huffpost--2020-06-17--Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill

Senate Passes Major Public Lands Bill

In a rare display of bipartisanship , the U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping public lands package that both addresses the ballooning maintenance backlog at national parks and provides full , permanent funding for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund , a program established in 1964 to protect natural areas and water resources .
Co-sponsors of the legislation , which passed Wednesday by an overwhelming 73-25 vote , have hailed it as the most important conservation bill in a generation ― one that will preserve public lands and create thousands of jobs at a time when communities across America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It now heads to the House for consideration , and President Donald Trump has promised to sign it into law .
“ By helping the land , we ’ re helping the communities , because it ’ s there for future generations , ” Gardner said .
“ This really is an opportunity for this nation to come together at a time of great need , economically and I think spiritually , quite frankly.
” The Great American Outdoors Act combines two bills that might otherwise not have passed on their own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ address the estimated $ 12 billion maintenance backlog at national parks , which has been a priority of the Trump administration .
The other permanently supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the maximum $ 900 million per year .
Often described as one of America ’ s most important conservation tools , LWCF uses offshore fossil-fuel revenue to establish and protect parks , wildlife refuges , forests and important wildlife habitat .
But the 50-plus year program has been plagued by funding shortfalls , only twice receiving the full $ 900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the vote , Sen. Martin Heinrich ( D-N.M. ) applauded the Senate for coming together , at a time when the nation is divided , to rally around “ one thing that truly unites us.
” “ This bill would make major investments in the landscapes and landmarks vital to our economic , emotional and societal well-being , ” she said in a statement .
“ By protecting important natural spaces and investing in their care , this bill will help create jobs , rebuild local economies and expand access to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enjoy.
” It is indeed a huge victory for America ’ s public lands , which have borne the brunt of the fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration ’ s “ energy dominance ” agenda .
And while Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines ( R-Mont . )
have been fierce supporters of Trump ’ s agenda and are relatively new to the fight to protect the LWCF , they championed the bill through the Senate and are credited with convincing the president to reverse his stance on LWCF after years of trying to gut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we get one step closer to protecting our outdoor heritage for our children , our grandchildren , for future generations of Montanans and all Americans , ” Daines said in a floor speech ahead of the vote .
Trump ’ s newfound support appears largely aimed at securing wins for two vulnerable Senate allies in the 2020 election , which could prove key to Republicans maintaining control of the Senate .
Still , environmentalists and public lands advocates are celebrating the victory .
Sen. Tom Udall ( D-N.M. ) , a longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last week that , although many were surprised by Trump ’ s reversal , it is important that Congress “ seize the opportunity .
”

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In a rare display of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate has passed a sweeping public lands package that both addresses the ballooning maintenance backlog at national parks and provides full, permanent funding for the popular Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program established in 1964 to protect natural areas and water resources.
Co-sponsors of the legislation, which passed Wednesday by an overwhelming 73-25 vote, have hailed it as the most important conservation bill in a generation ― one that will preserve public lands and create thousands of jobs at a time when communities across America are reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. It now heads to the House for consideration, and President Donald Trump has promised to sign it into law.
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In a speech on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) called the legislation a “chance in a lifetime.”
“By helping the land, we’re helping the communities, because it’s there for future generations,” Gardner said. “This really is an opportunity for this nation to come together at a time of great need, economically and I think spiritually, quite frankly.”
Visitors Thursday at Yosemite National Park in California. Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
The Great American Outdoors Act combines two bills that might otherwise not have passed on their own. One sets aside $9.5 billion to address the estimated $12 billion maintenance backlog at national parks, which has been a priority of the Trump administration. The other permanently supports the Land and Water Conservation Fund at the maximum $900 million per year.
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Often described as one of America’s most important conservation tools, LWCF uses offshore fossil-fuel revenue to establish and protect parks, wildlife refuges, forests and important wildlife habitat. But the 50-plus year program has been plagued by funding shortfalls, only twice receiving the full $900 million.
During a floor speech ahead of the vote, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) applauded the Senate for coming together, at a time when the nation is divided, to rally around “one thing that truly unites us.”
“The outdoors is not just a luxury, it’s something we need,” he said.
Environmental, outdoor sporting and public lands advocacy groups around the country celebrated Wednesday’s vote. Jennifer Morris, chief executive officer at The Nature Conservancy, called it “a historic win for the conservation of America’s natural landscapes.”
“This bill would make major investments in the landscapes and landmarks vital to our economic, emotional and societal well-being,” she said in a statement. “By protecting important natural spaces and investing in their care, this bill will help create jobs, rebuild local economies and expand access to the outdoors that everyone has a right to enjoy.”
It is indeed a huge victory for America’s public lands, which have borne the brunt of the fossil fuel-friendly Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda. And while Gardner and Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) have been fierce supporters of Trump’s agenda and are relatively new to the fight to protect the LWCF, they championed the bill through the Senate and are credited with convincing the president to reverse his stance on LWCF after years of trying to gut the program’s funding.
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“Today, we get one step closer to protecting our outdoor heritage for our children, our grandchildren, for future generations of Montanans and all Americans,” Daines said in a floor speech ahead of the vote.
Trump’s newfound support appears largely aimed at securing wins for two vulnerable Senate allies in the 2020 election, which could prove key to Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. Still, environmentalists and public lands advocates are celebrating the victory.
Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), a longtime champion of the LWCF, told HuffPost last week that, although many were surprised by Trump’s reversal, it is important that Congress “seize the opportunity.”
“We will keep having the conversation about the administration’s unending attacks on conservation, our public lands and the environment more broadly,” he said.


huffpost--2020-06-17--Bruce Springsteen Wants Trump To ‘Put On A F**king Mask’

Donald Trump isn ’ t making Bruce Springsteen too proud to be born in the USA , and he ’ s letting the president know .
In light of the ever-climbing death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic , Springsteen ditched his preplanned Wednesday show for his SiriusXM program , “ From My Home to Yours , ” to send a message straight to Trump : Bruce is hosting a new episode of “ From My Home To Yours ” on E Street Radio & The @ SiriusXM app .
Listen to “ Volume 6 : Down to the River @ @ @ @ @ @ @ //t.co/28cleK4NYY pic.twitter.com/trGCRdq9iv — Bruce Springsteen ( @ springsteen ) June 17 , 2020 “ With 100,000-plus Americans dying over the last few months and the empty shamed response from our leaders , I ’ ve been simply pissed off , ” Springsteen said .
“ Those lives deserve better than just being inconvenient statistics for our president ’ s reelection efforts .
It ’ s a national disgrace.
” Instead of celebrating summer like he ’ d planned , the musician focused this particular show on what the country has lost and sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Springsteen dedicated his first song , Bob Dylan ’ s “ Disease of Conceit , ” to Trump , bluntly adding , “ With all respect , sir , show some consideration and care for your countrymen and your country .
Put on a fucking mask.
” The sentiments echo Springsteen ’ s previous statements about Trump being out of touch with what ’ s actually going on in the United States .
Late last year , he told CBS ’ s Gayle King that “ the stewardship of the nation has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a clue as to what that means.
” “ Unfortunately , we have somebody who I feel doesn ’ t have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American , ” he said in the interview .
In the rest of his Wednesday show , the rock legend played poignant selections , including 2Pac ’ s “ Changes ” and Neil Young ’ s “ When God Made Me.
” He also read out the names of COVID-19 victims .
“ It is a heartbreaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for those left behind to pick up the pieces , ” Springsteen said .

