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The Corruption And Heresy Of The Maronite Church

armageddon The Corruption And Heresy Of The Maronite Church

[unable to retrieve full-text content] source https://shoebat.com/2021/07/28/the-corruption-and-heresy-of-the-maronite-church/

China Names "Wolf Warrior" Diplomat As New Ambassador In Washington

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="China Names 'Wolf Warrior' Diplomat As New Ambassador In Washington" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-07/ca5tl4e_qin-gang-650_625x300_29_July_21.jpeg" title="China Names 'Wolf Warrior' Diplomat As New Ambassador In Washington" /></div>
Qin Gang defended China in the face of increasing criticism on the world stage.
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Washington, United States:
One of China's most prominent "Wolf Warrior" diplomats was on Wednesday announced as his nation's new ambassador to the United States.
The hawkish Qin Gang, a close confidante of President Xi Jinping, has arrived in Washington at a time of high tensions between China and the United States, and is expected to deliver a combative message.
He gained prominence during his two stints as foreign ministry spokesman, issuing barbed responses to foreign reporters and pioneering an aggressive style of defending China in the press and on social media dubbed "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy.
"As two big countries different in history, culture, social system and development stage, China and the United States are entering a new round of mutual exploration, understanding and adaptation, trying to find a way to get along with each other," Qin told reporters on his arrival in the American capital.
The new envoy vowed to bring US-China ties "back on track," according to a transcript released by the Chinese embassy.
The relationship has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, with the two powers clashing on a wide range of issues including trade, human rights, cybersecurity and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.
And while President Joe Biden has lowered the tone since taking office, he has largely maintained his predecessor Donald Trump's hawkish stance on China, describing it as the pre-eminent challenge to the United States.
Qin, who accompanied Xi on numerous overseas trips as the foreign ministry's protocol chief, is among the diplomats who have vigorously defended China in the face of increasing criticism on the world stage.
The 55-year-old is considered more hawkish than his predecessor in Washington, Cui Tiankai. He is a fluent English speaker, having spent several years at the Chinese embassy in London.
Beijing-based independent analyst Hua Po described Qin as "one of the backbone members" of the Wolf Warrior movement.
Qin in February defended that style of diplomacy as a necessary response to "groundless slander" and "crazy attacks against China".
Chinese foreign ministry spokespeople and officials abroad have adopted a strident and indignant tone to loudly defend the Communist-led country and even promote conspiracy theories or openly insult foreign counterparts.
But President Xi recently urged top political leaders to help cultivate a "reliable, admirable and respectable" international image to improve China's soft power.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/qin-gang-china-names-wolf-warrior-diplomat-as-new-ambassador-in-washington-2497386">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/qin-gang-china-names-wolf-warrior-diplomat-as-new-ambassador-in-washington-2497386</a>

news world China Names "Wolf Warrior" Diplomat As New Ambassador In Washington

Qin Gang defended China in the face of increasing criticism on the world stage. Washington, United States: One of China's most prom...

Bill In US Congress To Bar Foreign Students From Staying After Studies

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Bill In US Congress To Bar Foreign Students From Staying After Studies" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2019-01/85ab4h4_classroom-generic-pixabay_625x300_06_January_19.jpg" title="Bill In US Congress To Bar Foreign Students From Staying After Studies" /></div>
The Optional Practice Training is a guest worker programme. (Representational)
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Washington:
A group of US lawmakers has reintroduced legislation in the House of Representatives to eliminate a programme which allows foreign students to stay in the country for work after the completion of their studies under certain conditions.
Congressman Paul A Gosar along with Congressman Mo Brooks, Andy Biggs, and Matt Gaetz introduced the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act, a legislation that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act on the Optional Practice Training (OPT).
"What country creates a programme, but not a law, that rewards its businesses to fire citizen workers and replace them with foreign labour to pay the foreign labour less? The United States. The programme is called OPT and it reflects a complete abandonment of our own workers," Paul A Gosar said.
He first introduced the Fairness for High-Skilled Americans Act in the 116th Congress and has twice signed amicus briefs in support of American workers in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to eliminate the OPT.
The OPT is a guest worker programme administered by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Paul A Gosar alleges that the OPT circumvents the H-1B cap by allowing over 100,000 aliens admitted as foreign students to work for up to three years in the US after graduation.
These foreign workers are exempt from payroll taxes, making them at least 10-15 per cent cheaper than a comparable American worker, he argued.
"Landing that first job out of college will only become more difficult for young Americans as our universities formalise the role they play in crowding out opportunities once reserved for American graduates. For this reason, the OPT must be eliminated," stated Kevin Lynn, Founder of US Techworkers.
The OPT openly undercuts American workers, particularly higher-skilled workers and recent college graduates, by giving employers an actual tax incentive to hire compliant, inexpensive foreign labour under the guise of "student training," said Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations, NumbersUSA. 
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bill-in-us-congress-to-bar-foreign-students-from-staying-after-studies-2497376">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bill-in-us-congress-to-bar-foreign-students-from-staying-after-studies-2497376</a>

news world Bill In US Congress To Bar Foreign Students From Staying After Studies

