On the morning after the general election, Boris Johnson told the country that parliament must change. No legislature can be expected to be preserved in aspic. There is a need for our systems of governance to be made more pluralistic and representative. However, Mr Johnson has seized an opportunity in a crisis to concentrate power rather than diffuse it. The end of online voting and the quelling of parliamentary debate will reduce the Commons to a rubber stamp for whatever Mr Johnson wants.

What is being done away with for the next month is effectively the pivotal role assigned to parliament: the scrutiny that improves the quality of government, which, given the economic and public health emergencies facing the country, has never been needed more. Since early May, a hybrid parliament has been operating. MPs debated proposed laws and voted in virtual divisions. This was considered an imperfect but makeshift arrangement necessary to observe the social distancing guidelines. These rules, instituted to save lives, have not changed.

Yet the government has decided to end remote voting and online interventions in debates. Ministers want only a few dozen MPs in the parliamentary chamber to ask questions, and those who wish to vote must queue up to cast their vote in person at the dispatch box. MPs who have been advised to stay home and shield can no longer take part in debates or votes and will have to rely on their whips to find opponents to pair with. It is wrong that parliament should proceed without provision for remote participation when many elected representatives cannot attend in person.

The system was given a dry run on Tuesday and was hardly an advert for parliamentary oversight. Instead of a digital voting system in which all MPs could be involved, we have a ludicrous queueing system in which only two-thirds of parliamentarians can participate. Online voting took 15 minutes, its replacement three times as long. That the new system is slower, more dangerous and less inclusive undermines ministers argument that the previous one was not fast enough to deal with the volume of legislation.

One suspects that there will now be fewer votes scheduled, which is a step back for democracy. Ministers evidently see no loss in the absent MPs unable to participate in debates on legislation. The message is very clear: we are dealing with a cabinet that is responsive at a stretch to the ruling party, but not to the Commons. Parliamentary democracy is fragile and can easily be disrupted if a powerful group of its members does not accept its rules.

A government that controls parliament can suppress information or inquiries which are to its disadvantage, sometimes by refusing to supply information. Team Johnson appears to be both scornful and fearful of scrutiny silencing scientists who might depart from the script during the damaging Dominic Cummings affair and delaying the publication of the last intelligence and security committee report on Russia. More pertinently, the coronavirus crisis requires an effective parliamentary audit of the far-reaching powers placed in the hands of the executive.

It was a former Tory lord chancellor who warned that human nature being what it is, every human being and every human institution will tend to abuse its legitimate powers unless these are controlled by checks and balances, in which the holders of office are not merely encouraged but compelled to take account of interests and views which differ from their own. A system was in place that allowed MPs to vote, speak and represent their constituents. In rescinding that, the government has left many voters unrepresented. Mr Johnson betrays a view of the lower chamber as a bystander in governance. A vigilant, inquiring and effective Commons is essential to prevent the misuse of formidable powers in a pandemic. It is extremely bad news for the country that Mr Johnson does not want such a parliament.

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The Guardian view on a Covid-19 parliament: unable to do its job - The Guardian

Creditors are likely to try to keep Thai Airways International (THAI) afloat to pay off debts, raising hope the airline's rehabilitation plan will pass the court's scrutiny, according to a source in the Finance Ministry.

The creditors are not out to seize the airline's business. If rehab plan fails and the airline cannot make an income, it will head for default and the creditors knew they would be in trouble too if that were to be the case, the source said.

The best way forward is to keep THAI flying and that would be a "win-win" formula for both the creditors and the airline, the source added.

Before the cabinet decided to let THAI file for bankruptcy and seek debt rehab, the Finance Ministry had other plans, he siad.

The ministry wanted to offload part of the government's stake in the airline to Dhanarak Asset Development Company Limited, which is supervised by the Treasury Department. The intention was to maintain THAI's status as a state enterprise for which the Finance Ministry would be legally permitted to guarantee a bailout loan.

The plan had also called for a replacement of the airline president and revamp of the company, including restructuring ticket sales that relied heavily on agents.

The source said the plan met with public resistance as it required pouring taxpayers' money in to prop up the cash-strapped airline. In the end, the cabinet chose to subject THAI to rehab via the Central Bankruptcy Court which accepted the airline's petition for examination last week.

The source said the rehab plan prepared by THAI stands a good chance of sailing through creditor vetting and winning their approval. Many major creditors based in Thailand are state enterprises including PTT Plc which supplies petrol to the airline.

However, a hurdle ahead for the rehab executors has to do with the inevitable downsizing of an airline with more than 20,000 employees. It is reported that this retrenchment will affect one-third of the workforce, which is certain to run into internal opposition.

The airline's union, disbanded when THAI lost its state enterprise status, has already voiced its resistance to the airline's extension of salary cuts to the end of this month.

See more here:
Push to keep THAI in the sky - Bangkok Post

Good morning! This is our daily news roundupwith everything you need to know in one concise read. Sign up here to get this delivered to your inbox every morning.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the military unless states halt violent protests.Trump said Monday he would mobilize the military to end "lawlessness," blaming anarchists and Antifa for fomenting unrest during demonstrations against police violence.

