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband on the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Eric Dreiband released the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
Six Former NFL Players Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Nationwide Fraud on Health Care Benefit Program for Retired NFL Players 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Six former National Football League (NFL) players have been charged in a superseding indictment in the Eastern District of Kentucky for their alleged roles in a nationwide fraud on a health care benefit program for retired NFL players.
Supplier to Puerto Rican Aquarium Business Pleads Guilty to Two Lacey Act Felonies for Illicit Trafficking of Protected Reef Creatures 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A resident of Juncos, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to two felony violations of the Lacey Act for collecting, falsely labeling, and shipping protected marine invertebrate species as part of an effort to subvert Puerto Rican law designed to protect corals and other reef species, the Department of Justice announced.
Owners of Philadelphia Cheesesteak Restaurant Indicted for Tax Evasion 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
A federal grand jury in Philadelphia returned an indictment that was unsealed today, charging the owners of a popular cheesesteak restaurant with conspiracy to defraud the IRS, tax evasion, and aiding and assisting in filing false tax returns, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Indivior Solutions Pleads Guilty To Felony Charge And Indivior Entities Agree To Pay $600 Million To Resolve Criminal And Civil Investigations As Part Of DOJ’s Largest Opioid Resolution 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Indivior Solutions today pleaded guilty to a one-count felony information and, together with its parent companies Indivior Inc. and Indivior plc, agreed to pay a total of $600 million to resolve criminal and civil liability associated with the marketing of the opioid-addiction-treatment drug Suboxone. Together with a $1.4 billion resolution with Indivior’s former parent, Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (RB Group), announced in 2019, and a plea agreement with Indivior plc’s former CEO, Shaun Thaxter, announced last month, the total resolution relating to the marketing of Suboxone is more than $2 billion—the largest-ever resolution in a case brought by the Department of Justice involving an opioid drug.
Former CEO and Founder of Technology Company Charged in Investment Fraud Scheme 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The CEO and co-founder of Trustify Inc. (Trustify), a privately-held technology company founded in 2015 and based in Arlington, Virginia, was charged in an indictment unsealed today for his alleged role in a fraud scheme resulting in millions of dollars of losses to investors.
Singaporean National Pleads Guilty to Acting in the United States as an Illegal Agent of Chinese Intelligence 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
Jun Wei Yeo, also known as Dickson Yeo, entered a plea of guilty today to one count of acting within the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign power without first notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951. Yeo’s plea was entered via videoconference before the Honorable Tanya S. Chutkan in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Antitrust Division Announces Agenda For Workshop On Competition In The Licensing Of Public Performance Rights In The Music Industry 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
The Department of Justice has released a final agenda for the Antitrust Division’s July 28-29 public workshop on competition in the licensing of public performance rights in the music industry. The workshop will provide a venue for industry stakeholders to further weigh in on the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) consent decrees and their implications for antitrust law enforcement and policy as music distribution continues to evolve through technological innovation.
Arizona Woman Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to Al Qaeda 07/24/2020 12:00 AM EDT
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Michael Bailey, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Jill Sanborn, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, and Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, announced that on July 22, 2020, Jill Marie Jones was arrested for attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
| DEFENSE NEWS – Today’s Top 5 |
| 1. Fight over Confederate base names unsettled even after lawmakers back changes (Military Times) Don’t take down those Fort Bragg road signs just yet. |
| DEFENSE NEWS: Military Culture |
The body of civil rights icon and longtime congressman John Lewis will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol next week. The public viewing will take place outdoors and attendees will be required to wear masks while waiting in line to pay tribute. Lewis’ family has requested that people pay their respects online using the hashtags #BelovedCommunity and #HumanDignity.
What’s New with CO2
We all know that clean air is essential, but how much do you really know about the air you breathe? Our air is made up of 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and 1% other stuff. While it may seem insignificant, that 1% “other stuff” can make a big difference in the quality of our air and our planet’s health. Take carbon dioxide (CO2), which accounts for 0.04% of the air we breathe. CO2 is good for some things, like plants to complete photosynthesis, but too much of it is bad news for our climate.
CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps the sun’s warmth close to the earth’s surface in a process called the Greenhouse Gas Effect. Greenhouse gases in our upper atmosphere work like blankets, keeping the earth at a cozy temperature. Everyday activities that produce CO2, such as burning fossil fuels in cars and making power, add too many blankets making the earth warmer and contributing to climate change. Last year, we surpassed 408 parts per million of CO2 in our atmosphere – more than we have had in the last 800,000 years! This increase in CO2 has caused the earth to warm by 1⁰F and triggered changes in our climate, such as stronger storms, sea-level rise and severe droughts, to name just a few.
New York State uses a permit system to reduce air pollution emissions, including CO2, from sources like factories and power plants. The permits require industries to limit their emissions, which are monitored by DEC. These efforts are a part of NYS’ ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% from 1990 levels by 2050. While DEC’s emission standards are set for industries and transportation, you can also reduce CO2 emissions at home. Carpooling, using public transit or biking to work decreases your fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Conserve energy at home by turning off the lights and AC or switch to clean energy, such as solar, to reduce your fossil fuel footprint. For the sake of our air and climate, take steps in the right direction to lower CO2 emissions in your daily life. No matter how small the individual actions may seem, they add up to big changes when everyone does their part.
Graph Caption: CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are a natural part of the carbon cycle, but natural processes happen over a very long period of time. When fossil fuels are burned every day in our cars and to make energy, we release that carbon all at once, accelerating the carbon cycle by thousands of years. This results in excess CO2 in our atmosphere and a stronger greenhouse gas effect.
Graph Source: NOAA Climate Resources
What Are Air Toxics?
Air toxics are pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects. Breathing in toxic air pollutants may increase your chances of experiencing health problems, such as reproductive and birth defects, worsening asthma and poor cardiovascular health, and they can harm the environment.
One of DEC’s goals is to keep health risks to a very low level for air toxics. DEC does this by setting health-based air concentration guideline values, which are used to assess air pollution sources during the permitting process and evaluate the results of ambient air monitoring studies. Since there are no federal ambient standards for air toxics like there are for the six criteria pollutants, DEC establishes its own short-term and long-term ambient air guideline levels. These ambient air levels represent a low health risk, meaning it is unlikely that people breathing in these low amounts would experience health effects.
Air toxics are released by everyday actions like driving cars and heating homes, as well as from commercial businesses and industry. Because these sources are very common, air toxics are found everywhere in NYS. Air toxic examples include benzene (found in gasoline) and perchloroethylene (dry cleaning solvent). To learn more about how DEC controls air toxics, visit our website.
WELCOME TO LA JOLLA, CA
La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival is the First International Fashion Film Festival founded in North America.
All events take place in and around La Jolla’s pristine coastline, parks, bays and famous Prospect Avenue, offering attendees a world-class seaside resort experience.
LA JOLLA INTERNATIONAL FASHION FILM FESTIVAL
July 24-25, 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
CONTACT INFO
(619) 889-3238
submissions@ljifff.com
Children in Nigeria and surrounding countries, continuing to endure ‘horrendous violations’
15 year-old Dada and her daughter Hussaina at home in a host community shelter in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Dada was 12 years old when Boko Haram took her and an older sister.
