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Stop Hate For Profit: Ben and Jerry’s Joins Facebook Ad Boycott

Clyde K. Valle
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Stop Hate For Profit: Ben and Jerry’s Joins Facebook Ad Boycott

Ben & Jerry’s has joined a growing list of companies pulling advertising from Facebook platforms throughout July.

The move is part of the Stop Hate For Profit campaign, which calls on Facebook to have stricter measures against racist and hateful content.

Ben and Jerry’s tweeted: “We will pause all paid advertising on Facebook and Instagram in the US in support of the #StopHateForProfit campaign. Facebook, Inc. must take the clear and unequivocal actions to stop its platform from being used to spread and amplify racism and hate. >>>https://benjerrys.co/2CtB2WE”

Earlier this week outdoor brands The North Face, Patagonia and REI joined the campaign.

Ben & Jerry’s said it is standing with the campaign and “all those calling for Facebook to take stronger action to stop its platforms from being used to divide our nation, suppress voters, foment and fan the flames of racism and violence, and undermine our democracy.”

Ben & Jerry’s is the first corporate that is backing the Occupy Wall Street movement
Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s, The First Corporate that Is Backing Occupy Wall Street Movement

George Floyd Memorial Held in Minneapolis

After the death of African-American George Floyd in police custody, Ben & Jerry’s chief executive Matthew McCarthy said “business should be held accountable” as he set out plans to increase diversity.

Earlier this week the freelance job listing platform Upwork and the open-source software developer Mozilla also joined the campaign.

Facebook has said it was committed to “advancing equity and racial justice”.

The social network said in a statement on June 21: “We’re taking steps to review our policies, ensure diversity and transparency when making decisions on how we apply our policies, and advance racial justice and voter engagement on our platform.”

Ben & Jerry’s statement also pointed to the company’s Community Standards, which include the recognition of the platform’s importance as a “place where people feel empowered to communicate, and we take seriously our role in keeping abuse off our service”.

The Stop Hate for Profit campaign was launched last week by advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Color Of Change.

The movement has said it is a “response to Facebook’s long history of allowing racist, violent and verifiably false content to run rampant on its platform”.

Stop Hate for Profit has called on advertisers to pressure Facebook to adopt stricter measures against racist and hateful content on its platforms by stopping all spending on advertising with it throughout July.

In 2019, Facebook attracted advertising revenue of almost $70 billion.

The company and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have often been criticized for the handling of controversial subjects.

This month Facebook’s staff spoke out against the tech giant’s decision not to remove or flag a post by President Donald Trump.

The same message was shared on Twitter, where it was hidden behind a warning label on the grounds that it “glorified violence”.

Lee Yong-soo, Former Comfort Woman, Takes Lead In Trying To Stop The Deception Of South Korean Government

Diane A. Wade
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Lee Yong-soo, Former Comfort Woman, Takes Lead In Trying To Stop The Deception Of South Korean Government

Former South Korean comfort woman Lee Yong-soo has taken on a new role in the campaign for the rights of her peers. For so many years, Lee Yong-soo has been the face of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, literally walking the streets to seek recompense for comfort women who suffered during World War II. In spite of her age, the 92-year-old woman had been very much involved in the activities of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.

It thus came as a shock to the South Koreans as a nation when Lee Yong-soo announced in a press conference in early May that she was going to put a stop to her campaigning and that she would no longer be joining the weekly rallies held by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance.

In the press conference, Lee Yong-soo shared her observation that, instead of promoting goodwill, the rallies have only been serving to incite animosity between the involved parties, especially with the youth. She continued to say that, moving forward, healing and reconciliation is what is necessary, and that the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance’s activities are not contributing to this.

“Students spend their own precious money and time to attend these rallies, but the rallies only teach hatred and suffering. Korean and Japanese youths with historically accurate education must befriend each other and communicate with each other to solve problems,” Lee said.

The former comfort woman and strong advocate for the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance had more to say, particularly with regard to how the organization has been operating. The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance was founded in 1990 and since its inception, it has been working on two levels – internationally and transnationally. It receives funding from private donors as well as in the form of government subsidies.

According to Lee Yong-soo, the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance has been remiss in carrying out its mission. She specifically hit out at Yoon Mee-hyang, the former head of the Council who is now an elected official under the party of incumbent president Moon Jae-in.

Lee Yong-soo

Lee Yong-soo accused Yoon Mee-hyang of misappropriation of funds, using them for private purposes such as buying property and paying for her daughter’s American education. Lee Yong-soo further accused the Council of disregard for the former comfort women. She asserted that the Council happily took the funds but also took advantage of the very people they were supposed to take care of by putting them on public display akin to “bears doing tricks”.

With Yoon Mee-hyang being a government official and having close ties to the ruling party, the nation is seeing this as a betrayal from the government itself.

The victims of the War have placed their trust in their leaders and yet once again they find themselves with the short end of the stick.

It is upon this premise that Lee Yong-soo is building her new role.

In her charge to expose this deeply-rooted deception, Lee Yong-soo also said that while donations did come in, only a small portion was actually distributed to the comfort women. In fact, it was only after the 2015 Japan-South Korea agreement that the comfort women actually received a considerable sum. Each one received 100 million KRW (almost USD 83,000).

So far, she has been effective in that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol ordered the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to conduct an investigation speedily on the Council and its activities. She has stated her belief that the prosecutors would find the truth and reveal it. However, it has been about a month since then, and no concrete results have been shared.

Even more concerning is the President’s reaction to the issue. During a meeting held with his advisors on the 8th of June, President Moon Jae-in reportedly said that he was bewildered by the controversy in which Yoon Mee-hyang and the Council is embroiled. He emphasized the role Yoon Mee-hyang played in raising awareness for the South Korean former comfort women on the international state, citing her testimony in front of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Lee Yong-soo is not to be deterred, inspiring her peers and their families to make their voices heard. Hwang Sun-hee, son of former comfort woman Gil Won-ok, says “The families of [former comfort women] will take this matter into our own hands, such that we are no longer pushed around by other organizations.” That is, they are forming their own committee in order to ensure that the victims get what they deserve and are not taken advantage of.

North Korea Suspends “Military Action” Against South Korea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Suspends “Military Action” Against South Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has suspended plans for “military action” against South Korea, state news agency KCNA reported.

Recent weeks saw a rising tide of angry rhetoric from North Korea over activist plans to send leaflets with anti-North Korean messages over the border.

Last week, North Korea blew up the joint liaison office with South Korea and also threatened to send troops to the border area.

At a meeting chaired by leader Kim Jong-un, state media said the decision was taken to suspend military action.

The Central Military Commission made its decision after taking what it called the “prevailing situation” into consideration.

Image source Wikimedia

North Korea Bombs Joint Liaison Office with South Korea

North Korea Cuts All Official Communication Channels with South Korea

North Korea Fires Gunshots at South Korean Guard Post in DMZ

North Korea also began to dismantle loudspeakers it had erected only last week, traditionally used to blast anti-South Korean messages over the border, Yonhap reported.

The move represents a notable de-escalation in rhetoric after Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong’s orders to the army to “decisively carry out the next action” – in part because of what Pyongyang said was Seoul’s failure to stop activists floating balloons with anti-regime leaflets over the border.

The meeting also discussed documents outlining measures for “further bolstering the war deterrent of the country,” KCNA reported.

Tensions between North and South Korea appeared to be on the mend when in 2018, leaders of both countries met for the first time at the border.

The historic summit saw both sides pledge to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons – and in the months that followed, there were efforts to improve ties and maintain dialogue.

However, the relationship has been on a downward spiral after a failed summit between Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump.

And the past few weeks saw relations deteriorate especially rapidly – prompted by defector groups in South Korea sending propaganda across the border,

South Korean activists typically send balloons that carry objects like leaflets, USB sticks or DVDs with criticism of the Pyongyang regime, as well as South Korean news reports or even Korean dramas.

All of this is aimed at breaking North Korea’s control on domestic information with the hope that people might eventually topple the regime from within.

The South Korean government has already tried to stop groups sending leaflets across the border, arguing their actions put residents near the border at risk. The move prompted North Korea to renew threats of military action – and shortly afterwards it blew up a joint liaison office that it had established with South Korea in 2018.

Coronavirus: Novak Djokovic Tests Positive for Covid-19

Clyde K. Valle
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Coronavirus: Novak Djokovic Tests Positive for Covid-19

Novak Djokovic has become the latest tennis player to test positive for the new coronavirus.

Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all revealed they have tested positive for Covid-19 after playing at Djokovic’s Adria Tour competition.

The 33-year-old world’s No 1 played fellow Serb Troicki in the first event in Belgrade.

In a post on Twitter, Novak Djokovic said it had been “too soon” to stage the tournament.

“I am so deeply sorry our tournament has caused harm,” he said.

He said the tournament had been organized with “a pure heart”, “good intentions” and a belief that they had “met all health protocols”.

“We were wrong and it was too soon,” he said.

The remaining Adria Tour events in Banja Luka and Sarajevo have now been canceled Novak Djokovic’s brother Djordje, who is a director of the tournament, has confirmed.

“Unfortunately, due to all the events that happened in the last few days, we have decided that the most important thing right now is to stabilize the epidemiological situation, as well as for everyone to recover,” he said.

A statement on Novak Djokovic’s website said: “Immediately upon his arrival in Belgrade [after the second event] Novak was tested along with all members of the family and the team with whom he was in Belgrade and Zadar. He is not showing any symptoms.”

There have been no ATP Tour events since February because of the global pandemic and the Adria Tour, which is not an ATP Tour event, was one of the first competitions to be staged since then.

The first leg in Serbia attracted 4,000 fans, and players were later pictured dancing close together in a Belgrade nightclub.

Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov played Croatia’s Borna Coric on June 20 in the second leg in Zadar, Croatia.

With Croatia easing lockdown measures, players were not obliged to observe social distancing rules and were seen embracing at the net at the end of their matches.

Photo Getty Images

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Pictures on the tournament’s social media site from June 19 showed Grigor Dimitrov playing basketball with Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic, while he also put his arm around Borna Coric before their match.

Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic and Andrey Rublev, who also played in the Adria Tour, have tested negative, but suggested they will all now self-isolate for up to 14 days.

The ATP Tour season is set to restart on August 14 and the US Open will be held without fans from August 31 to September 13, despite some players voicing concerns about travelling to New York.

The Coolsculpting Essentials

Kathryn R. Bown
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The Coolsculpting Essentials

Fat reduction is something we’ve had to deal with at some point in our lives. Whether it’s through natural means, such as exercising or properly dieting, or cosmetic fat reduction treatments, we’ve all been there at some point. Excess fat can cause a lot of problems, both physically and mentally, so it’s natural for everyone to have to deal with it at some point.

All kinds of fat reduction treatments exist, but one of the most unique ones is Coolsculpting, which, as the name implies, utilizes the power of the cold to tone or “sculpt” specific areas of the body to the absolute satisfaction of the client. MiracleFace MedSpa and Coolsculpting LA are two of the major cities’ new favorite treatment plans and are a perfect procedure for a hot summer when we simply want to do everything to get away from the heat.

With Coolsculpting becoming so popular in modern clinics, it’s important to know the most crucial aspects of the procedure and understand what happens and why.

Before the Treatment

Not much preparation is needed for Coolsculpting. Unlike other fat reduction procedures, this form of treatment has many fewer factors to consider. For example, more traditional forms of fat reduction, such as chemical-based compounds, need many more factors to be taken into account to determine the safety and effectiveness of the procedure.

With Coolsculpting, there are only a few factors that need to be taken into consideration: the area you’re treating and the sensitivity of your skin. Different parts of the body build up fat in their special ways, not to mention the fact that everyone’s body is built differently. So treating specific areas requires the kind of precision that only well trained and qualified specialists can handle. The sensitivity of the skin is also something very important for the procedure, as there are types of skin that simply don’t have the ability to handle the cold as long as others.

But both of these will very rarely keep someone from getting treated since Coolsculpting is a very casual procedure. The cold temperatures that you’ll be experiencing are around 4 degrees Celsius (39 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit), which is around the same temperature as a typical fridge. And we’ve all spent enough time staring at food deciding what to eat to know that it’s not particularly cold. But cold is still cold, so you can expect that uneasy sensation of the skin going numb as your body is being administered a constant stream of cool air.

If you’re not a fan of this sensation, then I’m sure you’ve been through enough cold winters to know that after some time, the skin goes numb and you don’t feel the cold anymore. The skin just feels stiff, which is great, since it makes the procedure that much more pleasant as you don’t have to worry about any uncomfortable sensations from the cold air.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Time Is Very Important

Coolsculpting is one of those treatments that rewards patience and dedication. While the procedure itself lasts around 40 minutes, the full results don’t become fully visible for some time. This can put a lot of people off, but for many people, this is a much better option.

When it comes to natural means of losing fat, much like dieting or exercising, it takes time for Coolsculpting to take full effect, as it is a more natural fat reduction treatment than most others on the market. It takes time for your body to properly get rid of the extra fat, but your patience is rewarded with the fact that Coolsculpting doesn’t come with the harsh side effects and recovery time that other treatments tend to have.

There are also no threats of allergic reaction since no chemicals are involved in the treatment. Most people, with only a small margin of exception, will go through the procedure without any complications. So while you must understand the amount of time it takes for the treatment to take effect, you need to know that this is all in favor of safety and the convenience of not having to wait weeks for your body to fully recover after treatment.

But as with any other treatment, you need to keep in touch with your clinic specialists to make sure that everything is as it should be. And while Coolsculpting is a very safe treatment, clinics like MiracleFace MedSpa, for example, keep in contact with all their clients who’ve gone through their Coolsculpting NYC treatment package, to ensure that everything is going smoothly, without any unwanted results, even if they barely ever happen.

While there isn’t much to keep track of, it’s still important to keep in contact with your clinics and make sure that they are as much aware of what you’re feeling as you are.

The Recovery

If you’re wondering what you’ll need to do after the treatment, then there’s not much I can tell you, since, much like the procedure itself, the recovery time is very short and you barely have to do anything. All you need to do is avoid putting unnecessary strain and pressure on your skin for a couple of days after the procedure, especially the treated area.

While the cold that’s used during the Coolsculpting treatment doesn’t cause any damage to the skin and barely even weakens it, you should still give it ample time to restore its strength and get back to normal before going in for any other treatment, cosmetic or otherwise.

And within a couple of weeks, you should already start to see some difference in how toned certain parts of your body are. Within months, the effects will be more apparent than ever before and you’ll slowly see your body sculpting itself as the fat is evicted from your body, leaving behind the beautiful contours and angles you’ve been striving for.

Don’t hesitate to try Coolsculpting for yourself to see why so many people are fascinated with this amazing unique fat reduction treatment.

Judge Denies President Trump’s Bid to Block John Bolton’s Book

Diane A. Wade
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Judge Denies President Trump’s Bid to Block John Bolton’s Book

President Donald Trump’s request to stop the publication of a memoir by his former National Security Adviser John Bolton has been rejected by Washington DC District Court Judge Royce Lamberth.

The justice department argued that the book had not been properly vetted.

The judge said the government had “failed to establish that an injunction would prevent irreparable harm”.

John Bolton had “gambled” with US national security and already “exposed his country to harm”, the judge said.

Hundreds of thousands of copies of the book – The Room Where It Happened – have been printed and distributed, and are due to go on sale on June 23.

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Image source: Wikimedia Commons

In the memoir, John Bolton paints an unflattering picture of a president whose decision-making was dominated by a desire to be re-elected in November.

President Trump has said the book is “made up of lies and fake stories”.

The justice department’s lawyers argued that John Bolton had breached an obligation to complete a pre-publication review of his manuscript to ensure that it contained no classified information.

John Bolton’s lawyers dismissed the claim. They insisted that the manuscript was thoroughly examined and that President Trump simply did not like the contents.

In his 10-page ruling, Judge Lamberth wrote that John Bolton had opted out of the pre-publication review process before its conclusion and that he “likely jeopardized national security by disclosing classified information in violation of his non-disclosure agreement obligations”.

John Bolton nevertheless denied the government’s injunction request.

He wrote: “In taking it upon himself to publish his book without securing final approval from national intelligence authorities, Bolton may indeed have caused the country irreparable harm.

“But in the internet age, even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality. A single dedicated individual with a book in hand could publish its contents far and wide from his local coffee shop. With hundreds of thousands of copies around the globe – many in newsrooms – the damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo.”

Shortly after the decision, President Trump alleged on Twitter that John Bolton “broke the law by releasing Classified Information (in massive amounts)”.

“He must pay a very big price for this, as others have before him. This should never to happen again!!!” the president added.

