Are government offices closed tomorrow

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The Biden administration will take steps to help shore up access to medication abortion and protect patients and providers in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday, Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said Tuesday, as Democrats and abortion rights advocates have demanded action from the White House after the court’s monumental ruling. Key Facts Calling the court’s decision “despicable” but not “unpredictable,” Becerra said the Department of Health and Human Services will take steps to increase access to medication abortion, including making sure states cannot ban abortion pills because they’re protected under federal law for federal programs to provide them in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is at risk. The agency will also provide increased guidance on medication abortion to providers. Becerra didn’t rule out that the White House could sue states that try to … [Read more...] about Biden Administration Will Use Medication Abortion, Civil Rights Office To Help Protect Abortion Rights, Health Secretary Says

A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here . You can listen to an audio version of the newsletter by clicking the same link. London (CNN Business) This week, Russia defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution after it failed to pay interest on two bonds during a 30-day grace period that expired Sunday. But to put the event in context, we don't need to go as far back as 1918. Instead, we can look to 1998 . That's the year Russia defaulted on ruble-denominated bonds, triggering a "Moscow meltdown" that infected markets around the globe. Quick rewind: In August 1998 , following years of upheaval after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian government defaulted on its local debt and devalued the ruble. The move sparked chaos in Russia, driving up inflation, causing an economic contraction and triggering bank … [Read more...] about Russia’s last default sparked a crisis. This time is different

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): AMMB Holdings Bhd’s 51%-owned subsidiary AmGeneral Holdings Bhd (AGHB) has obtained approval from the Minister of Finance (MoF) for the sale of its 100% stake in AmGeneral Insurance Bhd (AGIB) to Liberty Insurance Bhd (LIB). AGHB had on July 19 last year inked an implementation agreement with LIB for the disposal of AGIB at a price tag of RM2.29 billion (subject to adjustment), to be satisfied via cash and a 30% stake in LIB. “AGIB is currently 51%-owned by AMMB and 49%-owned by Insurance Australia Group (IAG). Upon completion of the deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, LIB will acquire 100% of AGIB’s shares, while AMMB will receive its share of the sale proceeds in the form of cash and consideration shares. As a result, AMMB will hold a 30% interest in the businesses of AGIB and LIB,” AMMB’s statement said. Following the approval from MoF for the sale of AGIB to LIB, AMMB anticipates signing the sale and purchase … [Read more...] about AMMB unit secures MoF approval for stake sale of AmGeneral Insurance to Liberty Insurance

MASKED CELEBRATIONS Thousands of devotees turned up at a Mass in Tondo, Manila, during the Feast of the Sto. Niño (Child Jesus) on Jan. 17 this year, wearing masks and face shields. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ MANILA, Philippines — Christianity was introduced to the Philippines 500 years ago, the faithful have found ways to weave the Filipino culture into their expression of faith, particularly through religious festivals or fiesta — joyous occasions that fill communities with color, hope and a sense of unity. “Although Christianity — the prayers, rituals and devotions — comes from Europe, the past 500 years have shown that the Filipino people have not only embraced Christianity; we have given it a ‘Filipino flavor,’” said former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. In “Fiesta: Ang Makulay na Pananampalatayang Pilipino,” a documentary film produced by Jesuit Communications to commemorate the 500 years of Christianity in the country, some Filipino festivals and traditions are … [Read more...] about Fiestas survive pandemic albeit on socially distanced, masked or virtual scale

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Across all levels and industries, recruiting the best talent remains a challenge in the current market. Tempting new employees while retaining your existing staff and keeping staffing levels high is ever-challenging. At the start of the pandemic, the quick reduction in workforce demand laid bare the fundamentals of the company and employee relationship. The subsequent quick market flip for talent put the power of choice very much at the heart of the employee. With the dynamic of the working environment changing and prospective hires being able to choose when and how they work, companies suddenly had to review every aspect of their business to compete - from mentorship and facetime policies to compensation and benefits - all these softer aspects of work have been turned on their head. Many companies are now trying different tactics to attract new talent with limited success. The most obvious of these are to increase starting … [Read more...] about Recruiting The Best – Transparency Trumps Theatrics