Peace and Security
Girls and boys in northeast Nigeria are continuing to endure brutal abuse at the hands of Boko Haram, and are also being deeply affected by military operations taking place to counter the terrorist group, despite noteworthy efforts, according the UN chief’s latest report on children and armed conflict.
| Climate emergency ‘a danger to peace’, UN Security Council hearsThe climate emergency generated by global warming, is exacerbating existing risks to international peace and security, while also creating new ones, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Friday, making the case for swift climate action on multiple fronts.Climate Change ESADramatic Arctic fires and sea ice melt, show need for urgent climate action“Exceptional and prolonged” temperatures in Siberia, have left parts of the Arctic warmer than sub-tropical Florida, and fuelled “devastating” wildfires for a second consecutive year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday, while warning also of rapidly decreasing sea ice along the Russian polar coast.Climate Change Unsplash/Tito TexidorHuman rights office decries disproportionate use of force in US protestsPeople taking part in peaceful demonstrations across the United States, and journalists covering these protests, should not be subjected to disproportionate use of force or other violations, the UN human rights office said on Friday.Human Rights UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson VIIChildren in Nigeria and surrounding countries, continuing to endure ‘horrendous violations’Girls and boys in northeast Nigeria are continuing to endure brutal abuse at the hands of Boko Haram, and are also being deeply affected by military operations taking place to counter the terrorist group, despite noteworthy efforts, according the UN chief’s latest report on children and armed conflict.Peace and Security ILO/KB MpofuZimbabwe: COVID-19 must not be used to stifle freedoms, says UN rights officeThe coronavirus pandemic should not be used as an excuse to clamp down on fundamental freedoms, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) reminded authorities in Zimbabwe on Friday.Human Rights© UNICEF/Ashley GilbertsonRights experts urge Nigeria to free humanist detained for blasphemyNigerian authorities must immediately release prominent humanist and rights defender Mubarak Bala, who has been detained for more than two months without charge on accusations of blasphemy, a group of independent UN human rights experts said on Friday.Human Rights© UNHCR/Rafal KostrzynskiProtect people ‘fleeing war, violence’, UN refugee agency urges Poland The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Friday encouraged Poland to fall in line with its international obligations, and allow asylum seekers access. Migrants and Refugees |
| Coronavirus Portal & News UpdatesReaders can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. |
7/25 –
| The Coronavirus EraCOVID-19 has now touched nearly every aspect of our lives. As it surges across the U.S., and our knowledge of the virus continues to evolve, we’ll bring you the stories that will help you protect yourself and your family. |
| PHOTOGRAPH BY CHUNG SUNG-JUN, GETTY IMAGES Here’s what COVID-19 does to a child’s bodyAs schools prepare to reopen, experts weigh in on whether youth protects against the virus, and how readily kids can spread it to adults. LEARN MORESHARE |
| PHOTOGRAPB BY MILAN BURES, ANZENBERGER VIA REDUX Up to 40 percent of people with coronavirus never feel sick. Why?Health officials are puzzled over two types of cases: those who spread the disease before they show symptoms, and those who never show symptoms at all. For the latter group, could it be the luck of genetics? The blessings of youth? Or something else?READ MORESHARE |
| PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK FELIX, AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Who gets to live? How doctors make impossible decisionsTriage aims to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest number, but medical staff are grappling with how to stay true to this principle as coronavirus surges. READ THE STORYSHARE |
| NGM STAFF, PAUL BUFFAAs U.S. cases pass 4 million, here’s a look at where numbers are rising and fallingOn July 23, the U.S. reached another milestone in its coronavirus pandemic. Search for your state or county to see the latest cases and deaths.SEE THE DATASHARE |
| What we’re readingA vaccine reality check (The Atlantic) ››Can masks save us from more lockdowns? (NPR) ›› |
| PHOTOGRAPH BY JOSHUA IRWANDI Photo of COVID-19 victim in Indonesia sparks fascination—and denialA coronavirus victim wrapped in plastic shows what many didn’t want the populace to see.READ ON |
 A live video conference event announcing the winners ofIFFAS 2020   CLICK HEREfor your free registration to join our global community watch the IFFAS 2020 winners presentation.July 25th 11:45amPacific Coast Time 23 awards plus film screenings! Watch live from anywhere in the world as filmmakers intro their films and win awards  IMeet La Jolla’s Official Cause Partner, The Ethical Fashion Initiative of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. The EFI connects artisans from the developing world to the international value chain of fashion. In doing so, the Ethical Fashion Initiative harnesses fashion as a vehicle for development. One of the UN’s most effective programs!  Go here for film submission information Questions? Contact Festival Producer: Fred Sweet at: fredsweet@LJFFF.com |
7/26 –
Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act:
PROFILE AMERICA FACTS FOR FEATURES: CB20-FF.06
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodations, commercial facilities, telecommunications, and state and local government services.