Later, President Trump tweeted: “BIG COURT WIN against Bolton. Obviously, with the book already given out and leaked to many people and the media, nothing the highly respected Judge could have done about stopping it…BUT, strong & powerful statements & rulings on MONEY & on BREAKING CLASSIFICATION were made….”

A lawyer for John Bolton, Charles Cooper, welcomed the judge’s decision to deny the injunction request.

However, he took issue with the conclusion that his client did not comply fully with his contractual pre-publication obligation to the government.

“The full story of these events has yet to be told – but it will be,” John Bolton added.

His publisher, Simon & Schuster, said: “We are grateful that the Court has vindicated the strong First Amendment protections against censorship and prior restraint of publication.”

John Bolton became President Trump’s national security adviser in April 2018.

He left his post in September 2019, after disagreeing strongly with the president over how to handle major challenges like Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan.

In The Room Where It Happened, John Bolton portrays President Trump as an “erratic”, “impulsive” and “stunningly uninformed” leader.

Among the allegations, which are based on private conversations and are impossible to verify, are:

  • President Trump sought help from Chinese President Xi Jinping to win the 2020 vote, stressing the “importance of farmers and increased Chinese purchases of soybeans and wheat in the electoral outcome”;
  • John Bolton also said China’s construction of internment camps in the Xinjiang region was the “right thing to do”;
  • President Trump was willing to intervene in criminal investigations “to, in effect, give personal favors to dictators he liked”. John Bolton said President Trump was willing to assist Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a case involving a Turkish company;
  • President Trump said invading Venezuela would be “cool” and that the South American nation was “really part of the United States”;
  • President Trump was unaware the UK was a nuclear power and once asked a senior aide if Finland was part of Russia.

Juneteenth Becomes Official Holiday in New York City

Diane A. Wade
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Juneteenth Becomes Official Holiday in New York City

Juneteenth – the June 19th date which marks the end of US slavery – will become an official holiday in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced.

The move comes as millions of Americans plan to commemorate, with marches and personal observances, the 1865 date when the last US slaves were freed.

Several states already observe Juneteenth as an official holiday and there is a push to declare it a national holiday.

The date’s significance has grown this year amid Black Lives Matter protests.

Mayor de Blasio said in a press conference on June 19 that the date would be marked as an official city holiday beginning in 2021, and will also be a public school holiday.

He said: “We’ll work with all the unions to work through the plan, give this day the importance and recognition it deserves.

“Every city worker, every student will have the opportunity to reflect the meaning of our history and the truth.”

Earlier this week, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an order making Juneteenth – also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day – a paid holiday for state workers.

Andrew Cuomo said he would introduce legislation to make the day a holiday for all New Yorkers by 2021.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam also promised to make Juneteenth a holiday by 2021 in the former capitol of the Confederacy which rebelled against the US during the Civil War for the legal right to enslave black people.

In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf has also signed an order making Juneteenth a holiday for state workers.

He said in the statement: “In recent weeks, people around the nation have joined together to demand an end to systemic racism and oppression of African Americans.”

“Freedom for all is not fully realized until every person is truly free. This Juneteenth we have an opportunity to unite against injustice and create lasting change,” he continued.

Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth a holiday in 1980. Now all but four US states observe or recognize the date in some form.

Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay

Juneteenth: Houston Community College Hit With $100 Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Class Action Suit Filed On Behalf of Black Employees

President Donald Trump Postpones Oklahoma Rally to Avoid Juneteenth Day

This year, the date has become particularly prominent in the public consciousness amid a wave of protests over racial inequality following the deaths of several unarmed African Americans. Juneteenth rallies are planned in Washington DC and across the US.

On June 19, 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas received the news that slavery had been abolished by President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier.

According to historians, the news took so long to reach slaves in Texas in part due to fighting that continued even after the surrender of the Confederacy that ended the Civil War.

Corporate America is also treating Juneteenth with more reverence than in previous years, with employees from Nike, Uber, and Twitter being given a paid day off.

Google has asked employees to cancel non-urgent meetings and instead “create space for learning and reflection”.

Amazon told employees to “take some time to reflect, learn and support each other”.

In Washington, the most senior Republican in the Senate said on June 18 that he would introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Four Democrats have also announced a similar proposal.

In the House of Representatives, the Texas congresswoman who has been pushing for a national holiday for two decades, told CBS that the chances of a holiday becoming a reality are growing.

Juneteenth: Houston Community College Hit With $100 Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Class Action Suit Filed On Behalf of Black Employees

Nancy Clayson
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Juneteenth: Houston Community College Hit With $100 Million Dollar Racial Discrimination Class Action Suit Filed On Behalf of Black Employees

Press release

HOUSTON, TEXAS.  A $100 million racial discrimination lawsuit has been filed in a Houston, Texas state district court on behalf of hundreds of Black present and former employees of the Houston Community College (“HCC”). The suit was intentionally filed Friday, June 19, 2020– “Juneteenth—the anniversary date that Black slaves in Texas learned they had been freed from slavery two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln. The lawsuit details a damning list of allegations about what has happened at Houston Community College under the leadership of Chancellor Cesar Maldonado and the Human Resources Director, Ms. Janet May. According to the lawsuit, Maldonado accepted his position in 2014 with a Hispanic “preferential treatment” agenda. The suit contains an actual email chain created shortly after Maldonado’s appointment, which states “Now we [Hispanics] are going to receive preferential treatment.” The suit alleges that since Maldonado’s arrival 90% of the long-time Black professionals at HCC have either been terminated or demoted, while there has been a 50% increase in Hispanic hires and promotions. Shockingly, the suit claims, while 90% of tenured and experienced Black employees have been displaced only 10% of similarly tenured White employees have been displaced.

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The lawsuit continues with a disturbing list of tactics used by Cesar Maldonado and Janet May to get rid of Black employees. These tactics include, among many others:  

  • Telling a Black male that a White woman’s word was more truthful than his word;
  • When a White person complains, believing them, but if a Black person complains doubting them unless corroborated;
  • “Padding” Black employee personnel files with false complaints to be used later as pretexts for firing them;
  • When Black employees are accused of harassment, believing the complainant – but if the complaint is made by a Black person, doubting them until HHC can corroborate;
  • Using the term “transformation” as a cover for getting rid of Black employees; and
  • Forcing Black employees to take leaves of absence without cause to later use as grounds to terminate the Black employee. 

 If these allegations are proven in court, HCC is in for a bad day at the courthouse.

Image source: Dolcefino

The named plaintiff in the lawsuit is a 55-year-old Black female, Zelia Brown, who was forced to take a leave of absence when she complained about missing grant money at HCC. She reported that the grant funds had been misused or taken to the federal government, according to the lawsuit. After federal investigators notified HCC officials they were going to investigate Ms. Brown’s allegations, she was immediately told not to return to work and to take a leave of absence. Her locked grant office is said to have been rummaged through while she was on this leave of absence. Although HCC is said to have later asked her to return to work, the return was conditioned on her accepting a false complaint that she had created a hostile work environment and presumably remain silent about the missing grant dollars. Ms. Brown refused to remain silent and filed suit. Tonight, she will speak to the media for the first time.

Zelia Brown is asking the court to approve a class action lawsuit against HCC on behalf of all Black employees who have been terminated or demoted since Maldonado became Chancellor in 2014. It is estimated that the number of class members will be in the hundreds with each member seeking individual damages in the case. Zelia Brown is represented in the lawsuit by Benjamin L. Hall, III, the former Houston City Attorney under Mayor Bob Lanier and former mayoral candidate. Hall stated, “Ms. Brown is one of the more recent casualties of what appears to be a modern-day Jim Crow environment at Houston Community College for Black executives. She is a brave lady to stand up to power and speak the truth. We feel confident there are more victims of HCC’s discriminatory policies who will come forward to tell their stories as well.”

The lawsuit has been filed in the 164th District Court and a copy of the lawsuit as well as the listed exhibits accompanies this press release.

Epacket Delivery Time from China to Different Destinations

Nancy Clayson
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Epacket Delivery Time from China to Different Destinations

The delivery time from China and Hong Kong to the US depends on several factors. However, the maximum estimated time is between 10 to 20 days from the date of dispatching the parcel.

The delivery time depends on the destination of the packet when it comes to other countries. You have to consider the location, holidays, custom protocols, and other economic events.

Unlike in the US, other countries may take longer. Most of the time is spent on the journey, while the additional time is spent on reaching the different facilities. Upon entering the facility, they are sorted, traced, and registered before making to their destination.

Even though 10 to 20 days seem pretty long, it is much faster than other commercial delivery services to ship goods from China and Hongkong.