A Sri Lanka Air Force member checks the tokens of people queueing for fuel due to fuel shortage, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 27, 2022. - A + A COLOMBO (June 28): Sri Lanka will allow companies from oil-producing countries to import and sell fuel, the power and energy minister said on Tuesday, ending a duopoly as it tries to overcome a shortage of petrol and diesel that is exacerbating an economic crisis. The Cabinet decision came as the minister, Kanchana Wijesekera, headed to Qatar and a ministerial colleague was due to arrive in Russia on Sunday for talks on energy deals. Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since its independence, with foreign exchange reserves at a record low of US$1.92 billion, according to the Central Bank, though analysts estimate a lower level of useable funds. The island of 22 million people is struggling to pay for essential imports of food, medicine and, most critically, fuel. Sri … [Read more...] about Cash-starved Sri Lanka to end fuel duopoly to ease shortages

In this file illustration photo taken on August 10, 2020, the Twitter logo is displayed on a mobile phone in Arlington, Virginia. Photo by Olivier DOULIERY / AFP New Delhi, India — India directed Twitter to locally censor accounts and dozens of posts, including some referencing a report that mentioned the country’s declining internet freedoms, the social media platform confirmed to AFP Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has been accused of stifling criticism, with rights groups sounding the alarm over growing curbs on freedom of speech in the world’s largest democracy. Last year, the government ordered Twitter to take down tweets by the US think-tank Freedom House that had discussed the detention of Indian citizens for questioning government policy on social media, and the use of internet shutdowns to stifle dissent. The tweets were no longer available in India as of this week, along with several accounts representing Pakistan’s government that had been … [Read more...] about India censors social media posts on declining internet freedom

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline A U.S. federal judge on Monday approved the unconditional release of John Hinckley Jr., who shot then President Ronald Reagan and three others outside a Washington, D.C., hotel in 1981, after he and his lawyers reached an agreement with federal prosecutors. Key Facts The Justice Department reached a deal with Hinckley, 66, to free him from the stringent conditions and court supervision he's been living under since 2016, when he was granted a conditional release. Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said at a court hearing Monday that he will officially approve the terms in writing later this week, asserting , “Very few patients at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital have been studied more thoroughly than John Hinckley.” Hinckley’s unconditional release will take effect in June 2022. The agreement includes observation required by prosecutors and a government medical expert over the next nine … [Read more...] about John Hinckley—Attempted Assassin Of President Reagan—Wins Unconditional Release

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): The High Court on Tuesday found a policeman to be liable for unlawfully detaining an activist for 16 days and ruled that due to his actions, the Inspector-General of Police and the government are both vicariously liable to pay for damages to the activist, R Sri Sanjeevan, chairman of the Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch). Sri Sanjeevan was held by the authorities under the Prevention of Crime Act 1959 (Poca) in July 2016 for an alleged investigation into extortion claims made against him. Justice Datuk Ahmad Bache said the exemplary and general damages Sanjeevan is due will be assessed later by the court following affidavit evidence to be submitted to his deputy registrar later. Justice Ahmad also advised the government, represented by senior federal counsel Norfauzani Mohd Nordin, to consider settling an issue out of court in the future if it does not have a strong case, rather than letting the matter go to trial and … [Read more...] about Govt, police found liable for unlawfully detaining MyWatch activist for 16 days

This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on June 20, 2022 - June 26, 2022. - A + A THE share price of DRB-Hicom Bhd has been on a downward trend since December 2020, when the shortage of semiconductors became apparent the world over. Last Friday, DRB-Hicom was trading at RM1.16 — its lowest since March 23, 2020. This means DRB-Hicom is now trading at the level when stocks tumbled in reaction to the first Movement Control Order (MCO), which was implemented in March 2020 to contain the spread of Covid-19. This is in contrast to other automotive or automotive-based groups listed on Bursa Malaysia. For example, Bermaz Auto Bhd is trading at more than double the level on March 23, 2020, and MBM Resources Bhd is 38% higher than at the start of the pandemic. Shares in Sime Darby Bhd, which is also a conglomerate like DRB-Hicom, were up 43.5% last Friday compared with March 23, 2020. UMW Holdings Bhd, another conglomerate with a huge automotive … [Read more...] about At an almost two-year low, DRB-Hicom is still demonstrating upside uncertainty