This Facts for Features provides a demographic snapshot of the U.S. population with a disability and examines various services available to them. The statistics come from various U.S. Census Bureau censuses and surveys, covering different periods of time.
The following facts are possible thanks to responses to the Census Bureau’s surveys. We appreciate the public’s cooperation as we continuously measure America’s people, places and economy.
Did You Know?
The total civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability in the United States in 2018.
Source: 2018 American Community Survey
The percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in West Virginia in 2018 with a disability — the highest rate of any state in the nation. Utah, at 9.6%, had the lowest rate.
Source: 2018 American Community Survey
The total civilian noninstitutionalized population ages 18 to 64 employed with a disability in 2018.
Source: 2018 American Community Survey
Median earnings in the past 12 months (in 2018 inflation adjusted dollars) of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and over with earnings and a disability in 2018.
Source: 2018 American Community Survey
More on Disability
- Employment Status by Disability Status and Type
- Selected Economic Characteristics for the Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population by Disability Status
More Stats
See a detailed profile on the population with a disability from the 2018 American Community Survey. Statistics include:
- Sex.
- Race.
- Age.
- Hearing difficulty by age.
- Vision difficulty by age.
- Cognitive difficulty by age.
- Ambulatory difficulty by age.
- Self-care difficulty by age.
- Independent living difficulty by age.
Related News Products
Past Facts for Features
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2019
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2018
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2017
- Facts for Features: Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act: July 26, 2016
Blogs
- Do People With Disabilities Earn Equal Pay
- The Occupations of Workers with Disabilities
- The Age and Disability Paradox
Graphics
- Types of Disabilities
- The Relationship Between Health Conditions and the Core Disability Question Set
- Working With a Disability (2018)
- How Common Are Specific Disabilities by Age? (2017)
- Aging-Accessible Homes (2017)
- Prevalence of Disabilities for Ages 18+ (2016)
Related Info
Learn More
| NEW YORK STATE DEC Commemorates 30th Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act |
| Improvements at State Facilities and Lands Statewide to Enhance AccessNew York State is National Leader on Disability Rights and Commits to Continuing to Improve Recreational Opportunities for AllNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today renewed DEC’s commitment to improving access to lands and waters across the state and commemorated the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the first comprehensive law guaranteeing equal rights to people with disabilities. The ADA and DEC’s accessibility efforts are succeeding to help people with disabilities fully participate in and enjoy the benefits of DEC’s facilities, services, programs, and activities.“The outdoors are for everyone to enjoy,” said Commissioner Seggos. “While we’ve made great strides in accessibility in the last three decades, there is more work to be done. For us, it’s not just about being in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we want to continue leading as an example for states around the country to follow.”The ADA prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. Enacted on July 26, 1990, the ADA for the first time provided broad civil rights for people with disabilities by setting minimum standards for accessibility for alterations and new construction of all facilities providing public accommodations by state and local governments as well as the business sector. The Act also requires entities providing public accommodations to plan for and initiate the removal of barriers in existing buildings to facilitate the accessibility of their programming.DEC is committed to increasing the range of accessible opportunities available for people to fish, boat, hunt, canoe, picnic, horseback ride, hike, and camp. This is achieved in a variety of ways, including through physical design, alternative forms of communication, inclusive programs, and individual accommodation. Many of DEC’s recent actions are also consistent with the Governor’s 2018 Executive Order to make New York the first age-friendly state in the country. The state’s focus is on inclusion, as opposed to creating separate programs.Access Programs and ServicesAmong the offerings currently available are the New York State Access Pass, which is administered by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and is available to New York State residents with disabilities for free or discounted use of State Parks, historic sites, and recreational facilities. The Access Pass is accepted at DEC campgrounds and day use areas. Information about DEC campgrounds, boat launches, and public areas across the state with accessible features including picnic