From Underdog up to the top
In the previous Time Out Magazine ranking from 2019, Copenhagen didn’t even crack the top 48.
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Anti-coronavirus protests and riots across the Netherlands
The national curfew came into effect at 9pm on January 23. The first night saw the police issue over 3.600 95-euro fines for violations of the curfew. 25 people were arrested. However, the police did note that, of the people who were stopped and checked during curfew hours, 80 percent carried the necessary government forms.
On Monday, the Dutch Security Council – made up of the 25 mayors who chair security regions – will meet in Utrecht in order to discuss how the curfew will be enforced over the coming weeks.
Rutte calls anti-curfew violence ‘unacceptable’ but rules out calling in army
The prime minister expressed his support for police, municipal mayors and journalists who were targeted while reporting on the weekend’s violence. He said police had responded ‘adequately’ to the situation and dismissed the idea of calling in the army to enforce the curfew. We’re not taking these measures for fun,’ Rutte said. ‘We’re doing it because we’re fighting the virus and right now it’s the virus that’s taking away our freedom, and it’s because of the virus that we’re taking these rotten measures.’
Riot police called out across the Netherlands as trouble flares for third night
Police in Noord-Holland province said they had arrested five people who had called online for riots in Purmerend, Hoorn and Alkmaar. In Amsterdam, there were at least nine arrests after trouble erupted in the east of the city. In Gouda, the mayor also evoked his emergency powers after several cars were set on fire. There were also arrests in Geelen, in Limburg, including several minors, police said.
London is burning in lockdown – and if it falls, so will the rest of the UK
London is burning. There are no flames but, make no mistake, it is burning. Instead of fighting the fire, the government and its ineffectual mayor are pouring fuel on it.
Our Year in Hell
And yet, uncanny though it might be, the imagery of an actual pandemic is, truth be told, considerably less melodramatic than the cinematic version. Often, when we call something “unimaginable,” what we really mean is more like “too oft imagined.” We actually have been here before, in every pandemic movie, in that Will Smith one with the zombies, for instance—and, in the zombie movie, the people are slavering in the streets. In the real one, the streets are merely empty.
New York’s Times Square is ‚ghost town‘ as Covid-struck US sees in New Year
The same place that last year saw over a million people pack in to watch the annual tradition as well as live music performances was far more somber.
Only a handful of invited guests, including health care workers and others from the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, gathered to usher in the New Year.
De Blasio calls Trump’s NYC ‘ghost town’ description ‘unfair,’ Manhattan offices could fill up more by early 2021
As of Sept. 18, only 10% of Manhattan office workers had returned to their buildings, the Wall Street Journal reported late last month.
De Blasio confirmed that City Hall had indeed been considering bringing back more of its workforce, but new developments were put on hold due to the recent COVID clusters in Brooklyn and Queens.
From peak city to ghost town: the urban centres hit hardest by Covid-19
FT research shows London and New York have suffered the most from the pandemic, but more substantial change lies ahead
We can’t let Main Street become a ghost town
(09.10.2020)
Darkened storefronts adorned with “Closed” and “For Lease” signs have become common sights in both urban and rural areas.
Maryland is no exception. From my hometown in Takoma Park to the bucolic charm of Chestertown, many businesses have shuttered or are hanging on for dear life.
Federal judge says Cuomo coronavirus restrictions may turn NYC ‘desolate,’ but allows them
Brooklyn U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan said safety restrictions and guidelines may even “turn New York City into a very different, even desolate, place compared to how it was before the pandemic,” but he declined to grant a preliminary injunction against rules that prohibit restaurants from serving food after midnight. Indoor dining is also restricted to 25% capacity as of Sept. 30.
Judge Refuses to Block Cuomo’s COVID Restrictions After Brooklyn Catholic Diocese Files Lawsuit
Ruling in a lawsuit brought by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis said in an order Friday that even though the rules harm religious groups, it is not in the public interest to block them if they are helping prevent a wave of new infections.