You should also consider the fact that there are thousands of other packages being shipped in bulks every day. It takes time to process all these items and the number of stops they make to reach a destination.

Average ePacket Shipping time

China to Ukraine, Russia, and Saudi Arabia: 7 to 15 business days

China to Mexico: 20 business days

China to all other eligible countries: 7 to 10 business days

It may be confusing and hard to comprehend the small but vital networking process involved in ePacket delivery. However, E-tracking has made this task more straightforward and convenient for both the sellers and the customers.

Image source: Image by Gareth van Vollenstee from Pixabay

Steps to Track ePacket

When using epacket shipping, there are several ways to track your parcel, which is why it is so convenient and reliable.

One of the first steps is to make sure you have the right parcel tracking number. Once you have this number, which is unique for each parcel, you can use an official website. The seller will account for all your shipping details on the site before it is sent out.

Before the parcel leaves China, you can use EMS, and once it reaches, you can access the USPS website to track your package.

There are also other middle party tracking services as an alternative to the official websites. These include websites such as

You can view your order details when you purchase from sites like AliExpress. They automatically show the location of your parcel when you enter your order details in the search portal.

All packages sent by epacket has a tracking number with the letter “L.” That way, you can quickly tell if your parcel is shipped by ePacket or other services.

List of Countries with ePacket Shipping Services

ePacket Shipping does not work for all the countries due to international trade regulations. But currently, 44 countries are legible for epacket shipping.

These countries are:

1.       Australia

2.       Austria

3.       Belgium

4.       Brazil

5.       Canada

6.       Croatia

7.       Denmark

8.       Estonia

9.       Finland

10.     France

11.     Germany

12.     Gibraltar

13.     Great Britain

14.     Greece

15.     Hong Kong

16.     Hungary

17.     Ireland

18.     Israel

19.     Italy

20.     Japan

21.     Latvia

22.     Lithuania

23.     Luxembourg

24.     Malaysia

25.     Malta

26.     Mexico

27.     Netherlands

28.     New Zealand

29.     Norway

30.     Poland

31.     Portugal

32.     Russia

33.     Saudi Arabia

34.     Singapore

35.     Spain

36.     South Korea

37.     Sweden

38.     Switzerland

39.     Thailand

40.     Turkey

41.     Ukraine

42.     United Kingdom

43.     United States

44.     Vietnam

Rayshard Brooks Death: Former Officer Garrett Rolfe Faces Murder Charge

Diane A. Wade
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0
Rayshard Brooks Death: Former Officer Garrett Rolfe Faces Murder Charge

Former police officer Garrett Rolfe, who fatally shot fleeing Afro-American Rayshard Brooks in the back last week in Atlanta, Georgia, will be charged with murder and assault, officials say.

Garrett Rolfe, who has already been fired, faces 11 charges related to Rayshard Brooks’ death. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

The other officer at the scene, Devin Brosnan, will testify as a prosecution witness in the case, officials said.

The Rayshard Brooks case comes amid protests over police killings of black Americans.

Lawmakers in Washington are currently debating new police reform laws.

According to officials, this was the ninth time that an Atlanta police officer had been prosecuted for homicide.

They added that it is believed to be the first time a police officer would testify against a member of his own unit, though Devin Brosnan’s lawyer denied his client would be a witness in the case.

Image source: Wikipedia

President Donald Trump has said he is concerned about the way the case against Garrett Rolfe is being handled.

“I hope he gets a fair shake because police have not been treated fairly in our country,” the president told Fox News.

“You can’t resist a police officer like that,” he added, referring to Rayshard Brooks’ actions during the incident.

Rayshard Brooks, 27, failed a sobriety test on June 12 after he was found asleep inside his car that was blocking a drive-through lane at a Wendy’s restaurant.

After pulling over his vehicle, the father-of-four appeared “slightly impaired, but his behavior during this incident was almost jovial”, Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard said on June 17.

For over 40 minutes, video shows Rayshard Brooks complying with officers as he consented to a weapons search and provided them with his identification details.

However, as officers tried to handcuff him, Rayshard Brooks began struggling. The footage appears to show Rayshard Brooks punched Garrett Rolfe, grabbed Devin Brosnan’s stun gun and turned back while fleeing to fire it at Garrett Rolfe.

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Rayshard Brooks suffered two gunshots to the back that caused organ injuries and blood loss. One police bullet also hit a witness’ vehicle, nearly killing the driver, investigators say.

Prosecutors said Garrett Rolfe said: “I got him.”

For over two minutes after Rayshard Brooks was shot, neither officer provided medical attention as police are required to do, prosecutors said.

Instead, Garrett Rolfe kicked Rayshard Brooks while he was on the ground.

Officer Devin Brosnan – who has already been placed on administrative leave – will be charged with assault for allegedly standing on Rayshard Brooks’ shoulder as he lay dying.

Coronavirus: Dexamethasone Can Help Preventing Covid-19 Deaths

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Coronavirus: Dexamethasone Can Help Preventing Covid-19 Deaths

Dexamethasone, a cheap and widely available drug, can help save the lives of patients seriously ill with coronavirus, UK experts say.

The low-dose steroid is part of the world’s biggest trial testing existing treatments to see to see if they also work for coronavirus.

The drug cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth.

Had the drug had been used to treat patients in the UK from the start of the pandemic, up to 5,000 lives could have been saved, researchers say.

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Dexamethasone could be of huge benefit in poorer countries with high numbers of Covid-19 patients.

PM Boris Johnson said there was a genuine case to celebrate “a remarkable British scientific achievement”, adding: “We have taken steps to ensure we have enough supplies, even in the event of a second peak.”

About 19 out of 20 patients with coronavirus recover without being admitted to hospital.

Of those who are admitted, most also recover but some may need oxygen or mechanical ventilation.

These are the high-risk patients dexamethasone appears to help.

Dexamethasone is already used to reduce inflammation in a range of other conditions, including arthritis, asthma and skin some conditions.

It appears to help stop some of the damage that can happen when the body’s immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight off coronavirus.

This over-reaction, a cytokine storm, can be deadly.

In the trial, led by a team from Oxford University, about 2,000 hospital patients were given dexamethasone and compared with more than 4,000 who were not.

For patients on ventilators, the drug cut the risk of death from 40% to 28%.

For patients needing oxygen, dexamethasone cut the risk of death from 25% to 20%.

Dexamethasone does not appear to help people with milder symptoms of coronavirus who do not need help with their breathing.

Aunt Jemima: Quaker Oats to Change Brand Name and Images Based on Racial Stereotype

Clyde K. Valle
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Aunt Jemima: Quaker Oats to Change Brand Name and Images Based on Racial Stereotype

Quaker Oats has announced it will rename its brand Aunt Jemima (a line of syrups and foods), acknowledging it was based on a racial stereotype.

For over 130 years, Aunt Jemima’s logo has featured a black woman named after a character from minstrel shows in the 1800s that mocked African-Americans.

The company said past branding updates to address these issues were “not enough”.

Criticism against the brand has renewed amid the national debate over racism sparked by George Floyd’s death.

Image source: AuntJemima.com

Kristin Kroepfl, Quaker Foods North America’s chief marketing officer, said the company is working “to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives”.

She said: “We also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations.

“We are starting by removing the image and changing the name.”

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Quaker has not offered further details on the coming changes, which were first reported by NBC News.

In addition, Aunt Jemima is to donate at least $5 million over the next five years to support the African American community, according to parent company PepsiCo.

The branding on Aunt Jemima’s syrups, mixes and other food products features an image of a black woman that has often been linked to stereotypes around slavery.

In a 2015 opinion piece for the New York Times, Cornell University African-American literature professor Riché Richardson described Aunt Jemima as “an outgrowth of Old South plantation nostalgia and romance”.

He said the brand perpetuated the idea of a “mammy” character – a submissive black woman who nurtured her white master’s children.

Founded in 1889, the Aunt Jemima logo was based on storyteller, cook and missionary Nancy Green, Quaker’s site says.

According to the African American Registry non-profit database, Nancy Green was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1834.

Aunt Jemima joins a number of companies offering change in light of the global protests and renewed debate over racism in America, sparked by the recent police killings of George Floyd and other African Americans.

How to Make a Bodycon Dress Look Good on Plus Size Women

Lisa.Felice
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How to Make a Bodycon Dress Look Good on Plus Size Women

Bodycon dresses are all about highlighting a woman’s figure as they cling to the curves revealing the shape. It’s for this reason that a lot of plus size women shy away from these body-hugging dresses.