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Donald Trump isn’t making Bruce Springsteen too proud to be born in the USA, and he’s letting the president know.
In light of the ever-climbing death toll due to the coronavirus pandemic, Springsteen ditched his preplanned Wednesday show for his SiriusXM program, “From My Home to Yours,” to send a message straight to Trump:
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Bruce is hosting a new episode of “From My Home To Yours” on E Street Radio & The @SiriusXM app. Listen to “Volume 6: Down to the River to Pray” now: https://t.co/28cleK4NYY pic.twitter.com/trGCRdq9iv — Bruce Springsteen (@springsteen) June 17, 2020
“With 100,000-plus Americans dying over the last few months and the empty shamed response from our leaders, I’ve been simply pissed off,” Springsteen said. “Those lives deserve better than just being inconvenient statistics for our president’s reelection efforts. It’s a national disgrace.”
Instead of celebrating summer like he’d planned, the musician focused this particular show on what the country has lost and sending prayers for those who have died.
Springsteen dedicated his first song, Bob Dylan’s “Disease of Conceit,” to Trump, bluntly adding, “With all respect, sir, show some consideration and care for your countrymen and your country. Put on a fucking mask.”
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The sentiments echo Springsteen’s previous statements about Trump being out of touch with what’s actually going on in the United States.
Late last year, he told CBS’s Gayle King that “the stewardship of the nation has been thrown away to somebody who doesn’t have a clue as to what that means.”
“Unfortunately, we have somebody who I feel doesn’t have a grasp of the deep meaning of what it means to be an American,” he said in the interview.
In the rest of his Wednesday show, the rock legend played poignant selections, including 2Pac’s “Changes” and Neil Young’s “When God Made Me.” He also read out the names of COVID-19 victims.
“It is a heartbreaking and lonely death for those afflicted and for those left behind to pick up the pieces,” Springsteen said.


huffpost--2020-06-17--Russia Sets Up 'Disinfection Tunnel' To Protect Putin From Virus, State Media Says

MOSCOW ( Reuters ) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is protected from the novel coronavirus by a special disinfection tunnel that anyone visiting his residence outside Moscow must pass through , the state-controlled RIA news agency reported on Tuesday .
The special tunnel , manufactured by a Russian company based in the town of Penza , has been installed at his official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow where he receives visitors , it said .
Demonstration footage of the tunnel , published by RIA , showed masked people passing through it being sprayed with disinfectant from the ceiling and from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disinfectant as a fine cloud of liquid that covered people ’ s clothes and any exposed upper body flesh .
Dmitry Peskov , Putin ’ s spokesman , said in April that anyone meeting Putin in person was tested for the novel virus .
A month later , Peskov said he had himself been infected .
Russia has recorded over 500,000 infections , the third-highest number of cases in the world after Brazil and the United States , something it attributes to a massive testing program .
Russia has registered 7,284 deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries .
Critics are dubious about the accuracy of its mortality figures .

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MOSCOW (Reuters) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is protected from the novel coronavirus by a special disinfection tunnel that anyone visiting his residence outside Moscow must pass through, the state-controlled RIA news agency reported on Tuesday.
The special tunnel, manufactured by a Russian company based in the town of Penza, has been installed at his official Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow where he receives visitors, it said.
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Demonstration footage of the tunnel, published by RIA, showed masked people passing through it being sprayed with disinfectant from the ceiling and from the side.
В резиденции Путина для защиты от коронавируса установили специальный туннель. Он предназначен для дезинфекцииhttps://t.co/jjwWbuZ2EX pic.twitter.com/h62KWARvsr — РИА Новости (@rianru) June 16, 2020
The Russian news agency described the disinfectant as a fine cloud of liquid that covered people’s clothes and any exposed upper body flesh.
Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said in April that anyone meeting Putin in person was tested for the novel virus. A month later, Peskov said he had himself been infected.
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Russia has recorded over 500,000 infections, the third-highest number of cases in the world after Brazil and the United States, something it attributes to a massive testing program.
Russia has registered 7,284 deaths so far - fewer than numerous other countries. Critics are dubious about the accuracy of its mortality figures.


huffpost--2020-06-17--JJ Johnson: Black Cooks Aren't 'Looking For Charity'

James Beard Award-winning chef Joseph “ JJ ” Johnson helms FieldTrip , a community-based eatery in New York City ’ s Harlem neighborhood that “ celebrates culture through the shared experience of rice.
” He has experienced police brutality firsthand and , as part of the James Beard Impact Programs Advisory Committee and the Food Bank For New York City , Johnson strives to take concrete steps to end hunger .
Here , as part of our Voices in Food series , he talks to Anna Rahmanan about the changes he wishes to see in the food industry as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just in kitchens , but across media platforms as well — and his advice for up-and-coming chefs trying to break into the business .
There was a protest that came down Malcolm X Boulevard ― I think it was a great moment .
Everybody in the restaurant that was waiting for their orders went outside and , at that moment , we all stopped and went outside and cheered on the protesters .
The greatest thing that I saw was when the cops were starting to come down in their white gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harlem — the people that have lived there all their lives — came out and started to cheer on the protesters to let police officers know that this is a silent protest .
Nothing ’ s going to go down here in our community , because in this corridor there is too much history and we know what you ’ ve done to us in the past .
There is a lot unfolding in the food industry right now .
Black people have been cooking in restaurants their whole lives , before there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels , before that they were cooking for white people as slaves .
No white person wanted to cook .
Then it became glamorous and people started cooking .
As a chef , we know our white male chefs , but their sous chefs are Black or Latino .
And then , when those guys or girls want to leave , they don ’ t give them any support .
It ’ s a different lineage than it is for a white male chef , who would have access to [ the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just hope that changes .
I hope that people ’ s hiring practices really change .
I hope they actually hire the best person for the job .
If they did , we wouldn ’ t be having this conversation .
Imagine being the only Black cook in the kitchen .
The one Black cook is fighting with the other 50 or 100 Black cooks that are trying to get in there , but there ’ s only room for one .
And [ you ’ re made to feel that ] if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be thankful .
They ’ re creating that culture of , “ There is only one of you.
” So I really hope to see it change .
I hope to see the voices change and I hope to see it change in an authentic way , not a forced way or a charity way , like what we ’ re seeing .
Nobody is looking for charity .
We are just hoping for one day to say , “ All lives matter and everyone is equal , ” and that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Black lives are included .
Right now , Black lives aren ’ t included in “ all lives matter.
” On The Coronavirus ’ s Effect On The Food Industry It ’ s a different business now .
Restaurants are not the same : the glorified restaurants that you wanted to work in before the pandemic , the pandemic has reset that .
I have always believed that if you are a Black chef , whatever chef you admire and respect , that is who you should work for and learn from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their knowledge , then you should be going to the next chef until it ’ s time for you to go do what you want to do .
I think the biggest thing that we ’ re seeing in food right now is how our farming industry is just collapsing and that is because of the way that the country built it after slavery .
All of our Black slaves that were farming ; that land should have been theirs and we would have actually had the strongest farming industry in the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another thing that nobody talks about is how our government classified COVID-19 as a pandemic , and they knew that by doing so , no insurance company would cover any business because nobody has pandemic insurance .
It would have bankrupted the insurance world .
They could have classified it as a national disaster , a state of emergency , and we would have gotten our insurance money and nobody would have had to worry about the Paycheck Protection Program because that money would have already been there .
I wish they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then they , in turn , would have just thrown the money into the business and everybody would have been OK .
I think a lot of people also forget about equal opportunity employment .
That ’ s because Black people weren ’ t getting hired in certain spaces .
They put affirmative action into place so that Black kids could go to white Ivy League schools .
Ivy League schools are like kitchens : there are a couple of Black people in there , but not a lot .

ILLUSTRATION: YENWEI LIU/HUFFPOST; PHOTO: SEAN ZANNI VIA GETTY
James Beard Award-winning chef Joseph “JJ” Johnson helms FieldTrip, a community-based eatery in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood that “celebrates culture through the shared experience of rice.” He has experienced police brutality firsthand and, as part of the James Beard Impact Programs Advisory Committee and the Food Bank For New York City, Johnson strives to take concrete steps to end hunger. Here, as part of our Voices in Food series, he talks to Anna Rahmanan about the changes he wishes to see in the food industry as a whole, with regards to diversity — not just in kitchens, but across media platforms as well — and his advice for up-and-coming chefs trying to break into the business.
There was a protest that came down Malcolm X Boulevard ― I think it was a great moment. Everybody in the restaurant that was waiting for their orders went outside and, at that moment, we all stopped and went outside and cheered on the protesters. The greatest thing that I saw was when the cops were starting to come down in their white gear with the batons and the hood of Harlem — the people that have lived there all their lives — came out and started to cheer on the protesters to let police officers know that this is a silent protest. Nothing’s going to go down here in our community, because in this corridor there is too much history and we know what you’ve done to us in the past.
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There is a lot unfolding in the food industry right now. Black people have been cooking in restaurants their whole lives, before there was media. Black chefs were in hotels, before that they were cooking for white people as slaves. No white person wanted to cook. Then it became glamorous and people started cooking.
“Nobody is looking for charity. We are just hoping for one day to say, 'All lives matter and everyone is equal,' and that when we say 'all lives matter,' Black lives are included. Right now, Black lives aren’t included in 'all lives matter.'”
As a chef, we know our white male chefs, but their sous chefs are Black or Latino. And then, when those guys or girls want to leave, they don’t give them any support. It’s a different lineage than it is for a white male chef, who would have access to [the head chef] all the time. I just hope that changes. I hope that people’s hiring practices really change. I hope they actually hire the best person for the job. If they did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Rebecca Sapp via Getty Images Chef JJ Johnson is part of the James Beard Impact Programs Advisory Committee and the Food Bank For New York City.
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Imagine being the only Black cook in the kitchen. The one Black cook is fighting with the other 50 or 100 Black cooks that are trying to get in there, but there’s only room for one. And [you’re made to feel that] if you’re in there, you should be thankful. They’re creating that culture of, “There is only one of you.” So I really hope to see it change. I hope to see the voices change and I hope to see it change in an authentic way, not a forced way or a charity way, like what we’re seeing. Nobody is looking for charity. We are just hoping for one day to say, “All lives matter and everyone is equal,” and that when we say “all lives matter,” Black lives are included. Right now, Black lives aren’t included in “all lives matter.”
On The Coronavirus’s Effect On The Food Industry
It’s a different business now. Restaurants are not the same: the glorified restaurants that you wanted to work in before the pandemic, the pandemic has reset that. I have always believed that if you are a Black chef, whatever chef you admire and respect, that is who you should work for and learn from. Once you’ve got all their knowledge, then you should be going to the next chef until it’s time for you to go do what you want to do.
I think the biggest thing that we’re seeing in food right now is how our farming industry is just collapsing and that is because of the way that the country built it after slavery. All of our Black slaves that were farming; that land should have been theirs and we would have actually had the strongest farming industry in the world because they know how to farm.
“Imagine being the only Black cook in the kitchen. The one Black cook is fighting with the other 50 or 100 Black cooks that are trying to get in there, but there’s only room for one. And [you're made to feel that] if you’re in there, you should be thankful.”
Another thing that nobody talks about is how our government classified COVID-19 as a pandemic, and they knew that by doing so, no insurance company would cover any business because nobody has pandemic insurance. It would have bankrupted the insurance world. They could have classified it as a national disaster, a state of emergency, and we would have gotten our insurance money and nobody would have had to worry about the Paycheck Protection Program because that money would have already been there. I wish they would have bailed out the insurance companies and then they, in turn, would have just thrown the money into the business and everybody would have been OK.
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huffpost--2020-03-29--Country Music Singer Joe Diffie Dies Of Coronavirus Complications At 61

