Post No. 1,667 - In this week’s news

Black Lives Matter!

Stay safe - wash your hands, practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public, and follow informed medical advice - and be considerate towards those at risk or in situations of vulnerability (including economic) while the COVID-19 pandemic is a problem.

To counter despots, abuses of human rights and incompetent governance, and enable responsible, inclusive and participatory democracy, which is the ONLY sustainable basis for liberty and freedom, all people must embrace, instead of fearing, uncertainty, and commit to clear and objective/dispassionate thought, goodwill, and competence at being human, including having emotions.

This is a new, very cut down series of news aggregation posts based on some observations on matters that struck a personal note: unlike the former “Gnwmythr’s News”, it is not trying to convey key events. Also, being an Australian, I am now going to start referring to specific Australian states using accepted abbreviations. Editorial comments / personal opinion by me in grey. “Quotes are shown italicised and in quotation marks.”

Content Warning: the linked articles and their descriptions here may be about violence, abuse, hate, and other problems.

 

My Articles this week include:   brief thoughts on policing and changing careers.

On Spiritual Matters:   a goal to change millions of lives through uncertainty training.

Reading/Viewing I found interesting this week included:   a call for more research on honesty.

 

Overall Commentary on this week’s news:
   this week has seen a fascist despot with minority support work at keeping power - using some different (possible appointment of a Supreme Court judge) and some similar (law and order) tools as, but from a similar starting point as, Hitler, a judge in Australia describing the conduct of a government Minister as criminal (which is subject to appeal), and other despots have been engaging in similarly despicable behaviour - with the collaboration of conservative or duped media. Also on their side, bigotry, too much of which is related to lack of broad life experience, and too much of it fatal (or at least seriously harmful), and apparent lack of accountability, ethics, or even caring in the financial world. On the other hand, the week has also seen an exercise of Ministerial responsibility, efforts to improve the situation of minorities and others without power, and a gradually increased resumption of efforts to address the climate crisis.

 

In This Week’s News:
   more on Ruth Bader Ginsberg and her legacy here, here, here, here, here, here (first woman to lie in state), here (faith in USA’s ability to self-correct), and here;   poverty biases in algorithms;   the victims of scams include those whose identity have been used;   unbelievably, a man who had been searched for went to sea in a decrepit boat again in Force 10 or worse conditions, and now likely has died;   an apology and commitment to improvement by a talk show host over racism and a toxic work culture (is this statement believable? The host has been directly criticised. Change is possible, and as someone who was particularly disappointed by this, I hope it does happen) - see also this, on double standards;   about (psychological) vulnerabilities to extreme scams - and “doomscrolling”;   a bumper harvest from a wet winter in NSW;   a Swedish study has found that diet is more significant than BMI in assessing risk of death;   a deeper look at youth suicide in a regional town (for those distressed, see here, here, or here);   after a search by police and emergency service volunteers (locals were asked to spread the word on social media rather than aid in the search), the body of a boy with autism missing in the bush after he didn’t return from his regular short morning walk was found;   a think tank has identified three business groups it considers most responsible for undermining climate policy in Australia;   a man living in regional NSW has been charged with illegal importation of parts of guns and drug making equipment after a joint  raid by Australian police and US homeland security;   calls for more mental health first aid training to reduce suicides.

 

In the Environmental Arena, where we have been fighting World War III for some time now:
   China has joined 29 other nations (not including Australia) and committed to becoming energy neutral by 2060, raising the possibility that, if the US Democratic candidate wins the 2020 US Presidential election, the world’s climate goals could be realised (having seen how keen China was on this even back in the mid-90s, when lack of money limited what they could do, I do not question the genuineness of this commitment) which embarrasses my nation’s neoliberal nitwit national government, but see also this questioning;   a somewhat wishy-washy energy policy by Australia’s main opposition party also includes renewables;   despite the preferences of two thirds of voters for renewables and the objections of farmers, which have been described as “doable almost everywhere”, Australia’s neoliberal national government has chosen an energy  approach that has “good, bad, and ugly” aspects;   a tiny fine for a developer who dumped asbestos;   another  two  mass  whale  strandings on Tasmania’s west coast;   following persistent, prolonged attacks by a pod of orcas, yachts have been ordered clear of an area of ocean off Spain;   near record loss of Arctic ice;   medical groups are again urging that the climate crisis be included in long  term  health  planning;   the role of fear / eco-anxiety in motivating people to take action;   a recent mass death of elephants was caused by a toxin from Cyanobacteria  bloom (aka “blue green algae”, which are exacerbated by climate  change);   an assessment of sea level rises from melting Antarctic ice;   bushfires release  pollutants forests have absorbed over decades;   accusations of “blackmail” over the Murray-Darling basin;   an assessment of our chances of a reset by 2030;