Trump said if governors throughout the country do not deploy the National Guard in sufficient numbers to "dominate the streets,"thenthe U.S. military would step in to "quickly solve the problem for them."

Protests and clashes have erupted across the U.S. in reaction to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd died last week after being pinned to the ground by a police officer who put his knee on the handcuffed black man's neck until he stopped breathing. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third-degree murder, but protesters are demanding that three of his colleagues who were at the scene be prosecuted as well. All four officers have been fired.

Watch |Will calls for peace, crackdowns change U.S. protests?

Just prior to Trump making his comments in the White House Rose Garden, police and National Guard soldiers started forcing back hundreds of peaceful protesters who had gathered in Lafayette Park,across the street from the White House, so that the president could walk to a nearby church and pose for a photo while holding a Bible.

While most of the demonstrations in the U.S. have been peaceful, others have turned violent with looting and cars set on fire.The National Guard has been deployed in at least 15 states.

Gunfire was reported early today amidprotests in Las Vegas and St. Louis.One police officer was reported to have been shot in Las Vegas, while four officers were hit by gunfire in St. Louis.Read more on this story here.

(Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images)

Signs were prepared to facilitate physical distancing in Camden Market in London, England on Monday as outdoor markets reopened following an easing of the lockdown restrictions in the U.K. Some non-essential stores and car dealerships were also allowed to resume operating.

Four Chrtien-era cabinet ministers are among 58 former Canadian diplomats and politicians who added their names to a letter calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his government to show stronger resistance to a proposed Israeli annexation of a large part of the occupied West Bank.Among the signatories are former ambassadors to Israel who served under both Liberal and Conservative governments, as well as many other diplomats who represented Canada's interests in the Middle East.Read more about the letter here.

In a time of ultimate economic uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and the lockdown to fight it, this week's shuffle at the top of Canada's central bank will only add to the confusion.As CBC business columnist Don Pittis writes, that's not to say that the newly appointed governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, who takes over from Stephen Poloz on Wednesday, will do a bad job. But just as when Poloz replaced media darling Mark Carney, who set off to an even more glamorous and demanding job at the Bank of England only to be followed by a relatively stodgy and unknown replacement, changes of leadership style at the top matter.Read more about the change at Canada's central bank.

Approximately 700 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Toronto area were not flagged to public health officials because of a mix-up between two hospitals, CBC News has learned.The positive tests were completed as far back as April, but the 12 public health units involved were only notified about the oversight in the past few days. The bulk of the cases involve people living in Toronto, and nearby Peel Region and York Region. The oversight means thousands of contacts of the confirmed cases were not traced by public health workers, potentially contributing to wider spread of the coronavirus in recent weeks.Read more on this story here.

We're answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours toCOVID@cbc.caand we'll answer as many as we can.Masks can feel uncomfortable and difficult to wear. Sara M. wrote to say it's particularly hard for people like her who suffer from anxiety and lung disorders like asthma. So what should they do? Dr. Samir Gupta, a clinician-scientist at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, said while there's no evidence that masks trigger underlying lung conditions, some people will find it harder to breathe through a mask especially if they have chronic lung disease. "For these people, and those with anxiety, if they can't wear a mask, they can only physically distance but this would be a minority of people," Gupta said. Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious diseases physician at Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ont., agrees, and said that some people may feel claustrophobic when wearing a mask. For them, he suggested only wearing one when you need it.Read more from our Q&A here.

Now for some good news to start your Tuesday:The pandemic has put the kibosh on any plans the students of Minto High School in Minto, N.B., had of having a normal graduation, but that doesn't mean the community isn't marking their accomplishments. The 29 graduates from the school are being celebrated with banners displayed on utility poles along the town's main street. Each banner features a graduate's photo and name. Mary-Faith Mazerolle, whose son Owen is a part of the graduating class, is one of the people behind the villagewide celebration. With COVID-19 shutting down regular graduation plans, she said people wanted to show the grads they're thinking of them. "We wanted something to show them that their accomplishment is still recognized in the community and that we're very proud of them," she said.Read more about how the community is honouring its graduates.

Despite making up only 13 per cent of the population, black Americans represent about a quarter of all people killed by police. Today on Front Burner, we speak to civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson about the concrete steps he thinks could be taken to deal with the problem of race-based police violence.

1917:Fighter pilot Billy Bishop, a 23-year-old from Owen Sound, Ont., stages a solo attack on a German airfield during the First World War. His actions make him the first Canadian airman to win a Victoria Cross.

1953:Queen Elizabeth II is crowned in London's Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth was 27 when she assumed the throne 16 months earlier upon the death of her father, King George VI. She had married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, and at the time of her coronation they had two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Elizabeth's coronation was the first to be televised.

1983:A fire breaks out in a bathroom aboard an Air Canada jet, which is forced to make an emergency landing in Cincinnati. Twenty-three people die, including Canadian folk singer StanRogers. Eighteen people survive.

2002:Prime Minister Jean Chretien fires Finance Minister Paul Martin, saying they no longer had a viable working relationship. Martin is replaced with Deputy Prime Minister John Manley.

See the rest here:
Get informed on the top stories of the day in one quick scan - CBC.ca

By: Express News Service | Chandigarh | Published: May 31, 2020 2:13:58 am Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh

Rejecting allegations of withdrawal of free power to Punjabs farmers, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday said his government is ready to forego the portion of fiscal deficit enhancement offered by the Centre but would not compromise with the farmers interest at any cost.