Laura Farr/MediaPunch/IPx Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away from complications of the COVID-19 coronavirus on March 29 .
Diffie had recently celebrated a career milestone of more than 25 years as a member of the historic Grand Ole Opry .
NEW YORK ( AP ) — Country singer Joe Diffie , who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “ Home ” and “ Pickup Man , ” has died after testing positive for COVID-19 .
He was 61 .
Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public with such a diagnosis .
Diffie ’ s publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday in Nashville , Tennessee , due to complications from the virus .
Diffie , a native of Tulsa , Oklahoma , was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years .
His hits included “ Honky Tonk Attitude , ” “ Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox ( If I Die ) , ” “ Bigger Than the Beatles ” and “ If the Devil Danced ( In Empty Pockets ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attitude ” and “ Third Rock From the Sun ” went platinum .
Eighteen of Diffie ’ s singles landed in the top 10 , with five going No .
1 .
In his 2013 single “ 1994 , ” Jason Aldean name-checked the ’ 90s country mainstay .
Diffie is survived by his wife , Tara Terpening Diffie , and five children from his five marriages .

Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away from complications of the COVID-19 coronavirus on March 29. Diffie had recently celebrated a career milestone of more than 25 years as a member of the historic Grand Ole Opry. Laura Farr/MediaPunch/IPx
NEW YORK (AP) — Country singer Joe Diffie, who had a string of hits in the 1990s with chart-topping ballads and honky-tonk singles like “Home” and “Pickup Man,” has died after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 61.
Diffie on Friday announced he had contracted the coronavirus, becoming the first country star to go public with such a diagnosis. Diffie’s publicist Scott Adkins said the singer died Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, due to complications from the virus.
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Diffie, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 25 years. His hits included “Honky Tonk Attitude,” “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die),” “Bigger Than the Beatles” and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”
His mid-90s albums “Honkey Tonk Attitude” and “Third Rock From the Sun” went platinum. Eighteen of Diffie’s singles landed in the top 10, with five going No. 1. In his 2013 single “1994,” Jason Aldean name-checked the ’90s country mainstay.


huffpost--2020-03-29--Trump Says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Must Pay For Their Own U.S. Security

Before anyone asks , President Donald Trump said he has no plans to foot the security bill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should they move permanently to the U.S. Trump made that much clear in a tweet he fired off Sunday that acknowledged unconfirmed reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved from Canada to Los Angeles , as Markle ’ s post-Royal film work takes off .
Trump expressed great admiration for Queen Elizabeth and the United Kingdom in his tweet but insisted that if her grandson indeed stays in the U.S. , “ They must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom .
It was reported that Harry and Meghan , who left the Kingdom , would reside permanently in Canada .
Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however , the U.S. will not pay for their security protection .
They must pay !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) March 29 , 2020 A spokesperson for the Sussexes , reached by The Daily Mail , said the couple had no plans to ask the U.S. for security assistance and assured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made.
” Since the couple announced that they were relinquishing their royal family roles , the question of how they would personally pay for their security has been a popular subject of discussion , however .
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9 at Westminster Abbey .
When they first moved to Canada , they were recognized as Internationally Protected Persons , meaning the government would provide them with security assistance “ on an as-needed basis , ” Canada ’ s Public Safety Minister Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time .
But because the couple ’ s royal status ends on March 31 , the Canadian government said it would no longer be paying for it .
Perhaps the bigger question is if the couple indeed plans to stay in California .
The reports , which have not been substantiated by the couple or royal family , closely follow news that Markle , whose mother lives in Los Angeles , will be narrating a movie for Disney .
Their reported move also came just as the U.S. and Canada closed their borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .

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Before anyone asks, President Donald Trump said he has no plans to foot the security bill for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should they move permanently to the U.S.
Trump made that much clear in a tweet he fired off Sunday that acknowledged unconfirmed reports that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have moved from Canada to Los Angeles, as Markle’s post-Royal film work takes off.
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Trump expressed great admiration for Queen Elizabeth and the United Kingdom in his tweet but insisted that if her grandson indeed stays in the U.S., “They must pay!”
I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
It wasn’t immediately clear why Trump made such a public announcement.
A spokesperson for the Sussexes, reached by The Daily Mail, said the couple had no plans to ask the U.S. for security assistance and assured that “privately funded security arrangements have been made.”
Since the couple announced that they were relinquishing their royal family roles, the question of how they would personally pay for their security has been a popular subject of discussion, however.
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9 at Westminster Abbey. zz/KGC-03/STAR MAX/IPx
When they first moved to Canada, they were recognized as Internationally Protected Persons, meaning the government would provide them with security assistance “on an as-needed basis,” Canada’s Public Safety Minister Bill Blair’s office said at the time. But because the couple’s royal status ends on March 31, the Canadian government said it would no longer be paying for it.


huffpost--2020-03-29--Mariah Carey Celebrates Her 50th Birthday, Insists She's 'Eternally 12'

Confused ?
Well , the pop icon simply doesn ’ t do birthdays , you see .
Carey prefers to instead ring in anniversaries of her 12th birthday each year — because what is aging when you can still out-whistle-tone the competition and break records without breaking a sweat .
The multi-platinum , Grammy-winning superstar turned the big 5-0 on Friday and celebrated with her twins , Moroccan and Monroe , with a low-key bash at home , where she ’ s currently in isolation during the coronavirus outbreak .
“ Spent 3.27 at home with my family and virtually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world .
Thank you for all the love # eternally12 , ” Carey wrote on Instagram .
In the photos , Carey rocks a low-cut sheer black dress , as she prepares to blow out 12 candles on a chocolate cake , while her children , who turn 9 next month , excitedly watch on .
On her actual birthday anniversary , the singer shared a make-up free selfie from the recording booth , teasing her fans about new music and encouraging them to practice social distancing in the caption .
Throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her stance on getting older each year quite clear .
“ I don ’ t count years but I definitely rebuke them … I have anniversaries , not birthdays , because I celebrate life , darling , ” she said in a 2014 interview with Out magazine , reiterating at the time that she stays “ eternally 12.
” “ As a kid I literally made this pact , ” she told the magazine .
“ There had been some sort of argument with my mom and the man she was dating at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a part of it — I was around 8 or 9 years old , and I said , ‘ I ’ m never going to forget how it feels to be a kid , and you can ’ t be seen or heard.
’ It ’ s as though your opinion doesn ’ t mean anything , or your feelings are not real.
” So instead , she annually celebrates the anniversary of her 12th birthday , with this year marking the 38th year .
But just because Carey has a birthday complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Britney Spears , Reese Witherspoon and Barbara Streisand , didn ’ t wish her well on the big day .
“ Happy Birthday @ MariahCarey !
!
!
!
!
You are one of the main reasons I started singing ... .
your Butterfly album never gets old even after 20+ years ….. it ’ s simply a classic and I will be listening to it today as I work out in the gym !
!
!
!
!
” Spears wrote .
“ Have a wonderful birthday !
!
!
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