other environmental matters have occurred in:
   a Finnish city (good news);   Australia;   UN;   USA (good news);   Canada (good news);   RBG (nuanced legacy);   Lebanon;   a call for a COVID-19-safe strike by children;   Egypt;   “net zero”;   Chad.

 

This week on the PROTESTS IN THE DESPOTIC USA and associated protests/issues elsewhere:
   angry but overwhelmingly peaceful  protests  after the now former police officer who was one of three who, during execution of a “no  knock” warrant,  allegedly shot and killed a black woman who was sleeping in her home around nine months ago has been charged with “wanton  endangerment” - of her neighbours . . . two other officers were not charged;   in response to an order from lyin’ 45’s regime, the US EPA cancelled a series of lectures on problems faced by racial minorities;

Police:
   what police SHOULD do;

more on the very long History of the Causes of the protests:
   the USA has a “long history” of forced sterilisations.

 

On HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS:
   conspiracy fantasists are harming the real work against child slavery;
   a teenager with a manageable disability was left crippled, and eventually died, after being given psychotropic medication;   how to be an ally to people with disabilities;
   against a long  history of Indigenous  deaths in custody and investigations and (only  partially  implemented) recommendations, recent deaths here  and  overseas and the Black Lives Matter movement and protests, a recent death in custody led to protests, a suspension of one police employee and a statement by Qld  police of willingness to learn (does that mean the content and implementation of this, this, this, and this will be reviewed and improved?) - but ongoing concerns that broader problems may not be being addressed (my home state’s Coroners  Court has changed how Indigenous deaths in custody are investigated “to reflect recommendations made in a royal commission almost 30 years ago, but Aboriginal legal services say they don’t have enough funding to meet the court’s new commitments” [funding has been increased in the past and recently to meet needs: perhaps time to do so again?]);   my home state’s Parliament will hang an Indigenous artist’s painting about reconciliation;   a tech company has said it is complying with a request to remove virtual walks on the top of Uluru - although ground level virtual walks will remain;   an Indigenous boy with dwarfism and his family have won  compensation and an apology from a conservative columnist who claimed his reaction to bullying was a scam;   the first Indigenous Australian win of the Archibald Prize - by the great-grandson of a great and well known Indigenous artist;   appallingly, in such a wealthy nation as Australia, rheumatic  heart disease  continues to attack Indigenous children;   the world is becoming more xenophobic;
   the Federal Court has criticised the acting immigration minister, who will appeal the verdict, for “conduct which can only be described as criminal” after he defied a tribunal order and kept an asylum seeker in detention because he thought - correctly, according to the Federal Court - the tribunal had got the law wrong. Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan who has been been determined to be owed “complementary  protection”, still languishes in detention after eleven years . . . ;
   a woman with disabilities who did not understand letters requiring her to report her partner’s income fortnightly rather than annually has been left with a debt that she would have to live to 131 to repay - one of a growing group, says Economic Justice Australia;
   appalling stunts by students at an “elite” school may lead to their expulsion - and show ongoing societal problems;   some  belated  common  sense in Australian sport;
   the widow of a sports great who died in a hospital crash which also killed her daughter is suing a sheriff’s department over the sharing  of  graphic  photos, on the basis that those actions breached the privacy of all involved (I could not find an applicable privacy policy on their website) and caused harm;
   the worsening problem of deepfakes.

Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity matters (good and bad) in:
   more reports that China has exported the repression used against the Uyghurs – which includes 380  internment  camps -  to Tibet;   calls for Australian to ban imports made by Uyghur slave labour - as the USA already has;   reflections by an Israeli on the massacre “by an Israeli ally” in two Palestinian refugee camps in southern Lebanon (the anger of Israeli soldiers is striking - particularly the one who wanted to shoot then Defence Minister Ariel Sharon);   Yemen - USA/Yemen - see also here;

Refugee, immigration, and migration matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   marchers in Germany have called for acceptance of refugees displaced by a fire in a Greek refugee camp;   Libya;   “the human impact of deportation”;   Mozambique;

Racism/caste based matters including Indigenous, multi-culturalism, colonialism and land rights (good and bad) have occurred in:
   Australian sport;   the challenges facing those with dementia  increase when they are from culturally  diverse  communities;   philosophy;   Australia;   Kenya;   social media image function;   Cambodia;   South Africa;

Child Abuse/Trafficking/Slavery & Extreme Worker Abuse matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   Australia;   Bangladesh (good news);   UK;   India;   India (good news);   Brazil;

LGBTIQ+ matters (including internalised homo-/bi-/trans-phobia/hate) (good and bad) have occurred in:
   personal experience of the invisibility  of  bisexuality;   Poland;   social media;   lyin’ 45/social media;

Sexism (including internalised sexism), misogyny/misandry and domestic violence matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   Singapore (good news);   SA (good news);   a painting in a Tasmanian University;   Japan;   social conditioning;   India (where leisure for women is radical);   Brazil;   social media;   Kenya;   UK;   Afghanistan;   Nigeria/UN (good news);   Bougainville (good news);   violent misogyny in India;

Disability matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   the experience of a woman who is gradually losing her hearing;   as more people learn Auslan, this month’s Auslan Parliamentary update from my home state;   UK (nice inclusive option);   Indigenous children (good news);

Housing matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   the financial costs to the community of homelessness;   the mid-life aspiration gap;

Freedom of the Press / Expression matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   a suggestion for tax rebates to support public interest journalism - see also here;   Hong Kong;   Turkey;   Cuba;   Algeria;   Cameroon;

Privacy/Surveillance matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   EU exports;   India;

Repression/Oppression including Police Abuses / reduction of democracy and other civil & political rights matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   China;   Hong  Kong;   Iran;   UK;   burma;   Belarus;   Cameroon;   Sudan;   Mali;

Other animal and human rights matters (good and bad) have occurred in:
   Australia;   the olympics;

In the related human rights arena of Employment:
   India;   Thailand;   Qatar.

 

Risks or occurrences of Atrocities, Mass Violence and/or War(s) this week in:
   Mozambique;   France;   Venezuela, Syria and Ethiopia;   South Africa;   Nigeria;   DR Congo;   Mali;   Kenya;

And:
   a mourning of the failure to achieve the potential of R2P;   the US military is using a non-explosive weapon fired from drones in its targeted assassination programme in an attempt to minimise deaths of civilians nearby, but concerns remain over oversight/implementation/ethics of the programme (the article - which is excellent, IMO, and has good links to further information, mentions the new weapon is “gruesome” . . . so is blowing people up) ;   external includes in the Afghan peace process;   food shortages in Mozambique are due to violence;   three companies have been sanctioned for breaching the Libya arms sanctions.

 

On DISASTERS this week:
   how a fire in the USA became a disaster;   fears of the next flood in Bangkok (the “Venice of the East”), Thailand;   clean air shelters for the homeless in the USA;

Bushfires have occurred in:
   USA.

 

On Humanitarian Aid and Development:
   a critique of gender equality data and accountability;   a critique of global education data;   a guide for tertiary institutions on the SDGs.

 

In the DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, PUBLIC ETHICS, AND SOCIETY ARENA:

General Matters and Locations:
   a leak from the USA of highly secret suspicious financial activity reports has been assessed as showing measures to get banks to be responsible have not worked, leaving some scam victims/dupes fearing for their family members’ lives (see also here) - meanwhile, in Australia, as the national neolib government plans to wind  back post-Royal Commission into Banking misconduct laws intended to enforce  responsible  lending around home loans (to boost home building - at any cost, evidently), and concerns exist that phoenixing may be recuring, one bank has reached a deal with financial crime watchdog (“set up to monitor financial transactions to identify money laundering, organised crime, tax evasion, welfare fraud and terrorism financing”) AUSTRAC to settle more than 23 million alleged breaches of anti-money laundering and child exploitation laws by paying a record  $1.3 billion penalty - almost double the previous record $700 million fine paid by another bank for almost 54,000 money laundering breaches (revealed by the ABC) in 2017 - but others are also of concern;   yet more support for a four day working week;   more  protests and actions  calling for democracy in military run  Thailand, but monarchists are resisting;   after two decades of trying, years in prison on probably trumped up homophobic charges, and being betrayed by his long standing rival, Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim  may have the votes to form  government;   a former leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army during the ten year civil war that left up to to 15 to 20,000 people dead, will become  President, and after 98% voted last year for independence in a nonbinding referendum, will seek that within five years;   an opinion offices - which were stressful and not working well before the pandemic - will be less used after the pandemic;   the character changes resulting from job insecurity;   Belarus’ Alexander  Lukashenko has defied protests (see also here) and international  concerns (but see also this) over a contested  election result to have himself secretly and abruptly re-sworn in as President - see also here;   a call for better prioritisation in governance;  protests in Egypt;