Dismissing the Centres suggestion on replacement of free power to farmers with DBT as totally unacceptable and a direct attack on the federal structure of the nation, the Chief Minister said he will take up the issue with the Centre for trying to impose such an anti-farmer condition on the cash-strapped state in the guise of extending fiscal support amid the Covid pandemic.

Amarinders statement came a few days after his Cabinet cleared the proposal of Centre to enhance the borrowing limit if state forgoes free power to farmers in the state. The Opposition then took on the government and Amarinder announced on Friday that free power would continue.

Asserting that the free power facility for farmers would continue till his government is in power, Amarinder said his government will take loans to bridge the fiscal deficit, and the Government of India cannot dictate the terms of a sovereign loan being taken by a state government.

Amarinder also lashed out at Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal for trying to pin the blame for the Central governments misdemeanors on the state government, which had unwaveringly been providing free power to farmers since taking over in March 2017, despite the massive fiscal crunch it had inherited from the erstwhile Akali-BJP regime.

The Chief Minister asked Sukhbir to immediately quit the ruling NDA at the Centre, and demanded Union Minister and Akali leader Harsimrat Kaur Badals resignation from the Union Cabinet, pointing out that it was the Government of India that took the decision directing the states to withdraw the free power, and also failed to come to the rescue of the state, and any section of its people, in the wake of the unprecedented Covid crisis and lockdown.

Terming their allegations malicious and mischievous, and totally unsubstantiated, Amarinder hit out at the SAD leadership for not fighting for the rights of Punjab and its people, including farmers, at the Centre or in Parliament, and resorting, instead, to petty and shameless politicking even on such a grave issue of national concern.

If you have even an iota of shame, you should leave the NDA coalition, of which you are a part, immediately, and join my government in working for the people of the state, the Chief Minister said, criticising Sukhbir and Harsimrat over their pathetic attempts to mislead the people of Punjab with their patent double standards, blatant falsehoods and unfounded allegations.

Amarinder clarified that the state Cabinet had, in its last meeting, given an in-principle approval to undertaking certain reforms to become eligible to avail additional borrowing of 1.5% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) amid COVID-19, as mandated by the Government of India. While allowing an enhancement of fiscal deficit of states under FRBM Act from 3% to 5%, the Government of India had linked a portion of the same to certain administrative reforms.

It is for the BJP and its alliance partner SAD to explain why there is an attempt to force such a condition on Punjab, he said.

Earlier, during the day Panchayats and Rural Development Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa also came up to defend his government on the issue. Showing the Centres letter asking state to do away with subsidy, Bajwa asked Harsimrat to resign from Modis Cabinet or get the state an unconditional enhancement of borrowing limit.

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Punjab farmers will get free power till I am in power: CM - The Indian Express

An artist's impression of what the new Toll Bar Roundabout will look like has finally been revealed, as work is due to start next month.

North East Lincolnshire Council are due to carry out a major redevelopment of the controversial roundabout, which will see additional lanes added to it in an effort to improve traffic flow.

The work on the roundabout is due to begin in July and will last for five months.

The local authority is looking for contractors to do it.

The redevelopment of the Toll Bar Roundabout has been a highly debated issue in North East Lincolnshire for a number of years after plans were originally drawn up to remove it and replace it with traffic lights.

These plans were backed by the approval of a huge 400 home housing development on land beside the roundabout, which demanded the replacement of the traffic lights.

This decision sparked a long series of protests by local residents, who formed the Toll Bar Residents Action Group and had weekly demonstrations at the junction.

However this decision was reversed after the Conservative Party took control of the council in last year's local elections. This was one of their key campaign pledges at the time.

Cabinet member for transport and the environment, Councillor Stewart Swinburn, said once the contractor is appointed, further details will be known on how traffic will be managed during the works programme.

He said: We are acutely aware of the potential issues to residents and businesses while the works are undertaken.

To that end, we have asked potential contractors to review options on ways to reduce the impact of the works on the local community and businesses affected by the works.

If residents or businesses have any specific concerns, they are encouraged to get in touch with the delivery team ahead of the works beginning in July, we will write to all nearby residents and businesses directly in the coming weeks to discuss any access arrangements.

The image we have released illustrates the significant changes being made while retaining the roundabout. Hopefully, once completed, residents and businesses will feel the disruption was worthwhile.

The new housing development has committed to plans to build a 33 space drop off point for the nearby Toll Bar Academy.

Councillor Swinburn said: Although the parking facility is subject to the housing development progress, we are already looking at ways to increase this capacity and improve road safety in the area.

"If were able to provide a proper parking facility, this will help us implement additional parking restrictions on the busy link road between New and Old Waltham to make sure pedestrians are as safe as possible."

The council has said that it will be engaging with local stakeholders ahead of the start of the redevleopment.

Residents or businesses with a specific issue regarding the project should contact the delivery team by email at Tollbarjunction@nelincs.gov.uk or write to Toll Bar Junction Improvements Engagement Team, New Oxford House, George Street, Grimsby, DN31 1HB.

