Month: September 2021

Evergrande Sags Under Massive Financial Liabilities, Its Future Uncertain

As Evergrande and its Chairman Xu Jiayin’s fate is sagging under millions of liabilities, on September 24, another private enterprise giant HNA (HNA Group Co., Ltd.)—being under bankruptcy reorganization—through its official WeChat announced that its chairman and the chief executive officer had been arrested. The news was also confirmed on the same day by Gu Gang,…


US Supreme Court to Hear Case Over Boston’s Refusal to Fly Christian Flag

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Thursday to hear five cases, including a dispute over flying a Christian flag in Boston. Boston resident Hal Shurtleff and his Christian group, Camp Constitution, asked the city in 2017 to let him raise the flag on Boston City Hall flagpoles to commemorate Constitution Day, or Sept. 17. But city…


New Zealand to Halt Removal of ‘At Risk’ Children From Families

WELLINGTON—New Zealand said on Wednesday it will put a virtual halt to the practice of taking at-risk children away from their families, a policy that has long angered its indigenous Maori community. Children deemed to be facing harm have been moved into state care for decades despite Maori criticism that the process is racially skewed…


Reopening of ‘Aladdin’ on Broadway Halted by COVID-19 Cases

NEW YORK—The hit Broadway show “Aladdin” was canceled Wednesday night when breakthrough COVID-19 cases were reported within the musical’s company, a day after the show reopened following some 18 months of being shuttered due to the pandemic. “Through our rigorous testing protocols, breakthrough COVID-19 cases have been detected within the company of ‘Aladdin’ at the…


California Still Plagued by Federal Property Seizures

Commentary A new case brings up the importance of California’s landmark Assembly Bill 114, by then-Assemblyman John Burton (D-San Francisco) in 1994, which severely limited “asset forfeiture” by state and local government agents. Unfortunately, it did not affect federal agents operating under federal law. The latest outrage was perpetrated by federal agents in Beverly Hills…


Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bill to Ban Vax Passports for Interstate Travel

In a Wednesday speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), joined by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), introduced legislation that would bar the Biden administration from implementing vaccine passports requirements for interstate travel. Scott began by praising the Trump administration for its quick development of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party)…


Did We Catch You Napping?

According to a 2009 survey, one-third of U.S. adults manage to nap on any given day of the week. If you’re among that percentage, are you taking the best nap that you can? Are naps beneficial? If you don’t take naps, should you? Why? A nap is an intentional or unintentional period of sleep for…


Newsom Signs 7 Bills to Address Homelessness

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a legislative package aimed at reducing homelessness by expanding mental and behavioral health services during a Sept. 29 press conference in Los Angeles. Newsom was joined alongside Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis, and California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly…


Flavored Vinegars Make Elegant Holiday Gifts

Just as I was wondering what on earth I would do with all of the basil, oregano, and chives in my garden, here came a note from Ginny M. of Minnesota: “I love using flavored vinegars. How can I make my own?” Her note reminded me that herb vinegars are so easy to make, but…


German Inflation Accelerates at Record Pace in September

BERLIN—German inflation accelerated at a record pace in September, data showed on Thursday, highlighting growing price pressures as Europe’s largest economy recovers from the pandemic and its companies grapple with supply shortages. Consumer prices, harmonised to make them comparable with inflation data from other European Union countries, rose by 4.1 percent year-on-year compared with 3.4…