Can plus size women jump on the bodycon bandwagon too? Absolutely yes! The bodycon is here to stay and nobody should miss out on it. Today’s women are embracing their bodies more and this explains why you’re seeing more housewives, single ladies, slender ladies, and thick ladies wearing the plus size black jacket.

There’s this misconception that bodycon dresses should only be worn by ladies with perfect body shapes and that plus-size women should avoid them like a plague.

Image source: svgsilh.com

Here are some tips to help you wear a bodycon dress and rock it like the queen you are:

  1. The most important thing is being confident enough
  2. Always choose the right undergarment that evens out and flattens any plump on your body
  3. Wear seamless bras and panties with bodycon dresses
  4. Buy a dress that’s in your size. Getting smaller sizes will be disastrous

What are the best ways to wear a casual bodycon dress?

We have put together a number of ways in which plus-size women can wear bodycon dresses:

  1. Find printed patterns and geometrical prints

The easiest way to camouflage the extra weight is by working with a printed fabric. You shouldn’t go for larger prints as these only make you look heavier.

With a plus-size body, you should also try to incorporate geometrical lines – both horizontal and vertical stripes into your bodycon dress pattern.

2. Pick a good fabric

Considering the extra weight, go for thick fabrics that are strong and firm enough to hold on the extra plump areas of the body without showing any bulging. Choosing light or sheer fabrics would make all the details on your body more visible. Nobody wants to see your panty line.

3. Camouflage the abdominal area

Keeping in view with the extra fat around your abdominal area, you’ll be more comfortable if you cover it up. The best way to do this is by using a belt around your waistline to give this focal region a slimming effect.

If you can find bodycon dresses with a peplum style around the waist, they should work just as good.

4. Black bodycon dresses are the best

Black bodycon dresses are a great option for plus size women as they tend to give the women an elongated and vertical look with a stylish illusion of a much slimmer frame.

Image source: svgsilh.com

5. Try a bodycon with a crop top

If you would like to break the monotony of wearing a full bodycon dress, why not try the same look is a different yet classy way? Try pairing a crop top with a knee-length pencil skirt. This look creates the same bodycon effect while showing a little skin.

6. Go for a minimal look

Bodycon dresses are already a killer by themselves so there’s no need to over-accessorize. For the best look, choose simple jewelry. As they say, simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

7. Choose the right style depending on your shape

Focus on your body shape when you’re choosing a dress. If you have a heavier bottom, choose a dress with an embellished top as it’ll divert attention to the top area. For women with heavy-looking bosoms, they should get a design that covers it.

You should also keep in mind that the neckline plays an important role in creating a balanced look.

8. The shoes

Plus size women tend to look shorter even when they aren’t very short. To overcome this, go for a pair of high heels that are comfortable to walk in.

Conclusion

It’s about time that society stopped judging women based on how they look and no one has the right to tell another person how they should dress. Women can wear whatever they want and look gorgeous irrespective of their size. All they need is a positive attitude.

If you’re plus size and wearing a bodycon has been one of your biggest fear, it shouldn’t be anymore. It’s now time to start rocking this sizzling trend – you’ll be surprised at how much there is to experiment with. We hope that our tips and hacks inspire you to get started.

Stay confident!

5 Strategies To Enhance Your Enterprise Cybersecurity Framework

Nancy Clayson
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5 Strategies To Enhance Your Enterprise Cybersecurity Framework

There are several widely-used, reliable strategies to enhance your enterprise cybersecurity framework across your organization. Experienced IT professionals understand the importance of advanced cybersecurity measures to secure and safeguard enterprise networks. Enterprise cybersecurity measures are much more advanced than individual network security techniques. Sophisticated cybersecurity procedures must additionally extend to your workstations, IT hardware, networks, and on-premises business structures. You even need to monitor cybersecurity on remote employee’s home workstations. When properly strategized, enterprise cybersecurity measures are essential to protect the data of your organization, internal stakeholders, as well as your valuable customers. Read on to learn about the essential strategies to enhance your enterprise cybersecurity framework.

vpn

Install Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Resources

Enterprise-grade security resources are essential tools to optimize your business cybersecurity framework. Without cybersecurity resources installed, you risk your platform security, performance, and data being compromised. Advanced firewall systems are one of the most integral cybersecurity components your organization can purchase. These systems monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic from your network to identify and proactively address potential threats. At the same time, you need to purchase advanced, enterprise-grade antivirus software to protect your network from potentially malicious attacks. Some of the most commonly purchased enterprise antivirus options are malware protection, system monitoring, and machine learning antivirus software. Even more, you should consider the benefits of using a VPN for your business. You need to install sophisticated, enterprise-grade cybersecurity resources to optimize your business security framework. 

Integrate A Container Registry  

Integrate a container registry into your organization to optimize your organizational cybersecurity framework. Advanced container registries are essential tools to organize and package your enterprise software libraries and files. Registries utilize containerization technology to securely package and seal software programs inside ‘containers,’ along with all of their application libraries, binaries, repositories, and additional files. Once integrated, a container registry supports all of your Docker containers and Helm Chart repositories across your software programs. An advanced container registry serves as a centralized, single access point to access your remote images and integrate them into your build ecosystem. Utilize an advanced container registry to optimize your enterprise cybersecurity framework. 

Preform Frequent IT Risk Assessments 

Frequent IT risk assessments are essential to optimize your enterprise cybersecurity framework. Preforming these regular assessments can largely improve online security in your company. Regular IT risk assessments are essential to identify potential malware, ransomware, spyware, or additional network virus attacks. At the same time, IT risk analyses can identify potential threats that could be caused by natural disaster, system failure, or accidental human interference. Thorough analyses can even protect against malicious behavior like interference, interception, or impersonation. By conducting frequent assessments, you can protect your organization from data loss, legal consequences, as well as application or system downtime. You need to preform frequent IT risk assessments to significantly optimize your organizational cybersecurity framework. 

Enforce Stronger Passwords 

Enforce stronger passwords to strengthen cybersecurity procedures across your organization. Strong passwords are essential to protect your network accounts, enterprise information, customer data, and employee systems. The best passwords contain mixed case letters, numbers, symbols, and special characters. At the same time, you should never use the same password for more than one enterprise account. Ensure that employees do not have their passwords written down anywhere where they can easily be viewed, compromised, lost, or stolen. If you are worried about losing your enterprise passwords, purchase a secure password manager to store all of your account data. You need to enforce stronger passwords to optimize your organizational cybersecurity framework. 

Map Threat Surface Area

Once you have identified threats, it is essential to map your threat surface area to optimize your enterprise cybersecurity procedures. Take a considerable amount of time to map out your threat surface area based on quantifiable risk. You can determine risk based on potential threats to your stakeholders, employees, or even your customers. Mapping your threats allows you to identify the specific data, applications, identities, systems, and network elements that must be sufficiently safeguarded. Through this technique, you can identify and allocate valuable resources for specific network defensive measures. Be sure to map your threat surface area to optimize your organizational cybersecurity practices. 

There are several strategic methods to optimize your enterprise cybersecurity framework. First, you need to install sophisticated, enterprise-grade cybersecurity resources. Utilize an advanced container registry to store and securely transport data throughout development stages. At the same time, preform frequent IT risk assessments to analyze your security performance. Moreover, enforce stronger passwords to optimize your organizational cybersecurity framework. Furthermore, be sure to map your threat surface area throughout your business. Consider the points mentioned above to learn about the essential strategies to enhance your enterprise cybersecurity framework.

North Korea Bombs Joint Liaison Office with South Korea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Bombs Joint Liaison Office with South Korea

North Korea has blown up a joint liaison office with South Korea near the border town of Kaesong.

The incident comes just hours after North Korea renewed threats of military action at the Korean border.

The site was opened in 2018 to help the Koreas – officially in a state of war – to communicate. The joint liaison office had been empty since January due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In a statement, South Korea warned it would “respond strongly” if North Korea “continues to worsen the situation”.

The destruction of the office, the statement said, “abandons the hopes of everyone who wanted the development of inter-Korean relations and peace settlement in the Korean Peninsula”.

“The government makes it clear that all responsibility of this situation lies in the North.”

Image source Wikimedia

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Russia expressed concern at the renewed tensions between the Koreas.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on June 16: “We call for restraint from all the sides.”

Tensions between North and South Korea have been escalating for weeks, prompted by defector groups in the South sending propaganda across the border.

Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong – considered a close and powerful ally – threatened at the weekend to demolish the office.