areas, developed and primitive campsites, fishing platforms, boating boarding piers, cartop launches, wildlife viewing platforms, and beach access points can be found on the DEC website.Service animals are welcome at all DEC sites. DEC also administers the Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD) to allow a permitted vehicle to travel beyond the reach of certain public roads to areas where others must hike or bike. The permit provides access for those who seek solitude, connection to nature, undisturbed wildlife habitat, and inclusion with fellow sportspeople. Special permits and licenses for hunting and fishing are also available to people with disabilities. Information about this suite of opportunities and more can be found on DEC’s Accessible Recreation web page and ADA Accessibility Coordinators are available to answer questions and facilitate recreation on DEC lands and waters. Many Recreational Opportunities AvailableAs even more people enjoy the outdoors during the pandemic, DEC is making every effort to make sure there are places near communities across the state with mobility features that improve accessibility to people with disabilities. Under Governor Cuomo’s Adventure NY initiative, DEC is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active, outdoor recreation; connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors; protect natural resources; and boost local economies. Just a selection of locations available include:Long Island and New York CityKings Park Unique Area, Suffolk County: Accessible parking and a wide, graded trail make the Kings Park Unique Area a highlight for people of all ages on Long Island. The trail drops one foot in elevation for every 20 feet in length, making it a gradient accessible to people with mobility limitations. Hiking, bowhunting, and wildlife viewing are available in parts of the 69 acres of green space. The trails lead hikers through oak brush and early successional habitat. The Clarence Hylan Beavers Memorial Trail is a 0.3-mile trail built to be useable by people in wheelchairs and those with mobility limitations.Mount Loretto Unique Area, Staten Island: Visitors of all abilities to Mount Loretto have the opportunity to explore several parts of the property with mobility features that include an accessible fishing and viewing platform near the entrance of the property, a pavilion looking out over the bluffs to Princes Bay, and a newly completed Beach Access Trail that brings visitors to the ocean for a view of the highest ocean-facing bluffs in New York State. Old Place Creek, Staten Island: The kayak launch, designed specifically to promote accessibility, at Old Place Creek provides the first DEC public access to a critical wildlife habitat in northwestern Staten Island. Visitors can begin a short paddle to see the Goethals Bridge or explore paths with shallow grades that lead to a wildlife viewing platform. Once there, visitors can take advantage of a unique opportunity to immerse in this natural oasis with egrets and herons amidst suburban Staten Island.Hudson ValleyKenneth L. Wilson Day Use Area, Ulster County: Recently constructed features in the Kenneth Wilson Day Use Area include a fishing pier and canoe/kayak launch with accessible amenities. In addition, the site offers a picnic area with a fire pit, grills and a quarter-mile trail over a bridge and through the woods to an 80-foot wildlife viewing platform along the shore of the Little Beaverkill.Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area, Sullivan County: There are two eagle-viewing blinds designed to be accessible to people with disabilities—one is the newly designated Dr. Ted Kerpez Memorial Eagle Viewing Blind that was recently completed and is open for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy. It provides an ideal location for the public to view wintering eagles in a shelter that minimizes any disturbance to wildlife. The eagle viewing blind is located on Route 43 facing the Mongaup Falls Reservoir.Bashakill Wildlife Management Area Duck Blind, Sullivan County: A waterfowl hunting/wildlife observation blind designed to promote accessibility was constructed at Bashakill Wildlife Management Area in 2018. The blind is accessed from the western parking area on Haven Road via a 600-foot wide, graded trail. The blind faces north and provides an expansive view of the northern half of the Bashakill’s wetland habitat. This 3,107-acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA) contains the largest freshwater wetland in southeastern New York.North CountryPeck Hill State Forest, Fulton County: The Willie Wildlife Marsh in the northwestern part of the Peck Hill State Forest has several accessible features, including parking, interpretive trail, privy, picnic area, boardwalk, and wildlife-viewing platform. The trail is five feet wide and 0.4-mile-long with an average slope of five percent. The 1.47-mile Willie Marsh Nature Trail explores a beautiful wetland habitat. There is a viewing platform, interpretive stops and boardwalks that traverse the marsh and open water, as well as features accessible for people of all abilities.Frontier Town Campground, Essex County: Frontier Town