The Life News Australia. Aug 1, 2021

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Vol. 04 Issue 56 Aug 01, 2021

Death Toll Jumps to More Than 300 in Recent China Flooding

TL Bureau, Beijing

Chinese authorities have announced a large jump in the death toll from recent floods. The Henan provincial government said Monday that 302 people died and 50 remain missing,

the Associated Press reported.

The vast majority of the victims were in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, where 292 died and 47 are missing.

Ten others died in three other cities, officials said in a news conference.

TL Bureau, Tokyo

course of the end of the week and were squeezing to take over Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand region.

In an update last week, the United States said the withdrawal from Afghanistan was about 95% complete. U.S. President Joe Biden had said already that the pullout would be done

by Sept. 11, the twentieth commemoration of the psychological militant assaults in New York City and Washington, D.C. “The Taliban has changed uniquely in that their pitilessness has expanded,” Ghani added, as indicated

by Tolo.

The U.S. military has kept on giving air backing to Afghan soldiers.

Ghani said a great many Taliban aggressors that were delivered by the Afghan government as of now seem to back on the forefronts.

“We have followed through on a significant expense for harmony and showed incredible delicacy, however rather war was forced on us,” Ghani said Monday, as indicated by Tolo.

Olympic runner Krystsina Tsimanouskaya of Belarus is looking for shelter in Poland and was conceded a helpful visa by the eastern European country in Monday after she says group authorities attempted to compel her to get back to her nation of origin.

Tsimanouskaya went to the Polish Embassy in Tokyo and said she dreaded capture in case she was gotten back to Belarus.

She grumbled and condemned Belarusian coordinators after she was eliminated from rivalry at the Tokyo Olympics and requested to get back.

Clean authorities said later Monday that they would help Tsimanouskaya.

“Poland will do whatever is important to help her proceed with her wearing profession,” Polish Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Marcin Przydacz said, as per CNN. “[Poland] consistently represents fortitude.”

Tsimanouskaya, 24, has been under the insurance of Japanese specialists and is intending to travel to Warsaw in the coming days. The turn to Poland happened after she whined by means of online media about her treatment by the Belarusian Olympic board of trustees. Tsimanouskaya contended in a passing warmth for the ladies’ 100-meter run and was additionally set to contend in the 200-meter race when she said group authorities attempted to constrain her out of Tokyo without her assent. She said the group additionally unexpectedly attempted to get her to contend in the ladies’ 4x400 transfer after

Ghani blames U.S. pullout for Taliban resurgence

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

During a discourse to officials on Monday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani got down on the United States for forsaking his nation as Taliban warriors increase determination to assume responsibility for certain spaces.

In a discourse to a joint unique meeting of the National Assembly, Ghani condemned the close to add up to U.S. withdrawal of powers interestingly since 2001. “[T]he current circumstance is because of an unexpected choice on the withdrawal of the worldwide soldiers,” however “the insurance of individuals is our obligation,” Ghani said, as indicated by Tolo News.

Notwithstanding the U.S. pullout, Ghani said he expects the resurgent Taliban will be crushed inside a half year.

Taliban contenders dispatched offensives in a few urban areas over the

Belarus sprinter seeks asylum in Poland at Tokyo Olympics

Courtesy: Reuters drug testing issues kept a few individuals from the group out of the occasion.

“They are attempting to get me out of the country without my consent,” Tsimanouskaya said in a Facebook video posted by the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation.The International Olympic Committee recognized the trial in an explanation late Sunday. “The IOC and Tokyo 2020 have addressed Krystsina Tsymanouskaya straightforwardly this evening,” the association tweeted. “She is with the specialists at Haneda air terminal and is as of now joined by a staff individual from Tokyo 2020. She has disclosed to us that she has a sense of security.

“The IOC and Tokyo 2020 will

proceed with their discussions with Krystsina Tsymanouskaya and the specialists to decide the following stages in the forthcoming days.”

Belarus has an imperious government and was generally censured in May for redirecting a trip to capture a nonconformist columnist. It was a move that likewise drew discipline from the European Union and authorizations from the United States.Tsimanouskaya’s better half, Arseniy Zdanevich, left Belarus Sunday night for Ukraine.

“I didn’t figure it would get this genuine,” he revealed to Sky News in Kiev. “I settled on the choice to leave without reconsidering.”

2 TL Bureau, Tokyo Partially through the Summer Olympics in Japan, Covid cases are flooding in the country during a highly sensitive situation however the flare-up is not even close as extreme as different spots as the world arrangement with a more infectious Delta variation.

Tokyo 2020 manager Toshiro Muto said at a news gathering Sunday that the COVID-19 flood isn’t connected to the Games, which included 11,000 competitors addressing 206 nations.

The inspiration rate is just 0.02% - 72 out of around 350,000 tests through Friday, which incorporates members and different partners.

On the tenth day of the Olympics, including the initial services, Japan declared five extra passings and 10,177 cases, contrasted and four fatalities and 5,020 contaminations multi week sooner.

In multi week Japan’s all out cases have risen

COVID-19 cases risen during first week of Olymics

87% to 937,293, which is 33rd on the planet. Passings have gone up 68 down 24% from the earlier week, to an aggregate of 15,211, positioning 37th internationally.

Japan has 7,344 contaminations for each million contrasted and the world at 25,495, the United States at 107,311, Britain at 85,783 and Indonesia at 12,436.

For fatalities, Japan is at 121 fatalities for each million contrasted and the world at 543.5, the United States at 1,889, Britain at 1,899, Indonesia at 346.

On Saturday, Japan set a public cases record with 12,341.

The country’s day by day records are 148 passings on May 7. Up to this point the cases record was 7,568 on Jan. 7.

In Tokyo, where

the vast majority of the occasions are occurring and a populace of 12.5 million, 3,058 cases were accounted for Sunday contrasted and 1,763 seven days sooner and 1,008 fourteen days prior. On Saturday, there were a record 4,058 diseases.

Around the world, cases and passings are each up 10%, as indicated by Worldometers.info.

In Asia, passings have climbed 25% more than seven days with cases expanding 22%.

editorial

There have been gains in passings in Indonesia and Iran with India dying down subsequent to being the top area of interest on the planet.

One and a half years after the infection began in Mainland China, the loss of life has ascended to 4,238,544 and cases are at 198,900,735 so far Sunday, as indicated by following by Worldometers.info.

The United States is the world innovator in absolute passings at 613,174 and cases at 34,96,313, as per following by Johns Hopkins. Brazil is second in fatalities with 556,437 and India third with 424,351. India is second in cases at 61,655,824 in front of Brazil with 19,917,855.

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world

Swiss Confederation National Day TL Bureau, Washington D.C. Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I wish a heartfelt congratulations to the people of Switzerland as you celebrate your National Day on August 1.

The United States and Switzerland share an unwavering commitment to advancing human rights, promoting democratic values,

S.Korea Reports 1,442 Coronavirus Cases TL Bureau, Seoul

South Korea reported 1,442 new coronavirus cases along with 3 deaths during the past 24 hours, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said today.

Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in S.Korea stand at 199,787, and the death toll increased to 2,098.

Russia Reports 22,804 New COVID-19 Cases, 789 Deaths TL Bureau, Moscow

Russia reported 22,804 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, including 2,484 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 6,288,677.

The government coronavirus task force said 789 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 159,352, according to Reuters.

achieving global health goals, and fostering peace and security around the world. We also remain strong partners and advocates in promoting dialogue and diplomacy.

We will continue to work closely with Switzerland to expand economic growth and prosperity, collaborate in research and technological innovation, strengthen our cooperation in cyber defense, and partner to address the

climate crisis. I want to thank the Swiss government for serving as our Protecting Power and for representing our interests in Iran. I witnessed firsthand Switzerland’s dedication to dialogue and diplomacy in June when I joined President Biden in Geneva.

Best wishes on this important day, and I look forward to advancing our exceptional partnership in the years ahead

Covid-19 Vaccination is Mandatory for Entering Places in Saudi Arabia from Today, August 1 TL Bureau, Riyadh Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas.

Al-Yaum newspaper reported in its editorial that starting from today, Sunday, August 1, 2021, immunization requirement, approved by the Ministry of Health, goes into force when entering the following places: economic, commercial, cultural, entertainment or sports activities, cultural, educational, social or entertainment events, governmental private establishments, whether as an employee or a visitor, governmental or private educational facilities and when using public transportation.

Additionally, it is mandatory to show the “Tawakalna” App to verify the immunization status of citizens and residents.

The newspaper further added that all these efforts demonstrate the Kingdom’s keenness on the safety

of all citizens and residents.

Additionally, the vaccine is the way to surpass the COVID-19 pandemic and it has been provided to everyone and free of charge.

The newspaper concluded that social responsibility leads the next phase of controlling the pandemic. People must fully adhere to precautionary and preventive measures and to eliminate any laxity in applying health requirements.

In another context, Al-Bilad newspaper said in its editorial that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been supportive of regional and international efforts to maintain the security and safety of maritime navigation and protect commercial ships and energy supply lines.

Saudi Arabia’s vital role reflects the importance of its strategic location and influence in the global economy. In this regard, Saudi Arabia has strengthened its position by joining the International Maritime Security Construct.

The Prime Minister announces the appointment of Senators

TL Bureau, Ottawa

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts The Senate is the Upper House in Canada’s parliamentary democracy. It unites a diverse group of accomplished Canadians

in service of their country. Created to counterbalance representation by population in the House of Commons, the Senate has evolved from defending regional interests to creating space for the voices of historically underrepresented groups like Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, and women.

With today’s announcement, there have been 60 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.

In 2016, the selection process for Senators was opened to all Canadians. Candidate submissions are reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which provides recommendations to the Prime Minister.

The Board is guided by public, transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based criteria to identify highly qualified candidates.

Once appointed by the Governor General, new Senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.

Biographical Notes David Arnot Michèle Audette Amina Gerba Clément Gignac Karen Sorensen

appointment and retirement of judges of the Court, to enable them to serve for a full nine-year term and provide

continuity.

It also demonstrates the extent to which the UK’s pragmatic leadership on the reform of the ECtHR has delivered results, and will enable, along with other measures agreed

by Convention State Parties over the last decade, this unique international system of human rights protection to remain effective and continue to respond to new challenges.