in Australia:
   more mates rates - this time in taxation, by the neolibs for the their rich mates;   in a confirmation that placing “a bet on using the old copper and pay TV technologies to build the NBN [was] a very big mistake”, the neolibs will belatedly - and expensively - extend the NBN to be closer to what was originally recommended and has always been needed;   a conspiracy fantasist has been ordered to pay compensation for appalling online posts about an MP;   a former Chief of State in an Australian state has been cleared of corruption, but did breach regulations;   regional job vacancies remain high, and hard to fill (despite people moving out because of the pandemic . . . it would help if such areas were less backward socially [i.e., discriminatory], but lack of government services/responsibility is also an issue, IMO);   a call to rethink the cost of Uni courses so we can get better teachers;   an estimate of University research  losses “by 2024”;   concerns about foreign (Murdoch) media interference in Australia;   Morrison has mastered the disinformation/misdirection of media known as “feeding the chooks”;
   an ABC Radio National  special programme has reported allegations by a former-barrister turned police informant and the father of her children that police made an ultimatum of removing her children to control her movements when she returned - and faced enhanced checking by customs at police requests - to give evidence to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants, behaviour not shown towards other informants although this person is in the highest category of risk according to police (I consider that assessment realistic, and there is always the possibility that this behaviour is motivated by genuine concern on the part of police - we are outsiders looking in, and trying to determine what is in hearts by outer actions), and that a computer being used by her lawyer was shut down remotely by an unknown person during a legally privileged conversation;   our unhealthy, unbalanced and dangerous obsession with the USA;

The Unexceptional (and despotic) States of America:
   in the possible realisation of a “nightmare  scenario” that US Senator Bernie  Sanders has been warning of for some time (and providing suggestions on how to prepare for/deal with same), lyin’ 45 has refused to commit to a peaceful  transfer of power if he loses the 2020 US Presidential election, leading to indication that the US Democratic contender has prepared for a wide range of possible outcomes, rebukes even from some Republicans, a commitment by the US Senate, reassurances that a transfer of power would  occur, and an opinion that lyin’ 45 is using pantomime techniques used in wrestling - see also here, and note these concerns about an unclear result (the USA needs to get rid of its IPOC electoral college system, which has been inappropriate for more than a century at least, and go to direct election);   disturbing revelations that lyin’ 45’s supporters (the “lyin45ettes”) plotted their violence in Portland and explored the possibility of charging officials who were doing their duty;   lyin’ 45’s memo on firing a former FBI director has been described as “tinfoil helmet material”;   lyin’ 45 has maliciously questioned RBG’s final request - his appearance at her funeral was met by chants of “honour her wish” - and the US Republicans have hypocritically changed their stance, leading to a crisis over honour in politics - so a replacement will be nominated  shortly - or possibly after the imminent 2020 US Presidential election, leading to fear  for the USA’s (and the international community’s) future . . . - see also here, on the process from nomination to appointment, and this and this on possible US Democrat responses;   a beneficial (call to vote and a rejection of hate speech) foreign intervention – to the irrits of Her Maj;   a judge has banned US state’s ban on transporting voters to polling stations;   possible inconsistencies in the mail voting assessments have been found by Reuters;

other democracy, governance, politics, public ethics, and society matters have occurred in:
      Viêt Nám (this is utterly staggering);   Qld..