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In human years, Mariah Carey just turned 50, but in Mariah Carey years she’s only 12.
Confused? Well, the pop icon simply doesn’t do birthdays, you see. Carey prefers to instead ring in anniversaries of her 12th birthday each year — because what is aging when you can still out-whistle-tone the competition and break records without breaking a sweat.
The multi-platinum, Grammy-winning superstar turned the big 5-0 on Friday and celebrated with her twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with a low-key bash at home, where she’s currently in isolation during the coronavirus outbreak.
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“Spent 3.27 at home with my family and virtually with fans and friends from all over the world. Thank you for all the love #eternally12,” Carey wrote on Instagram.
In the photos, Carey rocks a low-cut sheer black dress, as she prepares to blow out 12 candles on a chocolate cake, while her children, who turn 9 next month, excitedly watch on.
On her actual birthday anniversary, the singer shared a make-up free selfie from the recording booth, teasing her fans about new music and encouraging them to practice social distancing in the caption.
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“Starting 327 with a new song 🎙💖 #stayhome,” Carey wrote.
Throughout her decades-long career, Carey has made her stance on getting older each year quite clear.
“I don’t count years but I definitely rebuke them … I have anniversaries, not birthdays, because I celebrate life, darling,” she said in a 2014 interview with Out magazine, reiterating at the time that she stays “eternally 12.”
Despite the obvious pressure for female celebrities to stay young, Carey’s hesitancy around birthdays stems from an early childhood experience.
“As a kid I literally made this pact,” she told the magazine. “There had been some sort of argument with my mom and the man she was dating at the time, and somehow I became a part of it — I was around 8 or 9 years old, and I said, ‘I’m never going to forget how it feels to be a kid, and you can’t be seen or heard.’ It’s as though your opinion doesn’t mean anything, or your feelings are not real.”
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So instead, she annually celebrates the anniversary of her 12th birthday, with this year marking the 38th year.
But just because Carey has a birthday complex doesn’t mean her famous friends, including Britney Spears, Reese Witherspoon and Barbara Streisand, didn’t wish her well on the big day.
“Happy Birthday @MariahCarey !!!!! You are one of the main reasons I started singing .... your Butterfly album never gets old even after 20+ years ….. it’s simply a classic and I will be listening to it today as I work out in the gym !!!!!” Spears wrote. “Have a wonderful birthday!!!!!! God bless.”
“Happy Birthday, you amazing woman,” Witherspoon commented on Carey’s post. “Happy big b’day @MariahCarey! It was nice seeing you at my last concert in New York. Hope you’re well - stay inside!” Streisand wrote in a tweet. Carey couldn’t help but retweet Streisand’s shout out, adding, “OMG thank you for making my life suddenly seem better.”


huffpost--2020-03-29--CBS News Veteran Journalist Maria Mercader Dies From Coronavirus

CBS News veteran journalist Maria Mercader , who for decades helped the network deliver breaking news around the world , died from the coronavirus on Sunday at age 54 .
Mercader had been on medical leave for an unrelated issue since late February and died from COVID-19 in a New York hospital .
According to CBS , she had cancer and related illnesses for over 20 years “ and was an inspiration each time she returned to work after a setback threatened to end her life.
” “ Even more than her talents as a journalist , we will miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , CBS News president and senior executive producer , said in a statement .
“ Maria was part of all of our lives .
Even when she was hospitalized ― and she knew something was going on at CBS , she would call with counsel , encouragement , and would say ‘ you can do this.
’ I called Maria a ‘ warrior , ’ she was .
Maria was a gift we cherished.
” It is with profound sadness that I share with you the loss of a dear member of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who embodied all of a journalist ’ s vital traits , foremost the fearlessness she showed battling cancer and now Covid19 .
She was a warrior .
Love Z pic.twitter.com/jlR6txkDvX — Susan Zirinsky ( @ szirinsky ) March 29 , 2020 Mercader started at CBS News in 1987 in the network ’ s Page Program .
She then helped produce several high-profile stories while working on the foreign and national desks , including Princess Diana ’ s death and the 9/11 terrorist attacks .
In 2004 , Mercader won a Business Emmy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on computer spam .
Her most recent role was director of talent strategy , helping lead the network ’ s efforts in pushing workplace diversity for the past four years .
Mercader was also active in coordinating CBS News ’ participation in the Asian American Journalists Association , the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and the National Association of Black Journalists .
“ The Maria we are privileged to call family and friend knew better than most the power of relationships , loyalty , faith , kindness , perseverance and a smile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ darkness of the moment , ” Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews , EVP of strategic professional development at CBS News , said in a statement .
“ Her notable professional contributions are part of the CBS Archives , but it is her magnificent human spirit that touched so many of us , that will stay with us forever .
”

CBS News veteran journalist Maria Mercader, who for decades helped the network deliver breaking news around the world, died from the coronavirus on Sunday at age 54.
Mercader had been on medical leave for an unrelated issue since late February and died from COVID-19 in a New York hospital. According to CBS, she had cancer and related illnesses for over 20 years “and was an inspiration each time she returned to work after a setback threatened to end her life.”
“Even more than her talents as a journalist, we will miss her indomitable spirit,” Susan Zirinsky, CBS News president and senior executive producer, said in a statement. “Maria was part of all of our lives. Even when she was hospitalized ― and she knew something was going on at CBS, she would call with counsel, encouragement, and would say ‘you can do this.’ I called Maria a ‘warrior,’ she was. Maria was a gift we cherished.”
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It is with profound sadness that I share with you the loss of a dear member of our CBS News family. Maria Mercader, who embodied all of a journalist’s vital traits, foremost the fearlessness she showed battling cancer and now Covid19. She was a warrior. Love Z pic.twitter.com/jlR6txkDvX — Susan Zirinsky (@szirinsky) March 29, 2020
Mercader started at CBS News in 1987 in the network’s Page Program. She then helped produce several high-profile stories while working on the foreign and national desks, including Princess Diana’s death and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In 2004, Mercader won a Business Emmy for her “CBS Sunday Morning” report on computer spam.
Her most recent role was director of talent strategy, helping lead the network’s efforts in pushing workplace diversity for the past four years. Mercader was also active in coordinating CBS News’ participation in the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and the National Association of Black Journalists.
“The Maria we are privileged to call family and friend knew better than most the power of relationships, loyalty, faith, kindness, perseverance and a smile, even when a smile defied the darkness of the moment,” Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, EVP of strategic professional development at CBS News, said in a statement. “Her notable professional contributions are part of the CBS Archives, but it is her magnificent human spirit that touched so many of us, that will stay with us forever.”
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huffpost--2020-03-27--Coronavirus Is A Defining Test And American Government Is Failing It