There were hopes for improved relations between North Korea and South Korea and its close ally the US after President Donald Trump met Kim Jong-un at the North-South border last June, but nothing materialized and the atmosphere has since deteriorated.

North Korea is under crippling US and UN economic sanctions over its militarized nuclear program. Washington has not yet commented on the North’s latest action.

In recent weeks, North Korea has repeatedly condemned South Korea for allowing propaganda into its territory.

Defector groups regularly send such material via balloons, or even drones, into North Korea.

Caring for Blemish-Prone Skin: 7 Things You Need to Know

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
Caring for Blemish-Prone Skin: 7 Things You Need to Know

Clear skin makes us look healthy, feel naturally beautiful, and more confident. Blemish-prone skin can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing issue to deal with. It also requires a lot of time and effort in order to prevent breakouts and to remove scars and spots that develop under the skin. Most of the things that we can do to cover up and hide these noticeable and sometimes painful blemishes can make the skin problem even worse, which causes a ripple effect. There are many factors that play a role in the condition of your skin, such as stress, diet, hormones, skin type, and more. Fortunately, if you follow the right skin care regime, keeping your pimples under control will become much easier, as it incorporates itself into your daily routine. Here are six things you need to know about caring for blemish-prone skin.

Image by Kjerstin Michaela Haraldsen from Pixabay

Cleanse Thoroughly

Dirt, oils, makeup, and anything that builds up on your fingers and makeup brushes will form the ideal breeding ground for bacteria on your face. If you cleanse your skin twice a day, in the morning and in the night, it will prevent your pores from getting clogged up, which is one of the easiest ways to keep your skin clear. A cream cleanser that doesn’t cause dryness or irritation would be an ideal choice.

Start Exfoliating

If you allow excess oil and dirt build-up on your skin, it will promote the growth of bacteria that can trigger acne. This is difficult to remove via cleansing alone. Exfoliating once a week will keep your skin clean, which can avert future breakouts. You should use a gentle, anti-inflammatory exfoliator to scrub during a breakout, as normal ones can irritate the skin and prevent proper healing.

Moisturize Daily

Hydrating your skin won’t have an immediate effect on existing breakouts, but it is an essential part of any skin care routine and is a highly effective method of prevention. When your skin is well-hydrated, it will be healthy and it will heal faster. You should moisturize your skin twice daily. For an extra burst of hydration, you should use squalane oil. For the best results, make sure it’s 100% pure.

Take Necessary Vitamins

We shouldn’t forget that the skin is another organ, and eating healthy and taking enough vitamins directly affects its function. Zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin B complex are the main vitamins for improving your skin’s health. If you want to take dietary supplements, you should try well-researched tables. Also, If you want to have faster results, you can apply for IV treatments that will fit your needs. Nowadays, you can receive mobile IV treatment anywhere, for example, you can receive mobile IV treatment in Fort Worth, were within 15-20 minutes. Your body will eventually benefit from this treatment since it boosts energy and provides relief, which will affect your skin as well.

Try Treatments

There are many factors that can trigger breakouts, such as diet, stress, and hormones. Sometimes, these factors are out of your control, which means you won’t realize they are causing an issue until it is too late. For moments like this, you should have an effective spot treatment on hand to target these breakouts. When applied directly to the area, it can reduce swelling and redness.

Apply Serums

Serums are packed full of a concentrated amount of fast-acting and hardworking ingredients. They do not work overnight, but they will do a good job when it comes to improving blemish-prone skin at a gradual rate. The serum’s ingredients will be designed to penetrate your skin at a cellular level. Some have the ability to encourage skin healing and reduce the appearance of scarring.

Use Masks

When double cleansing is not enough, you should take it up a notch by using a skin mask. In order to prevent and control breakouts, you should look for facial masks that contain decongesting properties, as this will help with lifting build-up from the deep within your pores, ensuring a detoxifying cleanse. Masks use fast-acting ingredients that are extremely quick and effective at caring for your skin.

Nothing is better than achieving clear, glowing skin, especially when you are prone to pimples and breakouts. Getting blemish-prone skin under control can take a lot of time and effort, but when you see results, it will all be worthwhile.

London Protests: Rightwing Demonstrators Protecting Statues Clash with Police

Roy Siemens
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0
London Protests: Rightwing Demonstrators Protecting Statues Clash with Police

The Met Police clashed with demonstrators in London, where thousands, including some far-right activists, gathered despite warnings to avoid protests.

Groups gathered in the center of the capital on June 13, claiming they were protecting statues from anti-racism activists.

UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel described the violence as “thoroughly unacceptable thuggery”.

Some anti-racism protests have taken place in London and across the UK.

The Met Police had placed restrictions on several groups intending to protest, including having to finish at 17:00 BST, following violent scenes last weekend.

However, several groups remained on the streets of central London after the official cut-off.

As of 17:00 BST, Scotland Yard said they had arrested five people for offences including violent disorder, assault on police, possession of an offensive weapon, being drunk and disorderly and possession of Class A drugs.

Image source Sky News

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As some protestors moved towards Waterloo Station around 18:00 BST, both the underground and mainline station were temporarily closed due to the protests – but later reopened.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan urged protesters to leave to prevent further violence and the spread of coronavirus in London.

Various groups from around the country, including some far-right activists, said they had come to London to protect symbols of British history.

Hundreds of mostly white men gathered around the Cenotaph war memorial in Whitehall and the boarded-up statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square.

There were a number of clashes with police in riot gear as crowds – chanting “England” and raising their arms – surged towards lines of officers.

Some protesters managed to break metal barriers around the Cenotaph on Whitehall while hurling flag poles, a smoke flare and a traffic cone towards police who were striking them back with batons.

Large groups of right-wing protesters then moved to Trafalgar Square, where fireworks were thrown across the crowds.

A statement from the London Ambulance Service said it had treated 15 patients, including two police officers, for injuries at the protests.

Police attempted to stop protesters getting to Hyde Park where an anti-racist demonstration, which had largely been peaceful, was taking place.

Organizers from the Black Lives Matter movement had urged people not to join any anti-racism rallies planned for the weekend over fears there could be clashes with far-right groups. One demonstration planned for June 13 in London was brought forward by a day.

President Donald Trump Postpones Oklahoma Rally to Avoid Juneteenth Day

Diane A. Wade
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0
President Donald Trump Postpones Oklahoma Rally to Avoid Juneteenth Day

President Donald Trump has decided to postpone his first post-coronavirus lockdown election rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, so it does not fall on Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the end of US slavery.

He tweeted that the June 19 rally would be held a day later out of respect for Juneteenth.

The choice of date had drawn criticism amid nationwide anti-racism protests.

The location was also controversial, as Tulsa saw one of the worst massacres of black people in US history in 1921.

Up to 300 people died when a white mob attacked the prosperous black neighborhood of Greenwood, known as the “Black Wall Street”, with guns and explosives. About 1,000 businesses and homes were also destroyed.

Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, but is widely celebrated by African Americans.

It celebrates the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation to enslaved African Americans in Texas.

Texas was the last state of the Confederacy – the slaveholding southern states that seceded, triggering the Civil War – to receive the proclamation, on June 19, 1865, months after the end of the war.

President Trump initially defended the timing of his rally, telling Fox News: “Think about it as a celebration. My rally is a celebration. In the history of politics, I think I can say there’s never been any group or any person that’s had rallies like I do.”

However, critics accused the president of disrespecting the date and the significance of Tulsa to US history.

Explaining the decision to move his rally, President Trump tweeted: “Many of my African American friends and supporters have reached out to suggest that we consider changing the date out of respect for this Holiday, and in observance of this important occasion and all that it represents. I have therefore decided to move our rally to Saturday, June 20th, in order to honor their requests…”

The “Make America Great Again” rally in Tulsa will be Donald Trump’s first campaign event since March 2, when the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to mass gatherings.

President Trump is seeking re-election in November 2020, but polls show him lagging behind his Democratic rival, Joe Biden.

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Campaign rallies are seen as a key method of energizing his base, and Oklahoma is traditionally a Republican-voting state.

The event will proceed against a backdrop of ongoing protests against racial inequality and police brutality, triggered by the death of African American man George Floyd on May 25. George Floyd, who was unarmed, died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a policeman knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

The rally is being held in a 19,000-seat indoor arena, and concerns have been raised about the potential risks.

Oklahoma has one of the US lowest infection rates, and businesses are reopening – but the state’s Governor Kevin Stitt has urged residents to keep social distancing and to “minimize time spent in crowded environments”.