With help from the Becket Fund, New York’s Bais Yaakov Ateres Miriam school for Jewish girls just filed a lawsuit against the recent coronavirus lockdown orders imposed by NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
„Apartments in ruins“ – 3 civilians wounded in latest Azeri bombardment of Stepanakert City
Artsakh’s Human Rights Defender Artak Beglaryan released a video on his social media account showing the consequences of the night bombing. “This is the consequences of Azerbaijan’s deliberate strikes with 6 heavy missiles at the peaceful settlements of Stepanakert,” he said, posting the images of the ruins.
Azerbaijan-Georgia overhead power line damaged due to Armenian missile attack on Ganja
However, the missiles aimed at the power plants in Mingachevir were destroyed in the air, the strike in the direction of Ganja resulted in an accident on the Samukh-Gardabani 500-kilovolt overhead power line of international importance.
Legitimate military targets located in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja
Legitimate military targets located in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja:
PM ‘betraying his red wall voters’ over lockdown cash
Burnham told the Observer that by offering to pay only two-thirds of the wages of people hit by new closures – as opposed to the 80% which applied nationally under the original furlough scheme – ministers would be punishing people in the north in a way that was completely unacceptable.
Burnham said the Conservatives were betraying the people in so-called “red wall” seats who they had persuaded to vote Tory at the general election last December with pledges to “level up” the country.
Millions will be ordered not to leave their local areas in new Covid clampdown
Millions of people will be asked not to travel outside their local areas and could be banned from mixing with other households, even outdoors, amid fears that some hospitals in the North-West could be overwhelmed within days.
This weekend, Downing Street was briefing mayors and council leaders on the planned three-tier „Local Covid Alert Levels“ system of restrictions for England, expected to be announced by Boris Johnson on Monday.
Zoned Coronavirus Shutdown Of Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens Is Now In Effect. Here’s What We Know
The maps were drafted in consultation with health experts including former city health commissioner and Centers for Disease Control director Dr. Tom Frieden, Dr. Noam Ross of EcoHealth Alliance, and Dr. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota.
Madrid High Court strikes down Health Ministry’s coronavirus restrictions
There was confusion on Thursday as to the immediate effects of the ruling, although it was confirmed that fines cannot now be levied on citizens who flout the perimetral confinement of 10 cities in the region, including the Spanish capital. The court ruling does not, however, have an effect on the other restrictions imposed, such as capacity limits for bars and restaurants, and early closing times for all establishments, as well as a limit of six people for meetings both in public and private.
Selective confinement reawakens Vallekas’ ancient spirit of resistance
In contrast, in non-restricted areas, people are free to travel to different neighbourhoods and continue their regular activities. The selective confinement has left many people feeling disappointed and confused. “In the end, it’s a little absurd […] every day, people in the neighbourhood have to leave their neighbourhoods and take public transport to go to do their work in other neighbourhoods that are not confined,” explains Miguel, a local to Vallekas.
Honoured to have written an article for @madridnofrills about what’s been going on in Vallekas and in Madrid, Spain, during these past few weeks.
#Madrid #Spain #Vallecas #Vallekas
Cuomo Won’t Approve Closing of Businesses in 9 Hard-Hit N.Y.C. Areas
Indeed, the governor also announced that the state would take over supervision of enforcement of mask and social-distancing rules in the hot spot clusters, presumably putting the State Police in charge of New York City Police Department officers.
New York governor moves to close yeshivas – and possibly synagogues
That deadline is a day earlier than Mayor Bill de Blasio had set — and equally irrelevant for the hundreds of Jewish schools in the areas, most of which are closed right now because of the Sukkot holiday.
Cuomo also announced that he would take over efforts to enforce social distancing and mask mandates in New York City areas with rising cases, many of which are home to significant Orthodox populations.
BREAKING: Cuomo sides with de Blasio’s plan to shut down schools in primarily Jewish areas, threatens to ban religious gatherings
NYC To Close Businesses In Parts Of Brooklyn And Queens As Virus Takes Hold Again
After initially leading the nation in positive coronavirus tests, New York City was able to get the virus under control earlier this year through strong messaging on the importance of social distancing and the widespread closures of businesses. But in recent weeks, city officials and residents had been watching the numbers tick back up, particularly in Orthodox Jewish areas.
New York City looking to close some areas seeing coronavirus surge
Over the past two weeks, the number of new cases of the virus has been rising in pockets of the city, predominantly in neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens that are home to the city’s large Orthodox Jewish population.