We are in the early stages of a calamity none of us can really imagine .
The social , economic and political crises ignited by the coronavirus will not merely wreak havoc on American life , they will change its character .
What we expect from ourselves , our institutions and each other will be different on the other side of this .
And the jobs crisis will very likely get worse .
General Motors , an icon of American industry , has suspended production at all of its North American factories indefinitely .
Even in the worst months of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 % for people with college degrees .
This time around , many people who have never experienced what it is like to live at the margin are going to learn .
At the top , of course , is President Donald Trump , who publicly downplayed the severity of the disease for months , and who punted on establishing a functional testing or screening system until the virus had already reached the United States .
Other countries that got their act together on testing are not in free fall as we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , can not be pinned on the president alone .
Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) refused to close beaches during spring break , converting his state into a “ hot zone.
” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) , who has quickly emerged as a national hero among Democrats for his candor and clarity during daily press conferences , is also busy trying to slash his state ’ s Medicaid program , restricting health care access for the poor .
Three weeks ago he urged New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― not the hype , ” tweeting that “ we have far more people in the hospital from the flu than from # Covid19.
” A few days later , New York Mayor Bill de Blasio ( D ) reiterated the message on MSNBC : “ If you ’ re under 50 and you ’ re healthy , which is most New Yorkers , there ’ s very little threat here.
” Congress , at long last , appears to recognize that dramatic action is necessary .
On Wednesday , the Senate passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillion in economic support ― $ 2.2 trillion in direct appropriations , plus another $ 4 trillion from the Federal Reserve .
But though lawmakers are clapping each other on the back for a bipartisan bill ― it passed 96 to 0 ― the price tag vastly overstates the significance of the Senate ’ s action .
This bill is much too modest to meet the disaster currently unfolding .
It can not prevent the economic fallout from throwing us into a depression that will make the Great Recession look like a warm-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bill are laced with outrages .
A $ 349 billion fund for small business allows firms with up to 499 employees per location to qualify for money ― meaning many big chains will seek aid from the same program intended for your local used bookstore .
And while Congress barred Trump ’ s businesses from accessing the vast majority of funding in the bill , they did not bar Trump Inc. from accessing the small business fund .
For many families behind in rent or trying to buy food with one less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcome .
But they will only buy a month or two .
After that , then what ?
Others not in immediate need , however , will simply save much of this money , since people are rightly afraid and want to keep cash on hand for emergencies .
As the economist John Maynard Keynes demonstrated in the 1930s , what is prudent for individual households can be catastrophic for society at large .
If nobody is spending money , then nobody is receiving it , either , and if nobody is receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And yet the Senate bill barely addresses the crash at all .
Cuomo is rightly furious with Congress for failing to appropriate serious funding to states to help them combat the contagion .
A $ 100 billion pot of money set aside for hospitals is nice , but it won ’ t do much to help them access supplies they already can ’ t get their hands on .
Instead , hospitals will compete against each other to bid up the price of scarce materials , wasting much of this fund vying with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are better ways to do this .
Sens .
Chris Murphy ( D-Conn. ) and Bryan Schatz ( D-Hawaii ) have introduced legislation to nationalize the essential medical supply chain so that doctors could get what they need without getting gouged for it , but that idea didn ’ t make the Senate coronavirus bill .
Neither did efforts to order companies to start actually manufacturing the stuff doctors need .
New York is already short of ventilators .
Somebody has to make them .
Congress punted .
Democrats have come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interests of the wealthy over public health .
But this is not a Republican bill .
Not a single Senator in either party voted against it .
And not even progressive stalwarts stood up to make a public case for a different approach .
Despite all the talk in the 2020 primary about “ revolution ” and “ blood and teeth , ” when the most severe crisis for working people in a generation arrived , Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
decided instead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lions of the left acted like mewling kittens .
The pervasiveness of this leadership vacuum suggests we are witnessing not only a failure of will , but a breakdown in our political system .
In a fascinating interview with Rolling Stone this week , Patrick Wyman ― a historian of late Roman and medieval crises ― argues that the great calamities of the past did not wreak havoc on their own .
Instead , they exposed existing social fragilities , shattering what had slowly weakened in the lead-up to the disaster .
Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proximate causes of our coming misery .
A society that has devoted itself to escalating inequality is becoming ungovernable .
The Senate bill represents the model of government that former Vice President Joe Biden wooed many Democratic voters with during the 2020 primary .
It ’ s bipartisan , filled with compromise .
Everyone seems to have had an ” epiphany ” about working together and getting things done .

We are in the early stages of a calamity none of us can really imagine. The social, economic and political crises ignited by the coronavirus will not merely wreak havoc on American life, they will change its character. What we expect from ourselves, our institutions and each other will be different on the other side of this.
The sheer scope of the disaster is only beginning to emerge. On Thursday, the federal government reported that an astonishing 3.3 million people had applied for unemployment benefits the prior week. This is more than four times greater than the previous record, set in October 1982, and nearly five times greater than the worst week recorded during the Great Recession.
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And the jobs crisis will very likely get worse. General Motors, an icon of American industry, has suspended production at all of its North American factories indefinitely. Even in the worst months of the last recession, unemployment never exceeded 5% for people with college degrees. This time around, many people who have never experienced what it is like to live at the margin are going to learn.
Unemployment is just one way the breakdown is expressing itself. All over the world, supply chains are coming apart for everything from simple plastic toys to advanced machinery. Companies that have spent the past three decades chasing lower labor costs around the globe have left themselves acutely vulnerable to an unexpected shock.
In the United States, we can neither manufacture nor effectively distribute critical medical supplies. The health care infrastructure of our greatest city is already strained to the breaking point, with makeshift mobile morgues parked outside hospitals that have begun to churn out bodies by the dozens every day. We are approaching a national shortage of doctors and nurses.
This crisis was preventable. It remains treatable. The response in nations including South Korea and Singapore have proven that effective government measures are possible. But here in the United States, our institutions and leaders continue to fail us.
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At the top, of course, is President Donald Trump, who publicly downplayed the severity of the disease for months, and who punted on establishing a functional testing or screening system until the virus had already reached the United States. Other countries that got their act together on testing are not in free fall as we are.
Blame for the inept response, however, cannot be pinned on the president alone. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) refused to close beaches during spring break, converting his state into a “hot zone.” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), who has quickly emerged as a national hero among Democrats for his candor and clarity during daily press conferences, is also busy trying to slash his state’s Medicaid program, restricting health care access for the poor. Three weeks ago he urged New Yorkers to “listen to the facts ― not the hype,” tweeting that “we have far more people in the hospital from the flu than from #Covid19.” A few days later, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) reiterated the message on MSNBC: “If you’re under 50 and you’re healthy, which is most New Yorkers, there’s very little threat here.”
Congress, at long last, appears to recognize that dramatic action is necessary. On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bill authorizing more than $6 trillion in economic support ― $2.2 trillion in direct appropriations, plus another $4 trillion from the Federal Reserve. But though lawmakers are clapping each other on the back for a bipartisan bill ― it passed 96 to 0 ― the price tag vastly overstates the significance of the Senate’s action. This bill is much too modest to meet the disaster currently unfolding. It cannot prevent the economic fallout from throwing us into a depression that will make the Great Recession look like a warm-up act.
Most of the money is set aside to bail out corporate shareholders, with Congress placing almost no restrictions on how the money can be spent, or what rules companies who accept it must abide by. This is money for rich people, not the pandemic.
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Even seemingly promising provisions of the bill are laced with outrages. A $349 billion fund for small business allows firms with up to 499 employees per location to qualify for money ― meaning many big chains will seek aid from the same program intended for your local used bookstore. And while Congress barred Trump’s businesses from accessing the vast majority of funding in the bill, they did not bar Trump Inc. from accessing the small business fund.
The bill provides an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits and a $1,200 check for individuals who earned less than $75,000 last year. But that amount is simply too small and too short-lived to make much of a difference in the face of what’s coming.
For many families behind in rent or trying to buy food with one less paycheck, these payments will be desperately welcome. But they will only buy a month or two. After that, then what? Others not in immediate need, however, will simply save much of this money, since people are rightly afraid and want to keep cash on hand for emergencies. As the economist John Maynard Keynes demonstrated in the 1930s, what is prudent for individual households can be catastrophic for society at large. If nobody is spending money, then nobody is receiving it, either, and if nobody is receiving it, then layoffs are inevitable.
Keynes believed the government had to serve as a spender of last resort in a downturn. Cutting checks for households is nice, but the real way to support the economy is straightforward direct spending by the government. And right now, there is no more obvious need for government spending than the coronavirus crisis.
And yet the Senate bill barely addresses the crash at all. Cuomo is rightly furious with Congress for failing to appropriate serious funding to states to help them combat the contagion. A $100 billion pot of money set aside for hospitals is nice, but it won’t do much to help them access supplies they already can’t get their hands on. Instead, hospitals will compete against each other to bid up the price of scarce materials, wasting much of this fund vying with each other instead of fighting the virus.
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There are better ways to do this. Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Bryan Schatz (D-Hawaii) have introduced legislation to nationalize the essential medical supply chain so that doctors could get what they need without getting gouged for it, but that idea didn’t make the Senate coronavirus bill. Neither did efforts to order companies to start actually manufacturing the stuff doctors need. New York is already short of ventilators. Somebody has to make them. Congress punted.
Democrats have come to expect Republicans to prioritize the financial interests of the wealthy over public health. But this is not a Republican bill. Not a single Senator in either party voted against it. And not even progressive stalwarts stood up to make a public case for a different approach. Despite all the talk in the 2020 primary about “revolution” and “blood and teeth,” when the most severe crisis for working people in a generation arrived, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) decided instead to quietly follow their leaders. The fiercest lions of the left acted like mewling kittens.
The pervasiveness of this leadership vacuum suggests we are witnessing not only a failure of will, but a breakdown in our political system. In a fascinating interview with Rolling Stone this week, Patrick Wyman ― a historian of late Roman and medieval crises ― argues that the great calamities of the past did not wreak havoc on their own. Instead, they exposed existing social fragilities, shattering what had slowly weakened in the lead-up to the disaster.
Donald Trump and this virus are only the proximate causes of our coming misery. A society that has devoted itself to escalating inequality is becoming ungovernable. The Senate bill represents the model of government that former Vice President Joe Biden wooed many Democratic voters with during the 2020 primary. It’s bipartisan, filled with compromise. Everyone seems to have had an ”epiphany” about working together and getting things done.
But what it has done is grotesque. Our government is so committed to serving the wealthy few that it cannot respond effectively even to a once-in-a-century crisis for the unmonied millions.
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huffpost--2020-03-29--North Korea Test Fires Missiles Amid Worries About Coronavirus Outbreak