was designed to provide accessibility to people of all ages and abilities and includes many ADA-compliant features. The facility’s universal design enables everyone, including seniors and families to access its amenities. All campsites, showers, and restrooms are accessible and campsites have accessibly designed picnic tables and fire-making facilities. In addition, the campground features two ADA-compliant horse mounting ramps.Cranberry Lake, St. Lawrence County: The boat launch has two new accessible parking spaces making it easier to reach the hand-carry launch designed to promote accessibility. DEC’s Cranberry Lake Campground also features an accessible rest rooms, shower house, and fishing pier, as well as tent and RV campsites with mobility features. Cranberry Lake is stocked annually and managed for brook trout. Bass and northern pike are also caught in this scenic lake with long stretches of undeveloped shoreline for viewing the beauty of the western Adirondacks.Central and Western New YorkHemlock-Canadice State Forest, Livingston County: DEC is installing innovative, saloon-style gates on State lands to increase accessibility to trails and roads and more than 25 have been installed in Livingston County in recent years. Nine gates were installed last winter at the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, providing an opening that allows easier access for people in wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Oak Orchard WMA, Orleans and Genesee counties: An kiosk with accessible features overlooks Goose Pond off of Albion Road at the Oak Orchard WMA. There is also a path from the parking lot off of Knowlesville Road to an existing pavilion and down to a boardwalk and viewing platform overlooking North Marsh. There are more than three miles of MAPPWD routes on the WMA.Findley Lake, Chautauqua County: The lake has an accessible fishing platform, boat mooring dock, and a separate kayak launching platform designed with mobility amenities. Visitors can access the dock and platform from the parking lot using a concrete walkway with railings. Findley Lake provides angling for a variety of sportfish and panfish including largemouth and smallmouth bass, tiger muskellunge, muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, and pumpkinseed. The DEC website makes it easy to find accessible recreation destinations. Fishing access for anglers with disabilities are broken down into every area of the state. This is also where to find the application to apply for a permit to use a motorized vehicle on specified trails and request the use of a power-driven mobility device on DEC lands.DEC reminds all visitors that the agency is here to help. Anyone who needs modifications to DEC policies, practices, or procedures in order to participate in a program or activity, should communicate with DEC staff. Any questions relating to the provision of accommodation should be directed to DEC ADA Coordinators. During the State’s ongoing response to COVID-19, New Yorkers across the state want and need to get outside for a nature break, which is good for physical and mental health. Before heading out, take the PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL pledge, and promise to use common sense to protect yourself and others when enjoying the outdoors. The new campaign encourages all New Yorkers to recreate safely, responsibly, and locally this summer and to always treat fellow outdoor adventurers with respect.Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has made New York a national leader on disability rights by promoting key policies and initiatives including the state’s comprehensive Olmstead Implementation Plan (PDF) to serve individuals with disabilities in the most integrated settings. Executive Order 136 established the New York Employment First Initiative to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and the creation of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs which protects the safety and civil rights of New Yorkers. Just this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo also launched a new I Love NY accessibility hub detailing the many opportunities for travelers with accessibility needs. |
7/27 –
| LIVE ONLINE SCREENING EVENT Join us for a conversation with Rodney Evans, acclaimed director of Vision Portraits. As Evans faces the partial loss of his vision, he embarks on a quest to learn how several blind and low vision artists have continued to create art and how their journeys might impact his own. We will screen several poignant sequences of the film and have a conversation with some of the artists portrayed by Evans.To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), WORLD Channel is joining Move to Include, an initiative that uses the power of public media to inform and transform attitudes and behavior about inclusion. Move to Include was founded by WXXI Public Media and the Golisano Foundation and expanded with a grant by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. RSVP NOW! |
Reinventing Quality 2020 Goes Virtual
The Reinventing Quality 2020 Planning Committee is pleased to announce the “Reinventing Quality Goes Virtual” event, to be held July 27 – 30, 2020.