Noting this progress and the important achievement that the entry into force of Protocol No. 15 represents, the UK Government will keep supporting the continued improvement of the ECtHR and the system of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada’s new Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, appointed the following individuals as independent Senators to fill vacancies across Canada: David Arnot, for Saskatchewan Michèle Audette, for Québec Amina Gerba, for Québec Clément Gignac, for Québec Karen Sorensen, for Alberta All new Senators were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, and chosen using the merit-based process open to all Canadians. This process ensures Senators are independent, reflect Canada’s diversity, and are able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

Quote “I am pleased to welcome Parliament’s newest independent Senators. Their combined experience, perspectives, and dedication to serving Canadians will further strengthen the Senate and help shape our country’s future.

I look forward to working with them, and all Senators, as we take steps toward our recovery and to building back a more resilient and inclusive Canada for everyone.”

European Convention on Human Rights protocol comes into force

TL Bureau, London

Protocol no. 15 is an international legal agreement which makes a series of changes to the Convention, and whose development was led by the UK. Its coming into force will conclude the last major reform from the Brighton Declaration, adopted under the UK’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The Brighton Declaration was an agreement made at the Council of Europe High-Level Conference of April 2012, where the UK Government announced plans to reform the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The changes introduced by Protocol No. 15 aim to address inefficiencies in the ECtHR. Under certain conditions, the ECtHR reviews applications from people claiming their rights under the Convention have been violated by a State Party. In particular, the Protocol will contribute to helping the Court manage the high number of applications it receives.

Protocol No. 15 recognises that the primary responsibility for protecting human rights under the European Convention on Human Rights falls to each individual State Party. It will also improve the efficiency of the ECtHR by shortening the time limit for applications and ensuring that all applications

have been properly considered by domestic courts. Additionally, it will modify rules regarding the

4 President of Togo Meets with IsDB President TL Bureau, London

President of the Republic of Togo Faure Gnassingbé met yesterday with President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Dr. Bandar Hajjar, on the sidelines of the Global Education Summit held in London.

The two sides reviewed the Bank’s projects and efforts to support economic and social development and achieve sustainable development goals in Togo.

UAE Announces 1,519 New COVID-19 Cases in Last 24 Hours TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), in a statement on Sunday, announced 1,519 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases to 682,377, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

MoHAP also announced two deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 1,951.

The ministry noted that an additional 1,466 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries in the UAE to 659,664.

world

Protocol no. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights enters into force on 1 August 2021 – the period for submitting an application to the European Court of Human Rights will be reduced to four months after a transition period

TL Bureau, Helsinki

Adopted in June 2013, Protocol No. 15 to the European Convention on Human Rights will enter into force on 1 August 2021. Its entry into force will reduce the application period to four months and also introduce other changes to the right to submit applications to the European Court of Human Rights. The shorter application period is, however, subject to a transition period, which ends on 1 February 2022.

The fifteenth protocol amending the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was adopted and opened for signature on 24 June 2013. As all the Contracting Parties to the ECHR, including Finland,

Malaysia Records 17,150 New COVID-19 Cases TL Bureau, Putrajaya

Malaysia recorded 17,150 new COVID-19 cases during the past 24 hours.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health said that the total number of the infections reached 1,130,422, while the total death tally reached 9,024.

have now ratified the Protocol, it will enter into force on 1 August 2021.

The Protocol brings some major changes to the process of lodging an application with the European Court of Human Rights that sits in Strasbourg.

As regards applicants, the most significant change is the reduction of the period for submitting an application. The current six-month application period will be reduced to four months after a final domestic decision.

The reduced time period is, however, subject to a transition rule under which the fourmonth period for submitting an application to the Court will not be effective before 1 February 2022. The shorter application

period will also not apply to cases where the final national decision was given prior to the entry into force of the Protocol, i.e. before 1 August 2021.

Another major change concerns the admissibility criteria of a human rights application at the Court with regard to ‘significant disadvantage’. Following this amendment, cases where the applicant has not suffered a significant disadvantage will not be admitted, even if the alleged human rights violation had not been duly considered by a domestic tribunal.

Consequently, the European Court of Human Rights will no longer process applications that can be characterised as insignificant.

The Protocol underlines the

subsidiarity of the application mechanism under the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to applying the Convention at national level.

Alleged human rights violations should primarily be processed before national courts.

The Protocol removes the right of the parties to an application to object to relinquishment of jurisdiction by a Chamber to the Grand Chamber in cases that involve an important issue concerning the interpretation of the Convention, or in cases where the ruling would amount to a potential conflict with the Court’s existing case-law.The Protocol also sets an upper age limit of 65 years for judicial candidates to the European Court of Human Rights.

UAE Condemns Houthi Militia’s Attempt to Target Khamis Mushait City, Saudi Arabia, with a Bomb-laden UAV TL Bureau, Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly condemned the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militia’s attempts to target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a bomb-laden UAV, which was intercepted and destroyed by the Coalition forces. In a statement issued today, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation stressed that the continuation of these terrorist attacks by the Houthi militia reflects its blatant challenge to the international community and disregard for all international laws and norms. The ministry urged the international community to take an immediate and decisive stand to stop these systematic attacks that target vital and civilian installations

and the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also reiterated that the continuation of these attacks is a grave escalation that represents new evidence of these militias’ attempts to undermine security and stability in the region. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs renewed the UAE’s full solidarity and standing with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in facing these terrorist attacks and against whatever threatens its security and stability, in addition to supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s taken measures to maintain the security and safety of its citizens and residents. The Ministry stressed that the security of the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is inseparable, and that any threat or danger to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is considered a threat to the security and stability of the UAE.

Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo help drive vaccine uptake

Leading businesses to offer incentives for people to get COVID-19 jabs TL Bureau, London Leading businesses to join national effort to further drive uptake in young people Uber, Bolt and Deliveroo among those to offer incentives for people to get the jab, with more set to join soon Young people urged to get jab to protect themselves and loved ones and support cautious return to normal life Some of the country’s top food and travel businesses have joined the national effort to get as many people as possible vaccinated against COVID-19.

Uber, Bolt, Deliveroo and Pizza Pilgrims are among the household names who will be offering discounts and incentives to customers who get a COVID-19 vaccine and help protect the country from the virus, as we continue the cautious return to normality.

Uber, for example, will be sending reminders to all users in August, encouraging them to get the vaccine, and will be offering discounted Uber

rides and meals on Uber Eats for young adults who get the jab. This follows earlier Uber campaigns offering free trips to vaccination centres earlier this year and for NHS staff during the height of the pandemic.

Bolt will be offering free ride credit to vaccination centres. A similar scheme by Bolt included offering £250,000 in free ride credit to London vaccination facilities earlier this year. Other incentives being discussed could include vouchers or discount codes for people attending pop up vaccine sites and booking though the NHS, social media competitions and promotional offers for restaurants. The government is set to release further details on these partnerships in due course.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: I’m delighted that more than two thirds of young people in England have already had a first dose of a vaccine, helping to build a wall of defence around our country. Thank you to all the businesses who are stepping up to support this important

vaccine drive. Once available, please go out and take advantage of the discounts.

The lifesaving vaccines not only protect you, your loved ones and your community, but they are helping to bring us back together by allowing you to get back to doing the things you’ve missed.

Companies will not ask for, or hold any health data for the incentive scheme.

Jamie Heywood, Uber’s Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, said: As cities open up, we all need to proceed with caution and ensure that all adults are vaccinated against COVID-19. We’re proud to be working with the government on this important campaign to encourage everyone to get their jab.

Sam Raciti, Bolt’s Regional Manager for Western Europe, said: Bolt is delighted to support this campaign. Get a Bolt, grab a jab, get living.

A Deliveroo spokesperson said: At Deliveroo we want to do our

small part to support the NHS during the pandemic, including delivering 1 million free meals to frontline NHS staff and vaccine centres.

This is the next step in helping get people vaccinated and safely back to normal.

Thom Elliot, Pizza Pilgrims Founder, said: We are excited to do our bit in the push to get every adult in the UK vaccinated against COVID-19.

By making getting your jab as easy as grabbing a pizza, hopefully we can help our teams and our customers get both their first and second doses as easily and quickly as possible.

Watch this space for more details.

The government is working closely with the NHS to make it as easy as possible to get a vaccine, including through ‘grab a jab’ pop-up vaccine sites across the country. Over 600,000 people were vaccinated last weekend at these walk-in clinics, from London’s Tate Modern Gallery to a Primark in Bristol. Further sites have been made available this week - including at Thorpe Park in Surrey and Circus Extreme in Yorkshire.

The government and NHS are also working together to provide information and advice at every opportunity on how to get a vaccine and its benefits, including through a range of partnerships with industries catering for predominantly younger audiences.

This work includes partnerships with high-profile entertainment and sports personalities on short films encouraging people to get the jab, such as film stars Jim Broadbent and Thandiwe Newton, and football legends Harry Redknapp and Chris Kamara. The government has also partnered with dating apps and social media platforms on adverts and incentives to get the vaccine.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: It is great to see the strong enthusiasm among young people so far to get their vaccines.

Getting both doses of the jab is the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and avoid unknowingly passing the virus on to someone who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19.

5 Department of the Chief Minister and Cabinet Positive TL Bureau, Darwin

One new COVID-19 case has been recorded in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours.

The 12 year old child arrived on the repatriation flight from Istanbul on 30 July 2021 and tested positive for COVID-19.

He is asymptomatic and under the care of NT Health at the NT Centre for National Resilience.

Since repatriation flights to the Northern Territory began on 23 October 2020: * 10,675 international arrivals have undertaken quarantine at the Ho ward Springs Centre for National Resilience. * A total of 138 positive COVID-19 cases have been reported from international repatriation * The total number of cases diagnosed in the Northern Territory is 200. * There are currently eight active cases in the Northern Territory.

australia

Virtual Address, AMA Conference TL Bureau, Canberra

PRIME MINISTER: G’day to everyone joining us online for this final day of your virtual AMA National Conference.

I am speaking to you here from The Lodge in Canberra where we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the outset, can I acknowledge the traditional owners of our country and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

And, of course here the Ngunnawal people in the Canberra region.

I also honour any serving members of the ADF and veterans who may be listening and watching on today.

I particularly want to acknowledge our ADF medics, our nurses and reservists, and thank them for their service, particularly during the course of Operation COVID Assist.

I also pay tribute to all of our health and medical professionals who have stepped up across our country over these past 18 months.