The revolt against lockdown
Meanwhile, protests have raged again in Madrid, following the imposition of localised measures on particular districts that protesters say are punishing the poor. Comments made by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the president of the Madrid region, suggesting ‘the way of life of immigrants’ was partly to blame for the rises in cases, have also sparked a fierce backlash.
A manifesto signed by various neighbourhood groups denounces the new measures as racist and classist, arguing that they single out the ‘individual behaviours’ of poorer residents for scorn when in all neighbourhoods rules are being broken.
Morocco shuts down major cities after spike in coronavirus cases
The cities to be locked down include the economic powerhouse of Casablanca as well as Tangier, Marrakech, Fez and Meknes.
Trump Threatens to Send Federal Law Enforcement Forces to More Cities
The president portrayed the nation’s cities as out of control. “Look at what’s going on — all run by Democrats, all run by very liberal Democrats. All run, really, by radical left,” Mr. Trump said. He added: “If Biden got in, that would be true for the country. The whole country would go to hell. And we’re not going to let it go to hell.”
Democrats said the president was the one out of control.
Portland Protests Grow Despite Violent Crackdown from Militarized Federal Agents & Local Police
Heavily armed federal officers without name tags have carried out nightly attacks on antiracist demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, and snatched people off the streets into unmarked vans, sparking widespread outrage. “What we’ve seen is a continuous escalation in violence against our protesters,” says Lilith Sinclair, an Afro-Indigenous local organizer in Portland. They note the federal violence follows many years of “severe police brutality” from local police. “It’s left the people of Portland not only worried about their safety, but, even more so, justified in the fight that we’re engaged in.”
“Camouflaged Goon Squads”: Outrage, Legal Challenges in Portland as Federal Agents Snatch Protesters
The U.S. attorney for the District of Oregon has called for an investigation into the conduct of federal officers deployed to protests in Portland, calling their behavior “unlawful.” Local officials are also mounting legal challenges to remove the agents from city streets. Juan Chavez, project director and attorney at the Oregon Justice Resource Center, says it’s a terrifying situation for Portland residents who face “these camouflaged goon squads” who often refuse to identify themselves or their agencies. “They just appear in the middle of the night next to people who are in and around downtown who then get corralled into these vehicles, not told where or who’s picking them up,” he says.
UNHINGED: Dem Rep. Clyburn Compares Federal Law Enforcement To Nazi Germany Gestapo
Democrat Congresswoman Jim Clyburn compared federal law enforcement to Nazi Germany Gestapo, when he appeared on CNN on 7/20/2020.
Cities Ask if It’s Time to Defund Police and ‘Reimagine’ Public Safety
In the wake of George Floyd’s killing, some cities are asking if the police are being asked to do jobs they were never intended to do. Budgets are being re-evaluated.
Hundreds of Activists and Elected Officials Call on Mayors and Cops to Decrease Police Power
Non-reformist reforms seek abolition as an end goal, and include defunding and demilitarizing the police — a demand that has long been considered politically impossible but has entered mainstream discourse over the last week and is reflected in the letters sent Friday.
The letter to police chiefs asks them to help curb the power of police unions. “Making sure that unions aren’t as powerful so that you can keep bad apples on the force, and prevent robust oversight and disciplinary action,” Medwed said.
At least 25 cities across 16 states have now imposed curfews as protests continue over the death of George Floyd
Building sealed off for #COVID-19 tests after residents violate restrictions #Germany #Grevenbroich
Israel: Dozens of ultra-Orthodox communities expected to go into full lockdown soon
The Israeli government is expected to declare full lockdowns of numerous ultra-Orthodox communities across the country and West Bank to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus.
A Knesset (Israeli Parliament) ministerial committee was formed late on Sunday to oversee the decision that is expected to affect at least eight cities that and more than a dozen neighborhoods.
From crowds to ghost towns: Before and after coronavirus
This astonishing moment when the world hit pause on normal life will never be forgotten by those who lived through it. While some parts of the world are getting back online, the images that remain will populate the historical record, reminding citizens of the world how vulnerable we are and how important it is to take care not only of ourselves but of one another.