This free event, consisting of 10 sessions held throughout the week, will feature several on-demand and live sessions on a range of timely topics, including:
- A film screening and panel discussion of Invaluable: The Unrecognized Profession of Direct Support Workforce
- A presentation and panel discussion with Projects of National Significance grantees
- Sessions on federal and state initiatives, supporting families, quality improvement, and more!
Summer Graduate School: Introduction to water waves
Jul 27 – Aug 7
7/28 –
World Hepatitis Day
 Viral hepatitis affects millions of people worldwide and World Hepatitis Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and share resources to prevent and treat the disease. Take the time to get tested and encourage others to do the same. To find your nearest testing and diagnostic center the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a Viral Hepatitis Prevention Point of Contact List.Additionally, the World Hepatitis Alliance hosted a webinar to address what it means to live with viral hepatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and regularly update their website with information on the virus for people living with viral hepatitis.To learn more or to download campaign materials and resources, visit the World Hepatitis Day website.Learn More |
Learn how to access statistics on the socioeconomic, housing and demographic characteristics of customers in your market and business data. Your Business by the Numbers: Census Business BuilderFind out how the Census Bureau measures key information about businesses and industries in this overview of our social and economic programs, like the Economic Census, County Business Patterns, and the American Community Survey. You will learn how to access statistics on the socioeconomic, housing and demographic characteristics of customers in your market and business data in a given industry, including data on sales, receipts, payroll, and much more using the Census Business Builder.Join Us Time: 2:00 p.m. ETDial In: 888-997-9858 Passcode: 8767105 Link: Log In Details Event Password: censusacademy (If required, this password is only for users who join from a WebEx application or mobile app.) |
CENSUS ACADEMY
7/29 –
7/30 –
7/31 –
POP UP – Agritech Expo
AUGUST😁
Schedule A Virtual Appointment / Join Us on Microsoft Teams
8/3 –
Automated production of Braille textbooks
Aug 3 – Aug 7
8/11 –
BOOZ / ALLEN / HAMILTON
This virtual event features directed energy experts and military thought leaders.
Directed Energy Series Virtual Event 1 (FROM JULY 07, 2020)
⬆WEBINAR⬇
DIRECTED ENERGY SERIES VIRTUAL EVENT 2
Applying Modular Open Systems Architecture to Directed Energy Weapons
Congress, the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the service leads have made it clear that Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) is a warfighting imperative for all weapons systems–and directed energy weapons are no exception. As the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering stands up an Open Systems Architecture working group for directed energy weapons, how can DoD realize the benefits of MOSA without adversely impacting the continued innovation from industry needed to support U.S. Defense Strategy?
Join us for a virtual event with key government and industry stakeholders as they discuss modularity, interfaces, architectures and systems as part of the open systems architecture plans and strategy for service directed energy weapons. Register Now
Virtual Event Details:
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT
- Registration is free
What You’ll Learn:
- How the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering is approaching the working group process for directed energy weapons open systems architectures, including timelines, objectives and outcomes
- The important distinction between “standards” and “interface standardization” in MOSA for directed energy weapons
- Perspectives from industry on how to avoid unintended negative consequences as we develop and implement directed energy weapons open systems architectures, particularly for high energy laser systems
Host:
- Joshua Peters
Chief Technologist for Directed Energy, Booz Allen Hamilton
Guest Speakers:
- Christopher Behre, Jr.