And to the AMA President Omar Khorshid, Dr Khorshid I want to thank you for your partnership, for your advice, and for your

Interview with Chris Smith, 2GB TL Bureau, Canberra

CHRIS SMITH: The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is on the line right now, PM, thank you very much for your time.

PRIME MINISTER: No worries, Chris, good to talk to you.

SMITH: I was so, I guess, encouraged. I was so delighted to see your presentation yesterday afternoon, late. It was important that you did so, although you needed a mining light to read what what you were trying to read.

PRIME MINISTER: Yes, I did actually, it was a bit dark down here in Canberra.

SMITH: But to have, I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to have a real specific goal out. And I think 70 per cent is not too much to ask, is it?

PRIME MINISTER: No. And absolutely achievable.

And then onto the 80 per cent mark as well. And the UK has now just achieved 70 per cent. They’ve got over 70 per cent now of their eligible population. And Israel has, they’re the only two countries in the world who have, by the way. But, and we’re seeing Canada, I think, rapidly approach that. But once you get your programme really moving, which ours is now we had, you know, over 200,000 doses yesterday, we’re more than a million every week, in fact, over six days, it is cranking up. I’m so pleased that AstraZeneca, that vaccine, you know, it was talked down for a long time and it’s making a big comeback as it needs to, particularly across greater Sydney. I’m very pleased that the the medical advice is supported, what I was saying over well over a month ago, saying we need this vaccine to get this job done. So it is very achievable. But what I would say is this, Chris, we didn’t sort of pluck this figure out of the air. I knew we needed one. Of course we needed the target, but it needed to be one that actually was based on science and economics, things that so we knew if we could get to that mark, we could have a confidence that you wouldn’t then have to go back, like we’ve seen so many other countries do. They announced this Freedom Day and then they can’t, they have to delay it and all the rest of it. The day where we move forward is the day where we hit those targets. The calendar won’t determine it, the vaccination rate will determine it.

SMITH: I know what you’re saying and you’ve been reluctant even in that presentation yesterday to put a timeline on this. I get it. I understand it. But, boy, wouldn’t it be nice to get there by Christmas Day? PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, I believe that’s entirely possible. There’ll be enough vaccines. There’ll be enough pharmacies, enough GPs, enough clinics, enough of all of that to achieve that. So it’s all up to all of us now.

SMITH: Yeah.

leadership, not only to the GPs and the doctors of this country through the AMA, but the sense of assurance that you’ve given to Australians in partnering us as we’ve sought to take the country forward during this difficult time.

Our GPs – you’ve done so much.

You have been – and are – on the front line fighting this dreadful virus….… answering the questions of your patients, providing that care and support and assurance that they so desperately need from a trusted medical professional who have spent a lifetime building that trust for just such a time as this, for you to be able to provide that support and assistance to your patients. … adapting as circumstances change, and I know that’s been tough. … masking up, wiping down, … going above and beyond.

Opening at different hours so you can provide that support and critical medical care that Australians need at this time. And I know that’s gone beyond, in telehealth and all the other services that you continue to provide.

On behalf of the Government and our country, on behalf of all Australians, I want to say thank

PRIME MINISTER: And we can all do this together.

I get it that people have been frustrated and I’ve, you know, expressed, you know, my apologies on that a week or so ago. But we’ve got to focus on what we need to do now. I mean, the programme has massively turned the corner, so I take responsibility for that too.

Take responsibility for the problems we’ve had. But I’ve also taken responsibility for fixing them, which is what I know the public want. They appreciate not every country gets everything right and there are always going to be problems dealing with a global pandemic. But, you know, when there are problems, we fix them. The vaccination programme is significantly turned around.

We’re really hitting our marks now. Lieutenant General Frewen, who I put into that job back in late May, early June, has really got the programme focused. So, yeah, Chris, I think that can be done. Whether it gets done or not is up to everybody.

SMITH: Tell me. We’ve seen a spike from Monday and my feeling and I spoke to Dennis Shanahan about this earlier this morning. My feeling is that the death of that 38 year old at RPA on Sunday and then the rally on Saturday has seen this incredible spike amongst those who are under 40 to go out and get the AZ, which is just fantastic. Those numbers, as you said yesterday, during the week have been well, it’s been so heartwarming to see. Now, that’s the under 40s. I’ve got a lot of over 40s listening to this radio programme right now who are still hesitant. I’m trying to change the hesitancy as many people are on this radio station. What can you say to them now?

PRIME MINISTER: Four things. First of all, if you get the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is the safe and effective vaccine that has been vaccinating the whole world and saving millions of lives, you’re less likely to get it.

You’re less likely to pass it on to someone, particularly someone who’s very vulnerable, like an elderly relative or someone like that. You’re less likely to get a serious disease and end up in hospital on a respirator. I was talking to a woman just the other day who had that terrible experience and she just said to me how awful it was and how fearful she was and you’re less likely to die. So there’s four good reasons. The next thing I’d say is that by getting vaccinated, you’re getting a step closer every single day to getting us back to about as normal as you can be when you’re living with COVID-19. So people can go and visit their aged care- the relatives in aged care, that we can get back to stadiums, that we can get back to live entertainment and all of these sorts of things, that people can travel overseas and return, that we can get more of our people who are overseas. And we’ve had to reduce the number of people who can come into the country at the moment because of the Delta variant. It is a big national programme. It’s great for you personally, your own personal health, but the sooner we do this, the sooner we’re able to get into that phase of life where we all want to get to. So everybody wins from you getting vaccinated. But you most important of all.

you to the doctors of Australia and to the AMA. Thank you for everything you’ve done, for everything you’re doing right now, and for everything you’ll be tackling in the days, weeks and months ahead as we chart this course out of this crisis.

I also thank Australia’s GPs for your incredible efforts in vaccinating Australians. We backed the doctors of Australia, the GPs of Australia, to deliver these vaccines. It was a conscious decision to say it’s primarily through our primary care network that we’ll be delivering these vaccines. And, you’ve stepped up.Our GPs have worked tirelessly to provide well over half, the lion’s share, of Australia’s COVID-19 vaccines to date, including now getting up to over 120,000 and more vaccines delivered through our GP network each and every day.

Why? Well, it’s because you’re trusted, and we know that many Australians have questions about vaccines. That’s why we added a new MBS item to support discussions with patients about their vaccine options, and are providing more opportunities for GPs to administer the Pfizer

SMITH: I fear that we’re going to have trouble getting to 80 per cent because it’s a different Australia you and I live in. There was a time when you and I would get our smallpox shot, typhoid, cholera, without warning. We’d have our passport or whatever it was on a card. And we show it at the boarding gate and we go to other parts of the world and see the world. In the 60s and 70s, we trusted the system. We trusted our medical scientists. There’s this tinfoil hat, flat earth brigade out there, they were there on Saturday, that are just doing endless destruction to that kind of attitude.

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I agree with that. And appreciate, you know, people like yourself not amplifying it. It’s important that we address this just with cold, hard facts. And you know what? The virus can’t read the placards, doesn’t care about what your political views or what your ideological position is. It doesn’t care. It still acts. And whether it’s on the economics or it’s on the medical science, we know that unless you can get to at least 70 per cent, the virus wins, the virus wins and lockdowns are absolutely necessary. And we’ll see more of them while we’re still in this phase. And when we get to the next phase, they become massively less necessary. Now, this is a terrible image for me to put in your head, Chris, but as a man of a similar age, you’ll appreciate it. If I were to walk out here in Canberra this morning wearing nothing but my board shorts, I would freeze. But if I go out there with a big coat on, I’ll be fine. That’s what getting to 70 per cent vaccination is.

SMITH: Yeah.

PRIME MINISTER: And you can go outside and you can do what you need to do. I went and picked up the eggs from the chooks this morning, but you can do that.

And at the moment when we’re not at that stage, then obviously you’re more vulnerable. And so the virus doesn’t care what anybody thinks. It just acts as it does.

And this Delta strain is far worse. And I think people are getting that now. Yeah, you know, six months ago, New South Wales was able to deal with cases and all of that because they had, they have a very good testing and tracing regime. Delta smashes that. And it means that we have to get vaccinations to this level to ensure that all of those systems work like they used to and better.

I mean, I wish the number was 50. I wish the number was less, but it’s not. And I can’t tell people that it’s a different number. 70, based on the science we know gives us that more than a fighting chance to ensure we stay ahead of it. And then when you get to 80, Chris, I’m more optimistic. I think, as we’ve seen in other countries, once the vaccination programme has its roll on and we’re certainly seeing that now and the supplies increase, I mean, there’s a million doses of AZ right now. It can go anywhere in the country. And I’ve got to say, can I send a big thank you to the GPs and pharmacists? Those GPs in Sydney are leading the country on the highest rates of AstraZeneca vaccination in the country. They are doing the massive heavy lifting. They’re talking to their patients. They’re talking them through. I got a

vaccine as well.

And, we’re hitting our marks with our vaccination targets. We had significant challenges, as you well know, in those first months of the vaccination program. But together we’ve been turning this around.

We have turned the corner. We are catching up the ground, and we are ensuring that these vaccines are getting into more arms each and every week, substantially because of your efforts.

Twelve million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have now been administered in Australia.

We’re tracking at more than one million a week – and that is only accelerating, again with the GPs doing the lions share.

Now, let’s break that down a bit more, because it’s important.

Almost 40 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over have now had a first dose.

And, that includes almost two thirds of people aged over 50, and more than 75 per cent of people aged over 70.

Across Australia, we are applying the same determined focus in 2021 to fighting COVID as we did last year in 2020.

text message from a good mate the other day who said, look, I’m worried about getting this because I don’t like needles. That was his hesitation. Everyone’s got their own hesitation. But he says, but I want to go and do it because I want to show my team the people I lead, that this is important. I said, well, mate go and talk to your GP. He or she will have some strategies for you to be able to deal with that. And we made the Medicare item number available so people can do just that. If you are concerned, don’t talk to Doctor Google, go talk to your doctor. Don’t talk to someone who’s going to tell you you’re going to turn into a magnet or, you know, don’t go on Facebook to listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about. Go and talk to your doctor.

SMITH: Yeah, very true. We can’t express that explanation enough. One last one.

PRIME MINISTER: Sure.

SMITH: Greater Brisbane will go into lockdown from 4pm today after six local cases were recorded in Queensland. The eleven LGAs, which already had mask wearing requirements, will be required to lockdown.