People buying tickets for the Tulsa rally online have to click on a waiver confirming that they “voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to Covid-19” and will not hold the president’s campaign responsible for “any illness or injury”.

President Trump has announced he plans to hold further events in Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Arizona.

Columbus and Confederate Statues Toppled by Protesters

Nancy Clayson
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0
Columbus and Confederate Statues Toppled by Protesters

Statues of Christopher Columbus and Confederate leaders have been torn down in several states, as pressure grows on authorities to remove monuments connected to slavery and colonialism.

In Richmond, Virginia, statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was toppled on June 10.

Statues of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in Boston, Miami and Virginia have been vandalized.

The movement has been sparked by the death in police custody of African American George Floyd.

George Floy’s death in Minneapolis has led to protests in the US and internationally against police brutality and racial inequality.

Memorials to the Confederacy, a group of southern states that fought to keep black people as slaves in the American Civil War of 1861-1865, have been among those targeted.

A number of Confederate statues on Monument Avenue in Richmond have been marked with graffiti during the protests.

Richmond also saw a statue of Columbus pulled down, set alight and thrown into a lake earlier this week.

A 10ft tall bronze statue of Columbus was toppled in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on June 10.

The Columbus statue in Boston, which stands on a plinth at the heart of town, was beheaded.

Many people in the US celebrate the memory of Columbus, who in school textbooks is credited with discovering “the New World”, the Americas, in the 15th Century.

However, Native American activists have long objected to honoring Columbus, saying that his expeditions to the Americas led to the colonization and genocide of their ancestors.

The death of George Floyd, whose neck was kneeled on by a police officer for nearly nine minutes, has spurred global protests led by the Black Lives Matter movement.

Many cities and organizations have taken steps to remove Confederate symbols, which have long stirred controversy because of their association with racism. 

Image source Wikimedia

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Last week, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced that a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee would be removed from Richmond.

However, a judge has since granted a temporary injunction stopping the removal.

Stock-car racing organizers Nascar announced on June 10 it was banning Confederate flags, frequently seen at races.

President Trump meanwhile rejected calls to rename military bases named after Confederate generals, saying they remain part of America’s heritage.

The president tweeted: “The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.”

On June, President Trump renewed threats to take federal action against local protesters occupying public spaces.

In a pointed exchange on Twitter, the president demanded that the mayor of Seattle “take back your city” from protesters, whom he called anarchists and domestic terrorists.

7 Health Effects of Smoking on Your Body

Kathryn R. Bown
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0
7 Health Effects of Smoking on Your Body

Smoking harms almost every part of the body, including the skin, eyes, circulatory system, respiratory system, and even the reproductive system. Smoking also causes an increased risk of many different diseases, including cancer and diabetes.

Each year in the United States, almost 500,000 people die from tobacco use-related illnesses. In fact, smoking cigarettes kills more Americans than car accidents, alcohol, guns, illegal drugs, and HIV combined.

Here are seven ways that smoking impacts your health. By switching to a tobacco alternative, you can get the nicotine you need without the tobacco.

1. Lung Damage

When a cigarette is inhaled, nicotine and dozens of other chemicals are introduced into the respiratory system. Smokers are at a 25 times higher risk of developing lung cancer than non-smokers.

Aside from an increased risk of lung damage that may lead to lung cancer, smoking also increases the risk of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). In all cases of COPD, 9 out of 10 are linked to smoking.

Smoking also damages the airways, which contributes to the infamous smoker’s cough.

2. Damage to Cardiovascular System

While there are many factors that increase the risk of heart disease, smoking is one of the top lifestyle habits that contribute to the disease. Those who smoke, as well as those who are exposed to secondhand smoke, are at an increased risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

Tobacco smoke also lowers good cholesterol (HDL) levels in the body, while increasing bad cholesterol (LDL). Tobacco smoke has also been linked to increased triglycerides and total cholesterol in the blood.

Nicotine causes blood vessels to tighten, which restricts blood flow throughout the body. This increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure.

3. Damaged Immune System

Smokers are more likely to have more respiratory tract infections when compared to people who don’t smoke. This is not only because smoking damages the lungs, but it also impacts the immune system’s ability to fight off infections.

This means that smokers will experience more severe and longer-lasting illnesses. Smoking has also been linked to lower levels of antioxidants in the blood, including vitamin C.

Smoking also increases inflammation throughout the body.

4. Vision Problems

While your vision may not be impacted immediately, smoking has shown to have negative effects on the eyes. Long-term smokers are likely to experience future vision problems, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

Smoking also increases the risk of damage to the optic nerve. This is the nerve that connects the eye to the brain. Excessive damage to the optic nerve can cause blindness.

In the short-term, smokers are likely to experience dry eyes, which makes the eyes red and scratchy.

5. Fertility & Reproductive System Issues

Smoking damages both the male and female reproductive systems. For men, smoking increases the risk of erectile dysfunction. Smoking also negatively impacts the quality of sperm, which reduces fertility.

For women, smoking can make it much more difficult to get pregnant. This is often attributed to tobacco and the many other chemicals that are found in cigarettes. These chemicals impact hormone levels, which then impact fertility. Women also experienced an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Smoking also has profound impacts on pregnant women as well as the developing fetus. Common complications include:

  • Increased risk of preterm delivery
  • Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
  • Reduced birth weight
  • Damage to the baby’s brain, lungs, and central nervous system
  • Increased risk of congenital abnormalities, such as cleft palate and cleft lip
  • Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome

6. Impacted Digestive System

Smoking suppresses the appetite because it decreases your sense of taste. This makes eating a lot less enjoyable because you can’t taste the food that you’re putting into your mouth.

Smoking has been linked to many different cancers, including cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and larynx. There’s also an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Smokers are also more likely to develop insulin resistance, because of how smoking impacts insulin. Insulin resistance increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, along with the many complications associated with the disease.

7. Damaged Hair, Skin, & Nails

Smoking impacts the hair, skin, and nails in many ways. Smokers are at an increased risk of hair loss, balding, and early graying. This is due to the high nicotine content found in cigarettes.

Smoking also visibly impacts the skin. Tobacco smoke changes the structure of the skin, which can lead to dry skin and premature aging. This is because nicotine reduces blood flow, which impacts the skin’s ability to get the nutrition it needs.

People who smoke are also at an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

Routine handling of tobacco products stains the fingers and fingernails a yellow color. Aside from staining, smokers face a higher risk of fungal nail infections.

Conclusion

It’s an understatement to say that smoking has a profound impact on the body. While it’s not easy to quit smoking, doing so can greatly improve your overall health now and long into the future. Quitting smoking is the key to living a happier, longer life.

George Floyd Funeral: Family and Friends Pay Their Last Respects

Diane A. Wade
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George Floyd Funeral: Family and Friends Pay Their Last Respects

Impassioned pleas for racial justice have been heard at the funeral of George Floyd, an African American whose death in police custody spawned global outrage.

Speakers in the church in Houston, Texas, lined up to remember a man whose “crime was that he was born black”.

George Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis last month as a white police officer held a knee on his neck for nearly nine minutes, his final moments filmed on phones.

Four police officers involved have been sacked and charged over his death.

George Floyd’s coffin was taken from the church driven in a motorcade to the Houston Memorial Gardens where he was to be buried beside his mother.

One of George Floyd’s nieces, Brooke Williams, called for a change in laws which, she argued, were designed to disadvantage black people.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

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Joe Biden addressed the service in a video message saying: “When there is justice for George Floyd, we will truly be on our way to racial justice in America.”

The Democratic presidential candidate has sharply criticized President Trump, accusing himat the weekend of making “despicable” speculative remarks about George Floyd.

The service was held at the Fountain of Praise church, attended by some 500 guests including politicians and celebrities.

“George Floyd was not expendable – this is why we’re here,” said Al Green, the local Democratic congressman.

“His crime was that he was born black.”

Veteran civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton told the service: “All over the world I see grandchildren of slave masters tearing down slave masters’ statues.”

Talking about George Floyd’s difficult life, he said: “God took the rejected stone and made him the cornerstone of a movement that’s gonna change the whole wide world.”

In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz called on people to honor the funeral by observing silence for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the time George Floyd was pinned to the ground before he died.

George Floyd’s coffin was taken to a cemetery in Pearland, south of Houston, for a private burial ceremony. For the last mile of the procession it was conveyed in a horse-drawn carriage.

Barriers were erected along the route to allow members of the public to pay their respects safely as the procession passed.