The Optional Practice Training is a guest worker programme. (Representational) Washington: A group of US lawmakers has reintroduced leg...

Sydney Records Highest Daily Rise In Covid Cases Since Pandemic

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Sydney Records Highest Daily Rise In Covid Cases Since Pandemic" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-07/ocsbap4o_sydney-650_625x300_29_July_21.jpeg?im=FaceCrop,algorithm=dnn,width=650,height=400" title="Sydney Records Highest Daily Rise In Covid Cases Since Pandemic" /></div>
A lone bird walks past the quiet Circular Quay train station during a lockdown.
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Sydney:
The COVID-19 Delta outbreak in Australia's biggest city Sydney grew by 239 cases on Thursday, the highest daily rise since the pandemic started, forcing authorities to increase police powers to shut down businesses not complying with lockdown measures.
More than two million residents in eight Sydney hotspots will now be forced to wear masks outdoors and must stay within 5 km (3 miles) of their homes.
Sydney is in its fifth week of an extended nine-week lockdown, which is scheduled to end August 28, but the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant continues to grow.
"It only takes a handful of people, or a small percentage, to do the wrong thing, to cause a setback for all of us. We can't afford setbacks," state Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.
Most new locally acquired cases were detected in Sydney, with at least 66 having spent time in the community while infectious. Authorities have said Sydney's lockdown will not ease until cases in the community are near zero.
New South Wales reported a total of 177 cases a day earlier.
Sydney, home to a fifth of Australia's 25 million population, is grappling with its worst outbreak for this year forcing authorities on Wednesday to extend lockdown restrictions for another month.
More than 2,800 cases have been detected so far, with 182 people hospitalised. Fifty-four are in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation. Two new deaths were recorded, taking the total number of deaths in the latest outbreak to 13.
With only about 17% of people above 16 years fully vaccinated in New South Wales state, infections have steadily risen despite Greater Sydney being in lockdown since June 26.
Greater Sydney's extended lockdown of around 6 million people is expected to take a heavy toll on Australia's A$2 trillion ($1.50 trillion) economy with many businesses forced to close, raising prospects of the country recording its second recession in as many years.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he expected the national economy to shrink in the September quarter but hoped Australia could avoid a recession if New South Wales suppress the outbreak soon.
"With respect to the December quarter, that does depend to a large extent how successful New South Wales, our largest state economy, is in getting on top of this virus," Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sydney-records-highest-daily-rise-in-covid-cases-since-pandemic-2497373">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sydney-records-highest-daily-rise-in-covid-cases-since-pandemic-2497373</a>

news world Sydney Records Highest Daily Rise In Covid Cases Since Pandemic

A lone bird walks past the quiet Circular Quay train station during a lockdown. Sydney: The COVID-19 Delta outbreak in Australia's ...