They reckon this is a three day lockdown. Oh, no, not Queensland. What do you know about these six cases and is it cause for concern?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is in Delta, and you know, you saw that in South Australia. Look, you know, I’m not being critical, but we’re living that experience in New South Wales. South Australia moved quick. They’re out of it. Victoria, moved quick. They’re out of it. In New South Wales, we’re living with a long lockdown.

And in this phase of Delta, as I said last night, in this phase, you’ve got to move quick. And that means it can be short. Once it gets going, it is very hard to get back in the box, as we’re seeing in New South Wales, so, you know, we just got to make this lockdown work in New South Wales, I’m very pleased that the Defence Forces are now going in and we’ve had that request and they’ll greatly assist. I mean, Mick Fuller is a great Commissioner. You know how big of a fan I am of the New South Wales Police. I think they do an amazing job. I love them. But, you know, the ADF can come in and support them and the great work they’re doing, you know, we’ll get this done in Sydney and it’s a lot harder once it gets going. So in this, that’s what we mean by this suppression phase. And then you get to the next one when you’re at 70 per cent where that wouldn’t be necessary for large scale lockdowns like that. When we get into those next phases, the only reason you’d do something like that is if it was in a particularly vulnerable community, like, for example, a remote indigenous community or something like that, where there was a particular need to use that type of a tool. So it goes from being a broad based measure to something that’s quite surgical. And if we can get there, Australia, if we can get there, Sydney, and get that at 70 per cent, then we can we can look forward to life being very different, especially to what it is now in Sydney.

SMITH: Hear hear. I hope your optimism about 80 per

6

NZ AND OTHER OCEANIA

New school site for booming West Auckland Bridging the gap – last piece

TL Bureau, Wellington

The Government will build on a new school site in West Auckland to cope with rapid population growth in the area, Education Minister Chris Hipkins says.

The Ministry is working with existing local schools to determine how the 1.5-hectare site at 279 Hobsonville Point Road will be used to support growing demand for schooling in West Auckland.

Initial planning will be funded from Budget 2021. Overall, $66 million was set aside specifically for the design and planning of 11

new schools.

“We’re committed to making sure the education needs of ākonga are met across the country,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Budget 2021 allocated over $634 million for school infrastructure, to help prevent overcrowding in schools and ensure students have access to quality teaching and learning environments.

“We’re anticipating up to 2,000 more homes in the wider Hobsonville Point area. This new site will help provide for this forecast demand, and ease pressure on the local education

network, including the existing Hobsonville Point Primary School.

“We will be working with the other schools in the area, including the existing Hobsonville Point and Scott Point Primary Schools to ensure any new facilities work with and alongside the local school network and take into account other schools’ expansion plans and the needs of the local community.”

A construction timeframe and opening date for any new facilities will become clearer as the planning and design work is progressed over coming months.

in the quality and safety of services,” Ayesha Verrall said.

In 2020/21, the Health and Disability Commissioner and the Advocacy Service received 259 complaints about aged residential care, and 147 complaints about home and community support services. Communication issues were the most common theme, including failure to communicate effectively with family.

Inadequate care and treatment issues were also among the most common concerns raised.

“The current system to ensure quality and safety in the sector is fragmented, and it can be complicated navigating services to get help. This disconnect has made it difficult for those who want to make a complaint about aged care to speak up, be heard, and receive a timely response.

“The Aged Care Commissioner will proactively provide leadership and advocacy for systemic change across the entire sector, and be a recognisable figure for resolving complaints,” Ayesha Verrall said.

The new role will sit within

the Health and Disability Commissioner’s office.

“The right person for this role will ideally have a deep understanding of aged care services and consumers’ experiences.

“Aged care services include functions such as needs assessment, rehabilitation, home and community support services, support for carers, and aged residential care.

“We need to make sure older New Zealanders experience consistent, quality care that’s culturally appropriate for everyone, particularly our Māori and Pacific communities.

“Our country has an ageing population, and it is projected that by 2034 there will be 1.2 million people in New Zealand aged 65 and over. Although many older people are living healthier for longer, demand for aged care services is also expected to increase.“The Aged Care Commissioner will be critical to improving the aged care system for the wellbeing of those reliant on this help, and those closest to them,” said Ayesha Verrall.

person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is broken and in need of fixing.

“Health professionals, religious leaders and human rights advocates here and overseas have spoken out against these practices as harmful and having the potential to perpetuate prejudice, discrimination and abuse towards members of rainbow communities,” Kris Faafoi said.

The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill creates two new criminal offences for either the most serious cases of harm or where there is heightened risk of harm. The Bill also creates a pathway for civil redress.

Under the Bill, it will be an offence to perform conversion practices on a child or young person aged under 18, or on someone with impaired decision-making capacity. Such offences would be subject to up to 3 years imprisonment.

It would also be an offence to perform conversion practices on anyone – irrespective of age – where the practices have caused serious harm, and would carry up to 5 years imprisonment.

Civil redress will also be an option where complaints about conversion practices could be made to the Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Review Tribunal.

To be considered a conversion practice under the Bill, a practice must meet ALL of the following elements, which state that a practice is: directed towards someone because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, AND performed with the intention of changing or suppressing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

“The Bill’s definition of conversion practice has been carefully designed to

Progress in establishment of Aged Care Commissioner

TL Bureau, Wellington

Recruitment for an Aged Care Commissioner will start next month, to ensure greater oversight of New Zealand’s aged care sector.

“This sector is responsible for supporting a large and often vulnerable population. While most people are able to access quality care, there have been cases where that care has fallen short, and this is an opportunity to identify areas for improvement,” said Minister for Seniors and Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall.

“Several reports have identified issues in the sector, ranging from the complexity of the complaints process, to feeling fearful of the repercussions from raising issues, and the lack of visibility around service provided by home and community support providers.

“The Aged Care Commissioner will be in place within the next 6 months, delivering on our manifesto commitment and giving older people, their friends and whānau greater confidence

of Northcote Safe Cycle Route now complete

TL Bureau, Wellington

The opening of two bridges over Auckland’s Northern Motorway is the last link of a cycling and walking route which provides a safe, active alternative for students and commuters, Transport Minister Michael Wood said today.

Michael Wood cut the ribbon for the completion of the Northcote Safe Cycle Route, at Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, one of the key destinations in the area which will benefit from the latest addition to the expanding city-wide cycling and walking network.

“The Northcote Safe Cycle Route is a great addition to Auckland’s growing walking and cycling network and has helped support the North Shore’s economic recovery by creating jobs,” Michael Wood said. “Building more shared paths

is part of our Government’s plan to build back better and tackle climate change. We know that when we build safe walking and cycling infrastructure, people use it – helping to reduce congestion and emissions.

“Already around 400 cycling trips per day are made on the Northcote Safe Cycle Route and we expect that number to rise. With around six thousand students in the area, it’ll be an important part of getting more kids on their bikes and helping them get to school safely.

“As well as providing access to several of the largest schools on the North Shore, it links in with the Northern Busway at Smales Farm Bus Station which connects people to the rest of the city. It also helps people get to the sports facilities in the area and the North Shore Hospital.

New record number of homes consented

TL Bureau, Wellington

In the year ended June 2021, the actual number of new dwellings consented was 44,299, up 18 percent from the June 2020 year.

In June 2021, the seasonally adjusted number of new dwellings consented rose 3.8 percent.

In June 2021, 4,310 new dwellings were consented, an increase of 3.8 per cent from the previous month.

The latest report shows that the residential building sector is performing well to meet demand for new houses, says Acting Minister for Building

and Construction Michael Wood.

“We’ve broken the record for annual number of new homes consented yet again and we’re starting to see a pattern here. This Government is committed to supporting the sector so that we can deliver more homes than ever before,” Michael Wood said.

Estimates from Statistics New Zealand released today show the number of new homes consented in the year ended June 2021 is at an all-time high of 44,299. This is an increase of 18 per cent from the June 2020 year.

Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation introduced to Parliament TL Bureau, Wellington

Legislation has been introduced to Parliament to protect against practices intended to change or suppress someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Introducing the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, Minister of Justice, Kris Faafoi, said the measures proposed were aimed at ending conversion practices which don’t work, are widely discredited, and cause harm to rainbow communities and the wider community.

“Those who have experienced conversion practices talk about ongoing mental health distress, depression, shame and stigma, and even suicidal thoughts,” Kris Faafoi said.

“Conversion practices have no place in modern New Zealand. They are based on the false belief that any

ensure health practitioners providing health services will not be captured; nor will people providing legitimate counselling, support and advice.

“General expressions of religious beliefs or principles about sexuality and gender will also not be captured.

“Delivering on our 2020 election manifesto commitment to prohibit conversion practices will prevent the harm they cause, provide an avenue for redress, and uphold the human rights of all New Zealanders to live free from discrimination and harm.

“What we are doing is in line with prohibitions put in place or being considered in other countries, including the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, and the Australian states of Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

“I propose that once the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill has had its first reading it goes to the

Justice Select Committee for public submissions.

“I would encourage people to take the opportunity, through the select committee process, to share their input,” Kris Faafoi said.

The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill can be found here: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/ bill/government/2021/0056/latest/ LMS487197.html Frequently Asked Questions: How does the Bill define conversion practices? To be considered a conversion practice under the Bill, a practice must meet ALL the elements of the definition and be: directed towards a person because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, AND performed with the intention of changing or suppressing the person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

7

BUSINESS

IFC Supports Climate Finance in Romania and Serbia to Drive Sustainable Growth

​TL Bureau, Prague IFC has participated in a green bond that will enable the construction of greencertified industrial and logistics buildings in Serbia and Romania. By investing, IFC is promoting an energy-efficient real estate sector, fostering greater market sustainability, and tackling climate change in the two countries.

IFC invested €42.5 million in a €500 million green bond issued by CTP N.V. (CTP), a sustainable European industrial and logistics property ownerdeveloper. The green bond was issued under CTP’s €4 billion Euro Medium Term Note program and listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Dublin to fund green assets that promote a low-carbon and climate-resilient growth model.

Developing commercial

and business-enabling infrastructure that is energyefficient is key to addressing climate change challenges.

In response, CTP will use the proceeds from IFC’s investment to develop sustainable, greencertified industrial and logistics properties in Romania and Serbia.

Apart from backing CTP’s high environmental standards for commercial properties in Romania and Serbia, IFC will also help CTP improve corporate governance and optimize its sustainability policy including a commitment to become carbon neutral in operations over the full year 2021.