George Floyd’s body was on display at the church for six hours on June 8.

North Korea Cuts All Official Communication Channels with South Korea

Roy Siemens
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North Korea Cuts All Official Communication Channels with South Korea

North Korea has announced it will cut off all official communication channels with South Korea, including a hotline between the two nations’ leaders.

It said this was the first in a series of actions, describing South Korea as “the enemy”.

Daily calls, which have been made to a liaison office located in the North Korean border city of Kaesong, will cease from June 9.

North and South Korea had set up the office to reduce tensions after talks in 2018.

Image source Flickr

The two states are technically still at war because no peace agreement was reached when the Korean War ended in 1953.

North Korea “will completely cut off and shut down the liaison line between the authorities of the North and the South, which has been maintained through the North-South joint liaison office… from 12:00 on 9 June 2020,” the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report said.

Military communication channels will also be cut, it said.

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When the liaison office was temporarily closed in January because of Covid-19 restrictions, contact between the two states was maintained by phone.

North Korea and South Korea made two phone calls a day through the office, at 09:00 and 17:00. On June 8, the South said that for the first time in 21 months, its morning call had gone unanswered, although contact was made in the afternoon.

“We have reached a conclusion that there is no need to sit face-to-face with the South Korean authorities and there is no issue to discuss with them, as they have only aroused our dismay,” KNCA said.

Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s sister, threatened last week to close the office unless South Korea stopped defector groups from sending leaflets into North Korea.

She said the leaflet campaign was a hostile act that violated the peace agreements made during the 2018 Panmunjom summit between South Krea’s Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un.

North Korean defectors occasionally send balloons carrying leaflets critical of the communist region into the North, sometimes with supplies to entice North Koreans to pick them up.

North Koreans can only get news from state-controlled media, and most do not have access to the internet.

Ties between North Korea and South Korea appeared to improve in 2018, when the leaders of both countries met three times. Such high-level meetings had not taken place in over a decade.

George Floyd Death: Derek Chauvin’s Bail Set at $1.25 Million in 1st Court Appearance

Diane A. Wade
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George Floyd Death: Derek Chauvin’s Bail Set at $1.25 Million in 1st Court Appearance

Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis ex-policeman accused of killing unarmed black man George Floyd, has made his first court appearance, where his bail was set at $1.25 million.

Prosecutors cited the “severity of the charges” and public outrage as the reason for upping the former officer’s bail from $1 millio.

Derek Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter. Three other arresting officers are charged with aiding and abetting murder.

George Floyd’s death in May led to global protests and calls for police reform.

Derek Chauvin, who is white, knelt on George Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while he was being arrested in Minneapolis on May 25.

The 44-year-old and the three other police officers have since been fired.

Meanwhile, mourners in Houston, Texas, where George Floyd lived before moving to Minneapolis, have been viewing his body, publicly on display for six hours at The Fountain of Praise church.

On June 9, a private funeral service will be held in Houston. Memorial services have already been held in Minneapolis and North Carolina, where George Floyd was born.

It is believed a family member escorted George Floyd’s body on a flight to Texas on June 6.

Joe Biden is expected to visit George Floyd’s relatives in Houston to offer his sympathies. Aides to the former vice-president said he would also record a video message for June 9 service.

Image source: Wikipedia

Derek Chauvin, a 19-year police veteran, did not enter a plea as he appeared via teleconference on June 8.

The former officer did not speak during the 15-minute hearing, and was handcuffed and wearing an orange jumpsuit as he sat a small table.

Judge Jeannice M. Reding set a bail of $1.25 million with no preconditions, or $1 million with conditions that include Derek Chauvin not contacting George Floyd’s family, surrendering his firearms and not working in law enforcement or security as he awaits trial.

His lawyer did not object to the bail price.

Derek Chauvin is currently being held at the Minnesota state prison in Oak Park Heights, after being transferred several times.

His next court appearance is set for June 29.

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Derek Chavin faces three separate charges: unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, for which the maximum penalties are prison terms of 40, 25 and 10 years respectively.

By bringing multiple charges, prosecutors give jurors a choice and increase the chances of a conviction.

Minneapolis city council has voted to ban chokeholds and neck restraints by police officers, and Democrats in Congress have unveiled sweeping legislation on police reform.

Anti-racism protests started by George Floyd’s death are now entering their third week in the US. Huge rallies have been held in several cities, including Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

With the rallying cries “Black Lives matter” and “No Justice, No Peace”, the demonstrations are among the largest US protests against racism since the 1960s. June 6 gatherings included a protest in the Texas town of Vidor, once infamous as a stronghold of the Ku Klux Klan white supremacist group.

Bosarge Divorce: Texas Divorce Case Now an Issue in South Dakota Senate Race

Lisa.Felice
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Bosarge Divorce: Texas Divorce Case Now an Issue in South Dakota Senate Race

Press release

Dan Ahlers, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota, thinks the state has created a monster when it comes to South Dakota’s secretive $3 trillion trust industry.

“I don’t want South Dakota to be the equivalent of offshore accounts in other countries where people hide their money,” said Dan Ahlers.

“I don’t want South Dakota to be known for that and I don’t think that’s the reputation that the people of South Dakota want.”

Dan Ahlers was commenting on the growing national publicity surrounding the divorce of Ed and Marie Bosarge.  Marie’s lawyers claim Ed Bosarge fraudulently hid more than $2 billion in South Dakota trusts in an attempt to cheat her out of community property.

“It’s getting so much traction, so much publicity that we are now going to get a flood of people going ‘Hey, I can shirk my obligations by just moving everything to South Dakota and putting it into a trust,’” Dan Ahlers said.

 “I would prefer that we do the right thing, that we respect decisions that are made in other states and that we are not a haven.”

Image source: edbosarge.com

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Once the Houston courts reopen, a jury will decide if the Houston billionaire defrauded his wife. A South Dakota court has already rejected Marie Bosarge’s claims. If 312th Family District Court Judge Chip Wells and a Harris County jury find that Ed Bosarge committed fraud and transferred money illegally into the South Dakota trusts, will South Dakota ensure that Marie Bosarge is made whole?

“I don’t think the laws of South Dakota, the State of Texas or anything we might imagine somehow frees him of an obligation that he has undertaken at the time he married Mrs. Bosarge,” said Judge Chips Wells in a February 2020 hearing in Texas.

“Most of the legislators had no intent to allow people to skirt the law in other states. That would never have been our intent,” Dan Ahlers said.

Many of the trust laws were amended while Senator Mike Rounds was South Dakota’s Governor. It is the secrecy of the South Dakota trusts that is worrying Dan Ahlers.

“Open records are not important to him and haven’t been. He had to be taken to court just to get the names of the people who were invited to the pheasant hunt. Those were records that have always been open until he was Governor. These bills came from his Department of Revenue,” Dan Ahlers said.

Dan Ahlers also talked about the tax money being hidden in these South Dakota trusts.

“What’s the economic benefit to South Dakota other than allowing people to hide their money and in some cases potentially break the law in another state. I think that is the question that has to be asked locally,” Ahlers said.

The Rounds campaign did not respond to our request for comment. The members of the Governor’s trust task force have all refused comment.

George Floyd Memorial Held in Minneapolis

Diane A. Wade
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George Floyd Memorial Held in Minneapolis

A service to commemorate George Floyd, the first of three planned memorials, is being held in Minneapolis.

George Floyd, 46, died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His death in police custody has sparked huge protests across the US.

Family members and friends are now arriving and taking their seats for the memorial service.

The service at a sanctuary at the city’s North Central Universityis also being attended by a number of lawmakers, actors and musicians.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar are some of the politicians in attendance.

Ludacris, TI, Tiffany Haddish and Kevin Hart are among the celebrities present.

Attendees have also been reminded to socially distance themselves to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

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The service has begun with a reading of scripture by Reverend Jerry McAffey of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church.

On June 3, new charges were announced against all four of the now sacked officers present at George Floyd’s death.

The charge against Officer Derek Chauvin has been elevated to second-degree murder while the other three officers, previously uncharged, face counts of aiding and abetting murder.

The vast majority of demonstrations over the past eight days have been peaceful, but some have turned violent and curfews have been imposed in a number of cities.

Former President Barack Obama and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, are among senior public figures who have offered their support to the protesters.

Benjamin Crump, a lawyer for the Floyd family, said it was more than just honoring George Floyd’s memory.

“It’s going to be a celebration of life, but it’s also going to be a plea to America and a plea for justice that we don’t let his death be in vain,” he told NBC’s Today show.

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