Vaccinations Alone Will Not End Sydney Lockdown: PM Scott Morrison

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Vaccinations Alone Will Not End Sydney Lockdown: PM Scott Morrison" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-07/rudkf4sg_sydney-extends-virus-lockdown-650_625x300_07_July_21.jpeg" title="Vaccinations Alone Will Not End Sydney Lockdown: PM Scott Morrison" /></div>
A total of 177 cases were detected, most of them in state capital Sydney on Wednesday (File)
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Sydney:
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said vaccinations alone would not bring an end to a COVID-19 lockdown in Sydney as residents of the country's largest city face another month under tough curbs to stamp out an outbreak of the Delta variant.
"I mean, it can certainly help ... the low rates (of vaccination) we have had there need to lift and that will certainly help the efforts with the lockdown but on its own it won't stop the lockdown," Morrison told Nine News on Thursday.
Morrison hoped the extended lockdown and tougher curbs on movement enforced in the worst affected regions of Sydney could contain the "incredibly virulent" Delta variant.
With only about 17% of people above 16 years fully vaccinated in New South Wales state, which Sydney is the capital of, infections have steadily risen despite Greater Sydney being in lockdown since June 26.
More than 2,500 cases have been detected so far in the state's worst outbreak of this year, with 165 people hospitalised. Fifty-six are in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation.
"What we have seen are stubborn numbers ... we are not going to pretend that we have every answer because we don't," State Deputy Premier John Barilaro told Nine News.
A total of 177 cases were detected, most of them in state capital Sydney on Wednesday - the biggest daily rise since March 2020.
Greater Sydney's extended lockdown of around 6 million people is expected to take a heavy toll on Australia's A$2 trillion ($1.50 trillion) economy with many businesses forced to close, raising prospects of the country recording its second recession in as many years.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he expected the national economy to shrink in the September quarter but hoped Australia could avoid a recession if New South Wales suppress the outbreak soon.
"With respect to the December quarter, that does depend to a large extent how successful New South Wales, our largest state economy, is in getting on top of this virus," Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/vaccinations-alone-will-not-end-sydneys-covid-19-lockdown-scott-morrison-2497342">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/vaccinations-alone-will-not-end-sydneys-covid-19-lockdown-scott-morrison-2497342</a>

news world Vaccinations Alone Will Not End Sydney Lockdown: PM Scott Morrison

A total of 177 cases were detected, most of them in state capital Sydney on Wednesday (File) Sydney: Australian Prime Minister Scott Mo...

Sponge Structures May Be Earth's Oldest Animal Life

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<div class="ins_instory_dv_cont"><img alt="Sponge Structures May Be Earth's Oldest Animal Life" src="https://c.ndtvimg.com/2021-07/tvffvhoo_fossilised-structures-in-canada-650_625x300_29_July_21.jpg" title="Sponge Structures May Be Earth's Oldest Animal Life" /></div>
Sponges that lived roughly 890 million years ago were found in mountainous terrain
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Paris, France:
Fossilised structures discovered in northwestern Canada may be from sponges that lived in oceans as long as 890 million years ago, making them the earliest known animal life on Earth, research showed on Wednesday.
The findings also challenge the long-held idea that animals did not arise on Earth until after a major infusion of oxygen into the atmosphere and oceans.
Sponges are simple animals with an ancient history. Genetic evidence gathered from modern sponges has shown they likely emerged between 1 billion and 500 million years ago.
But until now there has been no evidence of fossilised sponge bodies from this period, known as the early Neoproterozoic era.
Elizabeth Turner, a professor at Canada's Laurentian University's Harquail School of Earth Sciences, looked for evidence of sponges in 890-million-year-old reefs that were constructed by a type of bacteria that deposited calcium carbonate.
She found networks of tiny tube-shaped structures containing crystals of the mineral calcite -- suggesting they were contemporaneous to the reef -- that closely resemble the fibrous skeleton found within some modern sponges.
If her structures Turner identified end up being verified as sponge samples, they will outdate the current oldest known sponge fossils by 350 million years.
Although the implications of her possible discovery, published in the journal Nature, Turner said she was not getting carried away.
"The earliest animals to emerge evolutionarily were probably sponge-like. This too is not surprising, given that sponges are the most basic animal in the tree of animal life," she told AFP.
"The nature of the material is familiar from the bodies of much younger body fossils of sponges," Turner said.
She said the possible sponges were around one centimetre across, and "would have been tiny and inconspicuous, living in shadowy nooks and crannies below the upper surfaces of the reefs"
If the structures do turn out to be confirmed as sponge specimens, that means they would have lived roughly 90 million years before Earth's oxygen levels reached levels thought to be necessary to support animal life.
Turner said that if confirmed to be sponges, she believed that they lived before the Neoproterozoic oxygenation event, during which oxygen levels increased, subsequently leading to the emergence of animal life.
"If I am correct in my interpretation of the material, the earliest animals appeared before that event and may have been tolerant of comparatively low oxygen levels, relative to modern conditions," she said.
"It is possible that the earliest animals were tolerant of low oxygen -- some modern sponges are -- but that more complex animal types that require a higher oxygen level did not appear until after the Neoproterozoic oxygenation event," Turner added.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
 
 
source <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sponge-structures-may-be-earths-oldest-animal-life-2497337">https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/sponge-structures-may-be-earths-oldest-animal-life-2497337</a>

news world Sponge Structures May Be Earth's Oldest Animal Life

Sponges that lived roughly 890 million years ago were found in mountainous terrain Paris, France: Fossilised structures discovered in n...