See the original post here:
How the new Toll Bar Roundabout will look after five months of work - Grimsby Live

The Panther Creek bridge on KY 81 will not reopen until the entire structure can be replaced, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. A temporary bridge could be installed in the coming months to the East side of the structure.

The bridge was damaged last week by an oversized vehicle that impacted every crossmember along the top portion of the structure. A final analysis of damage to the bridge indicates that it will not reopen to traffic.

We are working closely with the Secretarys office in Frankfort to secure the funds necessary to replace the existing structure, said Chief District Engineer Deneatra Henderson. We are considering a design-build style procurement to allow us to expedite the process. Typically, projects of this nature tend to move a little faster.

A timeline to replace the structure is unknown at this time. The timeline for a temporary bridge to be opened to traffic over Panther Creek is roughly 8-10 weeks.

Before arriving on-site to examine the damage to the bridge, I had already reached out to a contractor with a military-style temporary structure, Henderson said. We were able to receive permission from the adjoining property owners to remove trees on the East side of the bridge, in preparation for the installation of the temporary structure.

While the damage is very similar to what occurred in August of 2019, the heat-straightening technique used to repair the bridge cannot be used again, as the steel is already brittle from previous repairs.

That was demonstrated during the new impact, with the evidence of cracking along the bolt holes at some of the beams. Because of this, engineers in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Bridge Division have determined that the bridge cannot reopen, and repairs would not be cost effective when compared to the cost of replacement.

Traffic on KY 81 is being routed along a marked detour on KY 554 and U.S. 431. Motorists should use appropriate caution along the detour, and larger vehicles should not attempt to shorten their route by making the turns with Todd Bridge Road. There are variable message boards along the route to encourage motorists to stay on the marked detour.

The impact occurred May 18 but was not discovered until May 21. The Kentucky State Police are still investigating the crash. Troopers are asking anyone who has a home or business security camera on KY 56 and KY 81 to check May 18 between the hours of 1-3 pm for footage containing the vehicle in the photos below.

Anyone who has additional pictures and/or can establish the identity of the owner/operator of the pictured vehicle, please contact KSP at 270-826-3312.

Opened to traffic in 1934, the 246-foot structure with a 109-foot main span includes a 6-panel Pratt through truss design. The Panther Creek Bridge underwent an extensive painting and maintenance project in the fall of 2018. In August of 2019, it was damaged by a truck carrying a load of metal and closed to traffic. The bridge reopened two days prior to Thanksgiving 2019. Approximately 5,200 vehicles cross the bridge each day.

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Panther Creek bridge will not reopen; structure must be replaced - The Owensboro Times

Buzz is growing about Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenCOVID-19 workplace complaints surge; unions rip administration Gloves come off as Democrats fight for House seat in California Police killing in Minneapolis puts new scrutiny on Biden pick MOREs interest in joining former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenBiden campaign cancels fundraiser with Mueller prosecutor Twitter joins Democrats to boost mail-in voting here's why The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - George Floyd's death sparks protests, National Guard activation MORE atop the Democratic presidential ticket, but one of the biggest obstacles she faces is the possibility that her Senate seat could wind up getting filled by a Republican.

Warren (D-Mass.) is in regular contact with Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, and plans to hold a big online fundraiser for him on June 15. The high-profile progressive has also increased her outreach to Bidens longtime Senate allies, sending the message that shes eager to join Team Biden, according to Senate sources.

Picking Warren could give Biden a boost in the polls. A Morning ConsultPolitico survey released Wednesday found that 26 percent of registered voters said they would be more likely to vote for Biden if he chose Warren, putting her ahead of the other eight women he is said to be considering.

Her greatest impact, according to the survey, would be among voters under the age of 45, as well as black and Hispanic voters three blocs Democrats see as key to winning the White House and picking up Senate seats.

But picking Warrenwould likelycost Democrats one of those Senate seats, at least temporarily, if Biden were to defeat President TrumpDonald John TrumpMinneapolis erupts for third night, as protests spread, Trump vows retaliation Stocks open mixed ahead of Trump briefing on China The island that can save America MORE.

Warren represents a state with a Republican governor, Charlie Baker, who has the power to pick anyone he wants to fill her seat, should it become vacant, until a special election sometime in 2021.

Massachusetts law requires a special election to be held between 145 and 160 days after a Senate seat becomes vacant, a significant problem if Biden wins the White House and the Senate is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

If Baker were to appoint a Republican to replace Warren, Democrats would need a net pickup of four Senate seats instead of three and control of the White House to win back the Senate majority, where the GOP holds a 53-47 advantage.

Meanwhile, two other potential VP candidates Sens. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisMinneapolis erupts for third night, as protests spread, Trump vows retaliation The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - George Floyd's death sparks protests, National Guard activation Police killing in Minneapolis puts new scrutiny on Biden pick MORE (D-Calif.) and Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharPolice killing in Minneapolis puts new scrutiny on Biden pick Cortez Masto says she's not interested in being Biden VP Voting rights, public health officials roll out guidelines to protect voters from COVID-19 MORE (D-Minn.) represent states with Democratic governors, meaning they don't come with the same risk of a GOP successor.

Given how the Senate battleground map is shaping up, a 50-50 Senate tie counting both Massachusetts Senate seats in the Democratic column is becoming a distinct possibility.