Designated Lead for DEW MOSA by the Assistant Director, Directed Energy, OUSD(R&E) and Technical Director, Surface Navy Laser Weapon System Portfolio, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division - Jeff Barchers
Vice President and CTO, nLight | Nutronics
US CENSUS BUREAU – CENSUS ACADEMY
Exploring Census Data Webinar Series: New Businesses Statistics
8/12 –
8/13 –
8/14 –
8/15 –
8/16 –
8/17 –
8/18 –
Developing a Research Line of Inquiry
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Presenters:
Alice Bacherini, MA, University of Perugia (Italy)
Allison D’Aguilar, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
Jacqueline McGinley, PhD, LMSW, Binghamton University
Richard Chapman, University of Kansas
The Research Colloquium goes online! This year’s Research Colloquium presenters will share a wide range of research inquiries, including Adaptive Behavior in Toddlers with Autism, the Health Communication Technology Needs, People with IDD in Community Residences, and Correlation between self-advocacy and self-determination. Please join us to learn their research findings and great work by the SECP members.
SEPTEMBER😁
9/1 –
Geometric and Modular Representation Theory
Sep 1 – Apr 30, 2021
9/15 –
DIRECTED ENERGY SERIES VIRTUAL EVENT 3
Directed Energy’s Contribution in the Gray Zone
“Gray zone” challenges have been defined by the U.S. SOCOM as “competitive interactions… that fall between the traditional war and peace duality,”* going beyond normal international interactions yet falling short of overt military force. When a country is faced with the need to counter gray-zone operations, it is typically faced with military target ambiguity and the need to have a proportionate response. There is little margin for error – an unintended injury or casualty could dramatically escalate international tensions.
Non-kinetic weapons may provide a useful proportional alternative to our conventional kinetic capabilities. Join us for a conversation on the potential application of directed energy to some of the unique challenges presented by gray-zone scenarios.Register Now
Virtual Event Details:
- 12:00 – 1:00 pm EDT
- Registration is free
What You’ll Learn:
- What are the parameters of gray-zone conflicts and what strategic opportunities do they present?
- What are some specific examples of gray-zone conflicts?
- What aspects of directed energy weapons make them well suited to addressing gray-zone conflicts?
Moderator:
- Kris Osborn
Managing Editor, Warrior Maven, and Defense Editor, The National Review
Guest Speakers:
- Col. Wendell B. Leimbach, Jr., USMC
Director, Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office - Dr. David Stoudt
Senior Executive Advisor and Engineering Fellow for Directed Energy, Booz Allen Hamilton
Directed Energy’s Contribution in the Gray Zone
OCTOBER😁
10/26 –
NIH Regional Seminar
October 26 – 30.
This virtual conference will be free to attend.
The seminars serve the NIH mission of providing education and training for the next generation of biomedical and behavioral scientist. NIH policy, grants management, review and program staff provide a broad array of expertise and encourage personal interaction between themselves and seminar participants. The seminars are appropriate for grants administrators, researchers new to NIH, and graduate students.
NOVEMBER😁
DECEMBER😁
JANUARY😁
FEBRUARY😁
MARCH😁
3/25
CONVENTION
International Convention of Psychological Science will be held in Brussels, Belgium, March 25–27, 2021. Learn more at psychologicalscience.org/conventions/icps.
APRIL😁
4/5
 |
2021 Global Mental Health Research Without Borders Conference, April 5-6, 2021
The National Institute of Mental Health and Grand Challenges Canada are sponsoring the 11th Global Mental Health Research Conference on April 5-6, 2021, which will bring together researchers, innovators, and other stakeholders from around the globe. The conference will showcase findings from cutting-edge science and explore new opportunities for groundbreaking research.
Watch for the call for abstracts in August 2020.
Location: Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health Campus, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
MAY😁
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DECEMBER😁
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