SEOUL , South Korea ( AP ) — North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea , South Korea and Japan said , continuing a streak of weapons launches that suggests leader Kim Jong Un is trying to strengthen domestic support amid worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country .
South Korea ’ s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the projectiles flying from the North Korean eastern coastal city of Wonsan into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Sunday morning .
The projectiles flew about 143 miles at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement said .
The military described the launches as “ very inappropriate ” at a time when the world is battling the coronavirus outbreak .
It urged North Korea to stop such military action .
Japan ’ s Defense Ministry said that presumed ballistic missiles were believed to have splashed into the sea outside of Japan ’ s exclusive economic zone .
In recent weeks , North Korea has fired a slew of missiles and artillery shells into the sea in an apparent effort to upgrade its military capability amid deadlocked nuclear talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were all short range and capable of striking South Korea , but didn ’ t pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland .
Some experts say the latest North Korean launches were likely designed to shore up unity and show that leader Kim Jong Un is in control in the face of U.S.-led sanctions and the global pandemic .
Kim “ wants to show he rules in a normal way amid the coronavirus ( pandemic ) and his latest weapons tests were aimed at rallying unity internally , not launching a threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an analyst at Seoul ’ s Institute for Far Eastern Studies .
“ North Korea doesn ’ t have time now to spare for staging ( external threats ) .
” North Korea has been engaged in an intense campaign to prevent the spread of the virus that has infected more than 660,000 worldwide .
It has called its campaign a matter of “ national existence ” but has steadfastly denied there has been a single virus outbreak on its soil .
Many foreign experts question that claim , warning an epidemic in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its chronic lack of medical supplies and poor health care infrastructure .
A week ago , North Korea said President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to Kim , seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the outbreak .
A North Korean state media dispatch didn ’ t say whether Trump mentioned any of the latest weapons tests by the North .
Kim Jong Un has vowed to boost internal strength to withstand what he calls “ gangsters-like ” U.S.-led sanctions that are stifling his country ’ s economy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American president turned down his calls for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a limited denuclearization step during their second summit in Vietnam in early 2009 .
North Korea hasn ’ t carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests since it began talks with the United States in 2018 .
A resumption of a major weapons test by North Korea risks completely disrupting the negotiations .

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Sunday fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the sea, South Korea and Japan said, continuing a streak of weapons launches that suggests leader Kim Jong Un is trying to strengthen domestic support amid worries about a possible coronavirus outbreak in the country.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the projectiles flying from the North Korean eastern coastal city of Wonsan into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Sunday morning. The projectiles flew about 143 miles at a maximum altitude of 19 miles, the statement said.
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The military described the launches as “very inappropriate” at a time when the world is battling the coronavirus outbreak. It urged North Korea to stop such military action.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said that presumed ballistic missiles were believed to have splashed into the sea outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
“Recent repeated firings of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a serious problem to the entire international community including Japan,” a ministry statement said.
In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a slew of missiles and artillery shells into the sea in an apparent effort to upgrade its military capability amid deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States. Those weapons were all short range and capable of striking South Korea, but didn’t pose a direct threat to the U.S. homeland.
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Some experts say the latest North Korean launches were likely designed to shore up unity and show that leader Kim Jong Un is in control in the face of U.S.-led sanctions and the global pandemic.
People pass by a TV screen showing a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 29, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kim “wants to show he rules in a normal way amid the coronavirus (pandemic) and his latest weapons tests were aimed at rallying unity internally, not launching a threat externally,” said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst at Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies. “North Korea doesn’t have time now to spare for staging (external threats).”
North Korea has been engaged in an intense campaign to prevent the spread of the virus that has infected more than 660,000 worldwide.
It has called its campaign a matter of “national existence” but has steadfastly denied there has been a single virus outbreak on its soil. Many foreign experts question that claim, warning an epidemic in North Korea could be dire because of its chronic lack of medical supplies and poor health care infrastructure.
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A week ago, North Korea said President Donald Trump sent a personal letter to Kim, seeking to maintain good relations and offering cooperation in fighting the outbreak. A North Korean state media dispatch didn’t say whether Trump mentioned any of the latest weapons tests by the North.
Kim Jong Un has vowed to boost internal strength to withstand what he calls “gangsters-like” U.S.-led sanctions that are stifling his country’s economy. His nuclear diplomacy with Trump faltered after the American president turned down his calls for broad sanctions relief in exchange for a limited denuclearization step during their second summit in Vietnam in early 2009.
North Korea hasn’t carried out nuclear or long-range missile tests since it began talks with the United States in 2018. A resumption of a major weapons test by North Korea risks completely disrupting the negotiations.
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huffpost--2020-04-04--A Push For Medical Workers To Get The Same Benefits As Other First Responders

“ You feel like you ’ re taking your chances and you ’ re risking things and working underneath conditions where you ’ re just very fearful , ” she told HuffPost over the phone , asking that we not use her last name because she doesn ’ t want her hospital to know she ’ s spoken to the press .
“ You ’ re doing what you signed up to do , but no one signed up for COVID-19.
” A growing number of nurses and other medical personnel have contracted COVID-19 , the respiratory disease caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday evening , New Yorkers received an emergency alert seeking health care workers “ to support healthcare facilities in need , ” presumably to supplant other workers .
But those frontline workers and their families are not eligible for any special compensation beyond regular life insurance or other death benefits .
“ Now you go into work and it ’ s like your life doesn ’ t matter , ” Caitlin said .
“ You want to save people ’ s lives and you want to take care of people the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re also fearful for your own life and the people that you have at home.
” New York Police Department officers and firefighters , on the other hand , can receive full line-of-duty death benefits that provide their surviving spouse with a lifetime of their pension and health benefits as well as their children until they turn 26 .
However , emergency medical technicians ( EMTs ) are also first responders , but they do not receive line-of-duty benefits .
In a city once racked by crime and traumatized by the mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , terrorist attacks , the disparity elucidates how the city has long prioritized threats and whom it considers the heroes .
Yet as New York became the epicenter of a deadly global pandemic , those priorities look increasingly out of sync with the new reality .
“ Someone got sent home the other day because they had a temperature and someone else left work because they started feeling unwell , ” Caitlin said .
“ I think the reality sets in when you start to see everyone else get sick , that potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s now an effort to expand those the protections that cops and firefighters count on when rushing into harm ’ s way .
But the push , led by New York City Councilman Joe Borelli , a Staten Island Republican with deep ties to the police force , is largely focused on cementing benefits for first responders and building on the 9/11 aid packages .
And it could likely leave out the besieged health care workers who are already dying .
“ As such we are asking you to collaborate with all applicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or essential employees of any city agency , stage agency , or public authority , who perished from COVID-19 , is presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of their work , and are , as a result , entitled to a full contractual line-of-duty death benefit and payments , ” Borelli wrote .
First responder union leaders are also rallying behind the effort , The City reported .
So far , five NYPD employees have succumbed to the virus , 1,400 have tested positive for it and 17 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was also reported that 282 members of the New York Fire Department , including firefighters and EMT workers , tested positive for the virus .
There ’ s no doubt that the virus has been ravaging the city ’ s first responders .
She also said that hazard pay isn ’ t an option for nurses like her , who are members of the United Teachers Federation ( which also covers some nurses ) .
The only thing she could hope for if she becomes infected is workers ’ compensation , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if a COVID-19 infection claim would be covered .
“ I don ’ t really have the power to enforce a collectively bargained agreement with Verizon workers and electricians , ” Borelli told HuffPost over the phone .
“ If we could , we wouldn ’ t have a Spectrum strike going on right now .
But we do know that we have pension boards that are controlled by politics and by the state and city purses — and that ’ s where we can influence.
” ( HuffPost is part of Verizon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to pension boards to determine benefits provided to employees , and because most — not including first responder pension boards — haven ’ t previously bargained for something akin to line-of-duty benefits , it ’ s unclear what recourse these employees have .
Medical workers may be more prone to catching an infectious disease , but NYPD officers are frequently thrust into dangerous situations whether they ’ re responding to a shooting or breaking up a fight .
This is why most essential workers , such as nurses , have not bargained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for such legislation .
After 9/11 , first responders fought to have deaths related to the disaster presumed to be in the line of duty and thus fully covered .
That state legislation was passed in 2005 and amended a year later to include those who later died of diseases caused by the disaster .
Still , many 9/11 line-of-duty claims have been contested .
“ The presumptive 9/11 disability legislation took years [ to pass ] after the events of 9/11 , ” said Patrick Cullen , president of the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers do not have access to line-of-duty benefits , he told HuffPost , even though they ’ re continuing to report to duty at courthouses , increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19 .
“ So this situation really calls for an immediate beginning to the conversation about starting to protect the people that have protected us and continue to do so .
”