How quickly a potential Baker appointee could be casting votes in the chamber would be determined by Warren.

If she were to resign on Nov. 4, the day after Election Day, that could shave off 61 days during which a temporary appointee would serve in the 117th Congress, assuming the Senate convenes on Jan. 4, the first Monday in January, as it often has.

That would still give a Republicansenator at least 84 days to serve in a new Senate session.

If one seat means the difference between three more months of GOP control, that could seriously blunt the first 100 days of a Biden administration, potentially delaying the confirmation of Cabinet nominees and the consideration of Democratic-backed legislation.

Some strategists say its a gamble worth taking.

To me its become increasingly clear that she would be the strongest pick electorally, said Mike Lux, a Democratic strategist who worked in the Clinton White House. Shes actually very strong with African American and Latino and Latina voters.

Lux said Warren also really increases the enthusiasm level, which is one of the key things the Biden folks need to figure out.

Theres this big enthusiasm gap in a lot of the polls between Biden and Trump, and I think Warren would really help change that dynamic, he added.

Warren herself appears enthusiastic about the VP possibility.

One Senate Democrat said her jockeying for the veep slot has been noticeable, while other Senate sources noted shes been reaching out more to Bidens allies on Capitol Hill.

This month she co-sponsored Sen. Christopher CoonsChristopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsVoting rights, public health officials roll out guidelines to protect voters from COVID-19 The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - US virus deaths exceed 100,000; Pelosi pulls FISA bill Warren's VP bid faces obstacle: Her state's Republican governor MOREs (D-Del.) Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act. The legislation would expand existing national service networks such as AmeriCorps to help respond to the coronavirus crisis.

She also co-sponsored a bill led by Sen. Bob CaseyRobert (Bob) Patrick CaseyWarren calls for investigation into OSHA inspections during pandemic The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - US virus deaths exceed 100,000; Pelosi pulls FISA bill Warren's VP bid faces obstacle: Her state's Republican governor MORE Jr. (D-Pa.), another Biden ally, to better protect the elderly and people with disabilities living in nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and psychiatric hospitals from the pandemic.

Biden and Warren have been speaking regularly in recent weeks, about once a week, according to sources with knowledge of the phone calls.

Warren has also spoken to former President Obama, mostly about her ideas surrounding the pandemic.

In recent months, Obama has told those around him that he was impressed with the ideas she had on the campaign. Last fall, he went to bat for her when speaking to donors who were turned off by her politics, vouching for her political chops and her fluency on policy.

"With the economy in the gutter, I think he believes she can play a big role in the recovery," said one Obama ally. "He appreciates her ideas."

One Biden ally said theformer vice president also "appreciates and respects" Warren's ideas.

"She's at the top of the list for a reason," the ally said.

Liberal strategists who want to see Warren on the ticket say the overwhelmingly Democratic state Senate and House in Massachusetts could change the states law to require Baker to pick someone from the same party as Warren.

Democrats control 34 seats in the Massachusetts state Senate while Republicans hold four, with two vacancies. In the state House, Democrats hold a 126-31 advantage, with seats vacant.

Six states require the governor to appoint a replacement of the same party as the departing senator, according to a 2017 report by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Lux said Bakers potential appointment of a Republican successor is pretty easy to get around given that Democrats have a veto-proof majority and could easily change the law to make it more like other states where if the person who leaves is a Democrat than they have to pick a Democrat.

Debra OMalley, spokeswoman for the Massachusetts secretary of the commonwealth, said, Theres no provision for the state legislature to veto the choice by the governor.

But OMalley noted that the Massachusetts state legislature could change the law between now and next year and override a veto.

This is the law as it stands now. That law could change and in fact that law has changed multiple times in the last 20 years, she added.

Charles Chamberlain, chairman of liberal advocacy group Democracy for America, said it would be worth changing Massachusetts election law to get Warren on the ticket.

If she were to join the ticket as the vice presidential candidate, I think it would make progressives across this country very excited for this ticket, he said. It would really make a difference in motivating, energizing and engaging progressive voters.

Chamberlain said even if Baker picks a temporary Republican successor, that could pave the way for Rep. Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyWarren's VP bid faces obstacle: Her state's Republican governor Democrats blast CDC report on minorities and COVID-19 Overnight Defense: Pentagon memo warns pandemic could go until summer 2021 | Watchdog finds Taliban violence is high despite US deal | Progressive Dems demand defense cuts MORE (D-Mass.) to make the leap from House to Senate.

Were talking about a very short period of time until the next special election, when we could be looking at Ayanna Pressley as the next senator from Massachusetts.

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Warren's VP bid faces obstacle: Her state's Republican governor | TheHill - The Hill

Given the potential delays and scope that removing Huawei 5G kit from existing 5G networks and sourcing replacement kit for hardware already on order the need various UK telecoms operators need to have an urgent statement on the record from the Government over exactly what is to happen with Huawei hardware in the UK.

As things stand today all the press coverage is based on a quote from a spokesperson originally quoted in The Guardian and Telegraph.