“CTP welcomes IFC as committed investor in our green bonds. Both Romania and Serbia are important markets to CTP. Our goal to grow CTP’s leading market position, whilst being the most

sustainable industrial and logistics property developer in these markets, is fully aligned with IFC’s own development goals. It is an excellent win-win for both institutions,” said JanEvert Post, Head of Funding & Investor Relations at CTP NV. “CTP will continue to be a frontrunner in Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) in the European logistics and light industrial property sector.

We regard IFC’s support as a solid vote of confidence in our endeavors to become a carbon neutral company, leading on ESG related matters.”

Romania serves as a significant gateway for goods between Eastern Europe and the rest of the European Union.

The country is an important logistics center for Bulgaria and Moldova due to short distances and low transport costs. Serbia, on the other hand, has significant potential for

for pepper suppliers and producers.

“At McCormick, we’re committed to doing what’s right for people, communities, and the planet we share.

Through our partnership with IFC and Citi, we’re enabling our suppliers to sustainably source our herbs and spices more easily, and, in turn, are working toward our own goals at the same time,” said Michael Okoroafor, Vice President for Global Sustainability and Packaging Innovation at McCormick & Company. “Through our Purpose-led Performance approach, we’re going beyond the industry standard to ensure that we’re improving farmer resilience, elevating women’s empowerment, and mandating ethical behavior at every level of our supply chain.”

This innovative partnership between McCormick and IFC leverages Citi’s global Supplier Finance offering.

Citi’s Supplier Finance platform is made available to McCormick’s suppliers with environmental, social, and governance credentials so they may benefit from liquidity at preferential rates based on their sustainability performance.

Adoniro Cestari, Global Head of Trade Product Management and Structuring with Citi’s Treasury and Trade Solutions, said “Bringing this sustainable financing solution to life is a

huge milestone for us. Citi is committed to helping clients achieve their sustainability objectives, especially with respect to supply chains and environmental challenges.

We are working with clients around the world to help them balance environmental and economic needs, adhere to defined standards, and manage risks in their supply chains. Helping to support the sustainability of the supply chains and stimulating international trade flows are critical priorities for us.”

Citi’s Supplier Financing infrastructure has recently been enhanced to help meet clients’ environmental, social, and governance requirements and is available globally. IFC previously partnered with Citi in June 2020 to create an $800 million facility to boost trade finance amid the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Promoting sustainable business starts with clear incentives,” said Rana Karadsheh, IFC Director of Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Services for Asia and Pacific.

“That’s why we’re proud to support McCormick’s sustainability goals and build upon IFC’s sustainability goals and work with them to enhance IFC’s trade finance offering. Such initiatives help make sustainable business good business for emerging market players.”

IFC, McCormick & Company, and Citi Establish Sustainability-Linked Financing Partnership

TL Bureau, Washington D.C. IFC today announced a partnership with McCormick & Company, a global leader in flavor, and Citi, to provide suppliers of McCormick’s herbs and spices with financial incentives linked to improvements in measures of social and environmental sustainability. The program has started with suppliers in Indonesia and Vietnam, and will soon be launched in other countries.

Under the initiative, suppliers can qualify for discounted rates on short-term working capital financing when they meet sustainability standards accepted by McCormick.

Those standards include performance on labor conditions, health & safety practices, crop management, environmental impact, farmer resilience, and women’s empowerment. The higher the supplier’s performance level in meeting these standards, the more they save.

The financial partnership includes an advisory component in Vietnam, where IFC is helping McCormick build a more sustainable, traceable, certified, and quality-compliant pepper supply chain through capacity development and the empowerment of women farmers, aimed at helping to achieve environmental and social improvements

development as an industrial and logistics hub due to its geographical location, transportation networks, and competitive labor costs along with an educated, multilingual, and tech-literate workforce.

“Countries in Central and Southeast Europe are well placed to attract fresh private manufacturing investment, and global value chains increasingly require access to green industrial buildings and climate-smart logistics,” said Ary Naïm, IFC’s Regional Manager for Central and Southeast Europe. “With this operation we aim to signal our support for best-practices in sustainability, and to the green bond market as a key tool to finance a green recovery.”

IFC’s committed own account investment portfolio in Central and Southeast Europe, as of the end of June 2021, stood at US$ 2.474 billion. IFC’s

investments are spread out across key sectors of the countries` economies focusing on the strengthening and diversification of financial institutions, infrastructure, commercial property and retail sectors, and the development of private equity and venture capital funds.

About IFC IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.

​TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

funds and institutions amounts to only 4 percent of the $7 trillion private capital industry. “There is still tremendous opportunity to bring impact investing to the next level. The pandemic shook society to its core, causing us to reconsider our values.

Impact investing allows the opportunity to align assets with convictions, and we encourage more investors to become impact investors,” said John Gandolfo, IFC’s Acting Vice President, Economics and Private Sector Development and Treasurer.

IFC’s report also shows improving transparency levels in the market in the past year. By the end of May 2021, 97 signatories to the Operating Principles for Impact Management (the Impact Principles) had published disclosure statements.

In addition, 64 independent verification summaries had been published, confirming an alignment of their impact systems with the Impact Principles. This is a testament to the market’s growing discipline. “The maturity of the impact investing market in 2020 is an encouraging signal for investors,” said Afsaneh Beschloss, Founder and CEO of RockCreek—holder of the largest amount of assets privately managed in alignment with the Impact Principles. “RockCreek was a founding signatory to the Impact Principles when IFC led the launch in 2019.

Impact Investing Continues to Flourish Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, IFC Report Shows

Impact investing continued to draw strong investor interest in 2020 amid the turbulence caused

by COVID-19, with investments reaching $2.3 trillion, a new IFC report finds.

Investing for Impact: The Global Impact Investing Market 2020 provides an updated estimate of the size of the market for impact investing, defined as investments made with the intent to contribute to measurable positive social or environmental impact, alongside financial return. The report identifies $636 billion in assets with measured impact in 2020, compared with $505 billion in 2019. An additional $1.6 trillion were managed with the intent of positive impact, bringing the total market size to an estimated $2.3 trillion.

The report also finds that there were more measured impact funds in the market than before—collectively, 1001 funds in 2020, compared with 887 funds in 2019. Impact investing’s ongoing popularity is being driven by increased awareness of climate change and social challenges such as unequal access to healthcare, and racial and gender inequality.

While there has been heightened interest in impact investing this past year, IFC’s report also shows that the amount of measured impact assets managed by privately managed

8

FEATURE

Joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week

TL Bureau, New York/ Geneva

At the start of this year, governments, donors, civil society and the private sector united to launch the Nutrition for Growth Year of Action. The Year of Action is a historic opportunity to transform the way the world tackles the global commitment to eliminate child malnutrition.

Breastfeeding is central to realising this commitment.

Initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, followed by exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond offer a powerful line of defence against all forms of child malnutrition, including wasting and obesity. Breastfeeding also acts as babies’ first vaccine, protecting them against many common childhood illnesses.

While there has been progress in breastfeeding rates in the last four decades – with a 50 per cent increase in the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding globally – the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the fragility of those gains.In many countries, the pandemic has caused significant disruptions in

guidelines on breastfeeding counselling. breastfeeding support services, while increasing the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition. Several · Ensuring employers allow women the time and space they need to breastfeed; including countries have reported that producers of baby paid parental leave with longer maternity foods have compounded these risks by invoking leave; safe places for breastfeeding in the unfounded fears that breastfeeding can transmit workplace; access to affordable and goodCOVID-19 and marketing their products as a quality childcare; and universal child benefits safer alternative to breastfeeding. and adequate wages.

This year’s World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme ‘Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared As we approach the UN Food Systems Summit Responsibility’ is a time to revisit the commitments in September and the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth made at the start of this year by prioritizing Summit in December, governments, donors, breastfeeding-friendly environments for mothers civil society and the private sector all have an opportunity to make smart investments and and babies. This includes: · Ensuring the International Code of Marketing commitments to tackle the global malnutrition of Breastmilk Substitutes – established to crisis – including protecting, promoting and protect mothers from aggressive marketing supporting breastfeeding – through stronger practices by the baby food industry – is fully policies, programmes and actions. Now is not implemented by governments, health workers the time to lower our ambitions. Now is the time to aim high. We are committed to making the and industry. · Ensuring health care workers have the Nutrition for Growth Year of Action a success resources and information they need to by ensuring that every child’s right to nutritious, effectively support mothers to breastfeed, safe and affordable food and adequate nutrition including through global efforts such as is realized from the beginning of life, starting the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative, and with breastfeeding.

Nicaragua: EU imposes sanctions on eight more individuals

TL Bureau, Brussels

The Council has imposed restrictive measures on eight more individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in Nicaragua and/or whose actions undermined democracy or the rule of law, including Vice-President Rosario Murillo. These measures are targeted at individuals and are designed in this way not to harm the Nicaraguan population or the Nicaraguan economy.

Restrictive measures now apply to a total of 14 persons. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. They are also subject to a travel ban, which impedes them from entering or transiting through EU territories.

The political situation in Nicaragua has further deteriorated in recent months. The political use of the judicial system, the exclusion of candidates from the elections and the arbitrary delisting of opposition parties are contrary to basic democratic principles and constitute a serious violation of the rights of the Nicaraguan people. These actions further undermine the credibility of an electoral process, already hampered by an electoral reform that fell short of the recommendations of the OAS and EU Electoral Observation Missions.

The EU has consistently called on the Nicaraguan government to abide by its own commitments, by Nicaragua’s Constitution and by international human rights laws and standards. The EU has also repeatedly called

for a meaningful dialogue with the opposition on electoral reforms as an essential step to restore trust in public institutions and has asked for the return of international human rights bodies to Nicaragua. Today’s additional sanctions demonstrate that the EU continues standing ready to use all its instruments to support a democratic, peaceful, and negotiated solution to the political crisis in Nicaragua.

The detention of a seventh potential presidential candidate last weekend sadly illustrates the magnitude of the repression in Nicaragua and projects a grim picture for the upcoming elections. As stated before, the EU firmly condemns the systematic repression by the Nicaraguan authorities, and urges them to repeal restrictive laws, including the law on the regulation of foreign agents, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners, as well as the full respect of the human, civil and political rights of all Nicaraguan citizens.