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The minute Caitlin, 30, an intensive care unit nurse in Brooklyn, wakes up, anxiety sets in.
“You feel like you’re taking your chances and you’re risking things and working underneath conditions where you’re just very fearful,” she told HuffPost over the phone, asking that we not use her last name because she doesn’t want her hospital to know she’s spoken to the press. “You’re doing what you signed up to do, but no one signed up for COVID-19.”
A growing number of nurses and other medical personnel have contracted COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Some have died. On Friday evening, New Yorkers received an emergency alert seeking health care workers “to support healthcare facilities in need,” presumably to supplant other workers. But those frontline workers and their families are not eligible for any special compensation beyond regular life insurance or other death benefits.
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“Now you go into work and it’s like your life doesn’t matter,” Caitlin said. “You want to save people’s lives and you want to take care of people the best that you can, but you’re also fearful for your own life and the people that you have at home.”
New York Police Department officers and firefighters, on the other hand, can receive full line-of-duty death benefits that provide their surviving spouse with a lifetime of their pension and health benefits as well as their children until they turn 26. However, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are also first responders, but they do not receive line-of-duty benefits.
In a city once racked by crime and traumatized by the mass deaths of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the disparity elucidates how the city has long prioritized threats and whom it considers the heroes. Yet as New York became the epicenter of a deadly global pandemic, those priorities look increasingly out of sync with the new reality.
Health care workers thrust onto the frontlines defending public safety face some of the greatest risks, from increased exposure and a lack of personal protective equipment.
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The exact number of medical workers who have contracted and succumbed to the virus is unclear. The city’s public health system has declined to share any data on sick workers.
“Someone got sent home the other day because they had a temperature and someone else left work because they started feeling unwell,” Caitlin said. “I think the reality sets in when you start to see everyone else get sick, that potentially it could be you.”
There’s now an effort to expand those the protections that cops and firefighters count on when rushing into harm’s way. But the push, led by New York City Councilman Joe Borelli, a Staten Island Republican with deep ties to the police force, is largely focused on cementing benefits for first responders and building on the 9/11 aid packages. And it could likely leave out the besieged health care workers who are already dying.
Other Workers Left Out
On Monday, Borelli sent both New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio a letter, signed by 19 other city and state politicians, requesting that all first responders and essential public workers receive full line-of-duty benefits if they die of COVID-19.
“As such we are asking you to collaborate with all applicable pension boards to ensure that first responders or essential employees of any city agency, stage agency, or public authority, who perished from COVID-19, is presumed to have contracted the virus in the course of their work, and are, as a result, entitled to a full contractual line-of-duty death benefit and payments,” Borelli wrote.
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First responder union leaders are also rallying behind the effort, The City reported. So far, five NYPD employees have succumbed to the virus, 1,400 have tested positive for it and 17% of the force has called out sick. It was also reported that 282 members of the New York Fire Department, including firefighters and EMT workers, tested positive for the virus. There’s no doubt that the virus has been ravaging the city’s first responders.
There aren’t any analogous benefits for health care workers. As a member of the New York Nurses Association, the state’s largest nurses union, the most Caitlin can hope for is hazard pay, which provides workers with additional pay for working under hazardous conditions. But thus far, most medical workers aren’t receiving hazard pay.
Members of the medical staff listen Wednesday as Montefiore Medical Center nurses call for N95 masks and other critical protective gear to handle coronavirus cases in New York. BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images
“It shouldn’t come down to money, and I don’t really think money is going to make me feel better about the situation,” she said.
Many intensive care unit nurses are so inundated with their hectic day-to-day that pursuing any kind of additional pay or benefits isn’t on their minds.
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“Right now, everybody is just trying to survive,” said a 41-year-old Brooklyn intensive care unit nurse who asked to remain anonymous due to hospitals cracking down on their staff speaking to the press. “At the end of the day, we don’t even have the energy to fight for our rights.”
She also said that hazard pay isn’t an option for nurses like her, who are members of the United Teachers Federation (which also covers some nurses). The only thing she could hope for if she becomes infected is workers’ compensation, she said, but it’s unclear if a COVID-19 infection claim would be covered.
The new initiative to extend line-of-duty benefits to first responders and other medical staff also leaves out some unionized essential workers, such as transit, sanitation and electrical workers, who do not have similar benefits included in their contracts.
“I don’t really have the power to enforce a collectively bargained agreement with Verizon workers and electricians,” Borelli told HuffPost over the phone. “If we could, we wouldn’t have a Spectrum strike going on right now. But we do know that we have pension boards that are controlled by politics and by the state and city purses — and that’s where we can influence.” (HuffPost is part of Verizon Media Group.)
It’s up to pension boards to determine benefits provided to employees, and because most — not including first responder pension boards — haven’t previously bargained for something akin to line-of-duty benefits, it’s unclear what recourse these employees have. Medical workers may be more prone to catching an infectious disease, but NYPD officers are frequently thrust into dangerous situations whether they’re responding to a shooting or breaking up a fight. This is why most essential workers, such as nurses, have not bargained for line-of-duty benefits.
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The councilman explained that his primary goal is to get the city and state to put pressure on union pension boards to ensure that COVID-19 deaths are presumed to be deaths that occurred in the line of duty.
Borelli said he wants New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to push this through by persuading the various people they’ve appointed to union boards to support the initiative.
Neither Cuomo’s nor de Blasio’s office responded to a request for comment.
Expanding The Definition Of Line-Of-Duty Deaths
There is precedent for such legislation. After 9/11, first responders fought to have deaths related to the disaster presumed to be in the line of duty and thus fully covered. That state legislation was passed in 2005 and amended a year later to include those who later died of diseases caused by the disaster. Still, many 9/11 line-of-duty claims have been contested.
Moving state legislation forward this year may prove especially difficult, however, as New York faces an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion budget gap.
First responders’ union leaders are hoping that by being proactive now, they can prevent the mistakes that were made after 9/11.
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“The presumptive 9/11 disability legislation took years [to pass] after the events of 9/11,” said Patrick Cullen, president of the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association. Those officers do not have access to line-of-duty benefits, he told HuffPost, even though they’re continuing to report to duty at courthouses, increasing their risk of contracting COVID-19. “So this situation really calls for an immediate beginning to the conversation about starting to protect the people that have protected us and continue to do so.”
There are also concerns that first responder pension boards will dismiss COVID-19 line-of-duty claims. Nicholas Cifuni, disability counsel to some of the largest police unions in New York City, is worried that such a claim may be rejected if a pension board is unable to verify when and how the person became infected with the virus.
But Eugene O’Donnell, a retired NYPD officer and lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is less concerned about that.
“The irony here is that the police and fire departments have the power and the more key capacity to get attention, but there’s a whole bunch of public employees that are totally exposed,” O’Donnell said. “And they don’t necessarily have the clout like they do. Health care workers, like nurses, don’t have any kind of emergency clout — but they need it.”
“Generally speaking, the police and firefighters are very well looked after,” O’Donnell added. “And I would strongly urge them to get behind any kind of legislation that not only enhances but really underscores their benefits.”


huffpost--2020-05-22--One Way To Protect Workers In A Pandemic: Make It Harder To Fire Them