 

INTERNATIONALLY:
   a tragedy has shown the problem of clearing unexploded bombs in former warzones;   Russia’s most prominent opposition leader has been released from hospital after recovering from poisoning with a nerve agent, an event of international  concern - see also this, on a similar event in 2018, and he has been attacked  financially while in hospital . . . ;   an analysis by a research  organisation found a no-deal Brexit will be three times  worse for the UK economy than the pandemic;      a “battle of billboards” in Brazil reflects a split that mirrors the division in the USA;   the continuing  crisis in Lebanon;   another assessment of the possible breakup of the UK;   growing  tension between Greece and Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean Sea - and recommendations to defuse;   an examination of ASEAN’s continuing commitment to consensus;   an examination of US support for Taiwan;   India has improved its relations with Japan;

on China, China’s Communist Party (CCP) Regime and the reinvigorated  ideological Cold War this week:
   this abuse - including THREATS AGAINST A MINOR - from several years ago confirms that China’s attacks on journalists and foreigners has nothing to do with the current diplomatic tensions and everything to do with China being an insecure despotic regime filled with bullies and petty tyrants;   a call for international action for the “Wall of Resistance” against the CCP on 10^th October;   an examination of China’s post-revolution history, including leaders and massacres, and current impact on the world stage and diplomacy - and it has border disputes (some centuries old, some new) with 17 nations - see also here;   China’s “gambit” in Tajikistan;   a large Chinese fishing fleet is causing a major dispute with Peru;   Chinese-US (Chinese-lyin’ 45?) tensions are prominent at the UN this week;   hundreds of fake Chinese social media accounts backing the CCP and the Philippines Marcos-lite have been removed;   a Reuters  exclusive (picked up by  others) reports that a Swedish space services  company, citing a changed geopolitical situation and difficulty making market assessments (but not mentioning Swedish military concerns), will not renew its agreement to allow China’s growing space programme to use its satellite tracker (ground station) in Sweden, Chile, and WA;   China and India have agreed  to  halt their military build-up on the disputed India-Tibet border;   concerns over intimidation of Chinese students in Australia, with possible influence on free speech;

on Israel’s intended Annexation of the West Bank and other matters:
   a Reuters exclusive reports that, following the recent  agreement  with  Israel, an agreement on selling F-35 jet fighters to the UAE may be in place by the end of the year (but delivery will take 6 to 7 years);   a critique of the Israel-UAE-Bahrain agreements suggests shared concern over Iran and UAE desire for access to Israeli technology and F-35s may have been primary motivations, but four “flawed” ways to an Israeli-Palestinian agreements may still exist;   protests in Palestine - which has resigned from chairing the Arab League in protest at the UAE and Bahrain deal;

other international matters have occurred in:
   Bolivia (pre-election chaos).

 

IN AFRICA - Democracy, Governance, Politics, Public Ethics, And Society and International Relations:
   electoral violence in Guinea;   the IMF has endorsed Sudan’s plans for economic recovery;   “epic” corruption has robbed South Sudan’s people of their future;   limited releases of opposition figures in the Ivory Coast;   cryptocurrency;   millions of cyber-attacks this year;   concerns in Kenya over the cost of the Chinese financed railway;   Ghana is planning on selling its gold futures . . . .

 

On the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus (there are other novel coronaviruses) (seven major risks to watch here, and seven sins of thought to avoid here), and Wear Masks!!!):
   the pandemic, NOT lockdowns, have caused the economic recession - and lockdowns have, in some cases, been actively beneficial;   as contact trackers try to find 8 passengers, advice on pandemic safety in taxis;   the low  per capita cost of preventing future pandemics;   the community sector;   the impacts of long term school closures;

   good stories/news:   thoughts on resilience;   a school organising support for his family enabled a Pasifika student to continue his education - see also here, here, here, and here;   the value of friendships are being shown;   Thailand;

   medical aspects:   the pandemic may lead to an increase of neurological conditions such as Parkinsons;   a “gargle  test” developed in Israel will be used in European airports (see also here, here, here, here (a review), and here);   more on the impacts of border closures on medical treatment for cancer;   the influence of reinfection;   another possible benefit of wearing facemasks.

 

Human Rights Aspects (crisis . . . running summary of impacts on elections here):
   a Chinese billionaire who criticised China’s response to the pandemic has been jailed;

sexism:
   the experience of a woman who fled domestic violence during the lockdown;   the pandemic has revealed sexism in policies over recent years;   the vulnerability of temporary visa holders;   US prisons;

increased opportunistic repression/oppression / reduction of democracy:
   India.