The sanctions regime was first introduced in October 2019, after the Council had repeatedly expressed its concern about the deteriorating political and social situation in Nicaragua, and firmly condemned the repression of political opponents, demonstrators, independent media and civil society going on since April 2018.

On 4 May 2020, in view of the continuing grave situation in the country, the Council adopted the first restrictive measures against six individuals.

Extending compulsory education will affect terms of employment for young workers

TL Bureau, Helsinki

Extending compulsory education to upper secondary education will cause changes to legislation concerning work carried out by people under 18 years of age. The starting point is that young people’s work shifts must not overlap with instruction that requires their attendance. The changes will enter into force on 1 August 2021.

The new Act on Compulsory Education entered into force on 1 August 2021.

Compulsory education ends when the person reaches the age of 18 or when they complete an upper secondary qualification (a general upper secondary qualification or a vocational qualification).

Persons aged 15 years who have completed basic education can be permanently employed Under the Young Workers Act, an employer can hire a person who has turned 15 years and has completed compulsory education to an employment or public service relationship on a permanent basis.

As a result of the amendment to the Act, a young person aged 15 years, who has completed the basic education syllabus referred to in the Basic Education Act or whose obligation to complete the basic education syllabus has otherwise ended, may be admitted to permanent employment.

Young people usually complete the basic education syllabus (basic education) in the year when they turn 16.

A young person who has completed basic education and who attends upper secondary education can still work part-time, for example, insofar as the work is suitable for them. It is also still possible to complete a vocational qualification as apprenticeship training based on fixed-term employment or public service relationship.

Before hiring a young worker, an employer must obtain a reliable account of the young

person’s age and that their obligation to complete the basic education syllabus has ended.

The Act lays down the conditions under which young people under 15 years of age and those still attending basic education can be employed during the school year or holidays. The Act also contains terms under which a person aged 13 or younger may be hired to work temporarily as a performer or assistant at art and cultural performances or similar events. These provisions remain unchanged.

Employer to consider secondary school studies in work shifts Attending compulsory education is a young person’s primary obligation. For this reason, a provision has been added to the Act concerning employees under the age of 18 who are attending post-comprehensive compulsory education, which usually is upper secondary education. Employers must arrange the working hours of such young workers in a way that does not preclude their participation in education. In order for the employer to plan work shifts, a young worker must inform the employer well in advance of any compulsory study attendance required of them.

If work and studies overlap, a young worker has the right to refuse a shift that would prevent them from participating in instruction.

These amendments also apply to work carried out in shipping and on fishing vessels. As before, persons who work at sea and on fishing vessels must be at least 16 years old.

Act aims to protect young people The Young Workers Act applies to work carried out by people under 18 years of age.

The Act lays down, among other things, the conditions under which a young worker can be employed, the working hours and rest periods, and the requirements concerning the safety and health of work.

9

How Did Salt Water Taffy Get’s its Name?

About the history of Sat Water Taffy, how it came to be and the processes used to create Salt Water Taffy TL Bureau, ST. GEORGE, UTAH Sometimes it has been rumored that Salt Water Taffy has been made using seawater because of its name Salt Water Taffy. While there is a partial truth in that it uses Salt Water and Salt to make the taffy no seawater is used in the process of Salt Water Taffy found in the United States.

Taffy is very popular in beach resorts and gift stores and in various places including Las Vegas and right here in St. George, Utah. We also sell Salt Water Taffy online at Taffyshop.com. According to Carouselhotel, It is believed that in 1888 a man named David Bradley had a candy store that was flooded during a storm. When this occurred the taffy he had at the store got soaked with ocean salt water.

A young girl came to the store looking for taffy and he joked that he only had salt water taffy. She purchased the taffy and it became very popular. It was believed that it became known as salt water taffy because it was sold near the ocean and perhaps because of it’s origins.

According to TaffyShop.com, the most popular saltwater taffy flavors are peppermint, vanilla, banana, watermelon, frosted cupcake, cotton candy, raspberry, strawberry, licorice, and caramel swirl. With over 70 varieties of flavors, best sellers and which flavors are most popular change frequently but these are some overall flavors that sell most frequently.

The History of Salt Water Taffy Saltwater taffy is a variety of soft taffy that was produced in the 19th century in Atlantic City,

New Jersey which started in the late 19th century.

Saltwater taffy is composed of sugar, cornstarch, corn syrup, glycerine, water, butter, salt, flavor, and food coloring. When taffy was originally invented it was first cooked in copper kettles over open coal fires, cooled on marble slabs, and pulled from a large hook.

For all those that love saltwater taffy, we highly recommend visiting our taffy store and gift shop in St. George, Utah, or for online ordering, we have our taffyshop site. We offer birthday gifts and various specials including the option for gifts and a variety of bags of taffy. We have over 80 flavors of gourmet taffy to choose from.

Taffyshop has been in business for over 20 years and people love to ask why our taffy is so good. Nostalgic memories take you back when you unwrap it and the smile that comes from enjoying the simplicity of a mouthwatering treat. That’s part of the secret of what makes taffy so good.

Taffy Shop’s History We have produced over millions of pieces of taffy and we offer a large variety of various flavors of gourmet taffy. Our taffy has gone from the shores of the Great Salt Lake to the shores of the internet. It took persistence, but after constant experimentation and customer feedback, we proudly boast the best salt water taffy in the world.

Taffy Shop’s origins started in 1893 the Saltair resort was opened on the shores of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. In boasting rides, swimming, dining, music, and

dancing on what was boated as “the world’s largest dance floor”. They introduced saltwater taffy to their guests. The taffy was pulled and cut by hand. It was an instant hit.

1920 - Over 500,000 visitors each year, the demand for taffy was hard to keep up with. Traditional flavors of taffy included vanilla, chocolate, licorice, cinnamon, banana, cherry, molasses, and root beer.

1920-1970 - The Great Depression, World War 2, Drout and Fires During this time Salt Air was rebuilt bigger and better after being destroyed by a fire and was dubbed “The Coney Island of the West”. The demand for Salt Water Taffy was hard to keep up with... until a drought left the shoreline a half-mile from the resort. Due to another fire, there would be no more saltwater taffy and no resort for decades. 1993 - Our founder purchased Salt Air and reopened its doors. In addition to opening the resort, he brought Taffy Shop Salt Water Taffy to the hallowed shores of the Great Salt Lake.

1998 - Taffy Shop Sets up a new website to share Salt Water Taffy with the world.

2000 - Sales from the internet exceed sales from the concession stand at Salt Air. Today - Taffy Shop has sold millions of pieces of taffy and offers over 70 flavors of gourmet taffy. We have recently opened a Taffy Store St. George Utah. If you happened to be in the area and are looking for a Candy and Gift Store St. George Utah.

Please stop by our store 946 W Sunset Blvd, Unit B St. George, UT 84770. We have a wide variety of flavors to try!

life and real estate Key Housing Announces NorCal Featured Listing for August as Pacific Shores of Santa Cruz TL Bureau, San Mateo, California Key Housing, a top-rated short term housing service for California from Sacramento to San Diego, Santa Rosa to La Jolla, is proud to announce its August 2021 designee for Northern and Central California to be the “Pacific Shores” complex located at 1240 Shaffer Road in Santa Cruz. The funky seaside city of Santa Cruz draws both tourists and corporate travelers alike; by designating “Pacific Shores” as its featured listing for August, the company is highlighting this best-in-class complex as a short term housing “hidden gem.”

“Santa Cruz combines the Pacific Beach experience with the funky charm of a college town,” explained Bob Lee, President of Key Housing. He continued, “We’re excited to have a new featured listing for August in Central and Northern Community, one that really is a home away from home for business and high-end tourists to Santa Cruz.”

Interested persons can view the Santa Cruz property at https://www.keyhousing.com/ corporate-rental-properties/ pacific-shores-2/. That link explains that the complex offers 1- & 2-bedroom apartments for rent in beautiful Santa Cruz, California, bringing the California dream to corporate travelers with garden-style elegance set among the redwoods, sea cliffs, and rich culture of an iconic city. Close to University of California Santa Cruz and the famed Beach Boardwalk – between the banks of the San Lorenzo River and the surf – Pacific Shores immerses residents in beachfront luxury. It can

be a home away from home among natural splendor, near everything a busy corporate traveler might want and need on the Westside of Santa Cruz.

In addition, persons who would like to browse even more properties in Santa Cruz can visit the city information page at https://www.keyhousing. com/corporate-housing-city/ santa-cruz/. That page has links to more short term rentals in and around Santa Cruz plus a cornucopia of facts about the area.

Santa Cruz is one of California’s iconic beach towns. Home to the University of California at Santa Cruz, it is a “college town,” but more than that it is both a seaside city and a suburb of Silicon Valley to the North. It’s a little known fact that many tech workers choose to reside in the seaside city and commute up Highway 17 into San Jose. For corporate types who are assigned to either Santa Cruz or nearby Monterrey, it’s a fun place for a short term rental. The best next step is to reach out to the experts at Key Housing to find hard-tofind corporate housing in Santa Cruz and environs.

ABOUT KEY HOUSING Based in Folsom, California, Key Housing Connections Inc. specializes in corporate housing and serviced apartments in large cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego as well as smaller cities like Fresno, Burbank, and Carlsbad.

Key Housing is a leader in affordable, friendly, shortterm and corporate housing in places like Bakersfield, Encinitas, Hermosa Beach, and just about every city in California. Whether it’s a San Diego serviced apartment or a San Francisco furnished rental, just search, click or call today!

Announcing Hot Tub Removal in Puyallup, Washington TL Bureau, Puyallup, Washington

It’s time to take those old hot tubs out of your backyard and replace them with something more useful. Hot tub removal is a part of the process when you are ready to start fresh. Hot tubs are made from metal, insulation foam, plastic, and water to be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally friendly way. Rainier Junk Removal has been helping homeowners in Puyallup, Washington remove their hot tub for years now! We will provide you with all the information you need about how we dispose of your spa cover and how to prep it for disposal.

If you’re interested in recycling your spa cover instead of throwing it away, read on!

1. What is a hot tub made of?

Hot tubs are made of metal, insulation foam, plastic, and water. Spas are made of metal (typically steel) or fiberglass with a cover that is either polyester or vinyl, which contains PVC plastics. Hot tubs

Courtesy:EINPresswire.com/ have an interior built-in pump to circulate the water while spas do not. Hot tubs also use electricity for heating, whereas spas use propane or natural gas. Hot tubs typically have seats and jets to massage your back, whereas spas do not, but they

may be available as an optional add-on for a spa purchase.