Mysterious Israeli Businessman Behind Mega-deal to Supply Spy Planes to UAE
The fact that there are no diplomatic ties between Israel and the UAE and other Persian Gulf countries has not prevented the shared interests of the countries in the region to forge an extensive unofficial relationship, including in business, military and political spheres. In the case of Israel and the Gulf states, one main shared interest is their mutual enemy: Iran.
Israel businessman behind UAE spy plane deal
However, as Haaretz points out, “it is interesting to discover that Israel’s name is totally absent from the hundreds of thousands of words describing the transaction in detail. The only mention of the country is in one document originating in Switzerland that describes the structure of AGT. It mentions in German that Kochavi is an Israeli citizen.”
The Israeli daily also notes that this deal is not Kochavi’s first project on behalf of the UAE, pointing to the installation of thousands of cameras, sensors and license-plate readers in Abu Dhabi in a bid to turn the capital into a “smart city”.
Foreign policy is inseparable from domestic issues because as long as we are wasting trillions of dollars on regime change wars, the new cold war & nuclear arms race, we will not have the money for infrastructure, health care, clean water, education, and other needs of our people
It should be a sign to us that today’s Catholic Gospel reading is the Good Samaritan, where Jesus teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves and treat them with mercy. Trump’s ICE raids today tear families apart -the opposite of mercy. #FamiliesBelongTogether #KnowYourRights
U.S. Cities Prepare For Planned ICE Raids
„It starts on Sunday, and they’re going to take people out, and they’re going to bring them back to their countries, or they’re going to take criminals out — put them in prison or put them in prison in the countries they came from,“ Trump said outside the White House.
The operations, which would be along the same lines as the one canceled last month, are expected to take place in at least 10 cities across the U.S. and last for days.
With a new threat of immigration raids Sunday, undocumented immigrants are terrified — staying home from work, afraid to go outside and unsure of where to turn.
ICE will launch raids across 10 major cities this SUNDAY. Check your neighbors & know your rights. Remember: no one can enter your home without a *judicial warrant.* Sometimes ICE will try to show other papers to get in your house. Judicial warrants are from a court. /1
ICE deportation raids set to begin Sunday after Trump delay, report says
The ICE agents will target at least 2,000 immigrants whose deportations have already been ordered, a New York Times report said, citing one former and two current Department of Homeland Security officials.
Asked for comment, an ICE spokesman would not offer specific details, citing „law-enforcement sensitivities and the safety and security of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.“
Public Buses Across Country Quietly Adding Microphones to Record Passenger Conversations
(10.12.2012) It also raises questions about security, since the IP audio-video systems can be accessed remotely via a built-in web server (.pdf), and can be combined with GPS data to track the movement of buses and passengers throughout the city.
According to the product pamphlet for the RoadRecorder 7000 system made by SafetyVision (.pdf), „Remote connectivity to the RoadRecorder 7000 NVR can be established via the Gigabit Ethernet port or the built-in 3G modem. A robust software ecosystem including LiveTrax vehicle tracking and video streaming service combined with SafetyNet central management system allows authorized users to check health status, create custom alerts, track vehicles, automate event downloads and much more.“
Public Buses Across Country Quietly Adding Microphones to Record Passenger Conversations
(10.12.2012) Transit authorities in cities across the country are quietly installing microphone-enabled surveillance systems on public buses that would give them the ability to record and store private conversations, according to documents obtained by a news outlet.
The systems are being installed in San Francisco, Baltimore, and other cities with funding from the Department of Homeland Security in some cases, according to the Daily, which obtained copies of contracts, procurement requests, specs and other documents.
Shots Fired, Pinpointed and Argued Over
(28.5.2012) Milwaukee is one of an increasing number of cities around the country — just under 70 to date, including some in the New York area — that are using a gunshot detection system called ShotSpotter to pinpoint the location of gunfire seconds after it occurs.
The 20 Most Crowded Cities in the World
We all know these cities have giant populations, but do you know just how crowded they are? The United Nations data booklet, “The World’s Cities in 2016,” details the world’s most populated cities as well as population growth projections for 2030.
Tokyo, Japan, for example, is the most populated city in the world as of 2016 with nearly 39 million residents. Keep reading for the rest of the top 20 most populated cities all over the globe.