Martin , a front-end manager at a Giant in Silver Spring , Maryland , explained how the coronavirus has rendered customers he ’ s always loved a health threat .
Many shoppers ignore the policies meant to protect workers like Martin and even get angry over the requirement that they wear face coverings in the store .
He said a supervisor even told him not to wear a mask at one point , saying it made him look like “ a terrorist.
” The pandemic has created an unprecedented workplace safety crisis , making millions of jobs vastly more dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Martin can share their stories with the public and with regulators like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration .
If they can ’ t speak up about hazards , more workers will die needlessly from a virus that ’ s already claimed roughly 100,000 lives in America as of this writing .
But what ’ s true in normal times is especially true now : Workers who have weak job protections are fearful to speak up , lest they get punished or even fired .
The vast majority of Americans work “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can get rid of them for almost any reason , as long as it isn ’ t discriminatory .
Of course , those are the same reasons many employers and conservative politicians despise unions : They make it harder to get rid of workers , even though most collective bargaining agreements still allow layoffs for legitimate business reasons .
But it ’ s hard to deny that there ’ s a public benefit to workers having the agency to speak out in a pandemic .
After all , Martin wants to protect not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his customers , too .
HuffPost ’ s own coronavirus coverage bears out the dichotomy .
We recently spoke to a dozen Starbucks employees about their safety concerns as the nonunion chain reopens most of its stores .
Only one was comfortable using her full name ― and that was because she had just quit .
As HuffPost has reported , doctors and nurses say they have been fired or retaliated against for speaking out during the pandemic .
In many cases , a union has fought for their reinstatement .
The union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most vocal groups since the start of the crisis , with members readily critiquing the response of hospitals and the government .
If not for the United Food and Commercial Workers ’ density in the meatpacking industry , the public would probably know a good deal less about the ongoing disaster affecting its vulnerable and largely immigrant workforce .
One of the union ’ s locals has been so outspoken about hazards that the food processing giant JBS hit it with a cease-and-desist letter citing negative media attention .
Williams said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of members who spoke out in the press during the pandemic ― one at Safeway and another at Kroger .
According to Williams , the workers were not explicitly punished but were warned about speaking to the media without permission .
The union holds the position that speaking to the press is protected concerted activity under labor law .
He said the situation put the difference between union and non-union workplaces in “ stark relief ” : “ These folks might have been summarily fired immediately , or faced discipline of some kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Right now they ’ re just going through the grievance process , and they have the full backing of the union.
” Most workers are supposed to be legally protected when they raise alarms about work hazards .
The Occupational Safety and Health Act includes a “ right to refuse dangerous work ” provision for when whistleblowers face serious harm or death .
But it can be a high bar for fired workers to clear , with several factors that need to be met , and relies on an agency that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like some other federal labor laws , you probably wouldn ’ t want to lean on this one unless you had no other choice .
Moshe Marvit , a labor lawyer and fellow at the Century Foundation think tank , said the law ’ s shortcomings are so severe it would be irresponsible to make workers think it will protect them .
He says a much better solution would be to expand union-style just-cause protections to more workers .
That way , employers couldn ’ t so easily find a pretext for firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or spoke out in the press .
“ As jobs become more scarce and people get fired for speaking up , I think there is going to be much more of a public outcry over it , ” he said .
“ And you never know what kinds of coalitions and demands people will start making .
”

Donte Martin authored an illuminating as-told-to essay for The Washington Post last week about working in a grocery store during the pandemic.
Martin, a front-end manager at a Giant in Silver Spring, Maryland, explained how the coronavirus has rendered customers he’s always loved a health threat. Many shoppers ignore the policies meant to protect workers like Martin and even get angry over the requirement that they wear face coverings in the store. He said a supervisor even told him not to wear a mask at one point, saying it made him look like “a terrorist.”
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Martin’s piece didn’t mention that he is a member of a union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400. But if not for his union representation, he almost certainly would not have shared his experience with the world.
“If I didn’t have a union, I probably wouldn’t have spoken up,” Martin told HuffPost.
The pandemic has created an unprecedented workplace safety crisis, making millions of jobs vastly more dangerous. It’s critical that workers like Martin can share their stories with the public and with regulators like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. If they can’t speak up about hazards, more workers will die needlessly from a virus that’s already claimed roughly 100,000 lives in America as of this writing.
But what’s true in normal times is especially true now: Workers who have weak job protections are fearful to speak up, lest they get punished or even fired. The vast majority of Americans work “at will” ― meaning their employers can get rid of them for almost any reason, as long as it isn’t discriminatory.
And while workers have a nominal right to refuse dangerous work, the law is weak and puts the burden of proof on employees.
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“Workers need to be able to speak up without threat of losing their jobs.” - Terri Gerstein, Harvard Law School
Martin has much stronger job protections. As a union member, he is entitled to “just cause,” meaning Giant would need a good reason to sack him. Unless there was gross misconduct, employers typically have to administer progressive discipline before firing a union worker, documenting a pattern of poor performance or attendance.
And if Martin were punished for what he said in The Washington Post, his union’s lawyers would almost certainly file a grievance on his behalf, fighting to have him reinstated and any discipline in his record expunged.
Of course, those are the same reasons many employers and conservative politicians despise unions: They make it harder to get rid of workers, even though most collective bargaining agreements still allow layoffs for legitimate business reasons. But it’s hard to deny that there’s a public benefit to workers having the agency to speak out in a pandemic. After all, Martin wants to protect not just himself and his colleagues, but his customers, too.
Terri Gerstein, a labor lawyer and fellow at the Harvard Law School Labor and Worklife Program, said safeguards like just cause are more important than ever.
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“Protection against unlawful firings is absolutely critical right now,” Gerstein said. “Workers need to be able to speak up without threat of losing their jobs. That’s important for worker safety and for public health.”
Any journalist who spends time interviewing different workers spots a general trend: Union members are often comfortable putting their names on the record criticizing an employer, while nonunion workers frequently request anonymity. That’s not true in every case, of course, but the trend generally holds true, pandemic or not.
HuffPost’s own coronavirus coverage bears out the dichotomy. We recently spoke to a dozen Starbucks employees about their safety concerns as the nonunion chain reopens most of its stores. Only one was comfortable using her full name ― and that was because she had just quit.
Some Amazon workers have spoken out about working conditions during the pandemic, even though the company is nonunion. Here, a protestor holds a sign at the Amazon Spheres in Seattle on May 1. JASON REDMOND via Getty Images
Meanwhile, two stories we ran on Wednesday included several workers discussing job conditions on the record. In one, unionized corrections officers spoke about how overworked and endangered they feel during the pandemic. In the other, unionized employees of Kroger blasted the grocer for ending their modest hazard pay.
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For workers willing to speak up, a union affords not only contractual protections but legal and organizational firepower.
As HuffPost has reported, doctors and nurses say they have been fired or retaliated against for speaking out during the pandemic. In many cases, a union has fought for their reinstatement. The union National Nurses United has been one of the most vocal groups since the start of the crisis, with members readily critiquing the response of hospitals and the government.
If not for the United Food and Commercial Workers’ density in the meatpacking industry, the public would probably know a good deal less about the ongoing disaster affecting its vulnerable and largely immigrant workforce. One of the union’s locals has been so outspoken about hazards that the food processing giant JBS hit it with a cease-and-desist letter citing negative media attention.
Jonathan Williams, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 400, said the union was prepared for Martin’s essay in The Washington Post. Union staff prepped Martin’s shop steward in case there was any blowback from Giant management.
Williams said the union has filed two grievances on behalf of members who spoke out in the press during the pandemic ― one at Safeway and another at Kroger. According to Williams, the workers were not explicitly punished but were warned about speaking to the media without permission. The union holds the position that speaking to the press is protected concerted activity under labor law.
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He said the situation put the difference between union and non-union workplaces in “stark relief”: “These folks might have been summarily fired immediately, or faced discipline of some kind, and none of that is happening. Right now they’re just going through the grievance process, and they have the full backing of the union.”
“You can’t have a safe workplace unless you have free speech.” - Moshe Marvit, Century Foundation
Plenty of workers without union protection have also spoken out with their names on the record about the hazards they face and their employers’ lax safety standards. But even many of those workers have labor organizations backing them up.
The most vocal fast-food workers tend to be affiliated with the Fight for $15, which is not a union but is funded by the Service Employees International Union. Athena, a coalition of dozens of grassroots groups, is organizing many outspoken Amazon warehouse workers. And nonunion worker centers have helped publicize dangerous working conditions in other industries.
Most workers are supposed to be legally protected when they raise alarms about work hazards. The Occupational Safety and Health Act includes a “right to refuse dangerous work” provision for when whistleblowers face serious harm or death. But it can be a high bar for fired workers to clear, with several factors that need to be met, and relies on an agency that is underfunded and outgunned by big employers. Like some other federal labor laws, you probably wouldn’t want to lean on this one unless you had no other choice.
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Moshe Marvit, a labor lawyer and fellow at the Century Foundation think tank, said the law’s shortcomings are so severe it would be irresponsible to make workers think it will protect them. He says a much better solution would be to expand union-style just-cause protections to more workers. That way, employers couldn’t so easily find a pretext for firing someone who filed a complaint with OSHA or spoke out in the press.
“You can’t have a safe workplace unless you have free speech,” Marvit said.
The idea of giving nonunion workers just-cause protections has caught on in some progressive circles. Erstwhile Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) placed it at the center of his labor platform. A proposal in New York City would grant the protections specifically to fast-food workers, who say they’ve been subject to arbitrary firings.
Even if the concept hasn’t caught much mainstream traction yet, Marvit thinks the pandemic could forever change the way people view job security, especially as unemployment numbers continue to climb and workers cling desperately to their paychecks.