2. How do you dispose of a hot tub?

Disposing of a hot tub is pretty straightforward. Make sure you take apart your hot tub by cutting it first to make to process easier. Once the hot tub is cut apart, remove any debris accumulated in the water and drain it. Hot tubs can be disposed of by taking them to a recycling center or hazardous waste facility for free.

3. How does Rainier Junk Removal dispose of your old hot tub?

Our team is professionally trained in removing old hot tubs. We make sure to take all precautions when taking apart your hot tub and taking it to the right place to be disposed of. This will save you, the homeowner, a great deal of time and money! Don’t worry about renting a truck or saw to haul away your old tub when you can give Rainier Junk Removal a call!

4. What can I do with my old spa cover?

Your old spa cover can be recycled with your hot tub. If you’re worried about water, don’t sweat it! Hot tubs are drained of all their fluids before being disposed of, so there’s nothing to worry about when recycling the covers.

5. Why should I recycle my spa cover and not throw it in the trash?

Spa covers should be recycled instead of thrown away because they are made of a material that will take hundreds of years to decompose.

The disposal process for hot tubs is very long and pricey, so by recycling your spa cover, you’re helping make the world a cleaner place! Recycling just one old spa cover can save up to three cubic yards of landfill space.

If you are looking for an experienced team to remove your old hot tub, Rainier Junk Removal is here! To learn more about our junk removal services, give us a call today at 253-345-JUNK or visit our website www.RainierJunkRemoval.com.

10

Toyota to Reproduce Spare Parts for the Land Cruiser

TL Bureau, Toyota City

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has announced that it will reproduce spare parts for the Land Cruiser in celebration of its 70th anniversary today, August 1. The parts will be reproduced for the 40 Series Land Cruiser, which was produced between 1960 and 1984, as part of the GR Heritage Parts Project.

The project reproduces spare parts that have been discontinued and sells them as genuine parts through a special collaboration with suppliers, in order to support customers who wish to continue driving older vehicles that are full of memories and that they truly love.

The Land Cruiser has long promised “to take people anywhere and everywhere and come back alive and safe.” Even models whose production has been discontinued for several decades continue to be cherished by large numbers of customers all over the world, and continue to actively support lives, livelihoods, and more fulfilling lifestyles.

However, recent years have seen a shortage of spare parts, with Land Cruiser owners expressing fears they will no longer be able to drive their vehicles.

For this reason, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has made the decision to reproduce parts for which there is greatest demand and need, so that customers can continue to drive their cherished vehicles in safety and with

The 40 Series Land Cruiser peace of mind. The company has carried out preliminary surveys with exclusive Land Cruiser dealers and fan club representatives from across the globe and, as a result of these activities, it is advancing preparations to reproduce and sell parts related to the critical functions of driving, turning, and braking for the 40 Series Land Cruiser.

These parts will be supplied as “heritage parts,” and will include engines, drivelines, and exhaust systems. Availability of parts will be launched as preparations have been completed, with a target launch date of the

beginning of 2022.

Additionally, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is preparing a questionnaire form on its website* where customers can submit their reproduction requests. This feedback will be used in the selection of the next parts to be reproduced.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has previously supplied heritage parts for the A70 and A80 Supra, and the 2000GT, but this will be the first time it has reproduced spare parts for the Land Cruiser. In addition to the 40 Series, the company intends to discuss reproduction of parts for later generations of the model.

Welcome to this daily summary of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Baseball tournament, giving you the latest news and key updates on the pinnacle event.

The quarterfinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Baseball tournament are set. In the first of two games Sunday at Yokohama Stadium, world No. 24 Israel upset No. 5 Mexico, 12-5, in a win-or-go-home elimination game. The victory marks Israel’s first-ever Olympic baseball win in history, while fellow newcomer Mexico exits Tokyo 2020 winless at 0-3. Designated hitter Nick

MONDAY, TUESDAY MATCHES TO GO AHEAD UNDER STRICT PROTOCOLS TL Bureau, Fitzroy

Israel knocks out Mexico, Korea walks-off Dominican Republic as quarterfinals confirmed

TL Bureau, Yokohama

SPORTS

Rickles went 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while first baseman Danny Valencia went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to power the Israeli offense.

Rickles said: “I don’t think it is so much about beating Mexico. It is a lot just to create awareness for baseball in Israel.” “I am stunned,” said Mexico manager Benji Gil. “I would even say that I am in shock.

Not even in my worst nightmares, I thought this would be our result.”

In the evening contest, world No. 3 Korea scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to score a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win over No. 7 Dominican Republic. With two outs in the ninth, Korea left fielder Hyun-soo Kim belted a ball over the head of Dominican right fielder Julio Rodriguez to plate the winning run.

“I had never played against [Dominican closer Luis Castillo] before,” said Kim, “so I watched

him when he took the mound. I saw he was throwing a lot of changeups.

As he fell behind in the count, I expected to see a changeup, and I could get a good swing on it.”

QUARTERFINALS Israel v Korea at 12 pm JST Korea’s starting pitcher will be Min-woo Kim. The 26-year old right-hander has started 16 games for the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) this season.

The Suncorp Super Netball League will introduce strict new protocols as part of an agreement with the Queensland Government to allow matches to be played during the three-day lockdown in the southeast of the state.

The Queensland Government has confirmed tomorrow night’s game between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and the Melbourne Vixens at Nissan Arena can go ahead without fans.

Tuesday’s double-header at Nissan Arena between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and GIANTS Netball, followed by the West Coast Fever and the Collingwood Magpies, will also be played under the protocols in an empty stadium.

The enhanced protocols include the use of one venue, daily testing of players, compulsory masks for all staff and officials not playing and reduced personnel at games.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan thanked the Queensland Government for allowing the Suncorp Super Netball League to go ahead during the snap lockdown.

“I’d like to thank the Queensland Government for allowing these matches to go ahead under the strictest of protocols,” Ryan said.

“Our teams have been abiding by stay-at-home restrictions since July and we are very aware of our obligation to protect the broader Queensland community.

“We have proven that we can play safely and these additional measures provide further reassurance to the Queensland Government and community.”

South-east Queensland’s three-day lockdown is expected to end at 4pm (AEST) on Tuesday 3 August.

USA win their first-ever FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series event in Klaipeda TL Bureau, Klaipeda

The United States won the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Klaipeda Stop at the end of a nail-biting overtime final against Spain (19-17) in Klaipeda, Lithuania on July 30-31, 2021.

It marked USA’s first-ever event title at the Women’s Series after seven attempts in 19 all-time events between 2019 and 2021.

For the first time, the team was not composed of college players (the squad was 26 years old on average).

The United States were represented by the players of Force 10 3x3, the first-ever professional women’s 3x3

team in the country.

The United States were undefeated in Lithuania (4-0) and led all the teams in points scored (18.8 per game), rebounds and two-point percentage (45%). However, they were pushed to an overtime final

by Spain, who won the Mies Stop earlier this season. Former 3x3 world champion (in 2014) Cierra Burdick led all scorers and rebounders in the final (8 and 7) and got a little help from Breanna Richardson, who scored the buzzer beater on a tough contested drive.

Rarely had we seen such a versatile and team-oriented squad on the

Women’s Series: three of their players ranked in the top 5 in the scoring charts (Linnae Harper and Alexis Peterson tied at second with 27 points, Burdick fifth with 25).

The FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2016 bronze medalist Harper won MVP after leading all players in player value at the event. It was the end of an amazing week for the United States in women’s 3x3 after their team won gold at the Tokyo Olympics. 3x3 star Sandra Ygueravide had a game-high 8 points in the losing effort in the final for Spain and led all scorers in Klaipeda (33 points in 5 games).

11

tech/auto

Official Car of MotoGP™: BMW M presents the new BMW i4 M50 Safety Car for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup.

Presenting the first fully-electric safety car from BMW M: BMW M GmbH, the “Official Car of MotoGP™”, will unveil the new BMW i4 M50 Safety Car for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Austria on 15th August at the Red Bull Ring (AUT). It will replace the BMW i8 Safety Car, which has previously led the field in the electric motorcycle series, which takes place on the support programme for MotoGP™.

TL Bureau, Munich.

Presenting the first fully-electric safety car from BMW M: BMW M GmbH, the “Official Car of MotoGP™”, will unveil the new BMW i4 M50 Safety Car for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup at the Motorcycle Grand Prix of Austria on 15th August at the Red Bull Ring (AUT). It will replace the BMW i8 Safety Car, which has previously led the field in the electric motorcycle series, which takes place on the support programme for MotoGP™.

The new safety car for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup is based on the BMW i4 M50 (power consumption combined: 22.5 to 18.0 kWh/100km WLTP; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km WLTP*), which will be launched in November 2021. The first fully-electric performance car from BMW M GmbH will provide intense driving pleasure. With an electric motor on both the front and the rear axle, generating a total output of 400 kW/544 hp, and M-specific chassis technology, it

offers captivating driving dynamics. The emotional driving experience is underlined in particular by the drive sound, which has been developed specifically for electric BMW M cars. With all its properties, the

BMW i4 M50 forms the perfect basis for use as a safety car in MotoE™.

“With the BMW i4 M50, we are entering a new era and presenting our first M with a fully-electric drive train,” says Markus

Flasch, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “With the first M BEV, we are setting course for a future, in which the combination of extremely sporty, performance vehicles and electrification is an exciting theme.

We are showing that everything people have come to value about M – the typical emotional M driving experience with sportiness, power and dynamics – is also possible in a fully-electric vehicle. While the production version of the four-door Gran Coupé will hit the market in the autumn, our fans can enjoy its world premiere at the racetrack this summer.

There could not be a more appropriate safety car for MotoE than the BMW i4 M50 – pure performance, fully-electric.

We are looking forward to the premiere in Spielberg.”

The FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup has been part of the MotoGP™ world championship since 2019. The fullyelectric series, with Energica motorcycles, offers thrilling head-to-head races and exciting battles at some of the most iconic circuits in motorcycle racing.

Toyota Launches New Land Cruiser

Since its launch in 1951, the Land Cruiser has supported the safety and security of its owners and passengers, and allowed people to go anywhere and everywhere and come back alive and safe. In order to continue living up to its reputation, the new Land Cruiser has evolved, and now boasts improved reliability, durability, and off-road performance.