In January 2020 it was announced that use of Huawei 5G kit would be capped at 35% of the core network, but it appears now after protracted pressure from the United States of America that this is set to change to 0% of the core and its unclear what the fate of Huawei kit elsewhere will be e.g. 3G/4G/5G antenna, existing VDSL2 cabinets, Huawei FTTP ONT and Huawei headends in exchanges.

If there is a proven hack/leak of sensitive data from Huawei kit then one presumes that evidence would be produced or if of a sensitive nature statements would be made pointing this out and trusted parties allowed to verify this. For now though it looks more like a mixture of geo politics and fears of the unknown are driving policy.

In the 5G world the options if you ignore Huawei are basically Nokia and Ericsson and if the issue is really China spying how confident can anyone be that the supply chains of competitors are not compromised. If China is using its electronic exports to run spy networks it is unlikely they will be tied to a specific company and extra code or hardware to syphon off data will be in many places.

Huawei has been under scrutiny for some time and one presumes the same scrutiny will apply to hardware and software from other suppliers.

The 5G networks if they were fully standalone are at a size where removal of Huawei is difficult but reasonably possible. The problem is that improvements in the fifth generation of mobile network also includes core network upgrades that will already have other mobile traffic using them.

Removing Huawei from the 1,200 or so handover exchanges i.e. replacing Huawei head ends with Nokia is again possible and as the amount of FTTP increases there are exchanges with Nokia headends already so for some there is potential for this to be a reconfiguration and rewiring exercise and ensuring wholesalers have connectivity on the Nokia headend.

The issue around Huawei VDSL2 cabinets of which there is at least 66,000 on street corners around the UK is harder as the least downtime solution would be to stand and commision a new cabinet and then move the copper connections down. As this would need a new spot on the pavement that will be difficult in some areas and this a turn and lift off old cabinet and replace with a new one might be cheaper but could mean a days downtime. The more likely solution is to commit to no new Huawei VDSL2 cabinets, which given the small numbers being added each week is not difficult and then once the Salisbury WLR switch off and porting of an entire exchange to FTTP has worked successfuly other areas will follow and the Huawei cabinets removed. How long to remove all the Huawei cabinets is a big guess but given that the FTTP build has to be complete looking at around 2030.

Who will pay for all the work and new kit is unknown, hence the why we need official statements and budget support announced so if the nuclear option is what is desired that firms can start planning immediately.

Of course even if the UK was Huawei free as soon as anyone went to any country that had Huawei kit the worries would return.

A final reason why on the record statements are needed is that in an information vacuum conspiracy theories thrive and a banning of Huawei 5G kit is no doubt going to be latched onto by some either for their own gain be that financial or just giggles.

Originally posted here:
Huawei to be shown exit door from 5G and possibly telecoms networks allegedly - thinkbroadband.com

Give readers an assignment that includes pancake mix, and you get crpes galore (four submissions)! And bread, waffles, biscuits and crackers, too.

Earlier this month, for Round 2 of the Chopped-inspired Seattle Times Pantry Kitchen Challenge, we asked you to make a dish with pancake mix, olives, cheese and herbs.

The olives, it seems, stumped or at least inconvenienced some, while others agonized over what to do with the box of pancake mix thats been gathering dust in the back of the cabinet since, oh, 2010?

But, once again, our readers flexed their culinary muscles and got to work. It was heartening to see several repeat challengers! And, because the ingredients were released around Mothers Day, many of you took the opportunity to do this with mom! Here are the innovative, largely Mediterranean-influenced results.

Since I once again have to pick winners without tasting the dishes, I looked mostly for creative recipes that generously incorporated all four ingredients. Based on that criteria, I declare Jeff Abrams pancakefettuccine the winner of this round! Yes, folks, that enterprising chef made pasta out of pancake mix!Runners-up: Darci Rogojins savory Greek cupcakes andPaul ShapirosTimpano di quarentena.Both epitomized the idea of turning a breakfast ingredient into dinner, and looked pretty darn impressive!

Here are the top 12 submissions. Thanks for playing, and see below for details on Round 3.

Next up:Round 3 of The Seattle Times Pantry Kitchen Challenge

New ingredients:Ground meat (or ground meat substitute), canned fruit, lettuce, soy sauce.

Rules: You have to use all four ingredients; you can, however, add as many additional ingredients as you choose.

Deadline: Create a dish, tell us how successful you were and email photos and adescription of your dish to food editor Stefanie Loh (sloh@seattletimes.com) by June 5. Well pick several of the most interesting submissions we receive to run in a future edition of The Mix.

*For brevity, we decided not run full recipes, but if you would like recipes to any of these dishes submitted by readers, email me and I will send them to you.

Upon hearing pancake mix was an ingredient in this weeks challenge, I immediately thought of pasta. When you have two daughters who live for noodles, thats not surprising. Weve spent years experimenting with pasta-making; from pathetic attempts using hand-crank machines, to better results with finer grades of flour, to egg-filled ravioli.Pasta is nothing more than flour and egg, right? Same as pancake mix, with a few little additions: things like buttermilk, sugar and baking powder.