 

In My Home State:
   against a background of case and death numbers continuing to be low and/or declining at better than expected rates (which may- noting this -  lead to accelerated easing of restrictions), an exposé on the disconnect between some sections of media and the reality of public attitudes, and Commonwealth neoliberal Ministers ignoring powerful criticism (e.g., this), after a week of ramping drama which saw the enquiry into the hotel quarantine scheme (dumped on the states by the national neolib government in an abandonment of responsibility, but expected to be up and working in 35 hours) see more concerns over private security (who may be liable for costs), the Police Minister stating she had not been informed of plans to deploy the military, disputes over accountability, a grieving son launching legal action, attacks on Health Minister by one union but not others - and one counterattacked (which may be linked to internal ALP politics and/or a decision to build the new Frankston hospital using a public-private partnership), concerns over staff briefings of the Health Minister and questions over her evidence capped by the Premier highlighting the uncertainty over decisions but ascribing  responsibility (blame?) to the Health Minister late on Friday (and disputing that police did not know about the ADF), the Health Minister has - in an example of Ministerial responsibility which should be noted by the national neolibs - resigned from both her portfolio and Parliament (which will necessitate a replacement if pandemic legislation is to be passed in two weeks’ time);
   international support for our approach;   a doctor’s call to stick to the plan - see also this call for caution;   a major additional boost in funding to ensure mental health and alcohol and other drug support services can cope with demand;   the hard lockdown of towers has led to four African-Australians standing in local Council elections;   a union has urged regional businesses to adopt a “hire local” strategy;   accusations of “unbalanced” coverage of the Premier by conservative media;   the lockdown has led to more palliative  care being provided at home – see also here and death  doula;   a proposal to reduce congestion on public transport after the pandemic by providing off-peak fees;   concerns over aged care residents (on the basis of the experiences of those fairly close to me, I can back the existence of this as a problem);   debunking of a satiric quote misrepresented as genuine;   a call to reopen indoor pools to prevent the increase in drowning deaths (including five toddlers (so how about limited reopening - for swimming lessons only, mainly children?);   specific details of concerns in the proposed increase in police powers;

Australia:
   how to avoid a third wave;   five useful and interesting insights about Australians from the pandemic;   more on the dehumanising impact of the imminent reduction in JobSeeker;   a rebuttal of claims that NSW opened at the same sort of numbers that my home state has;   a health worker who contracted COVID-19 has questioned the comment to her that, although otherwise fully fitted out with PPE, she did not need a P95 mask instead of a surgical mask;   as a dispute between a billionaire and Western Australia over border closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 extends to include WA’s Premier  countersuing for defamation, returning Australians have increased case numbers in WA;   a hotel quarantine breach in SA, and questions about exemptions to border restrictions;   the challenges for parents of remote learning;   the Commonwealth will change insolvency and liquidation rules to help  businesses in financial trouble as a result of the pandemic;   former Treasurer and Prime Minister Paul Keating has accused the Reserve Bank of not  doing  enough for Australia's economy in COVID recession;   concerns over reduced testing rates in NSW;   some easing of restrictions in Qld;   the ADF will be redeployed from enforcing border closures to help with quarantine;   fears of evictions in Qld as landlords begin calling in “deferred rent”;   a report that Australians stranded overseas would be willing to wear electronic bracelets while in quarantine in order to come home;

Internationally:
   the UK is looking at six months of increased restrictions;   Viêt Nám has again stopped the pandemic (it is also pleasing to see more people wearing bike helmets - that has improved since I worked there in the mid-90s);   USA;   some hospitals in Israel have stopped taking in new patients;   the Czech Republic has appointed an epidemiologist as its next Health Minister;   lyin’ 45;   Israel - see also here;   a blow to women crab farmers in Bangladesh;   France;   Bali, Indonesia is paying the price for reopening - see also here;   Mexico;   Russia;   Russia;   the food crisis in Turkmenistan is worsening;

Africa:
   urban food may be rebooted;   pandemic rumours are hindering Burkina Faso’s fight against malaria;   agricultural costs in Kenya - and concerns of graft taking aid;

Globally:
   lessons from small island nations;   the growing number of cases;   the WHO has warned the global death toll from COVID-19 could reach two million;   as the ILO says incomes have been cut by 10% and the Red Cross warns of twin impacts from pandemic and climate crisis, a warning of long term economic effects from the IMF - and calls for help from Africa;   internet access is even more urgent;

Irresponsibility, Selfishness, and Unthinking Behaviour:
   an aged care facility;   USA.

WLNGRHDMT

And finally . . . Black Lives Matter!