The identity of the new Land Cruiser 300 Series has been reshaped by merging cutting-edge technologies with technologies accumulated over many years, enabling the driver to drive on any type of road in the world without tiring. The new Land Cruiser will launch today.

Toyota City, Japan, August 2, 2021―Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced that it has launched its new Land Cruiser today, August 2.

ZX (Gasoline engine) (options shown) ZX (Gasoline engine) (options shown) GR SPORT (Gasoline engine) (options shown) GR SPORT (Gasoline engine) (options shown) Supporting lives, livelihoods, and more fulfilling lifestyles all over the world Launched in August 1951, the Land Cruiser was originally known as the “Toyota BJ,” a four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with a powerful engine. In the 70 years since, it has sought to deliver safety and security to

diverse customers and other people involved with the vehicle.

All over the world, the Land Cruiser has supported lives, livelihoods, and more fulfilling lifestyles, and promised to take people anywhere and everywhere, and come back alive and safe.

Now, the Land Cruiser’s essence of “reliability, durability, and offroad performance” has further evolved, based on the actual usage situations of its global customers. A cumulative total of approximately 10.6 million units―and more than 300,000 units*1 a year―are being cherished by customers in 170 countries and regions all over the world. *1 As of end of June 2021.

Both the cumulative and annual numbers include the Lexus LX and GX. Completely redesigned: Inheritance and evolution, easy to drive and difficult to tire The new Land Cruiser 300

Series is a complete redesign of the outgoing 200 Series, which launched in 2007. Its development objectives are outlined below Inheriting and evolving the Land Cruiser’s essence of “reliability, durability, and offroad performance” Creating a riding experience that enables the driver to drive with ease on any type of road around the world without tiring easily With these objectives in mind, Toyota retained the same frame structure, and allied it with the new GA-F platform, which is based on the TNGA philosophy. The vehicle’s identity has also been reshaped by merging cutting-edge technologies with technologies accumulated over many years.

The new Land Cruiser’s twin development themes of “inheritance and evolution” and “easy to drive and difficult to tire” are reflected in every aspect of the vehicle. An overview is provided below.

Vehicle Outline The GA-F Platforma refined ride and improved environmental performance Body and framehigh rigidity with a significant 200-kilogram weight reduction The new Land Cruiser adopts an updated version of the traditional ladder frame. By utilizing the latest welding technologies, the high-rigidity (20% more rigid than the 200 Series) lightweight frame boasts improved collision safety performance, quietness, and ride quality.

The body combines an increased number of high-tensile steel plates with an aluminum bonnet, roof, and door panels; the power train has been moved 70 mm rearward and 28 mm downward.

These improvements have led to a significant reduction in body weight of approximately 200 kg, a lower center of gravity, and superior front-rear weight distribution. Together with an enhanced driving position, the new Land Cruiser delivers a ride more in tune with its driver’s intentions. The reduction in body weight contributes to improving Land Cruiser’s environmental performance. Newly developed suspensionRefined on-road steering stability and outstanding off-road performance In line with its updated platform, the new Land Cruiser features a newly developed high-mount double-wishbone front and trailing-link rigid-axle rear

suspension system. The position of the rear shock absorbers has been optimized for improved ride comfort and steering stability.

Modifying the location of the suspension arms has resulted in a stable body posture even when braking, while also improving wheel articulation―the ability of its tires to stay on the ground.

These have led to superior offroad performance.

The vehicle uses a new Linear Solenoid Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) system, which controls shock absorbers’ damping force independently for each wheel in response to road conditions and driver operation, for improved steering stability and ride comfort. (Equipped as standard on the ZX and GR Sport grades) A new structure for the Land CruiserOff-road durability and the needs of the times Hydraulic power steering with steering actuator The new Land Cruiser combines a hydraulic power steering system capable of withstanding use in harsh environments with an electric steering actuator. This not only enables the addition of steering support functions such as Lane Tracing Assist, but also delivers outstanding maneuverability at low speeds, reduced kickback while driving off-road, and a crisper steering feel. (Equipped as standard on the ZX, GR Sport, and VX grades) Electronic Control Brake

12

Statement by the Prime Minister on Emancipation Day

TL Bureau, Ottawa

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Emancipation Day: “On this day in 1834, the British Parliament’s Slavery Abolition Act, 1833, came into effect and laid the pathway to freeing enslaved people of African descent across most of the British Empire. Since then, many people of African descent and their allies commemorate August 1 as Emancipation Day, an important milestone on the quest for freedom, justice, and equality.

“Slavery existed in what is now Canada from the 16th century until its abolition in 1834 – Black people’s fight for freedom and emancipation in Canada was far from over. After slavery was abolished, people of African descent in Canada still had to face exclusion from public spaces, such as restaurants and theatres, as well as segregation in housing, schooling, and employment through specific

laws and practices.

“Despite the abolition of enslavement nearly two centuries ago, the legacy of anti-Black racism is still prevalent today, entrenched in our institutions, policies, and practices. Canada’s history of enslavement, racial segregation, and marginalization of people of African descent is a part of Canadian history that is often forgotten, functionally normalizing institutional and systemic forms of racism or rendering them invisible.

“Today, Black Canadians continue to face prejudice, discrimination, and longstanding disparities in access to education, housing, and employment that limit their full and equal participation in society.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only further highlighted the social, health, and economic disparities that undermine the livelihoods of Black Canadians and many other people in Canada.

“Earlier this year, the House of Commons and the Senate voted unanimously to mark

Health Ministry Spokesman Reports 1,084 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 1,285 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia

TL Bureau, Riyadh

Official Spokesman of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali said, in a press conference, that 1,084 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported today in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 526,814 confirmed cases, including 11,191 active cases receiving necessary medical

care. Of these, there are 1,403 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable, said the statement.

Dr. Al-Abdulaali added that 1,285 new recoveries have been recorded, bringing the total recoveries to 507,374 cases. Also, twelve new deaths have been reported, bringing the total deaths to 8,249.

The number of COVID-19 vaccine doses that have been administered reached 26,925,604 doses, he said.

Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee Meet with his Japanese Counterpart TL Bureau, Riyadh

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee and the Head of the Saudi mission to Tokyo Olympics, met with the Chairman of the Japanese Olympic Committee, Yasuhiro Yamashita at the headquarters of the Japanese Olympic Committee, in the presence of Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, Deputy Chairman of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides in the field of sports hosting.

Emancipation Day on August 1.

Today, we recognize and honour people of African descent for their courage, their determination, and their resilience in the face of the transatlantic slave trade’s devastating effects on their individual freedoms, families, and cultures. For Black Canadians, this day represents a culmination of decades of activism in Black and allied communities. It also demonstrates the themes of the International Decade for People of African Descent – recognition, justice, and development.

“Thanks to a legacy of advocacy and dedication of Black Canadians, many strides have been made, but there is still much work to be done to ensure an equitable future for all Canadians. Through our Anti-Racism Strategy and with the support of the Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat, we will continue to tackle anti-Black racism in Canada, and address important issues, such as economic inclusion, advancing justice reforms, modernizing policing standards and practices,

Iraq recorded 9,394 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases to 1,635,993.

In a statement, the Iraqi

Ministry of Health stated that 77 new deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of deaths to 18,734, while 7,820 new recoveries were reported, bringing the recovery tally to 1,472,093.

Palestine Records 111 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Ramallah

and enhancing local community supports. “On Emancipation Day, we also take the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black Canadians and take part in community and cultural activities to learn more about their sacrifices for emancipation and freedom in Canada. Whether it is through culture, science, sports, or business, Black Canadians have made significant contributions across many domains of Canadian society. “Emancipation Day is a representation of social activism, justice, and our commitment to an equitable future. Today, we recommit ourselves to fighting anti-Black racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination, and related intolerance faced by people of African descent in Canada. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I encourage everyone to reflect on the contributions of Black Canadians, to learn more about the history of Emancipation Day, and to stand up against racism.

Together, we will continue to build a better Canada for everyone.”

Palestine recorded 111 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), 111 recoveries and 3 deaths in all Palestinian governorates, in the past 24 hours.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated today that the rate of recovery reached 98.5%, while the rate of active cases reached 0.4%, adding that the death rate is 1.1%.

UK condemns deliberate attack on oil tanker by Iran

Morocco Records 6,189 New COVID-19 Cases

UK assessments have concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV MERCER STREET in international waters off Oman using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles TL,Bureau, London Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: The UK condemns the unlawful and callous attack committed on a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman, which killed a British and a Romanian National. Our thoughts are with the friends and family of those killed in the incident.

We believe this attack was deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law

by Iran. UK assessments have

concluded that it is highly likely that Iran attacked the MV MERCER STREET in international waters off Oman on 29 July using one or more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Iran must end such attacks, and vessels must be allowed to navigate freely in accordance with international law.

The UK is working with our international partners on a concerted response to this unacceptable attack.

Lebanon Records 1,147 New COVID-19 Cases TL Bureau, Beirut Lebanon recorded 1,147 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of cases

to 562,527.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said that it reported three new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 7,909, while the recoveries rose to 537,111.

Iraq Records 9,394 New COVID-19 Cases UK Records 24,470 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Baghdad

world

TL Bureau, London

The United Kingdom recorded 24,470 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 65 deaths, during the past 24 hours.

In a statement issued today, the UK Department of Health said that the total number of cases reached 5,880,667 and the death toll hit 129,719.

Qatar Records 95 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Doha

Qatar recorded 95 confirmed new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 ), in the past 24 hours.

The Qatari Ministry of Public Health stated that it also recorded 117 recoveries, bringing the tally of recoverees to 223,849 Get Outlook for iOS.

TL Bureau, Rabat Morocco recorded 6,189 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 629,717.

In a statement issued today, the Moroccan Ministry of Health said that 48 new deaths were reported, bringing the total number of deaths to 9,833, while the total number of recoveries rose to 566,008.

Salmonella: Intestinal flora as reason for asymptomatic disease progression TL Bureau, Dübendorf

Salmonella infections can result in a broad spectrum of illnesses.

According to the latest research findings, one reason why some cases are harmless while others are very severe lies in the intestinal flora.

Tunisia Records 3,316 New Cases of COVID-19 TL Bureau, Tunis

Tunisia recorded 3,316 new cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 172 deaths.

The Tunisian Health Ministry stated that the infections toll reached 592,881, while the death tally hit 19,858.