With the ignorance of naivet, I set forth to make noodles from pancakes.The pasta is definitely on the firm side with a good chew, reminiscent of shaved Chinese noodles. Rolling them as thin as possible helps, but the whole grain pancake flour just isnt that elastic. Im not sure this would have worked without the addition (of) semolina flour. I was worried that the noodles would be sweet, since sugar is the fourth ingredient on the pancake mix bag. Surprisingly, they turned out to have a nice nutty taste, not sweet at all.The green olives are a bit salty, but their brininess really helped cut some of the pastas heaviness.We enjoyed the dish, surprised that pancake mix would make such delicious fettuccine pasta.Since the dish is fairly healthy, vegetarian, with only a tiny bit of fat, plus some protein from the buttermilk and cheese, the Parmesan crackers shape symbolizes heart-friendly.

Jeff Abrams

This challenge had me a little scared but I had so much fun again! After thinking about the ingredient list for a few days, this recipe idea came to me while I was making cupcakes for Mothers Day. In reading the pancake mix box, I saw that I could make drop biscuits so I had the idea of adding a topping and incorporating all the other basket ingredients. I went with a Greek theme because my husband and I did a cruise last October where we visited Santorini, Athens, Rhodes and Corfu, so Greek food has been on my mind since then.

Darci Rogojin

This was tons of fun. I recently made a timpano for a prequarantine party for a good friend. So I thought, Will this work with the Seattle Times ingredients? Voil, or should I say, presto Timpano di Quarantena. I wasnt sure when I took it out of the oven that it would hold up, but it did. I used the olives as a replacement for the traditional salami. We are having it for dinner tonight, and I have to admit, the pancake crust was (and I hate to admit it) better than pasta. Buon appetito.

Paul Shapiro

Really, pancake mix? The ancient box stuck in the back of the pantry, not having seen the light of day since the last annual camping trip? A little homework and perusing the ingredients (looks suspiciously like buttermilk biscuits) pointed to naan bread as a possibility. One thing lead to another and we decided on Olive These Lamb Meatballs on garlic naan. Had we made it before? Nope. Did we follow a recipe? Sort of. Was it good? Oh yeah!While this might look complicated, in reality, it came together rather quickly. The olive chimichurri was a nice foil to the slight sweetness from the pancake mix. Lamb meatballs are rich and the tzatziki counters the richness with acidity from the yogurt and lemon juice.

Steve Venard and Cathy Martin

Last December, I spent a week in northern Italy visiting Christmas markets. At one night market, we bought a slice of bread that was a warm, gooey slice of heaven on a cold, clear night. It reminded me of a savory version of the age-old monkey bread but filled with olives and cheese. Your challenge of pancake mix, olives, cheese and herbs motivated me to try my version.

Joan Segna

For this Round 2 of pancake mix, olives, herbs and cheese, we made what my mom is calling chicken olivetti parmigiana.I (42) am in Seattle, and she (65) is in upstate New York. She is a very skilled home cook, and I am not, so during this time of quarantine, she has been coaching me over the phone, which is what happened for this dish.For the challenge, I used Trader Joes buttermilk pancake mix as the base for the dry dip. This included some Parmesan cheese and herbs. After quickly pan-frying the coated chicken (and putting it in the oven for a few minutes), I drizzled a simple butter sauce with sliced mixed olives and olive juice on top. The chicken had a nice light crunch on the outside, was moist and tender on the inside, and the olive sauce added a nice briny, salty topping.

Tracy Timmons-Gray and Patti (Tracys mom)

My husband is a pancake fiend, so we have the mix on hand (though his preferred brand is MIA on the shelves these days). He is the sweet and I am the savory of our pair, so olives and cheese sounded fabulous to me. My herb garden is so robust right now that was a simple go-to. How to get Betty Crocker into the savory realm: Adding chopped chives and an egg gave some taste to an otherwise bland, classic mix, and before we flipped the bottom cake we strewed on a lot of finely grated Parmesan. The cheese made for a crunchy layer with a nice bite and color and the bottom cake didnt get soggy from liquid in the tapenade. Not to be eaten warm. We chopped all the miscellaneous olives on hand for tapenade and jazzed it up with pimentos and a good bit of freshly picked chopped thyme, then spread this on the big cake. The filigree top was added last and that batter was a bit thinner with added milk. Because it is hard when doing a speedy, masked duty run to the grocery to resist a bit of decadence to offset the monotony of these days, we had crme frache on hand for a fancy dollop to top it off. The crme added just the right schmear. With cheap, chilled white wine, it was pretty darn good, though a lot more herbs in the batter would alter some of the pancake taste.

Pandora Touart and Tom Whitaker

I made a potato galette with an olive and caper tapenade and sourdough and pancake mix crust. It turned out better than I expected! Ive been looking for creative ways to use up my sourdough discard, and pie crust is something I am really good at making. The tapenade is made up of Castelvetrano olives, capers, thyme, rosemary, garlic, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and olive oil. Really briny and delicious on its own, but even better with the potatoes because it evens out the strong flavors. Did I measure anything? Not really. Would I attempt again? Definitely!Thank you for this challenge! I had fun with this, and cant wait for the next round!

Sheree Diep

My mom and I share the same zodiac sign and we read our horoscope in The Seattle Times on a daily basis for the fun of it. When I read todays, I felt compelled to literally stick to tested methods, techniques and recipes as mom was already getting ready to make our family-favorite dish, red lentil cake. I challenged her to use pancake mix as a substitute for baking soda and baking powder. She is gluten-intolerant, so we used gluten-free pancake mix. Olives and cheese are already two breakfast items we love as part of our old country Mediterranean breakfast, as well as plain yogurt, which we consume an insane amount of. Our new version definitely beat our expectations and tasted better than our original recipe. Red lentil cake is seriously perfect any time of the day.

Bahar Oguzertem and Yasemin Alptekin (Bahars mom)

I had a great time putting together this olive tapenade with rosemary pancake crackers! This was more of a starter than a meal in itself, but my wife and I thought it turned out well! Perhaps the tapenade would shine better with a more neutral cracker, but the combination of the salty tapenade and the sweet, toasty crackers highlighted a range of flavors that would transform throughout the bite. The rosemary pancake crackers were simply a much drier ratio of pancake mix to water, the addition of some oil and chopped, dried rosemary. Baking it, after mixing and rolling thin, for a total of 6 minutes and letting it sit in the turned-off oven for an hour allowed it to dry up into a crisp and crunchy cracker! The tapenade included green, black and Kalamata olives, garlic, shallot, oregano, thyme and to round out the last of the four challenge required ingredients cheese! More specifically, cotija cheese left over from Cinco de Mayo. Traditional tapenade usually includes anchovy, but the salty cotija acted as a fine substitute. This was a really fun challenge! It stretched my creative muscles and I cant wait to see what lies in store for Round 3!

Jared Cook

I used the pancake mix to make crpes by adding egg and more water. Then added chopped Kalamata olives, orange zest, basil and honey to goat cheese. This was all wrapped up in the crpes to make a really good hors doeuvre.Ill be making it for my next dinner party!

Lynn Fischer

I used Seattles own Krusteaz pancake mix with a half-cup of water to 1 cup of the mix. I added sliced and drained black olives, grated white cheddar (about a half-cup), minced basil and parsley from my garden and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.Baked at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes, delicious.

Wendy Reilly

Continue reading here:
Make a dish with pancake mix, olives, cheese, herbs? Seattle Times readers show off in Round 2 of the Pantry Kitchen Challenge. - Seattle Times

Asymptomatic testing for the novel coronaviruswill begin immediately for anyAlbertan who wants it, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of HealthDr. Deena Hinshawannounced Friday.

The move is inpreparation for Stage 2 of the province'srelaunch, expected totake place in mid June,Hinshaw said at a news conference.

"Now is an opportune time to expand testing to get a full understanding of the presence of COVID-19 in our population," Hinshaw said.

"Expanded testing will ...help us understand where there might be undetected positive cases and therefore prevent further spread of the virus.

Albertanswithout symptoms of illness can arrange testing by going online,completinganassessment tool and booking anappointment,she said.

Anyonecan be tested as often as they like, Hinshaw said.

"There's no restriction on the frequency with which people can access testing, so that is not something that would limit people's access," she said. "The recommendation would bethat testing should never be used as a replacement for public health measures."

The date of Stage 2 will be discussed next week, Hinshaw said.

"I said before given the low case numbersreally encouraging results from Stage 1 relaunch that we are considering whether or not we can advance the date of Stage 2.

An increase in hospitalizations over the last few days is a concern, Hinshaw said.

"Hospitalizations are a function not only of our total cases but also of who is exposed and is infected with the virus so those who are older, have medical conditions, are at higher risk of having more severe illness and needing hospital care.

"It's something we're watching very closely, but at this point, we haven't seen an uptick in our total number of cases.

"We'll continue to watch both total cases and hospitalizations very closely, but at this point, I don't anticipate what's happened these last few days would change our discussions regarding relaunch."

Alberta reported no new deaths from COVID-19 Friday, and 24 new cases of the respiratory disease.

There are 616 active cases in province, with 55 people in hospital, four of them in intensive care.

The provincial COVID-19 death toll remains at 143, while 6,220 people have recovered.

Hinshawalso announcedthe final part of Stage 1 of the relaunchwill begin Monday in Calgary and Brooks, two cities hit hard by the virus.

"Albertans in these two cities have been patient as we took a measured, phased approach to their relaunch," Hinshaw said.

"I would like to congratulate residents in these cities on the downward trends in their numbers, which has not been seen in most places around the world where relaunch has happened."

The majority of active cases of COVID-19 continue to be located in the Calgary zone. Here's a regional breakdown of cases:

Day camps and summer schools in Calgary and Brooks will be able to open Monday with occupancy limits, whileplaces of worship may resume in-person services for up to 50 people, with precautions to limit the potential spread of infection.

Premier Jason Kenney announced this week the province's state of public health emergency, in place since March 17,will be allowed to lapse on June 15.

Declaring the emergency gave the provincial cabinet many newpowers, includingthe ability to limit the size of public gatherings andrequire people to self-isolate.

"We don't need the declaration of a public health emergency to protect people from COVID," Hinshaw said. "We will still be able to ...respond to COVID-19 and protect Albertans. The emergency really is a measure that allows a significant and rapid response, but if that measure is ended ... we do have other tools we can use."

The next update with Hinshaw is scheduled for Monday, June 1.

Read more from the original source:
Alberta moves to provincewide COVID-19 testing available to all symptoms or not - CBC.ca